Canterbury Farming, February 2024

30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast for over 25 years

February 2024 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION Time to fix potholes

p7 Policy changes Blaze battlers: Rural fire fighters around Canterbury have been on high alert with soaring temperatures leading to the implementation of fire restrictions around the region. File photo supplied by SDC.

p11 Wintering well

p30 Champion velvet

p39

Wildfires keep rural firefighters busy

Rural firefighters around Canterbury are hoping the worst of the hot summer is behind them after battling wildfires around the region following soaring temperatures and high winds.

] by Kent Caddick Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is reminding rural residents to ensure they have an evacuation plan in place after several homes and properties were destroyed or damaged by a 10-hecatre vegetation wildfire near Loburn.

Some Loburn residents were evacuated along with others from a fire near Amberley, while another blaze near Swannanoa saw another 12 hectares go up in smoke.

Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Bruce Janes said although the causes of the fires are under investigation people should not be doing any outdoor activities which could start a fire.

“Every household in a rural area should have an evacuation plan in case of wildfire, because in the current windy conditions, fires moved quickly and were very challenging to put out.”

A restricted fire season had been in place for much of the region but soaring temperatures in late January saw a prohibited status declared which meant a total ban on outdoor fires, and the suspension of all previously granted fire permits.

In most places that has now been lifted and a restricted fire season is now in force meaning anyone planning on lighting an openair fire will need a permit. People can apply for a permit at www.checkitsalright.nz.

Fire and Emergency Canterbury District Commander Dave Stackhouse declared a restricted fire season following fires along the Darfield railway line in early January. The fires were thought to have been ignited by sparks from a passing train.

Stackhouse said the fires had provided a timely reminder to everyone in Canterbury that it just takes a spark to start a wildfire.

“You only have to see from the [recent] events how small sparks can quickly turn into large fires which threaten homes and communities,” Stackhouse said.

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2 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

More vetegation means more fuel FROM PAGE 1

“Although a restricted season would not have prevented these fires, it does give us greater protection from unwanted fires by ensuring any open-air fires are only completed with a permit.”

Stackhouse said the previous two years of increased rainfall has seen increased grass and vegetation growth across the district.

“This is now drying out, and our crews are reporting greater effort being required to contain and extinguish even relatively small fires.

“Anyone planning on lighting fires this season must check the weather conditions. If it’s hot and windy, do not light a fire, even if you have a permit.

“In addition, make sure you undertake spark-generating activities, like mowing or grinding, during the cooler parts of the day, either early morning or in the evening.”

Mid-South Canterbury’s hill and high country moved to a prohibited towards the middle of January.

The area covered by the prohibited fire season included Hakataramea Valley and the Rangitata, Ashburton and Rakaia Gorge areas.

A prohibited fire season means a total ban on outdoor fires, and all previously granted fire permits are suspended.

Declaring the prohibited fire season, FENZ District Manager Rob Hands said vegetation in the Mid-South Canterbury hill country (predominantly tussock grasslands) was particularly dry as grass seed heads finished ripening.

“These are the conditions where wildfires start easily and can quickly get out of control,” Hands said.

He said a fire at Station Peak near Hakataramea in December escaped from a controlled burn and required 10 fire trucks and tankers, and three helicopters to extinguish.

“The easy access public conservation land and other areas the public can get to in these parts of Mid-South Canterbury are also subject to rapid changes in fire risk, dependent on the weather,” Hands said.

“We also ask people to take account of the conditions before they start any outside activities that might cause sparks, like mowing, welding or driving vehicles in long dry grass.”

Meanwhile, a four-hectare grass and scrub fire near Lake Benmore in late January was

WE ARE BUYING! Fire danger: Farmers and rural contractors have been asked to be aware of the high fire danger as routine activities could cause a spark which may ignite a wildfire. File photo supplied by SDC. thought to have been started by farm machinery, although this is still under investigation.

Incident Controller Michael Harrison said initial reports suggested the fire had been sparked by farm machinery but there would be further discussions with the landowner to confirm the circumstances.

He has asked all farmers and contractors in the area to be aware of the high fire danger because routine activities could cause a

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spark that would easily set the grass on fire.

“If machinery work can’t be deferred then it was best to carry out operations in the early morning, when the temperature is lower, and the humidity was higher.”

If you are unsure if it is safe to undertake sparkgenerating activity, or to light up your barbecue, go to www.checkitsalright.nz to check the local fire danger, fire season status and find fire safety tips.

FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

3

Westland Milk extends 10-year milk supply agreement indefinitely Westland Milk Products farmer suppliers will be guaranteed their milk will be picked up by the company beyond the 10-year supply agreement originally approved by the High Court of New Zealand in 2019.

] by Kent Caddick The 10-year commitment was made when Yili, Asia’s largest dairy producer, purchased Westland in 2019 and Westland guaranteed to collect farmers’ milk for a period of 10 years after the date of acquisition at pricing at least equal to Fonterra’s Farm Gate Milk Price.

Westland also recently committed to pay farmer suppliers a 10-cent premium above Fonterra’s Farm Gate Milk Price for the 202425 and 2025-2026 seasons. This extends and goes beyond the payment terms made under the original Scheme of Arrangement.

Westland Resident Director Zhiqiang Li said Yili was extremely proud to return the faith farmers had placed in Yili when they voted for Yili to acquire the former co-operative in August 2019.

“We were extremely humbled by the overwhelming trust farmers placed in us when they voted to accept Yili’s offer and now we are deeply honoured to be able to repay that good faith,’’ Li said. “Westland as a business continues to go from strength to strength and this is because of the trust and respect we enjoy with our farmers as partners in this great enterprise.’’

Westland CEO Richard Wyeth said the company wanted to give suppliers the confidence they need to continue to invest in their businesses by offering the strongest possible supply agreement.

“The professional way our farmers conduct their businesses has put us in a very strong position with our customers and we

Payback: Westland CEO Richard Wyeth says they want to give suppliers the confidence they need to continue to invest in their businesses by offering the strongest possible supply agreement. are now in a position to repay that,’’ Wyeth said.

“We hope this arrangement will give farmers the confidence they need to continue to invest in their businesses, continue to grow with us and continue to gain a return on their

investments for many years to come.

“We’re very aware of the role we play in the community and we’re very grateful for Yili’s support helping us to invest in the West Coast and Canterbury communities,’’ Wyeth said.

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4 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Todd McClay ] with Minister for Agriculture ]

FARMING NEWS

The Coalition Government is getting down to business

Farmers deserve a government that gets down to business quickly and that’s exactly what we’re doing. One of the first promises the coalition Government has honoured is the repeal of a number of Labour’s laws that are holding rural New Zealand back.

Labour’s RMA Mark 2 which was passed under urgency in the dying days of the last parliament – the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBA) and the Spatial Planning Act (SPA), as well as the disastrous Three Waters legislation, are gone.

We haven’t been in office long, but we have hit the ground running to deliver for our farming community. National campaigned on repealing these laws by Christmas and this commitment was also reflected in our coalition agreements.

Our RMA reform plan will ensure that New Zealand has robust and functional resource management system for the future.

Labour’s NBA and the SPA were deeply flawed, introducing unnecessary bureaucracy, diluting local decision making, and jeopardising our goals as a country.

The NBA and SPA were even more complicated and onerous than the RMA legislation they were meant to be replacing. Thousands of submissions to the public consultation process said these Acts wouldn’t work, but the previous Labour Government refused to listen.

We know that the RMA is broken, but the reforms the country settles on must improve the status quo and need to be worth the considerable cost of the change. We believe that get-

‘

We will deliver for the people of New Zealand and provide clear, demonstrable, and measurable improvements.

ting this legislation right is critically important.

Our RMA reform program will make it easier to do things and to build things across New Zealand. The new resource management laws will be based on the respect of private property rights, while ensuring good environmental outcomes.

Importantly, Cabinet has also announced we will replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM), which Labour introduced.

Labour’s freshwater reforms have caused harm and stress to our communities, were proving to be extremely complex and expensive to implement and were not going to deliver the outcomes for freshwater that New Zealanders expect.

Work on replacing NPS-FM has already started, and we’ve sent a signal to councils that they should focus on the replacement process rather than continuing with Labour’s flawed policy.

The requirement for councils to notify these changes has been pushed out three years meaning the new NPS-FM will be in place long before this date, avoiding unnecessary costs and duplication for ratepayers.

Rather than continuing with their current processes we want councils to work with central government on the development of the new freshwater regulations.

I know that the farming sector cares deeply about water quality, they take their responsibilities seriously and are committed to meeting environmental obligations.

We will deliver a pragmatic and sensible

approach freshwater and farming in partnership with rural New Zealand.

The coalition Government has also acted quickly to restore council ownership and control of water assets to give much needed clarity to the local government sector by repealing and replacing Labour’s controversial Three Waters legislation.

We have committed to addressing the water infrastructure challenges that are risking our nation’s health and prosperity and driving up costs for households and businesses across the country.

The coalition Government will implement a new regime which recognises the importance of local decision-making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be delivered in future.

We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and long-term investment in infrastructure.

We have a busy and critically important work programme ahead of us to get our country back on track.

We will deliver for the people of New Zealand and provide clear, demonstrable, and measurable improvements. I look forward to delivering for the hard-working farmers of this country.

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

5

Lincoln University and Ballance Agri-Nutrients join forces The signing of a memorandum of understanding between Lincoln University and Ballance Agri-Nutrients underscores a joint commitment to advancing new and better farming and growing practices in New Zealand’s agricultural sector.

] Article supplied by Lincoln University

Lincoln University’s Provost, Professor Chad Hewitt, says both Lincoln University and Ballance share a common vision of a prosperous, sustainable, and innovative future for New Zealand’s primary industries.

He says by joining forces, they aim to drive positive change for Kiwi farmers and growers, ensuring they remain profitable and sustainable while meeting the increasing expectations of consumers, both in New Zealand and around the world.

“Climate change has brought a pressing need for rapid and effective solutions, especially in areas like greenhouse gas emissions, carbon farming, and carbon sequestration,” Hewitt says.

“Lincoln and Ballance are committed to tackling these challenges head-on, as well as promoting on-farm diversification and adapting to climate-impacted land use changes.

“By addressing these challenges collaboratively both Lincoln and Ballance can contribute significantly to the resilience and sustainability of New Zealand’s primary industry and support industry aspirations such as the Fonterra Climate Roadmap.”

Hewitt says the agreement establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration, with a focus on identifying and prioritising opportunities for joint projects.

