Canterbury Farming, January 2012 by Integrity Community Media

28,500 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast.

INSIDE Page 4

Lifestylers with cattle have to join NAIT scheme Page 13 The future of managed hunting in New Zealand

Page 19 Providing true expertise on pastures

January 2012

Kiwi apples put Tasmania and Canberra at loggerheads By Hugh de Lacy

statement inside our own Parliament,” Groser said.

we do have to protect the biosecurity of Tasmania.”

Tasmania’s cruising for a bruising from Canberra over its continuing ban on imports of New Zealand apples in ‘illegal’ defiance of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) edict.

In a visit to New Zealand last year, soon after she replaced Kevin Rudd as Australian Prime Minister, Gillard assured this country that the contentious apple dispute was behind it, and that New Zealand would face no more obstacles in exporting pipfruit to Australia.

Her stand flies in the face not only of the WTO and the overwhelming weight of science, but also the high likelihood that fireblight is already prevalent in Australia, and has been for decades.

As it did ten years ago over imports of Canadian salmon, Tasmania has refused to accept the WTO’s assessment that the plant disease fire-blight cannot be transmitted through mature fruit. This is despite Australia’s public acceptance of the ruling and the appearance in supermarkets in other states of the first New Zealand apples since Australia imposed a ban following the discovery in 1919 of fire-blight in New Zealand fruit. Following a WTO ruling sought by the United States over-turning Japan’s ban on apple imports from countries with fire-blight, New Zealand took a similar case against Australia, with the same result. New Zealand’s Minister of Trade, Tim Groser, told Canterbury Farming that Tasmania’s ban was ‘illegal” and ‘not compatible with Australia’s obligations’ as a WTO signatory. “We’ve got the strongest support you could imagine from the Australian Government for implementing this [WTO] finding, including [Australian Prime Minister] Julia Gillard making a clear, unambiguous

Tasmania, which calls itself the Apple Island, produces about a quarter of all Australian apples but accounts for about two-thirds of their exports, mostly to Japan and Korea. Though rumours appear to be circulating in Australia that New Zealand intends going back to the WTO to have punitive retaliative tariffs imposed on imports from Australia, Groser said that at the moment he’s leaving it to Gillard’s federal government to sort Tasmania out. “It’s been a very long and bitter struggle, so the last thing we want to do is get off-side now with the Australian federal Government, but of course we have not gone away,” Groser said. He agreed that the matter involved the sensitive issue of state versus federal powers in Australia, and that was something for the Australians to work through. But Tasmania’s Premier, Lara Giddings, is sounding increasingly defiant, saying, “We will be exploring all of our powers and what measures

Ten years ago a New Zealand scientist noticed the disease on trees in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, and brought clippings home for tests that positively identified the disease. Australia responded by claiming the scientist had deliberately infected the Melbourne trees, which were pulled out and burned to support a declaration it no longer had the disease. The chief executive of industry body Pipfruit New Zealand, Peter Beaven, told Canterbury Farming Tasmania’s defiance of the WTO ruling was ‘a nonsense’.

“We allow a significant range of Australian produce into New Zealand with all the attendant risks of fruit-fly coming in here. “And fruit-fly, despite what the Australians are saying, is a far greater phytosanitary risk than fire-blight will ever be, simply because if we got fruit-fly in New Zealand — it’s throughout very large parts of Australia — pretty much every market of any significance throughout the whole world would be shut not just to our apples, but to kiwifruit, avocados, citrus and whatever else.

All four separate WTO hearings — both the American and New Zealand panel hearings and the subsequent appeals by Japan and Australia — had determined that mature and symptomless apples produced under standard commercial practices and subject to a border inspection do not pose a risk of transmitting fire-blight.

“It would kill horticulture in this country pretty much instantly,” Beaven said.

“So who the hell is an Australian state government to decide that they’re wrong?” Beaven said.

“So what right do they have to take a completely different view on fire-blight where the risk is much lower, as

“We’re running this constant risk in the name of the free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia, and our expectation is that the Australians will manage that risk so that we’re not exposed [to fruit-fly].

StructureWise DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

We can custom build to suit your needs! ™

Registered Master Builders

• • • • •

Custom designed for you Commercial, rural or storage buildings From design to completion or supplied (Kitset) Steel, timber or concrete materials Designed and manufactured by Structure Wise

Station Street, Leeston / www.structurewise.co.nz / Ph 03 324 3392

demonstrated by the science.” New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) told Canterbury Farming it was aware of the Tasmanian ban, and noted that last year Australia reviewed its Import Risk Analysis for New Zealand apples to bring them in line with its WTO obligations. “For Australia to comply with the WTO ruling, all the states of Australia must comply,” MFAT said in a statement. The matter was one between Tasmania and the federal government. “The Australian Government has made it clear at the highest levels that it is committed to implementing the WTO Dispute Settlement findings,” MFAT said. In 2000 Tasmania similarly imposed a ban on Canadian uncooked salmon despite a WTO ruling that it posed no health threat to the Tasmanian industry. It is unclear whether that ban still applies.

January 2012

O’Connor Comments

With Damien O’Connor, Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture The Food Bill is a large piece of legislation aimed to update a wide range of laws governing how we grow, manufacture and sell food in New Zealand. For a country that still depends for its wealth on the production of food and fibre, this is a very important piece of legislation. We have to ensure the food we produce is not only the best quality and satisfies the demands of an ever changing world but that it is also safe and no harm can come from its consumption. We have built a very good reputation across the world for quality food be it beef, lamb or the large range of dairy products. Our survival depends upon maintaining

that reputation especially in the area of food safety where growing markets like China have zero tolerance for tainted food products. The Food Bill must improve and update the systems to support our export led economy. New Zealanders have a reputation for growing their own food in their quarter acre section and often exchanging this food with friends and neighbours. We have seen more recently at a growing number of farmers markets the sales of food directly from growers to consumers eliminating the middle men in what has become a supermarket driven food supply system. I believe the

CONSULTING SURVEYORS Rural & Urban Subdivisions Cross Lease/Unit Surveys Resource Consents Topo/Site Surveys

Mapping/Survey Graphics Land Status Research Legalisation Surveys GPS Technology

Registered Professional Surveyors Licensed Cadastral Surveyors Call (03) 379 9901 or 0800 NZSURVEY (697 878) Fax (03) 379 9903 or Email:mail@aasurvey.co.nz Level 1, 7 Lincoln Lane, Addington, PO Box 13343, Christchurch

LAND SURVEYORS

dominance of supermarkets in Europe, the USA and now New Zealand is squeezing returns for growers and manipulating prices to consumers in a way that promotes some cheap foods while over pricing essential and healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables. The farmers markets are one way of keeping the supermarket system honest but we need to ensure the exchange of food occurs in the most efficient and fairest way. The Food Bill is complex and contains many clauses that may be misinterpreted and allow overzealous officials to restrict that local trading in exchange for food. While there is an amount of misinformation about the Bill there is also experience that proves officials are not good at interpreting the positive intent of the law. There is a risk that the negative experiences in Canada from such legislation will result in unfair policing and restrictions on the type of food exchange and trading this country was built on. The Labour Party and myself as Food Safety spokesperson will be asking questions of the government about passing the bill and any changes it intends to make. The last thing farmers need is legislation that further reduces their ability to get fair prices for their produce, but we do need legislation that upholds our reputation for the production of quality safe food.

Digesting the Food Bill — fact vs fiction There has been a lot of talk and a lot of misinformation spread over the holiday period around the proposed Food Bill. In my role as Minister for Food Safety, I am responsible for the Bill, and I’d like to take this opportunity to set the record straight. Currently New Zealand food manufacturers and sellers operate under regulations that are 30 years old. These regulations need to be updated to ensure that the food people buy is safe and that those selling food take responsibility for the food they sell. It’s a fact that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of food poisoning in the developed world. Before Christmas, an anonymous internet campaign began spreading misinformation about the Food Bill and making claims that scared a lot of people unnecessarily. They claimed that the Bill was being rushed through Parliament before anyone could be made aware of it, that the Bill would make growing your own veges a privilege, not a right, and that food safety officers with guns would soon be storming into private homes.

Kate Wilkinson, Minister for Food safety

The facts are very different. The Food Bill has gone through extensive public consultation over the past four years. In 2010, it was passed by Parliament’s Primary Production Select Committee with cross-party support, and is due to go before Parliament sometime this year. No one will come under the scope of the Food Bill unless they are selling or trading food for commercial purposes. Food grown at home for personal or family consumption, or given or exchanged for other food with friends is not within the scope of the Bill. If it becomes law, the Bill will require those involved in the commercial trade of food to operate under one of three regulatory systems, depending on the level of food safety risk involved. Those in the lowest risk category — including small traders running roadside stalls or selling their own horticultural produce at farmers markets, charity sausage sizzles and bake sales — would simply receive free ‘food handler guidance’ information. They will not need to register anywhere, and will incur no extra costs. The Government recognises that charitable and community events such as sausage sizzles, home bake sales, and other fundraising events are an important part of our Kiwi lifestyle. These will continue to occur as they always have. The Bill is designed to protect, not harm, as the Bill’s critics would have us believe. Finally, it is simply nonsense that armed Food Safety Officers would enter premises without a warrant. Food Safety Officers will not be armed and will retain the same powers that they have had for the past 30 years under the current Food Act 1981.

‘First for Ford, First for Commercials’

It is extremely disappointing that the current misinformation campaign has caused so many people to worry unnecessarily. There is nothing to fear from the Food Bill. It is all about improving food safety, updating out-dated regulations, and helping grow our economy.

2006 FORD COuRIER XL 4X4 D/Cab 2.5 turbo diesel, 5 speed, air con, canopy roof racks, tuff deck. “Good Looking Ute.”

$18,490 or $125 per week

2008 FORD FALCON FG XR6 Ute 4.0 litre, tiptronic, airbags, air con, alloys, ABS, CD player, cruise. “Performance Ute.”

$28,990 or $175 per week

2004 FORD FALCON BA XR6 Ute 4.0 litre, tiptronic, airgbags, CD player, hard lid, 1 owner. “Popular Sports Ute.”

LOOK $20,990

2005 FORD ECONOVAN LWB, 2.5 diesel, 5 speed, NZ New, power steer, air con, rear seat, roof rack . . . . . .$13,490 2006 FORD COuriEr XL 4x2 D/C, 2.5 turbo diesel, 5 speed, air con, canopy, roof rack, tuf-deck, towbar $18,490 2006 FORD COuriEr XLX 4x2 D/Cab, 2.5 turbo diesel, dual airbags, air con, ABS brakes, CD player. . . . . $20,990 2004 FORD FALCON BA XR6 Ute, 4.0 litre, tiptronic, hard-lid, air con, CD player, ABS, 1 owner . . . . . . . . . . $20,990 2008 FORD FALCON FG XR6 Ute, 4.0 litre, tiptronic, airbags, bodykit, CD player, air con, cruise . . . . . . . . . $28,990 2008 FORD FALCON FG XR6T Ute, 270kw turbo, 18'' alloys, bodykit, CD player, cruise control, ABS . . . . . $33,990 2007 FORD rANGEr XL 4x2 D/C 3.0 turbo diesel, canopy, air con, CD player, deck liner, 1 owner . . . . . . . . $22,990

2006 FORD COuRIER XLX 4x2 D/Cab, 2.5 turbo diesel, 5 speed, dual airbags, air con, ABS brakes, CD player. “Built Ford Tough.”

$20,990 or $142 per week

2007 FORD RANGER XLT 4x4 F/deck 3.0 turbo diesel, airbags, air con, CD player, 1 owner, alloys, electrics. “Brand New Flatdeck.”

$33,990 or $206 per week

2007 FORD rANGEr XL 4x4 D/C, 3.0 turbo diesel, 5 speed, air con, CD player, alloys, bullbar, tuf deck . . $30,990 2007 FORD rANGEr XLT 4x4 F/D, 3.0 turbo diesel, multiple airbags, CD player, air con, ABS brakes . . . . $33,990 2011 FORD TrANSiT LWB hi roof, 2.4 turbo diesel, 6 speed, airbags, CD player, air con, ABS only 2120km$49,990

2010 FORD TrANSiT SWB wheel chair van, fully equipped, front monitor, air con, only 5,170km . . . . . . . $59,990 2006 MAZDA BOuNTY NTY SDX 4x4 D/C, 2.5 turbo diesel, air con, ABS, dual airbags, side steps, 1 owner . . . $25,990

2008 MAZDA BT50 cab plus 4x4 F/D, 3.0 turbo diesel, airbags, air con, ABS brakes, CD player, 1 owner . $28,990

Ford’s No 1 President Award Winning Dealership for Customer Service

Avon City Ford MTA

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call

03 347 2314

or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

Corner Main South Road & Epsom Road, Sockburn, Christchurch. Ph 03 348 4129 or 0800 655 551 www.avoncityford.co.nz Rangiora Service Centre, 78 Ivory St. Ph 03 313 7059

Canterbury Farming prints material contributed by freelance journalists, contributing columnists and letters from readers. The information and opinions published are not necessarily those of Canterbury Farming or its staff. Canterbury Farming takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Canterbury Farming is published by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd

1016 Weedons Ross Road, West Melton, RD1, Christchurch Ph 03 347 2314 Email info@canfarm.co.nz

January 2012

From the Minister David Carter, Primary Industries

2011 looks set to go down in the record books as one of the best, with sheep farmers enjoying record meat prices, wool nearly doubling in value, log prices improving and dairy continuing a dream run. Compare this to 2010, with crippling drought conditions in one end of the country giving way to storms in the other and the push for increased profitability being battered by the growing global economic crisis. The devastation of the Canterbury earthquakes still has the country reeling, worrying conditions in Southland and Otago have farmers stepping up dry-weather action plans and the battle continues for our kiwifruit industry. But New Zealanders have shown they’re made of strong stuff. Our farmers are used to tackling the tough times head on, so when the gods are smiling, we should celebrate. It is not often that we have a near-perfect farming year. As we head into 2012, I look forward to the challenge of my new role as Minister for Primary Industries. When I became Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry in 2008, I began a programme of work focussed on lifting the profitability of New Zealand farmers and growers. This is happening across many sectors, but there’s more work to do. Expanding the portfolio to incorporate fisheries is a logical move. MAF is now effectively a ‘super Ministry’, covering agriculture, biosecurity, forestry, fisheries and food safety, and it makes sense to have a Minister responsible for all our primary industries.

I’m fortunate to have Nathan Guy as Associate Minister and he will be working closely with me across all areas of the portfolio. My number one priority is water. National came into government in 2008 promising to accelerate economic growth through better water management, and we are delivering. The provision of $400 million from the Future Investment Fund to support the construction of well-designed irrigation schemes, along with the $35 million Irrigation Acceleration Fund, have huge potential to unlock prosperity for our primary sectors. I want to see more areas of New Zealand reliably irrigated and I’m pleased that discussions are already taking place with promoters of schemes in Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago. My second priority is biosecurity. The Government is making good progress with its work on Government Industry Agreements. I believe there’s now a better understanding of the collaboration needed between government and industry to minimise the risk of pests and diseases causing harm to our primary industries. As Minister, I want to continue the work we are doing to improve the focus of our biosecurity system and better protect our borders. 2012 is going to be another busy year. I look forward to working with you all to help build a great future for New Zealand’s primary industries.

I love being a Cantabrian As we slip into another year it is time to ponder on who and what we are, and I find myself filling with pride that I am a local Cantabrian. Looking back over the past year, 2011 threw everything possible at the region, taking lives and maiming people. The universe destroyed life and everything we knew and loved about our city and surrounds, and turned all our lives upside down. While people throughout the region are still totally gun shy and as jumpy as a caterpillar in a birds nest, they are on the whole totally resilient and determined not to be beaten. The New Year has brought on a huge wave of optimism and it seems everyone is saying that they will not give in. We have been told by those in the know that we are in for another 30 years of quakes and instead of complaining, people are saying that it is great that what we are living through is helping other cities and countries to learn about such events. Now — that is big hearted stuff. That same ‘united we stand’ thought and attitude was illustrated by the total support the whole of New Zealand gave the Canterbury Crusaders last season and obviously shone through the World Cup campaign.

However, it isn’t just that sort of support that makes me proud of being a Cantabrian. The fact is the total defiance shown by so many farmers over the past couple of decades as they took hiding after hiding, with a high dollar, interest rates that were as friendly as a flu virus, and also very low prices shows remarkable resilience. All that suffering and despair has now shown rewarded for a lot of the farming sectors, as prices for meat and wool start to get to a level that will mean that costs can be covered. Those who stuck with lamb and beef, and those people who trusted the markets for venison and velvet are being rewarded for their persistence, despite the dollar and interest rates. Dairy to my mind, is always a hard one to pin point as the powers that be seem to offer more proposed prices than a bookie at Flemington, but their industry always seems to come through as a winner. In regards to cropping — when other farmers and those who service the industry, stop cost cutting and value what we grow here, that will come right as well. Yup, it’s 2012, so let’s stand shoulder to shoulder and beat them with that wonderful Canterbury spirit, whatever they throw at us.

USED TRACTORS

CASE MX210 210Hp A$108,000

FENDT 818 180Hp Vario Trans A$112,000

Visit us at: 122 Main North Road, Woodend and Cnr Main South Road & Barters Road, Templeton

CASE CVX 1190 190Hp front linkage & pTO A$51,000

JOHN DEERE 5515 V low hrs, 80hp �� C$45,000 JOHN DEERE 5303 2wd Rops 64hp �� A$23,000 JOHN DEERE 5720 83Hp �� C$48,000 JOHN DEERE 5820 90hp 4wd Cab Ldr, Low Hrs �� C$72,000 JOHN DEERE 6110 Ldr 80hp ��$41,000 JOHN DEERE 6210 90Hp �� C$38,000 JOHN DEERE 6220 prem Ldr �� A$58,000 JOHN DEERE 6310 Ldr 100hp �� A$40,000 JOHN DEERE 6400 Ldr 104hp �� A$36,000 JOHN DEERE 6420 prem�� C$68,000 JOHN DEERE 6420 premium Frt Suspension Ldr �� C$68,000 JOHN DEERE 6420 S Ldr 110 hp �� C$55,000 JOHN DEERE 6510 Ldr 115hp �� C$50,000 JOHN DEERE 6520 Rops Ldr, 115hp �� C$57,000 JOHN DEERE 6610 prem Ldr 120hp �� A$35,000 JOHN DEERE 6620 p Ldr 115hp �� A$66,000 JOHN DEERE 6620 prem 120hp �� C$66,000 JOHN DEERE 6820, 135hp �� A$64,000 JOHN DEERE 6920 IVT Trans Frt Susp, 150hp �� C$78,000 JOHN DEERE 8520, Frt Susp, 295hp �� C$130,000 JOHN DEERE 8530, 320hp �� A$163,000 CASE CVX1190 190Hp Front Linkage & pTO �� A$51,000 CASE MX 120 Ldr, 120hp �� C$45,000 CASE MX 170 Frt linkage & pTO 170hp �� C$45,000 CASE MX 210 210hp�� A$108,000 CLAAS Aries 557 Ldr 100hp� Choice of 2 �� from $58,000 CLAAS 436 Celtis 4wd, ROps, 80hp Ldr �� C$45,000 DEUTZ AGRO pLUS 100 Ldr �� C$35,000 FENDT 818, 180 hp �� A$112,000 FERGUSON TEA 24Hp Collectors Tractor ��$1,500 FORD 4610 2wd, 62hp �� C$9,000 MASSEY FERGUSON 390 4wd, cab �� C$19,000 MASSEY FERGUSON 4270 110hp �� A$35,000 MCkORMICk MC115 Ldr, 115hp �� C$53,000 NEw HOLLAND TL80 A 80hp �� C$32,000 NEw HOLLAND TM165 Super Steer Duals 165 hp �� A$65,000 NEw HOLLAND TM175, 175hp �� A$74,000 NEw HOLLAND TS110 A Ldr�� A$75,000 NEw HOLLAND 8360 135hp�� A$35,000 NEw HOLLAND 8770 190 hp�� A$26,000 CAT Challenger MT 765 B Track, as new, 330hp �� A$230,000 CAT TH220B Telehandler ��C pOA JCB Fastrack 1135, 135hp�� A$35,000 VALTRA 900-4 Ldr �� C$35,000 VALTRA 8050Ldr 125hp �� A$38,000 COMBINE: JOHN DEERE 9500�� A$135,000 COMBINE: JOHN DEERE 9660 STS �� pOA COMBINE: JOHN DEERE 9670 STS, 22ft front as new �� pOA COMBINE: JOHN DEERE 975�� A$9,000 FORAGER: JOHN DEERE 6850 �� pOA FORAGER: JOHN DEERE 6750 �� pOA GASpARDO M300 coulter drill �� C$7,000 JOHN DEERE 750 A 6 meter direct drill excellent condition �� pOA JOHN DEERE 1590 direct drill converted to Air drill �� pOA kRONE “Big M” Mk ll Triple Mower Unit�� Arriving pOA kUHN SD 4000 4 meter Disc Drill �� A$52,000 VICON LZ510 6meter Folding Drill �� C$10,000

*All prices are excluding GST A = Ashburton C = Christchurch

p p o r t e r • pr

d s u p p o r t er

p te r • r o u d

www.dne.co.nz su

CHRISTCHURCH

JOHN DEERE CREDIT AVAILABLE CHRISTCHURCH 714 Main South Rd 03 349 4883

ASHBURTON

ASHBURTON 832 East St 03 307 9911

0800 432 633

John Murgatroyd 027 4355 900 Murray Chesterman 027 266 4222 Reece Trotter 027 4867 733 Baden McDowell 027 4387 555

•p

roud s up

January 2012

Lifestylers with cattle have to join NAIT scheme If you are a lifestyler, or own/ lease a block of land with cattle or deer on it that you are responsible for, you will soon have obligations under the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme. NAIT chief executive Russell Burnard said all cattle and deer owners need to be aware the scheme becomes mandatory for cattle from July I, 2012 — deer join the scheme from March 2013.

