The Farmlander - October 2020 by Farmlands

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

OCTOBER 2020 Valid from 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 31 October 2020

The FARMLANDER PARTNERING UP TO PRODUCE EXCELLENCE

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BETTER CONNECTION CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY

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COVERING ALL BASES ON PEST CONTROL PAGE 17

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

OCTOBER

INTEREST

PLAN365

3. Farmlands staff profile

Plan365 Nutrition

3. From the CEO

23. Keeping pet rabbits safe from calicivirus (RHDV)

4. 5 minutes with Karin Kos

25. Feeding for optimum performance

27. Food safety for your animals

6. Special Feature – Growing quality partnerships

13. Connecting to support a common customer 15. Discover genetics fit for your purpose 16. Buying Power Promise 17. Nutting out the rabbit problem 19. Keep your wheels rolling safely this spring 21. 'Mooving' with the times

Plan365 Animal Management 29. Exit drenching after pre-lamb treatments 31. Should my vaccination programme begin at tailing? 33. Optimising cow nutrition to improve fertility 37. This spring, calcium is king

52. Century Farms – Dedication across generations in Waipipi

41. Complete control of crawling insects

66. Real estate market update

Plan365 Forage and Arable 43. Nitrogen losses in nutrient budgets 45. Triumphing over the winter pasture deficit 47. The time for critical fungicide application is approaching fast 49. Protection. Naturally. 51. Smart chemistry puts paid to caterpillars

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR

FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

OCTOBER 2020

Valid from

The FARMLANDER

ERING UP PARTNPRODUCE EXCELLENCE TO

53. Formulation is vital for performance

1 — 31 October 2020

PAGES 6-11

ON THE COVER Quality partnerships have been the catalyst for quality production for Dave and Millie Harper of Braided Waters Farming. The South Canterbury farming partnership finishes lambs, cattle and deer with an emphasis on producing healthier and tastier meat.

BETTER CONNECTION

Plan365 Rural Infrastructure 55. Taking the strain out of fencing, now and in the future 57. Support business growth with Fencing Contractors NZ 59. Lighting your way in rainy weather

CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY PAGE 21

COVERING ALL BASES ON PEST CONTROL

61. Preparing your pool for summer

PAGE 17

62. A decade of delivering Gulf The information contained in this publication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources perceived to be reliable and accurate. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information, Farmlands gives no warranties, express or implied, regarding the information nor does it accept any liability for any opinion or information (including the accuracy or completeness thereof) or for any consequences flowing from its use. The information and views expressed in

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this publication are not necessarily the views or opinion of Farmlands, its editorial contributors, freelancers, associates or information providers. Independent advice is recommended before acting on information or suggestions contained herein. Readers who rely on this information do so at their own risk. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service whether by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Farmlands.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. Prices and offers apply only in the month stated on the front cover of this publication and while stocks last. Not all products are available at all Farmlands stores. All prices include GST unless otherwise stated.

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FARMLANDS STAFF PROFILE

Welcome to the October issue of The Farmlander magazine.

Emily Redmond TFO, Darfield

Q: What’s the best thing about your role? A: Working alongside my awesome clients, creating solutions and seeing the success is really rewarding. Q: What type of work were you doing before Farmlands? A: Working on my parents’ cropping and potato farm in Kirwee. Q: Tell us a bit about your family A: We are a fourth-generation farming family working with mixed cropping and potatoes. We have had agriculture bred into us! Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? A: Worry is wasted imagination! Q: Which aspect of agriculture are you most passionate about? A: I love agronomy, be it pasture, forage crops, arable crops or potatoes. Dad has always grown exceptional crops and I’m keen to learn how to grow to that standard. Q: What are you looking forward to in spring? A: It’s my favourite time of the year! Lambs and calves arrive, crops are planted, everything is growing, and days are longer and warmer.

Ultim Potato Salad

• 1kg agria, new potato or kumara • 250g bacon, chopped • ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pinenuts (toasted) • ½ red onion, finely sliced • ½ cup grated Parmesan • ¾ cup cooked peas, cooled • ¼ cup mayonnaise • ¼ cup sour cream (or extra mayo) • ¼ cup finely chopped parsley • Squeeze of lemon juice

October is an important month for Farmlands. To live up to our Purpose – Grow shareholder success – our focus is on providing visible benefits to you during this busy spring period. It is why we exist and we want to ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to being first for New Zealand’s food and fibre inputs. Our teams in the field and in our stores have been working exceptionally hard to provide supplies and technical expertise at this crucial time of year. This spring is a great opportunity to show shareholders how we have increased capability when it comes to delivering your seed, chemical, fertiliser and feed requirements. Later this month, a major step in helping us serve you more effectively online is occurring through a change to our online shareholder service platform, MyFarmlands. We want dealing with your co-operative to be as easy as possible and we are constantly striving to improve how we deliver services to you. This is a critical step towards achieving this. The old technically deficient MyFarmlands platform will be decommissioned and replaced with an improved version. To ensure the security of your personal information, we are asking every shareholder to re-register for online services. Migrating passwords and user information is a risk we are not willing to take and it is a decision based solely on protecting our shareholders.

Emilya'tse Ingredients

FROM THE CEO

Over the coming weeks, you will receive an email from Farmlands that explains this change in further detail. Once our new MyFarmlands is live, you will need to register to access services, which include:

Method 1. Peel potato and chop into 4cm pieces. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and cool. 2. While the potato is cooking, fry the bacon for 15 minutes (or until crispy). Dry on paper towels. 3. Add potato to a large bowl with bacon, walnuts, red onion, mayonnaise, sour cream (or extra mayo), parsley, parmesan and peas. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze in lemon juice and combine.

• Live Choices Rewards Points balances and real-time redemptions (when ordering e-vouchers) • Access to all your Farmlands statements • The ability to pay your Account online Over time, we will be adding more functionality to MyFarmlands, to make interacting with your co-operative even simpler. Our new platform provides us the opportunity to deliver this. Thank you for your ongoing support.

4. This potato salad is just as yummy warm or chilled, and will last a couple of days in the fridge.

Peter Reidie Chief Executive Officer Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

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THE FARMLANDER | 3

5 minutes with Karin Kos CEO of Apiculture New Zealand What is your background and how did you become involved in apiculture? I was brought up in a family horticultural business and have always enjoyed working in the primary sector. I held communication and marketing roles in the New Zealand seafood and wool sectors. When the role as Chief Executive of the newly established Apiculture New Zealand came up 4 years ago, it was too good an opportunity to miss – it combined my interest in promoting the primary sector and challenged me to lift my communications skills to lead a growing industry. We last spoke to you in February 2019, when a commodity levy was being proposed – what has changed since then?

to bee health and good biosecurity systems, while identifying tangible value opportunities for our members. While mānuka honey has generally continued to perform strongly in export markets, the recent challenge has been the fall in prices for other New Zealand honeys over the last few years. To support those other honeys, Apiculture New Zealand has recently embarked on a collective story-telling drive to educate consumers about New Zealand’s diverse range of native honey varieties. We have joined forces with New Zealand Story, a government agency to create The New Zealand Honey Story: a suite of compelling promotional materials about the lesser known honeys. So, while the mighty mānuka has given us a honey profile envied around the world, we thought it was time to let other honeys, like rātā, kāmahi and pōhutukawa, shine. How has the beekeeping sector stood up to the COVID-19 lockdown and level changes?

consumers responding to COVID-19 with a renewed interest in natural food sources like honey. As a result, we have seen record honey export results for the last 4 months. Looking ahead, awareness of mānuka honey has certainly been raised internationally, however, it is likely to be some time before we know how much of that demand will be retained long-term. Are you currently working on any new research and development projects? Without a commodity levy, which would have seen a significant proportion of funding going towards research, we have not been able to undertake any significant research and development projects. However, good progress has been made regarding a couple of ongoing programmes, including getting EPA approval in 2019 to release a biocontrol insect (Pauesia nigrovaria) parasitoid for the destructive giant willow aphid (GWA).

The apiculture sector has been fortunate to be given essential services status over the COVID lockdown and beyond. This means beekeepers are able to keep looking after bees and continue to provide honey for the domestic and international markets. Additionally, international demand for mānuka honey has benefited from

For beekeepers, farmers and landowners the introduction of the parasitoid from California means the willow now has a chance against this pest. Willows are a major source of nectar and pollen for bees during spring following the winter months' food shortage. Without the vital food willows provide, the bees' ability to produce honey and pollinate food crops is greatly compromised.

International demand for mānuka honey has benefited from consumers responding to COVID-19 with a renewed interest in natural food sources like honey. ”

The 3-year research programme is being led by Scion, funded under MPI’s Sustainable Farming Fund and brings together Apiculture New Zealand, the New Zealand Poplar and Willow Research Trust, the River Managers

While it was disappointing the commodity levy vote was not successful, our work to lift the productivity and skills of our sector, and the value of honey, continues. As an industry we have seen exponential growth and our focus is making sure we have a sustainable beekeeping model over the long-term. That means attention

4 | THE FARMLANDER

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FARMLANDS 5 MINUTES

Group and Zespri International, all providing significant cash and in-kind support. Research partners include Plant and Food Research, the University of Otago and the USDA Forest Service.

While the mighty mānuka has given us a honey profile envied around the world, we thought it was time to let other honeys, like rātā, kāmahi and pōhutukawa, shine.” Another important research project is the Bee Colony Loss Survey, which will shortly be sent to every beekeeper in New Zealand to get baseline information on bee health to monitor managed honeybee colony loss and survival over time. The survey is a critical tool for our industry as it helps us gain a better understanding of trends and emerging challenges around colony losses. It also helps steer the direction of further research and other actions needed. There has been new information released about levels of glyphosate (weed killer) being present in mānuka honey. What are your thoughts on this and how should beekeepers manage this? In releasing the results, New Zealand Food Safety (part of Ministry for

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Primary Industries) advised consumers there is no food safety concern from glyphosate residues in honey. We would also note that many of New Zealand’s native honeys, including mānuka, are gathered from the wild, by and large from hill country and bush, which is not affected by agricultural residues. However, beekeepers are very aware of this issue and do their part by carefully considering where they place their hives and regularly communicating with landowners to avoid placing hives near spraying. In addition, our processors and packers are very aware of the need to test for residues so they can manage and address this issue proactively. Apiculture New Zealand is currently talking to Government agencies and other primary sector organisations to see what more can be done collectively.

Have you got any events or seminars coming up? COVID-19 restrictions have meant we have had to cancel and postpone events and seminars but we have taken to online seminars and webinars, with Zoom meetings becoming the norm. Over the winter months we’ve been running a series of webinars for our members on a range of topics from the latest bee research, to managing the audit process to giving them tips for how to apply the New Zealand Honey Story to their businesses. We look forward to having face-toface meetings in time, with our popular annual national conference planned for mid-2021. To learn more on the GWA research project, see www.giantwillowaphid.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 5

Growing quality partnerships Maximising opportunities and growing relationships have seen a high-country farming couple develop a business in the foothills of the Rakaia Gorge in Canterbury.

| Pictured left to right; Dave and Millie Harper, Brooke Dickey and Michael Dekker.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Dave and Millie Harper founded Braided Waters Farming on partnerships. The business owns around 100ha but farms just over 600ha, producing premium stock for top end processing. The Harpers have created a diverse but complementary business which sees them finishing lambs, cattle and deer and growing 80ha of winter feed.

blocks offer more scope. Leasing is a good option if you can get in at the right rate and secure the necessary term. “It is about relationships and goodwill. We treat all the land as if it was all our own and we recognise it is important the partnership works for the landowner as well,” Dave says. “We try to take a very thoughtful approach and wanted to farm to produce quality value-add stock rather than farming for bulk.

Goodwill and good people Originally Dave and Millie wanted to buy a high-country property and farm for themselves. The dog work, stock and hills had hooked Dave as a young shepherd, and he spent more than 20 years managing high country stations. However, finding the right property at the right price proved difficult with the couple moving to the north bank of the Rakaia Gorge around 20 years ago. Dave and Millie gave up fulltime managing and took a part-time manager role on the small block they were living on while doing a bit of work at the neighbouring golf course on the side, including diving for golf balls, driving diggers and dozers and establishing a security business. They began leasing the block they were living on and as other nearby properties became available, they added them to their growing business. Around 8 years ago Dave and Millie began doing some project management work for Marko and Jennifer Bogoievski, who had just moved next door. Opportunity came knocking in 2017 when a neighbouring property came on the market. A partnership was formed between the Harpers and the Bogoievskis and Braided Waters Farming Ltd was created.

“We wanted to move away from commodity-based income streams and into supplying markets that are focusing on supplying a quality product. “We had been looking to do more finishing of stock and had grown chicory in the past and could see it having quite an impact on the rest of the business.” Quality over bulk This change in thinking marked the beginning of Braided Waters' involvement with the Omega Lamb Project, a programme focused on finishing lambs on chicory to provide higher levels of healthy Omega-3 and polyunsaturated fats. The Project, funded through the Government’s Primary Growth Partnership Fund, leverages 10-years of intensive genetic breeding and research into how to produce the world’s healthiest and tastiest lamb. It involves a collaboration of farmers, animal geneticists, agronomists, New Zealand’s food company Alliance Group, Ministry for Primary Industries and the farmer owned Headwaters breeding programme that has developed a top performing ewe with high fertility and resilience that produces

“At the start we owned no land and no stock yet through relationships and partnerships were able to grow our business. What each couple has brought to the table is complementary.”

lambs with good growth rates and unique fat constitution.

