The Farmlander - December 2021 by Farmlands

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

DECEMBER 2021

Valid from 1 — 31 December 2021

The FARMLANDER MEET THE WOODLEYS

FIRED UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY PAGE 12

CHRISTMAS CHEER

FARMLANDS COMES TO THE PARTY PAGE 8

ANNUAL RESULT PAGE 20

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STICK CHRISTMAS ON THE CARD AND WATCH THE SAVINGS STACK UP. How big will you save this Christmas? Your Farmlands Card gets you exclusive savings at over 7,000 Card Partner locations nationwide. That’s everything you need for a merry Christmas from your groceries to your gifts, your tinsel to your tech. See where you can save at cardpartners.farmlands.co.nz

NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE.

Expires 31st Marc h

2022

GET A $50 BONUS BUCKS CARD WITH EVERY $1,000 SPENT ON SELECTED PRODUCTS IN-STORE OR ONLINE. *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DECEMBER

INTEREST

PLAN365

5 Farmlands guest advisor

Plan365 Nutrition

5 From the CEO

35 Weaned calves need close summer watch

6 5 minutes with Kate Scott

37 From empty nest to egg layers in 7 steps

8 Community Values – Local heroes

39 HERO trots to aid of retired racehorses

12 Community Values – The ties that bind

41 Facial eczema cloud on summer’s horizon

WHAT’S ON

17 Shareholders re-elect retiring Directors 18 Disruptions mar season but better times ahead

Plan365 Animal Management

20 $8.1m profit in face of challenging year

45 Trusted tools target seasonal parasites

43 Parasites challenge for lamb growth rates

23 New territory for Farmlands Cup 24 Tom Cranswick Memorial Award 2021 27 Old traditions made new 29 Influx demands eye on safety 63 Century Farms – Stewardship central to dynasty 66 Property Brokers update

Plan365 Forage and Arable 49 Freshwater plans flow from environment plan 51 Insecticide works with nature to control pests

FEBRUARY Farmlands Cup For the first time since the Farmlands Cup’s inception, the annual clash between the Crusaders and Highlanders will move to the North Otago town of Weston and its Valley Rugby Club.

Plan365 Rural Infrastructure 57 Farm’s tank network gives water security

3-5

61 Invading ants bring disease, trade risk

MARCH

Golden Shears

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR

FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

DECEMBER 2021

Valid from

1 — 31 December 2021

The FARMLANDER MEET THE WOODLEYS

Masterton’s War Memorial Stadium will be filled with the sights and smells of the Golden Shears, the world's premier shearing and wool-handling championship. Bookings are open at www.goldenshears.co.nz

ON THE COVER Father and daughter Mark and Amelia Woodley are continuing a family legacy of community service with the Clandeboye Voluntary Rural Fire Force.

FIRED UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY PAGE 12

CHRISTMAS CHEER

FARMLANDS COMES TO THE PARTY PAGE 8

ANNUAL RESULT PAGE 20

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

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

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

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FARMLANDS GUEST ADVISOR

FROM THE CEO

Father Christmas Consultant, Ruminant Nutrition North Pole Q: You and your team have a big night coming up – how do you keep condition on your reindeer when circumnavigating the world? A: Yes, we’ve been doing some training runs and it’s all looking good. My reindeer don’t get a lot of time to eat when we’re making our deliveries so it’s important to feed for body condition early and then supplement with super-concentrated feed when they are working. In my experience, grain-based feeds hit the mark because deer are well suited to selecting nutrient-dense feeds. Q: Would you advise carrots for hard-working deer? A: Yeah, nah – carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which is good for night vision which is important for my reindeer but at about 11 percent dry matter you need to feed a lot of them to deliver enough energy. Q: How do you keep your reindeer pumped-up but controllable? A: Deer don’t need as much magnesium as dairy cows but a deficiency can increase excitability, so I always put a little in their feed – without overdoing it and making them dopey. Q: Not sure what the grazing conditions are like at the North Pole but is there enough protein in our summer pasture to put weight on weaners? A: If it turns hot and dry, protein levels can quickly drop in pasture and growing stock may need additional protein to support weight gain and muscle growth. Q: Any advice for farmers keen to avoid GM feeds so their deer qualify for venison premiums at the works? A: Obviously not something I am thinking about for Rudolph. PK is a popular non-GM by-product that can supplement grazing but if you prefer to avoid PKE and deliver compounded options, NRM have deer feeds formulated from non-GMO crops and by-products, fortified with essential minerals and vitamins. Q: Finally, the snacks that children leave out for you – do you have a favourite? A: I can’t go past a wholesome home-baked shortbread – the elves do a good one but a bit small, frankly. And to wash it down, a glass of your delicious New Zealand milk – it’s the best!

Method 1.

Classic Christmas Shortbread Ingredients • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened • 1/4 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • Pinch of salt

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Using either a wooden spoon or an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (5-10 minutes).

Mix the flour and salt; knead until incorporated – the dough should stick together. Add a splash of milk if needed.

Roll the dough out thinly and cut it into shapes, rounds or fingers. Place in the fridge for half an hour or so, until firm. Preheat the oven to 180deg C.

Sprinkle the tops with sugar, chopped nuts or cocoa nibs.

Bake for 20 minutes or so, until just golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to stand on the baking tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Tēnā koutou katoa, Welcome to the final edition of The Farmlander for 2021. Our magazine takes a break over the holiday period, with the next edition arriving in your letterbox in time for February. Our Tag Your Charity in-store Christmas campaign is off to a great start. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. Our team are really excited to be supporting I Am Hope and more than 80 local charities. Our goal for the campaign is simple – to raise some much-needed cash for I Am Hope and other registered charities that could really do with a boost. Later in this issue, you’ll be able to read some of their stories and why giving is so important. We have been supported by our key partners who have chipped in to bring this campaign to life. Z Energy matched our initial donation to I Am Hope, splitting their contribution between all the charities to kick-start each campaign. Our friends at Summit Steel & Wire have created our in-store Christmas trees, while Allflex/MSD Animal Health Intelligence have supplied the ear tags that you can use to decorate the trees in support of your charity. It’s a great way for us to wrap up a year of change! We have had lockdowns, continual supply chain pressure and unkind weather (it’s always the weather!) and in true Kiwi fashion, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and got on with it. At last month’s AGM, I mentioned to our shareholders that we know we have to make changes to be the co-operative we can be – and need to be. We’re looking forward to 2022 and doing just that. On behalf of everyone here at Farmlands, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season – Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas). Enjoy your complimentary calendar with this issue and I look forward to seeing you in 2022. Ngā manaakitanga, (With best wishes)

Tanya Houghton Chief Executive Officer Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited ceo@farmlands.co.nz

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5 minutes with Kate Scott Landpro Executive Director Kate Scott on how farmers can prepare for increasing water and land-use regulation.

Kate Scott’s advice to farmers and growers on what to do now: Participate in things like plan changes and catchment groups. Prepare your Farm Environment Plan and nutrient budgets. Implement good management practices. Stay positive as there is opportunity in change and power in knowledge. Remember your passion for the primary sector.

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What are some of the common questions you get asked? I have had my fair share of ‘out there’ questions but some of the more common lately are focused on all the proposed freshwater changes. We are also getting a bunch of questions around the Intensive Winter Grazing standards and how they might impact on our clients. One of the standout ones here, particularly for the sheep and beef sector, is around the slope rules as there is a lot of crop on land over 10 degrees slope, which means that to continue to crop this area they will either need to get a consent or go down the Certified Freshwater Farm Plans route once it’s available.

Another question I am asked a lot, usually in the context of farmers and growers looking to purchase additional land or add land to their current property, is what can I use this land for given all the rules that have changed. If you are looking to purchase property, I would really recommend talking to your advisors to make sure that you can use the land the way you intend to. What should farmers and growers be doing now? It is sometimes really tough to know where to start, with all the uncertainty and change we have in the sector at present, particularly in terms of the various environmental rules/regulations. It might often feel simplest to do nothing at all.

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FARMLANDS 5 MINUTES

It will always be easier to update your plan than it will be to start it, so get on and start.” If you do only one thing that would be to start working on your Farm Environmental Management Plan. This tool will become an integral part of your business into the future, and while some aspects will be mandatory, such as the proposed Certified Freshwater Farm Plan component, the plan should be first and foremost a tool that supports farmers. It will always be easier to update your plan than it will be to start it, so get on and start it so that you can be prepared for the change that is coming.

operates throughout New Zealand

The other thing that farmers and growers should be doing now is getting their heads around the changes as best as they can as this will help them to make decisions even when there is uncertainty.

also your people, animal welfare and

and is continuing to expand based on the need to support farmers and growers to work through Farm Environmental Management Plans and, once mandated, Freshwater Farm Plans. We are also strong supporters of an integrated farm planning approach, which is focused on taking a holistic approach to managing the whole of your business via one plan, typically via a series of modules covering not only your freshwater and biodiversity requirements but everything else that is integral to operating an agricultural business. Team members are the people who get out and get their hands dirty walking alongside our farmers and growers. They might be troubleshooters,

How can your team give support? In a range of different ways and with a range of cool tools, including our own aircraft and Lidar [light detection and ranging] system, which helps us to capture really useful information about the landscape that can be used for farm mapping, slope analysis and more. This links in really well with our GIS and geospatial capabilities. This team is working on ways to help our farmers to see and manage their data digitally and will play an important role supporting our Farm Environmental Team. Our Farm Environmental Team

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solutions finders or cheerleaders depending on what the day brings. We also have one of the largest planning and environmental science teams in the country. This team is capable of supporting both simple and complex resource consenting processes and helping our clients to navigate the world of regulation. Our water quality scientists, contaminated

What is your vision for the future of agriculture? As part of my Nuffield Scholarship in 2018 I spent a lot of time thinking about what my vision for the future of agriculture might be and since completing it my vision hasn’t really changed, it has simply strengthened, and that vision is “New Zealand – the most sustainable food producers in the world and proving it!”

land experts and hydrologist also support the consenting process as well as helping to collect and analyse data and provide clear advice to our clients.

Shareholders can use their Farmlands Card to transact with Landpro. See www.landpro.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 7

| The team at Farmlands Hokitika chose Hokitika Land Search and Rescue for their charity. Here the LandSAR team prepare for a search of West Coast bush.

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COMMUNITY VALUES

LOCAL HEROES Farmlands staff around the country are celebrating their community heroes through a Christmas fundraising drive. Now Farmlands shareholders have their chance to chip in.