“These opportunities include improving planning and co-ordination, conducting research and demonstrations on Lincoln University’s farms, and enhancing environmental stewardship.

Task ahead: Lincoln University Provost Professor Chad Hewitt says climate change has brought a pressing need for rapid and effective solutions, especially in areas like greenhouse gas emissions, carbon farming, and carbon sequestration.

“The collaboration also seeks to foster innovation, commercialisation, and promotion of the agricultural sector to the public and policy makers.”

Dr Stuart Kay, Innovation Leader at Ballance Agri-Nutrients, says one key aspect of this partnership is that it creates a foundation for ongoing and future collaboration with the University.

“We believe this collaboration will have a positive impact on our industry and will strengthen our connections with universities while showcasing our commitment to innova-

tion and sustainability, Kay says.

“We are keen to continue our journey of innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, and look forward to the positive impact it will bring to New Zealand’s farming and agriculture sector.”

Key highlights of the partnership: Agriculture research and commercialisation: combining the expertise of Lincoln University and Ballance bringing together two organisations with a solid history of agricultural research and innovation.

Closer to the R&D hub: Lincoln Univer-

sity boasts a strong research and development hub with CRIs such as AgResearch, Plant & Food Research and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. This collaboration will improve Ballance’s access to valuable expertise and resources.

Intern programme: Ballance’s intern programme draws significantly from Lincoln University, making this partnership an excellent opportunity to build closer relationships with the next generation of agricultural leaders, and further establishing the company as a place for agricultural talent to grow.

6 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Jo Luxton ] with spokesperson ] Labour for Agriculture ]

FARMING NEWS

Holding the Government to account

Although the election did not go Labour’s way, I am grateful to be heading back to Parliament this year as a List MP and as the Labour Spokesperson for Agriculture, Rural Communities, and Biosecurity.

I’ll have more to say about Labour’s plan for the primary industries soon, but I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the last six years.

It was as a List MP that I first entered Parliament in 2017. Since then, the country has been through a lot: terrorism, natural disasters, and a pandemic.

Labour steered a steady ship through it all, but dealing with these events, of course, was not without its complexities. It’s Labour’s values and our care for all New Zealanders – not just the few – that drives us. It is true that we have work to do to make sure Kiwis know and feel that Labour backs them.

That’s why we will be working with communities right across the country to build this support back.

Over our time in Government, we worked hard to tackle the long-term challenges facing New Zealand and I’m proud of the progress that we made on the big issues like housing, inequality, and climate change.

We were able to raise incomes, increase the housing supply, help more New Zealanders into work and training, and reduce climate emissions. The new coalition Government made up of National, ACT, and New Zealand First want to leave all of this to chance, likely taking the country backwards.

After five years of hard work, sacrifice,

‘

The new Government’s job now is to continue supporting our producers by opening doors for exporters wherever they can.

and collaboration with MPI, DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb, we moved closer towards our goal of eradicating Mycoplasma Bovis. I want to acknowledge the hardship borne by farmers and their families during this time.

I also want to thank the broader sector who stepped up their animal tracing efforts, allowing us to move the programme on to a new surveillance phase. Being the first in the world to attempt eradication, we have built a playbook over the last five years with immense effort from everyone involved.

In the year to June 2023, New Zealand’s food and fibre sector hit a new record high, with export earnings hitting $57.4 billion. Labour’s focus on trade and export growth was a major cornerstone of our economic recovery plan.

Together, with the help of the sector, we secured new free trade agreements with the UK and the EU, as well as an upgrade to the China FTA. The new Government’s job now is to continue supporting our producers by opening doors for exporters wher-

ever they can and build on the seven new or upgraded FTAs secured since Labour entered office.

We campaigned on progress and it’s something I will continue to fight for. I will also continue to be a voice for rural Canterbury and would love to hear from you.

Our diverse line-up for the 54th Parliament brings energy and experience to the very important job of Opposition. I am confident our Labour team is up to the challenge of holding the new Government to account.

Hail the firefighting heroes The drought we were told was coming is here, and after the spring and early summer, there is plenty of material to feed rural fires.

] with Rob Cope-Williams

Already there have been a raft of them and we both know there will be a lot more coming.

That brings me to a subject that is close to my heart, those who give everything to fight fires and protect propertied without any reward, apart from pride, and very little recognition outside their own communities.

It isn’t just answering the call when their pager vibrates, it is the many hours of training after a hard day farming. Townies go home to watch TV, have a cold beer or wine and settle into an evening with family, these men and women spend several hours training in a cross between sport and military exercises.

Then there is the matter of fund raising.

Yes, not only fighting fires and attending car crashes, training several nights a week, they also have to raise funds for the upkeep etc. of equipment.

Years ago, the local brigades carted hay, but the demise of the small bales cut that livestream off, so I have no idea what schemes are being used to keep their heads above water.

Let us take a wee moment to think about

the “on standby” situation.

Fires and accidents can happen at any time, and the volunteers are expected to answer the call 24/7.

Middle of Christmas dinner and drop everything and gone. Three AM and awake and off without a second thought.

Plus, the everyday working situation, drop whatever you are doing and head off to the station. Bear in mind that many farms are now one person operations, so dropping everything is far from ideal.

I have known a few urban firefighters and in comparison, their lives are luxury. Apart from being paid, they have shifts so when they are off duty, they are seriously off duty, none of that 24/7 standby for them.

The rest of our communities could learn a lot from our rural fire fighters.

Dedication, no expectations regarding rewards apart from that warm glow one gets from giving, total dedication to one’s community.

To you volunteers be proud, we really do appreciate what you do, and to the rest of us you are heroes, even if you are too humble to acknowledge that.

FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING February 2024

7

Time to fix pothole-riddled rural roads For rural communities struggling with pothole-riddled roads, rundown bridges and never-ending slips, their challenge to the new Government is ‘show us the money’.

] by Simon Edwards

“Farmers recognise the Government have a huge amount of work on their plate, and keeping a lid on taxes means there’s only so much money to go around,” Federated Farmers national board member and transport spokesman Mark Hooper says.

“While we are supportive of the ‘Roads of National Significance’ programme, there is some concern in rural areas that there won’t be enough funding available for provincial state highways and local road renewal and maintenance.”

Hooper says for the agriculture and horticulture sector, those rural highways, local roads and bridges are critical to getting product to processors and markets in a timely manner.

“In the absence of the public transport options available in most urban areas, they’re also the access lifelines for farming families getting to schools, suppliers and other services.”

During election campaigning last year, National’s transport spokesperson Simeon Brown, now the new Minister for both Transport and Local Government, pledged his party would establish a $500 million Pothole Repair Fund to “urgently address the shocking state of our local roads and state highways”.

There’s no mention of that fund in Nation-

al’s coalition agreements with ACT and NZ First.

In a move welcomed by Federated Farmers, the Labour Government’s draft GPS, put out in April last year, made highway and local road maintenance a ‘strategic priority’, and significantly bumped up funding for it.

But even with that Federated Farmers questioned whether it would be enough to catch up on years of under-investment, particularly with last year’s cyclones having absolutely pounded rural infrastructure.

“Our sector, like others that rely on good transport access, are in ‘wait and see mode’ for the new Government’s GPS,” Hooper says.

“We’re cautiously optimistic. At our National Conference meeting in Wellington in November Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay made it clear the Government knew that farmers and growers are vital to the national economy.

“Simeon Brown has talked about instructing NZTA/Waka Kotahi to lift rehabilitation work to at least 2% of the roading network each year, more than double the current rate.

“Federated Farmers is pleased there appears to be recognition that looking after the roads we already have, particularly the networks crucial to getting domestic and export goods to ports and markets, is just as important as building new roads,” Hooper says.

Fix it: Federated Farmers transport spokesperson Mark Hooper says investment in roads of national significance shouldn’t come at the expense of maintaining rural roads.

8 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Andrew Wyllie ] with ] Forsyth Barr

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

New year, new markets?

What a change a few months can make in markets.

In October it was all about central banks keeping interest rates ‘higher for longer’, which negatively impacted international equities. But since November the tune has changed and things seem to be looking up.

The US economy in particular looks like it could be heading for a ‘soft landing’: where inflation goes back to the central bank’s target more quickly than previously thought and the economy slows down without going into a full-blown recession.

This has financial markets generally expecting a kinder investing environment ahead as interest rates (possibly) start to decline from around mid-2024.

The expectation is that most big central banks worldwide (except for Japan) will start cutting interest rates this year (2024).

New Zealand still lagging Over the past three months (and even the last three years) the NZX stock market hasn’t performed as well as some others, mainly because interest rates have continued to rise and remain elevated.

Over 2023 the NZX50 in aggregate eked out a 2.6% gain, although the last three months saw the overall NZX50 index gain 4.2%.

Our local economy hasn’t been doing great.

High interest rates are causing people and businesses to spend less and the prices for our exports have generally softened.. Lower demand and higher costs have meant a lot of firms have been feeling the squeeze on their profit margins.

The outlook, however, seems to be improving. One thing aiding our economy is that more people are coming to live here — with net migration at alltime record highs — which is

boosting demand for general goods and services.

Economic growth over 2023 has been worse than initially estimated and the outlook remains subdued. Population growth is the main factor propelling the economy along at the moment, which means that, at a per capita level, economic growth has actually gone backwards for most of 2023.

Interest rate expectations The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has made it clear that it expects interest

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

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Financial markets, on the other hand, are betting that rate cuts in New Zealand could be delivered as soon as mid-2024, based on expectations of easing inflation pressures.

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February 2024

9

Employment law changes which may impact Canterbury farmers The new government began their term with a 100-day plan and an intention to deliver 49 actions to New Zealand. The employment sector was part of this plan, and the government has recently passed new legislation which may impact Canterbury farmers and their employees.

Alivia Nevin ] with ] Helmore Stewart Lawyers

The first change was the passing of the Employment Relations (Trial Periods) Amendment Bill which has reinstated the 90-day trial period for all employers.

The new legislation allows employers to dismiss an employee within 90 days of starting work, without the need to provide a reason. In 2017, the Labour and New Zealand

First coalition limited the 90-day trial period to only apply to businesses with 19 or less employees. This change may come to a relief for Canterbury farmers who have many employees.

This change does not mean that all employees will be subject to trial periods, it simply allows the employer the option to include a trial period within their employment agreements.

A trial period must be agreed between the employer and employee, stated in writing and in good faith prior to the employee commencing work.