Braided Waters comprises of river flats and terraces with about 90 percent able to be cropped. Dave says the lease

“Previously the fat content was being taken away from sheep

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Dave says the Headwaters composite ewes are resilient enough to handle the tough high country while still being profitable and fertile. and that was affecting survivability.”

THE FARMLANDER | 7

The lambs are bred and managed to achieve a more consistent taste, tenderness, succulence and colour and is marketed in top-end fine dining restaurants around the world.â&#x20AC;?

8 | THE FARMLANDER

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SPECIAL FEATURE

The combination of a new breed, farming practices and finishing grazing on chicory herb pastures for 35-days has led to naturally high levels of Omega-3 and polyunsaturated fats which have significant health benefits. Braided Waters farm 1,500 Headwaters ewes with lambing starting in the first week of September. They are also contracted to finish lambs and supply a total of 3,000 quality lambs per season. Last year the Braided Waters team also fattened lambs from up to seven different supplier farms. “What sets the Omega lamb apart is the stringent quality, consistency and focus. “The lambs are all the same genetics, the same size, there are no ram lambs or cryptorchids, and they are all EID tagged,” Dave says. Growing industry value Supplier lambs start arriving in November with a 30-33kg weight range. They are sent for processing around Christmas time with the liveweight between 39.5kg and 42.5kg. | The Headwaters composite ewes are resilient enough to handle the tough high country while still being profitable and fertile.

“We have been focusing on getting more early lambs into the system to make the most of the chicory when it is at its most productive and for our bred lambs we try and have them onto chicory before they are weaned, so they can easily adjust.” Dave says their aim is to do around 100 lambs per hectare on the chicory and they are currently sitting at close to the 80 mark. “The lambs are bred and managed to achieve a more consistent taste, tenderness, succulence and colour and is marketed in top-end fine dining restaurants around the world. “We love good, naturally produced food and being able to taste test our product is important. “As part of the programme we’ve met top chefs so we can understand what a good quality product means to them and what the chef is looking for in the lamb product. “This is not just a commodity product. We take care with it and have added value to be better at what we are doing and by telling a good story.” He says the work of the Omega Lamb Project is contributing to the growth of the New Zealand Lamb market.

| Dogs are a handy ally as Braided Waters Farming expands.

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“New Zealand can’t remain in the commodity space. This is about value-add and focusing on a top product. We are not quite there yet, but we are going to be and it is where New Zealand’s lamb export needs to be positioned for the future.

THE FARMLANDER | 9

SPECIAL FEATURE

| Dave Harper is always focused on the quality of his stock.

Total farm influence

“We expect to hold these cattle for around 18 months and kill

The Omega Lamb Project influence has changed the way

at a 550kg liveweight.

Braided Waters operates.

“Again, it’s a work in progress, it’s not easy. It’s like the Omega

“We have rolled the data collection into our cattle and deer

Project, it is hard—if the criteria was easy people would have

and now monitor growth rates with an emphasis on quality

been doing it years ago.”

and a product that meets the needs of the end user.

Deer finishing has also added a layer of flexibility and could

“Our farming motto is we don’t accept average and we

provide the answer to utilising chicory outside the summer

apply that across the business and focus on quality across

finishing window.

all aspects.”

Last year Braided Waters finished 640 red deer but have

Braided Waters has joined First Light Wagyu and this winter

dropped that back to 300 this year due to market risk created

has a contract to take 70 Wagyu heifers through with plans to

by COVID-19 and its impact on the restaurant trade.

finish 120 next year.

The deer complement the lambs with the deer eating grass

“The contract gives us certainty on our margins and allows

when the lambs aren’t there and then when the lambs need

us to commit to take the cattle through for a second winter.

the grass the deer are being processed.

“Knowing the returns means we are mitigating risk and

Velveting starts in mid-September with the deer sent for

again focusing on quality by aligning ourselves with a top

processing from October.

grass-fed brand.”

Dave says the deer on chicory is a work in progress.

Braided Waters has dairy grazers to help with cash flow and

“We have tried the deer on chicory but because it’s a soft

also grow weaner calves.

plant the deer can thrash a paddock at times we want to be

“Last year we bought in 390 100kg Fresian/Hereford cross

preserving it.

calves and are fattening them through the Silver Fern Farms

“We are looking at different mixes but cannot compromise the

EQ (Eating Quality) system which carries a premium if the

chicory properties as the quality of the lambs is the driver.”

criteria is met.

10 | THE FARMLANDER

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SPECIAL FEATURE

| On-farm decisions are made based on mitigating risk and adding value.

| The wintering programme is reliant on managing mob sizes to maintain quality and maximise pasture growth.

Embracing growth The Harpers admit that their operation is a complex one and a focus has been on finding a way to generate a steady income stream without the reliance on a large livestock wintering system. “We have a big wintering programme but it is demanding on the environment and people. Winters can be brutal. We have good reliable rainfall and grow good feed but it adds to the stress.” Dave says. A specialist feed programme is key with mobs of cattle and lambs on 2-day shifts with the use of portable troughs. This enables the break to fit the mob size so they can make sure it is as easy as possible to maintain quality and maximise pasture growth. The 80ha of winter feed includes 20ha of swedes, 31ha of kale, 18ha fodder beet, 10ha rape, 35ha chicory and 20ha red clover. “Farming has changed a lot. We’ve been in the industry for many years and you have to be open to new ideas — you have to do something different because doing the same thing clearly isn’t working as well as it should. “It is important to move with the times and be prepared to look at your challenges and procedures through fresh eyes.

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“It’s about complementing not competing. Our decisions are made to mitigate risk and are based around controlled and consistent supply with our partners. “We want to build an intergenerational robust farming business with multiple income streams that focusses on adding value that exceeds best practice environmental and faming standards.” Dave says. Dave and Millie’s daughter Rosa and her husband Michael Dekker are heavily involved in the farming operation and for the last 3 years have raised over 200 of the 390 weaner calves as part of Braided Waters' Silver Fern Farms contract, along with employee Brooke Dickey. “Millie and I are trying to step back from the day to day running and instead look at other opportunities to grow the business and diversify. That might not necessarily be buying land, it might mean looking at more equity partners. “There has been a lot of learning to get to this stage and our partnership involves a lot of good faith from both parties and the landowners. “At the end of the day we are happy doing what we are doing. I think you are better to own 50 percent of something that is going well than 100 percent and struggling.” Dave emphasises. To learn more about the Omega Lamb Project, visit www.omegalamb.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 11

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Connecting to support a common customer While Farmlands Co-operative and Beef + Lamb NZ have been strong allies for many years, the partnership has been put to paper to build on a mutual vision of profitable and sustainable farming. On the 31st July 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Farmlands Chief Executive Officer Peter Reidie and Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) Chief Executive Officer Sam McIvor. Farmlands Director of External Relations Mark McHardy and B+LNZ General Manager of Farming Excellence, Dan Brier developed the document and will manage the relationship between the two industry leading companies.

| Farmlands CEO Peter Reidie and Beef + Lamb NZ CEO Sam McIvor solidify the business partnership with a signed MOU.

For Mark and the Farmlands team, formalising a relationship with B+LNZ is a positive step for Farmlands and the shareholder base.

regional and national levels. Project

“The agreement is intended to formalise an annual process of identifying and prioritising collaborative opportunities between Farmlands and B+LNZ at both

New Zealand,” Mark says.

plans can then be considered and developed for the benefit of beef, dairy and sheep farmers across For B+LNZ, the MOU provides a solid grounding to work with Farmlands on a variety of issues. “Many of our levy payers are also Farmlands shareholders so it makes sense that we work together where we can get the best outcomes for farmers,” Dan notes. Following the signing, Farmlands

| A strong business partnership will mean more opportunity for sheep and beef farmers.

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Many of our levy payers are also Farmlands shareholders so it makes sense that we work together where we can get the best outcomes for farmers.”

and B+LNZ can now capitalise on

“B+LNZ is proud of the work we do for

resources from both establishments

and on behalf of farmers. This MOU

to offer improved planning and

allows us to extend that influence

co-ordination of information, events

more widely, for example Farmlands

and environmental stewardship in

using our farmer learning tools off

order to maximise farmer profitability

the Knowledge Hub for their internal

and sector sustainability.

training programmes”, Dan explains.

THE FARMLANDER | 13

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TECHNICAL ADVICE

Discover genetics fit for your purpose Finding the right sheep genetics for your farming operation is about to get a lot easier. A new tool from Farmlands partner, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics has been released to replace FlockFinder and RamFinder. Called “nProve”, the improved genetic technology was rolled out to sheep farmers at the beginning of September. nProve is based on new software and technology that provides greater transparency. This makes it easier for farmers to identify breeders producing rams that best

“One of our core strategies is to

fit their own set of circumstances.

develop tools that will make adoption of

Over recent seasons, farmers have

genetic information as easy as possible.

had access to New Zealand Terminal

With nProve, farmers are able to quickly

Worth (NZTW) and New Zealand

identify ram-breeding flocks at the top

Maternal Worth (NZMW) indexes – a

of their own customised scale.”

single figure indicating the genetic

The tool has been developed in

worth of one ram, versus another.

partnership with the Red Meat Profit

With nProve, commercial farmers can

Partnership (RMPP). In addition to

now customise what they are looking

seeking input from commercial farmers,

for in their ram team, using simple

B+LNZ Genetics also worked closely

slider scales to indicate the specific

with its community of SIL sheep

traits important for their operation.

breeders and bureaux, particularly

The result is a list of breeders who

in the final testing phase to fine

have rams that best fit the purpose

tune the tool prior to its release.

defined by the commercial farmer.

“There has been a lot of ground

B+LNZ Genetics’ Sheep Genetics

covered since the first preview of

Operations Specialist Sarah Powdrell

nProve was shared with breeders

says the tool’s tag line says it all:

– we’ve rolled out four packages

“discover genetics fit for your purpose.”

of updates to the tool in response

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to feedback. The discussion and ideas submitted from our breeder community throughout this process has been invaluable,” B+LNZ Genetics IT Programme Manager David Campbell says. Farmlands and B+LNZ solidified their partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in July 2020. Farmlands’ Director of External Relations, Mark McHardy is impressed by the new software. “This new genetic technology is an excellent example of the opportunties shareholders will now have access to. Farmlands see supporting exciting initiatives like nProve as integral to the success of the partnership,” Mark says. To find out more, visit www.nprove.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 15

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SHAREHOLDER STORY

Nutting out the rabbit problem Having a range of tools in the box is the key to rabbit control at an Alexandra pine nut orchard. Orchard owner Nigel Bamford and agricultural jack-of-all-trades, Stephen Gullick say a pest control programme that utilises a number of approaches has been the winning formula. Stephen became involved with pine nuts around 4 years ago when he helped his neighbour, Nigel plant 72 hectares in Pinus pinea (pine nut) seedlings. The Alexandra block now comprises of around 20,000 trees with

Nigel an advocate of planting longterm, slow growing tree nut or fruit trees, rather than the quick turnaround pine trees. The pine nut is a valuable cash crop with trees producing cones from which the pine nuts are removed after about 15 years. Full production is usually around year 40 and the trees can live up to 200 years. However, due to their slow growth, pine nut trees are vulnerable for longer and protecting them from pests is a priority. For Nigel and Stephen, rabbits have been a real problem. “Rabbits would bite off the top of the trees which didn’t kill the tree, but it would put its growth back a year, and this would be repeated the following year,” Nigel says. Controlling the animals through night and thermal scope shooting improved the situation but did not completely eradicate the issue. As a solution, 2 years ago Stephen introduced Pindone rabbit pellets, significantly improving the situation.

| Covering all bases is the best defence against pests.

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Manufactured and supplied to Farmlands by Key Industries, Pindone is described as a more humane and safe way to solve rabbit problems. Initially Stephen and Nigel were topping up the bait stations twice a week to get on top of the population.

“Now it’s more of a maintenance programme – as long as the bait stations are kept full, we can keep the rabbit population down. We top the stations up about once a fortnight and have noticed a real difference in the growth of the trees. “Even though the trees are more established now the rabbits can still cause a lot of damage by ring barking the trees and even digging them out by their roots. We expect we will need to continue the eradication programme for another 2 to 4 years until the trees are strong enough to survive,” Stephen says. Nigel describes the rabbits as a complicated adversary. “When we first started planting, I asked a third generation Alexandra farmer for rabbit control advice and he told me, ‘use everything, and use it simultaneously’. “We know we are on top of the rabbit problem and it really is a combination of all those efforts. We will also look to improve the way we use the bait stations and continue to refine our operation to get the best results,” Nigel says. For pest control advice for your property, contact your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer or Farmlands store.

THE FARMLANDER | 17

GEARING UP FOR A

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Keep your wheels rolling safely this spring October sees the highest number of injuries suffered on New Zealand farms due to vehicle accidents. This is accompanied by the highest number of incidents of people being injured due to being trapped between moving and stationary objects. On average, 706 vehicle-related injuries and 169 injuries as a result of being trapped by a moving object — serious enough to result in ACC claims — are recorded annually. “Those will range from injuries needing some time off work through to lifechanging accidents and fatalities,” Al McCone, Agriculture Lead for WorkSafe NZ says. “Whiplash from collisions, crushing injuries from being trapped against a wall or the ground, multiple injuries from farm vehicles rolling and people being ejected. In recent years, almost all fatal accidents on New Zealand farms have involved a vehicle.”

