Farmlander Summer 2024

AMAIZING RESULTS

What farmers and growers are saying about

Easy access to the bulk feed I have left on contract... and what's been ordered. Love the ability to release calf meal from contract on the go.

Easy to see products previously ordered.

FarmlandsPRO has modernised the way we interact with our preferred rural supplier, Farmlands.

It’s given us a simple, seamless and efficient way of pricing, ordering and tracking goods, allowing us more time to focus on farming, while knowing our procurement requirements are taken care of.

John White –FarmlandsPRO User – Early Adopter

FARMLANDS PUBLICATION TEAM

Deborah Allan Ian Turner

CONTACT

Farmlands

535 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch

Ph: 0800 200 600

Email: farmlander@farmlands.co.nz

CONTENT & DESIGN BY SCG

Niko Kloeten

LauraGrace McFarland

Julian Pettitt

PRINTED BY: Webstar

ON THE COVER

Simon Nitschke (left) and Malcolm Nitschke (right) inspect their maize crop in Marton.

Photograph by Steve Barker (photo supplied courtesy of Pioneer).

Design by Julian Pettitt

This publication is printed on paper made from pulp that is environmentally certified, and from renewable and sustainably sources. It is Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and manufactured under strict ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The plastic wrap is 100% recyclable in the New Zealand soft plastic recycling scheme.

This publication has been printed by Webstar, a Toitū enviromark diamond certified company and a winner of a Green Ribbon Award “Minimising our Waste”.

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 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 time-period 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.

Turning a corner

This time, three months ago we were encouraging you to keep on, keeping on; and hopefully the work you’ve been putting in will be starting to pay off. We’re under no illusion of the pressures being faced by all New Zealanders, but we’re equally buoyed by your commitment to support the new technology we’re introducing, your willingness to go deeper with our field teams and the way you keep backing us, just the way that we back you.

Now – to the season at hand. This issue is a real Santa’s Sack of rural goodness, with an excellent blend of seed, feed and ways to deal with weeds. We talk about the benefits of solar on-farm. We hear more about how the SealesWinslow purchase is delivering for Farmlands Nutrition and we meet a host of new Technical Advisors bolstering the Farmlands Horticulture team in the South Island.

We’ve even got a crossword this time round, and a few extra festive dishes for you to try over the holidays. So dig-in, take your time and let the feel of summer wash over you.

Meri Kirihimete

Ian & Deborah

Got something to share with the team at Farmlander ?

Email farmlander@farmlands.co.nz

Keep up-to-date with the latest news from across the co-operative via our website and social media. @farmlandsnz @farmlandsnz

Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

Deborah Allan and Ian Turner.

Photo: Dean Mackenzie

FROM TANYA

Tēna koutou katoa.

As summer approaches, it’s a great time to reflect on the progress we’ve made this past year to better serve you and strengthen our co-op.

Since the last edition of Farmlander, we’ve significantly grown our technical skills and expertise, enhancing our ability to support you. Our focus remains on improving the capabilities and availability of our specialists in horticulture, agronomy, and animal health. Our teams are also here to assist you with rural supplies advice in other categories, including water and fencing infrastructure.

Being accessible advisors is crucial, especially when you need to adapt to difficult market conditions or something unexpected like a weather event. Our commitment is to be here for you whenever you need support.

We launched FarmlandsPRO in June, our farmer-focused rural supplies ordering and management app, at Fieldays® and shared this news in the last Farmlander. Since then, we’ve made further improvements and added features, including exclusive deals. I hope you’re enjoying 24/7 access to Farmlands. Note that FarmlandsPRO is an ex-GST channel showing all your farm-based pricing options and lining up to how you run your business.

We’re building towards the release of FarmlandsPRO 2.0 in the new year, adding more in-app functions, including requesting quotes and managing sales agreements. Everything FarmlandsPRO offers is about ensuring you can get the rural inputs you need as easily as possible and at the best price.

Our other recent technology launch, the Card App, is also getting exciting new features. It helps you find nearby Card Partners, access savings and offers, and manage Card security

from your phone. Soon, you’ll see transaction histories, statement info and touchless payment options.

Our new e-commerce site, launching soon, aims to provide a better shopping experience for lifestyle customers – helping us reach more potential customers and grow sales in equine, chicken, and dog products. We’re committed to continuous improvements throughout the coming year, with services like subscription buying – set up an order and it just arrives.

In this edition of Farmlander, we share how we’re delivering these new services and how they link to our

strategy. You’ll meet our new Technical Advisor team and learn about the latest developments with SealesWinslow. We also dive into our evolving supply chain with new regional hubs, improved purchasing processes, and two new primary distribution centres.

Thanks to everyone who’s downloaded the apps and started to see the benefits. Stick with us – it’s just the start of an exciting transformation.

Farmlands CEO

SUMMER

Photo: Richard Brimer

Max Bayley of Bayley Produce on one of their cropping fields near Hastings. –

We

Hawke’s Bay-based Bayley Produce started with

but now it does so much more.

Would a microgrid work on your farm? An update on the latest developments in

Massage After Miscarriage founder Michelle Topham talks about a topic many rural mums have struggled with.

Learn more about the latest updates for FarmlandsPRO and the Farmlands Card app.

We travel to Karaka to meet Farmlands shareholders breeding and training the next generation of champion horses.

Equine nutrition expert Luisa Wood of NRM explains the nutrition needs of horses in light work.

Some big names have been recruited to Farmlands Horticulture’s Technical Advisor line-up in the South Island.

With SealesWinslow now part of Farmlands, we look at what’s next for the co-operative’s nutrition business.

Find out about Farmlands’ overhaul of its supply chain and get an update on where its next regional hub will be.

A Farmlands team member took the trip of a lifetime when he walked the entire length of New Zealand.

News from Farmlands and beyond

They came, they saw, they farmed

Open Farms, New Zealand’s national open farm day, is set for Sunday March 9, 2025.

Now in its fifth year, the annual event has helped 14,000+ urban New Zealanders reconnect with farming across 130 open day events.

“Every year, the feedback from visitors and farmers is great. Visiting a farm can be a life-changing experience for some people – it’s a credit to farmer hosts who give them that opportunity,” says founder Daniel Eb.

Interested in hosting? Open Farms will back you with the planning support, kit and marketing to make it happen.

Learn more and register at openfarms.co.nz

Christmas hours

We will be closed on the following days: Wednesday 25th December 2024

Thursday 26th December 2024

Wednesday 1st January 2025

Thursday 2nd January 2025

View full store hours at farmlands.co.nz/StoreLocator

OPEN FARMS

Excellence celebrated at the 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards

The winners in this year’s Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards were announced at a gala dinner at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton on October 9.

Farmlands is the Principal Partner for the awards. Around 300 people attended the celebrations which recognised the people, the technologies and the innovations that contribute to New Zealand’s world-leading red meat sector. Congratulations to all this year’s winners:

• The Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award was awarded to AgResearch Plant Scientist, Dr David Hume.

• The Datamars Livestock Technology Award was won by FarmIQ Freshwater Farm Plan Tool.

• The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award was awarded to Wairarapa-based Fernglen Farm.

• AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award was won by Te Kuiti farmer Mitchel Hoare.

• The Rabobank People and Development Award was won by Growing Future Farmers.

• The FMG Rural Champion Award was won by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

• The Alliance Significant Contribution Award was awarded to New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research scientist Ian McIvor.

• The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Regional Leadership Award, which recognised an outstanding individual, organisation or business in the sheep, beef and dairy beef sector, went to Pukeatua farmer Graeme Gleeson.

PRIZEWINNERS

Roadshow attendee wins Stallion Mixer

As part of the Calf Experts – Calf Rearing Roadshow during winter, the good folks at Stallion put up a Mini Mixer Tanker as a prize for one lucky attendee. The tanker, valued at $4,370, was won by Kate Dawson from the Taranaki-Manawatu region. Kate has been to a few Calf Experts events over the last few years and was stoked to win the Stallion prize.

PRIZEWINNERS

Tapanui farmer wins big with FarmlandsPRO

Tapanui sheep and beef farmer Scott Chittock of Evansdale Farms Ltd was the winner of the FarmlandsPRO CAN-AM competition – as part of the launch of Farmlands’ new digital tool that makes it easy for farmers and growers to place, track and manage their rural supplies orders. He was drawn from all eligible entries who placed an order of $250 or more through FarmlandsPRO before July 31, 2024.

L-R: Fernglen Farm owners Jeff and Shirley Ravenwood, and Darrell Jones, General Manager Gallaghers.

The Big Picture

In this section

From award-winning maize crops to solar on-farm, we look at how Farmlands shareholders are contributing to the rural sector across New Zealand.

Photo: Richard Brimer

12

Grain growers give their thoughts on Farmlands’ recent SealesWinslow purchase.

18 Meet the Hawke’s Bay growers based across the road from the Farmlands Horticulture Hub.

22 Solar energy expert Andrew Pegler on the threefold benefits of installing a microgrid.

An aerial view of the Bayleys Produce orchard near Hastings.

Photo: Steve Barker (courtesy of Pioneer)

Optimism grows

Arable farmers are encouraged by Farmlands’ acquisition of SealesWinslow, hoping it will create further opportunities for arable shareholders and stabilise a market affected by peaks and troughs. We spoke to two Farmlands shareholders and Farmlands grain suppliers about the outlook for the sector.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN

Whanganui-based Farmlands TFO

Jason Wing has 30 years of experience in the arable sector.

He’s worked at Farmlands for the past decade, but before that Jason was a farmer and contractor. He says one of the biggest changes he has witnessed during his time in the industry is around the technology used for harvesting and processing grain. Not only are the modern combine harvesters bigger, they have features like yield monitoring and GPS systems. It can be a real help.

“When a farmer is sitting in the combine harvester, it can now tell them exactly what the yield's doing, what the moisture is. We never knew the back in the day when I started out. You had no idea what the yield was until it went to the silos and got weighed.”

Another change has been around the end users of the grain, with New Zealand’s dairy sector moving to maximise productivity by supplementing the grass base of their

cows’ diet with other feed sources. Jason says there’s a real science behind on-farm nutrition, and this is changing what grain growers produce.

“We've got very good nutrition specialists in Farmlands, and I think a lot of dairy farmers now are relying on that support. We've got specialists in the field – from growing the grain right through to harvest and the end use, so Farmlands has got that support all the way through.”

Farmlands is investing in the agronomy space, by growing the knowledge and skills of the team, right across the country. This has happened through two solid programmes, Cultivate and AgronoME, with ongoing arable training run in all regions. In this way Farmlands ensures that technical support on-farm is always available to shareholders, with a focus on producing high-value food and primary products, creating a sustainable seed-to-feed approach.

Arable Farmer of the Year 2024

Simon Nitschke (left) with his father Malcolm inspecting their maize crop.

Great grower

One of the shareholders Jason works closely with is Simon Nitschke of Marton-based Arable Solutions. Few Kiwis know more about growing grain than Simon, who won both “Maize Farmer of the Year” and “Arable Farmer of the Year” at the 2024 Arable Awards in Christchurch.

The awards were a credit to Simon's management skills and dedication to producing top-quality maize grain yields, and industry involvement with Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) Arable Research Group and the Growers Leading Change programme.

His family has been arable farming for four generations. As well as growing their own grain, the Arable Solutions business has invested in state-of-theart grain-drying facilities, has a certified

public weighbridge and also offers a package of contracting services.

Arable Solutions contracts whole maize for SealesWinslow’s site in Whanganui and supplies SealesWinslow with wheat and barley. It also contracts kibbled maize for the NRM Blend site at Stratford, and supplies wheat to Nestlé’s Purina Petcare factory in Marton for Tux dog biscuits.

Simon says he hopes the move by Farmlands to purchase SealesWinslow will have a “flow-on effect” for grain growers and provide support for the industry. “Before Farmlands took it on, we were always being compared against the imported price, which was difficult to do. Some years you would win, some years you didn't,” he says.

“New Zealand only grows half of what it needs, so there's always going to be imported grain coming into the

country. It's just about a lot of these big businesses getting on board to use New Zealand grain to give us a bit of certainty and consistency of price across the board.”

The current price volatility makes it very hard for grain growers to budget and plan, Simon says. “Unless they've got huge facilities and storage capability and drying like we do to take the risk out, it's very hard up here.”

He says grain growing in the North Island is quite different to the South Island mode, which uses more farm storage. “You would grow it, store it in your own silos and then they would just buy it as they need it out of your storage. But in the north we don't have that. We’ve always tended to grow for a storage complex and then that storage complex would have the contracts and align with end users.”

Given the lack of other grain storage in the area, Arable Solutions has a big role to play in helping other local growers. It processes about 10,000 tonnes of grain per year and has another 1,500-tonne silo going up on its main site at the moment.

“We tend to work very closely with the growers, we condition the grain and have it there available for them,” Simon says. “So as long as we can all make it work together, it tends to go pretty well.”

Of their 400 hectares of crops, about 200 hectares is currently used for maize, with 100 hectares each for barley and wheat. Simon says the soil in the area is excellent for growing grain, and although they have no irrigation, they usually get plenty of rain.

“We concentrate a lot of our highyielding maize and wheat on very loamy soil, so very high fertility, river silts and volcanic ash. And then a lot of the smaller grain tends to go on the heavy clay soils that are a bit later to get on. There’s still good fertility right through, but it depends how much water carrying capacity they’ve got.”

He says maize has been coming into its own recently around the Rangitikei-Manawatū region, which has managed to avoid the heavy weather events that have struck other

New hybrids have helped maize come into its own in the ManawatuWhanganui region in recent years.

Photos: Alanah Brown

parts of the country. “The last few years we've had a really mild, easy growing period and we’ve getting increased heat units, which is really good for maize, so we’ve been seeing those high yields come out.

“Last year was a very good wheat growing season; it likes a longer season without the heavy rainfall. It does well with a bit more of the warm weather, whereas the barley tends to enjoy the cooler, slower growing conditions.”

These differences mean it’s hard to have a great harvest for all three crops, but it at least offers some diversification and ensures at least one of the three usually does well each season. “We usually never have a good maize season when we have a good barley season, but it actually tended to work itself pretty well last year.”

“The gross margins are better on maize and the hybrids suit our country. We're getting 1-2% per year genetic gains from the Pioneer hybrids, which doesn't sound a lot, but it accumulates.”

Crop switch

Whanganui-based Mackintosh Group is another big grain grower in the Manawatū, run by brother and sister duo Paul and Ruth Mackintosh. They’re the fifth generation of the family to farm in the area.

Their mix of crops has shifted dramatically, with maize coming to the forefront. They have about 150 hectares of maize, yielding typically in the range of 12-13 tonnes per hectare. “It's been a big swing over the last few

years,” Paul says. “A decade ago we were 80-90% barley and 10% maize, but over the last 10 years it swung in the other direction.”

The ultimate driver of the change is economics: they make more money per hectare from maize than barley. However, Paul says there are several reasons why maize has jumped ahead in profitability.

“The gross margins are better on maize and the hybrids suit our country. We're getting 1-2% per

Ruth Mackintosh (left) and her brother Paul Mackintosh (centre) work closely with Farmlands TFO Jason Wing (right).

year genetic gains from the Pioneer hybrids, which doesn't sound a lot, but it accumulates.”

Maize also has a higher ME (metabolisable energy) and higher starch content than barley, Paul says. “It's a dual-purpose crop too, so if we get demand for silage, we can cut it early. That means you’ve got a few options up your sleeve.”

Another positive about maize is how resilient it is, being able to

handle a bit of wet weather as well as being drought resistant. “It's a real good ‘doer’,” Paul says. “We had three years in a row where our barley crops just got absolutely rained out. With the way the climate is going, that's part of the equation.”

Any issues are met with a swift response from their TFO Jason, who has known Paul since they were in Young Farmers together 25 years ago. Ruth says she keeps a Messenger

chat open with Jason in case she needs assistance. “I’m fairly new to my current role and I’m still finding new and creative ways to break stuff. Jason is a lifesaver!”

The Mackintoshes have plenty to keep them busy. Besides cropping, they also have their own grain silo complex, contract-rear egg-laying pullets and run a beef and lamb enterprise supplying the awardwinning Coastal Lamb brand.

“You might've seen it in supermarkets,” Ruth says. “The tagline is ‘Naturally Seasoned by the Sea’. We've had a few laughs about whether we could do the same thing with our maize.”

Another positive about maize is how resilient it is, being able to handle a bit of wet weather as well as being drought resistant.

The mixture of arable, chickens and sheep and beef has made Mackintosh Group more resilient, capable of withstanding shocks that might affect one part of the business. Ruth credits much of their farm’s success to the work of their father, Bruce.

“My dad introduced a lot of things. He introduced the chickens, he built the silo complex with his brother Neil, got rid of the gorse and really hit the accelerator. They took things from my grandfather, who was more interested in racing cars and gliding, and who could blame him?”

Ruth says one of their biggest challenges is market volatility. “We really value and appreciate our Farmlands and SealesWinslow relationships and that we have a certain amount of grain that we know we're going to be paid a fair price for. And that ongoing relationship is critical to our confidence in our business and what we're doing.”

Mackintosh Group plays an important role in a region where grain storage is limited.

Photo: Alanah Brown

IT’S

RED BANDALS SEASON

Get ready for a classic Kiwi summer with Red Bandals! Whether you’re at the beach, the bach, or popping down to the local, they’ve got you sorted. Swap out your Red Bands, show off your gumboot tanlines, and enjoy the sunshine. There’s a pair for the whole family! Red Bandals are available in Junior, Children, and Adults sizes, both in-store and online at Farmlands stores nationwide.

L-R- Mike Caplan (Farmlands Technical Advisor), Ibrahim Cetinturk (Orchard Manager, Bayley Produce), Kevin Bayley (Director, Bayley Produce).

Horticulture help just a stone’s throw away

With Farmlands recently opening its first ever Horticulture

Hub in Hawke’s Bay, we speak to one shareholder who won’t have to go far to use the brand-new facility.

WORDS

BY

NIKO KLOETEN RICHARD BRIMER

The new hub, in Twyford just 5km from the centre of Hastings, operates as a distribution centre while also offering specialist horticulture products and advice. It is designed to better support growers in the Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s largest apple, pear and squash-growing region, and second largest for wine.

It’s in the perfect position for local growers Bayley Produce, who grow a mixture of summerfruit, apples and crops. “We’re directly over the road, so it’s only a stone’s throw,” says Max Bayley, Agriculture Manager.

The business was founded by Max’s parents Kevin (who is still Managing Director) and Karen Bayley, who bought

their first summerfruit orchard in Hawke’s Bay in 1990. It has expanded significantly since then, not only in size but in the range of produce they grow. They also have an on-site packhouse and processing facilities on their main property.

“We grow a range of crops over 200 hectares, consisting of sweetcorn, beans, peas, watermelon and some squash,” says Max, who is responsible for the cropping side of Bayley Produce. “That’s where half our focus lies, the other half is summerfruit and apples.”

Despite their diversified mix of produce, most of the crops are picked at around the same time in early-mid summer. Bayley Produce has about 40 full-time workers

throughout the year, but this swells to close to 300 at harvest time, consisting of locals, backpackers and RSE workers from the Solomon Islands.

“There is a good eight weeks through summer that we are harvesting crops and summerfruit. So, it is chaotic throughout Christmas and the New Year,” Max says. “Especially when all our produce is hand harvested.”

Having such a diverse mix of produce enables land to be rotated between different uses, Max says. “If there is a block growing apples for a long time for example, then it can make good cropping land”

Timing important

Although their apples are mainly exported, with Asia being the biggest market, most of their crops and summerfruit are sold to the local New Zealand market. As a result, getting the timing right is crucial, Max says.

“There's a lot of consumer demand for fresh vegetables and fruit leading into Christmas, so it's important for us to be able to supply the market at those times. We try our best to supply quality produce, as quality sells itself. It’s very expensive hand harvesting everything, but worthwhile to make sure the right produce makes the shelves.”

The timing of their harvest season helped to lessen the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, which struck in February last year. Although many of their apples were affected, Max says their summerfruit and most of their other crops had been harvested before the extreme weather hit.

“Fortunately, when the cyclone came through, we had most of our season out of the way. We had a watermelon crop which got completely wiped out. We'd only just started harvesting a small amount the day before; all the rest floated down the river ending up in fence lines and drains.”

About half of the Bayleys main orchard was underwater, but their packhouse was spared major damage.

“It's one of those things where initially you don't get the full scale, until it’s a year later and you're constantly turning a corner and thinking, ‘where has that disappeared?’ or ‘has that engine been drained of water?’”

Valuable support

Although not every Hawke’s Bay grower is lucky enough to be right next door to the Farmlands Horticulture Hub, Max says they appreciate that Farmlands is investing in the sector in their region. “It's been a stressful time, so it's nice to have the support.”

Bayley Produce Agri Manager Max Bayley runs the cropping side of the business.

Bayley Produce gets most of their agchem products and fertilisers from Farmlands, and works closely with the Farmlands technical team on their growth program and keeping up to date with the latest developments and changes they need to know about.

