Canterbury Farming, Sept 2017 by Integrity Community Media

September 2017 Edition

30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast

Comes the horseman

Eggs from the woodlands

Gunning for the crown

P46

Excellence for environment Page 10–11

INTRODUCING THE STEEL

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Results from a Massey University study show animal vaccinations continue to be an effective way of preventing leptospirosis shedding in New Zealand dairy cattle, reducing exposure to humans. The results also reinforce the importance of using other prevention measures, says DairyNZ veterinarian Nita Harding. “The university carried out a study last year to investigate the use and effectiveness of lepto vaccines in New Zealand dairy herds and involved testing 20 cows each from 200 dairy herds across the country. “In 147 of the herds, none of the cows tested were shedding lepto in their urine. In the remaining 53 herds, at least one cow tested was shedding. In 10 of the herds, between two and six cows were shedding.” Cattle can be infected by up to six lepto strains, but the two most common in New Zealand are Hardjobovis and Pomona. “These strains are included in the vaccines used for controlling lepto in dairy herds. Neither strain was significantly associated with shedding, which tells us vaccination against these strains is working. “Two strains of lepto that aren’t included in the vaccines are Ballum and Tarassovi. Evidence of these strains was found in the cows tested — 3.4 per cent and

17.1 per cent, respectively. “We know Ballum is not associated with urine shedding but Tarassovi is. That indicates an increasing number of lepto cases in people working on dairy farms are probably due to the Tarassovi strain. “Tarassovi isn’t covered by the current vaccines because it wasn’t a common problem when the vaccines were first developed more than 30 years ago. Pharmaceutical companies are looking at developing a vaccine for Tarassovi, but this will be some years away. “The study results are being further analysed and we can confirm that vaccination does prevent cattle shedding the strains of lepto included in the vaccines. Minimising risk to human health needs to include other precautions which are especially important in light of Tarassovi’s growing prevalence.” Precautions for dair y farmers include: Vaccinating animals — seek vet advice to ensure the timing of vaccination is correct for each class of stock. Control rodents and wildlife — seek advice on baiting and trapping, and

Nita Harding, DairyNZ veterinarian

vermin-proofing buildings and feed stores. Minimise contact with animal urine through: personal hygiene — hand washing; don’t smoke/ eat or drink in the shed; wear personal protective equipment — aprons, gloves, boots; keep wounds covered and be aware of risk activities on-farm such as effluent spraying; calving, home-

killing, hunting and children playing in puddles. If you have flu-like symptoms, seek medical help early and mention lepto to your doctor. Research has shown that shor tening tails does not reduce the transmission of lepto, so it is recommended that all farmers follow these precautions above.

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First shipment to China of prime beef — cuts that would otherwise have been sold frozen at lower prices. They have the capability to position these traditional Chinese cuts at a premium in supermarkets.” Silver Fern Farms is New Zealand’s largest meat exporter to China, having achieved $316m of sales to the region in 2016. All of the product entered the market in frozen form. Silver Fern Farms is also testing protocols for smallscale air-freight orders of beef into key food service distributors who service highend restaurants and hotels in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and an airfreight order for lamb cuts into a major multi-national, high-end supermarket chain. “For the past two years we have been developing the premium food service market with our Eating Quality Graded Silver Fern Farms Reserve Beef as a frozen product. Our Reserve and Angus Beef frozen programmes are aged for 21 days back in New Zealand before being shipped frozen. Now that we have the ability to ship chilled, that ageing can now occur as it is shipped to China.” “We have also partnered with a major multi-national

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Silver Fern Farms has launched a large-scale China chilled pilot with the first seafreight container shipment of chilled beef as well as multiple air-freight orders of beef and lamb set for customers across China. “The pilot is part of a sixmonth trial negotiated by the government to test chilled red meat access into the China market. While smallvolume air-freight product has been sent into market, it is understood that this is the first sea-freight container to test the market,” says Silver Fern Farms general manager sales Grant Howie. “It is important that during this trial period we test the market’s protocols and supply chain for chilled meat at seaports as well as via air-freight. “With chilled product in China we need to test the process at scale which is why we have worked with one of our customers to take a full 20ft container of chilled product.” The first shipment is due to arrive into China in early September. “Our relationship with Shanghai Maling has helped facilitate this sea-freight order. We are working with one of Shanghai Maling’s subsidiaries who will distribute Silver Fern Farms chilled beef to a number of its supermarkets in and around Shanghai. “The cuts they are taking are important. They are primarily secondary cuts

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COMES THE

by Joanna Manson

Steve Houston has broken in well over 1000 horses since 1996 across all disciplines from western and trail riding to dressage and show jumping with the aim of producing calm, confident and well mannered horses.

ased in Geraldine, Steve and his partner Kate have 25 acres and Kate is currently the coach of the South Island Young Riders show jumping team while Steve’s focus is on ‘starting’ and training mounts, installing the foundations for a cooperative and trusting relationship between horse and rider. “We had horses when we were kids on a station down in Southland. I started developing an interest but ended up going shepherding.” Steve began to get involved with rodeo which lead him to America and Canada where he started working for different trainers. “I’ve been back at least 12-15 times and started breaking in horses in 1998.

I came back to New Zealand, leased a block of land, built a round pen on it and started from there.” Steve said the process wasn’t too hard. “There aren’t a huge amount of people doing this occupation in New Zealand and the ones that are mostly have no training.“ He helped a couple of friends who needed their horses broken in and then after hosting an open day he picked up another few. Since then the demand and work hasn’t stopped and now 10 years down the track, he has a four to five month waiting list. He says every horse is different and it takes all of his years of experience to know what method to use on each horse.

“It’s always different. It’s not step-by-step but here is a process that works for me that I’ve since developed from.” Steve has been working with horses on Erewhon Station for around 12 years where he plays a major role in the upbringing of a large Clydesdale horse stud after being recommended by word of mouth to owners Colin and Erin Drummond. “It’s a pretty cool experience and a bit of a highlight — there’s no cellphones and no people. We normally go to the station just before winter in the autumn for 2-3 weeks.” Not only are the Clydesdales a large scale hobby for the Drummond’s but the wagon team is the best vehicle to cross the flood

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Steve has ‘started’ well over 1000 horses

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This year marks Steve’s 12th year helping with break in and train Clydesdales at Erewhon Station

Steve says every horse is different and his job is “extremely” rewarding prone Clyde River. “You have to cross the Clyde to get to 95% of Erewhon so we need an exceptionally good wagon team. To get good wagon horses they need miles under the belt of the right training,” says Colin. Steve handles Erewhon’s weaned foals to give them basic life experience — being caught, led, yield, tied up, drenched, feet handled, and starts lightly riding the three-year-old young stock to prepare them for the wagon team. “We always used to handle our young horses and break in the three-year-olds ourselves. By giving them plenty of work, we would have young ones reliable enough to go to shows and ploughing matches after a year or so. “Then along came Steve who does a better job handling the foals and starting the older ones. He can read a horse so well that he instinctively knows if it’s worried or just being smart so he gets inside their heads while still retaining their trust. “This means that the horses he starts progress to a very

reliable stage quickly once they start working in the team. After a couple of months’ work, most young horses here are reliable enough to go in the wagons with tourists. It costs us quite a bit for Steve’s time and expertise, but the horses we sell are so reliable anyone can work them so it pays for itself.” Steve says overall his job is extremely rewarding. Now his

daughters are riding and as they get older the results of his teachings and horsemanship skills he’s passed on are starting to show in their riding achievements. Now he thinks he’s starting to get to a stage where he wants to work his own and Kate’s horses. “We’ve started breeding ourselves now so hopefully in a few years I’ll be working all my own horses.”

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Farming is a high-pressure profession and has many demands and stresses on a daily basis, and as it is a 24/7 industry. It is important to eat and sleep well to keep on top of things and be able to make to make good decisions. Visit a doctor or nutritionist if need be to get advice on healthy eating habits and ideas to maintain your body at its optimum, particularly during busy seasons such as calving. It is just as important to maintain positive relationships with the people around you, including staff and those you live with. Make sure you have time off-farm to recharge yourself, even if this is going out to lunch or dinner with farming friends or your partner and family. Healthy thinking helps you to be resilient and better manage the ups and downs of farming. Thinking positively is not always easy and visiting

a healthcare professional is one way to learn the skills to stay positive. Either a doctor or trained counsellor can guide you in the right direction for maintaining a healthy mind. A healthcare professional is best sought at the early stages if you are struggling, as they can set you up with the correct ‘tools’ to cope with the different mental/ emotional or physical issues you may be encountering particularly since the nature of the job means there will at times be negative occasions. Working on a farm has changed from the days farmers walked or ran through their working day, and bikes, quad bikes and a variety of other machinery has replaced what was a physical workout. Even getting the cows in for milking has become semi or fully automated, and uses only a fraction of the muscles it used to.

Meeting with a qualified personal trainer at a local gym can help give you ideas on how to keep fit outside of work activities. They can encourage and help you with a daily workout routine that is specifically designed for your personal needs. You do not always need expensive gym equipment to maintain your physical need in a professional manner. Having the correct training on how to do exercises makes a world of difference to helping keep your body to an optimum level of fitness. As well as helping to prevent and address health issues, regular exercise is important to cope with annual events such as calving and lambing, as these require physical strength and cardio endurance. It is just as important to put time aside to maintain your family life in a work life balance way. Regularly

set time to put farming aside and escape from the daily responsibilities of the farm. Even a few days at a time has incredibly positive benefits and helps recharge your batteries. Perhaps a round of golf or a day fishing if you have limited time as doing something you enjoy can help give you a fresh perspective and a positive mind-set. If you have friends or family you are worried about in the farming industry don’t be scared to chat to them about any struggles they may be having and help them seek professional advice. Besides a family doctor, there are many healthcare professionals and rural institutes that can help point you in the right direction, including Rural Women New Zealand, Farm Strong, Young Farmers, Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Dairy Women’s Network.

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Money Talk

Looking at off-farm investments?

with Andrew Wyllie

Investment markets update

When you are thinking about your investment options, talk to Forsyth Barr.

(Covering the three months ended 31 July, 2017) Equity markets refocus on earnings Global equity market returns for the quarter ended 31 July 2017 were generally positive with the MSCI Accumulation index (which calculates each country’s domestic market performance) up +4.9% in local currency terms. This reinforces our view that equity markets are ignoring issues around the Trump administration and are instead focussing on company earnings. The stronger New Zealand Dollar (NZD) however has meant that returns in NZD terms have been negative. In the US, after 70% of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index (by market capitalisation) has repor ted earnings results, there is greater confidence that pre-earnings season expectations for +9 to 10% earnings-per-share (EPS) growth should be achieved. Revenue growth has been slightly better than expectations and good operating leverage evident at the EPS line. European companies are reaching the halfway mark in the earnings season, however while earnings have been positive, the sharemarket response has been more modest due to the stronger Euro. The Australian market reporting season has yet to start, but earnings on balance have been revised downwards. The lower expectations at least leave some room for up-side surprises, particularly given earnings confessions so far have been mild and business sentiment has been more positive than reflected in

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the overall earnings trends. Domestically, New Zealand equities produced solid positive returns. Defensive sectors benefitted from declining interest rates, while building company downgrades acted as a brake on returns with higher building costs and tighter lending criteria pressuring margins and expected activity levels. Central Banks changing commentary Globally we are starting to see a change in rhetoric from Central Banks. The US has already started along the path to interest rate policy normalisation, but they now have company with Canada and others shifting commentaries towards being less accommodative. Higher long-term interest rates are therefore expected, driven by global economic strength and a gradual pullback from quantitative easing measures in Europe later this year. The speed and quantum of any interest rate rise however is likely to have moderated, given weaker inflation expectations. New Zealand interest rates should follow global trends, although the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is expected to maintain the Official Cash Rate steady at 1.75% until well into 2018. The current strength in the NZD should also help stay the RBNZ’s hand. If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at http://www. forsythbarr.co.nz/investingwith-us/new-to-investing/ or to discuss your investment options please contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised

Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew. wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure Statements are available from Forsyth Barr Authorised Financial Advisers on request, and free of charge.

