Canterbury Farming, March 2023

Scramble for eggs p9

Fall armyworm p14

Stealthy slugs p35

Supreme champ p38

Scholarship winner keeping her career options open

Lincoln University student Georgia Higinbottom has been named as the 2023 recipient of Ravensdown’s Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship.

] by Kent caddick

The Hugh Williams Memorial scholarship was founded in memory of the late Hugh Williams; a Ravensdown director from 1987 to 2000.

The scholarship, for the children of Ravensdown shareholders, aims to encourage undergraduate study in an agricultural or horticultural degree.

About to enter her second year of studying toward a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University, it’s not surprising Geor-

Getting the right advice early makes a difference.

gia Higinbottom is keeping her career options open, but she knows her future will involve helping Kiwi farmers one way or another.

“Last year at Uni we spent a lot of time in the lab, and it’s been really interesting to be involved in the science of farming,” she said.

“While I don’t necessarily want to be a scientist or go into farming straight out of university, I can definitely see myself somewhere in the middle.

“I’d like to be able to relate Ag research and lab outcomes back to farmers in a way

that’s relevant and practical to them so that New Zealand agriculture can continue to change and adapt to meet the needs of our consumers, the environment and our rural communities.”

Higinbottom said she knows New Zealand farmers are world leaders when it comes to sustainability and the use of technology, but she’s also keen to learn more about different ways of farming around the world.

TO PAGE 2

Going places: Nineteen-year-old North cantabrian Georgia higinbottom is looking to the future after being awarded the ravensdown’s hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship for 2023.

All your rural listening in one place

Federated Farmers has updated its mobile phone app and website FEDSVoice.

] by Kent caddick

The app enables farmers and growers to tap into audio recordings and podcasts from Federated Farmers, feeds from top country radio shows from around the world such as American Ag Today and the BBC, as well as a wide range of New Zealand farming shows and podcasts.

“What’s more, FEDSVoice enables farmers and growers to record their own thoughts on hot topics of the day, and we can use the best of that audio to share to a wider audience,” Federated Farmers CEO Terry Copeland said.

“It’s a sort of agriculture-focused talkback, you could say.”

Copeland said while Federated Farmers has other communications platforms, including its own monthly newspaper, a weekly E-newsletter and targeted emails, busy farmers and growers are much more often out and about than in front of their computers.

“On the FEDSVoice app, farmers, family members and staff can line up playlists of reliable and interesting information to listen to while they’re ploughing fields, milking cows or cooking dinner.

“And if they want to react, instead of needing to type, they can just tap and talk to contribute their thoughts and knowledge,” he said.

FEDSVoice was launched last year but substantial improvements to the app have just been finalised. Existing users just need to click an ‘update’ button, and others can download the app on Android and Apple platforms.

Regular content includes the Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard’s 5@5 (five quickfire topics in five minutes), CEO Terry Copeland’s ‘Weekly Update’ and National Manager General Policy Nick Clark’s ‘Economic Week’.

“The aim is to continue building on the range of content, including experts in their

WE ARE BUYING!

field offering their insights and farmers themselves connecting with their peers, sharing information, best practices and supporting one another,” Copeland said.

For a guide on updating or downloading the app, and a manual on its advanced features, go to the website www.fedsnews.co.nz and click the Download FEDSVoice tab at the top.

FROM PAGE 1

“I want to travel at some stage, I’m keen to learn about different cultures and farming practices overseas and I’m interested to understand some of the aspects we might be able to take away and apply here.

“I would love to go to Australia and work on one of those big outback stations. The scale of farming in America is just massive so I’m intrigued to see that too. But for now, my focus is on the next couple of years here at Lincoln.”

At just 19, she already has a fair amount of agricultural experience under her belt. Growing up on a Tinui sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa, some of her fondest childhood memories involved helping her Mum and Dad, Jodie and Mike Higinbottom.

“As a kid, I really enjoyed getting out on the farm, I’m fortunate to have hardworking parents who encouraged me and gave me enough room to give things a go.

“Dad was always happy to teach and explain things on the farm to me. It was awesome to get the cows in on the horses, and docking was always one of my favourite times of the year.

“I guess I always knew I wanted to be part of the agriculture sector in some way.”

Over summer she has been working for

Ross and Cara Minson just out of Springston.

“As part of the practical component of my degree, I need to work for 10 weeks on a dairy farm and it’s been awesome.

“I’ve learnt so much more than I was expecting to. I’ve been really fortunate that my bosses and manager don’t just ask me to do things, they’re taking the time to explain the reasons why things are done a certain way and make sure I get to do a variety of jobs.”

Heading into 2023 her focus is on completing the next three years at Lincoln, getting involved in student life, indulging her passion for the outdoors and seeing more of the South Island with the Lincoln Uni Hunting Club.

“As well as getting on with my studies, this year I’m hoping to play hockey and get away on a few trips with the Lincoln Uni Young Farmers Club. This year I’ll be Treasurer of the club and I’m looking forward to developing the skills needed for this role.

“Thankfully the Hugh Williams Scholarship means I can worry less about my own finances, with fees for my second year now 50 percent covered.”

Applications for next year’s scholarship are now open and will close on 1 December, 2023.

For the Higinbottoms farming was always ‘in the blood’

Young Farmers connect in Pleasant Point

High on the agenda for the relaunched Pleasant Point Young Farmers Club is connection.

]

by Kent

caddick ] and NZ Young Farmers

The club aims to connect like-minded young people aged 17-31 in the Pleasant Point area to the community, to new friends and to new career connections.

Having grown up in the area, Pleasant Point Young Farmers chair Brittany Honeywell, saw an opportunity to relaunch the Club.

As a prior member of the Mackenzie Young Farmers Club in Fairlie, she knew the value it would bring in connecting young people so she fl oated the idea to her fl atmates.

They agreed there was a need and together they could easily gather people keen to join. Since October 2022, the lub has quickly grown to 65 members.

“There’s a lot of local and family history tied up with Young Farmers,” Honeywell said.

“We’re reopening a club that was closed by our parents and their friends because they didn’t have young people coming in to take over, so those members back then all aged out.”

To spread the word, she contacted local farming businesses and managers of industry organisations letting them know the club is back up and running again.

Many of the businesses recall the Club from earlier years and are willing to offer support in any way they can, whether a venue, donation, or sponsorship.

“It’s very important to have that community relationship. We are a strong rural com-

munity, and the support has been great. We hope to support them right back too.”

And she’s already shoulder-tapped prior members who are now part of the growing Young Farmer’s Alumni to provide advisory support.

“If we have anything come across our table that we’re not too sure about, say fundraising, we hope to have someone we can turn to and go, ‘what do you think would be a good approach to this situation?’.”

Using social media to share club details, Honeywell cast the net wide to attract not just young farmers, but young professionals, trainees, or anyone with an interest in the rural sector.

“Having more than just farmers in the Club means we can expand our conversations, introduce people to farms for fun on tours, and have great discussions with others in our age range,” she said.

The newly appointed club executives describe the club as ‘very social, switched-on group. Keen to get into the work and have some fun too’.

“Farming can be tough. If someone has a rough day, it’s nice and refreshing to come along to an event, they don’t have to cook dinner and instead can grab food together with the group. They can talk about their day with others, or have a new conversation if they need a break<’ Honeywell said.

“Getting together can be an escape from your day in case you need it! So come round, enjoy some social activities, and turn up when you can.”

Pole Sheds & Hybrid Pole Sheds!

Feedback from the first two meetings and the AGM set the tone for the club.

“Everyone wanted to see the group focus on connection: connection with community, connection with like-minded people, career connections.

“There might be a job opportunity coming your way through a Young Farmers meeting that you wouldn’t have known about other-

wise. Or a job might come up at your place of work and someone from Young Farmers would be perfect for the role.”

The club meets regularly with events every other month. Coming up for 2023 there will be guest speakers and farm tours, with plans in the works to run a club bonding weekend and travel up to Christchurch to visit a velvet grading facility.

Connected: Pleasant Point Young Farmers chair Brittany honeywell is behind the relaunch of the club and is aiming to create more connections within the community.

More focus on rural New Zealand

With the recent reshuffle of Cabinet I have gained some new Ministerial colleagues and I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge their appointments and their work ahead. It’s a pleasure to have Kieran McAnulty as the new Minister for Rural Communities.

with Damien O’connor

Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity,

Food Safety and Rural Communities

I valued the work in the Rural Communities portfolio immensely. It goes to the heart of why I got into politics in the first place.

It’s great to have Kieran in the role, as it provides another advocate at the Cabinet table and helps me balance domestic travel with my international travel as Trade Minister. Kieran will hit the ground running and he has a head start after meeting with all 54 rural and provincial councils last year when he was Associate Minister for Local Government.

And outside the Cabinet room, Jo Luxton is on the ground in her new role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture. That title is a bit of a mouthful, but what it means is that Jo will be another voice advocating for and supporting those in the primary sector. Being based in Ashburton, and having been the Chair of the Primary Production Select Committee, Jo knows the lay of the land.

It’s going to be fantastic to work together on boosting the already huge success of our primary sector.

As we keep on with the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland storm, it feels like a pertinent time to be looking forward to what the future holds.

Both storms saw the tragic loss of life and our hearts go out to those families grieving loved ones.

In recent days I went to Northland, Pukekohe and Hawke’s Bay to look at the damage and listen to the myriad issues farmers and

growers are facing. It’s particularly devastating in Hawke’s Bay, where there’s a high density of capital infrastructure and intensity of orchard and farming operations.

We’ve announced $50 million to kickstart the recovery work on top of an initial $4 million to mobilise the response in the days after the cyclone. Gabrielle’s impacts have been widespread and severe and MPI is working on the ground with sector groups to make sure the funding goes where it’s needed most.

Climate change means that these events

are going to become more frequent. It was said Auckland was a one in 200 year storm, but in the future that may become a one in 50 year or 20 year or 10 year. Who really knows? It was a similar thing with the Ashburton floods of 2021.

What’s evident is that we need to re-think the capacity of the infrastructure systems we build, the materials and methods we use, and how we situate them. As farmers and growers we’re exposed to shifting climatic conditions. Storms like these will require us to rethink our businesses in similar ways.

On the job: Minister of agriculture Damien O’connor has been visiting some of the worst hit areas in Northland, Pukekohe and hawke’s Bay following cyclone Gabrielle.

It’s good that we’ve passed the debate on whether climate change is a reality and can focus on what we’re doing about it.

The Government is determined to support our primary industries both with adapting to new climate conditions and severe events, as well as addressing emissions through innovative solutions to lower them over time.

Our focus is on helping farmers and growers adapt to changing markets whose consumers are concerned about climate and sustainability. This is one way we can help the sector as it positions itself for the future.

People, power and communication

with Todd Muller

National Party Spokesperson for Agriculture

As National’s Agriculture spokesperson, naturally I have a particular interest in the welfare and recovery of the primary sector but by my way of thinking, until there’s a full assessment of the damage, there is only one division: those who need help, and those who can help.

Emergency services, lines companies, council workers, helicopter pilots and others have been putting in enormous efforts in the recovery, and we can all be grateful for that effort, as well as for the actions of unsung heroes.

People in Canterbury understand the trauma that comes with a natural disaster. I know that Canterbury readers, especially those with family or friends in the affected areas up north, will be offering what they can.

People in the worst affected areas will be traumatised by what they have seen and experienced – compounded for many by the days they went without communication or

information. The Ministry of Primary Industries’ website has useful contacts for various means of support, and the Rural Support Trust can be contacted via www.rural-support.org.nz.

In an era in which people have never been more easily connected, the cyclone reminds us that we have also become more vulnerable to communication lines going down. Who, nowadays, could reach for a battery-operated transistor radio?

I agree with Federated Farmers that in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it’s people, power, communications and access that are the priorities. However, quickly communities will move on to big questions about land use, insurance, the resilience of infrastructure and who pays for it.

Cyclone Gabrielle will be the reminder no-one wanted about the importance of agriculture not only to New Zealand’s economy and regional economies, but also to

New Zealanders’ standard of living.

Most of us saw images of horticultural workers stranded on the rooves of their cabins during the floods, and it was good to quickly learn that those people were soon rescued and safe. But laden apple trees have been uprooted and washed away – and with them the expected income of those growers, and the jobs of their workers.

The implications of this disaster will continue to become apparent over the coming weeks and months and all of us will see the effect on produce prices at supermarkets.

The scale of losses is enormous. The Insurance Council of New Zealand has already said that the expected insurance bills for the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle will top the whole of 2022’s claims – and that was the highest year’s claims on record. All of this is compounded by inflation and worker shortages.