“As growers it’s a big job trying to keep up with new regulations”, Max says, “With water and labour rules constantly changing, it’s great to have Farmlands’ support when it comes to doing what we enjoy - growing”

Eye for detail needed

Farmlands Technical Advisor Mike Caplan, who works with Bayley Produce on their summerfruit and apples, says they do stone fruit “exceptionally well” and are probably the biggest grower in Hawke’s Bay.

“Growing summerfruit requires an eye for detail. If you get apples wrong, they're a little bit more forgiving. If you get summerfruit wrong, they’re unforgiving. You can't go, ‘well that's an average bit of soil, I'll go and put some summerfruit on it’. You can do that with apples.”

Climate-wise, one of the key ingredients for successful summerfruit growing is a cold winter, Mike says. “Touch wood, we’re having an exceptionally good year as we've had very good winter chilling. It looks like it could be a blinder.”

Another requirement for growing summerfruit is making sure they don’t get too wet, Mike says. “Summerfruit don't like wet feet; if you get wet feet, they will roll their toes up and die, which is why we lost a lot of summerfruit during the cyclone. It’s not mandatory to have drainage, but it’s a really good idea.”

One of the biggest challenges for summerfruit growers is brown rot. Mike says it is important to get on top of the issue early, typically starting from the flowering stage.

“When you start getting to harvest, when the sugars start coming up in the fruit, that's when it starts attacking again.”

He warns that failing to take the proper precautions at the start can spell doom later in the season. “If you don’t get it right now, you might not know about it. Brown rot may not show up until later on… which can be a million dollar ‘oops’.”

Exceeding expectations

Mike has more than 30 years’ industry experience and has previously run his own orchard. He says his favourite part of being a Farmlands Technical Advisor is being out on the road meeting his customers.

This means he doesn’t spend a huge amount of time at the brand-new Farmlands Horticulture Hub in which he is based. However, he says that what he has seen of the new facility so far has exceeded his expectations.

“If you don’t get it right now, you might not know about it. Brown rot may not show up until later on… which can be a million dollar ‘oops’.”

Regardless of how close they are to the Horticulture Hub, Mike says there are certain things his clients have in common that they look for from Farmlands. “Number one is product. The product has to be there today, not tomorrow or the next day.”

The other important thing for Farmlands horticulture customers is relationships, he says. “If you don't get on with them, it's never going to work. For me it’s all about relationships and adding value to their business.”

Bayley Produce is on the edge of Hastings, not far from the Farmlands Horticulture Hub.

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Bright future for SOLAR

Projects to generate solar power on farms across the country have attracted strong interest from the rural sector - delivering cost efficiency, resilience and CO2 reduction.

WORDS BY PENNY MURRAY

Public angst generated by New Zealand’s energy crisis in recent months has put the national grid in the spotlight. A combination of factors, including diminishing gas supplies and low inflows into hydro lakes, saw a spike in wholesale prices during the peak winter months that was blamed for contributing to the closure of several businesses.

Little wonder rural New Zealand is grabbing solar with both hands, wanting to be part of the renewable solution to the country’s long-term energy needs.

Carry on farming

“Solar on farm is a strong choice that improves your bottom line and is better for the environment,” says

Andrew ‘Pegs’ Pegler, one of the founders of Blackcurrent, an energy company that installs microgrids.

Though the company is a fairly new player, it’s already well established in the rural sector, working with 70 farms across the country in the past six months.

A major driver for choosing solar is to ensure continuity of supply. Even a brief outage can cause huge disruption, says Pegs.

“This particular farm’s worried about their electric fences – because if the power goes out, they lose power to the fence and the herd will move.

“Most people don’t think too much of that, but if that herd jumps into the next paddock, that’s next month’s

feed is gone. Right? Just because the power is out for an hour.”

Farmers can also improve land use efficiency, allowing innovative approaches like agrivoltaics, where crops thrive alongside solar panels. Ultimately, embracing solar energy empowers farmers to lead the way in sustainability, ensuring food production remains viable and responsible for future generations.

Three big reasons

Generally, there are three reasons a farmer would look at installing solar.

First up is the financial benefit –an instant saving off your bill, and a revenue stream through preferential rates and exporting.

“We’ve got a customer who’s just removed $68,000 from their yearly electricity bill,” says Pegs. “It’s almost 70% of the electricity bill in year one –because they pump water up a hill for nine months a year.”

The second reason is resilience.

“Whether it’s just disaster recovery or it just rained too much or there’s snow – in central Otago particularly –it’s about keeping the electric fences on. It’s about keeping the ability to milk, if it’s a dairy operation, because the cows don’t want to wait.”

And then there’s sustainability.

“There’s a real CO 2 reduction in this for farmers – even compared to just taking power from the grid,” says Pegs. “Solar reduces your reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable approach.”

Boxes to tick

Diversifying the country’s electricity production capacity means our supply is more resilient overall. If water in the hydro lakes runs low, solar generation can help pick up the slack during the day. Hydro resources are then more available to deploy during the morning and evening peaks.

Solar technology has also improved significantly in recent years, with advancements in panel efficiency and manufacturing making it much more reliable and effective.

Costs have dropped and continue to do so, with the price per megawatt decreasing by more than 10-20 percent over the past decade.

“Batteries used to be $1000 a kilowatt hour. We can purchase them now for 700 bucks a kilowatt hour.

You think about that when you put a hundred kilowatts in – it’s $300 less on every kilowatt. It adds up really quickly,” says Pegs.

“Solar panels are the same. Panels are relatively cheap, but the technology has improved,” he says. Even compared to five years ago, panels are returning more electricity with the same amount of sunshine – and they no longer have to be at the perfect angle.

“Facing north used to be a big problem, whereas now panels can be hit from multiple angles and the losses are 1% instead of 10, 15, 20%.”

On top this, lifespans are increasing.

“For panels, we are knocking on 30 years now, and it used to be 20. Batteries used to be 10, and now we’re looking at 14,” says Pegs.

“So in terms of return on investment and service and maintenance, everything’s improved but cheaper.”

And you don’t have to live in sunny Nelson. “Solar will work for 95% of people in New Zealand from a geographic point of view.”

Even Invercargill? “We’ve got three there,” says Pegs.

If you’re interested in exploring solar, visit blackcurrent.io/flex-enquiry.html or scan the QR code to get in touch with Blackcurrent.

Andrew ‘Pegs’ Pegler, co-founder of Blackcurrent.

Rural mum tackles miscarriage heartbreak

When Michelle Topham experienced the heartbreaking loss of her second child to miscarriage, she found solace in an unexpected gift - a massage voucher. The kindness and care she received during this painful time planted a seed for something greater.

WORDS BY ALICE SCOTT JAY DREW

Today, Michelle's initiative, Massage After Miscarriage, has blossomed into a lifeline for over 350 mothers across New Zealand, offering them not just physical relaxation, but emotional support during their toughest moments.

Michelle’s journey began in May 2020, a time marked by both personal tragedy and societal upheaval with the Covid 19 pandemic. While pregnant, Michelle endured a miscarriage, discovering the loss during a routine scan. The grief was overwhelming, compounded by the isolation that often accompanies such experiences.

However, her sister’s gift of a massage voucher became a turning point. The receiving of flowers and the caring attention from the massage therapist left Michelle feeling valued and understood - a feeling she realised many other women could benefit from.

This led Michelle to launch Massage After Miscarriage. What started as a small initiative, providing

one massage a month through donations from local businesses, has rapidly grown. Today, Michelle’s non-profit organisation extends its reach from Hamilton to Auckland's North Shore and in the South Island she has massage donors in Nelson, Ashburton, Queenstown and Wanaka.

This thoughtful approach ensures that the support offered by Massage After Miscarriage is accessible and practical. The core of the initiative is simple yet profound: it offers a grieving woman who has suffered a miscarriage a massage and a care package “of little goodies” to help them heal.

These packages, initially modest, have grown to become heavy with thoughtful gifts, reflecting the increasing support and love behind the initiative. While the care packages are not cheap to send via the post, and a voucher would make more logistical sense, Michelle believes the package is an important element to the scheme.

“Who doesn’t like getting a package of goodies? It’s a nice thing to do for someone who is going through a really tough time.” The organisation operates on referrals from midwives and is supported by a network of businesses who contribute their services and products.

Hard for rural mums

Living on a rural property herself, Michelle is acutely aware how resolute some farming folk can be when it comes to miscarriage. “Rural men can be very pragmatic when it comes to things like this as they deal with it on a daily basis with their stock, but I don’t think it makes it any easier for a woman.

“I have talked to one farming mum whose husband was almost a little indifferent towards their miscarriage. He was sad it had happened but within that week he had emotionally moved on, while the woman was still back in the grieving process. It’s these women that really do need this extra support and show of love and it’s what keeps me striving to grow the charity.”

It is Michelle’s dedication to reaching even the most remote corners of New Zealand that truly sets

her work apart. "I don't want to make what is supposed to be a kind gesture something that a woman has to drive long distances for," she explains.

"I have found myself driving up rural driveways to deliver care packages before, and if we don't have a donor massage therapist near a woman, I will give a gift voucher for one that is handy to her instead."

In June of this year, Michelle was the deserving recipient of Seven Sharp’s Good as Gold segment and part of her prize was $10,000. “That money has given me a bit of wiggle room so I can spend more time on the charity.”

Huge demand

An early childhood teacher, Michelle has been able to drop her work down to four days a week and hopes in time to drop another day. “There is a huge demand for this service, it’s just a matter of keeping the funds coming in and a network of massage donors on board across the country.”

The pain of miscarriage can often be overshadowed by silence and Michelle agrees her charity is giving the topic the airtime it deserves. “It’s

Dealing with miscarriage can be particularly hard for rural mums.

good to talk about loss and share the heartbreak; it’s amazing just how many women have experienced it and never talked about it until now.

“I have found myself listening to the sorrow from other mums who are going through it. It is often not something their friends and family will have any knowledge of so sharing their grief in confidence with me is part of their healing process and I am happy to do that,” she said.

The initiative’s growth is a testament to its impact, and Michelle’s vision extends beyond her immediate community. She is in the process of registering Massage After Miscarriage as a charity, and a Givealittle page has been set up to further support the initiative and expand its reach.

For those who wish to support this cause, Michelle encourages connections through the Massage After Miscarriage website. Michelle’s story is a powerful reminder that from personal loss can come extraordinary compassion, touching lives and fostering hope for countless families, especially those in the rural heartland of New Zealand.

Farmlands shareholders can now order bulk seed directly from their phones, thanks to a new function in FarmlandsPRO.

FarmlandsPRO, which was launched in June during Fieldays®, is being built to become an all-in-one app-based tool for farmers and growers to manage their on-farm purchases.

It already allowed farmers to do things like managing and drawing down their bulk nutrition orders, and new features added in the recent update have expanded its scope even further.

One of those features is the seed function, which is set up quite differently to how nutrition is managed through the app, according to Luke Fisher, Farmlands Head of Digital Farm Sales.

“It's very standalone and we believe nobody else in New Zealand

has something like this for their customers to use themselves,” he says.

“What you can do is create a bespoke seed mix for any paddock on-farm. Simply head into the app select your paddock, add the hectares, choose your seeds - whether a straight, premix or customised blend. You can also choose the preferred delivery dateso it’s all within the customers control and management.”

The new function has been a resounding success, with more than $1.2 million of seed purchased via FarmlandsPRO in the first week after the feature was introduced. “You've got a lot of savvy farmers who love working

with this kind of stuff,” says Luke. “They can jump in there and create their ‘brews’ to their hearts’ content.”

Quotes being added

FarmlandsPRO will soon be adding a quotes feature, where users can request a quote for one product or multiple products at a time. The next step is the introduction of seasonal plans, which at the time of publication did not have a confirmed release date.

“This functionality allows users to plan and commit more strategically over a set period, locking in the price and volume ahead of time. Not just, ‘I need it now, I'm going to order

New features make FarmlandsPRO a complete farming tool.

it now’,” says Pete Banks, Senior IT Project Manager and Business Analyst at Farmlands.

“We've already got the functionality with nutrition and then they can draw down on it through the app, so they can say, ‘Send me the next truckload of feed’. It's a similar thing where people can build these commitments and this plan and then they can draw down on it when they need it.”

Farmlands Chief Merchandise Officer Chris Fisher says these tools will allow the co-operative to plan its purchases in advance to get better deals from suppliers. He uses the example of a recent shipment of pigtails to demonstrate what a difference FarmlandsPRO will make.

“Through our sourcing partner, we identified a current pigtail manufacturer and worked with them to create a product relevant for the NZ market.

“It took a while and when the stock actually arrived it was after the main season. We put the stock in stores and because the quality and price was right, we sold out in six weeks vs a forecast of three months. It was a really strong signal on the need to show value to our shareholders.”

The sourcing of products like this is just normal behaviour for many retailers and Farmlands is working to improve how it identifies and grasps opportunities like this for the

FarmlandsPRO A HOW-TO GUIDE

Step 1

benefit of its customers. Getting our shareholders to engage much earlier in the demand planning process is vital.

Chris adds, “Rather than selling when the stock arrives, what about if we could get commitment as we go, and then find the suppliers. Then rather than guessing demand we can pre-approve the volume and negotiate better deals before the product is manufactured. Our FarmlandsPRO platform will enable this kind of interaction in time.”

Helpful notifications

FarmlandsPRO now has a promotions feature - so farmers and growers can see current FarmlandsPRO exclusive

more customers, provide them the information and then follow-up with calls or on-farm visits,” says Blair Robinson, Chief Sales Officer.

“The data will tell us that X amount of a product is used on day Y each year, and obviously then the team feed in that ‘actually that's going to be a week earlier, so we need to get the product out’,” Blair says.

“In the future, FarmlandsPRO will be able to do things like suggesting products to shareholders based on impending events. If there's a forecast for a storm in five days, we know you're going to need to apply product one or two days after that, so therefore we will be able to manage the stock into the

“FarmlandsPRO is about freeing up your TFO to be able to have better conversations with you, that more positively impact your farm or orchard.”

pricing up-front when they go into the app. In-app notifications of the latest and best offers are now also available in the app - so customers can see the deals that are relevant to them easily.

“Notifications through FarmlandsPRO allow us to share important seasonal pricing with all farmers and growers who are on the app at once. We can reach

network and prompt the customer to purchase in advance,” he explains.

“This will allow us to streamline our operating model and improve the customer experience, which ultimately benefits all shareholders and that passes through in price. The best place to access price will be in FarmlandsPRO for those core farmers and growers.

FarmlandsPRO uses your MyFarmlands log in details, so have your username and password handy. You need to be a Farmlands shareholder or Cardholder to register. Don’t have a MyFarmlands login? Register at account.farmlands.co.nz

Step 2

Access FarmlandsPRO by downloading via the App Store or Google Play (for mobile) or the Farmlands website (for desktop).

Step 3

Log in and you’re good to go!

You need a MyFarmlands login to use the FarmlandsPRO app.

Self-serve customers

Blair says early usage data shows strong engagement with FarmlandsPRO from customers that Farmlands traditionally hasn't had the reach to actively service. “We've relied on the retail network for them to just turn up,” he says.

“We'll never have enough people to actively call on all farmers, so it’s been really positive to see some growth coming out of those customers, which shows the value in the tool and that's giving us reach and helping us grow.”

However, Blair says he would like to see greater usage of the app among shareholders who have a strong relationship with their TFO. “The time that you have with your TFO should be about adding value to your business rather than just doing some paperwork. We want to be clear that FarmlandsPRO is about freeing up your TFO to be able to have better conversations with you, that more positively impact your farm or orchard.”

FarmlandsPRO gets user tick

With further features to be added, FarmlandsPRO is getting rave reviews from farmers who are using it themselves, as well as from the

Farmlands technical and field sales teams who benefit from the tool’s mobile order management features.

FarmlandsPRO's strongest advocate is Rangiora-based TFO Nigel Kirk, who has the most transactions by any staff member in the app to date. “I find it easy to do orders and sales, and easier to release products off agreements,” he says. “It’s good to be able to see cost price, the seed function is easy and good to use, and it’s easy to see products previously ordered.”

Most importantly, all this info is at Nigel’s fingertips, in real-time, when he’s working directly with his customers.

Richmond/Motueka TFO Josh Coleman is another of Farmlands' most prolific users. “I can place orders on the go, check cost prices and get deals done while I’m with the shareholder, and I can see what they previously ordered and how much they paid last time. I can also look over their contracts and release on the go.”

South Westland farmer Terry Swney says FarmlandsPRO has modernised the way they interact with their “preferred rural supplier”, Farmlands. “It’s given us a simple, seamless and efficient way of pricing, ordering and tracking goods, allowing us more time to focus on farming whilst knowing our procurement requirements are taken care of.”

New features

Ordering seeds

To place a seed order, click ‘Seed’ on the FarmlandsPRO toolbar, then choose between pickup and delivery. Next input the size of your paddock, along with the product mix and sowing rate per hectare. Once this is done you can add more paddocks.

Updating your app

FarmlandsPRO is regularly being updated with improved functionality. If you already have FarmlandsPRO, make sure you keep the app updated to access the latest features.

Requesting a quote (coming soon)

If you're planning to buy a product in bulk, you'll soon be able to request a quote via FarmlandsPRO. Once you've found the product you want to buy, you'll simply ‘Request a Quote”, with how much of the product you want and your contact details.

The app is getting rave reviews from farmers and TFOs.

Ranger XLT Finance

Unlock the power of your Farmlands Card with every new Ford purchase. Contact your local Ford Dealer and book a test drive today or visit ford.co.nz

1. Conditions apply. Offer valid on Ranger XLT vehicles sold (registered) and delivered up until 31 December 2024 (or while stocks last) at any participating Ford dealer. Not available with any other special offer. This My Ford Finance 2.9% p.a. interest rate offer is fixed for the 36-month term of the loan and applies to new Ford Ranger XLT Double Cab 4x4 and RWD models financed during the promotional period and requires a minimum deposit of 10% of the Recommended Retail Price. A PPSR fee of $10.35, monthly maintenance fee of $2, UDC loan fee of $130 and a dealer origination fee will apply (your dealer can tell you their applicable fee). Offer excludes Ford Assured Future Value contracts and any residual payment. My Ford Finance is provided by UDC Finance Limited. UDC’s lending criteria and standard terms and conditions apply. 2. Warranty conditions and exclusions apply. Visit www.ford.co.nz/owners/warranty for further information. 3. To learn more about Ford Benefits visit ford.co.nz/benefits. Tough, capable, comfortable and connected. The Ranger XLT has what you need on and off-road for workdays, weekends, whenever. Available on new Ranger XLT Double Cab 4WD and 2WD models. Get behind the wheel of New Zealand’s favourite vehicle with 2.9% finance.

The future of the Farmlands Card app will be to help shareholders maximise their use of the Card and the benefits it brings - from digital card shopping, and Farmlands account management, to easily reaching a wide range of Farmlands Card Partners.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN

Today Farmlands Cardholders transact around $1.5 billion at Card Partners through the Farmlands Card every year, at over 7,000 locations around New Zealand. All this is done through an age-old method of plastic cards in wallets or pursesthat can get lost, damaged or stolen.

Farmlands has a programme of work to transform the Farmlands Card

into a 21st century payment solutionwith the app being the key.

Farmlands Card app proves its worth – and this is just the start

The Farmlands Card app has already had a huge number of downloads since it was launched at Fieldays® in June, instantly helping these

Cardholders find more Card Partners to unlock more savings and rebates.

“At the moment, the app is essentially an online version of our Card Partner directory. It's designed to help them find the nearest Card Partners, and it's particularly useful in situations where they're trying to find a truck stop when they're out on the road, or if they're looking for a particular item or retailer,” says Farmlands General Manager Card & Strategic Partnerships Gavin Foulsham.

“It also allows them to see their balance and it allows them to manage their Card, so if a card is lost or stolen, they can actually go in and suspend that card or request it to be cancelled.”

Following user feedback, new features are being added, which are due to arrive this year.

Seeing the savings

These new features include enabling Farmlands Cardholders to view their transaction history in the app.

“We'll also have the savings they've made, so they can see in relatively real time the savings that have been made using the Farmlands Card,” Gavin says.

“Over the past 12 months Farmlands shareholders have saved around about 50 million by using the Farmlands Card. That’s a lot of money that stays in shareholders’ pockets that can be used for other farm inputs.”

The history function will also allow Cardholders to view transactions in individual stores.

“It's not designed to replace their statement, so it is more of a convenience tool rather than a full statement facility,” Gavin says.

Another feature being added is notifications, which will allow Cardholders to be informed about offers and deals relevant to them and their business, making it easier for them to save money.

“This gives the ability to advise them of things like the weekly Z Truck

“Over the past 12 months Farmlands shareholders have saved around about 50 million by using the Farmlands Card. That’s a lot of money that stays in shareholders’ pockets that can be used for other farm inputs.”

Stop pricing, where we have pricing that comes out each week and we can talk to people who are diesel users.”

Gavin stresses these notifications will not be going out to everybody, so Card app users won’t have to worry about being spammed by irrelevant offers. “It will be offers relevant to that individual that can help them save money or improve productivity and profitability.”