To get personalised investment advice and portfolio management specific to your investing needs, talk to Authorised Financial Adviser Andrew Wyllie in confidence on (03) 365 4244 or email andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz

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In its April Economic Outlook the International Monetary Fund projected global output to grow by 3.5% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2018, with advanced economies expected to grow a little over 2.0%. July estimates have resulted in some of the expansionary fiscal policy in the United States being backed-out, but there is no underlying change being made to growth forecasts after positive revisions to Japanese and Euro area growth. China’s growth projections have also been revised up, reflecting a strong 2017 first quarter and expectations of continued fiscal support. Globally synchronised growth is therefore becoming more apparent and supported by positive momentum in the world’s three largest economies (United States, China and Europe). However, improving growth is leading to changes in the monetary policy stances of several Central Banks. The US Federal Reserve has indicated further increases in the federal funds rate, as well as moves to reduce its balance sheet. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has suggested its next move would be for higher official cash rates and the European Central Bank has indicated that an announcement as to when tapering of its quantitative easing (QE) programme will commence, could potentially be as soon as September. While the implied higher interest rates pose risks to growth, the still low absolute interest rates suggest this is unlikely to emerge until the latter part of 2018.

September 2017

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the woodlands The hens on Woodland’s free range farms are free to wander in the pastures under the canopy of trees that protect them from birds of prey and the elements, as well as giving them a healthy environment for happy lives.

oodland recently launched N ew Zealand’s fir st free range eggs that bear individual stamps of origin. “For me, being involved with free range hens daily brings with it a new challenge and I am always learning. There is a real art to managing free range hens, and once one obstacle is overcome, they throw something new at you which is always interesting,” says South Island farm manager Nina Winmall. “Glenpark, our first Woodland free range farm has been in operation for more than 15 years. As

a company and an industry, we are making some real advances and it is very exciting to be a part of that. “I am a third generation poultry farmer and as a little girl who absolutely adored her old man, I spent as much time out on the farm as I could with him. Apart from some time spent travelling I have pretty much always been involved in the industry in one way or another.” Nina says the stock team often talk about the hens that follow them around the house when they are doing their checks. They also have a real pecking order and it

is very interesting watching them interact. “The hens all have their own personalities and there are always one or two characters that no matter how many times you put them back over the fence with their flock, the next day they are out again.” Inside the houses the hens always have access to fresh feed and water. “We work with nutritionists to provide a balanced diet to meet the hens’ nutritional requirements. Our feed is made here in the South Island by our sister company, MainFeeds.”

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CANTERBURY FARMING These mixes are a blend of locally grown wheat and barley, plant proteins and essential vitamins and minerals. Outside on the range the hens forage, scratching around for worms and bugs e n j oy i n g their natural behaviour. The ideal weather for a hen out on the range is an overcast misty day. A lot of people presume that the hens would prefer a clear sunny day but they are always fearful of attack from above so feel a lot more comfortable under clouds. This is also why trees and shelter are so important. “Our own hens are reared at our dedicated free range rearing farm. As with all livestock for production, rearing is a very important part of the chain — it is essential we do this part ourselves so the hens arrive at our laying farms in the best condition.” The hens are set up for laying and prepared for their new environment at the laying farm. “When consumers buy Woodland eggs they can be 100 per cent sure they are authentic free range. Every egg will be stamped and have the Woodland tree symbol and a code — this can be used on Woodland’s website to show where each egg was laid,” says Michael Guthrie, managing director of Mainland Poultry Limited. “As New Zealand’s leading producer of free range eggs,

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The social birds interact with each other and all have their own unique personalities we were naturally ver y concerned about recent allegations that a small number of cage eggs may have been marketed as being free range. “This compelled us to fasttrack our plans to guarantee the provenance of our eggs by providing complete traceability from the farm to the consumer’s kitchen. “At all the farms, the eggs are collected daily to ensure freshness. We stamp each egg at the barn where we collect them, so there can be no question that it is, in

fact, a genuine Woodland free range egg.” The technology was developed in the Netherlands by Nuovo. It uses safe food grade ink, so the egg is completely unaffected by the stamping process. Maurik Wouters, owner of Nuovo says egg stamping for traceability is already regulation in the EU as part of the European standard and has been in effect since 2012. Woodland is the first brand to implement this in New Zealand and they now

operate to the world standard for traceability. “It is a matter of principle for us to give our customers 100 per cent confidence that our eggs are genuinely free range,” Michael says. “The demand for free range eggs is growing strongly, and as the recent outcry has shown, consumers want to be assured that t h ey get the genuine product.”

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September 2017

CANTERBURY FARMING

• BY ANN MORGAN •

Taking pride in their farm environment is part of life for Waikari deer and sheep farmers Lyndon and Millie Matthews and their children.

he family have focussed on enhancing and protecting their 267ha property’s sensitive areas such as limestone outcrops and wetlands and were awarded the Environment Canterbur y Water Quality Award at this year’s regional Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “Gullies and water courses have been fenced off and planting programmes are underway. Our farm system has been built to suit the

environment in this droughtprone area and we use forages that tolerate the dry climate better than ryegrass,” says Lyndon. Winning the water quality award is ver y much a family achievement through commitment and dedication with the next generation driving it. “Our eldest son is very excited because in Canterbury it doesn’t get any better than that award at present. “It has proved to us that

what we are doing seems to be the right thing and we have renewed our focus and realise there is no room for complacency. There are the things we are doing daily that have either a negative or positive impact on our environment.” The family have recognised things they need to work on including utilising the latest version of ‘Overseer’ and identifying ‘hot spots’ in their farming operation. The award has made them acutely

aware of how they personally manage their impacts and how they may address issues that arise. “It is about change, and the practices we used in the past because of the focus around water quality, may now need to be done differently,” says Lyndon. “We have made a decision to remove our ewe flock from the farm and establish more deer fencing. This will also give us the opportunity to protect more sensitive

areas on the property.” The family are part of the Hurunui Water Project and understand that water could be flowing in Spring 2020 and they position themselves for that. “We see the potential of different opportunities water will give us and that may not be growing grass and running livestock, but the deer will still have a place on our dry hills,” says Lyndon. “We can’t wait for the water to come. Irrigation gives

us options such as viticulture, seed or vegetable production. “We believe because we have been recognised by our peers and industry specialists as being at the forefront of water quality, we need to be up to the challenge of meeting industry standards. “There has been bad publicity with irrigation and dairy cows, but irrigation is being used for a range of things, not just dairy farming. “The last two years have been tough mentally and

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us enough. The irony is, in having our best wool ever, we will get the worst payout this year.” The Matthews family also won the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award.

and increased the herd number substantially and now we are doing another 60ha. “The deer have consistently rewarded us but most years the sheep have not rewarded

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more six foot high fences. “We bought the farm off my parents as a sheep farm. We always liked deer so purchased a few. Seventeen years in we fenced off 200ha

financially on the community and if an alternative is there, we need to take it. We have the consents — — we just have to build the scheme and that requires farmers to invest together. Opportunities will open up that can add value to NZ Inc. “The government has recognised the value of irrigation schemes and understand why irrigation is important, and we believe we can balance the negative environmental impact — — the answer lies in the middle of the fors and againsts. “We should be proud to be farmers. Yes it needs to be done in a sustainable manner and I believe the majority meet that, and if we don't, we need to make the changes. That is part of the reason we run our ‘puketiradeer.com’ website. It allows everybody a view into our world. “Two years ago we had a Swiss group of farmers specifically come to spend time on our farm and that was a result of our website window to the world. They still look online every month. That is one way we are challenging a wider audience. “I don't think our family is unique. I think we are one of many family farms in New Zealand progressing positively. “The deer industry is positive. We have been farming for 21 years and I have attended a number deer and a sheep conferences over the years, and every year I come back to put up

September 2017

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Looking ahead for the next couple of months, and a changeable set of weather patterns still emerges as the most likely seasonal influence. Take a look at the six-week outlook for Canterbury. This is a forecast product which some local farmers have been trialling, and which is posted regularly on the Blue Skies Weather Facebook page. Soon it will become a subscription product and be available nationwide. Looking at the six-week weather intelligence data for Canterbury and this week is a continuation of the pattern suggested in previous weeks. The rest of August looks unsettled and changeable with a combination of westerly airflows and troughs of low pressure moving over the country, bringing near normal rainfall to the region. Cloudiness may increase as we get near the end of the month, and the mild northwesterly days will drop out, leaving us with a spell of temperatures colder than normal around the end of the month. After a brief period of southwesterly airflow to start the new month, September looks most un-spring-like, with pressures expected to be higher than usual over the South Island and the Southern Ocean, bringing

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more anticyclones over and just south of the country, and very little in the way of the more usual westerly airflows. Low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea may annoy the North Island, but look likely to stay away from Canterbury. The result of this will be a month of settled weather, with many days of the regular nor theaster ly onshore winds, sunshine near to or above normal, and probably significantly less rain for the month than both the longterm normal and the most recent few months. Septembers with airflow patterns like this are often followed by strongly westerly dominated Octobers with the usual spring-like mild northwesterly days and brief, showery southwest changes. Looking further ahead, the

prospect of an El Nino event developing over the spring and summer months is unlikely, and some people in the weather intelligence community are even talking about the possibility of a trend towards La Nina conditions late in the year. The many indicators we look at to determine El Nino or La Nina trends are currently quite contrary and confusing. Some are pointing one way, some another, and many are just in a neutral state. It’s fair to say the atmosphere is not at all hooked up with the oceans, and that El Nino is unlikely to be the dominant influence on our spring and summer weather patterns. For that reason I will stick my neck out and suggest that widespread or prolonged drought is unlikely

to be a significant factor in the coming farming season for Canterbury. For more seasonal and long-range information check out the Blue Skies Weather Facebook page: facebook. com/BlueSkiesWeather. There you will find updated six-week outlooks for Canterbury, which are proving popular and fairly accurate. I also sometimes post a three-month outlook around the middle of each month, plus comments from time-to-time about what to expect each season. Soon these products will be part of a package of seasonal predictions which you will be able to subscribe to at a low cost and be able to ask questions of your own personal meteorologist online.

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September 2017

Irrigation Issues with Dr Tony Davoren

The storm this week and ‘what a storm’ will over the next few months have solved our groundwater recharge requirements. The uncertainty of supply for groundwater users is almost certainly over. It has definitely gotten the lowland streams flowing and in a big way. I’ve plagiarised the 1995 film title While You Were Sleeping for my article this month, substituting raining for sleeping. Ironically the film is set in Chicago, stars Bill Pullman and includes some long-time family friends and neighbours. You might already be wondering where is this going. Well while it was raining again in Canterbury on 13 and 14 August I was in the United States (not Chicago but in Washington State), visiting Pullman and longtime friends. No rain, quite the opposite with 92°F (33°C) on arrival in Spokane at 9:30pm, and 105°F (40.5°C) in Walla Walla the next day. I drove to the Pullman area the next day (hot again) to sit in the longtime friend’s combine for the last 50 acres of their 2600 acre wheat harvest — not a day lost in three weeks. They were pretty pleased with their harvest averaging about 100 bushels/acre (about 6.7 T/ ha) of Club wheat. Not a bad yield for dryland winter sown wheat

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despite the heat wave of the previous six or so weeks. The Club variety is a soft white wheat variety bred for and grown almost exclusively in the Pacific NW. The flour is suited to production of cookies/biscuits, cake-baking (especially Japanese sponge cake) and noodles. They were trucking to a Pacific North West farmers co-op facility where elevators were mostly full of Club and hard red winter wheat,

and two 500,000 bushel or 13,600T stockpiles to be plastic wrapped. What was it worth? The spot price varies from day to day and on August 14 when I was at Genesee, Club wheat was wor th US$5.60/bushel and if my maths are right the equivalent of US206/T. But the grower sending to Genesee doesn’t get this amount because everything is moved from the Pacific coast to the market and

they lose US$0.73/bushel in transport, reducing their gross to US$179/T. Are they making money? Well my long-time friend wasn’t sure but could probably work it out. But he did know he made good money from their only other crop — Garbanzo beans (chick peas). When I left on August 15 they had begun to spray off 1,600 acres of garbs for harvest in about 10 days.

