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Farming, family and farmstay Pages 4–5
Protag picks up pace
Winning way with wool
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Pursuing a passion for agriculture
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
HOMES
WA A N A M I A K R FO ED D E E N S E S R HO
The Manawatu Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company. Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Deb Wright 021 639 696 deb.wright@integrity.nz Journalists: Denise Gunn | Ann van Engelen | Andy Bryenton Advertising: Ruth Webb 027 525 9172 Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Anna Fredericksen | Kelsey Hansen | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz
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U BY DENISE G
The Kaimanawa horse is excelling in all types of equestrian disciplines
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aimanawa Heritage Horses (KHH) chairperson Sue Rivers said the breed’s intelligence and highly-engaging natures make them incredibly trainable. “Their sure-footedness and perception of surroundings make them suitable for all equestrian pursuits, with most of them being incredibly talented jumpers. They are loyal and trustworthy, and will try harder than most domestic bred horses at whatever is asked of them.” Applications to adopt a Kaimanawa are now open, providing enough time for references to be checked. Area representatives conduct a home check process, assessing each property the horse is likely to spend time on. Sue said many horses are handled at one property with facilities then moved to the home property. “If there is any work required to ensure a safe arrival for any horse, then instructions are given, and a recheck of any work is done before the application is accepted. Once accepted, the applicant is told and provided with information to help prepare for the arrival of their horse or horses.” Good quality stockyards with a minimum height of 1.8 metres, a safe ramp for unloading and a suitable sized yard to contain the horse while its handling is done are required. “We highly encourage applicants to have a safe paddock adjacent to the yards for the horse to graze in as quickly as possible.” Experienced help is available with a group of area representatives throughout New Zealand, as well as the KHH committee members.
a ’s Kaimanaw With this year st uster fa wild horse m , suitable g in approach e quired for th homes are re f o er al numb target remov 150 horses.
Sue said these people are always in place to help anyone who has a Kaimanawa horse and finds themselves in need of assistance. “There are KHH registered handlers for those that would like a horse but need the initial handling done for them, as well as KHH-endorsed workshops for those that prefer to be a part of the handling process.” Applicants are given a first and second preference choice taking horse’s age, gender, and mare and foal combinations into consideration. “We do our absolute best to match horses to people’s preferred choice, but we can’t always guarantee they will receive their first preference.” All applicants receive a muster pack with the required information and contact details for assistance if required. Area reps visit each horse soon after each arrival to check on progress. The KHH committee and wider welfare team are always available to answer questions, offer support, guidance and organise additional help if necessary. KHH also runs a sponsorship programme for both muster horses and welfare cases that come into their care throughout the year. “Sponsors get updates and visits of their sponsored horse, so this is a great way for people to help a horse when they can’t take one themselves. Sponsored muster horses mean we can save those that don’t get a home as part of the application process.” Donations are always appreciated and a tax donation receipt will be issued. Applications close Sunday, April 3 2022.
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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
Protag picks up pace
MARch 2022
University engineering PhD students Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr are using their entrepreneurial skills to create game-changing technology for the agricultural industry with their agri-tech start-up Protag. Protag’s small Internet-enabled device clips onto a cow’s ear, transmitting crucial health and location data to dairy farmers within seconds. Machine learning is used to process data from the device’s temperature, movement and location sensors. Farmers can continuously monitor the animal’s health, grazing and breeding habits, helping them map animal behavioural patterns and detect the early onset of illness in real-time. With $1 million raised from investors, the newly-raised funds will be used to accelerate the company’s product development and validation in preparation for large scale trials planned for later this year. Several expressions of interest have been generated from farmers in Waikato and the South Island. Funds raised for Protag came from various sponsors, including Finistere, OurCrowd, Fonterra, Sprout and Callaghan. Protag co-founder Tyrel Glass said the company’s small, lightweight device is 100 times more power-efficient than other GPS-based devices using bulkier battery packs. “We see a future where every farmer has detailed information on the health and wellbeing of every animal.
“We see a future for every farmer.” “The power of remote sensing in animal health is huge. Protag is the gateway into this data, providing advanced analytics for each animal that can map the whole story of the cow, and at an accessible price point for all farmers.” Fellow co-founder Baden Parr said mastitis, lameness and reproduction issues are the main ailments dairy cattle face. By detecting these early, Protag paves the way for more sustainable farming and improved animal welfare. While the company has its immediate sights on the New Zealand market, Ireland and Brazil have also been identified as future markets. Associate professor in computer engineering Fakhrul Alam is Tyral and Baden’s PhD supervisor. He said the students had created potentially game-changing technology for the agri-tech industry. “Their engineering smarts, combining cutting-edge remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence, will bring crucial insights to dairy farmers.”
Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr — Protag founders
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
FARMING, FAMILY AND
FARMSTAY BY DENISE GUNN Since purchasing Komako, a 478ha hill country farm, Dave and Nicole Stuart have put their own stamp on the property.
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aised in farming families, Dave and Nicole have years of agricultural experience between them. Dave also attended Smedley Station after leaving secondary school. “We both were shepherding when we met and moved to Gisborne together, where we lived for six years,” said Nicole. In 2012, the couple relocated back to Manawatū when they bought Komako. The 430ha effective property, located in the Pohangina Valley, was purchased from Hamish and Ginnie Rutherford. Hamish had lived on the farm his entire life as it initially belonged to his parents. In addition to owning and managing Komako, Dave and Nicole also took on a neighbouring 325ha (220ha effective) hill country property in 2014. Last year, they began leasing a further 94ha (80ha effective) easier hill country.