As my colleague and National’s finance

spokesperson Nicola Willis has said, the Government must respond to Cyclone Gabrielle with a focus on delivering targeted support and replacing critical infrastructure in a timely manner.

I agree with her that the Government is likely to struggle to meet the challenges of the recovery. For too long, the Government has spent too much money unproductively. It raided funds that were ear-marked for Covid and that could instead have been set aside for emergency purposes.

Finally, while rural households tend to have a greater degree of self-sufficiency than those in cities, in the wake of Gabrielle let’s all ensure that we assess our own family’s emergency provisions and procedures.

The recommendation is that you have enough supplies to last three days if cut off. Many remote households are used to going far longer than that, but let’s all be prepared.

Like every New Zealander, my focus right now is on the utter devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Water cleaning research heads to the farm

An entrepreneur based at Ara Polytech in Christchurch has secured funding to complete a second phase of testing a technology touted to be a game changer for cleaning up rivers and waterways.

] by Kent caddick

Ngarie Scartozzi, founder of eClean Envirotech has spent the past year in the Department of Applied Sciences and Social Practice lab developing her eClean Bioreactor which is being designed to remove nitrates, heavy metals, E. coli and other contaminants from urban waterway samples.

Her ground-breaking work is backed by Te Ohaka Centre for Growth and Innovation (a partnership between Ara, the Ministry of Awesome and Christchurch NZ) and HTK group which specialises in working with Maori and indigenous groups to build better futures.

Now she’s taking her refined systems into a rural setting, focusing on the bacteria in farm waterways which is a step closer to her dream of having a real impact on water quality in low-flow environments such as drainage channels, streams, and lakes.

“After a massive year of learning we’re taking the technology to the red-zone,” Scartozzi said.

“This is a chance to optimise all we have learned by taking our testing to areas with some of the highest nitrate levels in New Zealand and aiming to show we can reduce levels by up to 85 percent.”

Scartozzi said the site, based in the Ashburton-Hinds area, is dairy farming and cropping intensive.

“The government has given the region

until 2035 to reduce nitrate levels by up to 30-percent before facing heavy restrictions on applying fertilizers, so everyone in that area is keen to solve the problem,” she said.

The half-million-dollar research trial made possible through the Ministry for Primary Industry’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund, as well as industry funding from Waiora Research Limited is once again drawing on the skills of Ara students and engineering teaching staff.

Scartozzi said the value of such expertise at her fingertips is hard to measure.

“When we have technical problems, we can use expertise of supervisors to troubleshoot which costs us little. In the ‘real world’ we’d have to bring in expensive consultants or specialists,” she says.

She’s been training new recruits to assist with the laboratory work and says, while it’s economical working with students, they also lift the energy of the project bringing their creativity and innovation.

Diploma of Civil Engineering student Jack King said he is enjoying the hands-on work.

“This has potential to be a game changer for the industry for dairying and farming but there are civil applications in water treatment too so it’s exciting and refreshing,” King said.

While Scartozzi is underway with phase two of her trial, she’s simultaneously working on patents and commercializing her technology in the hope she will be able to open a

sales and marketing pipeline in the next 12 months.

“Ara-Te Pukenga has certainly helped connect the dots,” Scartozzi said.

“I’m in the lab with students and we’re conducting research to help me commercialise the product. But I’m also able to have my finger on the pulse of the business arena and being part of the start-up community is cool as it gives me heaps of connections,” she says.

Cleaning up: Ngarie Scartozzi at work in her lab on campus at ara.

‘

This has potential to be a game changer for the industry.

Jack King

Diploma of Civil Engineering student, Ara Polytech

Balancing ambition and affordability

Let’s talk money. More specifically budgets. Don’t panic, I’m not about to tell you how to run your business, rather offer

some insight into ours.

] by Peter Scott ] ECan Chair

As your regional council, Environment Canterbury is no different to the farms, businesses and households across the region. We all have limits to how much we can spend and limited options to generate earnings to pay for what we want to do.

But there is one important difference. A large chunk of our revenue is collected through rates – targeted and general – which means that we are subject to a higher level of scrutiny of our spending than other organisations.

And, with inflation at such high levels, we’re acutely aware there are limits to what people can afford. We’re feeling the pinch from increased costs as well.

So, when putting together our budget for the next year – our draft Annual Plan 2023/24 – my fellow councillors and I gave staff strong guidance to stick with what we agreed to last year and

by Teanau Tuiono ] Agriculture spokesperson ] for the Green Party

not make any significant changes.

As always, it’s a fine balance. Some want us to do more, faster, while many want us to slow our work programmes due to affordability concerns.

We’re still proposing an ambitious $270 million work programme for the year. That’s a lot of activity and represents a considerable shared investment by our community.

We think we’ve got the balance about right and are proposing a 10 per cent increase in revenue from rates to help fund our work in the 2023/24 year. This is made up of the 4.6 per cent originally indicated for year two

of the 2023/24 year in the Long-Term Plan, as well as the increased budget agreed last year for the public transport trial, funding flood recovery and replenishing the general reserve. The actual amount paid by each property will vary.

But don’t just take my word for it. Head online to ecan.govt.nz and read the details yourself in our draft Annual Plan 2023/24. Then let us know if you think we’re on the right track, or if we missed something.

Your input will help us weigh up priorities as we finalise our budgets over the next few months.

Our future at stake

Like many people who live rurally, I headed home after hearing my whanau were cut off by the floods.

These floods have shown the damage caused by slash run off from pine plantations. At the same time many farms are under water, with stock losses yet to be measured. We need to ensure we’re restoring floodplains and wetlands, and planting more native forests that can help sure-up steep banks and reduce erosion and slips.

When I finally got through, I got over the hills and saw that the river had spread out like a lake. My whanau were safe, but my heart goes out to all our whanau out there in Tairawhiti and across Heretaunga, particularly those families who have lost loved ones or are still waiting to hear from loved ones.

The immediate priority must be to make sure people get the support they need and that our communities are supported fully to recover. Over the last couple of weeks we have seen just how much we rely on each other and our communities.

Extreme weather is now happening at a pace and intensity we have never experienced before. This is climate change.

Although extreme weather affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. Climate change disproportionately affects low income households, as well as disabled people and migrants.

Systems designed by successive governments weren’t working before the floods, and they obviously didn’t work during. But, we can now make decisions to ensure they work in the future. Our priority right now is to make sure people get the support they need and that our communities are supported fully to recover.

Climate resilience means better urban planning and flood protection. We need to stop urban sprawl into natural areas and our agricultural areas. Green belts around urban areas are essential for protecting biodiversity, and managing flooding.

We also need to make sure we have a plan to fix one of those pesky three waters – storm water.

Most of our towns have incredibly old storm water systems that urgently need upgrading which is why we need central government-led investment into ageing infrastructure to prepare for more frequent and extreme weather events.

And beyond this, we should be using more green infrastructure, which is shown to reduce surface flooding and improve water quality entering our rivers and seas. This is a crucial part of adapting to a changing climate. If we’d started investing in these solutions 30 years ago we’d be better off today, but it’s not too late to make the changes we need.

There are solutions to climate change. We know what they are. It’s now more urgent than ever that we take action.

We just have to push past the climate deniers and the corporate climate procrastinators who have continued to put profit before the planet. Our future is at stake here.

Some optimistic signs for 2023

] with andrew Wyllie, Forsyth Barr

Early 2023 has provided tentative signs that the end of interest rate hikes might be in sight. Inflation data has shown some respite from endless price increases, while global labour markets are starting to show signs of increasing slack and a reducing pace of wage growth.

These factors mean that central banks can take their foot off the brake slightly and slow the pace of rate hikes.

Looking at

Expectations are for rates to peak by mid2023. As the peak in interest rates gets closer, markets are now starting to bet on when interest rates will start going back down. Talk of an economic ‘soft landing’ persists, but risks remain.

Negatives turning

After a strong bounce in the 18 months or so post the COVID crash, in 2022 we suffered the hangover from the withdrawal of substantial government and central bank economic support, rising interest rates to combat soaring inflation, a commodity supply shock after Russia invaded Ukraine, and China’s tight zero-COVID restrictions and property slump.

Several of these negative factors have now abated or turned positive:

• Inflation appears to have peaked for most developed economies and, although it generally remains above central banks’ targets for now, is now heading lower.

African love grass

This gives central banks some breathing room to slow the pace of rate hikes, with most central banks expected to pause increases in coming months. This has buoyed stock market sentiment as higher interest rates tend to weigh on both stock prices and earnings.

• There has been some relief from the commodity shock driven by the war in Ukraine. Energy prices in Europe have fallen back from being up +40% year-onyear to around +17% in January. European natural gas prices have returned back to levels seen prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as countries have diversified their energy supplies and aided by a milder winter. Food prices have also declined from peaks seen last year (albeit, they remain above pre-war levels).

• China’s economic re-opening has been a significant positive since December and the expectation is that this will provide a decent boost in demand for Australasian exports, especially in the near-term.

The anticipation of increased economic activity in China has driven the price of industrial metals (such as copper, tin and iron ore) sharply higher in the past few months. The Chinese economy is now expected to grow by a solid 5.2% in 2023 based on the latest forecasts from the IMF, a big upwards revision from its previous forecast of 4.4% growth.

Remaining on the challenging side is the ongoing decline in global property markets in response to rising interest rates. Declining house prices remain a risk to household confidence and spending.

So far this appears to have been reasonably well offset by strong labour markets and pent-up demand and savings still flowing after post-pandemic lockdowns.

Consumers in focus

Through Covid-19 lockdowns, global consumers accumulated savings and pent-up

demand for experiences such as travel and dining out.

We are still seeing the flow-on effects from this in the solid rebound in inbound tourist numbers here in New Zealand and it’s a similar story internationally. As those savings get run down, spending will become much more reliant on real wage growth and wealth effects.

Both of these factors generally point toward a somewhat more cautious consumer in the year ahead.

Sky-high infl ation (although abating) has increased the cost of everyday goods while wage increases are struggling to keep pace.

House prices (which have an impact on people’s feeling of wealth and propensity to spend) continue to head south in New Zealand and most other developed economies. Maintain an even keel

While 2023 has set off on a more constructive path, there will undoubtedly be external shocks and some bumps in the road as markets manage the transition to more subdued growth and higher interest rates in coming months.

The potential for interest rates to start declining again from late 2023/early 2024 could be helpful for equity markets, but it will depend on what drives interest rate cuts.

Assuming inflation comes gently down and economies remain solid then, all else equal, that should be positive for equities.

The risk remains that inflation and interest rates get driven lower by a sharper contraction in economic activity which would be a negative for equity markets.

As we’ve experienced in recent years, external shocks and surprising data can alter the investing landscape quickly.

It remains important for investors to be flexible and prepare to navigate a range of potential outcomes in the year ahead.

This article was prepared as at 31 January 2023 and provides market commentary for the three-month period ending on that date.

We appreciate that market volatility and economic uncertainty doesn’t make an easy backdrop for investors.

To discuss your investment options please contact andrew Wyllie, who is an Investment adviser and is Forsyth Barr’s christchurch Branch co-Manager. 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, has been prepared in good faith based on information obtained from sources believed to be reliable and accurate, and should not be regarded as financial advice.

A crack down on poultry farming causing a scramble for eggs

The beginning of 2023 brought with it an egg shortage that many have been vocal about.

] with alivia Nevin ] Helmore Stewart Lawyers

The Animal Welfare Act (the Act) came into force in 1999. Under section 75 of this Act, the Minister must recommend new codes if it is necessary to change the best practice and care of animals under the Act. In 2012, the Minister issued the Animal Welfare (Layer Hens) Code of Welfare (the Code), with a 10 year period to phase out the production of caged eggs. In December 2022, that 10 year period came to an end.

It has been seen throughout the media that people are far from happy about this shortage. Comments such as “farmers have had 10 years to prepare for this” have flooded the news and many fingers have been pointed at farmers for not wanting to change.

Reports from the Ohoka Farmers Market state that their eggs have been sold within the first 20 minutes, with eager customers lining up an hour ahead of opening time. However, there are many factors that have led to this shortage and many that are out of farmer’s control.

This shift in poultry farming is not as straight forward as it appears. With minimum standards of food, water, shelter and shade imposed on farmers, changing the systems of their business can be an expensive exercise.

Change: If you are a regular egg consumer, be kind to your supplier as farmers adjust to their new way of business.

business already simply did not have the extra money to transition their farm to meet the new standards being imposed.

