The Farmlander - May 2021 by Farmlands

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

MAY 2021

Valid from 1 — 31 May 2021

The FARMLANDER THE BIG PICTURE

PAGE 6

KEEP CALM AND REDUCE LAMENESS PAGE 16

THE GRASS CAN BE GREENER PAGE 22

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MAY

INTEREST

PLAN365

3 Farmlands staff profile

Plan365 Nutrition

3 From the Acting CEO

33 Dairy beef — an efficient option

4 5 minutes with Aimee Charteris

35 What's in a bite?

6 Special Feature – The big picture

37 Internalising intensive winter grazing

13 Central Districts Field Days

15 South Island Agricultural Field Days

WHAT’S ON

22 & 29 MAY

Plan365 Animal Management

16 Keep calm and reduce lameness

New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards

41 The right winter diet is crucial

19 Buying Power Promise

43 Tagging made easy

20 Opening the gates to phytomedicine

22 The grass can be greener

Plan365 Forage and Arable

26 Solid hop harvest

49 Get the most from the N-cap

29 Investing in quad bike safety 57 Century Farms — Pure dedication

Plan365 Rural Infrastructure

60 Property Brokers update

51 Ridding your land of rodents

The Century Farm Awards programme recognises New Zealand farming families who have owned and worked their land for 100 years or more. A formal dinner in Lawrence each May honours the awardees and their significant achievement of 100 or more years in farming.

53 Reduce workload with smarter fencing 55 Smarter way to work

28–30 MAY

FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR

New Zealand Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird National Show

MAY 2021

Valid from 1 — 31 May 2021

The FARMLANDER THE BIG PICTURE

PAGE 6

KEEP CALM AND REDUCE LAMENESS PAGE 16

THE GRASS CAN BE GREENER

ON THE COVER

For the first time, Dunedin will host the New Zealand Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird National Show.

As a fifth-generation farmer, Dan Studholme sees himself as a caretaker of the land as he juggles improving production while also enhancing his Waimate properties.

This will see more than 2,000 birds entered in this show, with some of the largest breeders of birds in the country participating.

PAGE 22

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

2 | THE FARMLANDER

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 Hamish Hogg Technical Field Officer, Farmlands Feilding

Q: When did you join Farmlands and what were you doing previously? A: I joined as a TFO in September 2018. Before that I was managing our home farm, which is 220ha and has 300 dairy cows. We also do a bit of mixed cropping with asparagus, potatoes and brassicas for domestic consumption. Q: How did you feel about winning the Emerging TFO/TA of the Year Award this year? A: It was a big surprise and I was totally unprepared! I just feel like it’s an awesome achievement and has motivated me to keep chipping away and learning from my mistakes and achievements. I just want to keep learning and always try to remember how important it is to give the kind of service that I would expect as a farmer. Q: Any tips for people inside or outside of the business who are interested in becoming a TFO? A: Just show interest and an eagerness to learn. It doesn’t come overnight. Try to learn as much as you can and ask questions – I’m still learning daily. Ask your local TFO if you can jump in their ute and go out on a farm visit with them to see what’s involved and listen to the conversations that we have with shareholders.

Ingredients • 1kg chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless, skin-on or skinless) • Neutral oil, e.g. grapeseed • 25g butter

Lightning Chicken

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1/3 cup white wine • 1½ cups cream • 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped • Couple of handfuls of baby spinach

Method 1. Remove the chicken from the fridge 30-60 minutes before cooking. Pat dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. 2. Heat 1-2 Tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a fairly high heat. When hot, add the chicken (skin-side down if it has skin). You may need to do this in two batches – don't crowd the pan. 3. Leave the chicken until it has turned a deep golden brown colour on one side. Turn over and brown the other side. 4. When both sides of the chicken are brown and crispy, set aside on a plate or roasting tray. 5. Tip any excess oil from the pan and replace over a medium heat. Add the butter and garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the wine, increase the heat to high and let it bubble rapidly for about 30-60 seconds to evaporate the alcohol – it should reduce by about half. 6. Stir in the cream, thyme and spinach. Add the chicken and any resting juices. Reduce the heat to medium-high and leave to simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced down to a nice consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with steamed greens and roast potatoes, or rice.

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FROM THE ACTING CEO Welcome to the May edition of The Farmlander. I am now one month into my term as Acting CEO and my first weeks in the role have been spent helping our Farmlanders get clarity on what we stand for and our objectives in the coming months. I have outlined three priorities: • Be precise about the job shareholders require of us; • Be clear on how we complete that job definitively better than anyone else; • Focus just on the activities that help us do this consistently and stop doing anything that doesn’t. We stand for Growing Shareholder Success. Ensuring enduring thriving land that can sustain food production for generations is critical to that success. Being “first for New Zealand’s food and fibre inputs” is about positioning to lead in the smart inputs necessary for achieving this. The challenge we have set for ourselves is how we best combine the awesome resources and processes of this great company to deliver on this. Our collective of more than 70,000 New Zealand farmers and growers offers enormous opportunity. After years of change, our significant investment into a powerful new platform and change in the industry, we understand fully the need to refocus our value proposition. Shareholders will soon see an important first step. As part of our strategic commitment to accelerating digital, our new and improved Farmlands online store will come online for shareholders to use in the near future. This follows significant development and testing. This will start as a soft launch initially – which is a scaled down version as we learn from initial activity on the site. This is a standard approach for establishing an e-commerce channel. Shareholders will have the choice of items delivered to them, or to collect from the nearest Farmlands store. This will supersede our existing online store, which we have decommissioned to protect shareholder data. Our COVID Click and Collect online store was a temporary solution, albeit an important one. We have taken our time to get the new online store right, as we have seen a change in how our shareholders choose to shop with us. While our physical stores remain a critical touch point, we are pleased to be giving you the opportunity to shop with us “anytime, anywhere” as we grow and develop this important channel. Once our Farmlands online store is operational, you will be able to pay using your Farmlands Card. All you need to do is sign up for MyFarmlands - our online portal that provides shareholders with the ability to access online statements, Choices Rewards Points and more. Visit www.farmlands.co.nz to learn more.

Thank you for your continued support. All the best for the month ahead.

Kevin Cooney Chief Executive Ofiicer (Acting) Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

THE FARMLANDER | 3

5 minutes with Aimee Charteris Founder – Smart Shepherd What is Smart Shepherd technology? Smart Shepherd is an award-winning technology that measures the maternal performance of free-range livestock. It accurately identifies the lambs raised by each ewe and measures the strength of the ewe-lamb bond. Smart Shepherd is a game-changer for improving mothering ability, productivity, eating quality and welfare. How did your interest in sheep/lamb monitoring technology emerge? How did you come up with this idea? I was raised on a Gisborne sheep and beef farm and went on to train as a Livestock Geneticist. Most of my working career has been spent in and around red meat supply chains, working out where and how we can improve the supply chain.

The team and I have worked in the sheep industry for the last 18-years. We have always had a desire to use proximity technology to characterise behavioural traits that may improve welfare within production systems. While the primary aim is to improve maternal success in the genetic space, we saw the opportunity to use this technology in commercial operations to select fit-for-purpose maternal replacements in any production animal species that are run on large scale.

farmers wean 150 percent, but we

What do you think the biggest drawcard for reproductive behavioural monitoring technology such as this is?

What are some of the most exciting things you have seen in the last few years in the ag tech space and why did these get your attention?

Knowledge. Good mothers are the heart of any family. Gathering further knowledge around the variation that exists in maternal success can be used to harness further increases in production. This is particularly important when we appear to have reached the ceiling in some systems — such as sheep. Most commercial

Monitoring technology in the

believe the gap between scanning and weaning could be considerably reduced. There is currently no other way to obtain this information on a large scale, in a cost-effective manner. There are other means such as DNA but for a commercial farmer, this is generally cost prohibitive. For those who have invested in radio frequency identification (RFID or EID), it creates a mechanism to extract significant value out of this investment.

dairy industry. This technology comes in the form of a collar which monitors the health and wellbeing of individual cows, specific aspects of reproduction and overall herd or group management. Collecting real-time information, then making fast and efficient decisions, demonstrates a producer’s commitment to the

Most commercial farmers wean 150 percent, but we believe the gap between scanning and weaning could be considerably reduced.”

4 | THE FARMLANDER

wellbeing of all. Around the globe customers now prioritise welfare and environmental values in the products that they purchase and they will do this even more in the future; making this game-changing technology.

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FARMLANDS 5 MINUTES

What is coming up for Smart Shepherd this year? We can’t wait to get back out on the farms and see our clients who used the system in the genetics space last year. We want to grow this market with the right customers and we will also be looking for suitable commercial farmers to continue to beta test our maternal select system in both sheep and deer. Automating reading capability in the yards will be one of our main

We cannot continue to go about our business in the same ways and using the same methods as we have in the past.”

focusses with some tweaks in the

we are likely to get an altogether

hardware, firmware and software.

different result. The chance that it

How are Kiwi sheep farmers at trying out new technology, have you seen a shift in attitudes in the last 5 years?

will be considered ‘different’ in 10

We need to improve out of sight. We find that the innovators and early

years’ time is slim – it will likely be commonplace. We need to get in front of the game. I believe the success of farming businesses will depend on

adopters are always eagerly awaiting

this type of technology in the future.

something new to integrate into their proportion of the industry who wait

What advice would you give Kiwis wanting to bring a farm technology solution to market?

to adopt when technology becomes

The first step is to work out who has

common-place or where regulation

the pain point and will they pay for

enforces the use of it. We need our

your ag-tech solution. Once you have a

What is the biggest barrier for

farmers to become more curious

product, trial it with a group of relevant

New Zealand farm tech innovators/

so we can get better as an industry.

people you trust. When moving towards

inventors and how can this

We cannot continue to go about our

getting to market, make sure you get

be overcome?

business in the same ways and using

the right people around you. Define

Taking the first step. This is how you

the same methods as we have in the

your vision, values and purpose and go

finally overcome the battle to begin.

past. One of our favourite mantras is

for it! Be prepared to be agile, patient,

Be courageous and just start….

that if we aim to do things differently,

have an open mind and ask for honest

back yourself to find your way.

business. However, there is a large

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feedback. I can’t stress enough the need to surround yourself with the right people and be prepared for the long-haul.

THE FARMLANDER | 5

SPECIAL FEATURE

THE BIG PICTURE

6 | THE FARMLANDER

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| Fifth-generation farmer Dan Studholme views himself as caretaker of the land for generations to come.