A herd of 300 Angus cattle run alongside 4,500 sheep. “We were extremely lucky to purchase a strong genetic-type, base-cow from Hamish and Ginnie,” said Dave. The Stuart’s herd grew from there. “We started selling bulls privately in 2013 and became a registered stud in 2014, selling bulls through private treaty until our first on-farm sale in 2020.” Romney ewes were chosen due to their multipurpose. Replacements are bred onfarm with an A flock of Romney sires. The B flock is put to terminal sires for earlier fat lamb or store sales. “We sell some lambs store at weaning to Nicole’s brother who farms in Halcombe. We may sell more if it looks like it will get dry. Any stock we fatten is then sold to BX Foods in Hastings,” said Dave.
A young helper feeding out
Although the farm is tucked up under the Ruahine Ranges, in a traditional summer safe area, the Stuarts have experienced multiple dry summers there. The average annual rainfall is 1,200ml. Four years ago, a heavy snowfall settled around the house for a few days.
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“One lambing, we got hit hard by an easterly and had significant lamb loss out the back of the property,” said Dave. The couple continues to develop the property with fencing, cultivating and putting in a water system. Two rivers on either side of the farm have been fenced off, retired and 12ha planted in pine trees.
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MARch 2022
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The interior of the farmstay accommodation A herd of 300 Angus cattle run alongside sheep on Komako
Prior to employing a shepherd, the couple hired university students each summer to help during the busiest time of the year. “Our first student was Dave’s cousin. He lived in the sleepout already here, but it was in need of a significant redo. So through the winter, everything was replaced,” said Nicole. “As we expanded with another lease block, the need for a full-time shepherd was clear. This then left us with a beautiful sleepout not getting used, other than visitors.” The couple decided to open the accommodation up as a farmstay. “We think our wee spot of New Zealand is pretty special, so why not share it,” said Nicole.
“Most days are a bit of an old McDonald’s farm here, which we can take for granted. It’s our normal. “Then we have visitors come and stay, who see all our animals and think it’s amazing, which we love. “We are passionate farm dog people. We love our animals, which I guess is a big part of why we are farmers.” Recently, Nicole started training to learn bovine artificial insemination. “An exciting step and I’m really looking forward to it. Though it does mean I will miss most of the lamb docking, my favourite time of year. I’ll have to hand the ear markers on to some trusted person. No pressure.”
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The couple plans to continue moving the Angus stud forward, fence more waterways and carry on with plantings. Nicole grows a variety of plants from cuttings. Ongoing uncertainty around farming is their biggest challenge. “It’s hard to keep up with all of our normal farm work, raising our family, and to keep track of the government changes being forced on the rural sector.” As Dave and Nicole look back over their achievements year in and year out, they realise how much they’ve accomplished. They also feel extremely fortunate to be able to raise a family on their farm. “Farm kids have the best lives,” said Nicole.
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
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BY DENISE GUNN Sheep have long featured throughout the lives of Manawatū couple Steve Clarkson and Lyn Watson.
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aised on a Hawke’s Bay sheep farm, Steve went on to university, graduating with a Master’s in Sheep Farm Management and Agricultural Economics. Work as a farm management consultant overseas and in Northland followed, initially in the sheep industry for a range of individual and corporate clients. He later consulted in the dairy and horticulture areas. Prior to retirement, Steve worked in accountancy. After graduating as a mature student with a Bachelor of Science, Lyn worked as a research technician. Her interest in wool began when she was given a spinning wheel for her 21st birthday. The couple runs a flock of around 40 black and coloured breeding ewes, plus replacement hoggets and lambs on their Aokautere property. Steve is the Black and Coloured Sheep Breeders Association national treasurer, and Lyn is secretary/ treasurer of the Manawatū branch.
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After some trial and error with different breeds, Steve and Lyn have built up a flock of Romney and Romney-Corriedale sheep. Working out the breeding plan each year and seeing the surprise colour variations during lambing season are particular highlights.
An old hayshed on their property has been converted for shearing and wool sorting. In 2015, Steve and Lyn bought Waione Wool Saddleblankets. The business, which previously operated as Waione Woollies Limited, was established in the late 1970s.
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Facilities were built to house the machines
Two years later, following the purchase of equipment from a business that was previously based out of Foxton, the couple also created Waione Wool Carding. “Our wool carding process involves the washing of raw wool or alpaca fleece, to remove the grease and dirt, drying, and then passing it through our carding machine to produce a sliver/ roving that can be used by crafters,” said Lyn. “It can be spun into yarn for knitting, crochet or weaving and can be used in felting. We can also card commercially scoured wool.” Steve and Lyn also have the equipment to further process the wool into combed top, which is a refined and higher quality sliver/roving product. Most of the couple’s carding clients are either sheep or alpaca breeders, small farmers processing their wool for sale or their own use, lifestyle block owners or handcrafters who have purchased or have been given fleeces.
“As a business, we also process our own naturally coloured fleeces for sale to handcrafters,” said Lyn. “We buy in commercially scoured white wool, which we dye in a range of colours and process for sale. We also have a range of high quality dyed Merino wool. We did not process this ourselves but bought in to have available to sell.” Although Steve and Lyn’s saddle blanket business is separate from the wool carding, the connection to wool remains. Their range of saddle blankets are made using handcrafted felt from 100% pure New Zealand wool. Some of their own wool is used along with wool from other growers, sorted by colour and commercially scoured. “We then card this wool on another old carder into batts, which we then felt into sheets on a purpose-built felter developed by the original owner of the business.” The saddle blankets are cut from those sheets to their clients’ requirements and include a range of options and customisations.
Steve has an extensive career in the agricultural industry
Starting Waione Wool Carding from scratch was challenging. Steve and Lyn had to build facilities to house the machines for the business and develop markets and clients. A recent highlight was providing saddle blankets for Jane Campion’s new film The Power of the Dog. The two businesses have grown significantly. “Both of these enterprises were developed as something to keep us occupied and active in our retirement from paid employment. They have certainly done that. “We believe, with our knowledge of wool, we have improved the quality of the felt made, and focus on producing a quality product, be it carded wool, a saddle blanket, or our range of small felted pads and mats we now have available.” Lyn said the feedback has been great. “Wool is such a great fibre.”