For Levin RDA President Stephen Oatley, the “best Christmas present ever” means the dream of a roof for the Ann Smith Arena and covered stalls for the disabled riding club’s horses could be one step closer. Like the rest of the registered charities nominated by Farmlands staff for our ‘Tag Your Charity’ Christmas fundraiser, Stephen and his team rely on grants and the generosity of local businesses, organisations and individuals to continue their work. In the case of Levin RDA, that means providing their riding therapy programme to children and adults who will benefit. The local community ensures the money is there to look after the charity’s horses and ponies. A fundraiser screening of ‘Dream Horse’ raised $1,200. It was very on-theme – the 2020 film tells the true story of racehorse Dream Alliance, bred by Welsh bartender Jan Vokes. With little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbours to chip in to cover the horse’s inevitable running costs. Sound familiar? Levin RDA’s horses and ponies get the best of care through generous community support for a horse sponsorship scheme, an old-school annual hay drive, fundraising events and an annual raffle. Through the ‘Tag Your Charity’ Christmas fundraiser, staff at each Farmlands store around the country have chosen a local charity for community support. The 82 charities on the list cover everything from volunteer fire brigades to men’s sheds to Surfing for Farmers.

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| Levin RDA President Stephen Oatley helps muck out.

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| Mental health advocate Mike King founded I Am Hope to fund counselling services for young people struggling with their mental health.

The idea is that customers get to choose where their donation goes – either to the local charity or to a national one. This year the national choice is I Am Hope's Gumboot Friday, which funds mental health counselling sessions for rural youth. To kick things off, Farmlands has donated $37,500 to the Gumboot Friday fund, enough to deliver 150 counselling sessions. Each Farmlands donation will go directly to funding counselling sessions for rural rangatahi (youth). Farmlands’ Partners Allflex/MSD Animal Health Intelligence, Summit Steel & Wire and Z Energy are supporting the campaign. Z Energy has pledged more than $32,000, split between each nominated local charity and I Am Hope. Summit Steel & Wire jumped at the opportunity to partner with Farmlands in raising funds for I Am Hope. “Mental health and awareness are paramount to our company’s success,” Summit Steel & Wire’s National Sales Manager, Stuart Tyler, says. For the team it was a chance to get creative. Summit Steel & Wire donated the ‘trees’ on which customers will place their ear tag, designing and making them in its Christchurch factory. “After a couple of long afternoons and prototypes, the profile was set and the finished product established,” Stuart says. “The Summit Star was the finishing touch – reach for the top of the tree or the summit!” Allflex ID Commercial Manager Steve Kelly says 2021 has been mentally and physically challenging for many farmers and their communities “so when we were asked to be a part of Farmlands’ charity initiative, saying yes was a no-brainer”. “Giving something back to farmers and their communities that support us seemed like the least we could do. Supporting rural communities and worthy causes is in our DNA,” he says.

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Z Energy’s Kevin Smith says the company has been supporting communities across New Zealand for more than 10 years. “We’re proud to partner with Farmlands on this Christmas fundraiser. We can’t wait to see the results and the difference this will make to more than 80 charities around the country,” Kevin says. For the team at Farmlands Hokitika, their choice of charity came down to community safety, which is why they chose Hokitika Land Search and Rescue. “Search and Rescue plays a big part in our urban and rural communities but also for visitors. They help with rescues in our hill country and waters, where everyone loves to get out and explore,” Hokitika Branch Manager Lisa Greene says. The nomination came as a pleasant surprise to Brendon Breeze and Ben Nilson of Hokitika LandSAR. It’s the kind of grassroots funding that plays a huge role at a local level, they say, enabling community groups such as theirs to “get stuff over the line”. Stuff like specialist life-saving equipment that would otherwise be out of reach. What’s on their wish list for the money raised? More safety equipment, this time a VHF repeater to speed their response time when they get called out. Back to the Ann Smith Arena. It takes its name from a founder member of Levin RDA, which was established in 1981. Ann was born in Invercargill in 1926 and passed away in Auckland in 2017. Over the years Ann became the face of Levin RDA, as chief instructor and champion of the group's riding therapy programmes. In 1990, Ann received the Queen's Service Award for services to Riding for the Disabled. In 2016 Levin RDA named its arena after Ann as part of its 35th anniversary.

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COMMUNITY VALUES

The group’s shopping list for their usual fundraisers has feed, horse covers and stirrup leathers high on the list. Other items are educational games and resources for the riding therapy sessions, volunteer training, first aid courses and attending regional and national meetings. The fundraising campaign to put a roof on the arena is a big one, requiring lots of community support. Being chosen by Farmlands Levin for the ‘Tag Your Charity’ Christmas fundraiser will give the campaign a real boost, Stephen says. He acknowledged the more day-to-day support from Farmlands. “As a local business, Farmlands Levin is one of our main suppliers of horse feed and other products. Over the years we have enjoyed a supportive and positive association with the store – they are part of the Levin RDA family. “With COVID-19 disrupting our riding therapy programme, the donation is the best Christmas present ever for Levin RDA.” Farmlands Chief Executive Tanya Houghton has been inspired by the work being done by charities across New Zealand. “I Am Hope is doing incredible work – we know that funds donated are going directly to our rural kids. While purchasing products in-store, I encourage customers to give generously to either their local charity or I Am Hope – your donation will be gratefully received,” Tanya says. “Christmas is a tough time for a lot of people and it’s great to give back to those who are doing their best to help others.” To find out more about the campaign and the charity your local store is supporting, pop in to your local Farmlands branch or check online www.farmlands.co.nz.

Hokitika LandSAR help with rescues in our hill country and waters, where everyone loves to get out and explore.” Lisa Greene, Hokitika Branch Manager

TAG YOUR CHARITY

| Steve Thompson, Farmlands Senior Category Manager – Infrastructure, helps dress the Summit Steel & Wire Christmas tree at the Christchurch store.

Customers purchasing across the 82 Farmlands stores will have the opportunity to donate to either a local charity chosen by the store staff or to I Am Hope’s Gumboot Friday fund. In return, customers will be able to hang an Allflex/MSD Animal Health Intelligence ear tag on the Summit Steel & Wire designed Christmas tree in-store. I Am Hope's Gumboot Friday funds counselling sessions for rural youth. I Am Hope was founded by mental health advocate Mike King to fund counselling services for young people struggling with their mental health.

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THE FARMLANDER | 11

THE TIES THAT BIND

| Karen, Amelia, Sarah and Mark Woodley, with dogs Bailey, Dixie and Rua.

Loyalty and values are the foundations of a Clandeboye farming family, with Mark and Karen Woodley saying giving back to the community is all they have ever known. Third-generation dairy farmer Mark Woodley is Clandeboye proud and admits he has a soft spot for his South Canterbury community. Helping other people was the way he was raised, he says, with his parents being the role models.

Mark’s grandfather, Bert Woodley, began the family’s

Mark and Karen Woodley describe their community involvement as just doing what rural people do. Mark recalls being a member of the Milford/Clandeboye Young Farmers Club. “I ended up being the chairman. Not because I wanted to but someone in the group said it’s your turn, so I did it. I’m like my dad, I’m not a natural leader but I don’t mind getting stuck in and taking my turn,” Mark says.

began dairy farming, starting with a herd of 43 cows. Being

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association with the area when he purchased a settler property of around 37ha in 1942. The land was too heavy for sheep so Bert and wife Rita a pioneering dairy farmer was challenging. Mark remembers his grandfather telling him how the Orari River flooded their house twice in 1945. In 1952, stopbanks were built and the river realigned to minimise future flooding. Bert and Rita had two sons, Mark’s father Archie and George. The brothers carried on the farming tradition,

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COMMUNITY VALUES

forming a partnership with their parents in 1968, with Archie overseeing the home block and George farming on a block “just down the road”. Mark recalls the pair shared their work, machinery and tools to enable them to each establish their own farming business. Archie and his wife, the late Pauline, had twins Mark and Maureen, with Mark describing himself as always having been a “bit of a farmer”. From school he worked on a sheep and beef property and thoroughly enjoyed working in the Waimate area until returning home to help his dad. “I was on wages for a year and then Dad set me up 50/50 sharemilking and our succession plan was under way.”

Rural communities punch above their weight when it comes to supporting their communities.” Mark Woodley

Mark met Karen after she finished training as a teacher in Christchurch and had her first posting to Clandeboye Primary School. “According to history there have only been two teachers posted to the school who avoided settling down in Clandeboye. Karen wasn’t one of them.” Over the generations the Woodleys have expanded and added blocks to their original farm. They began by leasing the neighbouring farm, Happibank, in the early 1980s and eventually bought the 12ha block. The name dates from when the stopbanks were put in. The Woodleys took on the Happibank name for their whole operation. The milking platform grew with purchases of smaller blocks of neighbouring land. The dairy farm is now 118ha, totally flat and just 2 kilometres from the coast on Clandeboye Settlement Road. Mark and Karen have always taken any opportunity to add to their land holding. In most cases they bought the neighbouring farms after they became too small to be sustainable. The property now milks 420 predominantly Friesian cows, milked twice a day in a 50-bail rotary shed. “It’s certainly grown from the 120 cows my grandfather was milking at the peak of the season although there are some of his original breed still in today’s herd,” Mark says. The Woodleys are Fonterra suppliers, with their milk going just up the road to the Clandeboye dairy factory near Temuka, which is among New Zealand’s largest. It processes milk from farms between North Canterbury and Otago, producing mainly milk powder. On an in-shed feeding system, the cows produce 460-470 milksolids with an annual result of around 200,000 milksolids. “We feed around 120 tonnes of barley in the cowshed and this is all grown off-farm. Our mainstay is grass silage, with about 500 wet tonnes grown on our 120ha run-off block, which is just 10km down the road,” Mark says. “With an annual rainfall of approximately 600mm and a real summer dry threat, irrigation is key, with the milking platform and run-off block both irrigated. “From a production system perspective, we are classified as System 4, where feed is imported. The cows are wintered on the run-off and brought back in dribs and drabs as they start calving.

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| Mark and Karen were active in the Geraldine Pony Club when the girls were involved. Here, Sarah walks Ronnie while Amelia rides Memphis.

“We usually keep around 120 heifer replacements and once they are weaned they head to the run-off block. The Friesian bulls are sold at 4 days old and we finish off mating the tailenders with a beef breed and rear around 30 beef calves.” Mark jokes that he read an article that says after 2 million milkings a dairy farmer is usually getting pretty sick and tired of milking. “I’ve done the stats and kept the figures and I reckon I’ve done my 2 million.” Mark’s motivation is daughter Sarah, who has joined the family business. The couple have two daughters, Sarah and Amelia, who both have the farming gene. Sarah was milking cows at Mt Somers for 3 years and is now on her second season of milking at Happibank. Amelia is also a competent milker and was relief milking for a neighbour from the age of 14. Her plans to work in Canada were disrupted by COVID-19 and instead of travelling she spent last year calf rearing on a large farm and gaining her truck licences. She is working for Mark’s cousin’s contracting/transport business and is moving into an office management role. Mark says the family is working through a succession plan and Sarah taking over the farm suits her character. “Succession is pretty cool. If they didn’t want to be involved that would have been fine, but the fact that they do gives me motivation to keep going.”

