Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, February 2024

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Art exhibition reflects Feilding’s 150 years

by Denise Gunn

In the lead-up to Feilding and districts’ 150th anniversary weekend of celebrations in March, the Feilding and District Art Society is holding a Feilding at 150 exhibition.

The exhibition, reflecting on Feilding’s past, present and future, features works from 12 of the society’s members. Artists have incorporated people, places, icons and ideas that shaped Feilding and districts into their work.

Art centre manager Karis Evans said this exhibition had been pencilled in on the calendar for almost two years.

“Many of our members have been a part of the Feilding and District Art Society since the 1960s, but our membership has more than doubled in the last two years alone.

“So, it seemed obvious that we should draw on this range of experiences and creative voices to express ideas about the past, present and future of Feilding.”

Towards the end of 2023, members were invited to create new artworks in response to the 150 years of Manchester Block theme. Karis said the brief was deliberately open so artists could create anything that tells their stories about Feilding.

“Our artists took the open brief and blew it wide open, bringing their own ideas to make this exhibition truly unique.

“Alongside each of our artist’s new works is a small display of objects from the Coach House Museum, showing what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”

Artist Ruth Champion has also lent the society a Victorian gown for display. Karis said Feilding’s past was a key goal for most of the artists. “Some artists have thought about that in a broad sense.”

The artists involved in the Feilding at 150 exhibition include Tammie Rose Hodgetts, Gael Gamble, Eris Newson, Robyn Parkinson, Michael Nidd, Irene Whittaker, Rachael Young, Michael

Halcombe-based artist Eris Newson with her large aerial view of Feilding

and Helen Walker, Sandra Douglas, Graham Christensen, Sarah Moody and Paul Branelly.

“All in all, our artists have taken a broad view of what Feilding’s 150-year milestone means. Given that much of our region’s heritage was formed well before Europeans’ arrival, the 150th anniversary is simply a framework to think about the recent events that have shaped what our town is now.”

Halcombe-based artist Eris Newson has produced two large aerial views of Feilding, while Sandra Douglas focussed on creating a portrait of Harriet Sexton, who migrated to the town in the 19th century.

“Then there’s Michael Nidd, who offers a War of the Worlds view of a dystopian future where colonial buildings are cast under the show of incoming Martians,” said Karis.

Tammie Rose Hodgetts has included paint that glows under UV lights in her work. Entry to all of the Feilding and Districts Art Society exhibitions is free. On arrival, visitors will be greeted by a volunteer.

Some of the artworks will continue to be displayed after the exhibition ends on Thursday, February 29.

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Bumper line-up for Central Districts Field Days

by Denise Gunn

The gates to the 32nd Central Districts Field Days open in March, showcasing the latest in rural innovation, agricultural displays, demonstrations and exhibits.

New Zealand’s largest regional agriculture event will be filled with an expected 500 exhibitors covering the 33ha Manfeild Park in Feilding.

Crowd-pleasing events include the national finals of the excavator operator competition, celebrating its 30th year. Taranaki/Manawatū FMG Young Farmer of the Year’s regional final will be held during the field days, running alongside AgriKids and TeenAg competitions.

The Manawatū strong men and women crew will put their strength to the test and there will also be have-a-go activities for the crowd. Ride-on lawnmower racing, a growing sport in New Zealand, will take place on a specially-made track near the agricultural pavilion.

The Central Districts fencing competition will return and the Franklin Farm freestyle motocross demonstrations are to be held on Friday and Saturday. Boosted children’s entertainment, the latest in rural AI and other agritech, along with the latest machinery and Central Districts Field Days deals will feature in the bumper lifestyle area.

“We know that Central Districts Field Days is a highlight in the calendar, and we want to ensure an impressive and worthwhile day out,” said Central Districts Field Days event manager Jonathan Paul.

“Manawatū is called mighty for a reason, and we are excited to show you

what the region’s primary industries have to offer and bring some great deals and stellar entertainment. We are excited to host the 32nd Central Districts Field Days and connect with locals and visitors from outside the region, too.”

Central Districts Field Days is also a venue for businesses to showcase their products. Palmerston North-based Ensol will launch New Zealand’s first tandem diesel and AdBlue hybrid trailer, using a petrol-powered diesel pump and solar panel to pump the AdBlue.

BA Pumps and Sprayers will unveil their groundbreaking LM Linkage Sprayer range with a fully hydraulic M-fold boom, describing it as an all-new spraying solution game changer. The new Sherp

The Central Districts Field Days will run from March 14–16

N 1200 4WD quad, which can transport six people, will be on display at Impact Off Road’s site.

Affordable battens will be exhibited by Marlborough-based award-winning fencepost recycling company Repost Ltd.

“Farmers are struggling, and every dollar counts. So we are proud we will be showcasing this new low-cost recycled product, made from viticulture waste for the first time ever at Central Districts Field Days,” said Repost co-owner Dansy Coppell.

This product won the Gallagher Innovative Farming Award at the 2023 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards.

Tickets are available online now at CDFieldDays.co.nz, saving money and time spent in queues. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at the gates.

The Central Districts Field Days will run from Thursday, March 14 to 16. Gates open at 9am each day, closing at 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday and 4pm on Saturday. Visitor entrances are off South Street and Kawakawa Road.

Five

William Beagley, one of the first settlers in the district, acquired the farm in July 1878. Farm ownership passed through the generations, with the current owners’ parents, Doug and Shirley Beagley, purchasing the property outright from Doug’s siblings in 1995.

Doug and Shirley had four children, Allen, Julie, Vicki and Murray. Three of the siblings, fifth-generation Julie, Vicki and Murray, now own the farm.

The property has increased in size over the years to its current 456ha. Native bush covers 281ha of the farm, and 145ha is used for grazing. The remaining 30ha is retired. Waterways were fenced off and riparian planted 15 years ago.

Julie said the family have always been passionate about preserving the virgin native bush.

“In 2007, two QEII covenants preserving 281ha were established under the stewardship of Doug and Shirley. The bush is fenced off and pest-controlled.

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF FARMING

BY DENISE GUNN

Whariti farm’s 456ha includes 281ha of native bush and 30ha retired land

“The 30ha retired as a result of Waka Kotahi organising the planting of over 180,000 native trees in 2021. This is part of an offset for wetlands that will be lost along the route of the Te Ahu Turanga highway, currently being built as a replacement road for the now closed Manawatū Gorge.”

A new set of yards has been built in the centre of the farm since the Waka

Kotahi work began. The farm is leased out to local farmer and family friend Stephen Knight. Before leasing out the farm, Doug and Shirley ran Perendale sheep, chosen for the breed’s hardiness and easy-care lambing.

generations of the Beagley family have owned Whariti Farm near Woodville.

For the past 16 years, Stephen has run Romney ewes on Whariti. However, ongoing low wool returns and increasing labour costs are causing him to consider a woolshedding breed for the future. Lambs are weaned at the beginning of January and fattened on other properties. The majority of lambs bred on Whariti are supplied to Atkins Ranch at 18kg-plus carcass weight.

Stephen also runs Wagyu cross steers, which are sent to Firstlight Farms. Whariti Farm has always been managed remotely with nobody living there. Julie said docking was always a big event.

“We all helped, and have fond memories of going out the back, mustering the ewes and lambs, and then cooking the lambs’ tails over a fire.”

Julie recalls a herd of wild horses out the back of the farm, too.

“We grew up with riding ponies that were taken out of the wild horse herd. Our father broke them in for us. They were sturdy, strong ponies and made excellent stock ponies.”

Possums have been an ongoing problem in the bush. Julie sometimes helped her brother, Allen, when he was in his late teens to trap possums and earn money.

“Our grandmother, Ena, had a beautiful possum skin coat made from the pelts of over 200 Whariti possums.”

Weather is the main challenge in farming Whariti. The property faces southwest, and due to its location near the Manawatū Gorge, the weather is often wet, windy, cool and cloudy. Whariti receives an approximate average annual rainfall between 1,463mls to 1,554mls and is considered summer safe throughout the year.

“The wind blowing along the ridges can be fierce and impossible to stand up in, and it can be bitingly cold, especially when there is snow on the Ruahines. It rains a lot at Whariti; it can be difficult to get to the back of the farm on the greasy, wet tracks.

“Going out the back on a rainy day was never a pleasurable experience. Even the horse would slip and slide down the tracks, leaving the rider hanging on to its mane to prevent a fall off the horse.”

The native bush and riparian planting not only provide shade and shelter to stock, but it has also enabled further subdivision of paddocks.

“Along with the plantings, a water reticulation system was put in, a new

culvert and new fencing, and the tracks were graded,” said Julie.

With native tree planting a priority, the family’s goal for Whariti Farm is to continue improving the environmental aspects.

Last year, the Beagley family received a Century Farm Award from Century Farms New Zealand. The New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards programme, which began in 2005, honours farming families and their properties.