All of this pressure has led to many leaving the industry. The Egg Producers Federation have reported that hen numbers have now dropped by 400,000. With hens only laying one egg a day and a chick not laying eggs until around five months old, New Zealand could be experiencing this shortage for many months to come.

If you are a poultry farmer, it is worth evaluating your packaging during this time of reform. Under the Fair Trading Act it is an offence to mislead customers. It is important to ensure that your packaging reflects the correct description of your produce and that you are familiar with the Code to ensure that you are meeting the new minimum standards.

Furthermore, reports of issues obtaining resource consents from Environment Canterbury have come to light as this change does not always align with the Resource Management Act.

Those farmers who were struggling in

If your difficulties with this transition arise from resource consent issues, speak with your local lawyer to see if they can assist. If you are a regular egg consumer, be kind to your supplier as farmers adjust to their new way of business.

Bayleys is proud to partner with the

Bayleys is a proud supporter of the Rural Support Trust. As New Zealand’s number one rural real estate brand, we spend a lot of time with farmers, and with many farmers in our team, we’re deeply involved in rural communities.

Matt Chisholm has signed on as Ambassador for the Rural Support Trust and he’s on a nationwide tour talking to rural communities about mental wellbeing. With the support of the regional Rural Support Trusts across New Zealand, we are looking forward to bringing Matt to a rural venue near you.

Omihi, North Canterbury

Wed 8 Mar | 7.00pm - 10.00pm

Omihi Community Hall

Timaru, South Canterbury

Thu 30 Mar | 6.45pm - 10.00pm

Phar Lap Raceway Washdyke

Get your tickets at rural-support.org.nz/Time-Out-Tour

The Rural Support Time Out Tour

This autumn, TV presenter turned farmer Matt Chisolm will be touring rural Canterbury sharing his struggle with addiction and talking ways to mental wellbeing, with the Rural Support Trust.

Supplied by Bayleys Country

When people are under pressure, The Rural Support Trust believes in the importance of sharing stories with someone who’s been there before.

Bayleys Country are longtime supporters of the Trust. Their Country Manager, Kevin Jenkins will be attending Matt’s upcoming talks in Omihi and Timaru.

We caught up with Kevin and asked why Bayleys are backing Matt’s tour.

out for each other. But working rurally can be a challenge when it comes to mental wellbeing.

“People live in remote areas where there aren’t many others to talk to. And farmers can find it hard to ask for help. We’re very good at bluffing, making everything seem normal, but behind the scenes we can be really struggling.”

set up Surfing for Farmers to help farmers reset.

Today, there’s a surfboard and a BBQ waiting for farmers at 21 locations across New Zealand, including four in Canterbury (Sumner, Gore Bay, Hickory Bay and Kakanui).

Kevin says it’s another way for rural communities to look out for each other.

you a better choice.

“Bayleys are very proud to be involved in this tour. Supporting mental wellbeing is something we firmly believe in, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Matt’s talks in Omihi and Timaru.”

Bayleys agents

live, work, and farm in Canterbury rural communities

“The Bayleys team is out there every day in rural communities. Many of our team live in rural communities and are farmers themselves, myself included,” Kevin sasid.

“So, we appreciate first-hand the stress rural people can experience. Pressures build up and impact on relationships and health.

“Rural communities are good at looking

“At Bayleys we see all this because we live, work and farm in rural communities. So, the mental health and wellbeing of rural people is very important to us.”

Surfing for Farmers gets farmers out on the waves

The Rural Support Trust isn’t the only way Bayleys supports rural communities. In 2019 Bayleys rural real estate agent Stephen Thomson could see how tough many farmers were finding life. Getting out on his board helped him take space from the pace, so he

How does magnesium help heart rhythm?

Someone I know well has been treated by a cardiologist for atrial fibrillation, one of the more common heart rhythm issues.

What was interesting that the cardiologist recommended a high-grade magnesium supplement along with prescribed medications.

One paper (European Heart Journal, 2017) stated: “As such, magnesium plays an integral role in a variety of functions related to cardiovascular disorders. Reduced dietary intake of magnesium has been linked with a higher risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation (AF), ischaemic heart disease, and new-onset heart failure and heart failure-related hospitalization.

Similarly, a low serum magnesium level is associated with up to a 50% higher incidence of new AF, left ventricular hypertrophy, and is an important predictor of sudden cardiovascular death and overall mortality.”

Perhaps my friend’s cardiologist is aware of this and similar studies. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Cardiology now incorporate magnesium therapy into treatment and management of some heart arrhythmias.

As an electrolyte, magnesium has a critical role in maintaining normal electrical function in heart muscle. One study

showed that patients receiving supplemental magnesium were 3 times more likely to get their heart rate below 100bpm than those on a placebo.

This central role of magnesium in heart muscle is because it regulates energy needed for other electrolytes, notably calcium, potassium and sodium. If magnesium is low, these electrolytes become imbalanced and can start processes that affect heart rhythm.

I use magnesium supplementation in two ways. Firstly, I add it to my multi-mineral/vitamin/antioxidant complex. The levels in this are sufficient for a healthy person.

However, for those with arrythmia we need to add therapeutic levels. For this I have combined 3 bioavailable forms of magnesium (natural marine, glycinate and citrate) in one supplement. I then allow a dosage range of between 1-4 capsules daily to meet individual needs.

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.

“A few hours away from the farm can make all the difference.”

Come to see Matt speak in Omihi or Timaru

Kevin hopes to see you at one of Matt’s talks.

“Matt has had his own demons with drinking and depression, and he’s lost friends who’ve gone to a dark place. It’s important to share these stories.

“A lot of people hide mental illness or use drugs and alcohol when things get tough. Matt’s here to share a way through and show

Support: TV presenter turned farmer Matt chisolm will be touring rural canterbury sharing his struggle with addiction and talking ways to mental wellbeing, with the rural Support Trust

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] with John arts

Feds applauds government’s rural connectivity ambitions

] by Kent caddick

It’s one of a number of aspirational targets outlined in the Lifting Connectivity in Aotearoa report launched at Fieldays late last year.

“The report lifts the discussion from having to justify whether something should be done to one of ‘let’s get on and do it’,” Feds national board member and telecommunications spokesperson Richard McIntyre said.

“While it’s going to take a lot more investment on top of the money already announced, we applaud the commitments made to longer-term rural connectivity solutions,”

McIntyre said the government has clearly taken on board the findings of Federated Farmers Rural Connectivity Surveys that increased demand for mobile and broadband services in rural and provincial areas is overwhelming infrastructure capability.

The government has committed $47 million towards the first phase of a rural infrastructure upgrading programme, delivering improved connectivity for up to 47,000 rural homes and businesses, and $43 million has been allocated to the second phase for up to 26,000 additional rural homes and businesses. This work is scheduled between now and 2024.

The 21 new contracts signed by Crown Infrastructure partners will accelerate upgrades to towers and broadband connections in areas with poor coverage.

“Federated Farmers has serious issues on other fronts with the government when it fails to take into account farmer and rural needs and inputs on practicality, but on connectivity we acknowledge the government is listening and taking the right steps,” McIntyre said.

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Adam has an enduring connection to dairy farming – he grew up on a dairy farm and spent time dairy farming. This practical farming knowledge combined with a period as a Rural Banker means Adam can provide an unparalleled level of expertise when you’re looking to sell your most valuable asset.

Whether you’re looking to sell or just want to stay up to date with the market, give Adam a call for a confidential chat.

Adam Whitelock

027 408 3424 | adam.whitelock@bayleys.co.nz

Federated Farmers says the government’s goal to ensure every rural and remote resident and worker in New Zealand will have the ability to access the connectivity they need by 2032 is ambitious and admirable.

Research shows plantain can reduce nitrogen leaching

Innovative new research has signalled feeding cows the leafy herb plantain can reduce nitrogen leaching from dairy farms by 20 to 60 percent.

] by Kent caddick

Ecotain environmental plantain reduces nitrogen leaching by increasing cows’ urine volume, therefore diluting the nitrogen in urine and reducing the total amount of nitrogen excreted in urine. It also retains nitrogen in the soil, preventing it entering waterways.

The results, from the DairyNZ-led Plantain Potency and Practice (PPP) Programme, prove using Ecotain plantain in pasture can significantly reduce nitrogen entering waterways.

Farm trials at Massey University and initial results from a trial at Lincoln University are showing similar trends. The trials are part of the nationwide PPP research and development programme that partners with dairy farmers, industry and Government.

“These are exciting results – we now have robust scientific evidence that Ecotain plantain is an effective solution to help dairy farmers further reduce farm footprint and continue playing their part in improving water quality,” DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said.

“Plantain can bring significant benefits to local waterways and communities. We all want healthy freshwater to swim and play in, and dairy farmers can confidently use Ecotain plantain on-farm to support that.

“These research findings are part of a broader programme of work to continue delivering on dairy’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint in our local communities, while maintaining profitable businesses,” Mackle said.

The $22 million seven-year PPP Programme is funded by DairyNZ, the Government through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Fonterra, working with six additional research and delivery partners.

The programme uses Ecotain environmental plantain from Agricom because it has proven effectiveness. An evaluation system is available to assess the environmental benefits of all plantain cultivars sold by a range of providers.

At the Massey University farm trial, scien-

tists are measuring nitrogen leaching from paddocks grazed by 80 dairy cows. After two years, the trial results have shown reduced nitrogen leaching by 20% to 60% in perennial ryegrass and clover pastures containing 30% to 50% Ecotain plantain.

The results are compared to traditional perennial ryegrass and clover paddocks (the most common pasture types in New Zealand). There was no difference in milk production between the plantain and control pastures in the trial.

The amount of reduced nitrogen leaching depends on the quantity of plantain in the pasture, the soil type, climate and farm system. The Massey University trial will continue for a further two years.

Initial results from the programme’s Lincoln University study in Canterbury, on lighter soils under irrigation, show similar trends to the Massey University trial, with a 38-50% reduction in nitrogen leaching from pasture containing 24% Ecotain plantain. More data are being collected to confirm these results.

Massey University Professor Emeritus Peter Kemp and his team have been researching the effects of plantain over several years and the experimental plots were established at the university in 2019.

“Building on decades of pastoral research at Massey, our team have designed an innovative drainage system that uses the soil

structure on the farm to enable measurement of all the nitrogen leaching from each paddock,” Kemp said.

“The four-year trial has had incredible success so far and our trial site allows the results to be directly transferable to current farming systems in New Zealand. Importantly for farmers, transition to plantain pastures results in no loss of production, while simul-

Positive: The Plantain Potency and Practice Programme’s farm trial at Massey University (pictured) confirms Ecotain plantain can reduce nitrogen loss from dairy farms by 20 to 60 percent.

taneously reducing nitrogen leaching significantly from farms into freshwater.

“This supports current initiatives to protect our natural environment and improve waterways. Significantly, Massey University research has shown that this pasture regime also decreases the greenhouse gas emissions of nitrous oxide, a key issue for climate change,” Kemp said.

Fall armyworm continues to multiply

A fall armyworm larvae has been confirmed on a fodder beet paddock in Central Otago in February adding to the growing numbers of finds throughout the country.

] by Kent caddick.

As of Friday February 3, MPI confirmed the fall armyworm has been found on 100 properties since September last year, with 12 of these finds on the West Coast of the South Island, and now one in Central Otago.

This shows the pest could be found on leaves of different crops and can be found in southern regions as temperatures warm.

There have been no detections in Canterbury or any other regions in the east of the South Island but MPI is encouraging a high level of vigilance for Canterbury maize and sweetcorn crops, as the models suggest that conditions are now suitable for potential fall armyworm development.

The number of fall armyworm moths caught in the response traps in the North Island has increased significantly in recent weeks marking the move from second to third generation.

The fall armyworm moth is a plant pest that can feed on over 350 plant species,

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preferring grasses and cereals. Vegetable hosts include corn, asparagus, beans, peas, beetroot, brassica, capsicum, cucurbits, eggplant, onions, kumara, lettuce, and tomatoes. Early detection and reporting of fall armyworm will help protect New Zealand’s primary sector.

The moth, which is an unwanted pest in New Zealand, is actively spreading around the world.

It is native to the Americas and since 2016, has been introduced to Africa, Asia, and is established in parts of Australia.

This moth has been on Biosecurity New Zealand’s radar for some time, and they have worked closely with their primary sector partners on keeping it out.

Fall armyworm is a hitchhiker pest and work done by Biosecurity New Zealand shows adults can spread via wind dispersal events from Australia.