An intergenerational farming approach focusing on sustainability underpins Dan Studholme’s business strategy — across his dairy, sheep and beef operation in Waimate, South Canterbury. As a fifth-generation farmer, Dan sees himself as a caretaker

After high school he completed a commerce degree at Otago

of the land as he juggles improving production while also

University and then spent a short time travelling.

enhancing the properties.

At that time Dan described farming as ‘an

The Studholme legacy began with Michael Studholme, a

unattractive proposition’.

pioneering European settler who arrived in the area in 1854.

"Our family ownership structure was very complicated. There

In its heyday the Studholme’s Te Waimate landholding

were several different ownership entities and intertwining

comprised around 100,000 acres. Across the generations

historical loans.

the land has been broken up and sold, although Dan still has

“My Dad Paul had been farming successfully in partnership

cousins farming next door and his family’s namesake town of

with my grandfather and his sudden death led to the farming

Studholme is just down the road.

business coming under severe stress in the 1980s.

Dan, his wife Bridget and children, Claudia and George live in a homestead on Te Mako. They also own Limestone Hills,

Homecoming

about 7 kilometres away and lease another property, Vale

“I came home in 2004 and could see the potential in the farms

Terrace 12 kilometres away.

but I also arrived as land prices started to skyrocket, which

Dan has been back on the family farm for around 17 years,

was a further complication.”

although as a kid he hadn’t necessarily planned on returning

Despite that, Dan went into partnership with his Dad and began

to the farm.

an intense decade of fencing, fertilising and re-grassing.

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THE FARMLANDER | 7

| Some of the poorer performing land has been fenced off and planted in natives.

“When I first came home none of the environmental measures we carry out now were even on the radar. It was all about making the most of your land and grazing. “We started fencing waterways in mid to late 2000s and the driver then was easier management. It was easier to re-fence or realign a fence, to stop stock getting stuck on the wrong side of the creek. It was about fencing off the worst land, so we could utilise the better land. “We began fencing off half and one-hectare areas, which we would leave to revert and sometimes plant in natives. “It became pretty clear that as well as a good farm management practice, there were additional environmental aspects around protecting the poorer ground. “Environmental sustainability is important to me, particularly because of the family legacy I'm involved in. The biggest constraint is budget. We have done a lot and made a lot of progress but it is a long journey.” Environment Canterbury, which Dan describes as one of the leading regional councils in the country in regard to their regional plan, has enabled them to be a lot further ahead than many along the environment journey.

| Environmental sustainability is a key part of the Studholme legacy.

8 | THE FARMLANDER

“We have had farm environmental plans for a number of years, as part of our irrigation consents and these are regularly audited. It’s just one less hurdle we have to contend with and means farming and land protection is less daunting for us than it is in some other areas.” Dan supports the principles of the Government’s waterway proposals and says there needs to be change but that common sense needs to prevail and change needs to be sensible.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Crown protection The small waterway fencing Dan was carrying out was the catalyst to apply to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII), to protect native land blocks. The QEII Trust is a statutory organisation, independent from the Government, that partners with private landowners to protect natural and cultural heritage sites on their land with covenants. The agreement protects the land forever, with around 180,000ha of private land now under QEII covenant. Partnerships have created a growing network of over 4,700 protected areas, ranging from small backyard patches to huge swathes of high country. Dan has three blocks protected by QEII, two 12ha blocks and one 17ha block, with the QEII Trust contributing half the $100,000 cost of fencing across the three blocks. “The carrot is receiving the funding that contributes to the cost of fencing. In my case these blocks were ineffective and the nature of the country meant full barrier fences in steep and rocky terrain was very expensive. “With support from QEII we have put aside over 40ha to allow native plants and wildlife to regenerate and the bonus for me is we can now further subdivide the areas around the QEII blocks, so we have improved grazing on the land that bounds the blocks.” With no stock grazing in the QEII blocks, Dan says there is a lot of undergrowth and seedling trees coming through, like totara and a lot more bird life.

Move towards dairy Dan has also introduced a major change in stock composition over the years. When he came back to the farm, the stock make-up was a very traditional 80 percent sheep and 20 percent beef. Dairy support now makes up about 60 percent of land usage, with predominantly heifers grazed — sheep and beef cattle make up the remaining usage. “Over the last 15 years we have expanded into dairy support. Benefits include cash flow all year around, less price fluctuations, greater confidence in forecasted income and it frees up capital, so we don’t have as much money tied up in livestock. “It also adds a level of accountability. There are greater expectations to deliver when you are responsible for another person’s stock.” The home farm, Te Mako, comprises 185ha with 58ha of flat irrigated land, 40ha of easy to rolling and the remainder steep hill country. Limestone Hills, where Dan’s parents live, is 470ha with around 200ha of easy rolling land and the remainder hill country. The lease block, Vale Terrace, is a 280ha easy rolling property where the focus is on cattle — with about half the land irrigated. “We took on Vale Terrace about 4 years ago to give us more scale. “We try to build a flexible system by having a go at predicting what’s going to happen and making adjustments, so we are in a position to take the opportunities when they do arrive. Vale Terrace has given us additional scope to achieve that.”

| Dairy support makes up about 60 percent of land usage, with predominantly heifers grazed.

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THE FARMLANDER | 9

| Fattening lambs and beef cows make up a healthy mix of stock.

A healthy mix A Romney ewe flock of 1,700 comprising two tooths, m/a ewes and 450 hoggets is run across the two owned blocks. The lambing percentage is around 150 percent and the average weaning weight is 28kg with a goal of bringing that up to 30kg or higher. Lamb sales vary each year. “It depends on the seasonal markets, weather and what other stock I am carrying through. “The last couple of years it has been profitable to sell the store lambs in December but this season I have kept the lambs for longer and fattened them on a specialist lamb feed which has worked well.”

10 | THE FARMLANDER

Studholme uses Romney rams sourced from George Williams’ Grassendale Stud in Wairarapa, a robust breed used to harsh conditions with proven growth rates. The hoggets are put to Southdown rams for quick maturing lambs which prime up quickly. The properties carry 130 Angus Hereford cross cows and along with a few buy-ins, finish 150-200 prime animals a year. Dan has focussed on finishing cattle rather than increasing breeding numbers, again to offer more flexibility into the system. “There is always potential to get better performance and we have been chipping away using different methods and being prepared to change the way we do things to get the best result.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Knowing the land With an average annual rainfall across the properties of 700mm, having irrigation is a real bonus. During winter there are only ewe hoggets on Te Mako's 58ha of irrigated land but that land will be used to finish lambs and graze dairy heifers over the summer. "The irrigated land is almost treated like a dairy platform with a low stocking rate in the winter which is cranked up in summer. The soil type of the irrigated ground does not lend itself to wintering a lot of stock as it is quite poorly drained and I don't want to destroy good summer producing pastures over winter." Te Mako is on a community water scheme and pumps water from the neighbouring farm’s bore for troughs. Limestone Hills is spring fed using a combination of water storage tanks and gravity/solar reticulation. “Previously we relied on stock water through creeks and dams. As we have subdivided paddocks we have tapped into springs and reticulated that water to troughs. “So again, the driver wasn’t necessarily environmental but biodiversity is the winner. “It really depends on what spins your wheels and what your motivations for change are. “Most farmers have a hefty financial noose and they want to farm so they can loosen that noose and meet their commitments, while also moving forward in a sustainable way. “It’s about understanding the farm as an entire system. So, when you make a change you can understand the effect that has on the rest of the system, it’s about a more strategic approach to management so I’m always looking at the bigger picture. "I've always enjoyed trying to improve the land and make it produce more while also making it a better long-term proposition. Less environmental impact now is only going to make it a more sustainable business in the future. “We are always planning and looking at sustainability. For us a long-term plan is about thinking 100 years ahead, not 10 or 20 years. An example of this would be pine trees. A lot of our farm would be very suited to growing pine and in the current regulatory climate it would make sound financial sense. However, we feel that this would not be the best use long-term and we favour native plants and grazing for long-term financial and environmental sustainability.”

| Dan tries to build a flexible system by having a go at predicting what’s going to happen and making adjustments.

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THE FARMLANDER | 11

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Central Districts Field Days The mornings were crisp, the weather was ideal and attendance was strong across all 3 days of Central Districts Field Days 2021 (CDFD). After the COVID-19 lockdown cancelled last year’s event at short notice, farmers and farm industry suppliers were eager to get out and support the event. Close to 3,000 Farmlands shareholders, as well as many non-members, came through the Farmlands site across the 3 days and all were warmly welcomed. Manawatū and Horowhenua Technical Field Officer and Sales Lead for the event Jason Payne remarked the first day was busier than anticipated, with the team seeing a lot of traffic through the tent from farming and lifestyle based shareholders, along with young families, which he says was great to see. “The verbal feedback we’ve had across the 3 days has been great. Shareholders thought we had a really interactive site filled with energy and thought-provoking conversations, plus the lunch offer was a nice little cherry

on top,” Jason says.

coming to us for advice and a good

“Having the extended hospitality area was great, making it a space that people wanted to come to, giving them a chance to relax and rest their feet. It also gave the staff a chance to sit down and have a conversation with shareholders, to see if there was anything that we could do for them.”

deal heading into autumn (at the time

An interactive space was established where shareholders were asked to do a 2 minute survey about what their core business is, what their biggest challenges were through the autumn, what brought them to the tent and what their main concerns are on farm.

are looking at some capital investments

Higher than usual levels of summer rain in the central district pre-Christmas was good for grass but not so good for some summer crops. There were a few washed out early maize crops and it delayed the sowing of others. Despite this, Jason says that most of the farmers in his area are feeling positive about the year ahead. “Our shareholders were generally

of the event) with lots of activities on the farming agenda, including maize harvest and re-grassing — so it’s a busy time of year. “Thing are looking positive in the dairy space with pay-outs looking good and plenty of feed about, so the dairy guys and infrastructure developments,” Jason adds. “We fielded quite a few questions around feed, seed and chemical applications which aligns strongly with our Autumn Campaign." Partners on site with the Farmlands team at CDFD in Feilding included Delfast, Meridian Energy, Agricom, Noel Leeming, Property Brokers, Donaghys, Summit and Zoetis. "All the customers were in such great spirits and happy to be out and about, we had some great deals on offer and it was fantastic to be able to interact with them after not being able to last year," Farmlands Retail Lead for the event Sally Gibson says. Zoetis Key Account Manager Tim Horsbrough says he and his team embraced the chance to chat to their customers face to face. "It went really well for us sales-wise and in every other way. Not being able to do this last year was a bummer, so those who came in were more engaged than ever

| Shareholders took the opportunity to talk with Partners on-site at Central Districts Field Days.

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before I feel."

