Canterbury Farming, October 2013 by Integrity Community Media

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

October 2013

INSIDE Farmers are the experts — Page 8–9

Gowanlea — a slice of paradise

Page 15

Canterbury A&P Show Page 22

The truth about agroforestry

One Plan ruling finds

by Hugh de Lacy

Acknowledging farmers as the experts when it comes to land management has been the principal outcome of Federated Farmers’ appeal against the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council’s One Plan nitrogen loss limits, according to the federation’s national environment spokesman. Ashburton sheep and beef farmer Ian Mackenzie told Canterbury Farming that High Court Justice Stephen Kos’ decision late last month on the appeal brought jointly by the federation and by Horticulture NZ had made a previously unworkable plan workable. In 2010 ManawatuWanganui’s Horizons launched a plan that set arbitrary limits on nitrogen run-off into the central North Island’s badly polluted rivers. “What happened was Horizons consulted with the community and came to quite a reasonable position, and that was hi-jacked by [the] Fish and Game [Council of NZ], Doc [the Department of Conservation] and a Horizons staff member,” Mackenzie said. “They appealed the collaboratively-formed plan and the Environment Court judge basically took advice from everybody other than the agricultural sector.”

The result was “a totally unworkable plan” that might have allowed only trees to be grown on some land used for livestock farming. Farmers and horticulturists appealed the revised plan to the High Court earlier in the year, resulting in Justice Kos last month largely reinstating the original plan. The Horizons staff member who assisted Fish and Game in the revision of the original plan has since moved on, and Mackenzie said the current council “is working constructively with [the Ministry of] Primary Industries to turn what they’ve got into a successful way of addressing farming’s contribution to the environmental footprint.” The president of the Manawatu-Rangitikei branch of Federated Farmers, Andrew Hoggard, said in welcoming Justice Kos’ decision that it vindicated the appeal which was never about overturning One

Plan because parts of it were already operative. “Justice Kos’ interpretation is that One Plan allows exceptions from the fixed nitrogen loss limits. “This is very positive for our farmers and gives them assurance that they will be able to continue farming because unachievable N loss limits will not now be applied to their farms,” Hoggard said. “What Federated Farmers wanted, and was effectively in the 2010 decisions version, was a focus on good management practices to minimise N loss, faecal contamination and sediment. “Justice Kos has given us a clear pathway for making One Plan workable,” he said. It’s been a tortuous legal road to reach this position. After the original One Plan was published, no fewer than three interim decisions were released by the Environment

Court — in September and December of last year, and in March this year. Horticulture NZ and the federation’s joint appeal was heard in July, at which new information was introduced on water policy scenarios that had been prepared by Landcare Research for Primary Industries under the direction of the Land and Water Forum. This included economic analyses of the costs and benefits of the various options. A statement from Federated Farmers’ national office said the key priority now was to work closely with Horizons to ensure the roll-out of One Plan continues.

“The green NGOs should be heavily involved in the monitoring to make sure we deliver to our aspirations, but [should have] a little less involvement in what that means on farms. “The lesson for Canterbury is if you really want to be particularly stupid about farmer development plans, try talking to Fish and Game. “If you want a plan that farmers will engage in and might be workable, you need to talk to those people who indicated they’d implement the plan — and that is the farmers.

The Priority Water Management Zones in the plan would not all be implemented at the same time, but rolled out a few catchments at a time with the first due to come into the

“We’re not pushing back on improving water quality outcomes — we’re just saying we’re the experts when it comes to land management,” Mackenzie said.

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Canterbury’s Ian Mackenzie said Justice Kos’ rulings meant that regional councils need to take more notice of what farmers are saying “and a little less of the green NGOs [nongovernment organisations].

It pointed out that the obligation still remained for intensive farms to obtain consents to farm, and that these would be negotiated on a caseby-case basis.

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October 2013

Taking stock of the damage Kate Wilkinson MP Waimakariri

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The recent storm that ravaged the province brings home the crucial importance of Canterbury as a farming region — not just for sheep, beef and crops but also for dairy and dairy support. Damage to infrastructure alone is going to be immeasurable. A stocktake of trees destroyed by the storm would be an interesting, if not difficult exercise but it is not just the loss of trees themselves or the loss of shelter and plantation — it is the damage they caused on the way down — damage to silos, sheds, buildings, fences and other improvements.

for the irrigation season or establishing crops, it could not have come at a worse time. It is estimated 800 centre pivot irrigators have been damaged and I have heard possibly up to 90,000 hectares could be affected by damaged irrigators. A dry spell over the next three months could have a serious economic impact on individual farms reliant on irrigation.

And then it’s the time it takes — time that has not been allowed for: to clear the trees, to safely remove the ‘widow makers’, to repair the fences, buildings and sheds. Fields that were previously stock-proof have to be fixed. Stock may have to be moved. The farm timetable may have to be adjusted and tasks re-prioritised. For farmers preparing pasture

It will take some time to work through the insurance issues before repairs can even start. Most parts needing to be replaced will have to be imported — and it is expected the earliest they could arrive is six weeks. Add to that a few weeks for repairs. I have been told we could be looking at six months to have irrigators back up on some affected farms.

Disturbingly, I have been informed that some farmers are trying to stand their upended irrigators back up themselves, creating safety issues. Canterbury farmers are stoic and resilient, adaptable and flexible — but how much more of a battering can they take? We need to get damaged irrigators repaired as soon as possible. Irrigation NZ is working with Immigration NZ to bring experts in from overseas and irrigation companies and farmers are working together to get irrigation working — even at reduced capacity — while waiting on parts. But assistance will also be needed for farmers not reliant on irrigation but who are facing a huge repair of damaged infrastructure.

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Kate Wilkinson

It is going to be necessary to keep the pressure on in highlighting the issues Canterbury farmers will still be facing long after the weather event has dropped from news headlines. Canterbury farmers can be forgiven for thinking that unless it happens in Auckland, or affects dairying, then it’s not important. But it is important. This is an opportunity (albeit an unwanted one) to impress upon the whole country the importance of Canterbury for farming and the economy. And, yes, you are right — I am a proud, parochial, oneeyed Cantabrian!

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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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October 2013

Country Matters

From the Minister

with Rob Cope-Williams

Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries

Great potential for New Zealand Last month I was fortunate to be invited to address a conference of agriculture Ministers from across the Americas in Argentina. While there I took the opportunity to visit Uruguay and Paraguay – countries with real potential.

A key message I pushed throughout this trip was that we see ourselves as a collaborator rather than a competitor in this part of the world. Where New Zealand can help these countries is not by exporting more produce, but kiwi agricultural ‘know how’ and product expertise. These countries have much in common. They are all massive beef and grain producers. They have large tracts of grasslands in varying stages of development and in most places fertile soils. The dairy industry in this region offers considerable potential for growth. For example, Paraguay only produces 8 litres of milk per cow per day. The same is true in Brazil where they have 200 million cattle and around three quarters are hand milked. The sheep industry is also undeveloped but offers huge potential. New Zealand companies are exporting products into these markets and doing a great

Why don’t people vote? Isn’t it interesting that when you look back in history how people literally put their lives on the line in an attempt to get the right to vote for those who were to govern, and yet now there are thousands of people who can’t be bothered to fill in the form and post it off, even when they don’t even have to find a stamp.

It’s very important for New Zealand to diversify our markets and what we export. Latin America has a population of around 600 million people and is rapidly growing, which is opening up real opportunities. job. Products like electric fences, animal and pasture genetics, animal health products, milking machine and meat processing technology are in demand. Some of you might be wondering if New Zealand is selling its comparative advantage to our future competitors? My response is that we live in a global economy that is becoming more open all the time. We can’t feed the world population, but we will continue to add value through innovation, niche products, branding and selling the New Zealand story. Over time we will move more product lines out of commodities (unprocessed materials) and into superior, value-added ‘finished products’. We will continue to sell large amounts of protein into Asia, but clearly the biggest opportunity in Latin America is through joint ventures and selling our products to their farmers. The proceeds of these sales flow right back into our economy.

With the authorities hoping they may get more than a fifty percent return, it would make the suffragettes turn in their graves. So why don’t people vote? It has me very confused especially after hearing so many people complaining about the management of their local authority and those sitting around the table. Well to be more accurate, they are normally complaining about the staff and their lack of co-operation and the costs of doing anything to do with the council. However in my mind, those who sit around the table should be the ones who drive the councils and what they do. So surely they are the ones who should fix any problems. I suppose there are two problems with assuming that — one is that first those around the table need to understand that there is a problem, and secondly they need to have the ability to do something about it.Looking at the billboards around Christchurch over the

past few weeks I keep asking myself ‘what qualifications does that person have to run a multi-million dollar business?’ Then I ask myself ‘Would they be able to read a balance sheet and hold a sensible debate on the realities of a financial situation?’ Then ‘Would they have the skills to motivate and manage a collection of people who have lost sight of the fact that they are public servants and think they can hide within the covers of a book full of rules and regulations?’ Sadly my answer is a resounding ‘No’ and I am left with thinking that the face on the billboard is actually asking me to provide an easy income for three years and allow them to feel very important. Why do people stand, and am I just a grumpy ratepayer? Probably, but you must admit that any commercial company would have a much more rigorous means of picking its board members than having a collection of billboards and PR driven catch phrases to make a decision with. The phrase ‘a rock and a hard place’ comes to mind — you know you want it fixed, but do you see anyone who you think is capable of fixing it? Perhaps it is easier not to vote after all.

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October 2013

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

Government finally admits MPI under-resourced This week we had an honest admission from a National Government minister that the Ministry of Primary Industries is under-resourced. That lack of capability was a key component in the debacle for which all farmers and industry participants are paying the price. In what turned out to be a false alert, New Zealand’s reputation for quality,

safe food was tarnished in the international market place. It will take years for us to restore our previous untarnished reputation. When senior minister Tim Groser admitted he and others

were aware of the underresourcing but failed to get the necessary funding to improve the situation, it exposed the blatant, unwarranted and negligent management by this National Government of

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our primary sector exports. My concern is that the same belligerent attitude exists in respect to biosecurity. We know that unwanted organisms are entering New Zealand because we can’t properly check containers, shipments of fruit and passengers who, unknowingly, transport a whole host of dangerous pests and organisms. The recent discovery of an onion fly in a Nelson garlic purchase shows just how easily we could see another outbreak in a region so dependent on horticultural and agricultural production. The National Governments new approach to biosecurity that places the obligation on primary industries to fund up to half the cost of any pest or disease

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While some horticultural leaders may have believed the Government rhetoric on partnership and prevention, the reality is biosecurity continues to be underfunded and I hope that it does not take a major outbreak or incursion before another senior minister finally gets up to admit they knew of the under-resourcing yet failed to act on the warnings. The hundreds of millions of dollars of cost to the dairy industry businesses will be small compared to the potential outbreak of a major pest such as fruit fly or foot and mouth disease.

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October 2013

STRAIGHT TALKING with Jim Childerstone

Welcome to the 21st century dictatorship — NZ-style Well, its a sort of dictatorship. Not quite Hitlerstyle. Or even based on Soviet systems. More like a Chairman Mau type. Democracy is generally accepted as electing the nation’s leaders by the people for the people. Under our current regime major decisions are being made by unelected public service department and institute heads, and their respective boards and

committees. And our elected parliamentarians appear to have virtually no control over these decisions. Particularly the current lot, lurching to the right of the political spectrum while following hands-off neoliberal policies. It is a worry as it can disrupt people’s lives and ambitions. Little regard is taken of socio-economic ethics. It can tear the guts out of a small community. The latest example

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Is this an attempt, as with some dictators, at empire building. In this case we now have hubs rather than gulags. If local press reports can be believed some 80 percent of Invermay personnel have no intention of moving to Lincoln. Many would rather head overseas. Others to seek private sector jobs to stay in the area. In case Cantabrians are unaware of what this is all about (there has been only fleeting mention in local Christchurch media) Invermay is situated near Mosgiel. Most of the affected personnel have wives and partners and many with progeny. They are part of the local community, taking part in schools, sports, volunteers in various local activities. They are part of the social fabric apart from the valuable work they do to enhance agricultural

production in the south and the rest of the country. So Chairman Mau wants to rip them out and plonk them down willy-nilly in a highly expensive area to carry on doing exactly what they had been doing at Invermay for decades. And this is happening in the North where a hundred or so personnel could be shifted from Ruakura near Hamilton to Palmerston North. Another hub? On top of this the whole project is not making any sense, objective-wise or economy-wise. For starters the government is going to have fork out $100million to put up future research facilities. There are already relatively new facilities available at Invermay which could become almost derelict with two thirds of its staff gone. It appears the executive management team lead by its board of directors had set up AgResearch’s change management team (CMT) to consider some 245 staff submissions on AgResearch’s “future footprint”. The submissions apparently backed increasing staff at Invermay, not downsizing it. However the executive rejected it for no discernible reason.

beginning to wonder at the changes to Lincoln’s hierarchy. I read somewhere that Dr Tom Richardson was Lincoln University’s principal/ chancellor, and more lately, that he is AgResearch’s CEO. So who is chairman of the board? Its all very confusing. As a columnist who tries to keep things simple, cut the hyperbole, gobbledegook and decipher the terminology, I am having some difficulty understanding how this board justifies these changes. And I quote the latest CEO’s statement (ODT 30/9/13): “Having a hub at Lincoln created the opportunity for an integrated approach (through the valuechain) to on-farm science challenges, providing a greater premium than being located at Invermay” (I thought we were already doing that down south). Then it goes on “the CMT report provided the views of staff, many of whom could

be affected by the changes, but had been carefully considered and changes made where we considered it appropriate.” Says CEO Tom Richardson. In other words a done deal. This all lacks facts and figures. Unfortunately this sort of verbiage does not only have the public guessing what it is all about, but appears to confuse federated farmers, who don’t want to admit they are none the wiser. It would seem Dr Richardson, and his mates, are true disciples of far right neo-liberal ideology where employees are just another working unit. Just another number on the spreadsheet, with no aspirations for family and community. And the executive dodges responsibility. Unless government ministers step in and call a halt to this fiasco our version of dictatorship keeps making progress.