For Canterbury Farmers, this allows them to take a chance on a worker, without the risk of a costly dismissal process. The government has stated that this new legislation will “give businesses the confidence to innovate and grow”.

The second legislation that came into force on 6 January 2024 is the Worker Protection (Migrant and other Employees) Act 2003. The purpose of this legislation is to protect employees from exploitation and will

impact immigration law in New Zealand as well.

Three new immigration infringement offences are being introduced, these include: 1. Allowing a person who is not entitled under the Immigration Act for work in the employer’s service to do that work.

2. Employing a person in a manner that is inconsistent with a work-related condition of that person’s visa.

3. Failing to comply with a requirement to

supply documents within 10 working days.

Canterbury Farmers that have, or intend to hire migrant workers, should ensure that they meet all of their obligations required under the legislation.

These changes are the beginning of the governments long list of plans for this term.

If you have any concerns about your employees, the employment process, or your obligations, speak to your lawyer to ensure you will not be facing any liability.

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10 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Serious slug control that’s kind to the environment No-one wants slugs. But equally, we don’t want to harm the environment or risk the lives of our dogs and cats. supplied by ] Article ] UPL New Zealand It’s a tricky balance but with Ironmax Pro® snail and slug bait UPL New Zealand Ltd has nailed it.

In the Waikato, after a very testing slug season, farmers and growers have been quick to embrace the product manufactured

by French company De Sangosse.

Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL New Zealand Regional Manager Upper North Island, reckons the rest of the country won’t be far behind.

Pieter explains De Sangosse took their industry leading Metarex® Inov slug bait and made it environmentally friendly. “You could say it’s been ‘betterised.”

He says the result, Ironmax Pro, treads very gently on the earth without losing anything in terms of potency. “It’s BioGro certified and offers the best of both worlds.”

IPM-friendly, Ironmax Pro is proven to have limited impact on beneficials including earthworms, and the slug predator carabid beetle. It’s also safer around stock, companion animals, and farm dogs.

Pieter is quick to add that Metarex Inov still has a lot of dedicated advocates. “Ironmax Pro is another string to the slug-protection bow.”

Feedback, he says, has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have called to say they’ve seen almost instant results.”

The De Sangosse sustainability credentials run deep. Their factory in France uses up to 33% green electricity and achieves a 50% energy saving on lighting, by using natural light and LEDs. It is also completely dust free. What is even more remarkable is the fact that the whole factory is run by only nine staff.

“De Sangosse definitely walks the talk – Ironmax Pro even comes in a double lined paper bag which is practical and better for the environment.”

Pieter says, in the past, anything BioGro certified has been seen as a ‘soft option’.

“That’s definitely not the case here.”

He’s also quick to bust the myth that juveniles won’t ingest the bait. “All slugs and snails can and will!”

That’s down to the bait’s exceptional attractiveness and palatability as Pieter explains. “Ironmax Pro uses Colzactive® technology developed from specially selected oil seed rape molecules. 20 plant species were initially evaluated by scientists and 50 potential molecules identified based on their appeal to slugs. Two extraordinarily attractive and palatable molecules were selected. Slugs and snail rapidly detect the bait and are keen to tuck in.“ The research showed 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

Juvenile slug feeding on Ironmax. anhydrous, referred to as 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.

Another bonus is the product’s rainfastness – important as wet conditions favour slug and snail population explosions.

Grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) and their close relation brown field slugs (Deroceras invadens) have the potential to

wipe out entire crops. Their mottled colour and night feeding enables them to go largely unnoticed.

To monitor the slugs’ impact, Pieter advises putting down a slug mat or a damp hessian sack. “Leave it there overnight and check it next morning. Even one slug may signal a problem.” And, for those who don’t have old sacks in the shed – good news.

Just ask your local merchant for an Ironmax Pro hessian sack.

The planet’s favourite slug bait Ironmax Pro®: Powerful But gentle on the earth Ironmax Pro is next gen science that’s building on the toughness of Metarex® Inov. And it’s a great fit for all farming and growing practices – conventional, sustainable, regenerative, and organic.

Talk to your local merchant to find out more.

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. P009801 See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions.

Approved pursuant to the HSNO Act 1996, Approval Code HSR000143 See www.epa.govt.nz for approval controls.

Ironmax is a registered trademark of De Sangosse SAS UPL-LTD.COM

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

February 2024

11

Change is underway

Late last year, the Government repealed the Natural and Built Environment Act and the Spatial Planning Act. This means that, for now, almost all resource management matters revert to the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991.

Peter Scott ] by Chair, Canterbury Regional Council ] (Environment Canterbury) ] Another change was to the amount of time councils have to notify ratepayers about changes to freshwater regional policy statements and other land and water plans. This has been extended from 2024 to the end of 2027. This doesn’t include freshwater farm plan regulations.

We know the Government also plans to replace, repeal, or review other policies and regulations this year, which will likely impact on you, and us. The Government will also ramp up work on a replacement for the RMA. As a regional council and environmental regulator, we’re tasked with implementing these changes and making sure you are aware of them. There will be change ahead, however until these new requirements come into force we must press ahead with business as usual.

Rest assured I’m not just quietly standing by waiting to be told what to do. We are the largest regional council in the country, and Canterbury is a rural powerhouse. I am committed to ensuring that Canterbury is front of mind for the Government when decisions are being made around the Cabinet table.

I have been in touch with our new Ministers and have some meetings in the dairy to highlight the opportunities that Canterbury of-

fers them, and how we must be part of the conversation as they work through their policy agenda.

In my correspondence with Ministers I have explained that although Environment Canterbury is well positioned to respond to change, our community and ratepayers have to foot the bill every time government changes policy.

Have your say as we plan ahead Like other councils across the country, we’re

feeling the pinch of rising costs driven by inflation and are facing challenging times in balancing our changing legal obligations with ratepayers’ ambitions.

Next month, we will be seeking community feedback on our work plans for the next 10 years, and how we pay for it all as part of our long-term budget planning process. With limited funding options (debt, user pays, grants), the likelihood is that we’ll need to propose raising general and targeted rates by a significant amount.

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Neither I nor my fellow Councillors are completely comfortable in having to ask you to pay more in rates. However, with the regulations we’re currently operating under, and the information we have in front of us, we’re left with little choice.

What services we should deliver, and how we fund them can only be determined with the community. We will be asking you to help us answer these questions as part of a formal consultation process in March.

This is your opportunity as our ratepayers and community to tell us, your regional council, if we should be making different decisions around how your ratepayer dollars are spent.

There will be conflicting views within the community and in our Chamber about how to do everything that we need to, and what we want to achieve with the funding we have available.

The important thing is that everyone takes time to get involved in the conversation to make sure they’re heard – much like what I am hoping to achieve with the Government.

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12 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

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HEALTH ON THE FARM

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

13

New Year wellbeing tips ] by Kereama Carmody Christmas and New Year can be a busy time of the year for farmers, but hopefully some of you managed a short break over Christmas or will have a break planned before the end of summer. I thought I would post some New Year wellbeing tips to kick off the year.

New Zealand is in its fifth wave of Covid so staff sickness could be challenging. Hopefully you have a good run and not too many issues.

How were those New Year’s resolutions?

Usually this is the time when we set our goals for the year such as lose weight, join a gym, drink less, improve relationships, give up the cigs – and the list goes on.

Most of you farmers lead pretty active lives working outdoors and gyms can be a bit far away. But if you think you need to ramp it up a bit and get fitter, check out Kane Brisco’s Facebook page for some tips to stay on farm (www.facebook.com/ FarmFitNZ).

Kane also talks about mental fitness. This is part of your health that you could make a new year’s resolution to focus on and improve. Farming can be stressful – financially, staff challenges, compliance pressures, isolation etc – and being able to deal with that stress in a better way will help with your wellbeing, relationships, and all-round good health. Meditation might not be for you but

even just some quiet time with a coffee in the morning before starting your day can get you off on the right foot.

Making some time to do something you enjoy daily or weekly can really help. For example, hunting or fishing with friends or getting of farm for a social event.

I was recently doing some work on a farm in Canterbury and noticed that two towns I went through no longer have a working pub in either town. This means that heading out for a beer to get off farm and socialise is not going to happen which is a real shame. If this is the case in your area, it’s even more important to try and make time to see friends and get social in your community.

My challenge to you all is to think of something that helps with your mental wellbeing and make some time to schedule it into your routine – whether that’s daily, weekly or monthly, as long as it’s in the diary.

Goal setting is easy, but goal achieving is hard and takes a focused effort and a bit of planning. I promise it will help with the stress levels and you’ll feel better.

Take care out there and look after each other. If you need a yarn or any advice regarding staff, feel free to reach out. Next month I want to talk about generational differences and the challenges this can create in the farming workforce.

Abundant Health

] with John Arts

Magnesium Triple

Part Part 12

Do I need extra Magnesium

What is Magnesium Triple?

This is a blend of 3 highly bioavailable forms of Magnesium for rapid absorption and better results.

Last month we saw that Magnesium supplements can be very effective for cramps, especially night cramps and to help restless legs. Magnesium is required by over 300 enzymes including those needed for muscle contraction, energy metabolism and many others.

As a Nutritional Medicine practitioner, Magnesium is one of my most frequently prescribed supplements. This is because Magnesium works on problems quickly with benefits obvious within days, especially with night cramp.

Magnesium is critical for cardiovascular function. Magnesium helps regulate electrical impulses and helps support normal heart rhythm especially for those with AF. I have seen those with mild arrhythmia return to normal using targeted Magnesium plus appropriate dietary changes.

I also use Magnesium, alongside naturally fermented Co enzyme Q10, for those on statin drugs to help prevent or reverse the common side effects of low energy, muscle stiffness, pain and cramps.

Magnesium is also helpful when part of a nutrition programme for hypertension. Magnesium helps relax the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels thus reducing blood pressure. It does this because Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker. When Magnesium lev-

els are low, calcium over-stimulates heart muscle cells (fibres) resulting in heart arrythmias. Adding Magnesium helps to counteract this.

For hypertension I like to combine supplemental Magnesium with a good multi-antioxidant, multi-mineral, multi-vitamin complex. This combined with a diet high in nitrates (especially beetroot) can produce real benefits.

I prefer chelated Magnesium di-glycinate combined with naturally extracted Magnesium from seaweed. These, combined with rapidly absorbed Magnesium citrate means the supplement can work quickly for fast results. I suggest you avoid one-a-day supplements and look for those that you can vary the dosages depending on your needs.

John Arts (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.