MARch 2022
Steve and Lyn produce a range of saddle blankets from 100% pure New Zealand wool
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
PURSUING
A PASSION FOR
AGRICULTURE BY DENISE GUNN
Born and bred on a Feilding sheep and beef farm, Olivia Buick’s life continues to focus on agriculture.
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livia’s parents bought the 110acre property to run in conjunction with their agricultural contracting business. In addition to raising beef cattle and sheep, the farm also grazes dairy heifers throughout the year. As a Feilding High School student, Olivia began to delve further into agricultural studies. Feilding High School owns two farms to provide students with practical experience. Manawanui is an 81.3ha sheep and beef farm on the outskirts of Feilding. The second farm, Ngakaunui, is a 16ha dairy unit located adjacent to the school. Helping manage the school’s milking operations earned Olivia a diploma in robotic milking. It also made her think about what farming in the future might look like. “As far as I know, it’s the only school in the southern hemisphere with that robotic technology,” said Olivia.
At work in the Kawhatau Valley
The third-year Massey University student is now studying towards an AgriCommerce degree, majoring in agricultural economics. Winning a $2,500 scholarship from Agcarm will help fund her final year’s course fees and living expenses.
“I chose this degree because of my rising concern around supply and demand and government policy in agriculture. It appears to be coming more and more difficult for our farmers to comply with these regulations, especially whilst battling low prices in the free market.
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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
Olivia has also worked as a tractor driver for Hopkins Farming Group
“After seeing the effects of this on farmers in my community, I have become very passionate about designing practical solutions to problems seen by consumers and regulators.” Olivia has a particular interest in finding profitable ways that can sustain production and addressing the misperception of agriculture and its practices. “My whole life, I have been involved with agriculture and have learned to love the complexity of the combination of environmental, economic, social and governmental factors in plant and animal production.” She said it is amazing how these factors and sheer hard work act in unison to create the backbone of the New Zealand economy.
Between, and sometimes during semesters, Olivia works on sheep and beef farms throughout northern Manawatū. “I do casual work, including docking, drenching, spraying and general maintenance on the farm.” Olivia has also worked as a tractor driver for Hopkins Farming Group, which has 12 dairy farms throughout the district. “I mainly do cultivation work such as ploughing, levelling, ripping and discing on these 12 farms. I drive a combination of New Holland, McCormick and Case tractors, ranging from 205–305 horsepower.” In Olivia’s first year at university, she joined Massey Young Farmers and held the position of first-year sheriff.
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In her spare time, Olivia often works on sheep and beef farms throughout the northern Manawatū
Tractors have featured throughout most of Olivia’s life
“It’s an all-rounder position designed to introduce committee responsibilities to two first-year students. In 2021, I took on the role of vice-chairperson, which is another all-rounder role. “As a committee, we organised social events, including a ball, pub crawl and flat party as well as personal development events like skills days and competitions.” When Olivia finishes her degree, she plans to research a range of environmental, social and economic issues for the industry from an economic standpoint. “Then provide solutions for farmers, in the form of policy, which are practical, viable and sustainable,” she said. “My ultimate dream is to see plant and animal production in New Zealand
MARch 2022
subsidised. However, I am very realistic about the fact that we will need to figure out where and in which industries that is possible.” That’s a challenge Olivia is prepared to take on. “Farming is a lifestyle, so making it as easy-going as possible and making our farmers happy is my goal. “Aside from this, I love driving tractors. I have been around them for most of my life and will always jump at the opportunity to get in the cab. “It’s an indescribable feeling when the sun is setting, you’ve been working all day, and there are four tractors in one paddock trying to get seed in the ground before the rain. The thrill of the chase, I guess.”
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
WOOD IS GOOD Forestry news and events: March
HAPPY THOUGHTS AND A HANDFUL OF FLAX It appears we have a new Minister of Indigenous Forestry. Minister Nash has perplexed and astounded both farmers and foresters around the country by announcing new “tweaks” to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) This has come off the back of anti-pine and farming groups attempting to stop whole farms being planted into pine trees, but unfortunately has the potential to only make it worse. The Minister has announced a “proposal”, which is code for a “foregone conclusion”, to remove all exotic tree species from the “Permanent” category of the ETS. Now at first suggestion, this sounds sensible. Who wants pines that might be there forever? Certainly not the production forestry sector, that’s our job, to harvest and sell logs and timber products. We would all be out of business, and business is booming! The thing is, with pine trees, permanent is never really permanent. There is always the option to harvest and the fact
that there is harvesting occurring right now in our biggest New Zealand owned so-called “Carbon farms” means that these forests were in scant danger of succumbing to the “plant and walk away” slogan of anti-pine groups. Fiber in the future will be far too valuable for that. The only true “plant and walk away” is indigenous trees. The trouble is with this proposal to omit all exotics, is that it also forgets that we MIGHT remove the opportunity to have a large crop of fiber that is viable for harvest and extremely valuable for new future markets, such as biofuels. If we don’t plant the crop to start with, we’ll never know, will we? It is worst case scenario for the agricultural sector who are currently undergoing the contentious He Waka Eke Noa consultation about how to measure and manage their own farm emissions. How on earth are farmers expected to mitigate, off-set or manage on-farm water quality, erosion, methane, nitrous
oxide, carbon dioxide with no exotic tree reserves to provide any income? Or off-set anything in their lifetime?
that the Government will implement once we have failed. Who pays? The taxpayer of course.
The problem with large scale indigenous forestry:
Can’t we have some of both? Why can’t the Government commit to planting all their own crown-owned forest estates in indigenous only forests. Why not make a percentage of all privately owned farms compulsory for indigenous permanent planting, but not all? Why not just set a cap on exotic permanent plantings?