As a one-time Lincoln graduate (1957–9) I am

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RURAL PROFESSIONALS

October 2013

Country Law

Money Talk with Andrew Wyllie

with Ronald W. Angland & Son

Jury service One of the oldest institutions in our legal system is the right of a person who has been accused of a serious offence to be tried by a jury of his/her peers. Indeed it is one of the oldest remaining legal customs from ancient times Every year hundreds of individuals receive summonses to serve on a jury. The names are selected at random from electoral rolls. There are, of course, certain categories of individuals who may not serve on a jury including MPs, Judges, barristers and solicitors, JPs who hear District Court cases and employees of Department of Corrections, Police, Justice and Legal Services Agency. People with certain criminal convictions may not serve on a jury. If you should receive a summons to be a juror you must attend, unless you are able to get an exemption from jury service from the Court Registrar. Ignoring a jury summons may result in a fine of $300. For those who take up the challenge of serving on

a jury, it will provide an interesting insight into the justice system in action. Once the jurors have been selected the trial usually commences with the Judge addressing the jury to outline the roles and responsibilities they are undertaking. Emphasis will be placed on keeping an open mind throughout the course of the trial and not reaching any conclusions as to the guilt or innocence of the offender until all evidence has been presented and the final addresses by prosecution and defence and the Judge’s summing-up have been completed. It is the jury’s role to decide whether, on the evidence adduced and facts established, the defendant is guilty of the offence beyond reasonable doubt. If there is a reasonable doubt a defendant must be acquitted. One of the Judge’s tasks is to provide an explanation of the legal issues and assist the jurors with understanding the law relating to the offence. Some offences are defined in such wording it is difficult

for most of us to interpret and helpful assistance is given. 2: When the jury retires to consider its verdict, it is ushered into a separate room to deliberate. The Ministry of Justice provides sustenance and the jurors remain in the jury room until a verdict is reached. In former times once a jury had retired, the members were required to be kept together until a verdict had been reached, but that rule has been relaxed and jurors may go home overnight, or for the weekend. On reaching a verdict the jury is then ushered back to the jury box and the foreman will, when asked by the Registrar, announce the result. Serving on a jury is a civic duty and everyone who receives a summons should try to serve if at all possible. This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner with Ronald Angland & Son, Solicitors, who may be contacted on Tel: 03 349 4708 or e-mail bessie@anglands. co.nz.

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Spring is in full swing as we head into the final few months of the year, with Show Week just around the corner. This month I want to have a look at the Aged Care sector in New Zealand. Some readers may already own shares in one of the listed Aged Care companies and with an ageing population in New Zealand, it’s going to be an area of continuing interest to investors. Currently returns are relatively low in the Aged Care sector and the major players are looking to grow their revenue by increasing their number of hospital level or dementia level beds, charging room premiums and selling occupation rights agreements (ORAs). Major unlisted players Bupa Care Services and Oceania are also becoming more active in the sector. We consider that the shortage of quality Aged Care beds will mean demand will remain strong for operators with an integrated model, offering high quality care. So who major players?

are

the

The Aged Care sector is even more fragmented than the Retirement Village sector with the three largest operators estimated to account for only 29% of beds. The two largest

operators are Bupa Care Services (around 3,800 beds) and Oceania (around 3,400 beds). They’re followed by Ryman (around 2,400 beds) and Radius Healthcare (around 1,400 beds). Metlifecare and Summerset in comparison are relatively small with 359 and 370 beds respectively. CBRE estimate at present there are 34,637 Aged Care beds in New Zealand, spread across 680 facilities, with another 2,880 beds proposed, based on planned developments. In 2012 the average size of an Aged Care facility was around 56 beds; 60% of facilities had between 20 and 60 beds. Market evidence suggests facilities with less than 40 beds do not utilise resources as efficiently as larger facilities. For example, Ryman now builds 120 bed facilities. In 2012 occupancy for the sector was 92.5%. What is the current operating environment like for Aged Care operators? The limited ability to generate an adequate return on investment, a shortage of new investment and increasing demand, have led to a number

Offeringthe the best best Offering in legal advice legal advice and john@anglands.co.nz and service service Bessie Paterson throughout Canterbury wide Hornby (03) 349 4708 Canterbury bessie@anglands.co.nz John Angland Leeston (03) 324 3033

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Apart from the development that Ryman has undertaken, there has been little Aged Care development in the last five to ten years. This is mainly due to the returns being too low to justify further investment, but also because it is a very tough sector to operate in given it is management intensive and bureaucratic. In the New Zealand Aged Care Association July 2013 newsletter, it stated that the total number of beds between 2008 and 2012 increased by just 2% (692 beds). With Ryman alone building well in excess of this, this means a significant level of stock has left the market given its age (or operators have ceased business). Over the same period the New Zealand population over the age of 75 increased by 8.9%. There is a standalone 80 bed care facility planned for Kumeu in West Auckland and this is the first stand-alone Aged Care facility we are aware of to be developed in many years. Currently around 38% of all Aged Care facilities are integrated and we expect this to increase. Expertise in Aged Care is crucial, in our view, for longterm success in the Retirement Village sector. If you would like to confidentially discuss your investment requirements please contact me. Andrew Wyllie is an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr. co.nz. 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.

Thinking of selling your farm? Speak to Authorised Financial Adviser Andrew Wyllie today in confidence about your off-farm investment strategy.

of techniques employed by the major Aged Care operators to boost returns.

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RURAL PROFESSIONALS

October 2013

Employment Talk by Matt Jones

As we well know, farming can be a dangerous business. Quad bike accidents are no exception being involved in approximately 28% of agricultural work-related deaths. Farms continue to trump the rest of New Zealand’s workplaces for the highest level of accidents. A staggering 850 people each year are injured, and an unfortunate five deaths result.

During this busy season the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Health and Safety Programme will be sending out more inspectors to visit farms to check on their ATV safety protocols.

and Safety in Employment Act. I’ll remind you that this Act requires employers to take ‘all practicable steps’ to prevent employees and others from being harmed in their workplace.

Quad bikes are an extremely popular method of transport around most farms and their practicality and durability are unsurpassed. These powerful machines need to be treated with respect and there is no room for mishandling, ignoring manufacturer’s safety recommendations, or general complacency while in operation.

As this is an important health and safety issue, farmers need to grasp the gravity of this potential situation and take responsibility for staff as well as themselves regarding ATV use in the workplace.

Please encourage your staff to follow these four key safety steps, and don’t forget to lead by example!

So what are your obligations as an employer?

• Never let children ride adult quad bikes

As yet there is no specific law covering helmets, training, rider age, passengers and towing/carrying limits on quad bikes. However, when they are being used for work purposes they are covered by the Health

• Choose the right vehicle for the job — especially when towing a load or carrying passengersAlso get staff into the habit of familiarising themselves with terrain before negotiating it and suggest they

Now that we are fully immersed in spring, longer working hours will see quad bike injury rates stepping up another yet another notch.

try another route if they’re not totally confident. Set appropriate speed limits relevant to different weather and conditions on your farm.

option. There are a range of NZQA approved safety courses to choose from, some are even subsidised by bike brands when purchasing a new vehicle.

If workers haven’t been trained in the proper use of these vehicles, investing in an ATV safety programme is a wise

Agstaff advise you to always put safety first on your farm. We feel it is imperative that all preventative measures

Protecting staff from needless quad bike injuries or deaths ensures that your farming business continues to be serious about being a ‘workplace of choice’.

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October 2013

Gowanlea — a slice of paradise by Alan Wheatley

If someone had told James Corson 25 years ago as he hitch-hiked through northern Alberta that he’d be running 3,000 beehives across mid-Canterbury and have a 2,000 acre hill property with cattle and deer, he’d have probably said they had rocks in their heads. But that is the case for the beekeeper, farmer and CEO of Whitecliffs-based Gowanlea Gold Apiaries, who says despite the challenges, that’s what he is doing and even

though it’s ‘damned hard work,’ he loves it. He says he was hitching through northern Alberta in 1989, and met some beekeepers who were short-handed.

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“I stayed with them for a few days and quite liked the seasonal lifestyle, particularly when they said they spent the winter in Florida.” Over the following few years, James went back and forth from Canada before finally returning home to first work for Airborne Honey at Leeston, and then set up shop for himself. “I started with 13 derelict beehives and grew that to 120 in a few years. When Airborne sold their hives I bought another 600. Our operation now has 3,000 hives throughout midCanterbury. Our main crop is clover, but we shift several thousand hives onto the native beech in the autumn to gather a honey dew crop.” James says beekeeping is all about risk. “It needs moisture and heat for the clover to flow, so in Canterbury with wind and

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drought, it’s high risk. Last year drought and the clover root weevil combined to produce a disaster. Normally we do 100 tonnes plus in a year, but last year we did 20. Thankfully we did the same on honey dew in the autumn and have some understanding bankers.”

The Corsons usually employ four to five summer staff, with casuals taken on for extracting. Most of their honey is exported to the UK and Europe. D i ff i c u l t y finding experienced workers locally means 50 per cent of their staff this year will be from overseas.

“The weather is also a constant challenge. We need a warm spring to get queens mated to fill nucleus hive orders for the North Island manuka operators, then settled weather in September when the willows flower and the bees can gather nectar. Then for December,

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October 2013

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moisture and no wind, to make the clover yield.”

minute traces of residue in the honey.

He adds that they always thought dairy irrigators would be a major plus, but in reality, it’s been the opposite.

“Bees pay no attention to boundaries and will quite happily drink from water that contains stock treatment antibiotics.

“The dairy grazing round doesn’t allow the clover to flower to its maximum. Most of our hives were on the flatlands of what is now dairy country. We’ve pulled most of them out and headed back to the hills where there is less grazing and more native crops.”

They forage on crops that have been sprayed with pesticide with devastating effects on populations.” But life has many pluses too. Aside from bees, the Corsons also run a 2,000 acre hill country property with cattle and deer.

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They now want to find an experienced bee keeper who can

“Climate change means we are soon going to have to admit thast bee keeping is not the same as it was a couple of decades back. The crops are less reliable, costs continually rise — the Varroa mite alone added $50,000 to our costs overnight.

But for all that he is “living in a little slice of paradise” that he and wife Richelle and their three small boys call home.

Quality controls and increasing government regulations add to the workload and customers too can detect

take on day to day duties to give them more time to develop the deer side of the farm.

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WATER

October 2013

Irrigation Issues Dr Tony Daveron

Dodging bullets Last month I discussed the unforeseen cost of irrigator damage in potential lost production before irrigators could be repaired. Just as we were about to be dealt the first nasty blow a deluge has saved the day and we have dodged the first bullet. Dodging bullets — we have all used the saying or idiom. We all know what it means to have dodged a bullet. We have successfully avoided a very serious problem or nearly avoided a bad event or narrowly

avoided a disastrous situation. And that we have. By this time (October 9) many irrigators on light soils would have needed to have begun irrigating. Without an irrigator you were the target of not just a bullet but a burst of them. September/early October reared as the first of the bullets to dodge — the first irrigation of the season. ‘And then along came

(not Jones as Ray Stevens sang) but the rain’ — and plenty of it. Everything from 40mm to 80+mm and snow too boot in places. As the soil moisture plot shows: • By October 8 soil moisture had reached the lower operating limit for centre pivot irrigation and needed to GO in the next day; • If it was rotational irrigation on similar soils irrigation should have started to be finished a round by about 11th or 12th. • The first bullet. When I last wrote in September I proffered it would be 12 weeks before the pivot/linear is up and running — 84 days or second week of December. Dodging this bullet has just wiped 34 odd days of that time — so 50 days becomes the critical time, Dodging this first

ALWAYS KEEP EQUIPMENT AT LEAST FOUR METRES FROM POWER LINES bullet has reduced the impact significantly. So how long till the next burst of fire. Given soils will drain to field capacity

or full point in the next couple of days on the light soils, irrigation will be about 10 days from then — like around October 20 — the

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next bullet. How ironic in a year when some will not have irrigators till December (or later) groundwater is in such good heart and supply. Once again take a look at my favourite mid-plains bore, M36/1926. The water level has continued to rise through August and September. There is a good 15m of water above the level when irrigators would feel the effects of lower water levels. The water level will continue to rise — unusual for September and October: • Irrigation would be beginning to lower water levels; and • The rain over the last couple of days will mostly go to recharge and will show up in a month or two. Look out for the next lot of bullets — around October 20–22nd.

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October 2013

ADVERTORIAL

The ‘Hands’ of 3D Rural just got wider For All Your Large Scale Water Storage and Irrigation Projects If you are developing your farm, let us help you do the hard work. Plateau Works specialises in major infrastructure works from Central Otago through to Canterbury. We understand your needs and have the experience, equipment and GPS technology to successfully complete water storage, irrigation and land development projects including: • • • • • •

water storage ponds and dams pipelines and effluent storage static or fixed grid irrigation installation pivot earthworks underpasses cow lanes and shed pads

If you are looking for a company with proven experience and capability, call Plateau Works on 03 439 5105 or Marcus on 027 283 8857 to discuss how we can best deliver for you.

3D Rural is a company which provides a complete farming solution to farmers by utilising the expertise of their three different divisions specialising in farm development, management, operations and ownership. Plateau Works is the ‘Hands’ of 3D Rural as their earthworks and land development division and it has the experience, equipment and GPS technology to successfully complete water storage, irrigation and land development projects. These include water storage ponds and dams, pipelines and effluent storage, static or fixed grid irrigation installation, pivot ramps, underpasses, cow lanes and shed pads. The ‘Hands’ capability is expanding and Plateau Works now operate two late model twin engine Cat scrapers to

deal with the growth in business and guided by GPS technology, these machines can shift an enormous volume of material accurately and efficiently. The scrapers also complement the other machinery in the earthmoving division including dozers, graders and 12–30 tonne excavators.

offer a turn-key solution which ensures successful results.

Irrigation is changing and with fixed grid becoming more common due to economies, Plateau Works has built up a team of able installers, coupled with new moleplough technology, who work closely with irrigation companies to

This is available through Landplan — the ‘Head’ of 3D Rural — who offer farmers impartial and strategic advice to support their developments or day-to-day operations.

Clients of Plateau Works also have access to the unique Pivot Tech software and technology which enables landusers to install centre pivots to irrigate previously marginal land areas offering a best-value, long-term solution.

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WATER

October 2013

Weather Watch by Tony Trewinnard

September was a pleasant spring month in Canterbury with no major departures from the long term climate normals. A number of low pressure systems moved over the region during the month, bringing regular rainfalls. These were balanced by anticyclones with fine periods, and some periods of northwesterly airflow. Overall, temperatures were near normal, with departures mostly within half a degree of the long term average. Both day time and night time temperatures showed consistent trends. Sunshine hours were mostly a little above normal, generally by 5–10%, but in parts of North Canterbury departures were 20%, while in South Canterbury totals were a little below the long term mean. Rainfall was variable, with totals of 50–75% of normal in South Canterbury, especially inland. Much of the plains and foothills recorded totals 75–125% of normal for the month, but some parts of North Canterbury had totals a little above 125%. In the tropical Pacific conditions remain quiet and in a clearly neutral state. There is no clear trend towards either El Nino or La Nina, and the Southern Oscillation Index remains near zero, though with some week to week variations. No other indicators show a trend. There looks to be good reason to expect ongoing neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific for at least the next three months, and probably into late 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, bringing on-going low pressure system development there.