THE FARMLANDER | 13

WOOD BURNERS LOVE TO BURN RURAL HOUSEHOLDS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO USE WOOD FIRES Every year around 150 FMG clients experience a damaging house fire. These fires are often traumatic events—a home is so much more than just walls and a roof. The leading causes of house fires in rural areas differ from those in urban areas. For instance, households in rural areas are twice as likely to use wood fires for heating— and more likely to experience a fireplace or chimney fire. We spoke with dairy farmers, Jocelyn and Chris Luxford about the good advice they received from FMG to double their house contents cover. Sadly in the near future a wood fire would cause their home to burn down.

“When we saw Robyn for our annual review she said that she didn’t think our contents cover was enough and advised us to double it—gosh she was on the ball. We’re very grateful for what we’ve been covered for,” says Jocelyn. The Luxfords’ advice to others is highly valuable. “Check your insurance policy and make sure you’ve got enough contents cover. Take videos of your contents and make sure to store these in the ‘cloud’—you’d be really surprised at what the value to replace your contents is. Lastly, I’d recommend to others to get a fireproof lockbox to keep things that matter to you safe,” says Jocelyn.

If you’d like to talk through your home cover give us a call on 0800 366 466. You can also visit FMG Connect, our online service, to check and update your household contents cover and ensure you have enough in place. Head to fmg.co.nz/ connect to login or register. If you’re after more advice on protecting your home head to fmg.co.nz/house-fires

2020

We’re here for the good of the country.

14 | THE FARMLANDER

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

South Island Agricultural Field Days With more than 2,000 shareholders visiting the Farmlands tent in late March, the team of experts, field and retail staff and supplier representatives were kept busy offering advice and recommendations on the latest innovative products.

Taking time off their 206ha dairy farm

For Canterbury dairy farmers and Farmlands shareholders Rob and Janet Mangin, getting out and about to events around the country is an integral part of their farm management.

the A&P shows and smaller events or

in Ashburton to visit events such as the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) in Kirwee has been part of Rob’s calendar for many years. “We try to get to all of the big events around Canterbury, as well as attending seminars put on within the industry,” Rob says. “The Field Days are really good because they’re always topical and have everything there in one place.” With the environment, health and safety and compliance being front of mind for many farmers, the easy access to expert advice and inventive products is a big drawcard for attendees. “When we’ve got projects going an opportunity to seek out specific

| Stacey Cosnett, NRM Nutritionist, Farmlands shareholder Rob Mangin and Sophie Green, Trainee Technical Field Officer, catch up on the latest news at SIAFD.

technical advice. That advice and

needed to get around and see all that the

support is the main reason I’ll walk into

industry has to offer.

a tent like Farmlands'.”

“It’s more than a one-day job and we

“It’s all about making life easier and

do often save our purchasing until these

safer and you’ve got to really make an

events to make sure we are getting the

effort to see everything to make sure

best deal.”

you’re not missing anything that can

The open, inviting nature of the

help you on-farm,” Rob says.

Farmlands tent and having the team

The Field Days deals are just a nice

of field staff and industry experts from

add-on for the Mangins, although Janet

Farmlands Growth and Innovation team

keeps a careful eye on the purse when

available in their bright orange “Know-It-

Rob is out and about.

All” t-shirts was also a winner for Rob.

“I’m always up for a bargain!” Rob says.

“Having someone come up, say hello

“At these events you always see products

and make a genuine enquiry into how

that you’ve never heard about or seen

your farm is going is what makes you feel

before and they can be the missing piece

valued as a shareholder. A great thing

to make a project so much easier.”

about these events is how social they are,

The multitude of options available at

so having that contact with people is very

SIAFD means that the whole 3 days are

important,” Rob says.

on at the farm, Field Days offers

| The Knowledge and Advice Hub gave shareholders a chance to chat with the Farmlands Growth and Innovation Team during Field Days.

| Phil Johnston, Farmlands Agronomist is interviewed by Sarah Perriam from Sarah's Country during the Field Days.

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THE FARMLANDER | 15

Keep calm and reduce lameness Veterinarian Neil Chesterton recently spoke to a large group of dairy farmers in Dunsandel and Hinds in Canterbury about ways to reduce lameness in dairy cows and how to improve cow flow. More than 80 Synlait dairy farmers attended each session to gain insight into the factors that contribute to lameness in cows and how to prevent it. Neil Chesterton has been a vet in dairy practice in Taranaki for almost 40 years and is well known for finding practical answers to reduce lameness in dairy cows. His studies identified that the two main areas of risk for foot damage in pasture-based systems are the walking surface of the track and the management of the herd — both on the track and in the milking yard. Neil has travelled internationally to investigate lameness problems and to train farmers and vets in low-stress herd handling, while improving cow-flow into and out of the milking shed. The seminars came about following a brainstorming session with the Farmlands Growth and Innovation team and Synlait last year, Farmlands Head of Nutrition & Animal Health Dr Robert Derrick explains.

16 | THE FARMLANDER

Different types of ailments “Studies have been done in New Zealand suggesting that an average of 26 percent of the cows in large herds have some form of lameness over the course of a full year, so it’s widespread,” Dr Neil says. Just four lameness conditions account for about 90 percent of the lameness in pasture-based farms in New Zealand. These are: white line injury, sole injury, axial wall damage and foot rot. Lameness in dairy cattle in New Zealand is mainly associated with injury and infection. • White line injury: This is a lameness condition affecting predominantly the lateral claw of hind feet in adult cattle and the medial claw of the front feet in heifers. Stress and handling under pressure in the collecting yard and the tracks increases the risk of white line separation. This initial separation allows entry of foreign material and an abscess to form under the wall. After about 2 weeks the abscess works its way up towards the coronet and bursts out. The main sign of pressure handling is to see cows with their heads up over the backs of other cows. • Sole injury: Another common foot issue causing lameness is sole injury. This could be a sole bruise but more commonly lameness is caused by a sole puncture wound. This puncture can develop into an abscess that Dr Neil says “works its way underneath the sole and bursts out between the claws.” Kiwi cows are used to walking distances to and from the milking shed and if allowed to walk at their own pace, are very good at avoiding stones that might damage their soles. Stressed cows with their heads up can’t see where they are treading and can’t pull up their hooves quickly to relieve pressure if they do tread on something sharp. • Axial wall damage: Cracks between the toes or axial wall damage, are also quite common. These start with an injury caused by a stone jammed up between the claws at the top of the hoof. For example the cow may have had (treated) foot rot 3 months earlier but the injury can grow further down the hoof, causing cracks in the axial hoof wall. • Foot rot: This is initially caused by an injury breaking the skin between the claws, followed by a bacterial infection, most commonly Fusobacterium necrophorum. Once the injured skin is infected, the foot swells and is very painful. If treated early with antibiotics the pain and swelling rapidly heals.

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Neil’s presentation titled “Understanding Lameness – the importance of improving cowflow to reduce the damage to the foot”, revealed that incorrect herd management was surprisingly common and contributed to poor animal health and lost productivity. “Most claw-horn disruption lameness has been associated with improper handling, damaging walking surfaces, as well as flighty animal behaviour. Careful, low-stress handling and proper flooring may help prevent this from occurring,” Dr Neil says. Good cow flow is key “Within a herd there will always be dominant cows and passive cows and (just like a group of teenagers) it is this dominance of certain cows that affects all herd behaviours,” Dr Neil says. “In this way, herds are a bunch of individuals that observe social rules and they need routine. They are creatures of habit and it is up to the farmer to create good routines for them. “50 percent of the dominant cows are in the front third of the herd. The rest are spread throughout the herd and these cows control the herd walking speed.

“Dominant cows draw cows behind them as they move forward and cause cows in front of them to hurry along often by giving them a bunt. “There is a walking order and a milking order — and they are different. Cows need time and space to readjust from a walking order to a milking order after they arrive at the milking shed. “If cow flow is poor, then adjustments to facilities and procedures can be made to make milking an ‘exercise in contentment’. “Not only will people perform better, the cows will respond by flowing more smoothly. A content herd will have better milk let down, produce more, have a lower cell count and less foot damage. “The cow is a creature of habit — changes will confuse her, so therefore we need to maintain the same routines every day. “But the cow is also adaptable, every day is a training experience for the cow – either good or bad.” A cow allowed to express normal behaviour as an individual and in the herd will behave in certain predictable ways and the herd will flow well and be content. Poor cow flow is often the result of a lack of understanding of

cow behaviour in the way people manage cows and in the poor design of facilities. The combination of understanding the herd, having consistent routines and giving the cows space, should result in good cow flow. Farmers in attendance gave some examples of routines that they find effective in improving cow flow, such as having a sprinkler on the milking platform on hot days to encourage cows to move as desired. Dr Neil concluded his presentation by saying while lameness may seem inevitable within a dairy herd, it can be managed and reduced though careful and calm herd management. The less stress on a cow, the less impact on her hooves and the way that animals are managed on the farm has a huge impact on herd health. Tips for keeping your herd relaxed: • Voluntary flow from the paddock, or keep 10 metres behind the last cow. • Have enough space in the collecting yard for your herd (1.3sqm for Jersey cows, 1.5sqm for Fresians). • Delay the first movement of the backing gate for at least 20 minutes after the first row or rotation of cows has entered the bales. • Have consistent routines (e.g. filling the bales in the shed, cupping, teat spraying and exiting the bales, how you move the backing gate etc). • Cows prefer familiar people and surroundings. • E nsure you and your workers are calm and quiet – no rushing. • U se a gentle tone when speaking to the cows or to each other.

| Veterinarian Neil Chesterton addresses the crowd at Dunsandel.

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For information visit www.lamecow.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 17

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THE FARMLANDER | 19

Opening the gates to phytomedicine Phytofarm, a medicinal plant farm and passion project designed and developed by herbalist and naturopath Valmai Becker, was one of many farms around New Zealand to host an Open Farms event on 21st March.

Director of the Canterbury College of

Open Farms was started in 2020, to

native bush that invites native birds,

bridge the knowledge gap between

particularly morepork back to nest.

urban visitors and rural farmers and

“While I enjoyed the Canterbury

growers. 37 farms around New Zealand

College of Natural Medicine, I missed

hosted approximately 2,500 visitors from

having a garden. The position

both urban and rural backgrounds and

within the college involved a lot of

luckily, the weather held out for most!

administration and I wanted to get

Farmlands Amberley Salesperson Chris

back to the land,” Valmai says.