Gavin says to be able to use the full functionality of the Card app, Farmlands Cardholders will need to have a MyFarmlands login. He also recommends checking your contact details are up to date.

A

future where you can leave your wallet behind – with a truly digital Farmlands Card

The maximum power of the app will be realised when Farmlands launches a full digital card through it. The initial focus will be on allowing customers

to shop with Farmlands with their digital card. This will make it easy for customers and, importantly, safe and secure to shop in line with Farmlands’ current requirements.

The plan is to spread the use of the digital card across Card Partners over time, so the app becomes the primary payment method.

“This is an audacious goal for us to get to the point where customers can choose not to have a physical Farmlands Card at all,” says Gavin.

“We’d love for our digital card to be universal, right now we’ll start out with our own network, followed by a couple of Partners, and work with the feedback we get from both them and our shareholders.”

There’s a lot of work to be done to deliver on the long-term vision and Farmlands will share more information about digital card roll-out plans and the future of the Card app over the coming months.

A Card Partner book in your pocket

With over 7,000 Farmlands Card Partner locations nationwide, and an increasing number of regional Card Partners, each with their own offers, keeping track of where to shop in your area can be a challenge.

This information used to be sent out to shareholders in booklets, such as this bright pink one from the 1960s (pictured).

“That was one of the reasons we developed the Farmlands Card app,” says Gavin.”In the good old days we used to do a Card Partner book that had all the local Card Partners, it just got to a point where that wasn't possible.

“We absolutely need to be able to show people, exactly where our Card Partners are.”

Lay of the land

In this section

Broaden your rural sector knowledge with these insights from Farmlands shareholders and technical experts across New Zealand.

Photo: Marie Richards

We visit Karaka for the latest insights from the equine industry

42 Meet the experts helping horticulture grow in the South Island 66

How a Farmlands staff member ended up hiking the length of New Zealand

Karaka EQUINE SECTOR PICKS UP SPEED

Karaka in rural South Auckland is at the heart of the New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry. We spoke to Farmlands shareholders in the area about how their equine businesses are evolving amid wider industry changes.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN MARIE RICHARDS

If the unfriendly hours put you off a career in the dairy industry, spare a thought for equine vets. That’s how Mark Chitty started his career before taking over the family business, Haunui Farm, which was founded by his grandparents in the 1950s. Mark’s veterinary background included a lot of reproductive work, which comes in handy out on the farm.

“We are no different to the dairy farmers at the moment,” he says of the long hours involved. “We're in foaling season and we are lucky that we've got a good number of the staff that can foal mares. Sunday night's my night, and last Sunday I foaled five mares between 12:30am and 5:15am."

These overnight births, a relic of evolution that protects from sleeping predators, are an example of why Mark believes you need passion to work with horses. “In farming,

succession planning is difficult, because you can't shut up on Friday night at five o'clock and turn it back on at six o'clock on Monday morning. It's a lifestyle and you've really got to love it and want to do it. If it's forced upon you, then you’re toast.”

Originally based east of Auckland in Whitford, Haunui moved to its current base in the heart of rural Karaka in 2011. Over the years it has had many top-performing stallions, including recently retired Iffraaj, who was replaced by his best son Ribchester, who was Europe's Champion Miler at three years old and four years old.

In the big-money world of thoroughbred racing, Ribchester commands $10,000 to service a mare. However, Mark says success in thoroughbred racing is not solely down to lineage. “I think that's what

keeps the dream alive for a lot of people. The elite horse can come from anywhere, but the more quality that you've got within the pedigree, the better chance you have of having a better performance on the racetrack.”

The same principle applies to New Zealand as a country, with Mark saying we punch above our weight in the racing industry internationally. “We don't have all the elite bloodlines of the world. But, because of the New Zealand environment, the ability to grow grass, and because we've got very good horse people, we've been able to stay competitive,” he says.

“We've got some really good Australian clients that when they're going out searching for their next racehorses, they come to New Zealand to see if we've got anything that they would like to take and compete back in Australia.”

Mark Chitty of Haunui Farms is also an experienced equine vet.

Nutrition vital

While the genetic aspect can be a lottery – thoroughbred racing is governed by natural breeding rather than artificial insemination – Mark says advances in the nutrition space have taken a lot of the variability out of that equation. Haunui Farm uses a combination of NRM products including NRM Evolve Nuts, NRM Assett and NRM Muscle Relieve, depending on which stage the horse is in.

“In the traditional horse feed scenarios, there might've been six or seven different parts to the feed makeup. If you think of someone measuring out seven times, that variability can add up. By having a company such as NRM who's done all that quality control within the lab, we're only measuring out once.”

Getting doses right is vital when you're dealing with a rapidly growing animal, such as thoroughbred horses,

where the aim is to gain 2/3 to 3/4 of a kilogram of weight per day. “When foals are first born, they'll put on a lot more than that – they'll put on a kilo. But we can't afford them to continue to do that, otherwise it’s not good for their legs and their joints,” Mark explains. “So having that science in behind the feeds is really important.”

Mark says one of the big areas of evolution in the nutrition space has been the development of feeding in the last trimester, the final third of pregnancy during which the foal doubles in size. “Because the foal is a long-limbed animal, you often used to see quite a lot of variation in their front, especially front leg conformation that you might've had to do a little bit of corrective surgery on.”

That issue is minimal now; according to Mark it occurs in under 2 percent of the 150-200 foals born at Haunui Farm each year. NRM Progress is a product designed for that third trimester. “It has all the trace elements and minerals, but it doesn't have a lot of carbohydrates, so you’re not adding a lot of weight gain with it, but it's getting the mineralisation right for that developing fetus, which is really, really important.”

Although the racing industry has hit hard times in recent years, Mark is confident that recent changes to the structure of the sport will have benefits from the top down. These include the partnership between the TAB and Entain Australia, and the merger of five racing clubs into two new entities: Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing.

Mark says the industry has done a good job collaborating to tackle its challenges. “I think we are very lucky in the thoroughbred stud game that a lot of the people that are running those studs are actually family operations. There's been collective collaboration between families in the past and through generation to generation.”

Horse trainer Sim Kann is a former international threeday eventing competitor.

All in the head

Getting a horse’s body in tip-top shape is crucial for creating a champion, but like human athletes, the mind is a critical component of success. Simone (Sim) Kann knows the importance of the top two inches well, having competed internationally in three-day eventing for Australia and producing more than 16 upper level horses at international level before becoming a horse trainer.

Sim’s CV includes two years working as Yearling Manager at Haunui Farm, where she upskilled and added more tools to her tool box in training before starting a business of her own, continuing the business under the Balmoral brand with business partner Anna Stokes (AVS Bloodstock Ltd). They have two 20acre facilities, one in Karaka and one in Rangiriri, about halfway between Auckland and Hamilton.

“What we do here is we start young horses,” Sim says. “We do the breaking in process, we school

them, we work on their brains and the calmness, the rideability. We also do breeding in the sport horse industry, as well as lessons. I am very passionate about working with young horses, breaking them in and developing them to the next level, while Anna is really good on gut health and the nutrition side of things.”

Sim says their training process starts with a strong focus on trust, and the way they develop that is by getting the horses to listen to them. “We work on getting the horse’s brain set on us so that in an environment that might be hectic and loud, the horse is still concentrating on me. That’s the first thing that we develop.

“You can have a horse that has got the right ability, but the brain is somewhere else. The brain is thinking about ‘why is that flag flapping?’ The horse should concentrate on me. I should have it so that I've got it with me 100 percent of the time.”

The horses start their training at their Karaka property, then once they are

more advanced, they are moved down to Rangiriri, which has two big arenas. “It’s also good because we put them on the trailers, on the trucks and they learn to travel well,” Sim says. “We're working on roughly 15 to 20 horses at this stage, which keeps us busy enough.”

The horses they work with come from a range of owners in different parts of the industry, Sim says. They usually keep them for between four and six weeks, depending on the starting point of each horse.

“At the moment we've got a lot of tricky, difficult horses that we need to retrain, which is what I love. We have eight breakers-in which have come from the thoroughbreds and the warm bloods. They're coming from all disciplines, racing and sport horse.”

Looking ahead, Sim says they would like to also focus on “freshening up” racehorses, which is where a horse needs a bit of a freshen-up between races. “For three weeks, it comes in, gets a little jump. We flat work, head to the beach - literally

freshen its mind back on the job and to refocus, not just thinking, ‘Okay, when's the next race?’”

Sim says there is no one-sizefits-all approach to training horses, comparing the practice to athletes who go to sports psychologists. “Not every psychologist will suit everyone; you've got to find that psychologist that suits that sports person. This is the same with the horses.”

‘They’re just farmers’

NRM Nutrition Specialist Dougal Scott has spent his whole life around horses: he started riding at age three and his parents bred and trained their own racehorses. With 19 years' experience in animal and equine nutrition, he says it has much in common with other parts of New Zealand’s rural sector.

“Some people go, ‘Oh, crazy horse people.’ But I look after a lot of the stud and breeding farms, and at the end of the day they’re just farmers. They've got a different skillset for different animals, but they’re a business and

NRM Nutrition Specialist Dougal Scott enjoys seeing his clients do well at the saleyards and on the racetrack.

racehorses adds extra pressure to get things right. Dougal says NRM’s exclusive partnership with Kentucky Equine Research “adds credibility”, noting that getting the advice right is just as important as having the best product.

“When we're dealing with stallions that are worth $50 million for example, we need to make sure things are right or that if they've got issues, we're there to remedy that and find a solution for them.”

Nutrition is tailored according to the individual needs of the horse, such as whether it needs slow-releasing energy for middle-distance races or fast-acting energy for sprints. What you feed a horse can also affect its behaviour, Dougal says.

“With the yearling preparations, you get a type that's probably a little bit hot-headed. So you look for a slower energy, just take starch out of it. From a human safety point of view,

“They've got a different skillset for different animals, but they’re a business and they're farming, and they go through the highs and lows of any industry.”

they're farming, and they go through the highs and lows of any industry.”

Dougal says the industry is in a rebuilding phase, having gone through a “massive” restructure. “The breeding farms are obviously directly returned from the racing industry, which needed to be refreshed. There's been some big strides in the last probably two years around getting that structure, although there’s still a long way to go.

“There’s also been some large investment from offshore, with Entain via the TAB, which is putting money back into winning, so the horses that are winning are getting more value for their breeding stock.”

Although nutrition is important for all types of livestock, the huge sums of money involved with individual

having a 500kg horse bouncing off the walls is not ideal.”

Dougal says there are a couple of key dates on the calendar that local breeders work towards: the Karaka Yearling Sales in January, and the Ready to Run Sale in November, also in Karaka, for two-year-old thoroughbreds. He says the main international interest in these horses – other than Australia – comes from Asia, where land for training horses is at a premium.

There is a strong sense of satisfaction when a horse he has worked with fetches a premium price at the saleyards or gets a good result on the track, Dougal says. “We definitely take interest in the ones we're feeding, the ones we reared and got them to that point. There's a following there.”

HAPPY HACKING: feeding horses in light work

Not every horse is a high performance athlete. NRM Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood has some tips to get the right nutrition for the more leisurely equine family members.

Alarge proportion of horses kept in New Zealand are used for light work including pleasure riding, hacking, pony club and low-level competition. While workloads may not be high, nutrient requirements still need to be met and careful consideration is required to provide a balanced diet for what is often a very much-loved family pet.

Understanding nutritional needs

Compared to high performance sport horses or racehorses, horses in light work have significantly different nutritional needs. Their diet should aim to provide enough calories to support their activity levels while maintaining their body condition at an optimum level.

While requirements for protein, trace minerals and vitamins aren’t high, it is important for general health and disease prevention that these are met daily. Nutritional requirements are met through three primary components of the diet, which include forage, concentrates, and supplements.

Forage: the foundation of the diet

Forage, such as hay, pasture and fibre products like chaff, should make up the bulk of the diet for all horses and is essential for maintaining digestive health. Minimum forage intake required is 1 percent of the horse’s body weight daily, with optimum intakes of 1.5 to 2 percent.

A constant intake of forage is important, and while pasture is often the most convenient way of providing forage daily, supplementary hay or ensiled forages like baleage and haylage will be required if pasture is ever in short supply at certain times of the year. Dry matter content of forages is also important to consider, and higher levels of ensiled forages or rich pasture with high water content will be required to meet optimum daily forage intakes.

Concentrates: supplementing forage

While forage is the foundation, some horses may require additional concentrates to meet their energy needs and maintain optimum body condition. Most horses in light work won’t require significant amounts of concentrates unless they are particularly ‘poor doers’ and struggle to hold condition well. Concentrates can include grains, commercial feeds, or a mix of both.

Commercial feeds from credible companies can be a convenient way of feeding, as they often provide all required calories, protein and nutrients required daily. Therefore, selecting the correct feed and providing it at the correct amount daily can help to take a lot of the guess work out of feeding. Suitable feeds for horses and ponies in light work are low energy, lower protein feeds such as McMillan Cool Feed, NRM Horse and Pony or NRM Coolade.

Some horses can be intolerant to grains due to behaviour or health concerns such as metabolic conditions or laminitis. In this instance, low starch feed options that have been formulated with fibre and fat as the main sources of calories, such as McMillan Grain Free or NRM Low GI Sport, are recommended.

Many horses in light work can be classified as ‘good doers’, meaning they gain weight easily and are often at body condition scores higher than optimum. While these horses don’t require additional calories from hard feed, it is important to still meet requirements for all essential nutrients.

In this case the best option for these horses is to provide a concentrated balancer pellet to meet nutrient requirements such as NRM Equine Balancer, or a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement such as McMillan Multi Minerals.

Balancing the diet with supplements

If a formulated feed or balancer pellet is provided at the correct levels daily, additional vitamin and mineral

supplementation will not be required. Regarding supplements, salt should be provided daily through a plain free choice salt block or salt added to feeds, and a balanced electrolyte is recommended on days the horse works to replace nutrients lost through sweat. Other supplements are only required to target specific areas of health, such as hoof and coat quality, joint health and digestive issues. It is important to only select products from credible companies that have research to support the ingredients they contain.

Monitoring body condition

Regularly monitoring the horse’s body condition is crucial to ensure they are neither underweight nor overweight. The Body Condition Score (BCS) system is a useful tool for this purpose and horses in light work should ideally have a BCS of 3 on the 0-5 point scale. Where certain breeds such as Thoroughbreds and Arabians can be prone to be lighter and more difficult to increase body condition, it is more common for ponies and horses in light work to hold excess condition and be above optimum levels.

In these cases, management to decrease body condition is essential to avoid the numerous equine health conditions associated with being overweight including joint problems and metabolic conditions such as laminitis. Dietary management includes restriction from rich pasture, providing low calories forage sources such as older hay, and providing minimum hard feed through concentrated feeds like NRM Equine Balancer. Adjustments to the diet should be made based on the horse’s condition, workload, and any changes in forage quality.

Hydration: often overlooked

Adequate hydration is vital for all horses and fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Horses typically drink 20-30 litres of water per day, but this can increase with higher temperatures or increased activity levels. Ensuring they have access to water can prevent dehydration and support overall health.

All about balance

Feeding pony club horses and horses in light work is about finding the right balance. By focusing on highquality forage, supplementing with concentrates as needed, and ensuring they receive essential vitamins and minerals, you can maintain their health and performance. Regular monitoring and adjustments based on their condition and workload will help keep these horses in optimal shape all year round.

For assistance with navigating the significant amount of feeds and supplements available in the market and designing a diet that suits the individual horse and the owner, consult with a qualified equine nutritionist.

NRM Equine Balancer is a concentrated vitamin and mineral pellet and is suitable for horses that do not require the increased calorie intake provided by supplementary feed, but still require necessary vitamin and mineral intake for optimum good health. Available in-store and online at shop.farmlands.co.nz

FEATURED PRODUCT

Farmlands Horticulture has demonstrated its commitment to supporting South Island growers with a series of talented new hires. We take a look at the revamped roster of Farmlands Technical Advisors (TAs) on the Mainland.

Mike Darling Cromwell

Mike Darling is a third-generation Central Otago orchardist who grew up lighting frost pots, wrangling tractors and eating his mother's famous apple puddings.

In 2013 he returned to Central Otago, establishing and running a successful orchard that produced apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, pears, apples, nectarines, greengages, mulberries and figs. A true fruit salad.

Mike has considerable experience across all orcharding activities and fruit crops that grow in Central Otago. Fitting with the Farmlands’ philosophy of helping everyone prosper, Mike finds that there is nothing more rewarding than helping growers produce amazing fruit.

Dominic Missen Blenheim

Another new kid on the Farmlands Horticulture block, Blenheim-based Dominc Missen, who despite his young face has worked in horticulture for almost 12 years. He started doing seasonal work on an apple orchard in the school holidays in Tasman when he was 14 and then started working full time on a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke when he was 16.

Dominic has grown a lot of different crop types, including apples,

Mike Darling is a third-generation orchardist with a successful track record.

kiwifruit, cherries, wine grapes and various veges. Although he is too modest to call himself an expert, he says wine grape production is what he mainly studied and where most of his knowledge sits. “I’ve also done study and grown veges so I would consider myself knowledgeable in that field too.”

He has a few hobbies but his main one at the moment is spending time with his wife and two kids.

Why did you come to Farmlands?

I came to Farmlands because I loved the idea of helping growers achieve a great result.

Why should customers work with Farmlands Horticulture?

I think customers should come back to Farmlands as we offer great advice. But the main reason is that we are a co-op, so our pricing is, in most cases, lower.

Bevan Meiklejohn Cromwell

Another member of the Cromwell team, Bevan Meiklejohn's love for the outdoors runs as deep as his passion for horticulture. Bevan's journey in the primary sector began with his family’s involvement in kiwifruit farming. This sparked a lifelong passion for agriculture, eventually leading him to transition from the automotive industry into the world of horticulture.

When he's not offering expert advice to growers, you'll find him exploring the rugged landscapes of Central Otago with his family and two loyal collies. Bevan is a committee member for the local mountain bike club, so if he’s not helping create trails, he’s riding on them.

He is also a massive car enthusiast and spends far too much time at the local race-track and attending car gatherings across the region in his original Subaru WRX STI.

Why did you come to Farmlands?

When the opportunity to become a TA at Farmlands came up, it appealed to me as I enjoy dealing with customers and also wanted to learn about viticulture. Winegrowers are currently the majority of the shareholders I service by a huge margin.

However, it’s nice being able help with other horticultural crops and we have some very good relationships with shareholders growing cherries and other stonefruit in the region as well. I’ve been here for two years and thoroughly enjoy my role.

Dominic Missen has grown a variety of crops in his 12-year horticulture career.

Why should customers work with Farmlands Horticulture?

We offer great service, great advice and a wide range of products to suit all growing scenarios. We have a growing team and a massive pool of knowledge as a result. If I can’t help with a specific request, I’ll know someone within the group who does. We are a one-stop shop with all the other products and services we provide like fuel, apparel, animal food, infrastructure, the list goes on.

Grant McKay

National Key Accounts Manager Cromwell-based Grant McKay is another important new signing for the Farmlands Horticulture team, in the role of National Key Account Manager. Grant’s passion for horticulture began over 30 years ago, working in market gardens during his youth. He later earned a B.Com Hort and Diploma in Horticultural Management from Lincoln University, leading to a career in research, development and technical advisory roles.

An expert in pipfruit, stonefruit, and viticulture (both conventional and organic), Grant also has experience in kiwifruit and forestry.

Grant received the Kellogg Rural Leadership Scholarship in 2013 and the Horticulture New Zealand Industry Service Award in 2023. He currently serves with Summerfruit

NZ (on the Export Reference Group and Research Advisory Group) and the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management. Grant’s other accolades and achievements in the industry include:

• Leading the establishment of the Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition in Central Otago and the Young Grower Group.

• Current committee member of the Summerfruit NZ Export Reference Group, which sets the agrichemical strategy and programme.

• Current member of the Summerfruit Research Advisory Group.

• Past Chair for the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management, a peak industry body for rural professionals.

As National Key Account Manager for Horticulture, Grant aims to use Farmlands’ scale and his expertise to provide growers with top technical advice and resources. His philosophy: "It’s about relationships and sound technical advice," aligns perfectly with Farmlands’ co-operative spirit.

Why Farmlands?

I came back to Farmlands as I believe Farmlands can become one of the country's best horticultural technical advice and supply companies. Farmlands has a significant scale

and is positioned well to meet the requirements of an ever-changing horticultural sector. I look forward to assisting and growing the capabilities of Farmlands Horticulture. It will be a challenge but it’s a good one!

Why should customers work with Farmlands Horticulture?

The team is growing, and we are attracting some very skilled and talented people, it's all about people –you can’t put a price on that.However, our scale and share size will ensure the co-operative will perform its key function and that’s providing our growers with the best deal.

Outside of work Grant enjoys skiing and watersports with his family, as well as hunting. He took part in this year's Queenstown halfmarathon, and has been pounding the pavements for the past few months.

Mark Eder

Canterbury

With 36 years in the primary sector, Mark Eder brings extensive knowledge of various crops, including grapes. He joined Farmlands Horticulture to return to Canterbury and collaborate with a dedicated team.