The Beagley family from left: Julie, Shirley, Vicki, Allen and Murray received a Century Farm Award last year

Wagyu grazing on Whariti Farm

GROWING GARLIC IN THE VALLEY

We

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Rita had begun growing garlic with friends the previous year, buying a large quantity of Printanor variety. Around 20,000 cloves were planted that winter on the Moawhango Valley property near Taihape.

As Rita had grown this variety successfully in her garden for many years, she knew it grew well in local conditions. Printanor also handles out-of-season frosts. Other varieties are grown on-site, too. In 2020, Vanessa joined the venture to help with harvesting and the first crop sales.

“Covid-19 lockdowns started just as we were about to head to the markets with garlic, so we had to quickly pivot to selling online through Trade Me as we didn’t have a website ready,” said Vanessa.

The garlic is grown on part of the Batley family farm, which is owned by Rita and her family.

“We have fenced off just under one hectare from one of the flatter paddocks beside the Moawhango River,” said Rita.

“It is an excellent location for horticultural crops, with the hills providing

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good protection from the wind and the soil being a free-draining silt loam.” The farm’s location, at around 460m above sea level, brings cooler temperatures, which helps reduce pests and disease problems in the crop. Initially, Rita and Vanessa dealt with compacted

soil as the paddock had been intensively grazed over the years. A subsoiler was used to loosen and break up the soil — the area was then cultivated.

Vanessa said the area was sown in a diverse mixed species cover crop to help rejuvenate the soil life.

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Moa Valley Farm is located in the Moawhango Valley near Taihape

Four years ago, Rita Batley and Vanessa Witt ventured into growing garlic together after turning a tired farm paddock into a fertile patch of land.

Vanessa and Rita began growing garlic together four years ago

“After the cover crop was terminated by mowing and a shallow power harrow, occultation was used to suppress regrowth of the pasture and any weeds. By late summer, the tarps were lifted so the beds could be hand-weeded in preparation for planting.”

Woolly dags, sourced from the farm, cover the paths between garlic beds. Weedmat is proving helpful in controlling couch grass.

“The garlic is grown on a three-year rotation, so there is still two-thirds of the area not being used for garlic each season. Currently, most of the rotation land is planted in various cover crops to help improve the soil and a small amount of vegetables for personal use.”

Rita said the garlic is grown in 1.5m wide beds with one-metre wide paths between.

“One season’s garlic crop would be planted in about 650m of total bed length, with six rows of garlic per bed. A total of around 26,000 cloves when planted, with 15cm spacing within rows.”

Garlic is planted in autumn and winter.

“The garlic beds are weeded thoroughly prior to planting and mulched with straw at planting time. So, weeding during the growing season is minimal. Beds may also be broadforked for better aeration if needed.”

“Foliar feeding with seaweed or fish sprays is done during October to

December, roughly every two weeks,” she said. “We get rust every year, but usually, it is late enough in the season to not cause any major problems for the garlic, as it has already done most of the growing.”

Depending on the variety, harvesting takes place from early December to mid-January. Vanessa said harvesting is done by hand, using a garden fork to lift the bulbs. Post-harvest preparation and the selling season runs from December through to June.

“We generally sell out around the same time as the last of the garlic goes into the ground for the following season.”

It leaves August to October as a threemonth break from essential garlic jobs. Each year, Rita and Vanessa harvest around 26,000 bulbs from their Moa Valley Farm garlic crop. Nearly 4,000 of those bulbs are kept for planting. In addition to online sales, the pair sells their garlic at local farmers’ markets.

“Every season is different, so it has been challenging to work out optimal planting times and growing conditions for all the different types in our particular location. It is not something you can learn from a book or expert, only from being experimental and trying things out for yourself,” said Rita.

The club’s first fundraising sale, held in 2020, had just 24 dogs presented for sale. This year, 45 dogs were entered, with 19 Huntaways, 24 heading dogs and 10 youngsters sold under the auctioneer’s hammer.

Buyers and sellers travel from around the North Island to attend the annual sale, held at Te Anui farm, near Whangaehu.

The top price from the January sale went to Simon Prouting’s Huntaway named Girl, fetching $9,800. Simon, a regular vendor, farms near Dannevirke. Howard Ingles, formerly of Gisborne, travelled to the sale from Hawke’s Bay, selling his five-year-old heading dog Clyde for $9,500. Marton farmer Wayne Falkner made $9,000 selling his heading dog Glen.

ANNUAL SALE A BARKING SUCCESS

BY DENISE GUNN

The youngest seller at the sale Colton Hughes showing off his eight-month-old heading dog Tako

During last year’s sale, Justin Booth, manager of Te Paenga Station, sold a Huntaway for a record New Zealand price to an Australian buyer

for $17,500. Club secretary Brenda O’Leary said a large percentage of the dogs sold came from within the Manawatū/Wanganui area.

Parapara/Mākirikiri Sheep Dog Trial Club’s annual working sheepdog fundraising sale has

“The prices held up well with the fully broken-in dogs and the well-started younger dogs realising their value. One or two dogs were passed in but were sold before the day ended.”

Brenda said another regular attendee, Neville Hughes of Otaki, entered four dogs in the sale, including two that his young children, Shelby and Colton, presented. Shelby and Colton paddock-trained their dogs to earn some pocket money.

“Colton sold his eight-month-old heading bitch Tako for $1,400, much to the delight of those present.

“It was a pretty daunting experience for both youngsters to get out in the selling arena in front of the huge gallery of buyers, but they said they would be back.”

Funds raised from the annual working sheepdog sale are used by the club to purchase anything needed at the club grounds.

“We initially had huge expenses setting up at the new grounds, and like all clubs, continue to have ongoing expenses such as cartage of sheep to events. If we can help the landowner, we are able to oblige.”

This year’s sales turned over $84,000, with the club making $4,520. Brenda said the club charges a flat fee of $100 a dog entered for sale and $50 for any pup six months and younger.

“The constant demand for good working sheep dogs has not dropped. If anything, it is stronger.”

Club president Duncan Atkinson, who manages Te Anui farm, has been the driving force behind the annual sale. He and his partner, Donna McClean, work together with Brenda to handle all the entries and paperwork. Brenda said all other club members are roped in on the day to lend a day. “It is pretty full on.”

Club member and independent livestock agent Chris Hay is the club’s regular sale auctioneer.

“Chris did a massive job in the sweltering humidity, knocking the dogs down to the many very eager buyers who came from all over the North Island.”

Ian Burling from Turakina set up the sheep for the vendors in the selling paddock. “He was kept pretty busy,” said Brenda. “Our annual sale now has a reputation for being a good place to sell a dog and get its full value.”

The Parapara/Mākirikiri Sheep Dog Trial Club was established in 1958 and now has around 40 members. “It varies with shepherds being a transitory lot.”

Duncan said the club will continue to provide a platform and venue for working sheepdogs to be sold as long as the demand is there.

GCOUNTRY LIFE INSPIRES ARTIST

BY DENISE GUNN

rowing up in a farming family, Ruth continued her connection to the land when she married a farmer.

“I’ve always been in places with lots of space and fresh air. Being a farmer’s wife, there was a lot of hard work and long hours,” said Ruth.

Ever since she could remember, Ruth has drawn or painted all her life. She

always tended to have a creative flair before taking up painting. Although Ruth has worked with oils and pastels, she prefers painting with watercolours.

“It is instant. You can do all sorts of things with watercolour that you can’t do with other media. I took up doing watercolours in the mid-1980s after my children had left home.”

Three years ago, Ruth received her life membership to the Feilding and District Art Society

Painting country landscapes is Ruth’s favourite subject matter, but she is happy to paint other themes as well. Her art reflects New Zealand rural scenes.

“I simply love the country and the beautiful scenery that can change depending on the time of day and the weather.”

The majority of scenes Ruth has painted are found near Feilding and the surrounding district, but she has also

painted landscapes from other areas of New Zealand. She said photographs can be used as a reference point.

“Then I will take the liberty to change things around to make a better composition and use quite different colour schemes.”

With a large garden to tend to, which keeps Ruth busy, time spent painting varies. “It certainly depends on my time available,” she said.

A lifetime of living in the country has provided inspiration for Feilding artist Ruth Champion.

Ruth with her daughter Judy

“I do only work on one painting at a time, and then that work will sometimes inspire me to do another one, but changing everything.”

Ruth has been exhibiting her art at the Feilding and District Art Society since the 1980s.

“Also, at the moment, I am a committee member. I’ve had a few exhibitions, sometimes with other artists and sometimes solo. I have sold a great number of paintings and received many different awards.”

She’s also been involved in the annual Manawatū Art and Garden Trail. The Feilding and District Art Society is currently hosting Ruth’s latest

exhibition, Watercolour Country. The exhibition celebrates Ruth’s passion for watercolour and her love for the New Zealand landscape.

Each year, the Feilding and District Art Society host an exhibition of one of its life members. Life memberships are awarded to members in recognition of their contribution to the society and visual arts in the district. In 2021, Ruth received her life membership to the Feilding and District Art Society.