Jackson visited Phytofarm in Little River,

“At the time of buying the land, I was also

Canterbury to learn more about land

running a natural retreat in Nelson and

diversity and creating your own balms,

one attendee asked if I wanted a ginkgo

teas and herbal medicine.

tree. Ginkgos are an amazing tree with

“Phyto” means plant and for Farmlands

a long history of medicinal research into

Flourishing flora and fauna

shareholder Valmai Becker, plants are

supporting brain health and preventing

a way of life. After graduating with a

Alzheimer’s and dementia. That tree was

Diploma in Naturopathy in 1980 and

one of the first to be planted and started

holding a position as Co-Owner and

my education garden.

Diversification is a theme within Phytofarm, with Valmai growing between 65-100 different species of plant, including the herb garden and trees.

20 | THE FARMLANDER

Natural Medicine, Valmai purchased 12ha of land in 2002. The diversity of the property drew her in, with wetland and forest complementing the bare land. Valmai has since allowed the forest to regenerate back into

“At first I was just growing enough for myself but eventually ended up producing enough to teach a class how to grow, process and harvest herbs and other plants before blending them into teas and other products,” Valmai says. “Investigating how to process and dry each plant became the main focus, until the garden was growing enough that I could start producing a product range to sell. I also started up an apprenticeship program for people wanting to learn about what plants could give back to you in more depth. “Most of the apprentices are off lifestyle blocks and are wanting to farm more than just sheep and cattle — they are wanting to diversify how their land is being used.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

| Valmai Becker grows 65-100 plants on Phytofarm, all with a special purpose.

Running a permaculture plant guild in her orchard has also proven to help the trees recover from fungal infections.

look into nurturing with foot baths and

up at 9.15am! We had a good mix of

body butters. Spring explores nutrition

visitors, some older and some younger

while summer gets topical with creams, balms and ointments.

but it was a totally different crowd to

“More orchards have bare earth under the trees but I’ve planted comfrey, irises, calendula and nasturtiums that bring in beneficial insects and minimise the risk of disease.” Phytofarm is also run organically with most plants best suited to the Canterbury climate. “New Zealand has a very temperate climate so you can grow most things here but often I will travel down to Otago to pick up anything that grows particularly well, such as St. John’s Wort,” Valmai says. The Phytofarm apprentice workshops are run seasonally and each workshop surrounds the plants that are available for the upcoming season. The autumn workshops traditionally focus on making hydrosols, medicinal vinegars, honeys and syrups — while winter will

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the people who usually come for the

Sharing the knowledge

workshops — it was lovely and is what

The apprenticeship program was

the Open Farms day is really all about.”

the drawcard for Valmai’s business

Following the tour of the gardens,

partner, Andrea Bay. Originally finding

Andrea demonstrated tea-blending and

her passion for herbal medicine in Germany, Andrea began voluntarily

made a kawakawa salve.

helping out in the garden at Phytofarm

“There were quite a few questions and

after completing her apprenticeship.

we encouraged people to interact with

Eventually she bought into the

the plants, to touch and smell them.

business, moving herself and her

“The Open Farms event team were great

husband onto the farm. Andrea was onhand to run the Open Farms day and was pleasantly surprised at how the event turned out. “It was beautiful weather and we ended

to deal with, we were sent signs that we could put out on the road to direct people in and had plenty of support leading up to the event. We would

up having 42 parties join us on the day,”

definitely run the event again, depending

Andrea says.

on the timing as it was wonderful to

“We had advertised that the tour would

meet people totally new to the topic of

start at 10am but our first group turned

herbal medicine,” Andrea says.

THE FARMLANDER | 21

The grass can be greener West Coast dairy farmers Jeremy and Anna Hart spent over a decade share-milking large herds of up to 2,000 cows in the Waimate area before making the move to a smaller dairy farm about 25 kilometres from Hokitika. They spoke at South Island Field Days about what prompted them to make the move to the West Coast and how it worked out for them. They shared their experience as part of a wider panel discussion, led by Sarah Perriam, host of Sarah’s Country podcast — that also included Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne and Property Brokers representatives Gareth Cox and Conrad Wilkshire — and provided a good insight into what it’s like to buy and start farming in a new part of New Zealand. “The plan when we were 30 was to do 10 years of dairy farming and then get into sheep and beef farming,” Jeremy says.

“We did our 10 years and then we started looking at a bigger deer farm, but the bank thought it was a good idea that we keep dairy.

Anna says the move has been a

“We looked over at the West Coast, which had fairly cheap land that was self-contained and had plenty of rainfall. It’s also a great lifestyle, so we are really glad we made the move.

and did so for about 13 years.

“We’ve got a great community around us, with really good people and it reminds me of how New Zealand was 20 years ago,” Jeremy says.

decided to make that lifestyle change,”

Recent expansion will see Jeremy and Anna ramp up production, while maintaining a manageable operation.

in Canterbury because the land prices

“We milk 300 cows and we just bought another 50ha next door, so we are going to 400 cows” Jeremy says.

holiday down the West Coast and

“We get the cows in for three milkings in two days, right from calving.

Kowhitirangi Valley that we ended

“The thing I like about the coast is that it's self-contained, so we have all the heifers on-farm, cows are wintered-on and silage is made on-farm also” Jeremy says.

Property Brokers.

positive one, explaining how she and Jeremy started share-milking large herds (up to 2,000 cows) around 2006 “Milking large herds got us to where we are but it was pretty tough going with 8 to 13 staff in the peak and we never really had any family time, so we Anna says. “We felt like we were ready to take that next step, but we couldn’t see a way were too high. “We thought we would have a family we also had a look around some farms and found one in the up buying through Gareth Cox at They wanted to do all they could to make the transition as smooth as possible and not just for themselves.

| (L-R) Property Brokers Rural Real Estate Agent Canterbury-West Coast Gareth Cox, West Coast dairy farmers Jeremy and Anna Hart, Sarah's Country host Sarah Perriam, Property Brokers Rural General Manager Conrad Wilkshire and Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne.

22 | THE FARMLANDER

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INDUSTRY NEWS

“The biggest thing that we did was to buy the stock that was already there on the farm, so they knew the farm,” Anna says.

This part of New Zealand can be very profitable for farmers and that is what the banks want to see — that you can be profitable from day one.”

There was already good genetics in that herd and we have improved that over the years.

Property Brokers Rural General Manager Conrad Wilkshire agrees, adding that it has always been people based outside of the district who are buying the farms and that it’s always been that way on the West Coast.

“We looked at schooling and there was a really good high school in Hokitika and our son went to the local rural school so that was a great way to meet people. “I really threw myself into the community when we first arrived and got involved in things and now I’m a local councillor on the Westland District Council.” Who’s moving? It’s an interesting mix of people who are buying farms on the West Coast, Property Brokers Rural Real Estate Agent Canterbury-West Coast Gareth Cox says. “We’ve seen quite a recovery in interest in rural property the last year and a half and a lot of younger people looking for their first or second farm. “That’s backed up by the sales that we’ve seen this season, last year we had 3 dairy farms sold on the West Coast, this year we’ve seen 6 to 7 in the season to late March which is a pretty huge turnaround really. “It’s no secret that rural land prices have taken a hit over the last 2 to 3 years, but they are recovering.

“Every year we run campaigns to bring people from elsewhere around New Zealand and we run seminars up and down the country on it, in partnership with Development West Coast,” Conrad says. Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne says it helps that Westland District Council has a good understanding of farming and strikes the right balance between considering environmental impact and economic need in the resource consent process. “From an environment point of view on the West Coast — we do get a bit of rain at times and we get enough so you don’t really have issues with water getting on the paddock or stuff getting off it either,” Heath says. “It’s not as isolated as people think; you can be in Christchurch in 2 and a half hours and it is great base to run a successful business.” The move to start farming in a whole new district can be daunting, but if you do your homework and need a better lifestyle balance, it can be a very rewarding move to make.

“For farmers, the West Coast of the South Island probably offers some of the best value for money in the country.

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| The West Coast of the South Island offers some of the best value for money in the country.

| Jeremy and Anna are enjoying a better lifestyle balance with their move to the West Coast.

THE FARMLANDER | 23

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THE FARMLANDER | 25

Solid hop harvest Clayton Hops has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, becoming the largest hop growing operation in New Zealand and this year’s harvest is likely to be its biggest yet. Clayton Hops is owned and operated by the three Clayton brothers: Andrew, Glen and Brian, who run four farms about an hour’s drive from Nelson. What started as Andrew setting up a hop farm 4 years ago has grown into multiple farms, with all the brothers realising the global demand for quality New Zealand grown hops and the long-term potential. Since then, three former dairy farms and one sheep and beef farm have been (or are in the process of being) converted and are producing world class hops for the craft beer market — all of which have been set up with the more

26 | THE FARMLANDER

targeted and efficient drip line, instead of overhead irrigation. Sales and Marketing Manager Brian Clayton says this year’s harvest is likely to be strong. He puts this down to a mixture of favourable weather, more experience and maturity of the hop gardens as a whole. “The yields this year are up considerably on last year,” Brian says. “The plants are getting older in the field and as they mature, they become more productive.

double the size of their hop gardens and thereby double their production output to about 1,000 tonnes per year. “We’ve developed about 240ha of garden over the last 4 years or so and we’ve still got about 250 to 300ha to develop,” Brian says. “We’re hitting it hard because we like the product, the industry and it suits our skillsets very well.” It was all hands on deck back in March, with hops being harvested at a rate of about 5 to 8ha per day!

“Our people on the ground are also getting better at growing hops. It’s a tricky exercise and luck can play a part. Our hearts go out to the farms that were devastated by the freak hailstorm in December last year.”

Although they are not even half a decade in, the brothers now produce a wide range of globally sought-after hop varieties including Nelson Sauvin™, Motueka™ and Riwaka™ (which is a little trickier to grow and prized among brewers) — to name a few.

Brian and his brothers are in the midst of a major expansion which will effectively

New types of hops are bred and developed by New Zealand Hops,

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SHAREHOLDER STORY

| Andrew (left), Ben and Brian Clayton see spray free hops as providing a competitive advantage.

| Clayton Hops have become the largest hop growing operation in New Zealand.

a co-operative of Master Growers, which has an innovative breeding program with exciting new varieties in continual development.

The Clayton brothers have big ambitions

able to assist the Clayton brothers across

and are confident they can play a part

the seasons.

in boosting New Zealand hop grower’s

“I have really enjoyed working with the

“We are very fortunate that we can produce ‘spray free’ hops as the risk of our hops being affected by pests and disease is low. We see this as a competitive advantage over hops from other countries,” Brian says.

percent of the world’s hops currently, to

The latest and greatest As well as an intensive crop expansion, Clayton Hops is investing in the latest technology. “We have installed two new Dauenhauer hop picking and cleaning facilities on our farms together with flat-bed drying kilns that are heated by blowing air over hot water radiators — this ensures that our hops are free from exhaust fumes. Currently it’s around $7 million to install each facility, so it’s a pretty chunky investment,” Brian says.