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Family is Mark’s mainstay, with his dad, now 87, still living on the farm. Once their children came along, the Woodleys’ contribution became centred on their girls, with Karen involved in pre-school committees, Parent Teacher Association and Board of Trustees. Mark was treasurer of the Winchester Rural School PTA. Mark enjoyed going on school camps and tramps and said they were always a great time away and an opportunity to have new experiences. Both girls were keen horse riders and the family was active with the Geraldine Pony Club for about 9 years. While chairperson of the club, Karen was pivotal in raising around $20,000 to build an all-weather riding arena at the Equestrian Centre based at Orari. Mark and Karen were also involved in managing and coaching sports teams Karen is the librarian at Winchester Rural School, a classroom release teacher and reliever. When she is not at school, she helps on the farm, where her focus is in the office, overseeing accounts, staffing, rosters, health and safety and “neverending” compliance. “Karen and I have been in partnership for 27 years and rely on each other for support,” Mark says. “Together we are a great team and proud of what we have achieved.”

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COMMUNITY VALUES red tape with farming at the moment and people don’t want to go through that again, so it is harder to attract volunteers. “I try and see past the red tape and help out where I can. We have a good selection of sheep, dairy and cropping farmers involved so it’s enjoyable from a social aspect as well as helping protect the community.” The Woodleys carry their community values through to their approach to staffing. “We have had great staff and keep in touch with most of them. One lady, Jo Russell, was with us for many years and a big part of our lives while also doing a great job on the farm. “It’s important we help encourage young New Zealanders into agriculture as there are not enough young people around who have a real passion for farming and want a career in agriculture, especially dairy farming. Last year a friend of Sarah’s gained some dairy experience with us and we feel we are contributing to the next generation who are considering agriculture as an option. “We look after our staff and make sure everyone has a good work/life balance and working conditions. We are well supported with Sarah and Rex Albarico, who has been with us for 7 years and Wyatt McAughtrie, who started 6 months ago. “At the end of the day we’ve got a soft spot for our community. A lot of what people do comes down to who you look up to. It’s your parents and their friends and what they did and their contributions – especially in a small rural community. Mark has also followed in his father and Uncle George’s footsteps and has been a member of the Clandeboye Voluntary Rural Fire Force for 15 years.

“Working bees, painting the community hall, meals on wheels, being on committees and helping out at the school all keep rural New Zealand communities going.

“The brigade was started over 70 years ago. We have a family history, with my Uncle George a fire chief and Amelia has been a member for 2 years. We have 11 volunteers. It’s a bit more low-key these days, with a practice once a month and our main role being rural support.

“Rural communities punch above their weight when it comes to supporting their communities. There is a degree of flexibility that allows farmers to become involved and it’s also a matter of paying it forward. It’s like my girls now – they have joined Young Farmers and hold roles on the committee. It’s just in their blood.

“As a kid I used to go to fires with Dad and help out and hold the hoses. Now there is a focus on training, qualifications and paperwork. That puts some people off. There’s a lot of

“It’s also around building relationships, putting down roots and making a home. Values-wise that type of loyalty is part of most farming communities,” Mark says.

| Amelia and Mark are continuing the family firefighting tradition at Clandeboye Voluntary Rural Fire Force.

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THE FARMLANDER | 15

TAG TAG YOUR YOUR CHARITY CHARITY Helpyour yourco-op co-op support support Help yourlocal localcommunity community your

Get in store, Get in store, choose your charity & donate today! choose your charity

& donate today!

16 | THE FARMLANDER

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Shareholders re-elect retiring Directors Farmlands Directors Gray Baldwin and Dawn Sangster were both re-elected in this year’s Director Elections. The results of the Director Elections were announced to shareholders at the Farmlands Annual General Meeting on 18th November. Farmlands has six Shareholder Directors, with three based in each island. Two Directors – one from each island – retire by rotation each year. Both retiring Directors – Dawn Sangster from Central Otago and Gray Baldwin from South Waikato – were seeking re-election. Waikato’s Alastair Flett contested the North Island election

this year alongside Gray Baldwin, while South Otago’s Kim Strawbridge joined Dawn Sangster in contesting the South Island seat. The Director Elections coincided with a busy time for the co-operative, with Farmlands’ Annual Result announcement and Annual General Meeting also taking place in November. Ahead of the Director Election result announcement, Farmlands Chair Rob Hewett emphasised the pivotal role the successful Director Election candidates will play in an exciting period for the co-operative. “We have been vocal for a number of years about the need to grow the available talent pool of leaders for

primary sector companies,” Rob says. “Our Board Observer programme, where one Farmlands shareholder shadows the Board for 18 months, had more than 80 applications earlier this year. “The participants in our Board Observer and To The Core programmes have a front-row seat to the changing dynamic within Farmlands. That includes creating a business that is adaptable to the challenges facing our customers, including COVID-19, environmental impacts and legislative changes. “We are the largest rural supplies and services co-operative in New Zealand and we need the best possible Directors to maintain this standing.”

| The Farmlands Board of Directors, with re-elected Directors Dawn Sangster, first left, and Gray Baldwin, second from right.

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THE FARMLANDER | 17

Disruptions mar season but better times ahead Farmlands’ Head of Strategy and Planning, Scott Brown, casts an eye over last season and looks ahead to a better one to come. The food and fibre sector performed strongly in the year ended June 2021. COVID-19 had a heavy impact on most sectors. Closed borders affected tourism, hospitality and international education, which had been on strong growth trajectories.

SEASON AT A GLANCE HIGHLIGHTS Farmgate prices were encouraging and the outlook, while uncertain, is looking bright into 2022. Rural/urban divide took a step in the right direction through COVID-19, although it remains a challenge. Agritech is responding to seize on opportunities and help solve some of our challenges. LOWLIGHTS COVID-19 impacts were felt on many fronts – our markets, our supply chains and how we go about our daily activities. Labour shortages were felt across the sector but particularly in horticulture at peak harvest times, leaving produce on the trees. Weather affected our farmers and growers, with extreme events from droughts and flooding to hailstorms.

18 | THE FARMLANDER

Against this, food and fibre was a standout and the driving force behind New Zealand’s economic recovery – a reminder to many of our urban cousins that the sector is the backbone of New Zealand. Export revenue for the year ending June 2021 fell around 1 percent to about $47.5 billion, largely the result of COVID-19 supply chain issues early in the year. For the year ending June 2022, export revenue is forecast to rebound and reach a record $49.1 billion as demand begins to recover for our main export products and in our destination markets. Farmgate prices were strong across most sectors but COVID-19 made it a mixed bag as different markets felt the effects. The shutdown of hospitality in many places around the world affected our higher-value produce but this rebounded through the year as buying behaviours changed. Customers around the world are buying higherquality produce to consume at home, with a focus on healthy food. This is showing up in rising demand for our

dairy, red meat, fruit and wine. The reopening of the food service sector, with China taking the lead, points to a strong season of rising farmgate prices, although not without its challenges. Disruptions from COVID-19 have affected farmers and growers directly and indirectly, from ‘click and collect’ purchasing of key inputs to processing disruptions caused by social distancing requirements, the supply-chain issues facing exporters, and border closures driving labour shortage in seasonal industries. Weather was an issue, as always. Pasture growth was strong in most regions but individual weather events played a significant role across sectors and regions. Drought in the north and snow in the south affected lambing. A severe hail event on Boxing Day around Motueka caused significant damage to apples, kiwifruit and hops. Flooding in South Canterbury damaged winter feed and forced stock movements and the evacuation of some rural properties. The uncertainties of regulation also cast a shadow over the industry as the pace of change continues to accelerate. The sector has made huge strides on sustainability, driven by the love for our land and new products meeting the changing preferences of our consumers around the world.

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

The uncertainties of regulation also cast a shadow over the industry as the pace of change continues to accelerate.”

• Soil and nutrients management,

Some regulations have been unworkable; continual shifting of the

with research and development and

goalposts has left many farmers or

data-led approaches to managing soil

growers uncertain or fearful.

types, soil fertility and soil moisture-

With so much change in our industry

holding capabilities. • Virtual fencing, which is enabling

and on-farm, mental health has been to the fore. The pace of change and its

farmers to set up virtual fences and to

uncertainties can be overwhelming.

shift their herd remotely.

Taking time out and seeking support and

• Genomics, which continue to

advice are more important than ever.

enhance New Zealand’s herds, with

Technology is also supporting the change,

improvements in both productivity and

with developments being made across the

environmental impact.

sector. Key advancements are in:

• Water use improvements, with

• Animal nutrition enhancements, with

variable-rate irrigation systems.

science-driven feed approaches

These improve irrigation efficiency by

to optimise animal performance,

measuring soil moisture needs at a

health, welfare and efficiency.

small scale.

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• Data tools and aggregation, which mean important farm data is in one place, viewed on a real-time dashboard. This enables farmers to make it available to those that need it, resulting in better and more timely decisions. The 2021/22 season is shaping up to be one of the best for farmgate returns. To make the most of these strong commodity prices, farmers and growers will have to plan their way through the impacts of COVID-19 as it continues to affect the ways we operate both in business and in life. The times are a’changing – connect with your advisors, community and of course your local Farmlands teams to help you navigate the challenges that lie ahead.

THE FARMLANDER | 19

$8.1m profit in face of challenging year Farmlands has announced an $8.1 million profit for the 2020/21 financial year. The result comes on the back of $2.7 billion in turnover and $1.1 billion in revenue. Farmlands’ more than 75,000 shareholders nationwide received $94.2 million in monthly rebates, discounts and loyalty reward redemptions over the course of the year. COVID-19 again played a part in a result Chair Rob Hewett called “a pass mark and little more”. He paid tribute to the hard work of staff across a challenging year. “Our co-operative generally reacted well to supply chain issues caused by COVID-19 and managed stocks to ensure availability when the products were needed. We strive to continue to do this in these unprecedented times,” Rob said.

“The Board has been pleased with the way the business has responded under COVID-19. In particular I want to acknowledge the frontline staff that continue to go above and beyond to add value for our customers.” Farmlands Chief Operating Officer Kevin Cooney, who was Acting Chief Executive during the latter part of the financial year, said the co-operative was now seeing the benefits of its 3-year business transformation programme. The programme, nicknamed Braveheart, has built a world-leading technology platform that will serve its customer base for years to come. “Adapting any business to working successfully on a new company-wide system is a major challenge. The system itself is only the first step,” Kevin said. “While our change process has been wide-reaching and challenging,

Farmlands’ new Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Houghton, said the result provided the impetus for a stronger performance in the year ahead. “There have been plenty of exciting new innovations over the past year. We have a new online shop and our e-commerce platform has come a long way in a short space of time. This is vital, especially during lockdowns,” Tanya said. “We have built our plan for this year around three things: safe and engaged people, unbeatable customer experience that earns trusted partner status with our customers and delivering our budget. Farmlands has a committed team that want to bring more benefits direct to those that choose us to be their preferred provider.”