Ruth’s exhibition finishes on Thursday, February 29, but some of her artworks will continue to be displayed. It will be Ruth’s final exhibition as a practising artist.

The Feilding and District Art Society, established in 1969, hosts exhibitions, holds workshops and runs a retail shop and a gallery. The shop stocks locally made art and crafts. A group of more than 150

local artists belong to the society, located at 104 Manchester Street, Feilding. A new exhibition showcasing a member’s artwork features each month. Entry to exhibitions is free.

Business relationship with farmers redefined

by Andy Bryenton

The relationship between primary producers and the supermarket and banking sectors has come under scrutiny in early 2024, with change on the agenda.

One area in which the relationship between farmers and big business has been under the spotlight is the case of supermarkets, which will be subject to a new code of conduct set out by the government during the next six months.

“They’ve got to operate in good faith, which is a very broad, overarching term, but ensuring that supply agreements are in writing,” said Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden.

“There aren’t any unilateral variations from the supermarkets. They can’t force suppliers to use certain transport or other services. They can’t force suppliers to pay for their own business costs, like transporting goods between stores, merchandising and other things. Prices are higher than they should be, and competition will enable them to come down.”

The new grocery code of good conduct for supermarkets requires them to act in good faith with suppliers and pay them on time to have plain English supply contracts. It bans retrospective contract changes. Breaches of the code will result in fines up to $3 million or three per cent of turnover, whichever is the greater.

However, when Horticulture New Zealand hosted a workshop with fruit and veggie growers earlier this year, they heard that most primary producers work through an intermediary, meaning they are not protected by the new code.

The other major business under scrutiny by rural advocates right now is banking. A Federated Farmers survey indicates farmers are feeling excessive pressure from their banks, and satisfaction with their banks is at a record low. Interest rates far in excess of those that have struck the residential lending sector are cited as a key driver of this dissatisfaction.

“The banks seem to be charging far higher interest rates for farm lending than for home loans, which is raising eyebrows in farming households across the country,” says Feds commerce spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

“Farmers are already under huge financial and mental pressure with high costs, falling commodity prices and

extreme weather events. As if that wasn’t bad enough, now they also feel like they’re getting a raw deal from their bank.

“This is exactly why Federated Farmers has been calling on the government to support an independent inquiry into rural banking, so farmers can have confidence the banking systems are operating in a fair and proper way,” McIntyre said.

A new code of conduct will regulate how supermarkets interact with those supplying their goods

by Denise Gunn

Taylor-made to

Taylor Made Gates has serviced rural New Zealand with the manufacture of gates for sheep and cattle yards, hay feeders

a variety of personalised products since 1996.

Based in Takapau, in Central Hawke’s Bay, the family-owned business has a client base stretching from Bluff to Kaitaia. Several orders have also been sent to the Chatham Islands.

Lincon and Julayne Taylor own and manage Taylor Made Gates. In the past couple of years, their two sons, Corbin and Travis Taylor, also joined the business. Julayne said Corbin and Travis have brought new enthusiasm and a variety of new products to the business.

With 12 staff members, the team is constantly looking to improve as well as add to its product lines.

“As the name suggests, we tailor to the customers’ needs and requirements,” said Lincon.

“We are always looking to provide practical solutions. The most rewarding aspect is the repeat business and finding solutions to clients’ needs.”

Julayne said Taylor Made Gates now has a fantastic line of robust and fully insulated dog motels in multiple configurations. The business’s line of portable sheep and cattle yard sets

has expanded to include permanent yard sets.

“Taylor Made Gates now has the ability to offer permanent cattle yard options. From basic lifestyle sets to fully large scale cattle operations, including cattle crushes and load out race options, made to individual requirements,” said Lincon.

“Many of the products have been developed from farmers’ own ideas. We are always keen to work with them and produce exactly what they want.”

Taylor Made Gates offers free delivery in the North Island as far as Auckland with orders of 10 or more gates. “We will also fit in with deliveries where possible as we run our own truck.”

The team at Taylor Made Gates is looking forward to the Central Districts Field Days. “Taylor Made Gates will be looking at 18 years of attendance at the same site O85-O86A, down by the foodcourt,” said Lincon.

“It’s always been a great opportunity to catch up with clients, new and old, and take the opportunity to discuss past and future business.”

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Freight

Taylor Made Gates has expanded its product line to include permanent yard sets

by Denise Gunn

After a few years of uncertainty following Covid-19

is looking ahead to 2024.

Surfatex 2019 Ltd is a franchised applicator for the Acraflex Hi-Build Dairy Wall Coating system, designed for shed hygiene and ease of cleaning. The system is extremely hard-wearing and resistant to acids and alkalis used in the dairy industry, allowing dirt and grime to be easily washed from the glazed finish.

Glen Sinclair purchased Surfatex in November 2019 and was gearing up to exhibit at the Central Districts Field Days in 2020. However, New Zealand went into lockdown the week before the event, which was cancelled.

Since purchasing the business, Glen and his team have applied Dairy Wall Coating Acraflex to many cowsheds, including a couple of double rotary configurations, and walls of shower blocks. The team also repairs a lot of exposed aggregates, pitting and cracks in milk and plant rooms.

“In 2021, we were able to exhibit at the Central Districts Field Days, and we got a lot of enquiries. These were mostly around crack sealing and exposed aggregate in milk rooms and yards. Then 2022 saw another lockdown, and the Central Districts Field Days were cancelled again.

The Surfatex team will be at site O-14 during this year’s Central Districts Field Days

“Last year, we finally saw the year pan out as we expected with a few small jobs at the start of the year, then preparing and exhibiting at the Central Districts Field Days where we picked up numerous enquiries.”

In June, as dairy farmers were starting to dry off, the Surfatex team was extra busy.

“We were mainly applying our franchised product — the Acraflex Dairy Wall Coating. Due to it consisting of five coats (not counting the two fleck coats) and the drying time between coats, Acraflex Dairy Wall Coating takes a few

days to apply. I like to programme in a week for most jobs.”

Glen said last year, he saw an increase in requests for resin and aggregate for sealing cracks and anti-slip coatings.

“In one new shed, we have placed yellow anti-slip on the nosing of the steps, which looks great.

“With a new government in control and promising to reduce farm regulation and workload, Surfatex 2019 Limited looks forward to seeing lots of happy faces at the 2024 Central District Field Days and visiting our site O-14.”

IMPACT OFF ROAD GROUP

Range on display at field days

The team at TRC Tractors are looking forward to the Central District Field Days coming up in March on the 14, 15, and 16 — we hope to see you there.

The field days provide us with a great chance to catch up with a large amount of our customer base. It’s always good to see everyone, current and potential customers.

This event also gives us the chance to showcase all the great products we have to offer the market. You will be able to view a full range of Massey Ferguson tractors from the smaller horsepower GC1723 suitable for the lifestyler through to the big 280HP MF 8S.

We will have a range of Valtra tractors from Finland. This brand is certainly growing in popularity as a great-priced machine with all the bells and whistles. Another feature of our site this year is the range of Stewart Trailers we import from Scotland.

The versatile NZ5500 has been designed with the NZ farmer and contractor in mind. To top it all off there will be a big reveal of a tractor that is new to the NZ Market. So be sure to call into our site C25–C27 to see what it is.

We will also have a great range of merchandise on-site available for purchase, featuring our very own TRC Tractors hi-vis range of hoodies, T-shirts and singlets.

Central District Field Days is a great local event. Make sure you get along and support the event, and check out what local businesses are there.

TRC Tractors on-site at 2023 CD Field Days

An eco-friendly heart

Green Built Transportable Homes is a small Manawatu-based family company that builds sustainable structures tailored to your needs.

Beginning in 2023, owner Braedon Filleul brought his vision to construct sustainable homes to life. Customers can select from 12 pre-drawn house plans with one to four bedrooms or customise a plan to suit their needs in an ecofriendly way.

Clients can be assured that the final product is high quality and sustainable at an affordable cost. The new build suits various needs from a first home to an office or bach. Once the plans have been chosen, the structure will be built by local tradespeople at an off-site facility in Palmerston North to decrease the construction’s environmental impact.

The team prides itself on being innovative and efficient. With solar panel options for clients who desire to live sustainably, electricity bills will decline and energy independence found.

The housing journey begins with a consultation with one of the team to discuss budgets, needs and desires. The consultant can provide you with suggestions and recommendations. The next step is the design stage. Floor plans and a 3D representation are rendered to showcase what the house will look like.

After approving the blueprints and making a deposit, the trades team get to work by securing permits and beginning

Green Built Transportable Homes offers clients a custom-made experience to suit their requirements construction. As the process continues, they maintain communication with the client with progress updates.

Customer satisfaction is important to Green Built Transportable Homes, so a final inspection is made before delivering the structure to the site. The company also offers post-installation

support, ensuring clients are happy with the final product. Any issues are resolved promptly.