Renowned for his expertise in grape cultivation, Mark values the combination of Farmlands Horticulture’s experienced professionals and their deep understanding of growers' challenges. By working closely with customers and offering tailored advice, he strives to help growers achieve their goals.

Grant McKay has won accolades for his service to the horticulture industry.

Simon Bowers Blenheim

Blenheim-based Simon Bowers started in horticulture in the early 1990s on the family apple orchard in Marlborough. After converting to grapes, Simon managed field operations for an export apple packhouse and commercial grape nursery, while earning a tertiary qualification in viticulture and winemaking.

Developing and managing vineyards led him to a company Viticulturist role which ultimately meant full

immersion in corporate winemaking. Simon has loved seeing the evolution of modern winegrowing and enjoys helping growers get the most from their vineyards, He also stays closely attuned to the needs of the modern winemaker and the demands they face from one season to the next.

Outside of Farmlands Simon enjoys hunting, shooting and fishing, as well as spending time with his wife Rebecca and Hungarian Vizsla’s Luca and Mila on their lifestyle block.

Ed Haycock Cromwell

Bolstering Farmlands Horticulture’s talented Cromwell team is Ed Haycock, who found his place in the horticulture world through a love of the outdoors and being curious about nature.

He figured that most winegrowing regions have the best weather, landscapes, and trails, so after gaining his Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln, he naturally gravitated towards the mountains and lakes of Central Otago.

Over a decade later, after managing vineyards and working across hemispheres, Ed landed back in Cromwell to join the Farmlands team. With his laser eye for detail, Ed takes pride in problem-solving with growers, and providing the best technical advice. He specialises in precision ag-chem and fertiliser plans, to fit the needs of the grower and site. His passion for viticulture, and seeing the growers and region succeed, are what drives him to provide the very best service to shareholders.

Richard Clarkson Motueka

Richard has a passion for horticulture, as well as for the growth and success of the industry. He’s been in the industry since 2010, and over that time has been involved in growing apples, kiwifruit and berry fruit.

Richard has long been involved in the running and coordinating of the Nelson Young Grower of the Year Competition, as well as the Motueka Fruit Growers Association and working for MPI.

Getting out on the hills on a MTB is Richard’s key to enjoyment.

You’ll see him over summer once a week at the Rural Riders events in Nelson/Tasman, which he also coordinates for the region.

Richard Clarkson has been involved in growing apples, kiwifruit and berry fruit.

Central Otago is the perfect location for outdoor enthusiast Ed Haycock.

Luke Hawthorne Regional Sales Manager – Southern

One of the star additions to the Farmlands Horticulture line-up in the South Island is Motueka-based Luke Hawthorne, who is also Farmlands’ Regional Sales Manager- Horticulture for the Southern Region.

With over 38 years of experience, Luke is a specialist in hops, pears, and high-density pipfruit production. He has a deep understanding of the sector, including the evolving role of chemistry and the importance of sustainability—areas where Farmlands is committed to being a leader.

Having previously worked at Wakatu Corporation and Horticentre, Luke joined Farmlands to utilise his expertise and support the company’s mission of assisting growers. His talent for building strong relationships and his passion for the industry, drive his commitment to helping clients achieve their goals.

What’s your hort experience to date?

I completed my Cadetship at age 20 and was trained by Alan Tait, then brought shares into my first orchard at 23 and farmed through the very tough times of the 90s and early 2000s. I was lucky enough to have the support of great neighbours, the Easton family.

In 2006 I sold and went on to work for the Wakatu corporation (Ngatahi/Kono Horticulture), this was a truly a great experience and it was where I really found my passion for hops and development of new blocks in Horticulture.

In 2014, I was given the opportunity to join the Farmlands team as a Technical Advisor which was a new experience within the industry for me. Then soon after this was I asked to join Horticentre team in 2017 in a similar role and then becoming their Regional Manager. In June 2024 I came back home to Farmlands.

Why did you come back to Farmlands?

The Horticultural industry is changing in New Zealand; we have gone from over 1,500 pipfruit growers to fewer than 300. The small family farms are getting brought up by corporations.

I believe Farmlands has the resources and powerhouse to look after these large entities as well as support the local Mum and Dad growers. Chemistry is also changing along with sustainability, which Farmlands are very passionate about being leaders in.

Why should customers work with Farmlands Horticulture?

Farmlands is a grower-owned business, therefore all profits stay in New Zealand and at the same time the grower/farmer is getting the best possible deal there is. Farmlands stores really work as a team, everyone helps each other.

Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, and exploring his interest in micro-brewing. He and his wife and two boys live on a lifestyle block (or as he calls it, a “life sentence block” which he says is “where most of my time and money goes!”

Ryan Gaudin Motueka

Raised on a dairy farm in the Waikato, Ryan's passion for agriculture led him into viticulture. With over two decades of experience in the industry, he has held various roles including vineyard manager and technical advisor.

Ryan's expertise extends beyond viticulture, as he has also managed pear orchards and dabbled in winemaking. His career highlights include winning the Alan Limmer Trophy for top Syrah at the Bragato Viti awards and representing New Zealand at the Junior World Rowing Championships.

Joining Farmlands Horticulture has allowed Ryan to continue his journey of learning and contributing to the success of local growers. He enjoys the collaborative environment and the opportunity to share his knowledge and support others in the industry.

Outside of work he has three children under five and his own vineyard named “MacCon” after the first two children ( Mackenzie James and Connor) before his third was born. He also continues to row competitively in his spare time.

Why did you come to Farmlands?

There is so much to learn here at Farmlands – whether it is customer focus in store, providing expert advice and sometimes more often than not listening to clients problems in the field. If you are eager to learn new skills there is always someone willing to help out and give some advice.

Luke Hawthorne has more than 38 years’ experience in horticulture.

Fern Energy is marking a significant milestone as it ticks over $2 million worth of resources donated to rural schools.

Half owned by Farmlands, Fern is a specialist provider of bulk fuels, fuel cards and lubricants to New Zealand farms and agribusinesses.

With its flagship sponsorship programme, Fuel for Schools, Fern contributes 50c for every 100L of fuel delivered to rural customers to a participating school of their choice. When the school’s tally reaches $1,000 they can order sports, music, IT, book or vegepod packages.

“It’s great to have surpassed the $2m mark since the programme began and remarkably we have clocked up the second million dollars’ worth of resources in only four years, providing a further 1,000 packages” says Fern Chief Executive, Bryan Jamison.

“Fuel for Schools has really taken off since Fern was formed through the merger of Farmlands Fuel and SouthFuels/NorthFuels two years ago.

“Across the country, we have almost 700 rural schools taking part in Fuel for Schools including a small Canterbury school where every student has a laptop computer provided by our programme. Fuel for Schools is a great way for us and our customers to contribute to schools, which are such an integral part of our rural communities.

“So a big thank you to our rural customers for enabling us to provide these packages that help our kids learn and grow.

“At Fern, we have more rural fuel specialists out there providing advice and support to customers than any other bulk fuel provider, so we love supporting the communities where we live and work,” says Bryan.

Farmlands shareholders can charge their Fern bulk fuel purchases to their Farmlands account. In addition to bulk fuel, Fern can provide lubricants, fuel storage solutions and discounted fuel cards for use at the pump.

If you’re not already a Fern customer, or you’re unsure if you’re participating in Fuel for Schools, contact your local Fern Sales Manager fernenergy.co.nz or call us on 0800 999 989.

SealesWinslow move shows early benefits

Farmlands’ acquisition of animal nutrition business SealesWinslow, creating New Zealand’s largest co-operative-owned animal nutrition business, is already making a difference for the co-operative’s shareholders.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN

Farmlands took over SealesWinslow in June, giving it nationwide animal feed manufacturing capability and allowing it to make a greater range of products in-house alongside its existing NRM, McMillan and Reliance brands.

Scott Brown, General Manager – Strategy and Animal Nutrition at Farmlands, says the focus in the early days has been on optimising the combined supply chain of the newly-branded SealesWinslow nutrition business.

“All of our palletised animal nutrition products are now made in house, so we've got nothing that we outsource or contract manufacture; that's all being done by either our SealesWinslow feed mills or the existing Farmlands feed mills.

“We now operate five feed manufacturing mills nationwide and the Farmlands and SealesWinslow Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams are already working closely together.

Scott says some of the highlights are:

• All of Farmlands’ own brand animal nutrition products are produced by its own feed mills.

• Both teams are planning closer together to ensure we adjust manufacturing capacity based on market demand, and the mills ensuring resilience in the manufacturing capacity

• Integrated forecasting and procurement of raw materials and starting to offer more contracts, inputs, and advice to our arable farmers.

• Farmlands is leveraging the combined scale of its buying power, enabling us to procure better.

Farmlands shareholders will also have access to SealesWinslow’s Ruminix tool next season, which helps farmers compare costs and expected returns from various feed options.

Example:

Table

Scott says there is more to profitability than just picking the cheapest feed, and Ruminix makes that equation a lot easier to work out. “With a strong dairy payout and feed costs having come down from last year, it’s really important to maximise profitability by getting those decisions right,” he says.

“We are also developing a tool so we will soon have an emissions profile per kg of feed coming through. A lot of people will be quite interested in that and how that works.”

Mixed outlooks

Scott says farmers generally reassess their budgets in December, including looking at their animal nutrition spend for the remainder of the season.

“They’re looking at the potential for a strong payout, and maximising productivity and profitability this season is a big opportunity. I would recommend talking to your nutrition specialist about how to optimise your remaining season to make the most milk.”

However, not all farmers will be feeling so optimistic with their nutrition decision-making, according to NRM Head of Commercial – Animal Nutrition, Tim Bishell. He says during pasture deficit periods farmers often purchase supplementary products like sheep nuts, and “we've been selling a lot of those” in the last few months.

“It's been tricky in the South Island in particular. And then we've got some specialist products such as a pre-tup nut in the sheep market, as well as a number of specialist lamb performance and start feeds,” he says.

“We've been busy supporting all the key sectors through the busy spring peak and through the tough conditions in some regions and sectors as well. It’s pretty tough for the sheep sector in particular at the moment.”

Nutrition champions awarded

A certificate, a badge, a chocolate fish and a lot of pride: those were the rewards for a group of Farmlands staff members who completed a recent programme on animal nutrition.

While Farmlands has a team of nutrition experts across the country, this course helps upskill staff without a specialist nutrition

background so they can better assist customers with enquiries.

Stacey Cosnett, NRM Head of Animal Performance, says there were 62 graduates from the first intake of the Retail Nutrition Champ Programme.

“We are proud of these 62 Farmlanders who have worked

hard over the past five months to develop their nutrition knowledge. They have all received a Nutrition Champ badge to wear proudly on their uniform to showcase their expertise to our customers.”

1: CNCPS biological modelling effects of feed on milk yields for a 500-cow farm in the South Island, July 2023¹

Above, L-R: Shona Mehlhopt, Briar Campbell, Chris Boys.

The threat of bird flu (Avian Influenza or AI) is causing concern overseas. Dr Rob Derrick looks at what it might mean for New Zealand, and what bird owners can do to reduce the risks.

DR ROB DERRICK HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

What is bird flu?

There are two categories of avian influenza virus:

• high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), which can cause severe signs and high death rates in birds

• low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI), which typically causes few or no signs in birds but can possibly mutate to become HPAI.

New Zealand has never had HPAI which is a notifiable disease (via Biosecurity New Zealand’s Pest and Disease Hotline – 0800 80 99 66). However, LPAI viruses exist in wild birds and has been detected in New Zealand through an active surveillance programme.

One strain of HPAI - H5N1 – is causing most concern globally because it is carried by annual wild bird migrations. It can be spread by direct contact between infested and healthy birds and through contamination of equipment and materials, including water and feed. It has been associated with mass die-offs of wild birds.

What harm does it do to domestic poultry?

The most obvious sign is many dead birds within a flock, in a short timeframe. As well as sudden mortality, signs for HPAI in poultry (chickens and turkeys) can include lethargy, reduced appetite, droopy head, darkened or swollen comb/ wattle, panting and nasal secretions, unusual drop in egg production, severe diarrhoea, very quiet poultry shed.

In domesticated waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, HPAI generally has lower mortality and is, therefore, harder to detect. Signs are usually related to the nervous system, such as involuntary movement, lack of coordination, blindness, and trembling.

Is there a risk to owners?

Bird flu does not easily spread to people and poses a very low food safety risk for consumers of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

Will it get to NZ?

It seems more likely but not inevitable. MPI are actively monitoring the spread of the disease, particularly from the Ross Sea region in Antarctica. They have asked that if people see 3 or more sick or dead wild birds in a group to report it to them immediately.

How have other countries responded?

In June 2024 more than 60,000 egg-laying birds from four farms in Victoria, Australia were culled in an effort to limit the spread of the virus (strain H7N3). Both in the UK and Australia measures have been implemented at regional levels to control the spread of bird flu when it arrives. The consequences for commercial producers of culling flocks affected supply and increased egg prices. Mandatory housing orders have been periodically imposed in the UK since 2021 that required poultry and other captive birds to be housed or

Bird flu does not easily spread to people and poses a very low food safety risk for consumers of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

otherwise kept separate from wild birds. Flocks above 50 birds must sign up to the UK Poultry Register or risk a fine. Commercial free-range flocks were allowed to be housed for up to 4 months while still allowing eggs to be sold as free range. The control measure enabled the UK to declare itself free from HPAI in March 2024 after two and a half years of bird flu incidents. Keeping poultry is hugely popular throughout the world. A 2020 survey estimated that there were 10 million backyard (small scale) chicken owners in Europe and 416,000 in Australia. Requirements for poultry keepers to register or obtain permits for their flocks vary widely and have tended to apply more to urban or larger flocks.

What can you do to minimise the risk of your birds getting infected? Housing orders imposed elsewhere forced poultry owners to get industrious and construct extended housing such as polytunnels to give their birds some space whilst preventing access from wild birds. If there is a sudden increase in demand for bird netting getting ahead of the rush may be worthwhile. Practices to help to protect flocks against HPAI include:

• Keep your equipment, yards, and barns/sheds clean

• thoroughly clean concrete floors, walls, and aviary wire with soapy water, and disinfect as needed –Virkon S is an effective, safe option.

• clean and disinfect feed and water containers regularly.

• keep feed and water inside to avoid attracting wild birds.

• don’t share equipment with other birdkeepers or farms unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Prevent contact between your birds and wild birds

• keep bird enclosures secure from entry by wild birds.

• restrict poultry access to open ponds, lakes and creeks.

• clean up surrounding areas to reduce shelter and hiding places for wild birds.

Don’t let feed and water become contaminated by faeces or other animal waste

• use nipple water drinkers rather than bowls and automatic poultry feeders that restrict access to wild birds.

• ensure water supplied to poultry is from a chlorinated mains water supply, a microbiologically clean bore, or treated with chlorine if these sources aren’t available.

• store feed in a secure container so wild birds or pest animals can’t contaminate it.

Maintain good hygiene

• have good hygiene practices before and after handling birds – this includes hand washing/sanitising and ensuring your footwear is clean.

• Biosecurity measures such as footbaths and a change of footwear at the entrance to the chicken coop further reduce the risk of carrying infection to the birds.

• Avoid using the same clothing and footwear around your own birds if you have visited other flocks or events such as shows

Limit visitors to your operation to necessary people only

• restrict their access to bird areas.

• ask any visitors to put on clean protective clothing and use footbaths containing appropriate disinfectants at the entrance to bird areas or sheds.

• keep a record of visitors and their contact details.

Quarantine/separate new birds

• separate and monitor new birds for at least 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock.

• always source new birds from a reputable producer or a breeder whose bird health status is known.

• feed quarantined new birds and clean their shed and any equipment used after you have tended to other birds.

What can you do if your birds do get infected?

Report suspected cases quickly so that we are more likely to get the disease under control.

How to keep updated

If HPAI gets to New Zealand it will be big news and information will be provided through multiple channels including www.mpi.govt.nz/HPAI.

FEATURED PRODUCT Virkon™ S

Virkon™ S is the breakthrough disinfectant formulation that defines on farm biosecurity. With powerful, proven performance against over 500 strains of viruses, bacteria and fungi including foot and mouth disease (FMD), avian influenza, salmonella and campylobacter, Virkon™ S is selected by governments worldwide for emergency disease control.

Available in-store and online at shop.farmlands.co.nz

Fodder beet can provide a high yielding, high energy crop for late autumn and winter feed, but nutrient management and crop establishment practices can impact yields.

To develop better nutrient management advice, a 2016 Sustainable Farming Fund project researched the impacts of different rates and number of applications of nitrogen (N) on fodder beet yield. The impact of crop establishment and different rates of potassium and boron (other important nutrients for fodder beet) were also investigated. Trials were conducted over two years at sites across five of the main fodder beet production regions, including Canterbury and Southland.

Yield response to N fertiliser varied across sites in year 1 of the study, with responses seen between 100 and 200 kg/ha of added N at one site, and no response to added N at three sites. Year 2 showed similar results, with peak N response up to 100 kg/ha of added N.

Results indicated N should be applied prudently to fodder beet, as it is a luxury feeder of N. In the trials, increasing N application rates increased crop N uptake and N concentration, but not yield. Overall, the project concluded that in most cases adding up to 100 kg N/ha should suffice to optimise yield.

Splitting N applications between sowing and canopy closure helps to achieve optimal yields, as it drives canopy development and closure and supports subsequent growth. Splitting N inputs over three applications was shown to have little benefit in terms of additional yield. In addition, splitting N inputs over two or three applications made little difference to end of season N leaf concentrations at two of the trial sites (see Table 1).

So according to the trials, a third N fertiliser application to enhance the N concentration/protein content of fodder beet by the end of the growing season is uneconomic.

The response to N fertiliser varies depending on the amount of available N already in the soil, highlighting the value of soil testing so as to avoid unnecessary application of N. The Ballance fodder beet profile test, taken before sowing to a depth of 150 mm, will determine levels of available N, potassium and boron, as well as phosphorus, pH, sulphur, sodium and magnesium.

Land just out of pasture has higher levels of available N (up to 300 kg N/ha) whereas previously cropped land may have available N levels of around 100 kg N/ha, and fertiliser N requirements of around 100 kg N/ha.

About half of the required N is best applied with the base or starter fertiliser before or at sowing. Some or all of the base or starter N can be applied as DAP or Cropzeal Boron Boost at drilling, in a separate box to the seed to avoid direct contact in the soil. If potassium is required, potassium chloride (potash) can be applied with the base dressing before sowing. The remainder of the required N can be applied as post-emergence N at canopy closure using SustaiN.

The Sustainable Farming Fund project involved Ballance Agri-Nutrients and other partners.

Buy 25 tonnes of Ballance fertiliser, shop at Mitre 10 using your Farmlands Card, and get a $50 Mitre 10 credit applied to your next Farmlands statement.

different N application rates and number of applications on fodder beet leaf N concentration by season end at Canterbury and Southland trial sites Find out more at https://shop.farmlands.co.nz/boostyourballance

Table 1: Impacts of

With a strong track record in agchem, it takes something special to excite Darryl Stretton – Head of Merchandise for Agronomy and Horticulture at Farmlands, but the AgStar™ range, now available through Farmlands is doing just that.

Launched early in 2024 AgStar is a range of premium crop-protection products, sourced by Farmlands, to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse customer-base - and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“The world is now a smaller place and we’ve been able to move up the value chain, to pull product directly from where it originates. This excites me, because it means we’re able to pass those savings on to Farmlands shareholders” says Darryl.

Farmlands has been very selective about which new products to bring onboard, as part of a recent range review, but AgStar’s popularity has already been confirmed by sales numbers and positive reactions from the Farmlands Field Sales teams.

expectation, we also maintain a healthy respect for the proprietary products we sell, and the tremendous work that goes into their development to benefit farmers and growers. That being said, we’re delighted with the response to AgStar and how it’s being used across the country.”

AgStar offers a diverse range of agchem products, relevant to a wide variety of farming and growing situations. Here is just a small selection you should consider this summer.

Clean and Clear (MCPB & MCPA)

A selective broadleaf herbicide to control a wide range of broadleaf weeds for use in new and established pasture. Clean and Clear is soft on clover, and with the addition of Fluent as a tank mix partner, the weed spectrum is increased even further.

Clever 360 (clethodim)

A post-emergent herbicide for selectively controlling grass weeds in a number of broadleaf crops including fodder brassicas, legume and forage herbs, forestry, orchards and more. Clever 360 must always be applied with a crop oil.

Outperform (chlorpyrifos)

This organophosphate insecticide controls a wide range of insect pests including Argentine Stem Weevil & Nysius. It’s an excellent addition to glyphosate before direct drilling. Make sure you note the 7-day withholding period for grazing, when using the product.

Distinct 500 (dicamba)

A selective broadleaf herbicide for the control of a wide range of difficult weeds in a number of crops including, cereal, maize, plantain and fodder brassica. Also an excellent tank mix partner with glyphosate to broaden the weed spectrum during spray-out. Please ensure you follow all recommendations on the label for each product.

For advice about the complete AgStar range please ask your TFO or Agronomist, or head into your local Farmlands store for more information.

