The Farmlander September 2017 South by Farmlands

SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATION FOR FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

SEPTEMBER 2017 Valid from 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;30 September 2017

The FARMLANDER ELECTION 2017 PARTIES OUTLINE AGRICULTURE POLICIES PAGE 12

NEW FARMLANDS DIRECTOR APPOINTED

ELECTION WISH-LIST WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM GOVERNMENT? PAGE 8

7802 1047 MAY EXP 0991 6005 LDER RD HO AM CA RD HOLDER CA ANDY 780 911047

GREAT CARD PARTNER DEALS INSIDE!

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2 | THE FARMLANDER

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You don’t have to juggle everything. We’re here to help. Achieving optimal productivity can be a juggling act, that’s why Ballance and Farmlands are committed to helping you manage your soil for quality feed and productive stock, so you enjoy better performance on your farm – starting with these key factors:

Value

Time

Productivity

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To find out how we can help you increase your farm’s productivity, or to learn more about Ballance fertilisers

contact your Technical Field Officer, call 0800 200 600 or visit your local Farmlands store today.

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THE FARMLANDER | 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SEPTEMBER

INTEREST

PLAN 365

Election 2017

Plan365 Nutrition

8 12

Shareholders give parties their wish-lists

Pullets’ diet first step to developing laying flock

Where the parties stand on primary industries

Prevention better than treatment for laminitis

Analysing pastures for minerals reveals gaps

Immature immunity puts calves at respiratory risk

Good hoof health crucial for productive dairy herd

Co-operative News 17

Julie Bohnenn appointed to Farmlands Board of Directors

Ladies Night with Annabelle White

Colourful fundraiser for cancer research

Ticket offer for Farmlands Cup

Guide highlights role of fatigue in accidents

Farmlands Fuel

Buying Power Promise

Plan365 Forage and Arable 39

Ryegrass proves worth in Southland conditions

Clover ‘canary in the coalmine’ for pasture

Trials reveal best plan for crop disease control

Chicory in mix adds milksolids to the vat

Seed system controls weeds in brassica crop

Bad autumn sets scene for invasion of slugs

Plan365 Rural Infrastructure

Choices Rewards

Farmlands Real Estate

Smooth beats corrugated in battle of the pipelines

Spring's growth means march of the possums

WHAT’S ON

6-8 SEPTEMBER

We're your co-operative so we want to hear what you think Join Farmlands Chief Executive, Peter Reidie and members of the Leadership Team to discuss how your co-operative is performing and our vision for the future. To find your nearest event, visit www.farmlands.co.nz/rsvp or call 0800 200 600.

Plan365 Animal Management INFORMATION FOR SPECIAL OFFERS AND INFORMATIO

FARMLANDS SHAREHOLDERS

SEPTEMBER 2017 Valid from 1–30 September 2017

N ER AND R LAND FFARM The FA

New software tool puts data at farmers’ fingertips

Plan365 Dairy Management

ELECTION 2017

PARTIES OUTLINE AGRICULTURE POLICIES PAGE 12

Teat care programme pays off in premiums

NEW FARMLANDS DIRECTOR APPOINTED

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM GOVERNMENT?

Ladies Nights

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ELECTION WISH-LIST

Join Farmlands and the effervescent and fun Annabelle White as she takes you on a journey to social mastery. Ladies Nights are happening at various locations around the South Island. More details on page 18.

PAGE 8

RD PARTNER DEALS GREAT CARD

7-20 SEPTEMBER

PAGE 17

INSIDE!

ON THE COVER Farmlands shareholder Charles Douglas-Clifford wants only one thing from the next government – a higher priority for agriculture.

Special prices and offers apply from 1st to the 30 th of September 2017. Only while stocks last. Check your Farmlands store for product availability. All prices include GST unless otherwise stated. Savings based on Farmlands normal retail price. Note: The “Your Price” advertised in The Farmlander magazine is the price that a Farmlands shareholder will be charged if the advertised products are purchased during the promotional period. Farmlands stores also use a “net” price (discounted price without a rebate) to attract cash sale customers and potential shareholders. *Savings based on Farmlands normal retail price.

4 | THE FARMLANDER

Accounts are payable at Farmlands Head Office or any store by the 20th of each month. Failure to pay an Account by Due Date is a Default Event under the Terms and Conditions and Farmlands is then at its discretion entitled to: suspend or terminate the Account; charge interest at 2% per month; reverse discounts or credit rebates; debit other Shareholder Accounts; make demand on a Card Signatory; debit any default administration costs incurred; register a mortgage over land; terminate shareholding. Farmlands shareholders have the option to pay their Accounts either in part or in full by MasterCard or Visa Credit Card. Payment by any credit card will not entitle the shareholder to receive Bonus

Rebates for the month paid or part paid. Neither Farmlands nor any other person involved in the preparation of this document accepts any liability for any opinion or information (including the accuracy or completeness thereof) or for any consequences flowing from its use. The information contained in this document is given in good faith, has been derived from sources perceived to be reliable and accurate and is subject to Farmlands Terms and Conditions. Not all products are available at all Farmlands stores. Offers valid at Farmlands South Island stores only.

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FARMLANDS STAFF PROFILE Phil Gavin Q: What is your current role at Farmlands? A: Territory Manager – Fuel, Nelson/ Marlborough/West Coast. Q: What do you enjoy about your job? A: The day-to-day contact with a diverse range of clientele, colleagues and their needs. What gets me out of bed? The process of building and pitching a solution, the negotiation and the securing of new business for the team.

FROM THE CEO

Q: Tell us a bit about your family. A: Currently an eligible bachelor, I have four wonderful kids (wonderful some of the time) aged 13, 11, 7 and 5. They keep me busy outside of work and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Q: What do you like to do most in your spare time? A: I have a passion for the outdoors. I’m a keen tramper and get out into nature as much as possible, especially if it’s climbing a hill. I also enjoy my alone time on a morning or evening jog. Q: What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken? A: In my 20s I played keyboards in a hard rock band before I moved to sunny Nelson. Our last gig was at the Mountain Rock Festival in Woodville in the 1990s, playing to a capacity crowd of 30,000.

Welcome to the September issue of The Farmlander. We have started well this financial year and while the weather has certainly tried to dent our early trading, we are still making good progress as one team. We are moving in the right direction by harnessing the buying power of more than 65,000 shareholders more effectively. Over the past month I have been personally discussing our progress and performance with shareholders around the country. Our Regional Muster series has been well received and I have appreciated the chance to discuss our strategies and our vision for the future in person. I appreciate the timing of some of these meetings has been challenging but we have sought to be working around the end of our financial year and our commitment is to be in front of our people every 6 months. The Regional Musters have given myself and members of the Farmlands Leadership Team valuable time with shareholders, during a busy time of the year for everyone. The feedback, just like our shareholders, has been diverse but passionate. One event was attended by people wanting to become shareholders. Another was attended by a shareholder who was an early member of our co-operative and was a Board member during the 1980s. I am grateful to each shareholder that has provided us with their views. While shareholders get a chance to hear about our vision for the future, we in turn get the opportunity to hear direct feedback from shareholders that may not have been received otherwise. First and foremost, we remain your co-operative and your questions, thoughts, praise and criticisms all contribute to improving how we serve your interests.

Phil’s Slow Cooker Pork Chop Stroganoff Ingredients 1 can (1¼ cups) cream of mushroom soup 1 envelope pork gravy mix 250g sliced mushrooms (such as baby bellas)

4 large bone-in rib pork chops 1 Tbsp butter ½ cup water 1⁄ 3 cup sour cream

These events will continue through to 17th October. Our Regional Musters have made their way around most of the North Island, with only Whangarei to go. However, South Island shareholders can still RSVP to events at Invercargill, Alexandra, Taieri, Richmond and Greymouth by visiting www.farmlands.co.nz/rsvp I wish you all a safe and successful month ahead.

Kind regards,

Method 1. Mix the soup and the gravy mix in a small bowl. Add to the slow cooker. Add mushrooms on top of soup mixture. 2. Brown pork chops in butter in a large skillet. Transfer to slow cooker after browning, placing on top of soup/mushrooms. 3. Deglaze the skillet with the ½ cup water and pour over pork chops in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. 4. Remove pork chops to serving platter. Add the 1⁄ 3 cup sour cream to remaining sauce, mixing until smooth. 5. Pour sauce on top of chops and serve with broccoli, carrots and potatoes.

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Peter Reidie Chief Executive Officer Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

THE FARMLANDER | 5

We’re committed to you.

6 | THE FARMLANDER

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Fuel savings made easy!

Forget about collecting supermarket dockets. You can enjoy everyday savings across New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest fuel network, all on one Card. Simply use your Farmlands Card at any Challenge, Z, or Caltex station to save 12c per litre.

Save 12c per litre

Works for you

Challenge, Z and Caltex: Rebate of 12c per litre off the pump price*.

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500+ Fuel Locations Farmlands Card is accepted at any Challenge and Caltex service station, truck stop, or diesel stop. Farmlands Card is now accepted at Z service stations. Z truck stops will accept Farmlands Card from early 2018.

Earn Choices Rewards Points

To ensure we can deliver maximum savings for you we have created a fuel calculator, to highlight your saving potential, where your nearest fuel stops will now be located and how to make the most out of this fuel offer.

To use the calculator, please visit www.farmlands.co.nz/card

FAR_06912

Earn 1 Choices Rewards Point for every $50.00 (incl. GST) spent on fuel.

* Savings appear as a rebate on your monthly Farmlands Account statement, not as a discount at the time of purchase.

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THE FARMLANDER | 7

Shareholders give

| Trev the dog rounds up a mob of sheep on Charles Douglas-Clifford’s North Canterbury farm.

8 | THE FARMLANDER

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ELECTION 2017

parties their wish-lists

New Zealand goes to the polls on 23rd September. We ask some Farmlands shareholders what they want to see from our next government. Charles Douglas-Clifford’s wish-list for an incoming government is modest – please don’t forget agriculture. The North Canterbury sheep and beef farmer perceives a reduction over the past few decades in government commitment to the primary sector, evidenced by the slide in seniority of the agriculture portfolio. “It’s gone from number three to well down. That slide needs to be checked.” Charles is the sixth generation to farm Stonyhurst, the family property in coastal North Canterbury. The flat to rolling land was settled in 1850 and the farm was many times larger back then.