Items currently in stock

Kale Cutters - locally made, easily fitted to most four wheelers �� $540 Kongskilde grain vac and pipe work�� $12,000 Lemkin 5 furrow plough, fully reconditioned and repainted �� $17,000 Lemkin Smaragd 4 metre, one pass cultivator, new steel fitted �� $16,000 Monzentra S fodder beet drill, 6 metre, end tow kit and marker arms �� $13,000 PZ Fertiliser Spreader (fully reconditioned) ��SOLD UFO mower ��SOLD Wilder Mulcher 1�8 cutting width �� Being prepared Prices exclude GST.

For further information and viewing phone

Hamish 0274 246 637 or Jeff 0276 537 969

Highfield Rd • RD1 • Christchurch 7671

Once mandatory all cattle or deer should have NAITapproved radio frequency identification device tags and an official secondary tag. The scheme provides the ability to trace animals that may be at risk in the event of a biosecurity threat, via a central database. It will provide reliable up-to-date information on individual animal locations and movement which will allow a rapid response when needed. It will also allow New Zealand to resume trade quickly after such a threat and help protect New Zealand’s reputation in overseas markets. Tagging has been underway on a voluntary basis for more than two years with approximately 40 percent of New Zealand’s national cattle and deer herd (4.5 million animals) already tagged with NAIT-approved ear tags. “While commercial beef, dairy and deer farmers are largely up to speed with what the NAIT scheme is about, anecdotal evidence tells us that not all lifestylers are,’’ Mr Burnard said.

“Lifestylers have an important role in the success of the NAIT scheme, even though the number of cattle and deer on lifestyle blocks is relatively small.’’ People responsible for cattle and deer on lifestyle blocks and farms will need to record any off-farm cattle movements with NAIT, unless they are to a NAIT-accredited meat processor or a NAITaccredited sale yard. N A I T- a p p r o v e d RFID ear tags can currently be purchased from usual rural service suppliers. For calves and fawns born from now on, a NAIT-approved ear tag can be used as the primary tag for all off-farm animal movements, other than to slaughter. For existing stock, a RFID ear tag can currently be used as an optional primary tag for animals of all ages to ensure compliance when the NAIT scheme becomes mandatory in July 2012. An approved secondary tag is also required.

a young calf wearing a white NaIt-approved radio frequency identification device tag.

To be compliant with the NAIT scheme, lifestylers need to: • tag cattle and deer with NaIt-approved rFID ear tags — you can do this now • Get your NaIt number by registering yourself and your farm or property with NaIt — you can do this from February (2012) • register cattle and deer with NaIt — you will be able to do this from July (2012) • record all off-farm movements of cattle with NaIt — you can start doing this from July (2012) • record all deaths and losses of cattle or deer with NaIt — you can start doing this from July (2012)

Time to update to an Eight Wheeler? $350 including course books

Starts 29th January 2012 West Melton & North Loburn The Essential Horse Care course will give participants the necessary skills to: 

Recognise emergency situations involving horses



Groom a horse



Select and fit gear for riding



Care for horses in a paddock



Identify horse anatomy



Recognise signs of good health, ill heath and common aliments

13 weekend days over 26 weeks

0800 444 313 Paulineh@agribusiness.ac.nz www.agribusiness.ac.nz

2001 Fuso FS 430S1 Cab/chassis.

430hp straight six turbo, 18 speed Roadranger, six rod rear suspension with parabolic springs, 5.85m wheelbase, 7.87m chassis length. Alloy rims with 11R tyres, tidy condition & ready to go now.

$ 39,000 + GST.

Concrete Water/Feed Troughs • Septic Tanks • Silage Pits • Water Tanks / Effluent Tanks • Concrete Bunkers • Pump / Agri-Chemical / Killing Sheds

Kim Harris Mobile 027 545 7973

For any quotes or enquiries contact us on 03 308 4816 or call into the yard at 205 Wilkins Rd, Tinwald Ashburton. email: info@hanhamconcrete.co.nz

0800 379 899

www.selectrucks.co.nz

LIMITED

Formerly Aerial Sowing Limited

For a quick reliable service applying all products contact: Jim Nimmo

Fairlie 03 685 8337 or 0274 730 952 Spreadmark

David Evans

North Canterbury

03 314 8228 or 0274 344 828

Glen Claridge

Oamaru 03 432 4254 or 0274 570 771

Helping keep NZ Green

January 2012

by Lorne Kuehn

Country general stores

In the last century, the advent of the motor car brought about a shift of settlement patterns in the country. More people shifted into cities and towns, abandoning the villages. These slowly went into decline as the inhabitants left or died off. In earlier times, these settlements had all the facilities that a citizen could desire, a blacksmithy, grocer, school (with resident teachers), churches (with resident clergy), even barbershops and telephony/telegraphy stations. Most of these closed down as the population decreased, with the exception of the country store. I grew up in Canada on an acreage on the periphery of such a village, six decades ago. The store was still in good heart although all other businesses had been abandoned. Its floors were uneven and the shelves a little crooked. A musty smell of hardware and onions permeated the atmosphere. It sold almost every conceivable food, dry good, or tool that a farmer would want. It was also the center of social accord in the village, the post office and the bus depot, not only for school children like myself but for adults wanting to journey to

the nearby city of Edmonton. It was managed by an elderly French-Canadian couple by the name of LaTullipe who were assisted by a mature spinster by the name of Martha Hampshire. These people came to act as defacto grandparents to the dozen or so schoolchildren who gathered there every day to be uplifted to and deposited by the school bus serving transport for the high school some fifteen miles away. The weather was often cold and we warmed ourselves at a pot-bellied stove in the centre of the store. Some old bachelors of the village

would often settle down here in chairs for hours, discussing topics all and sundry. They were always good for a chat or a wry comment or two. Martha Hampshire was the principal store functionary. She was an older woman with stark white hair, rim spectacles and a firm iron demeanour, not unlike the Margaret Thatcher of the future. She was an old maid but it was clear to us young lads that she had put off a number of potential suitors by her forthright bossy manner. It would have been a brave and self-assured man who would have taken her on. That said, I now know that she would have been a very good wife and mother. I now consider that it was a shame that no valiant man had made a play to woo her. However we were intimidated by her, mostly because she was able to catch us out at our various village high jinks. These centered around acquiring discarded pop and beer bottles from nearby ditches and redeeming them for 2 cents per pop bottle and 1 cent per beer bottle. We were known to nick such bottles from

his car was sitting there with the motor running and the keys obviously inside.

garbage bins and even from the back of the store where they were collected for recycling. Martha (rightly) regarded such filching as theft and would give us a crack around the head if she ever caught us out. So we had to be careful of her and approach her with caution. There was always a grilling when we tried to sell our bottle collections to her. There was one outstanding jape that we were able to get

away with. While waiting for the bus, we overheard a young well-dressed travelling salesman discussing his adventures with the elderly Mr LaTullipe. He had recently experienced a theft of his new car (that had been provided to him by his employer). It had been stolen while he had been in a country store discussing business as he was doing that very moment. One of us looked outside the store and saw that

There was nothing for it but to send one of us out to drive it around to the back of the store where it would not be quickly found. Neither Mr LaTullipe nor the salesman noticed what we had done. Much consternation and confusion arose when the salesman went out to drive away. A policeman was called in to investigate the theft and we were happily removed by the school bus before we could get dragged into the investigation. The episode was regarded as a mystery for weeks and much discussed by the bachelors sitting at the stove. No-one accused us of involvement, being considered too young to drive, but I know that Martha had her suspicions. Of course, such stores are long gone as are people like Martha Hampshire. The car and franchised city shops have replaced them. But I still think of their warmth and goodness.

™

ALPINE CLEARSPAN SHEDS

SPECIALISTS IN Hill Country Farm Roading Fence Lines Forestry Roading Farm Track Cleaning River Protection Stock Water Ponds

EARTHMOVING 2 5

Y e a r s

C a n t e r b u r y

W i d e

Grant Anderson Ph: 0274 174 805

Buy Alpine, Buy Peace of Mind

BULK CARTAGE Bulk Spreading Lime Super Grain Hay Baleage Shingle Screened Soil General Cartage

 Bird Proof  Best Value  Best Service

 Free Delivery  Kitset  Galv box section rafters

Phone now for a FREE brochure pack 393 Scargill Valley Road, Scargill T: 03 314 3376 E: anderson.haley@ruralinzone.net

0800 428 453 www.alpinebuildings.co.nz

Alpine Farm Buildings

“Principles of Building Soil Fertility”

Neal Kinsey, by popular demand is retur ning to NZ in 2012 for the third time to present his three day courses. Peter Norwood, well known animal nutrition expert from Australia will be joining Neal at these events

Course Venues & Dates: TAUPO Huka Falls Lodge Taupo March 5th - 7th 2012 INVERCARGILL Ascot Hotel Invercargill March 12th - 14th 2012

eal of Kinsey Agricultural Services, Charleston, Missouri is a soil fertility specialist who lectures and consults to farmers and horticulturists world-wide serving 66 countries. Golden Bay Dolomite Limited and the Neal Kinsey NZ group is pleased to inform that again in 2012 we are to sponsor this “dean” of soil fertility to visit Taupo, Bay of Plenty and Invercargill, Southland to present his three day “Principles of Building Soil Fertility” workshop. Neal is one of the foremost practitioners of the Albrecht – style soil fertility balancing and is the author of his book “Hands on Agronomy.” Many of the attendees of the previous years’ courses followed up on Neal’s teaching and advice. As a result they have proved to themselves and others that biological farming is the

new way forward. Many have reported positive changes to pasture, animal health and profit! This is especially pleasing considering the challenging seasonal weather conditions and recessionary times.

Neal conveys the message of soil fertility in a simple to understand manner that just makes sense to his audience. Often farmers become bogged down in the detail of a sophisticated soil audit and are confused as to whom to believe. Neal conveys the message of soil fertility in a simple to understand manner that just makes sense to his audience. Neal offers world-wide examples

of how and why the system works including examples from New Zealand. What we learn from the successful Albrecht system of soil balancing is that when calcium and magnesium and all other nutrients including the micro-nutrients are in proper balance in the soil, crops thrive, animal health improves, weed and insect pressures lessen and yields and soils improve season after season. This year’s sponsors Golden Bay Dolomite Limited and the Neal Kinsey NZ group would like to extend an invitation to you to attend this course. We believe that the investment of $560.00 (plus G.S.T.) and the time in attending these three days will enhance your knowledge and perhaps the knowledge of your colleagues into the future – we look forward to you participating in a three day course. We are passionate about the services

and products we provide as healthy soils are a prerequisite for healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy people. It is the informed farmer who is at the forefront of this chain.The goal of all farming operations must be to produce top quality nutrient dense food for our generation, our children and our grandchildren. To check out Neal Kinsey’s credentials: • www.kinseyag.com To check out our website containing further information and to register: • www.nealkinseynz.co.nz • seminar@goldenbaydolomite.co.nz • www.goldenbaydolomite.co.nz Or Contact: Anna Mayne 0800 546 739 anna@studioconnections.co.nz Ron McLean 0800 549 433 ronmac@goldenbaydolomite.co.nz

rUraL ProFessIoNaLs

January 2012

Money Talk

With Andrew Wyllie may be set so that the debtor is required to attend the Court and be examined as to his/ her means to pay the debt. If the debtor has funds to pay or makes an offer to pay by instalments the Registrar will make an order for payment, usually by attachment to wages or benefit. If the creditor is aware that the debtor has assets, the creditor may apply for a Distress Warrant which authorises a Court Bailiff to seize and sell the debtor’s assets to pay the debt.

Many households having run up large amounts in consumer debt and with the credit crunch some are having difficulty in paying their debts. The following is a resumé of the steps that creditors take to recover debts through the Courts. 1. Although they are not obliged to do so, most creditors give their debtors ample warning of their intention to take proceedings for the recovery of a debt. It always pays for the debtor to approach a creditor to try to come to a mutually acceptable payment programme. 2. When it is clear that a debtor is not going to pay a debt a creditor will either file the proceedings in the Court or have a lawyer or debt recovery company attend to that on their behalf. The proceedings set out the amount owing, the date the debt was incurred and what it was for. 3. A process server will then deliver a copy of the proceedings to the debtor. At this time the debtor should raise any defence or counterclaim he/she may have in respect of the debt. 4. If the debtor takes no steps to defend the proceedings, the creditor may enter judgement against the debtor once the statutory period of time has elapsed. 5. Once judgement has been entered the creditor is entitled to take enforcement action against the debtor. There are two main methods of enforcement. An order for examination

6. Very often neither action produces satisfactory results and the creditor then needs to decide whether it would be worthwhile to transfer the judgement obtained in the District Court to the High Court and pursue the debtor through the bankruptcy jurisdiction. Bankruptcy always sounds like the ideal solution when a debtor cannot pay his/her debts. It is not an easy option and the stigma of bankruptcy lasts a life-time. It is also questionable whether a debtor who runs up debts without having the means to pay, and then becomes bankrupt, is a person of any moral fibre. Needless to say, debt recovery can become a very expensive process for a creditor who does not recover their debt. This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner with Ronald Angland & Son, Solicitors, who may be contacted on Tel: 03 349-4708 or e-mail bessie@anglands.co.nz

FBCH1139 - © Forsyth Barr Limited June 2011

Personalised investment advice Forsyth Barr’s portfolio management services ensure you receive personalised, confidential, investment advice backed up by quality research from our highly regarded research team. To find out more, call Forsyth Barr Investment Advisor Andrew Wyllie on 03 365 4244 or 0800 367 227, or email him at andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz.

Happy New Year to everyone. Another Christmas holiday period has come and gone again very quickly. A mixed bag of weather over the period for many parts although Central Otago seems to have had more than its fair share of sunshine hours. Great news for holidaymakers but the farming community down south are crying out for rain with December being one of the driest for some time. Having a look at equity markets over the last quarter, global equities provided positive contributions thanks to the large October rally. The New Zealand equity market was far less volatile than global markets but its utility bias meant it was one of the weaker performers during the period, along with Asian markets. The United States equity market was the stand-out performer as United States equities reacted to positive domestic economic data. United Kingdom equities also recovered, while Germany was the strongest performer amongst European nations. We still view equity

TARPAULINS FOR THE FARM Super Cheap Waterproof Vinyl Tarps

These brilliantly priced tarpaulins have been pre-used as advertising banners and are available in a number of sizes Sample picture only

NEW STOCK AVAILABLE 6m x 3m 12m x 3m 15m x 5m 16m x 4m 16.5m x 7m

Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge.

$75 $150 $550 $550 $750

Special: Buy five 6m x 3m tarps and get one free

Contact Mike to order yours now Ph 021 644 903

We have the solution to your fuel problems!

market fundamentals as being attractive, with low price to earnings (PE) multiples and dividend yields comfortably exceeding local fixed interest yields. Increased share buyback initiatives are another indication that companies believe value exists at current share prices. However, until sovereign debt issues are resolved, lower growth is expected to prevail. Looking at the fixed interest markets, the ongoing trend remains lower for longer. Obviously great news for borrowers but difficult for investors seeking to generate a reasonable return from cash deposits. After allowing for tax and inflation, the current real returns from cash deposits are negative which is an unfortunate situation. An interesting event unfolded at the most recent German security auction where the government sold six-month securities at a negative yield of 0.012 per cent. Yes that is not a misprint, investors who bought them made history. Rather than receive interest income for lending money, they were the first to pay the German government for the privilege of converting their cash into securities that, at the margin, are less liquid and subject to mark-to-market volatility. We note that New Zealand 10-year Government bonds provided +20% returns during the 2011

The overall situation of low interest rates is resulting in investors looking at alternative investment opportunities in corporate bonds and listed property trusts for those seeking income and equities for those investors seeking a combination of growth and income. That’s all for this month. If you would like to confidentially discuss your investment position please give me a call. Andrew Wyllie is an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge.

Offeringthe the best best Offering in legal advice legal advice and john@anglands.co.nz and service service Bessie Paterson throughout Canterbury wide Hornby (03) 349 4708 Canterbury bessie@anglands.co.nz Ronald W. Angland & Son LAWYERS www.anglands.co.nz

Do you need a relocatable home…

…we have the solution

145,000 incl GST

(including pile

Our homes are suitable for almost all sites

We can take care of everything, organise all

Tired engine? Hard to start? Dirty tanks? Noisy engines? Oil leaks?

the consent, relocation, foundations, placing and more… All you have to do is move in. No lengthy time delays. We have a number of affordable options…

Phone: 03 329 7834 0508 FUEL BUG (0508 383528)

Looking forward, a low growth outlook does mean we don’t expect any significant uplift in New Zealand interest rates for some time, but equally with the Reserve Bank also signalling no further declines and New Zealand interest rates near cycle lows, further bond valuation appreciation through falling interest rates is less likely.

John Angland Leeston (03) 324 3033

ChornCo Fuel Conditioner We can fix your fuel system! Does the smoke get in your eyes or up your nose?

year; +16.5% by way of capital appreciation as interest rates fell. Interestingly, this was despite the New Zealand Government’s higher borrowing requirements. Corporate bonds provided lower returns but reflected the same trend.

Cell: 021 586 877 www.newfueltech.com

Talk to us NOW, about how we can help you. * Prices includes delivery within 30km

LAING

HOMES 15 Hanworth Ave Hornby, Christchurch Ph 03 349 4977 www.laing.co.nz

January 2012 of donations, the majority of funding has to come from tax and rate payers through government and local authority sources. Ground based removal and aerial spraying costs between $1500-2500 p/ha. However there are alternatives. The big question is do we really want to get rid of a potential renewable and sustainable resource for carbon neutral products and the biomass of a potential energy source? And there are also the ETS carbon credits to take into consideration. It will involve a complete change of tack. There is considerable angst among South Island high country land owners, conservation groups and environmentalists of one type or another that the whole region is under serious invasion. The culprit is the prolific regeneration of exotic conifer species, predominantly pinus contorta, nigra and Douglas-fir as well as, to some extent, larch and sicamore. The total areas under threat involve several hundred thousand hectares throughout the South Island. In Central Otago and lakes district alone it is believed some 80,000ha of public and leasehold land is in being threatened. The Department of Conservation has been fighting to control a further 58,000ha of conservation land. Up on the Mackenzie Plains and the headwaters of major rivers, such as the Rakaia, the wilding invasion marches on. Ironically back in the 1950s the forest service, in its efforts to stem high country erosion in river catchments, such as at the head of the Waimakariri River, introduced various species, including pinus contorta to arrest shingle slides. Surprisingly it worked in some areas. Down in Western Southland it formed a major barrier to the eroding slopes on the Domes hills. Since then contorta has spread onto high country properties 30+ kilometres to the east. Control, by whatever means, can be very costly. Apart from some input from land owners, community sponsored trusts and various forms

Also there is the potential for recovery of commercially saleable products, at least to mitigate costs of removal of major offending species? These areas once cleared could be replanted with more manageable species, such as a hybrid pine trialled by Scion Forest Research at Balmoral near Tekapo. Over the past couple of hundred years considerable modification has taken place over much of the highcountry through burning, mining (in Otago), irrigation and grazing with the introduction of exotic grasses and schrubs, and let’s not mention hyresium. For various reasons some conifers grow well on the high boney type soils found in many parts of these regions. Last year I was commissioned to investigate the biomass available from pest plants involving some 4000ha around the Mackenzie Country lakes for conversion into chip fuel to feed industrial sized boilers. Basically it was analysing clearance of mainly wilding conifers at nil costs to landowners and the logistics of processing the residue into suitable hog or chip size for delivering heat energy. It looks promising, but is a work in progress. There was also possibilities of good recovery of commercial grade roundwood, saw log and firewood. Back down in Otago the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group (WCD) have been atempting to contain wilding trees spreading into pockets of native beech and on to alpine vegetation above the

POST & RAIL FENCING

Entrance Gates

Call us today for a free info pack: 0800 003 006

■

www.boundaryline.co.nz

mature managed exotic forests surrounding the resort. It is costly. And it will get costlier. It appears the WCD, and the earlier Eco Action group, with local authority backing had set boundaries on the edges of the more mature stands and at the 1000 metre level, above the QLDC reserves on Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill. Trees are a lot easier to handle as seedling outlyers. In 2006 the QLDC adopted a commissioned forestry plan by forestry consultant Branislav Zoric which effectively set aside areas or compartments within some 650 hectares covering the mature mixed age forested areas dependent on species, contour and average stem size. The majority of mature trees were roughly 80% Douglas-fir, the rest European larch and sicamore. Not included were remnant colonies of indigenous red and alpine beech mostly adjacent to the creek catchments, One and Two Mile creeks. I was recruited on a part-time basis to assist the implementation of the plan having issued forestry reports to previous councils in late 1990s while employed by the Crown Forest’s Resource Management Group. The object was select stem harvest (taking out mature trees of good form leaving others to mature) using the proceeds to improve the forests, and the recreational activities within. Also to open the canopy and contain outlyer regeneration This had originally been achieved in 1998 when several hundred tonnes of top grade Douglas-fir log was extracted on the two lower terraces giving net returns to the council of some $180,000 dollars. My report at the time suggested that money could be set aside for forest management, improving access and possible silviculture work. Later in 2006-7 two limited harvests of about one and a half hectares allowed space for establishing Sequouia Dendrum seedlings as a buffer to exclude conifer regeneration. Very much a Zoric experiment following European

patterns of a continuous forestry park regime. The emphasis for the long term was to implement a managed forest on a more commercial basis utilising proceeds from harvests for improvements and containment. And since then the ETS carbon credits has the prospect of extra income. I recall setting up my portable mill in 1979 on the flat above the One Mile on the Fern Hill road select felling and cutting Douglas-fir logs into lumber for local sales. I paid a royalty of $10 per cubic metre to the then Queenstown Borough Council. It was estimated that to achieve a managed continuous growth parkland type of amenity forest would take more than 25 years to get established. The fallacy that exotic conifer forests will exclude all other growth can be proved that with an open canopy, due to limited stocking rates (select thinning), a prolific under story of mostly pittosporum, coprosmas, wineberry and broadleaf native species can take over ground cover. Unfortunately so will Himalayan honeysuckle and broom, but can easily be controlled with harvest income. One of the problems was to limit conifer seedling spread into the native beech colonies. Any harvest contract needed clauses to clearfell all exotic pest plants within 20 metres of these colonies. This came at added costs although groups of volunteers had hand cleared regenerating seedlings on the edges with chainsaw and loppers. The answer possibly to knock out conifers on hard to get at steep areas is aerial spray applications, which after several years is likely to leave a skeletel array of dead forests and a considerably increased fire risk. So what are the future options? It’s mainly dependent on available funding. It requires more research and development in new technology, scientific research and new tools for control. Currently considerable research is underway on the use of green energy from vegetation.