For more information, visit greenbuilthomes.co.nz or call 0508 473 362. Free quotes are provided on the website so clients can design their sustainable dream homes.

Fun delivered direct to you

Go Karts Direct is an exclusive importer and distributor of go-karts for the New Zealand market and has been operating since 2005.

Having established a reputation for quality drift go-karts, the Drifta brand has been developed with 10 different models, including single-seater and double-seater karts.

Fun for all ages, our single-seater Drifta karts are ideal for lifestyle blocks, farms, orchards, paddocks, fields and reserves. They are safe and easy to operate, having a low centre of gravity — their design enables them to drift rather than roll.

They are a great way to learn driving skills, gain confidence and have lots of fun!

The team at Go Karts Direct pride themselves on offering friendly and professional service, with backup support and technical advice. Our full range of spare parts is also ideal for building your own kart or other DIY projects.

The go-karts come pre-assembled in a box, and we can freight to main centres anywhere in New Zealand.

markups, we pass the savings on to our customers.

For more information, photos and video please visit gokartsdirect.co.nz.

Go Karts Direct offers affordable products without the overheads passing savings on to its customers We offer affordable products, so children and adults can have hours of enjoyment and outdoor fun. By eliminating high overheads and retail

Warm,

Greenhaven Homes builds premium-quality, energy-efficient and architecturally designed transportable homes.

Based in Levin, Greenhaven Homes is owned by husband and wife team, Todd and Natalie Strode-Penny, who are passionate about reducing the industry’s impact on the environment.

They are focussed on energy efficiency, recycling, minimising waste and reducing their carbon footprint. With 27 years in residential and commercial construction, Todd brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Natalie works with clients during the construction phase to meet their specific build and interior design needs.

Greenhaven Homes offers purposebuilt transportable homes for delivery throughout the Central and Lower North Island. Three home types are available — Greenhaven, Revolution and Lifestyle Homes.

“Our homes are suited to various scenarios. These include primary homes, investment properties, second homes on a large section for parents with older children and more specifically to the rural world, which could be moved on to the site for staff accommodation,” says Todd.

“Our many home sizes include a smaller 50m² home (not a tiny home) that doesn’t require resource consent. We offer a turn-key service, meaning it leaves our yard with a Code of Compliance, and we can help with the stage two consent.”

Housing options have a fixed price, allowing buyers to be reassured where their money is going without

any surprise costs. Further savings are gained once the structure is built as these homes are cheaper to heat. The homes have a contemporary design and are engineered to be sustainable. The design captures natural lighting to brighten rooms — decreasing lighting expenses.

“We have just completed our purposebuilt undercover building facility. Set over 2,500sqm, this space is in line with

global standards of pre-manufacture. It provides us with the benefits of reduced building times, cost benefits, enhanced monitoring of quality and efficiencies in material use.

“The benefit to our customers is, of course, that their house build and build times are not weather dependent.

“The three home types have various budget entry points and specifications,

and all follow strict codes of compliance with a focus on sustainability.”

The full-time professional trades team is carefully selected, reliable and fully qualified to ensure the highest standards in every build. Clients can expect a personal experience with one-on-one planning when designing a sustainable living space for themselves or their tenants.

Credit:

Todd Strode-Penny with some delighted Greenhaven Homes clients who just had their house delivered

High-quality feed and storage solutions

Central Silo Systems Ltd specialise in the design, supply, installation and service of grain storage, grain handling, feed milling/mixing and animal feed systems.

As direct importers of high-quality grain silos, grain handling equipment, feed milling equipment, and pork and poultry equipment, Central Silo Systems offer reliable experience for the New Zealand market.

“We have our own manufacturing workshop, warehouse and yard for bespoke solutions, and we offer

preventative maintenance and urgent breakdown service for all in-shed feed systems,” said CEO Bernie Curry. “No matter who supplied and installed it, we can service it.”

The family-owned Manawatubased business has delivered tried and proven results for more than 45 years with reputable installers and service technicians located throughout New Zealand.

“We now offer an additional HIAB service to provide delivery, lifting and relocation services based out of Longburn.”

Central Silo Systems stock the European Quality Skiold Disc Mill, which is the highest-selling mill available on the New Zealand market. Managing director Sean Curry said there are many benefits to having an on-farm feed mill.

“From reducing feed costs per tonne, it allows you to produce the highest quality feed fresh every day. You can easily change recipes and add minerals depending on seasonal or nutritional requirements. Our customers advise us of the ongoing animal health benefits associated with having their own feed mill and using a Skiold Disc Mill.

“The Skiold Disc Mill can mill multiple types of grains with ease. They have low power consumption per tonne, low noise and are user-friendly. It has been designed for longevity.”

“We take pride in the fact most of our work is from customer referrals. We do

not just sell our products, but we install and service what we sell, which in return gives us great ongoing customer relationships,” said Bernie and Sean.

During the Central Districts Field Days, Central Silo Systems is holding a promotional draw for a mystery weekend away for two people. To go in the draw, field days visitors can sign up for a scheduled preventive maintenance service or a new in-shed feed system,

at Central Silo Systems site numbers S3 and S4, near the main entrance.

Winners will be drawn on Monday, May 27. Terms and conditions apply. For more information about grain storage silos, grain handling equipment, dairy in-shed feed systems, on-farm feed mills, poultry/pig equipment or service and maintenance, call 0800 feed systems (0800 333 379) or visit centralsilosystems.co.nz.

Central Silo Systems Ltd specialise in feed systems, feed mills and grain storage solutions

by Denise Gunn

Carving a career in the meat industry

A1 Meat Processors owner/operator Lee Cook has decades of experience in the meat industry, working as a meat inspector and operating his own butcher shop.

With the growth of the business, Lee employed another butcher, Kym Whale, last year. Kym has 20 years of experience in the trade, previously managing a small goods factory at AE Preston in Wellington. He also worked in the butchery department at Pak’nSave.

“He basically manages the flow of the work going through,” said Lee. “Kym has a lot of experience making salami, Kranski sausages and things like that.”

The purchase of a $30,000 chiller, which is now installed in the back of the butcher’s shop, is making a huge difference to the business.

“I can now hang up 15 beef at a time, and it makes the whole flow of the business work better.”

A1 Meat Processors has a new slaughterman on board, too. “He’s an independent contractor, and brings beef in for me and we load them into the chiller.

“I’m just in the middle of purchasing a vacuum packer, so will soon offer that service to people.”

A1 Meat Processors is located on Lee’s Milson Line property, just outside of the Palmerston North city boundary. Lee said customers usually come in and have a look around. “We have a

“The purchase of a $30,000 chiller is making a huge difference.”

consultation on what they want and how they like it. I get it done, and I give them a ring, and then they come and pick it up. We offer a full slaughtering service, including pigs.”

An interest towards hunting wild game was cultivated from a young age, growing up on his parents’ sheep, beef and deer farm in the central North Island.

“We specialise in most local deer species and do wild bacon from wild pigs.

If required, Lee has access to technical advice. A1 Meat Processors is open Monday to Friday, from 8am–5pm.

“I can see people by appointment on weekends, especially game hunters who shoot their deer and put them in the chiller straight away.”

For further enquiries, phone Lee on 027 416 9006.

Lee Cook operates A1 Meat Processors from his Milson Line property, just outside the city boundary

by Denise Gunn

The locally owned and operated business is an accredited installer of Daikin heat pumps and air conditioning units. Obligation-free home visits and quotes are available to assist with product selection that best suits individual requirements.

APB Electrical owner/manager Andrew Boustridge runs the awardwinning business alongside his wife, Dianna. He said heat pumps and air conditioning units are extremely cost-effective.

“We are in changing times and willing to make a deal or two. We want people to come and see us. Let us make people’s lives more comfortable.”

Andrew has been involved in the refrigeration and electrical industry for more than three decades. He established APB Electrical in 2008, growing the team to 15.

“The company has a wealth of experience. We do a lot of training with staff and have our fair share of apprentices. We are about upskilling staff and delivering quality services to the customers.

“We strongly believe that one person can’t do everything, so we like to empower our staff with information and training. They can enter into people’s houses with the most up-to-date information we can give them.”

The APB Electrical team covers a range of domestic electrical work with

reliable, honest and friendly service, adding a personal touch to the business.

“It’s a personal thing going to someone’s house and fundamentally changing their environment. It’s quite a crucial job,” said Andrew.

Servicing the wider Manawatu and Whanganui area, Rangitikei and Horowhenua, APB Electrical

provides a comprehensive range of general electrical work, cooling and ventilation systems.

APB Electrical’s showroom at 7 Gladstone Street, Feilding, offers

clients the opportunity to visit, view and touch a range of products. Help is on hand for product demonstrations and advice.

“We are quite a diverse business and very adaptable,” said Andrew.

Phone APB Electrical on 0800 272 363 or email sales@apbelectrical.co.nz.