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“

We need to get the tech pointing in the right direction.

| For Charles Douglas-Clifford, lack of cellphone coverage on his farm is a health and safety issue.

Now it is 2950ha, with an effective 2460ha in sheep (70 percent), beef (25 percent) and deer (5 percent). Stock numbers peak at 20,000 over winter.

“I don’t want primary industry to get left behind paying

Charles came home to the farm 5 years ago, after time in the banking industry. Before that he studied at Lincoln University and then headed to the UK and Europe on his OE. He is married to Erin and they have two children – George, aged 4, and Lily, 2. He farms Stonyhurst in partnership with father John and uncle Peter.

traceability and wants to be able to offer the same with his

The biggest opportunity Charles sees for Stonyhurst is to keep doing what they are doing, only better – lifting productivity, survival rates and wool production and refining the genetics of the half-bred Merino/ Lincoln flock that is the farm’s main earner. The challenges? “Drought, floods, bureaucracy” is Charles’s list. He has no problem with the increased administration and paperwork that come with a tougher health and safety regime and environmental focus – Stonyhurst was the Canterbury Supreme Winner of this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards. He just wants consumers to recognise that such steps do add cost to a farm’s ledger and that they should therefore be prepared to pay more for the end goods.

10 | THE FARMLANDER

the extra cost without being able to catch up,” he says. He looks at the horticulture sector’s progress on crop sheep, beef and venison. “The market is going to want that one day. We need to get on with it or be left behind,” he says. But it’s a lot easier to provide that detail for a row of grapes or kiwifruit than it is for sheep or cattle in the paddock. For Charles the answer is increased internet availability down on the farm, not just for traceability but also to manage the increasing number of farm environment plans, nutrient budgets and the like. He applauds the investment to date in the roll-out of rural broadband but bemoans the lack of on-farm practicality of some of the uses proposed. “The technology is designed for the city, where there is unlimited broadband and so on, but it doesn’t always work in the country.” He feels the same about cellphone coverage. Stonyhurst has several coverage black spots, despite two providers having cell towers on the road in to the farm. “They’re pointing the wrong way,” he says. “We

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need to get the tech pointing in the right direction.” It’s a health and safety issue for Charles. “We keep hearing about how there is no coverage in the Lewis Pass in case of an accident, for example but that is only what we put up with every day.” He wants a “common sense” approach to immigration as a source of agricultural labour and for a strong focus to remain on the future strength of the economy. “We need to keep in mind the need to prepare for natural disasters. The government needs to be ready to help out.” He accepts that the environment and water quality will be “the hottest topic” for the next 5 to 10 years and that farmers will need to take some accountability as a result. He just doesn’t want them to shoulder the load alone. “It’s a responsibility for everyone, not just farmers or water users. What’s the difference when a dairy farmer gets fined because his effluent pond has overflowed in a downpour, yet in the city the same rain overloads the sewers and it is seen as a natural occurrence.” In the meantime, Charles says, farmers need to put more effort into publicising the work they are doing, for example with fencing off waterways. “A lot of good work is being done but there is not much awareness of it.” Ross Bawden is president of the Te Puke Fruitgrowers Association. With his wife Dell he farms 37ha near Pukehina, on the Bay of Plenty coast. The main focus is 8.2 canopy hectares of green kiwifruit but they also run Hereford breeding cows and 150 Wiltshire sheep. Ross takes care of the spraying and mowing, with contract labour brought in for pruning and harvesting. Before moving to Pukehina, Ross worked as a marketing and harvesting consultant in the forestry industry. That experience

is a big reason why he sees continued government support for kiwifruit’s single-desk marketing model as essential. “I used to market logs so I’ve seen a race to the bottom already,” he says. “When times are tough, that’s when the pressure comes. The exporter still gets paid, it’s the grower that misses out.” In preparation for this article, Ross canvassed the view of some of Te Puke’s other growers. As well as echoing his call for continued support for Zespri’s single desk, concerns raised were over biosecurity, labour supply, security of water supply, health and safety legislation, trade deals and climate change policy. Ross and his members feel the Ministry for Primary Industries is doing a good job on biosecurity but more resources are needed in what is seen as an impossible environment. “More and more containers and visitors are coming in to our ports, so that means more risk, which means more money.” Continued support for the Recognised Seasonal Employer, or RSE, labour scheme, under which people are recruited from the Pacific Islands to work on New Zealand farms and orchards during peak times such as pruning and harvesting, is high on the wish-list. Growers also want officials to maintain the crackdown on unscrupulous contractors not paying staff what they are legally entitled to, and fewer hurdles to getting work visas renewed for key staff. Security of water supply is number one for Ross. Irrigation is needed in the Bay of Plenty as much for frost control as for anything else. The Fruitgrowers Association has been party to regional talks about water quality and quantity and Ross feels the various councils are aware of the complexity of the issues involved. Awareness is one thing, though and action another. For Ross and his fellow growers, uncertainty will remain until clear decisions are made. On health and safety, Ross says everyone tries their best and there is room for improvement. However, several examples before the courts tell him that prosecution is top of mind for WorkSafe’s investigations branch. “Our relationship with the regional council is good on water for example but it’s ‘them and us’ on health and safety with WorkSafe. We can all up our game on health and safety but it doesn’t help if you go to work each day wondering if you are going to get prosecuted. The inspectors are good to work with but they report to the investigations branch and they do their own thing.” New Zealand horticulturalists stood to do well from the now shelved Trans Pacific Partnership, particularly from a reduction of tariffs into Asia and Ross says growers are keen to see either a resurrection of TPP or the signing of other deals. “Any trade deal is a major deal for any exporter.” Finally, growers want a sound climate change policy that encourages tree planting and recognises the worth in carbon sequestration credits of their many fruit trees and shelter belts.

| Kiwifruit grower Ross Bawden aboard his Surtees 6.7m Weekender.

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Where the parties stand on primary industries One thing all the parties contesting this month’s general election agree on – the New Zealand economy rises and falls on the fortunes of our primary industries. Policy prescriptions and future visions differ but left or right, big or small, every party accepts the primacy of agriculture to our economic prosperity. As always though, the devil – and the difference – is in the detail. Farmlands approached ACT, the Green Party, Labour, M ori Party, National, NZ First, The Opportunities Party and the UnitedFuture for a summary of their primary industries policy. All replied apart from NZ First – the summary here is of the policy on its website.

ACT ACT knows that rural and regional New Zealand are where our wealth is created. We will make National take rural issues seriously and address the problems they’ve ignored for far too long. We’ve supported the National-led government since 2008, because the opposition is too great a risk. Labour, Green and New Zealand First policies will harm rural businesses. As a rule, ACT pushes for less tax and less costly regulation. We’re also the strongest supporter of trade in Parliament. We’ll replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) – a major obstacle to economic development in New Zealand. Even small-scale consents cost too much in fees and take too long in processing

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and consultation. ACT opposed the recent RMA tinkering cut from a deal between National and the Maori Party. It would have increased bureaucracy via new iwi participation rules. We need to start from scratch. ACT will continue to oppose the scapegoating of irrigation and dairying to score votes. This tactic, employed by Greenpeace and the Green Party, ignores the economic and environmental benefits of irrigation. Their solutions are simplistic and aimed more at punishing our primary industries than encouraging sustainable use of resources. ACT will get the government out of the way. There are too many legislative barriers in front of businesses at every stage – production, processing, marketing and distribution. With more MPs after the election, we can work to keep the government off your farms and out of your businesses. ACT supports reforming water use rights, moving away from fixed limits and first-in-first-served arrangements, to a more economically efficient market-based system of tradeable water use rights. ACT will oppose proposed changes to the firearm registration process as they are expensive and unenforceable. ACT is also against giving Police new powers to enter the property of firearm licence holders and the plan to create blunt new categorisations of firearms. These proposals punish responsible gun owners for the actions of a small minority. And finally, with more MPs, ACT will make National cut personal tax rates at every bracket, with the maximum rate being 25 percent. We’ll also cut

handouts and subsidies to politically fashionable businesses and use the savings to drop the company tax rate. – David Seymour, ACT Leader

GREEN PARTY A strong, healthy and diverse agricultural sector is essential to a thriving New Zealand. New Zealand farmers, growers and processors grow and produce great food and fibre. Remaining world-class means not only producing great products but producing them in a great way. People want to know that what they are eating is safe, animals are treated well and the environment is looked after and they’re prepared to pay a premium for this. We cannot continue with low-value, high volume intensive farming without serious consequences for our environment, our health and social wellbeing. It stresses people and planet. If we put sustainability first we help ensure the primary sector thrives long term and can capture more value from the food and fibre we produce. We want to help farmers adopt more sustainable and profitable forms of farming that are resilient to climate change, protect and preserve our freshwater and meet the world’s expectation for sustainablyproduced food and fibre. The Green Party will review the RMA, strengthen the rules around how we manage land and water to clean up our dirty rivers and protect the health of other rivers, lakes and aquifers. We need catchment-based water management within an effective regulatory framework, which

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ELECTION 2017

recognises the wide community interest in healthy rivers, lakes and aquifers. We will put a charge on the commercial use of freshwater by water bottlers, irrigators and others with wide public discussion on the charging regime. The revenue raised will help improve how we manage land and water. The Green Party will provide more funding for sustainable farming projects to focus on farming for clean water, dryland research, protection against drought and adaptation to climate change. We will implement a single national standard for organic products, so that New Zealand growers can capture more of the 25 percent annual growth in global organic sales. We want to keep GE in the lab, not have it in the field, so that not only are our non-GE crops protected but the premium we can claim through our clean, green brand is protected. Nearly half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are from agriculture. We want to support the sector to find cost-effective ways to reduce these emissions. Because we believe that all New Zealanders need to do their bit to protect our climate, agriculture should be added to the Emissions Trading Scheme. – Eugenie Sage, primary industries spokesperson

LABOUR For over 100 years, primary production has been a vital component of the New Zealand economy. In 2016, export earnings from the sector exceeded $36 billion, making it by far our largest export earner. Labour recognises that as participants in the global economy, our primary sector businesses are undergoing profound disruption from all directions. The scale and