Digging in for moth management

Moth caterpillars can hurt your pasture production. Farmlands Agronomist Michael Magennity has some tips for tackling these pesky eaters.

Porina Moth is an insect that is widespread throughout New Zealand and its caterpillars attack pasture species including ryegrass and white clover. Flights of Porina Moth occur from October through to late January laying their eggs (up to 3,000 per moth!) across pasture, which will then hatch over the following weeks.

Although these moths do not feed, their caterpillars can reduce pasture production dramatically. These caterpillars feed on the leaf of the plant, unlike Grass Grub larvae which feed on the roots of the plant.

An indicator for flights of Porina is when you notice an influx of moths when leaving outdoor lights on at this time of year or banging into your windows at night. Up to six weeks post-flight is a great time to dig into your pastures to identify if caterpillars are causing an issue on pasture production.

At this time, caterpillars can range from 4-30mm in length and are identified by their grey/yellowish body and brown heads. As these caterpillars

live underground and come up to feed in the evening, digging down to 30cm depth is required to assess caterpillar populations. Caterpillar populations of 2 per spade square in March can reduce production by 1,500kg DM/ ha, and at this time of year when feed is in high demand, this can have devastating effects if not monitored and controlled.

To reduce the risk of Porina pressure in your pastures, keeping your pasture covers relatively low in late spring can reduce the survival of the eggs laid into pasture by the moth. Silage, hay and poorly managed paddocks are typically the worst for Porina damage. If a presence of Porina is detected, applying an Insect Growth Regulator insecticide to these paddocks has a great impact on reducing the numbers and is relatively cost-effective. This is best applied in late January-March and best applied to short pasture.

AR37 endophyte also has claim to aid in the control of Porina protection,

but these pastures will still need to be monitored if pressure becomes too high. Grass Grub impact can be monitored at the same time but note that AR37 has no control on Grass Grab larvae. Insecticide treatments will differ as well, because of where they feed on the plant.

Grass Grub and Porina can often be confused, but both can have just as much impact on pasture production as each other. Grass Grub tend to live very shallow in the soil over these months and tend to go deeper in the cooler months.

Because Grass Grub never leaves the soil to feed, insecticide treatments can have varied effects with chemicals needing to be washed into the soil to where the larvae are actively feeding and an organophosphate to be used. Some organic bacterial treatment methods are available for Grass Grub control that introduce a bacteria that carries a disease specific to the Grass Grub larvae that reduces the population naturally.

The Calf Experts:

Your newborn calves have made it through spring, so what's next? Follow this guide to keep them healthy over summer.

WORDS BY KAREN FRASER

As spring-born calves head into their first summer, their wellbeing and growth can face significant challenges. This period is crucial for their development. Poor management can impact their growth rates, health and future productivity. Addressing these challenges effectively is essential for meeting growth targets and ensuring long-term success in dairy and beef production. Here's a guide to navigating the hurdles of a calf's first summer:

onFacebook Summer watch

B1 deficiency

As grasses go reproductive in early summer, this diet change can trigger a B1 deficiency. Elevated levels of sulphur in the grass can also contribute. A lack of B1 can also lead to swelling of the brain. Signs include disorientation, head pressing or blindness. As soon as you suspect B1 deficiency, contact your vet. Quick treatment can turn cases around.

Water access

Ensure calves have constant access to clean, fresh water. Troughs should be positioned so that calves can drink comfortably with their heads

FollowTheCalf Experts

down. Repair or raise shingle around troughs if necessary. When feeding supplements, have them positioned closer to the water supply so no long walks are required.

Nutritional requirements

Ensure calves are well set up before summer by feeding a high-quality calf feed until calves reach at least 120kg. Keep lighter calves in smaller mobs on your home block and on calf feed until they reach target weights. If calves are struggling and not receiving adequate protein and energy, it can predispose them to diseases.

Offering quality pasture over the summer months is challenging and calves grazing dry stalky pastures cannot physically eat enough to reach the protein and energy they require to grow optimally. Monitor pasture conditions regularly and be prepared to supplement the diet if necessary. When pasture quality is poor, consider feeding high-quality silage instead of hay, which has limited nutritional value. Supplementing with a well-balanced calf feed can help bridge nutritional gaps, providing proteins, energy, vitamins, trace elements, and minerals.

Weigh calves regularly

Monitor daily gains via weighing. This should happen two weeks after relocation and weaning, then repeat every four to six weeks thereafter. Through their first summer, calves need to be gaining at least 0.75kg/day in weight. For an example of how to achieve this; a 150kg calf consuming approximately 4.8kg dry matter each day, would need to be on a diet of at least 18 percent crude protein and 10.5 MJ/ME (on a dry matter basis) to achieve a 0.75kg daily weight gain. This is very optimistic in a dry

summer from pasture alone. Looking at historical pasture samples we have seen over summer, on average grass is delivering only 9 MJ/ME and 13 percent crude protein per kg dry matter, so there is often a nutritional gap here.

Group calves doing 0.4kg – 0.6kg together and priority feed, putting them back on a calf feed if required depending on feed quantity and quality on the farm. If calves are only doing 0.3kg a day or under, this indicates they are in maintenance mode and are not growing and they will likely have health challenges. They should be put back onto a quality calf pellet.

Support during yarding or travel

Avoid yarding or moving stock in the heat of the day. Pre-condition calves using rehydration and fibre before and after to avoid acidosis and gut inflammation. We recommend Reliance Blue Boost Electrolyte. Get animals through the yards quickly and use SealesWinslow Cattle Young Stock Blocks in the yards and paddocks, making sure there is ample water.

Facial Eczema

Monitor your farms for Facial Eczema spores if you are in an at-risk area. Zinc can be used to protect against facial eczema. Zinc must be delivered to the animals at the time of ingestion of spores. Using a zinc water treatment can be hit or miss and is not recommended for youngstock. Slow-release zinc oxide bolus gives four weeks’ coverage, so may need to be repeated. Using NRM MultiFeed

Nut + zinc can be a great option as it’s a very targeted way of getting zinc into animals. Don’t feed zinc for facial eczema prevention longer than 100 days without consulting a vet.

Other Summer tips

• Take faecal samples to help with monitoring parasite burdens and to check for diseases such as yersinia and salmonella. FECPAKG2 can be used to test for parasites, and is available through Farmlands - it can test for facial eczema spores too. For bacteria and protozoa, test faecal matter through your vet.

• Take 10 mins to observe each mob for unusual behaviour, slow in movement, or any health issues like scouring, drooling, eye ulcers (pink eye).

• Offer plenty of room for weaners to feed at same time when using supplementary feeds.

• Do not wait until the next weighing to flick out a struggling calf – put back on calf pellets if necessary.

• When you notice a sad calf, use electrolytes immediately. Reliance Blue Boost is recommended.

• If scouring, isolate and faecal test for things like yersinia. Yersinia is a bacteria that lives in the gut of healthy animals but as soon as a calf is exposed to compounding stress they can succumb to it. It requires an antibiotic from your vet.

• Regularly offer fresh breaks and don’t graze calves to low residuals. Daily breaks is best practice, so calves learn to eat everything on offer.

• Put struggling calves back onto high quality calf feed like the NRM, Reliance and SealesWinslow 20 percent protein feeds.

• When larger volumes of supplement is needed during a time of significant feed deficit, consider using specialised blends that are well balanced and custom designed around what your youngstock need at that time. Your Farmlands Nutrition Specialist can help here.

By understanding calves nutritional needs, managing pasture effectively and ensuring adequate hydration, you can support optimal growth and health. Regular monitoring, adjusting diets as needed and keeping detailed records will help you make informed decisions and maintain a successful feeding program.

Karen is a Farmlands Technical Specialist and one of “The Calf Experts” on Facebook.

FEATURED PRODUCT

Blue Boost

Electrolytes aren’t just for scouring calves. Just like we might reach for a sugary drink after exertion, Blue Boost can be a great way to support calves that have been through a stress event and need a pick-me-up. Blue Boost is perfect over summer for:

• faster recovery after yarding or transport

• calves that seem ‘off’ and are not showing their normal behaviour.

Available in-store and online at shop.farmlands.co.nz

Feedlots could come into fashion

Feedlots are not a feature often associated with the grass-based world of New Zealand agriculture, but observers predict they could become more common.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN

There are several trends that could see greater use of feedlots in New Zealand, according to Farmlands Technical Specialist Karen Fraser. One of these is the availability of land, with finishing blocks becoming scarce as more of these properties are converted to forestry.

“In New Zealand, as we move into more and more trees and less and less of those finishing blocks available, we might have to look at feedlots,” she says. “Within the dairy industry you’ve also got changes to how they treat bobby calves; there are a lot more animals being raised for beef and veal, putting extra demand around infrastructure and available land.”

Karen recently went on a supplierfunded research trip to south-east Queensland, which has around 40 percent of Australia’s total beef feedlot units within a 200km radius. She says

“At Farmlands we are working with a lot of these niche markets on those special requirements within product development.”

some of those beef feedlot units don't own the cattle themselves.

“They might be finishing these animals or taking those animals from the feeder stage, the grower stage, and the finishing stage for different meat companies. The meat companies are purchasing them from farmers around the country and then sending them to these feedlots.”

Karen says the feedlots face several nutrition challenges, including

the transition (backgrounding) period between different feed rations, and the timing of each group arriving. They can have a mixture of breeds in the same feedlot, some of which grow more slowly than others, and distinct nutritional requirements for different markets.

To manage these diets they have a nutritionist working with them “pretty much full-time”, monitoring and tweaking diets and additives as needed to mitigate seasonal challenges or health requirements like heat stress, lameness and gut health. “Often it’s the tiny additive additions that can hold a big punch in the performance and welfare to those animals.” Karen says.

“Everything put into these animals is a science of balanced nutrition, measuring their weights often and analysing every mouthful to stay profitable with no wastage. A good percentage of the feedlots are feeding the domestic markets in Australia, and then there's different requirements for export markets, so they all could be on different feeds depending on which market they're covering.”

Karen says with some of our own premium niche markets, there are rules about what the animal can eat or drink right from birth. “At Farmlands we are working with a lot of these niche markets on those special requirements within product development, so that our shareholders avoid being excluded from those premium dollars.”

Farmlands shareholder Simon Nitschke, who runs an arable farming operation near Marton, says he has seen more feedlots popping up in New Zealand, although they are more economical in low grain price years. “If you are grain feeding, you're really looking for that marbling out: Wagyu for the Japanese market and things like that.”

Feedlots aren’t just used for cattle; Simon says he is currently looking at supplying one that will be used for finishing sheep. “Sheep are pretty hard work to finish on grain, but it's the same as anything: it's high energy input and if you can convert that to carcass weight, it's going to work for them.”

BOOST YOUR MILK QUALITY: BEST PRACTICE FOR DAIRY RUBBERWARE MAINTENANCE

Improving milk quality is a top priority for dairy farmers, yet it can be challenging, particularly with bacterial grades and somatic cell count (SCC).

An often-overlooked factor is the condition of dairy rubberware. Poor hygiene and deterioration in rubberware can lead to bacterial contamination and costly grades. Below, we outline best practices for managing and maintaining your rubberware with practical strategies to effectively tackle this challenge.

2,500 LINER CHANGE

Prolonged use of worn milking liners can significantly impact udder health and milk quality. DairyNZ estimates that defective milking equipment contributes to up to 50% of clinical mastitis cases in New Zealand dairy herds. To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to replace liners after every 2,500 milkings.

Here are key aspects to monitor:

• Teat damage and infection risk: Worn liners can cause teat damage.

• Flex cracks: As liners age, this increases the risk of the liner splitting and bacterial growth occurring. This compromises milk quality and contributes to new mastitis infections by spreading bacteria between cows.

• Mineral deposit build-up: Creates an abrasive liner surface that can damage teats and lead to an increased risk of mastitis.

• Distorted mouthpieces and barrels: Swelling caused by milk fat and chemical absorption can affect liner mounting tension which is essential for proper pulsation and optimal milk flow. Over time, worn liners lead to cup slip and prolonged milking duration.

• Inadequate massage pressure: Inelastic, swollen, or cracked liners are unable to exert the necessary massage

pressure to stimulate milk letdown, leading to reduced milk production.

RUBBERWARE RENEWAL

Timely replacement of rubberware is essential for achieving optimal milk quality. Routine inspections conducted daily, weekly and monthly, helps detect rubberware issues early and guides preventative action. Poor plant hygiene is a leading cause of bacterial grades, making regular milking system maintenance essential for preserving udder health and milk quality.

MILK FILTRATION

Skellerup single-use milk filters offer reliable and consistent milk filtration. Reusing filters compromises integrity and raises the risk of splits. Maintain optimal filtration performance and milk quality by using a new filter for each milking.

Liner type impact on milking performance

In a recent study from Lincoln University, square liners were found to improve milk flow rates and shorten milking times. Notably, cows milked with square liners exhibited no signs of discomfort, as reported through behavioural observation, compared to those milked by round liners. We recommend considering the switch to Skellerup VacPlus square milking liners.

Looking to improve your milk quality or ensure your dairy rubberware is performing at its best? Schedule a free rubberware review with Skellerup’s certified NZMPTA specialists through your local Farmlands store. Your local Skellerup Technical Specialist will inspect, troubleshoot, and offer tailored recommendations to optimise your milk production and enhance milk quality. Book your visit today at www.skellerup.co.nz/book-a-farm-visit

Drench resistance is a fact of life, but FEC testing can help manage this troublesome issue, writes Tiffany Menzies, Product Technical Manager – Nutrition at Farmlands.

Photo: Hes Mundt on Unsplash

Believing you can simply drench your way out of drench resistance is a fairy-tale. Today’s unenviable reality is that drench resistance now exists on most New Zealand farms. But there’s no shame in that either!

Successful parasite management in the face of drench resistance is not only conceivable, it’s happening across the motu. How? By utilising key economically sustainable tools and effective targeted strategies, for example: faecal egg count (FEC) monitoring, integrated cross-species grazing, robust pasture management and crops.

For youngstock who are most at risk from the ill effects of worms, a FEC test prior to giving any worm drench will show if drenching is needed. While doing a ‘Drench Check FEC’ 10-14 days after drenching will indicate it’s efficacy. Optimally, continue FEC monitoring and use test results to inform drench decisions and impede developing drench resistance. Also, don’t drench purely by the calendar, as it empowers drench resistance.

While not a golden bullet, FEC tests are cheap and easy to do. You should consider FEC testing any stock prior to purchase or arrival on your property to help reduce the risk of importing unwanted drench resistant worm species.

Roger Dettling, one of Farmlands’ Nutrition Specialists, runs a block with 50-70 dairy heifer grazers in Taranaki,

with a small flock of breeding sheep. Roger has this to say about his experience with FEC testing:

“With the heifer grazers, their owners often asked me to give a six weekly drench but I was reluctant to do so knowing about growing drench resistance. Early this spring they were performing well but were starting to ’get loose’, so I decided to get a FEKPAKG2 kit and do a mob FEC sample on 1015 heifers. The test results showed a Zero egg count, which reinforced my decision to not drench at this time. Instead, we included half a kg/DM of hay, and the cattle firmed up within a few days while continuing to meet expected weight gains.

“Back in the autumn, I had a young breeding ram not maintaining weight and not improving after worm drenching. I did a FEC sample 10 days post-drenching which showed a very high egg count, with minimal egg reduction subsequently after trying a couple different combination drench options. Further larval culture testing identified the worm species present. Following a vet consultation, a successful clean out drench with

FEATURED PRODUCT

FECPAKG2 can test livestock faecal matter, from ruminant animals like cattle and sheep, to horses, alpacas, and goats. The kit includes everything required to collect the sample, test options (parasites in faecal egg counts or exposure to facial eczema spores), courier pack to send the sample off to the lab and the price includes one lab test. The results are emailed with an interpretation guide explaining the result.

FECPAKG2 test kits are available in-store and online at shop.farmlands.co.nz

You should consider FEC testing any stock prior to purchase or arrival on your property to help reduce the risk of importing unwanted drench resistant worm species.

Zolvix was done. We have also used cross grazing with cattle and sheep to clean up pastures and reduce the worm challenges for stock.

“FEC testing has provided benefits in drench savings in the cattle and identifying the cause of the problem in our sheep. Therefore, I would highly suggest FEC testing before you drench and ongoing testing as a key aspect of your parasite management approach.”

Paying close attention to summer nutrition is very important for not exacerbating parasite challenges, which in conjunction with FEC testing can mitigate parasite challenges and resistance-building on farm. For more information, please see https://beeflambnz.com/wormwise

TIFFANY MENZIES FARMLANDS VETERINARIAN

Centralisation to transform Farmlands supply chain

Farmlands has unveiled the next step in its domestic supply chain overhaul, centralising its distribution for improved responsiveness and lower operating costs.

Farmlands is now in the third and final year of its major transformation in range, procurement and supply. It has centralised most of its range

management and procurement processes, and carefully established regular feedback loops from its store and field sales teams to ensure it responds to local market conditions,

be it weather, events or range insights. Consolidated range management and procurement has also delivered significant savings for shareholders.

Today Farmlands domestic supply chain is a “supplier to store” model. This means thousands of purchase orders are created and shipped each week across its supplier base. This is all changing, according to Farmlands Chief Supply Officer Caleb Nicolson.

“If you go into the back of our stores, you’ll see multiple shipments from all our suppliers, generally using the courier network,” Caleb says.

“The new model will see our purchasing team ordering into our centralised distribution network where we will hold stock for key lines,” he says. “Orders are then processed at each of our two national distribution centres, one in each island: the North Island distribution centre in Hamilton and the South Island distribution centre in Christchurch.

Preparations began in early 2024 to enable Farmlands first suppliers

Regional Hubs like this one in Southland will handle bulky items and large orders.

to come online before Christmas, with a controlled rollout of suppliers over the next two to three months. It will then scale fast before the next peak season to support a more rapid and efficient response to Farmlands stores and customers.

“What happens today is when we order from our suppliers, it's anywhere from two to seven days before it gets to store. Under this new model we raise an order on a Monday, the order’s picked, packed and into the transport network on Tuesday, to arrive in-store Wednesday.”

Another benefit of the new distribution system is that it will make it easier for Farmlands to take advantage of ‘buy breaks’, when suppliers offer better prices if larger quantities are ordered at once.

“For example, if you buy one item, you might get it for $20; you buy 10, you'll get it for $15, and if you buy a palletbased quantity, then you'll probably get an even better price,” Caleb explains.

“The challenge we had is that historically our store managers would see these opportunities - and they're very attractive at a price level - and they would buy hard into them to get better deals for shareholders. However, we would sometimes be left with excess stock – and that costs all shareholders in the end.”

This process of centralising bulk buying is being done with the help of an advanced supply chain software tool called Logility, which helps Farmlands analyse purchasing data across multiple regions and ‘nodes’ in the supply chain.

“You can effectively look at a region and associate the demand from all of those stores to a ‘node’, and then the system will automatically take advantage of price breaks within that region. That provides a step change in our capabilities and the prices we can procure and therefore offer our shareholders,” says Caleb.

Local input crucial

The Logility tool being used by Farmlands also uses historical purchasing data to predict what products will be needed

and where, taking out much of the guesswork and creating a “winwin-win” situation for Farmlands, its suppliers and shareholders.

However, data and algorithms are only part of the equation. Caleb says this model works well for 80-plus percent of Farmlands products, noting the percentage of purchasing decisions the co-operative can drive centrally is lower than in other sectors like FMCG.

For the remaining 20 percent of products, the input of Farmlands technical experts across the country is vital. “We're trying to get the best of both worlds,” says Caleb. “The big feedback we get from our shareholders and our store staff is that head office doesn’t know everything, and they’re right, we need these local feedback loops.”

“We then run the algorithms in Logility to get the buyer price opportunity and then we leverage our supply chain to deliver it into the region. So that's the value-add of the centralised purchasing and centralised supply chain.”

Regional rollout

Farmlands is also rolling out a series of regional distribution hubs to complement the national network.

Following the recent launch of the first regional hub in Southland, Taranaki will be the next cab off the rank, with its distribution centre to be based in the Hāwera store.

Mike Mortlock, Farmlands Head of Supply Planning/Inventory and Analytics, says the regional hubs will be used mostly for higher volume

“You can effectively look at a region and associate the demand from all of those stores to a ‘node’, and then the system will automatically take advantage of price breaks within that region. That provides a step change in our capabilities and the prices we can procure and therefore offer our shareholders.”

He says there are several situations where local trends picked up on by these experts might drive purchasing decisions. “You might have a particular weather event in Southland and that might be driving demand in a product that wasn’t used last season, that's suddenly responding to a particular animal health issue,” Caleb says.

“Now if we're looking in our historical data on demand, we won't see that. What we need is the sales guys going, ‘Hey, we've got experience in the region. We're starting to see that demand coming through’.”

This local expertise is also important in areas where there have been big changes in land use, such as dairy and horticulture. This can drive rapidly changing demand for different products, Caleb says.

orders of products like animal nutrition and agchem, bulkier items and locally made products.

“We want them to be closer to the markets they’re going to be sold in. For example, we make a lot of product in Southland. There's no point shipping that up to Christchurch only to ship it back to Southland.”