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. Some models want to bring in a slight trend towards a very weak El Nino event developing over summer, but at the current forecast levels this would not impact on New Zealand. A continuing trend between now and at least mid-summer 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 northern and central New Zealand. Anticyclones are likely to be more dominant over the far south of the country. We expect November to see at least normal rainfall along the coast about and north of Banks Peninsula, with slightly below normal totals inland and to the south. In inland South Canterbury rainfall totals may be significantly below normal. From December to February will likely see more anticyclones over the South Island, with consequently

Forecast — Canterbury Rainfall Nov

Temp

A little A little wetter than milder than normal normal

Sunshine

Airflow

Near normal

Reduced westerly airflow

Dec

Near normal

Milder than normal

Near normal

More anticyclones than usual

Jan

A little drier than normal

Milder than normal

Sunnier than normal

More anticyclones than usual

Feb

A little drier than normal

Milder than normal

Sunnier than normal

More anticyclones than usual

slightly drier than normal months expected over the whole region. However, there is no indication that these months will be significantly drier than normal as some rain producing weather systems will continue to move over the country. Sunshine hours through to the end of the year should be near normal, but there are some indications of higher than normal sunshine mid and late summer.

trend to slightly milder than normal, but not due to increased northwesterly winds, with night time temperatures especially likely to be warmer than usual. If anything, the frequency of northwesterly wind events may be lower than normal.

The easiest way to get an accurate weather forecast? Call the only LOCAL Canterbury weatherline…

0900 4CAST Calls cost $1.29 per minute

We can help with custom forecasts for local areas, snow warnings, frost prediction, long term and seasonal forecasts

Blue Skies Weather The only weather forecasters located right here in Canterbury

03 314 7318 email: forecasters@blueskies.co.nz

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

Irrigation Pond Construction & General Earthworks

Temperatures through the next four months show a clear

Domestic Water Wells • Free Site Consultation • Professional Job at a Competitive Price • Prompt and Efficient Team • Workmanship Guaranteed • Over 18 Years Experience • NZ Drillers Federation Member Ph GLEN DALY (Owner Operator)

027 663 9961 Daly Water Wells After hours 03 329 5625

• Tractor Units and Trailers • 6 wheeler Tip Truck • Champion 710-3 Grader 17T • Twin powered Cat 627 Motor Scraper • 3–13T Track Excavators • 20T Track Excavators with attachments • Bulk Trucks & Trailers with 30T payload capability

• Vano 20hp 850kg Pivot Steer Loader with attachments — bucket, hydraulic grader blade, post hole borer, augers & rotary broom • Twin Drum Vibrating Roller • Heavy Construction Rollers • Low Bed Transporter with 26T payload capability

M Mid Canterbury Earthmovers Ltd C Locally owned and operated. All enquiries welcome. Free Quotes. E Call Murray on 027 439 1556 or Doug on 027 439 1560

email: dalywaterwells@hotmail.com

Office: 308 9821 Fax: 308 9873 Email: mjdeuart@netaccess.co.nz

• Cartage • Driveways • Rock Walls • Site Clearing • Dairy Lanes • Demolition • 5 - 20 Ton Excavator • Water Storage Ponds • Rock & Gravel Supplies • Hedge & Stump Removal

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PIPE & PVC STOCKWATER NEW MACHINES WINTER SERVICING

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

Office 615 5685 • Fax 03 615 5686 oneillearthworks@xtra.co.nz

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October 2013

CANTERBURY

P.L. Berry & AssociAtes PAtent Attorneys

A&P SHOW

• N.Z. & Overseas Patents • Registered Designs • Searches & Licensing • Copyright • Trade Marks Principal: Elspeth Buchanan

Bringing the country to town for 150 years

B.Met. (Hons), C.Eng, MIMMM, FNZIPA Registered Patent Attorney, N.Z. & Australia

Want to protect your inventions or trade marks before the show?

Call us on 03 366 2761 www.plberry.co.nz

There are few events which sum up the spirit of rural New Zealand better than a traditional A and P show — the livestock, the wood chopping, the home baking and the carnival atmosphere make for a memorable day for both farmers and their families — and for cosmopolitan folk, who may only see real sheep and cattle at showtime from year to year.

E: office@plberry.co.nz 15b Byron Street, Sydenham P.O. Box 1250 Christchurch

SOLAR WATER PUMPS POWERED BY THE SUN

Bringing town and country together in this way is the stated aim of the Canterbury A and P show — and it’s a role which the yearly get-together has fulfilled admirably for many, many years. In fact, the country’s biggest A and P show is about to reach a major milestone, turning 150 this year. That’s fifteen decades of changing technology and social trends — original visitors in 1863 would have come to the old Sydenham site by horse and cart, while the cutting edge in agriculture on display would have been the latest model of steam traction engine. Today, at a whole new dedicated site near Wigram, the long-established Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Society will welcome guests to view GPS guided harvesters and hybrid-engined tractors equipped with computerised hydraulics. Other things (like the prize livestock, the sideshows and the great food) remain evergreen. All those years of success have not gone unrecognised. This year the Canterbury A and P Show scooped the top award for small enterprise at the Champion Canterbury Business Awards, an acknowledgement of the importance of the event to the rural sector. As over 100,000 people pass through the show’s gates each year, it’s easy to see why it has become a red-letter fixture on the Canterbury calendar. In this case, that’s not just a figure

• Reliable • No Running costs • Low Maintenance • Any Location • From $2400+gst

of speech. The Canterbury A and P Show may be the only such event in New Zealand to boast it’s own public holiday, giving everyone a chance to get

into the fun. Even the immense state fairs held in America’s midwest aren’t afforded such an honour. But in Canterbury, the decision was made to move

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the region’s anniversary day to the Friday of the A and P show each year. Since the 1950s this has meant record crowds and commendable community engagement with one of New Zealand’s longest-standing rural traditions.

Solar Energy Specialists Call us 03 9801318 or email info@freshenergy.co.nz www.freshenergy.co.nz

New Zealand’s

Top Selling Isuzu D-Max Dealership Come in today for celebration specials on all Isuzu D-Max — unique to Silvester Motor Company

Canterbury A&P Show – site L-2A

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See us at — Area T Site 77

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144 Moorhouse Ave • Christchurch (03) 379 9199 • www.silvesters.co.nz

October 2013

CANTERBURY

A&P SHOW

AV E R T O R I A L

For all CAT safety boots, lifestyle, apparel and accessories see our new websiTe

Answering back pain

One of the most vexing ailments for mankind has always been back pain and an innovative kiwi company has found a solution for many sufferers.

www.thecatman.co.nz

Inversion New Zealand was started nearly six years ago by Dave and Nancy

Christchurch, new Zealand

BACK or NECK PAIN? Show Specials

If you suffer from Back or Neck Pain then come along to our stand at the Canterbury A&P Show, Wigram on the 13th to the 15th November.

Bring this ad along for a free treatment

Inversion helps to:

In 2006, a three and a half year medical study using the Teeter Hang-Ups was completed in the Regional Neuroscience Centre at Newcastle General Hospital. It was conducted by one of the UK’s leading Neurosurgeons and authorities on back care and it was found that Inversion Therapy reduced the need for spinal surgery for Sciatica by 77% compared to 22% with traditional methods of treatment. We will set the table to the relaxing angle of 20 degrees, which gently relieves the pressure on your spine and leaves you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Hare, and their Teeter Hang-Up product will be on display at Field days.

into New Zealand, and Inversion New Zealand was born.

Dave had suffered over 20 years of back pain and then on an overseas trip, he discovered the Teeter Hang-Ups.

“Over the years INZ has helped thousands of people get amazing relief from pain and we have seen excellent results not only with backs, but hips, knees, necks, posture, circulation, increased height, blood pressure, and lots more.

"The first time I tried it the pain completely disappeared, and the more I used the table the longer the pain stayed away, until after nearly three months I was completely pain-free.“ The Hare's decided to introduce Teeter

Relieve Back Pain Relieve Neck Pain Relieve Muscle Tension Stimulate Blood and Lymph Flow • Improve Posture • Increase Flexibility • Reduce the Effects of Aging caused by Gravity

• • • •

 FARM  TRUCK  CONSTRUCTION All makes & all scales available Contact the Mail Order Specialist

WE CAN GET ANYTHING! 57 Orongo Road, RD 4 Thames Phone 07 867 5340 Fax 07 867 5064 Mobile 027 277 1067 Email: info@modelbarn.co.nz Website: www.modelbarn.co.nz

Inversion NZ Ltd

0800 62 62 83 www.inversionnz.co.nz

The Christie Post Driver developed by Christie Engineering has been designed for the harsh Australian environment. Weighing 13kg it is lightweight and portable while being powerful enough to drive a star or Y steel picket post into the hardest ground in a matter of seconds using 1720BPM hammer action . The design enables the operator to move along a fence line with ease much faster than traditional air and hydraulic driven units.

Powered by the ultra reliable Honda GX35 1.0kW motor and featuring a Honda throttle assembly the unit has been built to last. Covered by a 3 year motor and 1 year assembly warranty the Christie Post Driver is ready to tackle any fence.

Lightweight alloy configuration

Ph: 027 469 4301

Up to 500 posts per litre

Spring dampened handles

Reliable Honda motor

“That is why we do the shows — people need to try it for themselves. We let the tables do the talking. Come along for a free treatment. The chances are you will be pleasantly surprised.”

Come & see us at Site E4 (on Deans Ave) for many new releases & show specials

After nearly six years in NZ there are now enough people using the Teeter Hang-Ups to dispel the last of any doubts that these really do work if you suffer from Back or Neck Pain or simply just want to age healthily, bring this ad along for a free 10 minute treatment. “I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised!”

the See TIE IS CHR RIVER TD POS e G 24A Sit

INZ now has a division putting the product into industry, as back pain costs companies a considerable

amount of lost production. “This year we have doubled the size of the stand in the Lifestyle marquee at Gate Four, so we can treat more people” said Dave, adding that if he had he not tried the Teeter he would never have bought one.

All Internal components are manufactured from the highest quality precision machined materials to give the longest tool life possible. The harsh hammering action is isolated from the operator via spring dampened handles allowing many hours of fatigue free operation.

Suits standard star and Y posts

Sole NZ Agent: NZF Products Limited, 201 Maces Road, Bromley, Christchurch

Handle mounted throttle

sales@nzfproducts.co.nz www.nzfproducts.co.nz

October 2013

CANTERBURY

A&P SHOW

ADVERTORIAL

Sebco proving popular Sebco diesel stations are proving to be very popular on farmer’s/contractor’s yards and in certain industrial settings.

bills due to contaminated fuel dispensed from inferior storage tanks. “The old steel tank just does not cut the mustard any more.” Sebco have undertaken a large testing regime which also gives purchasers great confidence in the product. Ed explains, “We are tracking 15 units through their lifespan, of those 15 we have taken two back at five years’ use and conducted invasive testing.” What this

involves is to actually cut the tank into strips and then conduct testing on those strips from right around the circumference. These strips were sent to a lab in Australia where they were put into vigorous testing to show how the resin was performing. The results were emphatic that there was no breakdown of the material at all in the five years of use. Sebco will be taking another two at 10 years’ service and another two at 15 years’

service on which to conduct the same testing. The other important fact was no water or dirt build up in either of the tanks that were tested. This goes to prove that Sebco are certainly a quality product, meeting the needs of the market. Sebco will be at the 2013 Canterbury A&P Show. For more information on products go to www.sebco.co.nz or phone 0800 473 226.

SPECIAL

995 PLUS GST

UNTIL CHRISTMAS PROJECT PRO 117

High Performance Piston Pump

“Driving around farms all across New Zealand you don’t have to go very far until you spy a unit sited on a farm somewhere” says Ed Harrison, owner of local company Ashburton based Fuel Storage Systems Ltd, manufacturers of the Sebco brand. In fact, a lot of these units have now pumped several hundred thousand litres with

known quantities going through a Sebco 4800 of up to 200,000 litres per year. “The feedback we are getting from customers is fantastic” says Ed — “I even had one chap ring me up and tell me the Sebco 4800 was the best thing he had ever bought for the farm, he was also confirming another Sebco purchase at the same time.” When looking at the build quality, the use of quality

components and how the set-up all works it is easy to see why these Sebco diesel stations are gaining a reputation of a ‘must have’ in farming circles. “With the onset of the common rail diesel engine the need for clean fuel is never more crucial” says Ed. There are many stories in the market place of late model vehicles failing in the injector pumps and having large repair

Do you have a diesel common rail engine? If your answer is YES, you need a Sebco Diesel Station!

NEW!

Product Specification: • Compact Piston Pump for painting projects around the farm. • Contractor Grade Spray Gun in line filter and practical reversible tip. • Can spray water soluble paints such as primers, filler, emulsions, stains and acrylic and solvent based paints. Technical Data: • Power Consumption 600W • Max. Flow Rate (140 bar) 0.95 litres per minute • Max Spray Pressure (0.017°) 2800PSI • Gun 4 Finger Professional • Hose Length: 7.5 metre • Weight 12 kgs • Voltage 230 V 50 HZ • Tip Sizes Supplied 0.015°

PH 03 366 2920

101 Durham Street, Sydenham, Christchurch email: industrialmg@xtra.co.nz

RECENT EVENTS LEFT YOU POWERLESS?

OMC HAVE THE ANSWERS WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT POWER DUNLITE PTO TRACTOR VALUE PACKAGE  50–100kVA  4 pole – 1500rpm  AVR auto voltage regulator  Uses include a portable power plant for irrigation, pumps, cool rooms etc.

PTO Generator + 3 Point Linkage Frame + 1/3 Phase Plugs

KOHLER / GENERAC

STANDBY GAS GENERATORS

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Quality + Dependability + Durability = Complete Peace of Mind

Optimum clean fuel

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Come and see us at the Canterbury A&P Show

Available: 2300, 4800 and 9500 litre Plus - new to the range: the 1300 litre diesel station Manufacturers of Waste Oil Recovery Containers, SCR Stations for Adblue & Transportable Tanks

Smart Fuel Storage

Visit our website for a full list of products and features

EU20 Portable Inverter Generator  Lightweight 21kg — highly portable  Ideal for caravans & RV’s  From just 53dB — whisper quiet  Smooth power — better than commercial quality  Up to 15 hours run time PER TANK!

$2,252+GST

Incl. FREE FITTED Hourmeter worth

$95

Dependable water cooled Diesel Engine Sets  3.5–150 kVA  Dependable John Deere power packs  Soundproof enclosure  Integral fuel tank giving up to 24hrs run time  Single source warranty  ISO 3001 accredited  Easy installation and maintenance  AVR – Automatic voltage regulation  Digital controller with auto start  Clean 50Hz / 1 & 3 phase options

Why Buy from OMC Power Equipment? • Inlet connections and cable lengths supplied to match shed • All units shipped ready to connect for instant backup • Items shipped freight free NZ wide • Ask us about leasing — 90% tax deductible — cash flow friendly “Remember the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”

YOUR OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST

Proudly made in Ashburton, New Zealand

0800 473 226 | www.sebco.co.nz

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

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

October 2013

CANTERBURY

A&P SHOW

ADVERTORIAL

Ironman 4x4 one-stop shop for accessories

New Zealand now has greater choice in 4x4 suspension and accessories. Ironman 4x4 products have been developed in the harshest proving ground in the world — Australia, and have been available to 4wd users for over 50 years. Sold in more than 120 countries, Ironman 4x4 will deliver the comfort and safety you demand as well as quality and value for money. Products and expert advice will be available at the Canterbury A&P Show site G9.