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speed of disruption has far reaching unintended consequences which will require government to either step up now or step in later. Unlike the current Government, Labour in government is prepared to intervene and make the necessary changes to policy and regulation to drive further innovation, achieve greater scale in market and generate higher export returns. Labour believes government must lead a pro-active, collaborative approach with the primary sector in order to ensure the sustainable utilisation of our natural environment not only has the capacity to sustain our businesses, but generates both economic and social wealth for the benefit all New Zealanders. There is urgency for a new government to inject confidence and growth into the primary sector. For this reason, Labour has developed a first 100 days programme for kick-starting the priorities within this policy. Establishing a clear strategy and vision for our primary sector ensures we continue to have one of the most productive and profitable primary sectors in the world. Working with industry and communities to develop an overarching strategy and coordinated implementation plan will help to measure progress towards our aims, identify where we need further investment, ensure resources are properly targeted and help direct the government’s funding in the sector. We must also generate ways to turn our natural assets into high-value export dollars rather than continuing an ever expanding system of low cost production. Growing value relies on our ability to effectively market the uniqueness of New Zealand products within diverse global markets. Discerning consumers are actively seeking out (and willing to pay a premium for) products with assurances about product efficacy

and quality, environmental impact, labour management, water utilisation and food safety. New Zealand is in an enviable position to capitalise on this opportunity as a reputable, trusted food producing nation. The key components of Labour policy are yet to be announced. Labour will appoint a Primary Industry Council and a Chief Agricultural Advisor to progress and develop the industry sector vision and strategies. This vision includes researching the development of an overarching primary sector brand that enhances the reputation of New Zealand food and beverages in the marketplace, re-establishing the independent food safety authority (to regulate, monitor and enforce food safety standards), establishing an independent biosecurity authority sufficiently resourced and capable of maintaining a robust and effective biosecurity system, reinstating a rural proofing policy to proactively assess all government initiatives on rural communities and engaging with rural health professionals to ensure adequate access to emergency and acute treatment for all rural New Zealanders. – Damien O’Connor, primary industries spokesperson

M ORI PARTY Primary sector exports largely sustain the New Zealand economy. With many natural resources belonging to M ori in the areas of forestry, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture, M ori have become major players in the primary sector. The M ori Party acknowledges the role that the primary industry has in New Zealand’s economy. We believe that a strong, healthy and diverse primary sector is essential to an economically

THE FARMLANDER | 13

viable and environmentally sustainable New Zealand. Environmentally friendly practices within the primary sector reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of safe, healthy, sustainably-produced products but equally, unsafe and environmentally damaging practices can also jeopardise that reputation. We note that many farmers are leading the way in terms of sustainable farming practices and their efforts should be acknowledged. We also note that like any industry, farmers face many pressures. The M ori Party policies to support the primary sector include adequate resourcing for road and rail infrastructure (to ensure primary producers can easily and efficiently transport stock and produce to air and sea ports), encouraging the processing of raw materials in New Zealand rather than exporting them overseas as raw product, support for those communities that wish to be GE-free, ending the sale of land to foreign investors to ensure farms and large tracts of land remain in New Zealand ownership and exploring leasing options, providing incentives for the business and industry sector to switch to solar power and supporting the proposal that will see the planting of 100,000 hectares of new forests over the next 10 years.

NATIONAL National’s primary industries policy has a strong focus on growing and protecting the wider primary sector. New Zealand’s economy is booming and the primary sector is a significant part of that strength. Unemployment is 4.8 percent, the lowest level since before the Global Financial Crisis with over 11,000 new jobs being

14 | THE FARMLANDER

created each month. Debt is falling, we have a construction boom and social spending is increasing.

growers with higher taxes and more regulations while opposing free trade and sensible immigration.

We’ve set an ambitious goal of doubling the value (not the volume) of primary sector exports by 2025. Research and development will play a big part in this. The Primary Growth Partnership involves 22 cutting-edge projects with co-investment of $759 million from the Government and industry. We are proud to support free trade and better market access for our farmers. Negotiations on an upgrade to our China FTA are underway and we are progressing opportunities with Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru through the Pacific Alliance. The EU and UK are also priorities.

We are proud to back farmers, growers and everyone else involved in the primary sector.

Irrigation and water storage are an important focus and in this year’s Budget we committed nearly $90 million towards these projects. We are strengthening our biosecurity system with funding boosted again this year to $248 million, a record high. In the last few years MPI has employed 50 new biosecurity staff and 20 extra biosecurity detector dog teams, introduced new x-ray scanning machines, a dedicated Border Clearance Levy and a new animal health laboratory is under construction. As a Government we’re investing heavily in important infrastructure for rural New Zealand like roads and Ultra-Fast Broadband. We have proudly supported dairy farmers through tough times in recent years with $1.6 million for rural mental health and major financial support for areas hit by floods, earthquakes and droughts. We have also set a goal of having 90 percent of rivers swimmable by 2040. We will do this in a practical, realistic and sustainable way that doesn’t ruin our economy at the same time. National’s approach is in strong contrast to that of opposition parties who want to hammer farmers and

– Nathan Guy, primary industries spokesperson

NEW ZEALAND FIRST Primary industries remain the backbone of New Zealand’s economy. New Zealand First is firmly committed to supporting the primary sector and our heartland communities who create most of our wealth. Primary production depends not only on crop, livestock and dairy farmers or on orchardists and grape growers but also on the provincial towns and rural communities that support them. New Zealand First understands first-hand the demands of life in the provinces and the challenges of remoteness that they bring. We recognise that many things city people take for granted are not always readily available in rural New Zealand. Sensible primary production policy must therefore take account of the needs of provincial people who operate in support of farmers and growers, as well as the direct agricultural sector itself.

THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTY New Zealand’s farmers are innovative and entrepreneurial. We have led the world in farming in the past and it is time to do so again. Our current model of farming is broken. We are reliant on increasing volume rather than value, chasing capital gain rather than yield. This can’t continue like this forever. We now face a legacy of high land prices, high debt and poor returns. Meanwhile the rivers and lakes in many parts of

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ELECTION 2017

the country are under severe pressure.

Ultimately this is where our industry needs to go – producing premium products for the world. Farmers that care about the future should vote TOP.

How can we transition from a volumebased approach to one based on adding value? The Opportunities Party (TOP) tax reform will ensure all assets pay their fair share of tax. This will generate $11 billion in additional revenue, which we will give back to people in income tax cuts. That means that all those people that are already using their assets productively will receive a tax cut. This will encourage investment in productive assets, rather than speculating on land prices.

agriculture and horticulture sectors), establish a global online service that with job opportunities in New Zealand to help fill critical skill shortages and ensure that advice and information is

Finally TOP would ensure that in overallocated catchments, commercial users of water pay the market price for the water they use. This will ensure that water is allocated to its highest use and that the public receives some benefit for the use of a public good. In under-allocated catchments, the market price would remain at zero. Finally our climate policy excludes agriculture, as the initial priority for farmers will be to meet the water quality regulations detailed above. In our view the accounting for methane emissions is still debatable, and needs further work. We will however encourage the planting of erosion prone land.

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through modern apprenticeships in the

matches potential skilled migrants

TOP will also ensure polluters pay for the environmental damage they cause. Let’s use nitrogen as an example. We are completely opposed to the grandparenting of leaching rights, which favours high polluters and penalises less intensive farmers. Under our plan each catchment will agree an allowable amount of nitrogen leaching for different land types. Those polluting above this agreed level will pay, and that money will go to other farmers who are polluting less than the agreed level. All money stays in the farming industry, and within the catchment. This will reward those land-owners that farm in an environmentally friendly way.

Together this package will reward farmers that produce high value, environmentally friendly produce.

people into industry training (e.g.

UNITEDFUTURE

available to businesses to support them

UnitedFuture New Zealand recognises the importance of primary industries to the security and prosperity of New Zealand. At a time when there are strong opportunities in the international marketplace, the importance of innovative, resilient and responsive primary industries is paramount. They must be supported so the opportunity for diversification and added value is identified and encouraged.

in hiring migrants to fill skill shortages.

Our policy is more than just an economic prescription for our primary industries. It is about ensuring that often-neglected rural communities receive fair and reasonable access to educational and health services.

emphasis on adding value and we

It is UnitedFuture policy to promote a strong and viable economic policy framework to underpin the role of primary industries as our major export earners and undertake an immediate review of all legislation and regulations that impose coercive powers and administrative burdens on farmers to ensure their impact is minimised, consistent with the overall public interest. We will oppose any changes to the principles of the Resource Management Act but support changes to improve the processes within the Act and we will continue to ensure that the Resource Management Act is a balanced piece of enabling legislation by requiring a biennial review of its operation regarding the costs, delays and uncertainty faced by users. We will support free and fair trade and embrace free trade agreements, continue to increase agricultural workforce skills by encouraging more

We will continue the “no-fault” regime and mandatory workplace accident insurance but support competition in the provision of accident compensation services. We will actively support the role of research and development into the sustainability of primary industries and the ongoing development of new niche industries, with a particular will ensure that biosecurity remains a top Government priority. It is our policy to promote the planting of native trees and bush along or close by all inland waterways where practical to limit soil erosion and reduce agricultural runoff (via Government subsidy) – and encourage landowners to return non-viable farming land to native regenerating forest, possibly with assistance from the QEII National Trust and carbon credits allocated through New Zealand’s Kyoto obligations. We will boost funding for Crown Research Institutes to conduct research into the health, wellbeing and productivity of New Zealand soils, to develop new techniques for remedying any deterioration that has occurred over time and establish targets for the quality of soil in which crops are grown. We will support the current policy of allowing the application of GE and GM technology to proceed – but with caution – and we will support, through Government subsidy, voluntary environmental codes of conduct such as the Clean Streams Accord. – Peter Dunne, UnitedFuture leader

THE FARMLANDER | 15

Works for you CO-OPERATIVE XXX NEWS

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16 | THE FARMLANDER

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CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

Julie Bohnenn appointed to Farmlands Board of Directors “Farmlands is a large business and as a Director, I think it’s really important we create shareholder wealth. I’m passionate about that as I pursue a governance career,” she says.

Canterbury based Julie Bohnenn has been appointed as the new Independent Director of Farmlands Co-operative. One of two Independent Directors on the Board, Julie brings a decade and a half of governance experience to Farmlands. In addition to 15 years as Managing Director of her own consulting business, Julie is also Chair of financial advisory and wealth management services group, Bradley Nuttall Limited.

“Farmlands has a massive opportunity to be the rural leader for services to farmers now and into the future. It looks like Farmlands has a great Leadership Team and they’ve got the ability to ensure the co-operative’s shareholders are well looked after.”