EWINGS BALE FEEDERS

• 3 Models • Budget • With/without power/pack • With power/pack 9hp motor e/s • 12 changes to new bale feeder Kioti-Kubota or Toyota Hydraulic can be use off these utility vehicles for bale feeders. Wide ATV tyre to spread the load – less ground damage. Reduce lameness in your cows.

www.ewingsbalebuggytoppers.co.nz Mike 0800 22 53 28

Water

January 2012

Are you compliant? AQUALINC RESEARCH LIMITED

Independent Irrigation Specialists • Water Meter Data-logging & Telemet ry T • Independent Irrigation Design • Irrigation System Evaluations

ASHBURTON CHRISTCHURCH HAMILT LLTON

CONTA TA T CT: Matthew Bubb Ian McIndoe Neal Borrie Greg Barkle

 Water Meter  Soil Moisture  Data Logger  Telemetry & Compliance Monitoring SEAMETRICS AG2000 Magmeters • 5 year calibration • Tamper evident • Cost effective

AG2000 ELECTRO MAGMETER

• Long battery life • Mains power option • Solar power option

AQUAFLEX Soil Moisture Sensors (03) 307 6950 (03) 964 6512 (03) 964 6519 (07) 858 4851

Experience – Expertise – Excellence

w w w. a q u a l i n c . c o m

• • • •

Enhance pasture quality Increase production Save energy & water Reduce nutrient leaching

• • • •

Increase effectiveness of fertilisers Reduce labour costs Reduce water management risk Demonstrate environmental management

AQUACOM Data Loggers • Soil moisture & temperature • Air temperature • Flow rate & volume • Pump status • Rainfall • Pond or well water levels

INCREASE EFFICIENCY & YOUR BOTTOM LINE the easy way! The Alliance Partners:

Call 0800

493 7626

for a FREE appraisal & quote

View our brochure & data demo on-line: www.hydrocom.co.nz

Station Street, Leeston, Canterbury

Phone: 03 324 3880 Email: admin@alliedwatersystems.co.nz

110914

Water

January 2012

Irrigation Issues Dr Tony Daveron

Promises. Last month I promised to relate some experiences at a soil moisture sensor plant in USA during my visit there in November. While back at my alma mater (Washington State University) I took the opportunity to visit Decagon Devices to discuss the use of soil moisture sensors. We have managed to get through much of the 2011–12 irrigation season with not a great deal of pressure on irrigation. Just as the weather settles (unlike the earthquakes) and we get sequences of clear sunny and some very warm days, harvest is upon us. Already there are the tell-tale dust clouds rising from paddocks as headers cut the way through winter barley and some early ryegrass seed crops. Add to that the silage still being made from the abundant grass growth and easy to realise we are past the high demand for irrigation on arable farms. Long may the sunshine last for harvest. Back to the visit to my university in Pullman, Washington State. It was an opportune visit while in Pullman to catch up with old university friends. I was quizzed when organising the visit in October ‘did I know where Pullman was?’ ‘It is not the sort of place you would necessarily want to visit’. Of course I knew where Pullman was and had Decagon on my itinerary as soon as I decided to return home from Europe via USA. Decagon makes a wide range of scientific instruments including soil moisture sensors. They are one of a plethora of companies making soil moisture sensors, especially those that determine volumetric water content (V%) by measuring the dielectric constant of the soil using capacitance or frequency domain technology. There are innumerable claims made about the instruments by manufacturers: • easy to install; • robust; • (easily) pushed directly into undisturbed soil to ensure good contact and therefore accuracy; and • plug and read technology.

Capacity, Wilting Point etc). Two examples from different locations in Canterbury are shown. In the first the soil moisture is calculated for the 0–20cm topsoil layer from an Eyre silt loam (a little stoney). It should have a field capacity according to the published Soil Bureau data of about 32% volumetric or 64mm for the 0–20cm layer. The sensor data (in red) is some way off this — never actually reaching the field capacity. However, a field calibration results in the correct or ‘true’ soil moisture at field capacity. Similarly, the second plot of V% from the subsoil in a Temuka clay loam soil shows the same outcome. Without field calibration the measured soil moisture is 10–12% less than the ‘true’ soil moisture. No problem with both sets of data — the sensor and field calibrated data — showing the same trend(s). Pretty logical — one would not expect a field calibration to change the pattern of soil moisture variation with time. It would be a serious concern should a field calibration change the temporal pattern of soil moisture. Is having the ‘true’ soil moisture important? Of course I would contend given my science background — it’s a little like accepting that the rainfall or irrigation you measure being 10–30% less or more than what actually fell. Is that OK?

Next month — how does temperature affect these instruments and how important it is to correct for temperature.

It was refreshing to meet with staff at Decagon with realistic expectations of their instruments. We have been using these and other capacitance/frequency domain sensors in various locations for a number of years. Decagon and other instruments filter and/or correct the signal to minimise the effect of salinity, temperature and texture on the measured soil moisture. Putting on a science hat I realised that despite the factory calibration of all the instruments, to obtain ‘true’ soil moisture they needed to be field calibrated. So we did. Every site we install is field calibrated to obtain ‘true’ volumetric (V%) soil moisture — ‘true’ being V% equivalent to the Soil Bureau/Landcare measured soil water parameters (Field

The easiest way to get an accurate weather forecast?

• Stock Water Troughs (in various sizes) • Holding Tanks • Cattle Underpasses/Box Culverts • Certified Farm Bridges • Pivot Irrigator Bridges • Dog Bowls • Pipes and Accessories • Fenceposts • Headwalls • Stays & Blocks Almost all your on farm requirments

03 308 2397 21 Malcolm McDowell Road Ashburton apsconcrete@xtra.co.nz

For all your Contracting and Irrigation needs • Irrigation Design and Installation • Water Meters and Telemetry systems • Driveways • Track construction and maintenance • Site preparations • Subdivisions • Full Automotive Workshops including onsite Servicing • Small Scale Hydro Development Suppliers of culverts, troughs, pipe & ﬁttings Branches in Oamaru, Timaru, Darﬁeld, Rangiora and Tasman for your convenience.

0800 735 996 www.sicon.co.nz

( 0900 4CAST 0900 42278 ( Canterbury ( Christchurch city ( High country ( Coasts

The only weather forecasts produced locally in Canterbury. calls cost 99c per minute including GST

( 0900 4CAST 0900 42278

Water

January 2012

December and the first half of January have remained changeable in Canterbury with little in the way of westerly airflow, and prolonged periods of on-shore airflow from the northeast and southeast. This pattern is consistent with the on-going significant La Nina event in the Pacific, which tends to suppress westerly airflow in the New Zealand region. December was wetter than normal in parts of Canterbury, with rainfall totals in North Canterbury close to double the long term average, while on the rest of the Plains totals were 120-140% of normal. Inland, totals were significantly lower, with most areas drier than usual, and some inland parts of South Canterbury nearer 50% of the long term average. Sunshine hours were down across the region, with totals on the coast and eastern Plains around 70% of the norm, rising to near normal or a little above normal further west. Temperatures

felt colder than usual for the month with day time maximum temperatures averaging -1.0 to -2.0 deg below the long term normal, but these were balanced by similarly above normal night time temperatures, making the overall temperature pattern for the month near normal. In the tropical Pacific the Southern Oscillation is continuing to show clear signs of a significant La Nina event, with little change from a month ago. A weakening of the current La Nina looks unlikely over the summer months, and we expect it to persist well into autumn or next winter. So long as the current La Nina continues to prevail we expect unsettled weather with highly variable airflow over Canterbury to continue. While there will be some periods of westerly airflow over the South Island, there will also be frequent cold fronts and troughs moving across the Tasman Sea, leading

ALWAYS KEEP EQUIPMENT AT LEAST FOUR METRES FROM POWER LINES

to a rather unsettled time for Canterbury. Pressures are expected to remain low over the northern Tasman Sea, and the current trend for anticyclones and higher air pressures across the south Tasman Sea and extending onto the South Island should continue in the short term. However, as the La Nina develops further, the chances of seeing depressions develop in the Tasman Sea increases, and these may become a more frequent feature near or over the South Island later in the summer. We expect weather patterns for the rest of January and most of February to settle down a little, with more anticyclones and fewer troughs of low pressure affecting the South Island. This should bring sunshine at

least close to normal and possibly a little above normal. Temperatures should be near normal. Rainfall may be a little less than usual. Late in February and through March we expect to see more troughs of low pressure developing on fronts in the Tasman Sea and over New Zealand, bringing another period of more unsettled weather, perhaps like what we have seen over Christmas and early January. Expect airflow often from the east or south, and few periods of westerlies. Expect reduced sunshine hours and probably more rain than normal, especially in coastal areas.

Forecast â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Canterbury Rainfall

Temperature

Sunshine

Airflow

Late January

Near normal

Some westerlies, more anticyclones

February

A little drier than normal

A little warmer than normal

A little sunnier than normal

Anticyclones more frequent

Wetter than normal

Near normal

Cloudier than normal

Depressions and troughs more frequent

March

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call 03 347 2314 or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

Reduce the risk of electrocution and electrical fires on the farm. Contact Orion to arrange free onsite advice. oriongroup.co.nz Äą 0800 363 9898

Water

January 2012

Guides to grow irrigation efficiency There are significant financial and farm system incentives to use water effectively and the Guide to Good Irrigation parts 1 and 2 aim to help dairy farmers finetune their irrigation systems even further. “Efficient irrigation is at the heart of many dairy farms, particularly in Canterbury, with significant financial benefits to use water as effectively as possible,” says Steve Lee, DairyNZ developer — productivity. “They’re paying a huge amount of money to apply it, so there is no advantage in wasting it. “When capital costs of an irrigation system of around $4500-$5000 per hectare are calculated, the average 230ha irrigated Canterbury dairy farm can invest just over $1m in irrigation infrastructure. “Depending on which scheme a farmer uses, annual costs for irrigation water can vary between $200-$700 per ha for their water to be delivered. “Without including labour costs to manage it effectively, an average farmer can be running an annual bill of between $46,000 to $161,000,

UOT FREE Q

for water alone,” says Steve. “It makes sense to care for every drop.” Canterbury is estimated to have 400,000ha of irrigated land, including dairy, horticulture, arable and other pastoral farming (sheep, beef and dairy support farms). Dairy farms in total make up around 212,000ha in the region. The DairyNZ Guide to Good Irrigation parts 1 and 2 are designed to help make efficient irrigation simpler onfarm. “Setting up the farm system to make the best use of available resources, to apply the right amount of water at the right time, is the ultimate goal so water is not wasted. Good management and maintenance is vital to obtain benefit from this important resource.” says Steve. “Converting a farm’s irrigation infrastructure to more water efficient systems, such as centre pivots and soil moisture monitoring equipment, is also a clear sign that farmers are responding to signals they need to use water responsibly.”

Dirty Grout? Cracked Tiles? Mouldy Silicone? Slippery Tiles? Forget pointless scrubbing! We clean, seal and re-colour grout, plus much more!

The guides: Guide 1 covers all the components to good irrigation, including when to start/ stop irrigating, correct water application, soil moisture monitoring, reducing water loss and system maintenance. Guide 2 covers managing the overall system, water supply restrictions, how to improve system efficiency and understanding the conditions of your water supply. “As key regions for irrigation, we’ve sent the new guides out to dairy farms in Canterbury and North Otago, for farm staff and managers to use during the upcoming season,” says Steve.

Through the DairyNZ levy, dairy farmers are also funding a number of projects to make irrigation water use more efficient and sustainable. These include benchmarking water use efficiency on farms and the DIY Irrigation Evaluation tool, which allows farmers to assess and improve their irrigation systems.

Guide t Pa

od ir rt 2: go

rigation

invest just over $1m in irrigation infrastructure

”

Guide to G

ood Irrigat

rigation

Good Ir

practices

average 230ha irrigated “The Canterbury dairy farm can

for farm

owners

Part 1: good

irrigation pr

nagers and ma

actices on-fa

Video resource To see how Canterbury dairy farmers use water well, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/ irrigation, where five farmers and two industry specialists discuss irrigation water use in the region.

dairynz.co .nz 0800 4 Dai ryNZ (0800

To order copies of the Guide to Good Irrigation parts 1 and 2, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/irrigation

4 324 796

69) .co.nz 324 79 dairynz (0800 4 DairyNZ 0800 4

IF YOU ARE BUILDING IN THE COUNTRY AND WANT THE BEST

WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

water

wells

… for water when and where you want it!

AVAILABLE CHECK OUT THE

BIOCYCLE 8000 FROM

bio YCLE

WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

BIOCYCLE SOUTH LTD Phone 0800 246 292 or 03 359 4443 email: info@biocycle.co.nz

Domestic Irrigation Environmental & Investigation Drilling Pump Sales & Service Over 25 years Drilling Experience Water Testing

East Coast Drilling Ltd Graham Taylor

One of the only Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems designed to exceed all standards

Call Josh – 0800 2 GROUT (47688)

ion

FREE QUOTES WITH NO OBLIGATION

Two new DairyNZ guides are available to dairy farms to help them use irrigated water as efficiently as possible

www.biocycle.co.nz

03 347 9337 or 027 434 1162 454 West Melton Rd, West Melton RD6 CHCH A/H 03 347 8446 Fax 03 347 8426 ecdrill@xtra.co.nz

WATER MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FROM HYDROFLOW Plus other great brands Water Filtration for Tank Water Applications.

New Blueseal pipe fittings Full range of pipe fittings for medium density for LDPE (low density polyethylene pipe polyethylene). (MDPE)16 bar rating.

New Zealand’s most comprehensive range of trough valves. BUY THE BEST!

VISIT HYDROFLOW DISTRIBUTORS AT STAND 8

Forestry

January 2012

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF Laurie Forestry Ltd In early December I was given the opportunity to aerial release approximately 30 ha of sensitive tree species from brushweeds (gorse/broom) as well as a variety of grasses, in the Nelson area near to Mapua.

It is appropriate to begin with hearty greetings and salutations to my loyal Canterbury Farming readers and in so doing extend best wishes for a safe and productive 2012.

Coast to Coast helicopters was employed to treat Matt Wratten’s block. To say Matt’s plan to establish a forest park was a good idea would be an understatement, as he has planted a wide variety of tree species ranging from conifers such as redwoods and cypresses to deciduous species such as oaks. When these are fully established his planted estate will be second to none. Before spraying we assessed each block to work out the correct formulation to use. When we inspected the cypress block we were astounded at the tree growth and form. To say the block was ‘hungry’ prior to planting would have been putting it mildly. It had an old crop of pine on it which was previously logged and nothing was applied to the site except 150kg/ha of hydroboracite before planting, with the result that after only 16 months tree growth is quiet remarkable as the photo shows. According to Matt you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to grow a good crop of trees. If the tree originates from California where soil boron is >1.5ppm, then that is what you have to replicate here in NZ. I think he is right on the button and my guess is that his crop won’t get any canker either.

Joke Time After Christmas dinner I was out in the back yard trying to launch a kite for my grandson. Every time I threw it up in the air it would come crashing back down to the ground. All the while my wife was watching from the kitchen window. After about my fourth attempt she threw open the window and yelled “you need a piece of tail!” I turned with a confused look on my face and said, “I wish you would make up your mind, last night you told me to go fly a kite!”

Over the break our local mills, harvesting, and transport contractors have taken a well earned break although we still managed two part vessel log export shipments from Lyttelton and Timaru. With all decks clear for a fresh start we now eye 2012 with an air of uncertainty given international economic factors. During my last round of local sawmill visits last year it was rather sobering to hear a repeated tale of woe regarding the lack of strength of the domestic market, the lack of overall margins and the volatility in a normally non-profitable lumber export sector. The issues are many and complex. Recent news of national campaigns focussed on the use of wood as a fully sustainable renewable energy and construction medium is

All you need to know

(and some things you don’t)

FARM FORESTRY

Andy McCord Resident forestry writer (and joke teller) for Canterbury Farming

The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System The constant angle makes it so easy Made from high grade, hygienic, easy care stainless steel Knives and accessories also available

Office 03 313 4153 Andy 027 224 3271 Sammi 027 282 7580 Fax 03 313 4953

Ground Supplies Try us for your compost/mulch requirements We deliver to all areas, or available ex yard • Composts • Bark/Wood chip • Ground cover mulch • Soil • Spreader avail for large areas

Canterbury Greenwaste Processor Ltd P O Box 5321 Christchurch

Phone: 03 352 2909 email: king@cpg.org.nz

Meanwhile early 2012 looks to hold some potential for gains with the log export sector making some meaningful price gains at least initially. Those gains, relevant to the predominant China segment, are the consequence of a small US$5 — 6 per cubic metre improvement in selling price (CIF) and some small reductions in shipping rates. However, those gains have been offset by an unwanted strengthening in the US$/NZ$ exchange rate. The bottom line for forest growers has been positive with wharf gate prices improving NZ$6 — 7 per cubic metre for January sales and similar gains are expected in February. For the most part commentators are optimistic about 1st and 2nd quarters for 2012.

The goings on in Europe is bringing a furrow to the brow of most who eye the future commodities trade where wood fibre feature as one of the majors. For the glass half empty theorists I guess the questions are how will a decline in the domestic construction spend across seven key European nations impact on China and how will the recent downgrading lead to a loss in consumer confidence and eventually civil unrest. For the glass half full theorists I guess the question might be ‘ummmm, where’s the next sale please?’

See our website for the full range

Whatever your persuasion there is no question NZ sits quite happily in the turbulent seas riding the waves and catching the odd good ride occasionally. For the wood industry I see a bouncy year ahead, not for the feint hearted, and like no time before a world of opportunities out there but for the finding.

www.scarysharp.co.nz

Thus it is has never been more timely to remember the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees — please!

Technical Forest Services Ltd 30 Pentecost Road Rangiora e-mail andymccord@xtra.co.nz web site www.techforest.co.nz

heartening. Ah, if only alternative building material manufacturers had to pay the true environmental cost of producing their products.