Bullbars The range of bullbars is extensive with an entry level commercial black bar which is airbag and winch compatible, a deluxe bar which is similar to the commercial bar but has an integrated driving light and the protector bar with a grey finish and stainless steel hoops. All have an aerial lug

as well as spotlight mounting points and a number have high lift jack slots.

Winches Ironman 4x4 has totally redesigned and upgraded its range of monster winches, including stronger motors, heavy duty casings, synthetic ropes, competition style solenoids and are the only winch on the market with a motor breather. With two in the range, a 9,500lb and a 12,000lb, and with the option of steel or synthetic cable, there is a winch to suit your needs. The greatest new feature of the range of winches is the fully sealed motor with a breather that allows the motor to equalise changes in temperature and pressure by

means of a remote breather hose which can be placed high in the vehicle away from water. The Ironman Monster Winch is the only winch on the market with this feature.

Lighting Ironman 4x4 have released a range of LED lights tried and tested in Australian conditions and with a range suitable for any application from unique modular designs to full length light bars, there is a light to meet your vehicle needs. The modular LED lights have been designed with maximum flexibility to allow numerous combinations and layouts and allow the combining of flood and spot beams to give close coverage as well as distance lighting. All have a polycarbonate

lens cover with high strength and impact resistance along with a Diecast Alloy housing. They can operate on a range of voltages from 10–30V DC and have an output of 2,700 lumens with light colour of 6,000k and are waterproof rated at IP67 level. Three light bars are available depending on your requirements. All come with robust polycarbonate lens covers, diecast alloy housings and can operate on a range of voltages from 10–30 volts. All are waterproof and are 6,000k white light output.

Recovery Equipment Ironman 4X4 have an extensive range of recovery equipment including snatch straps, recovery kits, highlift jacks and exhaust jacks. All come in sturdy carry bags and you can feel confident of having the right equipment should you get stuck.

Suspension Suspension kits and components with raised height, long travel and improved performance are

available for most makes and models. Ironman 4x4 shock absorbers are available in 35mm nitro gas or 41mm foam cell. These have longer travel and are built stronger to deliver performance in all conditions. Leaf and coil springs are made from high quality SUP9 steel and are available in different load ratings from ‘comfort’ to ‘extra constant load’. All suspension comes with a 3-year 60,000km warranty.

Diff Locks The Harrop/Eaton E-Locker is manufactured in Australia in conjunction with Eaton Corporation and Harrop Engineering and it is a new age electromagnetic design which is maintenance free. The diff locks do not require an air compressor and do not have any ongoing maintenance or reliability issues and are simply engaged by a switch in the cab. They have been engineered to capture 100% of the available torque sending it equally to both ends of the axle.

Underbody protection Ironman 4x4 have developed a range of underbody protection kits which give enhanced protection from rocks, mud and debris. These kits are made from 3mm pressed steel, have easy bolt on installation with no drilling or welding required, allow oil changes without removal and are semi gloss powder coated for long life. Kits are available for most late model vehicles.

Camping Accessories The range of camping accessories from Ironman 4x4 is always expanding with the proven rooftop tents and awnings available and a new range of fridges from 30–50 litres, camping chairs, tables, swags, tent lights and picnic sets recently released, there is something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors. The Ironman 4x4 range of accessories is extensive. For a full run down see the website www.ironman4x4.co.nz or phone 0508 IRONMAN.

STEEL ROOF RACK

$895

AIRFORCE SNORKEL

$350

HID DRIVING LIGHTS

$999

SUSPENSION LIFT KITS

BULL BARS

TOYOTA - Landcruiser / Hilux NISSAN - Patrol / Navara FORD - Ranger MAZDA - BT50 HOLDEN - Colorado

9500lb

$990

THE LARGEST RANGE IN THE WORLD

Black Commercial

$1350

Deluxe Commercial

Protector

$1580

$1750

Prices exclude GST, Fitting and Freight. Prices are subject to change without notice HOKITIKA ALEXANDRA Stewart FarmingDUNEDIN & Recreation Hokitia Automotive St Kilda Automotive Junction Autos 227 Hilton 46 FitzherbertHighway, Street, 68 Prince Albert Road 58 Boundary Road, Hokitika Dunedin Alexandra Washdyke Washdyke Ph (03) 756 8014 Ph (03) 455 1031 Ph: (03) 448 6826 Ph (03) 688 7517 Ph (03) 688 7517 TIMARU

Stewart Farming &

Recreation 227 Hilton Highway,

From

$164

$1199

$1099

JEEP - Wrangler

Email: vince@terraquip.co.nz

9500lb

12000lb

MITSUBISHI - Pajero / Triton

CHRISTCHURCH NZ Ltd NELSON KAIKOURA Terraquip Terraquip NZ Ltd The 4x4 Centre Kaikoura Auto Centre 176 Waterloo Road, Hornby, 8042 176 Waterloo Road, 75 Vanguard Street 83 Beach Road Hornby, 8042 Nelson Ph: (03) 349 0037 Mob: 027Kaikoura 296 2346 Ph: (03) 349 0037 Ph (03) 548 2731 Ph (03) 319 6009 Email: vince@terraquip.co.nz Mob: 027 296 2346

SYNTHETIC ROPE

$999

ISUZU - D-Max

Suspension Kits From

STEEL CABLE

large recovery kit TM HARROP/EATON ELOCKER

12000lb

$1299 $1999

$335

Prices exclude GST, Fitting and Freight. Prices are subject to change without notice CLINTON AUCKLAND Rakaia Service Centre Off Road Engineering Cottle Motors & Auto 78 Elizabeth WestraAvenue, Street Electrix Railway Yard, Clinton 65 Main Road, Rakaia Kumeu, Auckland Ph (03) 415 7040 Ph (03) 303 5100 Ph: (09) 412 9908

TOLL FREE 0508 IRONMAN TOLL FREE (0508 4766626) 0508 IRONMAN

TAURANGA

HAMILTON

TAUPO

WHANGAREI

Toy-ota Commercials

Turbo & Diesel Specialists

Performance Mechanical

Onerahi Garage

Partsworld 60 Maleme Street,

281 Kahikatea Drive, Frankton, Hamilton

& Engineering 20 Matai Street, Taupo

1 Church Street Whangarei

Greerton, Tauranga

Ph: (07) 847 3339

www.ironman4x4.co.nz Ph: 0800 4x4 SPARES (0800 494 772)

Ph: (07) 376 5982

Ph (09) 436 5971

www.ironman4x4.co.nz

(0508 4766626)

October 2013

CANTERBURY

A&P SHOW

ADVERTORIAL

What is the quality of your grain?

For many years, sampling grain has been important in measuring key quality parameters in combinable crops. In recent years, however, other challenges including Mycotoxins have emerged, requiring the industry to demonstrate due diligence. An overview of key sampling opportunities is outlined below. Following this simple procedure and ensuring appropriate equipment is used will assist in maximising your return. 1. Know the harvested quality At harvest, analysis can

only determine grain quality if sampling is representative of grain loads coming into store/silo. Results from analysis of harvested grain will confirm if grain meets the proposed market's criteria. 2. Protect the harvested quality During storage, sampling for temperature and moisture content is required to assess changes in physical condition and to verify that storage targets are met.

4. Know the received

quality

At receipt, most buyers will sample from each truck, often using automated equipment, and should follow the best

Without effective drying and cooling, spoilage may occur and potential market opportunities may be lost. 3. Know what leaves the store

practice recommended by assurance schemes recognised in their industry. Here at FF Instrumentation we can assist with all your sampling, analysis and

monitoring needs for grains, seed, finished feeds and more. See us at the 2013 Canterbury Show in Trade pavilion T22.

The Best & Strongest Sheds in New Zealand

100% NEW ZEALAND STEEL • DESIGNED & MADE IN CANTERBURY

At out-loading from the store/silo representative samples taken as trucks are loaded provide evidence of what has been dispatched. This is the best opportunity for the grower's and purchaser's assessments of delivered quality to match.

Open Farm Shed

American Lifestyle Barn

NOW $23,456.00 INCL GST

NOW $15,450.00 INCL GST

SAVE $1,100.00

SAVE $1,636.00

Mono Dbl Garage Special

3 Bay Farm Shed

Kitset Only, 6m x 6m Coloursteel Add $1,200

Kitset Only 9m x 6m Coloursteel Add $1,200

NOW $15,400.00 INCL GST

NOW $9,483.00 INCL GST

SAVE $1,000.00

SAVE $600.00

Kitset Only, 9m x 20m x 4m Eave, 15Deg Roof Snow Loading to 1.6kPa Coloursteel Add $2,500

Special Kitset Only 10m x 7m x 3.6 high Coloursteel Add $2,200

• All prices GST incl • 50yr warranty • Free delivery NZ wide*Conds apply • Kitset prices only • Prices are for Region A, Terrain category 2.5 and a Topographic and sheilding factor of 1. Other design loading conditions including snow loading and earthquake loading available.

CALL US 03 379 6195 or 0800 DINKUM (346 586) 72 DURHAM ST, CHCH www.durasteel.co.nz

Tunnelhouses t ee us a Come s h Show the Chc rea F Site A 7 No. 2

CALL AND SEE OUR STAND (F31 – F32) BY THE TIP TOP FAMILY LAWN

Importers of European Manufactured

• Ideal addition to your lifestyle block • Grow vegetables all year round and reduce your grocery bill • Very affordable and easy to install • Totally NZ made by family business making tunnelhouses for 30 years • Range of models from 2m to 8m long

Muck Spreaders – Slurry Tankers – Floats – Trailers – Livestock Trailers

Rob & Helen Pooler 03 302 9244 or 027 447 4811

www.atlastrailers.co.nz atlasag@xtra.co.nz

The latest analytical equipment for the food, dairy, grain, seed and feed industriesfrom farm to plate! www.ffinstrumentation.co.nz

210 CLYDE STREET, INVERCARGILL Phone: 03 214 4262 morrifield@clear.net.nz www.morrifield.com

Air Filter Blaster

Whole Grain Moisture Analyser

Portable Grain Moisture

Portable Thresher

See us at Trade Pavilion T22

Soil Moisture Probes

Grain Sample Spears

Hay/Silage Moisture

Phone +64 3 962 2960 Fax +64 3 962 2962

FORESTRY

October 2013

Trees & Other Stuff by Andy McCord

Moisture is the key When growing trees in Canterbury one of the most important factors in getting young trees off to a good start is allowing them to get enough soil moisture. Apart from doing a rain dance the next best thing is to make sure there is enough bare earth around each tree. It may seem strange to a lot of folk but bare earth can be up to ten times wetter than a weedy site. Over the years we have collected 10k samples looking at soil moisture differences from one site to another and how this has had an effect on initial tree growth. For example if you plant a tree into a grassy site and don’t spray around it (we’ll call this the control), then you plant several more trees adjacent to the control, and after planting you spray around each tree the increase in tree growth can be quite phenomenal.

can be obtained by measuring the diameter of the stem at the base, and squaring that figure, then multiplying this figure with the height of the stem. After one year, a tree which has had a 1 sqm spot sprayed around it will be 89% larger in volume than the control. A tree which has had a 2 sqm spot sprayed will be 211% larger by volume and a tree which has had a 4 sqm spot (or aerial sprayed) will be 348% larger by volume than the control. The enclosed photo shows trees which have had a 2 sqm spot sprayed after planting. These will then be sprayed again at the start of the second growing season with a 4 sqm spot. (Photo donated by Brian Kirk, Lake Coleridge Station)

Probably the best indicator of tree growth is to take the volume of the stem. Roughly this

Joke Time: The local Scottish doctor wanted to go fishing but didn’t want to close the clinic over the weekend. Reluctantly he asked his, slightly dense young assistant Murphy, if he would man the clinic. He was more than willing to assist because he loved to impersonate an actual doctor. After the weekend when the doctor returned he asked his assistant if he had any patients. “Three — the first had a headache so I gave him Paracetamol,” replied the young lad, “Well done Murphy we’ll make a doctor out of you yet, now what about the second one,” asked the Doctor. “The second patient had indigestion so I gave him Gavison,” replied Murphy. “Bravo, Bravo Murphy me lad, now what about your final patient,” asked the doctor. With growing confidence the young lad puffed out his chest and said: “Well Doc the third patient turned out to be a beautiful blonde lady, and once she closed the door she ripped off all her clothes and lay on the couch, saying she hadn’t seen a man in five years and asked if I could help.” With that the doctor’s jaw dropped, his eyes started to bulge and with a stutter he asked, “What did you do then Murphy?” With a confident grin young Murphy replied: “I gave her some eye drops!!!”

Allan Laurie MNZIF Laurie Forestry Ltd

The Forest Industry in Canterbury has taken on a very different tone following the catastrophic winds of September 10. In something like two hours of the most intense wind, in excess of one million tonnes of wood went from vertical to horizontal or at least varying forms of horizontal. This now places major challenges on infrastructure, resources and capability. On August 1 1975, a wind event said to exceed all previous records in terms of velocity, felled 2.5 million tonnes of trees and was said to have impacted wood supply in Canterbury for 20 years. However talking to some of the ‘older’ sawmillers in Canterbury, none can remember running out of wood. In 1975 there was major devastation at Eyrewell and Balmoral Forests which were continuing to be managed on normal forest rotations. In the last five years, both forests have been progressively harvested in favour of ‘alternative land use options’. As a consequence

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there was less forest area in vulnerable locations at the time of this latest event. It is therefore likely the net impacts of this latest event will be similar to 1975. In terms of immediacy, all efforts are now toward recovery of wood fibre. Additional logging and trucking capacity is being sought and Port Companies are being advised on increasing volumes for the next 12 months at least. Issues around Health and Safety are uppermost in the mind and actions to thus ensure those working the forests, woodlots and shelterbelts are safe from harm. For the moment we would not expect prices in the market in China or domestically to be impacted dramatically. We are currently shipping 800,000 to one million tonnes of wood to China per month nationally. Logging capacity will not change dramatically in New Zealand, rather the volume will shift around the ports as logging crews move between regions. Demand in China remains strong. Indeed we have seen a small lift in CIF settlements for October. The increase has been offset by increases in sea freight and FOREX largely leaving wharf gate NZ prices unchanged. There are some very mixed messages coming out of the China market at present although none would appear to impact the likely settlements until Christmas. Local sawmills are looking forward to better supply of framing grade log at least in the short term. Some have been struggling to get their required quota with some very expensive short days being part of the production mix. As logging capacity builds, there is going to be a glut of volume, but this is likely to trail off quite quickly as broken and dead wood starts to deteriorate. For the moment domestic log prices are holding steady

and most are suggesting they do not see any change in the immediate future. The earthquake re-build is adding momentum to the market with more lumber volume moving, and across a wider segment. A recent quick visit to some Christchurch retailers confirms some local sawmills are getting a good slice of the action. However North Island and Nelson mills are also pouring volume into the market meaning lumber pricing generally remains flat to slightly firm following earlier good lifts. Of the supply situation going forward, there would have to be some concern. The wind damaged volume represents about 18 months of wood for the Canterbury supply region. Longer term I can see issues ahead as there is a great deal of 15 to 25-year-old wood on the ground. Some have suggested these wind damage events will impact many growers in terms of their desire to replant. Forestry like all crops carries risks. For the most part those risks can be mitigated or reduced by crop management and insurance as two examples. It has been 40 years since the last big wind event and in the meantime forest growers have continued to enjoy a return on their investment approaching 7% annualised. This far exceeds most other land use options in Canterbury. Note: Forest growers do not include small woodlots and commercial shelterbelt growers. These typically yield a lesser return in the same way a small lifestyle block running sheep will show less return per hectare compared to a well managed larger pastoral farm. It is a function of scale and cost. Thus, it has never been more timely, to remember the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees…!