Mike says the new regional hub is working well in Southland, with the biggest adjustment for staff being the change in product mix on their pallets.

“Shareholders may not notice the change, other than products maybe arriving a day earlier than previously, and in-region availability improving,” he says.

“We can ship items from the hub in ones and twos rather than having to wait for a full pallet of something to be on order, so it gives us more flexibility to keep product in stock.”

Tackling summer fencing challenges

Gallagher has some tips on two things to be thinking about as we head into summer – drier ground and long grass laying on the fence.

Drier ground means those fence setups with a poorquality earth will no longer be effective at containing stock. Remember: to deliver an effective shock to an animal the circuit needs to be completed via the earth system. Perhaps extending the earth line down to a nearby wet area (creek or swamp) will be sufficient. However, if you are in an area of low conductivity soil, then you may need to run an earth wire out with some of your fence network.

Long grass needs to be dealt with proactively. If you wait for the grass to grow before dealing with it, you’ll have an ineffective fence that won’t deter stock. You need a mitigation strategy. Do you use a joint clamp to disconnect the bottom wire so it is not powered? Do you spray your fence lines, or can you remove the bottom wire entirely? If your fence system runs through paddocks that will be reserved for hay and silage production, can you isolate those paddocks with a gate switch to reduce the power draw?

Also, while most of your break feeding equipment is back at the barn it’s a good chance to do some maintenance and get it ready for next season.

• Replace or repair bent standards

• Check geared reels and replace damaged tape / wire

• Test and replace any damaged leadsets.

To keep animals out of your summer vege garden, a solar-powered strip grazing energizer is the perfect solution. Providing power where you need it, these portable energizers charge the battery from the sun.

Prep for wild weather

And a final note to be prepared for the summer cyclone that seems an annual New Zealand event. Do you have back-up power available for your electric fence system? If the fence is critical – under heavy stock pressure – how quickly will that backup power come on?

in-store to Farmlands or shop online for a wide range of Gallagher products.

Dry soil can be a problem for your electric fence.

Clever Solutions

Digging down to uncover a stock water pipe to find a leak or connect to an existing system can be like entering an archaeological site. What type, size and pressure rating of pipe will you find and how can it be repaired or connected to?

The answer is as complex as you would discover in any towns water infrastructure network, with types of pipes varying from copper to galvanised iron pipe to PVC or polyethylene (PE ) pressure pipe. On farm in the last 40 years though, it would be more common to find PE pipe, as a coiled pipe is way more convenient to install than joining lots of 6-metre lengths of pipe together.

But which of the many types of PE pipes will you find? Early variations of these were imperial dimension Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) for low pressure and High Density Polyethene (HDPE) for higher pressure applications. Then along came the ISO metric dimension coiled PE pipes, with their more modern polymers delivering greater strength and better hydraulic capacity.

The first of these was Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE or PE80).

These pipes now being described by their outside diameter (OD) in millimetres (mm), where the old imperial dimension PE pipes were named by their internal diameter (ID) in inches. MDPE pipe was then superseded by High Performance Polyethylene pipe (HPPE or PE100) delivering even more strength and flow capacity and this is the stock water pipe of choice today. Usually identifying PE pipe in situ is difficult, with the predominant rural pipe colour being black. The pipe print is typically illegible, the OD difficult to establish because of pipe ovality and pressure rating hard to determine, as the pipes material and wall thickness dictates this. Bearing this in mind in recent times manufacturers have colour coded their pipes, i.e. Iplex Greenline has green stripes so is a 6.3-bar pipe, likewise Redline has red stripes, so is a 9-bar pipe.

Still there a lot of non-PE pipe and generic black PE pipe in the ground, so those clever guys at Plasson came up with the Series 1 Universal Slip Repair Coupling range. This is a compression fitting, meaning as the external nut is tightened it compresses the fittings internal rubber sleeve onto the outside of the pipe to form a watertight seal. This can be done with various fittings in the range over the pipe OD range 14mm to 64mm.

Not sure of the type of pipe, size or pipe pressure rating? No problem, just select the Universal Slip Repair Coupling that fits the pipes approximate OD. Now you can fix a leak on any type of pipe or connect to any other type of pipe - it’s as simple as that!

For further information, contact your Farmlands TFO or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Farmers embracing the BIG WALK

One

does not simply walk the length of New Zealand… but some brave souls do. We spoke to a Farmlands team member about his experience on the Te Araroa Trail, and how the support of farmers made the journey easier.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN SAM CONNOR

What possesses someone to walk a 3,000km trail that goes all the way from Cape Reinga to the Bluff? For Farmlands Business Development Manager Sam Connor, it wasn’t a spur-of-themoment decision: three years passed between him learning about the Te Araroa trail and starting the journey. The trail, which traverses roads, forests, rivers, mountains and

numerous towns and cities, was officially opened in 2011 and has been steadily increasing in popularity since then. Sam, who has had a lifelong love of the outdoors, found out about it when he saw a Te Araroa sign while riding the ‘Alps to Ocean’ cycle trail from Aoraki/Mount Cook to Ōamaru.

“I Googled it and went down the rabbit hole of finding out about some of the long-distance hikes over in

America, then learning more about Te Araroa and it just really resonated with me. I had been working since university so it was quite appealing to go walking for six months to escape life.”

Time to prepare

After two years of “dreaming” about making the journey, Sam and his partner Greer finally committed to it, giving themselves a year to prepare.

Sam and Greer at Turnbull’s Hut, the final hut of Te Araroa in the Longwoods.

“Greer had never been tramping before, so we started doing lots of tramping trips on the weekends and using up our annual leave to go on some longer trips,” he says.

They also had to make sure they had the right clothing and equipment for such a physically and mentally demanding trip. “Greer had no tramping gear, while all my tramping gear was hand-me-downs from my dad and my grandfather, so it was gear from the '80s and '90s. I needed some upgrades,” Sam says.

Their practice tramps weren’t just about preparing them for the mental and physical rigours of the Te Araroa trail; they also helped them to get comfortable with what they really needed in their backpacks and what they didn't need. When you are walking 3,000km over often challenging terrain, the less weight you carry, the better.

“The classic Kiwi tramper takes an 80L pack for an overnight trip,”

Sam says. “We’ve got five shirts in case something goes wrong, and about 10 days’ worth of food. That was probably where we started. I think all my gear was originally about 20kg, and I got it down to 8kg. That's a journey that pretty much all TA walkers go on, whether they slim down their gear before they start the walk or as they go.”

One of the most important gear considerations for such a long journey is footwear. Sam says they did a lot of research into shoes and socks beforehand. “We wore two pairs of merino socks; we had a liner pair and then a top pair. I’ve heard all sorts of horror stories… one mate ended up in the hospital with infected blisters and lost toenails. But we were pretty lucky.”

As for the shoes, Sam says “probably 98%” of the people who walk Te Araroa do it in trail runners.”

“Boots aren't very practical because you have wet feet pretty

much every day. And boots take a long time to dry, as opposed to a trail runner where, especially up in Northland, you can take them off for 20 minutes and dry them in the sun and you're good to go again.”

Changing seasons

Sudden weather changes can happen on any hike, but experiencing different seasons at opposite ends of the country on the same walk is another matter entirely. Sam and Greer opted to travel from north to south, setting out from Cape Reinga in early September 2023 and finishing up in Bluff in March 2024.

Selecting the right clothing to handle the changing conditions is important. Sam says the majority of Te Araroa walkers favour merino, which is “a big tick” for local farmers. “We had merino tops, merino underwear and merino socks. We have access to shower and laundry often, so

Crossing over Waiau Pass.

Tararua Forest Park.

having natural fibres that don't smell is really important for ourselves… and those around us!”

Reflecting on the journey, Sam says it was “pretty cool” walking through the seasons, starting out in spring then summer and finishing in autumn. “But it was also pretty amazing walking through and seeing how the agricultural landscape changed as we made our way down through the country.”

While their walk was timed to finish before winter struck, Sam admits there were still some chilly moments in the latter stages of their journey. “Through March, it got pretty cold down in Southland and we had a few chilly nights. We were in Queenstown and woke up to snow on all the tops as we were heading out of town, so that was a bit fresh.”

Friendly farmers

Sam says one of the best things about the Te Araroa trail is the people you meet along the way. Their own journey had plenty of examples of

friendly interactions with strangers, including farmers, fellow trail hikers and random passersby.

“We were sitting on the side of the road one day up in Northland, and then some car pulled over and they said, ‘Oh, hey, you all right?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, we're good, thanks." And they said, ‘Are you TA walkers? Do you want to come up for a roast dinner tonight? And you can pitch your tent on our lawn’,” Sam recalls.

Another of their memorable encounters also happened to occur in Northland. “We were walking down a rural road and a dairy farmer had just finished milking, and he came out and said, ‘Oh, look. My house is the next one on the right. Do you want to come in for a coffee?’ That kind of experience was pretty awesome to know that New Zealand's still very much like that rurally.”

With Te Araroa now well established, farmers along the trail are starting to get involved in supporting it. Sam says there were farmers who they'd put in water tanks

so that walkers could fill their water bottles as they come through their farms. “We had farmers who had put in an implement shed and allowed camping in the middle of their farm because there were no other accommodations in the area.”

Some of the farmers asked for a small payment of $5-$10 koha, which Sam says is good value in remote areas with few other camping options. “You get to pitch your tent, there is a long drop and you've got a shed to cook in if it's raining. It's pretty amazing. And a lot of them opened their doors to host as well.”

“There's a station down in Southland where they open up the shearers' quarters for walkers, and you've got the choice of either paying for your accommodation or you can do a day's labour. It's benefiting farmers, as well providing a pretty amazing experience for the walkers who come through, because the majority of them are from overseas.”

Out in the wild

The support of farmers makes a big difference, when walkers can go well over a week without passing through a town in some parts of the country. Sam says they had several stretches where they went 10-12 days between towns, and even the towns that they came into - places like Arthur's Pass or St Arnaud – tended to be small.

“Coming into town, it's just a local bakery, or dairy and a pub, so we stay behind the pub in our tents. We go to the local dairy to restock for the next five days of food, and then have a beer and a burger for dinner before we move on the next day. If you multiply that by the 3,000 people who walk the trail each year, it's pretty big economically for some of these small towns.”

The journey left Sam lighter in the waist as well as the wallet, shedding several kilos and several more thousand dollars by the time he and Greer reached the finish line. “It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would go back to do it again tomorrow.”

Sunset saddle with Lake Angelus Hut in background.

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There’s a huge range of quality apparel at Farmlands just waiting for you to shop online, or get to grips with in-store. From dress shirts to work boots, it’s a summer of opportunity, so don’t let these beauties pass you by. All prices correct at time of printing. For up to date pricing visit shop.farmlands.co.nz

Legend Short Sleeve Men's Shirt

SKU: 1024812

The Legend shirt offers a specialised cellular weave fabric that makes the shirt breathable, offering unparalleled comfort.

$59.98

Legend Short Sleeve Women's Shirt

SKU: 1025553

Offering both style and comfort, this shirt features a breathable fabric that will help you keep cool on hot summer days.

$59.98

Stoney Creek Checkmate Shirt

SKU: 1024881

Stay cool on hot days in a stylish Stoney Creek Checkmate Polo.

$69.99

Stoney Creek Checkchick Shirt

SKU: 1025482

Made of 100% cotton fabric with a special open weave to allow airflow. Checkmate fabric is cool, and ventilated for summer comfort, and designed to look good on and off the farm.

$69.99

Swanndri Men's Chequered Rugby Shorts

SKU:1066165

Designed to be hard wearing our take on the classic rugby short features a relaxed fit and functional side entry pockets –perfect for the beach or on the tools.

$49.99

Stoney

Creek Women's Jester Shorts

SKU: 1025496

Great for on the farm or when you need something to muck around in the weekend. 100% polyester finished with a DWR coating to shed water and dirt.

$39.99

Stoney

Creek Kids' Jester Shorts

SKU: 1025008

These versatile shorts are a summer must-have for active kids, ideal for playing outdoors in the sand or the mud.

$29.99

Grisport

Genoa Safety Boots

SKU: 1024908

The Grisport Genoa safety boot is a premium, durable slip-on boot with a high temperature outsole. $199.99

John Bull Raptor Boots

SKU: 1025144

A popular rural style, this allrounder features revolutionary CushionCore technology.

$209.50

Swanndri Paihia Men's Short Sleeve Shirt

SKU: 1024992

Swanndri's perennial classic summer shirt, the Paihia is lightweight and highly breathable keeping you cool all summer long.

$79.99

Swanndri

Tasman Women's Short Sleeve Shirt

SKU: 1025523

Look good and keep cool at work or at the barbecue with this classic Swanndri summer shirt.

$79.99

Swanndri Dragon

Creek Kids' Short Sleeve Shirt

SKU: 1025227

The kids version of our popular Paihia and Tasman shirts, the Dragon Creek short sleeve shirt is made to keep the kids cool on hot days.

$54.99

Stoney Creek Men's

All Terrain Tee

SKU: 1066102

The perfect smart/casual option for the weekend, which will become your new staple summer tee. New Summer24/25 design.

$39.99

Stoney Creek Women's Country Cruisin' Tee

SKU: 1066109

$39.99

Boonies Comfy Thongs

SKU: 1039673

Just like Boonies boots, the comfort is built in; using modern construction techniques and careful choice of materials, making these one heck of a comfy set of thongs.

$64.99

Skellerup Adults' Red Bandals

SKU: 1024795

The ultimate in summer footwear. Kick off your gumboots and slip on a pair of Red Bandals.

$24.99

Stoney Creek Men's Split Tank

SKU: 1066105

$29.99

Stoney Creek Jandals

SKU: 1046689

Comfortable, stylish and built-tough. Featuring full-grain leather insole and straps, with a durable four-layer sole, these are made to last.

$79.99

Skellerup Junior Red Bandals

SKU: 1024965

Made from high quality rubber in junior style. Features an elasticated band for extra stability.

$16.99

Outback

Wagga Wagga Leather Hat

SKU: 1024715

100% Top grain leather with braided hat band & brass accents. Complete with chin cord & moisture wicking sweatband.

$85.00

Swanndri Murrays

Bay v2 Hat

SKU: 1052944

The Murray's Bay bucket hat is made from a textured 100% nylon fabric. Lightweight and quick drying.

$44.99

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STYLE GURU

Dressed to kill

“These folks come in all forms, and boy, do they turn heads — they’re living proof that you can blend in with the wild and still stand out. Decked out in full camo, every piece has a purpose. This isn’t just gear; it’s the mark of someone who knows their way around the bush — and looks good doing it.”

Just one more pair

The correct number of shoes a Style Guru should own is always the same: one more pair. Sure, they’ve got the pristine trainers, but it’s the gumboots that tell the real story. Tall or short, matte black or high-gloss red—there’s a pair for every look. Polished neutrals for rainy days in the city, bold patterns for the garden, and bright yellows for a bit of fun. Five pairs, minimum, so they’re always ready for any weather—and any outfit.

Safe and stylish

Their gear is a masterclass in matching PPE—where practicality meets style in a way that could stop traffic.

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Take that cap, for example; it perfectly highlights the blue in those overalls—sun-smart, label-conscious, and effortlessly stylish all in one.

Always great value

They love a good shopping trip, even better if it’s a bargain. “These earrings? Gorgeous, aren’t they – and you’ll never guess what I paid for them. Got togs in the same shop.”

We’re going to need a bigger wardrobe

The seasoned Style Guru has seen trends come and go and come right back into fashion again – they buy quality and know better than to throw anything away. Their most treasured items come with a story: “This jacket? I found it hidden on the rack. I knew it was a classic that would never go out of style, so I couldn't resist!”

DIYer

It’s as good as a bought one

There’s one universal truth for The DIYer: you can’t have too many toolboxes. Every time you get a new one, it’s full already (or it will be after you get those flex head ratchets you’ve had your eye on). Whether it’s a dinky little one you keep under the sink in the kitchen or a fullon chest with drawers and wheels, there will somehow always be more screwdrivers and pliers and drills than you’ve got storage for.

Build it and they will come

Not that this is a problem. The DIYer will just knock up a series of boxes (even a full shed) to house their tool hoard. But they won’t stop there. Planter for the veges, pergola for the climber. How about a gazebo for those summer nights? And if you need something sanded, the DIYer has everything from 60 grit, to paper so fine you can buff your nails with it.

We’ve got GAS!

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The longer in the tooth a DIYer gets, the more kit they acquire. It’s known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Beginners show basic symptoms. They watch the videos on how to GIB a ceiling and ask Santa for power tools. Midlife DIYers have a minimum of two wheelbarrows (because you wouldn’t want to make concrete in your good barrow eh) and own at least four claw head hammers – but only use the one with the blue grip because that’s their favourite. The old timers have a full workshop: drill press, a bandsaw, wood splitter. They have more planes than the local airfield. They could turn out a dining table and chairs, given enough timber they could bear to part with.

I’m saving us money

To be honest, sometimes it’s less about the money and more about having a go. Servicing your car for instance. YouTube in hand, or with knowledge passed down from their forebears, the DIYer will happily take on the easy stuff like an oil change – and it may take a considerable chunk of the morning, and afternoon. But a job well done (or at least home done) is its own reward.

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The

ADVENTURER

‘Get Amongst’ is their middle name

You’ll know one – or maybe you are one: The Adventurer is all about the Great Outdoors and they can’t wait to get back out there. Camping, tramping, fishing – they’ve got a plan to do it and a tip for the next trip. That’s why there’s always a chopping board and a gas cooker in the boot.

Travel light

Their wardrobe and go-bag will often be backed by science: these shorts dry in 10 minutes, this table collapses to the size of a paperback, this heat pad will keep you warm for 12 hours. Their very essence is reversable, breathable, increasable, waterproof and full of zips. They have storage within storage... even their pockets have pockets. And bikes! They’ve got one for every occasion, every gradient and every terrain; with an eye on just one more for Christmas.

Multi-tools are normal, right?

Stashed about their person is an array of kit Batman would be proud of. Regular people might call these items gadgets, but to The Adventurer it’s “EDC” – everyday carry. Because it’s normal to have hex keys, a Leatherman, two Swiss Army knives, dive torch, fold-out hunting knife, mini box cutter and a set of locking pliers on you at all times... isn’t it?

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Get a grip

The Adventurer has a tool just for measuring tread on their tyres. Sure, 1.5mm is the minimum legal depth, but they like 3mm – in fact, let’s make sure those tyres are all-terrain, because where the adventurer is going, they don’t need roads. NB - They’ll probably check the tread on your trainers too!

Like ducks to water

Evolution-wise, Adventurer is the dominant gene, so their offspring are destined to ride the hills. If kiddo can do up their own laces, they’re big enough for a helmet and gloves. You’ll see two-wheeled families of them whizzing round forest tracks (their native habitat): the parent cruising ahead, excitable youngsters following noisily behind, honking with delight.

Let’s hit the road

Are we ready? We’re travelling light, but don’t scrimp on fuel – for the body, for the car. We’ll fill up before we go and make a pitstop on the way. Snacks: check. Bikes: check. Sunnies: you bet. Freedom, here we come.

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ENTERTAINER

Any excuse to fire up the barbie, eh?

The Entertainer is always thinking about their next meal or social occasion – preferably one that involves a bunch of mates and a good splash of tomato sauce. Food prep also falls into two categories for these types. The first is strictly no mucking around: Get the snags cooked and any kind of white bread will do the job. The other kind fancies themself as more of a gourmet – they’re all about a homemade rub on the home kill, a 24-hour marinade and then slow roast for a half a day. Preparations for this started 21 days ago, and the beef has been ageing since then.

Entertainment central

“We’ll be streaming the game at 3, so come round for lunch - we’ve also made a playlist to last all day. Sure, bring the kids! They’ll be happy on the trampoline or the Xbox. Just make sure they take their shoes off – we’ve only had the lounge-suite a few weeks”

License to chill

If your drinks are warm when you arrive, let’s chuck them in a freezer for an express chill – there’s lots of room and we’ll have them just right in no time. There’s also a cocktail recipe they’ve been dying to try out on a captive audience, with an alcohol-free version for the driver too.

EVERYTHING for the home

Peek inside The Entertainer’s kitchen cupboards and you will see plates – so many plates. There’s even a special section in their house just for grill accessories: scrapers, long forks, those wipes with the bobbly bits on them.

Looking

the part

Whichever type of Entertainer you know best, their winter and summer uniform is the same: shorts, tongs and a cold one. If you’re lucky, you might see them in longs, but these are usually reserved for special occasions... like a wedding... perhaps. Cheers!

B

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The Smooth ride – longer range

TRAVELLER

These folks just can’t wait to get on the road again. It’s always a good time with The Traveller: they’ve got snacks, they’ve got comfy seat covers and – now they’ve installed that new head unit – their Summer Driving Music playlist is sounding better than ever.

All the added extras

Comfort and fun are important, but safety plays a big part in the Travellers plans too. There’s an emergency kit on board – warning triangle, jumper leads, high-viz vest. “You hope you’ll never need it, but you’ll be glad you’ve got it,” they say. There’s even an emergency pack of biscuits, just to keep the wolves at bay.

