Canterbury Farming, January 2015 by Integrity Community Media

January 2015

29,200 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast.

INSIDE Page 7

Aoraki brings new skills to town Page 10

Field day for top farmer

Page 16

Back when steam was king

Fresh faces for Federated Farmers by Ayla Miller

Things are changing for Federated Farmers as they welcome Joanne Burke, the new chairperson in the Seed and Grain division for mid-Canterbury and Jessie Chan-Dorman as the new vice-president. Jessie Chan-Dorman is looking forward to giving something back to the farming community. Having worked with Federated Farmers for 10 years prior to this career move, she strongly believes in the values and wishes to use her position to ensure the organisation remains involved with Environment Canterbury and other stakeholders. “I will be advocating on behalf of farmers in the region on local and national policy,” she says. Jessie believes the best part about the position is the people she meets and the gains she makes on behalf of the farmers. “It is rewarding gaining successes for the farmers. Whether it is reducing costs or dealing with tactical policy.” Jessie studied at Massey University and graduated with an honours degree in Animal Science. She and husband Hayden now lease 420ha in Dorie near Rakaia and milk 1700 cows. Her skills range from policy to commercial as she has worked in many different rural professional positions which she believes sets her up well for her new position as vice-president. “I think the skills I learnt working for Federated Farmers in Wellington also sets me up well.”

Jessie Chan-Dorman and her young family at their 420ha dairy farm in Dorie

She attributes her success to Hayden who she says is really grounded. He helps me with real farming solutions.” In her professional life she has completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme, the Food and Agribusiness Marketing Experience and the Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme. She also won the Institute of Directors Canterbury Aspiring Director Award for 2014. It is still early days for Joanne Burke but with her

extensive education and farming history, she has a deep understanding of the seed and grain industry. She wanted to be chairperson as she believes “the industry is relatively fragmented and Federated Farmers are a great leader.” “I’m absolutely passionate about arable farming. I feel I’m in a position to use my background to give arable farmers a voice.” The main issue that she will tackle in her role is nutrient

management compliance but she lists getting through the dry period as being top of the agenda as there has been minimal rain this spring and she fears the mid Canterbury region may be facing another drought. “The north west wind during spring means that we are dealing with incredibly dry conditions.” This means the current quality of the crops are threatened and she has been working hard to irrigate to maintain crops. “It is probably too late for

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harvested crops,” Joanne says. She has been farming for 17 years with her husband and is currently a director of a 276 hectare mixed cropping farm in Rokeby. Joanne studied at the University of Canterbury and obtained a partial MBA; a Post Graduate Diploma of Environmental Science, Resource Management RMA and Applied Microbiology; and a Bachelor of Science and a Double Major in Microbial and Zoological Sciences.

January 2015

Dry conditions a concern Avoid Drink Driving BE THE SOBER D FOR A NIGHT

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Moves are gaining pace to provide support for affected farmers with the government already expressing concern at the lack of rainfall in several regions. Primary Industries minister, Nathan Guy says that dry conditions mean farming is facing pressure. “The dry summer may have been good news for holidaymakers but farmers are starting to feel the pinch in South and Mid-Canterbury, North Otago, and Wairarapa,” said. Along with farmers advocacy groups and rural support services, the government is offering its resources and advice. “Restrictions are in place for some irrigators as water levels drop, and the short term outlook is not showing much rain on the horizon.” Mr Guy adds. “Most farmers I talk to are managing by de-stocking and using feed supplies, but are

hopeful of rain before too long to set them up for winter. “The Ministry for Primary Industries keeps a close eye on the amount of rainfall, soil moisture levels and river levels and also gets good information from people on the ground. “At this stage the government is not planning to classify this event as a mediumscale adverse event, but we will continue to keep a close watch. District or regional groups need to make a formal request for any such a declaration and at this stage this hasn’t been deemed necessary. “This threshold would be reached when the lack of rainfall has an economic, environmental and social impact on farming businesses and the wider community. “It’s important to note that support is already available from Government agencies in all regions. Farmers should contact IRD if they need help or flexibility with making tax payments, and standard hardship assistance is available from Work and Income. “I would urge farmers to make use of the good advice and support available from their local Rural Support Trusts. They are doing a great job of coordinating farming communities and providing information. Unfortunately

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Primary Industries minister, Nathan Guy

droughts are nothing new for farmers. Two summers ago we suffered through the worst drought in 70 years, and last year we had severe dry spells in parts of Northland and Waikato. “It is a tough situation for many

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with this coming on top of a lower dairy payout. However, I know that farmers are resilient and have come through many challenges like snowstorms, earthquakes and commodity price ﬂuctuations before.”

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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

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January 2015

Westpac gives struggling farmers a hand up

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming

by Ayla Miller

This summer, Westpac are preparing for drought season by offering early financial advice and support for farmers. Westpac’s Head of Agribusiness, Mark Steed believes that preparation is the key to helping farmers in times of adversity. “We aim to provide support for the rural community, as parts of our national team in Timaru and Ashburton are farmers themselves and continue to be in contact with farmers,” he says. “They live and breathe it.” Areas in the south of Timaru have had very little rain and some farmers have had to start using supplementary feed which is draining on ﬁnances this early in the season. “As we can already see the location is fairly dry, it seems a logical step,” Mark says of the preparations. “Our logic behind the prediction approach is that it is only the start of summer and we recognise that our customers need this support.” Mark states it is important that farmers stay in contact with their banks so that help can be given before things get too serious. “We have helped out in other situations such as the

Northland floods so we are able to selectively choose causes based on adverse effects.” By continuously reviewing customer circumstances, Westpac are able to see where their help is needed most rather than waiting for the Civil Defence to declare emergencies. “Customers have been asking for this and we have been listening,” Mark says. There will be various options available to those in need this financial year such as budgeting, working with advisors and suspending payments. “Temporary levels of support are available and we will assist people through the cycle.” The Westpac team have a very close relationship with ex All Black and mental health advocate John Kirwan and realise the importance of having support systems in place to alleviate stress, especially around financial matters. They have been working together to advocate awareness of mental health with a focus on rural communities. Westpac and John Kirwan aim to shift farmer’s attitudes

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January 2015

O’Connor Comments with Damien O’Connor

A Green Perspective with Steffan Browning, Green Party spokesperson on Agriculture

Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture

Lost opportunities At a time the rural sectors are crying out for young talent and commitment from career minded Kiwis it seems odd that we have allowed the last two years to pass by without considerable mention. From a farming perspective both years were of significant international status. As the Chinese celebrate years and realise the benefit from such acknowledgement we should have learned something from their recent economic performance. The National Government has been trying to keep up with the Chinese. Given the Free Trade Agreement the previous Labour Government handed them on a plate, the Double Export target seems a logical aspiration to lay out in front of every farmer and exporter from New Zealand. But as with many of National’s goals, the plans to achieve them are less clear. If we are to grow our exports then looking after the industries and the people who drive that growth would be a great start. Our history of growth is a proud one and we now claim first world status after a very energetic two and a half centuries. China has been there and back a couple of times over a few thousand years. So why do we ignore the opportunities that pop up from time to time? 2013 was the International Year of Cooperatives, but it has to be said that our efforts to promote and celebrate it were pathetic. Fonterra is the single largest trader of dairy products in the world and a co-operative owned by its farmer shareholders. That was worth celebrating and promoting both within New Zealand and to the world where promotion of all co-operatives

occurred in most countries throughout the year. 2014 was designated the International Year of Family Farming. Again most of us in farming would have considered the efforts of our ancestors to be worthy of celebration, to develop and grow New Zealand to the amazing place it is today. Family farms and the hard working people who owned them produced the wealth and exports to grow our provinces and cities. And the same is true today. So why did we hardly hear a word of promotion about this signiﬁcant year across our rural communities? I have a view that our present political and rural leaders have forgotten the work and commitment that built our country. The obsession with capital gain and dealing in land and livestock has obliterated the essence of what built our nation. It was the co-operative structures that gave farmers and their families some control over their incomes and expenses and allowed them to invest back into their farms with conﬁdence. There are numerous examples of the dynamic evolution of co-operatives that we all need to celebrate within New Zealand and internationally. The opportunities lost by two years of almost stunned silence is hard to understand unless you take a cynical view and acknowledge 2013 was the year Fonterra directors were determined to push through TAF, opening the door to outside investors in the farmer co-operative.

It’s dry out there. How is my neighbour? Can I help? Increasing drought and the economic stress has reduced farm production and turnover. It also reminds us of the importance of supporting our neighbours and local communities. Regardless of our views of different farming systems, past agronomic advice and financial decisions, some of our neighbours and local businesses may need real help to get through the season ahead, and rebuild for a more sustainable future. I was in Loburn during New Year, and the beautiful, hot sunny weather that emerged from the changeable blustery winds and a few spits, was reminiscent of childhood summers. This is great for holiday makers, but concerning for those with already low soil moisture. As I drove north homewards in early January, the crispy golden hills and vista were a marked change from a similar trip two weeks earlier, even though the drought index suggested near normal ranges. Further south, the index was more concerning — moderate to severely dry. Regardless of the childhood memories of summers past, the seasons are warming year on year and all too often, ahead of our building resilience into our farming systems or community support. Climate change will bring more adverse events including droughts, and each year those overexposed to the banks or other difficulties will be under significant stress. Acknowledging the difficulty that drought brings — sharing solutions or straight out

support, needs active communication throughout the community and right next door. Let’s be sure it is not our neighbour that is against the wall and alone with their difﬁculties. This year’s drought will pass, but rebuilding may take time for those worst affected. Let’s make sure we are all still together for summers to come, checking on each other, lending an ear and offering a hand. With consistent government reduction in services, ensuring our local communities have access to social services and health support increasingly requires creative solutions, but in the ﬁrst instance it is up to us and our families to reach out to our neighbours to ensure their wellbeing. Working together with our local community to get effective local social services restored is the next step, whether it is through lobbying at the regional or national political level, or building a fully inclusive network of community support that can tap into social or professional agencies. Farming families have a record of caring for each other. However the face of farming is changing with larger farming business operations and less intergenerational farming. There are more transient populations, which is why a far more conscious effort is needed to ensure the health and safety of our neighbours and those in our rural communities.