Julie’s experience as an executive includes more than 20 years with travel chain House of Travel, first as Business Partnership Director and more recently as Chief Financial Officer. Julie says she was attracted to Farmlands’ agricultural focus and co-operative model when researching the role. Agriculture runs in the family – Julie’s father was heavily involved in the Canterbury A&P Association for many years.

Farmlands Chairman Lachie Johnstone says Julie is a fantastic addition to the Board of Directors. “We are delighted to have secured someone of Julie’s calibre to join the Farmlands Board of Directors,” Lachie says. “Our Independent Directors are a critical part of our governance and I am pleased our extensive search has found someone with as much to offer as Julie.” Farmlands’ Independent Directors – one from the North Island and one

from the South Island – are elected separately to the other Directors, who must be Farmlands shareholders to be eligible to join the Board. Julie Bohnenn replaces Craig Boyce, who resigned from the Board in January, as the South Island Independent Director.

We’ re your cowant to hear what you think. nk. You’re invited to join Farmlands Chief Executive, Peter Reidie and members of the Leadership Team to discuss how your co-operative is performing and our vision for the future. As a valued shareholder, we would appreciate you attending and sharing your thoughts on how we can improve your business.

Find your nearest event at www.farmlands.co.nz/rsvp or call 0800 200 600

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THE FARMLANDER | 17

Book loca your tic tions k sellin ets toda g out y, fast!

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18 | THE FARMLANDER

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CO-OPERATIVE XXX NEWS

Colourful fundraiser for cancer research Blue September is the month when men are urged to think about their prostate and the need to get regular check-ups to avoid prostate cancer. Isolation and later diagnosis means rural people in particular should be more aware of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. New Zealand crop packaging supplier Agpac has joined the effort to get the message out. Agpac has worked with its overseas suppliers Trioplast and Tama to develop pink and blue silage wrap and netwrap to raise money to combat the diseases. When farmers and contractors buy

have worse outcomes for prostate cancer than their urban counterparts. This is not because the incidence is higher but because diagnosis is usually later. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer is a key factor in surviving the disease.”

had a radical prostatectomy. He is back to living a normal life and says he is hugely grateful that he was getting regular check-ups and got good advice from groups such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Graeme says prostate cancer is the No. 1 cancer affecting New Zealand men. Breast and prostate cancer each kill 600 people in New Zealand every year. Men over 50 should get regular prostate checks through their GP and women should have mammograms from the age of 40.

“The doctors got it before it spread so I was lucky but I was blown away to learn how many men are not getting checked. Men need to talk about prostate cancer, get tested and take action,” Philip says.

A few years ago, Agpac owner and managing director Philip Rossi was struck with prostate cancer and

To buy Agpac’s pink or blue wrap, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agpac Ltd.

blue and pink wrap, a percentage of what they pay goes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation or to Sweet Louise, a charity dedicated to supporting women with incurable breast cancer. This year the pink bale campaign has raised $20,000 and the blue bale campaign $10,000. Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand Chief Executive Graeme Woodside is grateful for the donation and says the blue bales are a great way for rural communities to give support. “More than that, blue bales send a reminder to rural men to man up and get a check for prostate cancer,” Graeme says. “Research has shown that rural men | Agpac has worked with its suppliers on pink and blue silage wrap to raise money to combat breast and prostate cancer.

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THE FARMLANDER | 19

Time to even XXX

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

Guide highlights role of fatigue in accidents September is a busy time, particularly for dairy farms, so health and safety should be front of mind for you – particularly during this hard and in some places extremely wet winter. Making health and safety part and parcel of everyday work is all the more important. When you ask workers to do something, take a moment to talk about the best way to do the task safely. Get everyone to make a habit of stopping and thinking about the best and safest way to do this task in these circumstances. “If workers have concerns about the safety of a task, such as taking a vehicle into a particular area, trying to cross a swollen waterway, lifting a heavy load or dealing with a difficult animal alone, they need to feel free to talk about it, and if they feel necessary to not do it,” WorkSafe’s Sector Lead Agriculture, Al McCone, says. “By making safety conversations part of the everyday routine, you will bring about a change in attitudes.”

| Working when tired, injured or unwell can reduce someone’s ability to do the job safely.

WorkSafe wants workers to be encouraged to consider: • The best vehicle for a specific job, terrain and conditions.

an increased risk of cutting corners

safety is your number one priority

or making poor calls around safety.

and you’ll understand if the job has

A new piece of WorkSafe guidance

to be put off until it can be done

on fatigue, with information for both

safely. For example, if someone is

business operators and workers

injured or unwell, they shouldn’t feel

on how to manage the risks, is now

pressured to come to work,” Al says.

identify some of the risks of fatigue.

• Checking the route they usually take for any changes as the result of adverse weather.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

“It’s important they know that their

available. It includes a checklist to

• Risks if they are towing equipment.

Research shows that a significant number of fatal farm accidents occur when people are doing tasks they have done many times before and in many cases time pressures or fatigue or both can be part of the cause. At this time of year, fatigue or winter illnesses

are often present. With this comes

“Fatigue is caused by a number of inter-related factors. If the answer is yes to any of the checklist questions, fatigue risks may need to be assessed and strategies may need to be put in place to manage fatigue,” Al says. Farmers should also make it clear to workers that they shouldn’t compromise their health and safety by taking risks.

Working when injured or under the weather has the potential to reduce someone’s ability to do the job safely. Farmers need to also ensure they take their own advice to keep themselves healthy and safe. WorkSafe’s new fatigue guidance and checklist can be found by searching “fatigue” on www.saferfarms.org.nz Article supplied by WorkSafe New Zealand.

THE FARMLANDER | 23

Works for you CO-OPERATIVE NEWS

24 | THE FARMLANDER

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THE FARMLANDER | 25

Articles in the Plan 365 section allow Farmlands suppliers to share best practice and the latest advances in rural technology, NUTRITION to help shareholders with their farming needs all year round.

Pulletsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; diet first step to developing laying flock Correctly rearing layer pullets is crucial for developing a successful, high-producing flock. Attention to detail during rearing as well as in the management and feeding of pullets during the growing period can have dramatic effects on subsequent egg production and egg weight. Modern breeds of laying hens are about 150g lighter at 18 weeks and produce many more eggs than the breeds of 20 years ago. The modern birds also reach maturity earlier, with the first eggs typically produced between 18 and 19 weeks of age. The result is that modern pullet strains are more sensitive to poor nutrition and management than were their predecessors. The key to successfully managing nutrition is to maximise body weight for age without producing over-fat pullets. Pullets that are on target or slightly above target weight at 18 weeks of age will inevitably be the best producing birds during the laying period. Although body weight at onset of lay is important, the optimum body structure and composition is also a key factor to consider and can be affected by diet. Over-fat birds will adversely affect egg production in the long term.

individual flock variation should be considered and extended amounts of chick starter feed used when target weight for age has not been met. Using a high-density feed such as a chick starter for too long can result in excessive fat deposition and a reduced capacity for feed consumption during egg production. It is important to get the balance right and familiarise yourself with growth targets for the breed of chicken you are rearing. Uniformity of pullet flocks is also important and while some variation in body weight is normal, it is the abnormal variation that should be concerning. A goal at 18 weeks of age is that 80 percent of the pullets should fall within 10 percent of the average, or the mean. Pullets require the right balance of

energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for growth and development. Quality diets, such as NRM Pullet Grower, are formulated to provide the right amount of digestible amino acids (protein) and energy to support adequate growth, ensuring pullets are best prepared to enter the laying flock. A well-balanced diet will also include macro minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and sodium, as well as trace minerals such as zinc, copper and manganese, and vitamins. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worthwhile to use a pullet-specific feed in the transition from chick to layer. This is now easier for those with a smaller flock due to NRM Pullet Grower pellets becoming available in 10kg bags. For more information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Nutritionist.

In New Zealand, a starter crumble with a suitable anti-coccidial ionophore, such as NRM Chick Starter Crumble, is typically fed from day-old to 6 to 8 weeks of age. A pullet grower feed such as NRM Pullet Grower is then introduced until point of lay, at which time birds can be transferred to a layerspecific feed. The feeding programme should not be rigid, however, as | Modern pullet strains are more sensitive than their predecessors to poor nutrition and management.

26 | THE FARMLANDER

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NUTRITION

Prevention better than treatment for laminitis For horse owners there are few sights more satisfying than seeing mud in the paddocks turn green with fresh pasture after winter. In New Zealand, pasture growth can happen rapidly after only a few days of sun, following what seems like endless weeks of cold, wet weather. While forage in the form of pasture, hay and other fibre sources should always be the largest part of a horse’s diet (and pasture is what horses evolved to eat), cool-season grass contains a form of sugar called fructans that can lead to problems for grazing horses. Consumption of fructans can cause various digestive and behavioural problems, as well as a painful and debilitating condition of the hooves called laminitis. Where most sugars and starches are easily digested in the horse’s small intestine, the strong bonds in fructans mean they pass undigested into the cecum and colon, causing shifts in the microbial population, upsetting hindgut pH and producing endotoxins that can cause laminitis. For particularly sensitive horses, even a small amount of fructan-rich grass can quickly trigger laminitis, which can be highly debilitating if left untreated. Heavier types such as Quarter Horses and many pony breeds seem more susceptible to fructancaused problems but all horses with unrestricted access to lush pasture can be at risk, even after years of grazing freely without consequences. To avoid problems when turning horses out on spring pastures,

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

| Preventing laminitis in your horse is better than treating the potentially life-threatening condition.

introduce access in small segments several times a day and gradually increase the number and length of these periods. Continue to offer hay to horses turned out on fresh pasture to ensure they are consuming enough fibre and monitor manure consistency and hoof temperature. Take the horse off pasture and call the veterinarian if the horse shows signs of hoof discomfort such as reluctance to move, shifting from one foot to another, or assuming a leaning-back posture.

that also contains balanced levels of

When horses are restricted from pasture it is essential they are provided with additional hay and alternative forage sources to ensure optimum digestive health. Super fibres such as beet pulp and soy hulls are ideal for this. McMillan Grain Free is a blend of beet pulp and soy hulls

interests of equines and their owners.

vitamins and minerals and is a great way of ensuring fibre and nutrient requirements are met. The low starch, high fibre formulation is ideal for horses and ponies at risk of laminitis. Laminitis is a serious and potentially life-ending ailment and management through preventing the disease will always be more beneficial than treating the condition. Managing horses to limit access to spring grass may be inconvenient at times but it’s in the best For more information on spring grass and the prevention and management of laminitis in your horse, consult an experienced Equine Nutrition Advisor. Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutrition Technical Advisor.

