Canterbury Farming, July 2013 by Integrity Community Media

28,850 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast.

July 2013

INSIDE Benefits — but not in cash — from Chatham phosphate Sustainable Page 8

innovation – impeccable taste

Page 22

Cadmium study returns clean bill of health Page 26

Kia’s dynamic duo

by Hugh de Lacy New Zealand acquiring its own long-term supply of rock phosphate just off the Canterbury coast will provide huge advantages to the country’s agricultural industries, but about the last place farmers can expect to feel them will be in their wallets. Nelson-based Chatham Rock Phosphate (CRP) expects to have its pioneering seabed mining operation on the Chatham Rise producing 1.5 million tonnes a year of the base fertiliser some time in 2015. That’s a big chunk of New Zealand’s current annual requirement of a little over two million tonnes, but Kevin Geddes, the executive director of the Fertiliser Quality Council, said “it would be a very brave person that would predict a drop in (local fertiliser) prices” as a result. Geddes said the price of rock phosphate in New Zealand was governed by three main factors, of which the first, “and by far the biggest, is the tyranny of distance.

“We’re at the bottom end of the world and we’re not big users on a global scale, so distance is our problem,” he said. The second factor was the increasing number of countries with rock phosphate resources defining them as strategic, and limiting their exports. “For example, we were importing large volumes from China, and it was good

rock, low in cadmium and high in P [phosphorous], but then China determined that phosphate rock was a strategic resource to their agricultural industries so they would only sell some made-up singlesuper, which of course made it much more expensive for New Zealand farmers.” The United State had done much the same, declaring its dark California phosphate rock, which made excellent RPR and superphosphate, a strategic resource and ceasing exports. Presently New Zealand drew rock from Morocco and Tunisia, in one of the most turbulent parts of the world, and more recently from South Africa. Morocco held 40 billion of the world’s known supplies of 50 billion tonnes of phosphate rock, and many countries had resources of varying quality but current global consumption rates were sustainable for millennia, Geddes said. “There’s no shortage.” The third factor impacting on phosphate rock prices was their cadmium levels. “Cadmium is rising to be a (food safety) issue — not because it’s really an issue but because in the public mind anything that is considered to be a contaminant is a no-no.” New Zealand operates a voluntary code that allows no more than 280mg of

cadmium to be present in every kilogramme of superphosphate sold here, and presently most is at about half that level. The rock phosphate harvested from 400 metres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean 400km off the Canterbury Coast is particularly low in cadmium, but of a lower phosphorous content than Moroccan rock. It will be available either for blending with other rocks and fertiliser additives, or for direct application to pastures, with the company claiming lower run-off levels than other phosphate fertilisers. Speaking to Canterbury Farming on the day CRP filed its historic marine consent application with the Environmental Protection Agency this month, managing director Chris Castle confirmed the new source of phosphate rock would have no effect on prices paid by New Zealand farmers.

“We’re in business to look after our shareholders who have put $22 million into this project so far, so we will be selling at the market price,” Castle said. “Most rock phosphate comes from a part of the world that’s pretty unstable at the moment, so what we’re offering is a rock which is sourced locally, is owned by a New Zealand company, has more security and continuity of supply, is easier to handle and has been tested in field trials,” Castle said. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research has measured the positive impact of CRP on the New Zealand economy at $1.3 billion, from import substitution, exports and increased economic activity. On an annualised basis CRP will inject $180m a year into the New Zealand economy, of which $115m will comprise benefits to non-stockholders.

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The CRP licence area is estimated to contain 100 million tonnes of rock phosphate, and Castle said it will be exported to no fewer than eight countries, as well as being marketed locally. The actual mining will be carried out by CRP’s 20% Dutch owner, Royal Boscalis, which has a market capitalisation of $3.4 billion. Prices for rock phosphate have ﬂuctuated wildly over the past few years, soaring to $US500/t in 2008 before crashing to $90/t three years later. It’s presently trading at around $US250/t. CRP hopes to gain its marine consent, the last step before gearing up for production, in January of next year, and has launched a prospectus seeking $10m to bring the project onstream. The Edison Investment research company has valued CRP shares at $2 each, and they have lately been trading at around 35c.

July 2013

The hazardous substances of farming by Hon Kate Wilkinson, MP Waimakariri

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We all know that farms are dangerous places — there are indeed hazards galore. I was reminded of this having just registered for an agrichemicals Approved Handler Course. When certain agrichemicals simply cannot be sold to those who do not have a current Approved Handler Certificate this is certainly a catalyst for wanting to up-skill — not only to then be able to purchase the agrichemical of choice but also to raise awareness of the hazards themselves and of the legal obligations imposed by both the Health and Safety in Employment Act and the Hazardous Substances Act. One of the challenges with hazardous substances is that the damage done is not always immediately apparent but is gradual — so that often by the time it manifests itself it is too late. It is important to be aware of the ‘less obvious harm’ that can be caused by exposure to hazardous substances — such harm resulting in three main ways: namely breathing in toxic vapours, dusts, mists, gases or fumes; absorption through the skin; and being swallowed or ingested Alarmingly,

research

suggests that approximately 500–800 New Zealanders die every year due to industrial illness, many due to exposure to hazardous substances. Furthermore only about 25% of businesses actually comply with best practice. And there are about 150,000 workplaces throughout the country using hazardous substances. The Kiwi ‘she’ll be right’ attitude must change. In May this year the Environmental Protection Authority created and launched a toolbox to raise awareness about the risks of working with hazardous substances such as agrichemicals, paints and solvents — and that toolbox is certainly a good place to start. It includes a guide to working safely with hazardous substances; an online calculator that allows businesses to enter a list of their hazardous substances and learn what key controls they need in place; posters; animated safety videos; and an easy reference

emergency plan.

response

Whilst the toolbox is not specifically designed for use by farmers and those using and storing agrichemicals it is nevertheless a very informative and useful reference tool for all. I do not want to be one of those people (or statistics) who find out too late the debilitating or even fatal consequences of handling dangerous and hazardous substances ignorantly or badly. So it’s ‘back to school’ for a day of learning! And to tick off the safety checklist I will expect to ‘graduate’ with an enhanced awareness of: •

•

the harm that can be caused by the hazardous substances used on the farm how to store, use and dispose of substances safely

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•

control measures to reduce exposure and keep safe

•

the correct safety equipment and personal protective equipment

•

training for others to use the equipment

•

safety data sheets (and what to do with them)

•

what to do in an emergency

•

training to use first aid equipment for splashes and other incidents

•

the importance of asking if unsure

So for me the Approved Handler Certificate course is an investment in not only my own safety and wellbeing — but that of others on the farm. If I do not learn at least the above then I will be asking questions. The course is not just a ‘been there done that’ exercise — it’s an opportunity to learn as much as possible about the agrichemical world and its pitfalls and hazards. I hope I pass!

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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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July 2013

Country Matters

From the Minister

with Rob Cope-Williams

Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries

Improving the sustainability of farming One of my major goals as Minister for Primary Industries is achieving the ‘export double’ — doubling our primary sector exports by 2025. Our exports are worth around $30b a year, and the target is to grow these to $60b in 12 years. At the same time though, we need to have an emphasis on exporting goods that are produced in an environmentally sustainable manner that add real value. It should be clear to everyone that this is not a choice between the economy or the environment. It has to be both. There is a perception in some quarters of New Zealand media, and held by some political parties, that farmers don’t care about the environment — that farmers are short term thinkers, who care only about profit — and that farmers are the main polluters of our waterways. As a farmer myself, and as the Minister for Primary Industries, I completely refute these perceptions. Yes there is a distinction between good and bad farmers. And yes a few farmers do act in a way that is not sustainable. But there are a few ‘ratbags’ in any business, across any sector. I believe most farmers are environmentalists, and want to leave the land in a better state than they found it. Farmers are a competitive bunch and want to be the best across a wide range of indicators, including both environmental and economic. Farmers are there for the long haul — they are the custodians of their land. I’ve attended some important events recently that

reﬂect this. On July 9 a new water accord was launched by the dairy industry at Parliament by the Prime Minister and I. This strategy, led by Dairy NZ, outlines some ambitious goals around excluding stock from waterways (100% exclusion by 2017), nutrient and efﬂuent management, and managing water use. This is a great initiative that shows the sector is committed to sustainably managing its impacts on the environment. In June I was proud to attend the New Zealand Farm Environment Awards and to announce the 2013 winners, Craige and Roz Mackenzie from Canterbury. The Government is also doing its bit to show global leadership by establishing the Global Research Alliance on Agriculture Emissions. This involves linking in climate change and agriculture scientists from over 30 countries in the search for alternative technologies and management systems that can achieve two global goals — increasing global food production by 70% by 2050, and reducing the emissions footprint of that extra production. We are also in the process of the most significant water and RMA reforms in a generation. I am working very closely with the Environment Minister Amy Adams in this space. It is incumbent upon all of us to make sure that we are successful in telling the real story of how New Zealand farmers are dedicated to the sustainable management of our industry.

The Winter woes Every year during the winter, the same subject comes up with vets looking after small block holders — nutrition. I know that small block holders are inclined to cop a fair amount of ﬂak from others in the know, and that the number of small block holders who mess up is relatively small, but those who do cause problems certainly draw the fire. Sadly it is a bit like dairy farming. If there’s one or two percent who mistreat their stock for whatever reason, the whole lot get the blame. It is a little sad that human nature is such that the reverse isn’t the case. However nutrition, or lack of it, is a song that is sung very regularly by a lot of people, and if there wasn’t a problem, the song wouldn’t be sung. I suppose the major problem is that farming is perhaps the only profession that doesn’t require a selection process when it comes to small holdings. All you need is either money or a means to raise enough to buy a block. There’s been enough said about productive farm land going under small holding and being used to hold up a large dwelling and running one horse and a dozen sheep so I will let that subject go in a way that

is similar to picking up a very hot frying pan with a very hot handle… However the subject of learning what to do and when is a subject that can be stressed, and actually stressed is a good word because many people who purchase blocks get into that state on very regular occasions. Just how do you fix a water pipe that takes water to the water trough? How do you quieten down steers that are bellowing their lungs out all day and all night? How do you know when to drench your stock and with what? When should you fence off some of the pasture to make hay when you only have 10 acres? When do you replace pasture and with what? Where to you buy supplementary feed without raising another loan? The bottom line is that you talk, ask and listen. Vets are great sources of information and are very interested in prevention rather than cure, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a neighbour what to do, or getting him or her to help. After all we are all born with no knowledge about anything so everyone else had to learn as well.

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July 2013 in many ways and this latest announcement is the same. While the city is a mess from an infrastructural perspective, no amount of money will change its geography or layout.

O’Connor Comments with Damien O’Connor Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture

Auckland subsidies Recent announcements by the National Government that commits billions of taxpayer dollars to Auckland transport have been welcomed by the mayor and ratepayers.

No surprises there. However claims this spending is necessary for the future of the New Zealand economy is a little surprising given the reality that most of our wealth creation comes from south of the city. Auckland has consistently been a consumer of our wealth

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Encouraging more growth just exacerbates the problem and this all comes at considerable cost to the regions where infrastructure is underused and costs of development are lower. The crazy real estate boom has been further fuelled by this latest taxpayer subsidy and the social costs of unaffordable housing, high commuting costs and failing infrastructure will further increase. Dairy farmers and Aucklanders should be reminded that the region in New Zealand with the worst water quality issues is in fact Auckland. This is because of the huge untreated storm water runoff issues from the extensive city development. We may then have a more balanced discussion on what needs to change if New Zealand’s clean green reputation is to be maintained. Further subsidies to grow Auckland are not helpful for our valuable reputation and cleaner water. On top of the subsidies to Auckland, the cutbacks to core regional services to pay for

them further inhibits the ability of rural and regional Kiwis to prosper. The additional cost of petrol and goods, the centralisation of health services requiring rural people to travel further, and maintaining roading with less central government funding strangle rural industries and ratepayers. We are facing major challenges to maintain and grow our wealth. Dairy farming has prospered but debt is high. Meat farming is marginal. Horticulture remains erratic and forestry cyclical. No one is calling for subsidies to grow the exports so why should we expect to subsidise the city and its consumers? The National Party once claimed to be the rural party. Now they are led by a money trader desperate to capture the city votes through subsidies for urban business and lifestyles that farmers relinquished in the 1980s. This latest spending spree will do nothing to grow exports and wealth for New Zealand and just make life a whole lot harder for farmers and people who participate in the wealth generating industries of our great country. And John Key should remember he needs to support the whole country, not the whole city.