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January 2015

From the Minister Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries

It’s a little dry It’s been a great summer so far for holidaymakers with lots of sun and little rain, but this is bad news for most farmers — especially around the wider Canterbury region which is very dry at the moment. Restrictions are in place for some irrigators and at the time of writing, the outlook from NIWA is discouraging with little sign of rain on the horizon. Conditions are being monitored closely by the Ministry for Primary Industries who are giving me regular updates on soil moisture levels and how farmers are coping. From MPI’s perspective, a drought event is when the lack of rainfall has economic, environmental and social impact on farming businesses and families, and the wider community. In that case they can recommend to me as Minister that I declare a ‘medium scale adverse event’, which triggers a range of extra support for Rural Support Trusts. These organisations work closely with farmers, providing support and guidance in what is a tough time. This would also mean that Rural Assistance Payments would be available from Work and Income, through the Ministry of Social Development. These are equivalent to the unemployment beneﬁt and are available to those in extreme hardship. It’s important to note that support is available from Government agencies in all regions, even without a drought declaration. Farmers should contact IRD if they need help or ﬂexibility with making tax payments, and standard hardship

assistance is available from Work and Income. I will be heading down shortly to talk to locals and see first-hand for myself what conditions are like. It is a tough situation for many with this coming on top of a lower dairy payout. However, I know that farmers are resilient and have come through many challenges like snowstorms, earthquakes and commodity price fluctuations before. Unfortunately droughts are nothing new for farmers. Two summers ago we suffered through the worst drought in 70 years, and last year there were severe localised droughts in parts of Northland and Waikato. Many rural people can be reluctant to ask for help, but I would urge farmers to make use of the good advice and support available from their local Rural Support Trusts. In the longer term, these recent droughts emphasise the need for more irrigation projects to store and distribute water. We don’t have a shortage of water or rainfall in this country, we just don’t have the capacity to store and use that water in dry times. We currently use far less than two percent of the water that lands on New Zealand for irrigation. Done properly, storage and irrigation schemes can help to better allocate water to benefit both the economy and environment.

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Country Matters with Rob Cope-Williams

Aussie Fires I managed to get away for a few days to central Victoria over the Christmas break and again I marvelled at how much we can teach the Aussie farmers. In a land where bush fires are a matter of day to day reality, and grass fires travel faster than most cars, there seems to be very little if any thought going into fire protection or avoidance. Sure I realise that bush fires travel very fast, and they can jump huge distances, but people build their houses in the middle of huge stands of gum trees. What they call bush is as large a stretch of the imagination as what they call mountains, and then wonder why they lose homes. My brother has a home and business about an hour from Melbourne, and he not only has no gum trees on his property he has planted lots of deciduous trees that drop their leaves rather than burst into flames as conifers are inclined to do, and he keeps the grass topped. I know what you are thinking - why mention keeping fuel for fires away from around buildings and mention topping grass? Because what we do naturally they, the Aussies, don’t seem to understand. I was talking with one farmer who was convinced that you shouldn’t take a cut of hay

off your pasture more than every three or four years because it would weaken the plant. No, I didn’t make that up, that’s what they thought. So along with extreme heat, lightning strikes setting off fires and very dry grass, the chances of a fire are very high. We won’t even mention the fact that things such as kangaroos are protected even though they smash fences, breed like rabbits and eat young trees, plus what they don’t eat they roll on. No, won’t mention possums being protected either. I didn’t dare ask what their insurance costs are for homes and buildings, and also avoided the discussion about the cost of car insurance as we travelled past several kangaroo carcasses and smashed cars on the side of the road. So with bush fires and grass fires, snakes, kangaroos, poison spiders, and the most ridiculous gun laws you would ever come across, I think we live in a much better spot than our Aussie cousins. You have got to agree that they are a weird mob.

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January 2015

Country Law

with Ronald W. Angland & Son

Tenant liability for accidental damage to rental property Accidents happen in life. Sometimes there are work socks soaking which block the laundry sink and the laundry ﬂoods when the washing machine goes to empty itself into the sink. Every so often you forget about a pot on the stove when the neighbour phones and only remember when the smoke alarm sounds off. The situation in relation to any property damage which occurs from such accidents is made trickier if you are renting. The issue is little thought about as the reality is that a landlord, one way or another, is passing the cost of their insurance cover onto the tenant and tenants will often simply assume a property is insured in consequence. Best practice is for tenants to have contents insurance for their

own belongings and a personal liability policy to protect them against accidents, but how many think to do so? Traditionally if there was damage or destruction of a property in accidental circumstances a landlord’s insurer would step in and remedy the situation but would also be able to then turn around and place the cost on the tenant. There was a case in Dunedin a few years back where one flatmate accidentally left bacon frying and caused significant fire damage to the rental — the landlord’s insurer not only pursued that tenant but the four other tenants who had signed the tenancy agreement and weren’t even at the property when the accident occurred. There was also a discrepancy in that a different

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law prevented commercial lessor’s insurers from pursuing commercial lessees in similar circumstances, meaning in effect, that a fireworks or gunpowder manufacturer was exposed to less legal and financial risk from fire damage to their rented premises than your average renting family. A case in the High Court last year has changed the situation so that now residential tenants have the same protection as commercial lessees. The exceptions to that protection are where the damage has been caused intentionally by the tenant or has resulted from criminal activity (for example, if a tenant is producing drugs in the garage and has an explosion or fire then the tenant will be liable for that damage). While the legal position may change if the case is appealed it does seem to make good sense. A landlord has the property insured against damage, and tenants generally rent because they can’t afford to own or don’t want to be tied down to a property. Few tenants would ever contemplate a potentially devastating financial liability for damage or destruction to a property they don’t own.

Money Talk with Andrew Wyllie Happy New Year! It has been a great holiday period weather-wise for holidaymakers, but obviously a very concerning dry spell for the farming community in many areas. Hopefully the weather changes soon and brings some decent rainfall. Global Economies Looking around the world, amongst developed economies the United States remains the poster child for global economic growth. Europe continues to struggle to reignite any substantial growth, with monetary policy measures also resulting in capital outflows. Japan has resorted to a large quantitative easing programme to restart its economy. The combined effect has been a decline in total global growth momentum in recent months, although lower oil prices should benefit developed economies, with a forecast windfall to consumers in excess of US$1 trillion. This is certainly great news when you’re filling the car at the pump! Oil prices and capital flows should also lower the risks of growth being derailed, by deferring any substantial increases to interest rates in the United States. Australian and New Zealand Equity Markets Our local New Zealand equity market finished the

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 John Angland Leeston (03) 324 3033

year strongly, up 6.0% for the quarter and 17.5% for the full year. This is an outstanding result which exceeded many expectations at the start of the year. Leading the way were electricity companies, as higher yielding stocks continued to be sought. The beneﬁciaries of lower oil prices such as Air New Zealand and other transport companies also performed well. Not faring so well has been the Australian sharemarket which was up 2.2% for the quarter, but only 1.1% for the full year. The market has been impacted by declines in commodity prices which in turn fed through to a weaker Australian dollar. Energy, mining and mining service stocks were hardest hit, but the ﬂow-on effect to investment and employment expectations also affected domestically orientated companies. Healthcare and Telecom were the only sectors to provide any material advances. Global Equity Markets Global equity market returns were generally positive, largely driven by United States equities and the stronger US dollar. European markets were mixed, although German equities managed small gains despite a decline in competitiveness as the Euro strengthened against the Japanese yen. The United Kingdom market was held back by its large exposure to mining and energy stocks, while Japanese equities posted good gains after the Japanese Government Pension Fund was directed to increase its asset allocation to local equities.

Fixed interest market Looking at fixed interest markets globally, long-term interest rates continued to hover around their 12 month lows. Subdued inflation and surplus European savings being redirected internationally, also capped the potential for longer-term rates to rise. With European growth expected to remain weak, these capital flows are likely to continue to suppress the potential for any significant change in global interest rates. In New Zealand our shorter-term rates also appear to have minimal upside, with the market now pricing in no increases before late 2015. Interestingly, in one week this month, one major bank dropped fixed deposit rates across the board while another lowered its mortgage rates. Obviously this is a good time for borrowers but tough for income investors. Several new corporate fixed interest issues are expected to be announced over the coming months, which will very likely attract those investors seeking income. For further details contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@ forsythbarr.co.nz. To find out more about Forsyth Barr visit 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.

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RURAL PROFESSIONALS

January 2015

Aoraki brings new skills to town by Ayla Miller

Aoraki Polytechnic is working with the community and local industry to offer nine new courses that will help young people enter the dairy industry. “From growing grass to processing milk products, Aoraki Polytechnic is aligning its portfolio to meet the educational need of the dairy sector across the supply chain,” says portfolio manager, Andrea Leslie. From February this year, the New Zealand Certiﬁcate in Agriculture will be offered as a cadetship programme. “This programme really is an excellent entry point into any career within primary industry,” says Andrea. The course will include safety training regarding vehicles, machinery and infrastructure. Students will then spend most of their time on farms mixed with classroom time. “Young people are the future. Currently the average age of

farmers is 58 years of age. We need young, passionate, well skilled people entering every aspect of the industry to ensure its long term sustainability and growth,” Andrea says. With technology changing the face of farming, Aoraki is also now offering a New Zealand Certiﬁcate in Dairy systems (Engineering level 4) which will give graduates the skills to work on modern farms. “Technology is constantly changing the agriculture industry. The core essence of the industry is that farmers are dealing with life, either stock or pasture and the focus is on maximising health and production of these. “However, technology will provide the tools to enhance

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this,” she says. The Polytechnic is working closely with companies such as Oceania Dairy, Synlait, Westland Milk and Fonterra to ensure the courses they provide will benefit both students and employers. “In the last few years Aoraki’s involvement is more active with staff being contributing members of key sectoral groups in the region. We are encouraging community feedback in all our developments,” says chief executive, Alex Cabrera. During planning discussions it was noted that the Aoraki region needs around 500 people as well as the need for more people with qualiﬁcations regarding boilers, forklifts and automation.