There is a consensus Chinese new year (22 — 31 January) will see predicably low sales but for the most part softwood log consumption rates have been meeting expectations and overall inventories have been falling to below the critical 3mill cubic metre mark. Recent news of a few extra ‘excess stock’ shipments heading to China from the Pacific North West are of some concern.

about

• Woodlot establishment • Aerial pre plant & release application • Aerial boron application • Boron supplies • Herbicide supplies

A huge stack of pine logs ready for transportation to the sawmill for lumber

New Zealand Made

Laurie Forestry Ltd

Harvesting & Marketing, Consultants & Managers

SUPPLIERS OF FORESTRY SERVICES • Consulting & Management • Valuations • Harvesting & Management • Carbon trade & registering in the ETS Office: Phone 03 359 5000 Fax: 03 359 5099 www.laurieforestry.co.nz Email: admin@laurieforestry.co.nz Unit 3 337 Harewood Road Bishopdale Christchurch 22 Shearman Street Waimate

TREE HUGGER TREE TOPPING SERVICES LTD • Grabs, cuts trunks up to 500mm diameter, and lowers them in a controlled way • Can top to 8m high • Minimise damage to buildings fences, garden etc • Tree & hedge removal • Free quotes Canterbury wide

Phone Peter Whyte 027 426 5595 03 347 4941 www.treehugga.co.nz

Deer

HINDSITE

Canterbury Branch NZ Deer Farmers Assn Sponsored By Mountain River Processors Ltd

The future of managed hunting in New Zealand by simon Guild The New Zealand managed hunting industry is at a crossroads. To date, hunting properties in New Zealand have existed in a largely unregulated environment, with minimal barriers to entry and a lack of enforceable standards. With the industry having grown to a size and profile sufficient to influence the international perception of our country, we are now at a point where regulation seems inevitable. Regulation, when it happens, will probably be driven on two fronts. The Bill establishing the Game Animal Council (GAC) is now before Parliament and in November last year the Tourism Industry Association introduced new Adventure Activities Regulations. Between them, these two new legislative initiatives will require safety audits, registration and the adoption of standards as set by self-regulating organisations such as the New Zealand Association of Game Estates (NZAGE). Regulation will produce a number of effects, including the identification of non-compliant properties, consolidation of those who do comply and the legislative protection for those who embrace the new standards. As a consequence, New Zealand as a hunting destination will be much more competitive against other destinations offering far more trophy species, traditionally backed by vast resources and historical regulation. With this significant shift in focus, client satisfaction will increase over the long-term, ultimately making the industry more stable, profitable and sustainable. This could also make managed hunting the valuable ‘third leg’ to the deer farming stool. To better understand the future of managed hunting in New Zealand, we need to know where we are currently, and where we have been. Commercial hunting tourism in New Zealand falls into two main camps. One is free-range hunting, taking place on open private or public land, the other is game estate hunting, on enclosed private land for animals specifically bred for the purpose of trophy hunting. As a whole, commercial hunting tourism in New Zealand is an unregulated industry. In terms of industry size, it is difficult to quantify actual figures, but the following estimates are relatively sound. Revenue is in the order of $30 — 40 million annually, which makes hunting worth approximately the same as velvet. This, however, is subject to large fluctuations depending

on supply and demand, usually governed by international events, as evidenced over the past few seasons. This revenue also generates a high multiplier effect, similar to that of agriculture, with ancillary tourism, accommodation, airlines, taxidermists and hunting equipment suppliers amongst the beneficiaries. Undoubtedly, the average hunter visiting New Zealand would be in the top 1% of tourist spend per head, at an estimate of around $10 — 15,000 per week, fitting the ideal for the low-impact, high value tourism model. Secondly, managed hunting in New Zealand is unique in global terms, in that all hunted species are non-indigenous — meaning that hunting them does not decimate endangered or threatened native species. Thirdly, the role of red deer is critical — thanks to genetics, management and veterinary science, we now grow the world’s best antlered trophies. Finally, red deer, along with the Himalayan tahr, are the primary magnets for hunters to visit New Zealand. Contrast this with Africa, where they have over 150 rare and unique hunted species along with a massive support infrastructure and heavy regulation. Therefore, if the hunting

experience around our two hero species is not looked after, we don’t eat. How do we protect our place in the global hunting world, and how do we do it well? The first and obvious measure is to introduce standards. These have to be agreed and enforced around elements pertinent to the hunting experience — such as hunting area, terrain, client safety and truth in advertising. Equally, we require standards in terms of animal health, animal welfare, the five freedoms, humane harvest, disease surveillance, food safety and environmental impact and bio-security. The enforcement of such standards requires the following initiatives to be put in place. Firstly, a move from voluntary to compulsory registration of hunting properties, and subsequent auditing of those properties to ensure compliance. Secondly, a means by which the above can be enforced by statutory power — in this case, the Game Animal Council Act. Thirdly, satisfactory assurance to the New Zealand public and the global hunting community that these measures have indeed been taken.

January 2012

has lacked the mechanisms by which to enforce them. We can assume that the GAC will be formed, and while its main focus is on recreational hunting on public land, it is also the logical vehicle to drive pan-industry reform. As a consequence, we can expect statutory enforcement of standards for the game estate and safari industries. This will move managed hunting from an ‘under the radar’ industry in terms of national perception, to one that is a respected and valued visitor attraction. The industry will see a trend toward bigger, betterresourced properties. Set up is already capital-intensive, and will become more so, meaning barriers to entry will be raised. In order to do it well, operators will need to become integrated, specialist businesses requiring focus and dedication — involving animal husbandry, capital infrastructure and a real emphasis on the hunting experience. With a global trend to ‘experiential’ tourism, managed hunting in New Zealand has the potential to widen its base from largely US based ‘collectors’ to a wider international clientele seeking new outdoor adventures. Trophies will become less driven by Safari Club International (SCI) — dominated, scoredriven ‘super’ stags and more by quality, representative examples coupled to a satisfactory hunting experience. There will be a reduced reliance on the US SCI market, with more visitors from the wider North American market

NZ as a hunting destination will be much more competitive as a result of two new legislative initiatives now before parliament

and from further afield, such as Europe, the Middle East and Asia — more people who understand that the combination of trophy, experience and environment on offer in New Zealand is hard to match. Finally, with the assumption that the GAC will be formed as a statutory body, managed hunting could become the valuable ‘third leg’ to the deer farming stool, resulting in the consolidation of committed, long-term players.

There will be some inevitable short-term attrition, but the long term result should be solid, if not spectacular, growth. Without standards, the managed hunting industry will suffer a slow, drawn-out decline. However, with a supportive regulatory environment that directly translates to a better client experience, the managed hunting industry in New Zealand has the potential to flourish.

The fact is that these standards are already in place. The NZAGE has had their Industry Agreed Standards (IAS) in place for over 10 years — but

DEER FARMERS Plan ahead for: Tagging your weaners

REMEMBER To order your required tags

NAIT tagging Enquire about using this option from your tag supplier

“Making the DIFFerence”

North Canterbury Deer Industry Focus Farm Project Field Day Venue: Zino Brothers “Flaxmere” property

285 Lake Sumner Rd — (sign posted from Hawarden)

When: Thursday 23rd February 2012 12:00–4:45pm — (bring your lunch) Speakers: David Stevens (AgResearch), Gerard Hickey (Firstlight) Hosts: Sam and Mark Zino Facilitator: Wayne Allan (Agricultural Consultant)

Focus of the day

• Autumn Management — Weaning Management and Nutrition • The Customer’s Perspective • Animal Health Plan BBQ kindly supplied by Mountain River Processors. For further information please contact or call: Wayne Allan: wayne@allanag.co.nz Ph 027 434 1790 Lyndon Matthews: lyndon@puketiradeer.com Ph 027 422 2219

Field Day proudly supported by

Firstlight

Mountain River Processors

CoUNtry MotorING

January 2012

Ford Territory ‘n’ Focus The folks at Ford New Zealand and their nationwide network of dealers will be cock ‘a’ hoop over the win by the new Ford Focus in NZ’s most prestigious Car Of The Year COTY award announced on January 14. The new generation Ford Focus has been judged New Zealand’s Car of the Year by the country’s leading motoring writers and commentators from the Motoring Writers Guild. Launched here in the third quarter of 2011, the new model is the third generation of the Focus, and the first to scoop New Zealand’s highest new car automotive honour. In reaching their decision to award the latest Focus the country’s Car of the Year accolade, members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers Guild assessed a number of variants in the range, which includes 1.6

and 2.0-litre petrol variants as well as a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version. In addition to performance and handling, the facets under consideration included suitability for the task for which the Focus is designed, safety accoutrements, economy, visual appeal, value for money, ease of operation and its level of home comforts and quality of finish. Previous iterations of the Focus have also been highly regarded, particularly in the area of driver appeal, but in its latest guise the Focus pushes its segment forward in crucial areas such as powertrain efficiency, packaging, quality and equipment — all without compromising that fun factor for which it has become known. “The level of chassis sophistication engineered into the new Focus is remarkable. New-generation direct-injection

PINTO Trailers Ltd

engines and Ford’s PowerShift dual-clutch transmission bring strong performance and outstanding economy. The 2-itre petrol version I drove recorded an excellent 6.4 litres per 100km. The diesel I get to drive in February is capable of 5.3 litres per 100km A particular appeal of the latest Focus is its excellence in a range of motoring environments; whether it is urban or highway motoring, or covering ground over the country’s secondary roads, the latest Focus is impressive. This is a point that the NZ COTY is uniquely able to take account of, because it embodies the opinions of professionals in their field from across the country, each of whom has assessed the car on roads in their own region. The car that comes out winner must excel from many different perspectives, and in a range of Kiwi-specific conditions.

Three out of the last four New Zealand Car of the Year winners have come from the Ford stable, with victories for the Fiesta and Falcon in 2009 and 2008 respectively. The Focus was one of twelve finalists for this New Zealand Car of the Year award, which is open to new passenger car models launched in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to 1 November 2011. The others, in alphabetical order, were the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Audi A7, BMW X3, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Peugeot 508, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris, Volvo S60 and Volkswagen Passat Recent past winners of the title, which is now in its 24th year, have been the BMW 5-series (2010), Ford Fiesta (2009), Ford Falcon (2008), Mazda 2 (2007) and Porsche Cayman (2006).

In recognition of the Focus’s title win, Ford New Zealand will be awarded the Peter Greenslade Trophy, named after the now deceased motoring editor of The Press in Christchurch, who was one of the instigators of the Car of the Year award. As a member of the Guild I cast my votes among the 22 others, the most for any COTY award in NZ. I drove the Focus Sport — $44,490, others from 1.6 litre — $34,490, the 2.5 litre at $49,490 over the Christmas break, before judging it against the 11 others up for the award. All of them are worthy of mention and some have already won individual awards for industry specific publications in NZ and with other journalists overseas. Diesel LAST!

Territory

I know well both the Ford Territory and the new diesel that

powers it. However not together — until now. Regular readers will have caught my reviews over the past few years, of the Citroen C5 2.7 TD, the Discovery 2.7TD, the Jaguar 2.7TD and the Peugeot 407 2.7TD, all with almost identical motors. So finally we have the PSA group (Citroen and Peugeot) Ford developed 2.7 litre Turbo Diesel motor finding its way into a Blue Oval badged product. For some years Journalists in New Zealand and overseas have harangued Ford over its lack of a diesel in the Territory. It solves the Achilles heel of the petrol version, being high fuel consumption, particularity when towing. As you can see from the picture I had the new Ford doing horse float towing duties, first up in my weeklong trial of its capabilities. It is without doubt the best model under the Territory badge

RURAL TYRE SPECIALISTS

Manufacturing quality trailers for 30 years

Available at

Cnr Shands & Edmonton Roads (Opp TMC Trailers) Hornby CHRISTCHURCH 8042

P 03 943 7333

• Tyres • Batteries • Mobile fleet service Beaurepaires Darfield Ltd 2–6 South Terrace, Darfield

03 318 8201

www.trailerstation.co.nz

SAME 503 4WD, 50HP 1027hrs, $18,000

McHALE Bale Clamp $2,850

VICON 12290 4x3 42000 Bale Count $98,000

DEUTZ AGROTRON 110 Mk 2 2800hrs V/Tidy $52,000

McHALE HS2000 Bale Wrapper, 22,000 bales, self steer $32,000

ISEKI TXG23 c/w 60" deck Like New, 145hrs $16,900

VICON RV2190 (New) 6x4 $63,000

VICON RF130 Round Baler Opticut, 33000 bales $23,000

All prices plus GST

51 WATERLOO ROAD, HORNBY, CHRISTCHURCH 03 349 5975 MICHAEL BONE 027 435 0884 JOHN CATER 027 432 4529

CoUNtry MotorING with a load on the drawbar. We drove the top model All Wheel Drive, AWD, Titanium which replaces the Ghia moniker. As with the base and mid models TX and TS is available in both AWD and Rear Wheel Drive RWD. Also available in the range is a 195kw 391nm petrol 4 litre from the outgoing model. While the 2.7 litre diesel develops 140kws at 4,000rpm, it is the 440nm of effortless torque from 1,700–2,800rpm that endows it with such a huge wedge of twisting effect that allows trailers of 2,700kg braked to be dispatched without fuel disappearing like a stranded cargo ship! While actual towing weight is up 400kg on the previous petrol model, remarkably the unbraked load is rated at 1,000kg. We also hitched a braked 3.2 tonne boat up without any perceptible difference in towing capabilities. The Titanium accelerated braked and cornered easily with no hint of tail wagging the dog. Ford have collared an important niche in the market with the $54,990–$69,990 Territory. They have a five star ANCAP seven-seater all wheel drive diesel capable of towing more than anything else short of an SUV, at nearly double the price. More importantly it handles like a Falcon and sips fuel at only 9.4l/100km. So if

you tow a boat from Canterbury to Kaiteriteri at Christmas, or you’re a horse float or large caravan tower, stuck with a mid 90’s Landcruiser type tow vehicle, here’s the answer. There is no other vehicle that combines these qualities and for that reason it is my choice for a family car and tow wagon.

sliding from the floor which with the middle row lowered provides over 1.8 metres almost flat usable length with the rear door split into flip up glass or lift the whole door from floor level. Safety has taken a step forward with 5 star ANCAP rating up from 4 star thanks to ESP (VDC) which includes a roll over mitigation (prevention) system and the pedestrian friendly! bonnet. Headlining the active features are side, frontal and curtain airbags along with a driver’s knee bag. ABS EBD BA ESP TC are all standard across the range as is reverse sensors and the camera except in the TX. Auto on for headlights and wiper functions are likewise standard.

Of course all the previous Territory features are still there with some more to sweeten the experience. While the motive power is the biggest change both the interior and exterior have had a makeover with pleasing results. Interior; Top central on the dash is the 8-inch colour touch screen for the cruise computer outside temperature easy to use Sat Nav and handsfree Bluetooth phone system, rear camera as well as the entertainment system including a single disc CD AM/FM iPod MP3 and USB connectivity.

On the road; The turbo has a very slight lag but will bring up 100km in 10 seconds just 1.3 seconds slower than the petrol. The turning circle is better at 11.4 metres — now makes parking easier. The suspension hasn’t changed though is noticeably softer without body roll, while the traction from the 235/55R18 Goodyear shod alloys provides a good on off road balance.

Not satisfied with all those options? Let someone else do the driving and sit back in the rear pews and enjoy the 10inch DVD screen and cordless headphones. Seats as you would expect are very comfortable and leather in the Titanium, (cloth in the TX/ TS), though surprisingly lack a heating function for cold South Island winters and the trips to the ski fields.

January 2012

shingle track stopped the vehicle with five aboard. Letting the TC do its stuff with some more revs had us moving without sliding back though the wheel spin was noticeable. Capable on unformed roads and across reasonable surfaces the Territory is confidence inspiring and also very comfortable on sealed or metalled roads. With a new power plant the Territory has Ford dealers scrambling to find enough vehicles though now with its entire range being 5 star ANCAP rated and with the award win by the Focus, 2012 has begun a great year for them.

LELY ORIGINAL; BECAUSE A COPY JUST IS NOT THE SAME... The use or original parts ensures maximum availability and optimum performance of Lely forage harvesting machines while reducing the risk of unnecessary repairs and the related costs.

Off the road; We took the Territory off the road onto the local beach as the weather was conducive to summertime activities. Soft sand drags at the tyres though the torquey diesel pulled through without protest. On the farm a steep uphill

All seven seats are user friendly with the rearmost two

FIESTA AND FOCUS 3% FINANCE OFFER*

Live Life Lely

For more information visit:

www.lely.com

innovators in agriculture

36 Hickory Place,

36 Hickroy Place, Hornby, Christchurch, 8042. Hornby, Christchurch Ph: 03 344 5645 Fax: 03 349 8241 www.jj.co.nz

*For sales until 28th Feb 2012 based on 3% deposit of RRP with balance over 36 months. An establishment fee applies. On road costs and accessories must be paid at time of purchase. Offer subject to normal UDC lending and credit criteria.

Ph 03 344 5645

9 McGregor Lane, Ashburton Ph 03 307 6031

Avon City Ford

Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Sockburn | CHRISTCHURCH P 03 348 4129 or 0800 655 551 Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory St | P 03 313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz

THE NEW

Peter Huges (Tim) 0274 589 873

Garry Pratt (Tim) 0275 600 695

Terry Gordon (ChCh/Ash) 0272 607 820

www.jj.co.nz

Nick Wilson (ChCh) 027 498 7044

280 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru Ph 03 688 7401

FORD

FIESTA

MONDEO

FALCON

FOCUS

STACKS

★★★★★

KUGA

FALCON UTE

TERRITORY

RANGER

RANGE.

IT ALL

UP.

Avon City Ford

★★★★★

All awarded 5 Safety Stars

★★★★★

DaIry

January 2012

Notes from the shed

Dr. Julian Waters proudly sponsored by...

with Mark With the payout McKewen high and interest low, it’s a really good time to

fix the things that are causing some grief around the Dairy. Before you upgrade to new Milfos cup removers or a Milfos Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012! I trust the Variable Drive Vacuum System it would be sensible to evaluate things that could impact on your upgrade. holiday period was a proposed relaxing time with Sparkies generally do a great job, however, we regularly come across wiring of all family and friends. sorts that has been installed incorrectly. this pump willingness to embrace waswea see good For2011 instance theyear rightwith cablelots used on say,It aismilk controller, but still bundled with else sohelped it creates interference with the new technology thatcontroller has led toand an of Farmers alleverything over the Planet bingo, a slightly crazy controller. Unless you know what to look for it can be a to achieve their goals. outstanding range of products, painful process to find as it looks like a faulty controller. designed and built in our Hamilton is important rewardingforforallall ourofpeople ThisIt is sorts systems from pulsation controllers to cup removers Factories. at Milfos International and the our system the more careful you have to be. We and the more sophisticated Service Partners to be involved recommend keeping data cables as far away from power as possible. From inflations to Rotary inWe New Projects, Upgrades and Parlours to state of the art,allefficient have all heard about stray voltage, yes it does exist and can cause sorts Ongoing improve of issues, Service we have that found a majorour source is the and terminations between Milkcable Chilling solutions, and herd Variable drives and Motors. Customers Businesses. Management, there is something that There is a lot of documentation supplied with drives willvariable work for you.with regard to the 2012 is shaping up to be a great cable to be used and metal glands for terminations etc, these are minimums and a year with the warm wet summer and good Sparky will follow manufacturer’s recommendations better. Ifyou in doubt If there is a or problem are lots grass and a good Payout get of it checked. having difficulty sorting, it would be helping to bring profitability back to Don’t forget the effluent or water pump, same deal,idea and move electric fence a good to talkthe with your local the It’s niceshed, not to hear unitFarm to thegate. implement they can be anMilfos interference nasty in the dairy. Service Agent, they can draw drought for a change. For sensible advice on Upgrades, find your from local Milfos dealer or Area Sales all of their experience andManager from at www.milfos.com. Farming is hard work and no Milfos products, technical advice and matter where you are geographically experience to solve your problem. Its the problems are similar and so all about being good service partners generally are the solutions. for you and your Business. Milfos is a proud Kiwi owned and operated Company, and as Kiwi innovators, we use ideas and suggestions from our team and farmer feedback to create products that will benefit the Industry.

To see an overview of our products, find your local Milfos Service Partner or make a suggestion visit our website www.milfos.com. All the best for the New Year

NORTHLAND

Which Inoculant for Maize & Whole Crop Silages? There are a number of factors to consider when making maize or whole crop silages. These include crop maturity at harvest, harvesting conditions, stack configuration, feeding out, previous experience plus the type and actions of the bacteria in the inoculants. Conventional silage inoculants have been formulated to supply high levels of homofermentative lactic acid producing bacteria. These speed up the rate of fermentation and reduce ensiling losses, resulting in more silage with improved palatability that is used utilised more efficiently leading to higher production. Enzyme only products tend not to be favoured as they merely provide an energy source to the resident population of bacteria, which produce a number of acids one of which is butyric, which is unpalatable. These homofermentative inoculants have also been demonstrated to improve silage stability after the pit or stacks have been opened. However, in some cases aerobic spoilage, due to growth of yeasts and moulds, have still been an issue. This has often been associated with drier mature crop silages, where compaction may have proved difficult, or with large stacks where it takes several days to clear the face. Inoculants containing high levels of Lactobacillus buchneri, which is a heterofermentative bacteria that produces both lactic and acetic acids, have been used, where silage instability has been an issue. Acetic acid inhibits growth and multiplication of specific species of yeasts that contribute to silage heating. High levels of L. buchneri are required to produce sufficient acetic acid to be effective. The FDA stipulated a minimum level of 400,000 cfu/g wet material for claims of improved aerobic stability. The question then, is how to decide on which inoculant to use to produce the best silage. Reviewing the factors listed in the first paragraph will help answer this question. Consideration

needs to be given to both ensiling and feeding out, as conditions during either may be conducive to aerobic spoilage of silage. The basic principle is that one should use homofermatative lactic acid producing bacteria, if all the conditions are favourable, as they tend to be more palatable. However, mature crops tend to be more difficult to compact, providing easier access of air after opening, so are inherently less stable after opening. Inadequate compaction may also arise when the time required for adequate compaction through rolling is exceeded by the rate of harvesting, or if layering of the crop is too thick to be adequately compacted. In both these cases an inoculant containing L. buchneri might be the better option. Once silage stacks have been opened then some other factors need to be considered. First is the rate of silage removal from the face of the stack, relative to its size. Air penetrates the silage from the open face, facilitating growth of yeasts and moulds, so sufficient silage needs to be removed from across the face of the stack to limit their growth. The extent to which air penetrates depends on the method used to extract the silage. Machinery that cuts the silage from stacks result in a clean, tidy faces, whereas loaders may create air channels into stacks and leave untidy faces, which may heat up more quickly. In cases where it takes several days to remove silage from the entire silage face, or when it is difficult to achieve a tidy face, then use of an inoculant containing L. buchneri could be considered. In summary, an inoculant containing homofermentative lactic acid producing bacteria is generally the preferred option under good ensiling and feeding out conditions, whereas one containing L. buchneri would suit challenging ensiling or feeding out conditions, or on farms where heating silages have been an issue previously.