• Indigenous cost AT LEAST ten times as much to plant. Up to $50,000 per ha. Who has that sort of money laying around? • There will be no carbon credits gained in the lifetime of the farmer. It could take 50 to 80 years for them to grow enough to measure any credits. If the plants survive at all, due to climate change predictions of increased droughts and floods. • Indigenous will never be harvested. No future fiber sources. For anything. • This will not help the bottom line for farmer’s profit. Which in turn is not helping them stay on the land. • Too late for our climate change goals. You can kiss them goodbye and wait for the new range of carbon taxes
I have a lovely garden, and its hard work to establish and bloody hard work to maintain. I would hate to think we are committing a generation of farmers to becoming native gardeners and making them pay for the sins of their ancestors who removed it in the first place. Next month: Why pine trees do not fall over dead at any given moment, why biodiversity is nearly just as good in a pine forest as a native forest but starts 30 years earlier, and why we shouldn’t give people excuses not to plant trees.
WOOD COUNCILS OF NEW ZEALAND CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS The eight Wood Councils across New Zealand have joined together to hold “The Great Book Handout” in honour of International Day of Forests on 21 March 2022. This year the theme is “Forest restoration; a path to recovery and wellbeing”. A new children’s activity book has been developed by the team from “Wood is Good”, the primary school engagement program coordinated by Wood Councils and the forest sector. This book is aimed at home schoolers or classrooms and is filled with single activities that students, (aged 5 to 8), can complete on their own, themed around forest environments, biodiversity, tree biology, maths and crafts. This is the second year for the “Wood
is Good” program, supported through funding from Te Uru Rakau – The New Zealand Forest Service and the Forest Growers Levy Trust. The pilot year, 2021, achieved visits from the Wood is Good team to 30 primary schools across New Zealand. A loaded log truck is taken to a school for day and visits to the truck are combined with classroom sessions that include story reading, videos showing logging and tree planting, careers and subject discussion around forestry education, along with interactive tree measurement and drone flying demonstrations. Log truck safety is an important part of this program where students get to sit in the log truck, and realise the blind spots for the driver. These days give students a hands-on experience with
real professional foresters, and truck drivers, where they find out how plantation forests in New Zealand provide timber for everyday products, what jobs are out in the sector, and how an appreciation of trees can be incorporated into our everyday lives. This year primary schools are under extreme pressure with Covid issues, and the Wood is Good team instead are currently developing a new resource called “Forestry in a Box”. This will contain a suite of activities, books, games and wooden kits themed around plantation forestry that will be gifted to primary school across New Zealand, teachers or home learners can lead some hands-on sessions for students with the pre-prepared kits.
The first resource for this kit is the NEW ZEALAND FORESTRY ACTIVITY BOOK AGED 5-8 and 6000 copies of this book have been printed ready for free giveaways to all home schoolers or primary schools. If you would like to receive free copies of these activity books for children, please contact your local Wood Council. The book can be viewed at: https://woodisgood.co.nz/newzealand-forestry-activity-bookjuniors/
Forestry Events Calendar
The Southern North Island Wood Council provides a collective voice for the sector in Island Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Tararua andforestry sector Theforestry Southern North Wood Council provides a collective voice for the Wellington. Members have a common interest in ensuring the long-term in Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Tararua and Wellington. Members have a success of the in sector. Membership is open to anyof company or individual withisan common interest ensuring the long-term success the sector. Membership open to any interest in the local wood industry. company or individual with an interest in the local wood industry. Erica Kinder, Wood Council CEO, be contacted more information. Erica Kinder, SNISNI Wood Council CEO, cancan be contacted for for more information. sniwoodcouncil@gmail.com
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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARch 2022
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ADVERTORIAL
An impressive range is available Locally owned and operated for more than 70 years, TRC Tractors in Feilding is the importer and distributor of Stewart Trailers, which are known as the Rolls Royce of the trailer world — all the way from Aberdeenshire in North East Scotland.
Stewart Trailers: the Rolls Royce of the trailer world
Well known for producing some of the world’s finest single malt whiskeys, Scotland is also home to the Stewart Trailer range. If there’s one piece of machinery every farm needs, it has to be a tractor-trailer. There is an impressive range of trailers available, and they can be ordered and built to your required specifications. Earning the reputation as one of the best in the business is no mean feat; however, this is what Stewart Trailers have done. Quality is everything for farmers and contractors, who rely on their gear to get the job done with minimal downtime. Customisation of trailers is a speciality that Stewart Trailers are known for. They produce a range of agricultural trailers from small four-tonne models up to 24-tonne tri-axle machines in various configurations: tipper, silage, construction, flat deck, low loader and even livestock crates.
TRC Tractors has a team of experienced technicians in the workshop and five service vehicles on the road. When you need your machine serviced or repaired, TRC Tractors can come to you at a time that suits your business needs with a comprehensive parts department with friendly and knowledgeable staff to assist. TRC Tractors is situated at 4 Turners Road, Feilding.
ADVERTORIAL
Chondroitin sulphate for sore joints by John Arts
Chondroitin sulphate is classified as a Dietary Supplement in NZ, but in Europe is available on prescription where It is classified as ‘a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis’. The drug classification then goes on to give specific information: ‘Chondroitin sulphate, used with glucosamine, is indicated to alleviate pain and inflammation from primary osteoarthritis. This supplement is reported to improve joint function and slow disease progression’ — (drugbank.ca/drugs/DB09301). I recently read a health store flyer in my morning newspaper. One promotion was for a glucosamine based joint product. There is no doubt that glucosamine can help joints. That is why I include it in my joint formula. However, why is there no mention of chondroitin? The company is a large Hong Kong-owned company that would clearly know about the benefits of chondroitin. What then could be the reason for not including therapeutic amounts of chondroitin? For that matter, why do most joint products sold in NZ have either no chondroitin or so little to have negligible impact on joint health? I think the answer is quite simple. Good quality chondroitin costs ten times that of glucosamine.