Farmlands Net Profit Before Tax and Rebates ($m)

Farmlands Revenue ($b) 1.2

it’s also been necessary to remain relevant, particularly as our sector also adapts to significant change.”

Farmlands Gross Turnover ($b) 2.8

15.0

2.7 1.1 1.0

12.0

2.6

9.0

2.5 2.4

6.0

2.3

0.9 3.0 FY18

FY19

FY20

1.1b

20 | THE FARMLANDER

FY21

2.2

FY18

FY19

FY20

8.1m

FY21

FY18

FY19

FY20

2.7b

FY21

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

The Board has been pleased with the way the business has responded under COVID-19. In particular I want to acknowledge the frontline staff that continue to go above and beyond to add value for our customers.” Rob Hewett, Board Chair Rob Hewett said COVID-19 would

Rob is confident the Bonus Rebate will

generations of Kiwi farmers and

continue to disrupt business for the

return as the co-operative takes shape

growers and their businesses. We

foreseeable future. To protect against

under new leadership.

were created to disrupt, compete and

unforeseen downturns in business,

“Next year our co-operative turns

challenge. Our ambition is to continue

the Board of Directors decided not to

60. It is a timely reminder that we

to re-invent, to be relevant and to help

distribute a Bonus Rebate this year.

have served, supplied and supported

our customers succeed.”

Farmlands Shareholders (000's)

Equity and Members' Interests ($m) 135.0

80.0

130.0

60.0

125.0 40.0 120.0 20.0

115.0

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

75.4k

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FY18

FY19

FY20

FY21

136.3m

THE FARMLANDER | 21

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22 | THE FARMLANDER

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

New territory for Farmlands Cup It is one of Super Rugby’s most treasured rivalries — the Crusaders and Highlanders will battle each other for South Island supremacy in the new year.

In doing so, the All Blacks playmaker

Rarely have the two sides strayed from their home bases of Christchurch or Dunedin for clashes against each other, but every summer they’re able to connect with rural communities around the South Island thanks to Farmlands Co-operative. In February the Farmlands Cup will go on the line for a seventh time since 2016.

“North Otago is known for their passion

After competing for the prized silverware in Waimumu, Darfield, Southbridge, Wanaka and Temuka, a new chapter will be etched into the storied history of the Crusaders vs. Highlanders rivalry when the Farmlands Cup enters new territory in 2022.

our whole club will be looking forward

For the first time since the trophy’s inception, Farmlands will bring the Crusaders and Highlanders to North Otago for a pre-season showdown 6km from Oamaru at Valley Rugby Club in Weston on 4th February 2022. The Highlanders will have another chance to snatch the Farmlands Cup from the Crusaders after being beaten by a Brett Cameron penalty at the death in this year’s encounter in Temuka.

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ensured the Crusaders retained the Farmlands Cup for the fourth straight year, a streak the Highlanders are eager to snap in front of a home crowd. for rugby and we see that every year in their Heartland Championship team performances,” Highlanders head coach Tony Brown says. “To get an opportunity to play in their patch against our great South Island rivals, the Crusaders, will be a great way to kick off the new season. I know to the event.” Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson is similarly excited to return to the heartland of the South Island. “The Farmlands Cup is always a great celebration of Super Rugby in the regions,” he says. “While there’s plenty of mutual respect between the two sides, the rivalry between the Crusaders and our southern neighbours is strong and I’m sure both teams will look to put on a show for the community in North Otago to open the 2022 season.” Farmlands Oamaru Business Manager Steffan Souness is on the ground with

| Farmlands will bring the Crusaders and Highlanders to North Otago in February to compete for the Farmlands Cup.

local farmers each day and says that events like Farmlands Cup are driven by huge community support. “Our shareholders and customers really get behind the Cup and we want to make sure we are giving back to the Otago community. Our North Otago community are the beating heart of grassroots rugby so it’s great to have the opportunity to put on a top-level rugby game for the locals,” Steffan says. Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark added that the highly anticipated fixture wouldn’t be possible without the support of Farmlands. “The Farmlands Cup really has become the jewel in our pre-season crown,” Roger says. “For the last 7 years this game has generated excitement up and down the South Island in some very special locations across Southland and Otago. “This year it’s North Otago’s turn. Staging a game at Weston, the home of the Valley Rugby Club, will be tremendously exciting for our club.” Farmlands shareholders will get access to tickets, with exclusive access going live mid November 2021. Public access will go live early 2022. For more information see www.farmlands.co.nz/farmlandscup.

THE FARMLANDER | 23

2021 PROUD TO SUPPORT TO

MORR RS OW’S RURAL LEADE

Winners of the 2021 Tom Cranswick Memorial Award were announced at the Annual General Meeting. They are Archie Woodhouse, of Masterton; Erika Lilley, of Rotorua; Joanna Hoogenboom, of Christchurch; Jaime Triggs, of Te Puna; and Timothy Sheed, of Temuka. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the winners were presented their awards by the Business Manager of their local Farmlands store. The Farmlander asked each of this year's Tom Cranswick Memorial Award recipients the following question.

For this article, each recipient was asked: The agriculture industry is changing rapidly. What do you think should be prioritised to promote positive growth for the sector both domestically and internationally?

24 | THE FARMLANDER

Archie Woodhouse

Erika Lilley

Masterton

Rotorua

Archie is in his second year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree with the intention of completing the honours programme at Lincoln University. He is passionate about deer farming and sees huge opportunities for growth within deer genetics and the integration of deer as a form of diversification in existing farm systems within New Zealand. Archie is the Vice-Chair of the Lincoln Young Farmers Club and shows cattle, with the aim of continuing this on the international circuit.

Erika is a second-year Agri-Commerce student, majoring in Farm Management, at Massey University. Growing up on dairy farms in the Bay of Plenty, Erika has first-hand experience within the dairy industry and is looking to continue developing her knowledge and experience in this sector. Erika has worked casually for the Farmlands Rotorua branch and is interested in equestrian, mountain biking, hiking and lake sports.

”Agriculture and primary production are people-driven industries, therefore human interactions and connection should be prioritised to promote positive growth. Mental health awareness is just one branch of a multifaceted pillar of agriculture, with people at the core. Greater opportunities for education, whether that be formally or informally, as well as improved career pathways and progression will continue to ensure the most talented and passionate people are involved in the industry. By ensuring a positive workplace culture and development opportunities are in place, not only will agriculture be an even more appealing industry, but it will place the industry in a more advantageous position to overcome future challenges.”

“New research and initiatives coming out within the agricultural industry are helping New Zealand hold its world-class status. New Zealand farmers are extremely passionate about their animals and land, which is reflected in the success of our agricultural sector so far. Our farmers’ hard work and dedication to continuously improving should not be underestimated. There has recently been more emphasis on the well-being of our farmers and development of supportive farming communities needs to be prioritised to ensure positive growth within the sector. The incorporation of new technologies and practices should be done in a way that is both environmentally and financially sustainable. Small steps, support and collaboration areour way forward.”

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Joanna Hoogenboom

Jaime Triggs

Timothy Sheed

Christchurch

Te Puna

Temuka

While not from a farming background, Jaime has thrown herself into the agriculture industry and is studying for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University. Following her study, Jaime is planning on researching more sustainable ways of farming, as well as shepherding and agri-consultancy. Jaime is a keen skier, equestrian, dirt biker and volleyball player.

Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in South Canterbury kicked off Tim’s passion for the agriculture industry. Studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University, Tim is looking to specialise in agronomy and works as a contract harvester during the summer. Tim is a successful hockey player and regularly coaches and umpires young teams.

“I believe that new plant and animal science research, as well as stronger mental health support, should be prioritised both domestically and internationally in the agricultural sector. I believe that research into new plant and animal science is key to the future of a successful primary industry, rather than just introducing more regulations. The increase in regulations and legislation will add unnecessary stress to farmers, so the need for stronger rural mental health support is required – as already demonstrated by organisations such as the Will to Live, the Rural Support Trust and Farmstrong. Just like the saying ‘no hoof, no horse’, if we don’t support the base of our industry – the hard-working farmer — flowon effects will cause detrimental impacts to New Zealand’s agricultural industry.”

“Modern farming will continue to evolve as regulations are tightened and farming practices become more and more restricted. With this in mind and coming from a sheep and beef background, I believe there needs to be an increased emphasis on ensuring that there are economical returns for the sector whilst meeting the environmental regulations and upholding the image of the industry. I believe for the sector to continue to move forward, cost-effective technology needs to be incorporated into more farming systems with the advantages of precision agriculture providing both economical and environmental benefits. This has become particularly important with a recent spike in UREA prices and other common fertilisers.”

Visiting her grandparent’s farm in Central Hawke’s Bay as a child instilled in Joanna a love of agriculture. Studying for a Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Planning (Honours) at Lincoln University, Joanna can combine the best of both worlds with agriculture and environmental studies. Joanna reached the stock judging grand final at the 2021 Young Farmers competition and is an active member of the Lincoln Young Farmers Club. “Farmers face a unique set of pressures every day within their farming systems. These include stock management, various environmental regulations, financial pressures, labour shortages and feeling undervalued. Mental health is a large issue within the agriculture sector, as it has not been a normalised discussion topic over the generations. It is great to see organisations and initiatives such as Farmstrong, Rural Support Trust, Surfing for Farmers and Will to Live support farmers with their mental health. It is important to prioritise mental health within the sector and we need to continue supporting farmers by having qualified and knowledgeable people within the industry available to them as they hold up one of our biggest industries in Aotearoa.”

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THE FARMLANDER | 25

SHAREHOLDER STORY

Old traditions made new | Lisa and Kurt Portas with Axel, 6, and Beauden, 8.

Farmlands shareholders Lisa and Kurt Portas made Palliser Ridge station in South Wairarapa their home 12 years ago after Kurt started

our family life to look like. Then all of

as a shepherd.