THE FARMLANDER | 27

Works for you CO-OPERATIVE NUTRITION NEWS

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NUTRITION

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THE FARMLANDER | 29

NUTRITION

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NUTRITION

Analysing pastures for minerals reveals gaps With mating not far away, now might be a good time to check the mineral status of pasture, which inevitably makes up the biggest portion of the diet of grazing livestock. The National Research Council has described the mineral requirements of many classes of stock based on the best information available. With dairy cows, on-farm attention tends to focus on magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) because of the metabolic issues associated with a deficiency but these essential minerals have more subtle effects that in the long term could be just as costly as downer cows. Sodium (Na) and phosphorus (P) also play key roles in the body and apart from the classic signs of depraved appetite when very deficient, it can be difficult to spot when stock have a minor deficiency that may be limiting production or fertility. Table 1 summarises the pasture herbage tests submitted by NRM Nutrition Specialists since 2013. Although not a huge sample size, the results nevertheless give a glimpse into what might be being consumed by many dairy cows and strengthen the case

for more on-farm pasture testing.

It is generally considered that high

Outside the immediate post-calving period, cows in early lactation are pretty good at mobilising bone calcium reserves to ensure blood calcium levels are maintained at an effective level. While clovery swards are typically high in calcium relative to the needs of milking cows, the average calcium content of the NRM samples suggests that more cows than we think could be mining calcium reserves for longer. Add some low-calcium supplements such as grain or PKE into the diet and bones could become weaker and the need for supplementary lime flour stronger long after cows have left the colostrum mob.

protein, vegetative pasture should have

Many pastures contain insufficient magnesium to meet the needs of milking cows and high potassium, high protein and low sodium levels can reduce the magnesium availability. Most herds require supplementary magnesium until Christmas and beyond for higher yielding herds. Top-dressing magnesium oxide can be particularly inefficient when it is needed the most and to reduce waste more farmers are adding magnesium oxide directly to supplements, either in the milking shed or forage.

Over a third of the pasture samples

more than enough phosphorus for dairy cows. The pasture samples for which a phosphorus mineral test was requested were reported to contain on average 24 percent crude protein, so were by no means dominated by reproductive summer pasture. While the average phosphorus level would meet requirements, about 25 percent were reported to contain less than the NRC minimum requirement for dairy cows. Insufficient dietary phosphorus is associated with reduced appetite partly due to reduced microbial activity in the rumen. analysed for sodium contained less than the 0.2 percent recommended by the NRC. A sodium deficiency is associated with reduced fertility, particularly in males, so providing salt licks for breeding bulls could be one simple measure to reduce a potential cause of poor fertility. For more information or to organise pasture analysis, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist.

Table 1: The average, minimum and maximum major mineral levels in NRM pasture samples compared with NRC requirements and indicated typical spring pasture levels in New Zealand. MINERAL

NRM AVERAGE

NRM MINIMUM

NRM MAXIMUM

NRC* REQUIREMENT FOR DAIRY COWS

TYPICAL RANGE (SPRING DAIRY PASTURE**)

% in the dry matter Calcium

0.52

0.29

0.8

0.6-0.8

0.2-1.5

Magnesium

0.21

0.16

0.31

0.22-0.35

0.1-0.4

Phosphorus

0.39

0.23

0.59

0.35-0.45

0.2-0.6

Sodium

0.25

0.07

0.79

0.2-0.34

0.03-0.6

*National Research Council requirements for dairy cows. **DairyNZ Facts and Figures 2017.

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THE FARMLANDER | 31

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NUTRITION

Immature immunity puts calves at respiratory risk Respiratory problems in cattle are,

at generous levels because of their

ability of pathogens to colonise

unfortunately, all too common.

important roles as antioxidants within

the gut, while also stimulating an

the body. Research has shown these

improved immune response.

nutrients to be particularly beneficial

Crystalyx Easy Breather has been

in animals under stress. Menthol,

formulated for free-access feeding

aniseed and eucalyptus are recognised

and intakes will vary depending on

The severity of the problems can

for their decongestant and soothing

size and age of calves, from as little

vary from a mild nasal discharge and

properties within the respiratory tract.

as 20-30g/calf/day for very young

coughing in a group of calves, to

Safmannan is prepared from the

calves, up to 120-150g/calf/day.

severe pneumonia with some deaths.

cell wall of a specific yeast known

Respiratory problems are most

to contain high levels of mannan

frequent in autumn and winter,

oligosaccharides (MOS) and beta

especially in housed calves but can

glucans. These complex sugars

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

arise at any time, even in calves kept

have been shown to reduce the

Article supplied by Crystalyx.

Calves, like children, are particularly prone to respiratory problems as they have not developed any natural immunity to many infectious organisms.

outdoors. The most common times and ages for problems to occur are in young calves from 2 weeks of age, autumnhoused calves (especially spring-born suckled calves), bought-in calves or older cattle and “stressed” calves. Stress is difficult to define but it is widely recognised that it can reduce immunity. Cattle can become stressed by such factors as transportation, introduction into a new herd or group, competition for insufficient feed, overcrowding and any management change that causes serious disturbance, such as dehorning or castration. Maintaining a healthy respiratory system can be aided by products such as Crystalyx Easy Breather. Although not intended to be a substitute for good management, Crystalyx Easy Breather contains a high vitamin, mineral and trace element specification, to help develop and optimise the natural immune defence system within the calf. Vitamin C and E are both included | Respiratory problems can arise at any time, even in calves kept outdoors.

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THE FARMLANDER | 33

NUTRITION

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NUTRITION

Good hoof health crucial for productive dairy herd Lameness can be a major issue on-farm, particularly for animals grazing pasture, because good locomotion is required for optimum feed intake. Factor in walking to the dairy shed twice a day and life can become hard for a lame dairy cow.

impact on hoof health and specific micronutrients play an important part. Nutritional changes are not a quick fix for lameness issues however, and changes to the diet may take time to show results, given the hoof grows at a rate of about 6mm per month.

Animals with lameness issues will hold back from consuming feed as it becomes too difficult for them and this can flow on to production and animal condition.

The trace mineral zinc is involved in disease resistance, skin and coat condition and also in structural soundness of the hoof and udder. Adding extra zinc to the diet has been shown to increase hoof hardness over time and improve lameness issues. Zinc is often included in mineral pre-mixes used in compound feeds or through the Dosatron. Higher levels of zinc supplementation and/ or the use of organic/chelated zinc can be worth exploring if lameness is particularly problematic on-farm.

Many different elements and decisions made on-farm flow through to hoof health. Environmental, animal management and nutritional factors can play a part and often issues stem from a combination of these factors. While nutrition is only one piece of the puzzle, it’s worth considering how the diet can be changed in order to improve hoof health. Good hoof health is intertwined with good general animal health and a well-functioning immune system, so an animal on a well-balanced diet is less likely to encounter lameness problems. Periods of stress both nutritional (underfeeding, poor transition to a new diet) and environmental can have an

Biotin is a B group vitamin necessary for the synthesis of keratin, which is found in hooves and hair. Keratin is structural protein and forms internal support in hooves. Biotin is important in the horn-forming process in the hoof and a lack of biotin can cause soft hooves in cows. Lower-fibre diets are associated with the production of less biotin, so higher-producing cows on higher-quality pasture may have more need for supplementary biotin.

ruminal pH and subsequently decreased systemic (blood) pH, activates a “vaso-active” mechanism that increases pulse rate and blood flow through the hoof. Endotoxins and histamines are then released, causing increased blood pressure, with the knock-on effect of seepage through vessel walls in the hoof. This can damage the vessels, leading to weakening between layers in the hoof structure and the development of laminitis. Acidosis is not the only way laminitis can be brought on in an animal. In order to avoid laminitis through acidosis insult, sudden drops in rumen pH should be avoided by: • Ensuring there is sufficient fibre in the diet to stimulate adequate rumination and saliva production, in order to buffer the rumen. There is a difference between “fibre” and “physically effective fibre”. Long fibre that stimulates rumination is a necessity in any ruminant diet. As a rule of thumb, a milking cow diet should contain at least 20 percent effective fibre (eNDF). • Gradually introducing high sugar and starch feeds, to allow the rumen micro-organisms time to adapt. • Feeding out concentrates in a way that does not allow gorging by more dominant animals. • Considering diet additives such as buffers and ionophores to combat acidosis.

The link between acidosis and lameness is also worth considering. Low-fibre diets and/or diets high in carbohydrates that are rapidly degraded can produce ruminal acidosis (low rumen pH), which can cause laminitis resulting in lameness.

For more information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist.

How does that work? Decreased

Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Nutritionist.

| Environmental, animal management and nutritional factors influence hoof health.

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THE FARMLANDER | 35

HORTICULTURE HOR HO ORT RTIC ICUL ICUL U TU TU URE RE

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HORTICULTURE ®

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Fylloton is based on vegetal amino acids and seaweeds and is generally used in the spring to assist and overcome early cool growing temperatures. It is also useful in assisting regrowth of crops damaged by excessive agrochemical applications. Key aspects of the Fylloton range: • Promotes plant vegetative growth • Accelerates plant recovery from abiotic stress • Improves plant tolerance to abiotic stress • Avoids growth arrests due to agrochemical application • Amino acids of plant origin are used specifically as they are advantageous compared to amino acids of animal origin • Enzymatic hydrolysis of plant substrates is used when producing Fylloton

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THE FARMLANDER | 37

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Ryegrass proves worth in Southland conditions Farmers in Southland have found the ideal ryegrass – one that grows extra feed in early spring but also high-quality pasture for finishing stock over summer. The Fraser family – Murray and Leigh, Robbie and Carey – farm sheep and beef in Southland, just north of Riverton. Rainfall is plentiful (1,600mm) but in this climate, long winters make it difficult to feed ewes adequately during the first half of lambing. The Frasers have been using 24Seven perennial ryegrass for 2 years. “The 24Seven gives us better early spring growth than other pastures we’ve tried,” Robbie says, “and gives us plenty of feed for lambing ewes come

September. Usually, with the same mob and paddock sizes, we get an extra 2 days grazing from 24Seven.

early spring but DLF plant breeder,

“We’ve also found the 24Seven has great quality over summer and is easy to keep leafy, so we can more effectively put weight on lambs and get them off the farm earlier.”

breeding 24Seven in 2006. He selected

The quality is because 24Seven is the latest heading date (+24 days) diploid perennial ryegrass available. This delays the onset of stem growth until late spring but has the extra benefit of reducing stem regrowth after grazing throughout summer and autumn, meaning more green leaf for animals.

early spring (and in winter in warmer

Older late-heading cultivars had the disadvantage of slower growth in

24Seven,” Robbie says. “Our soils can

the late Pedro Evans, worked hard to break this link when he started several plants that were outstanding for growth during early spring. Trials have confirmed the Frasers’ findings, that 24Seven is very active in climates). A trial near Gore of 15 diploid perennial ryegrass cultivars under sheep and beef grazing found that 24Seven was in the top group for winter and early spring growth, as well as for total production. “We also like the high density of get wet at grazing and we can’t avoid pugging, so tiller density is crucial to give us persistent pastures.” The high tiller density of 24Seven is also no accident – Pedro realised this was an important trait to select for, to improve the persistence of perennial ryegrass. The robust nature of 24Seven means it has persisted well on sheep farms but also has the total and seasonal production to make it an attractive option on dairy farms. 24Seven seed is available through Farmlands with either Edge endophyte or low endophyte, making it suitable as a high-quality perennial pasture from Riverton to Kaitaia. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by DLF Seeds.

| Southland farmer Robbie Fraser and Farmlands Technical Field Officer Dean Saunders check the 24Seven pasture.