APB Electrical owner/manager Andrew Boustridge runs the business alongside his wife Dianne

You won’t find us at Field Days this year, but you can visit our showroom at 7 MacArthur Street in the heart of Friendly Feilding!

W e ' r e p r o u d t o s e r v i c e :

F e i l d i n g ,

B u l l s ,

M a r t o n ,

H u n t e r v i l l e ,

T a i h a p e ,

W a i o u r u

a n d e v e r y c o m m u n i t y i n b e t w e e n

Feilding@flooringxtra co nz

06-323-3193

feildingflooringxtra flooringxtrafeilding

t o t h e f l o o r

At Feilding Flooring Xtra, we are delighted to share our genuine passion for wool carpets with you Our boss man Murray, was a local shearer for 30 years Five years ago, he stepped out of the sheds and onto the shop floor to share his passion for the wool industry in a different form!

Discover a curated selection of over 40 ranges of wool carpet in our showroom; perfect for those seeking comfort, style, and inspiration

You will travel in style with everything included - dining in typical restaurants, tasting delicious wines, relaxing in high quality accommodation in historic centres, Tuscan countryside and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea,

“The Boss Man”

Advanced skills in panel and paint

by Denise Gunn

Since establishing Advanced Panel and Paint in 2005, the team has put in the hard yards, earning a reputation for top-quality repairs and great workmanship.

Owner/managers Mark Neilson and Brent Tinetti originally set up the business in Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North. The pair worked together in the automotive industry for many years before deciding to form Advanced Panel and Paint.

In 2015, the decision was made to move to the current premises at 465 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North. These premises provide more space with a larger workshop and bigger yard, ensuring faster turnaround and coping with an ever-increasing volume of work.

Although specialising in repairing and painting heavy machinery, the team also provides the same exceptional service to all types of vehicles. The team’s highly skilled repair work also goes hand-in-hand with great, friendly customer service.

“We do it all, from the small jobs to the big jobs and anything in between. No job is too big or too small for our talented staff. All our work is guaranteed,” said Mark.

A team of 14 take care of clients’ requirements. “We have five panelbeaters, seven painters, one workshop assistant and the office extraordinaire.”

Continually upskilling staff is a priority, too. Individuals attend courses through I-CAR New Zealand to learn the latest developments in automobile collision repairs. Local paint companies also provide on-site training.

“With many changes in the automotive panel and paint industry, it’s good to stay on top of it,” said Brent.

In addition to upskilling the current team, there are plans to employ more experienced staff members. Advanced Panel and Paint is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm and Saturdays between 8am and noon.

Phone 06 356 7191 to discuss all your machinery and vehicle panel and paint requirements. Free quotes are available.

Do I need extra magnesium? (Part one)

by John Arts

Magnesium is one of my most frequently prescribed supplements; this is because magnesium is used in multiple enzymes and affects most tissue types.

In particular, it relaxes both nerves and blood vessels. Relaxing nerves is helpful for sleep and restless legs while relaxing blood vessels helps with lowering blood pressure and helping circulation.

Magnesium is involved in numerous body processes and can help problems in different tissue types and body systems, especially muscles. I recommend it for cramps, restless legs, PMS, hypertension and heart rhythm problems. I usually recommend that magnesium be taken 30–60 minutes in bed for maximum impact on muscles and nerves and to help with sleep. If taken for hypertension — daytime and evening dose is recommended.

I have many clients now largely free of night cramps and restless legs. In stubborn cases, I also add a multi-mineral/antioxidant complex to help with nighttime circulation and improve muscle function. It is rare that we cannot get improvements with these problems that can significantly disrupt our sleep.

Unfortunately, many magnesium supplements have just one form of

magnesium and are one a day, making dose experimentation almost impossible. In my experience, the required dosage differs a lot between people with similar problems. Additionally, many supplements use cheaper, low-grade ingredients, which are harsh on the digestive tract.

I prefer to use three different forms of magnesium. While this makes manufacturing more expensive, each form of magnesium is absorbed differently. I combine bioavailable marine (seaweed) sourced magnesium with amino acid chelated magnesium diglycinate with magnesium citrate. I deliberately formulated the capsules to have a dosage range. Normally two capsules before bed will suffice, but short-term doses of four capsules can be used. Please contact me for personalised advice.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

What is Magnesium Triple?

This is a blend of 3 highly bioavailable forms of Magnesium for rapid absorption and better results.

• Marine magnesium 121 mg

• Magnesium Glycinate 240 mg

• Magnesium Citrate 258 mg

get rapid benefits

• It is ideal to help relax sore or tight muscles

• Can help with restful sleep

•

• Helps muscles recover after exercise

• Supports healthy heart rhythm

ADVERTORIAL

Advanced Panel and Paint is based at 465 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North

Strautmann Hopkins

The business of agricultural machinery runs deep in the veins of the Hopkins family, a name that has been synonymous with the Strautmann brand in New Zealand for over 40 years.

As the machinery brand’s profile has continued to grow in New Zealand, so too, has the Hopkins family’s passion and commitment, with the third generation now involved in the business.

Conor Hopkins is the grandson of the late John Hopkins and has joined his father Ian as the newest face in the continuously evolving business. He completed his Agri Commerce degree at Massey University and is now the national parts manager and technical support for the company.

With three seasons under his belt, working for an agricultural contractor, and driving Strautmann Loader wagons, Conor has also travelled to Australia and Europe where he spent some months driving machinery for seeding and cotton harvesting and working for a large straw baling company in the UK.

“I do have a deep passion for the brand; it was a bit of a childhood dream. I grew up watching the Strautmann wagons being used on our family farms and then driving them myself just like my father and uncles.”

Other Facts

• Direct importer of all Strautmann machines and attachments into NZ

• Focus is on loader wagons, mixer wagons and muck spreaders

“I do have a deep passion for the brand; it was a bit of a childhood dream.”

• Head office, importation, assembly, national parts distribution and main workshop in Palmerston North

• Service and support of our Strautmann clients is personalised and second-to-none in the country Why buy a Strautmann machine from us?

• Proven track record, top-quality product, tested and well-suited to New Zealand conditions

• Strong after-sales support, service and parts backup

• Committed family business

• Only supplier that offers a full refurbishment service for all machines

• Dedicated dealerships throughout New Zealand

Conor Hopkins, national parts and technical support manager

Winner of multiple National Fieldays Invention Awards

The Patented TerraTrencher is a dedicated Portable Power Mini Trencher that provides quick, easy,

when

Celebrating sports that built our nation

Every March, rural athletes from across the country gather in Palmerston North for a three-day extravaganza of sports that helped build our nation — the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games.

From sheep dog trials and woodchopping to gumboot and axe throwing, this exciting, free event has something for everyone.

On Friday, students from the region test their food and fibre sector skills in the Agri Futures Clash of the Colleges. At the same time, it’ll be loud and fast as with the Stihl New Zealand Men’s Timbersports championships.

Saturday features the Women’s and Rookie Timbersports Championships, the strong men of speed fencing, gumboot throwing, egg throw and catch and the NZ secondary school shearing championships.

On Sunday, the action continues with the Golden Loader Forestry championship, traditional coal shovelling and expertly skilled speed tree climbing. The big Highland Heavy boys battle it out in the afternoon while NZ’s fastest shearers compete against the clock, and young farmers take each other on in the man and mutt race.

For Saturday and Sunday, you can join the Have a Go sessions for gumboot and cowpat throwing, gearing up a standardbred horse, coal shovelling and egg roulette.

“Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games is back again this year in Palmerston North.”

For the under-12s, there’s tree climbing, miniature pony karts and digger rides. The incredible team from Kelly Sports runs Kids’ n Country’s various games, from tug-o-war and haybale races to footy and face painting.

Entry is free, and busses in Ashhurst, Feilding, and Palmy will be free all weekend, and gold-coin parking will be on Railway Reserve — help us raise funds for Palmerston North Hospital’s renal unit.

When: 8–10 March 2024. Where: The Square, Palmerston North. More info: ruralgames.co.nz.

Phillip Cockery OWNER

Further expansion for AllRoad Adventure

by Denise Gunn

From early beginnings as a side project six years ago, AllRoad Adventure has developed into a fully-fledged business.

Company director/owner Alex Toye has a background as a mechanic in the automotive industry. He said the business, which he started in his garage at home, soon grew to become a fulltime job on its own.

In October 2021, AllRoad Adventure moved to its current location at 14 Malden Street, Palmerston North.

Alongside specialising in fabricating custom trailers to suit customers’ requirements, AllRoad Adventure also imports a range of standardsize trailers which are assembled onsite in the Malden Street workshop and showroom.

“Some of our custom work includes trailers for side-by-sides and car transporters,” said Alex.

“We also stock a range of dirt bikes, quad bikes and go-karts. More recently, we have expanded this side of our business, taking on the Royal Enfield, Benelli and Segway dealerships for the Manawatu. We run this out of the same premises.”

Alex said taking on the new motorcycle brands is a real highlight for the business. The team at AllRoad Adventure knows the products well and is able to help customers find the correct products for their needs.