Students (left to right) Raniera Burton, Travis Parsons, Timothy Savage, Hone Tumanako, Jordan Eden, Gareth Wright enjoy the practical side

“Aoraki Polytechnic is supporting the Ministry of Primary Industry’s goal of doubling GDP by 2025. Our programmes are innovative, interactive, newly developed, have excellent staff and provide excellent opportunities.” Aoraki

is also encouraging those with prior experience in the industry to return to study by offering a Return to Study Scholarship for Primary Industries and Trade. The courses will help the community by producing skilled employees for a variety

of careers within the primary industry. Aoraki will provide practical and supportive courses to help those wishing to get into the industry for the ﬁrst time as well as providing opportunities to upskill.

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Weather Watch by Tony Trewinnard December was a month of contrast, with a cold first half to the month dominated by southerly or southwesterly airflows, similar to November. However, the second half of the month was warmer than usual, with anticyclones dominating the weather patterns as they moved from the Tasman Sea across the South Island, bringing clear skies and dry weather. This pattern has continued into January. Temperatures in the ﬁrst half of December were like November, colder than normal, generally by −0.5 to −1.0deg on the Plains, but by −1.5 to −2.5deg further inland. However, in the second half of the month temperatures were above normal by +0.5 to +1.0deg, resulting in a monthly mean near normal for most parts of the region. Sunshine hours were above normal by 5–15%. Rainfall was again highly variable over the region, with patterns

dominated by the movement of many individual storms and showers over the course of the month. Almost all of the rain in the month fell in the ﬁrst two weeks, with a very dry spell from about the 15th to month’s end. Monthly totals varied from about 10% of normal to 65% of normal. In the tropical Paciﬁc, ocean temperatures are cooling slowly, indicating El Nino patterns have reached their modest peak, and are now weakening. The Southern Oscillation index has been mostly on the very weak El Nino to near neutral through the second half of December and into January, indicating no strong El Nino or La Nina pattern. The latest computer models suggest weak El Nino conditions will decay steadily

0900 4CAST

We expect to see this pressure pattern continue through February but from March we may see the low pressure systems move more towards the New Zealand area from the sub tropics. This will bring an increased

Rainfall

Temperature

Sunshine

Airflow

February

Drier than normal

Warmer than normal

A little sunnier than normal

More anticyclones

March

A little wetter than normal

A little milder than normal

Cloudier than normal

More easterly airflows

April

A little wetter than normal

A little milder than normal

Cloudier than normal

More easterly airflows

May

Near normal

Westerlies returning

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above. Rainfall is likely to be below normal, probably by at least 50%. From March and into April we may see increased cloudiness and at least normal rainfall, possibly above normal. Temperatures should remain a little above normal.

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throughout the summer period. There are still some suggestions of a significant La Nina event developing during next year but near term trends are highly varied, and the best prediction we can make for the next 3–4 months is to expect near neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific. As the El Nino peaks and slowly decays we generally see increased westerly or southwesterly airflow over New Zealand. However, the SOI has so far failed to reach the levels to signify a traditional El Nino event, and is now trending slowly back to neutral. This has been accompanied by a trend to seeing high pressure systems develop in the Tasman Sea and near New Zealand, with the westerly airflows of spring weakening, allowing more opportunity for airflows over Canterbury from other directions but with rain producing weather systems few and far between.

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Tackling pasture persistence at ground level Farmers’ concerns about ryegrass persistence have led to the development of a new type of pasture to boost the productivity of their harder country. Rohan SPR is a ‘spreading perennial ryegrass’ developed to provide a new answer for an old challenge — namely, how to grow sheep and beef pastures with the yield and feed value of a perennial ryegrass in conditions where normal ryegrass doesn’t last well. Agriseeds pasture systems manager Graham Kerr says while it’s not indestructible, Rohan SPR does bring a welcome opportunity to enhance the longer-term carrying capacity of some country which has previously been under-utilised for want of an appropriate ryegrass. “Our plant breeding approach for dryland sheep and beef farms was quite different from our normal process. Testing was virtually a ‘sow and walk-away’ technique, where we put trials in the middle of large paddocks then left them for up to seven years to see what survived. Most of the high performance ryegrass cultivars did well for the first few years — Rohan was the one that kept on going.” Several characteristics make it ideal where pasture persistence is a top priority, he says. The most obvious is the unusual way it can spread through a pasture after it is established, filling in spaces between drill rows and covering bare soil to reduce competition from weeds or low value grasses like browntop. All ryegrasses do this to some extent, but Rohan SPR does it much more than other cultivars. Rohan SPR was also deliberately selected for fine leaves and very high tiller density. This makes it more resilient to the close grazing used in sheep and beef systems than ryegrasses which have larger

leaves and fewer tillers. Persistence is further supported by NEA2 endophyte, which protects the plant from a range of insect pests. Rohan SPR was also bred for feed quality, Graham says. “Given the class of country in which it will be used, this is very important. Farmers need an ‘easy-care’ grass which must be grazed readily, and easy to manage without much topping or mowing.” The result is a late flowering date (+18 days), good palatability, with a tendency to stay short, leafy and green. Rohan SPR It does not replace cultivars like Alto or Trojan, which are higher yielding but don’t have the same growth habit — rather it extends the potential ryegrass spectrum into paddocks where persistence is the key requirement. “In farm systems you should look to match plant species and cultivars to the climate and stock requirements. For finishing pasture, farmers are well served with the likes of Bealey and Shogun tetraploid ryegrasses. “In areas where high DM yield and persistence are important, Trojan provides both. Now Rohan SPR extends the boundary of ryegrass use. But for the toughest, nonryegrass situations, species like Bareno pasture brome and Safin cocksfoot are better suited.” Agriseeds wants to help Lower North Island and East Coast sheep and beef farmers tackle persistence so this autumn the company is providing seed, along with technical support, to 10 farmers who sign on for the Rohan Challenge. To find out more, talk to your seed merchant or visit www.rohanchallenge.co.nz.

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Rohan SPR has been tested on many farms over many years. Here at Taihape, the effects of a good, wet autumn (left) can be compared to Scargill in a tough, dry summer

January 2015

FIELD DAY FOR

CANTERBURY'S

TOP FARMER by Andy Bryenton

In an era when many conversations about Kiwi farming are dominated by the dairy industry, it's timely to remember that our agricultural sector has many strengths — and, indeed, that one of those strengths is diversity.

Add a pinch of innovation and a whole lot of perseverance, and you have the recipe for farming success — a formula which has been admirably demonstrated by South Island farmers for generations. Recognising that winning blend of science, animal husbandry, dedication and determination is the job of the annual Lincoln University Foundation’s South Island Farmer of the Year competition,

established to acknowledge farmers who — no pun intended — are outstanding in their ﬁeld. Year by year, the Foundation seeks out farmers who exemplify the core principles of effective farming, managing the land, their resources and their stock to achieve success. And while this year’s runners-up, Robin and Lois Greer, are indeed part of the dairy powerhouse of the rural economy, operating both a

conventional and an organic dairy farm on adjoining properties at Tuturau, Southland, the overall winners and 2014 South Island Farmers of the Year are the force behind some of the tastiest meals on Kiwi dinner plates — Patoa Farms of Hawarden, North Canterbury. Foundation Chief Judge Nicky Hyslop says that Steve and Josie Sterne, with daughter Holly Sterne, edged out stiff competition with their

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impressive growth, technical excellence, efficiency of production and strategic focus. They demonstrated that it was possible to achieve at the highest levels of farming technology and business management in an outdoor freeroaming stock operation. Today, Patoa Farms manages a herd of 3,500 breeding sows and sells 115,000 fat pigs annually. It employs 43 staff and has a $25 million annual turnover. But all of this came from humble beginnings, as evidenced by the words of Steve Sterne himself in his acceptance speech. “When I went farming at the age of 39

I did not expect to be standing in front of an audience like this today,” said Steve. “The dream is possible. You should not be deterred by the huge effort of amassing enough capital to go farming. I started with three pigs in a woodshed. They keep multiplying.” Adding to the impressive nature of the Sternes’ achievements is the fact that in this modern age of heightened awareness of animal welfare, their pigs roam free, and give birth to litters of piglets in ‘nesting’ shelters on the open pastureland. There’s no concrete and steel here, just lots of fresh

straw, open space and a lifestyle one can only assume a pig would enjoy, with ample room to roam and plenty of nutritious feed. This consists of pelletised ‘nuts’ of high protein grains — never any food waste, as many non-farmers would assume. “The judges,” says Judge Nicky Hyslop, “were impressed with the very robust technical production system at all levels including the sows, despite their being outside.” All this is achieved without an impact on Patoa’s productivity — indeed, they are a model of efficiency, providing a sizeable serving of

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Patoa Farms sows enjoy a natural lifestyle, away from cages and concrete

“When I went farming at the age of 39 I did not expect to be standing in front of an audience like this today,” New Zealand’s pork products. This equates to 15 per cent of all pork which ever meets a side of apple sauce around the country, and a whopping 50 per cent of all free-range pork. Gourmands will tell you that Patoa’s pork tastes better, too. Countdown supermarkets

agree, featuring Patoa Farms on television as part of their ‘Fresh Stories’ campaign. Even the SPCA agree that the Sterne’s methods are best, giving a big blue tick to Patoa Farms after an in-depth audit of their entire process, from tiny piglets to market. Being a positive force

in animal welfare is just part of the Patoa Farms’ story. When Patoa founders Steve Sterne and original business partner Jens Ravn discovered the perfect tract of land to establish their piggery 15 years ago, the beneﬁts to the local community of Harwarden were also plain to see. Over the years the operation has grown to employ the aforementioned 43 staff, all of whom are immersed in a culture of farming innovation. It certainly helps the CV to be able to say that you were part of a top award-winning farming venture, and the skills learned and incubated at Patoa Farms are sure to be spread throughout the pork industry. For this reason, along with the title of South Island Farmer of the Year, Patoa Farms also took home the The BNZ award for Human

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The Sterne family took home this year’s South Island Farmer of the Year award Resource Management. This award recognises a commitment on-farm to building a happy and productive team, and off-farm, to developing strong bonds with suppliers, customers and the public. In a near clean sweep, Patoa also clinched the The Farmlands Co-operative Prize for Resource Use Efﬁciency, impressing the judges with their intelligent use of resources to ensure a sustainable operation for the future. This fostering of bonds and knowledge is the very point of a forthcoming open day, dubbed the Winner’s Field Day by the Lincoln University Trust. On this day — Friday February 13 — the gates of Patoa farms will be thrown open to welcome other farmers who wish to see just what

an award winning operation looks like from the inside. It’s a chance to share ideas and to build relationships, as the Sternes offer a comprehensive overview of what makes Patoa Farms tick. Along with a farm tour, there will be topical presentations covering the pressing issues facing farmers today. Runners-up in the recent Lincoln University Trust South Island Farmer of the Year

awards, Robin and Lois Greer will also take part, offering their own insights into dairying, alongside tastings from their range of highly acclaimed Retro Organics brand cheeses, yogurts and dairy products. For more information, or to book a place on the Field Day, visit www. lincolnuniversityfoundation. org.nz/winners-2014-ﬁeld-dayfree-event.