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14 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Getting the job done right “You’ve done an absolute amazing job. They look fantastic. Never thought they would have come up that great.” supplied by ] Advertorial GroutPro Solutions ] This was a comment from a customer looking after an airbnb property, for whom Brett Muir of GroutPro completed long overdue maintenance of their bathroom. In his own opinion, “it really did look 100 percent better”.

At GroutPro Brett’s services include chem-cleaning of tiles and grout, acid washing if necessary, getting rid of hard-to-remove calcium buildup, replacing silicone, regrout and seal tiles/grout, replacing cracked tiles and providing informed advice on all areas of tile aftercare.

Often Brett is asked to provide a bathroom or kitchen uplift as people get a property ready for sale. Or the shower silicone/ grout is leaking and needs replaced. Or someone has chipped/cracked a tile and it needs removed and replaced. Or the tiles throughout the whole house need cleaned and the grout sealed.

For almost a decade Groutpro has been replacing standard grout in wet areas with epoxy grout. Epoxy grout is over 80% waterproof, which means it prevents water seeping under the tiles via the grout. There are a full range of epoxy grout colour options, as in normal grout.

Will travel: From Timaru to Nelson and all points in between GroutPro Solutions will come to you.

After 13 years working in his Groutpro business Brett has a solid understanding of the tile issues needing addressed. As a general rule shower silicone needs replaced every 3-5 years and grout needs significant

maintenance between 8-12 years. After completing the shower refurbishment, the shower needs left for 48 hours before use.

Brett works from his Christchurch base, regularly also travelling to Ashburton, Tima-

ru, Temuka, Methven, Rakaia, Darfield and through all of Canterbury.

For more information visit www.groutpro.co.nz or call Brett Muir on 027 746 7632.

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

15

Save money long-term and support recycling With the irrigators in full swing around the Canterbury plains this summer, an alternative post product that can readily withstand ongoing moisture and not rot, while also supporting an award-winning Kiwi recycling initiative, is an attractive proposition for farmers wanting longevity and cost-effective solutions onsite.

] Article supplied by Future Post

Northern farms, such as around the Waikato region, where heavier soils and rainfall combine with a lot of low-lying swampy land, often see a rapid demise in standard timber posts.

Ground level rotting is a real issue resulting in re-fencing being required far too regularly for most farmer’s liking. The adoption of Future Posts in these areas is proving a hit with the recycled plastic posts being an obvious solution to the problem.

“There is nothing worse, as a fencer and a farmer, than seeing good fencing you’ve put in start to fall to bits in no time because it just can’t handle the conditions” says Jerome Wenzlick, founder and CEO of Future Post and farming near Thames.

“Over the last few years, we’ve had a lot of guys putting in Future Posts to replace rotten posts around their wetlands, dairy sheds and heavy peat soil fencing, and they’ll never have to look at it again”.

For the Canterbury region, Future Posts

placed under irrigation lines, high traffic zones and around waterways fencing is a great option to negate ongoing expenditure.

The brand-new South Island Future Post recycling factory in Blenheim has now opened up much easier availability and access to the popular recycled posts to southern areas, with the Number 1 round equivalent 125mm/1.8m post proving durable to pushy stock and vehicle knocks and suitable for a wide range of fencing – especially electrics with no insulators required, simply staple hotwires directly to the post!

The posts are also Bio Gro organic certified and being used on organic farms, orchards and vineyards all around the country.

An exciting new product also in development is the 100% recycled Future Post rail.

Timaru farmer Mark Dale is trialling some in his new sheep yards as well as horse breeder Kelly Williams of Tall Tree Stud, Templeton.

The smart looks, extremely high durabil-

Future Posts’ recycled plastic posts prevent ground level rotting associated fencing under irrigation lines, high traffic zones and around waterways. Inset: Jerome Wenzlick, founder and CEO of Future Post.

ity, no splits, cracks or knots and no chew factors make this an exciting product to come.

Meet the Future Post team at Southern Field Days, 14th to 16th February in Gore, where they will have both posts and the new rails on display.

Jerome Wenzlick, founder and CEO of Future Post.

16 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

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

] by William Milnes Although selecting the right construction supplies is crucial, it is imperative that you make an effort to ensure proper placement of your shed.

A mistake that is commonly made is choosing an empty area on your property under the assumption that all you need to bear in mind is the availability of space.

In reality, several aspects should be contemplated as this can affect the convenience and even durability of farm sheds.

Here’s a guide to choose a location for a farm shed.

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

Consider the terrain of the location Before you have your shed constructed, you need to determine if the terrain is suitable.

If you have your shed built on rocky ground, it is likely that it will not have a stable base.

Depending on the state of your property, you may have to prepare the site so that any obstacles are excavated, mainly if you are buying a prefabricated shed.

However, rocks are not the only issue that affect the terrain. Extensive root networks could also affect the placement of your shed, and trees in the area will have to be addressed before the structure is built.

Generally, flatter surfaces are best for the erection of your farm shed. Furthermore, take note of the incline of the terrain. Try your best

to avoid constructing your shed at the bottom of a slope, as you will end up having to contend with drainage issues.

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

For instance, if you are building your shed

with the intent of utilising it as a living space, whether as a home office or ‘man cave’, accessibility may be critical as you want to be able to access the building easily in all weather conditions.

On the other hand, if the principal application for your shed is storage, accessibility may matter less because you’ll potentially be visiting the space less often.

Keep in mind though that transporting

bulky items such as equipment or tools can quickly become tedious if your shed is located a distance away. In this situation, you will be better off seeking out a central location that makes it easier for you to move between the shed and the rest of your property.

Before you construct your shed, make sure you check with any local bylaws and regulations which dictate where on a property a shed can be built.

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

17

Canterbury business brings low maintenance transportable houses to the South Island Christchurch based building company Russley Portables believes low maintenance housing is a must have on any farm. supplied by ] Advertorial ] Russley Portables Matt Roche acquired the long-standing business in early 2021, and since then has transformed the business into a successful manufacturer of high-quality low maintenance transportable homes.

After seven years as a maintenance/ infrastructure manager for a large national dairy operation Matt wanted to take the plunge into a new field. While looking after around 130 houses across both Islands, Matt saw firsthand the cost of property maintenance.

After purchasing two houses off Russley Portables in his previous role Matt decided “this is it” and offered to buy Russley Portables off its owner who was looking to retire.

“It was a bit of a baptism by fire,” Matt says.

“But we all put in the hard yards, and it paid off, we have constructed just over 130 buildings in less than three years, around half of those being houses.”

After a bit of a wait to see what the economy would do Matt decided it was probably going to come right, so nine months ago started looking for someone to help him expand. Matt found Calvin Kent, a 20-year veteran of the building industry and owner of Kent Homes. Calvin is now 50% owner of Russley Portables.

Matt says, “you don’t know what you don’t know”, and that Calvins input has pushed the business in constructing larger transportables.

Where Matt was only doing two bedrooms the company now offers up to four bedrooms, fully transportable across the South Island.

The company offers a design and project management service, while using contractors local to their area to undertake siteworks for clients. On some occasions clients opt to undertake some of the work themselves under the supervision of Matt and his team.

Matt says keeping costs down is paramount in this industry.

“We are really proud of every building that goes out, if the client is happy so are we, most of our work comes from referrals, it’s a buzz when someone calls up and says I saw one of your houses and I want one.”

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can in their local area and support small business as much as possible.

18 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Rural insurance to protect home and farm If you make your living from the land, you’ll want rural insurance that responds to the unique challenges faced by farmers.

] Article supplied by NZI

Farm insurance is vital because your farm is your home but also your business. And as with any other business, you need to safeguard your essential assets and protect yourself against legal liabilities. That’s why NZI has adapted its trusted policies specifically to meet the needs of rural New Zealanders.

You can get cover for: damage to your buildings, their contents, machinery and vehicles; loss in turnover and increased operational costs from an interruption to your rural business; your legal liability for property damage or personal injury.

Rural material damage Rural insurance recommended for anyone running a business in agriculture or horticulture. This policy protects you against damage to farm buildings, their contents and machinery. It also covers fences, culverts, animal feed and bridges. For horticulturists, we cover your greenhouse and the cost to date of growing the plants.

Rural business interruption Important cover for rural businesses, particularly where farms would shut down if essential infrastructure like milking sheds was lost.

This insurance covers the reduced turnover and increased working costs resulting from an unexpected interruption to your business. You can also cover costs that continue when the income stops – such as wages, interest and rates.

Rural commercial motor vehicle Covers costs of vehicle repair and replacement. NZI’s specialist motor assessors help reduce delay and disruption when your tractors, trucks and harvesters are not available.

This policy also covers your legal liability for any damage or injury.

Rural liability Farming activity entails risk of property damage and personal injury. Liability insurance is essential to cover legal liability for negligence and the increasing exposures to statutory liability that farmers face.

The cost of liability claims can risk the farm and liability insurance is an essential cover.

Rural machinery breakdown Covers accidental breakdown of the motors, surface pumps and submersible pumps and other machinery you need to run your farm.

Machinery breakdown cover is recommended for essential machinery and can also be arranged for all machinery on you farm.

Rural stock deterioration Is ideal cover for agricultural produce which farmers keep under refrigeration. This policy covers refrigerated goods that have deteriorated as a result of the refrigeration machinery failing.

You can also extend it to include cryogenic storage of genetic material, such as semen straws and embryos.

Rural livestock

cover herds, working dogs and horses.

Recommended cover for your high-value individual animals, for death by injury or illness and for fertility. Options are also available to

To find out more about NZI rural insurance, please talk to your broker or go to www.nzi.co.nz to find one.

CANTERBURY FARMING February 2024

19

Overcoming rural connectivity barriers A significant percentage of farmland in New Zealand grapples with poor connectivity coverage.

] Article supplied by Connected Farms

Fairlie based Connected Farms is taking a significant stride forward in addressing this challenge with the launch of CommsXtend.

This groundbreaking portable on-machine Wi-Fi hotspot solution is designed to extend connectivity across farmland, empowering rural and farming businesses to embrace digital agricultural technologies effectively.

“CommsXtend represents a step change in overcoming the connectivity limitations that have long hindered New Zealand farmers from fully adopting transformative digital agricultural technologies,” Connected Farms CEO Tom Andrews said.

“Our commitment to bridging the connectivity gap is reflected in the development of our CommsXtend solution, which will not only improve farm efficiencies and savings but also contribute towards improving lone worker safety.”