Al says there may be many reasons for the vehicle-related accident spike – with numbers remaining high until February. “The weather is improving in October, there are lambs and calves out in the fields, so farmers are getting around more,” he says. “There may be new seasonal workers, who aren’t as familiar with the risks on farm, and children out and about. “Things may have changed over winter, there may have been slips, new furrows drying out and new growth concealing pipes. Your farm risk register should be a living document, with hazards added as they arise, but spring is a very good time to review your register and go over it with your workers — and make sure any contractors know about any risks too.” Good vehicle maintenance and records are essential. This doesn’t just cover the Warrant of Fitness (WoF) but making sure regular checks are completed, including tyre pressure

and tread depth. Marking up a map of the farm showing areas where it’s safe for certain vehicles to go is useful but make sure slopes that may become unsafe when wet or frosty are taken into account. Put a copy in every vehicle and provide it to your contractors when you talk to them. “All new employees, whether experienced or not, should be thoroughly trained in using your farm vehicles and machinery and not be operating them on their own until you are confident they are fully proficient. Fitting RoPs on quad bikes and a firm rule that helmets and seatbelts must be used will help protect people. Remember, ACC provide a subsidy for the purchase of crush protection for your quad,” Al says. “Even with those measures in place, people do forget. “So, these messages needed to be repeated, regularly. One of your most effective health and safety tools is simply good communication. When you tell people to do a job, take a few minutes to talk over what the risks are, what the safest approach is and what will be the best vehicle for the job. “Repeat the message — their safety and that of others is your first priority. If a job has to take longer than expected, be put off or they need to call someone else to help them, then they should do that. That, and leading by example, will go a long way to embedding the ‘don’t take risks’ message into your farm’s culture – for everyone working and living on your land.”

| As usage increases in spring, maintenance checks on every farm vehicle are critical for on-farm safety.

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Article supplied by WorkSafe NZ

THE FARMLANDER | 19

IT STARTS WITH A FARMLANDS CARD. YOUR FARMLANDS CARD CAN NOW BE USED ONLINE

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PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Mooving with the times After farming in the South Canterbury district for nearly 80 years, three generations of the Weir family are embracing change and new connections. The 100ha dairy property on the southern boundary of the Timaru township was originally farmed by Farmlands shareholder, Stu Weir’s grandparents in 1944, before being passed down the generations to Stu and his wife Andrea, who took over sole management 7 years ago. The Weir family milk upwards of 200 cows and raise an equal amount of calves. When Stu and Andrea picked up the cups from Stu’s parents Bill and Shona, an opportunity to step across from the traditional milk distribution process presented itself and the Real Milk Timaru Ltd business was born. Based off the property, Real Milk Timaru Ltd offers a vending machine of milk bottles straight from the vat that are available to the public to collect, as well as a delivery service around Timaru, Waimate and Fairlie. “It’s rocking along, people are getting back to unprocessed food and word of mouth is great for marketing,” Stu says.

| Stu and Andrea's "shop cows" add a little bit of personality into their raw milk business

fifteen of the herd of 200 cows are separated and milked once a day specifically for the Real Milk Timaru Ltd supply, with milk being tested weekly for pathogens and bacteria. “The fifteen “shop cows” are a little bit spoilt, they’ve all got different personalities, but they also won’t be pushed around!” Stu laughs. Cleanliness of the milking plant is a high priority, as well as keeping the cows as comfortable as possible. As part of developing the dairy business to accommodate the growing demand for raw milk, Stu and Andrea have installed a DeLaval Parallel Parlour with Rapid Exit milking system, one of only three systems in New Zealand. While the set-up looks like a traditional herringbone, the Rapid Exit system runs electronically, lifting the head-bales up

Additional connectivity only means more opportunity for Real Milk Timaru Ltd as it expands.”

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to allow the cows to walk directly out of shed without having to turn. To manage the electronic side, strong internet coverage was required. It was the last thing Stu and Andrea thought of but when they approached their long-term internet provider and Farmlands Card Partner, Farmside for a solution, the rural broadband provider was ready to go. “Farmside had the extra broadband option available so when we needed it, it was there,” Stu says. “It’s a troublefree service and the DeLaval tech team can now access our shed system from anywhere in the country to reprogram it and fix issues.” “Plus, now that we have the broadband system to the shed, it’s available for full herd management when we need it. Farmside really shines through in the more remote rural areas, when satellite is the only option to access the network.” The additional connectivity only means more opportunity for Real Milk Timaru Ltd as it expands. “The technology is all there now to build on, we can add to it at any time. It just works really well,” Stu says. For more information on rural broadband and to update your connection, visit www.farmside.co.nz or call 0800 32 76 74

THE FARMLANDER | 21

IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 22 | THE FARMLANDER

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Articles in the Plan365 section allow Farmlands suppliers to share best practice and the latest advances in rural technology, to help shareholders with their farming needs all year round.

Keeping pet rabbits safe from calicivirus (RHDV) Last autumn saw rabbit breeders report unexpected losses from Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), which is also known as calicivirus. Wild rabbit deaths from RHDV tend to increase in both autumn and spring, so a timely reminder of the risks is important. In April 2020, experienced breeders reported that young rabbits were being lost, which is unusual with RHDV and the symptoms were more subtle than previous outbreaks. Pathological examination of organs from two deceased rabbits indicated that RHDV was the cause of death but owners had to wait for PCR (Preliminary Chain Reaction) testing to conclusively show the rabbits had RHDV. Thanks to the laboratory staff at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, the presence of RHDV2 was confirmed as the cause of death in both rabbits. New Zealand has three strains of RHDV: • RHDV1v351 —released in 1997 • R HDV1 K5 (Korean variant) —released in March/April 2018 • R HDV2 —detected in wild rabbits in 2018. The virus has helped to reduce the wild rabbit populations that damage natural flora and fauna but the virus also presents a risk to unvaccinated pet rabbits. Prevention through vaccination and biosecurity measures are recommended because there are no treatments for infected animals and death rates can be high. Rabbit owners should check with their vet if their rabbits are fully covered and up to date.

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The virus has helped to reduce the wild rabbit populations that damage natural flora and fauna but the virus also presents a risk to unvaccinated pet rabbits.” | Vaccinations and strong biosecurity measures can help prevent pet rabbits being exposed to calicivirus (RHDV).

The RHDV virus is spread through: • Direct contact with other diseased rabbits. • Insects such as flies and fleas which can carry infection from infected rabbits or carcasses. • C ontact with contaminated objects such as bedding, people and clothing. To reduce the risk, biosecurity measures include controlling insects and removing uneaten food which might attract flies, preventing wild rabbit access to your rabbits, limiting contact with other pet rabbits and isolating new rabbits for 7 days. Avoid cutting grass and feeding it to your rabbits and rinse all leafy greens well before feeding. Interestingly, one pathology report detailed the presence of coccidial oocytes which confirmed that rabbits are also under threat from coccidiosis, justifying the inclusion of a coccidiostat in NRM Rabbit Pellets. Pelleted feeds are very unlikely to spread RHDV. The crops from which these are grown are

not especially appealing to rabbits and the virus is unlikely to survive the time it takes to get from the field to the feed mill. There is good evidence that the virus prepared on cereal based baits rapidly loses efficacy over just 1-2 days. Like the fanciers that support many rare farm animals or poultry, rabbit breeders are the lifeblood of pet rabbits in New Zealand. Their commitment to showing and breeding has ensured the survival of breeds that offer diversity and choice. NRM Rabbit Pellets were acknowledged by breeders as delivering good protein levels to support milk production in does and growth in young kits. Despite being a higher performance formulation, NRM Rabbit Pellets contain a concentrated fibre source to support a healthy digestive system so are suitable for pet and breeding rabbits alike. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Dr Rob Derrick, Head of Nutrition and Animal Health.

THE FARMLANDER | 23

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING You’re invited to the fifty-seventh Annual General Meeting of shareholders of Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited. Shareholders are invited to join the Directors and Executive of the Society for refreshments at the conclusion of the meeting.

WHEN:

Thursday 19th November, 12.00pm

WHERE:

Farmlands Co-operative Support Office 535 Wairakei Road, Christchurch

Parking available onsite and will be signposted. Please RSVP by 5th November 2020 at www.farmlands.co.nz/agm

24 | THE FARMLANDER

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NUTRITION

Feeding for optimum performance While the 2020 competition season has been rather disruptive due to COVID-19, many events are progressing as normal and most horses are in their usual work routines. The significant nutritional requirements of a hard-working horse mean that designing a balanced diet is vital. From the all-important energy required to perform, to essential amino acids, trace minerals and key vitamins, simple changes to the diet can mean the difference between a winning and a mediocre performance. Energy for performance and weight maintenance during increasing work is arguably one of the most important factors of the diet, and the energy sources selected can influence exercise type and recovery. Most working horse diets will require a blend of structural and non-structural carbohydrates for energy as well as some amount of fat, however the levels of each of these provided should depend on the work type being asked of the horse. While structural carbohydrates such as forages should be the largest part of all equine diets, horses performing fast paced work such as racing, polo, eventing and show jumping, will most likely require some amount of grain in their diet. The starch that grain contains is released rapidly into the bloodstream as glucose

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and fuels anaerobic work and fast paced muscle contractions. Horses performing slower paced work that is aerobic in nature, such as endurance and dressage, require higher levels of structural carbohydrates (forage), and slow release forms of energy (fat), and less energy from grains. While protein is not as crucial to the mature performance horse as it is for breeding and growth, providing the correct level and ratio of amino acids is highly important for muscle development and maintenance. A performance horse receiving a diet that is deficient in protein or uses poor quality sources will over time begin to show signs of muscle wastage and lack of top-line. Each trace mineral and vitamin play a different role in the horse’s body and contributes to overall health and performance in various ways. Achieving optimum health by meeting all nutrient requirements improves overall vitality, therefore increasing the chance of improved performance while also reducing time needed for recovery. Key nutrients for performance horses include vitamin E, as well as electrolytes sodium, chloride and potassium. Hard working horses are often candidates for digestive problems such as gastric ulcers and hindgut acidosis.

Each trace mineral and vitamin play a different role in the horse’s body and contributes to overall health and performance in various ways.” These can occur for various reasons, including management practices and stress, and can cause significant discomfort and therefore impact on performance. Ensuring at least 1.5 percent of the horse’s body weight in high quality forage is consumed daily at a consistent rate, keeping grain meals to less than 2.5kgs, and only feeding digestible energy sources such as steam flaked grains and high quality fat sources, are essential management practices to avoid these conditions and ensure the equine athlete is able to perform to the best of their ability. For assistance with feeding plans to enhance overall health and performance, consult with an experienced equine nutrition advisor or visit your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutritionist

THE FARMLANDER | 25

EVERY KIWI SHOULD HAVE A PAIR

26 | THE FARMLANDER

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HC SKP1596

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NUTRITION

Food safety for your animals Food safety is essential in the human food chain and is also important when it come to your animals too! Some animal feeds are surprisingly dangerous to non-target species, so it pays to read and understand feed labels. Coccidiostat safety Coccidiostats are often found in calf, lamb, chick, dairy and some rabbit feeds and are included to prevent coccidiosis in these species, a common parasitic issue. There are different forms of coccidiostat, including; Bovatec®, Rumensin®, Deccox® and Cycostat®. If a feed contains a coccidiostat it should be stated on the label along with clear feeding instructions. Coccidiostats are classed as ACVM registered additives, so they can only be fed to approved species and may have withholding periods. Some animals are very sensitive to coccidiostats and sickness or even death can occur if consumed. These animals include dogs, horses, donkeys and camelids such as alpacas and llamas. It is important to not allow these animals access to feeds containing a coccidiostat. If accidental ingestion

occurs, contact your vet. Dogs need to be kept a close eye on around calf feed as this seems to be the biggest occurrence of non-target animal coccidiostat toxicity.

there may be a connection between feeding higher rates of magnesium oxide to dairy cows and susceptibility to salmonella, so it’s best to avoid feeding too much magnesium oxide.

Macrominerals Calcium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus are classed as macrominerals and the level required per day can differ depending on physiological state. For example, a laying chicken making an eggshell a day requires more calcium than an animal not producing eggs. Growing animals also need the correct balance of macrominerals to support skeletal growth. If an animal is fed too much of a macromineral it can cause health issues. For example, too much calcium to an animal that doesn’t require it is not ideal for bone development and can cause kidney damage. Too little of a macromineral can also cause issues – for example, low calcium in a dairy cow diet causes milk fever. It’s therefore important to give an animal the correct feed for its current physiological state. Be wary of calf feed with calcium levels more suited to laying chickens. MPI have warned

Micronutrients Micronutrients include trace elements such as cobalt, copper, selenium, iodine, zinc and manganese, as well as vitamins such as vitamins A, D and E. These nutrients need to be consumed in small quantities per day but have a big impact on health. The requirement for micronutrients varies with species and physiological state. A good example of this is copper requirements. Cattle require more copper per kilogram of body weight compared to sheep, so if cattle feed with a high level of copper is fed to a sheep for an extended period it can cause toxicity. Even within species, requirements may be different. For example, lactating cow feed will often contain high rates of copper, which makes it inappropriate for feeding to calves – especially at a higher percentage of their diet. Some multi-feed options such as NRM MultiFeed Nuts have a safe level for a wider range of species. Always check labels to ensure a feed is approved for use for your target animal. Small differences can make big differences, so be aware of this when making feed choices for your animals to ensure they are healthy and performing optimally. Give NRM Customer Services a call on 0800 800 380 if you are considering feeding something which is not detailed on a product label.

| Selecting the right feed for both the type and age of the animal is critical for ensuring the correct nutrients are being ingested.