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THE FARMLANDER | 39

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Clover ‘canary in the coalmine’ for pasture Boosting clover content is good for your stock and your nitrogen spend. Clover is more nutritious than grasses. It has lower levels of structural carbohydrate, higher digestible protein and is processed quickly by the rumen. Clover also “feeds” other pasture species by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the amount of nitrogen fertiliser required.

and will show signs of any nutrient

These findings were confirmed by

deficiencies sooner than other

analysis of clover tissue samples.

pastures. A clover-only herbage test is

On-farm observations also showed

a useful tool to fine-tune your fertiliser

poor performing young pastures,

programme. Take samples during the

weak ryegrass and little clover.

spring flush, when moisture levels and temperatures are not limiting growth. Potassium and clover Many are aware that sulphur is important for clover growth, and

Keeping potassium levels within target range will improve the clover content of pasture and increase overall pasture production.

Ideally, pasture should contain about 30 percent clover, which would fix roughly 200kg N/ha/year and deliver significant animal productivity and dry matter yield benefits.

it is a commonly encountered

Potassium can leach, so on some

deficiency. However, potassium can

soils, particularly those with low

be overlooked. Potassium-deficient

cation exchange capacity (CEC) and/

clovers are typically speckled, yellowed

or under high rainfall (over 1,500mm/

or “scorched” around the leaf margins,

year), it may not be practical or

“Importantly, most of the yield gains arrive in summer, when extra feed is really valuable,” Ballance Science Extension Officer Josh Verhoek says. “However, in many New Zealand pastures, clover content hovers around 10-15 percent. Figuring out what is limiting clover growth is a very worthwhile exercise.”

with symptoms showing on older leaves

economic to keep potassium levels

first. Clover growth may be patchy,

within the optimum range. However,

with clover looking more lush in old

supplying enough potassium to meet

urine spots, which are potassium-rich.

plant needs is necessary to maintain

A study of fertility trends in New

plant potassium levels through the

Zealand pastoral soils over 7 years

growing season. Split applications are

Clover is the “canary in the coalmine” for your pasture. It has a poor root structure relative to grasses, so is not as good at foraging for nutrients

(less than Quick Test K 7-10 on

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indicated that nearly 35 percent of farms had potassium levels below optimum for maximum production ash or pumice soils or 5-8 on sedimentary soils). Around 8 percent had very low potassium levels.

recommended in high-loss situations. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

THE FARMLANDER | 41

FORAGE AND ARABLE

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Trials reveal best plan for crop disease control Cereal fungicide programmes should start soon. Are you ready? After such a wet autumn and then the July deluge, it is easy to forget that crops are already getting ready to start their race to harvest. But after this winter the main question being asked is what approach to adopt for disease control.

and came up with some interesting

GS30 spray reduced profit by $207/

results. These can help you even

ha (programme used – Delaro 750ml/

before you set foot in your paddocks.

ha (GS32) and Aviator® Xpro 1L/ha).

Autumn/winter planted barley

The straightforward, profitable,

Investigating fungicide use on

three-spray fungicide programme will

barley, Bayer’s trials showed that

do the best for your barley crops.

applying a three-spray fungicide programme was the right approach. Applying a fungicide at GS30/

The answer depends on the disease infection in your crops and there is no substitute for paddock walking to understand this. Do this soon with your Farmlands’ Agronomist and then work out the right approach.

GS32/GS39 gave a profit of $369/

Help is at hand. Last year Bayer trialled many fungicides on barley and wheat

ha* compared with the untreated

Autumn/winter planted wheat Bayer’s wheat fungicide trials encountered a range of differing disease pressures last season, from

(programme used – Delaro 600ml/

a lot of disease to those with little

ha (GS30), Delaro 750ml/ha (GS32)

disease. But in all trials the benefit

and Aviator Xpro 1L/ha).

of applying three fungicides and of

This compared with a two-spray

the GS32 application, was clear.

programme GS32/GS39 that gave

Applying a three-spray fungicide

a profit of $162/ha*. Leaving out the

programme GS32/GS39/GS65 (based

on Prosaro® and two applications of Aviator Xpro) was the right approach, returning a profit of $453/ha*. This compared with a profit of $190/ha* from a two-spray programme. Bayer’s trials also demonstrated that failing to apply a GS32 fungicide was a mistake, with profit reduced by $188/ha*. So, to maximise your profit use a three-spray programme incorporating Prosaro and Aviator Xpro and be ready to start soon at GS32. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. *Profit calculated with barley $315/t, wheat $325/t and fungicides at recommended retail prices (excluding GST). Aviator ® Xpro, Delaro® and Prosaro® are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Article supplied by Bayer Crop Science in New Zealand. | Bayer encountered a range of disease pressures in its wheat fungicide trials but results were consistent.

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THE FARMLANDER | 43

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Chicory in mix adds milksolids to the vat Ensuring high-quality, reliable homegrown feed throughout summer and autumn is a goal Reporoa farmer Mathew Martelli is achieving with Choice chicory. The feed quality of Choice also means he sees the results in the vat, with a significant increase in milksolids production compared with an all-grass diet. Mathew farms 325 cows on a 152ha (141ha effective) dairy farm. Choice chicory, a deep tap-rooted long-lived herb, works well in drought proofing the amount and quality of his feed supply in the variable summer rainfall environment. “Our system is low input so chicory fits well during the dry summer months when pasture quality can be low,” Mathew says. Mathew has been sowing Choice chicory on farm for several years and it is now about 10 percent of his platform. This season’s extremely wet autumn has knocked performance but

both per dairy cow and per hectare. Mathew’s increase in milksolids production when grazing Choice compared with an all-grass diet is in keeping with findings from DairyNZ. Lee and Minneé (2012) found that when pasture quality was poor (below 10 ME), feeding Choice at 20-40 percent of the diet can increase milksolids production by 17 percent1. In a year with reasonable summer moisture, growth rates on dairy farms of around 80-100kg DM/ha/day can be expected during summer/ autumn from Choice. Choice works well with the farm’s pasture renewal programme. It allows successful control of grass weeds (poa annua/yellow bristle grass and browntop) and the crop can be finished and sprayed out in time to autumn-sow new pasture. “One of the huge benefits we find when establishing Choice is that there is no maintenance required as slow release N was applied down

the spout when sowing,” Mathew says. Choice is not only suited to dairy cows. The high-quality, high-utilisation feed can be mixed with red or white clover and/or ryegrass to produce an excellent finishing feed for lambs. These specialist crops enable rapid liveweight gain and can achieve higher lamb liveweight gains than often experienced on poor summer pastures. Choice chicory is New Zealand-bred to maximise forage production and grazing tolerance. The crop provides very cost effective summer protein feed while acting as a great clean-up tool before re-grassing in the autumn. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1

Lee & Minneé. (2012). DairyNZ Technical Series. August 2012. Chicory and plantain – your questions answered. Article supplied by Agricom.

Mathew has still produced a yield of 12-13 tonnes and had a 12.5 percent milksolid increase when the cows were introduced from ryegrass (compared with a 16 percent increase the previous year). His 13ha of Choice have allowed a 28-day grazing round, with the cows grazing half a hectare a day. Choice provides high protein and high ME feed and Mathew says his heifers did really well on the crop because they were able to use it so well. “The feed is there in front of them and easily accessible. I find it easier to manage versus turnips.” Choice chicory has been thoroughly proven on farms and in research to substantially improve production | Farmlands Technical Field Officer Jamie Taplin (left) with Mathew Martelli in a paddock with Choice chicory sown into perennial ryegrass.

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THE FARMLANDER | 45

FORAGE AND ARABLE

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Seed system controls weeds in brassica crop Driving high dry matter yield in forage brassica crops is key to improving the total feed grown on-farm and will reduce the crop costs per kilogram of dry matter. Many of the factors that can contribute to high forage yield, including availability of moisture and nutrients, can be reduced if weeds are present within the crop. Weed control in brassica crops does not have to be complicated and keeping things simple is something that the Cleancrop™ Brassica System can offer farmers. It is a seed and herbicide package that enables you to control your weeds at the time of sowing (i.e. at the pre-emerge stage). Cleancrop brassica cultivars have been bred to tolerate a broad spectrum herbicide, DuPont Telar®. With 22 susceptible weeds on the label, along with another six moderately susceptible

| Te Kuiti shareholder Katherine Robertson with Farmlands Technical Field Officer Nick Morrison.

weeds, the Cleancrop Brassica System has one of the broadest weed spectrums on the market. Te Kuiti Farmlands shareholder Katherine Robertson has been growing Cleancrop rape for the past 3 years. Situated on a leased property of 560 hectares in Piopio, Waikato, Katherine runs 2,000 ewes (which lamb at 145 percent at docking), fattens 5,000 lambs and has 120 breeding cows with a calf at foot and 100 R2 Friesian bulls. With a key focus on pasture renewal, Cleancrop works well in Katherine’s farm system. “Cleancrop rape has outperformed our expectations due to higher yields and the flexibility of grazing,” she says. In previous

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seasons Katherine has had to buy an extra 500 lambs over December as she was picking 35-40 percent out every 14 days and needed more lambs for replacement stock. Reviewing the 2015/2016 season, Katherine says more than 5,000 lambs were sent to slaughter “and with the early feed such as Cleancrop rape in our system we have been able to catch the early premiums”. She is keen to use the crop again next season. Cleancrop brassica cultivars are sold with 20g/ha of Telar® herbicide, which is applied at the pre-emerge stage. The system is adaptable across sowing methods and can be

effectively used in both conventional and direct-drilling situations. If an additional spray is required past emergence to control weeds such as Californian thistle and wild turnip, this is also included in the package. The Cleancrop cultivar range includes Cleancrop leafy turnip, rape, bulb turnip and two new additions this spring, Hawkestone swede and Firefly kale (although Firefly kale has very limited availability this spring). For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by PGGW Seeds.