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July 2013

Native Plants

My point of view

Start your 2013 planting NOW!

Allen Cookson

Specialists in eco-sourced native plants

As in Galileo’s Time By scientific observations Galileo had discovered that Earth circled the sun. As this was contrary to religious teaching of the time, he was called before a tribunal and told to withdraw his views. As he knew he would be tortured to death if he refused, he recanted. We don’t torture original thinkers today, but they can and do lose employment in economics departments if they do not go along with the prevailing ‘religious’ doctrine. An anonymous academic economist (whom I shall call Dr X) at a prestigious British university confessed to publishing ‘pure shit papers’. These are complex rehashes of old theory which hardly anyone believes today. He would like to do useful original research, but

dare not, as he could not get it published in the ‘top’ journals. These journals are edited and published by a handful of ‘top’ universities. The rating of Dr X’s department and his university depends upon the number of articles published in ‘top journals, not on quality of the articles. Rating determines the funding the department and university receives. Doctor X, feels bad about this, not least because ‘students these days are so idealistic and eager to learn — they’re really wonderful’.

When asked if perhaps there were other economists in his field who found the situation lamentable and who would, if funding and promotion procedures were changed, write ‘serious papers’, “Oh yes, loads!” replied Doctor X. Like others Dr X had heard of neither the large World Economics Association (formed in 2011 and including Nobel Laureates in its membership) nor its journals, which encourage lively debate on current issues. A respected economics professor told me New Zealand economics departments are completely dominated and controlled by neoclassical economists. University of West Sydney economics professor Steve Keen has been a rebel since his student days. In his lowly rated university, independent thought was encouraged. Keen won the Revere Award for the best forecast of the 2007 crash and ensuing global financial crisis.

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Keen’s advanced computer models enabled him to describe the nature and time of the crash better than anyone else. Despite Keen’s warnings on mass media, Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said “I do not know of anyone who predicted this course of events.” As our Performance Based Research Funding is similar to Britain’s I wonder whether New Zealand has many Dr Xs.

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July 2013

Money Talk with Andrew Wyllie

It’s hard to believe we’re now over halfway through the year. Like most people, I’m certainly looking forward to Spring’s warmer temperatures, after a cool wet winter. The Crusaders have certainly hit their straps in the last few weeks as we get to the business end of the competition, with some good wins over the other local franchises. Let’s have a look at what’s been happening in the markets. The biggest news over the June quarter which impacted markets was the possibility that the United States might soon withdraw its quantitative easing (QE) measures (the buying of government and mortgagebacked securities by the United States Federal Reserve). All the talk of a potential tapering of QE activity began back in May, but United States Federal Reserve forecasts released in June suggested withdrawal of the measures could be earlier than previously thought. This led to accelerated rises in longer-term interest rates and equity markets also suffered. The market reaction was similar to someone losing a privilege, or an addict being weaned off a substance — the result is usually a tantrum of some description! Investors were well used to the previous four years of Central Bank largesse and at the first sign that circumstances might change, they decided to

revolt. ‘Don’t tamper with the taper!’ The good news is that the taper actually signals that things are improving. It tells us that the United States economy is strengthening, more people have jobs, confidence is on the up and housing markets are on the rise. The view is that the selloff in markets looks overdone as monetary policy is forecast to remain accommodative and any removal of QE stimulus would only occur if economic growth was sufficiently robust. Financial markets also kept a wary eye on moves by China to reign in off-balance sheet lending activity by banks via third parties. Some have interpreted the increase in interbank lending rates as a sign of an impending banking crisis. However all Chinese banks are either state-owned or controlled and there are no constraints on the Central Bank bailing out any troubled financial institution. It’s unlikely that there’s political willingness to allow any bank to fail. The moves are considered more a ‘shot across the bow’ of lending institutions to not abuse the system. The interest rate increases in June have led to negative equity market returns in the last month. Despite this, international equity markets provided positive returns over the quarter and outperformed Australasian markets. In New Zealand dollar terms, the largest

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contribution to local market returns was driven by currency movements after European and United States currencies strengthened as their wholesale interest rates rose. Good news for all the exporters out there. The speed of the currency appreciation was a surprise and this trend seems set to continue. In terms of Australasian markets, New Zealand equities fared better than those in Australia. In Australia weak commodity prices weighed on resources and this flowed through to companies servicing the mining sector. Emerging market equities were also lower, impacted by a reversal of capital flows as investors favoured developed economies and responded to lower Chinese growth rates. As United States 10 year interest rates tracked higher in response to the potential reduction of QE buying, New Zealand longer-dated bonds followed. New Zealand corporate bonds however may lag the increases given the ongoing lack of issuance in our domestic market. Consequently the demand for corporate bonds remains strong and is suppressing yields. Indeed during the quarter more corporate bond redemptions were announced, further tightening supply. Andrew Wyllie is an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. To contact him call 0800 367 227 or andrew. wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. To find out more about Forsyth Barr visit www.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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The earlier we commence the estate planning process the better. Succession plans are based on the law at the time they are made and it is always difficult to foresee what rules will be introduced by the various governments in future years. As old age creeps up on us, some will require medical care which will necessitate moving into a rest home or hospital. Until a few years ago, anybody needing care of that kind had to use up nearly all of their assets before they would be eligible for a rest home subsidy. Some years ago the government of the day raised the amount of assets an applicant could keep and still qualify for a subsidy. That threshold was to increase by $10,000 per annum, but a subsequent government altered the increase to reﬂect the rate of inﬂation for the previous year. From 1 July 2013 a single applicant or an applicant with a partner who is also in care must have combined assets valued at $215,132 or less to qualify for the subsidy. If an applicant has a partner who is not in care they can choose either a threshold of $117,811 (house and car are exempt) or $215,132 (house and car not exempt). As might be expected assets

include cash investments, life insurances, loans, vehicles, investment properties and home and car (sometimes). An applicant and spouse/ partner may also have up to $10,000 each in a pre-paid funeral arrangement but it must be in a recognised funeral plan. With the increase in the value of homes the threshold is now quite low and the question which arises is how to put a plan in place which will protect the assets for the family. Many people over the years sold their homes to a Family Trust and made annual gifts of $27,000 each until the debt to them was either totally or partially forgiven. Prior to the sale many created lifetime leases giving themselves the right to remain in the home for the future. WINZ policies have changed over the past few years and are likely to continue to change. For some time now WINZ has regarded the lifetime lease as an asset of any applicant for a rest home subsidy and with some homes it can be a quite valuable asset. So for those who still have such a lifetime lease, the surrender of that lifetime lease is now recommended in order to help protect that ‘asset’ as well.

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WINZ also now makes a very thorough search of an applicant’s means before granting a subsidy and is looking very carefully to see whether an applicant has deprived herself/ himself of assets to fall within the threshold for a subsidy. A policy which WINZ adopted some years back was that if a Trust’s only asset was the family home they did not look too hard at the history of the Trust but if an applicant had transferred a lot of assets to a Trust they had a closer look at the applicant’s activities especially if income producing assets were transferred to the Trust such as a rental property, shares which produced dividends, etc. Recently the Social Security Appeal Authority upheld a WINZ decision on the deprivation aspect of an applicant who, with her husband, had set up a Trust, transferred assets to the Trust and then wrote off $27,000 each annually until the debt was fully paid off. The Social Security Appeal Authority’s decision was that the applicant and her husband had deliberately deprived themselves of assets by gifting $54,000 in total annually. Of greater concern is that the Authority has held that even though the husband did not require care or seek a subsidy, his annual gifting was also included in the amount WINZ assessed the applicant had gifted. This decision was upheld by the High Court and it has now been appealed to the Court of Appeal. Until the Court of Appeal decision is known there is some uncertainty about how much should be forgiven each year by way of a gifting programme. With the recent abolition of gift duty, some very substantial gifts have been made, at times in excess of a million dollars. While every care must be taken when undertaking an estate planning exercise, it is difficult to tell what the future may hold insofar as changes to government policy go. Crystal ball gazing is not desirable when it comes to estate planning whereas being able to plan with certainty is highly desirable. It used to be that nothing was more certain than death and taxes. We now seem to be advancing steadily towards a third certainty — being asset and income tested on our after tax savings. It seems like a punishment for being frugal for all those years. It is not unreasonable for people to try to protect such savings for the benefit of future generations in the hope that they may lighten the future financial burden for their family and to help provide them with opportunities that were merely dreams 65 or so years ago. This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner with Ronald Angland & Son, Solicitors, who may be contacted on 03 349 4708 or email bessie@anglands.co.nz.

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Employment Talk by Matt Jones

The agricultural sector is still losing staff to the buoyant Christchurch rebuild — and it’s only going to get worse. This changing landscape is inciting challenges that beg for a timely solution. The construction, transport and utilities industries are finding vacancies hardest to fill, and the Canterbury unemployment rate sits at a mere 4.3% which isn’t helping the matter. This problem will only get worse over the next two years for employers as the city scrambles to find the thousands of workers they require. The farming industry needs to acknowledge that there is a problem now and it will struggle to compete as skilled staff move to the bright lights of Christchurch. The main draw cards are new career prospects and attractive pay rates. As an industry we will not be able to compete on wages so it’s time to act now to stem this drain of talented workers. While we know the obvious benefits to employees working in our industry we need to do more. As a sector we need to develop an impression of being

an ’industry of choice’, plus individual ‘employers should instill an ‘employer of choice’ culture. We need to focus on looking after valued staff as they are the core of our businesses. By promoting excellence in our industry through training, good ol’ hard graft and a better work life balance, we can then improve staff retention. How good are you at the following?

Communication Be engaging, clear, open and respectful. Discuss what is possible, conveying a positive attitude at all times.

Accountability Be proactive, always be honest with staff, and answer their questions without judgement or excuses. Don’t load all the responsibility on them, and be accountable for your actions. Focus: Be attentive to employee and business goals. Place a greater focus on this and it will breed increased productivity and drive from staff. Mining for gold: You should maximise your staff’s

talents so they use their abilities optimally and collaborate more to get the best from them.

Balance is key Give staff a chance to rejuvenate when they need it. An energetic and enthusiastic worker is a major asset to your business. Take yourself less seriously: Easier said than done but important nevertheless! Make your workplace fun. A sense of humour goes a long way and builds a great rapport with staff. Whether you need to invest in improving your staff’s skill set and qualifications, or just lighten up and communicate better as an employer, making some key improvements can benefit staff attraction and retention so recruitment doesn’t become an on-going headache. As employers we need to implement some of these measures as part of a game plan to combat these recruitment issues. Why not make a start now to retain your staff and protect our key economic sector from haemorrhaging workers to city temptations.

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July 2013

Getting enough Co Enzyme Q10? Co enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential for energy and a deficiency will can make us abnormally tired with weak muscles. As an antioxidant it also prevents dangerous oxidation of cholesterol trapped in artery walls which is the first cause of the plaques that restrict coronary blood flow. We produce CoQ10 less efficiently as we age. The creeping tiredness that affects us later in life can be from insufficient CoQ10. Statin medications also reduce CoQ10 and is often responsible for many of the side effects including muscle weakness, pain and general malaise. Some problems especially autoimmune and neurological disease seem to lower CoQ10 levels possibly through increased demand from the disease processes. Most healthy people under 50 do not need CoQ10 supplements as we efficiently make all the CoQ10 we need. However, increasing age and some diseases make a strong case for controlled supplementation. I include it as nutritional support for most circulatory problems and many neurological and autoimmune diseases including Parkinson’s, MS, CFS, FM and PMR that all cause low energy. I regard it as essential when taking cholesterol medications to protect against muscle problems, fatigue and memory loss. For example I recently created a programme for someone with MS and she has noted a distinct improvement in her energy and general well being. I have had the same reports from people with Parkinson’s. We cannot greatly impact these disease process but we can help with the often crushing fatigue improving real quality of life. I add CoQ10 either as a separate patented US sourced product or as part of my own energy formula with CoQ10, B vitamins, resveratrol, lipoic acid and many other energy co factors. Please contact me for personalised advice for your circumstances. My online newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz has the full version of this column. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a Nutritional Therapist and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. Contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@johnarts.co.nz. For product information visit www.abundant.co.nz.