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WATER & IRRIGATION

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Responding to scaremongering Reacting to claims recently from Labour’s water tax spokesperson David Parker that its level of ‘scaremongering around this would make Donald Trump blush’, Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says this is a disappointing way to start a policy discussion about water and land use. “Since Labour announced recently that it planned to tax fruit and vegetable growers’ use of water, I have been contacted by many of our growers asking that Horticulture New Zealand speak out about this tax and its direct impact on the

cost of healthy food,” say Mr Chapman. “The tax confuses water users with water polluters — they are not one and the same — and implies that people on municipal water supply already pay for water, when in fact nobody pays

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have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on both infrastructure to source water, and in riparian planting and technology to protect waterways and improve water quality in streams and rivers. “Critically, the numbers around this tax are missing. I have had growers contact me with their sums and depending on the size of their operation, at a few cents per 1000 litres, the tax could cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. “Not only could this make healthy food unaffordable for some people, it could drive some growers out of business. You don’t have to be a policy or tax expert to understand this would have a detrimental effect on both New Zealand’s economy and the health of our people. “Our growers are not huge corporates who can absorb more and more costs. So additional production costs would be passed on to people who want to eat healthy food. These growers are mostly inter-generational family businesses who really care about the land and waterways and frankly, it is insulting to suggest otherwise. You can see this in our Healthy food for all forever video. “Mr Parker also said that Horticulture New Zealand says

Mike Chapman, Horticulture New Zealand chief executive

there will be $18 cabbages, and that Horticulture New Zealand ‘don’t bat for us’ — — the first was not said by us and the second is not true. “We represent a diverse group of growers around New Zealand. We want to have a conversation about policy, not politics.

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Partnership approach hailed A partnership approach to dealing with river and lake water quality offers the best prospect of making sustained progress on problems that were often decades in the making, Federated Farmers says. The Federation’s water spokesperson Chris Allen hailed the announcement recently of an initial $44 million in grants from the $100 million Freshwater Improvement Fund, particularly as it will leverage a further $98 million of investment by councils, farmers, other landowners and agencies. In total, 33 projects covering more than 100 lakes and rivers have won funding, including at Lakes Tarawera, Horowhenua and Wanaka, and involving the Manawatu, Wairoa, Waimea and Selwyn Rivers. Environment Minister Nick Smith said the money will fund the fencing of waterways from farm animals, planting along streams, development of wetlands, sewage reticulation and water storage to increase minimum flows. There are also initiatives in the package to eradicate water weeds, remove pest fish and to retire marginal land adjacent to waterways. “It’s great to have acknowledgement from the government that it’s expensive to restore water quality in these hot-spots to a level that meets the

standards expected by government and all New Zealanders,” Mr Allen said. “It’s often more than individual communities or sector groups can do on their own. “We are going to get there by working together, and this announcement is certainly a good step in the right direction.” “A s Federated Farmers noted in its 2017 election manifesto, sustainable results, both environmentally and e c o n o m i c a l l y, will only be achieved with all members of the c o m m u n i t y, including farmers, working together catchment by catchment.” Funding deeds will now be negotiated with the successful applicants. Most of the projects are being overseen by councils, the Department of Conser vation and environmental and iwi trusts but two multi-regional projects involve the Foundation for Arable Research (protecting our groundwater) and Beef + Lamb New Zealand (improving freshwater through enhanced outcomes on sheep and beef farms).

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Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd For August log sales in the export segment, prices have softened NZ$2 to $3 per cubic metre at wharf gate reflecting the continuing firming in the exchange rate. Prices have remained stable in the China market which continues to lead on price and volume. While New Zealand was basking in some of the heaviest rain and coldest conditions for many years in mid-July, I was trying to stay close to the air conditioners in China. Indeed whilst in Shanghai I experienced the hottest temperature in 145

years and even the Chinese were complaining. A top of 46 degrees is just warm enough with an average 40.5 degrees for Friday 21 meaning the air conditioning in the hotel rooms was also struggling to keep up. These temperatures have continued throughout

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is helping to keep supply constrained and that is likely a good outcome in terms of longer term supply demand. My visit into the market in July was once again very informative and a good opportunity to visit sawmills and ports first hand. The relatively new facility at Dong Jai Kou port I reported on in March last year is now nearly at capacity. This facility had about 20 sawmills operating in March last year and is now nearly at capacity at 200. A sawmill in China is two bandsaws operated as a breaking down saw and breast bench working in tandem with typically seven people working to feed logs in and stack timber out, often on contract. These people work very hard in a very labour intensive industry where sawdust extraction, as an example, is a combination of short augers and shovels. The 200 sawmills in the Dong Jai Kou port operation are on a 58-hectare site which is fully concreted. The mills are housed in long lines under an equally long low iron roof as the only weather protection. But quite incredibly these 1,400 odd people mill their way through up to 10,000 cubic metres of logs per day. This means there is a log vessel or vessels, discharging

continuously to keep this one operation going. The majority of the lumber is milled to order and heading to large apartment construction sites where it is used to hold up concrete until it dries. It is very easy to be highly impressed by these hard working people and the organisation of these sawmills to keep productivity going six days per week and 9 – 10 hours worked per day. And in monetary terms, on a 26-day work month, the average worker takes home about the same as what their Kiwi counterparts take home in four days. I trust then the critics who say we should be adding value to logs in NZ will now appreciate why this is just not practically possible in the construction segment in the China market at least. This very important market for NZ means that forest growers here can live in the comfort of knowing 600,000 to 700,000 cubic metres of logs head to China every month at very very good prices to make lumber and plywood to hold up concrete until it dries. Some other important factors to emerge from this visit are the very apparent changes to environmental standards. Many plywood factories have been closed down

right across China as failing to meet environmental standards. As you travel in country areas, you see hundreds of wind turbines and hundreds of hectares of solar panels. I also saw previously heavily polluted waterways now clean and tidy and people are seen everywhere picking up rubbish. This nation to me seems to be talking the talk and walking the walk. In our domestic segment NZ-side, the trend we saw start in March/April has continued with an apparent slow-down in orders coming in the sawmills. Up until now, catching up with back orders has ensured continuing strong demand for logs with some mills still running hand to mouth. Most spoken to are expressing the hope timber usage is just drawing breath and they expect things to ramp again in the new summer. As has been the case for over two years, prices are stable and at very good levels and we do not see anything coming along that would upset the apple cart outside of the unpredictable and unstable sanity levels of some world leaders This proves once again, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees.

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Water is one of New Zealand’s greatest natural and renewable assets. Many New Zealanders probably don’t fully appreciate how it powers our economy through the primary sector, giving us a standard of living many other countries can only envy. creating jobs and reducing nutrient leaching. Likewise, Central Plains Water in Canterbury will use alpine water which will take pressure off groundwater aquifers. This will increase flows into bodies like Lake Ellesmere, helping them recharge and regenerate. So it’s disappointing that Labour want to scrap all government funding for irrigation projects. This will be news to many people as it is hidden away in the full copy of their water policy which they still haven’t publicly released, despite the requests of groups like Irrigation NZ. It’s a shor t-sighted approach that will hurt regional New Zealand. You only need to look at towns like Ashburton to see how irrigation has had a transformational effect, with the main street busy, school rolls full, and the town booming. That story is repeated in numerous other

regions around the country. Putting a tax on water is also a real slap in the face for the regions and the logic behind it is extremely shaky. Growing food is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy and water is one of the key inputs. Taxing our most productive industries is like shooting ourselves in both feet. If it’s meant to be a tax on pollution, then it makes no sense to hammer industries like wine, fruit and vegetables which have lower environmental impacts. Announcing a new tax but then refusing to give the amount until after the election is dishonest and disturbing. It’s no wonder it is causing real concern in regions and industries all over the country. For example, Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan says even at a rate of 2 cents per 1,000 litres this would mean his region pays an extra $6

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million per year in taxes. A local sheep and beef farmer told him it would cost their farm over $52,000 per year. We all want cleaner waterways and a massive amount of work is underway at all levels of Government and amongst farmers and growers to achieve this. There have been major improvements in farming practices in recent years with dairy farmers voluntarily fencing off around 98% of their waterways. Farmers have spent over $1 billion on environmental investment over the last five years, and the Government has likewise put hundreds of millions towards freshwater cleanups and new rules and standards. This is the way to tackle environment challenges — by partnering with farmers on a catchment-by-catchment basis, rather than scrapping irrigation support and a blunt tax.

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Why we need irrigation and water storage For farmers and growers the importance of water is obvious, especially in the many areas that have suffered through droughts in recent years. You only need to look at Hawke’s Bay where the tap is close to being turned off for new resource consent applications for commercial use. The impact of climate change is likely to make dry spells even more frequent in the future. This is why irrigation and water storage is so important, and why as a government we are proud to be a strong supporter and investor. So far we have allocated nearly $280 million towards these schemes around the country. Many New Zealanders probably don’t also realise the environmental benefits these projects bring. A good example is the Waimea dam near Nelson which would see farmland converted to apple orchards,

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Look up before you plant

Thinking of planting trees or shrubs near power lines? Choose a power line friendly variety.

Examples of power line friendly trees are shown below. Ask your local nursery for some advice on suitable species for your area. BOTANICAL NAME

By planting the right tree in the right place you will be protecting your local community’s future health and wellbeing.

COMMON NAME

Natives Coprosma propinqua

Mingimingi

Coprosma robusta

Karamu

Corokia cotoneaster

Korokio, Wire-netting bush

Phormium tenax

Flax, Harakeke

Fuchsia excorticata

Kotukutuku, Tree fuchsia

Griselinia Littoralis

Broadleaf, Kapuka

Hebe salicifolia

Koromiko

Leptospermum scoparium

Manuka

Macropiper exelsum

Kawakawa, Pepper tree

Olearia lineata

Small-leaved tree daisy

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Kohuhu

Psuedopanax arboreus

Fivefinger, Whauwhaupaku

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Horoeka, Lancewood

Sophora microphylla

South Island Kowhai

Exotics

Please call Orion on 03 363 9898, 0800 363 9898 or email info@oriongroup.co.nz for help and advice.

Escallonia sp.

Apple Blossom

Malus sp.

Crab Apple

* Cupressus spp.

* Cypress

Acer spp.

Maples

* Thuja spp.

* Thuja

Viburnum spp.

Viburnum

* Choose a true dwarf variety. If planting an exotic hedge, choose a slow growing variety such as Cupressus leylandii, Cupressus arizonica and Cupressus torulosa (Bowral) or Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”.

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

Country Matters with Rob Cope-Williams

Farming verses Votes It’s funny how something can get you thinking. I had a call from a chap who asked me why I thought the government seemed to be letting farming suffer and allowing the industry to fight on alone. The first thing I suggested was that the main voter base was in the cities and so that’s where the political parties place their focus. Then I realised that in years gone by the Minister of Agriculture was number three in the pecking order — Nathan Guy is number eleven. The present government has done a lot for the industry with support and financial backing for irrigation and biosecurity to name just two, but for the mass population it is a ‘tell someone who cares’ situation. They want to know what’s in it for them, and helping farmers to, in their minds, destroy the rivers is counter-productive. Then there’s the parties who know that most farming folk vote National so they use farming as a weapon to discredit National. Dirty rivers and killing off of native fish brings out the conservation side in people and builds a big barrier between urban and rural. Take a look at the subject of exporting bottled water. How does that differ from

meat, wool, dairy produce or wine? Well it does differ somewhat because it’s a renewable resource that we have lots of and is easy to collect. So we are letting overseas companies sell our water for them to make millions of dollars? Well no more than over seas interest in all the other sectors of the community. However the politics of it all rise to the fore and people debate about who owns the water and who should benefit from it. We have been told for months that the election will be fought over housing and water, and that has certainly proven to be correct. Sadly that means we have no idea about what policies any of the parties actually want to get across. That is of course that they do have some. As far as farming is concerned with a focus on water being drinkable and our rivers swimmable it is a no-win situation — the

majority of people will rule at farming’s expense. On the housing front again, score is one nil to the urban people.