ForageSolutions

FieLD DAys

1-3 March 2012

State HigHway 14 – Dargaville

“The Friendly Field Days” Two major gate prizes to be won combined value at over $20,000

Higher aerobic stability in wholecrop...

Rural and lifestyle prizes up for grabs

BioSil® Maize dominates the natural fermentation process by optimising a combination of 7 beneficial strains of bacteria. Formulated to contain high levels of Lactobacillus buchneri. BioSil® Maize may minimise heating at the pit face and at feed out for both maize and wholecrop silages.

This Polaris Hawkeye 300 from Rouse Motorcycles and a range of other products could be yours just by attending the Field Days

Interested in exhibiting with us?

Granular and water soluble solutions

Range of site sizes priced from $180 incl GST and services For further information contact us today PO Box 103 • Dargaville • Phone 09 439 8998 • Fax 09 439 4170 Email: info@northlandfielddays.co.nz • www.northlandfielddays.co.nz

The power of nature with the reliability of science.

Call Customer Services

0800 REMEDY (736 339)

www.nutritech.co.nz WHATEVER NT-0458

Better fermentation, better silage, better production.

DaIry

January 2012

Soil Matters — with Peter Burton

Maximising summer and early autumn production favourable growth will be very rapid, however as soon as hot dry winds, or colder conditions occur growth rates slow noticeably.

The marked reduction in the incidence of calcium/ magnesium related metabolic disorders, particularly in dairy cows, as a result of a single annual application of Golden Bay Dolomite is well known and easily monitored.

A healthy well-structured soil with adequate macropore space will not only shed excess moisture more rapidly it will also retain more moisture due to steadily increasing quantities of humus being formed, with humus capable of holding 4 – 5 times more moisture than a clay soil with no humus. Humus also provides storage for essential growth nutrient, and is able to release these, along with moisture to healthy plants helping maintain steady manageable pasture growth. A well-structured soil also allows pasture plant roots to penetrate to a depth of half a metre, and in some cases a careful examination reveals fine root below this depth. In these situations both moisture and nutrient from depth is available and although during a prolonged dry period pasture growth will slow markedly, a higher percentage of plants will survive reducing the need for costly renovation. Dolomite can be applied at virtually any time and provided sufficient moisture to wash the dolomite off the leaves is likely soon after application, an application in late summer will help provide rapid recovery of pasture once autumn rain arrives.

The overall improvement in animal health and performance is less easy to quantify due to the large number of factors that have an influence, however the benefits are just as significant, as an increasing number of farmers regularly applying dolomite testify to.

For more information call 0800 4 DOLOMITE, 0800 436 566.

NZ’s Finest Magnesium Fertiliser

Golden Bay Dolomite typically contains 24% calcium and 11.5% magnesium and a single application, when applied as part of a well-balanced major nutrient programme, lifts magnesium in a typical pasture to between 0.22 and 0.25%, with the amount of recent direct sunlight and maturity of the plant being influential. A further benefit resulting from the regular application of dolomite is the improvement in total pasture production due to its positive influence on the physical structure of the soil, particularly the aggregation of soil particles into groups. The amount of macropore space, the gaps between soil particles and groups of soil particles, has a significant effect on total pasture

production as well as the spread of growth throughout the season. Excess moisture either from rainfall or irrigation needs to be able to percolate freely down through the soil. When this is unable to occur due to soil having become compacted, activity by beneficial soil organisms will decline and pasture growth reduces. One of the visual signs of compacted soil, apart from water ponding on the surface, is rapidly changing growth rates. When all conditions are

BioGro Certified, 5117 & 5099

For a delivered price, call 0800 4 Dolomite

0800 436 566

New! ADR 500 Effluent Screening Plant

COVERED BY N.Z. PATENT APPLICATION No. 591985

Contact us for a free mail out analysis on 03 3184 707 or email splime@xtra.co.nz Low soil pH? Increase your pH with Ag Lime where quality doesn't cost, it pays!!! Other products available: Driveway & landscaping chip, Track Rock, Serpentine, Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate, Blending available.

Or contact your local spreading contractor Ivan Stubbs Frews Transport Plains Groundspreading McCarthy Contracting Frews Transport MA Bruce Ellesmere Transport

Oxford Darfield Kirwee Cent. Canty Oxford Hororata Dunsandal

021 312 080 03 318 8516 027 283 8522 03 329 6655 03 312 4016 027 489 2201 03 325 4039

• Underpasses • Box Culverts • Dairy Lanes

Pluck’s can adapt our ADR 500 and twin pond effluent system to work with your current effluent set ups, keeping your upgrade costs down.

� All plant and pumps very low kW � Self cleaning screen � Self cleaning ponds � Effluent is clean enough to be pumped into a pivot system if required � Screens out everything bigger than 1 mm

At last: A Traveling Effluent Irrigator… That:

� Meets even the toughest New Zealand Effluent Enviro Standards � Has the Most Even Rain Cover over wetted width in New Zealand by far � Has a Rain Rate of 5mm or less across total wetted width, not just the centre area. (please see in the independently proved graph)

Applied Depth – Depth 54 0–5 32 No 1 Overlap mm 0

just 5 mm applied depth!

Covered by:

PATENT No. 578084 Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

�� •••• �� •• �� •� �� • �� •• •• • �� •� •� •�� • � �� •�•� � �� •�•• •�•� �� • � �� •�� •� •�� •� �

–20

–16

–12

–8

–4

Distance (m)

• �

The new irrigator is still backed up by our very tough and well proven drive system, no blockage mast, booms and nozzles.

Take your Effluent Pond from crusty to aerobic from this …

Your pond will stay clean, crust free, sludge free and look outstanding for good!

Ashburton Contracting Limited

P 03 308 4039 A South Street, Ashburton W www.ashcon.co.nz

to this …

using one of these:

This pond took only eight weeks to go from crusty and stagnant to aerobic and biologically active. All the bearings are above the water line and are fitted with auto greasers that grease for 12 months unattended. www.plucks.co.nz Call us now to find a distributor and installer in your area enquiries@plucks.co.nz Main South Road, Rakaia 7710 0 8 0 0 7 5 8 2 5 7 Mid Canterbury

The EPS Stirrers come in a number of different Hp sizes and all of them are very low kW/Hr, starting at .75kW.

0800 PLUCKS

January 2012

DaIry

Copper in soil, animals and plants for iron include drinking naturally high iron water from troughs or from muddy puddles, or eating pasture contaminated with soil due to muddy, dusty or close grazing conditions).

By Dr tim Jenkins

Heavy metals generally have a bad reputation but many of them, such as copper, are essential trace elements. On the periodic table of elements, copper is just above silver which itself is just above gold indicating that they have some similar properties of stability and hinting at the value of this semi-precious mineral.

Uptake from the soil of most elements is affected by soil pH and for copper it is high pH levels (especially above pH 6.4) that can reduce plant uptake of the element. For the sake of copper, zinc, manganese, iron and to some extent cobalt, over-liming should be avoided. Fertiliser copper applications have become more common and it is usually applied as copper sulphate from which it is readily available at first though much of the applied copper can be adsorbed onto organic matter and often only a small proportion will be taken up by plants in the short to medium term. Applying copper direct to foliage results in immediate uptake and boosts plant copper levels. Many farmers directly supplement livestock with copper commonly in the sulphate form but it can also be chelated with an organic molecule (chelation has the potential to reduce some of the chemical antagonism that there is between copper and other ions and there is evidence that, at least sometimes, there is an improved copper uptake from chelated sources compared to the sulphate form).

Like many commodity prices, the cost of copper is prone to sharp fluctuations. Fortunately there is much copper in the Earth’s crust and the technology has improved to economically extract copper at low concentrations from mines, but there is still a need for recycling of industrial copper products and it remains possible that demand may exceed economically viable supply (peak copper) in the next few decades pushing prices higher. Copper in the soil will generally not move fast. It tends to accumulate in soils due to its adsorption (chemical bonding to the sides of clay or humus) and if applied regularly as fungicidal or bactericidal sprays can accumulate to such an extent that earthworms and other soil animals are negatively affected. Copper status on a farm can be related to soil type. Sandy soils with low organic matter content allow copper to leach out and peaty soils with naturally high organic matter levels tend to overly lock up copper from plant uptake. Some volcanic soils have naturally good copper levels from the original ash and

BASED CLEANER New Zealand’s most Versatile Cleaner One product is all you need for ALL your cleaning chores around the house and farm.

the deep root of chicory accesses copper efficiently, benefiting grazing animals

this can keep plant and livestock levels satisfactory without supplementation. A more recent factor affecting animal status is the importation of palm kernel extract which contains high natural copper levels; copper supplementation often needs to be adjusted down accordingly. Some plants such as chicory and plantain are also beneficially more efficient at taking up copper. Back to the soil, another factor affecting copper uptake and utilisation by plants and animals is the level of other elements in the soil solution and in the feed eaten. The classic issue is one of high molybdenum especially in conjunction with high sulphur levels which results in a chemical lock up of the copper and induced deficiency in livestock. Phosphorus is a further element that can reduce copper uptake so excess application of fast available phosphorus can be detrimental to copper status. High iron levels in livestock diets also compete with copper uptake (risk factors

Copper is potentially toxic and care should be taken to keep to recommended amounts. Some livestock are more susceptible than others to copper toxicity with sheep being more prone than cattle, so supplementation with copper is generally avoided in sheep. Some breeds of sheep such as Texel are particularly sensitive to copper while some breeds of cattle (such as black Angus, since copper is a component of the enzyme that produces the dark pigment melanin) can have a higher requirement for supplementation. Testing for copper in the soil is possible with ‘EDTA available copper’ being found to be of some use in checking availability for cereal crops but the effect of pH needs to be taken into account too. For animal adequacy it is more reliable to check a representative mixed herbage sample but be aware that there are seasonal fluctuations (generally lower in lush spring growth) and that any soil contamination can give a higher reading (even though copper availability will be lower). Testing of the animal directly can be with blood levels giving a snapshot or with liver samples giving a more reliable indication of liver storage levels.

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING® Available from CRT, PGG Wrightson, Farmlands UV Protected Polycarbonate. Fits on any container with a flat surface. Instructions supplied with the fitting.

We have a NEW product. Citrus Hand Job. No solvents, so not harsh on your skin yet will REMOVE all grease, grime, dirt, printing ink with ease!

$20 plus p&p

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING 21 LITCHFIELD ST, BLENHEIM

FREEPHONE TO ORDER:

Email: elaine.gordon@xtra.co.nz www.gordys-flytrap-fitting.com

0800 4 CITRUS (0800 424 878) www.citrusbasedcleaner.co.nz

Patented in New Zealand/Australia

CULTIVATION & PIVOT TRACK FILLING Wastewood grinding Your site or ours Wood Chip Supplies Dairy Conversion Cleanup

The function of copper in plants is an essential part of many enzymes and in the structural elasticity of plants due to involvement in further proteins. In animals some of the same copper containing enzyme types are present including antioxidant action, and copper is also a component of structure related to bone strengthening. One major role for copper in animals is also improvement of iron uptake efficiency.

• Cultivation • Pivot track filling • Vertical Ploughing

Are you struggling to trim your cows’ hooves? Now you and your team can learn how to trim hooves safely and efficiently with the Veehof Advanced Hoof Trimming Course.

You will learn information about: • Foot anatomy and function • Recognition and treatment of claw diseases • Lameness protection • Relationship between nutrition and lameness • Preventative hoof trimming (Shaping the claw correctly) • Lameness treatment • Knife sharpening • Hoof trimming tools and accessories • Application of claw blocks • Use of angle grinder for hoof trimming • Plus much more!

David Buckley 03 317 9522 027 659 6596 Visit our website at www.ruralfields.co.nz

Here is what a few past attendees of our training courses are saying: “I finally realise how the hoof becomes damaged and why our procedures affect the healing process. The course also helped my understanding of the correct hoof shape and how it affects the cows locamotion.” Duane Kristensen, Gore Call us on 0800 833 463 to enquire - act fast, places are limited

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Veehof Dairy Services www.veehof.co.nz info@veehof.co.nz

DaIry

January 2012

Providing true expertise on pastures New rural retail business, Pasture First, has been established to provide products and expert advice on one of New Zealand’s most precious assets — pasture. Owner/operator, Nigel Johnston, is a pasture agronomist with almost fifteen years’ experience in New Zealand and Australia. “We do not sell gumboots, dog biscuits or laundry powder — only the highest quality pasture products to help farmers increase on-farm production” says Nigel. “With pasture being the backbone of New Zealand farming, our ability to consistently grow large amounts of quality forage — be it grass, forage crops or other pasture supplements — enables New Zealand to retain a competitive advantage on the world stage.

Nigel Johnston of Pasture First Canterbury

“

We do not sell gumboots, dog biscuits or laundry powder — only the highest quality pasture products to help farmers increase on-farm production

”

“To enable farmers to continue operating with a low cost feed base, farmers must ensure that the forage they grow on their farm is producing to its maximum capacity. Short cuts in forage cultivar selection, weed and pest control and soil fertility can have a large impact on a farm’s ability to produce feed, which is where Pasture First comes in. Our expertise can ensure that the best products are being used and the correct management practises are being put in place to maximise pasture and forage production, reducing the need to import high cost feed alternatives.” An important part of Pasture First’s philosophy is to remain truly independent of any particular supplier to ensure the right product is supplied for any need. “Unlike some of the bigger rural retailers who have clear alliances with particular suppliers, Pasture First will simply provide the right product for the right situation. This is especially true in the case of seed, where some retailers are starting to look more like a supermarket than a rural specialist.

find the right product mix, for his or her requirements.” Nigel has significant experience in running Seed and Agricultural Chemical field trials and field research will play a major part in Pasture First providing honest, independent advice on what products to use for optimum results. “Through our commitment to trialling and supporting the best products, those that deliver high performance will be promoted, while those that provide little value will not. Therefore farmers can have absolute confidence in the products and advice they receive from us,” Nigel adds. Initially, Pasture First will be based in Canterbury and Taranaki/Manawatu, with depots based near Rolleston and Waverley. They will, however, provide a free delivery service for orders outside these regions. The Canterbury region will be managed by Nigel Johnston, who has significant experience in pasture agronomy, field research and product development with nine years in the seed industry and a further five years in the AgChem and biostimulant industries. The Taranaki/Manawatu region will be managed by John Boon, who has farmed in Waverley, South Taranaki, for 27 years. He has considerable experience in the management of dairy support, sheep and beef systems, cattle wintering, young stock grazing and supplementary feed management.

“There is little point selling a pre-conceived, blanket mix and hope that it suits all farmers’ requirements. There are a huge range of varieties on the market, all with their own attributes. With our expertise we will help the farmer

SOUTHLAND • OTAGO • CANTERBURY SALES CONSULTANT – ASHBURTON

Used Tractors

An opportunity has arisen to work as a sales consultant for one of the main farm machinery dealers in the South Island. With over 50 years in the industry and 6 dealerships within the lower South Island providing a wide range of major brand tractors, agricultural machinery and balers, JJ Ltd are uniquely positioned in the market to provide both price and competitiveness. We are seeking a Sales consultant preferably with Agricultural experience, who can complement our team with their professionalism, enthusiasm and integrity. The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of written and verbal communication skills, be able to relate to customer needs, have the ability to growth the customer base in a very prosperous area. In return we offer a remuneration package that includes: a suitable vehicle, the ability to earn $80K plus, product training and to work with a company that rewards dedication. If you are a self starter, highly organised and a motivated person then please apply to become part of our team. All resumes to be emailed to: terry.gordon@jj.co.nz Or posted to: The Branch Manager JJ Ltd, PO Box 16360 Hornby Christchurch 8441 Applications Close on the 10 February 2012

Branch Manager: Terry Gordon

027 260 7820

Sales Consultant Christchurch: Nick Wilson

027 498 7044

Service Ashburton: Christoph Kalin

027 260 7833

Service Christchurch: Dave Paris

027 260 7822

24 hour service 03 344 5645 / 03 307 6031

MF 6455 DYNA G c/w Pearson 20-39 self levelling loader, 1,800 hours ��$75,000 MF 7475 DYNA VT 50kph, 2,600 hours ��$87,000 MF 3075 10,500 hours ��$14,000 MF 7480 DYNA VT 50kph, 8,000 hours ��$59,000 MF 8220 dyna shift, 4,200 hours ��$70,000 MF 6265 5,400 hours, c/w Quicke loader ��$59,000 Used Balers Welger RP 150 round baler ��$6,000 Welger RP 220 round baler ��$25,000 Massey Ferguson 2150 SBC, 3x3 square baler, 18,000 bales ��$125,000 McHale Fusion 62,200 bales��$60,000 ALL PRICES EXCLUDE GST

JJ LTD Christchurch 36 Hickory Place Hornby Christchurch Ph 03 344 5645 24 Hours Fax 03 349 8241 www.jj.co.nz

JJ LTD Ashburton 9a McGregor Lane Ashburton Ph 03 307 6031 24 Hours Fax 03 307 6025 www.jj.co.nz

DaIry

January 2012

Providing products and expert advice for one of New Zealand's most precious assets - pasture.

We sell only the highest quality pasture products to help farmers increase on-farm production. Our expertise can ensure that the best products are being used and the correct management practises are being put in place to maximise pasture and forage production, reducing the need to import high cost feed alternatives. As I have considerable experience in the Seed, AgChem and Bio-stimulant industries, Pasture First can offer farmers valuable knowledge and experience in the correct use and management of these products.

Nigel Johnston

Having spent eight years in the Seed Industry, with many of these years running pasture evaluation trials, I have spent a significant amount of time evaluating the performance of many pasture seed and forage crop varieties. I have seen first-hand how they perform, which are the leading varieties and which are the poorer performers. With this considerable knowledge, I can take the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;guess workâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; out of your seed decision, and ensure you are sowing the best variety for your requirements to ensure you maximise your investment in pasture renovation.

The Canterbury region will be managed by Nigel Johnston, who has significant experience in pasture agronomy, field research and product development with eight years in the seed industry and a further five years in the AgChem and biostimulant industries.

I have also spent a number of years in the AgChem industry, evaluating and testing new and existing agricultural herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. With this experience I can provide you the correct advice and product to use for the situation your require. Also, having previously been the Product Manager of Donaghys LessN, I have considerable knowledge and understanding in the use of this product. If you are using or considering using LessN, talk to Pasture First to ensure you get the correct advice and management requirements to get the best out of this product.

Nigel Johnston.

Canterbury Regional Manager

DaIry

January 2012

Pasturefirst Products Seed

Pasture First retails leading pasture seed and forage crop cultivars. This includes: Perennial Ryegrass

Tall Fescue

White Clover

Kale

Hybrid Ryegrass

Cocksfoot

Red Clover

Turnips

Italian Ryegrass

Brome

Chicory

Forage Brassicas

Annual Ryegrass

Timothy

Plantain

Fodder Beet

Agricultural Chemicals

Pasture First retails leading agricultural chemicals for protecting and enhancing pasture and crop production. This includes: Glyphosate

Broad Spectrum Insecticides

New grass Herbicides

Brassica and Forage Crop Insecticides

Phenoxy Herbicides

Slug and Snail Bait

Brushweed Herbicides

Brassica and Forage Crop Herbicides

Pre-emergent Herbicides

Pasture Fungicides

Fodder Beet Herbicides

Spray Adjuvants and Markers

etc.