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July 2013

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(Japanese sushi chefs) and seafood connoisseurs alike. Some have even gone so far as to call the salmon from this innovative farm ‘a different species’ — far apart from the salt-water farmed fish found in the waters of Stewart Island or the Marlborough Sounds. With this culinary pedigree you would expect these ‘royal’ fish — pure king salmon — to be sourced from some hidden mountain lake. But the reality is that Mount Cook Alpine Salmon live and grow in the hydro canal of a working power generating

facility. The farm spans the wide, straight canal with a series of gantries and platforms, set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps. The canal discharges through a power station into the waters of Lake Pukaki, and both above and below the farm it is cold, clear — and pure enough to scoop up and drink. International visitors and leaders in their fields have expressed admiration for the ground breaking use of such an environment. “As a consultant I have personally visited a large

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July 2013 (then known as ECNZ), Mount Cook’s development team set out in 1992 to utilise the benefits of the pure, fast-ﬂowing glacier and snow melt in the canal for aquaculture.

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With 130 cubic metres per second flowing through, at purity levels equal to the priciest bottled waters available for human consumption, this resource was simply too good to pass up. The very first raft (the floating structure which ‘cages’ and protects the salmon as they mature) which was floated was designed to hold 70,000 fish — completely uncharted territory. Tweaks and upgrades followed to hone the system. The resulting years of trial, error, research and experiment have paid major dividends. The neighbouring Tekapo canal is now also in use, as the world’s highest salmon farm, over 670 metres above sea level.

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of colour. Chefs (especially the master Itamae of Japanese restaurants) prize the texture of this salmon, and how well it presents on the plate compared to sea-farmed fish.

The product which is now coming from the waters of those hydro-electric canals is seen as a cut above even most wild salmon by chefs and gourmands worldwide.

As New Zealand seeks to lead the world with smart, sustainable farming practices, this novel experiment in aquaculture goes to show that farming can be far more than the traditional agri-business of crop and pastureland.

Due to constantly swimming against the swift current, and also due to a diet which builds tone and flavour rather than sheer bulk, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon render a delicately flavoured, sweet and subtle flesh, with less fatty ‘marbling’ and a distinctive orange-red richness

Perhaps most noteworthy of all is the fact that this introduced species (salmon as first brought here from Canada and the US in the early 1900s) is healthier in New Zealand than in its native habitat, thanks to robust biosecurity laws and practices barring the import of potentially disease-carrying

stock. That this gourmet ‘superfood’ can be cultivated in conjunction with generating

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July 2013 well as being very lean. There is great variety, whether you breed and/or finish deer, velvet stags or look more into genetics and breed sire stags.

HINDSITE again highlighting to us that they are being kept in their natural environment. Good temperament is very important.

proportion of animals going prime before Christmas. This will also reduce climatic risk — (grass is cheaper on the hill).

We are investing in genetics more with our sire stags and our ability to trace genetics with EID is allowing us to monitor stock performance, e.g. liveweight gain and velvet production. The aim is to speed up the genetic gain of our herd.

Thoughts on the future

It is such a wonderful product. Easy to cook and has a lot of cooking varieties, as

Although I have said that deer are a good return for our business — stability of pricing

Canterbury Branch NZ Deer Farmers Assn Sponsored By Mountain River Processors Ltd A young person’s industry view by Georgie Harper

After school I went travelling for a year then I gained qualifications at Otago and Lincoln University. I then moved into the big world and got a job marketing lamb for Anzco foods. I was given the opportunity to go back to the home farm with my husband in June 2012. Quartz Hill is 3,000ha of which 20% is deer fenced. Within this area we run 800 breeding hinds, 300 velvetting stags and currently sell our terminal Wapiti X weaners at our on-farm deer sale. Our breeding herd is Rakaia Red which my father and Uncle originally captured by helicopter in the 1980s.

$60,000 to fence off 180ha high country block which goes up to 1,000 metres above sea level. Based on the average price of our weaner deer sale this year and a gross sheep price of $94S/U we would generate a 13.2% return on capital investment in the first year. They are in their natural environment on our property as they have plenty of natural cover. It is also important to us that deer have a considerably reduced snow risk compared to that of sheep.

Why we are farming deer

We achieve a good calving rate without scanning the hinds — (90%).

Deer gross us $109 per stock unit which is our highest earner out of the three classes of stock we run, being sheep, cattle and deer. Sheep $94/SU Cattle $75/SU.

We have a policy of minimal animal health programmes because we believe in natural immunity but we also find that our stock don’t get some of the common deer diseases,

We need to be mindful of our environment when farming deer, for example waterways and erosion. But when done well there is a low environmental footprint.

is an issue. We need to do better than $7/kg in order to grow our percentage of deer. We are producing a product I believe is of high value but quite simply we need consistency. There is still plenty of room in this industry for production gains. What we would like to see in any primary industry is a value chain that we understand, is transparent, and well managed. Farmers would commit more to this process with reduced price volatility.

In our type of country we find deer very labour efficient. Wildly ﬂuctuating prices for all classes of stock, makes it very hard to run a farming business. 2011/2012 we achieved $130/SU for deer but 2012/2013 this figure went down to $109/SU. While there is a lot of emphasis on how poor the sheep industry is performing this year it is worth noting that on Quartz Hill, our sheep income has only dropped 4% more than our deer income. In order to reduce any price volatility, we need to consider finishing deer which are produced on a harder hill country environment with a

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July 2013

Weather Watch

Forecast — Canterbury Rain

by Tony Trewinnard

As predicted in previous outlooks, airflow in June and in the first half of July was more frequent from the easterly quarter than usual, with low pressure systems affecting New Zealand and bringing regular rainfalls to Canterbury. While some spells of westerly airflow have occurred, they have been relatively brief, and always terminated by troughs of low pressure bringing cold fronts from the south or east. As we expected here at Blue Skies, June was wetter, colder, and cloudier than normal in Canterbury. The month was dominated by a major storm system around the 20th of the month which brought heavy rain, snow and strong winds to the region. This followed another heavy rain event just seven days before. Consequently this June was one of the wettest on record in Canterbury, and one of the wettest of any months. For many locations in Mid and North Canterbury it was the wettest for at least 50 years, and in some cases the wettest in records going back over 100 years. Totals were at least 200% of normal across all the region, and some sites recorded totals of 300-350% of normal. Sunshine hours were below normal by 10-20% across the Plains, but near or a little above normal on the western hill country and in inland South Canterbury. Mean temperatures were — 0.5 to — 1.0deg colder than normal, with most of this departure coming from day time maximums. There were fewer frosts than usual in the month. In the tropical Pacific conditions remain mixed, and overall in a neutral state. There is no clear trend towards either El Nino or La Nina, and the Southern Oscillation Index remains near zero. No other indicators show a trend. There looks to be good reason to expect on-going neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific for at least the next three months, and probably into early and mid-summer. Sea surface temperatures off the Canterbury coast remain near normal, while temperatures are warmer than normal in the Tasman Sea. This may be a key driver in weather patterns over the next two to three months. Computer models show no clear trend expected towards either El Nino or La Nina in the next six months, with models showing some diversity but generally all favouring near neutral conditions. A trend between now and the end of the year is to see reduced westerly airflow each month, with increased chance of easterly flow and increased risk of low pressure systems developing in the Tasman Sea and moving onto and over New Zealand.

Lake Pukaki

For this reason, we cautiously predict the next six or seven months should see at least normal, and probably above normal rainfall on the eastern Plains and coast, with a chance of on-going slightly below normal rainfall on the ranges and in inland parts of South Canterbury. This pattern may, in time, impact on summer hydro lake storage. Sunshine hours may also be mostly below

normal, especially through the spring months on the Plains.

these often tracking over the North Island.

With little change from our last outlook, we have confident expectations for the next three months to see reduced westerly airﬂow over the South Island, with anticyclones still tracking across the South Island regularly, but also the on-going development of low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea and

The interactions between these low pressure systems and the anticyclones will likely bring frequent (but not continual) periods of southerly quarter and easterly quarter airﬂow over Canterbury. For this reason we confidently expect the next few months to be cloudier than usual. While

ALWAYS KEEP EQUIPMENT AT LEAST FOUR METRES FROM POWER LINES

Temp

Sun

Airflow

AUG

Near normal

A little colder than normal

Cloudier than normal

More anticyclones

SEP

A little wetter than normal

Near normal, cold nights

A little cloudier than normal

Low pressure systems affecting the country

OCT

Near normal

Near normal, cold nights

A little cloudier than normal

More anticyclones

NOV

Near normal

A little milder than normal

A little cloudier than normal

Periods of easterly airflow

some frosty periods are likely with the anticyclones, we generally expect fewer frosts than usual. Overall we expect day time temperatures to be a little colder than normal due to reduced sunshine, but night time temperatures milder than usual. These are likely to balance out to near normal overall. Rainfall is likely to be at least normal in each of August, September and October, and quite likely above normal in at least two of those

months. However, areas near the ranges and in inland South Canterbury may see rainfall a little below normal. While temperatures will likely remain near normal through to the end of July, the first half of August may see milder temperatures and not much rain. However, the second half of August and early September are likely to see a return to colder and wetter conditions.

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WATER

July 2013

ADVERTORIAL

Maintaining compliance: What is your water meter telling you? by Matt Bubb, Aqualinc Research Limited

There have been almost 4,000 water meters installed in Canterbury since November 2010. Data collected from meters needs to be supplied to ECan by 31 July. With this number of new meters, there are going to be some surprises in store. Information provided by new water meters can come as a shock. We are often not aware how much water we are using until it is measured and recorded. Becoming aware of how much water is being used can highlight non-compliance with conditions of your resource consent. Consents often have three flow-related limits: • Flow rate (l/s) • Volume over a specified period (ie m3/week) • Seasonal volume (m3/year) The water taken will need to comply with all of the

limits specified in the consent. Where non-compliance is noted there are three courses of action: a) Ignore it and hope the problem goes away (definitely not recommended!) b) Alter the pumping regime to ensure future compliance (often not recommended) c) Change conditions of the consent to match what’s actually happening (usually recommended) Because of over-allocated ‘red’ zones and misunderstanding of the consenting process, options (a) and (b) are commonly perceived as preferable. Option (a) is clearly not a good choice — the same non-compliance will continue and the Regional Council will require that this is corrected. Option (b) can occasionally be the most practical solution, although it is often not ideal because the methods used to maintain compliance can lead to inefficiencies (eg throttling the pump) and reduced production (eg reducing flow rate or limiting irrigation duration). This option often leads to a host of other, very expensive problems. In many cases the most appropriate way to resolve the non-compliance issue is to seek a change of conditions. A common non-compliance is that the pump rate is too high. In some situations this can be a simple fix, not even requiring detailed assessments.

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If you have non-compliance issues, contact Aqualinc on 03 964 6521 to discuss your irrigation and consenting needs.

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WATER

July 2013

Domestic Water Wells

Irrigation Issues Dr Tony Daveron

All of the seasons Winter — has it been? Spring — is it here? A mixed up winter it has been. Cold, freezing cold, warm, hot almost, snow, rain and everything in between. But oh it is wet. Winter is, according to all the definitions, the coldest season of the year. Meteorologists like to define winter as the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures — June, July and August in the Southern Hemisphere. Often the coldest average temperatures are in June or July in the Southern hemisphere. In addition, the Southern Hemisphere has a more maritime climate and there is a relative lack of land south of 40°S that also makes the winters milder. Wet and milder it has sort of been except that period near the end of June. How wet — just ask those trying to farm in and around Lake Ellesmere where water now inundates land whenever there is a hint of rain. Ah but there is an upside. There has been heaps of drainage into the groundwater system. A quick analysis if drainage from a lysimeter site tells us that June and July has made a massive contribution to the

groundwater supply. The drainage chart shows plenty of drainage in June and July. Drainage mm The accumulation of the rainfall and drainage shows that 160mm of the 228mm of rain or 70% drained to groundwater in this period. That is an awfully large amount of drainage and is a very large volume of water added to the groundwater system. If (and it is an if because not all the soil types have the same shallow nature) 160mm was to drain to groundwater in the Rakaia–Selwyn and Selwyn– Waimakariri groundwater zones — well! Cummulative Rain & Drainage mm

So wet it has been and those numbers suggest groundwater supply will be pretty sound this coming irrigation season and probably the next season as well. There has been a sharp rise in groundwater level of nearly 10m since early June. I would expect the rise to continue over the next month or two because water is still making its way to this depth. A month or so ago I wrote “for reliable water for 2013–14 the level needs to rise back to -45mbgl (or higher).” It looks like we will easily break this barrier and might well get back to the halcyon days of 1995 shown on the water level plot.