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October 2013

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

A few weeks on from the September 10th storm and we’re still discovering the significance of that event. If last month’s wind and living in Canterbury has taught us anything, it is the necessity to expect the unexpected. Along with earthquakes and snowfalls, interruptions to power supplies and business activity occur at least once every 20 years. Now that the storm is yesterday’s news, where to from here? What level of risk management is appropriate to avoid the pain of business interruption? When operating irrigation equipment prone to wind, there are options to protect against damage. Irrigators have asked us if putting water in tyres of pivots and laterals is a good idea and the jury seems to be split. The extra weight can help hold an irrigator down but some irrigators with water-filled tyres still tipped over. Adding water can also potentially amplify rutting issues. If a pivot or lateral does collapse, more damage can occur as the fall will be harder. Once upside down the structure may also struggle to hold extra weight. Another consideration is that it is the spans, not the towers that need stabilising. Like an albatross an irrigator has a very large wingspan compared to

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Another option is securing the irrigator to a series of anchor points set in the ground. Again the critical part to anchor is the spans — even though it may be easier to anchor the towers. As a risk management tool a series of concrete blocks or piles set in the ground in a line and some strops could suffice. Some of the questions we need to ask

If the towers are secure the damage can alter from impact damage, when the irrigator hits the ground after being ‘blown over’ (jumping over), to twisting and tearing damage which can be less salvageable.

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first step. Always be mindful that if parking a travelling irrigator next to a shelterbelt that windblown limbs could be equally damaging. However it was noticeable that trimmed shelter performed far better than unkempt.

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Permanent anchor points could pose problems if the irrigator is some distance away and power outages are likely. So an emergency action plan and planned response to a severe weather warning is required. In the absence of more sophisticated anchoring, the simple action of positioning an irrigator in a sheltered place or pointing into or away from the direction of the wind is the

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October 2013

The truth about agroforestry by Lorne Kuehn

I have always liked trees on farms, whether they are in windbreaks, specimen trees around the house, or in set forest block plantings. I now have plenty of all types around my farm. The different trees each have defined strong points and all provide a home to the many wild critters that share my farm with me. I am especially partial to wild birds. My farm is old by New Zealand standards — farmed continuously from about 1850

or so, and has many mature tree plantings. However, it was a little short of windbreaks when I bought it some 25 years ago. I remember the suffering of my ewes in my first year when they were trying to give birth along an exposed fence line during a winter storm. I managed to save the little lambs from hypothermia by putting up

cardboard along the fence to reduce the windchill. As soon as I could, I planted out various windbreaks and I am no longer in peril of losing lambs to winter storms. Agroforestry was much in fashion twenty-five years ago. Farmers were encouraged to plant about 10% of their land area in quick-growing tree

species such as the Monterey pine or Pinus radiata. The goal was to create rapidly-formed forests that could be harvested in 30 years. I had a hill at the back of my property with good sun exposure. In 1989 I arranged for the planting out some 6,000 pines for timber and about 1,500 eucalyptus for firewood around

I took my responsibilities as a tree grower very seriously. During the first ten years, I hired helpers and worked with them to prune all the trees, even the eucalypts. The pruning was done in several lifts up to a height of about eight metres. We also culled the defective ones to give the best trees the appropriate spacing for optimal growth, winding up with about 3,000 trees in all. The resulting forest now looks fantastic (with tree heights of over 25 metres). We have only to wait a few years for harvesting at which we would get an economic return to pay for all this work as well as the share of rates and taxes for the entire 30 years of forest life.

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This last year it has become apparent that I should sell the farm because I am no longer healthy enough to do it justice. It is a good farm, well-maintained and located, and I have been given several estimates as to what it should sell for. It was surprising to see that the forest block never featured in any of the various real estate calculations. I was informed

I did not believe this and contracted with one of Canterbury's top tree evaluators to measure what the true economic value was. Imagine my shock when I was told that the pine trees would only fetch about $20,000 on the present market conditions. As there were three hectares of pines this works out to about $670 for all of them per year, actually about $225 per hectare per year. The one hectare of eucalypts were deemed worthless as timber despite all being pruned to eight metres and looking better than the pines, because there is no market for the timber of these trees. The four-hectare area of the forest block would have supported about 30 sheep per year which at $50 per head would have given me about $1,500 per year return for the whole block, adding up to about double what I am now going to get by harvesting my trees. In other words, I have had only half the economic return that I would have had if I had never planted any trees. What a poor decision it was to grow trees and to work so hard in crafting them into the fine forest that exists today! Of course, I like the trees for their visual amenity and the shelter that they provide to the many wild birds that live there. But in terms of economics, I should never have planted them.

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by the various agents that the trees were not valued because they were still shy of the harvest period by about five years but even if they were worthy of harvesting the value was essentially zero.

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the edge where it could be easily accessed. The whole hill site is serviced by a good road and removal of the logs to market would not prove difficult when the time came to harvest. It was estimated that over 30 years’ growth the pine, if properly developed, would sell at about $75,000 gross per hectare so my 4 hectare plot would return about $300,000 gross, just when I would need it to pay for any medical treatments I might need.

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October 2013

PASTURE management Wide selection of summer crops available by Nigel Johnston

With spring well and truly here, it is time to think about sowing your summer crops. Whether you are farming dairy, sheep, beef or dairy grazing, there is a summer crop suitable for your farm. Summer forage crops can provide high levels of quality feed through the summer and autumn months when pasture growth and quality can be limiting. These crops are also ideal as break crops to provide benefits for pasture renovation by reducing weeds and pests and creating better soil conditions and cleaner seed beds for establishing new pastures in the autumn. With a wide selection of options available, it is important to know the traits of each variety so you can choose the one that best fits into your farming system. Below are some key points on some of the main summer crops available.

Turnips Turnips are still one of the most cost effective summer

feed options available and are proven to provide reliable levels of summer feed. One main advantage of the turnip is its ability to grow high levels of quality feed in a very short period of time. While there is a range of maturity dates for the different varieties, most turnips are ready to be grazed about 70–90 days after sowing, while some can be ready as early as 60–70 days. This short period from sowing to grazing means that turnips are an ideal summer forage for farmers looking to grow large amounts of feed in a short period of time.

Leafy Turnips The ‘leafy turnips’ (sometimes called ‘forage brassicas’) are a multiple graze brassica which is a cross between a Chinese cabbage and a turnip. It has vigorous growth with high quality leaf

and little stem or bulb. Because its growing point is very low, multiple grazings can be achieved off this crop. Leafy turnips can be sown in October/November for summer feed or sown in early autumn for early winter feed. They are the fastest maturing brassica crop, with grazing being achievable 50–70 days after sowing — depending on sowing time, temperature and moisture availability. Because they are shallow rooted, they are susceptible to drought and will not perform as well in low fertility soils.

Rape Rape is traditionally a single graze crop, but more modern varieties have been bred with kale to produce multi-graze hybrids. Like all other brassicas, it offers high levels of quality

feed suitable for lamb finishing or as an alternative to turnips for dairy/beef grazing. There are generally two types of rape — early maturing (70–90 days) and late maturing (90–110 days). Yields of 8,000–10,000 kg DM/ha are achievable.

Chicory and Plantain Chicory and plantain are forage herbs that have traditionally been used as a component of a pasture mix. In more recent times chicory and plantain have been used as stand-alone summer crops, sown as a pure sward (6–8kg/ ha) and used for late spring/ summer/autumn grazings (white/red clover can be added to fix nitrogen).

Unlike turnips which are only grazed once, chicory and plantain are semi-perennial plants meaning that multiple grazings can be achieved through spring, summer, and autumn. This gives it the advantage of being able to be left in the ground for 6–24 months meaning it doesn’t have to be re-sown annually and provides a ready-made summer

crop the following year, cutting down establishment costs. Total yields of 10,000–15,000 kg DM/ ha are achievable from multiple grazings through late spring to autumn. They are also tolerant of diamondback moth and white butterfly attack, cutting down the need for insecticide applications.

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Both species have deep roots which have the ability to ‘mine’ moisture and minerals much deeper than traditional forage species. These traits mean they can keep growing to provide high quality feed through dry periods when grass and other forage crops struggle to do so. They are also very high in metabolisable energy, digestibility, soluble sugars and protein, with the latter being extremely important to maintain summer milk and meat production.

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October 2013

PASTURE management New Zealand Made for New Zealand conditions The Te Anau Basin soil conditions vary so markedly that anything involving soil cultivation is certain to encounter fine rock, gravel, or big rocks! "We wrecked a number of different brand tine drills until we found the Duncan DD30 air seeder,” says Nigel King of Manaroa Contracting.

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"We aim to keep cultivation cost-effective, and the Duncan DD30 air seeder provides that solution.” On grass to grass paddocks he says the Duncan DD30 is providing very good results! "I can't emphasise this enough," he says, "and that includes a lot of grass to grass and grass to crop work.” "Many of the deer units in this region are on very steep ground and we’re finding the seed placement by the DD30 is exceptionally good. The days when hillsides were left bare and the valleys saturated with seed are gone — The DD30 has totally changed our way of looking at direct seeding!" Nigel laughs about the first crop sown by the Duncan DD30.

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When I went back to see it I just stood there and said, “holy shit this is really good!” The DD30 suits our operation and Duncan Ag have been extremely proactive in meeting our special requirements for hardened discs and increased grease points. Their service has been outstanding.

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contractor phone to say they want the same results as we have achieved, I know we purchased the best drill available.” The Manaroa Contracting Duncan DD30 air seeder has sown oats, peas, rye-corn, lucerne, kale, rape, and grass and rape mixtures. Would he purchase another one? “Yes! We’ve tried other brands and nothing comes close to the DD30 performance as far as we are concerned,” he says.

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October 2013

ASN Coldstart makes a comeback! ®

ASN Coldstart® Nitrogen Sulphur fertiliser has made a very successful comeback this spring with a number of Mid Canterbury dairy farmers reporting at least double the growth rates of pasture compared to the traditional Ammo, a blend of Urea and Sulphate of Ammonia, or either component Typical results during late winter early spring for the SOA treatments range from 28–38 kg DM / ha / day compared with 37–50 kg / DM / day for ASN with average differences well in excess of 150% more DM per day with ASN. A Burkes Pass dairy farm recorded 23kg for Ammo compared to 50kg DM / ha / day with ASN (= +217%). The highest ASN Coldstart® recorded was at Chertsey was 99kg DM / day over 21 days from 31st July till 20th August with a 48 day average of 82kg DM / day! These measurements were taken independently using plate meters. General consensus from farmers is that most wish they had done the whole farm as the results have been outstanding. A common comment from dairy farmers was that the ASN paddocks grazed better than they looked due to higher DM. Even though it has been a warmer spring than usual, the direct comparisons of ASN with the traditional alternatives under the same conditions prove ASN superiority beyond a shadow of a doubt. Some have rejected ASN Coldstart® on the basis of cost alone which frankly misses the point. The object is to grow more grass under cooler conditions which the above options have proved to be inferior. This will have cost farmers instead of saving them money, as feed not produced under cooler conditions means additional cost for supplementary feeds to compensate and lost opportunity. Research during the mid 90’s found that ASN Coldstart® in 15 NZ trials produced an average of *75% more DM per kg of N applied than urea applied at the same rates of N under cool conditions (<7°C) (*Dr Jamie Blennerhasset Summit Quinphos 2007). This seasons results certainly verify those findings and their very positive financial returns for a small additional cost per ha.

So why does ASN Coldstart® work so much better? The answer lies in its chemical makeup being a melt of Ammonium Nitrate and Ammonium Sulphate. ASN contains readily available Nitrate N combined with fast-acting Sulphate S requiring no further transformation

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by soil bacteria before they are plant available. Combine that with the fact that cold soil temperatures mean that the bugs that transform Sulphur into Sulphate (Thiobacilli) have gone to sleep for the winter and the nitrification of Ammonium N (Nitrobacter + iNitrosomas) is very much delayed at soil temperatures below 10°C. At 5°C soil temp, transformation of Ammonium N to Nitrate N takes two weeks to convert 6% and a month to convert 12% into readily available Nitrate which is the form N most taken up by plants. ASN Coldstart® is imported by Viable Agriculture Ltd, (www.viag.co.nz) a new Ashburton based specialist fertiliser company dedicated to introducing new innovations to the marketplace and to ensure our environmental footprint is reduced without compromising yield or profitability. The company is also currently introducing a completely new Haracoat™ range of Polymer + Sulphur coated Urea and Potash controlled release fertilisers to the market with stocks of both available early October. With the imminent cap on nitrogen fertiliser inputs by ECan, these new fertilisers have the potential to reduce inputs of N by 30–40% and K by up to 20% as they are more efficient than traditional forms for a number of reasons. In the case of Nitrogen, the Haracoat PSC Urea does not volatilise (no gaseous losses and has virtually no leaching losses no matter how much rain or irrigation occurs. It is used at 60–70% the rate of standard Urea, with only one application lasting 120–150 days normally required as opposed to multiple split applications. It also contains 15%S which means that total maintenance S of 18kg S / ha is covered by an application of only 120kg/ha Haracoat PSCU37.

Of key interest to farmers is that these new fertilisers are cost competitive with traditional alternatives, whilst keeping within the regulatory limits without loss of production or viability. Peter Yates Viable Agriculture Ltd October 2013 ®Registered Trademark of Agri NZ Ltd Auckland ™Registered Trademark of PT. HANAMPI SEJAHTERA KAHURIPAN Gresik 61151, Jawa Timur Indonesia

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October 2013

PASTURE management YOUR SELWYN

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Ellesmere Agricultural Limited is a silage industry leader with the prime focus being quality and service. The company services clients with farming interests throughout Canterbury and provides a fast professional service, offering a full range of silage and straw as well as cultivation and drilling services. The companyl is known for making high quality baled silage, in 4x3 or 3x3 bales, with or without inoculant. During the height of the season the equipment is rarely still — it is quite a sight to see the balers working behind the rake and the JCB telehandlers loading bales onto the fleet of blue Volvo trucks. Canterbury Contractor Tim Ridgen runs the Southbridge based company and together

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with his team provides a prompt service to clients. Cartage is made directly from the paddock enabling access to the land for the next crop. Grass, lucerne and straw sales are available throughout the season with Ellesmere Agricultural acting as an intermediary between arable clients and the dairy industry. It has always had a policy of operating large, top quality up-to-date machinery for high throughput and efficiency. This season a large Claas Quadrant 3400 baler has been added to the fleet.