My preference is to have equal proportions of chondroitin and glucosamine and for most people to start at a double dose. With my joint product, the standard daily dose delivers 800mg of both ingredients while the double dose 1,600mg each. That, combined with high potency curcumin (from turmeric) extract, can quickly settle sore joints. I usually add Omega 3 fish oil rather than plant Omega 3 sources (such as flaxseed or hemp oils) as only fish oil has EPA, which is profoundly anti-inflammatory. As an example, I have been helping someone for a number of years who contacted me with sore and swollen knees caused by osteoarthritis. She is now much more comfortable and mobile and feeling so much better about life in general. 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 all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
TO BUILD OR RENOVATE by Andy Bryenton
Virtual spaces, real results
There’s nothing more solid and concrete than a physical building; concrete is usually a big part of making one. However, modern cloud-based computer technology is changing how designers and builders approach the physical stage of new construction, with the benefit of flexibility and more timely, accurate cost projections. One example of this is the Utecture system, which claims cost savings for builders exceeding 58%. That is achieved by making the plans for a construction project digital and incorporating costing data into them. If a wall is moved, a window added or a doorway changed, the projected costs change too, in a system called ‘live pricing’. Customers have access to the same data as designers and builders, helping keep everyone on the same page. Further gains can be achieved with augmented reality, a system using LCD screen transparent lenses to display digital information over a view of the real world. Augmented reality systems allow surveyors to see data from satellites while they are on the ground and can measure in real-time as well, allowing for builders to match digital plans to their real-world work with utter precision. Augmented reality can also allow tradespeople to access information on
materials, tools, safety advice and logistics on the job. It will soon be commonplace in the driver’s seats of excavators, cranes and earthmovers. Even more advanced are tools that augment not just the information coming to tradespeople and construction workers but their physical capabilities as well. Once the stuff of science fiction, power gloves, exoskeleton suits and tool support harnesses with artificial ‘muscles’ are being trialled now and could allow workers to wield heavy equipment with no strain or carry large loads effortlessly. Finally, drones look set to have an even more important role in construction. Some will be used for simple tasks such as fetching and carrying tools and consumables to tradespeople up high or in hard to reach places. Others already come equipped with infrared and thermal cameras to scan for weaknesses, areas in need of extra weatherproofing, or areas of excessive stress and strain during the renovation of older buildings. It all means more scope for high-tech and specialist jobs in the building industry, which is already one of remarkable growth.
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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARch 2022
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TO BUILD OR RENOVATE
Space saving tips from ships
by Andy Bryenton
Space isn’t just the final frontier; it’s something of a premium commodity in modern homes. Breaking down the statistics, we all want to be more efficient with space. Still, the average home has increased in size for the last half-century, and now contains some 300,000 items, from thumbtacks up to lounge suites in size. There is usually three times the number of digital screens in a home as people in 2022, and despite filling every drawer and cranny with things, one in ten of us have rented off-site storage. Small wonder, then, that as people look to tiny house solutions to space and footprint worries, and also to make off the grid living or first home ownership affordable, that there’s a new focus on tall ships. It may seem counterintuitive. The age of sail and piracy seems far away, and homes on land are not wooden vessels on the sea. However, lessons learned the hard way by large crews living in close conditions, working cleverly with wood, can help maximise space in modern homes. The first thing modern designers and renovators have taken from our sailor ancestors is the use of one space for many things. Old ships used hammocks
for sleeping in the same area as fold-down tables for dining and playing games of cards and dice. In a modern home, beds that fold up, descend from the ceiling or stand atop sets of drawers and cupboards make for clever use of space. Tables and surfaces that can fold, split and change their size to accommodate breakfast for one or a dinner party emulate the flexible use of space on old sailing ships too. Everywhere is a space to stow everything aboard a ship of the 1800s. Books and charts were stored under floorboards that could be removed to reveal tight-packed libraries that would not tumble out in a storm. Cupboards and cobbies were installed everywhere, with very little wall space given over to windows or plain paint. Vertical space was used, with storage for uncommonly used items up high, accessed via ladders and long poles on hooks. Perhaps the most important lesson from the old sailing ships of yesteryear, which translates across into creating a more compact living space, is the assessment made when setting out on a journey in the first place. Like those olden day sailors, those looking to renovate a space to
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
TO BUILD OR RENOVATE ADVERTORIAL
A tiny housing solution Tiny homes may well be a lifeline for many employers in the primary industry in this country – and for their workers. With the housing shortage in New Zealand affecting not just cities but also small and rural communities, the option of offering affordable, on-site housing could make a big difference for employers in the agricultural sector who are trying to attract workers. Bryce Glover of HouseMe says his business has tripled its growth in the past year. “There is so much pressure on housing and so many people in dire straits. Affordable, tiny homes are an easy and convenient option for some, and for others, they are the best choice because of the high price of conventional housing.” HouseMe designs and builds tiny houses, portable cabins, granny flats, sleep outs and transportable homes and hand delivers them to your site. The product catalogue includes various standard designs from one openplan room to a deluxe version with a living area and full kitchen, bedroom, and separate bathroom with washing machine. The smallest cabin is a compact 7.4m x 3m, and the largest of its tiny homes is 3.6m wide and 12.5m long.
Affordable, tiny homes are an easy and convenient option
“In the rural sector, we have sold our units to people looking to house everyone from local and overseas seasonal labourers to farm workers on dairy and equine farms,” Mr Glover said. “Our most popular house, with separate bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area, can be up and running for under $100,000 including GST. We
can have it set up on your property within 14 to 16 weeks of taking the order. “Houses are delivered on the basis of ‘Plug and Play’,” he says. “Our final invoiced price includes delivery and siting, so once we leave your site, the house is generally ready for you to use.”