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The family of Andy McCord mourn his passing and celebrate his life. They would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to everyone who shared their love and support after Andy’s sudden passing. Family and friends from near and far sent their love and condolences, which were such a blessing at such a difﬁcult time. The family are so grateful to the men and women who arrived so quickly the morning of Andy’s passing. The Rangiora Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance, Police and Victim Support teams who did all they could to help revive Andy and support the family during such a traumatic and devastating time.

We sincerely thank you all. To the friends and family who travelled from near and far to be with us, and offer their time and energy during the weeks after Andy’s passing, we will be forever grateful for your kindness, love and support. To those of you who sent your heartfelt words of sympathy by way of phone calls, cards and emails, divine ﬂowers, and delicious food — we thank you all, and please know that each of you warmed our hearts to know that Andy was loved and will be missed by so many of you. To the people from the many businesses and companies who worked with Andy over the

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remembering him. Andy always got the last laugh, so this one’s for him. Three men died on Christmas Eve — Randy, Sandy and Andy, and they were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. “In honour of this holy season,” Saint Peter said, “You must each possess something that symbolises Christmas to get into heaven.” Randy fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He ﬂicked it on. “It represents a candle,” he said. “You may pass through the pearly gates,” Saint Peter said. Sandy reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, “They’re bells.” Saint Peter said, “You may pass through the pearly gates.” Andy started searching desperately through his pockets and ﬁnally pulled out a pair of women’s panties. Saint Peter looked at Andy with a raised eyebrow and asked, “And just what do those symbolise?” Andy replied, “These are Carols.”

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years — you have all played a huge part in our lives, and we will always be grateful for your business and friendship. Thanks to Ian and the team at Lamb and Hayward for their care and assistance in arranging Andy’s celebration; the team of ladies led by Kerrie Fitzgibbon who organised food for the family and guests all week long; to Lyn and Leith Christie, and Lyn and Keith Patterson, who were all there for us in our time of greatest need, and worked tirelessly to ensure everything was in order for the celebration of Andy’s life. We will be forever grateful to you all, and we are so blessed to have such incredible family and friends to help us through the toughest times. Andy touched all of our lives in so many ways, as a loving husband, brother, father, Poopa, colleague, mentor and friend. His generosity was endless, and his love for his family was immense. The memory of his larger than life personality, positive outlook on life, and kind deeds will live on with us all. Thank you all for

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FORESTRY

January 2015

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd The new year is starting off on a cautionary tone. Whilst our local domestic market just keeps chugging along, the news out of China is very mixed. CIF settlements fell US$2–3 per cubic metre for January settlements and have the potential to fall a further US$5 in February. Shipping and FOREX movements have helped offset this so far with very little movement in wharf gate prices in New Zealand to date. In both October and November 2014, the total volume of softwood logs shipped to the China Eastern seaboard was 1.4–1.5 million cubic metres with 67% of that volume coming from New Zealand and Australia. Logs

from the Paciﬁc North West accounted for 28%, and Russia the balance. Daily consumption figures have been reducing since November. Some of this is as expected for this time of year. Usage levels have been dropping to around 45,000 cubic metres per day or about 1.3 million cubic metres per month. This is about 10,000 cubic metres per day less than the same time last year. With Chinese New Year just around the corner, useage is expected to drop further, but then so will supply out of NZ as the effect of the recent two to three

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week holiday break impact on shipments. During January and February we would expect to see China inventory climb from the current about 3.2 million cubic metres to closer to four million. In most years this would not be an uncomfortable level but this year sentiment and credit conditions add to an unhealthy mix of potential downside particularly for Q1. Over the next few months we would expect to continue to see PNW volumes decrease as United States and Canadian sawmills respond to a buoyant

domestic house start profile. We would also expect to see volumes increase from Russia with the ruble weakening some 47% against the US$ since mid 2014. Despite a plethora of in-country ‘issues’, Russian exporters are expected to try to capture the benefit of the exchange rate and Mr Putin reportedly really needs the cash. For the NZ forest grower it is important to realise the construction sector in China accounts for 15% of GDP and is therefore a key economic driver. A combination of factors sees current credit lines squeezed, house prices falling, confidence low, and investors heading to the share market rather than saving up for a new house. Despite the Government having removed most of the inflation

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quelling policy of late 2013 up to mid 2014, house sales remain subdued. We would therefore expect to see some downward price pressure at least for Q1. On a positive note, the pruned log market remains a solid performing and very positive element. Prices have continued to ﬁrm and most commentary suggests there is further build in price to come. My records conﬁrm at the current CIFUS$165–$170 per cubic metre prices are the highest they have been, by quite a margin, since this market grew to any sort of volume level in early 2010. On the domestic sawmill front sawmill owners report markets are just OK. Sales are strong but prices are often a very

sore point. Despite signiﬁcant demand in the rebuild sector, Christchurch mills report supply and demand for lumber are largely in balance. Some of the bigger North Island sawmills have been continuing to ﬂood the city with lumber. Some have been threatening to lift prices. Once again, no one appears to want to lead the charge, no doubt concerned to risk losing customers and volume. It is thoroughly important to remember the trees keep growing regardless and the people of the world continue to need wood for wide ranging reasons. Thus, it 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!

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The economic outlook this year for New Zealand farming is largely fine, but with just a few clouds on the horizon. Despite the lowest milk payout forecast in six years, many dairy farmers have been able to capitalise on the current high beef prices by selling cull cows early, and beef stock that has been raised on runoffs. The

current trade conﬂict between Russia and America is quite interesting to follow. The American alliance keep telling us that their trade embargo against Russia is causing the Russian economy to decline.

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But a recent article in the New Zealand Herald says that the Russians are looking forward to the 2015 year, despite the country’s economic and political difﬁculties The Russian president is enjoying up to 87% support according to a recent poll. It may take some time for the two world economic superpowers to reconcile their differences. Meanwhile, New Zealand farmers will face some challenging issues this year which will have an impact on their private property rights, and the way they conduct their farming business. The government’s new legislation regarding water rights and the threat of agency bureaucrats using their power of right of entry onto farmers’ private property are just two of the issues of concern. The recent action taken by WorkSafe New Zealand inspectors against a Marlborough farming couple, which resulted in them being fined $40,000 altogether between them in the Blenheim District Court for not wearing helmets while riding their quad bikes on their farm, raises some

very serious issues in regard to the right of entry by government agencies onto a farmer’s property. Surveillance cameras were used in an ‘out to get them’ approach and that is abhorrent to right thinking people. When one looks at court ﬁnes that have been awarded in other cases, the award of $40,000 is extremely excessive and is out of kilter with how the rest of New Zealand society is treated.

due to farm bike accidents are caused through injury to the body. According to reports by the Department of Labour the most common accident causing serious injury or death was a slow speed sideways roll on the side of a hill.

It is ironic that there is now a call by some cyclists for the law regarding the wearing of cycle helmets to be reviewed, and it seems that if you have a sympathetic doctor a cyclist can obtain an exemption certiﬁcate which does not require a helmet on the road. Farmers of New Zealand is of the view that the current policy of forcing farmers to wear helmets when driving quad bikes on their private farm properties is unworkable for many reasons.

There are thousands of bikes ridden on farms and by the urban community. We believe that farm bike manufacturers, farmers and Government agencies need to come to a common position on how to safeguard riders of farm ATV bikes as a result of bike rollover, and get the law changed accordingly. While Farmers of New Zealand concedes that a four-post rollover frame is not the most practical way of dealing with this important issue, we strongly support the work that has been done by a Dargaville company in all-terrain vehicle rollover protection.

Farmers of New Zealand does support the wearing of helmets for road use. But many of the helmets that are on the market today do not guarantee full protection. It is our understanding that the majority of deaths on farms

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RURAL WOMEN

Waimate in awards final by Ayla Miller

Waimate-based dairy Woman of the Year finalist Wilma van Leeuwen doesn’t usually like the limelight but after some encouragement she accepted her nomination.