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Drainage, mm

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July 2013 All prices ex GST

USED TRACTORS

JCB Fasttrac 8250 4WD, 260hp, 9000 hours, Vario trans, High spec, COMING IN, 22701, .....O.....$85,000 John Deere 6520SE & Stoll F36 NSL Loader 4WD, 115hp, 4700 hours, 21931, ......................T.....$75,000 John Deere 6320P & JD 640 SL Loader 4WD, 100hp, 3700 hours, P/Quad trans, 22654, .............T.....$67,500 New Holland TS100A & Milaeux MX80 Loader 4WD, 100hp, 2300 hours, 22777, .....................O.....$67,000 John Deere 6220SE & JD 651 SL Loader (2004) 4WD, 90hp, 3032 hours, 22294, ..........K.....$67,000 John Deere 6420P & Quicke Q755 NSL Loader 4WD, 115hp, 4350 hours, 22846, ...........K.....$60,000 Massey Ferguson 5455 & Stoll F15 SL Loader 4WD, 95hp, 3000 hours, P/Shift trans, 22409, ..O....$60,000 John Deere 6220SE & JD 651 SL Loader (2004) 4WD, 90hp, 5100 hours, 22500, .............K....$53,000 New Holland TM165 4WD, 165hp, 7085 hours, A/C cab, Tidy unit, 21895, ............................T.....$50,000 John Deere 6210SE & Quickie 760 Loader (2000) 4WD, 90hp, 6642 hours, 22467, .......G.......$38,000 New Holland TS115-SR 4WD, 115hp, 6474 hours, Tidy tractor, 22786, ..................................T.....$37,000 New Holland TL90A 2WD, 60hp, 3200 hours, 22302, ..................................................................T.....$35,000

John Deere 6520P & JD 731 NSL Loader (2003) 4WD, 115hp, 5789 hours, AutoQuad trans, 22649, ..........K....$62,000

Deutz Argotron 115 & Stoll Robust F30HD Loader 4WD, 115hp, 5617 hours, Powershift trans, 22704, ..........T.....$48,000

USED MACHINERY

Scannell Multi Bale Feeder 4.7m3 Capacity, Feeds rounds and chopped silage, 22702, .........T.....$11,000 Taege 2-Bale Trailing Feeder (2003) In good John Deere 6110SE & Pearson 20.36 mechanical condition, 22812, ..................T.....$5,700 Loader 4WD, 80hp, 5568 hours, Power Michelin Tyres x2 22356, .........................O.....$1,750 Quad trans, 22451, ................G....$37,000

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FORESTRY

July 2013

Trees & Other Stuff by Andy McCord

Shelterbelt maintenance Without doubt weed control in the initial years of tree growth is essential. When planting woodlots, weed control in the first year is a must and in the second year definitely beneficial. After which the established trees can usually outgrow any competing vegetation. And of course after canopy closure all weed competition is smothered out.

But before this if weeds, including rank grasses are allowed to grow actively beside juvenile trees, these trees will suffer both in height and health.

This of course doesn’t happen for shelterbelts as canopy closure doesn’t mean much, as most of the active weed growth is around the periphery of the stand.

Even if they do survive tree height is irregular, and since the trees sacrifice height for diameter they are ‘whippy’ and prone to topple. About this time last year Brian Kirk (Kirky) of Lake Coleridge Station recognised this problem and decided to do something about it.

In this case weed control is important for at least three to five years until the active tree roots can starve the weeds (whether grasses or brushweeds) of valuable moisture. Once this is achieved weeds will die.

By completely containing all rank grasses amongst his juvenile shelterbelts he has improved tree health dramatically, and with the present threat of evading grass gone he is confident that tree volume will double over the

A PPL E TON S TREE NURSERY

next few years, and I fully agree. With the strong winds they experience in this part of Canterbury it is imperative that shelterbelt trees are strong, healthy and uniform. Photo depicts ‘Kirky’ adjacent to one of his many shelterbelts. Joke Time: An elderly Queensland farmer had quite a big farm. Down in one corner he had a dam on the creek so that his grandkids could go swimming when they visited him in the holidays. Beside the creek were a few fruit trees which always gave a good crop. It was late in Summer and since he hadn’t been down there for awhile he thought he would take a bucket and fill it up with fruit.

On approaching the pool he heard laughing and giggling. As he peered around the corner he noticed a group of young ladies skinny dipping in his pool. So when he arrived he made himself known that he was the owner of the pool. With that the girls all sank up to their necks, informing the old guy that they would not come out unless he left. He informed them that he didn’t mind them swimming in his pool at all. While holding up the bucket he mentioned that he had just come down to feed the crocodile!!

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

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July 2013 a pretty strong bull run over many months. In terms of CIF settlements in the market it is certainly looking like we should be getting prepared to batten down the hatches.

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF Laurie Forestry Ltd The increasing demand from domestic sawmills reported last month has continued with demand for S grade logs at a point of exceeding supply. Some local mills are struggling to get enough logs, sometimes almost

waiting for the next load to arrive. The increase in local lumber prices reported last month appears to have stuck this time. As a consequence we have seen some small lifts in domestic log prices, although certainly not to levels that

Whilst demand in the key China market has been reasonable, Pacific Rim softwood supply has been exceeding that demand for the last two to three months as sellers scramble to capture some very good pricing. Over the next two to three months we can expect usage to continue

would prompt cracking a bottle of champagne. Understandably sawmill owners are wanting to hang on to some extra margin to ensure they can keep the wolf from the door. Export prices have held at similar levels this month after

to decline as Chinese workers slow down in the face of midsummer temperatures. Inventory levels on the eastern seaboard have been rising slowly. Daily log consumption has been running at just over 40,000 cubic metres, about the same as the consumption levels by local processors in New Zealand. However, deliveries have been running at about 60,000 cubic metres per day. It is therefore not hard to imagine the big white gloved hand will be coming out sometime soon to try and slow the log traffic. It is looking like late July/ August CIF settlements will be US$6–8 per cubic metre down on June sales. The softening Kiwi dollar against the US and small drops in shipping costs have helped to ensure the wharf gate position in NZ remains largely unchanged. Not so I suspect for August deliveries to the ports, with some commentators suggesting there could be another US$4–6 to come out of the price yet… ouch. Of slightly more worrying concern is the drop in pruned log demand in China or rather substantial over supply compared to demand. Two distressed cargos of pruned logs are on their way to China at present. Distressed means the cargos left NZ without a letter of credit and therefore a confirmed buyer. Of course everyone in the market finds out about this and the buyers start to play cat and mouse with the volume — them being the

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1st July - 31st August 2013

cat of course and the mouse gets, shall we say, a bit of a bashing. Meanwhile the huge international shipping company STX Pan Ocean announces it is struggling to pay the bills and a range of measures have been put in place. If you read through the bull, this simply means they are looking like the mouse mentioned above after an hour of ‘play’. The company is in hock to the tune of US$3.9 billion, owns 97 vessels, charters another 249 and has 28 new vessels on order. STX Pan Ocean is very strong in the Handysize vessel log trade class including from NZ. It is therefore likely we will see some firming in shipping rates unless others move quickly to take up the slack. It is certainly great to see our local mills displaying an air of optimism not seen in the recent past. The earthquake rebuild is looking like gaining momentum with a recent ring around agents nationally, confirming the swing upward is affecting all regions… hallelujah! Ignoring the issues of the present, long term all international wood fibre supply stats for plantation species continue to point to demand exceeding supply and therefore sustained price firming. Thus it is time for many more to now follow suit and 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…!

COMPLETE KITSET EXAMPLES

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$6,550

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3.5m x 3.6m

$2,750

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3.5m x 4.0m

$2,890

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3.5m x 6.0m

$4,000

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$3,900

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$4,020

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$5,800

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Dimensions

Zincalume

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$4,950

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$5,250

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$6,690

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13.7m x 3.6m

$5,940

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$6,120

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$3,960 $4,200 $5,352 $4,752 $4,896 $6,816

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$4,520 $4,808 $6,192 $5,424 $5,600 $7,816

* Terms and Conditions: The special offers are valid from 1st July to 31st August 2013 only. Prices exclude GST, installation and freight. Prices are for the standard kitset products with Zincalume OR Colour Steel cladding options only (excluding other options). Extra options for doors, windows, canopies, internal walls, spoutings and skylights are available but exclusive of the offers. 10% deposit is required. Full payment is required within 30 days. The offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer. All sizes are approximate. Photo are for illustrative purposes only. Please visit www. shedsnz.co.nz for detailed information.

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03 347 7031 info@shedsnz.co.nz www.shedsnz.co.nz 1304 Main South Road Weedons, Christchurch

1304 Main South Rd Weedons, Christchurch

July 2013

Our nation needs a good dose of common bloody sense If it moves legislate it. A whole new industry of regulators is booming. A solicitor’s paradise. From Parliament through a network of state run departments, down to the lowest local authority we are told what to do with our lives and what not to do. Regulations ﬂow thick and fast. District Health Boards regulate clinicians to watch their pennies. And the general public to watch what they eat. In the southern provinces a local DHB goes and outsources support services to an Aussie firm through its Auckland HQ, mainly servicing the elderly, ignoring a tried and trusted local organisation. Education authorities rule what kids should learn and how teachers should handle them. And let’s not mention the over-reaching safety regulations. There are some dangerous occupations, mining, forestry and farming particularly, that need to follow precautions, mainly common sense. True. But it can get from the sublime to the ridiculous in many cases. KiwiRail outsources its engineering works throwing some 80 qualified tradesmen out of a

job, but neglects to count the costs of redundancies and dole payments. Plus having to repair the rolling stock due to deficiencies by the offshore manufacturer. Politicians and state department heads need to step back and ask themselves what implications new

“

So let’s all pile into these potential mega cities and forget about eking a living in a future rural wilderness

”

legislation has on us, the general public. I believe it needs a good dollop of plain common bloody sense before legislators get too wrapped up in intricate details on a single issue. Lets just tag a few more glaring examples. Where is the common sense in piling even more immigrants, let alone

transitory kiwis, into grid-locked Auckland with little available land space, skyrocketing house prices, huge infrastructure and transport problems, potentially declining health, poverty and increasing crime levels. So who was the bright bunny that suggests that postal sorting services should shift from the regions to Auckland and Christchurch? They are going to have to earn megabucks to afford to survive there. On top of that residents from said regional centres will be asked to foot some of the bill through taxes to boost Auckland’s transport system. Whatever happened to the much vaunted regional development schemes promulgated by both major political parties. Of course I should realise that politics comes into the equation. Auckland has the biggest voting base. And the Christchurch rebuild and population numbers is fast catching up. Also where is the common sense coming from some bright character cloistered somewhere in the Department of Health (I assume) that advocates all hospital meals should be cooked in one South Island centre and despatched to the regions’ hospitals. Yeah right. What about being cut off though snow storms, ﬂoods, delays through traffic accidents etcetera. And then all ingredients, veges, meat, fruit and drinks have to be sent to this single site in Christchurch to be cooked and then transported all the way back to Dunedin, Balclutha, Invercargill, Dunstan and Queenstown from Christchurch. Let alone to the rest of the South Island centres. What do these characters use for brains, or logic. And Christchurch is having considerable

accommodation problems without having to cater for another 70-odd postal workers who will need accommodation when they shift to a new sorting centre in the town. So I post a letter to a mate in Dunedin. From Hampden it goes all the way Christchurch and is sent back down to Dunedin. Or I post a cheque to a Hampden business with the same result. Well, I ask yer! And then there is the musical chairs of head offices and relocated manufacturers. The bigger Auckland and Christchurch get, the bigger the consumer base, bigger the market, bigger the available labour force so let’s all pile into these potential mega cities and forget about eking a living in a future rural wilderness. But hang on. It’s the regional agricultural food and fibre production that pays the bills through exports. Meat, wool, grains, wines, fruit and forest products that provide the

sustenance for our big cities. Perhaps it’s time for governments to get down to earth. Get unemployed Aucklanders and some immigrants to come and pick fruit, plant veges, prune and thin trees, dag

some sheep, work in the woolsheds and on dairy farms. They may get to like it. Want to stop permanently in the provinces. Maybe. Finally let’s let in the blinding light of good old practical common sense.