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
TO BUILD OR RENOVATE
The house that hemp built by Andy Bryenton
Hemp fibre technology is throwing off all those tired old jokes about hippies and cannabis smokers, and shaping up as a game-changer in the building industry. Banned for decades thanks to its similarity to its infamous cousin, Cannabis sativa, the hemp plant is non-psychoactive but fast-growing and incredibly versatile. Hemp ropes made it possible for Britannia to rule the waves, and hemp paper was once close to overthrowing pulped pine products. Now making hemp into wood is a reality, and it’s shaking up the building trade. In the United States, where the Farms Code has only been altered to allow hemp cultivation since 2018, hemp wood is
being used for structural timbers, flooring and even furniture. In stress tests, it’s proven to be stronger than expensive woods like oak or hickory. The price for this rapidly renewed building resource is also competitive. What about New Zealand, though? We know that America is hemp country; George Washington famously grew the stuff himself for the shipping trade. The good news is that hemp grows well here, taking only six months to reach harvest age, as opposed to 25 years for pine With an advantage in terms of rapid replacement and carbon sequestration, strong, durable hemp wood may become a major component of future builds
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has been scientifically proven to absorb more CO2 for each hectare than any forest or commercial crop and is, therefore, the ideal carbon sink.’ “With all this concern about the environment and the Paris Accord on climate change, and the focus on plastics and so forth, the world is changing, and it’s coming to meet us,” said Dave Jordan of Hemp New Zealand, when asked about the rise of this innovative material. “It’s not really fringe in terms of it being something new. It’s just something that has been rediscovered. We are restoring it to its rightful place in the economy.”
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trees. While both products are useful for different goals, and pine wood will always be valuable in its own right, farmers are looking closely at hemp as a cash crop that has a quick turnaround. Additionally, hemp’s rapid growth makes for a superior carbon-capture feedstock. The plant also sequesters four times more carbon than a similarly sized forest. Hemp absorbs more than 20 metric tons of carbon a hectare, and its ability to be harvested biannually effectively doubles this quantity. According to GoodEarth Resources, an Australian eco-energy consultancy: ‘Industrial hemp
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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARch 2022
17
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS by Andy Bryenton
Scoring pasture for better undersowing
Autumn is here, and that means it’s time to make a practical assessment of paddock condition, with an eye to planting the right kind of grass to weather the winter. As farmers know all too well, not all grasses are created equal. In a cycle as old as agriculture, there comes a time when pastureland needs to rotate through a period of spring cropping, giving the soil and its microbiota variety. The key to successful autumn set-up is scoring paddocks according to the amount of damage they have sustained and the kind of growth remaining as summer draws to a close. It’s recommended that paddocks should be evaluated on a scale of one to five by eye. Veterans of the rural sector can spot the differences that define these gradations and be honest with themselves about aspects such as cracking, weed coverage and drainage. A level five paddock will be bursting with grasses and clovers and show no bald patches or damage. Level four is defined by less vigorous grass growth and a scattering of weeds but is no cause for immediate concern. Management of these paddocks
to continue healthy grow th is required. However, pasture displaying characteristics below this standard is a definite candidate for undersowing. Level three paddocks show dispersed areas of weeds, visible damage from animal activity and some bare patches. They could be called marginal but are good targets for undersowing with perennial ryegrasses, which can offer a further two to three years of good productivity. Level two paddocks are further deteriorated and show extensive weed growth alongside poor desirable grass retention. Experts suggest undersowing with short-term ryegrasses, such as Italian varieties, which may add one and a half to two years of grazing. A pasture that has reached level one is clearly damaged and not worth undersowing remediation for short-term gains. Instead, it’s time for weed killing treatments and the planting of a sixmonth annual ryegrass, which provides
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cover and weed control until springtime planting of maize or turnip crops. This five-point system provides a handy general rule to assess the way to lean when making a call on undersowing activities. Talk to your seed provider or undersowing contractor about specific cultivars that may work in tandem with your climate and soil conditions.
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS
FARM SUPPLIES | IRRIGATION | COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC SUPPLIES | LIFESTYLE BLOCKS WELL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
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Warriors to workhorses
The years following the second world war were ones of profound change in rural New Zealand, as more land was broken in for the expansion of modern farming by the application of combustion power.
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Areas, where the horse and bullock had once reigned, were tamed by the power of trucks adapted for every possible purpose, modified by small engineering firms in the provinces and set to every task from hauling bales to drilling wells. At the forefront of this advance was a brand that had proven itself during the conflict of the 1940s; the Bedford. A division of General Motors via Vauxhall of England, Bedford’s predominant model M built on the reputation of the wartime QL model. It was nicknamed the ‘Queen Lizzie’ in an affectionate dig at the reigning monarch, who trained as an auto mechanic during hostilities. The big QL was not unknown here as a post-war import, with its four-wheel-drive system making it a favourite for early rural contractors and fledgling fertiliser companies. It was also pressed into service to carry cranes and drilling rigs for rural construction — with more than one model turned into a fire appliance. The more common M-series boasted a long nose and flat deck like the utes that were to come in later years. Under the hood lived the famous overheadvalve stovebolt six, a simple but relatively powerful Chevrolet-derived motor that would be a Bedford standard, through various upgrades, for many years. Rural
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Bedford’s versatile trucks were converted into everything from buses to mobile cinemas, as well as a host of farming applications
dwellers of the 1950s and 1960s may recall M-series buses plying the roads between small towns. In 1960, the Bedford company launched the ‘truck that broke in New Zealand’, the legendary TK. It was destined to be in production until 1992 and adapted to almost every role imaginable, from military service to livestock transport, heavy haulage to construction. TK Bedfords helped build the motorways other trucks drive on
today. Amazingly, there are still working examples out there being driven daily. Many companies got their start with a six-cylinder Bedford or one equipped with a Perkins diesel. Rugged, reliable and (as drivers will remember) without any of the modern conveniences truck drivers enjoy today, the M and TK models, along with their heavier variants, were a driving force in building up provincial New Zealand and can still evoke fond memories to this day.