Biosecurity New Zealand’s risk analysis has found that the moth would struggle to establish in New Zealand, as areas with preferred hosts do not necessarily have the cor-

rect climate to suit fall armyworm, as it is a tropical species, thriving in warm conditions.

This species is unable to hibernate over winter, so populations are likely to die out during our winter period. This will cover all life forms (eggs, larvae, pupae, adults).

Biosecurity New Zealand says the overall risk was assessed as low because consequences nationally are considered to be very low, with the potential for low localised impacts.

Key Points:

• All South Island maize and sweet corn crops should be scouted as well as ongoing surveillance in North Island.

• The insecticide Sparta is approved for use on maize and sweetcorn crops.

• All finds must be reported to MPI here or call 0800 80 99 66.

• There are no negative consequences to growers for reporting, as this pest will not be controlled by removing crops.

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Sightings wanted: Fall armyworm moth adults are 16–18 mm long, and a wingspan of 38 mm, with brown-grey forewings and cream-coloured hind wings.

Farmer thankful for ECan soil conservation support

Support from Environment Canterbury’s Soil Conservation and Revegetation (SCAR) Programme has enabled a North Canterbury farmer to address erosion issues on his farm.

Supplied by ECan

The SCAR Programme aims to reduce the amount of sediment washed into waterways by stabilising eroding land with poplar and willow poles. The roots from the trees connect and lock in the soil, helping prevent potential slips.

Duncan Rutherford, a sheep, beef and dairy farmer in Culverden received 150 poplar poles to help address some steep, wet sites on his property where the land was beginning to show signs of slippage.

He said he heard about the SCAR programme through word of mouth.

“I then got in touch with Sam Thompson at Environment Canterbury, and he arranged the order and delivery for me. It’s been a really good and easy process,” Rutherford said.

He said he has already placed an order with the Environment Canterbury team for some more poles next year.

“There’s more land on the property which would benefit from the poles.

“The poles obviously help with stabilising the land, but they also will provide good stock shelter and they look nice too , there’s no disadvantage in my eyes.”

With help, Rutherford spent a couple of days installing the poles. Their extensive root systems helping to bind soil on stream banks and hillsides. hey will establish quickly, have high evapotranspiration (an important part of the water cycle) during the growing season, and be tolerant of seasonal changes in moisture levels.

Poplar and willow poles being used are

sterile which means they can’t spread. They are a tool to stabilise the eroding land primarily in a grazing setting.

If the landowner wanted to change the land use, natives can be planted under the established trees, followed by removal of the poles at a later date.

In the grazing setting, natives used would likely be eaten and their roots don’t grow fast enough to stabilize the land. The programme

Helping out: Poplar and willow poles planted on culverden farmer Duncan rutherford’s property will help to stabilise eroding land.

also provides funding to fence off erosionprone land that has natives on it. If there’s no grazing/stock, native plants can naturally regenerate and there is some funding for native revegetation.

Funding is available for poles. If you are interested in planting poles on erosion-prone land in North Canterbury, please contact Soil. Con@ecan.govt.nz for more information. Orders must be made by 2 May annually.

Popular with exhibitors and visitors

With the countdown on until the South Island Agricultural Field Days kicking off from 29th March, organisers are feverishly putting the finishing touches to the upgraded Kirwee site to ensure a great experience for all attending.

Supplied by ] SIAFD Organising Committee

Field days committee chairman Hayden Dorman says the field days managed to just dodge the lockdown bullet in 2021, and 2023 promises to see an even bigger turn out of the latest in agricultural equipment, agritech and products.

“With things starting to return to normal, the field days provide an opportunity to really do your homework on what the best purchase decision may be, after some of the challenges in the past couple of years,” Dorman says.

Since 2021 organisers have doubled down smoothing the site’s network of paved roads, establishing a new water supply, and expanding the electricity grid throughout providing reliable, extensive infrastructure to improve exhibitor and attendee’s experience.

Dorman says interest among farmers and contractors on displays this year is heightened because of the difficulty many have had in past years trying to secure gear and equipment due to global shipping issues.

The SIAFD sites easy access, flat contour and central Canterbury location make it equally popular among exhibitors and visitors alike, while the expansive demonstration site is an invaluable addition for contractors and farmers considering investing tens of thousands into new equipment.

“The event is wholly organised and run by volunteers, we all have strong connections to the land either as farmers or contractors, and an appreciation of what is expected when you come along to an event like this, whether to buy or to sell.”

The organisers have worked hard to keep the event focused and relevant for farmers and contractors alike, something Dorman says has been repaid by having a growing core of committed companies that return regularly to the bi-annual event.

The South Island Agricultural Field Days are also supporting a growing number of agritech exhibitors keen to showcase their latest developments, taking advantage of the wide range of crop and pastoral operators throughout the region looking for technology to optimise fertiliser, water, and land use.

Smart farming tech interest has grown with the lift in connectivity many more rural areas are enjoying, as the

need to follow the multiple data flows a farm generates also grows.

The field days kick off from March 29, running to March 31. Tickets and other event information are available at www.siafd.co.nz

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Ready to go: The SIAFD sites easy access, flat contour and central Canterbury location make it equally popular among exhibitors and visitors alike, while the expansive demonstration site is an invaluable addition for contractors and farmers considering investing tens of thousands into new equipment.

Keeping up with change

The rate of change for New Zealand’s primary industries in areas such as environmental, regulatory and compliance is unprecedented. Whether associated with freshwater, nutrients, wetlands, greenhouse gasses, what types of farming need consents, water infrastructure, the RMA – this list seems endless.

100% of what we source in terms of fresh produce, meat and dairy is environmentally accredited.” With over 2,300 stores across Europe and Asia, Tesco is a big player in the market. A similar position is likely to emerge from other large retail outlets that are supplied by the New Zealand primary industry.

] by Matt Bubb ] Aqualinc

At a conference recently, an experienced consultant mentioned to us that they were finding it hard to keep fully up to speed with all the changes.

If they were struggling, when it was a major part of their business, they wondered how farmers were coping with staying fully up to speed when these matters were only one very narrow aspect of farming operations.

So, how are you going?

Many changes are being driven by Central and local Government, although they are also being influenced by international market forces. Recent news suggested that market forces could have greater impacts in terms of on-farm practices and sustainability than local or national requirements.

For example, Tesco supermarkets have raised a warning flag saying that “Around 2025 to 2030 we want to make sure that

What the messaging from overseas and some supply chains is telling us, is that environmental performance is going to become increasingly important. Not only will performance be critical; auditing and reporting of performance will also need to be robust.

What this means for farmers is that it is no longer sufficient to “be” a good farmer and to make good decisions which help lead to sound environmental outcomes, we also now need to “prove” that this is the case.

Because future farming will potentially be driven as much by the supply chain, overseas policy and consumer preferences, as by internal politics, it seems unlikely that a change in national or local government will lead to a significant shift in the direction of travel. Proof of sound environmental outcomes is here to stay!

Because of the diverse nature of many of the recent environmental and regulatory changes, the assistance of industry experts is becoming increasingly important. Although our friend at the recent conference may be struggling to keep up, it’s likely that they will

be far better informed about these matters than many of us.

The role of trusted advisors has always been important, although as things get more complicated this importance is only likely to grow. With the complexity of many changes, it is becoming more likely that any one adviser will not have all of the answers. It is more likely that specialist advice may need to be sought from a variety of experts. What is important, is that if unsure – ask.

However, make sure that you are asking the right questions to the right person. Note that good advisors will know the boundaries of their own knowledge and refer on to others in their network where appropriate. A good advisor may also help you to ask the right questions – after all, we don’t know what we don’t know.

Pick up the phone and call your trusted advisors. Make sure you are making fully informed decisions that not only seek the required environmental outcomes, but

also consider all the implications for your business.

aqualinc have a number of specialists with a wide range of expertise who can provide practical advice and solutions to many of these emerging problems.

You can’t manage it if you don’t measure it

There is no doubt that farming has become increasingly challenging just to keep ahead of the game, and also sometimes just to keep up, but there’s one thing that New Zealand Farmers are great at and that’s adapting to change and problem solving.

] Supplied by CP Lime Solutions

Here at CP Lime we are always looking at what we can do to better help our clients improve their farming systems and help remove some of their work load.

With compliance and regulation in the rural and agriculture sector taking up a large proportion of farmers time and headspace, not having the worry about what fertilisers to apply and are they really fit for purpose for your operation is important to us, not to mention the ongoing incremental fertiliser price increases over the last two years.

At CP Lime Solutions we want to help refine fertiliser capital and maintenance input cost by not applying anything that is not needed.

To prepare for this Autumn or Spring an in depth Optimise soil analysis at a cost of $110+GST is a relatively inexpensive investment that will give you more information to make an informative decision. This is where the old adage comes in, “You can’t manage it if you don’t measure it”.

One of our standard features on our Op-

timise soil tests is measuring the ASC (anion storage capacity), this is the new version of the old p retention test and will often help to explain why things may not be happening as expected.

It also gives us the information as to what form of phosphate to use if needed. A lot of companies you will need to ask to have this test done as an extra.

Armed with good information from these soil tests which are carried out locally, we can help to manage your Autumn and Spring applications of fertiliser with the use of Optimise micronised pelletised fertilisers. For example by applying our micronised pelletised Lime and Sulphur in the Autumn you are setting your country up to hit the ground running in the spring.

Whether you are hill country, horticulture, sheep and beef or dairy having the nutrients there when they are required is most important to optimise production. Optimise uses elemental sulphur to reduce losses through winter leaching and will remain there until the spring to crank those clovers along.

Have a field day at stand 868

The micronised pelletised lime, Lime and sulphur 20%, micronised pelletised magnesium carbonate and Mag sulphur 20% are 4 of our more popular options for autumn applications. They all come in a pelletised form which is accurate and easy to spread whether it is by ground or air.

Optimise is accurate for the applicator which is crucial in sensitive environments such as waterways or boundaries and overall spreading patterns.

If you need to kick things along a bit we have our kickStart options. These are fine lime and elemental sulphur and magnesium blended with either SOA or urea. We have also incorporated into the pellet humates

which will help hold onto the anions and increase the utilisation of the nitrogen. It also works as a great bio stimulant. By using these combinations of nutrients together we get better results and potentially reduce our overall inputs.

Using one of our many fertiliser blends as a capital or maintenance option will also look better for your books, with lower application rates required you will save not only on spreading but also a lot on transport.

If you want to discuss things further don’t hesitate to call us, our company is not driven by sales but instead driven by communicating with our clients to understand what’s best for them.

by CP Lime

There are Tonnes of reasons to visit us at Kirwee stand 868.

cplimesolutions.net.nz

Growing a healthy world from the ground up.

Information is king: To prepare for this autumn an in depth Optimise soil analysis is a relatively inexpensive investment that will give you more information to make an informative decision.

Not just because our range of perfectly sized pellets accurately delivers Optimise fine lime-based fertiliser for healthy soils and Vitalise mineral supplements for healthy dairy cows.

Acoustic wool panels a world first

A New Zealand company with backing from the Government, has successfully developed a world-first fire resistant, acoustic wall panel for commercial interiors made entirely from New Zealand strong wool.

] by Kent caddick

The new product, Floc Panels, was launched late last year.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said T&R Interior Systems Limited (T&R) had spent the past two years refining its wool panels to ensure they met New Zealand’s strict building and fire compliance standards.

“They’ve nailed it and are now taking their product to market,” O’Connor said.

“Floc wall panels use strong wool to eliminate common acoustic issues such as echoes and reverberation, which are vital in open-plan offices and classrooms.

“What’s more, the panels provide a sustainable and more environmentally friendly alternative to existing products, which are predominantly made from synthetic materials.

“These selling points will resonate in our export markets.

“We’re excited for our sheep farmers to have a new high-value, innovative product on the market made from strong wool. Innovations likes these will help them maximise their earning potential.”

T&R was awarded $303,200 from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund to accelerate pre-commercial development of the wool panels.

“Most existing acoustic products in are imported from overseas, so it’s great that a smart Kiwi company has invested to create this homegrown product,” O’Connor said.

“The acoustic panel market is growing globally, and the domestic market alone currently worth NZD$35-50 million annually. Allied Market research has forecast the global market to increase by 6.3 percent to US$13.8 billion by 2031.

“We expect the amount of wool used will increase substantially as we access new export markets with this product.”

O’Connor said the project with T&R is just one of 15 projects funded through SFF Futures to date that are aimed at reenergising the country’s strong wool sector, with a total Government investment of $14.69 million.