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September 2017 CANTERBURY FARMING

ADVERTORIAL

SEED & GRAIN Kelp as feed insurance

“I will definitely be using it again. The plants that received the Zelp, established more quickly than the control, not to mention the 27% increase in yield on the fodder beet.” This from Allan Richardson, as he spoke on while placing an order for his next crop. Allan is a sheep and beef farmer from Otago and a Kellogg’s Scholar. Allan met Roger Beattie, owner of NZ Kelp, about a year earlier. “You’ll want Zelp Powder. Just mix it in with your regular fertiliser before planting,” Roger said, tr ying to convince Allan. He eventually agreed to trial some on his fodder beet. One year later Allan is enjoying a 27%plus yield from the Zelp Powder, and earlier seedling establishment — which is crucial for expensive crops like fodder beet. “The riskiest time in plant life is immediately after germination. You want to get past that most vulnerable stage as fast as possible.” says Roger. “It’s at this

stage that the plant is most vulnerable to drought, flood, pests, weeds and disease.” This becomes especially important for crops like fodder beet where costs are typically $2,300/ha. At $40/ha, Zelp is a pretty cheap insurance policy. Allan’s average swede yield increased by 34% with just 2kg of Zelp/ha. The +27% result isn’t unusual either. Five other trials occurred at the same time on fodder beet and swedes, with an average of +22% yield. One farmer even noticed it helped with disease. “Very little dry rot on the area treated with Zelp, as opposed to one in seven swedes showing signs of dry rot in the control. The stock ate the swedes in the Zelp area before the control.” Zelp is made of NZ Giant Kelp — the world’s fastest

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming

growing kelp. It grows up to two feet per day. “It’s able to grow so fast because of all of the natural plant hormones it has” says Roger. “And, at 0.27% it’s also one of the richest sources of iodine in the world.” The kelp is sustainably harvested out of Akaroa Harbour. It isn’t cooked in a kiln. Instead, it is meticulously dried at low temperatures using lots of airflow to ensure the compounds aren’t denatured. Seaweed has long been used in gardens to promote soil life and plant health, but it is only recently becoming popular among farmers with companies like NZ Kelp commercialising the harvesting of kelp. Zelp Power can be applied with the seed, with fert/lime, or sprayed on. If you also have animals suffering from

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SEED & GRAIN

Growers support research and extension The votes are in, the counting’s done, and the results are clear, cropping farmers overwhelmingly support continued investment in research and extension for their industry. Recently the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) received the ‘declaration of result’ following the closure of its sixth referendum of growers, which has determined significant support for the levy funded organisation. FAR will now make an application to the Minister for these levy orders to be put in place. Electionz.com Ltd were contracted to administer the referendum, which over the past month has given arable, maize and cereal silage growers the opportunity to have their say on whether or not they wish to continue investing in industry good research through FAR. The FAR referendum covers three separate levy orders, and the support for each of them has increased since the 2011 referendum. Results were: Arable crops, 90 per cent support; Maize, 78 per cent support and Cereal silage, 66 per cent support. Nick Pyke, FAR’s chief executive says these results are a fantastic endorsement of the hard work and commitment of growers,

FAR staff and industr y colleagues. “We work hard to ensure research investment matches growers’ current and future requirements. Through feedback from our regional Arable Research Groups and Research and Development Advisor y Committee, we identify areas of importance, and then address them through research strategies and applied programmes. “In recent years FAR has increased investment in research around a range of environmental issues which impact on farmers’ ability to use their land effectively. Our research programme has been developed with due regard for sustainable farming practices and as such, maintains a balanced por tfolio of production, environmental and social research. “The outcomes of this investment deliver benefits which can be measured through increased productivity and profitability along with the retention of, or opportunity for, the use of certain farm practices.” All growers were sent a copy

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

YOUR SELWYN

SPRAYING SPECIALISTS Registered Broadacre Spraying Contractor Based in the Selwyn district Operating two machines: – Hino 4wd truck mounted Amazone 24m rig – Bargam 24m self-propelled “Proof of placement” now standard

CONTACT BEVAN HUSSEY

027 454 1843

Nick Pyke, FAR’s chief executive

of FAR’s Research and Extension Strategy and Portfolio in August, however fur ther copies can be

1.5M please

requested from the FAR office or a pdf version can be downloaded from the FAR website.

superior seeding

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September 2017

CANTERBURY FARMING

SEED & GRAIN

Good nutrition is crop key Maize is a staple crop that produces high dry matter yields and thus needs a good share of nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call

03 347 2314 or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

It’s not usually necessary to apply fertiliser to supply all the crops’ nutrient requirements as seeding experts say crops planted in paddocks that have recently been in pasture can usually extract a significant portion of their nutrient requirements from the soil. Maize has a deep rooting structure, up to 1.8m, and this allows it to utilise nutrients which have dropped below the root zone of shallow rooted pasture species. Cultivation of paddocks which have been in long-term pasture can result in the release of up to 300 kgN/ha from soil organic matter. Recent research has shown that high fertility dairy farm paddocks, including those with a history of dairyshed effluent application may not require additional fertiliser while long-term maize paddocks will normally require higher nutrient inputs. When determining crop fer tiliser requirements always obtain a recent, representative soil sample. Don’t apply more fertiliser nutrients than you need. As well as being expensive, applying excess fertiliser above crop requirements can result in nutrient losses to our waterways. There are a number of factors to

consider when collecting a representative soil sample. The normal cultivation depth for a maize crop is approximately 150mm therefore the soil sample should be taken to this depth. Soil pH and nutrient levels decrease as soil depth increases. The decrease can be especially large in low fertility environments or where soil fertiliser application has been limited. Ensure that the person making the fer tiliser recommendation is informed

if the cultivation depth will be greater than the sampling depth as additional lime and fertiliser may be required. Choose soil sampling sites carefully. If the area has recently been in maize, ensure that the samples are collected representatively across the paddock and from the central area between the rows of stubble. The main reason for this is that if the sample is inadvertently taken from an area where the starter fertiliser was banded, any

residual product will give elevated readings. This can be significant since 250kg/ha of banded starter fertiliser could be equivalent to as much as 3.75 tonnes of the same product broadcast per hectare. Ensure that the soil sample is free of plant or crop debris and large root pieces. Plant material can distort nutrient levels and the physical characteristics of the soil as expressed in the laboratory report.

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SEED & GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

Harvesting needs good skills Harvest time is a crucial time in the farm calendar and in years gone by it was more often than not a call-out to the neighbours, and arranging a schedule for someone’s new tractor to meet up with another’s bailing machine, with the local farming community sharing in costs.

NORTH CANTERBURY LTD Locally Owned & Operated

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Gary Carr ‘However, there is continuing pressure to incur cost and achieve compliance with a range of employment, immigration, health and safety, and various quality assurance programmes. Unfortunately there is also a significant number of noncompliant and fringe ‘cowboy’

operators who continue in business with no aspiration to meet these requirements. The organisation meets with the senior executives of industry bodies such as HortNZ, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers, NZ Winegrowers and Pipfruit New Zealand, and uses the meetings to

advance the interests of industry members who are good employers and operate compliant businesses. From grape and kiwifruit vines, to silage, hay, maize and vital food crop harvesting, the NZMCI offers an assurance of services at a vital date on the farming calendar.

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Now technology advances have seen the cost of equipment soar as GPS systems and computers have come to the fore in economic reaping of croplands, from grains to maise, to ground crops. With this development, contractors have become the harvesters of choice. Efficient use is vital and machinery sitting in sheds is not economic in any sense. Thus, feeling secure in hiring outside help is important. This has led to the formation of New Zealand Master Contractors Incorporated with a mission statement ‘to protect and build a strong organisation that provides a sustainable high quality service to the cropping sector. The NZMCI was formed by the horticulture and viticulture contracting industries in association with the Department of Labour, to acknowledge and reward compliance and best practice, aiming to provide employers with a reliable, skilled and professional labour force, and help improve sustainability and productivity in the horticulture, viticulture and seasonal industries. With domestic sales taken into account, the horticulture/ viticulture industry is worth around $NZ 4.7 billion — making it New Zealand’s sixth largest industry. ‘Contractors are significant employers in the industry alongside growers and post harvest facilities, particularly during the peak picking season,’ the NZMCI says.

Steve Murray 0274 343 119 or Sam Murray 0274 557 990

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September 2017

SEED & GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

Healthy crop establishment Crops such as brassica can increase the productivity of stock and therefore enlarge farm profitability. Like any crop, sound planning and attention to detail is the key to successful brassica production. It is important to manage brassica in consistently growing and grazing high yielding, profitable crops. Many factors influence this including soil fertility, crop rotation, and establishment techniques through to animal health. Good establishment techniques are important, more so than for pasture, because of their low sowing rates. Plant population has a large influence on crop yield, so seed treatments are important for successful crops. Brassica forage crops can be considered in any situation where the pasture quantity and quality is limiting the potential of stock. They produce large yields of high quality, homegrown forage that can be fed from early summer through to late winter. These crops can benefit from following another crop such as short-term cereal or ryegrass. This gives the opportunity to rectify underlying problems with paddocks such as fertility and poor drainage, and

provides a better seed bed for brassicas. New pasture sown post brassicas will benefit from fewer pests and weeds, especially grass weeds like browntop. It can also be a good idea to apply insecticide when spraying out old pasture. A fine, firm, moist, weedfree seedbed is essential when sowing into cultivated paddocks. It is suggested to bury previous pasture or crop or residues to reduce the risk of disease and pests. Sow the seed shallow, no more than 10 millimetres to ensure a good, even establishment of the crop. Having a level seedbed with good consolidation can greatly help achieve an even sowing depth. Pre-emergent herbicides can be incor porated into the seedbed before sowing as weeds must be controlled from the outset as they compete strongly with seedlings. Pest and insect damage can be catastrophic to seedling brassicas and it is recommended to use a seed treatment as this

will reduce the risk of crop damage and failure during the establishment of the plants. Monitor seedlings daily for the first 14 days after emergence and then weekly. Fathen, redshank and nodding thistle can be a

FODDER BEET AND MAIZE DRILLING

problem in second year crops so it is best to control these in the first year crop by stopping their seeding. Brassicas provide a bulk amount of high quality feed to maximise growth rates and increase the number of

stock finished or maintained per hectare. A brassica crop provides a break from pasture, decreasing pest levels, eliminating weed problems and with fertiliser, helps correct soil fertility problems,

You can’t beat Fodder beet!

resulting in cleaner, higher producing pasture. Using brassicas helps avoid parasites and pathogens that cause animal health problems such as ryegrass staggers and facial eczema.

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SEED & GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

Improving across generations Farm machinery engineering company Taege Engineering Ltd specialises in building innovative machinery demanded by New Zealand farmers. The family-owned business has developed specialised seed drills for pasture renovation and cropping, viticulture and the turf market, along with tyne harrows, tyre rollers, cultivators, post drivers and custom builds. Taege air seeders have been in demand for some time and have been built on the proven 6m Taege cultivator base. Competitively priced and offering great value, the Taege air seeder range offers a full complement of sizes and upgrades to suit individual needs. In response to the demand for a smaller air seeder, the company recently developed the AS300 3m air seeder to work in conjunction with it’s popular big brother the AS600 6m version. “There was an obvious demand for a 3m air seeder as the 6m version is highly effective on larger flat areas where it covers the ground efficiently, but farmers with steeper country often don’t have the appropriate size tractor needed to carry a 6m machine around the hills themselves,” says director Keith Taege. “The AS300 slots in beautifully alongside its predecessor. “The size makes it easy to pull without the need to upgrade your tractor and

it allows versatility and accuracy, particularly on the hills and steeper land. It also means you won’t have seed shelving issues which is important with very low seeding rates of the winter and summer brassica crops. “We have clients who have owned Taege drills and knowing the huge workload they can withstand, and with the success of the 6m air seeder, have traded existing drills on the new 3m air seeder.” Keith says when the need to cover the ground quickly is important the AS300 eases the workload of the AS600 by working alongside it. Rough country which has never been drilled before is where the Taege 3m air has proved itself very valuable as it follows the contour of a solid 3m drill, with the accuracy of air. The AS300 uses the same metering system as its 6m counterpart, the only main difference being the AS300 uses a domed distribution look whereas the 6m air seeder utilises the traditional red flat distribution style. Taege equipment performs well in hard, rough and challenging conditions but is just as ‘at home’ on cultivated land. Taege equipment is put through its paces on the steepest, roughest conditions around the country.

With a computerised sponge metering system, which is standard across all models, it provides farmers and contractors with fast, easy and accurate calibration without the risk of seed damage.

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September 2017

SEED & GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

ADVERTORIAL

Local trace element deficiencies In Canterbury, low levels of trace elements, copper and zinc, have been found in some of its more developed soils. Although required in very small amounts, trace elements such as copper, manganese, zinc and boron are classed as essential elements for plant growth. Templeton, Wakanui, Paparua and Temuka soils. South of the Rakaia river, particularly on Barrhill soils, we are also seeing manganese deficiencies appear. While cereals are more sensitive to trace element

deficiencies under dry soil conditions, uptake is also reduced under very wet conditions, where aeration is poor. Coming into spring farmers should still be mindful of the increased risk at low temperatures.