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Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, NRM Nutritionist.

THE FARMLANDER | 27

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Exit drenching after pre-lamb treatments It seems like there is no such thing as just drenching sheep anymore; with terms like knockout drench, exit drench, strategic drench, trigger drench, quarantine drench all becoming more common in our vocabulary. At this time of the year exit drenching is the term that we need to be thinking about the most. The idea behind exit drenching is that animals which were treated with a long acting drench prior to lambing are likely to be approaching the end of the payout period of that product. There is a chance that these ewes are now harbouring parasites that are partially or fully resistant to the active ingredient (or ingredients) of the long acting product. We do not want these parasites to continue producing eggs which contaminate the environment that the lambs are grazing. Parasite resistance is a highly complex issue, with many factors that can lead to resistance on any property. One such counter method would be to use an exit drench in the hoggets and ewes

that were treated with a long acting product. The theory is that a different set of active ingredients will remove any parasites which have survived during the use of the long acting product. Once the majority of parasite are removed by the drench the immune system will be better able to control incoming larvae. The immune system is generally better at stopping developing larvae than it is at removing adults.

a levamisole (clear drench). Due to the

If a long acting injection of Moxidectin has been used then an ideal exit drench would contain a combination of a white and clear. A triple or novel drench is also likely to be effective. In a perfect world the farmer would know which active ingredients or products are 100 percent effective on property and use this information to select the exit drench product. In the absence of this information, using a triple active product such as TrivOX, TrivAL or a novel product are likely to give you the highest chance of being effective.

Tracking faecal egg counts is another

Alternatively, if a white/mectin combination capsule has been used, then the exit drench will need to contain

amount of resistance already identified around New Zealand, the best product for an exit drench here is going to be a triple active such as TrivOX, TrivAL or a novel product again. The same rules apply as for an injectable product; knowing the drench resistance status on the property makes selecting the active ingredients or product a much easier task. method that can help stop resistance developing as a result of long acting drench usage. As animals are approaching the end of the payout period, sequential egg counts can be carried out. If eggs are seen in the faeces this may trigger a drench to be given to the group. As drench products can inhibit egg laying, without necessarily killing parasites, using this method can miss some indication of developing resistance. Knowing the full resistance status of your property is well worthwhile, and running a faecal egg count reduction test every 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3 years helps farmers know what is going to work best on their farm. Despite the upfront cost of running this test, the information gained can make a significant change in farm profitability especially if there is developing resistance on the farm. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Donaghys.

| Exit drenching supports sheep who may have parasites partially or fully resistant to active ingredients in previous drench products.

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THE FARMLANDER | 29

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30 | THE FARMLANDER

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Should my vaccination programme begin at tailing? With docking/tailing time approaching, you should start planning your 5-in-1 programme. The lamb is born with no antibodies1. Passive (borrowed) protection from the ewe’s colostrum usually lasts until between tailing and weaning, depending on how much colostrum the lamb drinks and on the pre-lamb vaccine used.1-4 The lambs’ own active immunity against the five common clostridial diseases needs to be developed. Vaccinating at docking/tailing and weaning with Multine®B12 Selenised, Multine B12 or plain Multine provides lambs with excellent protection4. Both a sensitiser and a booster 4-6 weeks later are required. The importance of vaccination timing Two common questions asked are: “Why is a booster needed?” and “How long between the two shots?” The following is a simple explanation of why, how and when boosters need to be given. Vaccination delivers an inactivated or killed version of the disease, which stimulates the immune system to react and produce a response that protects the animal from the disease in the future. The animal makes protective antibodies following vaccination, which circulate in the body, ready to attack and remove any diseasecausing bacteria (or virus) which they have been vaccinated against. Most vaccines in New Zealand are “killed” vaccines and require a first dose (sensitiser) and a second dose (booster) to stimulate a protective

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antibody response. Examples of killed vaccines commonly used are: Campyvax®4, Salvexin®+B, Clostridial vaccines (Multine®, Nilvax®) and Bovilis® BVD. There are two distinct responses after using a killed vaccine5. The ‘primary response’ occurs after a short delay and results in a low level of antibody being produced. This antibody lasts a short time and is less effective at fighting the disease than the secondary response mentioned below. The ‘secondary response,’ after the booster or second vaccination, results in a rapid and high increase in antibody levels, which is longer-lasting and are more effective. An annual booster is also required with most killed vaccines to ensure ongoing protection, as these antibody levels wane over time. A type of white blood cell called ‘memory cells’ are formed after the first exposure to either a vaccine or naturally-occurring disease. These cells have a limited life span and this is the reason the interval between a first (sensitiser) and second (booster) dose is important5. If the second vaccination is given too early, the memory cells will not be established and no high secondary peak in antibody levels will occur. If the interval between sensitiser and booster is too long, there will be a reduced number, or no memory cellsleft to respond. Again, a reduced secondary immune response will occur and the animal may not be adequately protected. Always read and follow the label to get the best results from your investment in any vaccine.

The ideal timing of vaccination and interval between the first (sensitiser) and second (booster) vaccination can differ between vaccines5. For Multine, 4-6 weeks apart is ideal to ensure the lamb is set up correctly. The timing of this will vary on farm but vaccination at tailing and then again at weaning is a convenient way to get both doses in and make the most of your 5-in-1 programme. With the recent addition of Multine B12 Selenised to the range, Multine has a complete range of options for all ages of stock on your sheep farm. For optimum protection of lambs from Clostridial disease, begin your program from tailing with a booster shot at weaning.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Mason, J.H., Dalling, T., Gordon, W.S., (1930 Transmission of maternal immunity. Journal of Pathological Bacteriology 33, 783-797. 2. Barr, M., Glenny, A.T., Howie, J.W., (1953) Active immunisation of ewes and their lambs. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology LXV, 155-168. 3. Moffat, JR (2004) Prelamb Ewe Vaccination - Comparing apples with apples. Proc 34th Annual Seminar, Society of Sheep & Beef Cattle Veterinarians NZVA. 4. Moffat, JR (2016) Vaccination against clostridial disease in maternally derived antibody positive lambs; a randomised, non-inferiority field trial in twin lambs. Proceedings WBC. 5. Tizard, I (1982) Textbook: An introduction to Veterinary Immunology. https://www.cabdirect. org/cabdirect/o%3a%22An+introduction+to+veter inary+immunology.%22 Article supplied by MSD Coopers. ACVM No’s: A0934, A0935, A3832, A11766, A8237*, A7886*, A11311*, A9535*. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-MUL-200800007 ©2020 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. *AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION.

THE FARMLANDER | 31

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Optimising cow nutrition to improve fertility Reproductive failure and low calving rates are the most significant wastage factors in many New Zealand herds, with significant negative financial and genetic down-stream affects. Lost animals must be replaced, either by being purchased or from rearing surplus replacements. In this situation, often cows that should be culled are retained which inevitably changes the age structure of the herd, bringing with it an increased risk of metabolic disease, mastitis and other complicating factors. In most cases poor reproductive performance is influenced by: • Poor or lack of transition (springer cow) management • Post calving diet —quality and quantity • Body condition score at calving • The rate and scale of body condition loss from calving to mating. There is no doubt that good transition management can help reduce the risk of metabolic disease and the associated risk of metritis. Cows with milk fever are 1.7 times more likely to contract metritis which can negatively impact reproductive performance. Milk fever (both clinical and sub-clinical) can also affect the cow’s ability to quickly reach their peak dry matter intake, causing an increase in the time they spend in negative energy balance. Therefore, minimising issues at calving can go a long way to improving cow fertility. In addition, a good post calving diet directly impacts the amount of energy

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| Good transition and post calving management can assist in minimising the risk of metabolic disease and metritis.

available to the cow. Where feed and

energy balance in the lead up to, and

or feed quality is limited, consider

just after mating, with Golden Flake®

complementing high protein pastures

being a popular choice for many New

with high energy feeds such as grains,

Zealand farmers. Feeding rates for fats

maize or whole crop silage, tapioca

should be at least 200g per head a day

and/or fodder beet. Often when using

for them to have any appreciable effect

high energy supplements, rumen

on energy supply, milk production and

modifiers such as Levucell®SC and

fertility. When considering a bypass fat,

Rumensin® have been shown to yield

there are many different types and they

a significant return on investment

don’t all have the same affect.

through improved rumen health

Lastly it is important to ensure

and feed conversion efficiencies.

optimal antioxidant and trace element

Rumensin® also has other benefits

status in dairy cows at mating. This

including aiding in the control and

helps to ensure the developing egg

reduction of ketosis, acidosis and bloat.

and follicle are protected to reduce

Feeding strategies in early lactation

the risk of early embryonic loss.

can help improve fertility, so seeking

Nutritech has a Mating Boost Pack

assistance from your local Nutritech

that provides cobalt, organic copper,

Area Manager can help you find the

elevated iodine and selenium, organic

best strategy for your farm system.

zinc and Melofeed®, a unique and

One useful tool used for managing

powerful primary antioxidant.

feed and nutrient supply to dairy cows in early lactation is rumen protected fats. Trials with protected fats during early lactation have demonstrated improvements in milk yield, milk

Contact your local Farmlands store to arrange an on-farm consultation with your local Nutritech Area Manager.

composition and fertility. The benefit to

Rumensin® is a Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No A011062.

fertility comes from improvements in

Butler W,R. & Smith, R.D (1989), Fergusen et al., (1989)

THE FARMLANDER | 33

Have I Ordered the Correct Tags? ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE BORN ON FARM MUST HAVE A BIRTH ID NAIT TAG. HDX Cattle & Deer

Use these tags if You weigh your stock regularly You have automation in your dairy shed

FDX Cattle & Deer

Your animals will be joining the milking herd

Use these tags if You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t weigh your stock regularly Your animals are going direct to the slaughter or sale yards

EID Sheep & Goat Tags

All RapID tags are HDX so have a higher quality reading and are the most popular electronic sheep tag on the market. Cost of ID number printing included in price. Printing compulsory. RapID tags are to be in ordered in strips of 20. RapID tag colour options are: Applicator used to apply RapID tags is the RapIDmatic tagger.

Lightweight Sheep & Goat Tags EID Lazamatic

Universal

No NAIT levy on Deer tags at store level.

The lightweight EID tag is tamperproof and ideally suited for sheep and goats. Can also be applied to young animals. Female tag comes in either yellow or orange and the male tag comes in a range of colours, to suit your management groups. Lightweight sheep tags can be applied with the identiplier or a universal applicator.

Identiplier

Quick Reminder

All animals born on a farm must have birth ID tags

Rapid Tagger

RapIDmatic Tagger

Check NAIT Number Check Colour Check Year Born

Identiplier

Universal

Check Species Check Number Range Check Applicator is Correct

Pop into or contact your local Farmlands store for more information and to order your tags

34 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

INSTRUCTIONS FORINSTRUCTIONS THE APPLICATION OF 1

IMPORTANT: Remove/slide black insert out of female jaw.

Dip the applicator into antiseptic or disinfectant solution.

With the correct position located, apply the tag firmly, always with the male tag entering from the back of the ear.

NAITNAIT Electronic (EID) Elect Tags

Remember: “Right is Right”. Remember: It is recommended that NAIT tags “Right are applied to the is animal’s Right” right ear . It is rec to achieve the best performance on farm. to achiev

Hold ra thumb clip an

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TH

Dip Dip the applicator the into applicator antiseptic or into antiseptic or disinfectant disinfectant solution. solution.

Remember: “Right is Right”. It is recommended that N to achieve the best perfor

Hold raised area of tag between Slip male tag completely onto IMPORTANT: IMPORTANT: Remove/slide black insert Remove/slide black insert applicator pin. out out of female ofjaw. female jaw.thumb and forefinger, depress spring clip and insert tag.

4 4

NAIT Electroni

1 1

Correct position in the ear – It is recommended that all EID devices for cattle and Correc deer are placed 25mm closer to the head than centre of the ear to allow for future deer ar application of visual management tags. It is important that the tag is placed between applica the two ribs in thelocated, ear. the two With With the correct the position correct located, apply position apply the the tag firmly, tag always firmly, with the male tag always with male tag IMPORTANT: ‘Free Airthe Space’ will aid healing and retention. Inspect placement IMPOR after entering entering from the backfrom of the ear. the back ofthere the ear. tagging to ensure is sufficient air space between the ear and the EID tag. tagging

5 5

Hold raised area of tag b thumb and forefinger, d clip and insert tag.

Correct position in the deer are placed 25mm c application of visual ma the two ribs in the ear.