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July 2013

FERTILISER ADVERTORIAL

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Intelligent practice When science collides with traditional farming practices we all win with more production, healthier crops and animals while moving to more sustainable, environmentally friendly practices. The solution is simple, Bio Marinus Biological and Organic Liquid Fish Fertilisers. Made from an aquatic renewable raw material source freshly processed at our state-of-the-art facility at low temperatures, we maintain the integrity and vitality of naturally occurring amino acids, oils, proteins and enzymes. Bio Marinus is also a valuable source of omega 3 and 6, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, vitamins and trace elements, notably zinc, iodine, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium and fluorine. Being enzymatically hydrolysed no water is added during manufacture so it is in the concentrate form. Seaweed along with biology (bacillus subtilis, mychorhizae, trichoderma, nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilising bacteria, stubble digesting micro-organisms) have also been added assisting thatch breakdown

and preventing unwanted disease sites from colonising. Humates including fulvic are added containing additional minerals and vitamins. This has the ability to chelate minerals and convey them directly into the plant. The humic component enhances soil fungal activity by supplying the readily available carbon as an energy source to grow and increase biomass. Active fungal biomass is important in the soil as an integral part of the soil food web, so if this link is damaged then soils will not function at biological optimum levels. Biologically active soils retain more moisture and release locked nutrients ensuring greater production, faster rotations and increased performance in stress situations. Healthy soils need products that can feed the soil solution and replenish organisms.

BIO MARINUS™ LIQUID FISH FERTILISERS

By increasing the range of nutrients, their availability and by feeding these soil organisms we can increase available compounds for plant growth and animal development while growing roots deeper in richer soil. Bio Marinus products are stable, non toxic, non corrosive and easily mix with other nitrogen based

fertilisers. It allows you to reduce current nitrogen applications for more growth with its high conversion efficiency and is ideal for all pastures and crops. Filtration below 200 microns ensures easy mixing, no blockages and no damage to pivots, spray nozzles and fertigation systems.

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July 2013

FERTILISER ADVERTORIAL

Compost – your farming advantage by Trevor Chatterton — Living Earth

While a recent publication by Plant and Food Research* established the business case to farmers for the application of compost to land, many Canterbury farms have enjoyed the benefits of applying compost to land for some years now. Living Earth, who manufacture compost from the Christchurch organics waste collection, have experienced strong demand from the rural sector and virtually all compost produced at their facility is sold to the farming sector. Trevor Chatterton, who runs Living Earth’s rural sales on the ground in Canterbury, says that the compost has been sold to a broad range of farming and agricultural production sectors including dairy, forestry, viticulture, arable and berryfruit. “Over the past four years the key drivers have been the desire to add carbon back into depleted soils, increase water retention capacity and benefit from the release of

nutrients in the compost into the soil.” Once the prerogative of the organic farming sector, Trevor is finding that the mainstream farming community is now looking ‘over the fence’ to the neighbouring paddocks where compost has been applied and beginning to assess where compost would have relevance for them. For example, a win in a winter feed crop competition for local Springbank farmers Winton and Rebecca Gartery a couple of years ago has seen a swell in sales to local area farms as the Garterys continue to see the benefits of compost application through strong and healthy crop yields.

The Organics Processing Plant, where Living Earth manufactures over 25,000 tonnes of compost annually, receives organic foodwaste and greenwaste from the gate of Christchurch residents weekly. “It’s the diversity of the material going into the compost production, a ‘rich brew’ of ‘greens and browns’ that results in the compost delivering a wide variety of nutrients to the farmers’ soils over time,”

says Trevor Chatterton. “We noted heightened interest by the farming community at this year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days at Lincoln, to investigate getting compost onto the land.” For more information phone Trevor 03 373 8378, 021 657 6992 or visit rural. livingearth.co.nz. *MPI Compost Fact Sheet, Plant & Food Research Paper, November 2012

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The inclusion of compost into the farm fertiliser budget has been endorsed from an economic point of view with the Plant and Food research paper released in November 2012. Essentially, a regular application of compost at 8–12 t/ha each every 1–2 years is offset by a reduced

N application by 33% and shows better yield results for forage crops. Over and above the cost/benefit analyses undertaken, the benefits to the land include enhanced soil structure and improved water-holding capacity that can result when organic matter is added to the soil.

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COMPOST – YOUR FARMING ADVANTAGE Farming times are a-changin’. Make your grass grow quicker than a hair up your nose! Compost is an efficient method of retaining moisture and adding nutrients to encourage soil health. Compost is another tool in the box that can be used during the big dry.

COMPOST

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0800 COMPOST For rural sales enquiries in the Canterbury Region: Trevor Chatterton, phone 03 373 8378, mobile 021 657 992 Email: tchatterton@livingearth.co.nz

July 2013

FERTILISER

A vital element

ADVERTORIAL

The amount of magnesium in soils has a big impact on how well the farm will perform. It would be hard to think of another element (apart from calcium) that influences a farm’s profitability so much. True, every single element is important whether it is a trace element or a major element such as NPKS.

But as calving and lambing is coming up fast, let’s take a look at what magnesium will do for your operation. IN THE SOIL In the soil, magnesium rates alongside calcium. Magnesium at the right rate will help keep the soil friable. Too little magnesium and soils will be compacted. Too much, and the soils will be equally unworkable. Many, if not all, of the magnesium sources in New Zealand take months to work. Applying magnesium fertilisers now will not fix short term magnesium problems. That is why we have developed our Vitalife range which along with the microbes, break down magnesium so that it will work faster, giving you results during this spring. IN THE LEAF Magnesium is an important element for rapid plant growth. Magnesium is important for photosynthesis because it forms the central atom of chlorophyll. Therefore without sufficient amounts of magnesium, plants begin to degrade

the chlorophyll in the old leaves causing Chlorosis, or yellowing between leaf veins, which stay green. As magnesium is mobile in nature, the plant takes the magnesium from the older leaves and transfers it to the younger leaves which have greater photosynthetic needs.

If magnesium is short in the blood, it will transfer this element from other areas to the blood. The only conclusion is if magnesium is deficient in the blood, there will be none anywhere else in that animal.

The overriding factor here is, magnesium is not stored well in animals, so regular daily intakes are necessary. Often farmers blood test for elements including magnesium.

Minor deficiencies in the blood will show as a sub-clinical problem. Subclinical deficiencies will lose 10% production. Checking for sub-clinical symptoms is something that farmers need to look for. In cows these are: the head down, lack of energy in the paddock, flighty in the shed.

However, some magnesium can be stored in limited amounts in various parts of the body.

For more information on how you can lift your production this season call us now on 0800 337 869.

WITHIN THE ANIMAL

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July 2013

FERTILISER ADVERTORIAL

A cost effective solution Poulfert (chicken litter) has long been recognised as a cost effective natural fertiliser, sought after not only for its nutrient value (NPK) but also the benefits of organic matter. The family owned company has operated from its Templeton base since 2004, specialising in the bulk supply and spreading of Poulfert (chicken litter) throughout the greater Canterbury area. The product is sourced from chicken raising farms strategically placed around Canterbury. Company manager Marty Peoples says: “Poulfert has really gained favour as a natural fertiliser, customers in dairying horticulture and cropping are all seeing the benefits of using the product. In addition to the NPK nutrient value the organic matter of the product is

especially beneficial in its soil conditioning capacity, particularly in Canterbury where organic matter is often light.” Much of the Canterbury farmland has suffered from years of cultivation which has allowed organic matter to be eroded through prevailing winds. Conventional fertiliser by its chemistry base is not able to replace this vital ingredient. Poulfert is based on a dry wood shavings base and has a dry sawdust/sand texture. Upon application the product adds to the soil structure breaking down slowly providing nutrients to plants in keeping with their

ability to absorb. Organic matter is added to the soil by the structure of the product helping the micro organisms within the soil to develop and grow, vastly improving soil structure. While there are other products available, they are a compost with a small nutrient element. Poulfert is a fertiliser high in nutrients with a large organic element. Marty says, “The use of the product can be seen in the growth experienced and the colour of the plant.” A further benefit of using the product is the additional growth experience due to the slow release characteristics of the product more in keeping with the plant’s ability to use. Many clients comment about the additional ‘hit’ they get regarding the longevity of the product not seen in solid fertiliser. Application rates depend on ground type, fertiliser

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call

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history, and crop type. A typical application as a maintenance fertiliser is 2.5 tonne to the hectare, increasing as the need for the nutrient value dictates. The product is very successful on all pastures either established or prior to drilling, and prior to drilling on cereal and fodder crops including maize and kale. The product is available all year around with the company operating specialised bulk cartage and spreading equipment with GPS accuracy and proof of placement now being spreadmark certified. Their dedication to service, and with experienced staff makes the process of choosing Poulfert as a cost effective natural alternative very real. Simply call Marty and Tracey Peoples on 0800 NPK NOW and they will happily discuss any questions regarding the use of Poulfert on your farm.

For all your Livestock, Bulk, General Cartage and Fertiliser Spreading.

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July 2013

FERTILISER

Cadmium study returns clean bill of health by Andy Bryenton

Cadmium build-up is a very long-term issue wherever phosphate fertilisers are used around the world. With repeat applications of phosphate fertiliser over long time periods, cadmium (a naturally occurring element present in phosphate rock) gradually accumulates in soils and, at high levels, can potentially pose a threat to human health or the environment. There is minimal risk from current cadmium levels in New Zealand.

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When soil pH is in th e 5.5 to 8.0 range its principle m ake up is determined by four el ements Calcium, Magnesium , Potassium and Sodium. When a soil has too much of one element, it will not ha ve enough of something else.

Simple Really

The first stage of an extended programme of soil testing — which was undertaken by member companies of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and involved farms nationwide — has recently been completed. This programme reaffirms that soil cadmium levels remain consistent with values reported nationally in the earlier reports of the Cadmium Working Group, now superseded by the Cadmium Management Group. Industry data indicate that 70% of New Zealand farms have cadmium levels within the range of naturally occurring levels of cadmium. Of the 30% of samples above this level, 1% exceed the top management value for soil management. These farms are

subject to a more precautionary management approach to prevent further cadmium accumulation. “We were very pleased to participate in this programme of soil testing as part of the Cadmium Management Strategy,” says Dr Philip Mladenov, Chief Executive of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand. “This testing informs farmers of their cadmium levels so they can manage their fertiliser use accordingly. We intend to increase the sample size in coming years, helping to build a strong data set with repeat sampling after about five years.” “Through managing accumulation of soil cadmium following guideline values

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July 2013

FERTILISER

“As soil cadmium levels increase we are recommending increasing levels of management.” Where higher cadmium levels in agricultural soils occur, it is largely due to the legacy of the early years of agriculture when phosphate fertilisers contained higher cadmium levels before

the nature of the problem was understood. Phosphate fertilisers now used in New Zealand contain considerably less than the voluntary limit of 280 milligrams of cadmium for every kilogram of phosphorus applied. The fertiliser industry’s cadmium management programme is operated as part of the Cadmium Management Strategy which is endorsed by the Cadmium Management Group which itself is coordinated by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

“The long-term management of this issue is a government and private sector partnership of action,” says Dr Mladenov. With dedicated oversight from industry leaders and the benefits of modern diagnostic and scientific techniques, the health of Kiwi soils is guaranteed for a brighter farming future. Information and quotations in this article were sourced from the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand's 'Fertiliser Matters', the Association's regular publication.

Healthy Soils

CANTERBURY

Providing farmers with the knowledge, information and materials to rejuvenate and build and maintain soil B Soils a l a–nHealthy c e d Plants M i n –eHealthy r a l F Animals e r t i l i–sHealthy e r P rPeople ogrammes fertility to produce Healthy

We Provide

-The Albrecht-Kinsey Agriculture Services system of soil fertility, which users a specifically developed set of soil testing procedures to determine and correct the soils mineral content by providing the means to measure and supply the needed chemistry for each particular soil. - Soil Audits = Soil, water and feed mineral & nutrient availability analysis & recommendations. -Premier providers of high quality solid or liquid, soil and plant fertilisers, nutrients and micronutrients available on site and mixed ready for application. -A complete systems biological approach to soil and plant and animal nutrition addressing the underlying issues of nutrient and mineral deficiency, plus improving the environment for the biology.

Healthy Plants and Animals start with Healthy Soils.