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MARch 2022
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS
19
ADVERTORIAL
With your tank, you’re in control Looking for a reliable and cost-effective fuel supply option? Your own trailer or farm tank could be just the ticket as owning your own fuel tank or trailer tank for dispensing fuel has clear financial benefits and not just on the balance sheet. Whether you’re a large scale enterprise, contractor or smaller business, being able to store fuel on-site gives you the advantage to refuel your vehicles without leaving the property. Moreover, because you have your own tank, you can often negotiate lower fuel prices with your supplier. A trailer tank gives you the added flexibility of filling up at any supplier’s outlet. It also enables you to take advantage of any discount fuel options available, for refuelling your equipment on-site or at the workplace. Protank trailers can be supplied with a hose reel option and a solarpowered Everlink Fuel Management System. These smart-systems track fuel transactions for different sites
or machinery, making billing to the job simple. Petrotec Services is the exclusive distributor of Protank products, which are proudly Kiwi made. Protank’s range of above-ground and on-ground diesel and petrol tanks range in size from 600L to 1,900L and are available in petrol/diesel combinations. Diesel trailers are available from 1,200L to 1,900L. The 1,400L and 1,900L trailers are tandem axle and braked. All trailer tanks are powered by Honda engine-driven pumps. All Protank tanks are approved by a registered compliance certifier. For information and pricing, contact Petrotec on 0800 477 134 or email sales@ petrotec.co.nz.
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Call Karl on 0800 687 007
E: office@himatangitransport.co.nz
or email karl@mtrgroup.co.nz | www.mtrgroup.co.nz
133 South St, Feilding www.shannonbulk.co.nz
AFTER
The brakes are off on our Field Days specials
Covid might have stopped Central Districts Field Days, but our specials on overhead, on ground and trailer tanks are out of the gate! Contact us today for a real deal.
Call 0800 477 134 Email sales@petrotec.co.nz
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS ADVERTORIAL
CENTRAL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Treat your stock to the best by Blair Cotching, Barenbrug Pasture Systems Manager
DIESEL SPECIALIST (TRUCKS, TRACTORS & MOTORHOMES) LUBRICATION COF SERVICE ENGINEERING (TOWBARS & DRAWBARS) PHONE 24 HOURS 06 368 2037 | 06 368 1591 IAN 021 432 995 CHUCK 021 246 8202
T, WORK, P EA , L Y
AY
BU
33 Main Road South, Levin central.autoslevin@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING LOCAL
What’s gorgeous, nutritious, made in the North Island, happy in the sun and guaranteed to tempt the fussiest eater? Morrow red clover, that’s what. If you haven’t yet treated your animals to this energy-rich palate pleaser, get some in the ground this autumn, and get ready for multiple nosh-ups next season. Yes, that’s right — I said ‘multiple’. Morrow is different from traditional red clovers. You can graze it more often. Picture an exposed, dryland Bay of Plenty dairy farm, grazed rotationally and intensively. That’s where Morrow’s parents came from. They not only survived but thrived in an environment where red clover would normally be expected to give up the ghost pretty quickly. Come summer, when grass struggled in the heat, they flourished, and so did the cows. You are what you eat. We all have our favourite foods. Some of them are even good for us. Grazing animals have the best of both worlds — their forage of choice is a nutritional powerhouse. You’ve probably seen your animals go through a pasture and deliberately pick out the clover. That’s because legumes taste lip-smackingly good to cows, sheep, cattle and deer, even when hot weather tends to put them off eating other things. Combine this with the highest energy level of any pasture species, and you can see how Morrow helps keep animal
Morrow Red Clover
growth and production humming during late spring and summer. Unlike white clover, red clover is tap-rooted, so it can dig down for soil moisture. In today’s climate, that’s a plus for pasture resilience. Another bonus? It loves warm weather, staying green and leafy when the thermometer usually sends ryegrass to have a lie-down. Fertiliser is not getting any cheaper.
Sow Morrow, and pasture and nutrient balance will benefit because it fixes its own nitrogen, feeding it naturally into the pasture slowly and continually. At a fixation rate of about 25 kilograms of nitrogen a hectare for each tonne of dry matter grown, it can add more than 200 kilograms of nitrogen a hectare to your pasture in a year. Contact your seed rep today.
HARRIS AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTING LTD THE HIGHEST QUALITY NEW & USED MACHINERY TO YOUR GATE
SERVICES OFFERED: • Fertiliser spreading • All bulk silage requirements • Round baling and wrapping • Square baling and wrapping • Hay - Large rounds / large squares • Cultivation • Bulk cartage • Ravensdown Consignment Store with certified weigh bridge
Serving the Horowhenua since 1924 Buyers & Sellers of Quality Hay, Straw, Baleage & Silage. Phone for a Quote
CALL DEAN: 027 431 3777
Morrow multi-stemmed red clover Grow. Graze. Repeat.
@BarenbrugNZ
facebook.com/BarenbrugNZ
barenbrug.co.nz
Trotter Contracting Ltd - Agricultural Contractors - Levin Contact - Garry 027 232 2380 Rowan 027 452 2562
MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARch 2022
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS ADVERTORIAL
21
CLEANWATER
Ready to walk through anything
SOLUTIONS
How do you craft the perfect pair of work boots, ready to tackle life on the farm without aches and strains?