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It has long been established that cereals have a demand for trace elements like copper (Cu), manganese, magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn). While a cereal crop may not be showing any visual signs of a deficiency there may be a latent deficiency yet to emerge. The earlier a deficiency is diagnosed, the greater the likelihood of being able to do something about it. It has been reported that subclinical deficiencies can reduce crop yields by 20 percent or more, without any obvious visual symptoms. Soil pH plays a major role in the supply of trace elements to plants. Their availability decreasing as soil

pH increases. To ensure an adequate supply of nutrients for cereal production, the recommended soil pH is 5.8 to 6.2 — whereas boron availability will not be influenced by a soil pH ranging from 5 to 7. If visual symptoms are observed, it may already be too late to completely correct the deficiency, however you should still contact your agrimanager to discuss tissue testing your crop. Tissue testing should be used as a diagnostic tool in helping to determine an appropriate programmed approach to micro-nutrition rather than just help diagnose a ‘poorly grown crop’. Likewise, it is critical

to understand that there are synergies and rivalries that exist between soil nutrients. Addressing one nutrient, or creating an abundance of one element, can have a significant effect on the availability of other nutrients to the plant. A good example is a soil with very high Olsen P reducing zinc availability. Overseas work has demonstrated that boron (B), Cu and Zn can have positive effects on green leaf retention in cereals. These positive effects may be as a result of these trace elements having a role in the production of defence related compounds such as lignin. Ultimately the longer a crop stays green and healthy the greater the yield.

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Smarter farming for a better New Zealand

SEED & GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

Agricultural leader’s appointment recently Danone Nutricia. “This breadth of experience really aligns with the ALHSAG GM role. Tony will work with members, farmers — large and small, industry bodies and commercial agribusiness, to find new and simple ways to support better health and safety outcomes in the sector.” Tony says he is looking forward to starting in the role and sees farmers looking after their people and themselves better as a key part of the sector’s future and how others perceive it. “I’ve seen things go wrong and learned some things the hard way myself. I think farmers learning from one another is really key — sharing practical ideas that work amongst themselves. “That’s what really interested me about this role, and it would be great to look back in a few years

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming

and see we’d reached a point where health and safety was just part of our normal conversation on-farm, and part of how we do things”. Ms Kidd said Mr Watson’s appointment marked a key milestone in ALSHAG’s development. “ALHSAG has developed a strategy as a high-level direction for where and how it wants to work, but we realised early this year that we needed a full-time resource to keep things rolling along. We have laid good foundations by getting senior sector representatives engaged as Directors of ALHSAG, and have created an Incorporated Society to allow us to function and undertake activity. I’m looking forward to working with Tony and the board to now add the detailed operations that will see ALHSAG make a difference.”

Please call 03 347 2314

Save Lives

Tony Watson, ALHSAG’s inaugural general manager

White Clover dressing specialists Outstanding success removing weeds seeds such as

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The Agricultural Leaders’ Health and Safety Action Group has announced the appointment of Tony Watson as ALHSAG’s inaugural general manager. ALHSAG chair Justine Kidd said Mr Watson brings strong ties to farmers and a deep understanding of the sector to his role as the inaugural general manager of ALHSAG. “Tony’s affinity and understanding of the agricultural sector are of huge value in working to support the ongoing need for better health and safety outcomes in the agricultural sector,” Ms Kidd said. “He comes from a sheep and mixed cropping farm in Canterbury, studied farm management at Lincoln, and since graduation has spent most of his career in the dairy industry. “This has been across hands-on farming, working for Dexcel, one of DairyNZ’s predecessor bodies, and working for commercial dairy companies Westland Milk Products leading the supplier services team, and most

September 2017

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Greater returns for farmers Ravensdown is paying a total annual rebate of $45 per tonne after a third year of strong results. The 10 per cent increase in rebate on purchased products compared to last year was due to continued balance sheet strength, growing market share, and a profit before tax and rebate of $51 million from continuing operations. “All-year value is important to farmers, so I’m delighted we were able to deliver this rebate as well as having led major price reductions throughout the year,” said Ravensdown chair man John Henderson. “This strong performance is now part of a consistent pattern Ravensdown has established. Strong years in 2015 and 2016 meant at the start of the last financial year we were able to set ambitious targets to invest in infrastructure, to improve market share, and to develop new technology. “I am so pleased that for the third year in a row our targets were achieved, and we will still remain in the black after rebate and taxes.” Sales volumes were up by two per cent as the cooperative welcomed new customers, yet revenue fell five per cent to $627 million because price reductions were delivered as early in the year as possible.

For those who bought solid fertiliser before May 31, 2017, $20 of the total rebate has been in shareholders’ bank accounts since June 9. For fully paid-up shareholders, the remaining $25 per tonne will be paid in cash this month. “Ravensdown is here to enable smarter farming which ultimately leads to a better New Zealand. Last year’s growth areas highlighted progress toward this purpose,” said Chief executive Greg Campbell. The c o - o p e r a t i v e ’s environmental consultancy, which helps farmers to mitigate their impacts and work with regulatory frameworks, was its fastest growing service. Farmer demand for N-Protect, which is the only Fertmark-certified urease inhibitor in New Zealand, showed farmers shared Ravensdown’s concerns of reducing nitrogen loss to the atmosphere. Our agronomic advice on using coated urea products such as N-Protect remains, to only use them in the conditions where they confer a material advantage. New technology called HawkEye was introduced to replace Smart Maps and help farmers assess and

Greg Campbell, Ravensdown chief executive

alter their nutrient levels across paddocks on an easily understood and readily shared map. Agronomy products such as seed and agrichemicals were backed up with technical advice and experienced a strong year. Animal health products delivered a good response against tough competition. “When it comes

to farmers and growers, we help them show others how they take their environmental responsibilities seriously, how they use technology to precisely diagnose what the land needs. Providing traceable application maps can assure global buyers that the details fit with the premium food story,” said Greg.

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TO BUILD OR RENOVATE Energy efficiency from the ground up

Arrive Alive...

Don’t Drink and Drive

by Andy Bryenton

Our colonial ancestors knew what they wanted from a home — aside from a roof over their heads to stave off the antipodean weather, their ideal was based on the grand villas of the land they’d left behind — England. This led to more than one home being constructed in an exact replica of its British counterpart — with absolutely none of the main windows facing the sunlight, as it was built for the northern hemisphere. Today, smart use of the land and the sun are all part of the design, with materials technology joining with architecture to create homes that keep the heat and harvest the rays of the sun both passively and actively, turning some of those rays into electric power. Far from being a pipe dream from the future, solar is a real consideration for new home builds, especially those which are a little way from the main centres. Imagine not fearing power cuts after a country storm for example, and you’ll see why solar panels are one of the hottest retrofitted items to a modern home, along with solar water heating systems. This trend has been boosted by the leaps and bounds being achieved in the solar industry. Recently Australian scientists cracked a new record with a small solar cell that converts over 34 per cent of solar input into power. This

beats the American record of 24 per cent hands down. Coinventor Mark Keevers, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney says: ”Extracting more energy from every beam of sunlight is critical to reducing the cost of electricity generated by solar cells as it lowers the investment needed and delivers payback faster.” This has long been the issue with solar panels — the time to recoup the investment in infrastructure has seemed extreme. But there’s a new issue on the horizon that may change the game. A recent survey of electric car owners — a growing group on Kiwi roads — showed that the vast majority top up their batteries at home. This means that a solar array on the roof — and especially a superefficient one such as that designed by Keevers and his colleagues — will not just replace the home power bill, but also every

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Rise of the machines a reality The home of the future was once thought to be a technicolour palace on stilts, where robots mixed martinis to the sound of Dean Martin playing on invisible speakers. The reality of the modern automated home is more discreet, but we’re willing to bet that some of the innovations now able to be commanded from a smartphone are beyond the imagination of those 1960s sci-fi futurists. It’s all very real, of course, thanks to the so called Internet of Things — the ability for everything from your fridge to your washing machine to your air conditioning system to speak to the wider web. While the rise of AI has famously terrified the likes of Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, this glimmering of sentience from the world’s pressure cookers, alarm systems and televisions is anything but sinister. In fact, it’s something which new home builders and renovators are factoring into their plans in a big way. Leading the charge, of course, is security. Systems have existed for some time which can contact a mobile phone if there’s suspicious activity in your absence, but a combination of products from Netgear and August now means you can lock and unlock doors and windows remotely, scan the home with a camera from anywhere on earth, and even

talk over a speaker in your home via mobile. This goes beyond preventing burglary — imagine letting in a tradesman to fix the water heater via phone, then conversing about your options while you can see the work being done, for example. similar electronic connectors for bolts and latches can let pets in or send them out, or even feed them during the day at your command. Another top area for connectivity is the kitchen, where fridges now exist that ping you a grocery list of items they know are depleted, or can bypass you entirely and order them from the internet. There are also stoves and cookers — like the June smart oven — which will start cooking dinner based on your likely time of arrival, factoring in traffic and your position on GPS. Add in robot vacuums and pool cleaners, robot lawnmowers like

Husquvarna’s new model, and multi-coloured remote controlled lighting, whole-home heating and dehumidifying that adapts to the weather, and the modern home, while it might lack chrome hoops and fins, is a more advanced place than George Jetson would have imagined. Of course, much of this modern infrastructure can be retrofitted, but for best results, it’s a good idea to plan around the Internet of Things when it’s time to design or renovate. We’ve already seen how the humble robo-vac has influenced the open, flat design of living areas — people no longer want steps, bumps or complex nooks to confound the handy little bots — but could we soon see whole homes built from day one to integrate even more extreme labour saving tech? only time will tell, but the answer is probably a resounding yes.

TO BUILD OR RENOVATE

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

Full cover offers peace of mind by Andy Bryenton

Most New Zealanders rightly view their homes as their biggest asset. So when it’s time to renovate or build from a ‘blank canvas’, it makes sense to guarantee it remains an asset for years to come, rather than a costly liability. The Certified Builders association have stepped up to offer just such a guarantee with the help of their members across the country. In fact, the New Zealand Certified Builders’ mandatory residential guarantee insurance scheme has now reached nearly $2 billion of cover. While building guarantees are not mandatory under government regulations, NZCB introduced its own mandatory building guarantee last year in the interests of both its members and homeowners. The ‘Halo’ guarantee applies to every new home build or building alteration over $30,000 that is undertaken by Certified Builders, many of whom will have been engaged in the Christchurch rebuild. NZCB chief executive Grant Florence says the builders who are part of his association didn’t want to wait for the government to rule on guarantees. Instead, bolstered by the level of ongoing training and skill inherent in its

ranks, the Certified Builders decided to instigate a comprehensive decade-long guarantee unilaterally. ‘Halo’ is the widest home guarantee insurance in New Zealand and covers all building defects for 10 years, including all damage caused by defects and faulty materials. The scheme carries an A+ rating from Standard and Poors, and is managed independently by Lloyd’s of London to ensure there is no conflict of interest as is the case with in-house guarantee schemes. Those are big names in insurance and finance, so the backing behind this guarantee is formidable. Nationally, approximately 4,900 projects are covered ranging in value from a $10,000 project to the single largest cover for a $5m project. Approximately a third of all builders in

New Zealand are members of NZCB, and there are NZCB member builders nationwide. In order to be eligible for membership of NZCB a builder must hold formal building trade qualifications and participate in ongoing skills development courses many times a year. When a certified builder hires other tradespeople to help put the finishing touches to a home — such as electricians, plumbers, roofers or flooring installers, for example — they must meet similar standards and carry the correct qualifications. This means an overarching quality of work, and the ability to offer such a comprehensive guarantee, right down to the foundations.

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EDUCATION ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

Affordable excellence

A family atmosphere

Nelson College for Girls offers high quality, affordable education for young women in a very supportive environment.

We all agree that family is the best place for a child to be raised, so when choosing a boarding school for your child to attend why would you not choose a hostel where your child is going to be part of a family — the Garin family.

Our Boarding Hostel is a very important part of this. It offers excellent accommodation for up to 150 students from New Zealand and overseas. This accommodation provides quality for our young women but is priced competitively. Year 9 – 12 students live in Clarice Johnstone House while Year 13 students are in the Levels building. This modern accommodation provides them with a more independent living experience, while still ensuring our most senior students play a pivotal role in creating the family atmosphere of the boarding community. Our boarders enjoy academic success, make lifelong friendships and enjoy strong connections within the school and its community. Seven-day , five-day and

short-term boarding options are available for 2018. For more information please contact CJ House

on 03 548 1332, email: vanessa.white@ncg.school. nz or visit www.ncg.school. nz/boarding.html.