The owners of Palliser Ridge, Jim and

Raised rurally in Takapau, Central

Marilyn Law, had seen Kurt and Lisa’s

Hawke’s Bay, Kurt had farming jobs

commitment and spark and, on a day

during the school holidays growing up

like any other, they asked the couple to

and always enjoyed working on the

stop by for a chat. The Laws brought

land – but for Lisa, a city girl originally

the couple in as equity partners, with

from the United Kingdom, it’s been a

Kurt managing the farm and Lisa using

steep learning curve. For several years

her knowledge in retail to help expand

she held down her successful career

the Palliser Ridge brand .Now the

in retail management, commuting from

young family own a good chunk of the

have. We had already put down roots

the station to Wellington – and later,

land they care deeply about.

here, we were already pretty invested

Masterton – every day, but it soon

“Our eldest son, Beauden, was tiny,

anyway, so it was amazing to know we

became a slog.

he was really little, and Jim and

could stay for the long term.”

“I was really eyes on the prize for a

Marilyn just sat us down and said

while and working my way up,” Lisa

they were keen to bring us into the

says. “Kurt was out here doing what

farm,” Lisa explains.

he loved and I was leaving at 6 in the

“It was a real shock for us. I don’t think

morning and getting home at 8 at

it was something we ever aimed for

night – and that wasn’t what we wanted

because it just felt so far away that

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

a sudden Palliser Ridge was the right opportunity and everything fell into place here.”

Then all of a sudden Palliser Ridge was the right opportunity and everything fell into place here.” it wouldn’t be a reasonable goal to

Read more of Lisa and Kurt's story in the summer edition of Shepherdess magazine, out now at your local Farmlands store. Writer: Carly Thomas Photo: Abbe Hoare

THE FARMLANDER | 27

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Make Christmas magic We're giving away loads of prizes this Christmas. Every purchase you make in-store at Mitre 10 using your Farmlands Card will get you an entry into the draw. Ends 21 January 2022.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Influx demands eye on safety Farms can get a lot busier towards Christmas as schools break up for the summer holidays and visitors arrive.

That means identifying the risks on your

“For many farms, that means people around who may not be familiar with your rules, expectations and hazards – and there could also be more children out and about on-farm,” says Angela Mansell, Acting Director Engagement and Implementation for WorkSafe New Zealand.

lives, works on or visits your farm is

“As a workplace, farms face health and safety management challenges that most other businesses don’t have to consider. Farms don’t ‘shut down’ for the night or the weekend or for Christmas. They are always workplaces, but at the same time they are environments where people work, live and enjoy leisure time.

“Children need to understand the risks

farm, deciding how best to manage them and ensuring that everyone who actively engaged with your rules and requirements to keep people safe.” Children, particularly very young ones, pose additional challenges and that is something those in charge of a farm business need to be aware of whenever children are on-farm. on-farm and the things that might cause them injury,” Angela says. “It’s a good idea to walk or drive around the farm with children, and if they are visitors then also their parents, and talk about the different risks together.

“Rural communities have strong values. People look out for one another. Sadly, however, many such communities have been rocked by tragedies when one of their own has been seriously injured or lost their life in a farm workplace accident. “A core value of every farm business should be to have sound health and safety practices in place.

“No matter how sensible the child, the conversation doesn’t stop there either. Adult supervision is vital and for young children it must be close and active. Children do listen, understand and remember rules over time, but you should still ensure older children always tell you where they are going.” Article supplied by WorkSafe

CHILD SAFETY ON-FARM • Keep doors shut or locked so children can’t get anywhere they shouldn’t go. Store agri-chemicals out of their reach. • Use safety guards on all machinery. • Don’t leave keys in locks or in vehicles or leave vehicles unattended with the engine running.

The smart way to home security When you're out on the farm or away from home, peace of mind is knowing everything at your place is secure. With so many smart home security options, it’s getting easier to keep your family and your property safe. Noel Leeming has a huge range of products to get set up, like wired and wireless cameras and video doorbells. Easy to install, they’re your eyes and ears outdoors, detecting motion and notifying you when someone visits. You can use them for two-way conversations with anyone at your door – handy for when that online shopping parcel arrives. Many have lighting built in, like the Ring Floodlight Cam and Arlo Ultra 2 Spotlight camera. These models, along with Eufy’s camera and doorbell range, also offer night vision and easy to recharge batteries for wireless products. Here are our three top tips for your home security set up: 1. Map out the number of cameras and other devices you’ll need to keep your property secure, especially if it’s a larger size and you have more than one building to protect. 2. If you choose wireless devices, add an extra battery or two and keep them charged to swap in when needed. 3. If you’re not sure where to start, ask the expert team at your local Noel Leeming store.

• Walk round a farm vehicle and check children are a safe distance away before starting the engine. Check it is safe to reverse. • Consider putting safety fences around play areas, animal pens, work areas and water spots. • Don’t let children ride on tractors, quad bikes or the back of utes. • Wherever possible, fence waterways. Cover tanks and wells safely. • Tie spare tractor wheels to walls or lie them flat so they can’t crush a child.

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THE FARMLANDER | 29

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Last December shareholders saved over $700,000 while shopping at Noel Leeming. Use your Farmlands Card in store or online for great prices everyday on the latest tech, appliances & more. What will you save this Christmas?

30 | THE FARMLANDER

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THE FARMLANDER | 33

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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.

Weaned calves need close summer watch It is always a great idea to get to

Calves and any yearling stock

pressure on the immune system.

know your local community and as

should be your main priority when

The youngstock that are most at risk

Christmas approaches there can

heading into the summer dry. Poor

are the bottom percentage and these

be community BBQs or local hall

growth rates can lead to targets not being met and possibly affecting

will struggle to recover any lost growth

gatherings happening. There are plenty of knowledgeable people

the animal’s growth permanently.

within your community that could

The first 3 months are critical in any

watch stock while you are away or a

calf-rearing unit but the next 4-9

willing local to help out during busy

months can undo all that good work.

times. Weaned calves cannot be

Poor growth rates will delay the

forgotten while in their transition time

timeframe of puberty in dairy heifers

and summer pasture issues begin.

and profitability of beef units. The challenge is even more pronounced for spring-born calves because of the

important extras that are not available through feeding just silage or straight palm kernel. These feeds are lacking in calcium and B group vitamins such as B1, which can affect the nervous system. Youngstock can still be at high health risk and can show a scour through the summer, along with other health

and quality. If quality or quantity is

issues. Don’t just put this down to

lacking, this affects the calves’ ability to

worms, especially if you have a 28-day

perform well on a pasture-only diet.

drench programme in place. Some

As summer progresses, feed pinch,

single active pour-on drenches mean

heat stress and high fibre grasses

Cooperia worms can be very resistant.

make it important to feed youngstock

Take samples and check with the vet as

extra protein and energy to support

a scour can have many causes.

growth to maintain future potential and

Facial eczema is more prevalent through

performance. The ideal growth target is

the summer months. Zinc boluses are

1kg/head/day, which is only achievable

good but you may still need to top up

when pasture is of good quality and

the youngstock orally. It takes 3 weeks

won’t be possible once it dries out.

to build up liver protection so using a

Good quality silage would be better

pelletised multi feed with added zinc

well-balanced calf feed to complement the diet. Plenty of clean reachable water will be needed, as will shade to avoid heat stress. During a dry spell, pasture quality can drop significantly in energy and protein, the all-important components and key for lean muscle and skeletal growth. Calves can look full and be happily chewing their cud but if energy and

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Premium calf feeds contain the all-

effects of summer on pasture growth

as hay has very little feed value. Add a

| Albie Foley with his Champion calf Goofy at the 70th Anniversary of the Rangitoto Boys & Girls Agricultural Calf Club Day.

without supplementary feed.

protein are limited then average daily gains will be limited. It can also put

could be better nutritionally over summer. Before heading away, remember to check boundary fences, water systems, gates on roadsides, power fences, reduce stock numbers where possible and prioritise the young stock. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Karen Fraser, Farmlands Technical Specialist

THE FARMLANDER | 35

Terms and conditions apply.

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NUTRITION

From empty nest to egg layers in 7 steps Thinking about getting some laying chickens but don’t know where to start? Setting up a backyard flock doesn’t need to be complicated so take the plunge. 1. Start with picking out a coop. Make sure you get something large enough for the number of birds you want in your flock. Each bird will need about 0.3m2 of space and you will need one nest box per three chickens. 2. Think about where your birds will hang out in your garden. You may want to let your chickens free range around your entire garden during the day if it is well fenced, or you may prefer to block off a part of the garden just for the chickens. This can be done using chicken netting and is a good way to protect your vege patch from feathered thieves. 3. Feeders and drinkers are next on your list. A good investment is a free-access feeder such as the Feed-o-Matic, which the chickens open themselves. This is a great way to minimise wastage of chicken feed and keeps wild birds away. Chickens won’t overeat their food, they just take what they need. Keep in mind when shopping for a drinker that a chicken will drink about a cup of water a day. 4. Your birds will be producing nutritious eggs for you to eat so make sure they get a balanced diet with all the right nutrients to produce quality eggs and stay in optimum health. Pick a high-quality chicken feed such as NRM Peck’n’Lay. A layer feed should be the largest part of a chicken’s diet but you can offer kitchen scraps as an extra treat.

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5. Now it’s time to get your hens. You will need at least three as they are social animals and prefer to live in groups. Each chicken will produce five or six eggs a week so think about that when choosing your flock size. If you have an oversupply, friends and family will be more than happy to take them off your hands. The easiest option to get started is to buy pointof-lay pullets, which are hens due to start laying any day. You can hatch chicks from fertilised eggs or buy dayold chicks and rear them, but getting some that are just about old enough to start laying is an easy way to get started and gives instant gratification in the egg department. 6. Picking the breed of your chickens is the fun part and you can successfully keep an eclectic mix of breeds if that tickles your fancy. Commercial breeds such as the brown shaver are phenomenal layers and go well in a backyard environment. There are many egg-laying heritage breeds available as well and while they may lay fewer eggs than a brown shaver, they can be very enjoyable to have in the flock. 7. Once your hens arrive, get them into a routine. In the morning let them out of the coop, check on their feed and water and have a general look around to make sure everyone is OK. When the sun comes down, it’s time to start the evening routine, locking your girls safely inside the coop. You will also need to empty the egg boxes each day.

| Free-access feeders such as the Feed-o-Matic minimise wastage and keep wild birds away.

FEED TO SUCCEED

Chook Book For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Booklets on keeping poultry are available in-store and online.

Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Farmlands Nutritionist

THE FARMLANDER | 37

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IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 38 | THE FARMLANDER

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NUTRITION

HERO trots to aid of retired racehorses Ensuring retired racehorses are supported after racing is an important issue in both the thoroughbred and standardbred industries. Considering most horses complete their racing career at a young age, second careers are very common. The thoroughbred is the most common breed for polo in New Zealand and they have long been known for their success in eventing locally and internationally. The generally laidback nature of standardbreds means they are a versatile breed for many disciplines, from showing to low-level competition, hacking and pleasure riding. Various organisations have been established to support thoroughbred and standardbred rehoming. One of these is HERO, a rehoming and re-educating programme designed to showcase the standardbred breed to the wider equine industry. Initially launched in Australia by Harness Racing Victoria in 2015 and adopted by Harness Racing New Zealand in 2020, HERO is established in Canterbury and Southland and will be launched in the Northern region in the 2021-22 season. Horses are selected for HERO based on age, temperament, conformation and soundness and are placed with a professional educator for about 8 weeks. In this time they are schooled to a high level, showcasing their versatility as a pleasure and competition horse. Upon completion of their education the HERO horse will be offered for sale, with all proceeds returning to the HERO programme.