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contribution, from supplying just one contributing closer to three or four percent over the next decade or so. “Some brewers come to select the hops

Claytons over the last 3 to 4 years and seeing the dairy block being transformed into a full-scale hop operation has been quite amazing,” Alena says.

they want, as it’s the hops that give their

The brothers grew up on a dry stock

craft beers a point of difference. If it

farm on the West Coast that was later

wasn’t for COVID-19 there would be a lot

converted into dairy.

of American clients coming over, but it’s

“Dad helps Andrew out at hop harvest

been nice entertaining the Kiwi crowd.” As well as being Farmlands shareholders, the team is part of New Zealand Hops. “Those guys really welcomed us into the industry when we were starting out and some of the local growers have been

and Glen’s father in law, Hugh, comes up from Southland to help out as well. Our parents, John and Margaret, love the fact that we are still involved in agriculture,” Brian says.

really good to us,” Brian says.

While COVID-19 has slowed export

Richmond-based Farmlands Technical

somewhat, the brothers are confident

Advisor Alena Griffith says it’s been great

that market demand will pick up in the

watching their operation grow and to be

second half of 2021.

THE FARMLANDER | 27

™

28 | THE FARMLANDER

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Investing in quad bike safety More than 70 New Zealanders have died in workplace quad bike accidents since 2006. “These deaths are absolute tragedies and hit rural communities extremely hard,” WorkSafe New Zealand Agriculture Lead Al McCone says. Steep slopes, ditches, speed, towing or carrying too-heavy loads and hitting hidden objects are among the range of factors involved in quad bike accidents. However, fatalities have also occurred at low speed on relatively flat ground. “Taking a few minutes to plan ahead, identify the risks and knowing how to manage those risks can literally be the difference between life and death, or a life-changing injury,” Al says. “This is about having a conversation with a worker and suggesting they take the ute up the steep hill, rather than the quad bike, or reminding them that there are hidden pipes or potholes in a paddock. “However, people make mistakes. It may be that rush of blood to the head when a cow takes off and you go after it on the quad. Your eyes are on the animal and not on the wheels getting close to a ditch. Or it may be that your mind is on something else, as you turn into a gateway and you aren’t prepared for the lurch when you hit a rut or stone. “If you are lucky it will be a near miss – but a lot of people aren’t lucky. This is why it’s a good idea to ensure all quad bikes on your farm are fitted with crush protection devices (CPDs). It reduces the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a rollover.” WorkSafe and ACC recommend that CPDs be installed on all quad bikes

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| Taking a few minutes to plan ahead and identify the risks can be the difference between life and death.

used for work and they’re supporting small-to-medium-sized farm businesses to get CPDs. ACC will provide a cashback subsidy of $180 per CPD purchased, for a maximum of two per-business. The subsidy is available for LifeGuard, Quadbar and Flexi bar CPDs. “One of the hardest parts of our job is talking to people who have had a fatal workplace accident on their farm,” Al says. “There are a lot of ‘if onlys’ and CPDs come up a lot in those conversations. Installing CPDs is a critical step to make your farm a safer workplace –

one that every farmer with quad bikes should be taking. “Putting something between a person and harm when a mistake happens is one of the best steps you can take. Seatbelts, when in enclosed rollframes and crush protection on quad bikes, are two simple steps that will save much grief.” To check if you would be eligible for the subsidy, please visit: https://www.acc.co.nz/for-business/ workplace-health-safety/cashback-offer-on-quad-bike-crushprotection-devices Article supplied by WorkSafe

THE FARMLANDER | 29

SKP1641 FLFP

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Red Bands are turning pink Skellerup’s classic Red Band gumboot is a genuine Kiwi icon and a staple on farms all over the country. Now, for the first time ever, the distinctive Red Band is turning pink to support Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand. The strictlylimited, special edition Skellerup Pink Band is launching in May 2021!

Apart from a small update to make the footbed

Nine New Zealanders are diagnosed with breast

printed on the calf. Sizes range from 3-9 for

cancer every day, a third of which live outside the

women/youth.

main centres. Working in partnership with Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand, Skellerup has created Pink Band gumboots to raise money and show our support for those affected by the disease, particularly people in rural communities. For rural communities, a cancer diagnosis often brings with it added

more comfortable and the addition of the Safety Gumboot to the range, this is the first time Red Band gumboots have been altered since their introduction in 1958. Designed and hand-crafted in exactly the same way as the traditional Red Band, these limited edition gumboots feature pink detailing and a pink ribbon

Pink Bands are available in selected stores.

Nine New Zealanders are diagnosed with breast cancer every day”

Find out more at redband.co.nz/pinkband

complexities. The realities of farm life mean it’s not always possible to take weeks (or months) off to receive treatment, resulting in many women choosing mastectomies over breast-conserving surgery. Limited resources in the rural health sector can also mean they have less access to breast reconstruction treatments. With the Pink Band gumboot campaign, Skellerup aims to enhance awareness of these challenges, while also assisting Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand’s fundraising efforts. Five dollars from every pair of boots will go directly to the Foundation.

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THE FARMLANDER | 31

MYFARMLANDS JUST GOT EASIER Set up your NEW MyFarmlands account to: •

View current and historic statements

•

Pay your statement online

•

Check your Choices Rewards balance

•

Redeem your Choices Rewards Points

Plus more features to come! Visit www.farmlands.co.nz to learn more.

32 | 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.

Dairy beef - an efficient option | Trudy’s calves getting stuck into their Reliance 20% calf pellets.

Trudy Bensted is on a mission to help reduce bobby calf numbers in New Zealand with smart genetic choices, good relationships between calf rearers and dairy farmers and not just doing what has always been done.

study finding that greenhouse gas

Trudy believes there is a real opportunity for the dairy and beef sectors to work more collaboratively, for better outcomes for farmers and an improved image to our end consumers. Trudy explored this in her Kellogg project and since completing the rural leadership programme in 2019, she has been putting her ideas into action. Trudy and her partner Phillip have been rearing calves in north Canterbury. Specifically Speckled Parks, Belgian Blues, Herefords and Stabilizers, for a corporate group and Friesian bulls for the 100-kilo market. Trudy sees the calves she rears as a starting point for creating a top-quality beef animal. She aims to give them the best start in life, setting them up for success on the farms they are finished on.

production. The calves going into the

The NZ beef industry is already producing the most efficient beef in the world in terms of greenhouse gases per 100g meat produced but using more calves from the dairy sector could improve it even further. Research backs up this up, with a recently-released

farmers with calf rearers, working on

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emissions were 29 percent lower per kg carcass-weight for dairy beef animals, compared to suckler-beef animals*. This shows the real potential for the integration of dairy and beef beef industry need to be top quality and desirable to finish with good economic potential. Trudy is extremely passionate when it comes to genetics, making her job as Samen NZ Dairy Beef Coordinator a perfect fit. Trudy believes there is a lack of support for good calf-rearers who put their heart and soul into what they are doing

| Trudy Bensted is passionate when it comes to genetics.

and carry a lot of risk. It can be a tough

rearers and finishers want. In the same breath, we need to make sure there is margin in the process for our allimportant calf rearers who are giving these calves their start in life.

gig at times rearing calves purchased in at 5 days old, particularly with the volatile calf prices we have seen recently. These calf rearers are such an invaluable part of our agriculture industry and we need them to continue to be viable for the good of the industry. How will we do this? Trudy believes we need to focus on connecting dairy solutions that are a win-win for both parties. There is always room for improvement with the right feedback. Dairy farmers need to think about their surplus calves and work towards producing market-value calves that

Farmlands is committed to helping support calf rearers with advice and products and has a team of calf experts. Contact your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer for support. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Farmlands Nutritionist *Benjamin van Selm, Imke J.M de Boer, Stewart F. Ledgard, Corina E. van Middelaar. (2021) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions of New Zealand beef through better integration of dairy and beef production. Agricultural Systems. 186 (in press)

THE FARMLANDER | 33

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NUTRITION

What's in a bite? In the autumn, seeing young stock graze on a new break of green grass as the dew drops sparkle in the early morning sun is a welcome sight, especially after the summer dry. Or is it? In fact, danger often lurks hidden in plain sight, which is something important for livestock owners to know. Consider if just one of those dew drops contains 100 individual infective third stage (L3) parasite larvae, then in just one mouthful an animal could consume several thousand larvae. It is no wonder that gastro-intestinal parasitism is one of the most common infections in livestock. Where did these nasties come from? It was courtesy of the young stock themselves, grazing over the summer and discharging parasite eggs in their dung out onto the pasture, providing newly hatched larvae shelter to survive the sun’s desiccating heat. However, once significant rainfall comes, everything in the parasite world out in the paddock rapidly changes up a few gears. Simultaneously multitudes of eggs hatch to join other larvae and progress through their development stages, aided by the warm, moist autumn weather. Within just a few weeks, a wave of L3 larvae can quickly mature and move up from the pasture base into dew drops — ready to be swallowed by their host. Which is why after a summer-dry period, young stock can very rapidly lose weight, develop diarrhoea and in some instances, die. In fact, 95 percent of a property’s entire gastro-intestinal worm population live freely out in the environment, as either eggs or larvae and not in an animal. Some worm species can survive over 12 months out in the paddock, perpetuating worm infections from one season to the next.

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| Given the right environmental conditions, multiple L3 larvae can be present in dew drops, waiting to be eaten.

Therefore, simply selling off stock

• Continuously monitor parasite

infected with drench-resistant worms

numbers in livestock, stock health

will not readily alleviate the problem on

and production attributes —

a property and why using a good worm

especially body weight gains in

management strategy is important.

young stock.

Parasite management strategies • Minimise exposure of young stock to larvae by avoiding grazing paddocks hard near the pasture base, especially in the autumn, as this is where the infective L3 larvae live. • Reduce susceptible animals’ contact with L3 larvae by using strategic stock management practices, e.g., after a mob of lambs

• Utilise a customised parasite management program for your property. • Practicing refugia is recommended, which is leaving some animals in a mob undrenched. • Minimise stress: provide shade, shelter in adverse weather and always focus on disease prevention.

either graze adult sheep or other

Autumn is a period of very high risk for

species like cattle to ‘vacuum’ L3

young stock because not only are they

larvae off paddocks.

still growing, they lack full immunity

• Before drenching it is best to test

to these worms whose numbers are

to find out what level of worm

at their annual zenith on paddocks.

burden stock have and then use

Consequently, it is essential to have

an appropriate drench product.

a good drench program in place and

Scorpius Elite Spot-On is ideal for use in sheep. • Be sure to keep your stock in good

keep animals well fed with sufficient dietary nutrients so that they can better withstand any parasite challenge.

body condition, well fed and with adequate mineral status as this

For further information, contact your

better equips animals to withstand

Farmlands Technical Field Officer

a parasite challenge. Some good

or the friendly team at your local

options are: NRM Sheep Nuts,

Farmlands store.