Forage Stimulants

Pasture First retails a range of plant stimulants. This includes: Donaghys LessN

Gibberellic Acid

NPK Fertilisers

Nitrogen

942 Ellesmere Junction Road, Springston

03 347 6440 027 777 2877

DaIry

January 2012

So how does an inoculant with no live bacteria work? Silage King and Maize King’s new technology preserves silage without the hassle of keeping live bacteria alive. So how does an inoculant with no live bacteria work? Grant Kay, National Product Manager for Maize King explains. Traditional inoculants rely on introducing live bacteria to colonise the crop. Silage King and Maize King use new technology with a concentrated blend of fermentation extracts containing secondary metabolites, enzymes, signal molecules and bacteriocins to preserve maize silage. Maize King contains no ‘live’ bacteria because it uses bacteriocins and signal molecule technology. Bacteriocins are a peptide produced by some strains of bacteria which inhibits the growth of, or kills, other bacteria. Bacteriocins are non-viable (not live) so they deliver the benefits of ‘live bugs’ without the shelf stability issues of a product that contains live bacteria. Grass is smothered in a naturally occurring, thin film of microbes. As soon as grass is cut the decomposition microbes begin to dominate the surface and the process of decay begins. Signal molecule technology works by sending signals to the beneficial lactic acid producing bacteria which are naturally occurring in the maize to ‘wake up’ and reproduce leading to a rapid rise in populations. By combining the use of bacteriocins and signal molecule technology, Maize King works quickly delivering a rapid and efficient ferment. Silage King’s unique mode of action kills the spores left by the deceased pathogens which would start to decompose when exposed to oxygen when the plastic is broken. When opened the faces remain cold and don’t reignite and begin secondary ferment. Farmers who use it may find the top layer and face of their silage stack retain their feed quality for up to three weeks. This provides transportation benefits and helps maintain the feed quality of damaged bales, tube wrap ends and benefits stock health. Murray Andrews is a Dairy Farmer with 115 hectare milking platform and a herd size of 460 cows and produces 1,000 dry tonnes of maize silage per annum for his own feed requirements. Murray also runs his own contracting business in Taranaki which processes 10,000 dry tonnes of maize silage. He uses two John Deere 7500 Harvesters. Murray has been using inoculants for 16 years. “There is no question you should use an inoculant to help protect the quality of maize silage. The question is ‘What inoculant should I use?’ In the past I have used inoculants with live bacteria and whilst they worked I had problems when I needed to mix the product and there was no readily available clean water source. I tried Maize King as it is specially formulated to address the high starch content of maize silage and has no live bacteria so no mixing or water is required. It is so much easier to use versus traditional inoculants. As Maize King has no live bacteria it significantly increases the product’s stability with a shelf life of three years so you can continue to use any surplus product next season and it also requires no refrigeration. Maize King has reduced my wastage and saves money over traditional inoculants with live bacteria. Best of all it works fast delivering a quick and efficient ferment. My customers

STOP MOULD ULD UL DG GROWTH. ROWTH.

Hay H ay King King is is a new new hhay ne ay conditioner conditio ionner ccontaining ontaini ininng ffermentation ermentation eexxtracts and extracts and Signal Signal Molecule Molecule TTe Technology ech chnol noloogy which nol whic ichh rrapidly apidly iinhibits nhi hibbits mould mouuld and mo and increases inc ncrrea easses the the baling bal alin ingg window. in window.

“Hay King “Hay King produced pprroduced quality bales at 26% 26% moisture.” mooist m istuure.” Guy Crispin, Contractor,r,r Central Hawkes Bay Bay.

are very happy when the maize stack is opened and the face remains cold and doesn’t re-ignite with secondary ferment and they report no pasture damage when it is fed out.” Farmers who have had Silage King and Maize inoculant added to their silage say they have been impressed with the palatability, it’s freshness and sweet smell, with less waste and importantly, not damaging their pasture where it has been fed out. Plus the added bonus of labour saving keeping the front cover off without silage heating up. Cereal silage and Maize silage benefit from the reduced spores creating less mould growth and spoilage. The same preservative technology in Hay King has been showing great success throughout NZ this season on high moisture hay. Impressive visual results show within days with no heating as would traditionally be expected and leaf and colour being retained with Lucerne and Clover hay. When hay is baled with high moisture content there is an increased danger of heating, mould, dry matter loss and overall hay quality decline. New Zealand’s volatile weather conditions during the hay baling season mean that contractors and farmers can be caught out by the rain, resulting in high moisture levels in their hay. Grant Kay, National Product Manager for BioStart, explains how the product works, “Hay King contains breakthrough technology which works differently from other products on the market as, unlike other products, it contains no live bacteria. Hay King contains fermentation extracts made up of a concentrated blend of enzymes, signal molecules, bacteriocins and secondary metabolites that rapidly inhibit mould growth. The end result is Hay King disrupts the decomposition process and gives the client an increased window of opportunity for making quality bales. We are also able to use Hay King successfully on lucerne hay, wheat and barley straw, and pea hay and pea straw under adverse climatic conditions. Hay King is an excellent management tool.” Hay King, Silage King and Maize king are available as a granule or ready-to-use liquid making hassle free applications and applicators available. For more information contact White Heron Stockfeed on 0800 789 874

FARM DAIRY

EFFLUENT SYSTEMS

Available From:

WHITE HERON STOCKFEED -

Working For You

Ph: 0800 789 874 Email: info@whiteheron.net.nz

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

NICK’S PET FOOD LTD For all your unwanted animals, cattle, sheep, calves, horses Phone Nick Mobile: 027 210 1621 03 349 6587 14B Gerald Connolly Place, Hornby 8042

0800 HYNDS RD (496377) www.hyndsrural.co.nz

DAIRY

by Graeme Pile, Fertigation Systems What a great season it has been in the wider Canterbury area. Plenty of grass and promising crop yields. Some say the best since they have been farming which is great and I hope that the weather gods treat us to a great summer and autumn so the harvesting can get under way. With this in mind I bought Ken Ring’s 2012 Almanac to see what the weather was going to be like for the rest of the year. Over the last week he has been fairly accurate but as he says in his book, he is providing the readers with the information to determine if there is the potential for rain. So with the potential for little rain over the next month we should be in for a good harvest in Canterbury. Just like the weather, where no two days are the same, irrigation systems are always different. This can be either in design — simple or elaborate, water pumped by pump or gravity fed or type — pivot or k line. The last fertigation system I installed was in Central Otago. The pivot was powered by a Caterpillar diesel generator with the three-phase power going into the irrigator control panel. A fertigation pump switch was installed on the irrigation control box as per the pivot manufacturer’s instructions and a three-phase switch was fitted to the side of the control box. Simple enough. As the fertigation pump needed single phase power we fitted a small transformer to the pump’s steel frame. The transformer was supplied mounted inside a plastic weather proof box with a single fuse to protect the motor. All was going well until the sparky turned on the power. No green light. Oh dear!!! The problem was tracked down to the type of power that was made by the generator. In electrical terms, ‘dirty power’. This is not bad — it has something to do with sine waves and whether they are big or small!!! I’ll leave that up to the electrical people to explain! Once this was isolated it was fixed by installing a ‘cleaner’ to the system and the pump ran sweetly. Another example was when a farmer’s son wanted to apply fertiliser to a lucerne crop but the only power source was an old diesel water pump that drove the irrigation gun. A simple power invertor that was connected to the diesel motor with a cut off switch back to the ignition switch — worked wonderfully. Who said the Kiwi ingenuity was gone? These examples are two recent cases of how we can fit a fertigation pump to any irrigation system no matter what power source. Just give us a call.

Employment 90-day trial period not an unqualified licence to dismiss employees by Bill Guest The Employment Court recently ruled that a farm employee had the right to issue a personal grievance claim against his employer in regards to the 90-day trial period. This case raised a number of issues. His new employer sent the employee confirmation by way of a letter that he would be offered employment. An employment agreement was not enclosed with the letter of offer. The employee, in the initial negotiations with his new employer, stated that he would not take up any job offer that involved a 90-day trial period. The new employer verbally agreed to this. The employee moved on to the new employer’s farm and after commencing work, his new employer presented him with an employment agreement, in which it maintained that a 90-day trial period was stipulated. The employer did not advise the employee that he was entitled to obtain independent advice, nor did he give me him a reasonable opportunity to seek that advice. The employee felt trapped and pressured by the employer. The employee feared that he had no choice but to sign the agreement and did so in the belief that he thought he may be dismissed after he had started work. The employer consequently dismissed the employee and claimed that the 90-day trial period disqualified the employee from claiming he was dismissed unjustifiably. This Court decision reaffirms that all employers are required to present and negotiate an employment agreement with an employee before the commencement of the employment. Negotiating retrospectively can be costly. 90-day trial period Employers can make an offer of employment to a prospective employee that includes a trial period of up to 90 days. Trial periods are voluntary and must be agreed in writing and negotiated in good faith as part of the employment agreement. A trial period can’t be offered to a new employee who was previously employed in the same workplace. An employee who is dismissed before the end of a trial period can’t raise a personal grievance on the grounds of unjustified dismissal. They can raise a personal grievance on other grounds, such as discrimination or harassment or unjustified action by the employer.

While an employer is not required to provide written reasons for an employee’s dismissal, during the trial period there is an expectation that an employer, acting in good faith, would inform the employee as to why he or she has been dismissed. Any provisions about giving notice in the employment agreement will need to be adhered to. Employees on trial periods are entitled to all other minimum employment rights, for example in relation to health and safety, employment agreements, minimum pay, annual holidays, public holidays, leave and equal pay.

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call 03 347 2314

or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

Use Waikari Lime Rubble for your cows dairy lane •Reduce the number of lame cows •Reduce amount of manure in dairy shed •Reduce travel time to & from dairy shed HARBOURS NO BACTERIA SO CAN HELP IMPROVE HOOF CONDITION Waikari Lime Rubble is lighter and goes further than competing lane rock products

GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY

TR Y

M ET OD

for sale

If any employment relationship problem arises, access to mediation is available at any point.

TO ORDER:

Weather and Power

January 2012

Murray Taylor 03 314 7254 or 0274 323 250

DAIRY SHED POWER PROTECTION DUNLITE PTO TRACTOR VALUE PACKAGE

 50–100kVA,  4 pole, 1500rpm  AVR auto voltage regulator  Uses include a portable power plant for irrigation, pumps, cool rooms etc,

Do you want to...

Save Money Be Environmentally Sustainable Grow Better Crops & Pasture Just give us a call

0276 246 750

2004 ISUZU FVZ 1400P

• 218,000 KM • 270 HP • 9 speed Eaton transmission • NEAR NEW 5.3 m flat deck tipper • 3 peace alloy lift out sides • Double swing tail door • 12 tonne payload

$112,000 + gst Contact Dave Wilson

0274 380 806

Coloured Steel

Blackwells

Country Series: Green Fields Shed Kitset Supply

$8,450 ex GST

Ph: 03 347 7031 1304 Main South Road

Country Series square post sheds are great for: • Workshops • Utility or implement sheds • Farm and residential vehicle storage. www.shedsnz.co.nz

PTO Generator + 3 Point Linkage Frame + 3 Phase Plugs

From $6,949 + GST SINCRO AGROwATT PTO GENERATORS

Economy Farm Sheds – Supply and Build 10.3m x 6m

PTO Generator + 3 Point Linkage Frame

Quality

Dependability

Durability = Complete Peace of Mind

 16-97 kVA  Genuine Sincro 1500rpm, 4 pole alternator  Heavy Duty Sincro oil filled gearbox  Mounted onto a purpose built, low profile 3 point linkage frame  Dependable Auto Voltage Regulator (AVR) - for cleaner, safer, quality power  Large, easy to read digital meter  Completely safe and Certified

Why Buy from OMC Power Equipment? • Inlet connections and cable lengths supplied to match shed • All units shipped ready to connect for instant backup • Items shipped freight free NZ wide • Ask us about leasing - 90% tax deductible - cash flow friendly

YOUR OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST

FINANCE, LEASE TO BUY www.omcpowerequipment.co.nz · 100 Gasson St, Christchurch

PHONE 0800 662 769 toll free · sales@omc.net.nz

January 2012

Beyond pH Feeding Soil Microbes for Fertility, Productivity

by Neal Kinsey (reprinted from Acres,USA) Far too many farms, and it is not just those with pastures and hay meadows, suffer from a failure to consider and feed all of their livestock properly. You would think any successful beef or dairy operation would never entertain the idea of starving their livestock to reduce the feed bill — at least not knowingly. Surely most would think this could never apply to those farms and ranches that are interested in building and maintaining biological activity in the soil, but in many cases, it actually does!

BEST SEAT AT THE TABLE

Soil microbiologists tell us that measuring all the life in an acre of soil is equivalent to the same weight as that of an average-sized cow. What’s more, this life in the soil always eats at “the first table” and the crops or stock get what is leftover. If there is not enough for the life within the soil and whatever is to be produced there, guess who gets the first choice. The soil microbes take what they need first and the plants eat at “the second table.” How many farmers and growers consider the need to feed an average-sized cow per acre even before the crops they are trying to grow there or the animals feeding there are able to acquire what is needed to properly grow and produce? This is why Dr. William Albrecht always advocated, “Feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants.” Even so, the soil does not just operate on the biological laws of science. It is also subject to the physical laws of science that determine the pore space for water and air in each soil which provides the proper environment for biological activity. The amount and type of lime you use or fail to use generally determines this air and water relationship. And this same land is subject to the laws of chemistry that determine whether each element will remain adequately available in the soil for use by the plants that grow there. All of these laws are important and do not change in any part of the world where plants are to be grown. The combined effects that each of these laws will have on the others must be considered

in order to have the most productive soil and grow the best crops and livestock. There are very influential people in agricultural thinking who strongly disagree with what is being written here next. Some seriously believe the points being advocated here are just another ruse to try and be different enough that farmers and growers will think they should send soil tests to our company instead of some other consultant. However, our business is not about seeing how many people we can get to send us soil samples. We are a consulting company, not a soil laboratory or fertilizer company. We want to locate and educate clients so that they know the value of doing what needs to be done for building and maintaining the fertility of each different soil.

GENERAL DIRECTION

One of the biggest mistakes made when building up fertility for cropland and pastures is to rely on the use of a pH test to tell whether the soil should be limed or not. Most conventional wisdom for agricultural production places great emphasis on soil pH. But ask those who insist on using pH and they will tell you that such a soil test is only meant to provide a general direction for the fertility of each field. And pH does provide a general direction. Just about everyone acknowledges that a pH of 6 is better than 4.5. But just using pH to determine when and how much to lime can cause the grower relying on achieving the utmost productivity from that land a serious shortfall in terms of both yield and/or quality. You won’t likely hear or read this from an agricultural university — more likely the exact opposite would be true. But you can learn by experience that what is given here is actually the case. And as Will Rogers once pointed out, some people learn the facts by reading, some learn from seeing the experience of others, and some just have to touch the electric fence for themselves. Such experience can be especially meaningful for those who have been led to believe that when growing crops on a field with a pH of 5.5 liming does not pay. To prove to yourself what actually is required, just take one field that is not producing well and split it. Test both sides separately to be most accurate. Then treat according to what the pH would indicate as needed on one side and treat based on actual nutrients shown to be required by liming on the other. On field after field where the testing has been done correctly and a proper analysis has been performed to establish the presence of the nutrients that most affect soil pH, providing the correct type of limestone, but only in the proper amount, will always pay. This is true on soils that test both below a pH of 6.0 and above a pH of 8.0 based on the soil analysis advocated and used for testing soils by Dr. William Albrecht. And more often than not,

FARMING FACT

the pH does not provide a complete picture of what type of fertility a soil actually contains. When the soil pH is in the 5.5 to 8.0 range its principle make up is determined by four elements — calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. The problem is a combination of too much of one or more of these elements and too little of one or more of the others can cause the pH to look good when in fact the soil is lacking what it needs to provide good nutrition for the plants growing there and those that consume them. On some tests from near the coast and in parts of the western U.S. the sodium will have an undue influence on the soil pH. On other soils farmers may cause problems by using only one particular limestone to maintain the pH, not considering the need of providing an adequate supply, but not an excess or too little of either calcium or magnesium contained in that limestone. When liming is being considered, care should be taken, especially in lighter, sandier soils, to assure that sufficient magnesium is present. Studies have shown that magnesium in the soil actually helps to attract and hold more water there. Soils that are too low in magnesium will tend to dry out more quickly. It is not just the kilograms of magnesium shown to be available in the soil that determines how the plants will take up and utilize it. Uptake also has to do with the amounts and concentrations of other elements like calcium and sodium in that same soil. If the soil is lacking magnesium it will cause specific problems and if the soil contains too much it will cause another set of problems. This is where sampling and the use of the soil’s cation exchange capacity to measure both the actual and the needed saturation of magnesium will most accurately identify and determine how to correct the situation. When a soil has too much of one element, it will not have enough of something else. A good soil test should tell farmers what is causing the pH to be where it is. Such tests should enable farmers and their consultant or fertilizer dealer to identify any excesses and deficiencies in each field. To control any nutrient that is excessive in the soil, begin to make any corrections first by supplying any required nutrients that are shown to be absent in the correct amounts. Supply any deficient nutrients to control any excessive nutrients. This is the true beginning for building balanced soils. The soil is the plant’s stomach. This balancing is not just for supplying the needs of livestock, but to supply the needs of all that will benefit from what is being produced there. When a fertility program is employed that only considers the needs of the crop, and not the needs of the soil, that neglected soil, the crop and whoever or whatever consumes it will all pay a steep price. Far too many farmers assume that the soil they have can never be changed for the better. However, once the nutrient make-up of the soil is considered and not just the pH, even problem soils can be changed for the better. A good example in pastureland is pugging, or soils that are easily tromped down by livestock especially when wet. Note that some fields, or

in some cases, even areas of the same field, tend to have the problem more-so than other areas. Check the areas that have the worst problem with pugging as compared to those that do best under the same conditions. Use any good soil test that shows the percentage of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Compare the numbers and see what they show. The closer each one of these specified elements are to the needed percentage the less pugging should be evident there. The correct amount of each nutrient in the soil, in particular that of calcium and magnesium, actually form a stronger support system to better withstand the foot traffic of cattle or any other livestock grazing there. The same principles apply to help fields better withstand wheel traffic needed for planting and harvesting. Such needs are not solved just by knowing the pH, but by measuring the percent saturation of the elements that most affect how the soil holds up and performs under wet conditions. For example, many of the soils in parts of Eastern Europe, Ireland and New Zealand have quite good levels of calcium, but are very low in magnesium which shows more trampling or pugging damage. Yet on the other hand, many heavy clay soils have extreme levels of magnesium and insufficient calcium to allow proper drainage and they too suffer inordinately from pugging problems. Though both situations are related to two major elements (calcium and magnesium) contained in limestone, the needed solutions are quite different. There are several factors to consider when determining the need for liming each soil (principally supplying needed calcium and magnesium) and how much is enough. These include the nutrientholding capacity of the soil, the calcium and magnesium content of liming material to be used, the fineness of grind of the lime to be applied and how much is needed to supply what each soil is lacking, and yet at the same time assuring the lime used will not cause an excess of either one. All of these factors should be considered for each different type of soil. Furthermore, the amount of lime to be used there must be properly measured and its use managed accordingly. The soil test and a good limestone analysis should be considered as absolutely necessary to assure both accurate and sufficient information is available to make any needed corrections or changes. More growth, better moisture utilization and higher nutritional values are all possible when the correct amount of calcium and magnesium are maintained in the soil. For more information on soil testing and other aspects of soil fertility contact our office directly (Neal Kinsey NZ Group – 0800 546 739) for your specific needs. And for those who consider the points made above of utmost importance, we encourage the establishment of a test area to help determine whether a fertility program such as the one mentioned here can provide the needs for building better soil, building more life in that soil, and increasing the yield and value of crops to be grown there to benefit all the “livestock” in the soil and all those depending on the results.

INCREASED PROFITABILITY STARTS WITH HEALTHY SOIL

By simply correcting your soils calcium and magnesium base saturation levels with a calculated application of fine ground dolomite you will significantly reduce your farms liming/animal health & fertiliser outgoings. For a no obligation consultation of your farms soil contact:

TREVOR PEARCE | 027 230 9934 (South Island Sales Manager)

BRUCE HORE | 027 576 0303

www.goldenbaydolomite.co.nz

DON HART | 027 432 0187

January 2012

My point of view allen Cookson

Hazards of restructuring The government’s justified scrutiny of the public service includes objectives of cost saving and elimination of work that is considered unnecessary and possibly obstructive of productive development

It involves disestablishment of jobs. Some of those who have lost their jobs have gone to Australia, often for higher pay, some are now contractors earning even twice their pay as state employees, some have downsized to low-paid jobs not using their skills and some are still looking for work. A well-qualified young woman was working as a highly-paid consultant. Discussing her life with her father, she confessed to feeling burnt out. The repetitive pressure of preparing a tender for the next job and the uncertainty involved in tendering was getting her down. A permanent relatively low paid job using her skills had come up. For the sake of her mental health her father advised his daughter to take the job. What is

seldom realised is that working conditions that result in people suffering ill-health, including mental health, have a social cost, even if the employer, state or private, thinks they are getting a bargain. Restructuring commonly involves the loss of institutional memory. In the 1980s abolition of Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council and its replacement by unitary authorities, a number of jobs were lost. A man who had worked for decades with the former Marlborough Catchment Board told me of his last days at the Council. He had worked as a surveyor delineating the legal and physical boundaries of streams and rivers. The fruits of his labour were particularly important during changes of ownership and after major flood events. He told me that the new manager of this work fancied himself as a ‘new broom’ and ordered the files containing this information to be thrown out. My confidant,

who was obviously proud of his work, told me he was in tears as the ‘cleanup’ took place. He refused relieving work. Clearly the changes imposed needless costs on ratepayers. With advancing computer technology the old paper files could have been scanned and digitised. It is hard to believe there was no value in those historic documents. I have learned from civil servant friends over the years that often new executives seek to make an impression on their superiors without considering the good things that are in place including knowledgeable and skilled staff with priceless networks. It seems most important for career advancement to appear energetic and busy. Rash ‘new brooms’ can be very costly. I believe evolution is usually better than revolution.

hay tools

there’s none better than Massey ferguson

Rob Cope-Williams gets ...