Nelson College for Girls Have you considered boarding at NCG? Our boarders enjoy academic success, make lifelong friendships and build strong connections within the school and its community. 7 DAY, 5 DAY AND SHORT TERM BOARDING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR 2018. • Affordable excellence • Independence • Family values • Nurturing For more information www.ncg.school.nz/boarding.html | vanessa.white@ncg.school.nz | 03 548 1332

The Garin College Hostel Trust hostels, Mother Teresa and Francis Douglas houses, are modern, busy, vibrant and stimulating places designed to be like large family homes, with space for only 28 boarders in each hostel looked after by hostel parents. Boarding at Garin offers great experiences for any child and the chance to meet new people, experience

new cultures and make new friends. Being in Nelson and at Garin College offers greater opportunities to be involved in school-based, after-school and weekend activities. Nelson has a great environment and is blessed with not only great sporting, recreation and extra-curricular opportunities but being here in Tasman Bay we have wonderful beaches, safe

Oi!

rivers and in the winter the ski field is not far away for those that enjoy the snow. For students who get fully involved, boarding is great fun and very rewarding. A busy boarder is a happy boarder. For more information on how to board at Garin contact Marianne on achieve@garincollege.ac.nz or 03 543 9488.

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Faith and Wisdom Garin College is a Catholic Co-educational College with boarding for boys and girls years 9 to 13, based in Richmond, Nelson. Not only does Garin College consistently deliver academic results above its decile 8 rating. Your child gets all the benefits of attending a smaller Catholic College. This along with outstanding Arts, outdoor education and sports programmes, makes Garin College the smart choice for your child’s college education.

Academic www.garincollege.ac.nz +64 03 5439488 excellence ENROLMENTS FOR 2018 ARE CLOSING SOON To enrol or to find out more go to

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EDUCATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

ADVERTORIAL

Where knowledge is power Timaru Girls’ High School is 137 years old and has played a significant role in the education of countless young women in South Canterbury in this time. Mrs Sarah Davis has been principal for the past six years. It has been exciting to have many ex-students stay connected to the school. TGHS has a significant Old Girls’ network, with regular, wellattended meetings in Nelson, Christchurch, Ashburton, Waimate, Oamaru and Dunedin. Recently, Mrs Davis attended an evening with Mrs Dawn Ibbotson CBE (aged 103) in Dunedin. Dawn is still excited to know what our school of 2017 is up to. For our current students, while we acknowledge the rich traditions and culture of the school, we also look to prepare for the world beyond the school gate. TGHS has undergone major building upgrades in the last ten years, with a new administration block, technology block and refurbishment of the majority of classes and hostel accommodation. In 2018, a new four-class equivalent collaborative learning space, as well as a major refurbishment of the gymnasium will be completed.

• 100% Kiwi owned & staffed by Canterbury locals, with a real knowledge of farming in this region. • Real stories, opinions, knowledge & reviews from Canterbury farming professionals. • Delivered free to 30,000 rural mailboxes every month, from the West Coast to the east, the Conway River to the Waitaki River! • We’ve been your voice in farming for over 18 years and we’re committed to building a better future for our readers & customers!

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Having contemporary and modern learning spaces creates a positive impact on teaching and learning in the school. As a school community we are consistantly looking for ways to improve what we can do to support student achievement in the school.

We endeavour to utilise the proud history of the school with the wider community we are part of. We are investigating how our students can access all the resources required to transition effectively beyond their time at school. We are spending some time

Waitaki Boys’ High School

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thinking and discussing strategically how this can best occur. At Timaru Girls’, we do what we can to weave the past with the future of the students of today. Visit our school Facebook site to see what we are up to. Scientia Potestas Est Knowledge is Power

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September 2017

CANTERBURY FARMING

O’Connor Comments

with Damien O’Connor Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture

Water for all The announcement from Labour that we are going to clean up the waterways and help communities have safe drinking water had to come at a cost and was never going to be easy. Labour made a hard call in the 1980s to remove subsidies from farming that were encouraging uneconomic production and driving up land values. As a share-milker at the time, I attended a protest meeting at Addington raceway and listened to farming leaders who told us these changes were needed but

were definitely not popular. Thirty years on, some hard calls are again needed. Water is one of the world’s most vital and valuable assets. We have taken it for granted, but now realise we have to value and protect it. Most of the science, management and restoration of water quality has been paid for by

taxpayers and ratepayers, but this can’t continue. Money is needed for water storage and supply projects, it’s needed for better science and monitoring of waterways and it’s needed for management of water access rights by regional councils. In a relatively efficient economy of user pays

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principles, it is logical that access to a publicly owned asset should generate a royalty to cover these costs. It happens with oil, it happens with gold and coal and it happens with gravel. No one owns those valuable resources, but the right to extract comes with the expectation of a levy to the Crown. This latest water policy will cost industrial water users such as irrigators, but the door is open for sensible

discussion with an incoming Labour-led Government to establish fair and affordable levy rates. The rate paid for access to an aquifer for pristine retail bottle water has to be different from irrigation schemes developed and funded by farmers that require large volumes of this valuable but renewable New Zealand asset. Labour has committed to openly consult with all stakeholders through an open Roundtable process

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after the election. Once the quantum of funding required is agreed, the allocation of fair costs should be fair and affordable to all the sectors. I hope all stakeholders see the long-term wisdom of both the policy and the process. In this way, farmers enhance their social licence to get on and do what they do best, produce the finest produce for the world’s most discerning customers in the most sustainable way.

Ring to Hire Machinery!

Hustler 4000 Bale Feeders 3 to pick from �� $10,500 Furrow press 2 available ��$500 Hubbard Multi Max Cultivator �� $17,500 Clough Contora 18ft 3ptl Maxitill �� Coming in Hustler 8000 Bale Feeder, carry 4 bales �� $22,500 Agrimaster RMU 2000 ��Coming In Sulky DPX 28 Fert Spdr 2013 ��$6,900 Alo 1�5 Silage Grabs Shipment Arrived ��$5,000 Vogel Noot 5F Plough Release Legs & Hyd Vari Width �� $11,000 Cambridge Roller 22ft��$7,500 Alo Multi purpose Grabs 2�1 & 2�3 �� From $6,100 Gregoire Besson 5 Mtr�Dusc Hyd Fold �� $16,000 Kverneland 18FT Harrows 3ptl ��$1,250 Celli 2�5Mtrs Roto Hoe��$6,500 Hay Feeders, 1�4 &2�4Mts long �� From $500 Rata Silage Grab 1�5Mtrs �� As New $3,750 Taege 2 Bale Feeder ��Coming In Gray 10FT Water Ballast Roller �� New POA Duncan 734 Direct Drill ��$9,750 Agrimaster KA1750 Mulcher Hammer Flails New ��$4,950 Duncan 26 Tyne 3PTL Grubber ��$2,500 Duncan 701 Drill C/W Eclispe Box ��$4,250 Uni & Glitrap Silage Wagons �� From $4,000 Cattle Ramp ��$2,400 Nobili BNG 310 Mulcher New Hammer Flails ��$8,250 Double Sheep Ramp �� New $4,150 Dunhill 8 Furrow Plough ��$3,500 Watson 6�3 Rollers www�walter-watson�co�uk �� In Stock Penrose Bale Feeder ��Coming In Read 2 Bale Feeder ��$3,250 Subsoilers 5 leg Rata and Davidson with crumblers �� From $9,000 Auger 4 1/2 Mtre c/w Electric Motor ��$1,300 Fuel Tanks �� From $300 Campbell & Bowis Square Bale Feeder ��$3,750 Tandem Trailer 4�1x2�45 Reg & wof ��$3,500 Grab been used for picking up anything euro hitch ��$1,350 Kverneland NG300 H4 Power Harrow ��$7,900 McHale Soft Hands �� New $3,150 Fiat 215 Tractor ��$2,500 Clough 13Ft 6” Maxitill ��$3,700 Hay Trailer 2 axle turntable �� $10,000 Roller rings 24”X2 1/2& 26”x3 �� From $60 Calf Trailer 4 Wheel ��$1,000 CF Sheargrab ��$3,750

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CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

ADVERTORIAL

A Blue Do for cancer care It’s Blue September again and the Prostate Cancer Foundation is getting the message out to Kiwi men to get checked for prostate cancer.

This year it is all about having a ‘Blue Do’ so get organised with some mates, colleagues and family, and arrange an event to spread the message and raise some funds to support the foundation. Farmers, tradies, workmates and radio hosts are all getting in on the act. You can check out upcoming events and get ideas for your own Blue Do on the website. Perhaps you fancy a blue breakfast, a blue barbecue or a blueberry bake off? Or organise a Blue Friday like

many workplaces organise. It really gets people involved in dressing up, preparing some novelty food, and focusses on awareness of prostate cancer. Jason Gunn has joined the great team of Blue September Ambassadors — he tells how his dad was diagnosed with the disease, and how hard it was to talk about it and what the prospects might be. Fortunately for them the outcome was good. Early detection is the key. With one in eight men getting prostate cancer, catching the disease early and getting

effective treatment saves lives. That’s the central message this Blue September. Family members can be a great incentive and encouragement for the men in their family to go to the GP and get a check. Don’t leave it to the men — they are often a bit slack in looking after their health. If they won’t go to get a check themselves, make an appointment and get them along. Find out more and register for a ‘Blue Do’ at blueseptember.org.nz

ADVERTORIAL

Improving joint health (Part 1) The best part of what I do is to see improvements in those who have the courage to try something different. My client files are full of testimonies of those who have improved. Just this morning a client I have been helping for four months called for her monthly check in. When I first spoke with her she had a very sore hip and various muscle aches and pains. We made some changes to her diet and put her on a number of anti-inflammatory and joint supporting supplements. As a result her hip has improved to the point she can walk again. Additionally she has much more energy and the vitamin D we added has helped a great deal with moods and general motivation.

The body is quite miraculous. If you feed it the nutrients it really needs then dormant healing processes can then help restore body systems back towards normal. This is especially true for joints affected by osteoarthritis. In March I started helping a man in his 70s with painful arthritis in his knee, feet and hands especially his thumbs. Worst of all was the joint where the thumb attaches to the wrist. This joint is highly susceptible to arthritis and it can be very disabling. When I spoke to him in June his feet and knees were much improved. He could now use stairs with ease. His hands and thumb have improved significantly and are still improving.

While we made some dietar y changes the main benefits came from increasing his Omega 3 fish oil to 6,000mg daily and adding a double dose of my joint formula. This meant he initially was taking 1,500mg of glucosamine, 1,500mg of super-high grade chondroitin and 200mg of my proprietary 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. Feel free to contact me for more information. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For personalised advice, contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

Abundant Health Bettaflex Super Joint Formula What is Bettaflex? • Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function. • Bettaflex combines high grade chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine sulphate and a potent 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. • Each capsule of Bettaflex contains 382mg of high grade chondroitin, 425mg of glucosamine and 50mg of curcumin extract.

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• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage. • Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes. • Curcumin from turmeric helps to balance joint immune function to support joint health. • Research suggests chondroitin is effective only at levels of over 700mg daily.

John Arts comments: “I formulated Bettaflex based on the latest research into natural compounds that can help with joint support and function. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend a double dose for the first 1-2 bottles to saturate joint tissue.”

Proudly supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation this Blue September.

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September 2017

CANTERBURY FARMING

1 DAY 3 DAY 9 DAY WINTER SEASON LOCAL SENIOR FAMILY VISITOR

We’ve introduced a brand new range of licences to better suit your fishing needs. Whether you’re out there for a day or the whole year, you’ll find the right licence for you. Buy your licence online or at stores nationwide. Visit fishandgame.org.nz for all the details.

fishandgame.org.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING ADVERTORIAL

Freshwater fishing opens soon Freshwater anglers are anticipating the start of the new trout and salmon fishing season now Fish & Game’s 2017-18 licences are on sale.