“It complements our establishment of

Wool Impact, which is charged with driving innovation and demand for our strong wool.

“It also aligns to the Government’s and food and fibre sector roadmap Fit for a Better World, in particular its goal of lifting the performance of our wool sector as we aim to boost sustainability, productivity and jobs over 10 years.

“I’m focussed on seeing strong wool providing a lucrative revenue stream for our sheep and beef farmers into the future and applaud the work of T&R,” O’Connor said.

Innovation: Floc wall panels use strong wool to eliminate common acoustic issues such as echoes and reverberation.

Reliable farm monitoring systems

Primary Insight specialise in providing reliable farm monitoring systems to farmers and growers that add value to their business. We work hard to find the right solution for each farm and believe that monitoring systems must add value to the farm business.

Supplied by Primary Insight

The team comprises of Andrew Curtis, Cindy Lowe and Charlotte Butler, who between them have over 30 years’ experience of farm monitoring.

Our farm monitoring solutions range from single sensors to whole farm monitoring solutions, and include technical advice, installation, and on-going support of soil moisture probes, weather stations, flow meters, water-level sensors, effluent and irrigator tracking, and water quality sensors.

Irrigation and fertiliser monitoring solutions are our speciality. For farmers and growers, we use Sentek TriSCAN vertical soil moisture probes, a best-in-class Australian made probe that is renowned for its accuracy, reliability and user-friendly IRRIMAX web display. Sentek probes come in 30cm, 60cm and 90cm lengths, with sensors every 10cm down the probe.

The TriSCAN sensor measures the water and volumetric ion content of the soil, which alongside soil moisture enables the tracking of fertiliser movement down the soil profile. Sentek probes log data in realtime and have both telemetry and Bluetooth

data transfer options. The IRRIMAX web display allows for the custom display of data resulting in its easy interpretation. It also has analysis features such as root activity and irrigation effectiveness which are particularly useful for improving irrigation practice.

In addition, for larger family farming businesses and corporates Primary Insight support the SWAN Systems irrigation monitoring solution, a web-based irrigation scheduling and nutrient tracking tool that allows for easy centralised decision-making and oversight at irrigation zone or paddock scale. A key feature of SWAN Systems is its ability to provide a 7-day irrigation forecast, what paddocks or blocks will need to be irrigated and when over the coming week.

For orchards and vineyards, Primary Insight can now also offer stem potential sensors that measure the stress of the tree or vine in real-time. Previously the use of a manual ‘pressure chamber’ was the only way of doing this. When combined with a soil moisture probe this provides the ultimate irrigation monitoring solution for monitoring quality fruit production.

Primary Insight also undertakes irrigator and effluent performance assessments and can troubleshoot irrigator operation and technology issues. We run free workshops for irrigators on irrigation system operation and management and provide certificates of attendance that will satisfy your Farm Environment Plan requirements.

Making compliance practical and easy is another key focus area for the Primary Insight team. We combine our considerable farm systems and farm monitoring knowledge with our comprehensive understanding of regulatory compliance to assist

IRRIMAX Irrigation Analysis: Blue too much, red too little, Green spot-on.

farmers and growers cost-effectively meet their compliance requirements or can undertake compliance requirements on behalf.

Where possible our goal is to make compliance useful for the farm business, minimising unproductive cost and unnecessary hassle.

If you’ve farm monitoring or compliance monitoring challenge you need sorting, come talk to the Primary Insight team at South Island Agricultural Field days. We arein the West section, on stand number 385a.

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Commercial wool tile range released

Wools of New Zealand has launched a new wool tile range for the commercial sector.

] by Kent caddick

The wool tile product is the culmination of an 18-month development programme designed to unlock opportunities in the commercial sector and drive greater value and returns for wool growers.

The company is initially targeting the commercial sectors in New Zealand, Australian and United Kingdom.

“We are seeing companies and other organisations wanting to ensure their premises are more sustainable and looking after the wellbeing of their people,” Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter said.

“The many beneficial natural properties of our wool tiles make them ideal for using in commercial spaces.

“Wool is a natural product, it’s biodynamic and helps keep buildings warm in cold spells and cool during hot weather.

“Wool is biodegradable, naturally flame and stain resistant, it’s allergy-free and naturally grown – rather than the fossil fuel-

based fibres used in synthetics.

“Our tiles will be of interest to a wide range of organisations and commercial businesses, including the education sector, offices and retail.”

McWhirter said the price of the wool tiles was competitive in relation to the high end synthetic carpet tile market.

The first organisation to use the tiles was the Hillview hospital and retirement home in Te Kuiti, which has had them fitted in its care home and plans to also use them in new independent living and respite facilities.

Hillview is owned and run by a community trust. Local farmer and trust chair Claire Grainger said that as part of a rural community, the trust was keen to support farmers and use wool carpets in an upgrade.

“A lot of our trust members and people living at Hillview have connections to rural communities,” Grainger said.

“We wanted to support farmers and the properties of wool carpets make them ideal for use in a rest home as it’s a great product.

“A problem in the past was that wool carpets were much more expensive than synthetics but now they have become an affordable option.”

Wools of New Zealand has an agreement with leading retailer Flooring Xtra, as well as other independent retail stores, to market its wool carpets, which are now available at

New product: Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter shows off a newly released commercial wool tile.

more than 150 outlets across New Zealand.

“Our goal is to make wool carpet affordable to Kiwi organisations, businesses and households,” McWhirter said.

“We are doing this through using modern high volume manufacturing operations and taking costs out of the supply chain while maintaining very high quality.”

• Mowing

• Baling and Wrapping

• Fertiliser Spreading

• Cultivation

• Roller and Direct Drilling

• Cartage

• Fodderbeet Harvesting

• Combine Harvesting

• Balage, Hay and Straw

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Rolling to steep sheep and beef unit at Ballance. We first applied at Functional Fertiliser mix in 2010 and have applied to 85ha every year since.

We have enjoyed outstanding animal health with both sheep and beef animals regularly achieving top prices at the local sales yards. Independent analysis showed our soil quality to be second to none.

– GRAEME AND JUDY OLSEN

Functional Fertiliser applications over four years have transformed our rotationally grazed pastures into a highly productive summer dominant clover sward.

The “fertiliser’ soft carbon combination brought our soil and pasture to life with amazing alacrity.

Our spring pasture growth supported a stocking capacity of 40 su/ha with the pastures still requiring topping. The Functional Fertiliser wrap around support service has been exceptionally helpful.

– LINDSAY

This stuff is amazing. I have clover coming up where there was none before, thanks!

– LANCE UNSWORTH

We have a small organically registered farm near Otaki specialising in cattle finishing. In the 8 years since applying Functional Fertiliser no nitrogen has been applied and the changes have been exceptional with very strong clover growth providing all the nitrogen required. It took a little time to kick in however our animal health has been exceptional with no lice or worms and very few vet bills resulting in a low cost easy to manage and profitable operation. The property is at least carbon neutral, and the pastures largely look after themselves. The stock agent says we fatten cattle quicker than others with two year old carcass weights of 280 – 300kg with the meat having exceptional flavour.

Our costs are 30% less, with 30% less labour required. We run fewer animals with a 30% increase in overall profitability. It’s an easy-to-follow system that is equally successful on both large and small operations. Functional Fertiliser really works. It sweetens the soil creating the ideal environment for mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial microbes resulting in strong growth throughout the year.

– STUART PRITCHARD

Recently, a major end-user in the UK specified that they would now prefer to buy products from New Zealand that were grown or raised on reduced nitrogen and phosphate land. We believe this is a start of a new trend that will be here to stay.

WE HAVE THE ANSWER TO MAINTAIN HIGH PASTURAL YIELD WITHOUT FERTILISER NITROGEN

Prolan proving a protection plus

Prolan’ s new lanolin ‘Extreme’ product is proving to be a successful natural rust protection solution for some of the toughest testing grounds around, for protection of equipment and machinery exposed to fertiliser, sand, salt and mud.

Advertorial supplied by Prolan

Ashburton Fertiliser Company Green Fertiliser Spreading says, “It’s fantastic! I always had an A+ rating at the vehicle testing station without it. Now they want to give me a higher rating,” Mr Greening said.

The ‘Extreme’ product is a new product in the Prolan product range – manufactured in New Zealand using sheep’s wool lanolin. This product was initially developed for the Danish offshore turbine windmill industry as a long-term natural rust protection with a less tacky finish.

The ‘Extreme’ has proved itself as once applied it stays on and protects in harsh environments, reducing maintenance costs and at the same time it ticks the boxes for environmentally friendliness.

Closer to home in New Zealand the product has proved successful in the fight against corrosion for the 90-mile beach Spat farming industry. Loaders are coated to prevent corrosion from a harsh salt-water environment. Vehicles can be water blasted with cold water after the vehicle has been exposed to beach conditions and the Prolan product stays on.

Operators recommend a Prolan coating as a crucial part of their maintenance programme, reducing downtime in maintenance and component replacement -with improved

WOF and COF pass rates and resale value on machinery.

Where the environment is harsh on gear rust is an ever-present problem. Prolan is effective in shutting off the supply of oxygen to a surface. It can be used on areas where existing rust is present and it prevents it going any further.

The preparation time is minimal – the surface needs to be clean and dry. For example, a used vehicle chassis may require a quick waterblast and wire brush over flaky rust and the Prolan can then be applied straight over the surface.

Prolan ‘Extreme’ is perfect as a coating for vehicle chassis – 4WDs, trucks, motorhomes, loaders, fertiliser spreaders; horticultural tractors spray equipment, bridges or marine applications.

The product is easily applied using a trigger pack, airless spray gun or garden sprayer – for smaller areas, it is also available in an aerosol form. A 1 litre of Prolan covers 8-10 square metres – so a 4 litre tin will cater for a 5m truck chassis.

Prolan – Made in NZ by Kiwis using a by-product of the wool industry. Adding extra value to an already environmentally friendly product with multiple benefits. Try ‘Sheep n a can’ today.

a vehicle chassis without protection will be affected by rust and corrosion.

With a coating of Prolan Extreme, which stays on and protects in harsh environments, maintenance costs will be reduced while also ticking the boxes for environmentally friendliness.

Right vehicle, best price, work ready

Myfleet offers a personalized service to find you the right vehicle for your farm, at the best price, and make sure it’s work ready.

Supplied by myfleet

Myfleet uses decades of experience and their business partner relationships built over many years to source the vehicle solution that is right for you, new or pre-owned, locally or from around the planet.

The company is proud to provide solutions to customers from KeriKeri to Invercargill, whether it’s one vehicle or 100 vehicles, they have a New Zealand wide network to help.

On show at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee will be two of the company’s best-selling farm vehicles, the Tuatara EV 1500E electric side-by-side ATV and the Farm Mate electric bike.

Farm Mate bike

Farm Mate is a lightweight(44kg) crossover Ag-Advenutre bike, having the choice of motor drive only or pedal assist modes, drive can be rear wheel, front wheel or dual drive.

The Farm Mate has an approximate range 60km to 85km on a single 15a/hr battery charge and has two 500W brushless Bafang hub motors. The bike also has a bigger 20ah battery option.

The bike is perfect for jobs around the farm, orchard, vineyard, lifestyle block, adventure riding or just biking to the shops.

New orders will also have plastic (moto-

x style) mud guards mounted high up from the wheel, these will be the non-breakable and mounted higher for mud clearance.

Basic specs:

Dual 500watt bafang hub motors, Shimano 7 speed gears, Front, rear and dual drive function, Throttle drive only or pedal assist with 5 settings, Max speed settings on the handle bars, Motorcycle type gel seat, Full LED lighting, super bright headlamp, Quality robot built alloy frame.

The Farm Mate bike is perfect for jobs around the farm, orchard, vineyard and lifestyle block.

6-ply tyres and 310 mm ground clearance, along with selectable 2WD / 4WD and differential-lock on each axle, provide a truly go-anywhere capability that makes the eTuatara suitable for almost any environment.

LED headlights, fog lights, and an amazingly powerful roof-mounted LED light bar make the eTuatara an excellent platform for night work.

Basic specs:

Tuatara EV 1500E

New to myfleet for 2023 is the fully electric Tuatara 1500E UTV 4X4.

The all-new eTuatara Electric UTV 4WD has an impressive 220 km max range, and together with unbeatable features and the go-anywhere capability of this vehicle, it make the eTuatara an easy choice for a range of New Zealand farming activities.