IMPORTANT: ‘Free Air Sp tagging to ensure there i

Correct Correct position for EID position Birth Packs for EID Birth IMPORTANT: Failure to readPacks this may result in tag damage. Position the tag Female Female tags must ALWAYS tags be at the must front/insideALWAYS be front/inside so the raised area of theat tag isthe at the front or open end of the applicator. The of of thethe ear. The management ear. The Birth tag can management be tag be raised area of the tagBirth must be at the front ofcan the applicator during application applied applied slightly closer slightly to the head, this will closer todamage themay head, this will otherwise occur to the tag componentry. Universal (Red) and allow allow room for room the larger management/cow for the tags larger management/cow tags Indentiplier (Green) electronic tag applicators can be used to apply Allflex later later in the heifer’s in life. the heifer’s life. electronic ear tags, along with the EID Lazamatic (Orange and Red) – the safest applicator to use when tagging in a race.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

For further help contact your local Farmlands store today.

IM so rai ot Ind ele ap

For furthe THE FARMLANDER | 35

IT’S BACK ON IN 2020!

FARMLANDS AGFEST EVERY INCH OF THE FARM COVERED From inputs to infrastructure, knowledge and advice. Come to our tent first! WHEN:

13th - 14th November 2020

WHERE:

Farmlands AgFest, Greymouth Aerodrome

ADMIT ONE

BEAT THE QUEUES AND GET YOUR TICKETS IN-STORE!* Adult Day Pass

NE ADMIT O

Child Day Pass

* Terms and Conditions apply. Purchase your tickets early at Farmlands Westport, Greymouth or Hokitika. Shareholder price is only available in-store.

36 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

This spring, calcium is king Eli Vollebregt will never forget the sight of 20 cows stricken with the effects of low calcium. He was a young herd manager, heading into the paddock to round up the cows for milking and was met with many dozens of cows staggering, stumbling or already down with low calcium.

The property is a particularly wet farm, recording around 2,500mm of rain each year, so Eli worries about mastitis and cows losing condition on the challenging terrain. His third concern would be low calcium but he doesn’t lose any sleep over it anymore, thanks to accurate mineral allocation through the in-shed mineraliser.

Now a contract milker on a 260ha property near Opunake and on the slopes of Mount Taranaki, Eli runs a team of three, milking 600 springcalving cows. Eli, 32, his wife Susannah, 26, and their two young sons live in a farmhouse on the property.

“If we didn’t use Calcimate, we’d be chasing our tail, trying to solve problems rather than prevent them. Because I’ve got that lime flour, I’ve got no worries at all. I had 10 down cows through last season and they all survived.

Eli says the herd’s calcium levels had plummeted due to a change in diet and within hours cows had started to collapse all over the paddock. “It was like a nightmare. I rang up the herd manager and said you better get down here. It was terrifying – one of those scenes you dread coming across as a farmer.” It was a sight Eli has never forgotten. The soil on the property is free-draining and rich but the farm is pock-marked with volcanic rock and large swathes of swampy rushes. Only around 55ha of the farm is mowable. He has to work hard to ensure high production, and that means a sharp focus on animal nutrition. He has in-shed feeding, so is able to provide a mix of goodness, including molasses and minerals, magnesium oxide and lime flour, for the cows to feed on during milking. His tried-and-true recipe allows for each cow to eat 150g of Calcimate every day.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

“Keep calcium levels up, your cows keep producing milk and you save on vet bills. Calcimate saves us money." Every second day Eli uses the mineraliser to make a mineral brew to feed the cows in-shed. It takes him about 20 minutes to mix calcium with molasses and other minerals, depending on the needs of the herd at that time of year, such as magnesium, zinc and cobalt. Eli grew up on a farm near Featherston and has been milking cows since he was 8 years old. He remembers his father mixing up Calcimate to drench every cow during milking. Eli started his first paid job in dairying at 17 and says between calving and the start of autumn, Calcimate has always been part of the equation. “I’m observant and quick to react when I see those signs of low calcium. I’m straight in there with the necessary nutrients, as well as molasses mixed with Calcimate and it boosts them right back up.”

Drive production further with tips for avoiding low calcium • Have cows in the correct BCS at calving (5.0 to 5.5). • Reduce calcium intake before calving and avoid any added oral calcium, allowing the cow to mobilise her own calcium from the skeletal system after giving birth. • Avoid lush pasture for autumn calving cows and avoid supplementing with magnesium in shed. • Feed a good quality dry cow mineral that is high in magnesium just prior to calving and has no added calcium or low added levels. • Use a Nutritionist to assist with diet formulation throughout lactation, thereby helping to improve productivity and reduce metabolic disorders. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Graymont.

THE FARMLANDER | 37

Advertorial

Young Paeroa farmers passionate about NZ-made A young Paeroa couple believes buying NZ-made products not only helps support Kiwi firms when they need it most, but it makes sense for their farm business too. Tessa and Brendan Hopson are currently 20% equity partners and 25% lower order sharemilking 340 cows on 108 hectares near Paeroa, where they live with their sons, Toby and Ollie. They have a passion for agriculture and are proud to be New Zealand dairy farmers. “Producing high quality milk from healthy happy cows is what gets us out of bed in the morning,” says Tessa. “We love the idea that the milk we produce on our farm helps feed people here in New Zealand and on the other side of the world.”

“We had always used a pretty manual system, which wasn’t very accurate, and we weren’t getting the results we were chasing. Now we have a more bullet proof system so we know the exact weight of our calves at weaning. Being able to use NZ-made products to help us achieve this is the icing on the cake!” Tessa and Brendan Hopson, Paeroa, August 2020

Brendan and Tessa recently won the NZ Dairy Industry Awards 2020 Auckland/ Hauraki Share Farmer of the Year competition, and received six merit awards in recognition of their outstanding on-farm practices and business acumen. The Hopsons believe that to be good farmers, they need quality products they can trust to get the job done. For the Hopsons, New Zealand-made means quality for the New Zealand farmer.

With the help of one full time team member, the Hopsons milk their Kiwi Cross herd twice a day through a 36-aside herringbone, with electronic cup removers and automatic teat sprayers.

“That’s what we’re looking for – something made for our conditions,” Brendan says.

Their production target for the current season is 40,000kgMS. They are using grass silage and PKE to help them get there, as well as maize – 8 hectares of which they are growing themselves on farm.

“We trust home grown products more. As Kiwis ourselves, we like to support the local economy and give back to New Zealand businesses, even more so at the moment with many businesses struggling. New Zealand isn’t a big place, so if we support our own, we figure they will support us too.”

Mating comprises of 6 weeks of Artificial Insemination (AI), using bulls at the start for non-cycling cows and also at the tail end of mating. They rear 70 replacement heifers each season.

“When we buy a New Zealand-made product for our farm, we have peace of mind it’s been made for our country’s farmers, tested here and built for our environment,” Tessa says

The Hopsons have recently invested in some NZ-made weigh scales and a hand held EID Tag reader and data collector from Gallagher.

“It’s also reassuring to know that if we do have any teething issues, it’s easy to get hold of someone from a local customer service team to get it sorted.”

“We wanted more control over the weights of our young stock and to feel confident they were entering the herd at the right time,” says Brendan. “We also needed a quick and easy way to read EID tags and identify animals."

Compatible with LIC’s MINDA App ®

For both Android and Apple, accessing your herd records using Gallagher Hand Held EID Tag Readers is easier than ever. Available from your local Farmlands store.

Download the latest version of MINDA® App

0800 73 500 www.gallagher.com

38 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

WHAT’S BETTER THAN A NEW SCALE AND READER?

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND, FOR NEW ZEALAND.

A scale and reader made in NZ.

Brendan Hopson Dairy Farmer Paeroa

“The scale is so easy to use, especially with an EID reader. Even our grazer was amazed at how efficient and quick it was to weigh calves. And they’re made in NZ, so we know they’re built to last.”

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

THE FARMLANDER | 39

DJI MAVIC 2 ENTERPRISE FOR AGRICULTURE

SAVE $300 ON THE BARKING DRONE • Shifts stock with loudspeaker that barks • Saves hours with live aerial surveying • Includes spotlight and zoom camera • 31 min flight time and 8 km range

KITS START FROM $3,299 (WERE $3,599) CALL OUR TEAM ON 0800 787 623 Offer ends 31 October 2020. Find out more at ferntech.co.nz

2.5% FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDER REBATE

SHEDS Exclusive shareholder pricing - Was $13,398 +GST,

NOW $12,191 +GST (after shareholder rebate applied)

GreenWood 4 Bay Kitset Shed • • • • • • • •

4 open-front bays 9m deep + 900mm extended front 3.4-4.2m high lean to Bays 4.2m. Shed 16.8m long Extra girts – 5 rows girts in walls to keep walls stronger for longer Rafters upsized – no diagonal props Barge flashing - add $180 + gst Zinc, for coloursteel add $2,140 +GST

High wind, 0.9kpa snow, Good Ground assumed. Kitset materials and council-ready plans included. Concrete, council fees and assembly not included. Extra freight may apply for remote locations. GreenWood Ts and Cs apply. Photo illustration only. Hundreds of other specifications and Dimensions available – Please contact us. Ph 03 347 2599 or go to greenwoodinfo.co.nz

IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 40 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Complete control of crawling insects What is the best method for controlling the unwelcome range of crawling pests inside your house or buildings and outside in the surrounding areas?

insecticides that claim to control them.

Crawling insects are insects or pests

Despite the large number of different

that don’t fly, or if they do fly their initial

active ingredients, all insecticides fall

impact is in the larval stage before

into either of two categories. They

they gain wings in adulthood. The

are either repellent or non-repellent.

most common crawling household

Unfortunately, many insecticides don’t

pests are ants, cockroaches,

actually state this on the label, and this

silver fish, carpet beetles, mites,

can lead to the wrong product being

springtails, fleas, ticks, cluster flies,

used for the wrong pest.

bed bugs, white-tailed spiders and

Most insecticides claim efficacy

a myriad of other spider species.

on a wide range of pests but if the

Locating their habitat and

insecticide is repellent, the only insects

movements can help identify

killed will be the ones coming in direct

them as well as ascertain their

contact with the applied chemical as

numbers. It is then possible to work

it is delivered. Most of the pests that

out the best control strategy.

are not in target range at application

The most confusing aspect of crawling

(this can be most of the population) will

Not only are there many different active ingredients but there are also many different formulations, as well as traps, baits and lures of various descriptions.

avoid the sprayed area because of its

insect control is not the large number of

high level of repellence. In general, only

species, but rather the large number of

a small percentage of any population is

To ensure a pest population eventually encounters a sprayed surface, it is important to apply only a nonrepellent insecticide.” WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

visible at any one time. To ensure a pest population eventually encounters a sprayed surface, it is important to apply only a non-repellent insecticide. This should last for many months on the sprayed surface and still

Insecticides that have the best activity on all applied surfaces are water-based suspension concentrates (SC’s). These are also less likely to damage paint and wallpaper when applied. No Pests Crawling spray for indoor applications and No Pests X It Ant for outdoor use have both been designed specifically for New Zealand conditions and have a high level of efficacy as well as being suspension concentrates with no repellence. Another feature of No Pests Crawling spray is that 90 percent of the active ingredient particles are smaller than 10 microns in diameter. This very small particle size allows for optimum spray contact and assists in rapid uptake of the insecticide into the insect. To maintain the level of non-repellence it is important that sprayers do not have residues of any repellent chemicals. Either use a dedicated sprayer that is only used for nonrepellent application or clean your sprayer by filling with a solution of Persil Automatic to soak overnight and thoroughly rinsing before use. This article will be continued in the November edition of The Farmlander.

into porous surfaces and have limited

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

residual activity.

Article supplied by Key Industries Limited.

be efficacious even on porous surfaces. Many formulations such as Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC’s) are absorbed

THE FARMLANDER | 41

SustaiNability: The right choice for the environment and your ROI

SustaiN contains the nitrogen stabiliser AGROTAIN® which halves the amount of nitrogen lost as ammonia, compared to urea, keeping the N right where it should be, ready for uptake by the pasture or crop. If you’re looking for a better return on your investment, better ongoing productivity and a nitrogen solution that’s proven better for the environment, SustaiN is always the right nitrogen choice. Talk to Farmlands today.

ballance.co.nz | 0800 222 090 42 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Nitrogen losses in nutrient budgets How can a nutrient budget help to reduce nitrogen losses? Nutrient budgets, as produced by industry standard OverseerFM, are based on modelling of how nitrogen (N) and other nutrients move through the farm. “Looking at how N flows into, around and off a farm provides an understanding of how efficiently it’s being used. It also highlights losses, and what mitigations would reduce these losses,” Ballance Agri-Nutrients Environmental Management Specialist Ian Power says. Nitrogen is primarily lost from land via leaching through soil into groundwater, and eventually enters streams, lakes and other waterbodies. While OverseerFM estimates N leaching losses, it does not model what happens to N lost via leaching, or how much ends up in waterways. OverseerFM takes into account farm management practices and can also model how changing these practices impacts N leaching and other losses. There are five main drivers of N leaching losses on a farm – animals, fertiliser, feed, effluent and soil drainage.