Tailored specifically for the unique demands of New Zealand agriculture, CommsXtend offers: Durability for Agricultural Environments: Engineered to withstand the rugged conditions of farm environments, CommsXtend

seamlessly integrates with combine harvesters, tractors, and service vehicles, enhancing precision and digital agriculture through continuous connectivity.

Dynamic SIM Technology: Leveraging Connected Farms’ unique dynamic SIM technology, CommsXtend amplifies signal from any mobile operator network throughout New Zealand, ensuring connectivity even in areas with limited coverage. This enables farmers to utilise Wi-Fi calling and data usage on smartphones and AgriTech devices, to enable the full technical capability of their farm machinery despite patchy cellular networks.

Often, farms have partial coverage by different mobile operators, leading to fragmented connectivity. CommsXtend transcends this limitation by offering unified, ubiquitous coverage across the entire farm. By dynamically selecting the strongest available signal, it establishes a consistent and robust Wi-Fi connection.

This seamless connectivity ensures that farmers, along with their AgriTech and in-cab technologies, operate efficiently and effectively, regardless of the mobile operator’s coverage in different areas of the farm.

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Connected: CommsXtend is a portable on-machine Wi-Fi hotspot solution designed to extend connectivity across the farm.

“CommsXtend is the cornerstone of improving communications across farms that have poor coverage,” Andrews said.

“It not only extends connectivity for Wi-Fi calling in the paddock but also opens doors to a realm of possibilities for farmers, enabling remote monitoring, integration of precision technology, robotics and automation, labour-saving measures, and enhanced decision-making.”

Chief Technology Officer for Connected Farms Luke Robertson has worked with farmers to develop and test the technology. ‘’This innovative technology sets new

benchmarks in connectivity within the agricultural sphere. Its capabilities extend far beyond conventional connectivity solutions.

“By fostering a network that enables remote monitoring and seamless integration of precision technology, it empowers farmers with invaluable insights to make real time decisions and greater operational control.

“The adaptability of CommsXtend across an array of agricultural machinery and vehicles further underscores its versatility and practicality, ensuring that farms of all sizes can seamlessly integrate this innovative solution into their operations,” Roberston said.

20 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

21

The ‘Boarding Advantage’ at St Andrew’s College As well as a world-class education and host of co-curricular activities, boarders at St Andrew’s College gain valuable life skills and personal growth, thanks to the ‘Boarding Advantage’, says Director of Boarding, Matt Parr.

] Advertorial supplied by St Andrew’s College

“The immeasurable benefits Include developing socialisation, interpersonal skills, organisational skills, and resourcefulness, which benefits students well beyond school.”

Matt says the boarding houses are far more than just a place to stay.

“We constantly add value in a range of ways, such as our Prep (homework) programme, Academic Support programme, and the leadership opportunities we provide.

“One of our key points of difference is that all our management staff in boarding, and many of our tutors, are educators.

“We understand what it takes for students to be successful and help them to balance academic achievement with their health and well-being, and co-curricular activities.”

There is already strong demand for boarding places at St Andrew’s in 2025 and Matt encourages anyone interested in securing their child a place to be proactive.

“We’ll be running our usual boarding roadshows around the South Island in Term 1 and we look forward to meeting prospective new students and families.”

St Andrew’s College boarders benefit from the school’s ‘Boarding Advantage’.

BOARDING ROADSHOWS Visit stac.nz/boardingroadshows for further information and to register online

26 February

NORTH CANTERBURY

27 February

SOUTH CANTERBURY

22 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

Progress your farming future Dairy Training, a subsidiary of DairyNZ, is offering two free short courses in Ashburton, starting in February.

] Article supplied by Dairy Training

The first of the two courses, Progression Management, is ideal for experienced farm assistants and new managers.

Course tutor, Tania Burrows, is a lower-order sharemilker who has been farming in the South Island for the last fourteen years. She is also a leadership and wellness coach. Tania understands how important it is to gain knowledge and have a plan early in a farming career.

“Goal setting and understanding who you are and what you want at any farming stage is important. This makes it easier to say yes and no to people and opportunities because you know if that aligns with what you want to achieve,” Tania says.

Progression Management includes topics such as interacting with and managing people, analysing current farm performance, and finding opportunities for improvement.

Other skills learnt on the course look at tools, solutions, and technology available to improve farm performance and an introduction to financial management. Planning and preparing for progression in the industry is also covered.

“When we are in a manager’s role, we must manage day-to-day farming and what tasks the team are doing. But how effective we are is underpinned by how well we manage ourselves and work with other people.

These soft skills can make an enormous difference in how successful we are.”

Tania says Progression Management helps people to build their leadership skills alongside the practical things they might be

doing as a manager, like reporting and financials.

Past Progression Management student Abby Cook is a farm manager in Hinds. Abby says the course has helped her to better understand the farm business.

“The course has got me thinking about the bigger vision for the business and has helped me to understand the ‘whys’ behind decisions made on farm. Knowing this motivates me to do the day-to-day jobs,” Abby says.

Since taking the course, Abby has progressed from farm assistant to farm manager, but says taking the course isn’t just for those wanting to progress.

“I think you can get something out of the course no matter what level you are at.

Even if you might not be progressing to a higher role in the next season, it doesn’t matter; you still learn new things. There is no harm in having more knowledge.”

Tania will also tutor Write a Business Plan, a course for experienced managers, sharemilkers and business owners which is about taking control of their farm business and personal direction.

“Often farmers are busy in gumboots doing the day-to-day stuff and it’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture and direction of the business. When you do, that space becomes a lot clearer,” Tania says.

Write a Business Plan is about taking the time to look at the big picture and longterm goals. This course allows farmers to set goals and work through the steps re-

Ashburton courses

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Progression Management graduate Abby Cook says the Dairy Training course has helped her to better understand the farm business.

Dairy Training Progression Management course tutor Tania Burrows and husband Johno Burrows. quired to achieve these. Tania encourages farmers to give it a go.

“The big thing that I want people to be aware of is they shouldn’t be scared to take on a course or try something new. There is so much value in learning more. You gain so much value getting around other farmers at the same level and who have aspirations like yours. Give it a go.”

Progression Management includes

seven in-person workshops and three online sessions and starts on Wednesday, 14 February. Write a Business Plan includes 3 part-days and starts on Tuesday, 20 February. Contract Milking, a course for current and future contract milkers, is also in Ashburton and starts on March 22.

Visit dairytraining.co.nz for further information or to enrol now

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

23

Learning real-world farming skills Darfield High School’s Tawera Rural College provides opportunities for students to learn real-world farming skills, with pathways to work, as well as agricultural science and commerce with pathways to Lincoln University. supplied by ] Advertorial Tawera Rural College ] Starting from Year 9 and through to Year 13, students learn a range of theory and practical skills from teachers who also run farms. The Malvern community backs Tawera Rural College with great access to a range of farms for extended practical days and work experience.

The school’s Gateway programme supports student placements that complement their classroom learning. We aim to help the local farming industry by increasing the flow of work-ready young people and by inspiring the next generation of agricultural researchers and managers.

This year Tawera Rural College is in the second year of its agriculture academy developed from farmer input and supported by the Primary Industry Training Organisation, three foundation high schools and the local farming community. The programme is intended for those Year 11 and 12 students who display a genuine interest and passion for agriculture.

We thank our existing partners and welcome new partners for student learning experiences. Register your interest today at rural@darfield.school.nz

It’s a hands on approach for students at Darfield High School’s Tawera Rural College.

24 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

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26 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

27

Smart spraying saves dollars and makes sense Optimising spray applications will save money on chemicals and do a better job, according to a leading New Zealand sprayer tester and operator.

] by Kent Caddick And from what he’s seen, there’s widespread room for improvement in contract and farmeroperator practice.

“The sprayer is the most important piece of equipment on an arable farm today,” Jeremy Talbot of Talbot Agriculture said.

“The biggest issue is the choice of nozzle.

With the same water rate different nozzles do very different things.”

Talbot says air-induction nozzles are used far too widely and many operators would do better to use standard flat fan nozzles, or preferably a twin-cap with two flat-fan orifices.

“You get an eight-fold increase in the number of drops and four times the deposition on the crop or target weeds, and for most chemicals that’s where they need to be. If they hit the soil they’re wasted.”

Another problem, particularly where contractors are concerned, is using too little water.

Fewer fill-ups means a considerable increase in area that can be covered in a day, hence why contractors are keen to reduce volumes, Talbot says.

“But it comes back to coverage. If you’re using less water there are fewer drops per hectare and you’ll get less chemical onto the target.”

In Europe, some countries have introduced legislation specifying a minimum of 150 litres/ha of water be used as it’s now accepted low water volumes have hastened the onset of herbicide resistance in certain weed populations.

“Only two countries are still using air induction nozzles and very low water rates widely, and that’s Australia and UK.” Australia’s and the UK’s herbicide resistant grassweed problems are well documented and Talbot says it’s only thanks to the diverse rotations on most New Zealand arable farms that similar issues haven’t arisen here yet.

Drifting: Driving too fast increases drift, which is why some contractors favour low drift nozzles. Photo by Lincoln Agritech

Driving too fast increases drift, which is another reason why some contractors favour low drift nozzles, says Talbot.

He advocates a maximum of 12kmh, or down to 10kmh if there is drift, slowing to 8-9kmh to turn on headlands.

“Spraying should be a smooth, non-stressful job.”

Spray tips

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• Don’t speed: increases drift, boom bounce, yaw, and in/out problems.

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28 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Keeping it safe when it comes to harvesting supplied by ] Article Farm Forestry New Zealand ]

Timber harvesting has been, and unfortunately continues to be, a dangerous task.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (HWSA 2015) makes it clear that all Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) have a responsibility for safety.

A landowner engaging in a timber harvesting activity is by definition a PCBU and should actively take part in ensuring health and safety of the people working on their land.

It is unlikely that a small scale forest landowner will have the expertise to develop a detailed health and safety plan for the timber harvesting operation.

The most prudent option is to engage with a professional forestry company, consultant or contractor to ensure they have the appropriate health and safety plans in place.

The forest industry has been working hard at improving its safety record and has a dedicated Safety Council. A comprehensive review of the forest industry was completed by an Independent Panel and a summary document outlining some of the main shortcomings, as well as an agenda for change, was published (IFSR 2014).

A number of initiatives have been undertaken including setting up ’Safetree’ a website that provides resources such as documents and videos on how to complete timber harvesting safely.