Wilma van Leeuwen is honoured to be thought of as a role model

“I had to think about it ﬁrst and accepted the nomination because I felt very honoured and really inspired that people see me as a role model,” she says. Dairy Woman of the Year is a competition that celebrates women making a difference in the dairy industry. The winner is awarded a scholarship to the BreakThrough Leaders Programme organised by Global Women, an organisation that supports women making contributions to the New Zealand economy, which is valued at $25,000. The winner will be announced on March 18 at the Dairy Women’s Network annual conference in Invercargill. If she is successful Wilma doesn’t believe it will change her everyday thinking but she hopes that she can learn a lot of new skills from this experience. “I ﬁnd this a real exciting challenge, I have a passion for dairy as I enjoy the fact that everyone is in the same boat no matter how big or small their business is. “We almost all have the same issues at the same time and I believe it is so important that

people stay positive especially in hard times.” This year there are four ﬁnalists chosen by Mark Heer from DWN’s gold partner ASB Bank, Sandy Burghan, the Global Women representative, DWN trustee Alison Gibb, DWN chair and 2014 Dairy Woman of the Year winner Justine Kidd, and

TEXENERGY

Fonterra representative Janet Rosanowski. The other three ﬁnalists are Andrea Murphy of Alexandra, Southland Demonstration Farm director Elaine Cook of Waikato; and Federated Farmers board member and provincial president Katie Milne of Kumara, West Coast.

January 2015

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fatigue and muscle pain. I recommend most people on statins take CoQ10 as CoQsol® but please call me to see if this is right for you. There is a large group of people who cannot tolerate statins and another group who would prefer to use non-drug solutions to improve heart health. The Tangerine extract/ palm tocotrienol extract mentioned in the above trial is now available. Give me a call if you would like more information. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. Contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@ johnarts.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

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January 2015

BACK TO A TIME WHEN STEAM WAS

KING

BY ANDY BRYENTON

Early New Zealand was settled in an age when the power of steam had unlocked the industrial might of the British Empire.

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From the early beginnings of Thomas Newcomen’s ‘atmospheric engine’ for pumping out ﬂooded mines, the energy source of the Victorian age had been tamed and set to work by industrial giants like Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was in his footsteps that the railway builders of 1800s New Zealand followed. Those builders and the ‘navvies’ they employed to carve the line through the countryside had their work cut out for them. By the 1880s they had pushed the South Island’s planned main trunk line as far as Waikari from the town of Waipara; behind them stood the challenging Weka Pass, a

steep traverse through rugged limestone country. The plan was to forge ahead, with a line spanning Hawarden, Medbury, Balmoral, Pahau, Culverden, Achray, Rotherham and Waiau. The work force tackled conditions which would today have been deemed reckless and dangerous by Health and Safety ofﬁcials, to say the least. It took two years for the line to proceed to Hawarden, and a further two to press on to Medbury. The line didn’t reach Waiau until 1919 — and in the 20s it was decided to take a coastal route to link Christchurch with Nelson and Marlborough. This line would not see completion until the last days of World

As the pass approaches, a spine of stone raises above the green, and the track plunges through dramatic cuttings, with fossilised marine life embedded in their walls. War Two. This slow progress was not surprising, as railroad workers were forced to shift tons of overburden and heavy clay largely by hand, armed with nothing more sophisticated than picks and shovels. What remained after the planning change by railway bosses was a branch line

traversing some of the most beautiful scenery visible from rails. From Waipara the track climbs hundreds of metres from sea level, passing through a grassy, rolling countryside dominated by wind-weathered stone outcroppings. As the pass approaches, a spine of stone raises above the green, and the

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Number 428 once pulled express trains on the main trunk line track plunges through dramatic cuttings, with fossilised marine life embedded in their walls. Clearly, in some earlier aeon, what is now the pleasant hill country north of the Canterbury plains was once part of the sea ﬂoor. Rocky formations thrown up by the slow process of tectonics and erosion take on strange forms here, such as the weirdly amphibian proﬁle of Frog Rock, or the castlelike promontories cresting the central ridge of the pass. When the main trunk line was rethought and the branch line consigned to obscurity, it could have spelled the end for the Weka Pass story. Other forms of transport took over from steam as time went by, and soon the majority of passenger

and freight movement in Canterbury was powered by internal combustion. By the tail end of the 1970s the line was slated for closure, with plans laid down to tear up the rails and put an end to the days of steam in the Weka Pass.

and the Ferrymead Railway, a landmark event showcased the beauty of the remaining railroad through Weka Pass. It was the beginning of a new chapter for the ‘iron road’, and heralded a new era of tourism for the town of Waipara.

But the forward-thinking people of Waipara were determined to hold on to what they saw as not just a fascinating part of their local history, but also as a key tourism venture in the making. Steam locomotives, then as now, exerted a pull on the imagination, conjuring up a more romantic era of transport. In 1982 a committee was formed to preserve the railway, and by May of ‘83, with the help of steam enthusiasts from Mcleans Island Steamscene

A decade on, the Weka Pass Railway team had achieved a massive milestone — the complete restoration of a working steam locomotive. ‘A’ Class Paciﬁc Locomotive 428 may be the model of 1909, but over a century later this grand old monarch of the rails is still a force to be reckoned with. The black and brass loco is an imposing sight, and with the loving care and attention of the Weka Pass Railway’s engineers and volunteers it is a fine

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is once again ﬁlled with eager passengers. With a hiss of steam, the mighty Number 428 takes up the load, and iron wheels turn once again on one of New Zealand’s most scenic strips of rail. It’s a testament to the power of determination, a town’s preservation of our shared history — and no shortage of oil, coal, sweat and skinned knuckles in its making.

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at over 65 tons each. The trip through the pass from Waipara to Waikari is a scenic ride to remember, and thousands of visitors have enjoyed taking in the breathtaking views of this rugged, limestone-studded slice of North Canterbury thanks to the dedication of the Weka Pass volunteers and enthusiasts. On selected Sundays (and some Mondays), Glenmark station

example of the best of steamage technology. Number 428 is one of only two of its kind left in the world, and the only one of the pair still in full working condition. As well as the historic steam locomotive, the Weka Pass Railway also runs classic diesel engines — a pair of 1956-vintage DG class, Britishbuilt machines tipping the scales

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January 2015

FIRE DANGER LEADS TO PROHIBITED FIRE SEASON IN CANTERBURY FOR ALL RURAL FIRE EMERGENCIES — DIAL 111 • NORTHERN SOUTH ISLAND REGIONAL RURAL FIRE COMMITTEE

Prohibited Fire Season has been imposed for Canterbury by the rural fire authorities and will remain in force until further notice. A Prohibited Fire Season means it will be an offence to light any fire in the open air in these rural fire areas.

UNDER THE DECLARED PROHIBITED FIRE SEASON THE FOLLOWING ARE BANNED: • • • • • • • •

Camp fires Fireworks Bonfires Rubbish fires Braziers Flying lanterns Vegetation clearance fires including crop residue Outdoor incinerators.

However, gas fuelled barbecues and gas cookers, which contain no charcoal or solid fuel are exempt from this notice provided a high-pressure water supply is available. Also note that fires in Department of Conservation reserves which are allowed for cooking and warmth in a restricted fire season are now banned in a Prohibited Fire Season. If in doubt, check with your local Department office first.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCIL OR TRY THEIR WEBSITE Often the most destructive fires are started accidentally, so with conditions now very dry across the whole district, take care while you are working on farm. Fires can start from the smallest spark, such as slashers or mowers hitting stones, or exhausts when driving through or parking in stubble or long, dry grass. So you need to be very careful when using machinery during extreme fire danger periods. The costs for suppressing any fire in a Rural or DOC jurisdiction can be recovered from the person responsible for the fire. These costs can and have in the past run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a fire during a Restricted or Prohibited fire season becomes an illegal activity Insurance may be invalid. Make sure that you have adequate fire insurance cover, including adequate public liability insurance and fire suppression insurance.

IN EXTREME FIRE DANGER DAYS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO: 1. Stop using welders, chainsaws, slashers and reducing some tractor operations. 2. Ensure diesel trucks with exhausts higher than the cab have spark-arrester shields fixed to the exhaust when carting hay. 3. Harvester operators are aware of the conditions outside their air-conditioned cabs. 4. Pay special attention to checking your machinery’s bearings and moving parts. 5. You should also carry appropriate fire extinguishers, shovels, or knapsack sprayers during high-fire danger periods. 6. If you are making hay, make sure it is the correct moisture content before baling and stacking in a barn and fires have been caused by hay over-heating and igniting, leading to a loss not only of the hay, but the shed and often machinery as well. 7. Check your electric fences to ensure they are not arcing and causing sparks which may cause a fire. If possible turn down the voltage to help eliminate this risk. At this time of year make sure that all machinery and equipment is well maintained and it is good practice to check any machine before start up for bird’s nests and other dry vegetation that may then get hot and possibly ignite and start a fire.

PLEASE NOTE: Just because there may have been some

rain it does not mean that fires are again allowed. Prohibitions will remain in force until a significant period of prolonged rain has reduced the underlying drought conditions and there has been an appreciable greening of the grass. Again, if in doubt, check with your district council before lighting up.

IRRIGATION

January 2015

Irrigation Issues Dr Tony Daveron Definitely! To coin an oft used cliché — definitely ‘it is one of those seasons’. And while December for the most part didn’t really develop strongly into ‘one of those seasons’ the last three to four weeks has conﬁrmed ‘it is one

of those seasons’. When I look back at my articles during the second half of 2014 I ﬁnd that in July and August I was writing along the lines:

‘…the climate scientists are still conﬁdent of an El Niño developing (especially given the sea surfaces of the equatorial Pacific are now

warming toward El Niño conditions) despite the SOI being at a positive value that’s close to La Niña conditions. They (the scientists) also use

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the development of El Niño events in 1982–83 and 1997– 98 to support the development of El Niño in 2014–15. (July); and the Southern Oscillation Index is still indicating El Niño conditions; ie the index is still negative, though not as strongly negative as it was shaping to be earlier in July. It is not ‘deep’ (less than about minus six over a two-month period, with little change over that period) even though it is consistently negative. This is consistent with the NIWA outlook; ie ‘the equatorial Paciﬁc Ocean continues to remain ENSOneutral at the end of July 2014, with atmospheric and oceanic conditions failing to sufﬁciently couple to initiate an El Niño event’.(August) In November I quoted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology who had upgraded their ENSO Tracker Status

from watch to alert because the Paciﬁc Ocean had shown ‘some renewed signs of El Niño development. They considered there was at least a 70 per cent chance of El Niño occurring, probably strengthening in the post-Xmas period. By then the east coast (Canterbury and North Otago) had already dried out and irrigation was full on. All that has changed in the ensuing period is a continued El Niño conditions according to the Southern Oscillation Index. The SOI has been solidly red since July 2014 and mostly less than −6; an indicator of a ‘strong’ system. And so it has been since the week to 10 days before Christmas and all the ‘ducks got in row’; Long days; Warm — hot temperatures, 25–30+ °C; Warm nights; North-westerly winds; and