1. Animals Animal urine is the greatest source of N loss to water from land, typically responsible for up to 70-80 percent of N losses on dairy farms, and about 30-50 percent on sheep and beef farms (depending on the sheep to cattle ratio). Reducing stocking rate, time limited grazing, feed pads, animal housing, lower protein supplementary feeds and wintering cows off farm can help to reduce losses. 2. Fertiliser Too much N fertiliser applied in the wrong place at the wrong time can result in N leaching losses. Following good management practices, applying N fertiliser in suitable conditions, and only applying what is needed to meet feed requirements can help to reduce losses. 3. Feed Feed with a higher protein content results in more urine N and N leaching losses. Winter grazing and strip grazing also impact on N leaching. Increasing lower protein supplementary feed consumption and reducing pasture consumption can reduce N concentrations in urine.

Many mitigations can help to reduce N leaching, and no single one will suit every farm and achieve the reductions required. Often significant reductions are achieved by using several mitigations.” WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

4. Effluent Nitrogen can leach when too much effluent is applied relative to the size of an effluent block, is too concentrated, or is applied when pasture is not actively growing or onto saturated pastures. Increasing the effluent block area and applying effluent only from spring to early autumn to growing pasture when drainage is low and when water is in deficit can help to reduce losses. 5. Soil drainage Soil type and soil structure impact soil drainage. Variable rate irrigation can reduce N leaching losses, and managing soil to minimise pugging by putting lighter, younger cattle on steeper slopes can reduce N runoff. “Many mitigations can help to reduce N leaching, and no single one will suit every farm and achieve the reductions required. Often significant reductions are achieved by using several mitigations,” Ian says. “A nutrient budget provides a good overview of nutrient levels and flows on farm, but if you intend on making significant changes to address issues such as N leaching, a Ballance Farm Sustainability Services Specialist can analyse the data more closely to identify factors that are contributing to N loss on your farm.” For more information, contact your Ballance Nutrient Specialist, your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

THE FARMLANDER | 43

The Gold Standard for Fodder Beet

Offering safer handling and improved control of hard-to-kill weeds, GOLTIX® GOLD sets the new standard for beet herbicides. With its unique formulation, GOLTIX GOLD not only boasts a reduced hazard profile with simplified handling requirements, but also provides superior control of stubborn weeds like fathen and wireweed.

Visit your local Farmlands store today and ask about GOLTIX GOLD. The Gold Standard in weed control.

HC AGR0269

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997 No. P9741. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Approved pursuant to the HSNO Act 1996. Approval No. HSR101361. See www.epa.govt.nz for approval controls. Goltix is a registered trademark of an ADAMA Group Company.

44 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Triumphing over the winter pasture deficit The Thomson family have been farming near Winton for over 150 years and throughout this time have seen many trends come and go. They run a successful sheep and beef operation which relies heavily on high yielding brassicas to get them through the winter pasture deficit. The Thomsons’ have been using swedes for years as swedes perform best in cooler, moist environments like Southland. Peter Thomson commented that whilst ridged swedes over the years have been reasonable, lately the crop had been inconsistent. After discussing options with Abby Henderson, his local Farmlands TFO, Peter decided to try precision sown, pelleted Triumph Swedes. Triumph, a new generation swede, is a high yielding yellow-fleshed swede with good dry rot and mildew tolerance. Like all swedes, Triumph requires good establishment management, climatic conditions and high phosphate levels to fully express its yield potential. Triumph swedes have already made a name for themselves in Southland where they are quickly becoming a popular choice with farmers due to their suitability to the environment and the region's needs. “The first year we tried Triumph I was hesitant at the extra cost associated with the precision sowing so decided to only do 12 hectares and the rest with conventional swede seed through my trusty ridger. The yield difference was incredible! Needless to say, this year we

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

It’s great to see the ewes so content on the crop and scalping the bulbs out into the ground, they must enjoy them.” | David Thomson is reaping the benefits of new generation swede, Triumph.

planted everything with precision sown

“It’s great to see the ewes so content

pelleted Triumph swedes by the local

on the crop and scalping the bulbs out

contractor,” Peter says.

into the ground, they must enjoy them,”

“All but one paddock … I couldn’t help

David Thomson says.

myself, I got the ridger out for one last

For more information on Triumph

shot at proving its worth. Long story

swedes or other winter feed options,

short, the ridger won’t be used again.”

contact your Farmlands Technical

The Thomsons’ have now yielded

Field Officer or the friendly team at

consistently for 2 years running thanks

your local Farmlands store.

to Triumph, and the stock love them.

Article supplied by Agricom.

THE FARMLANDER | 45

NE W

Break the cycle fast!

Unique, fast acting and systemic control of Codling Moth, Leaf Roller Caterpillar and Bronze Beetle in Pipfruit. • • • •

New chemistry with a unique spectrum of pest control Strong proven activity against all life stages of moths Fast cessation of feeding with systemic activity and excellent length of activity Soft on key beneficials

Insist on Vayego from Bayer today! Contact your local Farmlands store for more information.

BAC 1977

We’re with you in the field | cropscience.bayer.co.nz Registered pursuant to the ACVM act 1997, No P9623. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Approved pursuant to the HSNO Act 1996, No HSR101424. See www.epa.govt.nz for approval conditions. Vayego® is a registered Trademark of the Bayer Group. © Bayer New Zealand 2020.

46 | THE FARMLANDER

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

The time for critical fungicide application is approaching fast Whether you are growing wheat or barley, the time to apply flag leaf (GS39) fungicide is approaching fast. For both crops, but for different reasons, this is a very important fungicide application. For wheat the top two leaves deliver around 65 percent of the crop’s yield so it is critical to protect them from disease attack by applying a robust fungicide. The key diseases attacking wheat at this time of year are speckled leaf blotch and leaf rust. Both of these diseases are capable of devasting yields if not controlled. Stripe rust will also be lurking, another aggressive disease but one which tends to strike earlier in spring. However, it can attack until ear emergence if there are cool, moist weather conditions. For barley it is a different story. Barley tends to develop most of its yield from the lower leaves and stem but it remains extremely important to protect the flag leaf. Applying a SDHI fungicide mixture to the flag leaf is the best tool we have to manage ramularia leaf spot (RLS) and to delay the onset of symptoms. This is despite testing showing that most RLS isolates are resistant to SDHI fungicides. While the exact reason SDHI fungicides continue to show a positive effect against RLS isn’t clear, it is likely that by keeping the plant healthier these fungicides are helping to delay the onset of RLS symptoms.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

| Applying CALEY iblon at flag leaf emergence will help ensure a successful harvest.

With CALEY® iblon®, a powerful new fungicide option is now available, one ideally suited for application at GS39.

“Under intense disease pressure

Iblon is a brand new SDHI fungicide (active ingredient — isoflucypram) and this spring New Zealand farmers will be the first in the world to benefit from this highly effective fungicide.

crop senescence, boosts yield and

CALEY® iblon® is a ready formulated mixture of iblon and prothioconazole registered for use in wheat, triticale, barley and ryegrass seed crops. Trialled extensively in NZ, it delivers outstanding, long-lasting control of all major diseases in a convenient, easy to use formulation. Roy Stieller, Senior Product Development Specialist for Bayer in Canterbury, was responsible for the development of iblon® fungicide technology in New Zealand. “Iblon is such an impressive fungicide, it is fair to say the best I’ve seen,” Stieller explains.

CALEY® iblon® provides excellent disease control which in turn delays gives higher profits. Farmers want to maximise profits and here CALEY® iblon® excels.” David Parker, Bayer regional sales manager for North and Mid Canterbury, has also been impressed by CALEY® iblon®. “After several seasons of trials, we are sure that the time to apply CALEY® is at GS39 on both wheat and barley,” Parker advises. “We have CALEY® iblon® to protect yield development in wheat, and we have to manage RLS to delay the onset of symptoms in barley.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bayer.

THE FARMLANDER | 47

48 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Protection. Naturally. Discovered at an abandoned rum distillery in the Caribbean, the soil dwelling bacteria Saccharopolyspora spinosa was then fermented and produced into a range of Spinosad products, including the biological insecticide Entrust SC Naturalyte.

organically-grown crops. This coveted

Supporting growers for over a

conventional insecticides), its unique

decade, Entrust continues to find

mode of action is safe to many

favour as support for sustainable

beneficial insects. This makes it a great

production grows and demand

fit for Integrated Pest Management

for biopesticides derived from

(IPM) systems, and ideal for growers

natural materials increases.

looking to produce high-quality, pest-

Award-winning ingredient and BioGro certified credentials

free, organically-certified crops with nil

Spinosad received the 1999 Presidential Green Chemistry Award,

Proven, industry leading insect control

an accolade presented by the US

All growers have to contend with

Environmental Protection Agency

destructive pests such as leafroller

which recognises technologies that

caterpillar, codling moth, white butterfly,

incorporate green technology into their

thrips, pear slugs, cherry slugs and

design, manufacture and use.

diamondback moth. These pests create

Entrust’s credentials have also been

holes in the leaves or fruit of crops,

ratified by New Zealand Food Safety’s

reducing yields significantly or making

Official Organic Export Programme

the produce unsaleable.

with BioGro status, allowing it to be

To counter these voracious visitors,

used in the protection of certified

organic growers need a powerful pest

seal-of-approval is vital for exports to the United Kingdom, European Union, United States of America and Japan. While Entrust is highly-effective against a wide range of key pests (including a number which are resistant to

(or very low) residues at harvest.

control product that: • Is suitable across a wide range of fruit, vine, vegetable and forage crops • Controls insects on both sides of the leaves • Contains natural ingredients and uses green technology • Is safe to humans as well as other animals, organisms and groundwater • Can be used as part of a certified | Entrust’s unique mode of action makes it ideal for integrated pest management systems

organic crop programme • Can be exported as such to key markets.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

Entrust continues to find favour as support for sustainable production grows.” Entrust, from Corteva™ Agriscience, does all that as well as acting quickly, says Product Manager Glen Surgenor “It works by both contact and ingestion so exposed insects cease to feed almost immediately and die soon after, with translaminar activity controlling insects on the underside of leaves.” While crop monitoring is important and application timing will vary between crops, most users would normally coincide treatment with eggs hatching or when pest thresholds are reached. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local store. Article supplied by Corteva.

THE FARMLANDER | 49

Is resistance ruining your results? Win the fight against key diseases by combining PHOENIX® and BOLIDE®, the ultimate duo for resistance management.

Growers know that effective fungicide programmes are critical to the success of any cereal crop. They also know that resistance issues can derail those programmes, allowing diseases like Septoria and Ramularia to run riot.

PHOENIX, the proven multi-site protectant and ideal partner for SHDIs and DMIs alike, and BOLIDE, the all-rounder DMI fungicide, are the answer. When combined, they’ll break through the resistance barrier and deliver the ultimate crop protection.

Visit your local Farmlands store today and ask about PHOENIX and BOLIDE. Phoenix Fungicide (Phoenix) registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997 No. P9257. Bolide registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997 No. P9399. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Approved pursuant to the HSNO Act 1996. Approval No. HSR101068 and HSR101152. See www.epa.govt.nz for approval controls. Bolide and Phoenix are registered trademarks of an ADAMA Group Company.

50 | THE FARMLANDER

FUNGICIDE

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Smart chemistry puts paid to caterpillars Farmers sowing fodder or sugar beet crops this spring are being urged to keep watch for a soildwelling caterpillar pest that can quickly make a meal of newly emerged seedlings. Greasy cutworm are the larvae of a moth called Agrotis ipsilon and live in the top few centimetres of the soil surface. They’re largely nocturnal feeders, so the first sign of damage is usually not the pest itself but its leftovers. For those who haven’t seen what they can do to brassica or beet seedlings, Nufarm Technical Specialist Cynthia Christie says the damage often looks like someone has cut the stem off at ground level with a sharp pair of scissors. “They also can completely eat newly emerged seedlings, leaving just the stalks. “At a passing glance it might seem as if seed has simply not yet germinated, so it’s important to scout newly planted crops carefully,” Cynthia says. Fodder beet and sugar beet are very vulnerable to cutworm early in the life of the crop because it has fewer plants per hectare and takes so much longer to establish than brassicas. (Brassica crops are also at risk. High cutworm pressure can wipe out large areas of brassica seedlings.) Cynthia reports that, unlike older organo-phosphate chemistry such as chlorpyrifos, the new synthetic pyrethroid (SP) insecticide Kaiso® 50WG remains active on the soil for a

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

longer period after application, thus providing a more robust control of cutworm. This means it can be sprayed at any time of the day and it does not have to be applied in evening when the caterpillars are thought to be most active. Kaiso® 50WG contains the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin and is also registered for cutworm control in forage brassicas. Fast acting and persistent, it comes in a unique user-friendly Sorbie Technology formulation which is stable, easy to measure and non-flammable with no dust, no splash and easy clean up with no need for triple rinsing the container. “It looks and handles like a wettable granule (WG), but once added to water, it behaves like an emulsion concentrate (EC),” Cynthia explains. “It mixes to a stable solution very quickly.” The novel formulation also provides some other benefits that have proved popular with end-users. Approved Handler (AH) status is not required for purchase or transport of Kaiso® 50WG, nor does the product have to be tracked. The recommended rate for Kaiso® in fodder/sugar beet is 200g per ha, applied at the seedling stage when the first damage is noted. Evening applications are best — ensure spray covers the base of seedlings and surrounding soil. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Kaiso is a registered trademark of Nufarm Limited. Article supplied by Nufarm.

| Insecticides that remain active on the soil for a longer period after application provide a more robust control of cutworm.