Feeding the hordes Summer brings with it the fruit season and a huge demand for juicy berries and salad ingredients. But alas, according to my mate Jim who runs Funky Pumpkin, Mother Nature has again put her oar in and messed up the plans of consumers and producers. Seems the season is literally weeks late in many areas, and the North Island growers have had a terrible season with more rain than they can handle; hence poor crops. He says there’s a huge shortage of pumpkins which has raised the prices to a high level. Nelson has been hit hard as well, and their seasonal produce has either been wiped out or is very late. Central Otago, Jim says, is experiencing a brilliant season and the stone fruit from there is the best he has seen for many years. A bold statement from a chap who has been dealing in fruit and veges for 64 years! He says the whole industry has changed over those 64 years and he can chat for ages about the old days when people bought cases of fruit for bottling and jam making. Then came the deep freeze which also absorbed lots of fruit, but now the population

buys every few days and eats it all fresh. I remember my dear mother bottling and making jam, and though damn hard work, the rows of bottles looked fabulous. Now the consumers buy jam in jars and fruit in cans. Not sure if we have become lazy, or more affluent. The other thing I notice these days is that all the produce in the fruit and vege department are made to look their very best.

Professional series Disc Mowers

Spuds are all washed and ready to pop into the pot rather than being bought by the sack with dirt and stones included.

• Smooth power transfer with unique shock protected shaft drive to all cutting discs • Streamlined cutter bar with hardened track skids standard, boasts a ”lifetime” oil filling • Large cutting circle diameter with quick blade changing system as standard

Apples and such all have a wee sticker on them telling the consumer that they are eating an apple. Great advantage someone who didn’t know what an apple was I suppose, but a bit over the top for the rest of us. A lot of produce comes already bagged so it’s easy to pick up, a convenience thing again, while I prefer to pick the ones I want from the open bins just like we always did. However the important thing to remember in all this is that whatever trends we implement, we are always at the mercy of nature and you can’t bank the money until the produce is paid for.

Chris West 0275 243 555 - James Cochrane 0274 317 027

• Available with 2.55 to 8.3m cutting widths

36 Hickory Place, Hornby, Christchurch Ph 03 344 5645

Peter Huges (Tim) 0274 589 873

Garry Pratt (Tim) 0275 600 695

Terry Gordon (ChCh/Ash) 0272 607 820

www.jj.co.nz

Nick Wilson (ChCh) 027 498 7044

9 McGregor Lane, Ashburton Ph 03 307 6031 280 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru Ph 03 688 7401

COCHRANES

your farm machinery specialist

January 2012



  



  

  

  



 

     

 

    

 

 

 





    





 





   

January 2012

a good harvest

“Trusted Bale And Silage Handling Attachments”

by annette Lambly-robinson Interested in filling jars and bottles with tasty, colourful, delights, home-made from produce grown in your own or friends’ gardens or bought cheaply at road-side stalls or markets? A Good Harvest — Recipes from the Gardens of Rural Women New Zealand will provide all the recipes and ideas needed to ensure you will soon be tucking into all kinds of wonderful tasting foods that will see your pantry stocked long after the growing season has finished. For those interested in knowing what goes in to the food we eat and where it has come from, this new cookbook ticks both these boxes. A Good Harvest — Recipes from the Gardens of Rural Women New Zealand will be published in March 2012 by Random House and can be purchased through any divisional branch. A spokesperson for Rural Woman New Zealand says members have pooled their extensive knowledge on ways of using seasonal

produce to come up with a cookbook filled with jams, pickles, pestos, preserves, baking, drinks and more. It is a companion volume to A Good Spread — Recipes from the Kitchens of Rural Women New Zealand, a collection of tried and true family favourite recipes published in 2010 and which has also been very popular. Divided into chapters based on the individual fruit or vegetable, this book includes helpful information on growing, harvesting and choosing plant varieties appropriate to your local climate, along with many handy tips, often passed down through farming generations or extracted from well-thumbed, hand-written notebooks.

4 Bale Hay Haulers:

NEW

3 Transport up to 4 big bales at once 3 Super strong construction 3 Save time and soil compaction 3 3 Point linkage mounted

Bale Forks: 3 Forged spring steel tines 3 Robust frame 3 High back 2 bale option 3 Excellent visibilty

RWNZ members are planning events to launch this book and the opportunity to share their extensive knowledge and skills with new gardeners, picklers, bottlers and jam makers.

Wrapped Bale Clamps: 3 Heavy duty pivots 3 Excellent visibility 3 Equaliser Bar 3 Slim arms 3 Made to fit almost any loader/telehander

Dealers NZ Wide

45 Treneglos Street, Washdyke, Timaru E: sales@rataindustries.co.nz P: 03 688 2478 W: www.rataindustries.co.nz

A IN &

SEED DRESSI

ID G E CRSEEDS

Get Auger nised

QUA LITY PASTURE SEED

Pre-harvest

SPECIALS! ORDER NOW for on time delivery!

Outstanding in the field Farmking Grain Augers 10” & 13”(25 & 33cm) tube diameter 50’ — 95’ (15m-25m) lengths Self-levelling swing hopper Hydraulic scissor action lift Double flighting at start of auger — high capacity Direct PTO drive with shear bolt protection

YOU WANT TO... Save your back Save your time Save your money Order now for on time delivery

Hydraulic safety valve with adjustable drop speed Heavy flighting and tubing Wide wheel base for stability Conventional augers also available with PTO, petrol or electric drive options

CuR Rag hS ROa

10 Curraghs Road, Rolleston, Christchurch 7678 P.O. Box 16069, Hornby, Christchurch 8441 Email: sales@murrayimplement.co.nz

JOn

Phone 03 349 4450 Fax 03 347 3580

ROa

Toll Free 0508 450 450 in

d RObinSO nS ROad

a RO

NORTHERN MIX: Riley, Canterbury perennial ryegrass, striker annual ryegrass, huia white clover, red clover, chicory and plantain. 29kg – Cost including gst and freight $168 per ha SOUTHERN MIX: Enticer long term ryegrass, cutter tetraploid Italian huia white clover, red clover, timothy ryegrass, plantain. 30kg – Cost including gst and freight $162 per ha NATIONWIDE ANNUAL MIX: Cutter, striker, white clover, red clover. 29kg – Cost including gst and freight $150 per ha Mixes above are only a suggestion and can be altered to suit your farming requirements. All prices include gst and freight over 100kg, our place to yours. Stuart Cridge has owned the company since 1982 and has been involved for over 40 years. He can assist you with sowing requirements and mixes for your area. We are known for our high priority customer service, competitive prices, amazing results and prompt deliveries nationwide. Please phone 0800 4 SEEDS or 03 324 3951 Cellphone 027 432 3834 and talk to us Website information www.cridgeseeds.co.nz Email cridgeseeds@xtra.co.nz

January 2012

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE Monday 23 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 08:00 Farming Sunday 08:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 09:00 Your Beautiful Garden 09:30 Gardening Australia 10:00 Smart Gardening 10:30 Garden Rambles 11:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 12:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 12:30 Farming Sunday 13:00 Ag PhD 13:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 14:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 14:30 Ag PhD 15:00 Farming Sunday 15:30 Spruce Meadows 2011 16:30 Gardening Australia 17:00 Smart Gardening 17:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 America’s Heartland 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 21:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 21:30 World Sheep Dog Trials 23:30 Your Beautiful Garden 00:00 Gardening Australia 00:30 Smart Gardening 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Gardening Australia 04:30 Smart Gardening 05:00 Along For The Ride

05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Tuesday 24 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Cowboy Flavor 09:30 Barbecue University 10:00 NZ on a Plate 10:30 5 Ingredient Fix 11:00 Surfing the Menu 11:30 The Cowboys’ Kitchen 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 13:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 14:30 Golden Shears 15:00 America’s Heartland 15:30 Along For The Ride 16:00 Cowboy Flavor 16:30 Barbecue University 17:00 NZ on a Plate 17:30 The Cowboys’ Kitchen 18:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 NZ National Agricultural Fieldays Event Highlights 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 America’s Heartland 21:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 21:30 Along For The Ride 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 NZ on a Plate 00:00 Barbecue University 00:30 The Cowboys’ Kitchen 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 NZ on a Plate

04:00 Barbecue University 04:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Wednesday 25 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Along For The Ride 09:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 10:00 Race Country 10:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 11:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011 13:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Ag PhD 14:30 Farming Sunday 15:00 The Cowboys’ Kitchen 15:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:30 Animal S.O.S. 17:00 Garden Rambles 18:00 Race Country 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 21:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Garden Rambles 00:30 America’s Heartland 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011

03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Garden Rambles 05:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Thursday 26 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Gardening Australia 09:30 Cowboy Flavor 10:00 Your Beautiful Garden 10:30 The Cowboys’ Kitchen 11:00 Garden Rambles 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 13:00 The Stud Tour 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 15:00 Barbecue University 15:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 16:00 Gardening Australia 16:30 NZ on a Plate 17:00 Your Beautiful Garden 17:30 The Fresh Life 18:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 21:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 21:30 Classic Tractor Fever 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Gardening Australia 00:00 NZ on a Plate 00:30 Your Beautiful Garden

Mon 23 Jan - Sun 29 Jan

01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Gardening Australia 04:00 NZ on a Plate 04:30 Your Beautiful Garden 05:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Friday 27 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Ag PhD 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 10:00 Pro Bull 2011 11:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Ag PhD 13:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 America’s Heartland 14:30 Ag PhD 15:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 16:00 Garden Rambles 17:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 18:00 Classic Tractor Fever 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011 21:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Classic Tractor Fever 00:00 America’s Heartland 00:30 Ag PhD 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 04:30 Ag PhD 05:00 Farming Sunday 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

01:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:00 Along For The Ride 02:30 Spruce Meadows 2011 03:30 FEI Equestrian World 2011 04:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 04:30 America’s Heartland 05:00 Ag PhD 05:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011

saTurday 28 Jan

sunday 29 Jan

06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:30 00:00

COUNTRY99TV IS YOUR RURAL NETWORK

Monday 30 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 08:00 Farming Sunday 08:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 09:00 Your Beautiful Garden 09:30 Gardening Australia 10:00 Smart Gardening 10:30 Garden Rambles 11:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 12:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 12:30 Farming Sunday 13:00 Ag PhD 13:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 14:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 14:30 Ag PhD 15:00 Farming Sunday 15:30 Spruce Meadows 2011 16:30 Gardening Australia 17:00 Smart Gardening 17:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 America’s Heartland 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 21:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 21:30 World Sheep Dog Trials 23:30 Your Beautiful Garden 00:00 Gardening Australia 00:30 Smart Gardening

01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Gardening Australia 04:30 Smart Gardening 05:00 Along For The Ride 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Tuesday 31 Jan 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Cowboy Flavor 09:30 Barbecue University 10:00 NZ on a Plate 10:30 5 Ingredient Fix 11:00 Surfing the Menu 11:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 13:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 14:30 Golden Shears 15:00 America’s Heartland 15:30 Along For The Ride 16:00 Cowboy Flavor 16:30 Barbecue University 17:00 NZ on a Plate 17:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 18:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 NZ National Agricultural Fieldays Event Highlights 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 America’s Heartland 21:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 21:30 Along For The Ride 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:30

NZ on a Plate Barbecue University Thorney’s Cooking Central National Tractor Pulling Championship Country99TV News & Weather Pro Bull 2011 National Tractor Pulling Championship NZ on a Plate Barbecue University FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Garden Rambles 00:30 America’s Heartland 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Garden Rambles 05:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Wednesday 1 Feb

Thursday 2 Feb

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Straight Talk 2011 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Along For The Ride 09:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 10:00 Race Country 10:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 11:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Straight Talk 2011 13:00 Sector Report 2011 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 The Stud Tour 14:30 Farming Sunday 15:00 Thorney’s Cooking Central 15:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:30 Animal S.O.S. 17:00 Garden Rambles 18:00 Race Country 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Money Talks 2012 21:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 22:00 Pro Bull 2011

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Money Talks 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Gardening Australia 09:30 Cowboy Flavor 10:00 Your Beautiful Garden 10:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 11:00 Garden Rambles 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Money Talks 2012 13:00 The Stud Tour 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 15:00 Barbecue University 15:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 16:00 Gardening Australia 16:30 NZ on a Plate 17:00 Your Beautiful Garden 17:30 The Fresh Life 18:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Sector Report 2011 21:00 DNA Technology Changing The Face Of 21:30 America’s Heartland 22:00 Pro Bull 2011

COUNTRY99TV IS YOUR RURAL NETWORK

06:00 Best of Straight Talk 2011 06:30 America’s Heartland 07:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 08:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 08:30 Along For The Ride 09:00 Farming Sunday 09:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011 10:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 10:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 11:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 11:30 America’s Heartland 12:00 Horse Of The Year 2011 13:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 14:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 14:30 Along For The Ride 15:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 16:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011 17:00 Farming Sunday 17:30 Best of Sector Report 2011 18:00 Pro Bull 2011 19:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 19:30 Farming Sunday 20:00 North Otago Rural Outlook Series 20:30 The Marty Stuart Show 21:00 Inside Music Row 21:30 TruCountry 22:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 22:30 Along For The Ride 23:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 00:00 Pro Bull 2011

www.country99tv.co.nz

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE 01:00 Along For The Ride 01:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:30 FEI Equestrian World 2011 03:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 04:00 America’s Heartland 04:30 Best of Straight Talk 2011 05:00 Best of Sector Report 2011 05:30 Ag PhD

Best of Sector Report 2011 Ag PhD FEI Equestrian World 2011 Along For The Ride FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 Best of Sector Report 2011 Ag PhD Best of Straight Talk 2011 America’s Heartland Outdoors With Geoff Thomas Parelli: Natural Horsemanship Along For The Ride FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Spruce Meadows 2011 Best of Sector Report 2011 America’s Heartland Ag PhD Best of Straight Talk 2011 Outdoors With Geoff Thomas Outdoors With Geoff Thomas Classic Tractor Fever The Week In Agri-Business 2012 Inside Music Row TruCountry The Marty Stuart Show Cumberland Highlanders America’s Heartland FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Along For The Ride Pro Bull 2011

Sun 29 Jan - Sun 5 Feb

23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Gardening Australia 00:00 NZ on a Plate 00:30 Your Beautiful Garden 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Gardening Australia 04:00 NZ on a Plate 04:30 Your Beautiful Garden 05:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Friday 3 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Ag PhD 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 The Stud Tour 09:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 10:00 Pro Bull 2011 11:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Ag PhD 13:00 Money Talks 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 America’s Heartland 14:30 Hell On Hooves 15:00 Under The Spell Of Horses 16:00 Garden Rambles 17:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 18:00 Classic Tractor Fever 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Straight Talk 21:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 22:00 Garden Rambles 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:30 05:00 05:30

Classic Tractor Fever America’s Heartland Ag PhD National Tractor Pulling Championship Country99TV News & Weather Pro Bull 2011 National Tractor Pulling Championship Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 Ag PhD Farming Sunday National Tractor Pulling Championship

saTurday 4 Feb 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00

Garden Rambles FEI Equestrian World 2011 Along For The Ride FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship Country99TV News & Weather Sector Report 2011 Money Talks 2012 Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 America’s Heartland Outdoors With Geoff Thomas Parelli: Natural Horsemanship Along For The Ride FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Spruce Meadows 2011 Sector Report 2011 America’s Heartland Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 Outdoors With Geoff Thomas Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show Classic Tractor Fever The Week In Agri-Business 2012 Inside Music Row TruCountry The Marty Stuart Show Cumberland Highlanders America’s Heartland

22:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 23:30 Along For The Ride 00:00 Pro Bull 2011 01:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:00 Along For The Ride 02:30 Spruce Meadows 2011 03:30 Along For The Ride 04:00 Sector Report 2011 04:30 America’s Heartland 05:00 Ag PhD 05:30 Straight Talk 2012

sunday 5 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 08:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 08:30 Along For The Ride 09:00 Farming Sunday 09:30 Straight Talk 2012 10:00 Money Talks 2012 10:30 Sector Report 2011 11:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 11:30 America’s Heartland 12:00 CCI Saumur 2011 13:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 14:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 14:30 Along For The Ride 15:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:00 Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show 16:30 Straight Talk 2012 17:00 Farming Sunday 17:30 Sector Report 2011 18:00 Pro Bull 2012 19:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 19:30 Farming Sunday 20:00 Topp Twins 20:30 The Marty Stuart Show 21:00 Inside Music Row 21:30 TruCountry 22:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 22:30 Along For The Ride 23:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 00:00 Pro Bull 2012

www.country99tv.co.nz

January 2012

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE 01:00 Along For The Ride 01:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:30 Along For The Ride 03:00 Spruce Meadows 2011 04:00 America’s Heartland 04:30 Straight Talk 2012 05:00 Sector Report 2011 05:30 Ag PhD

Monday 6 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 08:00 Farming Sunday 08:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 09:00 Your Beautiful Garden 09:30 Gardening Australia 10:00 Smart Gardening 10:30 Garden Rambles 11:30 Topp Twins 12:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 12:30 Farming Sunday 13:00 Money Talks 2012 13:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 14:00 Straight Talk 2012 14:30 Ag PhD 15:00 Farming Sunday 15:30 Spruce Meadows 2011 16:30 Gardening Australia 17:00 Smart Gardening 17:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 America’s Heartland 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Sector Report 2012 21:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 21:30 World Sheep Dog Trials 22:30 Pro Bull 2011 23:30 Your Beautiful Garden 00:00 Gardening Australia 00:30 Smart Gardening

Tuesday 7 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Sector Report 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Cowboy Flavor 09:30 Barbecue University 10:00 NZ on a Plate 10:30 5 Ingredient Fix 11:00 Surfing the Menu 11:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Sector Report 2012 13:00 Straight Talk 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Sector Report 2012 14:30 The Stud Tour 15:00 America’s Heartland 15:30 Along For The Ride 16:00 Cowboy Flavor 16:30 Barbecue University 17:00 NZ on a Plate 17:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 18:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 Classic Tractor Fever 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 ASB Rural Innovation Week 21:00 Straight Talk 2012 21:30 America’s Heartland 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:30

Wednesday 8 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Straight Talk 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 09:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 10:00 Race Country 10:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 11:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Straight Talk 2012 13:00 Sector Report 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 14:30 Farming Sunday 15:00 Thorney’s Cooking Central 15:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:30 Animal S.O.S. 17:00 Garden Rambles 18:00 Race Country 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Money Talks 2012 21:00 Ag PhD 21:30 Top Marks

Sun 5 Feb - Sun 12 Feb

22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Garden Rambles 00:30 America’s Heartland 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Garden Rambles 05:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:00 23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00

Thursday 9 Feb

Friday 10 Feb

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Money Talks 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Gardening Australia 09:30 Cowboy Flavor 10:00 Your Beautiful Garden 10:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 11:00 Garden Rambles 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Money Talks 2012 13:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 The Beef & Lamb Glammies 15:00 Barbecue University 15:30 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 16:00 Gardening Australia 16:30 NZ on a Plate 17:00 Your Beautiful Garden 17:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 18:00 Top Marks 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Sector Report 2012 21:00 Landline 2012 22:00 Pro Bull 2011

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Ag PhD 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 09:30 Top Marks 10:00 Pro Bull 2011 11:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Ag PhD 13:00 Money Talks 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 America’s Heartland 14:30 Hell On Hooves 15:00 Under The Spell Of Horses 16:00 Garden Rambles 17:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 18:00 Classic Tractor Fever 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Straight Talk 2012 21:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 22:00 Garden Rambles 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Classic Tractor Fever

01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30

Topp Twins Gardening Australia NZ on a Plate Your Beautiful Garden National Tractor Pulling Championship Country99TV News & Weather Pro Bull 2011 National Tractor Pulling Championship Gardening Australia NZ on a Plate Your Beautiful Garden FEI Equestrian World 2011 National Tractor Pulling Championship

00:00 America’s Heartland 00:30 Ag PhD 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Landline 2012 04:30 Ag PhD 05:00 Farming Sunday 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

23:30 Top Marks 00:00 Pro Bull 2011 01:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 02:30 CCI Saumur 2011 03:30 Top Marks 04:00 Sector Report 2012 04:30 America’s Heartland 05:00 Ag PhD 05:30 Straight Talk 2012

saTurday 11 Feb

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 08:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 08:30 Top Marks 09:00 Farming Sunday 09:30 Straight Talk 2012 10:00 Money Talks 2012 10:30 Sector Report 2012 11:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 11:30 ASB Rural Innovation Week 12:00 2010 Equitana Australian Open 14:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 14:30 Top Marks 15:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:00 Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show 16:30 Straight Talk 2012 17:00 Farming Sunday 17:30 Sector Report 2012 18:00 Pro Bull 2012 19:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 19:30 Farming Sunday 20:00 Topp Twins 20:30 The Marty Stuart Show 21:00 Inside Music Row 21:30 TruCountry 22:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 22:30 Top Marks 23:00 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 00:00 Pro Bull 2012 01:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice

06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

COUNTRY99TV IS YOUR RURAL NETWORK

Monday 13 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 08:00 Farming Sunday 08:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 09:00 Your Beautiful Garden 09:30 Gardening Australia 10:00 Smart Gardening 10:30 Garden Rambles 11:30 Topp Twins 12:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 12:30 Farming Sunday 13:00 Money Talks 2012 13:30 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 14:00 Straight Talk 2012 14:30 Ag PhD 15:00 Farming Sunday 15:30 FEI Equestrian World 2011 16:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 16:30 Gardening Australia 17:00 Smart Gardening 17:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 America’s Heartland 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Sector Report 2012 21:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 21:30 Machinery Of The Past 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Your Beautiful Garden 00:00 Gardening Australia 00:30 Smart Gardening 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Gardening Australia 04:30 Smart Gardening 05:00 Top Marks 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Tuesday 14 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Sector Report 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Cowboy Flavor 09:30 Barbecue University 10:00 NZ on a Plate 10:30 5 Ingredient Fix 11:00 Surfing the Menu 11:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Sector Report 2012 13:00 Straight Talk 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Sector Report 2012 14:30 ASB Rural Innovation Week 15:00 America’s Heartland 15:30 Along For The Ride 16:00 Cowboy Flavor 16:30 Barbecue University 17:00 NZ on a Plate 17:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 18:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 Classic Tractor Fever 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 ASB Rural Innovation Week 21:00 Straight Talk 2012 21:30 America’s Heartland 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 NZ on a Plate 00:00 Barbecue University 00:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central

Sun 12 Feb - Sun 19 Feb

01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 NZ on a Plate 04:00 Barbecue University 04:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Your Beautiful Garden 04:00 Garden Rambles 05:00 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011 03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Gardening Australia 04:00 NZ on a Plate 04:30 Your Beautiful Garden 05:00 FEI Equestrian World 2011 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

Wednesday 15 Feb

Thursday 16 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Money Talks 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Gardening Australia 09:30 Cowboy Flavor 10:00 Your Beautiful Garden 10:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 11:00 Garden Rambles 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Money Talks 2012 13:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 Landline 2012 15:00 Barbecue University 15:30 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 16:00 Gardening Australia 16:30 NZ on a Plate 17:00 Your Beautiful Garden 17:30 Thorney’s Cooking Central 18:00 Top Marks 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Sector Report 2012 21:00 Landline 2012 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 Topp Twins 23:30 Gardening Australia 00:00 NZ on a Plate 00:30 Your Beautiful Garden 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Ag PhD 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 09:30 Top Marks 10:00 Pro Bull 2011 11:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Ag PhD 13:00 Money Talks 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 America’s Heartland 14:30 Hell On Hooves 15:00 Under The Spell Of Horses 16:00 Garden Rambles 17:00 Tux Yard and Handy Dog 2011 18:00 Machinery Of The Past 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Straight Talk 2012 21:00 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 22:00 Garden Rambles 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Machinery Of The Past 00:00 America’s Heartland 00:30 Ag PhD 01:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 01:30 Country99TV News & Weather 02:00 Pro Bull 2011

06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 07:30 Country99TV News & Weather 08:00 Straight Talk 2012 08:30 Country99TV News & Weather 09:00 Top Marks 09:30 Parelli: Natural Horsemanship 10:00 Race Country 10:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 11:30 Ag PhD 12:00 Country99TV News & Weather 12:30 Straight Talk 2012 13:00 Sector Report 2012 13:30 Country99TV News & Weather 14:00 ASB Rural Innovation Week 14:30 Machinery Of The Past 15:00 Thorney’s Cooking Central 15:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 16:30 Animal S.O.S. 17:00 Garden Rambles 18:00 Race Country 18:30 Pro Bull 2011 19:30 Machinery Of The Past 20:00 Country99TV News & Weather 20:30 Money Talks 2012 21:00 Ag PhD 21:30 Top Marks 22:00 Pro Bull 2011 23:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 23:30 Garden Rambles 00:30 America’s Heartland

COUNTRY99TV IS YOUR RURAL NETWORK

Garden Rambles Top Marks At Home With Carl Hester FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice Country99TV News & Weather Sector Report 2012 Money Talks 2012 Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 Landline 2012 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice At Home With Carl Hester FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Top Marks FEI Equestrian World 2011 Sector Report 2012 America’s Heartland Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 ASB Rural Innovation Week Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show Classic Tractor Fever The Week In Agri-Business 2012 Inside Music Row TruCountry The Marty Stuart Show Cumberland Highlanders America’s Heartland FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012

sunday 12 Feb

www.country99tv.co.nz

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE 01:30 FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 02:30 Top Marks 03:00 Landline 2012 04:00 America’s Heartland 04:30 Straight Talk 2012 05:00 Sector Report 2012 05:30 Ag PhD

Friday 17 Feb

03:00 National Tractor Pulling Championship 03:30 Landline 2012 04:30 Ag PhD 05:00 Farming Sunday 05:30 National Tractor Pulling Championship

saTurday 18 Feb 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:30 00:00 01:00 02:00

Garden Rambles Top Marks At Home With Carl Hester Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice Country99TV News & Weather Sector Report 2012 Money Talks 2012 Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 Landline 2012 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice At Home With Carl Hester Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Top Marks Kihikihi International Horse Trials 2 Star 201 Sector Report 2012 America’s Heartland Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012 ASB Rural Innovation Week Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show Machinery Of The Past The Week In Agri-Business 2012 Inside Music Row TruCountry The Marty Stuart Show Cumberland Highlanders America’s Heartland Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Top Marks Pro Bull 2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice

02:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30

HSBC FEI Classics 2011 Sector Report 2012 America’s Heartland Ag PhD Straight Talk 2012

sunday 19 Feb 06:00 Pro Bull 2011 07:00 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 08:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 08:30 Top Marks 09:00 Farming Sunday 09:30 Straight Talk 2012 10:00 Money Talks 2012 10:30 Sector Report 2012 11:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 11:30 ASB Rural Innovation Week 12:00 HSBC FEI Classics 2011 13:30 Kihikihi International Horse Trials 2 Star 201 14:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 14:30 Top Marks 15:00 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 16:00 Ken’s Hunting & Fishing Show 16:30 Straight Talk 2012 17:00 Farming Sunday 17:30 Sector Report 2012 18:00 Pro Bull 2012 19:00 The Week In Agri-Business 2012 19:30 Farming Sunday 20:00 Topp Twins 20:30 The Marty Stuart Show 21:00 Inside Music Row 21:30 TruCountry 22:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 22:30 Top Marks 23:00 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 00:00 Pro Bull 2012 01:00 Parelli: Horseman’s Apprentice 01:30 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 02:30 Top Marks 03:00 Landline 2012 04:00 America’s Heartland 04:30 Straight Talk 2012 05:00 Sector Report 2012 05:30 Ag PhD

www.country99tv.co.nz

wool

January 2012

Wool Perspective From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Wool prices ease, but it’s still early days The wool market ended 2011 on a weaker note than had been indicated earlier but one which was not totally unexpected given the uncertainties clouding European economies. Many observers appeared cautiously optimistic that wool prices would remain firm given the supply end of the chain was obviously lacking volume and the processing pipeline was relatively empty. Economic woes affecting a number of influential nations around the globe were unlikely to be cured in the immediate future which was expected to have a dampening effect on the market. Wool auctions for 2012 opened in Christchurch and Napier on January 12 and although volumes were light on pre-season allocations, the buying trade indicated prior to the sale day, there was limited interest from a number of our major export destinations. Exporters who sell large quantities to China and India advised that their order books were ‘a bit thin’ and European business was ‘patchy’. These early indications proved correct on sale day with a large proportion of the catalogue offerings passed-in well below valuation and grower reserve, and in some catalogues almost fifty percent was carried over to later sales.

types catalogued were generally of good colour and style with most being in the fifty to one hundred millimetre staple length brackets, and reasonable interest was shown towards those types. A few lines of second-shear however, showed a definite lambing break and those were discounted accordingly. Lambs’ fleece also drew good interest provided the micron reading was somewhere in the twenty-seven to twenty-nine micron range and length was averaging fifty to seventy-five millimetres. Relative to body wool prices, oddments sold at good levels with solid interest shown towards the bulky oddment types. Because the past twelve months has brought good wool prices to growers the latest slump in pricing may be difficult to accept, however reality is that for some time the indicators have pointed towards a false market price driven by shortage of product rather than extreme demand.

The Kiwi dollar’s recent revival against the United States’ currency was also an influence in the rather subdued market as it (the Kiwi) traded at almost $US0.80 again on auction day.

A relatively high Kiwi dollar, economic disasters in Europe, inflation in China, and extremely competitive synthetic fibre prices, were all expected to exert pressure on raw wool prices. The saving grace for wool (in particular NZ crossbred) may be that now sheep numbers are at a low level the wool clip has also reduced dramatically and that what was always a niche product will now be even more ‘niche’ than before.

The South Island catalogues contained a wide range of types including a number of lines of discoloured and tender fleece wools showing distinct signs of webbiness and cotting. The second-shear

Fine wool production in Australia is forecast downwards for the current season, but their sheep numbers are forecast to increase next year which should naturally increase their wool production,

WOOL BUYERS Providing direct wool links from farm to user with a low cost marketing pipeline

EWES & RAMS WANTED Heavy Rams: earn 2 vouchers Med Rams: 1.5 Lights: 1.0

Photo by Shaun Macdonald

however with the Australian sheep population forecast to reach seventy-eight million next year the number is still relatively small compared to twenty years earlier. It’s still early days yet in so far as 2012 is concerned, and because in both Australia and New Zealand we begin selling wool in the second week of January, I imagine that the market will probably settle by the end of this month at a level which will paint a better picture of what reality is. That’s my view.

SHEARING MACHINE SERVICING Canterbury Wide Servicing – on farm Repair – machines & handpieces Buy & Sell – shearing equipment all used product serviced & sold with appropriate warranty

Heavy Ewes: 1.5 vouchers Med Ewes: 1.0 Light: 0.5 1 voucher = 6 x 3kg Work Rolls or 18kg Station Mince (value $54.50) 3 vouchers = 40kgs BullBars Minimum 10 head

TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS, ON FARM - IN YOUR SHED: Rakaia River North - Don Kars 0274 500 769 Rakaia River South - Gavin Crump 0274 316 555 Email: kaiapoi@hdfarmdirect.co.nz Website: www.hdfarmdirect.co.nz

Limited Time So Hurry! Cash option for rams only See our website for more info:

www.workdog.co.nz Freephone: 0508 364 366

R.D. SERVICES Ray Dunick

Ph: 03 322 7486 Mob: 0274 444 632

Consign your wool with Contact a PGG Wrightson Wool representative today: Doug McKay

Peter McCusker Rob Lynskey

Dave Parsons

Ph: 027 432 6910

Ph: 027 432 4926

Ph: 027 436 2603

Freephone 0800 946 000

Ph: 027 591 8454

Helping grow the country

January 2012

No.1 on No.1 on the FARM! the FARM!

FARM, LIFESTYLE & VITICULTURE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS SALES + SPARES + SERVICE + HIRE + FINANCE

NEW MACHINERY IN STOCK UFO 2400HL 8' hydraulic lift drum mower��Special Deal UFO 2070W best value 7' drum mower ��Special Deal RAPTOR 12 reel vee rake, c/w steering ��$19,500 KRONE VP1500 c/w knives, brand new ��Special Deal UFO 3100 10' trailing drum mower ��Special Deal AITCHISON 8122 direct drill c/w disc openers ��Special SPRAYERS; C-Dax, Silvan – full range for farm & lifestyle� POSTDRIVERS Kinghitter, Fieldmaster & Fencepro �� from $5,900 HOOPER & LYNDON chain and leaf harrows�� from $465 FERTILISER SPREADERS; C-Dax, Vogal, Aitchison, full range�� from $1,575 RATA grabs, forks, handlers, trailing grain feeders �� from $1,270 RZ 11 ex chisel plough, c/w auto reset��$19,500 DUNCAN renovator & eco drills �� IN STOCK BERENDS 12' chisel plough – simple and robust ��$6,000 SHIBAURA & EUROLEOPARD tractors, 25-60hp from��$20,000 EXTRA SPECIAL PRICES ON GENERATORS�� Phone now for a price RZ multidisc 3m, c/w packer, excellent stubble machine �� DEMO NOW $17,500 USED MACHINERY IN STOCK CLAAS 255 multicut baler, excellent condition ��$30,000 DUNCAN 701 20 run seedliner c/w eclipse box ��$4,750 DUNCAN 10' roller drill c/w wheels as new��$25,000 VEE rake 10 & 12 reel units available �� POA MAXAM 2500 Mk 3, c/w wilter, very good order� ��$6,750 TONUTTI 10 reel vee rake hydraulic lift & fold��$9,250 REESE 3100 10' trailing mower, excellent condition ��Arriving HOOPER 2400 28 blade offset discs��Arriving QUIVONE 28 blade trailing discs ��Arriving HOOPER 30" 5 aside B&B discs ��$5,500 SHIBAURA SX 24 Sub-compact tractor��$15,000 HOOPER 30" 7 aside B&B discs, excellent condition, new blades��$15,500 BERTI TSB 220 mulcher mower, top order ��$9,250 HOWARD 3m PTO tedder/rake ��$3,950

We’rre up and running in the CBD

Prices Exclude GST

XR125 Duster

4 4

$ ,885 +GST $ ,885 +GST

+GST

TRX500FM/FPM Fuel InjeCTeD

FROM

13 ,905 $13 ,905 $

FROM

TRX420FM/FPM Fuel InjeCTeD

+GST

FROM

12 ,125 $12 ,125 $

FROM

+GST

Rangiora Motorcycles

53 Main Road Amberley

IDEATION-THF0163

St Asaph St | CHRISTCHURCH | 379 3440 | teamhutchinsonford.com

CTX200

NEW MODEL

LARGE RANGE OF HIRE EQUIPMENT - Phone for a list

Team Hutchinson Ford

3 $ 3 ,477 $ ,477 +GST

03 314 8213

10 Albert St Ph 03 313 4593 Kevin a/h 027 4361 974 www.rangioramotorcycles.co.nz

Clean up with amazing KingQuad savings!

Quake safe your electricity supply!

If your farm bike has taken a pounding over the winter months, now’s the time to climb aboard a brand new KingQuad, especially at these super hot Spring Clean prices.

KingQuad 400 4x4 • 400cc electric start oil cooled 4-stroke • Solid enclosed rear axle supported by two shock absorbers • 5 forward gears with Hi/Lo ratios (man) • Torque sensing front diﬀerential • Lever action 2WD/4WD select • Easy select reverse lever

Never be affected by a power cut again! — Our diesel generator can be directly connected to house switchboard for automatic start/shut off.

✓ Silent operation (69db) ✓ 11 hours run time ✓ Diesel economy

✓ 5 kw single phase ✓ 230 V (AC) 12 V (DC)

SAVE $1,000

LT-F400F MAN

LT-A400F AUTO

$10,778 +GST $11,648 +GST

$2,495.00 GST incl. Lifestyle Tractors & Machinery Ltd Tel. 03-347-4956 • Fax. 03-347-4958 Email. tractors@lifestyletractors.co.nz Web. www.lifestyletractors.co.nz

ARTHUR BURKE LTD North Canterbury Suzuki Dealer Markham Street, Amberley

Phone 03 314 8121

Electric FARM 4X4 ZERO TURN

Demo from Demo from authorised authorised dealers

• Cutting mowing time since 1987 • Models from 30” to 72”

dealers

• Powered blower grass catchers • Dealers nationwide

MOWERS

FROM

$6,US5GS9T 0 PL

NEW

MADE IN USA

MORE AC MOTOR MOTOR MORERANGE RANGE NEW AC  50km Range up to 70km  Top speed 50kmh ■ Range ■ Top speed 50kmh ■ Hi/low ratio  Hi/low ratio  Quiet motion ■ Quiet motion ■ Plug-in recharge  Plug-in recharge  Low maintenance costs

0800 080038 3844 44 50 50

Multi-Terrain Vehicle Multi-Terrain Vehicle

0800

743366 RIDEON

www.dixonmowers.co.nz enquiries@dixonmowers.co.nz

22HP 42” / 27HP 48” USA MADE / LOW NZ PRICE FULL RANGE AVAILABLE

0800 38 44 50

January 2012

Practical tips on Rural Fire Prevention How the rural fire system works Fires in rural areas are the responsibility of the person who lights them. Fire control in rural areas is the responsibility of rural fire authority. There are three types of rural fire authorities:  Territorial authorities e.g. local councils  Rural Fire Districts (e.g. NZ Defence, forestry companies or a combination of fire authorities)  Department of Conservation These rural fire authorities are mainly concerned with the control of vegetation fires. They also carry out fire prevention measures, monitor the fire danger, declare fire seasons and issue fire permits. This work is co-ordinated nationally through the National Rural Fire authority which also promotes fire training, research and cooperation in rural fire management.

Your Regional Rural Fire Committee, covering Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast is working with you to protect our rural resources and communities. Fire prevention is the responsibility of us all. Rural fires can be particularly devastating, destroying our natural environment, ecosystems, farmland, forests, property and livelihoods. It’s in all our interests to prevent rural fires. Wild fires can affect us all and many become large and costly due to late reporting and delayed initial response. To report any fire in a rural area, dial 111 immediately and give the location and any details. Prompt reporting is the key to preventing large fires developing. In many cases a commonsense approach can avoid disasters.

The Canterbury West Coast Regional Fire Committee is the regional committee for all of Canterbury and the West Coast. It is made up of representatives from local councils, the NZ Fire Service, NZ Defence, Department of Conservation, forest owners and Federated Farmers.

Fire seasons and permits Fire seasons are advertised by local rural fire authorities. They are responsible for issuing any permits and enforcing total fire bans. Even with a permit, the person lighting the fire is responsible and liable for any costs or damage. If in doubt, check with your local district council. Remember that campfires, barbecues and braziers are all classed as fires.

Open fire season Means no fire permit is needed to light a fire in the open air in rural areas. Restricted fire season Means a fire permit from the relevant rural fire authority is required to light a fire in the open air in rural areas. Prohibited fire season Means a total fire ban and lighting of fires in the open air is not permitted.

Around the home Install smoke detectors.  Maintain a defensible space around the house.  Store firewood and flammable materials away from the house.  Identify escape routes from the house.  Keep grass areas mown and short and green where possible.  Have defensible space or safety zone around your house and buildings. This involves removing flammable trees and scrub to create a green break with lawns or low flammability gardens and shrubs (see illustration right).

On the farm or lifestyle block  Be aware of the current fire danger.  Obtain a fire permit, if required, and notify your fire authority of your intention to burn.

Protect what you value

 Obey permit conditions when burning and note weather conditions and the forecast.  Signpost your property clearly – know your rural property number, where available.  Keep your rural property number by your telephone.  Ensure emergency vehicles have easy access to your house and sheds.  Have adequate water supply for fire fighting with easy access.  Keep firewood stacked away from the house and keep trees clear of powerlines.  Maintain distances between sheds, (especially hay barns) vegetation and houses.  Maintain machinery properly and use with care in dry conditions.  Carry fire extinguishers.  Store fuel and chemicals safely and keep them isolated from other materials.  Dispose of ash safely in a metal container and use approved incinerators.  Be especially careful with mowers, hay-making equipment and chainsaws.  Carry adequate fire insurance.  Remember to check machinery for birds nests.

On holiday Trampers, hunters, fishers and other holiday makers are asked to take care with fire and gas cookers this summer. Uncontrolled fires can devastate natural areas, which may never fully recover. A year round restricted fire season applies to all conservation lands and within one kilometre of these areas. Backcountry users should be self-sufficient, carrying personal cooking equipment. Cookers should be operated in a well-ventilated area and well clear of vegetation that could easily catch alight.  Observe fire restrictions and be aware of the fire danger.  Campfires, barbecues and braziers are open fires and may be restricted or banned depending on conditions.  Gas barbecues are a safer alternative to open fires.  If fires are allowed, make sure any ashes are doused with water and disposed of safely.  Never leave a fire unattended.  Take care with cigarettes.

Who pays for fires in rural areas? The costs of fighting fires in rural areas can be passed onto the landowner or the person who caused the fire, even if they have obtained a fire permit. It is the responsibility of the local rural fire authority to decide on cost recovery action. The costs of fighting fires in rural areas passed on to the individual responsible have run into the $100,000’s. It is important that all landowners assess the risk of a fire starting on their land and consider – as well as fire insurance on property and plant having both fire fighting insurance and public liability cover. Accidental fires can occur and it is prudent for rural landowners to have adequate insurance cover.

Fires cost lives and destroy property and you may be held responsible! For

RURAL FIRE EMERGENCY RING 111