To achieve top performance plants need an optimal quantity and balance of minerals. Healthy Soils programmes are designed to provide this. The Albrecht-Kinsey Ag Services system of soil fertility emphasizes time and again, if it is true science it is repeatable, so let the results speak for themselves, not some reasoning because our soils are different here: it cannot possibly work here:

The Results

Scientific Trials conducted by Dr Peter Espie, (AgScience Ltd) at Shortland Station shows the benefit of non-acidic fertilisers on the biology and on increasing the total annual pasture D M production. Also the advantages of Humates on the efficiency of fertilisers at Harvard University’s Dairy Farm partnership farm in the Maniototo. Dairy farmers seeing improved reproductive cycles, less milk fever and lower nitrogen applications. Forage analysis results of dairy pasture showing up to a 35 % lowering of the NDF component, higher soluble carbohydrates and an increase in milk yield and environmental benefits. Plus more sustainable compared to conventional fertilisers. Farmers using our programmes have won wheat and lamb growing competitions; this year’s Five Star beef maize grower of the year is a valued client using our fertiliser programmes. Crops are being grown without the use of insecticides or fungicides, plus the improving soil structure, humus content and soil health shows, that a balanced biological approach with measurable, scientific principles, can be applied and proven right out in the field.

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Healthy Soils

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Cows need calcium. It is vital for aiding calving recovery, milk production and animal health. Help avoid low performance associated with calcium deficiency.

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established by the Cadmium Management Group there remains minimal risk to the environment or human health from New Zealand’s productive agricultural soils for the next 100 years at least.

July 2013

FERTILISER

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July 2013

FERTILISER ADVERTORIAL

Precision applied fertiliser wins every time by Roger Lasham, Agronomy Solutions

After nearly four years of precision fertiliser mapping and application on New Zealand farms Agronomy Solutions are yet to find a situation where this approach hasn’t justified its cost. “It is not all about reducing fertiliser rates but more about putting the correct amount of fertiliser in the right place.” In many situations we find areas of paddocks that need adjustments for pH and macro nutrients, all of which need to be balanced for a crop to perform at its best ability. This approach to managing fertiliser inputs going forward will help

reduce total farm fertiliser loading, put a budget amount of fertiliser where it is most needed, and on dairy farms identify areas where high effluent use reduces the need for applied nutrients. In the future we see this approach helping farmers comply with environmental legislation and reduce their environmental impact.

Agronomy Solutions developed this system on a large Canterbury farm to solve some problems and found it so beneficial that it was decided to offer it to other farmers. We have been working with an experienced British company that has been using this system for the past eighteen years. Along with our in-house qualified agronomist we can make plans to suit individual

crops or dairy pasture as well as working with your own fertiliser advisor to develop a nutrient plan to suit individual budget and crop requirements. For more information contact Julie Lasham: 027 445 0170.

A balanced soil is key to yield

Comparison of wheat plants in area of acceptable pH and low pH

PRECISION NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT “Put your inputs where they are needed”

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FARM WHEELS

July 2013

Country Motoring with Ken Strugnell

Kia’s dynamic duo It’s no accident that Kia has just received a top ten ranking in the prestigious JD Powers worldwide satisfaction survey.

five star tyre service

Beating out many luxury European brands the carmaker that could, now does. Forget your decade old preconceptions, Kia is now up there with the best in the world and beating them. Thanks to its strong suit the two AWDs in the range Kia can rightly claim to be class leading. And it is these two vehicles that provide Kia’s mainstay in sales in New Zealand and several other countries. I attended the launch of the latest and now fourth generation Sorento R in Rotorua and Tauranga recently to find out how much they’d moved on from the previous generation. To the casual observer the new model looks much like the outgoing one and that’s no bad thing as it was excellent and has held its ‘looks’. Though there are some styling cues that give it away. Changed are the grille and front treatment and the rear lights, as well as riding 10mm lower — more on that later. The biggest changes come under the bonnet and with increased electronic wizardry as well as a new top model called the Premium. The biggest change is the adoption of electric power steering that sees it now riding 10mm lower, and the deletion of a Hill Descent Control hints at the market profile Kia expects this softer Sorento to appeal to. To

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I had a black one at home shortly after and found that despite the omission of low ratio and a lowered ride height to 180mm it still outperforms most of the competition off road. I drove through shingle and rock stream beds and up slippery mud covered tracks without difficulty. Going down

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Kia must have been keen to demonstrate just how clean the ﬂanks of the Sorento stay in such conditions giving us a ﬂeet of new Black test vehicles. Still we managed to find dust and some very muddy undersides for the groomers to earn their keep on.

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prove that it will still cut it in the rough and tumble off-road conditions, we ventured into the Mamaku Forest. The deeply rutted tracks, the very wet and muddy tunnels on the forestry roads kept us on our toes as we navigated the obstacles with no damage or stops for stuck vehicles.

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Black Kia Sorentos on launch in the Mamaku Forest near Rotorua

an insanely steep incline the ABS failed to provide braking and probably was a bridge too far. Given all of that and a towing stability function to go with the 2,000kg braked load towing capacity the Sorento handled everything well, proving Kia Managing Director Todd McDonald’s claim that very little off-road prowess had been lost. Gained though is a huge increase in rear seat space particularly legroom. The lowered ride height also meant the handling was sharper. More bite to the steering and cornering ability particularly mid corner lifts the Sorento’s game markedly. Also noticeable was the difficulty in upsetting the poise of the big SUV to trigger the ESP light. It just didn’t happen till I took it out on the paddock at home ﬂicking it from left to right. Inside the technology continues — top models getting power heated and cooled leather seats. The cooling function works brilliantly being ideal on hot sticky days. Self parking for parallel parks is a stroke of genius and so far the only sub 70k SUV to offer it. Driving past a space at 40km/h or less the car indicates a park. Select reverse and LET GO of the steering wheel. It spins it hard left then straight ahead stopping before hitting the car behind. Select forward to centralise your position in the park and it is all over done finished! I liked it, as the rear camera shows the distance to the vehicle behind giving an air of confidence. Having used it on a big vehicle you’ll demand it on every car. Entry level petrol model starts at $44,490 and our Platinum Diesel version tops the range at $66,190.

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Go Further

FARM WHEELS The latest 4th generation Sorento moves the bar and retains its pricing which gives it an edge over arch rival Santa Fe. Kia Sportage Diesel was released 18 months ago. Such is its popularity that Press ﬂeet models were sold and only now have I had an opportunity to find out how good it is. Damn good in fact, and along with Hyundai’s i35 have been snapped up quickly. Here I drove the 2 litre 135kw Turbo Diesel. Sportage, Kia’s first foray into 4WD nearly twenty years ago, has morphed into a very desirable vehicle. Available are six models from a 2WD LX model at $34,240 and an AWD at $43,240, to the test Turbo Diesel Limited AWD for $52,240. On the road. The super responsive and quiet

Turbo Diesel is easily the best motor in its class and gives you an almost bottomless pit of torque. Offering 392Nm from 1,800 revs Kia’s smaller SUV hits the wrong side of the open road limit in under nine seconds sipping a claimed 7.5L/100km. We bettered that at 6.8, with a combination of town and country running. The vehicle was very new, I’d expect mid to high 6’s most of the time. Tuned in New Zealand at Cadrona proving ground the supple suspension made up of McPherson Strut with side load coil springs at front and multi link rears backed up with gas struts all round were ideal especially on rutted unsealed roads. This one handles like a mid sized car while giving a better view and a multitude of freight carrying options. Our vehicle sat on 18

inch alloys shod with 235/55 tyres that helped with the road holding though I’d opt for the smaller 17s or even 16s, as they seem quieter and better able to scrabble over obstacles if much off roading is planned. That said our Sportage had no difficulties on any of the surfaces we tried. Off the Road. The Dynamax on Demand 4x4 and lock button facility means the Sportage is driven by the front wheels. It automatically provides power to the rear when slippage is detected. Trying out some steep wet slopes we found with enough speed it didn’t need manual locking. Though if you were limited by terrain to a crawl, locking the 4x4 was definitely an advantage. Given that the ground clearance is only 172mm caution should be the byword in rough terrain. Driving across the stony or even rocky in place stream on the farm is one of those occasions. Rated to tow a useful 1,600kg the Sportage is also able to perform a variety of towing needs.

July 2013

rails on all doors and front/ rear crush zones the baby Kia cocoons its occupants. Entry via a keyless remote reveals a well sorted spacious interior. Split 60/40 folding seats in the rear provide a 1.7 metre ﬂat deck. Our Limited had leather seats powered and heated in the front. CD MP3 USB and

Bluetooth with steering wheel controls are all standard across the range as is a rear view camera in all but the entry level model.

the Petrol version, I found changing manually added very little, the torque diesel always found a reserve of power. The Sportage appeals to a wide cross section of both ﬂeet and private buyers and given its versatility they have quickly recognised its attributes.

Six speed automatic transmission, no manual offered, is backed up with an easy use tiptronic. Unlike

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DAIRY

July 2013 comfortable so they spend a lot more time standing.

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Does your cow have the “Winter Blues”? At this time of the year we trim quite a few cows that have been dry for five to six weeks.

Don’t underestimate the effect this stress has on a cow. I know that there can be issues from a management point of view but it still needs to be addressed and minimised as much as possible. That may well need to be addressed at sowing time. Cows need a place to lie down other than the paddock where the winter crop is planted. If there is bad weather coming (and what winter does not have bad weather?)

Most of those cows have haemorrhaging in their hooves. I was on a farm yesterday and the haemorrhage was quite severe. How can that be physical damage? Those cows have been on soft ground for a long time and they are still showing significant haemorrhaging. A cow’s hoof generally grows at a rate of 5 mm per month, which means that if the sole of the claw is about 7 mm thick the whole sole is almost completely replaced. Some farmers may think that if the corium (live tissue) is damaged before drying off, it may take a few weeks to heal up before it starts growing a healthy hoof because the physical forces have been minimised. This may be true, but

when you have a lame cow that has a major under run then it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for the corium to heal and begin to grow healthy hoof to the extent that it is strong enough to be walked on comfortably without any haemorrhage present.

winter crops and for most that meant a major change of diet. The stress levels

If the cow is not lame to start off with then the corium should grow good healthy hoof a lot faster, yet when you follow the haemorrhage down by making the sole a bit thinner, then the haemorrhage is still being formed 5 to 6 weeks into the dry period. How can you explain that from a physical damage point of view? The evidence again points to the problem coming from the inside and the cause is more likely to be from diet and stress. A lot of the cows are on

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the cows at least can lie down and rest. If there are no dry, sheltered places maybe there should be an area left in pasture. I can hear some of you thinking that I am not realistic. Maybe I’m not, but we do need to look after our cows. Even if it costs money, we still have a moral obligation towards our animals. However, if you look after your cows, your cows will look after you. If you don’t look after the cows during the winter time, then you will pay for it later on in the year.

are also increased when cows are ankle deep in mud. They can’t lie down and be

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DAIRY

July 2013

The ‘Know to make it Flow’ by Janine Holland

Helping farmers shoulder the Burden We’re all aware farmers are in the firing line at the moment as communities engage in water quality and quantity debates. Farmers and irrigators alike are being told to improve their practices and for most of them this means

considerable investment. My question is what role does the community have in shouldering this financial burden? Like it or not farmers manage our water resource — not councils — not the community. Farmers are acutely aware of the

implications of what can happen if water is not managed well and they live with the reality of ever-increasing input costs and growing environmental requirements. All of this happening in a society where the consumer demands food at

the lowest price. Internationally politicians know that to advocate for a food cost increase is political suicide.

environmental stewardship burden upon one generation we are making them far less resilient to market shocks.

However for New Zealand to sustain a healthy economy and improved environment a real price has to be paid for food. This is a problem that is being ignored globally. It’s not farmers being irresponsible managers of the environment — it’s the consumer refusing to pay the true value of food.

Despite this future dilemma there is very much a good news story for irrigated farming in New Zealand. Significant improvements in water use have occurred over the past 25 years. Over this time irrigators have invested upwards of $30,000 per hectare in upgrading their systems. Investment in infrastructure and technology has doubled and in some cases tripled productivity per unit of water applied across the dairy, arable and meat sectors. Water used per irrigated hectare has halved from approximately 900mm per year to 475mm. These are substantial gains driven primarily by financial and productivity signals. The added spin off has been improvements for the environment. The output per kilogram of nitrogen leached has improved (in fact quadrupled) over this time.

Without increased community support for the development and uptake of sustainable farming in New Zealand something has to give. We’re on the up presently. However commodity markets are fickle — they will crash at some point. This could compromise New Zealand as the ‘Kiwi way of life’ is heavily reliant on farming exports. Remember our farmers are not subsidised so do not compete on an equal playing field globally — they are already the most efficient in the world. By additionally loading the

Farmers live in and are

custodians of the environment so with the right tools and incentives, most farmers are extremely receptive to maintaining and enhancing the environment. Developing a clear and accurate understanding of the issues, and then monitoring and reporting real information are key steps. Once understood, ownership of problems will enable solutions. Too often short term consents are the proposed solution from councils and such an approach is fundamentally ﬂawed. Major and sudden shifts in goal posts are very difficult to deal with as opposed to incremental, clearly communicated steps. The future solutions to environmental stewardship lie with the managers of our soil and water resource — our farmers. Given their track record we should be giving them a pat on the back for the spectacular feats they have achieved to date. The future is about asking them to maintain this track record along with us all being prepared to pay the true value of our food.