WorkSafe, which is the New Zealand regulator for health and safety, have published a great document entitled “Managing a Safe and Healthy Small Forest Harvest” that provides an excellent resource in terms of practical step-by-step guide for managing your harvest.

For example, one task the landowner must complete is the identification of hazards on the property and making sure they are communicated to the logger. Examples

Harvest time: Farmers with a forestry block ready for harvest are advised to engage with a professional forestry company, consultant or contractor to ensure they have the appropriate health and safety plans in place. of hazards on farm woodlots can be fences, proximity to powerlines, but also the strength of stream crossing structures.

You are also likely to be responsible for the safe access to the forest on the farm, so if the farm roads and tracks leading to the area to be harvested are steep and not accessible for a logging truck in wet weath-

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er, then you need to take action to restrict access.

With regard to the individual harvesting tasks, there is an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP 2012) for forest operations that is considered a minimum standard, and it includes the expectation that all workers are both trained (or in training) and compe-

tent in carrying out the designated harvesting task.

Best practice guides are also available from various sources including for higher risk practices such as manual tree felling or choker-setting (known colloquially as ‘breakingout’ in NZ), or complex harvest systems such as cable logging.

FORESTRY & LOGGING

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

29

Shipping costs heading in the wrong direction

The log price consolidations we saw Q4 2023 have remained for January, and we have seen small lifts in export prices. Domestic prices remain stable with some factors moving toward the positive.

Allan Laurie MNZIF ] with ] Laurie Forestry Ltd

The export prices could have been higher at NZ wharf gate basis but for the issues Israeli crewed vessels are having in the Suez Canal.

This now sees vessels taking the extra 18day voyage around the Horn rather than run the risks posed by the Suez option.

This in turn removes a significant component of larger vessel shipping capacity and supply demand forces 101 adds US$3 to $4 per cubic metre to a NZ log export charterer.

And that happened almost overnight.

This, combined with the Gaza strip conflict and the on-going Ukrainian conflict ensuring oil prices have come under upward pressure and we have shipping costs heading very much in the wrong direction, if you don’t happen to own a log vessel that is.

January settlements in China have been US$128-ish per cubic metre CFR A grade basis. This is a standard 30cm+ log at wharf side China. Over the last 10 years we have seen price levels between US$90 and $190 and in 2023 between US$105 and $140 per cubic metre.

The more important number to forest owners is the net return at wharf gate after shipping and NZ port costs. At or about the current NZ$110 per cubic metre at wharf gate standard A grade basis central South Island Ports, we are in about the top 80 percentile of the market of the last two years.

Over the last 4 months we have seen a quiet creeping effect on the CFR price in China, climbing from US$115 to the current $128. Given factors in China, which are generally adverse in terms of the broader economy, the current levels are likely to be the medium-term peak and may struggle to hold.

Let’s take a quick gander the wood fibre supply from our (NZ) commercial forests of which 90% is Radiata pine.

Average annual log production has been in a 30 to 34million cubic metre range for the last 4 or 5 years. Of this 65% to 70% of the volume is exported and 30% is consumed by domestic processors like sawmills, plywood and MDF plants. About 40% of the locally pro-

cessed products are exported leaving a relatively small portion consumed by our small population.

And no, we do not need another sawmill.

A major one in the North Island just closed, a function of over-supply and poor sales prices. In essence NZ needs to maintain a log export market if forest owners are to have both a market and reasonable value proposition for their forests.

Currently, China imports close to 90% of our export logs – about 40 vessels per month. Korea takes about 8%, Japan, India, Vietnam, and a couple of others, make up the balance.

New Zealand’s total reliance on China is without alternatives, at least for the moment.

India has been quoted as the shiny new beacon on the horizon. These are the words of people who have obviously never tried to do business in India. Problematic likely best describes that opportunity.

A significant combined investment by NZ to construct and own the supply chain from the forest gate to the end user in India might work. Something like your NZ ITM store on steroids. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile our domestic sawmills are chugging along, offering forest owners an ongoing and stable price point at good levels.

The year appears to have started off with not so much as a bang but a small practice tap on the xylophone. At least the order phone has started to ring, and a better air of confidence pervades.

Like the log exporters, international affairs and man’s propensity for war are very concerning for our producers of lumber and finished and semi-finished products. Most commentary is around the negative impacts and down-stream effects of upset trade routes, oil price hikes, rising shipping costs and lack of demand.

All in all, a potentially challenging year ahead, but hey after 2023 it cannot be worse, surely?

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

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30 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

Survey shows farmers wintering well Results from DairyNZ’s nationwide survey released late last year highlights dairy farmers continue to focus on wintering well and caring for their animals and land, no matter the conditions.

] Article supplied by DairyNZ

DairyNZ lead advisor Justin Kitto said he was pleased to see that the wintering survey showed significant improvements in wintering practice on previous years.

“This year (2023) 74% of farmers implemented at least five good management practices to support their cows and manage winter conditions,” Kitto said.

“Importantly, 96% of farmers also said they had strategies to provide comfortable lying conditions.

“These findings emphasise what we have seen previously that farmers use a range of tactics to care for cows over winter. These strategies include shifting them to a drier, lower risk paddock, or using crops positioned in drier or more sheltered areas for grazing during bad weather.”

Kitto said other strategies used to minimise mud and improve lying conditions include back fencing (temporary fences to protect previously grazed areas), portable troughs, providing extra straw as a dry bedding material and moving the break fence multiple times a day.

The survey also saw a significant rise in farmers having a written wintering plan, with an increase to 80% of respondents.

“These are important findings as written plans help to identify environmental risks and encourage thinking around keeping cows comfortable and healthy,” Kitto said.

“It helps ensure that the right decisions are made at critical stages over winter, especially during significant weather events, or during long periods of rain.

“We also saw farmers with written wintering plans also implemented more good practices to look after cows and the environment

Improving: A DairyNZ survey shows significant improvements in wintering practice on previous years when it comes to animal welfare. Photo by Jane Hickling compared to those without a written plan.”

He said farmers are also focused on ensuring calves are born in the best conditions, moving cows off-crop around two weeks before calving date.

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“Many farmers put cows in mobs based on calving dates to help them better monitor and manage herds. Daily checks then provide the opportunity to identify any issues and those getting ready to calve, so farmers can give them the best outcomes.

“Winter weather can be cold and unpredictable, so dairy farmers know they need to care for stock right through to the end of winter.”

Additionally, the results showed that 98%

of farmers had stock excluded from waterways, while 94% had a buffer around their waterways to filter contaminants before they reach a waterway.

“Farmers should be proud of the work they are doing to improve their winter management for the best outcomes for their animals and the environment. The work is being recognised, with regional councils and MPI complimenting farmers on their dedication and progress.”

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

] with Peter Burton

February 2024

31

Are overseas purchasers calling the shots?

To achieve top prices for meat, milk, apples, pears, and all other produce, overseas consumers want to know fertiliser, fungicide and pesticide inputs, and are becoming increasingly demanding.

Explaining that we are the most efficient farmers and growers is not enough. The standards required are becoming ever more stringent and for continued access to top end markets NZ growers and farmers must comply.

Doubtless there are less fussy purchasers however the price they pay is probably lower than required for profitable enterprises here.

Recent pasture growth December pasture growth in most regions was strong with astute operators able to push grazing intervals out and build covers heading into summer.

Grazing to a cover of 1500kgDM/ha, or even slightly lower, allows sunshine into the base of the pasture stimulating clover growth.

A 30-day grazing interval, the time between when animals last exited and the next grazing takes place, provides sufficient time for clover to fix enough nitrogen for maximum yield.

Work undertaken at Ruakura Research Station some years ago showed that when synthetic nitrogen was applied the amount fixed by clover declined. The percentage of clover in the sward was also reduced.

Those who have throughout their farming careers applied synthetic nitrogen in December and into summer find it difficult to break the habit and allow natural systems to flourish.

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introduced and therein lies a problem. Although dairy cows are extremely efficient convertors of almost anything edible the quality of the milk becomes variable.

This means there is less scope to meet the demands of niche markets that return significantly more than high volume commodity ones. We require both, however with costs including interest on loans escalating, more high-end returns are required if the industry is to prosper.

It’s not just dairy production under pressure, the meat industry is now asking their farmer suppliers for input details.

The requirement to show that our pastoral enterprises are carbon positive i.e. steadily sequestering carbon, is already being made.

Measuring soil held carbon The measures required are yet unclear and fudging the issue will in time be counterproductive. The Visual Soil Assessment de-

veloped by Landcare Research is first rate, on cheap water-soluble nutrient inputs suphowever, takes time and there’s too few plemented by maximum allowable inputs of competent people available to fully assess synthetic nitrogen. all farming operations.

In time the required changes will take The Hot Water Carbon (HWC) test provid- place. Having them forced on us by markets ed by the major soil testing labs is essential- is the easy option when getting ahead of the ly a measure of biological activity in the soil game and having greater self-determination at the time of testing. will take real effort, but the outcomes are That activity is dependent on moisture, preferable in all respects. temperature, and recent grazing manageExperimentation is not necessary. There ment and therefore varies. It is only over a are systems proven over more than twenty number of years that a clear trend becomes years that produce more at lower cost and sufficiently obvious for it to be used as an ef- are genuinely sustainable in all respects. A fective marketing tool. commitment to innovation and excellence The last Government appointed people to has never been more important. assess the merits of soil fertility systems outside mainstream.

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32 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

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WATER & IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

33

Will water consenting get easier?

Farmers recently involved with applying for consents have found there has been an increase in the difficulty and complexity of the process.

Matt Bubb ] with ] Aqualinc

The National-led coalition government has acknowledged these challenges and aims to bring about changes to assist. Some farmers, opting to wait and observe the government’s actions before applying for consent, hope that changes will be made to simplify the process.

So, what has the new coalition government said it will do that may assist?

• As part of their 100-day plan the Spatial Planning Act and the Natural and Built Environments Act have already been repealed. Work will now focus on amending the existing RMA with a goal of making it easier to consent new infrastructure and renewable energy and simplify consenting for primary industry. In the longer term, the intention is for the RMA to be replaced with new resource management laws that are based on enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle. What this will look like remains unclear, but it is likely to mean less regulation and control on what can be done as of right.

• The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) will be replaced. This process is expected to take 18-24 months and will include a full consultation process with all stakeholders, including iwi and the public.

• National Environmental Standards on Freshwater Management will be replaced.

The intention of this will be to better reflect the interests of all water users, putting the focus more on water use, rather than the current position of preserving and restoring water bodies where they are degraded.