THE FARMLANDER | 51

The New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards aim to capture and preserve the history of our country’s farming families. Each month we will share stories from Farmlands shareholders who have worked their land for 100 years or more.

Dedication across generations in Waipipi Resilience and enterprise have supported the McNamara farm since the 1860s. The McNamara family farm is located in the district of Waipipi, a few minutes north of Waiuku on the Manukau Peninsula. This area of the peninsula was aptly named after the pipi shell banks in the harbour nearby. At its centre, Waipipi was surveyed into 5 acre lots as part of the Auckland settlement scheme of the 1860s. It was there that the McNamara immigrant family was allocated a land grant. It is evident that Martin and Johanna McNamara were enterprising, despite the many hardships encountered in their previous life in Ireland. Neither could write their name and recognition must be given to the fact that they kept their young family of

three together and overcame such disadvantage in the relative freedom of the New Zealand colony. From that difficult beginning, three more 5 acre titles were added, and thus began the McNamara story that has evolved into a farming lifestyle with a member of each generation staying on to add a chapter of their own. John, son of Martin and Johanna, married Sarah MacDonald and they added substantially to the original 20 acres. Now in possession of 140 acres, they established a small dairy herd, built a new homestead, developed a thoroughbred racing stable and in later years, ran a cartage contracting business with their three sons. Martin II, son of John and Sarah, became the farmer of his generation in 1937. He married Elizabeth Rau (Lizzie) and they expanded with a further 50 acres. Taking advantage of the booming wool trade in the 1950s, the farm changed to a mix of dairy and sheep. John II, son of Martin and Lizze, also chose farming and began his career in

| McNamara Bros Cartage Contractors.

| John and Julie’s family home from 1975.

1960. He married local school teacher, Julie Shotbolt and they worked steadily towards the purchase of two-thirds of the farm from John’s parents, Martin and Lizzie. This left the remaining one-third to be purchased by their second son, Albert. Time moves on and the farm has grown to almost 400 acres and is held in a family trust. John and Julie built their new homestead in the 1970s and a new dairy shed more recently. Martin III, son of John and Julie has been managing the farm with his wife, Cin-dee for the last 18 years. They have built their home on land adjacent to the farm and are raising a family there. Significantly, the wives of each generation have been as dedicated to the rural lifestyle as their husbands, with their love of the land and hard work helping to make the farm a long-term success.

| The McNamara family 120 year reunion held at the old homestead, 1984.

52 | THE FARMLANDER

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Formulation is vital for performance Spirotetramat is indeed unique. Its ability to be translocated both in the xylem and the phloem is certainly one of the reasons it has performed solidly since its introduction into pipfruit, kiwifruit, grapes and some vegetable crops. This “2-way systemicity” means that distribution in the plant is even and thorough and can reach a great deal of the target plant – targeting the pests. That means when sucking pests feed, the chances of mortality are greatly enhanced. Spirotetramat is the active ingredient in the Movento formulations that are available today. Movento® 100SC insecticide (for use in fruit crops) and Movento® 150 OD (for use in tomatoes and potatoes) have been a vital part of the New Zealand growers’ toolbox for more than 10 years. In this time, they have proven their efficacy against many important pests such as scale, mealybugs and apple leaf curling midge, to name a few. The active ingredient is only one part of what is required for successful pest control. Formulation is also key to the solid performance of the Movento products. In order to be translocated in the plant’s vascular system and become efficacious against the target pests, spirotetramat must first penetrate the leaf. Once penetration into the leaf has occurred, a chemical reaction occurs within the plant and spirotetramat is converted to spirotetramat enol. It is only in this enol

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form that Movento becomes effective. Therefore, it is crucial that when using spirotetramat, the formulation contains a fully researched and effective adjuvant package. Movento products have been formulated to contain the right balance of these adjuvants, which is why they perform so strongly. Without the right formulation, there are two key concerning issues that will arise. Firstly, in the shorter term, without penetration and subsequent conversion within the leaf, there is a very real risk efficacy will be compromised. Should this occur the risk of crop damage is heightened, as is the reduced potential to control key quarantine pests. Both scenarios threaten income, and in the case of quarantine pests, risk the threat of restrictions to or rejection of shipments of produce and New Zealand’s industry reputation. The second risk is longer term, but equally as concerning. An application of spirotetramat that does not penetrate the leaf surface quickly, has the potential to sit for longer periods of time, and either not penetrate, or only slowly penetrate. Should penetration not occur in a timely manner, this would expose the target pests to potential sub-lethal doses

Given Movento plays such a major part in the control of serious pests, the effects of resistance developing from a sub-lethal dose from inadequate uptake of spirotetramat could have large ramifications for pest control. Recent global testing of different generic 100SC spirotetramat formulations showed Movento 100SC not only had more surfactant but provided five times more penetration than those formulations it was tested against. This means there is peace of mind to be had and less risk from using a well-researched and formulated product. In addition, each product was tested for effectiveness against aphids. When compared to scale and mealybugs, aphids are considered easier to control. In these tests, Movento showed a clear advantage over the other formulations, meaning that others may not have the same efficacy on harder to control pests. Movento can be relied upon to deliver results because it is correctly formulated for optimal penetration of the leaf surface, optimising performance and protection of healthy crops. Its innovative mode of action and formulation has been trusted for good reason for many years.

much quicker time frame than it may

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

happen under normal circumstances.

Article supplied by Bayer.

of the product. In this situation, it is possible that resistance of that pest to spirotetramat could develop in a

THE FARMLANDER | 53

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IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 54 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Taking the strain out of fencing, now and in the future The humble ratchet-type wire strainer is probably one of the most familiar, widely used fencing devices in New Zealand. There are literally millions of them, all over the country – so many that they have become part of our landscape. What you may not know, however, is that today, more than a century after the concept was invented here, there is only one manufacturer of this essential piece of equipment in New Zealand. This family-owned business, based in the lower North Island, has just invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in new machinery to ensure it can keep Kiwis in locally-made wire strainers for the foreseeable future.

| Strainrite manufacturing process; pouring the molten aluminium to finished product.

a wide range of designs for different

Hence Strainrite’s new $400,000,

applications, focusing on continual

purpose-built aluminium

improvement to function and features.

diecasting machine, to more

Good examples include the Strainrite

than double manufacturing

XT1 and Strainrite Cliplock strainers,

capacity for the aluminium spool

which allow a fence wire to be threaded

components of its strainers.

through without the necessity to tie wire

Ordered before the pandemic and

to the strainer.

recently commissioned on-site,

This is particularly beneficial for electric

this move was made on the back

fencing, Strainrite General Manager

of increased demand for Strainrite

Regardless of the total, fencing as we know it would be next to impossible without the wire strainer.

Brian Collins says. “In contrast to a

products, both here and overseas.

traditional tied joint, the continuous wire

Brian says such investment,

ensures no added electrical resistance.”

coupled with the company’s focus

Few know that better than the team at Strainrite in Upper Hutt, where more than 60 people, including six designers and product developers, have been supplying New Zealandmade ratchet type wire strainers for more than 30 years.

This type of ongoing refinement

on automation and production

is only possible because of the

efficiencies, means it is able to

company’s long-held commitment to

manufacture products competitively

manufacturing on-shore.

and provide very good value

“We believe if New Zealand loses this

to farmers and growers.

‘know how’ it will be to the detriment

Owner Maurice Wooster took over what was then a one-person business in 1974. In close collaboration with farmers and fencers, his team has since evolved

in turn is critical to ensure Kiwi farmers and growers in the primary industry

For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

stay at the forefront of the global

Article supplied by Strainrite.

No-one knows for sure exactly how much farm fencing we have in New Zealand. A recent estimate is approximately 150,000 kilometres – but that was before riparian fencing really took off.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

of future product development, which

industry,” Brian says.

THE FARMLANDER | 55

QUALITY FENCI NG BUILT TO LAST Set your property apart with Selflok pole fencing. Made from the highest quality materials, these fences will keep their looks for longer. You can choose from a wide range of eye-catching designs with prices exclusive to Farmlands shareholders. •

Easy to install

•

Pre-finished but can be stained or left natural

•

No nails or glue required as it locks together

•

Ground treated to H4 to ensure durability

•

One, two and three rail options available

•

Uniform diameter allows for easy replacement or extension of fencing

All Selflok pole fencing is machined to a uniform diameter from New Zealand grown pine

To order or find out more contact Bunnings National Trade Support Team via email sales@bunnings.co.nz or DDI 09 978 2200 Not all services and products featured are available in all stores, but may be ordered.

IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 56 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Support business growth with Fencing Contractors NZ Becoming a member of the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (Fencing Contractors NZ) is a great step towards growing your fencing contractor business and accessing the best services the industry has to offer. By representing the fencing community as a collective, Fencing Contractors NZ keeps each of its members up to date on the latest issues that affect their business. The Association collaborates with local government and environmental agencies to promote and support the fencing industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most recently in relation to the $100 million riparian fencing and planting initiative launched by the New Zealand Government. Fencing Contractors NZ partners with NorthTec to deliver the New Zealand Certificate in Fencing Level 3, a recognised qualification designed specifically for the fencing industry, and the only one currently offered in New Zealand. With this qualification, members can become a Certified Fencing Contractor. Certified contractor represents the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best in the business and must demonstrate a proven knowledge of design and material selection, best fencing practices, business aptitude, and champion the highest levels of safety in the workplace at all times. Using a Certified Fencing Contractor gives clients the peace of mind they are going to get quality workmanship from a professional tradesperson. Members of Fencing Contractors NZ can draw from a wide range of benefits and services, and at the same time are supporting the industry and helping to lift the profile of fencing

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| Members of Fencing Contractors NZ have access to a wide range of benefits, including qualifications and leading industry advice.

as a recognised profession.

opportunities are also shared so that

Members also enjoy belonging to an association of like-minded individuals, support from industry providers, regional association days, use of the Fencing Contractors NZ logo, attendance at the annual conference at a subsidised cost, and special deals from industry partners. Plus, four editions of the official Fencing Contractors NZ publication WIRED magazine are on offer.

members can find great employees

Members have access to ongoing support and business advice and are kept up to date with the latest fencing products, technical information, trends and developments. There are regular meetings held throughout the country each year that facilitate the exchange of information within the regions. Updates on regulatory, legislative and compliance changes are shared with members, together with industry news and opportunities, via the e-newsletter, social media or the quarterly WIRED magazine. Employment and recruitment

manufacturers who make the fencing

when required. Staff can also become Fencing Contractors NZ Employee Members, with many of the same benefits available to them, along with access to networking and training opportunities. Today, Fencing Contractors NZ continues to grow its following from all across the industry, from the product, to the staff who construct the fences and their clients. The Fencing Contractors NZ website provides a useful member directory where clients can search for a local contractor by simply clicking on the relevant region. To find out more about Fencing Contractors NZ and to join the growing numbers of Fencing Contractors benefiting from a membership, visit www.fencingcontractors.co.nz or call us on 0508 432 269.

THE FARMLANDER | 57

S H O W YO U T H E W A Y Whether you’re keeping them in or keeping them out, Summit Steel & Wire keep you right on top of all your wire fencing needs.

Manufactured in New Zealand from premium steel, Summit Steel & Wire is an industry leader in agricultural wire products. Made to endure New Zealand’s harshest conditions, Summit’s commitment to quality and innovation has seen them grow into the largest domestic wire fencing manufacturer and a significant player in the world market.

“Using our Payout Machine has proven to be a big time saver for us. We’re now installing our netting in less than half the time than before; big rolls, less joins and no more lugging them up hills!”

The demand for fencing is growing rapidly through new government regulations, shovel ready projects and major sheep, deer, dairy and vineyard developments. As an industry leader, Summit has identified a growing issue in the domestic fencing market. Demand is being met by an increase in cost inputs for farmers and developers through labour shortages and increased physical labour intensity. To counter this growing imbalance Summit has researched national and international markets to identify the right innovative equipment that will relieve the kiwi farmer of the forever growing demand of fencing projects.

Keep an eye out in the coming months for Summit Preferred Installers visiting your local Farmlands branch. The knowledge of these highly trained field experts, accompanied by quality wire products and world class installation kits must be considered for your next fencing project.

- Nick Terry, Custom Fencing, Otago

Summit is proud to announce the introduction of its Preferred Installer Program. This program will pair New Zealand’s top fencing contractors with the best installation machinery from around the world. Beginning with the innovative European Payout Machines, Preferred Installers will now be able to attach Summit manufactured 500m netting rolls directly onto any fence line.