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IRRIGATION Little to no rain (10mm in last month and 60–70mm in last 3 months). While the typically persistent and strong NW wind is not dominant, the long clear hot days and the absence of rain are typically El Niño — the threat of El Niño raised back in 2014 has come to bear. Other than knowing it was likely back in July/August, there is not terribly much mere mortals can do about it. (see ﬁgure one) So with El Niño-like conditions and the peak of the growing season, the last three to four weeks have been very difficult from an irrigation perspective. No-one has been exempt. Normally by the

second week of January crops have been dropping out of the system — the cooler November and early December just delayed maturity of crops so the aligned with the above factors (the ducks) to form the almost ‘perfect storm’. The soil moisture plot below is a good example of the pressure irrigators have found themselves under. Suddenly in the third week of December the return time for centre pivot irrigation changed dramatically from seven to eight days to three days. With a 5.5mm/day design it has just been possible to keep up. Oh what a few cloudy days and one day of drizzly weather can do — the last irrigation on

January 14 (during the drizzle) and on a very cloudy day has provided some catch up. The ﬁrst time since irrigation has been able to return the soil moisture to about ﬁeld capacity (full point). However, with the forecast for hot, NW days and no rain in the next seven days, the pivot design of 5.5mm/day will struggle to keep up again. When will it rain — here’s hoping not really until the arable farmers can harvest ryegrass seed, cereals and clover seed. After the harvest last season we are due a good one. Sorry to those struggling to keep up with pasture irrigation, but everyone should get their turn.

January 2015

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IRRIGATION

The ‘Know to make it Flow’ Andrew Curtis, Irrigation New Zealand CEO

Alpine fed water storage needed now IrrigationNZ, the national organisation representing irrigating farmers and irrigation service companies, has been advocating for alpine-fed water storage systems for well over a decade. This summer, as we hover on the cusp of another drought, we’re asking national and regional governments to partner with irrigators to plan and then co-invest in alpine water storage. New Zealand has abundant water resources, which could easily meet current and projected demand but only if we develop large scale alpine water storage. Harnessing the potential of alpine systems will generate considerable economic and social benefits for all New Zealanders and build resilience within both provincial regions and urban areas where crops are processed and farm machinery and products manufactured. A reliable drought-proof water supply means we can diversify agriculture into higher value crops generating more return per drop of water. High value horticulture requires signiﬁcant investment during production so guaranteed water supply is essential. Importantly, alpine storage also creates wins for our under pressure hill-fed and lowland streams. Moving irrigators off these water sources and providing them with alpine water instead will allow natural flow conditions to resume during summer. In some instances stored water may also be used to top up summer ﬂows or replenish groundwater that feeds lowland streams. Alpine water can also future proof domestic and industrial water supply. Reliable water for Oamaru is supplied from the Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company and many other towns also rely on alpine-fed supply. Alpine water storage is therefore an investment in New

Zealand’s future environmental sustainability. The flipside is the status quo. Do nothing and we continue to suffer dry spells and droughts which wreak havoc on the economy and the viability of farming. Our hill-fed streams rivers and lowland streams will also continue to be the subject of yet more unproductive litigation over access to water — commercial use versus environment protection. While on-farm storage and foothills-fed storage dams like the Opuha are essential, they have limited reach and more critically offer less reliable supply than alpine-fed storage. Because alpine rainfall is more consistent and plentiful than rain that falls on New Zealand’s plains and foothills regions, it provides a more sustainable supply. New Zealand currently has relatively few examples of alpine-fed water storage systems and most were built for hydrogeneration — the Waitaki and Clutha Rivers for example. But we have plenty of river and lake systems which could provide the basis for new water storage. Several years ago, the Canterbury Water Management Strategy looked at potential water storage sites coming up with 20 options for the region based on 12 storage reservoirs. The CWMS Stage 3 final report concluded large scale water storage, with the community’s backing following consultation, was necessary for Canterbury’s future. “Current approaches to river management do not adequately protect flow variability and the water storage options proposed would lead to substantially reduced flow variability in some

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rivers at, or near, minimum low-ﬂow for much of January through March.” South Canterbury’s current dire situation was predicted with chilling accuracy. “The South Canterbury evaluation confirmed how

‘water short’ the area is unless it can access water from alpine rivers (Waitaki and Rangitata Rivers). The current Opuha scheme is unlikely to meet demand from its existing irrigators in all years. In very dry years, like 1988, the lake may not reﬁll in autumn/winter leading to irrigation restrictions of three months or more.” Tony McCormick, CEO of Opuha Water Ltd, is at the forefront of the ﬁght to ensure irrigation water can be eked out this season. Farmers irrigating from Opuha have just been placed on 50% water restrictions and warned to prepare for tighter limits. He says alpine water feeding into the Opuha system is the only way to guarantee a high reliability of supply year in and year out.

January 2015 “We must look to accessing alpine water if we are to realise the full potential of reliable irrigation in our region.” For IrrigationNZ, this summer highlights again the need to move on alpine-fed water storage infrastructure. Despite the focus upon irrigation development over the past ﬁve years New Zealand has made very limited progress on storage. We have invested heavily in modernising and developing our irrigation distribution systems but have failed to invest in alpine water storage to our detriment. It’s almost as if we’ve lost sight of the prize that reliable alpine-fed irrigation water storage could bring to both the environment and economy. Certainty of water supply allows investment in SMART irrigation technologies

that greatly improve nutrient management and production. There are also direct benefits from storage including the augmentation of summer river flows or being able to release flushing flows that cleanse rivers of summer algal growth. The investment hurdle, a small group of progressive irrigators being expected to fix today’s environmental issues which are largely the result of yesterday’s decisions, whilst providing for future generations, just doesn’t stack up. The only way we’re going to realise New Zealand’s water potential is through the community coinvesting alongside irrigating farmers. Irrigators need to pay their way but the community also needs to be making an investment in its future resilience.

January 2015

E D U C AT I O N Counting the costs Hard on the heels of Christmas and holidays, back to school can be an exciting time, but costs can also bring stress and strain on the family budget. Enrolment fees, uniforms, transport, stationery, school bags, even provision of lunches — it all adds up. Budget advisors are well aware that some families may ﬁnd it difﬁcult to avoid tension at this time, and good advice is to make back-to-school preparations fun and get the family to get involved with a fun atmosphere so that budgeting and saving is an enjoyable activity. It also creates an awareness of the costs associated with everyday items among children and contributes towards a sense of responsibility. In fact, organisation is key, and writing lists is a great way to identify costs and by being organised before you head off to

Warehouse Stationery, or other outlets, you’re less likely to fall into the overspending trap. Make sure you have your list of the new school year needs. Identify the most important requirements — what is needed now, and what perhaps can be postponed until later in the year — for instance, sporting clothing and equipment might wait until the winter season comes around. Another good tip is to make an inventory of what is already in the family. Perhaps an older sibling can pass on books or other items that may serve a ‘second term’ rather than being bought new. Check around — there might be pens and pads around the house that can go in the schoolbag. The cost of education cannot be

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taken lightly in New Zealand households, with a survey at the beginning of the last school year showing ‘free’ state education will cost the average parent nearly $35,000 by the time their child ﬁnishes secondary school. ASG Education Programs surveyed 1,000 parents and the not-for-profit organisation’s projections showed Kiwi parents would pay about $16,000 for a child starting their eight-year primary school state education at the beginning of 2014 and that more than $18,000 would be needed for the same child’s secondary school years. “In the past we have always convinced ourselves that a government education is a free education,” ASG chief executive John Velegrinis said at that time.

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January 2015

E D U C AT I O N ADVERTORIAL

Why Aoraki Polytechnic?

Getting a qualification is about so much more than receiving a piece of paper. It’s about meeting likeminded people, learning from passionate staff, getting stuck in with handson practical skills, and exploring the complex world of industry and careers from within a support network which holds students well-being at its core. For Aoraki Polytechnic, success is not judged by class size or even the number of students who pass a course, but by the tangible outcomes for students when they finish. By linking directly with local businesses and industry bodies when designing courses, Aoraki Polytechnic ensures courses are relevant to today’s job market and are highly regarded by employees.