The powerful 15kW electric motor, with semi-automatic high/low ratio transmission, combined with 26 inch high-grip CST

petrol, Minimum servicing requirements(

Maximum range 220kms(110 to 220km depending on number of batteries), Low running costs (equivalent 30c per litre of petrol, Minimum servicing requirements( eg. no air intake, no carburation system, no exhaust, no oil changes), Regenerative braking provides genuine engine braking on steep inclines and recharges the battery on the run, 5 to 7 hour re-charge time, Powerful 15kW water-cooled electric motor, Semi-automatic, high / low ratio transmission, Massive cargo deck (1.6m x 1.4m x 30mm), Maximum cargo carrying capacity 750kgs, Maximum towing capacity of 1,000kgs, Equipped with 2WD / 4WD, differentials locks on each axle for amazing go-anywhere capability.

For more information on these vehicles and all that myfleet has to offer email info@myfleet or visit them onsite at SIaFD.

The fully electric Tuatara 1500E UTV 4X4 has a maximum range of 220km at a fraction of the running costs of combustion engine vehicles.

Whitelock and Corteva Agriscience team up

Corteva Agriscience is teaming up with New Zealand farmer and rugby player Samuel Whitelock.

] by Kent caddick

Though better known for his time spent on the rugby field than on an agricultural field, Whitelock’s farming background makes him the perfect brand ambassador for Corteva Agriscience according to Corteva NZ marketing manager Glen Surgenor.

When Corteva, makers of Tordon, Korvetto, and many other products were looking for a well-known New Zealander and farmer to voice their radio campaign last spring, they weren’t sure they could find the right combo.

However, ad agency Harvey Cameron, the company who put Dan Carter in his Jockeys and Richie McCaw in a Versatile Home, suggested the famous farmer.

Not only does Whitelock have a Lincoln University degree in plant science and an 800-hectare farm in Hawke’s Bay, he also is a lifetime user of the Corteva brand.

After the successful radio campaign with Whitelock in 2022, the relationship has developed into a full partnership, with the All Black becoming a Corteva Ambassador in January 2023. In addition to promoting Corteva products and attending events, his Hawke’s Bay farm will become a demo site.

“We are so excited and honoured to have Samuel as an official part of the Cor-

teva team. We’re chuffed to have someone of Samuel’s calibre, a long-time customer, to talk about our product. This partnership has certainly put a cap on the year,” Surgenor said.

Whitelock, the most capped All Black of all time, comes from a strong farming background in the mighty Manawatu. He now owns his own 800-hectare farm in Hawke’s Bay and plans to go back to his farming roots when his rugby days are over.

“I believe in Corteva. It is a brand that’s earned the trust of farmers, like me,

across New Zealand,” Whitelock said.

“I have used Corteva products my entire life and will continue to do so when I farm fulltime after footy.”

Whitelock also works closely with FMG, Farmstrong and Massey Fergusson. He holds a Bachelor of Science, majoring in plant science, from Lincoln University.

Ambassador: The most capped all Black of all time Sam Whitelock has been named as brand ambassador for corteva agriscience.

NATIONWIDE DEALER SUPPORT MEANS YOU’LL NEVER WORK ALONE

Every New Holland dealer knows what farmers face season after season. That’s why we’re committed to being there to deliver what you need when you need it. From world class products and genuine parts to personal service - it’s all about nationwide on-demand support to lighten the load and get the job done.

Slugs stealing profits and productivity by stealth

When it comes to protecting crops from the devastation caused by slugs, effective monitoring is essential.

Supplied

by UPL NZ Ltd

Mike Goodwin, Central South Island Regional Manager for sustainable agricultural solutions provider UPL NZ Ltd, says feedback from last season highlighted the risks of even a few days of inattention.

“With direct drill and low till systems in particular, there were some severe outbreaks including in high value, autumn-sown crops.”

Even for farms using conventional tillage, there can be areas in paddocks (around troughs and streams, and along fence lines) that provide a refuge for the pests. From there, they move out to feed on seedlings.

Mike says in the last four years the slugs have been prolific and their attacks unrelenting. He says he thinks most farmers and technical representative are very aware of the threat. “Everyone understands that the first six weeks are critical. You can’t just sow then shut the gate and walk away.”

However, despite best effort, he warns slug infestations can happen almost out of the blue. “Damage can happen really quickly. Slugs have the ability to produce 300500 eggs in their 13-month lifespan. To see if there’s an issue, put a slug mat out and check it next morning. One slug per square meter already signals a problem and action should be taken immediately.”

Mike recommends Ironmax Pro as a solution. Manufactured by French company DeSangosse, the global leader in mollusci-

cide technology, Ironmax Pro is as effective as sister product, and industry leader, Metarex® Inov, with the added value of green credentials.

Mike says BioGro NZ organic certification is making Ironmax Pro increasingly popular with farmers and contractors.

“There’s a demand for products that are safer for the environment, and more pleasant to work with, without compromising efficacy. The product’s low odour and low dust has certainly been welcomed.”

In terms of efficacy, Mike says one of the things that gives Ironmax Pro the edge in slug control slugs is its Colzactive® technology. Colzactive is made up of specially selected oil seed rape extracts. Mike says 20 plant species were evaluated and 50 potential molecules identified based on their appeal to slugs, with two extraordinarily attractive and palatable molecules were selected. These facilitate rapid detection by slugs, enhance Ironmax Pro’s taste, and how quickly Ironmax Pro works compared to other baits. Research shows slugs actually actively prefer feeding on Ironmax Pro to feeding on seedlings.

Ironmax Pro contains the optimized active ingredient 24.2 g/kg ferric phosphate anhydrous (IPMax). Iron (ferric) phosphate is a natural component of soil. In Ironmax Pro, it works as a stomach poison on slugs and is fatal once ingested. Feeding stops almost immediately.

Ironmax Pro is manufactured with the finest durum wheat using a unique wet process which makes it very rain fast. IPM-friendly, Ironmax Pro has limited impact beneficials including earthworms and the carabid beetle.

Ironmax Pro’s recommended application rate range is 5 to 7 kg/ha. With 60,000 baits per kilogram, Mike says the product has excellent ballistic properties.

“The uniform pellet size and innovative

manufacturing process mean bait can be spread at widths of up to 24 m.”

Talk to your local technical representative for more details on Ironmax Pro. Ironmax Pro® bait is registered pursuant to the acVM act 1997. See www.foodsafety. govt.nz for registration conditions. approved pursuant to the hSNO act 1996. See www.epa.govt.nz for approval controls.® registered trademarks of DE SaNGOSSE SaS

Monitoring and new gen Ironmax Pro bait provides solutions to protecting crops from the devastation caused by slugs.

Cyclone Gabrielle has devastated North Island forests

For the New Zealand log trade, the beginning of 2023, has been dominated by many positives as the market planets have continued to come back in to alignment. This is of course tempered with the massive impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle including thus far, the little reported North Island forest devastation to levels that will have major reverberations for years to come.

by allan Laurie MNZIF

] Laurie Forestry Ltd

China economic activity recovery has been described by some as subdued and much slower than was expected.

The combination of COVID lockdown restrictions and everyone just getting back in

to the swing of things, post New Year celebrations, is tempering activity which impacts log consumption.

Meanwhile NZ domestic prices remain stable and at good levels. As a general trade trend, most sawmill owners are reporting a swing down in demand.

Again, the impacts of Gabrielle are going to be huge in the North Island. Not the least being of course having access to logs with roads into many forests a major question mark let alone sodden soil conditions limiting machinery movements.

A wide range of factors this month to report on. Any one factor may yet swing the pendulum the wrong way with a wider view suggesting, on balance, we should remain in a reasonable export log price position over the next few months.

The export market indicator A grade has improved NZ$6 to $10 per cubic meter in February at wharf gate. This then has export prices back up in to the top 85 percentile of the market of the last three years.

There are some warning signs suggesting it is cer-

tainly not time to be breaking out the champagne. China domestic retail log prices have fallen in the first two weeks of February, as the market responds to low demand levels. Daily usage is running at 45,000 to 50,000 cubic metres per day and inventory has built to close to 6 million cubic metres.

Both factors certainly point to little chance of vibrancy and therefore price increases in our near future. The best we can hope for is stability. Usage is close to half normal and inventory 35-40% more than normal for this time of year.

In-fact, China domestic wholesale log prices are now lower than CFR prices, these being what NZ exporters are currently achieving.

Whilst I might suggest you do not need to break out the abacus to work out where that could be all heading, there are factors which should temper price movements.

Nonetheless, wider commentary is confirming a very slow economic recovery in China and that can be expected to continue in to Q2. This will have impacts across many NZ commodities.

On the back of what was already looking a bit of a rough ride, like a poorly maintained NZ road (most of them), Cyclone Gabrielle has devastated North Island forests and infrastructure.

It is likely to be weeks before we will see meaningful wood flows to local sawmill and ports. Chinese buyers are well aware of this so there will be developing concerns as to medium term supply.

Again, this should temper movements in either direction.

The perverse of this most devastating situation is we could see China domestic prices swing back up in response to what will be perceived as a looming supply slump. NZ is a critical softwood log and lumber supply source to China. Current volumes from NZ are 80%+ of all softwood imports.

Shipping was a dominant feature in the 2022 log and lumber trade for all the wrong reasons. The latter part of the year saw shipping rates come off significantly as world trade slowed and more vessels opened on NZ.

With Australia now back in China’s better books, coal is taking up some for the Handy Class slack and logs are expected to restart. This combined with a good southern Hemisphere harvest, is seeing shipping rates firming, albeit slightly at this stage.

As at time of writing (mid February) I am suspecting the full impact of Gabrielle has not yet impacted shipping negotiations, but inevitably it must.

With 45-50 vessels normally required per month to send logs to China, this is about to at least halve in the short to medium term. Again, the uncertainty of just how that will play out is yet to unfold.

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

DairyNZ chief bids farewell after significant tenure

After 15 years as chief executive of DairyNZ,

Tim Mackle has decided to step down.

] by Kent caddick

Mackle, who will finish his tenure on June 30, said he feels extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to lead and help develop DairyNZ’s solutions and services on behalf of its farmer members, right from the levy body’s formation in 2007-08, to today.

“After a lot of thought and discussion with family, I have decided to step down at the end of June which will allow the Board time to have a smooth transition and to recruit my successor,’ Mackel said.

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to lead DairyNZ over this period, the dynamism and constant challenge and change in our sector has made it an exciting and purposeful role.

“I’m also hugely proud of the role that New Zealand dairy has played, not only to help nourish so many people all over world, but to support New Zealand through some tough times, with dairy exports proving vital through the 2008/09 global recession and recently through the challenge of Covid-19.”

He said another highlight for him was the tremendous progress farmers have made

around sustainability practices, particularly over the last 10-15 years.

“There’s always going to be a need to keep doing better on farms, but it’s important we do acknowledge the progress made by our farmers and sector as a whole.”

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said Tim has always been hugely passionate about helping dairy farmers navigate challenges they have faced and continue to face.

“We’re fortunate to have had Tim at DairyNZ through many challenging periods. Tim has played a key role in developing the R&D programme and the development of our science-based policy and advocacy function. He has been a strong leader and advocate for dairy. Tim is a values-driven leader and has built strong relationships with all those he has engaged with.

“I also wish to acknowledge Tim’s leadership and contribution to the wider dairy and primary sectors, through his influence on various boards, steering groups, and committees,” van der Poel said.

“Tim has always been a strong, passionate CE and he’s built a strong people culture at DairyNZ, with a highly engaged, capable and purpose-driven team.

“That puts us at DairyNZ in a great position to continue to deliver more for farmers and New Zealand.”

Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard said Tim led DairyNZ through a period of immense industry growth that saw the sector become New Zealand’s biggest export earner and a vital industry.

Farewell: DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle is stepping down after 15 years in the job.

“DairyNZ, under Tim’s leadership, has supported farmers to improve environmental performance and adjust to increasing regulatory compliance,” Hoggard said.

“Tim has always been a pleasure to work with, he is well liked and well respected for his collaborative and positive approach to work.”

Raising the standard of hoof care.

Lameness Management Workshop

North Canterbury & West Coast: 20th - 24th March Mid Canterbury: 3rd - 5th April

BOOK NOW: Early bird special $350+gst per person

This workshop is designed to give students an overview of issues relating to lameness management and introduce them to the 5 step

trimming process according to the Dutch Method. The workshop has both theory and practical aspects. Register today at dhi.ac.nz

CHOOSE A SOLUTION. CHOOSE SUMO.