• The National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity will be reviewed, with a particular focus on reconsidering the mapping of Significant Natural Areas, which is a requirement under the current policy statement.

• Pressure has been lifted on Regional Councils as the requirement for councils to implement freshwater plans by the end of 2024 has been extended to 2027.

However, individual Councils may choose to carry on with the processes and general direction of change where they have already set this in motion.

What does all this mean?

Within the next couple of years, this may not make much difference. While the National Policy Statements and Environmental Standards are still “live”, applications will have to comply with their requirements and Regional Councils will have to implement them.

Simply signalling that there will be changes makes no difference until the existing documents are either repealed or replaced.

Federated Farmers have expressed their disappointment regarding the timeframes for

Changing of the guard: Farmers involved with applying for irrigation consents have found there has been an increase in the difficulty and complexity of the process but that could be about to change under a new Government.. change: they were hoping that these documents would be repealed. Given that this has not happened, any substantial and imminent relief on the consenting front seems unlikely.

In the medium term, there is certainly some light on the horizon that improvements will be made. There is now a good opportunity for progress to be made in cutting down the number of consents that are required and simplifying the consenting process.

However, expectations in this regard should be limited. There will not be a return to the times where consents were gained by simply filling in a form. If anyone is waiting

for this to occur, they may be waiting a long time.

Let’s hope that improvements do eventuate. Bureaucracy and red tape associated with securing consents has become excessive.

This has led to significantly longer timeframes and higher consent related costs, without necessarily leading to meaningful environmental improvements.

The sooner we can get back to making sensible, science-based decisions that effectively balance the needs of our communities and the environment, the better.

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34 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Optimise yield and quality while saving on water, power, fertilisers and labour Many farmers have invested heavily in soil moisture sensors and associated equipment but are not realising any significant benefit from this investment.

] Article supplied by Aqualinc

Aqualinc engineers have a wealth of knowledge in all areas of irrigation, from system design to irrigation management, and this breadth of knowledge enables our customers to maximise their return on their investment in irrigation hardware and monitoring systems.

The key objective of a soil moisture measurement system is to provide the Grower with accurate and representative data that helps them optimise yield and reduce operating costs.

To achieve this the following has to be considered: • What type of sensor is most suitable for the application?

• How many sensors are needed?

• Where should the sensors be located?

• How should the sensors be installed?

To answer the above site research (e.g. to determine topographical information, soil type and characteristics) and a site visit with the farmer is required so the most appropriate solution is selected.

The next two important steps are: • To ensure the sensors are installed correctly • To ensure the farmer knows how to interpret the data provided by the sensors

Aqualinc can also provide a full irrigation management service if required.

Many farmers with soil moisture sensors installed are provided with a nice graph, but without the correct setup and advice this is like driving a car with a faulty speedo – you don’t really know what you’re doing. To irrigate effectively you need to know the soil moisture (preferably in mm) and what range of soil moisture will provide optimum growth and quality.

An irrigation strategy based on robust soil moisture measurements can provide significant environmental benefits, especially around the reduction of leaching of nutrients into ground water and water ways.

Aqualinc engineers have carried out significant research in this area and this expertise is available to our customers and embedded into our systems.

Aqualinc’s Telemetry Solutions utilise the latest technology and are based on the 4G network which provides significant longevity over the many 2G and 3G systems currently in use. These systems can be applied to soil moisture and many other applications including flow metering, pond level, bore depth, weather stations etc.

Aqualinc’s telemetry solutions can also be applied to existing sensors so farmers can benefit from their ‘under-ground’ investment that may no longer be working due

Aqualinc engineers have a wealth of knowledge in all areas of irrigation, from system design to irrigation management. to obsolete or aging telemetry. Soil Moisture Sensors compatible with the Aqualinc system include: Aquaflex, Decagon, Meter Group and Enviropro.

Aqualinc have many resources to assist Irrigators with their Irrigation Management, please feel free to contact us at any time for advice or information.

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Transplanting the grass root structure back into the pivot rut.

Before

Condensed root structure increases the soils weight holding capacity. Once compacted it then combines together to create a solid mass. The grass continues growing and will no longer hold water the same as it did before. Here is an example: If you drove into a wet fully worked up paddock you would simply sink up to your axles, yet if you drove into the same wet paddock with established grass you wouldn’t have a problem driving around on it.

Ruts Plus have clearly proven after years of development to have the answer to pivot rut problems by transplanting the already established grass root structure back into the pivot rut. Not only ending up with extra grass but the grass also helps to absorb water. As we all know traditional costs of filling in pivot ruts with foreign material over the years have been skyrocketing.

Our system provides immediate results with very little time and expense to the farmer by simply following around the wheel tracks filling in any depressions that could hold water. Ruts Plus are currently operating four machines, each pivot rut filler can fill in up to fifty hectares per day.

Set hourly rate with a one off travel cost of $75 per machine anywhere in Canterbury. Prices usually range from $15 to $35 per hectare depending on conditions.

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WATER & IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

35

Managing irrigation during dry conditions

It’s hard to believe January has already been and gone and it’s looking like the rest of the summer and autumn month’s climate state may follow suit with low rainfall, hot days, and wind making for dry conditions.

Stephen McNally ] by ] IrrigationNZ ] Principal Technical Advisor

Although these conditions can cause issues for some, it is great to have some long hot days and favourable conditions for many arable farmers looking to get their harvest underway.

With all this prevailing, it’s essential to be mindful of the potential challenges, here are some considerations and recommendations to help you navigate your irrigation use during this time.

1. Performance evaluation of your irrigator: Knowing exactly how much water and how accurately your irrigator is applying water is essential for making good irrigation decisions.

A simple bucket test can accurately assess your irrigator performance. Understanding your system capacity and return interval is also critical. While the Bucket Test app is a great way to get a rough indication of performance, we recommend getting a qualified performance assessor to conduct a full evaluation that includes observations and analysis of other critical performance measures in addition to a bucket test result.

2. Minimise off-target application: Look at where your irrigation is landing. Watering tracks, laneways, and other non-productive ground wastes water. Off-target

irrigation, such as watering public roads, is prohibited in many districts. It’s also not a good look during summer.

ing drainage or surface flow losses from irrigation whilst maximising both your production and water allocations.

Lesser production areas or lower values crops will have yield losses as these areas will suffer moisture stress.

3. Identify your soil types and know your water holding capacity, field capacity, and irrigation trigger points:

6. Re-nozzle your irrigator:

8. Reduce your irrigation area:

Reducing the nozzle sizes on your irrigator is one way to reduce application depths and tailor applications to a restricted water supply.

However, this method must be done with input from your irrigation service company to avoid damage or inefficiency within the irrigation system, especially putting pumps and control valves at risk of over-pressurisation.

Reducing your total irrigation area increases the amount of water available per hectare and may help to get the best from a restricted water supply. Targeting water to more efficient irrigation systems or soil types increases water use efficiency. This may not be easily achieved under some irrigation system types and may require some additional advice to avoid concentrating flows that exceed the infiltration and water-holding capacity of soils. More advanced irrigation system types, (e.g., VRI on pivots/linear), can target complex irrigation patterns within a single irrigation area.

Knowing how much water your soil can hold is essential to successful irrigation scheduling. Knowing the locations of your different soil types within your irrigation area is also a powerful management tool.

4. Schedule your irrigation: Using soil moisture sensors or soil water budgets to understand when plants need irrigation and how much to apply is essential.

To make good use of soil moisture sensor data you need to measure and record all irrigation and rainfall events. For water budgets, you also need to record daily plant water use (evapotranspiration). Make sure the equipment is operating correctly and any trace or trigger lines on your data report are correctly set up for your season.

5. Adopt deficit irrigation practices: Deficit irrigation is a scheduling practice that keeps the soil water above the irrigation trigger point but does not fully recharge the soil to field capacity. This allows any rainfall, particularly during the shoulders of the irrigation season, to be taken advantage of, minimis-

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7. Prioritise crops or paddocks to be irrigated: By targeting irrigation to areas of higher production or higher value crops maximises your water use efficiency during water restrictions.

36 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Gearing up for Freshwater Farm Plans Ravensdown is preparing to hit the ground running in 2024 to support farmers as they tackle Freshwater Farm Plans.

] Article supplied by Ravensdown

Already qualified and experienced in farm environment planning, a specialist team from Ravensdown recently conducted national training with Pamu staff at the company’s Bell Hill Farm on the West Coast.

The team undertook exercises focused on risk identification and mitigation designed to develop the skills required to prepare and certify Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFPs).

Arron Hutton, Environmental Consultancy Manager at Ravensdown, said the team have already begun working with farmers in Southland, but there’s lots to be done to help around 34,000 Kiwi farms comply with the new regulations by the end of 2025.

“We’ve essentially got two years before all farms in New Zealand are looking to begin the Freshwater Farm Plan process,” Hutton said.

“What we’ve found so far is the majority of farmers are already doing the right thing when it comes to waterway and catchment protection.

It’s about supporting them to link this back to a catchment context. But finding time and having the specialist knowledge for plan development can be a bit tricky when it’s just one of many on-farm requirements that farmers have to juggle.”

Hutton said Ravensdown is still investigating various options for FWFP delivery.

“Options we’re considering range, from a simple extension of existing Farm Environment Plan templates to a more digital or automated system that would better enable delivery at scale once demand for FWFPs increases.”

Pamu’s West Coast business manager Cameron Walker said Pamu is taking an integrated farm planning approach, meaning Freshwater Farm Plans form part of a much larger piece of work.

“We learnt a lot by hosting the training. It’s given us a good head-start toward planning for the West Coast Freshwater Farm Plan rollout in the new year and means we won’t be leaving anything to chance.”

On the job: Pamu’s West Coast business manager Cameron Walker (left) in the field with Senior Farm Environmental Consultant Sonya Perkin.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

February 2024

37

The relationship between irrigation and grazing

Late last year, we got a 4-year SFFF funded project ‘Farm management practices to reduce soil compaction under irrigation’ underway. It has been a challenging start to the project as the wet spring meant we could not get the farm trials up and running until November.

Andrew Curtis ] by Primary Insight ]

The project is sponsored by Federated Farmers, Landcare Research is conducting the soil science, and Primary Insight are running the field trials.

It follows on from a previous project that looked at the impact of irrigation on Canterbury soils. This found that despite many farmers observing an increased soil depth from irrigation, the irrigated soils were more compact and had reduced water holding capacity in comparison to the adjacent dryland.