What to study? Choosing which course to study can be daunting. Unlike school, polytech students need to be selfmotivated, organised, and responsible for their own learning, all-the-while the consequences for failure can be calculated in allimportant dollars and cents. As such, Aoraki Polytechnic has specially trained staff who can guide prospective students through career options and the enrolment process. What’s it like? The workloads of courses vary. A typical full-time Level Three programme consists of 120 credits, and runs for 34 weeks across the year (see course information to find out if it offers part-time, block or distance learning options). Because Aoraki

is focussed on delivering practical skills which link directly to the needs of local employees, tutors have great relationships with industry, and can often arrange practical work placements for students as part of their course. What’s next? It’s never too early to begin discussions with students about enrolling at Aoraki Polytechnic. Often there are other actions like sourcing student finances and organising accommodation that need to happen, so having the enrolment completed early frees up time. Most students are asked to attend an interview as part of the enrolment process. This not only allows the tutor to see if the student is genuinely interested in

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January 2015

E D U C AT I O N ADVERTORIAL

Organics to the fore

Instruction in organic horticulture is now well established at the Lincoln-based Organic Training College with the next year-long course beginning in August. It will be will be the eighth intake for the college and students need no prior qualifications or experience in Year One and can study full or part-time. Those who have some horticultural background can go straight into Year Two. An added appeal of the course is that all fees are under $500, and full time students are eligible to apply for a loan or allowance through Studylink. Course director Bill Martin says it works well to start the course year in the spring. “The organic horticulture course is all about growing so we want to start the course in

spring when it is the right time to begin planting.” Year One students get plenty of hands on training in subjects such as sowing and planting organic crops, soil management and composting. The Year Two students have the option of using land and facilities on the Biological Husbandry Unit farm to grow and sell their own certified produce — a semi-commercial venture that gives students a real taste of organic horticulture as a business. The students grow vegetables under the guidance of a mentor and

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January 2015

Less bark, more bite from farmers’ best friend by Andy Bryenton

In the years after the liberation of Korea, following the disastrous ruin of World War Two, the farming and agricultural infrastructure of the East Asian nation needed to be rebuilt quickly and efficiently. As in the aftermath of the same war in Europe, one of the ﬁrst industries re-started was the manufacture of tractors, offering a way to feed a hungry populous. By 1947, the ﬁrst tractors were rolling off the production lines of the newly founded Daedong agricultural machinery company. Half a century later they have not stopped, and their products are a common sight in the rural hinterland of Korea. It’s an understatement to say that Korea is a manufacturing powerhouse in modern times — this is the homeland of both Hyundai and Kia, as well as electronics’ giant Samsung. As people everywhere embrace the build quality of Korean products, it’s timely to consider the Kioti range of tractors, built by the Daedong factory for export. Straight out of the blocks, it’s easy to see that Kioti have aimed for a burgeoning niche in the market, tailoring

their tractor range to the more diverse needs of the sub-100horsepower driver. Unlike the huge American and European tractors which cultivate whole fields at a pass, these smaller machines are versatile workhorses, taking care of numerous smaller jobs — the Swiss army knife rather than the machete. A perfect second tractor, perhaps, for silage and bale handling, or fitted with a front loader for shovelling metal, feed or manure. By narrowing their focus, Kioti have also achieved that other holy grail — good value for money. The orange machines come fitted with big-brand features (including usb audio in the cab), as well as Perkins diesel engines, a big name used by other big badges in the tractor trade. The PX1002, for example, comes with a very smooth new transmission system, 100 nicely tamed horses under the hood, a

three-speed PTO and the ability to ﬁt Kioti’s own branded front end loader, so even more work can be wrung from this willing

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January 2015

Dig in to serious projects by Andy Bryenton

As farming becomes more intensive, the work load becomes more varied, with innumerable small tasks requiring attention. And while some farmers are pleased to hand off such tasks to professional contractors, there are others who can justify a more hands on approach.

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U series are defined by ease of use. A combination of clever design and simplified controls means that the U series is ideal for the non-fulltime user, with a learning curve that’s gentle and a very forgiving layout. Manoeuvring into tight spaces, for example, is the forte of the U25-3, a compact and powerful 2.5 ton excavator which is perfect for all those little jobs around the farm. The ‘tail’ of this digging machine fits into the radius of its tracks,

meaning that it can go places where a bulkier machine simply can’t. And while it’s there, the

U25-3’s powerful bucket can dig trenches, prepare foundations, scoop materials, or even be ﬁtted out with a hydraulic auger for fencing or piling duties. Every care has been taken to make the U series stable, even when pushing their digging power and reach to the extreme — over 2.8 metres down, and over 4.6 metres from the widetracked base. The unit’s smoothrunning Kubota 20 horsepower diesel sits low in its cradle, giving operators confidence to extend their working space, even in muddy conditions. Farming chores often call for more muscle than even the toughest worker can muster. One of Kubota’s nimble and versatile small diggers in the shed could be just the answer for farms in that niche where large scale creates its own economies. Then again, with a variety of chores to take care of, the shed may be just the place which the U25-3 spends the least amount of time.

Go Further

DAIRY

Hoof Print

January 2015

with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Do you have any BDD in your herd? You may have heard of Bovine Digital Dermatitis (BDD) and how it is a major problem overseas. You also may have heard that we now have BDD in New Zealand. Unfortunately, that is true. We have certainly seen an increase of BDD in the last six years or so. Most of it, thus far, seems to occur in the North Island and in Southland. There are still a lot of unknowns about the disease, but we do know that we need to minimise or eliminate it if we can. Over in Europe, and especially in the United Kingdom it is a signiﬁcant problem causing a large percentage of herd lameness. The picture shows what the disease looks like in a noncontagious stage, however there are different stages to the disease. At this stage the treponemen (bacteria) are deep in the skin where disinfectant can’t get to it from the outside and antibiotics can’t get to it from the inside, which in itself is not a problem until it reappears. This reappearance is a different stage. There are four different stages to the disease, with another stage that is made up of two of these stages together, which makes it ﬁve stages in all. I can’t do justice to this problem in a short article, so please feel

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free to call me if you want to know more about BDD. What I do want to mention in this article though, are a couple of things that you should do when you do ﬁnd it in your herd. 1. Check the rest of the herd as soon as possible by having a designated person look for it

3. You could also consider culling the cow that has the disease. Once a cow has contracted BDD, she will not get rid of it even if the foot looks perfectly healthy. The treponemes remain in the skin and this cow becomes a threat to the rest of your herd. This would essentially work if you only have one or two cases on the farm. However, if you have larger numbers then it would be too late anyway, and culling the

diseased cows may only be the tip of the iceberg. The disease is mainly spread through manure and transporting animals. 4. This in itself is quite a challenge in NZ as most young stock are taken off-farm and farmers who are buying in animals are more vulnerable as well. If you have any questions or would like a brochure with full information on the disease, please give us a call on 0800 833 463, as this is a disease that needs to be taken seriously!

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very closely at milking time. You need to clean the skin in that area of the foot and each case you find needs to be individually treated with TetraVet. 2. Possibly use a foot bath as a preventative. This can also be done with a back-pack

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DAIRY

January 2015

In the shed with Megan Fowlie Coping with the sunshine Right across the country there’s more long lush grass than most cockies need. Certainly at the moment, farms are looking a picture and farmers seem upbeat. Surprisingly, I have heard one or two farmers complain about

the abundance of grass growth which is not a grumble I have noted before. With plenty of grass the cows are doing well. Some good spells of January and

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February rain would help lengthen out the peak production season even more but if that doesn’t eventuate the extra silage and baleage will provide good back-up down the track. I would have thought there was limited room for complaint. If there is anything to be wary about it will be having that lush grass go to waste once it’s been converted to milk and already in the vat. Milk waste is a possibility for many farmers as at this time of year dairy refrigeration can really be put under the spotlight. High milk production, high ambient weather temperature and high ground water temperatures all combine to have

Watch this space!

farm refrigeration systems working very hard. Sometimes under the strain something gives. No one wants to forgo good grass and the efforts in the shed to have the tanker turn away empty so the key is to be prepared. Fortunately, remedies for milk cooling can often be small adjustments in the right place, installing the right size chiller unit for the milk volume or additional standing water. Again, it’s a case of making hay while the sun shines so while everything else is ticking along, it would pay to check out the dairy refrigeration system while it’s working hard, anticipate the issues and get the work done in a timely fashion.

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DAIRY

January 2015

Soil Matters with Peter Burton More product for less cost The required Nitrate N leaching levels that dairy farms will have to meet in future will be calculated by Overseer, and the model at present assumes that all urine contains the same concentration regardless of the type of feed eaten. To meet the allowable leaching levels the focus will need to shift from overall milk production from ever expanding herds, to fewer cows/herds, and maximising individual cow production. Even in our own days of dairy farming this seemed a logical idea, but met with no support at discussion groups or from peers. Getting more cows was the focus, even though supplements at that time consisted of no more than hay or grass silage. Every kilogramme of pasture grown must be eaten, and if not eaten by one, then by another. In many cases this resulted in pasture being grazed too hard, and taking longer to recover. With the advent of maize silage and other easily procurable supplements, these became the wherewithal to get supposed maximum production from more cows. The income from this ‘extra’ production was assumed to be sufﬁcient to pay for the supplements. ‘Production’ was the word of the day, and ‘proﬁtability’ relied on ever increasing payouts. The most financially successful farmers this season are those growing the most pasture and grazing it at the optimum time for high levels of per animal production.

The future success of New Zealand’s pastoral farming lies in our ability to fully feed highly efficient animals on ﬁnest quality low-cost pasture. The grass fed food produced is best quality, and with sound marketing and selling a premium price will be paid for it. Until this extremely low payout season, when the topic of farming with fewer animals has been raised, the immediate and understandable objection is that less individual and overall production is not an option. But a number of farmers have already found that reducing animal numbers actually results in increased output, as less feed is required for animal maintenance, with more going directly into meat and milk production. Through existing breeding and selection programmes the animals capable of exceptional production from pasture alone are already available. However, the ﬁrst step to maximising that potential is ensuring a plentiful supply of high quality pasture, and that starts with the soil. Highest pasture production comes from the best soil. There are three aspects to soil fertility — nutrient levels, physical structures, and biological

programmes for properties to provide the basis for steadily increasing production with

IT’S A activity. All are equally important. Intensive grazing can be hard on all these soil aspects. While much is written about keeping nutrient levels up, and avoiding pugging, the need for continuous robust biological activity is often overlooked. Thus a nutrient programme which not only supplies phosphorus, potassium and

sulphur, but also contains biological inputs, can allow the soil itself to create exceptional pasture growth without reliance on fertiliser nitrogen. Eco-Logic Soil Improvement has data on performance measures, pasture, animal and total production from a number of farms over more than a decade. Therefore it can formulate individual

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January 2015

Plant mite management by Tim Jenkins

Mites can strike tree crops, ornamentals and vegetables sucking vital juices and even the chlorophyll itself out of leaf tissues. Two of the key plant pest mites with a broad range of hosts include the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi — pictured) which can attack many trees including apples and other tree crops and two spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) which affects trees,

vegetables and ﬂower crops. These are both spider mites characterised by web forming when the pests are preparing to migrate to other hosts. The mites themselves are around 0.5 mm long at maturity so can be seen on close inspection as dots moving. Usually they are

found as a result of the webbing if present or the damage that they have done to foliage which ranges from stippling (pictured) through to bronzing in severe cases. In many cases, biological control from naturally occurring predators can be fostered to gain

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European red mite with hatched eggs and leaf damage

sufﬁcient control of the pest mites. This can involve avoiding or reducing pesticide use that might otherwise have collateral damage on the beneﬁcials such as predatory mites, thrips and midges. Improving biodiversity in the farmscape by avoiding excessive monocultures of one crop will also lessen the potential for mite epidemics and inclusion of a variety of plants that host other species of mites will encourage predator presence. Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persirnilis) can also be purchased in New Zealand (from bioforce. co.nz or zonda.net.nz. These are effective on two spotted mites. A further predatory mite (Neoseiulus cucumeris) can also be purchased from Zonda and it preys on thrips as well as twospotted and some other mites.