Ask instore for more details, the Farmlands team are ready to help point you in the right direction. 58 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Lighting your way in rainy weather Farming never sleeps. It is an anyhour, all-weather profession, and therefore you need gear that can keep up. A reliable headlamp is an essential item for all those times you need to venture outside after dark, whether it is to fix something, check on stock or just to get in some wood or feed the dogs.

and beam range, until now, most

broad floodlight and a sharply focused

models have been splashproof rather

long-distance beam.

than waterproof, meaning you had to

All of the new H-Series headlamps are

be careful to protect your headlamp

rated at either IP67 or IP68, meaning

against full immersion in water.

they are completely impervious to

Thankfully Ledlenser’s design team in

dust and, at the minimum, can be

Germany have now solved the problem,

immersed in up to one metre of water

producing a newly redesigned H-Series

for 30 minutes without affecting the

range of headlamps that are waterproof

functioning of the headlamp. This

Until now, one of the problems you

and dustproof, making them perfect for

provides you with the certainty that

faced when buying a headlamp was

all jobs on the farm.

your headlamp will continue to work

finding a model that stood up to the

The advancements in waterproofing

even if it unexpectedly takes a dip.

rigours of farming life, especially the

is due to Ledlenser’s newly developed

Along with now being waterproof and

weather conditions you are often

Flex Sealing Technology, which allows

dustproof, most models have also

outside in. The last thing you need

your headlamp to be watertight while

undergone a massive upgrade in their

when you are out dealing with a

still featuring Ledlenser’s Advanced

key specifications. For instance, the

problem on a wet night is for your

Focus System. This patented

light to fail!

technology has been a key reason for

While Ledlenser has been popular in

the popularity of the Ledlenser range as

the rural sector for their brightness

it lets you seamlessly switch between a

iconic H7R headlamp has seen its maximum brightness rating improve from 300 lumens to 1000 lumens, and the beam range on high power extend from 140 metres to 200 metres. Nearly all of the new range of headlamps are rechargeable, which is great for the environment and will save you money over the long term. All rechargeable models come with the innovative magnetic charging system for easy recharging. Providing you with even more confidence, all Ledlenser headlamps are backed by a comprehensive 7-year extendable warranty — comprised of a 2-year standard warranty, which you can extend by 5 years by registering your product online. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

| Redesigned Ledlenser headlights mean that wet weather conditions are no longer a concern.

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Article supplied by Tight Lines.

THE FARMLANDER | 59

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www.blackduck.co.nz

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■

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■

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■

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Exclusive Farmlands discount of 5% applies October 1st - 31st 2020. All prices exclude transport and delivery costs unless otherwise stated. Ask in store for details. For full address details please see our website or phone us for your nearest store.

IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 60 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Preparing your pool for summer Warmer weather is getting closer and, while the frogs have enjoyed your backyard swimming hole for the winter, it is time to evict them for the summer. The most serious thing about a murky pool is not knowing what’s in there. Items such as broken glass and branches can be a hazard when the bottom of the pool isn’t visible. The first rule of thumb is — don’t enter the pool until it’s clear. The following cleaning process is recommended to keep both yourself and your family safe. 1. Remove the debris using your leaf rake or broom. Look out for plastic bags as they can float into the filter basket and block it. 2. Get ready to start the pump. Check that the pool skimmer basket is not just empty, but intact. Over winter the baskets can fill up, causing the bottom to pull away once the pump starts up.

3. Check that the pool valves are open and the pipes are clear to flow. Clear the lint pot on the pump and make sure the water level is above the skimmer intake. 4. Turn the filter valve to “waste”. Make a visual check of the pump to ensure there is no rodent damage and that, it is plugged in and power is available. 5. Switch on the pump and check how it sounds. Does it sound normal or blocked? Allow some time for the system to purge itself of the pool waste. You can vacuum the pool to assist in the waste removal but ensure you use a specific pool vacuum, as a robotic pool cleaner is not designed for this function. 6. Remove any algae with liquid or granular chlorine. Chlorinated solutions can be harmful, so ensure you follow the safety instructions.

The first rule of thumb is — don’t enter the pool until it’s clear.”

7. After a few hours, the water should lose its green colour, as the chlorine bleaches the algae and begins to oxidise the contaminants. Now add the clarifying agent. For murky water, an agent such as Crystal Clear from Space Industries is recommended. For pools with darker water, Liquid Floc is a suitable, stronger solution. Take note of the application instructions and actions for the filter. 8. Backwash according to the instructions and keep an eye on the filter pressure in between actions. Depending on the severity of the bloom, clearing the algae may take several days with the pump running continuously. 9. Check your buffer and pH levels and adjust accordingly. Add calcium if required and finally Chlor Save. For saltwater pools, through this process you will have turned off your salt cell. Check for any build-up of white residue between the plates and soak in cell cleaner to remove it. Soaking the salt cell annually will add life to the cell and consume less power. Ensure you check the pool salt level and add salt accordingly based on the ppm rating of your chlorinator. The pool revitalisation process can take several days to multiple weeks, but is worth it to see the smiles of your family and friends. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Space Industries Limited.

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THE FARMLANDER | 61

A decade of delivering Gulf This year marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between Farmlands Co-operative and Gulf Oil. That means 10 years of successfully providing a worldleading lubricant to shareholders, which not only provides excellent value but returns rebates to New Zealand’s primary sector.

Gulf Oil joined the Farmlands family as another way to help shareholders save money on what they need to operate their business. Initially represented by a bespoke in-store Agricultural Oil range within the Farmlands stores and providing an offering for the territory, Gulf Oil is now the largest supplier of lubricants to the agricultural market in New Zealand. For Farmlands, Gulf Oil was a logical choice as a partner. Whilst Gulf wasn’t sold in New Zealand, it had links to some of New Zealand’s greatest motorsport icons. Gulf Oil had been the leading brand sponsor for Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme. At that point in motorsport history, four of the five Kiwis who had raced Formula One had raced under the Gulf Oil marque.

62 | THE FARMLANDER

These four Kiwi icons (McLaren, Hulme, Chris Amon and Howden Ganley) are the embodiment of Quality, Endurance and Passion – values Gulf Oil hold. Motorsport is the testing ground for lubricants, with the ability to colourfully display brands. Despite the identity of oils in motorsport, in New Zealand the highest volume oils sold across all brands are land/natural resource based. Gulf holds a proud history of working on the land and particularly agriculture. Gulf was one of the original ‘seven sisters’ oil companies – the seven most powerful oil manufacturers in America during the early 1900s. These businesses formed a standards authority to ensure the protection of equipment, especially agricultural

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

equipment. During this period many brands were appearing and producing below par products. At this point in automotive history, air and oil filters were being added to agricultural equipment as a method to prevent premature failures. It seemed logical that these oil companies would also develop a standard to protect the farmers of the day. Gulf Oil holds true to these practices to this day, ensuring the highest quality specifications are met, with the best quality products available. Given their understanding of the demands on agricultural machinery, it was a logical choice for Farmlands to partner with Gulf Oil and become their New Zealand distributor. When it comes to advancements in mechanical technology, there have been a lot of changes in 10 years. Excluding all the ‘bolt-on bits’ to farm equipment, engine and transmission technologies have changed as well. Manufacturers have placed demand for greater fuel economy and emission controls. 10 years ago, most people had never heard of products like AdBlue – now for many Farmlands shareholders, this is part of the regular monthly purchases. New lubricant products, to help our shareholders get more value and performance from their machinery, have been introduced regularly over the past decade. This is part of an ongoing commitment through the partnership and a recent stock realignment means core ranging across the Farmlands store network is designed to ensure the best outcomes for shareholders, regardless of where they are in New Zealand. That being said, the broad range of Gulf Oil products are available to every shareholder. via their local store or Fuel Territory Manager. Having Gulf as part of the Farmlands family not only gives shareholders access to a world

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leading brand of lubricant, it gives them ownership of the brand in New Zealand. Extending the partnership is an ongoing relationship with Farmlands Card Partners, such as the Challenge service station network and AB Equipment. These Partners use and recommend Gulf Oil throughout their networks. It is our intention to increase activity through our Farmlands marketing channels and we will have some outstanding Gulf Oil offers at Farmlands stores. These will include a range of new products and offers designed to help reduce inputs for shareholders, while protecting their equipment. One of the benefits of being a Farmlands shareholder is that Gulf products can be delivered on-farm, freight free, for all orders 60L and above. Gulf Oil has a proud history of innovation, including the very first

drive-through service station, the first oil explorer to drill under water for oil, and of course being at the forefront of technology that protects your investments. Gulf will continue this passion, with McLaren F1 providing a testing ground to develop some of the most advanced lubricants in the market. Farmlands, as the importer and distributor of Gulf, will have direct access to these products. Gulf plans to keep New Zealand’s farmers and growers at the front row of the grid. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. For information on what Gulf Oil stocks, please visit www.gulfoil.co.nz. Article supplied by Gulf Oil.

THE FARMLANDER | 63

No townie rates. Our power prices work with your seasons. We get it. You’re not the average energy-user. That’s why we’ve got your back with power prices that match your farming calendar. To find out more about our seasonal rates, call the Agribusiness team on 0800 496 444 or visit meridian.co.nz/agribusiness Standard terms, conditions and exit fees apply.

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averages, and when they bounce, the impact can be dramatic, as recent NZ July rural and lifestyle sales illustrate. The NZ rural property market continues to face regulatory headwinds, and a constrained credit environment, and this has had a material impact on the volume of sales annually, particularly for farms valued in excess of $5m+ dollars.

Real estate market update

Never underestimate the strength of a market or the long-term fundamentals in support of it, particularly when it comes to both our rural or lifestyle New Zealand property markets. While the latest 19th August 2020 Real Estate Institute of NZ (REINZ) rural press release refers to ‘guarded optimism’ there is some significant positive market indicators this last autumn that can’t be ignored. First up there were 341 farms sold for the 3 months to the end of July up +30.7% on the same period last year. Given you could not physically inspect property over April, and lockdown only went down to level two on the 13th May, this is quite an outstanding result. It clearly demonstrates our markets capacity to operate through the cycles short or long term. Rural median prices stayed static at $23,000+/ha for both autumn periods. Similarly, REINZ data released on the lifestyle market noted there were 716 more lifestyle property sales for the 3 months ending July 2020 compared to the 3 months ending June 2020 up

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+57.7%. The net effect being that total lifestyle sales, being 1240 sales for the 3 months to July was on a par with the prior-year period. To quote REINZ directly − “Equally, the figures for the month of July 2020 alone at 913 sales compared to 197 for the month of May represent an amazing 463% increase over that period and a graphic demonstration of the impact of the recent level 4 lockdown.” Property Brokers too, heading into the winter has seen unprecedented levels of interest in real estate up and down the country, and Rural and Lifestyle sales have been no exception. Our advice to Farmlands shareholders is to get advice! This is either buying or selling property as every region is different, and within districts, there are often material market drivers to be aware of. The one factor that remains consistent is that markets ultimately track to the long-term

Buyer decisions at this level tend to be very much investment-driven with discounts applied for regulatory uncertainty and any gaps associated with on-farm compliance programs. The good news, however, is this top tier of the rural market, is no different to any other market, once it finds its level the recovery in the volume of sales is likely to be significant. Underlying cash yields of 5-6% look very attractive, and the rural market will adjust to this type of productive valuation approach. The continued strength of our primary sector underpins market confidence both this spring and long term. What is very clear is those clients that reach out early, in anticipation of the due-diligence to ready a property for sale, benefit the most when the decision to take the property to market is made. Due diligence these days can take months, a sales process is often a matter of weeks. So please feel free to reach out to us ahead of time on 0800 367 5263 for a no-obligation professional opinion on the market and sale options for your property. At Property Brokers, our purpose is to make a difference to rural NZ, both short and long term, starting with you the shareholders of the Farmlands Co-operative.

Conrad Wilkshire, GM Rural for Property Brokers Ltd

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | 0800 367 5263 | pb.co.nz

West Coast 183B Darkies Terrace Road, Charleston

Do you want privacy with spectacular views? Then this amazing, near-new three-bedroom home in the heart of Charleston, 20 minutes south of Westport on the West Coast should be on your watch-list. It would be perfect for downsizing lifestyle block retirees, a growing family or someone wanting to relocate to a rural location with land and sea views. Sitting on an elevated 2.204 hectare section, there is so much more than meets the eye from the views off the front deck to the privacy and seclusion this property has to offer. Large bedrooms, master with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, open plan living with multi-fuel burner, new kitchen, large laundry, hideaway study nook, indoor/outdoor dining and living. This property ticks so many boxes and is a must see! Contact Marchelle today for more information or to book a private inspection.

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA | 0800 367 5263 | pb.co.nz Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 20082008 | 0800 367 5263 | pb.co.nz

By negotiation View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WEU75910

Marchelle Dann M 021 874 689 P 03 789 8777 marchelle.dann@pb.co.nz

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FARMLANDS DELIVERS A STORE FULL OF KNOWLEDGE When you pull into Farmlands, you’ve got the combined insight of the whole network in-store, right where you need it. Couple this with New Zealand’s leading fert, chem, seed and feed brands and you’ll see increased efficiency and greater success across every part of your farm.

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Get more from Farmlands this spring. Talk to us today.

Farmlands TFO — Luc Rodwell

The Farmlander - October 2020

Articles inside

Real estate market update

A decade of delivering Gulf

Preparing your pool for summer

Support business growth with Fencing Contractors NZ

Lighting your way in rainy weather

Century Farms – Dedication across generations in Waipipi

Smart chemistry puts paid to caterpillars

The time for critical fungicide application is approaching fast

Protection. Naturally

Triumphing over the winter pasture deficit

Nitrogen losses in nutrient budgets

This spring, calcium is king

Exit drenching after pre-lamb treatments

Optimising cow nutrition to improve fertility

Complete control of crawling insects

Food safety for your animals

Mooving' with the times

Discover genetics fit for your purpose

Feeding for optimum performance

Special Feature – Growing quality partnerships

Keep your wheels rolling safely this spring

Connecting to support a common customer

Nutting out the rabbit problem

5 minutes with Karin Kos