Therefore, if the benefits from increased soil depth are to be realised, practical actions to reduce soil compaction from grazing are required. There are also countless scientific papers that demonstrate compacted soils significantly reduce production potential, require greater inputs per unit of production, and result in pasture/ crops being less resilient to pests and diseases.

The new projects hypothesis is ‘grazing immediately post irrigation results in higher levels of soil compaction than if grazing is withheld for a period.’

The project has two objectives. The first is to understand the relationship between irrigation and the timing of grazing. We are doing this through monitoring the impacts of grazing when it occurs within 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, and 48 hours of an irrigation event. The second is to explore practical

management options to allow the timing of irrigation and grazing to be easily managed.

Thanks to David Croft, our first trial site is a Fixed Grid system at Hillcrest Farm in the Culverden Basin, and we are now looking for another three sites throughout Canterbury for the 2024-25 season.

Ideally these will, be on soils with 10-20 cm of stone free topsoil (unfortunately it is difficult and costly to take macro-porosity measurements in stony soils); have a centre-pivot irrigator with a functioning VRI system (although we can make the trials work without VRI).

If you fit the bill and have a keen interest in improving your soils, we would love to hear from you (give me a ring!) You will also get a free irrigation scheduling service alongside x4 Sentek 60cm telemetered soil moisture probes that you can re-purpose after the trials have finished.

Primary Insight are specialists in irrigation management. If you need a soil moisture probe that is easy use to use and that works, need a bucket test undertaken by someone who knows what they are doing, or want support trouble shooting irrigator performance or telemetry issues, we can help. Alternatively, join us at one of our free irrigation workshops during February and March. Check out the event listings on our website for more information on dates and locations www. primaryinsight.co.nz. You will also get a certificate of attendance that satisfies your Farm Environment Plan irrigation training requirements.

™

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· IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

IRRIGATE WITH CONFIDENCE.

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38 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING

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Deer farmers looking ahead The deer sale season has gone well with good prices being paid for top animals and signs of a return in farmer confidence for next season.

] with Ali Spencer Prices received by sellers at stag sales in December and January have been generally at or near last year’s, with buyers confident about the future for quality deer products, despite the geopolitical concerns affecting supply chains and the recent changes to access for frozen velvet into China.

A top bid of $100,000 secured lot 12, 183/20 a three-year-old elite sire stag, for a satisfied Canterbury buyer in Netherdale Deer Stud’s Southland sale in mid-January.

This was the thirty-seventh, and final, sale for owners David and Lynley Stevens who were pleased to welcome around 300 people to their milestone event. The top bid was $20,000 more than the stud’s highest price last year. Prices averaged $19,000 across the 24 three-year-old sires.

The tone had been set from the first sale of the year at Fairlight Station’s farm near Garston, Southland, on 6 December, where the average prices received were around a third higher than last year.

In Canterbury, the top price achieved at Deer Genetics NZ’s sale in Geraldine on 7 January was $36,000 for a velvet/trophy stag. Eleven of the 12 offered sold for an average of $15,818.

Rothesay Deer received a top price of $15,000, for one of its velvet/trophy stags on its 8 January sale day, with an average of $3,933 paid across all 15 sold.

Raincliff Station was also happy with results from its elk/wapiti bull sale, with a top price paid of $9,500 and an average of $5,984 across the 25 animals sold.

It’s getting a little quieter on the deer farm now, with velveting almost complete and the last mobs of stags heading off to slaughter, until after the rut in the autumn. Starting the cycle again for the 2023-2024 season, hinds and their new fawns are now getting a bit of extra feed for growth.

Deer science is evolving to meet future demands. To ensure it aligns closely with industry strategy – which applications for coinvestment with government require – the DINZ board has formed a research sub-committee led by board member Jacqueline Rowarth.

This will be informed by a newly formed advisory panel, comprising two New Zealand Deer Farmers Association representatives, two science experts and two Deer Industry

Tops: Award-winning green 183/20 was Netherdale’s top sale this year. Velvet from the stag, described in the sale catalogue as “beautiful velvet, excellent tyne placement and length,” scooped the three-year-old category, the People’s Choice and was also reserve champion in December’s National Velvet & Trophy Competition.

NZ (DINZ) staff. The panel will look at the deer sector’s existing and future research needs, drawing in farmers’ concerns and ideas for testing into one coherent strategy with an annual funding round.

Having managed a team dealing with the sector’s disruption during Covid19, environmental and water policy changes, heading up the DINZ organisation’s future-focused restructure last year and leading the sector back to stability, Moffat announced he will be resigning early next month after four and half years as CEO and 18 years with the organisation.

“It’s been a pleasure and privilege to serve and lead such a dedicated and hardworking team, but it’s time to move on to new challenges,” he said.

Paying tribute to his service over the past two decades, DINZ chair Mandy Bell said the board respected his decision.

“We appreciate everything Innes has done leading our sector through a time of real change. His unwavering support and service to DINZ has had a significant impact on many.”

The well-respected sector leader will farewell “all the amazing people I’ve met in this industry” at industry events until his last week in office, the first week of March.

Moffat’s depth of industry knowledge and understanding will be hard to replace but the search for a new incumbent is underway. In the meantime, Bell will become interim executive chair.

Standing down: Deer Industry NZ chief executive Innes Moffat has resigned from the organisation after four and a half years.

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NZ in line for Ford Ranger PHEV Ford Motor Company is investing in the Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa for production of the first-ever Ranger Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), commencing in late 2024.

] Supplied by Ford NZ

The US$272 million investment for the plugin hybrid version of the Ranger incorporates a new battery pack assembly plant that is being constructed within the Silverton plant for the PHEV system.

Ford’s Chassis Plant in the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is also being upgraded to accommodate the unique chassis configuration for this model, including changes to the robots, welding equipment, control systems, conveyors and skids.

The vehicle assembly operations are being adapted to accommodate the Ranger Plugin Hybrid, specifically on the Trim, Chassis and Final (TCF) line. This includes changes to the handling equipment, turnover fixtures, charging systems, leak detection and testing equipment, as well as a new repair area.

“The additional investment in the Silverton Assembly Plant for the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid takes our total manufacturing investment in South Africa over the past 14 years to around $1.72 billion,” says Andrea Cavallaro, Operations director, Ford International Markets Group.

“It signals our commitment to the country, our employees and our extensive supplier network.”

Ford currently employs approximately 5,200 people in South Africa. The local operations support around 60,000 jobs in the total value chain amongst supplier companies and contributes more than one percent to South Africa’s GDP. Along with the new battery facility and plant upgrades required for the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid, the Paint Shop is being revamped to further improve paint quality and first time through (FTT) for all vehicles produced in South Africa. This will guarantee the highest levels of customer satisfaction and consistently deliver the required production volumes. The Silverton Assembly Plant has an installed capacity to produce 720 vehicles per day over three shifts, or 200,000 vehicles per year.

The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will deliver more torque than any other Ranger, thanks to a 2.3-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor and rechargeable battery system.

“For the first time in about two decades the Silverton plant will also be supplying vehicles to Australia and New Zealand, as it will be the source market for the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid for these countries,” Cavallaro says.

The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will deliver more torque than any other Ranger, thanks to a 2.3-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor and rechargeable battery system.

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February 2024

43

Another year, another dollar

By now your new year resolutions will have been and gone, the joys of Christmas with family a fond memory, and you back to doing what you do well, making a living, or if retired, enjoying the benefits of a lifetime of hard work.

] with Rob Cope-Williams Christmas for farmers is just a blip on the screen.

Stock need attention, irrigation pipes need to be shifted, crops monitored, budgets adjusted as estimated incomes are considered.

I noted late last year that the crops were looking in great order, but that was before the hailstorm and then very hot days, so juggling finances will have been vital.

I suggest that having some heavy hitters in the corridors of power will ensure that our industry will get more of a chance for the coming 12 months, but even they can not do anything about Mother Nature.

Remember my comments in the other column I wrote suggesting that if you believe good times are coming, they will. I would like to add to that support is not a luxury, it is a vital ingredient in life.

Farmers are known as quiet folk who rarely voice concerns, and that can lead to tragedy.

So let us look at the positive.

As I have said, there are four MP’s who have your back when it comes to reducing compliance costs, already things have been scrapped that will help the country and our cash flow outwards, and even the employment areas have been sorted.

Inflation is coming down; interest rates will also come down but that may take a little longer.

Prices are cyclical, so will rise again, and when not if, and the world is getting more gourmet like as the populations come out of the inflation crisis.

Cast your mind back over the past few years and remember the advancements made by scientists within the farming industry and know that there is more coming through the systems. As in allowing you to work smarter and not harder.

Most importantly, be proud of who you are and what you do. Farming is thew backbone of the country, and now the barriers are being lifted, you can expect that other dollar from the new year.

It’s all about budgie science

Six budgies sit in line across a perch. A budgie size gap exists between each one and the next, the perch mounted on a pole, so ‘T’ shape.

] by Solis Norton The budgies peer through their cage at the world. They are in Germany. German budgies. They twitter and tweet this way and that, as budgies often do, about whether those humans can transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

The three budgies on the left see the transition in good fettle. They note that just over half (55%) of German electricity last year was from renewable sources. They note wind farms were the top performers, delivering 31% of the grid’s electricity with no budgies injured by the turbines.

They note Germany reduced its natural gas imports by 33% too. National emissions have dropped to levels comparable with the 1950s.

The left budgies bob up and down and

shuffle about approvingly, the transition is on track.

The budgies on the right tweet ‘really?’

They reply that Germany’s imports of electricity last year surged 63% while exports of electricity declined 25%.

Furthermore, half of the reduction in its emissions was due to reduced industrial activity. Its economic growth ran in place for the first half of the year, then dipped in the third quarter. Industrial activity has declined in each of the five months to the latest data which was October.

Over eight thousand businesses went bankrupt in the first half of that year. The German government has since agreed a support package to help industrial producers with their energy costs. It is anticipated to last five years and cost 12 billion euro in the first year alone.

The budgies on the right twitter nervously.

They note that said 12 billion euros must come from outside of Germany’s energy and industrial systems to avoid a circular robbing of Peter to pay Paul.

Maybe the social welfare system, they suggest, which provides a wide range of ser-

vices related to health, education, and unemployment benefits.

What happens when budgies on the left begin shifting over to think like the budg-

ies on the right? Does the perch wobble? Or bend? Or do the budgies just drop right off?

Or fly away if the cage door is open? To Mars perhaps?

44 February 2024 CANTERBURY FARMING