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| Fiona Gillies is with Chanelle Bromac, a seven-times winner who contested some of the biggest races in Australasia, including Sires Stakes and the Breeders Crown. Chanelle Bromac is the ambassador horse for the HERO programme and is competing in flat classes to qualify for Horse of the Year in March.

NRM and McMillan equine feeds are proud to support the HERO programme and are especially excited to help these fabulous equine athletes into a new stage in their career by providing them with nutritional support as they transition from racetrack to arena.

KER also provides nutrition support for

NRM and McMillan equine nutrition specialist Fiona Gillies is closely involved with the HERO programme and works with each horse to provide a customised diet plan containing the appropriate high-quality NRM or McMillan feed.

rewarding,” Fiona says. “The

Fiona visits horses when they enter the programme and uses diet analysis software Microsteed from Kentucky Equine Research to provide specific diets for each horse at the beginning and throughout their time with HERO.

HERO graduates when they move to their new home. “Working with the HERO programme and helping these horses who were athletes on the track transform to a ridden lifestyle is exceptionally standardbred breed is so versatile. It’s great to help provide them with balanced diets and be a part of this programme that produces suitable horses for riders to enjoy.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutritionist

THE FARMLANDER | 39

The food that feeds dogs that save human lives. Proudly Feeding Land Search & Rescue Dogs NZ Available from Farmlands stores nationwide. ® Black Hawk and other associated trademarks are registered trademarks of Masterpet Australia Pty Ltd.

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40 | THE FARMLANDER

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NUTRITION

Facial eczema cloud on summer’s horizon Litres per cow

LIC statistics for the 2019/20 season record the average milk production per cow in May was about 60 percent of the peak production in October – which is good for seasonal pasture-based cows. If only the production curve could be lifted from peak yield to the yield at the end of lactation by a straight line, or ideally a convex line, a lot more milk would be produced. That would help meet global demand plus the carbon footprint per kg milk would most likely decrease as more production means less pollution per unit of production.

Months Average litres/cow This line indicates how production would look if the summer slump was lessened.

| Falling milk production through the summer represents a lost opportunity.1

The average statistics are most likely distorted by drying off lower-producing cows but falling milk production through the summer represents a lost opportunity given that in different circumstances (such as cows fed a total mixed ration) the fall from peak would be more gradual. Lots of factors can hasten the drop in milk production post peak including the quality and quantity of forage available and heat stress. Often farmers opt to feed less supplementary feed and choose cheaper options, which could be a false economy when milk pay-out forecasts are so positive. One insidious problem that could be spreading as temperatures rise is facial eczema. Facial eczema is caused by a common fungus, Pithomyces chartarum, which produces spores containing a toxin called sporidesmin during humid weather conditions typically following a dry spell. If consumed, the spores release sporidesmin into the digestive tract,

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from where they are absorbed into the bloodstream to become concentrated in the bile ducts and severely damage the liver. Initial signs include diarrhoea and sudden milk production drop followed 10-14 days later by restless behaviour as cows seek shade – the condition makes animals sensitive to the sun. By the time symptoms are seen, the liver damage that causes the most economic losses has already occurred; there is no specific treatment for the liver damage so prevention is critical. Advances in breeding for tolerance hold hope but in the meantime prevention by spraying the fungus or delivering high rates of zinc to the animal before and during the risk period is our best response. Alternative summer forage crops can make a difference by filling a quality and quantity deficit and reducing the intake of infected pasture. Although regional spore counts can help identify trends at the start and end of the season, on-farm spore counts are more valuable when making

decisions because the microclimate makes a huge difference to the challenge for individual herds. As with most things, attention to detail is worthwhile when calculating zinc dose rates – knowing the weight of your cows can help, as does responding to blood test results to determine if zinc supplement levels are adequate. In practice we find that blends and compound feeds offer a reliable way to manage zinc supplementation at the higher levels required for facial eczema prevention. Introducing zinc early at half rate allows cows to get used to the taste and starts building levels in the blood before spore levels explode. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Dr Rob Derrick, Farmlands Head of Nutrition and Animal Health 1.New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2019-20. Average production cow by herd size in 2019/20. https://www.lic.co.nz/about/dairy-statistics/.

THE FARMLANDER | 41

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Parasites challenge for lamb growth rates A key driver of farm productivity is the weight of lambs at weaning. If lamb growth rates are good and more lambs are at higher weights at weaning, this reduces the number of lambs that a farmer has to keep on into the summer. Gastrointestinal parasites can have a negative effect on these growth rates. The key points of an effective parasite management programme are to manage pastures to reduce challenge, use effective drenches and refugia and combination drenches to reduce the selection for drench resistance.

| Around lambing, ewes produce parasite eggs onto often low pasture covers.

Around lambing, ewes produce parasite eggs onto often low pasture covers when their immune system is under stress. In spring the parasite larvae from these eggs are taken up and depress growth rates until weaning. If the spring pasture growth is slow or pasture covers are low, this negative effect can be increased.

surviving on-farm is less compared with sensitive parasites on pasture. Cattle and sheep do not share the same parasites and pasture grazed with cattle will have reduced numbers of infective larvae for sheep on it and vice versa. By rotating the grazing of sheep with cattle in the spring, the

In situations such as this, a drench pre-weaning should be considered to maximise growth rates. Where drenching is required, all farmers should be using an effective combination drench. Farmers can find out what drenches are working on their farm by completing a Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test, or FECRT. If a farmer is unsure of their drench resistance status they should use a triple combination option such as Alliance®.

growth rates of both classes of stock can be improved. Refugia is another tool that farmers can use to reduce the selection for drench resistance. Refugia allows parasites from undrenched animals to populate pasture, diluting any resistant parasites that may have survived drenching. This can be done by leaving a proportion of the mob undrenched, putting drenched animals onto pasture that has had

Combination drenches also have the benefit of reducing the selection pressure for drench resistance. The chance of a worm being resistant to all active ingredients in a combination is low and

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the proportion of resistant parasites

undrenched grazing on it, or following drenched animals with a mob of undrenched animals. As it takes most parasites 21 days to start producing eggs once ingested,

using a short-acting drench at 28-day intervals ensures that some sensitive parasites not exposed to drench reproduce before another drench is used. These larvae are also a form of refugia and dilute any resistant parasites that have survived the previous drench. Reducing the numbers of young stock on-farm is one way that farmers can reduce the impact of parasites on production, their reliance on drenching and the potential for developing drench resistance. Ensuring optimal growth rates in spring and getting more lambs to the works early is one way that farmers can achieve this. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by MSD ACVM No: A10249 ®Registered trademark. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.coopersonline.co.nz NZ/ALCE/0918/0010

THE FARMLANDER | 43

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Trusted tools target seasonal parasites For young cattle to maintain optimal growth rates through their first year, good parasite control is important. Donaghys provide all the drenches you need for young cattle and most importantly keep it simple. Farmers selecting a drench for their calves through summer and into autumn need to be wary of three worms in particular – Ostertagia ostertagi, lungworm and Cooperia. The Ostertagia ostertagi worm imbeds itself in the wall of the stomach and causes a considerable reaction from the calf’s immune system. This leads to reduced absorption of nutrients, protein loss into the gut, appetite suppression and diarrhoea or scouring. Abamectin is recognised as being extremely effective against Ostertagia through its excellent penetration of the gut mucosa. Another worm that causes issues through the summer is lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus). This causes coughing and death in young animals and can build up in large numbers very quickly. Again, abamectin is recognised as highly effective in controlling lungworm.

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So why not use a straight abamectin in your calves? Another worm that causes issues, particularly if you use abamectin on its own, is the Cooperia species. If treating young calves with products containing only abamectin (or any other macrocyclic lactone product), resistant Cooperia quickly grow in numbers, reducing appetite and growth rates, causing diarrhoea and even death in some situations. For this reason we have to use a combination product that contains abamectin plus levamisole, which has very good efficacy against resistant Cooperia.

for over 10 years. As a pour-on it is

Donaghys makes selecting a drench for your calves easy with oral and pouron drenches containing these two key ingredients – abamectin and levamisole. Venator, an oral drench containing abamectin and levamisole with a 1ml per 10kg dose rate, is a new addition to the Donaghys’ stable. If farmers want to take advantage of the cost savings of using an oral drench, Venator is a great option if calves are over 100kg.

oxfendazole and levamisole, a much safer

Saturn Pour On, containing abamectin and levamisole, has been tried and trusted in the New Zealand market

easy to use and controls the most important parasites of young cattle, including resistant Cooperia and lice. Farmers should continue using a combination product such as Saturn Pour On or Venator until cattle are 15 months of age and have developed immunity to the Cooperia worm. In calves under 100kg a safer option should be considered rather than a drench containing both abamectin and levamisole. An ideal option would be Concur Cattle HiMin, which contains combination. This is an important point to remember for autumn-born calves. With this range of three drenches, Donaghys has made it easy for New Zealand farmers to get optimal growth rates this autumn with oral and pour-on drenches to fit their needs. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Donaghys

THE FARMLANDER | 45

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46 | THE FARMLANDER

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THE FARMLANDER | 47

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End-to-end stock water solutions. We design, source and deliver. Our expert design team will visit your farm, assess your needs, complete a working design for the entire project and provide a full quote. We can then take it as far as you wish, right through to delivery. Get in touch with us today. We are New Zealand’s leader in stock water solutions, working in partnership with iPLEX. Together we will deliver a quality stock water system that improves stock performance and adds significant value to your farm.