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PASTURE management Soil Matters with Peter Burton

Bugs can’t handle big clover An article on the development of clover by AgResearch published in November 2003 starts with following. ‘If there is one thing New Zealand couldn’t do without, it would have to be white clover’. While it doesn’t seem like an obvious one for the top 20 list of ‘essential survival items,’ white clover-based pastures underpin most of New Zealand’s milk, meat and wool production in a quiet unassuming way. While clover contributes around $3 billion annually to the New Zealand economy and each one per cent improvement in yield has been estimated to be worth more than $20 million. White clover is integrated into pastures to improve nutritive value and animal intake rates, as well as provide

low-cost nitrogen for pasture growth. It has also been a key in the development of New Zealand’s low cost livestock farming systems. Without white clover, livestock production in New Zealand would depend solely on fertiliser nitrogen. This has obvious environmental consequences.” Ten years on the question has to be asked. Why have the fertiliser policies pushed by the two major fertiliser companies and endorsed by the major advisory groups been based

on the dependence on fertiliser nitrogen when it is well known that clovers suffer as a result? One reason that has been forwarded so far is that clover flea and weevil have done such damage that the clover in pasture is incapable of fixing sufficient nitrogen for high performance farming. Eco-Logic soil Improvement has an increasing number of properties nationwide that use DoloZest/CalciZest total nutrient programmes, and produce based on Overseer, permanent pastures growing

up to 19.3 tonne of dry matter annually. A recent farm walk on one of these properties was to examine the damage on some of the small clover plants in the sward. Under a magnifying glass eggs laid by insects could be seen, however the long strong-stemmed large leafed clover, some as tall as our redbands, were unaffected. After an hour or so spent walking the property the farmer summed up the situation with the following statement: ‘The bugs can’t handle the big stuff,’ and on the evidence of what we were seeing he was correct. Bugs and disease perform the function of ensuring that weak plants do not breed making

sure that the plants that do are capable of withstanding the pressure of high performance pastoral farming. An article published within the last twelve months recommended farmers in the Canterbury region to apply nitrogen fertiliser as the clover flea and weevil had followed dairy farming to the district. It is highly unlikely that fleas and weevils know, or care, what animals are grazing the pastures they currently share. Their ability to flourish is due to an increase in the amount of clover weakened by current mainstream farming practices of which the regular application of fertiliser nitrogen plays a central role. It doesn’t have to

be the case and the change to a CalciZest-based clover friendly nutrient programme that grows more total pasture with a more even spread of pasture throughout the year can be made seamlessly with a noticeable improvement in quality and animal performance within a month after implementation. The most recent independent report, done for the 2011 – 12 season, showed the property monitored grew 30% more pasture and produced 38% more milk solids than district average. The cows on that property also ate 15.3kgDM to produce a kilogram of milk solids compared to 19.5kgDM for the district average, with an increase in profit of 38%.

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October 2013

PASTURE management Win the battle for greener pastures With spring well and truly here, farmers are turning their attention to raising a bountiful crop of grass to fuel milk production.

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It's all about maximising that all important DM or dry mass (pasture minus water) — the crucial tonnage of feed which keeps the herd healthy and productive. But green pastures have many enemies, and this time of year it's time to take the offensive to these pests, guaranteeing good pasture growth.

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Pests take two major forms — insects and weeds. Weeds can be insidious — many were in fact introduced species, and still flourish in country gardens, spreading their seeds via wind and birds to ruin paddocks. Knowing how weeds such as gorse, thistle and ragwort spread is key to eliminating these plant pests from your pastures. As well as being windblown or carried by water, the seeds of noxious plants

can also sometimes be found amongst benign grass seed — check the certification of any seed you're planting to make sure it's weed free. Another vector, pertinent this time of year is the very machinery used to destroy weeds. The tractors, harrows and rollers visiting your land may be carrying weed seeds in like the old 'trojan horse'. To stop weeds, take care of the land from the ground up. Cultivate with deep tines and harrows to aerate the soil, then seed a certified weed-free, hardy form of grass appropriate to the moisture content and drainage of your pasture. Pugged paddocks won't grow the best crop, so the roller may come into play as well, before nitrogen is spread for maximum soil fertility. Regular grazing throughout the season and the

year helps too — your herd can do their part by nipping some of those shoots literally in the bud, and by preventing overgrowth. Insect pests, such as weevils (these attack clover, and as such are high on the hit-list), grass grubs, army worms and the like are also best managed by taking care of the pasture from a 'grass roots' level. Chemicals can be effectively used to quash infestations, but even better is the more natural approach as practised since the middle ages. Consider planting a 'break crop', especially in summer. Valuable dry mass for feed can be gained from, for example, a turnip crop in summer, breaking the pest's life cycle by depriving it of its favourite food — and as a bonus, alternative cropping and rotation of the paddock has been proven to help reduce pugging damage and fix soil nutrients.

Ever given liquids a try? Actavize!! e!! A healthy, balanced, productive soil contains billions of micro-organisms per kg of soil which breakdown. micro-organisms micro Organic matter and soil components to liberate Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and minerals in a plant plant-available form. plant-available Actavize is a suspension containing fish meal, proteins, enzymes and amino acids, with added carbohydrates, minerals and naturally occurring growth promotants. This blend produces a balanced liquid fertiliser with all the life giving elements necessary to provide optimum soil health and plant performance.

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October 2013

PASTURE management ADVERTORIAL

Brassica Crop Rotations by Tim Dale — ATS Seed General Manager

The huge increases of area sown in Kale in recent years for winter cow grazing is putting pressure on suitable land available for this practice. Increasingly we are seeing the same paddocks used year on year to grow brassicas. Who cares you may say? The answer is everyone should, as there are potential implications for all brassica growers in doing this. Planting the same family of crop year on year creates a monoculture — an ideal environment for pests and diseases associated with brassicas to live and breed. Two of the main offenders that appear after multiple brassica crops are clubroot and dry rot which need to be considered when sowing multi-crop brassica crops. Clubroot is a soil-borne fungus and dry rot is an airborne fungus, both of which can be devastating to crop yield and quality. Some crop management practices and preventative

measures to consider before sowing brassica crops are: • Chop and bury all crop debris after grazing is finished

• If infection is noticed early enough in a seedling crop consider treating with a suitable foliar fungicide

• To prevent clubroot and dry rot on your farm ensure brassicas are not planted for more than two consecutive years in the same paddock, remove all crop residue from the paddock, spell the paddock from brassicas for a minimum of six years and select clubroot and dry rot tolerant brassicas where appropriate. For more information contact ATS Seed on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).

• Spell a dry rot paddock from brassicas for at least six years (the fungi can live in trash for up to three years) • Control any brassica regrowth in the paddock the following years • Separate crops on the farm by at least one paddock distance from the dry rot paddock • Sow dry tolerant brassicas

rot

• Sow brassicas when spore numbers are at their lowest, roughly between November 20 and December 20. • Ensure seed is from a reputable source and is treated with seed treatment

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effect,” says Anselmi, www. recharge.net.nz. “One is Queensland farmer Shane Perry, from Claremont who I first met at the Ag-Grow Field Days in Emerald in 2007, which I do every year. He bought a 2-Litre, which treats 80 x car or 40 x N-70 tractor batteries so he has a few batteries, at the time he was getting 12 months and 2 years was exceptional. I got him into our RECHARGE

battery-conditioning program. When I saw him 4 years later, most of his batteries were 4 years old and still going. “I saw him again for his 3rd 2-Litre bottle in July this year and he said most of his batteries had done between 4 & 6 years and the best was 8 years from the bulldozer so a 400% to 800% improvement, not bad I’d say.” And he says

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Case CVX1145 2,800 hours, 50KPH transmission cab and front axle suspension. Fitted with a Quicke Q75 S/L loader - $80,000+GST

Case MXU 100 4,000 hours, fitted with Manip loader - WAS $62,000+GST NOW $58,000+GST

Case MXU 135 bare tractor, 5,400 hours WAS $52,000+GST - NOW $45,000+GST

John Deere 2850 13,000 hours. Fitted with GMS loader. - $19,000+GST

John Deere 6530 4,500 hours, fitted with a JD 653 loader - WAS $80,000+GST NOW $70,000+GST

John Deere 6520 7,200 hours, fitted with a 731 s/l loader - WAS $55,000+GST NOW $49,000+GST

John Deere 6930 IVT fitted with a JD 7831 loader, 4,500 hours - $90,000+GST

Massey Ferguson 5455 Speedshift, 3,700 hours. Fitted with a Stoll HD30 loader $57,000+GST

Massey Ferguson 8670 Dyna VT dual wheels, auto steer, ready with guidance system, 2,800 hours - $177,500+GST

Massey Ferguson 7480 Dyna VT full spec 50 KPH, climate control etc. WAS $49,900+GST - NOW $46,500+GST

Massey Ferguson 4245 fitted with a Stoll HD 15 loader - $37,500+GST

Claas Arion 530 cab, suspension and front linkage, on road crops - $45,000+GST

Valtra A95 fitted with Valtra loader 2,500 hours WAS $40,000+GST - NOW $35,000+GST

New Holland TS 115 8,265 hours, bare tractor - $33,000+GST

Renault 610 6,500 hours, bare tractor. Cab suspension - WAS $39,900+GST NOW $35,000+GST

McHale Fusion Baler 62,000 bales WAS $55,000+GST - NOW $46,000+GST

Fiat 90-90 9,000 hours, fitted with Fairbrother loader - $19,000+GST

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SAME EXPLORE 80 ROPS fitted with Pearson loader - $20,000+GST

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October 2013

Prosperity, Poverty or Extinction?: Humanity’s Choices by Allen Cookson Xlibris, 590 pages, (paperback) NZ$44.99, ISBN 9781479742547 (Reviewed: July 2013) movement (a broad coalition of economic theories that includes the viewpoints of environmental and feminist economists, as well as others), to food production theories, energy options, land use, population issues, global politics, and a score of other factors.

In this hefty volume titled Prosperity, Poverty or Extinction?: Humanity’s Choices, Allen Cookson, a former science teacher from New Zealand, synthesises an enormous range of materials from the social and life sciences in order to look at humanity’s future — which he sees as in jeopardy due to poverty, starvation, war, global warming and other factors — and its options for avoiding the dire consequences noted in the title (poverty and extinction). He does this analysis through two schools of thought: one made up of classical economic principles, the other composed of a larger range of thought from natural scientists, ecologists, members of non-governmental agencies and others.

In producing this broad survey of the current state of humanity, Cookson covers everything from economic principles, including mainstream economics and the Post-Autistic Economics

He concludes with a snapshot of a possible future for Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, German, Iran, Kuwait, New Zealand, and the United States in 2112 — a future that offers reasonable solutions for many of today’s greatest problems, including global warming, overpopulation, trade disputes and other quandaries.

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questioning many of their own, and their political leadership’s assumptions, and wondering what life will be like for themselves and their children. Cookson’s writing is crisp and his use of his sources is clear and non-overbearing. His book is likely to appeal to readers interested in the intersection of social and life sciences as they relate to the future.

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DAIRY

October 2013

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Good hoof trimming needs practice

Last month we talked a bit about some of the things you as a farmer can do to minimise lameness on your farm. We looked at preventative hoof trimming. This month I would like to look a bit more at what you can do once the cow is lame. In reality this is often the only time a cow is being

trimmed in New Zealand, so effectively most farmers are being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff all the time when it comes to lame cows. Trimming lame cows is always

reactive management and trimming cows only when lame doesn’t make good business sense, but you now have a lame cow and she needs to be treated.

more weight is transferred to the medial claw. The more weight we can get off the lateral claw the more rest this claw is going to get.

What do you do to help this animal? Obviously just looking at the hoof is not going to fix it so more is needed. Assuming that the cow is lame in her claw then by trimming her well we can usually help her tremendously. The principle of good hoof trimming is that we need to reduce the weight bearing of the sore claw and let the air get to it.

Rest is one of the most common pieces of advice you hear from your doctor and it is also very effective for lame cows. Some people are worried about making the lateral claw thin.

A cow is most commonly lame on her lateral claw because the lateral claw is often overloaded when the cow is walking or standing still on a hard surface (refer to last month’s article). So, in this case, we don’t just level the two claws to the same height, we actually trim the lateral claw thinner so

KITSET FARM SHEDS

It feels like you make the cow even more tender when she has a sole thickness not much more than the thickness of a piece of paper. The thing is that we are reducing the weight on the claw with a thin sole. If we make both claws thin we are possibly going to end up with a problem. However, cows are very resilient. Having thin soles is not necessarily a problem to them unless we make them walk long distances over rough tracks. If we have made the lateral claw thin and yet we don’t have a lot of height difference between the medial and lateral claw we can artificially raise the lateral claw by gluing a

wooden block under the medial claw. The other thing we need to do is let the air get to the wound. We do this by opening up the wound. We trim away all loose horn so that live tissue is exposed. Try not to make the claw bleed because it makes it a

whole lot harder to see what you are doing and the healing process only takes longer. It all seems very easy when you read this. The principal is straightforward but putting it into effect requires a lot of practice and instruction.

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Be my Guest

October 2013

Bill Guest, Farmers of New Zealand Membership Services: 09 439 5219 09 430 3758 Email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz

While the press headlines ‘Fonterra farmers rejoice’ over the third increase this season in the milk price forecast to $8.30 a kilogram of milk solids, the increased payout forecast has caused some banks to put pressure on their farmer clients to put their farms up for sale, due to their high debt loadings. The national farm debt of some $46 billion and the billions of dollars owed by the urban business sector, when added to local government debt, clearly shows many New Zealanders are not frightened to borrow. History has shown many times that borrowers have made the fatal mistake of thinking that because the bank continues to lend the money, the bank must think that the borrower can afford to repay it. One only has to look at the recent world-wide financial collapse, where many examples of lending ended up in foreclosures. The weekend’s article that the Auckland Super City’s debt has gone from $3.9 billion to $6.7 billion over the last three years and will increase to $8.75 billion after six years, should ring alarm bells and cause us to go forward cautiously. The Governor of the Reserve Bank’s recent projections that interest rates will increase to up to 8% plus, in a bid to try and temper the heat

that is growing in the economy, brought about by people having easy access to money, will I believe, simply cause more businesses and farms and wage earners who have huge mortgages on their houses, to face the threat of foreclosures. The New Zealand Labour Party has already signalled that they want to increase the national minimum wage to $18.00 per hour, claiming that the average wage earner cannot survive on the current minimum wage structure. I think everyone would agree that everybody has the right to receive a wage that provides a living and fair reward for their efforts. There will be employers who will claim that this increase will affect the economic viability of their businesses. The golden rules of banking at one time were, you borrowed no more than four times your gross income. Debt servicing was not to exceed 25% of your gross income. The issue facing

Many have faced doubling of their local government rates. We dairy farmers are proud of our dairy industry. History

has taught us that farming is full of income fluctuations. The peaks can be high and the troughs deep.