“We have six team members currently. My wife Louise and I have been running the company for six years. We both manage all the day-to-day running of the business.

“We have three staff, Corban, Tom and Jared, in the workshop, who fabricate our custom-built trailers. My background as a mechanic for nine years, along with Corban’s passion for motors, carries out all the servicing needs in the motorcycle side of the workshop.

“Henry is our salesman, focussing on helping people find the best motorcycle or trailer for their needs.”

Last year, the team showcased their New Zealand-made and imported trailers at the Central Districts Field Days. Alex said this was an ideal opportunity for AllRoad Adventure to gain further recognition.

“We aim to have affordable price points while still delivering quality products.”

Among the short-term plans for the business is new, purpose-built premises to be constructed further down Malden Street. AllRoad Adventure is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays, from 9am to noon. The team will be at the Central Districts Field Days sites 0-53–0-55.

AllRoad Adventure specialises in fabricating custom trailers to suit customers’ requirements and also imports a range of standard-size trailers, which are assembled on-site

027 682 1186

Mark Turton along with his wife Megan, have been servicing the Tararua area for over 35 years with their fencing business.

Wanting to further assist their clients with farm maintenance, eight years ago Mark invented a specialised hydraulic machine to go under woolsheds and remove all the sheep manure. It is a hydraulic-driven rotary hoe system which goes under the shed by itself, digging along the pile line for up to 30 metres. When full, the machine is pulled out and emptied out.

“Underneath the shed is a horrible place to be for obvious reasons, but by using the Clean Sweep machine you don’t have to be amongst it,” says Mark.

The system is highly versatile, being able to be used for any type of woolshed. It will even handle the lowest of sheds. The Clean Sweep machine is also ideal for cleaning the hard count-out pens, and by using the Kanga and bucket set-up they can clear away deposits on the undercovered yards.

Moreover, because the bulk of the work is being done automatically from outside the shed, it is not labourintensive, so is fast and cost-effective.

It is important for woolsheds to be clean, Mark points out. “It creates a

“The work is being done automatically from outside the shed, it is fast and cost-effective but not labour-intensive.”

healthy space on many levels. The sheep have good airflow if penned overnight, and they dry faster.

“It also decreases wool staining, and most important of all, it reduces the ammonia smell which the shearers will appreciate.”

They have a great team, consisting of Sean and Tarns who do a fantastic job. They rock up to the site, with the equipment loaded on to the trailer, quickly unload and are into the task.

As there is a huge variety of woolsheds around, each farm is visited first, and a no-obligation quote is given.

If you have not cleaned out under your woolshed, count-out pens or covered yards for a while, give Mark a call at 027 682 1186 or email markturton@ xtra.co.nz. You can even visit our website cleansweepwoolsheds.nz.

Mark and Megan from Clean Sweep Woolsheds

Ultimate self-storage solutions

Royal Wolf’s Palmerston North Self Storage facility offers a secure and affordable storage solution for all your needs.

Royal Wolf provides storage solutions for clients’ needs

Our friendly staff will help you assess your needs and take the stress out of your storage problems. Royal Wolf Self Storage facilities offer a great alternative to traditional self-storage companies with a convenient location, strong and secure units and highly competitive rates.

Royal Wolf Palmerston North’s Self-Storage facility offers a range of covered and uncovered storage options. A 20ft storage option,

when fully loaded, is equivalent to a standard three-bedroom house with a single lounge.

Storage sizes available

• 20ft Wolf Lock

• 20ft Refrigerated storage

Features

• Security gate with PIN code access

• 24/7 access with PIN code entry/exit

• Camera security

• Wolf Lock containers with a tri-locking system for added security

Take advantage of our current promotion

Hire a self-storage container with Royal Wolf in Palmerston North and get the first six months for $99 — plus damage waiver and bond, plus GST. Where to nd us

We’re located at 27 El Prado Drive, Milson, Palmerston North. Look for our shared driveway at the end of AB Equipment’s depot on El Prado Drive.

For the best service and options on our products, contact our team at 0800 266 824 or our local Palmerston North branch manager, Chris Gregory, by phoning 027 2045 373 or by emailing cgregory@royalwolf.co.nz. Visit our website at royalwolf.co.nz.

Chem-Dry

Chemdry

PURCHASE DUE DILIGENCE

www.forest360.nz

Helping others grow

Chris and Linda Smith have been running The Grove Supply Co since 2017, stocking specialist gear imported from Europe for growers and producers of fine liquids such as oils or spirits.

“We purchased the grove in April 2012 and created Olives on the Hill to take our newly harvested oil to market. I enjoy everything about the grove. I love watching the trees go through their annual growth phases, watching how the pruning and maintenance makes a difference to the trees and their crop,” said Linda.

“We loved it so much that when an opportunity arose to purchase a company supplying the olive industry, we jumped at the chance. Its existing customers were mostly olive growers in the north, and it offered essential equipment for olive and other fruit growers.”

The Grove Supply Co sells various tools from Spain, Greece, Italy and Slovakia, including deleafing, capping, labelling and filling to customers nationwide.

“Our stainless steel storage vessels (fusti) are the best on the market. We have everything a grower needs to harvest, filter, and store oils or other liquids. We sell to all manner of businesses and individuals around the country, from olive groves to boutique gin distillers, kombucha makers and people wanting to store honey.

quality equipment we provide.”

“Many bulk food shops use our fusti for dispensing oils and other liquids. I love the passion our customers have

Linda said other highlights of owning the Grove Supply Co include helping other growers make the most out of their crops and travelling the country to attend trade shows, grove visits and field days.

“Chris and I strive to be as responsive and helpful as we possibly can. If we don’t

have an item in stock, we’ll do our best to source it and bring it into the country.”

The Grove Supply Co is based in Mangawhai, Northland. To purchase any of their products or for more information — visit theolivegrove.co.nz or olivesonthehill.nz for their olive oil.

Chris and Linda Smith began their supply company after beginning their olive oil business in 2012

Prolan rust protects 52-metre sprayer

Based in the South Island, Greg has an extensive horticultural operation growing all types of vegetables, onions, carrots, beetroot, oats, wheat and barley. As part of his operation, a large agricultural sprayer is used to apply liquid urea, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

Greg made an enquiry to Prolan NZ asking if Prolan Extreme corrosion protection could be used to protect his agricultural gear. This environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor made from lanolin has International NSF food-grade approvals, so it fits perfectly with his horticultural operation.

In July 2023, Chris, the maintenance manager at Lovett Farm, applied a coating of Prolan to the sprayer to coincide with the busy production period. The whole boom of the sprayer was washed down before the application and allowed to dry off. The product was applied using an airless/paint-type sprayer available from retail stores such as Super Cheap or Repco. One litre of Prolan covers 8–10 square metres.

Chris says: “An application of Prolan is an easy process with minimal preparation required on the surface to be coated. The clean-up of the spray

gear was easy, too, with a quick clean of the sprayer with a hot water flush.”

In January 2024, Chris did a quality check on all the gear in the business’s downtime. As part of this, the sprayer boom was checked for cracks and general maintenance was carried out. The Prolan coating was removed to see if there were any problems.

Chris says: “To remove the Prolan Extreme, a hot wash high-pressure washer was applied to the boom. It took about three hours at temperatures above 100C to remove the Prolan coating — the whole process was easy.”

The results speak for themselves, say Chris and Greg, “Unbelievable the boom returned to its original tiptop condition with

no corrosion or parts replacement required. The Prolan remained on the surface; although it became dusty, the protection was there. Chris would recommend a coating to any machinery, even his father’s hedge shelter trimmer blades, for easy maintenance and protection.”

Going forward, the team at Lovett Farms will be following a process of applying a Prolan coating to machinery and equipment in the business downtime and then removing and recoating once a year. That ensures any problems are detected early, prevents parts replacement and the assets retain a very good resale value.

Prolan Extreme natural environmentally friendly rust protection, safe on the user, easy to apply and protects assets long-term.

With

Agrifac sprayer

by Andy Bryenton

In a Claas of its own

In sports, a hat trick of three wins is a rare and prestigious achievement, but it’s even more so in the world of technical design, where major agricultural manufacturers compete with multi-million-dollar research budgets.

The triple crown of accolades for any tractor encompasses three awards.

Firstly, the Tractor of the Year award from Europe’s immense Agritechnica.

Secondly, the Farm Machine of the Year award was decided by the discerning judges of the German Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag council of farming experts. Finally, the US-based AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

To claim one of these is a careerdefining victory. To claim all three takes a very special machine indeed. This year, all these top awards went to a single tractor, the Claas Xerion 12 series.

“We are delighted about the renowned AE50 Award for our new Xerion 12 series,” said senior vice president of Product Unit System Tractors Dr Johannes Weisbrodt.

“After two high-ranking awards at Agritechnica, this award is another great confirmation of our Xerion development team and its years of work, and underlines the innovative approach of the series with numerous features that are unique in this performance class.”