The art of the tyre

The Traveller is also a tyre nerd. Do you know how many k’s you’ve done since you last got yours balanced? No? The Traveller keeps track of each set of tyres. Just got a great new set for the ute – 30% off on the Card – so the clock resets for that one. They rotate every 6,000km, rebalance at 10k. Check the pressure before each trip and adjust if fully laden – it’s just common sense, they say.

“It also helps with fuel economy,” says The Traveller. “Though you get great mileage out of this 4x4,” they say, patting the steering wheel. “Touch screen, built-in Sat Nav, smart air con for everybody.” They like to list the features and hope you’re taking notes.

Fuel-up for summer

They have an encyclopaedic knowledge of every service station too. The best coffee, the cleanest loos, the one you should always stop at because the windshield will need a clean by then. They’re the only person you know who has a proper handle on the difference between 91 and premium unleaded: “Always 95 in the town car.”

Let’s see the world

The Traveller also loves to plan the next roadie. But when the road leads to the airport, they’re not afraid to get the professionals involved – someone who can sort everything out if plans change. It seems like they’ve been everywhere, but they’ll never get tired of it. “Because life is a journey.” How true.

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ORGANISER The

Dressing the room

“If you want something done, ask a busy person,” they say, cheerfully consulting the shared calendar. It is colour coded (of course) – birthdays are blue, doctor appointments and dental check-ups are yellow. The curtain guy (marked in green) is coming back at 2.50pm a week on Thursday to measure up for blackout blinds in the spare bedroom.

There’s a machine for that

The Organiser memorises care labels on clothes, and irons accordingly – you’ll never see them trying to tackle a wool jumper on the silk setting. They iron T-shirts, which are only worn for gardening. ‘Precision’ is The Organiser’s calling card. Their sofa cushions are plumped, the pictures on the wall are straight. The daily briefings from the security cam are reviewed. They run a tight ship.

You’ll never go hungry

And provisions are always available. Meals are planned and plentiful (but there’s also a steady supply of 'The' finest sausage rolls). The Organiser has mapped the supermarket – they walk down the aisles in their mind as they write the shopping list, mentally comparing prices. When was the last time they forgot the bags? Well never, of course.

Stacks of space

Not for them a random hodge podge under the sink – a system of racks and baskets sees the sprays and cloths kept away from the string and super glue. They’ve installed overhead cupboards too: it’s where the Christmas serving platters sleep in immaculate stacks.

Moving on up

Spring cleaning happens three times a year, but The Organiser knows storage and tidying up will only get you so far when the family has outgrown the nest. Happily, moving house is exactly the kind of project they thrive on. Are you kidding? Auditing, editing and packing boxes – this is their kind of fun. Better phone the brokers.

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25A between Kopu and Hikuai was washed away in a storm last January.

“The bridge was fixed just before Christmas last year, but I think it was a little late for a lot of people's plans, so this will be our first year that we're really back in business through that area.” Visitors come through the station from as far afield as Northland and Wellington, Briar says, and petrol isn’t the only item on their shopping list.

“We've always sold a lot of bait and ice, and a lot of LPG for barbecues. We've also seen an increase in food purchases as we've improved our offering. We do fantastic food and coffee.”

Briar operates 13 Z stations across the Waikato, including Z Ngatea, a popular stop for those travelling from Auckland on the way to places like Waihi and Mount Maunganui.

She says Ngatea tends to see more Farmlands Cards, not only during the holidays but year-round, thanks to the strong dairy industry in the area.

“When I first bought the business nine years ago, I used to laugh when I would go to Ngatea and see a tractor on the forecourt and nobody would blink an eye,” she laughs. “Everywhere else, people would be saying, ‘what’s going on here?’ But that's just a normal thing for a tractor to roll on in and fill up with the dogs on the back.”

Briar says one of the other things she likes about Ngatea is the closeness between her Z team and their local customers.

Service stations at New Zealand’s most popular holiday hotspots are getting ready for the summer rush, and they are expecting to see a lot of Farmlands Cards.

WORDS BY NIKO KLOETEN

Farmlands Cardholders get a fuel discount of 12c per litre off the retail price at Z, Caltex and Challenge stations across the country, and 19c off the national list price for diesel at Z and Caltex Truck Stops, which is great news for farmers and growers taking their families on their annual summer road trip.

Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula is one of the North Island’s most popular holiday destinations, swelling with visitors from around New Zealand.

Briar Farrar, operator of Z Whitianga, says the area had only just emerged from the Covid lockdowns when the crucial Taparahi Bridge on State Highway

“I have a relatively new team and my staff just love the interaction with the local community; you do get a real local feel. I was talking to my site leader who's only been here three months and she said, ‘Oh, hang on, I need to say hello to this lady’. That's what really makes the site special.”

Well-earned break

Motueka is the gateway to some of New Zealand’s most iconic destinations including Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay, and Caltex Motueka is ideally situated on the main road through the small town.

Matt Morris, Manager of Caltex Motueka, says many of the visitors

coming through the station over summer are farmers, and they mainly stay at holiday parks like the motor camp at Kaiteriteri.

“We see a lot of Farmlands Cards and it's your customers who have worked their tails off for the last 11-and-a-half months and they’re finally getting a break, and they have that two or three weeks up here over the summer.”

Drivers have often travelled long distances by the time they stop at Caltex Motueka; the trip from Picton to Kaiteriteri alone is three hours, with an extra hour if you continue to Golden Bay.

For some visitors the trip is much longer. Matt says they get customers who have come across from the North Island on the ferry, while many of the Farmlands Cardholders have driven up from Canterbury.

“They'll pack up on the Friday in Christchurch and they'll almost drive through the night to get here. And then once they get here, they can park-up and know ‘that's it, we can relax for two or three weeks.”

While the area has always been popular with tourists, Matt says since

the Covid era Kiwis have become much more interested in holidaying in our own country.

In the past few years they have seen big increases in sales of bait and LPG, reflecting two big trends he has noticed: more caravans and a lot more people going fishing.

“During Covid people were almost forced to look in their own backyard. They couldn't go overseas and they had all this money in the bank, so they bought caravans and motor homes. It's just been fantastic growth,” Matt says.

“As a country we’re massive travellers. Kiwis were quick to get on a plane and go overseas to Fiji, or Noosa

or the Gold Coast, but you can travel the world and then come back to New Zealand and go, ‘gee, it's not too bad’.”

Caltex Motueka serves plenty of Farmlands Cardholders throughout the year, with the horticulture industry being very strong in the surrounding area. But Matt says these regulars are different to the Cardholders who come from far afield to fuel up on their summer journeys.

“Mum wants an ice cream; the kids want a drink and Dad wants some bait; everything goes on the Card. We’ve never seen them before, but it's great. They get a good discount, they get a month to pay for it… they don’t have to worry about it.”

SAVE ON FUEL EVERY DAY OF YOUR HOLIDAY & BE IN TO WIN!

We've got 10 x $100 Z Energy Fuel Credits up for grabs. Just send a pic of you filling up at a Z, Caltex or Challenge station while you're on holiday to farmlander@farmlands.co.nz

Get full details at https://www.farmlands.co.nz/promotions-terms-and-conditions.html

Vanessa Mina is Site Leader at Z Ngatea, which has a surge of holiday traffic each year.

Caltex Motueka Manager Matt Morris says they see many Farmlands Cards over summer.

Getting your insurance sorted

Like any business owners, farmers and growers need to make sure they have the right insurance. This handy guide from FMG looks at some of the risks you need to be protected against.

Are you covered for the right risks?

No one knows rural risk better than FMG – because we’re farmers too.

We’ve been providing insurance cover to rural New Zealand for almost 120 years, which means we understand a fair bit about rural life and business. So, when it comes to managing risk at home, on farm and at work, FMG is here to offer specialist advice and cover that’s right for you.

In the country, there are all kinds of things you can be liable for if you don’t have the right liability cover. You need cover in case your stock wander onto the road and cause accidents, or trample the neighbour’s crops.

You’ll need to be covered for statutory liability, which covers breaches of Parliament Acts like the Animal Welfare Act or the Resource Management Act. If you start a fire that gets out of control and damages your neighbouring property, you’re liable. Spraying weeds in your paddock might seem like a good idea until it drifts onto your neighbour’s grapes or their organic orchard and destroys their season’s harvest. If you pollute council drains, or power poles and lines on your property become damaged, you can be held liable, regardless of whether it was you who personally caused the damage.

FMG provide a Liability Cover that can protect you against these unique, but only too real risks. A farm contents policy is also vital to cover

those items you’re not likely to have in the city, like electric fence units, bailed hay, fertiliser sprayers, chemicals, brush cutters and portable pumps. And if you have farm vehicles on your property, it’s likely they won’t be covered on a standard vehicle policy.

FMG also has a special farm vehicles policy for things like quad bikes, trailers, fert spreaders, tractors, any tractor attachments, and dirt bikes. The best way to find out the kind of cover you’re likely to need is to call us on 0800 366 466 and have a chat.

Insuring

your biggest asset

Your home is likely to be one of your biggest assets, so it pays to have it insured properly. Your sum insured is the cost to replace your house and relevant domestic structures (including demolition costs, removal of debris, professional fees etc.). It is not the rateable value or market value of your property. It also doesn’t include the land value.

Will FMG calculate the sum insured for my property?

We’ve partnered with building quantity surveyors to calculate an estimated rebuild cost. This uses current data about building costs in New Zealand and is based on a number of pieces of information that heavily influence your homes rebuild cost such as its age, location and what it’s made of. It’s important to note, this amount is only an indication of what you may need to replace your property. The appropriate sum insured needs to be agreed to by you, taking into account all costs to rebuild, including demolition of your old home, construction, professional fees and costs to remove debris.

If you’ve any doubts, or your house has special or unique features, you may wish to get an independent valuation to calculate a suitable sum insured value.

This can be done by using a:

• Registered valuer: www.nziv.org.nz

• Quantity surveyor: www.nziqs.co.nz

• Licensed builder: www.lbp.govt.nz

How often should my sum insured be reviewed?

It’s important to regularly review your sum insured to make sure it’s adequate to rebuild your property in the event it’s completely destroyed. You can log into FMG Connect, your online insurance service, to review the sum insured and how this will impact the premium.

What should be included in the sum insured?

INCLUDED:

• Demolition costs

• Retaining walls (up to $50,000)

• Swimming pools or tennis courts

• Garages and outbuildings

• Asphalt and concrete driveways

• Residential fences, driveways and gates

NOT INCLUDED:

• Land value

• Market value of the house

• Household contents

• Landlord’s contents

• Lifestyle fencing

• Lifestyle pumps and motors.

we believe we can support Farmlands in its goals for its customers and shareholders. We are immensely proud to be associated with Farmlands and we are very excited to build a successful partnership together”

ELF: A brand of passion

Farmlands and TotalEnergies are pleased to announce a new partnership. From November 1

TotalEnergies will supply the Elf brand of lubricants exclusively to the agricultural sector through Farmlands stores nationwide.

TotalEnergies celebrates 25 years in business in NZ, providing premium lubricants backed by the best technical support in the industry. TotalEnergies

NZ started as a 100% NZ owned business in 1999 and was purchased by Reuben Thickpenny (current CEO) and the late Colin Francis in 2004 becoming the authorised importer and distributor for the Total brand.

Over the past 25 years Reuben has grown the business to be New

Zealand’s third largest lubricant company. In 2020, then Oil Intel entered a 50/50 joint venture with Total SA and allowed the company access to the premium Elf brand.

“Elf is a strong, quality brand and we have taken our time to find the right representative partner,,” says Reuben Thickpenny, CEO TotalEnergies.

“Farmlands ticked all the boxes in what we were looking for in a partner, we have similar values, aspirations and

For 50 years, Elf has been synonymous with exceptional quality. Our products are engineered to deliver top-tier performance across a wide range of applications. All Elf products meet or exceed OEM requirements and are backed by TotalEnergies’ quality guarantee.

Our range of products spans engine oils, transmission oils and hydraulic fluid to greases and antifreeze, so whatever your application or equipment requirements, our products have you covered.

L to R: Craig Stevenson, TotalEnergies National Field Sales Manager and Jonathan Malone Farmlands Business Manager, Hastings.

ROYAL OAK still standing in Canterbury

The word ‘Oak’ has special significance to the Robinsons of Lyttelton, who have kept their farm within the family for four generations.

In 1878 Robert Robinson arrived in Lyttelton from Northern Ireland as a 24-year-old single man.

In 1886 he married Mary Bartrum of Christchurch and they had six children, three of whom farmed at Waikuku. In 1905 Robert bought 129 acres on Gressons Road, Waikuku. Then from 1921 to 1926 he acquired three neighbouring blocks of land from the sale of Coldstream Estate totalling 418 acres, bringing the total farm to 547 acres.

In 1925 Robert started selling his land to his children Pursey, Jane and David and over the years this land has continued to be sold within the family with over half the current farm now having been in the family for up to 118 years. One block was sold outside the family in 1953 but was bought back in 2013. Robert died in 1932.

In the early years, the Robinsons farmed sheep, had horses and grew wheat. In 1928 David became a member of the Holstein Friesian Association and registered the herd name “Royal Oak” at the age of 25. His older brother, Pursey registered the herd name “Oakdale” the following year. In 1932 David registered his first Holstein Friesian cow Royal Oak Lorna Donna.

David sold his farm in 1953, holding a dispersal sale of the Royal

Oak Holstein Friesian stud which was then the largest sale of pedigree Holstein Friesians ever held in the South Island. This was not the end of “Royal Oak” though, as it has continued on through the generations with David’s son, Keith and now his grandson Alastair. Currently the Royal Oak herd has over 950 full pedigree cows in it and produces over 600 kgs of milk solids per cow per year.

From the early days they decided that dairy farming was the best use of the land. They have winter milked since the early 1930s and still do today.

CENTENNIAL FARM

ROBINSON WAIKUKU, CANTERBURY 1905

NEW ZEALAND

A walk-through shed operational from the 1920s until 1997 still stands today. It has been replaced by a 70-bale rotary, now used to milk 1,100 cows. Some of the dairy companies supplied over the years were Canterbury Dairy Farmers, South Island Dairy Farmer, Kiwi Dairy and Fonterra which is still supplied today.

David moved to West Melton to farm in 1953. Jane at “The Oaks” and Pursey’s (d. 1945) wife, Agnes at “Oakdale” were still on the farms. Both farms were bought by Keith in 1962 and 1996 respectively.

His son, Alastair (the fourth generation) came home to the farm in 1993 and continues the legacy of the Robinsons before him. With the benefits of technology, the farm has come a long way since 1905.

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

Robert Robinson bought 129 acres on Gresson Road, Waikuku in 1905.

STOP THE PUNCTURE IT HAPPENS BEFORE

Off Road Quad/ATV On Road X-treme Dirt Bike

Agricultural Machinery

Under 80km/hr Quads ATVs Side by Sides

OKO ATTRIBUTES

Provides a permanent seal.

Able to seal large and small holes.

Lengthens the useful working life of a tyre by 20% on averag e.

Steer tyres can last up to 40% longer.

Safe to use; does not damage rubber, tyres, or wheel rims.

OKO contains an environmentally friendly anti-corrosive rust inhibitor for rim and bead care.

Lasts the life of the tyre

Tubed Dirt Bikes

Tubeless Dirt Bikes

Tubed mountain bikes

HOW OKO WORKS

Ute’s / Vans / Light Trucks Trailers / Horse Floats Motor Homes

OKO is injected into the tubeless tyre or inner tube through the valve stem before any puncture occurs.

OKO remains in liquid form inside the tyre, providing continuous protection against potential punctures in the tread area. When a puncture happens, the air pressure forces OKO into the hole while the tyre is in motion. OKO then forms a strong, airtight seal immediately, preventing any deflation. The seal created by OKO is permanent and significantly stronger than traditional puncture repairs.

HOW TO KEEP POOL CLEANING SIMPLE

Many rural dwellers have backyard pools, but with their busy lives it can be a hassle maintaining them. We spoke to a pool cleaning expert about how to make looking after your pool easy.

There’s nothing better than jumping into your pool after a hot day working on the farm, or relaxing in the spa on a chilly winter’s night. But too many people don’t think about what they need to do to keep their pools in swimmable condition, says Space Industries Sales and Marketing Manager Peter Kruse.

“That’s the biggest mistake people make when they buy a pool or buy a house with a pool; they think it’s going to look after itself!”

Space Industries is New Zealand's industry leader in the supply of pool and spa chemicals and equipment, and has been helping Kiwis with their pool cleaning needs since 1979. It offers everything from tablets to vacuums and pool robots, and some of its liquid cleaning products are manufactured here in New Zealand.

Peter says some pool owners are a bit squeamish about adding chemicals to their pool, but they need to, to keep it pristine and safe. “And make sure that you buy the test strips so that you can test it to work out how much of each chemical is in there. Don't guess!”

There’s also more than just one chemical that goes into keeping pools clean, he adds. “If you asked somebody what chemicals they put in their pool, 99 percent of people would

say chlorine. But there's also the chemicals that you use to balance the pH, which are just as important.”

There’s an app for that

Apps are all the rage these days (see: FarmlandsPRO), and Space Industries is getting in on the action with an app designed to make the pool cleaning process simpler Crystal Water pool testing app (www.poolwatertest.co.nz/cw).

Peter says for people that struggle with the chemistry and mathematics involved with pool cleaning, using the app will make the process a lot easier.

“All they've got to do is just dip the test strip, then use the app to decipher what there is in the pool. And if they plug in how big their pool is, it'll tell them how much of a product they've got put in there. If they're not so good at maths, or if they're scared of chemistry, it's really helpful.”

For summer pool maintenance, Peter says a rule of thumb is to run the filter for around 10 hours a day. “That stirs the pool up and it helps filter it, take all the impurities out and maintain your pH.”

The pH is a big thing to keep an eye on, as it also determines how well the chlorine works, Peter explains.

“If your pH is out and you're throwing a whole lot of chlorine, this might not work. And if you're putting the sanitiser in, that's going to control your algae growth and your pathogens and that sort of stuff.”

Tablets popular

Peter says one product category that has grown a lot for Space Industries over the past few years is tablets, which offer a pre-measured dose of chemicals. “People don't need to worry about measuring it or having it dripping all over their hands, they can just grab one out and drop it into the dispenser and walk away.”

Another benefit of the tablets is that they dissolve slowly, so the pool doesn't need as much active maintenance from the user. “In the long term, they're going to get a better result because there's a continuous flow of sanitiser, and sanitiser is one of the most important things in the maintenance of a pool because it cleans your pool water while killing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.”

One of Peter’s favourite parts of his job is manning Space Industries’ dedicated pool help hotline (09 262 3903), which he likens to a roadside rescue service for pool owners.

“People can ring just to say, ‘I've got a problem’, and I get quite a kick out of that. You get somebody ring up, and particularly people that are new to it, you can take them through a few steps and you can hear the confidence grow in their voice,” he says.

“We've actually designed a number of products based on that feedback about what people are having problems with.”

Although Peter is passionate about pool cleaning, he knows it’s not exactly a fun pastime for most pool owners. “There are very few people who have ever said to me, ‘I really enjoy maintaining my pool’ ” he admits.

“There are some people that hate pools and will never have one again, and that's usually because of the amount of time they've had to spend, because they didn't know what to do, so they didn't do it properly. It just was one problem after the next.”

Tackling the green monster

It’s a common scenario for pool owners: it’s summer and you want to have guests around, but your pool is the same colour as your lawn. Peter Kruse, of pool cleaning supplies company Space Industries, says there are a few things you should do in this situation.

“If it's gone ‘camouflage green’ and you can't see the bottom, the first thing you’ve got to do is vacuum,” he says. “Get the dead hedgehogs out, all that sort of stuff. Then you should probably bomb it with chlorine.”

The next step is usually to use a ‘flocculent’ or a clarifier to break up congealed matter, Peter says. “What that does is it takes suspended particles, drops them down, and then they can vacuum those back up again. From there you need to sort your pH out.”

However, Peter warns this process will take a few days. “If you have a pool party on Saturday, don’t leave this until Friday. Over the years we have built up FAQs and guides to help our customers that anyone can download.”

Check out a handy list of pool-cleaning FAQs at www.spaceindustries.co.nz/resources/faqs

For further information,talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Resene is a proud Farmlands Card Partner.

Work in progress

Stylish and sustainable

Richard Sedcole, a retired agriculture lecturer living near Rangiora, North Canterbury, has always had a hands-on approach to home projects. His latest endeavour, a garden shed built from leftover building materials and finished with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, has earned him highpraise and a $1,000 Resene ColorShop voucher.

Richard’s shed is a testament to resourcefulness. "I built the shed using leftover timber from my house construction," he says. The concrete slab was poured by a builder, but Richard sourced most of the materials himself, including iron for the roof, which was left over from a barn repair. The only major purchase, was exterior-grade plywood for the walls, keeping the project both sustainable and cost-effective.

For the finishing touches, Richard turned to a trusted brand. "I’ve used Resene paints for years," he shares.