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our rural communities, is that they should not simply rely on the dairy industry having a lot of discretionary income to spend. Much of the increased payout is going to be used to reduce farm debt. The cost of the recent drought is going to have ongoing major ramifications for the economy. Sheep numbers are down. Cattle numbers are causing a major concern, due to the fact that farmers had to reduce stock numbers as a result of the drought. The importation of meat products to supplement

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domestic demand is a reality. Many farmers now, when budgeting, average their incomes over a three to five year period. Fonterra’s 10,500 dairy farmers will share an additional $4 billion ($380,000 per average farm production), should the milk price hold for the year. This will be tempered by dealing with the huge costs incurred from the recent droughts and escalating farm production costs and planning for future financial troughs. Many dairy farmers are still struggling to make ends meet.

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DAIRY

October 2013

Foliar Uptake of Nutrients by Dr Tim Jenkins

The foliar application of plant nutrients goes back as long as 1844 with the first recorded application of iron to address yellowing of leaves in an iron deficient potato crop. It was not until the late 20th century however, that the science of foliar nutrient uptake really advanced. The realisation that foliar uptake of nutrients is largely through the cuticle rather than through stomata led to advanced information on ways in which to maximise uptake. United

States research found that foliar uptake can actually be greater at night time than during the day further confirming that stomata (closed during the night) are not a significant route for uptake of nitrogen and mineral nutrients. A reason for the greater uptake at night time is the generally higher relative humidity at

that time. For a similar reason, uptake can be improved in overcast conditions as well as in the early morning. Many elements are taken up rapidly through micropores in the cuticle. This is faster and more efficient when the plants have not been going through a period of water stress. The

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stress tends to result in a thicker cuticle and reduced uptake through micropores. Most micropores are very thin at around one nanometer. This means that many complex molecules are not able to enter through these pores. These micropores are water filled with negatively charged sides making them suitable for the uptake of positively charged ions like ammonium nitrogen but not so suitable for negatively charged ions such as nitrate nitrogen. Urea is suitable for uptake since it is so soluble in the water of the micropores. More complex organic molecules may have more problems entering the foliage perhaps relying on larger pores or the assistance of penetrants. One interesting finding is that EDTA as a chelation for trace element metals (eg copper, iron, zinc) can actually reduce the speed of uptake compared to simple sulphate forms of the metals. Most leaves will still take up these larger complex molecules perhaps through larger pores in the cuticle sometimes close

to stomata. Penetrants and surfactants may assist with those larger compounds. White clover herbage test.

only

Now is the best time of year to take a white clover only herbage sample (while the clover is growing but before there is too much flowering). Don’t select the lush clover from urine patches but rather samples that are representative of the more usual condition of the clover in a paddock. The results can give a good indication of the nutrients that are holding back clover growth and nitrogen fixation (and

therefore holding back the whole pasture). This could be due to a shortage of trace elements (eg boron, cobalt, copper, iron, molybdenum) or major elements such as phosphorus, sulphur and, at this time of the year, perhaps magnesium. In the case of magnesium and trace elements, foliar application offers an opportunity to rapidly, efficiently and cost effectively (due to smaller fertiliser requirements than for soil application) address requirements while avoiding soil lock up, pH and other issues.

Element

Soluble Chemical Forms

A Typical Recommended Rate

Boron

Solubor or boric acid

~ 300 grams/ha

Cobalt

Cobalt sulphate

~ 40 grams/ha

Copper

Copper sulphate pentahydrate

~ 1000 grams/ha

Iron

Iron sulphate mono or pentahydrate

~ 1000 grams/ha

Magnesium

Magnesium sulphate (Epsom Salts)

~ 10 kg/ha

Manganese

Manganese sulphate

~ 1000 grams/ha

Molybdenum

Sodium molybdate

Due to toxicity and copper issues, molybdenum application should be supplied and calibrated by skilled operators.

Zinc

Zinc sulphate mono or heptahydrate

~ 1000 grams/ha

DAIRY

October 2013

ADVERTORIAL

An answer to nitrate caps

A viable solution is at hand for farmers to comply with the pending N cap as regional councils endeavour to reduce leakage from the farming systems in their areas. The options are rather bleak if farmers are unable to reduce their leachate levels into groundwater and waterways, as any cut in nitrogen fertiliser inputs is likely to have a corresponding reduction in production and profitability. Apart from the obvious measures such as cutting stock numbers, fencing off streams and wetlands, and pumping effluent across the farm, options for further reductions are limited short of reducing fertiliser N inputs. That was the case at least until the introduction of a new generation of controlled release fertilisers that are both cost effective and affordable. HSK Indonesia have developed Haracoat™ Polymer + Sulphur Coated Urea which has many benefits not available from traditional fertilisers.

microscopic pores appear which allows nutrients to weep out over time. Only one application is generally required for the life of the crop or growing season, a bit like ‘spray and walk away’!

Because the coating is completely insoluble, seed damage does not occur if it comes into contact with Haracoat as there are no salts or ATStechnology NEWS AUGUST 2013—hANhAm 1/2PG ADVERT This coating free ammonia present. dramatically slows the release of Because the nutrient N to a rate commensurate with efficiency and recovery is so the plant’s ability to absorb it, much better with Haracoat, only without mad flushes, luxury N 60•70% the rate of standard urea uptake, or losses along the way. is required to achieve similar or Unlike standard urea, Haracoat does not volatilise (gaseous losses) which makes application timing very flexible.

better results. Where Overseer is concerned, that means you have applied 30-40% less input using Haracoat PSCU37. Also very important, is that for every 100kg Haracoat PSCU37 applied, 15kg sulphur (as Elemental S) comes with it, so with continued use sulphur requirements are easily met in the process. It is well documented that nitrogen is better utilised in the presence of sulphur, so much so that N inputs can be reduced by up to 20% without loss of production — more food for thought!

HSK also produce MOP, SOP, DAP, MAP in fully or partially coated formats. They also custom blend NPKs with part of the components being controlled release, the balance being uncoated for faster uptake. Haracoat PSCU37 and Haracoat PSCK 46 (50% coated MOP) are currently available ex Viable Agriculture Ltd Ashburton. For more information see the website www.viag.co.nz or contact Peter Yates on 027 839 1695.

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October 2013

My point of view Ignorant and naïve In the 1990s Lockwood Smith, while Minister of International Trade, said that New Zealand should remove its trade barriers and subsidies. This would set a good example to our trade partners and encourage them to do likewise.

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about chronic current account deficits. Clayton Cosgrove responded “Oh, that’s private debt. We’ve got government debt well under control.” This was at a time when Minister of Finance Michael Cullen was running tight budgets. I asked Prime Minister Helen Clark on National Radio what she intended to do about the chronic current account deficits. She gave a girlish giggle and said she remembered we had them when she was a girl. Every country had them (untrue!). These examples of the ignorance and naiveté of our political leaders go some way towards explaining our present economic and social problems. The total foreign debt of a country including both private and public debt is important. No country can continue indefinitely to fund its consumption by selling its assets. New Zealand

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cannot spend more than it earns unless capital flows into the country to fund the expenditure. This money may go into new investment, takeover of existing assets (including land) or loans to Kiwis (including farmers). The profits and interest from such investments flow out of the country. The pioneering ecological economist Herman Daly came to realise the danger of international capital flows while collaborating with coauthor John Cobb. “After twenty years of teaching the theory of comparative advantage to college sophomores, the trade issue was rather settled in my mind. But John forced me to rethink the whole question, which I did, going back to Ricardo. “I was chagrined to discover the degree to which I, and the textbooks which I had been using, had unthinkingly ignored Ricardo’s very restrictive assumption that capital is immobile between nations. Without that assumption the

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principle of comparative advantage collapses.” Comparative advantage is the unsubsidised competitiveness of a nation wishing to sell goods to a trading partner. David Ricardo was the 19th century economist who invented the concept. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which our government is involved in negotiating, is in reality driven by international money barons whose intention is to obtain unrestricted access to the assets of gullible nations in return for miserly trade concessions. A previous National government prepared to sign without warning a similar treaty (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) which would have forbidden environmental, labour and social restrictions on foreign investors even if such restrictions applied to our home industries. Fortunately the French government torpedoed that treaty. Dare we trust our politicians in these matters?

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October 2013

Drilling down to the roots of a vital technology

Without the vast advancements in agriculture seen in the last century, it’s debatable if we could actually feed the majority of people on the planet. As science unlocks the secrets of how plants and soil interact, technology turns this knowledge into practical tools for the farmer — and never has this been more apparent than in the manner in which many of our staple crops are now seeded. Where once farmers would follow the ploughman with a basket, literally ‘broadcasting’ seed (and yes, this is where the term for radio and television transmission comes from), these days a powerful pneumatic seed drill takes up the task, equipped with computers to monitor seed spacing, depth and placement — sometimes even from space. The earliest seed drills come from 1500 BC, when Babylonian farmers used reeds to push seeds one by one into

irrigated soil. The Chinese were using ox-drawn multi-tine seed drills by 200 BC, allowing the mass cultivation of rice and grains. Some historians believe that without the seed drill, China would never have become the large empire which it was at the time of Marco Polo. He, coincidentally, is credited as perhaps bringing the seed drill idea to medieval Italy. Nowadays the modern seed drill is a far cry from such primitive tools. Take for example the Vaderstad Seed Hawk 1300 — at over 25 metres wide and weighing 15 tons, this field-spanning monster uses GPS to precisely place every last seed, covering 61 hectares in a single load of its

triple hopper. Its direct-drilling method is especially effective in areas with low soil moisture. Here in New Zealand we have little need for such titanic tools of agriculture — the Seed Hawk was built for the wide, flat plains of North America. But you’ll find high-tech seed drills attached to many farmers’ tractors in Canterbury nonetheless, prized for their ability to give seeds the best possible start in life. As the farming sector continues to support a burgeoning population, technology such as seed drilling, hand in hand with a deeper understanding of soil chemistry and plant biology may be key to keeping healthy food on our plates.

Call Matthew Reed today 021 526 576 www.broadgateharvesting.com

SEPTIC TANK OWNERS How you can save money by keeping your septic system effective and healthy Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them. Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur. Good and best economical practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained. A malfunctioning septic system can become a health hazard. When a system is not maintained or operated as a delicately balanced environment, problems occur.These problems include nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface, toilets gurgling and taking time to empty. At this stage your septic system is a serious health hazard to you and your children. Human waste produces faecal coliform bacteria, a source of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis as well as Hepatitis A and other diseases. Hepatitis can be a debilitating condition and cause long-term harm to children. There are only three remedies. One: stop using the septic system until it recovers. This can take over a month and is not normally practical. Two: excavate your septic system and relocate it.This is very costly and time consuming, sometimes requiring new resource consents and different systems. Three: treat your septic system with Septi-Cure™ every six months. Septi-Cure is Cost effective. By far the most cost effective solution is to pour one litre of Septi-Cure™ down each toilet bowl every six months.This simple action will help keep your system working at top efficiency by reducing solids and scum. Instead of emptying your tank frequently, the reduction in solids and scum saves you expensive pump out costs.Your irrigation field and leach lines will become clear of slimes and blockages so nature can handle the gradual seepage and evaporation for you. When this is happening your system will be

operating effectively and not endangering you or your family’s health. What is Septi-Cure™ Septi-Cure™ is a concentrated mixture of selected naturally occurring microorganisms. These harmless tiny organisms live and multiply by feeding on waste material. When introduced to your septic tank system, they go to work straight away digesting waste material, reducing solids and scum, allowing your septic system to start operating to its maximum efficiency. As they progress through to your irrigation field they feed on the slimes that prevent seepage and evaporation. When seepage and evaporation return to normal, you have reduced the risk of contaminating groundwater and the environment as well as reducing the chances of infection for you and your family. Eventually, they get washed out of the system and have to be replaced to continue their work.This is why you introduce SeptiCure™ to your septic system every six months for maximum efficiency. A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for three years. He says this allows them to have an odour-free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition. Problematic septic tanks – treat with Septi-Cure™. Prevent septic system problems – treat with Septi-Cure™. For Septi-Cure™ - Call: 0800-109-202 Website: www.ecoworld.co.nz Also Available at

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October 2013

Roaring mad about Johne’s disease in your deer?

Rob Cope-Williams gets…

the ‘last’ word Local cunning

Contact the Johne’s Consultant Network and JML on 0800 456 453 for a tailor-made Risk Management Plan to suit your deer unit and a comparison of your productivity figures with local and national averages

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Feast or Famine? Famine?

Talking with farmers as they face the huge problem of cleaning up the mess, many are saying they must learn from the event and put everything in place they can to assure that the same devastation won’t happen again — or reduce the odds in their favour the best they can. Things like putting the hugely valuable irrigator on the upwind side of the trees rather than the other side is logical, but understandable when we had forgotten what a wind such as that one can do. After all it was 1975 when the last big one hit. The thinking farmers are now expecting another one any day. By the conversations people are having at the moment, it seems that tall pines and gum trees will be a thing of the past, but some tall species that survived will be planted where the pines were, and pines are destined to be thick and trimmed hedges rather than what we have been growing. One farmer who farms inland and who was dished out a hiding with huge numbers of trees over and woodlots wiped out is going to be part of the new irrigation scheme so will be putting in a series of centre pivots, but once he has designed the plans for the irrigators, the next thing he will do is design

the shelter belts and hedges around it. We can’t do without shelter here in Canterbury, you know that, but with a bit of local knowledge and cunning, the winds can be controlled — most of the time. I take my hat off to those who pioneered the planting of trees and the work they did picking the right ones for the plains. Their work will become folklore if it hasn’t already, but just as importantly the people who are following on are able to make their name in the history of the province. The whole farming thing has changed

dramatically, so while trees were planted to conserve moisture in paddocks a few years ago, they are now being dropped to allow water to be distributed over the paddocks. The wise and cunning farmers will be able to combine the two and they will certainly win. The other thing we must keep in mind is animal welfare, and whenever you want to seek out shade during a hot summer day, you can be assured that your stock are also desperate for a cool spot to rest up in. We can watch with interest as the next phase of tree planting hits our region.

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October 2013

Livestock HINDSITE

Pleasant Point Butchery

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Over the years I have been criticised for some of my publications being a bit negative but I am a firm believer that deer farmers need to know what is actually going on out there or in fact what is not going on. On a positive the warmer winter has seen some good yearlings come forward earlier for the chilled production. The weights are also good and this makes it easier to fill containers for the market place. This has been good for the farmers who have managed to get their deer up to weight for this period. Unfortunately there is no doubt that once the chilled production has stopped schedules will drop away. Why this? The frozen market in Europe is not good with a lot of stock held over here and in the marketplace, prices have fallen and the cost is significant. Another big impact in Europe is the amount of feral venison now being sold from Spain and Poland. This alone has had a huge impact on New Zealand venison sales into Europe. Is it better than ours — No way? Is it cheaper than ours — hell yes? The European feral is selling at about one third cheaper than some of our top cuts and at the moment there seems to be plenty of it. How long will this last — who knows?. It appears the European buyers are ignoring quality over price and that for us is a worrying thing for the future. I personally think that there should be some sort of study done into the European feral venison industry — is it sustainable for them or is it a flash in the pan? If it is a flash in the pan how long do we have to endure this heartache for?