Summer Dry Nuts, or for weaner

Article supplied by Tiffany Menzies

calves, Sweet16.

Technical Product Manager

THE FARMLANDER | 35

Feed Troughs

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NUTRITION

Internalising intensive winter grazing Drying off time

While some changes might be made to the intensive winter grazing reforms, it seems likely that the hectare limit of 50ha or 10 percent of a farm will restrict the amount of crop grazed in situ in years to come – especially on specialist dry stock

Body condition score

wintering farms. High quality crops, especially fodder

Days from calving

Cow

Rising 3-year old

Autumn pasture only

3.0

3.5

160

120 100

3.5

4.0

130

4.0

4.5

100

4.5

5.0

| Includes 10 days when cows are being dried off and not gaining weight and 30 days when cows do not gain weight before calving. Taken from DairyNZ Facts and Figures, 2nd edition, 2017.

beet, have contributed to increased weight gain when compared to pasture

dry periods. A survey of 15 farms over 5 years by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) found that giving cows access to more feed improved body condition and also feed conversion, because more feed was directed to milk production — rather than cow maintenance (MPI, 2018). The farms were also considered to have achieved resilience through having the capability to adapt to factors such as the climate and price volatility.

grazing. To get to the optimum Body Condition Score at calving (BCS 5.0 for mature cows, 5.5 for first and second calvers); thinner cows need a longer drying-off time and therefore less days in milk. If less intensive winter grazing is available, farmers will have to rely on longer dry periods on pasture, to give cows time to regain condition, or feed them more in late lactation. Feeding cows for high levels of

A much bigger survey in the 2017-18 season found that the best performing

production can support higher body condition and reduce the need for long

Fonterra farm survey 2017/2018 - Carbon footprint of milk Item (eq = Equivalent)

Lower quartile

Upper quartile

Average

Carbon footprint of milk (kg of CO2eq/kg of FPCM)

0.86

0.73

0.78

CH4 (kg of CO2eq/kg of FPCM)

0.61

0.52

0.56

N4O (kg of CO2eq/kg of FPCM)

0.15

0.12

0.13

CO2 (kg of CO2eq/kg of FPCM)

0.10

0.09

Carbon footprint of meat (kg of CO2eq/kg of live meat sold )

6.6

5.3

5.5

Cows / ha

2.87

3.10

2.96

FPCM (kg/cow)

3,542

6,044

4,990

Replacement rate

0.22

Fertiliser N (kg of N / h)

110

157

138

Brought-in feed (kg of DM / cow)

594

1,150

801

| Variation in carbon footprint of fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) and other key farm, production and input parameters for the average and lower and upper quartiles of data for FPCM/cow from the Fonterra farm survey for the year 2017/18 Source: Ledgard et al 2020

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Well-fed with high quality supplement

dairy farmers in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per kg of milk solids (those that emit the least) use more brought-in feeds and produce more milk per cow. There are many reasons that contribute to efficiency on-farm but on average, (even here in the most efficient milk-producing country in the world) higher efficiency is associated with complementing high-quality grazed pasture with some bought-in feed. Lower protein brought-in feeds are especially useful, because they help to offset the high protein content in quality pasture, which can increase nitrous oxide losses from soil. Sustainable systems need to be environmentally sustainable but also financially sustainable. Brought-in feed could be one way of achieving both goals. 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 Ledgard, S. F., S. J. Falconer, R. Abercrombie, G. Philip and J. P. Hill (2020) Temporal, spatial and management variability in the carbon footprint of New Zealand milk. Dairy Sci. 103 (in press) Optimising Dairy farming MPI 2018 https://mpi.govt.nz/growing-and-harvesting/dairy/ farm-systems-change/dairy-farm-case-studies/

THE FARMLANDER | 37

It’s a ‘not your everyday’ discount, available every day. You don’t have to be staff to get exclusive pricing. Pop in with your Farmlands Card and skip the sales. Sleepyhead Sanctuary Monaco King Bed

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38 | THE FARMLANDER

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Discounts and prices are subject to change. Examples shown are correct at the time of publication and reflective of 26/03/2021. If the promotional price is better than the shareholder price, you will receive no further discount. Terms and conditions apply. Payment must be made using Farmlands Card only. Any freight or installation costs required will be charged at the normal rate. Colours and stock may differ at some locations. Offers available to Farmlands shareholders and secondary account holders only. While stock lasts. WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © May 2021. All rights reserved.

THE FARMLANDER | 39

Be one of the first 100 farmers to purchase 70 or more Allflex printed visual tags or visual and EID tag sets and receive a

FREE Allflex Identiplier applicator.

When you want a tag that doesn’t fade or warp and stays readable long after the life of your animal, stick with Allflex Livestock intelligence. Designed by farmers for farmers, the Allflex Identiplier applicator can handle tough conditions and cannot be beaten for durability. The best tags, the best service team, the best turnaround. For April and May only, visit your local Farmlands store or contact your Farmlands TFO to place your Allflex tag order.

LaserInk pitch black ink Laser marking for proven durability Advanced shiny, non-stick surface As permanent as a tag tattoo

Terms and conditions apply.

40 | THE FARMLANDER

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

The right winter diet is crucial Most farmers tend to dry cows off and send them off to grazing without much thought as to what impact this might be having on them physiologically.

| Rapid transitioning from pastures onto brassicas can have a prolonged impact on the health and production of dairy cows.

The physiological impact can be disastrous (think dead cows from acidosis), while other impacts, like future production and reproductivelosses, can go unnoticed. Let us look at transitioning cows from pasture onto brassicas, specifically kale, as an example. Cows can get acidosis from rapidly transitioning onto kale, just like they can on fodder beet. Often the poor performers, after 2-3 weeks of having transitioned from pasture onto crop, have subclinical acidosis. Another example of rapid transitioning is “red water”. This is when the cow’s urine is red, indicating haemoglobin release in reaction to high levels of S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide (SMCO) in brassicas. Other more obvious clinical signs of rapid transitioning can include weakness, diarrhoea, jaundice, decreased appetite and poor body condition. This rapid transitioning can impact rumen health, that may take months to recover from, impacting production and reproduction for the following season.

Initially, only allow access to the brassicas for a short period of time and build up the final allowance over a period of 10 days. While building up the full allowance, we should use complementary feeds that are high in fibre such as baleage, hay or straw, pasture and pasture silage. Be sure to observe animals closely for signs of toxicity, such as nitrate poisoning or bloat. What additional minerals need to be considered on kale? Brassicas contain low levels of copper and so the copper status of the cows should be checked prior to drying-off and copper supplementation given through the winter if needed. Selenium

What does good transitioning look like?

can help to prevent red water so levels

Animals can take at least 2 weeks to adjust and then consume their maximum voluntary intake when transitioning from a full-pasture diet to one that contains 50 percent brassica.

if required. Brassicas also contain low

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in still-births, or reduce the viability of new-born calves. Low iodine may have an impact on future reproduction too, but this is not as well understood. It is best to avoid feeding brassicas to springing cows. Brassicas can contain high levels of calcium and only marginal levels of phosphorus. They also contain low levels of magnesium but high levels of potassium and this imbalance in minerals can lead to milk fever. We have used brassicas as an example here, but all winter diets should be reviewed for their nutritional value and any deficiencies must be supplemented appropriately. Donaghys have a wide range of minerals, probiotics and drenches to support your herd during this crucial, yet often overlooked time.

should be checked and supplemented levels of iodine and may contain high levels of goitrogens, which can block the uptake of iodine, resulting in iodine deficiency. This may see an increase

Speak to your local Farmlands or Donaghys TFO for ways to minimise the negative impact that a winter diet can have on your herd. Article supplied by Donaghys

THE FARMLANDER | 41

Get winter sorted at Mitre 10. Exclusive prices for Farmlands shareholders.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Tagging made easy Kiwitahi farmer Reece Croasdale runs 300 crossbred cows on 100ha and when he thinks back to tagging sessions in earlier seasons, he wonders how he did it. “Quite often you’re battling with the cow. They know what’s coming or don’t like their ears being touched because that’s their most sensitive part. You’re trying to get the tag in the right spot, trying to be patient and wait until they’re still. Then you had to be very quick! If you didn’t get it right, you end up dropping the tagger, or the tag would rip out of the ear.” Reece tagged 150 calves, with 80 heifers and 50 new cows coming into the herd this season. “Using Z Tags and the No Tear Tagger I know that won’t happen again. Quite often the cow doesn’t even know she’s being tagged by the time you’ve got her done. I couldn’t believe it and wondered why on earth we hadn’t used them before?”

“We’ve gone big on both sides — for our cows and heifers this year and they seem to be all good. Whether they are slightly bigger or whether it’s just how the writing is put on there, the Z Tags are easier to read than others we’ve used and nothing has come out.” Z Tags two-piece tags are made of robust, pliable material, which moves with the animal and ensures that the tag will not snag and pull out, or break off. The free-rotating design allows the tag to hang correctly, to ensure better readability from the front and back of the animal’s ear and with the cleverlydesigned No Tear Tagger — rips and compression wounds are eliminated. “With Z Tags and the No Tear Tagger it has been so much easier for us and for the animals. Really easy, really quick and no dropped tags. Straight away I thought ’this is pretty good’. “As soon as you squeeze the handle, it tags super-quick and releases easily, due to the unique snap-back pin. There’s no applicator involved,

| Application is quick and easy with the No Tear Tagger.

you can’t over-compress like other applicators and there is no way for the tag to get stuck in the tagger. “Using other brands, you are trying to hold the ear, while at the same time trying to squeeze the applicator and they will move and not go through

| Z Tags are easy to read.

the ear. With the No Tear Tagger it works the first time, every time, you don’t need to have another go.” “For anyone thinking of picking up a new tag applicator, I’d tell them that I‘ve used all the applicators out there and the No Tear Tagger is by far the best one. It is quick, easy to use and works the first time.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Datamars

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THE FARMLANDER | 43

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THE FARMLANDER | 45

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46 | THE FARMLANDER

Available from your local Farmlands store.