Visit your local Farmlands store today to find out more.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Freshwater plans flow from environment plan With freshwater farm plans on the horizon, a current farm environment plan can be a solid springboard for moving to the new system. Freshwater farm plans are expected to come into effect from mid 2022 and will be gradually rolled out across New Zealand. Under the Essential Freshwater rules that came into effect in 2020, all farms with 20ha or more in arable, pastoral or mixed use or 5ha or more in horticulture will need a certified freshwater farm plan. The Government is encouraging farmers and growers to understand how the freshwater farm plan framework will affect them and to get started on practical steps to make the transition easier. Having a farm environment plan already in place is a head start for developing a freshwater farm plan. Freshwater farm plans will identify solutions to improve waterways, with local information crucial for tailoring solutions that best fit a farm’s

circumstances, physical environment and the wider catchment. The precise requirements, as well as the certification process, are expected to be finalised in early 2022, but the plans will probably need to include: • A farm map identifying features such as waterways and critical source areas for contaminants. • A risk assessment of specific activities such as irrigation, application of nutrients and effluent, winter grazing, stockholding areas, stock exclusion, offal pits and farm rubbish pits. • Actions to manage identified features and mitigate identified risks. Under the proposed regulations, an existing farm environment plan can be the basis for a freshwater farm plan and may also be the basis for the farm’s risk assessment. Until the freshwater farm plan system applies to a particular farm, farmers and growers should use farm environment plans to help plan their systems and practices to reduce environmental impacts.

A farm environment plan developed using Ballance’s world-leading geospatial tool MitAgator gives a head start on freshwater farm planning. The full MitAgator service includes: • An initial visit by a Ballance Farm Sustainability Services specialist to understand your farm. • Risk maps with critical source areas highlighted for nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and E. coli, to improve understanding of where on-farm losses occur and enable more strategic use of mitigations. • Scenario analyses, with on-farm mitigation options prioritised based on cost-effectiveness. • A full farm environment plan, using information from the risk maps and scenario analyses, as well as the action plan for the farm. For more information, go to ballance.co.nz/mitAgator or contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients

| A farm environment plan gives a head start in developing a freshwater farm plan.

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No w an ava d 4 ila .5k ble g p in ac 900 ks g !

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MINECTO ® Star is the trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. P9417. Always read the label completely before use. © Syngenta 2021

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Insecticide works with nature to control pests With over 400,000 hectares of forage brassica crops such as kale, rape and radish grown in New Zealand, the move away from using broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticides to softer and more selective products is good for farmers and the environment.

and we can now recommend products

“Farmers are our best environmentalists and they are now interested in using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) compatible insecticides that don’t harm beneficial insects,” Farmlands Head of Agronomy Sam Lucas says.

compatible insecticides, cyantraniliprole

“Our field reps are smarter now. Once they would have recommended a broad-spectrum insecticide at the first sign of insect pests but now they first look in the crop to assess the balance between damaging pests and beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and parasitic wasps, which control pests naturally.

our clients to use IPM-compatible

“You only need to spray if the ratio favours the pest over the beneficials

| IPM-compatible insecticides keep a balance between pests and beneficial insects.

that selectively control the pests without harming the good guys. It’s all about working with nature to keep the ratio in balance,” Sam says. One product that Sam and the team at Farmlands recommend is Minecto Star, which is a combination of two IPMand pymetrozine. The product controls a wide range of pests such as aphids, caterpillars and leaf miners without disrupting beneficial insect populations. “We now commonly get requests from products. We enjoy advocating for products such as Minecto Star because we know they are safer to use and still effective. In fact, they are often more effective than organophosphates because Minecto Star lasts for up to 21 days compared with 7 to 10 days control with older chemistry. “You may only need to spray once with

well controlled by Minecto Star when applied before pest populations get out of control. “If aphid numbers are high, which means more than 6 to 8 aphids per plant and rising, we recommend adding Pirimor to Minecto Star. This is a fast-acting knockdown aphicide with contact and fumigant activity and is also IPM-compatible. It’s a great combination,” Sam says.

Minecto Star because it can shift the

Minecto Star is available in two pack

balance in favour of the beneficials to

sizes (900g and 4.5kg) to treat 6ha and

control the remaining pests. It costs

30ha respectively, with a use rate of

less to apply Minecto Star once than

150g/ha. To help measure the product,

cheaper organophosphates multiple

a set of digital scales are available free

times because the beneficials keep on

from your local Farmlands store when

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you purchase Minecto Star.

“While organophosphates such as chlorpyrifos still have a place early in the season to control springtails and nysius, once temperatures rise the main pests are caterpillars, aphids and leaf miners. These summer pests are very

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| Farmlands Head of Agronomy Sam Lucas.

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

THE FARMLANDER | 51

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ASK ABOUT US AT YOUR LOCAL FARMLANDS STORE OR VISIT DELFAST.COM/OUR-STORY

56 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Farm’s tank network gives water security

For Jo Alcock of Pukerimu Dairy Goats, rain falling on the roof means water flowing into the tanks. Jo milks 600 goats on the family farm, 15km south of Te Kuiti, in the King Country. While the milk from her Saanen, British Alpine and Nubian goats is highly valued, so is the water she depends on to run her operation. During the long, dry spells that are increasingly frequent in her neck of the woods, securing enough water comes down to a lot of big tanks capturing a little rain.

recorded the lowest falls since records

tanks on the main shed are linked to form

began in 1905, while six of the seven

a massive reservoir of fresh water and

driest 3-month periods on record (1905

with a new shed just constructed and

to present) have occurred since 2007/08.

even more tanks ordered, storage volume

Jo’s strategy to drought-proof her milking

grows as the farm does.

operation is based on a simple premise:

For Promax, tank farms such as the

The King Country/Waikato region, like

high-grade polyethylene tanks, designed

most of rural New Zealand, is no stranger

and manufactured by Northland-based

to drought in recent years. The area

company Promax. Most of the tanks

beauty of a tank farm.

experienced a dry 2020, with annual

are attached to the primary goat shed,

Pukerimu Dairy Goats is just one

rainfall well below the long-term average.

with others connected to an implement

example of rain harvesting on a grander

The rain gauge at Ruakura in Hamilton

shed and a spring on her property. All the

scale. A network of connected tanks

when it eventually rains, do your best to make it pour. Jo has calculated that about 7.5 million litres of rainwater fall onto the roofs of her farm sheds every year. To harvest as much of that precious resource as she possibly can, Jo has created a tank farm on her goat farm. Jo initially invested in 18 x 30,000 litre

one they helped build at Pukerimu Dairy Goats are nothing new. For some time now they’ve dispatched bulk consignments of their large water tanks to more and more farms all over the country. After all, two tanks will hold more water than one. Four tanks will hold more water than two. Eight tanks will hold more water than four and so on. That’s the

allows farmers to collect and use more of the scarce rain that falls on their dry properties. The more tanks there are, the better it works. Thanks to a tank farm, a little bit of rain goes a long, long way. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. | All the tanks on the main shed are linked to form a massive reservoir of fresh water.

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Article supplied by Promax

THE FARMLANDER | 57

Get your outdoor space sorted for summer with Mitre 10 Exclusive prices for Farmlands shareholders. Up to

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IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 58 | THE FARMLANDER

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ProFence out, Summit in The ProFence brand of steel and wire products that many many Farmlands shareholders will know is being replaced with its parent brand, Summit Steel & Wire. Apart from the label and brand, nothing will change. Summit Steel & Wire has manufactured ProFence products exclusively for Farmlands for some years. These products will continue to be manufactured in Christchurch and distributed through Summit Steel’s warehouses in Auckland and Christchurch. Since the start of November, the Farmlands network has been receiving product under the new brand. By February 2022, the ProFence brand will be entirely replaced by Summit Steel & Wire products. As Summit Steel & Wire carry about 3 months of product cover for Farmlands at any one time and to minimise waste, the new branding will be rolled out gradually to allow Summit to run down its ProFence branded inventory. This change represents a significant milestone in the growing relationship between Farmlands and Summit Steel & Wire, as Farmlands will benefit from Summit’s sharp and fresh look while ensuring consistency across the entire range of wire fencing products in-store and online. Be sure to keep an eye out at your local Farmlands store for all Summit Steel & Wire products.

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THE FARMLANDER | 59

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When you’re ready to splash out on a great range of Stallion water tanks and troughs, make a big deal of heading to your local Farmlands store. 60 | THE FARMLANDER

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Invading ants bring disease, trade risk | Beehives are at risk from ant invasion, especially from Argentine ants.

Ants are highly organised, quiet and work constantly day and night. A few ants crawling across your kitchen bench during the day may seem harmless but chances are many more will be on the march at night when the lights are out.

can be transferred from their feet to

Of the 39 species of ant found in New

invasion, especially from Argentine

Zealand, only 11 are considered endemic

ants. These can deplete the hives of

to our country, with 17 species originating

honey and in extreme cases wipe out

in Australia. Almost all the complaints

the entire hive.

about ants relate to exotic species.

Ants have highly structured colonies

Ants will adapt to live inside and

and have distinct castes: queen(s),

outdoors as the weather and

workers and males. They feed on

temperature dictate; history has shown

sugary substances and protein. If food

they can survive the harshest conditions.

and/or water is not present in their

Most reactions to ants relate directly to

immediate living area, the ants will

their social impact and how they affect

travel for some distance to access both

people’s living or working environment.

for their survival.

Things like the overwhelming of an

Most people who attempt ant control are

outdoor barbeque by Argentine ants or a

doing so because numbers have become

kitchen invasion by black house ants or

unacceptable. One of the mistakes often

some other species.

made is failing to recognise the type of

Ants can be disease carriers as they

product needed for control. If a repellent

often feed on dead and decaying

insecticide or aerosol is used, control can

animals and insects for their protein. As

be very limited as ants move away from

a result, E. coli, Shigella and Salmonella

the sprayed areas. They may even go into

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food and food preparation areas. Several exotic species are a risk to primary production as some overseas markets have no tolerance if these ants are found in our produce. Beehives are also at risk from ant

overdrive, reproducing even faster as they perceive themselves to be under attack. For outdoor control, a uniquely formulated insecticide called NO Pests®X-it Ant has been designed to withstand rain, irrigation, UV light and variations of pH level. As well as this, it is totally non-repellent, which is crucial for its initial impact and long-lasting effect. X-it Ant should be used on hard surfaces (including the trunks of trees) and is also very effective on cockroaches, which travel on the same highways the ants use. NoPests® Sand4Ants should be used on soft areas where ants are below a substrate, e.g. compost or long grass areas. If ants are indoors, a programme using a highly palatable bait like NoPests® Ant Bait™ and No Pests Crawling Insect spray will be very effective. Ants in wall cavities can be treated with NoPests® Insect Dust. 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 | 61

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0800 80 20 80 bridgestonetyres.co.nz/farmlands Savings are on selected car, 4x4 and van tyres and are off recommended retail tyre price, excluding fitting and balancing charges. Normal fitting and balancing charges apply. All tyres must be fitted in-store at the time of purchase. Savings on tractor tyres are off List Price. In some sizes and brands at any given time, stock may be limited. Discounts can vary by product and size. Please see in store for details.

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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.