That

is undoubtedly heavyweight. The big Xerion has been designed from the ground up to handle the biggest tasks in farming, deployed with either the largest dual tyres available or four tank-like crawler tracks. Spreading the machine’s weight eases the impact on soil and increases the ability of the Xerion to bring its impressive 653 horsepower to bear. There’s also 3,100 Nm of torque on tap, making the Xerion 12 Series a real contender when deploying large, power-intensive implements.

That extreme load capacity is supplemented by an innovative and very strong frame and the inclusion of twin steering axles. This form of steering makes the imposing size of the Xerion 12 surprisingly nimble, and able to navigate tight turns, even when partnered up with very big implements indeed.

‘Despite the immense power and the huge dimensions, the Xerion is, thanks to the latest generation of the continuously variable CMATIC transmission with four mechanical areas, a very easy-to-use system,’ said the Agritechnica judges in their report.

Add to the mix smart, self-learning driver assists, good fuel economy, and even the potential for full automation via Claas Connect, and it’s easy to see why this impressively sized beast of the pasturelands made the grade for a triple gold.

06

The Claas Xerion 12 Series has taken home three of the top awards in global farming

class

by Denise Gunn

Earthworks and excavation

The team at Rush Excavation specialise in all excavation and earthworks requirements, ensuring the job is done smoothly and efficiently.

Owner/manager Darryl Rush has been involved in the excavation industry his entire working life. His father Owen, established the business in the early 1980s. Darryl joined him in 1985, learning the trade and gaining valuable experience on the job.

In 2011, Darryl and his wife, Yvette, bought the business and employed a small professional team of machinery operators and truck drivers.

“We also have a certifying plumber in the team which is a real bonus,” said Yvette.

“Our team has a wealth of experience, good work ethics, is reliable and communicates well with other people.”

Centrally located in Feilding, Rush Excavation mostly covers the Manawat�, Horowhenua and Rangit�kei. “That said, the team often ventures to other areas when required.”

Rush Excavation carts all grades of metal from a variety of suppliers and has a supply of topsoil, both screened and unscreened.

“We specialise in anything excavation or earthworks. We are all-rounders really. There is always work on farms, clearing dams, farm tracks, drainage, Novaflo drains and metal extraction.

Rush Excavation also digs out site works for houses, driveways and shed sites. “We also do a lot of vehicle crossings, both rural and residential.”

Darryl and Yvette endeavour to ensure each job runs as easily as possible for clients.

“If they need other contractors or services, we are happy to coordinate those on their behalf. If it is vehicle crossings that need paperwork submitted to the council, traffic management plans etc, we can do these on our clients’ behalf. We just try and take away the unknown, and keep it simple.

“The team likes to finish a job tidily and is then able to walk away, knowing they’ve done a good job for people, and they are happy with it.”

When he’s not working, Darryl has a keen interest in off-road racing. “He is

no longer racing but is a member of the Palmerston North Off-road Racing Club. They hold events at the Rush Excavation Off-road Racing Park on Kawakawa Road, Feilding.

“He has spent many hours on a digger, shaping up the track corners and creating jumps to keep the drivers

challenged. Perhaps one day, when time permits, he’ll get back in the driver’s seat.”

Contact Rush Excavation on 06 323 9444, Darryl on 027 448 4657, or email info@rushexcavation. co.nz for all excavation and earthworks enquiries.

Rush Excavation employs a small professional team of machinery operators and truck drivers

by Andy Bryenton

Electric orchard evolution

Alongside the coveted title of tractor of the year for 2024 sits a more specialised category, set aside for machines with a more focussed approach.

This year, the Fendt e107 Vario made it onto the shortlist for this category. Some opine that it only missed out on the top spot due to winning another very important accolade at Europe’s gigantic Agritechnica festival and show, the title of Sustainable Tractor of the Year.

Slim and able to manoeuvre between the tight rows and close-packed trees of commercial orchards dealing in highvalue crops, the new Fendt is remarkable since it’s entirely electric. A 45-minute charge will give this machine a runtime of approximately four hours, putting in the hard yards with a top speed of 40km/h and 90 horsepower on tap.

There’s no compromise on versatility, as the e107 V can utilise all of Fendt’s existing suite of implements, through a front and rear PTO system that works just like those on a diesel tractor. To keep slim and fit between the rows in vineyards, the Fendt is only 1.07 metres wide, running on specially designed Trelleborg tyres with low rolling resistance and maximum grip in a tight corner.

“Lead engineer Christoph Mayer and his team have developed a sustainable and practical tractor,” said Fendt research

and development managing director Walter Wagner.

“The challenge lies in the right overall package of dimensions, weight and performance. Charged with green electricity, it is CO� neutral and has numerous functions for particularly efficient use of energy.”

The international jury agreed, lauding that this is the first specialist orchard and vine tractor to market, which is fully electric. However, green credentials aside, the jurors were also impressed by the comfort and space of the Fendt’s cab, which allows for greater all-around visibility thanks to a lack of an exhaust stack. There’s more room inside for the operator, a big concern in tractors with the narrow profile needed in tight conditions, thanks to the battery infrastructure being placed down low on the frame and a lack of diesel engine components up top.

Fendt may have missed out on taking home two awards, as the Landini Rex 4-120 GT RoboShift Dynamic took home the gold for specialised tractors in 2024. However, to win the eco-tractor crown with a whole new type of machine and

yet still challenge more than 100 years of internal combustion dominance by making the shortlist for the specialised

category speaks volumes about just how much thought and technology Fendt has packed into its e107 V.

Fendt’s e107 V picked up the Sustainable Tractor of the Year award, while still making the shortlist for its orchard and vineyard focus

by Andy Bryenton

consent and environmental protection

farmers are still cautious about how

Work began within the coalition’s first 100 days to do away with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, or NPS-FM.

This contentious piece of policy, released in September 2020, was roundly criticised by farming advocacy groups as they began to see the regulations and restrictions regional councils were proposing to enact to comply with the then-government’s direction.

In the last parliamentary week before Christmas, Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced that the NPS for Freshwater Management was scrapped.

“The existing NPS-FM has become extremely complex and expensive to implement and will not deliver the outcomes for freshwater that New Zealanders expect,” said Ms Simmonds.

“We are announcing that work on the NPS-FM replacement will start immediately,” said Mr Hoggard. “This process is expected to take between 18 and 24 months and will include a robust and full consultation process.”

That consultation and implementation of feedback from it was what farming groups perceived to be lacking from the former government’s plans. Mr Hoggard was at the centre of this debate, as at the time he served as Federated Farmers president. Now, some of the Federated Farmers leadership say that a two-year wait for certainty is two years too long. That is partly because regional councils are still in the process of tailoring local rules to fit the already-cancelled NPS.

“This feels less than ideal,” said Feds vice-president Colin Hurst, speaking just after the announcement of the policy statement’s cancellation.

“Simply pushing out the dates for implementation probably won’t be enough to have councils stop work on this because the National Policy Statement requires councils to give effect to the regulations ‘as soon as practicable’.”

Others in the rural sector agreed, opining that 24 months in limbo could cause bureaucratic confusion.

“The most important thing is that the regional policy processes to give effect to the existing legislation must stop,” said Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland.

“Farmers need certainty and if those regional processes don’t stop, further measures will be needed to achieve that.”

Opposition to the cancellation of the NPS-FM has come from a group of 50 prominent scientists, who lobbied the prime minister to retain freshwater protections.

‘To remove, replace or rewrite our country’s national freshwater policy at this time, so soon after it has been brought in, would be a terrible mistake,’ they stated in a letter to Chris Luxon on December 18.

by Liz Clark

Planting the waterways

Nationwide, the debate over whether or not the fencing and planting of waterways has been a hot topic for several years.

With ever-increasing environmental regulations imposed on farmers, the benefits of planting waterways and wetlands outweigh the loss in productivity overall. Using natives locally sourced from your region is a far better option than attempting to plant with exotics, which may block up the waterway as they mature.

Planted streams, lakes, dams and wetlands have the potential to provide spawning habitats for native fish, such as īnanga, and vegetative cover for native birds and beneficial pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and other insects. Natives also filter sediment and nitrogen from exposed pastures and stabilise erosion-prone areas. At the same time, riparian zone plantings also improve and maintain water quality.

Once established, riparian plants shade the water and lower its temperature, providing stability for native fish, eels and koura that may be inhabiting the ecosystem. The shade also helps prevent the rapid growth of unwanted aquatic weeds and algae, which can clog the flow and deplete the water of oxygen. Free-flowing water increases oxygen diffusion. During dry periods, water will be conserved for far longer periods if shaded.

In mature plantings, if time is taken to look carefully, there will be a noticeable increase in species biodiversity where

each species has a role in the food web connected to the aquatic ecosystem. In turn, each species benefits the other and the plants on the water’s edges. They also take advantage of the shelter provided by the plant roots to avoid other predators or for use during the day if they are nocturnal.