THE FARMLANDER | 47

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Bad autumn sets scene for invasion of slugs Getting the better of slugs before they get the best of your new crops or grass is not just a matter of good planning and preparation this spring. It also comes down to picking the right product. “Slugs don’t have GPS,” Nufarm technical expert Alan Cliffe says. “They don’t so much sniff out their food as fall over the top of it and that’s why bait coverage is such a make or break factor when it comes to achieving good control.” After a “horrendously” bad autumn, with perfect weather for slug survival and multiplication, there is potential for real issues this spring, especially in any conservation tillage or no-till situations. “The massive burden in autumn will inevitably mean high slug populations heading into spring, so it’s really important that farmers and growers check their paddocks before sowing rather than take the risk. Once you

see the damage afterwards, it’s often too late to do much about them and slugs can make a mess of newly sown crops or grass in a matter of days.”

Alan strongly encourages checking

Alan says industry research has repeatedly reinforced the importance of coverage (or bait points per square metre) in obtaining effective control where high numbers of slugs are present, most recently in the Foundation for Arable Research’s latest Integrated Pest Management guide.

Bait should be automatically used

“This is where SlugOut® comes into its own,” he says. “At the recommended label rate of 10kg/ha, FAR trials show SlugOut has 112 bait points per square metre, which is much higher than other baits with the same active ingredient.

SlugOut, has the further advantage

“Remember, slugs can only detect their food from very close up. They have a poor sense of smell – they do not sniff out their food from a distance. They are much more likely to crawl across it by sheer chance. Good coverage is the critical first step to good control.”

paddocks before sowing to find out if slugs are present, by leaving out sacks or boards for two or three nights. in all no-till situations, because not cultivating creates ideal conditions for survival. If cultivated seedbeds are cloddy, farmers should monitor and consider baiting. As well as high rates of coverage, metaldehyde, the active ingredient in of not killing beetles that naturally eat slugs, making it suitable for farmers who want to use integrated pest management programmes. Baits with methiocarb as the active ingredient result in secondary poisoning to predator beetles, Alan says. Metaldehyde is not harmful to earthworms – poisoned slugs pose no threat to birds or small mammals. To maximise crop establishment, SlugOut should be broadcast at 10-15kg/ha 1-5 days prior to, during or immediately after sowing. For emerged or established crops, apply as soon as damage appears. Use the high rate if slug numbers are high. SlugOut may also be drilled at 10kg/ ha with seed in situations where the drill leaves an open slot that allows slugs easy access to the seed. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. ®SlugOut is a registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Pty Ltd. Article supplied by Nufarm.

| Industry research shows the importance of bait coverage in obtaining effective control of slug numbers.

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THE FARMLANDER | 49

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Smooth beats corrugated in battle of the pipelines Drainage contractor Kevin Griffiths, the owner of Don Griffiths Ltd, a long-established land drainage company based in Matamata, gets asked the same question a lot – why choose a smoothbore land drainage pipe over cheaper corrugated-bore pipe?

Other benefits also come from

“It’s been an interesting conversation to have with farmers during the dairy downturn, given smooth-bore land drainage pipe is more expensive than its corrugated equivalent,” Kevin says. “But once they appreciate the physical differences and design and production benefits, it’s a no-brainer.”

can’t be overstated – in the short-term,

The pipes are not like-for-like products that can be compared on price alone. Independent testing by Massey University determined that the smooth bore produced a less turbulent flow within the pipe, thereby conveying considerably more water than the corrugated-bore pipe, in fact 49 percent more on any given gradient for a 110mm pipe.

wetter paddocks for longer periods

Iplex Pipelines manufactures both smooth-bore Nexus and corrugatedbore Novaflo pipe. Kevin says farmers shouldn’t focus on the per metre price but rather on the volume of water transported for that price.

within the pipe, reducing the bore

“A smooth-bore pipe is actually a more economic choice. A 110mm smoothbore pipe’s flow performance is so good, it may not be necessary in highvolume drainage situations to step up to the next diameter, 160mm corrugatedbore pipe, so the farmer can actually be saving money purchasing a Nexus-type product,” Kevin says.

laid on a flatter gradient than Novaflo

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the faster flow of water through smooth-bore pipes – better drained soils, enhanced root systems, more resilient pasture, greater dry matter yields and the flow-on effect of boosted production. “The effects of pugging in wet soils good pasture is trampled into the ground and long-term soil compaction leads to a less healthy soil structure for worm activity, pasture growth and fertiliser effectiveness. Getting excess water out of the soil profile faster leads to better utilisation of during the year,” Kevin says. Faster flow within the smooth-bore Nexus pipe also flushes out any soil that gets in, maintaining the bore size, flow rate and ultimately the effective working life of the drainage line. Conversely, the slower water flow through corrugated-bore Novaflo can lead to soil build-up | Smooth-bore drainage pipes can be laid on a gradient twice as shallow as that required for corrugated-bore pipes.

diameter, further reducing the flow rate and, if not regularly cleaned out, eventually causing pipeline failure. From a design perspective, because of its smooth bore Nexus can also be

effective, high-performing systems. “I’m sold on Nexus as the first choice in land drainage pipe,” Kevin says. “It’s the same price to install as Novaflo, yet

– more than twice as shallow. Given

has all the aforementioned longevity,

the lowest point in a drainage line

design and production benefits. As

is the outlet, just above the normal

I tell my clients, ‘go with the flow’.”

water level in an open drain, Nexus

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

lines can be longer before getting too close to the surface. This allows for greater flexibility in land drainage system design, leading to cost-

Article supplied by Iplex.

THE FARMLANDER | 51

Works for you RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

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Westinghouse 500L Chest Freezer. • Adjustable thermostat • Lightweight, spring-loaded lid • Defrost drain system • Adjustable feet • H835 x W1650 x D730mm

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‘Dallas’ 7-Piece Extension Dining Suite.

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SHOP with CONFIDENCE on Quality, Value & Service. Product offers are valid until 30/09/2017. Excludes Outlet Stores.

52 | THE FARMLANDER

Visit your local store: Call

0800 464 278 (0800 GO HARVEY) for your nearest store.

349718_NNZ

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE R

Spring’s growth means march of the possums Possums are one of the greatest threats to New Zealand’s natural environment. Here, they have no predators and lots of palatable vegetation. As a result, they have a huge impact on our ecosystems, native land and forests, with the added worry of them spreading bovine tuberculosis to cattle.

you have roses you will know you have a problem by the fur left on the thorns as possums dine on the emerging buds. There are a number of other ways to tell if you have a possum problem: • Severe defoliation of trees in the bush, especially Northern Rata. • Dead trees (especially Northern Rata) in the bush canopy –

Possums eat leaves, flowers, leaf buds, fruit, eggs, birds, insects and snails, as well as pasture, which means less food for farm animals. They can also damage horticultural and garden crops. Damage by possums costs New Zealand farmers about $35 million a year. New growth in early spring means possums start invading our farms – if

clearly visible from the air. • Fruit trees in gardens being robbed at nights. • Possum dung pellets around trees bearing fruit or flowers. • Rubbish bins being searched for fruit. • Many possums seen on pastures and in the trees at night. • TB infected possums being found (showing cheesy lymph nodes under arms and back legs). • Possums hissing and squawking at night and running over the roof. • Clear tracks from the bush into the paddocks or fur on the fence wire. • Sick (dopey) possums seen out in

PestOff Possum Bait and stations are a simple and easy to use solution. The bait combines the effectiveness of the anti-coagulant toxin brodifacoum with a highly palatable cereal formulation, eliminating the need for pre-feeding. PestOff Possum Bait contains attractive lures – either cinnamon or raspberry. This ensures the possum will consume on average 50g per feed, with the lethal dose being 100g, or roughly two feeds. If bait supply is maintained to ensure possums can feed freely over 4-5 consecutive nights, they will usually die 5-10 days after eating a full lethal dose. Secure the bait stations about 200mm above ground level or at a similar height above a tree fork where a possum can sit while feeding. Place bait stations 100m apart on shelter belts and bush/pasture margins, or two per hectare of forest. Keep them out of reach of pets, stock and feral pigs. You are not required to hold an Approved Handlers certificate to use PestOff Possum Bait and stations.

strategy to achieve an effective

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

eradication for the coming spring – and

Article supplied by Bell-Booth.

the paddocks during daytime. Now is the time to organise your

| The design of the PestOff Possum Bait Station ensures rain does not spoil the bait.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

THE FARMLANDER | 53

Warning

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Empty rates are on an alarming rise! Nutrimol 4n1 users have reversed the trend. Visit www.bell-booth.co.nz or 0800 80 90 92 or scan the QR code below for a fertility assessment of your herd. Answer six short questions and we will assess the information using the COWCULATOR™ to industry-accepted formulae.

Available at your local Farmlands store!