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THE FARMLANDER | 47

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Get the most from the N-cap The new nitrogen (N) fertiliser rules make getting the best response from N fertiliser even more important. From July, a maximum of 190kg of N per hectare per year (kg N/ha/year) can be applied to grazed pasture, and the average across grazed pasture. While the forage crops cannot exceed 190kg of N/ha/year. So what can you do to make the most of every kilogram of N applied? Reduce N lost as gas One way of improving the response from N fertiliser is to reduce amount lost as ammonia (volatilisation). Up to 42 percent of total N applied as urea is lost as ammonia in pastoral situations, with typical losses between 10 and 20 percent1. Volatilisation occurs when urea fertiliser granules are exposed to urease, an enzyme produced by soil bacteria. As granules start breaking down on the soil surface, urease converts the urea into ammonium. The urea granules also raise the pH of the surrounding soil, which promotes the conversion of ammonium into ammonia gas. The longer the granules are on the soil surface, the more N is lost via volatilisation. Moist soil or dew following application is problematic, as the moisture quickly breaks down the urea granule but does not wash the N into the soil, where volatilisation is greatly reduced. Nitrogen losses from volatilisation can be approximately halved, if urea is washed into the soil soon after application, at least 10mm of rain or irrigation within 8 hours of application is required to achieve this. When N is dispersed through the soil, only 5 to 10 percent is likely to be lost as ammonia gas if this is done correclty2. A urea fertiliser with a urease inhibitor, such as SustaiN, is an easier and more

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Products option for applying S and N at different times of year Sulphur

Nitrogen

S Content

Elemental S

SulphateS

N content

SustaiN (urea)

Ammonium

Autumn

PhaSedN

28.5%

100%

25.3%

100%

Late autumn, winter, spring

PhaSedN Quick Start

17.0%

68%

32%

31.3%

85%

15%

SustaiN Ammo 30N

13.7%

100%

29.8%

60.4%

39.6%

SustaiN Ammo 36N

9.0%

100%

35.4%

78%

22%

Spring

reliable way of reducing volatilisation losses. SustaiN’s AGROTAIN® coating cuts N volatilisation losses by around 50 percent, compared to standard urea3. The coating temporarily blocks the urease enzyme and slows the formation of ammonium and therefore the amount of N lost as ammonia gas. SustaiN can be applied when needed and at any time of the year. It also increases N efficiency, with research showing an average increase in pasture yield of 5 percent, when using SustaiN instead of urea, over a wide range of conditions.4 Ensure S isn’t limiting response Ensuring spring pasture has adequate sulphur (S), prevents an S deficiency which limits pasture’s response to N fertiliser. Sulphur is often lacking in New Zealand soils but is easily overlooked, despite being relatively cheap and straightforward to apply with other nutrients. Sulphate S is the only form plants can use. It leaches over winter and bacterial conversion of other forms of S into sulphate S also slows down. By late winter and early spring sulphate S is often lacking. Elemental S can be applied in autumn (or sulphate S applied in late winter / early

spring, together with N), to ensure spring pastures have adequate sulphate S. Elemental S applied in autumn, remains in the soil over winter and does not leach. As soil temperatures rise, bacteria become more active and convert elemental S into sulphate S— meeting spring pasture requirements and providing a slow release of sulphate S over the growing season. Products containing SustaiN are a cost-effective and environmentally responsible way of protecting your investment in N fertiliser, in a regulatory environment where you have to make every kg of N count. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients 1. Theobald PW, Ball PR 1984. Nitrogen lost by ammonia volatilisation and the effectiveness of urea and ammonium sulphate fertilisers, Proc. NZ Grassland Assoc. 45: 236-8 2. Saggar S, Singh J, Giltrap DL, Zaman M, Luo J, Rollo M, Kim D-G, Rys G, Van der Weerden TJ 2013. Quantification of reductions in ammonia emissions from fertiliser urea and animal urine in grazed pastures with urease inhibitors for agricultural inventory: New Zealand as a case study, Sci. Total Env. 465: 136-46 3. Zaman M, Saggar S, Stafford AD 2013. Mitigation of ammonia losses from urea applied to a pastoral system: The effect of nBTPT and timing and amount of irrigation. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 75: 209-214 4. Stafford A, Catto W, Morton JD 2008. Ballance Agri-Nutrients approach to sustainable fertiliser use. Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Occasional Report No. 21: 197-205

THE FARMLANDER | 49

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TO PLACE AN ORDER  0508 867 621 Pricing is exclusive to Farmlands shareholders when transacting on your Farmlands Card. All prices are GST inclusive and subject to stock availability. Pricing is inclusive of all rebates and discounts. Prices are valid until 31st May 2021. Heater colour placement may vary slightly. Shareholder pricing is off RRP and does not include Lowprice Lockdown, drop-shipped, Clearance or non-stock items. Additional rural shipping charges may apply for outlying islands and very remote areas. Assembly may be required.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Ridding your land of rodents In the April edition of The Farmlander, we brought you Part One of a look at the various ways to bait and trap rodents. In Part Two, we dive deeper and look at single and multi-feed baits. The opportunity for every landowner or manager to become part of predatorfree NZ 2050 is both realistic and manageable. The emotional and physical reality of losing many of our native birds and other fauna is real. Within our lifetime and certainly our children’s we will hear the dreadful classification of extinct or endangered, being attached to an increasing number of our native species. It is estimated that 25 million of our native birds are lost every year to predators. To care and be involved is the wish of every conservation-minded New Zealander. The number of individuals and community-based groups participating in predator control is increasing but large areas of New Zealand remain where predators are still uncontrolled. What to use for control and how to use the tools available can be confusing, as there are many options and many different types of predators. The most cost efficient and readilyavailable of these tools are traps and baits. Learning how to use them and understanding how they work will ensure the best outcome and the safety of users, children, livestock and pets. Traps for rodents will generally be placed on the ground, so securing these in a tunnel will ensure they are not

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tampered with by non-target animals or people. Baits should be placed in lockable bait stations and secured onto a spike, or accessed through a grid. If this is done, then the dangers of non-target species and people being affected by both baits and traps is reduced considerably, as rodents will cache any non-secured bait that is freely available.

products are more commonly available,

There are two types of baits, first generation and second generation. The differences between these anticoagulants is poorly understood, because they both have the same desired result – dead rats. These products are often termed rodenticides, as the predominant target pest species are rats and mice. Collectively, they are classed under the Vertebrate Toxic Agent Group (VTAs) because they will kill all warm-blooded animals, if enough is ingested. In New Zealand there are chemical registrations for targeting rats, mice, rabbits, possums and ferrets.

purpose. While they are very cheap to

In the simplest terms, first generation anticoagulant toxicants are multi-feed baits and second generation are singlefeed products. The first-generation active ingredients registered in New Zealand are Pindone; Diphacinone and Coumatetralyl. These are registered under many different brands but are most widely available through Pindone Possum and Rat, Pindone Rabbit and Ditrac. There are several different second-generation active ingredients registered such as Brodifacoum; Bromadiolone; Difethialone and Flocoumafen. Second generation

testing criterion and will either give

as they are simple to use but can be more capable of inflicting secondary poisoning. Once a target animal has ingested a lethal dose, it will die. Before death however, it may continue to feed for four or five days after the lethal dose has been ingested. Traps have been used for generations, however some traps are not fit for purchase, the chances of them killing a rodent quickly and efficiently are slim. Large rats can become both bait-shy and trap-shy, if a sublethal dose is eaten or they escape from traps they set off. Large Norway rats can exceed half a kilogram in weight and for this reason, traps need to be robust and have enough killing-power to achieve a very high degree of success. Traps can be assessed by their level of humaneness and capability. NAWAC (National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee) submits traps to a rigorous them a pass or fail. A couple of traps that have passed are the Trapper T Rex and Victor Professional Rat Trap with shroud, which are both available through Farmlands. This testing helps to inform consumers if traps can kill humanely and that caught rodents will not escape and become trap shy. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Key Industries

THE FARMLANDER | 51

Let Us

Help you with your next fencing project

ASK INSTORE ABOUT OUR WIDE RANGE OF FENCING SOLUTIONS TODAY

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Reduce workload with smarter fencing Lincoln-based Central Fencing signed on as Approved Installers with Summit Steel & Wire towards the end of 2020 and have since forged a strong partnership, providing a combination of effective product and installation solutions. As a part of Summit’s Approved Installer network, select contractors are assisted with a number of resources, such as the use of the Solonet fencing pay out machine (pictured) to increase productivity and maximise resource usage — to provide the highest quality and most cost-effective outcomes for their customers. Nigel Broadbridge from Central Fencing has experienced a steady increase in work for his fencing contracting company, due to both Government and private land development projects that require large-scale fencing. With this increase in work a major priority is being able to meet timeframes given to clients, while ensuring his small, tight-knit team are not feeling overwhelmed by the growing workload. Summit visited Nigel and his team on a project they were completing for the Christchurch City Council Park Ranger division. On this occasion, the project for Central Fencing was to build a wildlife exclusion fence on a very steep incline to remove pigs, goats and deer in the area — to enable native flora and fauna to prosper. To install the fencing required, Nigel and his team utilised the Solonet, one of Summit’s newest, ground-breaking fencing innovations. One of the benefits of using the Solonet on this job was that the fencing rolls were never manually-handled, resulting in

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very happy staff who were not fatigued from carrying these heavy materials, especially on the steep undulating ground in Christchurch’s Port Hills — resulting in high quality work from start to finish. Another advantage of the Solonet is it can hold two 500m rolls of netting at one time. Utilising these longer rolls of Summit’s Pro Fence or X Fence netting allows contractors to save time and money, by requiring less joins for each roll used — while also being able to strain whole fence lines in seconds, rather than minutes, using the side mounted hydraulic tensioner. In the right environment, these efficiencies can increase productivity by 40 percent, when compared to traditional fencing methods — while reducing the labour intensity required for each project.

| Central Fencing’s digger mounted Solonet on a fence line in the Port Hills of Christchurch.

Machinery such as the Solonet is one of the many ways that Summit continues to assist its Approved Installer Network. “We are proud to be supporting contractors around New Zealand with resources that continue to help improve both the quality and efficiency of fencing work completed nationwide,” Nigel says. Keep an eye out in the coming months for Solonet pay out machines and your local Summit Approved Installers in your Farmlands store. These highlytrained field experts, accompanied with Summit’s quality wire products and world class installation kits, must be considered for your next fencing project. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Summit Steel & Wire

| Once tensioned the Central Fencing team attach netting to the posts.