DAIRY

Soil Matters with Peter Burton

Why all growing systems are essentially ‘biological’ Over recent times there has been much debate around the topic of ‘biological farming’. As little if any nutrient enters a plant without first going through a biological process, all growing systems regardless of the label applied to them are essentially biological systems. The most important issue presently, and is the one at the heart of the debate around different growing systems, is the use of fertiliser nitrogen. Excess fertiliser nitrogen reduces the humus content of soil and when used regularly to promote growth, total pasture production steadily declines. Recent work from AgResearch shows an 18% decline in pasture growth in the second season after establishment of new pasture. What we often observe is that where there is a dependence on nitrogen fertiliser, by the end of the fifth year the gaps between grass plants have steadily increased, a significant number of plants have been lost due to pulling in autumn, excess rain ponds for longer periods and total growth reaches a level where regrassing becomes the only option. What is now well understood is that at least half of applied fertiliser nitrogen does not enter the

targeted plant. Some is lost direct to the atmosphere with the remainder finding its way into groundwater, and Ministry of the Environment figures show a steady increase in Nitrate-N levels in areas where intensive dairy farming is carried out. Fertiliser nitrogen can be a useful tool; it’s the dependence on it that needs to be sorted. We only have to look to growing systems in Europe to know that its future use will be increasingly regulated. Farmers have the choice to modify their systems now, or wait until regulation arrives and other people start making decisions for them. To know whether a property has a dependence on fertiliser nitrogen simply stop applying it, all of it. If the result is less growth then there’s a dependency issue, it’s a simple test for any addiction, and the addiction to fertiliser nitrogen is evidenced by urea silos on farms. But it doesn’t have to be. The use of DoloZest and CalciZest, soil improvers sold under the Functional Fertiliser brand are being increasingly used to successfully replace fertiliser nitrogen. The measures collected over a number of years from

the Berryman property, an intensive dairy operation near Edgecumbe, using a DoloZest/CalciZest based total nutrient programme, show total pasture growth based on Overseer to have been in excess of 19 tonne for each of the 2010-11 and 2011 -12 seasons. Pasture

cages showed growth for the same seasons to be 18.4 and 18.3 tonne respectively, with less than 20kgN/ha applied each year. Total milk solid production was in excess of 1,300kg/ha from an average of 200 cows, with around 20% of the total feed being bought in.

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July 2013 Long strong stemmed clovers ﬂourish throughout the major growing season providing exceptional growth of calves and contribute significantly to the 0.87:1 protein to fat ratio of the milk produced. Clover ﬂea and weevil under close examination can still be found however given the health of the clover damage is minimal. Careful digging and sifting also turns up the occasional grass grub and beetle larvae but again too few to cause damage.

Total nitrogen tests showed 9,400kgN/ha in the top 30cm of the soil with 200kg N/ha available for plant use at the time of testing. With increased carbon sequestered each year and more humus formed, a steady increase in pasture growth and total farm production can be expected, and with measuring continuing more data will be made available. For further information, please call Peter on 0800 843 809.

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DAIRY

July 2013

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DAIRY

July 2013

Trace elements for crops, stock and humans – cobalt by Tim Jenkins Livestock farming didn’t start out too well on parts of the Volcanic Plateau and Bay of Plenty. It was not until around 1930 that cobalt was identified as the deficient element for farming there. Animals failed to thrive on the pastures that had been established on volcanic ash soils from the historic Taupo and Kaharoa eruptions. It turned out that the ash had too little cobalt, an essential element for the production of vitamin B12. A trace amount of cobalt was all it took to enable farms (some of which had been abandoned) to turn around.

hundred grams per hectare) is more likely to be effective on younger soils with lower manganese status (soil manganese quickly reduces cobalt availability

Some volcanic soils have particularly high levels of cobalt with the difference being the parent materials present in the original eruption. In New Zealand soil types, cobalt can range from around two to around 25 ppm with volcanic soils representing some of the lowest levels but light sandy or peaty soils also being potentially very low in cobalt. Heavier textured soils such as clays and heavy silt loams will generally have higher levels of cobalt.

from fertiliser). Spraying cobalt directly on to pasture (recommendations of levels vary though 30 to 60 grams can provide meaningful lifts in cobalt availability) can skip the soil phase and ensure that there is at least a temporary increase in pasture cobalt levels.

Solid cobalt fertiliser (typically applied at a few

Direct supplementation of cobalt has become common

particularly in dairying where daily supplementation is possible. Compared to many trace elements, cobalt has a quite low toxicity and oversupply is less of a risk. Although the requirement for cobalt supplementation is perhaps indicated by some recommended test levels, given the small amount of cobalt required there is an argument for including the element in many farms’ trace element programmes.

be higher under waterlogged conditions and can decrease in the presence of over liming (eg > pH 6.6) due to lock up with iron or manganese oxides.

It is possible to test for total cobalt in the soil and available cobalt can also be assessed by soil labs with some degree of confidence for interpretation and action though the available cobalt estimate is often exaggerated for many soils. Herbage tests for cobalt can determine likely animal intake — samples should be clear of soil contamination from mud or dust to provide an accurate assessment of how much cobalt is present in the plant material itself. The more direct test of adequacy for livestock is blood or liver levels of vitamin B12 or cobalt respectively.

For animals, cobalt is an essential element and though

Cobalt is not thought to be an essential element for plants though there have been occasional plant responses to cobalt fertiliser noted. Legume nitrogen fixation requires cobalt although very low levels appear to be sufficient for this process.

low levels are required there are many New Zealand farming situations where cobalt addition or supplementation is beneficial. Sub-clinical deficiency of cobalt can include simple lack of thrift, anaemia and lack of appetite. Young stock is more prone to cobalt deficiency than mature livestock and sheep have a generally higher requirement (per kg liveweight) than cattle. The uptake of cobalt can also be high or low in relation to just how short a pasture is. An overgrazed and soil-

contaminated pasture often presents much better levels of cobalt but there are many parasite and feed quality reasons for not grazing a paddock too short and soil contamination will also impede the utilisation of other trace elements such as copper. Bacteria in the ruminant digestive system are efficient at converting cobalt into vitamin B12. Direct supplementation of vitamin B12 is also possible by injection which can be useful if cobalt uptake has been reduced by intestinal roundworm challenge.

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The availability of cobalt is inﬂuenced by soil conditions. Availability can sometimes

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

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DAIRY

July 2013

KITSET FARM SHEDS

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ADR 500 Effluent Screening Plant

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•••• •• • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • •• • •

•

–20

–16

–12

–8

–4

Distance (m)

• •

r No puddles left behind

Y 2 ONL ICE OF PR L PECIA AT A S +GST

00 0 , 6 3 1 $

r Meets even the toughest New Zealand Effluent Enviro Standards

190hp

FUEL EFFICIENT, EASY TO OPERATE – MAKES ANY JOB EASY Machine of the Year 2012 Winner, Agritechnica, Germany Generation II SCR engine technology for more power, efficiency and great fuel economy

r Has the Most Even Rain Cover over wetted width in New Zealand by far

Take your Effluent Pond from crusty to aerobic from this …

using one of these:

to this …

Dyna -6 transmission featuring 24F/24R speed, left hand Power Control Lever and 6-speed powershift Standard air conditioning www.masseyferguson.com.au JJ Christchurch 36 Hickory Place,Hornby CHCH Ph 03 344 5645 Sales: Nick Wilson 027 498 7044 Maurice Jordon 027 260 7821 Service: Dave Paris 0272 607 822

JJ Ashburton 9a McGregor Lane, Ashburton Ph 03 307 6031 Sales: Terry Gordon 0272 607 820 Bede Prendergast 0277 066 682 Service: Christoph Kalin 0272 607 833

JJ Timaru 280 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru Ph 03 688 7401 Sales: Peter Hughes 0274 589 873 Service: Warren Harrison 0275 222 417

All the bearings and seals are above the water line.

The EPS Stirrers come in a range of sizes to suit anything from your sump to a huge pond.

Call us now to find a distributor and installer in your area

0800 PLUCKS 0

www.plucks.co.nz enquiries@plucks.co.nz Main South Road, Rakaia 7710 Mid Canterbury

July 2013

Animal Health ADVERTORIAL

For the best calves

In recent years New Zealand dairy farmers have become very aware of the importance of rearing bigger, healthier calves. Based on calf competitions in both North and South Islands, plus client feedback, Biohelp Calf Supreme is a proven top performer in creating fantastic calves with less work and it’s extremely

affordable. This ‘easy to use’ concentrated blend of living microbes is formulated to assist the development of your calves and in particular their rumen and digestive tract in the first eight weeks of life.

Calf Supreme focusses on three key areas for your calves: First expanding the development of the rumen, second providing them with essential vitamins well known for their ability to support the immune system and create

Quality nutrition In the heart of dairy country, Temuka Seed sits in a prime location where it provides a full range of stock meals for the general public and dairy industry. With the 2013 dairy and calf season about to get underway, Temuka Seed believes it has made some major adjustments to enhance the dairy industry by upgrading its meal processing plant with high capacity rollers, hammer mills and blenders which will provide high quality and nutritional meals. Temuka Seed not only provides its own meals freshly made daily but also prides itself on making available its plant for the client who wishes to provide its own recipe and/or products for blending. This often will entail the blending of rolled grains, minerals, PKE and arranging the transportation direct to cow sheds for in-house feeding or directly into feed silos. Other aspects of the meal section Temuka Seed is well known for is its wide range of stock meals for the small lifestyle

holder to purchase. Here they provide a good range of products from Calf Meal — High Protein, Weaner Meal — Low Protein, Horse Meal, Feed Grains and Poultry Meals. Calf meal has the added nutritional products of Soya, Rape Meal, Premix plus Bovatec. Available in palletised form are the smaller nut for calves and poultry and the larger nut for pigs and sheep. Temuka Seed agrees that at the start of any

newborn calf’s life, milk is its primary food supply and therefore they have included in their range of products Denkavit Whey, Denkavit Plus and Brown Bag — Milk Powder. These products are available in tonnage amounts or by the individual bag (20kg). If you want to know more about the products available and want good results for your stock, contact the friendly team at Temuka Seed.

KA SE E D MU E (1984) LTD T Sealy Street, Temuka Ph/Fa x: (03) 615 7913

Stockfood Manufacturers • • • •

Calf Meals/Nuts High-Low Protein All Purpose Meal eg. Hen, Pig, Goat Sheep Nuts Milk Powder

• Rolled Barley with molasses • Dairy Meals • Feed Grain eg Barley Wheat Peas

For all your seed, dressing, drying & mixing requirements Free Mixing Ryegrasses, Brassicas, Clovers, Cocksfoot, Timothy, Chichory

FREEPHONE 0800 615 7913 0274 499 062

extra vitality, and thirdly, enzymes to improve the utilisation of feed provided by you. Your calves get all the ingredients necessary to really thrive in a modern calf rearing environment. Calf Supreme is very easy to use. No messy powders — it comes as a pre-activated liquid with the consistency of water. It is simply added to milk, drenched directly if the calf won’t suckle, or sprayed onto solid food. A small amount

contains enormous volumes of beneficial microbes. One of our many clients in their first year of using Calf Supreme on their calves went from a traditional weaning weight of 80kg to an average of 100kg. By first mating they were at 400kg with 99% conception rates. In their second year they used even more Calf Supreme and calves reached 500kg at first mating

with 99.5% conception. Maximising your calves’ health and growth gives you the freedom to wean earlier putting more milk in the vat, or, carry your calves through to heavier weights. Whichever you choose you’re on an economic winner if you use Calf Supreme. Another great Biohelp product distributed by McDonald Agri-Fert, 12 Laughton Street, Washdyke, Timaru 0800 24 74 34.

July 2013

Have you herd?

is now produced locally and available South Island wide. Reap the benefits of: • HEALTHY COW CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT • HEALTHY COW CALCIUM + MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT in your herd. Available in time for post-calving from your local rural trader.