0800 200 600 www.farmlands.co.nz 54 | THE FARMLANDER

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

New software tool puts data at farmers’ fingertips Tracking his animals’ progress against targets has been an important part of Glen Whyte’s successful Mid-Canterbury deer, cattle and sheep operation. Glen runs 1,100 weaner deer through to finishing. He also buys 400 calves each year, taking them through to R2s and runs a few sheep on the 400ha property. For Glen, an early adopter of weighing technology, ease of access to the data he captures with his Tru-Test weigh scale and EID readers is key

| For Glen Whyte, tracking groups and growth rates is easier with the new livestock management programme.

and something not available until the launch of Tru-Test’s MiHub Livestock Management software. As one of the original beta testers for Tru-Test’s 5000 range of weigh scales, Glen has been involved from the early stages of developing technology that makes weighing and data management both accurate and easy. “I’d provided feedback to Tru-Test about the need for a better data transfer and analysis solution. You

can record all sorts of information on the weigh scale but key is being able to utilise the information more easily and to make it more user-friendly off the scale. So I was very pleased to learn about their new MiHub Livestock Management online programme.

weight, and then what weight they

The new software is great, just what I have been hoping for. I’m still learning but am very pleased with it so far. It’s very easy to use. All you really have to do is upload it and then follow the steps.”

you need to be doing to get back on

Glen says tracking groups and growth rates is more straightforward with the new programme. “With tracking groups of animals, before MiHub all you could do was put the weigh scale data into an Excel spreadsheet. What should really have been a 5-minute job could take you an hour or two to track back different animals through different groups,” he says. “For our finishing target weights, now I can put in the date I want to finish my deer or cattle and at what

came in on and an average. I can set the average daily gains to what I think they should be doing and it’ll give you a growth curve to follow. “So every time you weigh in you can see whether you’re on target or what target if you’re falling behind. And you can adjust that as you’re going. You could always work that out but it just gives you an easily visual way to track that information.” Glen’s advice to others? “Weighing these days really is a no-brainer, at least for cattle and deer as you have to have EID tags. We’re paying to have them in their ears – we might as well make use of that information and use the technology to our advantage.” For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Tru-Test.

| The MiHub Livestock Management online programme.

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THE FARMLANDER | 55

Works for you CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

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56 | THE FARMLANDER

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Teat care programme pays off in premiums Cow teat condition is a top priority for Southland dairy farmer Graham Haynes and his methodical approach to protection is proof of that. Graham milks about 850 cows. The turbulent Southland weather has always been a major factor in his management of the herd and in the past teat condition was problematic. “Our cell count was consistently around 200,000 and cracked teats were common in the herd,” he says. GEA’s FIL Area Manager, Graham Beggs, was instrumental in switching the farm to FIL 5 years ago. “I liked the support that FIL offered,” Graham Haynes says. “Their approach to best practice, training staff and being so readily available when we have an issue are probably the key reasons. Graham now uses both GEA’s FIL Iodoshield Active (iodine teat spray) and Teatshield (chlorhexidine teat spray) during the year, depending on the weather conditions. “We hadn’t used both iodine and chlorhexidine before but it makes good sense to match our teat care programme to the conditions on-farm. It’s probably fair to say we weren’t very aware of mixing rates and effective teat spraying methods before either and that’s why we had problems,” he says.

| GEA’s FIL Area Manager, Graham Beggs discusses the teat care programme.

Graham’s teat care programme is flexible. Iodoshield Active is used in spring (pre-mating), when weather conditions are at their worst. He then switches to Teatshield over summer. Weather depending, he may go back to Iodoshield come autumn. Teat conditioner is added for extra emollient,

and under 150,000 is $0.08. This extra income is very beneficial.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

as required, over spring and autumn.

in and strip herd. Also, in early spring,

“A big incentive for us to bring our cell

all cows joining the herd are RTM

count under control is the premium payments Open Country Dairy pay. For somatic cell count thresholds under 250,000, the premium is $0.04,

checked before we start sending.

“Last year’s average cell count was 147,000. I’d put that down 60 percent to the teat spray, the rest is management control. We’ve set trigger points – for example, as soon as we hit 150,000 (cell count) we go

“Ultimately I’m happy with GEA’s FIL performance all round. I’d recommend both their teat care and dairy hygiene ranges, plus their backup support on-farm is invaluable.” For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by GEA.

THE FARMLANDER | 57

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Saving $15,000 a year in shareholder rebates works for me. 58 | THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ Bruce Nickel, Hawera.

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

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Find out more about how Farmlands Card works for you. 0800 200 600 | ask@farmlands.co.nz | www.farmlands.co.nz/card

*The Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited Bonus Rebate is subject to the Directors’ discretion.

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THE FARMLANDER | 59

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Update I have reported for the past few months that there is a slowdown coming in the Auckland market, which historically flows to provincial regions. The 30 percent reduction in the number of sales in Auckland last month and a 6 percent price decline may see our residential teams experience a less hectic spring compared to 2016. The impact of loan-to-value ratio restrictions is reflected in the market. We anticipate the same market factors will flow on to the lifestyle sector. However, overall in both markets we feel we will have a positive spring market in the entry and mid price range brackets. Listings nationally are at record lows but we do have a number of great farms listed now for spring campaigns. The detection of Mycoplasma bovis in two South Canterbury dairy herds is the first ever for New Zealand and may have implications in the region regarding confidence of purchase until clarity is provided on the way forward. I personally think that any delays in purchasers’ confidence will only be temporary. With banks continuing to tighten lending criteria, the availability

of low interest rates can’t be assumed going forward as headline inflation across New Zealand’s trading partners escalates. The New Zealand political situation, upcoming election and how immigration restrictions are applied are also contributing factors, more so to lifestyle and residential markets. How commodity prices will dictate market confidence in the rural sector is yet to play out. Due to the price of skim milk powder and its steady increase since January, plus the recovery in price of whole milk powder, we are seeing renewed confidence from buyers in the dairy sector. Red meat, pipfruit and kiwifruit forecast prices are encouraging. The impact of the New Zealand dollar on commodity prices may affect the income boost that many of our shareholders are seeking to recover and add strength to their balance sheets this season. If you would like to discuss any of the points mentioned, feel free to contact me. Calvin Leen General Manager Real Estate 027 453 0950 calvin.leen@farmlands.co.nz

Property ID: WG1027

‘Glen Mor Limited’

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

Situated west of Whangarei in the strong dairying district of Parakao. Production has varied for the first 2 years, with between 280-300 Jersey cows milked twice daily with production between 107,000-118,000kgMS. The following 2 years production was at 93,837kgMS (milked once daily) and the past season producing 85,811kgMS. 24-aside herringbone cow shed, 6-bay calf shed, workshop, hay barn, palm kernel bunker and calf shed, two 160 cow Guyco Cow Cafes, silage pit and a modern, 260m2 five bedroom home. Price by negotiation.

60 | THE FARMLANDER

Tom Hackett Lifestyle/Rural – Whangarei 027 498 2908 tom.hackett@farmlands.co.nz

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

REAL ESTATE

Boundary indicative only

Property ID: MT1038

Eagleview Farm

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

• 285 hectares situated in Okoroire, Waikato • Five bedroom homestead • Implement/calf sheds, workshop and hay barns • Flat terrace tops, wide valley floors • Nutrient reference point 24kg/N/ha/yr • Approximately 50 hectares of arable ground • Dairy heifers, breeding cows and cropping Tender closing 2pm, Tuesday 31 October 2017 (unless sold by private treaty).

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

Ian Morgan Rural – Waikato 027 492 5878 ian.morgan@farmlands.co.nz Glen Murray Lifestyle/Rural – Waikato 027 488 6138 glen.murray@farmlands.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 61

REAL ESTATE

Boundary indicative only Property ID: HS1059

Lifestyle dream in Dartmoor Valley 1.3 hectares with a three bedroom home constructed of brick, Alexandra stone, plus a batten and board style stucco panelling in Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay. The home is comprised of a large lounge with a log fire and a stylish, modern kitchen with openplan dining room. There are three spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms and an extra hobby or utility room off the double garage. There is a good size barn and a myriad of producing fruit trees, as well as two green houses and a potting/shade house. Water is provided from a bore on the property. $850,000.

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

Sally Neilson Lifestyle/Rural – Hastings 027 445 3533 sally.neilson@farmlands.co.nz

Property ID: WG1028

Grazing, lifestyle, location - your choice 362 hectares situated in Wheki Valley, Northland. Well fenced into 24 main and four holding paddocks. Currently carrying 1,000 breeding ewes, 320 ewe hoggets, 20 rams, 70 breeding cows, 30 2-year cattle, 30 weaners and three bulls. 2-stand woolshed, 2-bay implement shed, three general use sheds and two sets of cattle yards. Four bedroom homestead built in the 1920’s which has been re-piled with the addition of a laundry, bathroom, lounge and carport. Potential for improvements and being in six titles gives options for farmers or investors. $2,350,000 plus GST.

62 | THE FARMLANDER

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

Tom Hackett Lifestyle/Rural – Whangarei 027 498 2908 tom.hackett@farmlands.co.nz

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

REAL ESTATE

Property ID: DU2522

Karoro Creek Road

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

This impressive property of 415 hectares (subject to survey) is a quality South Otago hill country property close to the coast. An extensive development programme has been undertaken – quality subdivision, pasture renewal and farm tracking for ease of access. As the house block is being subdivided off, this creates an opportunity to build your dream home with several superb building sites to choose from. An evenly spread rainfall of 900mm means this property is situated in an area that is well renowned as “summer safe country” in South Otago. $2,850,000 plus GST.

Patrick Bowden Lifestyle/Rural – Balclutha 027 436 5161 patrick.bowden@farmlands.co.nz

Property ID: IN2068

This is a must view at Riverton Near new, 256m2, two storied home set on 3.3 hectares with magnificent views over Taramea Bay. Four bedrooms, main with en suite and walk-in wardrobe, open-plan dining room/lounge and an elaborate kitchen with a walk-in pantry. Separate lounge/ games room and large walk-in attic area upstairs. New carpet throughout the home. Six car garage with workshop, storage area and large woodshed. Fully fenced section with easy care gardens. Several land purchase options available. Deadline sale closing 4pm, Wednesday 11 October 2017 (unless sold prior).

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

www.farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

John Beaufill Lifestyle/Rural – Invercargill 027 431 0054 john.beaufill@farmlands.co.nz

THE FARMLANDER | 63

eXcLuSiVe

! r E f oF

TRAY NOT INCLUDED

Farmlands has secured a deal on a very limited number of Toyota Hilux 4WD Single Cab Chassis Manual Utes (tray not included) for a very special price of only $31,295 RSP +GST +ORC. The bare essentials ute for you to make into your new farm workhorse.

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Register your interest now at www.farmlands.co.nz/toyota * Terms and Conditions apply. See www.farmlands.co.nz for full details. Valid for Farmlands shareholders only. Tray not included. Stock on hand only. Limited colours available.

* RSP +GST +ORC