Stewardship central to dynasty From landing in Lyttelton in 1850, the Oldfield family’s roots have gone deep. Frederick Richard Oldfield (born 1855) was the third son of William and Harriet Oldfield, pioneer settlers of Lyttelton, who arrived on the Cressy in 1850. Frederick moved to South Canterbury at the age of 17, starting out as a wagoner and contractor. He married Frances Mary Hawke in 1887. In 1890, Frederick obtained 250 acres freehold and 250 acres leasehold land at Seadown, where he farmed wheat and bred and grazed stock. Frederick later manufactured a sought-after sheep dip, trademarked The Real McKay. In 1911, Frances won the ballot for The Poplars in North Canterbury, and their sons Gordon and Arthur drove stock up from Seadown. The family held the run until 1929.

Ivan married Heather Davis and they increased the Seadown holdings to 1,000 acres, becoming early growers of Watties/McCain peas and other crops, as well as sheep, beef and dairy production. Their children, Mark, Sally-anne and Wayne grew up on the farm. Mark married Adrienne Creagh. They fully irrigated the land to support cropping, sheep, beef and dairy facilities.

| Latest generation – Mark, Emily, Adrienne, Lydia, William and Luke.

Mark was a Canterbury Regional Councillor, Commissioner, EECA and NZTA board member. Adrienne is a teacher. Their children, Luke (BCom, IT in Sydney), Emily (BDance, Owner/ Principal of Devonport School of Dance), William (Medical Doctor) and Lydia (BEng(Hons), Process Engineer) make up the current generation. The Oldfield family now manage the farm with a trust and have more than passed their century on their original land. | Eldred and Marion.

Frederick’s son Eldred continued working the farm at Seadown while his brothers developed The Poplars. After returning from WW1 and suffering the loss of a leg, Eldred married Marion Dennison. They expanded the farm to dairying, breeding and trading stock, and producing wheat and other crops. A dray of white clover, or “white gold”, earned enough to build a new homestead and a sealed tennis court, and buy a new car. Horse teams and traction engines were displaced by early tractors and headers. Subdivision enabled land for Seadown School, which their children Ivan, Rita and Richard attended. | Frederick and Frances.

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| Ivan and Heather.

THE FARMLANDER | 63

IS THIS NZ’S MOST VALUABLE CARD? YOU DECIDE. 64 | THE FARMLANDER

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‘Smart’ knife tests for fence voltage The Swiss have their army knife, sommeliers their wine knife – Kiwi farmers can now get their hands on a ‘smart’ knife they can use to safely check the voltage in an electric fence.

skills to come up with something really useful. It’s so clever,

Farmlands is the exclusive New Zealand distributor of the Boundary Blade®, brainchild of Irish software developer Aidan Murphy, whose work led him to the idea of a pocket fence-tester app. Realising such a tool would need more functions than that, he put a knife on it. And a bolt turner for good measure.

produced as well as being practical. We only source products

“The next best thing to a phone that a farmer carries is a pocket knife, so that’s where the idea was born,” Aidan told Irish publication Farming Independent.

“Traditional testers are usually quite bulky and never seem to

Farmlands’ Senior Category Manager – Infrastructure, Steve Thompson, came across the Boundary Blade while doing his daily scour of global markets for innovations or products that would benefit shareholders. He contacted Aidan and the conversation began. Aidan sent some samples and Steve “pulled them to pieces” before deciding they would be a good fit in the New Zealand market. “Aidan was so down to earth,” Steve says. “He brought his practical rural experience and combined it with his technology

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

yet so simple. It’s a wonder it hadn’t been done before. “We have a responsibility to shareholders – and to the planet – to source products that are ethically and sustainably from people we trust,” Steve says. Aidan says his product differs from traditional fence-testers in several ways. It uses a small button battery rather than a big 9-volt for a start. be at hand when the farmer needs them. They’re usually in the glovebox of the ute, on the back of a tractor or stuck in a farm shed somewhere,” he says. “The Boundary Blade is unique in a few ways: it’s compact and it doubles as a pocket knife, which is the No. 1 tool for most farmers. It doesn’t require an earth cable either.”

The Boundary Blade® is available from Farmlands stores nationwide.

THE FARMLANDER | 65

Rural market update Slow spring not expected to hold up end of year sales. Since October last year, farm sales (20ha+) by both value and number have been up every month on the prior year, right through to July. However the tide has turned a little over the early spring period. This last quarter national rural sales to 30 September are back $42m by value and 88 by number, on the prior year. Our expectation is we will see a significant bounce in completed sheep and beef farm sales as at the end of the December quarter, and this will carry into the summer and autumn reporting periods too. Alternative land use options for larger scale breeding country continue to drive much of the buyer inquiry, more so than traditional farming operations. This marketing window remains a feature of the current selling season given ongoing carbon price appreciation. On current trend LUC 6/7, post 1990 pastoral land may soon be more expensive than rolling downs country, given current ETS policy settings. There is not a lot of precedent that can help make much sense of this. Dairy sales over the last quarter to 30 September are running at three times last year by both value and number, up $100m from 28 sales. All indicators are this will continue given the current dairy outlook, confidence in the payout and bank support for the dairy sector generally. Horticulture continues to track at similar levels and value to last year, averaging 17 sales a month over the September quarter. Standing back from it all the rural real estate market is up $1.5 billion on the rolling 12 months to the end of September 2021. However, within all of that there are significant market forces at play, consequently specialist advice can really capture value. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our vendors and our Farmlands shareholder partners for their support this year. We look forward to backing that up again in 2022, as we set ourselves higher and higher goals to deliver best in class service. We take enormous pride in taking properties to the market and getting you the results that achieve your goals.

For rural and lifestyle property advice from a national team of committed salespeople, supported by our expert marketing team, right across New Zealand, call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz. Conrad Wilkshire, GM Rural for Property Brokers Ltd conrad@pb.co.nz National Rural Sales 20ha+ monthly sales 12 months to September 2021 v 2020 250

$500m

200

$400m

150

$300m

100

$200m

$100m

Oct 20 Nov 20 Dec 20 Jan 21 Feb 21 Mar 21 Apr 21 May 21 Jun 21 Jul 21 Aug 21 Sep 21 No of sales (Prior Year)

No of sales

Total Sales Value

Total Sales Value (Prior Year)

National Rural Sales 20ha+ monthly sales Q3 2021 Period

No. of sales

Prior Year

Total Sales Value

Prior Year

Year on Year Change

September 2021

$141,092,749

$153,048,892

-$11,957.143

August 2021

$139,029,493

$145,601,250

-$6,571,757

July 2021

110

$214,691,280

$240,053,107

-$25,361,827

66 | THE FARMLANDER

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

Our combined strengths complement each other, creating more opportunity for our customers and Farmlands shareholders across provincial New Zealand. • A nationwide network from Northland to Southland • Sound, trustworthy advice from market-leading experts • Shareholder benefits and preferential commission rates mean more money in your pocket

Bigger networks, more buyers, better results For more information call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz/together

PB055278 | Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

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

THE FARMLANDER | 67

Inangahua Junction 177 McDonalds Road

A Jewel in the Crown

PROPERTY BROKERS

This larger scale dairy farm with approximately 230ha effective grazing is situated in the pristine West Coast environment. Currently milking 525 cows through a 50 aside herringbone dairy shed with ACRs, plus a full range of outbuildings. Five-year average production of 192,000 kgMS from a range of 500-600 cows. This farm has proven production, previously achieving 238,000 kgMS from 607 cows.

For Sale Buyers $5,000,000+ View By Appointment Web pb.co.nz/WER79449 Gareth Cox M 021 250 9714 gareth@pb.co.nz Willie McLaughlin M 021 0267 4385 williem@pb.co.nz

Central Hawke’s Bay 330 Paget Road

Unique opportunity with this block • • • • • •

35 hectares 25 km west of Waipukurau Flat - very easy contour Quality pasture Currently utilised as a dairy runoff 3-4 bedroom 1970’s home

68 | THE FARMLANDER

• • •

Extensive views to the north towards the ranges Excellent water with stream on boundary Aesthetically appealing property

Tender closes 2.00pm Wed 15th Dec 2021, Property Brokers Ltd, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau. View By Appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR98273 Pat Portas M 027 447 0612 patp@pb.co.nz

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | 0800 Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | 0800367 3675263 5263| pb.co.nz | pb.co.nz

Central Hawke’s Bay

Takapau 142 Paget Road Tender

PROPERTY BROKERS

Quality dairy unit •

183 ha dairy platform

•

23 km west of Waipukurau

•

All flat contour

•

46 ASHB shed, cup removers, in-shed feed system

•

Average production last four years, 1,323 kgMS per ha

•

3.4 average cow numbers per ha

•

Large family home built 2006

•

Extensive calf rearing sheds

•

This dairy unit can only be described as first class

•

Also can be purchased 35 ha runoff

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

Tender closes 2.00pm Wed 15th Dec 2021, Property Brokers Ltd, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau. View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR98118

Pat Portas M 027 447 0612 E patp@pb.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 69

GET THE GIFT THEY WANT WITH CHOICES REWARDS Thanking your team for their efforts, or celebrating the big day with family and friends, take the guess-work out of your Christmas shopping and redeem your Choices Rewards Points today on a massive range of gift cards and eVouchers.

REDEEM NOW AT WWW.CHOICESREWARDS.CO.NZ 70 | THE FARMLANDER

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FUEL

GROCERIES AND LIQUOR

HOMEWARE AND APPLIANCES

SPORT AND LEISURE

HOME AND GARDEN

CLOTHING AND JEWELLERY

Gift Cards and eVouchers | From 12,500 Points

Physical gift cards must be ordered by 15th December to guarantee Christmas delivery. Choices Rewards are exclusive to Farmlands shareholders only. Terms and Conditions apply. All Rewards are subject to availability. Required points values are subject to change. Visit www.farmlands.co.nz to learn more. WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © December 2021. All rights reserved.

THE FARMLANDER | 71

GET A $50 BONUS BUCKS CARD WITH EVERY $1,000 SPENT ON SELECTED PRODUCTS IN-STORE OR ONLINE. *

FAR_10261

GRAB WHAT YOU NEED AT SHOP.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ/BUNDLES *Terms & Conditions apply. Promotion runs 1st November - 31st December 2021. Bonus Bucks can only be redeemed in Farmlands stores or online at shop.farmlands.co.nz until 31st March 2022. Bonus Bucks cannot be redeemed for cash, another Gift Card or used as payment on any Farmlands Account. Visit shop.farmlands.co.nz/bundles for more information.

The Farmlander - December 2021

Articles inside

Freshwater plans flow from environment plan

Facial eczema cloud on summer’s horizon

Community Values – Local heroes

Shareholders re-elect retiring Directors

From empty nest to egg layers in 7 steps

Weaned calves need close summer watch

Disruptions mar season but better times ahead

5 minutes with Kate Scott

Old traditions made new

New territory for Farmlands Cup