Made by Victory Lime, Mt Somers, Mid Canterbury

Call 0800 227 559 www.healthycow.co.nz

ANIMAL HEALTH

‘Healthier Cows’ for Canterbury and beyond Local production of the Healthy Cow range of calcium based animal health products means that Canterbury dairy farmers will have access to what until now was a closely guarded Southland secret! Produced and sold only on the lower South Island until recently, ramped up production of the Healthy Cow range of calcium based supplements at Victory Lime’s new state of the art plant in Mt Somers will see both the Healthy Cow Calcium and Healthy Cow Calcium & Magnesium products available on local rural retailer shelves. Shaun

Cleverley, GM of Victory Lime, says the company was pleased to have now brought the Healthy Cow product range further north. “Healthy Cow is a proven product that provides the calcium dairy cows need for optimal milk production and overall herd health. With a track record of supplying consistent high quality lime products into

ADVERTORIAL

the Canterbury region for over 60 years, Victory Lime is well positioned to produce this quality product extending its use into the Canterbury and wider South Island cow herds.” Animal health specialist consultant Jill Russell says calcium is extremely important in the lactating dairy cow, particularly during calving and early stages of lactation. “The sooner the calcium requirements of the lactating cow are met, the quicker the cow will gain normal physiology, influencing how

quickly the cow starts eating fully and increasing energy in the diet. The percentage of calcium, magnesium and the particle size are of particular consideration for absorption in the gut and also for cost effectiveness.” Ms Russell says supplemental calcium products should be used throughout the season to maintain optimum herd health and ensure production is maximised. Victory Lime’s products are made from high calcium percentage limestone and have been finely ground to ensure absorption rates can be maximised.

CALF SHED BEDDING We have procured good clean wood chip at an excellent delivered price. Limited supply. Be quick. Removal of old and placement of new bedding at good rates. Truck & trailer capacity now 90m3. For more information phone Brent 0274 746026 or A/H (03) 3070077

The initial Healthy Cow range includes 25kg bags of Calcium and Calcium + Magnesium 80/20

July 2013

MCLAREN CONTRACTING

General Manager, Shaun Cleverley and Production Manager Les Huggins with the first tonne of 25kg Healthy Cow Calcium

David James

Agricultural Engineering Ltd

Specialising in: • Cowshed Construction & Alterations • Meal Systems • Molasses Systems • Bale Feeders • General Engineering

027 220 2275 or 03 3252 762 d.james1@xtra.co.nz Osterholts Road, Ladbrooks, Christchurch

ANIMAL HEALTH

July 2013

ADVERTORIAL

OCEAN HARVESTING NEW ZEALAND’S RICHEST KELP - GIANT KELP To produce a top quality DRIED KELP product for use in

New Zealand’s richest source of natural iodine

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE

D R I E D K E L P K I B B L E F O R A G R I C U LT U R E

NZ Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is an animal supplement.

Ocean harvested dried kelp product for use in agriculture and horticulture It is so nice to finally announce to everyone that ZELP from NZ Kelp has been re-opened this year. We had to close late last year to upgrade and increase our capacity. It was a long process but certainly the right decision for us. We now have plenty of stock on hand and are harvesting continuously off the Akaroa coastline in our new vessel ’Obliquity.’ We are constantly amazed at the diversity of possible uses for this product from health supplement to growth stimulant and plant health promotant, frost

It is very high in a variety of micronutrients making it an excellent source of many minerals – minerals that many animals are deficient in.

protection and antimicrobial use. Being very rich in iodine, only small amounts are required compared with other kelp/ seaweed varieties. NZ Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is an animal supplement. It is very high in a variety of micronutrients making it an excellent source of many minerals — minerals that many animals are deficient in. As a health supplement kelp supports the thyroid gland. A normal functioning thyroid gland is required for all other organs to work properly.

Roger and Nicki Beattie

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENT GUIDELINES

As a health supplement kelp supports the thyroid gland. A normal functioning thyroid gland is required for all other organs to work properly.

Dairy cows (lactating)

1kg of kelp kibble per 50 cattle per week

Cattle/cows (not lactating)

1kg of kelp kibble per 100 cattle per week

Sheep

1kg of kelp kibble per 1,000 sheep per week. Sheep and cattle generally self regulate their intake of kelp. Refill your feed container once a week, or as the kelp is consumed.

Horses

5g/1tsp kelp kibble per 250kg of animal weight per week

Pigs

1g kibble per 50kg of animal weight per week

OCEAN HARVESTING Zelp Kelp is hand gathered straight from the ocean. Only the water is removed through air drying and gentle dehumidification. We don’t de-nature by fast drying. NUTRIENT RICH Just a tiny amount of our dried Kelp product goes a long way, as the nutrient content is so high. Giant Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) contains 29 trace elements.

PO Box 1790, Christchurch 8140

T: +64 3 322 6115

E: info@nzkelp.co.nz

Give us a call - We’d love to hear from you. www.nzkelp.co.nz

Storage problem? Solved!

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT Giant Kelp is now within the NZ quota management system, with 40% of that quota held by NZ Kelp. TRACEABILITY The life of every piece of NZ kelp can be traced back to the area it was harvested from. There are no withholding periods following the use of kelp, you can put it on your crops or vegetable garden and eat it straight away! Giant Kelp is also high in growth promotants and hormones, so when it’s used on the land it transfers these properties and makes things grow. KELP POWDER Kelp powder can be used through irrigation or as a foliar spray. Kelp is a natural source of growth hormones, auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, and these ingredients, in conjunction with the comprehensive range of trace elements, complex carbohydrates, amino acids and chelating agents found in kelp, provide many benefits.

! W NE Zelp horticulture

GROWTH PROMOTANT GUIDELINES Kelp helps feed the soil biology, in turn feeding the plant. Dry Kelp Powder When applying kelp powder in dry form we recommend 1–2Kg/Ha and use lime or similar as a carrier for application.

• • • •

Easily transported Interstackable Super strong Store liquids, grain, fertilisers etc

• • • •

Adjustable ground height Multiple uses NZ made Big capacity – 1600 litres/1 tonne

For more information and fast delivery contact:

P: (03) 313 5750 F: (03) 310 6036 E: info@adplasnz.com 18 Newham Street PO Box 410 Rangiora 7440 New Zealand

Liquid Foliar Feed MULTIPLE SPRAYING: Mix 500:1 (0.2%) = 200g of kelp powder to 100 litres of water SINGLE SPRAYING: Mix 200:1 (0.5%) = 500g of kelp powder to 100 litres of water

Give us a call on 03 322 6115. We’d love to hear from you.

Woolshed servicing • on farm Woolpresses & machines • WorKshoP handpieces electrical & conventional (all brands) • sell Used Woolpresses, reconditioned machines, handpieces. combs & cutters • BUY Presses, machines & handpieces

rd services (ray dunick)

Phone 03 322 7486 or 0274 444 623 email: ray.dunick@xtra.co.nz

LIVESTOCK

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Wool season opens firmly An extremely buoyant wool market was experienced at closing wool auctions held on June 27 in both Napier and Christchurch, and when the new season began in Napier on July 11 the market opened pretty much where it had left off — very firmly.

Across the Tasman, the fine wool market has proven difficult to predict over the past month amongst offerings covering a wide variety of types. When auctions ceased on July 11 prior to a threeweek recess there was only approximately $2 clean per kilogram difference between

17 micron and 20 micron ﬂeece wool. Observers will show interest when the Australian wool market opens in early August and whether the well grown wools (and often longer stapled than usual as a result of generally good feed conditions) witnessed prior to the recess draw better support. Forward contracts covering a range of mainly crossbred and some mid-micron wool types are currently being offered by PGG Wrightson as a result of very good demand from mainly off-shore customers of their exporting arm, Bloch

is locked-in, in advance. PGG Wrightson is also pleased that they are now able to market and sell fine wool types once again. The experienced wool marketing team is no stranger to fine wools and look forward to being of assistance to growers who wish to use their expertise and knowledge.

Wool Perspective

PGG Wrightson auction managers in each island reported remarkable clearance rates of close to 100% at the closing June sales, and a clearance of around 97% at the first Napier sale. With such strong demand for wool in the face of dwindling supply and an obvious low stock level, most greasy wool which may have been held by growers for (in some cases) up to several years, was cleared throughout the season just past, leaving a relatively ‘clean slate’ for the new season. With winter having kicked-in in earnest since the middle of June, supplies of new wool have been very slow coming forward for sale, placing further pressure on the market place. At the time of writing the first South Island catalogues were being compiled for the July 18 auction with weekly sales scheduled for five subsequent weeks, however due to wet conditions experienced in many South Island areas affecting shearing, a question mark hung over the following week’s auction with limited wool volumes likely to be available.

July 2013

and Behrens. Based around the current strong, demand driven wool price, many growers have welcomed the opportunity to lock-in certainty for at least a portion of their wool clip, perhaps six months or more prior to shearing. Whilst noone can accurately predict where wool market levels will be in the future due to such inﬂuences as exchange rates, wool volumes, competitor wool markets, competitor fibres, financial conditions, etcetera, it is useful for farmers and/or their financiers, to know that at least a portion of future farm income

New Zealand has long been regarded as the producer of the best crossbred wool in the world because of the wool’s wonderful properties of very good scoured colour, superb tensile strength and great character, however poor monetary returns to farmers from sheep and the effects of the introduction of irrigation, to many parts of the South Island in particular, has brought considerable change to farming practises, and a rapid fall in quantity to date of not just crossbred but also many midmicron wools (Corriedale and Halfbred) which have also long been, and still are, highly sought after. As more irrigation is introduced, it’s highly likely the sheep population will further decline, with New Zealand wool becoming an even scarcer commodity than it is today, and wool production and preparation skills will remain extremely important to ensure customer confidence. That’s my view.

WOOL BUYERS Providing direct wool links from farm to

MORE RETURNS FOR YOUR WOOL WITH ELDERS As an Elders Primary Wool client you can expect great service from a nationwide team of wool experts who will support you with the advice and expertise to deliver improved returns for your sheep business. • Specialist advice for merino, mid-micron or cross-bred wool • Elders is the world’s largest broker of greasy wool • No marketing levies Talk to your local Elders Primary Wool Representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.

CANTERBURY Mark Greenlaw Roger Fuller Grant Andrew

027 227 8898 027 683 6993 027 481 6219

www.eldersprimary.co.nz

Adding Value. From Farm To Market.

user with a low cost marketing pipeline

Contact a PGG Wrightson Wool representative today:

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

Doug McKay

Peter McCusker Rob Lynskey

Chris Munro

Ph: 027 432 6910

Ph: 027 432 4926

Ph: 027 436 2603

Freephone 0800 946 000

Ph: 027 591 8454

Helping grow the country

For all your livestoCk needs, contact your

loCal buyer AreA

Buyer

MoBile

After hours

Murray Napier

021 475 853

03 202 5251

Greg Stevenson

021 823 085

03 317 9150

south Canterbury

Andrew Stark

021 341 854

03 686 3498

north Canterbury

Westley Lord

021 471 943

0800 467 751

regional manager Canterbury

Freephone 0800 233 2669 Freefax 0800 329 225 Email lcs@affco.co.nz

Competitive priCes | top serviCe | premium markets

July 2013

a b m i S o t e d a r g Up s n i a l P t Grea m tillage equipment available today! mu The best mini

Simba SLD Cultivator • • • • • • •

New 4.6 metre units available Pro lift hydraulic reset legs capable of depths up to 300mm Large 600 discs with 125mm spacing (net) Fully adjustable disc angling Large 700mm DD ring roller 3.0 metre transport width Lighting kit standard

Simba X-press Range • Available in a mounted 3m configuration or trailed units • Incorporate stubble in a reduced cultivation system • Work down ploughing in a more conventional system • Gang angle adjustment enables both primary and finishing roles • The mounted X-press (1750kg) can be used in conjunction with an ST Bar to working depths of up to 250mm

Simba SL Cultivators • One pass to incorporate stubble, loosen to depth and consolidate soil for the perfect seedbed • Maximum strength and hard wearing componentry • The disc diameter of 510mm provides an efficient mixing action incorporating stubble • Working depths between 150-250mm • ‘Pro-active’ auto reset tines • Transport width of 2.7m

FINANCE FROM

1.95%*

*Based on 40% Deposit. Normal Lending Criteria & Conditions Apply

www.powerfarming.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH Power Farming Canterbury 03 349 5975 Rod Lewis 027 706 4147

ASHBURTON Power Farming Ashburton 03 307 7153 Simon Jackson 027 512 7205

TIMARU Power Farming Timaru 03 687 4127 Ross Dawbin 027 281 0042