As with forest habitat, riparian areas have what is known as zones. The upper zone only

floods sometimes. Drought-tolerant plants such as broadleaf, tōtara, pōhutakawa and kōwhai are an excellent choice for this area. For the middle zone, plant swamp flax (Phormium tenax), cabbage trees, toetoe, kānuka and mānuka. Then, in the low zone, where it will get flooded, native sedges and rushes, including raupō, are the best species to plant in this area.

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Native fish, such as īnanga, benefit greatly from riparian planting

Meeting garden and landscaping needs

by Denise Gunn

Natural Bark and Compost has been supplying a range of garden and landscaping products throughout the lower North Island since 1997.

The one-stop garden and landscaping supply business, centrally located at 128 State Highway One, just north of Foxton, has customers’ horticultural requirements covered.

With years of combined experience, the team at Natural Bark and Compost is dedicated to ensuring customers’ landscaping needs are met. A wide range of top-quality compost, potting and garden mix, pea straw, topsoil, weed matting, stones, pebbles and sand, bark, wood chips and sawdust, are available on-site.

Business owner/manager Paul Dykstra is on hand to recommend the correct product to suit customers’ garden or lawn requirements, too. “We sell a range of products. Our compost is a popular seller,” he said.

The business’s compost is nutrientrich, produced from a mixture of poultry manure and sawdust, ideal for gardens in the Horowhenua, Manawatu and southern Rangitikei regions. It has a pH of seven, which makes it suitable for most soil types. Paul said this organic gardening product both conditions and fertilises the soil.

“Unlike other organic composts, which use green waste, there is zero

risk of introducing unwanted weeds into your garden. Besides optimal plant growth, our aged poultry compost helps plants resist diseases and pests.”

Potting and garden mix is another popular product with a balanced mixture to ensure healthy root structures and optimal plant growth. It can also be ordered online and bought in various quantities by the bagload, trailer or truckload.

Deliveries are made around the lower North Island. Customers are also welcome on-site to view and pick up products. Courtesy trailers are available free of charge.

“We not only deliver to the home gardener but also supply garden nurseries and garden centres in the North Island,” said Paul.

Natural Bark and Compost is open weekdays, from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays, from 9am to 3pm. Visit naturalbark.co.nz or phone 06 363 5236 for enquiries or a free quote for all landscaping requirements.

“We enjoy meeting customers and supplying the product they are looking for.”

Natural

Ready to rock

by Andy Bryenton

The new Volkswagen Amarok ute debuted last year with a reimagining of the German brand’s pickup truck offering, and critics were quick to praise its polished and refined evolution.

“The Volkswagen design team has delivered a practical ute with unique styling and driving traits, which customers will testify,” said Jarlath Sweeney, president and chairman of the prestigious International Pickup Award (IPUA) jury.

“This seventh running of the IPUA sees the new generation Amarok adding to the titles won in 2011 and again in 2017 with the upgraded version,” he said. Sweeney noted that the first and fourth top prizes in

the award’s history also went to previous Amarok iterations.

There’s much to like about the Amarok, which has also added trophies from NZ4WD and Company Vehicle magazine to the VW cabinet. Drivers and award jurors cited the torque and smoothness of the ute’s drivetrain as a deciding factor. There are three engines to choose from, ranging from a two-litre unit boasting 405 Nm through to a twin-turbocharged version of the same delivering and even 500 Nm, and a big three-litre powerplant at the top of the range, generating 600 Nm of torque.

All of this power goes to the ground through a 10-speed shift-by-wire gearbox and Volkswagen’s consummate fourwheel drive technology, 4Motion. What this means in practical terms is excellent grip and the ability to easily tow up to 3,500kg. As one would expect from a modern ute, there’s also a spacious tray and an improved, more spacious cab.

In a world of imitation off-roaders and crossover SUVs, the new Amarok is also notable for its real capabilities when the tarmac runs out.

That aforementioned 4Motion system provides a good start, but other details have been attended to by VW engineers to ensure real off-road acuity. For example, while the wheelbase of the Amarok has

grown by some 10cm, the body overhangs have been pared back to increase the ute’s ability to handle water crossings and big bumps. Chassis strength and ground clearance are up, too.

While other offerings in this very competitive sector are hardly spartan, the Amarok is also notable for its level of comfort.

There’s a high level of electronic assistance and accessories combined to enhance the safety and enjoyment of a drive in VW’s new ute. The brochure claims that there are no less than 30 programs operating to keep you safe when you’re behind the wheel, but critics describe this full suite as unobtrusive. It’s not noticed unless it’s needed, and it’s quite intuitive.

Volkswagen’s Amarok has scooped a bundle of awards for its capabilities and comfort

by Andy Bryenton

Pedigree cat out of the bag

Ford has a long history of creating ST cars, the two letters denoting a sporty, racing-inspired driving experience.

Focus and Fiesta ST models are known for extra power, sharp handling and an overall suite of options designed to put a grin on drivers’ faces. Legendary racer Ken Block had a hand in creating the Focus ST, for example.

It might seem a little odd to give the full ST treatment to Ford’s Puma, the compact and economical little head-turner sitting in their range as the smallest SUV wearing the blue oval. However, those in the know will recall that the Puma badge went racing in the 1990s, attached to a different model and that it was anything but slow.

For the present iteration, Ford has stuck with a hybridised one-litre EcoBoost engine. Its tech wizards have managed to extract 125 kilowatts of power and 200 Nm of torque from this little block. The EcoBoost is award-winning, and for good reason. It’s hard to believe that a single litre of anything, even concentrated rocket fuel, could provide such zip. A paddle-shift seven-speed gearbox smooths out power delivery and adds engagement.

Now, it’s not the more than 300 wild horses you’d find in Ken Block’s Focus, but there’s more to performance than just raw power. The Puma ST has better torsional stiffness, improved handling, a quicker steering rack and bigger brakes. This combo makes for more precise cornering, with everything tuned for a more spirited

deriving feel. As a nice bonus, the hybrid tech deployed here means you’ll have frugal fuel bills.

“The Ford Performance team called on all of its experience developing the original Puma ST to deliver ST signature fun-to-drive without losing the practicality of our compact SUV,” said Ford Performance manager, Europe division, Stefan Muenzinger.

So why this car, and why now? The Puma ST has been out since late last year but now could be its time to shine. That’s due to the looming deadline for electric cars to pay road user charges and the intimation from the government that soon all petrol taxes will be slashed, with RUCs for

all vehicles. In that scenario, a nonplug-in hybrid, which is fun to drive, looks like a very good bet. The Puma ST, therefore, makes sound economic sense, which may help the angel on your right shoulder team up with the devil on your left, who loves how it looks and drives.

by Andy Bryenton

Polaris picked as technology leader

Polaris has won a prestigious award from Popular Science magazine, which each year selects a small number of ground-breaking technologies as its ‘best of what’s new’.

“This award from Popular Science underlines our vehicle’s performance and our unceasing effort to innovate in the offroad industry,” said Polaris vice-president Josh Hermes.

“The Ranger XP Kinetic can also tow up to 2,500 pounds (1,133kg) and haul 1,250 pounds (566kg), which leads the segment and makes life easier for those who rely on UTVs as working machines. Farmers, ranchers, or anyone with a large property can use it as an electric pack mule, and all you have to do to feed it is plug it in,” said the Popular Science panel, which conferred the award.

In this case, the futuristic tech on display was the 110-horsepower Polaris Ranger Kinetic XP. It’s an entirely electric off-roader and is the fruit of a collaboration with Zero Motorcycles. That’s a partnership now a decade deep and is hitting its stride. Customers can pick a model with a 14.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery for 70 kilometres of range, or a heavy-duty 29.8 KWh battery extending that range to 128 kilometres. The Kinetic XP can reach full charge from a normal 240-volt socket in five hours.

The major payoff here is not just in fuel savings or even in the environmental impact of an emissions-free side-byside. Polaris has engineered the Kinetic XP to require far less maintenance than

a comparable petrol-powered machine. That makes a huge difference for those planning to use their off-roader for daily work.

Electric side-by-sides have been seen before, but another advantage which enabled the Polaris to grab the Popular Science title is its immediate torque delivery and seamless, quiet operation.

Many users of similar machines need to haul heavy loads and need precise control when doing so on rough terrain. Special attention has been taken to ensure that the Kinetic XP delivers. As another bonus, no engine noise means it’s perfectly fine to fire up this Polaris before dawn or after dusk. It’s also a godsend around skittish livestock.

Popular Science has been picking top new technologies in this way since 1988, and it is usually not far off the mark, choosing inventions like the mobile phone, the digital camera and the home computer in prior editions. Whether the new Polaris Kinetic XP achieves this kind of iconic status remains to be seen, but being featured this way makes it a notable trailblazer.

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Polaris has taken home a top industry accolade, with its all-electric Ranger being picked as ‘the best of what’s new’ by Popular Science magazine

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