September 2017

Manifesto asks for protection Horticulture New Zealand has launched its 2017 Election Manifesto with five key priorities for the new Government, to be elected on September 23. “Keeping unique growing land and having sensible policies around access to water are critical to New Zealand’s ongoing supply of safe, healthy, fresh fruit and vegetables,” says Hor ticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman. “One of our main asks for a new Government will be a food security policy for New Zealand. This may sound redundant in such an abundant land, but there are a host of challenges to our food supply including urban encroachment on unique growing land, emotional battles over water, changing weather patterns, access to enough people to grow and harvest our food, and increasing border traffic meaning more potential biosecurity risks. “We are a rapidly growing

$5.6 billion industry and we export 60 percent of what we grow ($3.4 billion in value to 124 countries), which makes a valuable contribution to New Zealand’s ongoing economic well being. That will not continue forever if we don’t take care of our home patch with future planning informed by science and facts.” The five key areas identified as priorities for the horticulture industry working with the next Government are: • Biosecurity — funding and commitment for both border control and preparedness • Food security — a national policy to protect access to land and water • Workforce capability — education and immigration delivering

skilled people • Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for fruit and vegetables in law • Healthy eating education — all Year seven and eight students able to cook a healthy meal. “We have written to the main political parties asking for their policies on, and views about these five priorities and we will be publishing a guide for our growers in our industry magazines in September. “These five priorities cover both the opportunities and the challenges horticulture faces as we work to meet our mission of Healthy food for all forever,” says Mr Chapman. Hor ticulture New Zealand’s election manifesto 2017 can be found on the website www.hortnz.co.nz.

Attention Lifestyle Block Owners! Do you want to be in the Top 1%? older anglers, and people who want to try trout fishing for the first time. Don Rood says all categories offer great value but the premium ones are the whole season and family licences. “These two types of licence provide superb value and flexibility — a year’s worth of fishing anywhere in the country, except for Taupo,” Mr Rood says. “The family licence in particular allows an angler, their partner and children or grandchildren to fish together. It is a great way to introduce the next generation to the joys of fishing. “Young anglers get the best deal of all — if they are under 12 they are entitled to a free licence,” Mr Rood says.

Fish & Game says freshwater fishing in New Zealand is fantastic value. “Internationally, this country is regarded as having some of the world’s finest trout angling, and while overseas anglers view coming here as a once in a lifetime opportunity, Kiwis can enjoy it every day of the year. “On top of that, they can put a meal on the table for their family. There aren’t many recreational pursuits which feed body and soul for so little,” Mr Rood says. “I urge everyone to get out there and give it a try.” The 2017-18 season licences are available now in accredited sports shops and other outlets, or online through the Fish & Game website, www. fishandgame.org.nz

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The new fishing season begins on October 1, but already keen anglers are buying their new licences to make sure they are ready for opening day. “Enthusiasts have been champing at the bit to buy theirs,” says Fish & Game New Zealand’s communications manager Don Rood. “While they can’t use it until October 1, getting their licence is a milestone on the way to the new season. “It signals the worst of winter is over, spring is coming and their favourite little trout stream or river will soon be open for fishing,” Mr Rood says. Nine different types of licence are on offer, including those catering for families,

September 2017 CANTERBURY FARMING

The Heights, Wanaka Due to excellent demand, we can now announce the release of Stage 7 of The Heights that includes this row of elevated, yet affordable sections in this established part of Wanaka. Lock in your favourite now, with only a 10% deposit, with titles expected in 2018, giving you plenty of time to plan your build in this popular area, so close to the schools, tracks and town. Enquire with Ray White today on release 7.

rwwanaka.co.nz/WNK21527 Wanaka Real Estate Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

from 400sqm For Sale From $380,000 View by appointment

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CANTERBURY FARMING September 2017 ADVERTORIAL

Golden Bay Dolomite NZ’s most loved magnesium.

An outstanding location As a premier residential subdivision, The Heights Wanaka offers discerning buyers the very best of location, outlook and lifestyle. For those who have been willing to wait, this land provides an outstanding elevated platform on which to establish themselves in one of the country’s fastest growing towns overlooking the stunning vistas of Lake Wanaka, and the majestic Southern Alps beyond. The available sections range in size from 400 to 800sqm, with the larger blocks located at the top of the site boasting the most spectacular views of the lake and mountain views, while being nestled alongside a reserve. The smaller sections further forward provide fantastic variety in both position and price, ensuring there is something for everyone at The Heights. The subdivision is close to the town, tracks and the lake, so residents can have all the best of Wanaka on their doorstep. Conveniently within a five-minute walking radius, you will find the Wanaka Primary School, Holy Family Primar y School and Mount Aspiring College, while Queenstown International Airport is only 55 minutes away. Recreational opportunities are endless with world class

ski resorts such as Treble Cone and Cardrona only 30 minutes drive, and with some of the Central Otago’s most usable and friendly lakes and rivers within reach, flanked by some of New Zealand’s best tracks. You will be amazed

what the area has to offer across all four seasons. Due to excellent demand we can now announce the release of Stage 7 at The Heights. Lock in your favourite plot now, with only a 10% deposit,

call 0800 436 566 or visit www.dolomite.co.nz

and with titles expected in 2018, you have plenty of time to plan your build. Enquire with Ray White Wanaka as these sections are selling fast. www.theheightswanaka. co.nz

September 2017

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Do you know what hoof trimming is all about? How would you rate your own or your staff’s hoof trimming skills? Many people may answer that question with a certain amount of self-confidence. ‘It’s not that difficult, right? I have seen vet’s trim cows. I have even watched professional trimmers. I think I do a pretty decent job’. Lameness is expensive. It is in the top three animal welfare problems, and along with mastitis and fertility, is in the top three main health costs on a dairy farm. It pays to take it seriously, and unfortunately, most people underestimate the skills and know-how required for proper hoof care. Just to put it into perspective, it takes 14 months to get a qualification in hoof care in Europe. Apparently, about 40% of trainees fail their exam after that time. I know that is at a professional level, but farmers are professionals as well, therefore their hoof care skills should be at a standard where the speed of recovery is similar to work performed

by a professional hoof trimmer. We come across many cows that have been trimmed by farmers and end up being worse off after the trim than they were before. A cow’s recovery does not necessarily reflect the quality of the trimming — most cows will recover without any outside interference. So, when we decide to intervene it needs to be done for the sole purpose of speeding up the healing process. I think a lot of cows in New Zealand are trimmed because it makes the farmer feel better, not the cow. This may be my bluntness coming through, but I see way too many cases that support this view. In reality, this is very understandable. Most farmers have had insufficient training, and because of my experience teaching final year vet students at Massey, I can say that even most veterinarians have minimal training in this important skill. How can you be confident that

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Fred instructing in the process of trimming

you are helping your cows if you don’t know what aspects of the trimming process are important, and why? We are planning a Hoof Care Expo at VeeHof Head Office on Coplands Road in Ashburton on the 17th of October. Along with demonstrations on hoof knife sharpening and claw block applications, and an opportunity to observe and experience trimming with a grinder, there will be

a one-hour seminar which will explain in more detail the rationale behind the hoof trimming process. This programme will run in the morning and be repeated in the afternoon, with lunch provided between sessions. Reservations are required for the seminar due to limited spaces. For more information, or to book your spot, please call 0800 833 463, or email info@veehof.co.nz.

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DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

Soil Matters with Peter Burton Why cost isn’t the most important thing The old saying that cost is soon forgotten with only performance remembered, has endured for generations because it contains a large element of truth, and it applies to fertiliser as much as it does to any other consumable. Zealand, with a corresponding decline in pasture production. If the least-cost model is the best available why does it not apply to tractors, grasses and animals? If the logic holds, as long as it has four wheels and starts when wanted, the cheapest will do, the same can be applied to both animals and pasture plants. The weakness in the argument comes when performance and longevity are also considered. The cheapest may provide adequate initial performance

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but not for any length of time, and the residual value is low. Pinching pennies has never been a philosophy of those that have accumulated genuine wealth over time. With regard to imported phosphorus, the cheapest on the market is what is not wanted or less favoured by other countries, often due to its heavy metal content. There are areas in this country where the cadmium concentration of the soil now makes them unsuitable for vegetable production. Historically the least-cost

model made perfect sense. New Zealand farming was in a development phase. Pastures responded to both phosphorus and sulphur and single superphosphate — the product manufactured here, was the obvious answer. However things change over time.

The soil-biology based fertilisers that promote longer deeper roots, increased pasture growth and carbon sequestration. Claims backed by years of on-farm data collection

measure. By adopting soil fertility programmes that provide steadily increasing pasture production, there will continue to be a way forward. These programmes may not be cheaper, however they often are, and provide real financial gains by reducing the necessity for boughtin feed, markedly cutting animal ill-health costs, and the requirement for costly pasture renewal. The carbon story is one to still fully unfold. The measures to date show that the lift in pasture and total farm production comes with an increase in soil-held carbon, potentially a future income source rather than an unwelcome tax. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

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The mainstream fertiliser industry and associated consultancy groups adhere to the least-cost-per-unitof-nutrient model in a futile attempt to protect what is being increasingly viewed as an outdated and inefficient industry. It makes the assumption that it doesn’t matter in what form nutrient is applied, as long as what is removed is replaced. What haven’t been factored in are accurate measures of the outcomes of nutrient applied in different forms, and farmers are being short changed as a result. The least-cost model is logical. However, because it is based on a false assumption, the outcomes are far from the best available. It’s important to bear in mind that local scientists have reported that intensively grazed permanent pasture has been losing carbon over the last thirty years in parts of New

With the advent of alter native milk and laboratory produced meat replacements, the future of NZ’s pasture-based industry will be in producing top end high value products. Those customers prepared to, and capable of paying, already want to know where their food has come from, and how it’s been produced. Feeding the wor ld by supplying low value commodity products will not pay the bills, now or in future. The cost of production is steadily climbing, and for those with debt, budgets remain tight, even with the recent increase in dairy product returns. Driving down the cost of production at farm level, as one of the largest corporate dairy enterprises is currently doing, will put more funds in the bank account in the short term, but it remains a stopgap

September 2017

03 312-6502

166 Bradleys Road, Ohoka Kaiapoi

DAIRY

September 2017 CANTERBURY FARMING

Pond crust gone for 10th the cost?

Uncommon sense

Yep!

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

Tax on Water? That’s got to be the scariest thing any farmer has heard this week.

Call 0800 475 877 Forward Farming Consultancy For Complete Effluent Management New Zealand Distributor of Slurry Bugs

Pay attention!

around road works

There has been a lot of discussion about these three words during the week, including ownership of it. One spokesperson has estimated consented water users would contribute around two billion dollars. Now the talk is that half will go to iwi and the other half will go towards fixing our polluted rivers and streams. W h a t a n irresponsible shambles. Then I remember — there is an election in six weeks. I think this has got a lot more to do with election vote grabbing than actually looking after rivers and streams. Maybe more about getting townie votes at the expense of farmers being whipped with another stick. A wild stab, which is all anyone is doing, is that only a quarter of that will be used for what it is intended. There is no longer any dispute that there is a problem with our rivers and streams and now the focus is on fixing the problem. After studying the process put in place to mitigate these

problems and where the farming industry is focussing their efforts, good progress is being made. River and stream fencing, riparian planting on water edges and nutrient budgeting are among these. A disturbing fact which has never been mentioned by media amongst all this noise is the cause of this pollution in our waterways. Where did all this begin? In March this year, after the release of the Waikato Healthy Rivers Plan, my column was entitled ‘Don’t blame the Farmers’. I still stand by that comment. The cause of excess phosphate and excess nitrate in our rivers is common sense yet it has never been mentioned. Farmers get all their fertiliser and nutrient advice from consultants who are appointed by the companies who sell the fertiliser. Despite the pressure on farmers to clean up their act, these major NPK fertiliser companies are still piling on more phosphate and unstable nitrogen than the soil can handle. Old outdated soil and fertiliser practises are

keeping these farms in a primitive state reducing the soil’s ability to hold on to nutrients and water efficiently. It’s time that the experts charged with the responsibility of our clean rivers’ future began addressing this issue and challenge these major fertiliser companies. This

action alone will immediately mitigate the primary cause of our problems. This direct action alone will make more progress than two to five years of taxes, collecting vast amounts of money to be wasted on beaurocrats to discover what we already know.

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)

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b. Selection for worm tolerance for over 40 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.