MOUNTED TRIO GLS SUBSOILER

OVER 3000 SOLD WORLDWIDE

As its name suggests the Sumo Trio consists of 3 parts to help develop and create an ideal seed bed in all soil conditions.

First stage: Staggered row of subsoiler legs with a maximum working depth of 400mm.

(both hydraulic and shear pin protection systems available)

Secondary stage: Two rows of 500mm concave discs equipped with triple sealed bearings and Sumo’s famous double drive system giving unrivalled performance when working in adverse conditions.

Third stage: Sumo’s 760mm multipacker roller with replaceable shoulders leaves a weatherproof level finish in the most challenging soil conditions.

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

• Leading row of adjustable individually suspended discs allow minimum disturbance on the pasture surface.

• Hydraulic Subsoiler legs with working depths from 100-350mm to suit all types of compaction layer depths with quick change points.

• Rear flat packer roller with scrapers to leave an aerated consolidated level finish across the full working width.

Women to the fore at dairy event

A dream came true for 25-year-old Joanna Fowlie when she won Supreme Champion of All Breeds at the New Zealand Dairy Event (NZDE) in Feilding recently.

] by Dianna Malcom

It’s always hard for Intermediate Champions to first beat the Senior Champions of their breed to earn the chance for a crack at the All Breeds title, especially when the Senior Breed Champion, also a former Supreme Champion of the show, is considered a breed legend herself.

However, Fowlie’s second-calved threeyear-old Raetea Rubicom Debbie took that first step when she beat the 2021 NZDE Supreme Champion, Pukekaraka Elle Delila (exhibited by the Gilbert family, from Ashburton) in the Ayrshire ring. Delila, aged eight, was in great form and she had had the longest trip from Canterbury. However, South African judge (and World Ayrshire Federation president) Edmund Els created Debbie’s chance when he chose her.

It is the first time an Intermediate Ayrshire Champion has won Supreme Champion at the NZDE and only the second time an Intermediate of any breed has won Supreme – and it happened just one week after a similar feat was tabled in Australia at International Dairy Week.

Debbie cost her Matamata owner $850 as a calf in 2019 after she was passed in at the Waikato Next Generation sale. That moment now becomes part of the young cow’s meteoric rise for her owners who had “no words” after she was sashed at the end of a long day of judging.

Fowlie said their fully spring calving herd of 300-head included only two Ayrshires and two Holsteins. The balance is registered Jerseys. She credited Spanish cattle fitter, Alberto Medina, with having a big role to play in helping finish Debbie’s preparation.

“I don’t think we would have got her to the standard he did,” Fowlie said.

“Usually, I would have been stressing when all this happened but there was no stress at all through the day, even though it was a massive day of judging and we had to hold her from the Intermediate Championship through to the end of the show.”

She joins two other women who enjoyed a great show.

Letitia Horn was at the helm of Horn Genetics’ campaign, that included broad ribbons in three breeds. While it’s undoubtedly a team effort, the 24-year-old manager of her family’s 200-cow operation in Feilding, put in a lot of the grunt work in the lead-up to the show.

Letitia and her father, Peter, made the decision to break in eight-year-old Kuku Tbone Leila after she calved in with her seventh calf last spring.

For Canterbury exhibitor, Rachel Stewart, the NZDE was the culmination of her determined campaign to bring her Brown Swiss, Rokella Dynamite Bella-ET, to the national playing field at Feilding.

It involved 14 hours of trucking one way including crossing the Cook Strait. The four-

year-old impressed the Combined Breeds judge Ben Govett (Australia), validating Stewart’s faith in the young cow when she was sashed Senior Champion, Best Senior Udder and Grand Champion of the Combined Breeds.

Stewart said when she competed at Christchurch Show enough people were impressed with Bella to give her the momentum to push on and expose her to more competition.

“She did what I hoped she was capable of,” Stewart said.

“I wasn’t expecting to win, but I really wanted to see where she fitted nationally. It was definitely worth the trip, the expense, and the stress of it all. Without the help and support of family and close friends I couldn’t have done this.”

For full class results, please visit the ‘NZ Dairy Event’ on Facebook.

Champion: The first Ayrshire Intermediate Champion and only the second Intermediate Champion to win Supreme champion of the New Zealand Dairy Event, raetea rubicom Debbie, owned and handled by Joanna Fowlie from Matamata. Photo by Laurens rutten.

Performance is everything

] with Peter Burton

I’ve been at discussion groups when people wanted to claim that an Olsen P level of 25 was better than one of 15, or the ideal soil pH is 6.3 rather than 5.9.

Any soil test number is meaningless until put into context. There’s a large amount of extra information required before any single measure is worth spending thinking time on.

Fertiliser costs money and of late it’s become increasingly expensive, a situation that is unlikely to change this autumn, therefore it’s essential to know what the aim of applying fertiliser is.

In the short term if there’s not available money, or it can be put to better use, sitting tight might be the best option.

Where fertiliser has been regularly applied phosphorus inputs will almost certainly be higher than maintenance and not applying this autumn is unlikely to limit production over winter and spring.

Potassium falls into the same category. Plant availability of potassium, when soils are sufficiently moist for maximum growth, is likely to be adequate over autumn, winter and early spring.

It’s not so clear cut with sulphur, particularly in the South Island on low ASC soils, typical of all but volcanic soils.

Under heavy rain, plant available sulphur can leach rapidly and unless elemental sulphur has been regularly applied, a growth limiting sulphur deficiency could occur in spring.

Withholding nutrient inputs for longer is likely to be false economy with the cost of lost production greater than the money saved.

As fundamental to optimum growth as the nutrient status of the soil, is the rate at which nutrient is being cycled. Early research identified and much has been written on the factors that influence the Rapid Organic Cycle (ROC).

Essentially, it’s the speed at which nutri-

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ent from unavailable sites becomes available for plant uptake that’s important which in turn is reliant on the activity of beneficial biology.

Depending on which nutrient is the focus as little as 1% is plant available and seldom more than 5% at any point in time.

There are two factors that have a major impact on nutrient cycling that farmers can influence.

One is physical soil structures. Ideally soil should contain 25% air and to achieve that it is essential that there is a sufficient interval between grazings for soil to regain their opti-

Growth: after a summer dry spell beneficial soil biology is at a low ebb and by applying calcium along with immediately active beneficial soil microbes an increase in the speed of pasture recovery is guaranteed.

mum structure.

In periods of excess rain animals will cause damage, it’s inevitable with the only choice being whether the mess is confined to a small area that can be sorted at a later date, or creating a lesser problem over a larger area.

Spreading animals out means the damage is less obvious, and natural recovery will follow however there will be some impact on future growth during that time.

The other is ensuring sufficient calcium to maximise beneficial fungi, bacteria, and earthworm activity.

Functional Fertiliser makes CalciZest, a product proven over 25 years to stimulate soil biology, increase clover growth and improve physical soil conditions.

Due to the inclusion of a wide range of beneficial soil microbes the response is rapid with a greening in pasture often obvious within 3 weeks after application provided there’s sufficient moisture for strong growth.

It is the release of nutrient from dung, old root, and leaf on the soil surface that provides the nutrients, including nitrogen, for strong autumn growth.

After a summer dry spell beneficial soil biology is at a low ebb and by applying calcium along with immediately active beneficial soil microbes an increase in the speed of pasture recovery is guaranteed.

For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

It’s easy to fixate on detail and become embroiled in meaningless debate.

Developing farm specific mitigations

The force of mother nature somewhat puts life in perspective. The post flood pictures coming out of Hawke’s Bay made me reflect on what’s important – it’s the health of the people.

George is someone that has had a large impact on my life, not only did he help me master running a vineyard in the most costeffective way possible, he also epitomised the kiwi farming ethic, hard-working, genuine and willing to give new approaches a go providing there was a purpose and flexibility in how the change could be achieved. For much of the work I now undertake with council’s and government I still reflect upon ‘what George would have said to me’ if I bumped into him at the mailbox of a morning?

] by andrew curtis

Primary Insight

I spent 10 years in the Bay living on Omarunui Road, Puketapu, immediately behind the Tutaekuri stop bank. Watching three news on the Thursday, one of the many houses shown was our old house, it had been totalled and the recent orchard plantings had all been uprooted and washed away.

My wife and I exchanged looks and then started wondering, were our old neighbours safe as we’d had no reply from our texts to them? Thankfully in the next clip we saw George out and about, he was then interviewed commenting that ‘he was on his old bike today as he didn’t want get his new electric one dirty’ and ‘that there was no need for an insurance assessor to waste their time visiting’. We both breathed a huge sigh of relief and smiled.

Some of our current decision-makers seem to have forgotten about the importance of the people. Knowing your people is key to successful policy initiatives and any associated regulation.

Some of the new environmental regulations potentially facing our rural communities, in my opinion, are not hitting the ‘people mark’. Hence some of the current pushback.

To be clear I’m not saying don’t do anything, I’m saying perhaps we need to reflect and change tack? For example, will taxing the farm greenhouse gas emissions of extensive farm systems actually make a difference given there’s nothing they can currently do to reduce their emissions apart from plant-up the farm and exit? It doesn’t make sense given the potential effect this will have on the people.

However, there are also regulations in the pipeline, such as Freshwater Farm Plans, that have the potential to hit the mark, so I hope they don’t get caught up in some of the current crossfire. Developing farm specific mitigations that directly relate to a farms

impact makes much sense to me… there’s a clear cause and effect and flexibility to find the right solution. I think George would approve?

Apologies for the rant but we all have events that happen in our lives that make us reflect, the recent events in Hawke’s Bay being one of these for me.

South Island Agricultural Field days is fast approaching so if you’d like to chew the fat on environmental regulations come and visit Primary Insight on Stand 385a, alternatively if you’re in need of a soil moisture probe or other farm monitoring systems that can be used to improve the productivity of your farm system and its environmental footprint also come and see us!

‘

To be clear I’m not saying don’t do anything, I’m saying perhaps we need to reflect and change tack?

The impact of floods on farmland: A call for managed relocation

It’s hard to comprehend the devastation ‘Cyclone Gabrielle’ has caused and from the IrrigationNZ team to those affected our thoughts are with you.

] by Stephen McNally

] IrrigationNZ Technical Advisor

What is also hard to comprehend is the differences in weather we can experience in Aotearoa, with much of the lower South Island conditions are very dry and irrigation is being utilised where it can be.

Whereas those in the Hawkes Bay and surrounds, many irrigation systems have likely been wiped out due to the deluge of water, and irrigation is likely the last thing on people’s minds.

As climate change accelerates, we are experiencing more frequent and severe weather events that have far-reaching impacts on communities, particularly on their critical infrastructure and their ability to manage resources effectively. The recent floods that hit New Zealand’s eastern districts, particularly in Hawkes Bay, have highlighted the vulnerability of our flood plains and the need for better resource management reforms.

As devastating as these floods are, they are part of a natural process that has been occurring for eons. Flood plains have been formed by the movement of fertile sediments and soils from sub-alpine areas and forests to flat plains. For centuries, these fertile plains have been essential for food production and water supply, making them ideal locations for human settlements. However, with climate change comes more extreme weather events including floods, which are

disrupting our settlements and food production necessities.

The New Zealand National Climate Adaptation Plan, released by the government last year, introduced the term ‘managed retreat’. While this term has mainly been applied to at-risk eroding coastlines, it also applies to our river flood plains.

Managed retreat, however, poses a problem: we need to have somewhere for people to go, including their businesses and particularly the business of growing food.

We cannot simply displace people without a plan for accommodating the lost productivity somewhere. It is unacceptable to say that we will just import more, as those off-shore production areas are just as vulnerable, and long-term our economic balance of payments cannot cut off our agricultural economic driver while we spend more on imported food produced with dubious environmental impact.

This is why the term ‘managed relocation’ is more sensible than a one-way journey of retreat. Managed relocation suggests a longer-term view of society and has a positive thought pattern around resilience and adaptation.

It means relocating to safer areas, with suitable soils and climate for food production, and with access to water. This way, we can maintain our agricultural econom-

ic driver, our critical infrastructure, and our communities’ ability to manage resources effectively.

Society as a whole will have to grapple with climate change and the joint obligations that this disruption will place on us and share that burden equitably; it is unreasonable to expect the current generation to absorb this on their own.

The Canterbury floods a few years back

and the recent floods in Hawkes Bay have shown us that we need to rethink our resource management reforms and critical infrastructure.

We need to embrace asset management maturity and develop a plan for managed relocation that accommodates the lost productivity somewhere safe, so that we can continue to grow food and sustain our COMMUNITIES, even in the face of extreme weather events.