"They’re easy to clean, durable, and have a great colour range." He experimented with several Resene testpots before settling on Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen tinted to Resene Dark Rum, the perfect shade for his shed, ensuring it blended beautifully with the surrounding property.

The results were exactly what he had hoped for. "I’m very happy with the finish," Richard says. "The colour turned out exactly as advertised." His freshly painted garden shed is not

only functional but also an attractive feature on his property, adding value as he prepares to put his home on the market. Richard’s winning shed project demonstrates how a little ingenuity, combined with quality materials, can turn a practical building into a prize-winning accomplishment. His success with the Resene Colour the Country competition shows that even a simple garden shed can make a big impact.

top tip

While old garden sheds can often be an eyesore, it’s easy to make them blend into the background by refreshing the finish with dark Resene paints or stains that will help the shed recede into the background. When you’re choosing dark colours, remember to ask for a Resene CoolColour finish to help reflect more heat and keep your dark coating and shed cooler.

Taking tiny houses to a new level

Our Highly Commended entry this issue comes from Hugh Mackenzie, a retired farmer, now living in the Gisborne area. Hugh makes Doll’s Houses for a local charity shop and “The Stables” (as pictured) is one of his latest creations, coated in Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen tinted to Resene Red Planet With delightful detailing and striking colour, these tiny houses are a hit with all ages. And the low sheen durable finish stands up well to all the knocks and bumps of playtime.

Resene and Farmlands are on the hunt for the country’s best rural Resene projects. Send in your photos and the stories behind your kitchen, shed, barn or bedroom – anything inside or outside that's painted, stained or wallpapered with Resene products!

The winning projects will not only win a $1,000 Resene ColorShop voucher and a $250 Farmlands Gift Card, but will also feature in an upcoming issue of Farmlander magazine.

a $1,000 Resene ColorShop voucher, and a $250 Farmlands Gift Card.

Visit www.farmlands.co.nz/resene to enter your project!

Resene Red Planet

Resene Quarter Spanish White

Resene Dark Rum

SG50-1000 (1 Litre)

SG50-500 (500ml)

SG50-125 (125ml)

SG-LB SG50-60 (60ml)

HERE COMES THE SUN! -BUT WAIT...

New Zealand's melanoma cancer rate is, along with Australia, the world's highest. Melanoma accounts for nearly 80% of all skin cancer deaths in NZ and the rate appears to be increasing. Over and above that, it's estimated over 80,000 Kiwis get nonmelanoma skin cancer each year.

But the good news is that it's not difficult to protect yourself with simple SunSmart precautions.

You've heard it before-the basics of 'slip, slop, slap and wrap'wearing a combination of clothing, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. With changeable weather, rain and cloud, then sun the next minute, it's important to stay SunSmart, especially between 10am and 4pm during daylight savings months.

Trust Sungard for your sun protection

Esko's SunGard SPF50+ is a no nonsense sunscreen formulated to give value and performance to trades and agriculture sector users.

It's a 'broad-spectrum' sunscreen meaning protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB are high energy rays that damage the outermost layers of your skin, causing sunburn. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply, causing genetic damage, premature aging and skin cancer.

Being SunSmart doesn't stop on overcast days. Cloud cover may cool down temperatures, but it only reduces UV radiation by 20-40 percent. Clouds block out most UVB rays, but up to 80% of UVA rays can still penetrate.

SunGard SPF50+ has manuka honey, aloe vera and vitamin E, helping to moisturize and condition the skin at the same time as it protects you from the sun.

SG30IR-500 (500ml)

SG30IR-125 (125ml)

Insect repellent sunscreen

In the SunGard range, there's also SPF30 insect repellent sunscreen. This convenient formulation has only natural insect repellent extracts and is tested to meet AS/NZS Standard 2604:2012. No questionable chemicals like DEET are included in the SunGard range. Sunscreens containing DEET repellent are banned in Canada and frowned on in the US.

Lip balm

Remember lips are particularly sensitive, so protect your lips with lip balm. Sungard SPF30 gives lips long-lasting protection from damaging UVA and UVB rays. Manufactured in Germany, it's formulated from high-quality natural plant-based oils, including shea butter, sea buckthorn oil, beeswax and chamomile extract.

Take care

You can be sure of performance from Sungard SPF50+ – it's been laboratory tested to meet AS/NZS Standard 2604:2012, is a TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) registered product and SunGard lotions have been dermatologically tested for most skin types. For further information, and to purchase Sungard, head to your local Farmlands store or shop online.

Stop skin cancer, one summer at a time. Use sunscreen, sun protective clothing, sunglasses, a broad-brimmed hat. Seek shade. When it comes to sunscreen, Sungard has you covered-literally!

TOP TIPS FOR GARDENING MORE SUSTAINABLY

With the price of vegetables rising, now is the perfect time to start gardening. Not only will growing your own food save you money, but it’s also a great way to contribute to a more sustainable future for Aotearoa. Whether you have a large garden or a small balcony, The Warehouse has everything you need to get started. Plus, Farmlands shareholders can get a 2.5% rebate when they shop at The Warehouse.

Here are seven easy tips for gardening more sustainably:

1. Invite bees and beneficial insects by planting bright flowers like marigolds, daisies, and fuchsias. These easy-to-grow plants will attract pollinators and bring life to your garden.

2. Collect rainwater for your garden just like The Warehouse does with its rain tanks. You can use buckets, barrels, or even catch shower water while waiting for it to heat up to reduce water use.

3. Mulch your garden to retain moisture and protect your soil. The Warehouse offers a variety of mulches, composts and potting mixes to keep your plants thriving.

4. Start composting to reduce food waste and create rich fertilizer for your plants. Grab a recycled garden bin to turn kitchen scraps into a nutritious soil boost.

5. Plant a tree for shade, wildlife, and fruit while combating climate change. The Warehouse has trees perfect for any garden size.

6. Upcycle toilet rolls as seed starters—simply fill them with soil and plant seeds. This eco-friendly trick saves waste and nurtures seedlings naturally.

7. Bring greenery indoors by choosing from a wide selection of indoor plants at The Warehouse, which improve air quality and enhance your home’s look.

Farmlands shareholders get a 2.5% rebate when shopping in-store at The Warehouse. So for all your gardening needs visit your local store and get ready for a more sustainable summer!

Chelsea Winter's latest book, Tasty, was made with her small sons in mind. It features recipes free from refined sugar, eggs, dairy and meat... But carnivores are sure to enjoy them too.

Where do you get the inspiration for your recipes?

All sorts of different places –sometimes, it's countries I've visited on my travels. Like the Italian Chocolate Cake, for example (the most popular recipe on my website) was served to me from a family farmhouse in Tuscany. Sometimes it's a restaurant I've gone to. Sometimes it's an ingredient in season. But most often, I'll want to put my own spin on a classic – for Tasty, I took a whole lot of really popular Kiwi bakery faves and made them refined sugar free! And I made family dinners (like mince & cheese pie, burritos and stir fries) plant-based. The possibilities are endless!

How did your rural upbringing shape your approach to cooking?

I guess it gave me a pretty down-toearth, no fuss attitude to food. There was always a connection with what was on my dinner plate and where it came from – the vege garden, the chook shed, the orchard, the sheep or beef in the paddocks. It gave me a respect for the ingredients and appreciation for home-cooked, unprocessed meals (we didn't often get takeaways!). I mean, don't get me wrong, we weren't living off the land or anything… it was more of a lifestyle block in Kumeu; but it was a big part of it. I grew up enjoying simple ingredients cooked well.

Why did you decide to make Tasty cane sugar-free?

Since having kids (I have boys aged two and five) and seeing the effect that cane sugar had on them, I decided I'd better figure out some alternatives to save my sanity! I started experimenting with 'gentler'

sugars and I could definitely see the difference and I could even feel it within myself. I could eat more treats without feeling like I was crashing afterwards! Always a bonus.

Do meat eaters enjoy your plantbased recipes?

Definitely. I've specifically designed my plant-based recipes with meateaters in mind. They are carnivoreapproved! That might sound counterintuitive, but I wanted Tasty to be for everyone, not just those following a vegetarian or vegan

lifestyle. It's for people who want to try bringing a little more balance into their meal rotation with a meat-free meal from time to time. Or those looking for more budget-friendly options. Or those who are cooking for people with allergies or intolerances to eggs and dairy. The recipes are also designed to be flexible – you can use them as they are, totally plantbased, or you can change them up how it suits you or your family. Add in some meat, cheese, dairy or eggs as it suits you. So, really, it becomes an everyday cookbook!

Win a signed copy of Tasty

We have two signed copies of Chelsea Winter's latest book Tasty. To go into the draw please email your name and shareholder number with the subject line "Tasty" to farmlander@farmlands.co.nz Entries close Sunday 12th January 2025.

Photo: Tamara West

RECIPE

Zingy Potato Salad

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Serves: 4-5 as a side

This feels like a ‘grown-up’ potato salad – it may not be slathered in creamy mayo, but it’s still satisfyingly luscious to eat. That mouthwatering, mustardy, garlicky vinaigrette is popping, and those are all the flavours that tasty little steamed potatoes just luuurve to wallow in. The fresh herbs add brightness and the gherkins and capers are punchy flavour heroes, too (you can easily omit them if they aren’t your thing, though).

INGREDIENTS

1-1.25kg (2lb 4oz-2lb 12oz) baby new potatoes

4 gherkins, very finely sliced fresh dill sprigs, for garnish

DRESSING

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

3 shallots, finely chopped (about ½ cup)

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tbsp chopped capers (optional but yum)

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

2 tsp dijon mustard

2 tsp maple syrup

1 tsp dried dill or 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill

2 tsp salt

½ tsp fine white pepper

METHOD

• To make the dressing, combine the ingredients in a jug or shake in a glass jar. Leave to sit for at least half an hour to infuse.

• To make the salad, boil or steam the potatoes in salted water until just tender, but not mushy. Keep checking the progress, and when they are done, drain well and return to the saucepan. While they’re hot, add the dressing and toss to combine.

Don’t worry if a few potatoes break up a bit – that’s nice.

• Leave to cool to room temperature, then stir in the gherkins. Check the flavours and season to taste with salt and pepper if you think it needs it.

• It’s fine covered and left out for a few hours, and can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for

a couple of days. Serve at room temperature, topped with extra dill.

TIPS

& SWAPS

• If you don’t have baby new potatoes, you can use larger waxy potatoes and cut them in half.

• Use floury potatoes if you don’t mind it all going a bit mushy.

RECIPE

Bigbog Brownies

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20-25 minutes

Serves: 25 pieces

This is the ultimate fridge brownie — gooey, fudgy, rich and sweet, but not sickening, and definitely best served chilled. I had my work cut out for me because what gives a traditional brownie that decadent fudge texture is a bucket of white sugar. And that’s all very well when you’re young and carefree, but not ideal when you have kids who rain terror upon the household as a result of ingesting said sugar. Turns out, I nailed it with a miraculous combination of wondrous ingredients (including chickpea flour, which I adore). It took me ages. But here it is, dedicated to my friends Andrea and Dave, who instructed me to create this one back when all I had was a mess of half-finished recipes and a dream. Don’t even ask what ‘bigbog’ means – it’s a long story involving autocorrect (a story that’s actually not that funny unless you’re kind of immature, like me).

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

5 tbsp cold water

¾ cup chickpea flour

½ cup flour or gluten-free flour blend (see page 222 of Tasty by Chelsea Winter)

1 cup coconut sugar

½ cup dark cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp baking soda

½ cup almond butter or hulled tahini

½ cup rice syrup

½ cup plant-based milk cup coconut oil

1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

¼ cup sugar-free, plant-based dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (optional)

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) regular bake and line the base and sides of a 20cm (8in) square slice tin with baking paper.

• Stir the flaxseed and water together in a mug or small bowl and set aside for 5-10 minutes to thicken. Stir again before use.

• Sift the flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda into a medium mixing bowl and stir to combine.

• Place the almond butter or tahini, rice syrup, milk, coconut oil and vanilla in a small saucepan. Warm over a low heat, stirring constantly, until just melted (don’t let it simmer or boil).

• Add the milk mixture and the flaxseed mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. It will go quite thick – this is okay.

• Transfer to the prepared tin and flatten it out with a damp spatula or

clean, damp fingers. Sprinkle with the chocolate (if using).

• Bake for 20-25 minutes. You want it just undercooked – if it’s overcooked, it will be dry. A toothpick or skewer poked in shouldn’t come out too clean. Every oven is different so it’s hard to say exactly how long it needs, but you’ll figure out the sweet spot after you’ve made it a few times.

• Allow to cool completely in the tin, then refrigerate for an hour or two before slicing. Extra delicious with a dollop of whipped plant-based cream.

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge so it stays chewy and gooey.

Extracted from Tasty by Chelsea Winter. Photography © Tamara West. RRP$55.00. Out 1 October 2024. Published by Allen & Unwin NZ.

This herb-crusted leg of lamb is a deliciously impressive main course that is perfect for any special occasion. The lamb is roasted in a sumptuous pool of garlic, and then topped with a crunchy crust. The result is a tender, juicy lamb that is bursting with flavour.

RECIPE

Herb and garlic crusted leg of lamb

Serves: 10-12

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Lamb

2kg Quality Mark lamb leg (bone in)

2 garlic heads

1 cup water

Herb crust

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 cup mint leaves (chopped)

¼ cup fresh rosemary (chopped)

¼ cup breadcrumbs

4 garlic cloves (grated)

1 tsp salt and pepper

grated zest of 1 lemon

2 tbsp olive oil

¼ cup capers (chopped)

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a large roasting dish with baking paper.

• Place the lamb into the dish. Cut the heads of garlic in half and place around the lamb.

• Season the lamb, and add the water. Cover the lamb tightly with tinfoil and place it into the oven for 1 hour.

• To make the crust, blitz the parsley, mint, rosemary, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, zest, oil and capers in a kitchen processor until all combined.

• Remove the lamb from the oven and smother over the paste. Return uncovered for a further 45 minutes or done to your liking.

• Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving.

TO SERVE

Serve with mashed potato, green beans and peas.

Nutrition Information per Serving (214g)

This nutrition analysis is based on 12 serves and is for the crusted lamb only. It does not include the potato and vegetables to serve.

Energy 1167kJ (279 kcal)

Protein 35.5g

Total Fat 13.5g

Saturated Fat 4.7g

Carbohydrate 2.8g

Dietary Fibre 2.0g

Sodium 249mg

Iron 4.1mg

Zinc 6.4mg

Vitamin B12 0.93µg

Summer crossword

Test your knowledge of rural New Zealand and be in to WIN a $250 Farmlands Gift Card.

To enter, simply complete the crossword - either in the magazine or online - then e-mail a photo, scan, print-out or PDF of your completed crossword to farmlander@farmlands.co.nz , with your name and shareholder number (if applicable). Entries must be received by Sunday 12th of January 2025, with a winner announced in the Autumn 2025 edition of Farmlander

Across

5: Area equivalent to 2.47 acres

7: Way to identify animals for health tracking

10: Cultivated plant grown for food or fiber

12: Draining away of water

14: Simple structure for storage

16: Products derived from milk

17: Animals raised for production

19: Specific genetic type of animal or plant

22: Essential mineral for plant growth and livestock health

23: Type of pickup truck popular in Australia and New Zealand

24: Allows water to flow under a road

26: Provides resistance to pests in plants

29: Young female chicken

30: Branch of plant agriculture

33: Crop planted to protect and enrich the soil

35: Land suitable for growing crops

37: Telecomms company

38: Small horse, typically under 14.2 hands high

42: Native known for its vibrant red flowers

44: Bovine animals raised for meat or milk

47: Leading equine feed brand

48: Generates a pulse of electricity in fencing systems

49: Dessert made from meringue

50: Reproductive structure in flowering plants

51: Container used to hold water

54: Application of liquid substances

55: Container for storing liquids

57: Large farm, especially in Australia and New Zealand

58: Popular red wine grape variety

59: Root vegetable grown for its edible yellow flesh

60: Solid material used in construction

61: Delicious meat of the cattle

64: Small, round fruits that are often sweet or tart

67: Device to carry cash, coin and cards

68: Tool for managing orders

69: Rack, chops or roast

70: Food given to livestock

71: High-quality grazing area

73: Sort sheep in multiple directions

76: Relating to horses

77: Dairy animal extraction technique

78: Countryside or non-urban area

80. Small, compressed form of feed

84. Share in responsibility

86. Energy derived from the sun

87. Brand of durable gumboots popular in New Zealand

88. Docile animals with soft, luxurious wool

89. Health and state of an animal

Down

1: A piece of land where fruit trees are grown

2: Type of hand-held pruning tool

3: Rural insurer

4: Traditional Māori cooking method

6: Ready for your next getaway

8: Crop production and soil management

9: Mangelwurzel

11: Leading agricultural nutrition brand

13: Enclosing a piece of land with barriers

15: Affordable agchem product

18: Feed to succeed

20: Burned to produce heat or power

21: Flowers used to brew beer

25: The worth of a product, service, or resource

27: Model T inventor

28: Cooking method and social gathering

31: One of NZ’s biggest selling utes

32: Tool for planting seeds

34: Grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides

36: Minerals in a liquid that conduct electricity

39: Lightweight vehicle designed for off-road use

40: Cured or smoked meat from the hind leg of a pig

41: South American pack animal known for its wool

43: Gathering mature crops

44: Working together for a shared purpose

45: Partial refund to a buyer after purchase

46: Prepaid device, used as a form of payment

51: Involving applied and industrial sciences

52: Utility vehicle with two seats

53: Fifty-fifty joint venture

56: Critical to good health and development

59: Organised method or approach

60: Fertiliser company

62: Feed on grass or other low-growing vegetation

63: Traditional bringer of gifts

65: Centre of activity

66: Perfect for shopping with Partners

72: Piece of land or real estate

74: Putting something into operation

75: A climbing or trailing plant

77: 5 Year Fixed Rate Plan

79: Official travel document

80: Intelligent, adaptable animal raised for meat

81: Added to soil to improve pH and nutrient availability

82: Slang term for a rest break

83: Small breed of chicken

85: Method of delivering liquid medication

THE LAST WORD

A three-dimensional approach to farming

The world is changing, but for farmers and growers the three keys to success remain: good people, good inputs and good timing, writes agricultural consultant Ian Tarbotton.

In the rural sector, there is often a fine margin between success and failure. But what does success mean for your business? To get a realistic answer, it is important to know and understand the potential performance from your property and farm system. No two farms are alike, and performance has many dimensions such as physical production, efficiency, profit and environmental impact.

Potential performance data can be sourced through industry organisations and can be a real eye-opener. Comparing apples with apples (or milk with milk) will show you whether you are underperforming, and in extreme cases, whether you may need to try a different land use for your farm.

Once you have established how your farm, orchard or market garden is producing relative to its peers, there are three dimensions that will help you get closer to the best performers: good people, good inputs and good timing.

1. Good people

This starts with you. Do you look after yourself, e.g. with sleep, diet, recharging? Are you remaining optimistic and are your key relationships going well? Do you have an “A Team” of people you trust who you can readily contact who have your farm’s interest at heart?

Your staff need to be clear on goals and your expectations of them. Are they all growing and developing so they are getting better every year? Do you and the team all have a chance

for a holiday to recharge for the most hectic times of the year? Celebrate the small things and be appreciative as you set the tone for the team.

2. Good inputs

Farming and growing relies on inputs, some technology based and some land based. We sell agricultural produce which has nutrients (e.g. NPKS), so we must replace those and the only economic way of doing that at scale is through fertiliser.

Soil fertility has been researched over decades in a New Zealand context, with robust soil test thresholds. Applying the right nutrients ensures you are spending wisely. Be highly suspicious of big promises without proof; look for product certification like Fertmark and replicated science. Other inputs relate to genetics, e.g. plant material (usually as crop or pasture seeds) or replacement animals, e.g. semen straws, bulls or rams. There

are also many more routine inputs it takes to run a farm and getting those aligned to your farming system. Don’t just compare the costs of these inputs; look at the return on investment.

3. Good timing

Getting the timing right is a huge dimension. Part of this is knowing what the core drivers (levers) of high performance are. Aspects of farming where timing is important include: grazing rotations, mating timing, fertiliser application, animal weights or condition through the season, sowing of crops or pasture renewal, stock buying and selling, supplement making and feeding, and recruitment.

This list is by no means exhaustive and in horticulture there is of course pruning, mulching, spraying, harvesting and contractor booking and arrival. Whatever you are doing, it is important to have trusted advisors to help you keep up to date with the latest best practice methods.

Farming is never easy, but if you can improve just one aspect of each of these three dimensions of people, inputs and timing, it can have a big impact on the performance of your business.

Ian Tarbotton is a consultant with 30 years’ experience in research, strategic planning and farm systems. For goal-setting, progress to date and planning for your business, e-mail ian.tarbotton@outlook.co.nz

Ian Tarbotton.

Buy 25 tonnes of Ballance fertiliser, shop at Mitre 10 using your Farmlands Card, and get a $50 Mitre 10 credit applied to your next Farmlands statement. PLUS every extra tonne you buy, will get you MORE CREDIT up to a total of $170!

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