THE FARMLANDER | 53

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Smarter way to work Keeping cattle in the right place has innumerable benefits, including securing vital livestock assets. Good fencing is key to that containment and the peace of mind that goes with it is invaluable. “As a non-income generating activity, fencing is not what most farmers want to be doing with their day,” Colenso Station sheep and beef farmer Tom Platts says. “With Stockade’s ST315i cordless batten stapler, it is much easier to maintain great fences and focus on revenue-driven work. “Like many farmers, we don’t get contractors in. Fencing is done by our existing farm labour. The ST315i is a worthwhile investment. Our fences are up to a pretty good standard and with fewer labour costs, we are able to spend more on materials and just get a lot more done.”

| Vehicle access can be limited on the farm.

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2 years ago, Tom was frustrated over the time involved in hand-hammering batten fences across the hill country farm, when his neighbour introduced him to Stockade’s cordless batten stapler. With 780ha of medium-to-high hill country and little vehicle access to fence lines, he thought this tool would be handy. “I would say this tool is five times faster than stapling by hand and by the time you have paid the labour for someone hand-stapling, the ST315i would only take about 20 hours to pay itself off. It also makes fencing far less of a chore. I wouldn’t batten a fence line by hand now. It’s earned its keep.” Converting the station’s four-wire electric into nine-wire conventional fencing is a focus for this autumn and Tom and his farm labourer Hunter, have a good system going. One works with the cordless batten stapler and a steel hook to pull the wire, while the other handles the bungy and set square. Working turnabout, the team get through a full day of work before morning tea.

| The ST315i in action.

treatment, which is quite hard on steel. Stockade staples use a heavy coat of zinc and aluminum, providing superior corrosion resistance over standard hot-dipped galvanized staples — and a stronger, longer hold in the batten. “Finally, it’s all about technique. Staples should be placed into the batten leg-toleg, with both legs having contact to the

Stockade North Island Territory Manager Mike Billinghurst says there are three non-negotiables for a strong long-life batten fence.

wire. Alternate the angle of the staple

“The single biggest thing you can do to keep the structure of your fence longterm is to start with dry timber. From the time of purchase, battens should be fillet-stacked under trees or in the corner of a shed, so they dry out before being put on the fence.

“Put those things together with

“Next is the correct staple. Pine battens have a Chromated Copper Arsenate

left-to-right as it goes down the batten, and alternate side-to-side from the centre of the batten. Stockade’s cordless tools and you have a well-built fence.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Stockade

THE FARMLANDER | 55

56 | THE FARMLANDER

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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.

Pure dedication Nestled beside the Kaupokonui River in Manaia, south Taranaki lies 52 hectares of land that has been farmed by four generations of one family for 108 years. Around 1880, Michael Landers travelled by boat from his birthplace of Annascaul, County Kerry in Ireland to New Zealand.

| Back: Patricia Margaret (Trish), Theresa Anne, Anthony Gerard (Tony), Dennis Patrick, Owen John. Front: Colleen Mary, John Patrick (Jack), Trevor Michael, Margaret Leonie, Roger Peter.

He married Mary O’Sullivan in 1889 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Wellington. After their marriage, they travelled to Williamstown in Victoria, Australia where they worked and raised their first three children – Bridget, Mary and John Joseph. They returned to New Zealand around 1894 and settled in Manaia and had another three children – Laurence, Francis and Eileen.

and Main South Road in Manaia.

Trish, Theresa, Tony, Roger, Colleen and

The farm transferred to their eldest son,

Trevor. Jack milked 180 Jersey cows and

John Joseph in 1946. John Joseph

walked every day to get the cows in.

farmed this land with his wife, Fanny

From the late 1980s their son, Anthony

and raised their seven children – Mary,

Gerard (Tony) came home and

Eileen, Kathleen, Josephine, Michael,

farmed with his father. Tony eventually

John (Jack) and James (Jimmy).

went 50/50 sharemilking and after

The farm was transferred to their son,

Jack’s death in 2008, then leased

John Patrick (Jack) Landers in 1965.

the farm. After Margaret’s death in

In 1911, Michael Landers purchased two blocks side-by-side between the Kaupokonui River, Lower Glenn Road

Jack farmed this land in partnership with

2016, they continued to lease until

his wife, Margaret Leonie and raised

today. Succession of all or part of the

their eight children – Owen, Dennis,

farm is currently being looked at.

| Back: Laurence Albert Patrick, John Joseph (Jack/JJ), Francis Michael. Middle: Bridget Johanna, Michael, Mary, Mary Eileen Maude Ellen. Front: Eileen Margaret.

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| From left: Josephine Bridget (Josie), Mary Margaret, Kathleen Agnes (Kath), Eileen Frances, Frances Josephine (Fanny), John Joseph, Michael John, John Patrick (Jack), James Brian (Jimmy).

THE FARMLANDER | 57

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THE FARMLANDER | 59

Rural market update New Zealand Dairy farm sales — on the up again We continue to see strength returning to New Zealand’s rural market, particularly with dairy farm sales in 2021 and this is mirrored in Property Brokers’ sales performance too. Our successful late summer sales program has almost cleaned out our inventory of available 2020 dairy listings, given most have either sold or are under contract. Fortunately, our 2021 autumn sales program is bringing new farms to the market and we are now actively seeking new dairy listings for the spring too. Given we are in the business of selling farms, this probably does not come as a great surprise. What might surprise you is that sales are up by both value and volume. This market confidence is more than a dairy pay-out story because while that has been going up for the last 3 to 4 years, farm values have, until this season, continued to drop. 2021 continues to see a raft of broader market signals in support of our dairy sector, including a more measured central government approach to environmental planning, favourable credit re-ratings of rural dairy debt, as well as a general recognition of the work in support of sustainable New Zealand dairy production, reflected in excellent international rankings. lmportantly, buyers who have been actively searching for value are now able to buy dairy farms at a return well ahead of the cost of finance. So the new additional dairy farm is invariably adding value from day one and is not dependent on further capital expenditure and a lot of hard yards to achieve ‘potential’. ln recent seasons, many of our buyers have been reluctant to close what has often been very modest ‘gaps’ in valuations per hectare on the buy/sell. Typically, a market confidence issue. We are now seeing the confidence to operate again as the returns stack up. Those who had the courage (and support) to step up over the last 12-months stand to benefit from their decisions both in terms of cash flow returns and valuation.

On the topic of valuations, I thought we should include a couple of tables on New Zealand dairy farm sales through to February 2021. The first illustrates the rolling 12-months dairy sales to February 2021 is now $729m which is significantly up on the same last year ($500m). The number of dairy farm sales successfully taken to the open market is significantly up too, from 110 to 170 sales annually. The second table shows national monthly dairy farm sales for the last 12 months, the national median dairy farm price for February 2021 was $35,200/ha up from $32,600 on the rolling 12 month average (table 1). A word of caution, relying on the national median for your own farm can vary a lot month to month — particularly on light sales volumes. So, it is an index — it is not perfect hence why we tend to look at both the month and how the rolling 12-month period is going. lt’s our expectation that values have bottomed for dairy sales nationally and the 12 month rolling median price per hectare will steadily appreciate over next season, on current trend. The best advice l can offer is to talk to our local rural Property Brokers specialist. As a Farmlands shareholder, we will be placing a real priority on providing you with no obligation local market updates through the autumn and winter months. This can include advice on all aspects of the provincial property market. Please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us. Call us on 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz Lastly, a big welcome to our new Southern Wide Southland team, who like Farmlands, have joined forces with Property Brokers to provide the best possible nationwide service in support of rural and lifestyle real estate. This proven team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Southland market and we are excited to have them on board. Conrad Wilkshire, GM Rural for Property Brokers Ltd

Welcome to our new Southland team Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | 0800 367 5263 | pb.co.nz

60 | THE FARMLANDER

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Table 1: National Dairy Sales — Rolling 12–months to February 2021 12 Month period ending

Median Sale Price

Median Sale Price 1 year prior

No of sales

Total sales volume

Median Price per hectare

Feb 2021

$3,610,000

$3,460,000

170

$728,743,215

$32,600

Jan 2021

$3,550,000

$3,460,000

156

$668,936,235

$32,300

Dec 2020

$3,400,000

$3,485,000

153

$640,585,235

$32,300

Nov 2020

$3,400,000

$3,485,000

135

$567,005,804

$31,900

Oct 2020

$3,200,000

$3,800,000

117

$485,938,304

$33,200

Sep 2020

$3,100,000

$3,800,000

105

$418,539,186

$33,200

Aug 2020

$3,100,000

$3,800,000

105

$426,284,186

$33,900

Jul 2020

$3,100,000

$3,800,000

106

$435,864,186

$33,900

Jun 2020

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

103

$427,036,639

$34,400

May 2020

$3,100,000

$3,500,000

110

$480,821,139

$32,700

Apr 2020

$3,325,000

$3,500,000

110

$502,689,139

$34,700

Mar 2020

$3,475,000

$3,600,000

110

$499,784,979

$34,600

Table 2: National Dairy Sales — Monthly dairy sales to February 2021 12 Month period ending

Median Sale Price

Median Sale Price 1 year prior

No of sales

Total sales volume

Median Price per hectare

Feb 2021

$3,650,000

$3,000,000

$124,171,980

$35,200

Jan 2021

$4,650,000

$2,500,000

$74,348,000

$25,900

Dec 2020

$3,550,000

$3,450,000

$159,726,931

$33,200

Nov 2020

$3,400,000

$3,200,000

$131,993,000

$28,700

Oct 2020

$4,300,000

–

$81,299,118

$34,000

Sep 2020

–

$17,000,000

–

Aug 2020

–

$10,900,000

–

Jul 2020

$4,500,000

–

$19,827,547

$59,100

Jun 2020

–

$5,700,000

$1,450,000

–

May 2020

$2,020,000

$4,100,000

$25,515,000

$22,500

Apr 2020

$2,970,000

$3,500,000

$42,778,250

$28,300

Mar 2020

$3,610,000

$3,470,000

$37,733,389

$17,900

170

$728,743,215

Total

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THE FARMLANDER | 63

WINTER’S GETTING READY. ARE YOU?

BREAKFEEDING WORKING EFFICIENTLY? WITH A GLOBAL SHORTAGE OF FENCING, HAVE YOU GOT YOURS?

HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR FARM ENVIRONMENT PLAN?

The end of autumn means the start of a new season of challenges. We’re here to help with all the advice, partners and products you need for a successful winter. Head in-store or talk to your TFO today. We’re ready and waiting.

The Farmlander - May 2021

Articles inside

Reduce workload with smarter fencing

What's in a bite?

The right winter diet is crucial

Ridding your land of rodents

Smarter way to work

5 minutes with Aimee Charteris

Solid hop harvest

South Island Agricultural Field Days

Opening the gates to phytomedicine

Special Feature – The big picture

Central Districts Field Days

The grass can be greener

Keep calm and reduce lameness