( 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

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

Venison prospects continue to improve

Strong interest from visiting European buyers signals further improvement in venison prices in 2023. Venison marketing companies have been hosting buyers from Europe and the USA, some visiting for the first time in three years, to plan deliveries and promotions for the coming year.

] with Trevor Walton

With a strong game season in 2022 most European importers are buying confidently, aware that venison production is likely to be constrained this year. Overall, the markets are painting a continued improving picture for 2023, believes DINZ venison marketing manager Nick Taylor.

Exports to the USA topped 4,000 tonnes in 2022, accounting for a third of exports. China rose to number two position, taking nearly 20 percent, and Germany ranked third, taking 15 percent directly. Other European customers imported 30 percent of New Zealand venison exports.

“Our aim is to have a diversified market base, with balance across different markets and different sectors,” Taylor says.

The new DINZ work strategy focuses resources on supporting the work the five venison marketing companies are doing to accelerate sales of venison through supermarkets in the USA, he notes.

“This provides balance to other valuable markets as we look to break with the reliance on frozen commodity trade.”

Silver Fern Farms has already reported a positive EU game season to its suppliers and is seeing an early pick up in frozen volume from its European customers.

“All venison companies are acutely aware

of the need to get the venison schedule up, we have put the costs of production in front of them and they are confident of achieving price increases this year, notwithstanding the significant uncertainty in Europe with the continuing war in Ukraine and increases in energy prices,” Taylor says.

DINZ understands 2022 spring contracts

Benchmarked production and Johne’s disease info on

peaked in the low to mid- $9.00s with strong forward orders for frozen venison, and improving market sentiment, higher prices for Spring 2023 seem imminent. Farmers should talk to their respective buyers for updates.

Shipping problems continue to ease and while the market for venison meal and coproducts has not reached the highs of 2018,

Good signs: Strong interest from visiting European buyers signals further improvement in venison prices in 2023.

demand is solid. Market conditions in China are improving, as business open and more people travel following the spikes in Covid infections the country has experienced, reports Taylor.

Silver Fern Farm’s GM sales Peter Robinson says exporters are seeing signs of market improvement as the global financial squeeze seems to have had less impact to date.

“If these conditions remain, we should see an improvement in pricing in the year ahead. Farmers should talk to their respective livestock reps for on-going updates.”

Farmgate prices are holding up well, with published schedules only slightly lower than the chilled season. This week they are sitting between $8.85-$8.95/kg, 16-17 percent above the 2022 national average for February and seven to eight percent above the fiveyear average for the month.

]

with

Wool market improvement

rob cochrane

Wool Procurement Manager,

PGG Wrightson Wool

Prior to February 13, there had been an expectation that coarse wool prices may improve slightly given the on-going wet weather experienced across much of the North Island, resulting in shearing and transport interruptions hence lesser wool volumes filtering through to market.

We all know what events have occurred across wide areas of the North Island since that time, and our thoughts go out to all people who have had their futures re-mapped as a result.

Wool auctions held in both Napier and Christchurch in early February had recorded very modest increases as limited evidence of renewed interest from Chinese mills became apparent, although not all traditional types were targeted.

A South Island only auction on February 16 however brought a much more urgent response from exporters, several of whom had scoured wool stocks ready for shipping off shore as well as greasy wool stocks ready to be scoured with significant volumes possibly suffering from the severe flooding event which engulfed one wool scouring facility.

Consequently, market prices for most coarse wool types improved by between six and twelve percent in the Christchurch auction room, compared to prices ruling a week earlier, as exporters tried to cover their forward sold positions.

Most interest was shown for well-prepared second-shear types measuring from 35 to 38 microns, of very good colour and little or no

vegetable matter contamination, plus well skirted lamb’s wool types, preferably finer than 31 microns, of very good colour and 0.0 percent vegetable matter contamination.

Having said that however, and with the current season delivering poorer colour full length fleece wool than desired due to the warm, humid conditions experienced, being no fault of growers, average to good colour fleece wools also drew good support with increases in price of between six and eight percent compared to the week earlier.

Mid micron wool types representing the Corriedale and Halfbred breeds continued to struggle, with only limited interest from exporters directed mainly towards finer than approximately 26 micron types of good colour, good staple length, and low vegetable matter contamination measurements.

A few lines of similarly bred lambs’ wool in the 22 to 23 micron ranges drew very good support from exporters who obviously had specific, but limited quantity, orders to fill.

The February 16 South Island auction was also the designated wash-up date for any current season Merino wool types which had either missed the main fine wool selling dates prior to December, or had been passed-in at

SIS BALL COCK VALVE

earlier auctions failing to reach growers reserve prices, and approximately 500 bales were catalogued.

Some very stylish wools, measuring from approximately 15 through to 19 microns, commanded strong interest from the full bench of exporters present, with the vast majority of bales either sold from the auctioneers rostrum at the fall of the hammer, or negotiated after the sale has concluded.

Prices were reflective of recent Australian based wool broker auctions held in

Melbourne, Sydney, and Fremantle.

As a result of the recent floods and devastation in the north, which also seriously affected a major wool scouring facility, there will no doubt be considerable wool pipeline disruption.

However, from the south’s perspective, at this point the next Christchurch based wool auctions, scheduled for March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th are more than likely to proceed as usual.

That’s my view.

More tow with the new Subaru Outback XT

Subaru’s most powerful SUV, the turbocharged Outback XT Turbo has arrived in New Zealand and demonstrators are now available to test drive from most authorised Subaru centres, with vehicles available to pre-order for a May delivery.

Supplied by Subaru NZ

These all-new Subaru Outback XT variants, Outback XT Turbo and Outback XT Turbo Touring, both feature a 2.4-litre turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine, with 183kW and 350Nm of torque.

The XT models’ towing capabilities also scale new heights, ascending from the current 2.5 litre naturally aspirated Outback’s 2,000kg limit, to an impressive 2,400kg braked towing capacity.

Subaru of New Zealand’s managing director Wallis Dumper said the Outback XT Turbo with its SUV safety, comfort and strong towing capacity may present the perfect alternative to an expensive ute with extras.

“Even at the Clean Car Standard (CCS) impacted pricing, the Outback XT Turbo presents best value buying and savings over the alternative mode of what is essentially commercially based transportation,” Dumper said.

“At current calculations, if the CCS impacts as proposed by the NZ government remain unchanged the increases could exceed ten thousand dollars on each model in a few years’ time.

“The real consideration probably needs to be around those people who may have discovered the ute they purchased for towing is not an ideal family vacation vehicle.

“The new, turbocharged Outback XT has everything that makes our Outback a GOOAT (Greatest Outback Of All Time) but also adds

has increased from the current 2.5 litre naturally aspirated Outback’s 2,000kg limit, to an impressive 2,400kg braked towing capacity.

a significantly more powerful Boxer engine, which allows Kiwis to tow their heavier boats, caravans and trailers.

“The Touring variant steps it up one notch further and comes with Nappa leather, heated seats and steering wheel, making it the perfect package.”

The Outback XT Touring has premium features including:

• Nappa leather accented seat trim

• Electric sunroof

• Heated steering wheel

• Harman Kardon® audio

• Rear power tail gate with hands-free badge sensor

• 11.6” tablet-like touch screen with satellite navigation

• A Driver Monitoring System (DMS) with facial recognition to detect driver drowsiness or distraction.

• DMS also recognises up to five drivers to personalise the driver’s seat, wing mirror and AC preferences.

• Heated front and rear seats

• Ventilated front seat

• 8 Airbags

Along with the rest of the Subaru of New Zealand model range, the new Outback XT Turbo variants are equipped with Subaru’s clever crash avoidance technology EyeSight as standard.

“Subaru drivers can have confidence that they possess all the capability, safety (and now, increased towing power), no matter where they are adventuring.”

Safety: The all-new Subaru Outback XT variants feature a Driver Monitoring System (DMS) with facial recognition to detect driver drowsiness or distraction.

Increased tow: The XT models’ towing capabilities

Proud to introduce the newest member of our Mid Canterbury Rural and Lifestyle Team

of the Mid-Canterbury region is very real from both a rural professional and grass roots perspective.

Holding a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) from Lincoln University, he and his wife Rachel have their own agribusiness investments, and this experience, brings a lot to the table too.

Jason is looking forward to building on the Mid-Canterbury rural team’s time proven commitment to service, that has delivered for so many vendors and purchasers over the years. For rural and lifestyle property advice please call one of our local sales consultants today on 03 307 9176 or pb.co.nz

Jason Rickard, Rural/Lifestyle Sales Consultant 027 245 8495 or jason.rickard@pb.co.nz

Having been born and raised in Ashburton with careers in rural banking and dairy farming, Jason’s understanding

Gareth Cox, Canterbury Rural Manager gareth@pb.co.nz

Our true team delivers results

Jason Rickard joins our high performing Property Brokers Ashburton team, of Chris Murdoch, Paul Cunneen and Greg Jopson.

Farming exotic cats in USA

While organisations plead for funds to preserve big cats in the wild, USA is home to a breeding programme that few would admit to.

] with rob cope-Williams

While there are an estimated 5,000 feral tigers in the wild, there is an estimated three times that in the States and they are being bred and sold on both the open market, and the black market.

Owners of the sanctuary in San Diego say their organisation known as Lions, Tigers and Bears was started when they realised the conditions some adult big cats were facing.

While they are cubs they romp and play with their owners, but once they get big and strong, the reality hits, they still want to romp and play, but they don’t know their own strength and weight.

That is when many of them are banished to small cages, or basements where they exist like prisoners kept in the dark and food thrown in from above.

Already the sanctuary has a collection of tame big cats, lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats, serval cats, jaguars and some bears.

The residents consume $10,000 worth of chickens and horse meat a month, all the funds coming from donations.

The obvious solution would be to return the cats to their normal habitat release them, but the folk I met who run the sanctuary assured me the lions would be not welcome into an established pride, and tigers are solitary only gaining contact with other cats for mating.

Having been tame, they have no concept of hunting, so they starve to death.

I was amazed by the ignorance people showed those running the sanctuary with respect to big cats and their world.

“When do the lion cubs turn into tigers and get their stripes?”

“Do you get a tiger to breed with a lion

to get more tigers?”

“What do lions and tigers eat?”

“Are they native to the States?”

I am somewhat inclined to be very con-

cerned about the average IQ in a country that asks those sort of questions while being numbered as one of the great powers holding peace in place in our world.

A flooded road to resilience

] by Solis Norton

farms in the lower South Island, all medium to high performers and none flood damaged. Well eyebrows surely rose as the Farmax results rolled in.

crop to silage. In some instances that investment topped two million dollars.

heartbreak of seeing those endeavours simply washed away.

It makes one wonder. Is it genuinely true that these events will become more common with climate change? And would you rebuild a heavily damaged farm system the same or differently in light of that knowledge?

In the process of rebuilding, would you invest in additional changes for greater resilience and productivity? No time like the present and all that? For better water quality? Or for managing random massive quantities? And at what cost?

Quite independently we just explored some of these questions on five drystock

We’d talked to the owners about what changes would suit them and their business goals, keeping improvements in water quality central to the conversation.

Four options from benign to extreme emerged. Shifting from intensive winter grazing to grass silage for winter feed was fi rst.

Riparian fencing and in some cases planting was second. Building a winter barn to take stock out of the mud on crop was another. Lastly there was improving the efficiency of irrigation by changing from border dykes and flood types to pivots.

Two options were modelled on each farm. All required investment except shifting from

In virtually all cases profit before tax was reduced when these farms invested in these changes. By almost forty percent In one scenario.

Perhaps more importantly, uncertainty around financial conditions for future borrowing were not explored in detail, despite inflation rates shifting markedly recently. Nor did we explore the effect of changing input prices on the amount of borrowing required. Those are changing fast too. Or re-jigging the team on-farm to fit the labour demands of the new system. Knowing full well it’s hard to find good staff.

Two more reality checks were on our mind. Firstly, these endeavours often run into budget blow outs which the famer alone is left to bear. Second, in light of recent events, is the

These modelling results will be a small part in probably a thousand page report written for people who do not understand farming and not read by farmers but used all the same to shape farming conditions in the coming years. I wonder if those readers will grasp the underlying message here.

I’m still trying to get my head around what it really means. Surely It centres on resilience somehow. But how can resilience be both to make changes to improve the environment and not make change because it reduces profit and exposes the farm business to substantial risk. What do you think? Is this another post growth moment? How should we respond?

I’d value your thoughts. Email solisnorton1@gmail.com.