Volume 117 I August 8th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz
NZ PROVIDES GREENER PASTURES FOR WILL GREEN
This graph shows the North Island mutton slaughter price
Check out https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/ all-pasture-no-supplement/ to read more about Will and Sally's journey and then answer the following questions.
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Where is Will originally from?
2 Where in NZ are Will and Sally based? 3 What is sharemilking?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1
Why did Will come to NZ? What made him want to stay?
2 How many cows do they milk? 3 What was their annual MS production last year? What is their target for this year? What have they done/changed to meet this target? 4 Do some research, what is the average annual rainfall in Canterbury? From the beginning of 2022 how much rain has Canterbury had? What effect has this had on local farming this year?
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5 Why does Will believe that pasture based production with minimal supplementation is the best option for them?
3 In what month/s did last year's levels match current results?
What year/month were returns at the highest level on this graph?
2 What year/month were they at the lowest level?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1
Strawberries are a delicious summer treat that most of us love. Dainty juicy red portions of delight, right?
Returns from both last year and this year are well above the 5-year average. Can you explain why this may be?
2 Early July results have been tracking below the same time last year. What do you think this is due to? 3 Looking at last year's results and the five-year average, what would you expect this year's returns to do between now and October. Why do you think this?
IS ON FARM POWER PRODUCTION AND SHARING THE WAY FORWARD? Check out https://www. farmersweekly.co.nz/farm-sharespositive-energy-vibe-in-project/? fbclid=IwAR2SqogpqVAMF9IlemO GlTPZSFiaIqKxk3mUpSvetforTigvf 711s0KduLE to read more about this idea and see if you can answer the following questions. 1
Why did the Wilson’s decide to implement solar energy on their farm?
2 The Wilson’s have engaged in an energy sharing project with Ara Ake. What is Ara Ake and what do they do? 3 What is “MTR”? What are the goals of MTR? 4 What is the Electricity Participation Code? 5 Why could there be a need for a change of this code if this project is successful? 6 Do you think schemes and technology development like this project are important? Why or why not?
Maybe not, did you know that across the ditch varieties of pink and white strawberries have been developed! Follow this link to read the full story https://www.farmersweekly. co.nz/aus-takes-strawberrygrowing-to-new-heights-and-colo urs/?fbclid=IwAR2r6gcbZOvEXTgu KiwLZGy71F4fjpPpa8aByDNnG2hX9 NELL84yWUOUIEI 1
Who developed these new varieties of strawberries?
2 From 2020-2021 how many tonnes of strawberries were produced in Australia? 3 Do you think that there will be a big demand for the new white and pink varieties? Why or why not? 4 Would you like to try these new varieties? Explain why?
There is much division regarding carbon sequestration and carbon credits with growing concern over the number of farms being sold for blanket planting of pines and "carbon farming". Follow this link https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xPn6yF _ mobo to watch the Onfarn story of Jon and Fiona Sherlock, “Right tree, right place”. They are hill country sheep and beef farmers that have included carbon farming into their portfolio. 1
Do you think blanket planting of pines and this form of carbon farming is the way to go? Why or why not?
2 When Jon talks about Class 7 country, what does he mean? (This document may be of some help if you need it https://www.mpi. govt.nz/dmsdocument/3719-Target-landand-land-use-capability-classes )