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Maybe it could be a project DINZ could take on as I am sure we need a few answers. One thing the poor European Market has done is forced the exporters into looking at other countries and other opportunities for our products. I think even without the Feral Deer problem Europe may still have been a disaster anyway because of the poor economy we all know and read about. For us here at Mountain River we are finding that Scandinavia and Switzerland are two very good performing nations and it speaks for itself that neither is in the EU. China has taken a bit of a speed bump over the past few months for reasons we all know about but we need to persevere with them and keep plugging away as they could be the saviour for our Industry. The Chinese have very definite ideas on how they need NZ Meat Exporters to perform especially in the labelling and packaging departments. I think once these are addressed and rectified properly the trade between New

Zealand and China should flow along quite freely. In conclusion I still think the New Zealand Deer Industry has a great future and place in the New Zealand Agriculture scene

as we still produce the best quality meat in the world. Let’s hope that soon many countries will once again realise this and be prepared to pay more for our product.

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October 2013

THE WORKING DOG Loyal companions and valued workmates by Andy Bryenton

A Noble Pursuit

The town of Hunterville, in the foothills of the North Island’s Central Plateau, is known for its rugged scenery, its isolation — and the monument which graces its main street.

By John Foley in collaboration with Judith Hayward

The Centennial Hisory of the Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club 1912-2012 and the Story of the Waimate District The story of the Waimate District and Sheep Dog Trial Club unfolds against the backdrop of the Waimate district’s history touching on events such as settlement, wars, influenza, and the changes wrought by the breakup of the great estates, the rehabilitation of returned servicemen and the growth of dairy farming. A depiction and recognition of a 100 year membership lineage with unbroken bonds of service and loyalty to club and districts.

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It’s not a bronze statue of one of the town’s founding fathers, or a local lad risen to greatness, however. It’s a statue of the Kiwi farmer’s best friend — the Huntaway farm dog. There are estimated to be over 200,000 working dogs in New Zealand, making it possible since pioneering times for farmers to run large herds across our uniquely challenging terrain. Dogs such as the Huntaway, the Blue Heeler (imported from Australia, but more than welcome here) and the iconic Border Collie (immortalised by comic artist Murray Ball)

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animal was bred to possess a bigger brain, a shorter, wider jaw and smaller fangs — all traits of a farmer’s dog. It’s no coincidence that at this time, human beings made the change from hunting and gathering to farming crops and raising livestock. Without the dog to help, we may have never put down our bows and spears in favour of the plough. Kiwi farmers take pride in the condition and training of their dogs, as evidenced by the continuing popularity of sheep trials at A & P shows across the nation. A good working team of dogs is still unsurpassed at mustering in hilly country, and despite the advancement of technology, it looks like the winning team of a farmer and his ‘best mates’ is here to stay.

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October 2013

Livestock Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Continued demand drives market momentum A continued demand for wool kept market momentum extremely positive during the past month with the majority of lots offered at auction sold to the exporting trade, and only very limited numbers passed in for failing to meet grower reserve levels.

To put everything into perspective, when brokers and exporters meet to discuss the season ahead and draft a schedule (or roster) of auction sales to be held, there is usually a reasonably accurate assessment of availability formulated using historic numbers, changing land use patterns, total sheep number forecasts, growing conditions and a few ‘seat of the pants’ feelings in regard to how the market is likely to be driven, which then gives the meeting the ability to allow for a fair and reasonable number of bales which will be ‘re-offered’ during the season after failing to meet grower or broker expectation at the initial offering. This season, with almost full clearances from the auctioneer’s rostrum, there have been very few re-offered lots in comparison to past seasons and therefore very little wool remains unsold on grower account. Prices for most types remained in positive mode with crossbreds generally enjoying lifts of between one and three percent sale-on-sale, during September and early October. With only two sales in each of September and October and lambing in full swing, crossbred wool types offered were limited, however a good quantity of hogget wools opened up in very good order. Whilst the market was very healthy, the spread of prices across the main crossbred micron categories, assuming similar wool length and style, between approximately thirtytwo microns to thirty-eight microns, was covered by around thirty cents per clean kilogram. A slight premium could be observed for finer types, again of similar length and style. Main lines of crossbred oddments in many cases received prices only slightly below body wool values, on a clean price basis, with demand extremely busy.

A small but very well grown quantity of Corriedale and Halfbred wool types offered was also received enthusiastically by the trade and prices remained firm throughout the month to six-week period. Fine wool types also received improved prices as the month progressed, a reflection of solid demand for Australian fine wools during the same period, and as the main selling season continued demand from local exporters appeared to particularly reward growers for well prepared lines displaying good combing length and tensile strength. The market place will be closely monitored as it proceeds towards the summer shearing period and no doubt exporters and processors will be keen to observe what condition postlamb shorn types are in when they come forward for sale. With a reasonably good lambing experienced throughout the country, many fleece wools will be carrying some degree

$20 plus p&p

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING 21 LITCHFIELD ST, BLENHEIM

Email: elaine.gordon@xtra.co.nz www.gordys-flytrap-fitting.com Patented in New Zealand/Australia

WOOL BUYERS Providing direct wool links from farm to

TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS, ON FARM - IN YOUR SHED: of tenderness and cotting, and growers should be taking care that their in-shed preparation ensures sound wools are kept separate from tender wools and that overall length of each line is reasonably even. If growers are unsure they should liaise with their wool rep in conjunction with their shearing contractor well prior to shearing commencing. With the Canterbury A&P Show fast approaching there will be plenty of country folk gearing up for a week of competition, socialising and celebration. On behalf of PGG Wrightson I take this opportunity to wish all competitors well and invite

• 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. 027 227 8898 027 683 6993 027 600 5067 027 481 6219

clients of the company to call in to our site and enjoy our hospitality. That’s my view.

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

Lincolns are the “Heaviest wool producing breed known” 8kgs+ per sheep stock unit wintered… 1. Cross breeding with Lincoln will increase wool production by up to 23% in one cross. 2. Bring wool production back to an economic level in one cross over any breed. Ten+ years quicker than any comparative wool breed. “Guaranteed” 3. Rams available in Central Hawke’s Bay, trucked to any part of NZ with one phone call. 4. Largest Flock in NZ 2000 Purebred Ewe base allows selection for: a. Commercial traits i.e. open face, high twinning (also will be exaggerated by hybrid vigour from crossing with your flock)

b. Selection for worm tolerance for over 37 years. c. Easy care traits. Selected for commercial traits not show traits. d. High yielding wool clip, averaging 83%. When run in conjunction with Romney stud for ten years Lincolns wool yield was 1-4% greater than Romney’s: Commercial Fact. 5. Wool sold at Auction in Napier has many times topped the crossbred market, aided by low Y-Z factor = Whiteness 6. Heavy clipping Lincolns are high twinning ewes.

Bruce M. Worsnop Associated with Lincolns for over 61 years Tikokino Central Hawke’s Bay Email bluebulls@xtra.co.nz | Phone 06 856 5857 or 021 856585

Adding Value. From Farm To Market.

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.

www.eldersprimary.co.nz

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

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Wool supplies have remained tight and brokers’ pre-season estimates of likely bale numbers available for each auction, have to date been well over-stated.

Contact a PGG Wrightson Wool representative today: 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

October 2013

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Deutz Agritron 105 ................. $32,995+GST Fitted with loader, 7500hrs, well serviced

John Deere 6420 Premium ......$45,995+GST Pearson loader, 7250hrs, tidy, well serviced

Case CX70 $24,995+GST ROPs, loader, 4wd, 3000hrs, well serviced

PRE-OWNED TRACTORS PRICE New Holland TM120, supersteer, 6200 hours, 2 owners, very tidy ................................. WAS $49,995 NOW $45,000 New Holland TS100, MX100 loader, 1 owner from new, 5250 hours............................................................... $43,995 New Holland TM130, supersteer, 1 owner from new, well serviced, tidy ....................................................$45,000 New Holland TS110, 1 owner from new, well serviced, loader available for additional ................................$39,995 New Holland TS100, cab, 4wd, L/H shuttle, very clean and tidy .................................................................$44,995 New Holland T6070, Elite, power command transmission, super steer ...................................................... arriving New Holland L95, cab, 4wd, loader, good hours and well serviced.............................................................$27,995 Ford 7840, cab, 2wd, SLE a very tidy well maintained machine..................................................................$15,000 Case MXM 190, front linkage and PTO, rear duals, 4950 hours ..................................................................$73,995 Case MXU125, Stoll loader, front suspension, 6750 hours..........................................................................$54,995 Case MX90C, 1 owner from new, 4700 hours............................................................................................$43,995 Case CX70, Rops, 4wd, loader .................................................................................................................$24,995 Deutz Agritron, 105, Stoll loader, tidy well serviced unit............................................................................$32,995 Massey Ferguson 390, 2wd, cab, loader, ................................................................................................$15,995 Massey Ferguson 5455, 4wd c/w Stoll loader, 100hp...............................................................................$42,995 Fiat 82-94, 2wd, 4400 hours....................................................................................................................$19,995 Kubota F3680, out front commercial mower, 72 inch centre discharge, very tidy ........................................$14,495 Kubota RTV900, diesel, hydrostatic transmission....................................................................................... $8,995 Taska RTV, tidy alternative to the quad bike, 4wd, go anywhere ...................................................................$7,995 John Deere 6420 Premium, Pearson loader ............................................................................................$45,995 Valtra 900, loader, 4wd, only 2750 hours from new...................................................................................$28,995 John Deere 8120, duals, FEL................................................................................................................... arriving PRE-OWNED MACHINERY Duncan 720 Arable Drill, 19 run, twin boxes (stainless fert), new points .................... WAS $19,995 NOW $16,995 Sulky Reguline SPI drill, 3m airseeder, 25 run, 5¼ inch .................................................................. NOW $16,995 Simba Lexicon discs, 4.4m working width offset discs, good metal ..........................................................$23,450 Great Plains Turbo Till, trailing cultivator.................................................................................................$25,000 Vaderstad Topdown TD600, 1 owner from new, new metal being fitted...................................................$129,995 Kverneland BB100 conventional plough, 6 furrow, auto reset, hydraulic variable width...............................$26,000 Read 10 reel V-rake ..................................................................................................................................$7,995 Vaderstad RDA 600, 6mtr airseeder drill, system discs, super tidy ..........................................................$149,995 Vaderstad RDA 600F, 6 mtr airseeder drill, system tine ............................................................................$82,000 Vaderstad Rexius roller, 8m folding roller, crossboards, new rings being fitted.......................................... arriving COMBINES / FORAGE New Holland FX58, 355W grassfront, serviced and ready to go ............................... WAS $135,000 NOW $99,995 BALERS New Holland BB960A, Rotorcut 4x3 bale, 2007, tidy and well serviced, 60,000 bales ................................. arriving Case LBX432, Rotorcut, 4 x 3 baler, tidy and well serviced, year 2007, 82000 bales .................................... arriving Massey Ferguson, 185 Series 2 .............................................................................................................. arriving Massey Ferguson, 185 Series 1, money spent, 74200 bales....................................... WAS $36,995 NOW $29,995 New Holland D1010, very tidy baler, will be serviced and ready to go, single axle ......................................$29,995 New Holland BBA940, 1 owner, 51000 bales, moisture metre, electronic bale length, 3x3 cropcutter.................Sold ALL PRICES EXCLUDE GST AGRICULTURE

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Claas Rollant 250 Reconditioned $8,995+GST Pick-up, done approx 31500 bales, tidy

New Holland TS115A, 115hp....$57,995+GST 16x16 ElectroCommand transmission, tidy

PRE-OWNED TRACTORS PRICE New Holland TVT155, 2300 hours ...........................................................................................................$74,995 New Holland TS115A, 16x16 Electro Command transmission, good tidy tractor .........................................$57,995 New Holland TS125A, with MX120 front-end loader, ................................................................................$51,995 New Holland TS125A, with MX120 front-end loader, tidy .........................................................................$56,995 New Holland TM190, 190hp, done approx.. 6500 hours, 19x6 Power Command transmission .....................$48,900 New Holland TS90, with Pearson loader .................................................................................................$45,995 New Holland TL100A, only done approx. 2900hrs, MX75.5 front-end loader, 24x24 transmission ................$49,995 Massey Ferguson 5455, 112hp, only done approx. 3700 hours, with Stoll front-end loader ........................$48,995 Kubota M125X, 125hp, only done 2500 hours, tidy condition ....................................................................$55,000 New Holland TS100 ............................................................................................................................... Arriving Massey Ferguson 4245S........................................................................................................................ Arriving New Holland TS90 ................................................................................................................................. Arriving New Holland TL80 ................................................................................................................................. Arriving New Holland TM155 SS ......................................................................................................................... Arriving PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT Claas Rollant 250 baler, reconditioned pickup, in very tidy condition, done approx. 31,500 bales .................$8,995 Claas Disco 250 mower, 2.5 metre cutting width, tidy ...............................................................................$6,995 Claas Disco 260 mower, 2.6 metre wide ...................................................................................................$5,795 Maxam 2500 mower, 2.5 metre wide .......................................................................................................$2,750 Maxam 2500 mower, 2.5 metre cutting width, tidy ....................................................................................$6,450 Maxam 3300 mower, 3.3 metre cutting width............................................................................................$6,995 UFO 1500 mower, older machine..................................................................................................................$995 Vicon RF30 Opticut baler, good condition — still got the paint on the rollers! .............................................$9,995 Hustler Compact Soft Hands, with MX brackets ...........................................................................................$995 Hustler Chainless 2000 Bale Feeder, 3 point linkage model .....................................................................$3,795 Hustler Chainless 2000 Bale Feeder, 3 point linkage model .....................................................................$2,660 Feeder Leader Trailed bale feeder.............................................................................................................$1,995 Giltrap MSX160 Super Silage Wagon .........................................................................................................$9,995 Endurotech 7000 Tandem axle bike spreader............................................................................... Being prepared C-Dax 600L spray unit............................................................................................................................. Arriving SAM 3.25T Tandem Axle spreader................................................................................................ Being prepared Uni Silage Wagon, Tandem axle ................................................................................................ Being prepared Kverneland Accord, Optima HD, 8 row, E-Drive with computer, tidy condition................................. Being prepared Giltrap MSX100, tidy condition ................................................................................................... Being prepared Krone EasyCut 320, 3.2 metre cutting width ............................................................................... Being prepared Paddon MX12 V-Rake ............................................................................................................................ Arriving ALL PRICES EXCLUDE GST AGRICULTURE

03 349 5089 Farm Machinery Centre P 726 Main South Road CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch Rennie Barnes 027 433 7714

Cyril Murray 027 432 5640

Andrew Caldwell 0274 75 0000

Jason Prendergast 027 433 4272

www.norwood.co.nz/christchurch e: salesch@norwood.co.nz

Agricultural Equipment

Farm Machinery Centre P 03 788 9050

W E S T

Angus Hewetson 021 228 4517

C OA S T

Henley Street Westport

Gordon Storer 021 891 253