Ideally these predators should be introduced before the pest mite population gets too large. If there is already stippling or bronzing then an oil spray could be considered ﬁrst to reduce the population to the level that the biological control can handle and release the predators several days after spraying. If managing a signiﬁcant attack by spraying an approved oil spray, a repeat application will usually be required within 10 to 14 days as the unaffected eggs will have hatched and led to a new surge of pests. Continue to monitor mite populations and consider introducing predators if two-spotted mite is the problem. Neem spray has now been found to be somewhat effective on mite eggs as well as the immature and mature phases. Mite overwintering strategies vary between

species with European red mite overwintering as winter eggs and two-spotted mites overwintering as mature females. Good greenhouse hygiene can reduce the mite risk for future crops. In a tree crop situation the eggs or females can be hidden in bark and there is not much scope to hygiene measures. Active growth of mites begins in spring and it is from that time that they are susceptible to oil applications and biological control. Pay attention to crop water requirements and generally maintain healthy vigorous plant growth without environmental stress that could predispose the host to mites. Manage weeds that can host mites in high numbers such as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) or mallow (Malva spp).

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January 2015

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Hind feeding crucial to deer farm profits by Trevor Walton

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE SHEEP FROM FLY STRIKE

To grow premium weaners, deer farmers must maintain their lactating hinds at a body condition score of at least three on a 5-point scale. This is the conclusion that can be drawn from a one-season trial by AgResearch that showed that when hind body condition scores (BCS) dropped from 3.5 to 2.8 calf growth began to suffer. This emphasises the importance of having high quality specialist forages or irrigated pastures available for hinds and calves in the late summer and early autumn, especially in dry summers like the one we are experiencing. “Investing in feeding hinds well during lactation should pay dividends,” says trial leader David Stevens. “Calf weaning weight is a major factor in determining whether a young animal reaches slaughter weight for the premium chilled market in spring and in ensuring that female replacements are ready for the stag at 15 months.” Fellow AgResearch scientist Geoff Asher says that when pasture covers drop below 1,200 kilograms of dry matter per hectare (kgDM/ha), hinds that start lactation in good condition can protect the growth of their calf better than lighter hinds. This is because they use their fat to buffer the calf from adverse grazing conditions. “However, after about 80 days of restricted feeding, even the hinds that were originally in good condition were not able to buffer their calves.” In the experiment, 240 hinds with a BCS of 3.5 were split precalving into two mobs. One was

fed to maintain condition at 3.5 and the other to lose condition to BCS 2.5 before calving. After calving they were again split, with some on restricted feed (under 1,200kgDM/ ha) and some on ad lib feed (2,400kgDM/ha). Calves were weighed every three weeks. Lighter hinds on restricted feed had the lightest calves at weaning (47kg). Their calves were forced to graze pasture early as their mothers were not lactating properly. On the other hand, hinds that were light at the start of the experiment picked up quickly if they were well-fed during lactation, producing calves with similar weights (around 57kg) to

December/January. It is all about the rate of loss in body condition,” says Stevens. “Once their body condition hits 2.8 (from Hinds and calves on dry pasture in late summer, the time when 3.5) hinds basically start high quality feed is needed for calves to reach their growth potential to turn-off lactation.” Monitoring condition of the hind at mid-lactation is critical, he says. This can be via binoculars in the paddock, but the best option is to bring a number Low Meat Withholding Dips of animals into the yards for providing Long Term Protection individual scoring, enabling an average to be calculated. A BCS chart can be found on the Deer Industry NZ website www. deernz.org. “A calf that is heavier has a greater capacity to gain weight during the autumn and winter than a lighter animal,” Stevens says. “Lightweight weaners take longer to ﬁnish and to reach mating weights, so incur greater Locally Owned and Operated cost and generate considerably less income.” Funding for the research CANTERBURY DIPPING came from AgResearch Fly & Lice Dipping and DEEResearch Ltd, the organisation that channels deer farmer levy funds into research. www.electrodip.com For more information, contact David Stevens, AgResearch Senior Scientist, Tel 03 489 9035.

those weaned off heavier hinds than had been well fed. This shows that pasture restrictions during lactation have a bigger effect on calf weight than the original condition of the hind. Providing pasture at greater than 2,400kgDM/ha during the high allowance treatment resulted in calves that were significantly heavier than calves on low allowances during lactation. This was regardless of the feeding regime pre-calving. This supports previous ﬁndings that feeding after calving is most important in species rearing a single offspring. “The messages hold true for later restrictions — like in

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Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Crossbred fleece dealt blow Crossbred fleece dominated the first South Island wool auction held on January 15, although prices prior to the auction were expected to be cheaper than December rates. Considering the Napier sale held on January 8 had resulted in a deﬁnite downturn in prices for most of the longer wool types, the relatively small quantities of wool expected during the balance of the season due to the continued decline in sheep numbers may have given cause

for cautious optimism. South Island brokers however, did not expect quite the ‘body blow’ dealt to them by exporters right from the auctioneer’s opening call at 8am on January 15, and were deﬁnitely showing signs of ‘grogginess’ by the end of the day.

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When the bell rang after the morning break, brokers came out of their corner hesitantly and, whilst the buyers were waiting in the auction ring to continue the battle, it was clearly evident that there was not a lot of spring in their (buyers) step either. Both sides kept their guard up for the remainder of the auction and when the auctioneer’s gavel fell for the ﬁnal lot of the day, a severe

Staff at the PGG Wrightson Christchurch wool store working with wool samples after the most recent auction

bruising was obvious by the number of circles (denoting ‘passed in’ lots) drawn in broker catalogues. Although full length ﬂeece wool received sparse enquiry from the trade throughout January, there were a range of wool types which received good support. Crossbred second-shear types drew good competition and, whilst those types had also

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eased considerably from their very good levels of December 2014, exporters still had firm orders to fill. Crossbred lamb’s wool drew extremely spirited bidding from a wide cross section of the export trade with levels reaching between approximately 640 and 680 cents per kilogram clean, perhaps highlighting the dry conditions in many parts of the country and the subsequent expectance of a lower than usual volume of lamb’s wool becoming available over ensuing weeks. Halfbred and Corriedale wool types continued to draw very good support from the exporting trade and it was most pleasing to see the good quality lines available during January once again being keenly bid for. Too few Merino wools were offered during early January to enable any effective comment on the market here, however Australian brokers reported large quantities on offer there (for two weeks in a row the auction offering was well in excess of 50,000 bales each week) with January auction prices reaching levels slightly ahead of December, most likely a reflection of currency movements, as the Australian dollar had weakened considerably against the Greenback, rather than any significant increase in enquiry. In light of an apparent weakening lamb meat schedule, a weaker wool market in

general, and the weather gods continuing to send hot dry conditions to many parts of eastern areas of New Zealand, farmers could be forgiven for thinking the sheep industry is getting damned tough. We do need stability from our marketplaces for sheep related products, but achieving that appears to be almost impossible for the wider and more general wool clip. Despite many attempts over time by levy funded marketing boards, grower co-operative bodies, as well as investor owned companies, to try and dictate the price of New Zealand wool, nothing has changed in regard to processor requirement. The fact remains that processors of wool will buy what they want, when they want it, and pay what they have to pay for it at the time, driven by supply and demand. Sure New Zealand wool growers can regard their wool as the best in the world, and in the eyes of most processors it is the best wool available to suit their requirements, however proﬁt and survivability influences their businesses most. Of course there are a number of contracts available to growers who produce specific wool types (some are quite lucrative but are generally limited volume deals) but for the main wool clip encompassing all breeds, the spot market does in fact provide the base line for volume trading. That’s my view.

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Helping grow the country

January 2015

the ‘last’ word

EITHER WAY IT’S 20K

with Rob Cope-Williams

Do they care? The media are now starting to talk about the drought here in Canterbury and filling their bulletins and newspapers with items about the heat, the fire risks and no sign of rain in the near future, but do the general public really care. For those in the cities this summer has been great with hot temperatures and lots of sunshine. The school-aged children have been able to play outside every day and the beer gardens have been doing a roaring trade. Most people are thrilled that their lawns have browned off because that means they don’t have to mow them. Only a few people seem to have a vege garden to water and fuss over these days, so even that is off the radar for most. Then of course there’s the visual aspect. Driving down the main road in Canterbury, there are very few paddocks that aren’t irrigated so to the casual eye, there isn’t any drought to talk about. Yes, you are right, that does open the subject of ‘farmers grabbing all our water for proﬁt’ up for discussion. It seems that when it comes to balance in the media, the minority groups come first, second, third and fourth.

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Connecting you to broadband • Amuri Net Wireless • RBI Wireless • enable and EA fibre in Canterbury There is no mention of the costs of irrigation machinery, the continual costs of power or the costs of labour to keep the irrigators irrigating. Have you seen any items saying how much farmers have lost in income because they have had to sell off capital stock because they can’t feed them? How about a story stating that

the returns for dry land crops is much lower than predicted and that will result in a reduced cash ﬂow and problems with ﬁlling contracts. No, the majority of folk think with their own wallets and if more and more stock are slaughtered because of the drought, that means the price of meat for their

barbecues will come down. Oh well, I suppose in a world where people kill each other in the name of religion and think it is OK to teach very young children to hate others, a little misunderstanding between those who produce the food and those who consume it doesn’t really matter that much.

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January 2015

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