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LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2017

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Deer husbandry qualification launched A Level 3 qualification for the next generation of deer farm workers has been approved by the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA). It is the first deer-specific qualification to be launched in decades. The inaugural intake for the 12-month course is expected to occur later this year, with the first crop of graduates in 2018. The course is aimed at people working under supervision on deer farms and gives them a thorough grounding in deer husbandry. The New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Livestock Husbandry) deer course has been published by the Primary ITO. Course materials were developed with funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Farming Fund and Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ). DINZ producer manager Tony Pearse says the qualification is a big step towards building the workforce and skills needed to support a confident, growing deer industry. “Until now, the lack of a deer-specific training option has been a real constraint for the industry. Farmers wanting to take on staff with deer-specific skills have really struggled to find suitably qualified candidates. Farm workers wanting to gain deer management knowledge had nowhere to go.” Impetus for the qualification came from the deer industry’s Motivate Group — made up of Pearse and deer farmers Clive Jermy and Kris Orange. Pearse says the core resource developed for the course is an Evidence Portfolio. This is a workbook that learners maintain throughout the 12 months of the course, recording the practical work they’ve been doing and answering key questions. “There is a strong practical element and employers are

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Primary ITO Learning Resource Developer Jasmine Smith, Primary ITO Chief Executive Linda Sissons and Phil Stewart, look over the finished resource material for the deer strand of the L3 Certificate in Agriculture (Livestock Husbandry) course

required to verify the onfarm tasks the learners have undertaken,” he says. “This is complemented by course work under the guidance of Primary ITO tutors, when learners will have a chance to interact with others doing the qualification and take part in activities such as discussion groups.” As part of the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Livestock Husbandry) (Level 3) (Meat and Fibre), the deer strand covers three graduate outcomes: • Assist with mating and parturition • Assist with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of livestock health problems • Assist with rearing of young stock. “This takes learners through a whole year and for each of these outcomes they also have a comprehensive Learner Guide. These cover everything from the

reproductive systems of deer, to genetics, fawning management, understanding health problems, biosecurity, weaning, rumen development and much more,” Pearse says. The resource was developed by Deer Industry News Editor, Phil Stewart, with assistance and advice from Pearse and Jermy. He says compiling the deer husbandry qualification really highlighted what a large body of knowledge the deer industry has produced over a few short decades. “This information is now finding a home in places like the Deer Fact series and of course on the Deer Hub, but beyond that there is a huge range of very good published work. Learners doing this qualification will be using the same resources that are available to all deer farmers, so they will be well in tune with current practice and make great employees,” Stewart says.

“I’d like to especially thank Primary ITO’s product development manager Denise Williams and learning resource developer Jasmine Smith for their help in shaping this material for publication — it’s been a big task.”

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September 2017

LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

More returns for your wool.

Crossbreds show slight improvement

Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool) is a 50/50 joint venture between Carrfields and Primary Wool Co-operative (PWC), a 100% wool grower owned co-operative. • CP Wool has stores in key locations across NZ

In medical terms, crossbred wool types have been listed as ‘seriously ill’ for all of the calendar year to date and, whilst recently the market for said types showed slight signs of improvement, the road to ‘complete recovery’ appears to me that it will be a long and difficult one indeed.

• CP Wool offers significant benefits and advantages to New Zealand wool producers

Interestingly during August there was a little more positivity from exporters, however with greasy knocked-down prices for wellpresented adult fleece and or second-shear at levels between around $2.10 and $2.70, I’m picking that most farmers producing crossbred wool types will take a fair bit of convincing that any wounds are healing. Crossbred fleece wools of good style and colour carrying little vegetable matter contamination were fetching around 330 cents per clean kilogram at auctions during August, whilst poorer types showing some yellow discoloration and carrying light to medium vegetable contamination received bids of between approximately 260 and 305 cents. Crossbred hogget types measuring around 32 microns, of good colour and zero vegetable matter were well supported, in comparison to adult fleece, and received between 430 and 475 cents per clean kilogram, dependent upon length and character. A few lines of genuine lamb’s wool carried over from earlier in the season sold in the approximately 350 to 390 cents clean brackets. First pieces skirted from three-quarter and full-length fleece wools received better support than earlier in this season with some solid competition driving prices to around the 260 cents clean mark, whilst the bellies from the same shearing received

Talk to your local CP Wool representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.

Contact your Canterbury representative Mark Greenlaw 027 227 8898 Roger Fuller 027 683 6993

Grant Andrew 027 481 6219 Gavin Crump 027 431 6555 www.cpwool.co.nz

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cents per clean kilogram. Oddment types also enjoyed a very buoyant run. As the fine wool season proper began all lines of merino wool types offered at auctions in Christchurch during August drew fantastic suppor t from buyer s representing every major processor country across the globe. As prices for Australian merino wool soared at each auction in that country, driven in turn by an ever improving South African market, NZ auctions answered with gusto and in every case prices were either on a par with Australia or well ahead. With a number of fleece types realising between approximately 2,000 and 2,500 cents per clean

kilogram, growers were reasonably satisfied. Oddments also sold at very solid levels. Fundamentally, the fine wool market, in a global sense, is reacting to a distinct shortage of raw material and until the supply versus demand pendulum swings it will probably continue to remain buoyant. Mid-micron (Halfbred and Corriedale) wool types are enjoying a positive rub off from the merino types as well as drawing support from traditional buyers and processors, whilst coarse wool types (Crossbred) are struggling in the face of a major fall-off in demand causing a choking of the supply pipeline. That’s my view.

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up to 250 cents. Halfbred and Corriedale wool types have recently enjoyed an extremely good run as demand for these types seems to be well in excess of supply, probably due mainly to the fact that there is a finite season for the best of these types and outside of the good pre-lamb shorn wools there are very few available compared to by-gone days. Depending upon style and character, those measuring around 26 microns reached between 1,150 and 1,200 cents clean at recent sales, with 27 to 28 micron wools reaching between 880 and 1,010 clean. Coarser types in the 29 micron ranges reached levels of between approximately 700 to 770

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RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

Building on a strong legacy

September 2017

ONE CHANCE ONLY

by Andy Bryenton

Do you remember what you were doing in 1973? It’s safe to say that many of those reading this article were not even born back in the heyday of bell-bottomed trousers, stadium rock and the end of the war in Vietnam. But there’s a worker on Kiwi farms that’s still putting in dawn-to-dusk days despite first hitting the paddocks back when Nixon was in the headlines. Yamaha introduced their AG series of motorbikes to the local market after asking local farmers what they needed in a two-wheeler, and it shows. Simple additions to the already established dirt bike formula have become the standard for agricultural bikes, from the addition of a big kickstand plate through to gearing that allows riders to follow the herd even in thick mud. AG bikes of bigger sizes — up to 200cc — have appeared over the years, with this latter going beyond the farm and becoming a favourite with emergency aid workers and doctors in Africa. That shows how tough this little machine really is, but now Yamaha have expanded their legacy with a new AG 125 for the new millennium. The 2017 Ag 125 expands on the platform of Yamaha’s successful four-decade commitment to Kiwi farmers, keeping all the best of the old but mixing in new features which have been garnered from both customer feedback and engineering research. That means a revised

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suspension setup for a smoother ride, with a fully encased chain delivering power from a 124cc air cooled single cylinder fourstroke engine. The emphasis is on easy to handle reliability — a machine which is designed to start first time on frosty mornings, be frugal on fuel, but still able to

tackle the gravel, mud, hilly terrain and other natural hazards on the farm. A raft of optional extras can expand the carrying capacity and allround durability of the bike, but there’s no needless tinsel here — taking a leaf from the late great Henry Ford, you can have your AG 125 in any colour you like so long

100

as it’s blue. The new Ag 125 has big gumboots to fill, but it’s stepping up to the task with a formidable wealth of knowledge behind it. For those who know and love their farm two-wheeler, this is the perfect replacement — that is, of course, if your old Yamaha AG ever runs out of puff at all.

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September 2017

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Gunning for the crown by Andy Bryenton

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When it comes to modern utes, many buyers entering the market feel they have a choice between two top contenders. There’s the Ford Ranger, riding high on years of awards and sales figures, and the Toyota Hilux, the once-all-powerful monarch of the rural roads, still slugging in a close second place. Now there’s a challenger so far out of left field it’s almost tempting to use a metaphor from recent Kiwi politics. The new face of LDV has been its range of big, dependable work vans for some time now, and they’ve gained traction with tradies and fleets in a big way. Now the company is bursting into the ute market with a fourwheel drive double cab that both looks the part, and carries a very affordable price tag. It’s called the T60, and it’s shaking up a sector already graced with new lowcost utes by Mahindra, Great Wall and Foton. T60 was first unveiled to the public during the National Feildays in June this year. Sales and marketing manager Warren Willmot says: “Feedback from the public display at Mystery Creek was incredible. The interest in this vehicle has been remarkable and now the customers who have signed up and been waiting for their T60s to arrive have the added bonus of the five

The new LDV T60 builds on the strong reputation LDV’s vans have established in the local market

year, 130,000km warranty.” LDV — manufactured by the immense SAIC autos company, China’s largest — plan to offer the T60 with both diesel and petrol engines, two suspension heights, three gearbox options and even the ability to switch from ‘eco’ fuel saving mode to ‘power’ mode with the push of a button. Stylistically, the T60

looks aggressive and sharp, with the big chromed grille and chunky roll bars we’ve come to recognise as many new utes’ homage to the F150 out of America. That’s no bad thing — the big Ford sells a unit nearly every five seconds, and is going strong after decades. LDV entered the market with a lot to prove, and their

vans, people movers and transporters have shown that they can tango with the best. It’s a bold move to step right into the tough ute market and even tougher to contest the crown held so tenaciously by Ford. But for the business or fleet buyer looking for value as well as practicality, the T60 may prove irresistible.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Trans Pacific Partnership backing Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association are behind the Government’s continued efforts to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership 11 into effect and both companies want to see it done as soon as possible. “The trade agreement will deliver major gains to the New Zealand sheep and beef sector, despite the United State’s withdrawal last year,” said Sam McIvor B+LNZ chief executive. “Japan is New Zealand’s fifth largest market for red meat and co-products, with exports of more than $302 million exports last year. Japan is the market in which the sheep and beef sector faces its single highest tariff burden. “Last year the sector faced tariffs of $73 million on its $302 million exports, an average tariff of 24 per cent — and money that would have trickled down to all New Zealand households.“ Mr McIvor said the TPP11 had become even more important in recent weeks. “On August 1, Japan increased its tariffs on frozen beef from 38.5 per cent to 50 per cent under a WTO safeguard, which will apply until March next year. “Australia, one of our largest competitors in the market is not affected by the safeguard because it

has an existing bilateral trade agreement with Japan. Australian frozen beef only faces a tariff of 27.2 per cent, giving it a massive 22.8 per cent advantage. This is already having a major impact on our exports, which were worth $79 million last year.” MIA Ceo Tim Ritchie said Australia is responsible for some 50 per cent of Japan’s beef imports which have contributed to the trigger of the safeguard on frozen beef. “There is a distinct possibility that a similar WTO safeguard may be triggered on chilled beef exports into Japan in the next few months which would further disadvantage the sector. “Japan is New Zealand’s largest chilled beef market wor th $63 million last year. Japan also concluded FTA negotiations with the European Union earlier this year, and agreed to give the EU similar outcomes on beef as in TPP. The G o v e r n m e n t ’s negotiating mandate for TPP11 will level the playing field and will

Sam McIvor, B+LNZ chief executive

ensure our expor ters remain competitive in overseas markets. “TPP would also deliver important gains in other markets such as Mexico and Canada where our sheep and beef exports face tariffs ranging from 10 to 60 per cent,” said Mr Ritchie. Both Mr McIvor and Mr Ritchie say: “Given the absolute importance of this initiative for our sector, we trust the leadership New Zealand has taken continues post the election.”

September 2017

the ‘last’ word with Rob Cope-Williams

Enjoy nature Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a statement about what makes a successful man. I am sure he also meant women as well. Called ‘That man is a success’, and in it he says a successful man is one ‘who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy or a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it’. Wow, that’s opening the door for those in the farming industry. I am yet to find a farming person who doesn’t want to leave the property better than when he or she found it. Farming people really care for each other and are caring for all souls whether those of family, friends or those of their animals. Plus farming folk see earth’s beauty while others see landscape. As far as

expressing it, I’m not sure that is declared often enough. Farming folk are to me, the gentle people who will never turn anyone away from their door — no-one ever leaves hungry and they trust everyone until proved wrong. You nurture your stock and crops and help them fight disease and drought. You plant trees to protect stock and pasture and you plant native trees to attract and feed the native birds. Many of you build special dams for the ducks to breed in and enjoy and create wet lands. Then there’s the many areas that farmers fence off and return to native bush rather than grow grass and make money from. How many city business

people would demolish part of their warehouses or factories to help promote native habitat? So what’s with all this anti-farming stuff? Sadly there are more who want to believe bad news than those who can see the good news. Take a look at the Ballance environmental awards for example — amazing stories about caring for the environment and doing amazing things to protect nature and not a word about that in the media. Just what our industry has to do to get our message out is a mystery but I do hope someone can come up with an answer. I’ve tried for nearly 40 years but lone voices are rarely heard.

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September 2017

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