Post Peeling, Saw Dust Supply and Delivery For calf sheds, standoff pads, barns, poultry sheds, herd homes & landscaping
Contact: Andre Groeneveld 027 447 7447 andre@cleanwatersolutions.co.nz www.cleanwatersolutions.co.nz
Your choice is Clear TRUST IN SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS DROPPED TO
Buffalo lace up steel toe X boots
The answer is to look to one of the ultimate testing grounds for boots, mountaineering. Those who take on the toughest peaks demand shoes which are reliable, comfortable, ergonomic and safe. These are all qualities that transfer across perfectly to life on the farm. This idea is where Earthwalk began its mission to create great, durable work boots. It has become the philosophy behind a range of other hard-wearing clothing. From boots for Kiwi mountaineers, the company branched out. They consulted with top footwear designers in Italy and then took the concepts that conquered harsh conditions to be the seed for a new range of farm wear. For 26 years, Earthwalk products have been developed, tried, tested and
revised to ensure they perform well in a farming environment. Those doing the testing found that it was no less harsh, in its own way than the steepest peaks. The evolution of the brand is constant. Earthwalk’s Flexiskin rainwear, for example, was reformulated five years ago to be even more durable. Its designers demanded that it could last as long as rainwear twice as pricey but boast design features that put them ahead of the pack. Earthwalk buffalo leather boots are very highly regarded among farmers for outstanding durability. The outsoles are stitched on right through the tread to ensure they never fall off, and, of course, buffalo leather is famously durable as a material. Other
43%
Flexiskin max jacket
footwear construction methods do not withstand the daily punishment of farm life; Earthwalk makes its boots without compromise.
AMONG CONSUMERS BY 2019 A IN &
SEED DRESSI
ID G E CRSEEDS
GR
NG
QUA LITY PASTURE SEED
BIOBOOST® 6-2-0 THE FERTILISER
FOR ALL SITUATIONS • Organic granular slow release fertiliser • Weed free - 67% organic matter • Will not burn plant roots or foliage • Can be incorporated when planting or used as a top feed • Fantastic for ALL lawns, flowers, vegetables, roses, trees, shrubs, & container plants • Bioboost is available from: Selected Garden Centres, Commercial Horticultural, Agricultural & Turf Service Centres Contact Bioboost Ltd for further information by E mail bioboost@xtra.co.nz or Phone 06 7548454/ 0274431809 www.bioboost.co.nz
Looking in at your window of planting seed and being new at Cridge Seeds Ltd I already know that they have top quality grass seed and clovers at competitive prices to send nationwide. Contact: Nick 022 083 3579 Julie 027 3244431 for information and advice Cridge Seeds Ltd Canterbury | www.cridgeseeds.co.nz
BUFFALO BOOTS & RAINWEAR in stock now
JACKET
$109
valued at $230
100% Waterproof Fleece Collar Hood Visor Flexible PHONE
9am-5pm
0800 16 00 24
BIB OVERALLS
LACE UP
valued at $160
valued at $320
$99
Acid Resistant Durable Seams
LEGGINGS
$88
earthwalk.co.nz
$170
STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)
SIZES SELLING OUT FAST Buffalo Leather Stitched On Soles Colour = Dark Brown
PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard) 175% more crack resistant than normal leather
free shipping
SLIP ON
$165
valued at $280 STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)
STEEL TOE (without Scuff Guard) PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard)
New Zealand owned sizes: BOOTS 5 - 13 (NZ) RAINWEAR XS& operated - 4XL
22
MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
TRACTORS FROM $4,729
Refers model TS138
RIDERS FROM $8,750
Refers model R216
ZERO TURNS FROM $6,899
Refers model Z146
Available at your local authorised Husqvarna Dealer, ASHHURST LEVIN MARTON PALMERSTON NORTH PALMERSTON NORTH
Ashhurst Mower Centre Horowhenua Outdoor Machinery Robbie’s Mechanical Services City Honda Norwood Farm Machinery
06 326 8803 06 368 8899 06 327 7115 06 357 7027 06 351 2799 WWW.HUSQVARNA.COM
MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARCH 2022
DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK
by Andy Bryenton
23
Electric revolution on rural roads
Fonterra is rolling out a new fleet of electric milk tankers, starting with a single unit sourced from industrial machinery giant XCMG.
Fonterra’s tanker fleet is one of the most hard-working in the trucking sector and is set to trial an upgrade from internal combustion to pure electric power this year
The electric truck, utilising a massive battery pack behind the cab in lieu of fossil fuel power and internal combustion, will hopefully hit the road in May, heralding a technological change for the dairy company. “The global technology investment in sustainable land, air and sea transport is phenomenal. Our teams are constantly screening the possibilities to see what could work across our supply chain,” says Fonterra’s chief operating officer Fraser Whineray. It’s all part of an effort to improve emissions across the company’s fleet and supply chain. Milk tankers make thousands of trips each day nationwide to bring the primary produce of dairy farms to the large, central processing factories that turn them into export earnings and local sustenance. The fuel shock caused by the Russia-Ukraine war has only highlighted this need for flexible
energy resilience. With this in mind, onethird of Fonterra’s light vehicle fleet is planned to switch to EVs by next year. The machine itself is impressive, if only because it can fulfil the role of a milk tanker without burning petrol or diesel. XCMG claims 140 kilometres range on a single charge. Its particular forte is manufacturing heavy-duty electric machines for mining and construction with a switchable battery pack. The power cell can be lifted off with a crane and replaced with a charged unit on many of its models. There’s a possibility that future tanker operations will centre on a battery hub, where drivers load on fresh batteries as milk is pumped into the factory. The batteries of the new tanker can recharge in just three hours, with a battery swap taking six minutes — a fast turnaround for a working vehicle. During the trial period, Fonterra will
assess the XCMG’s range, load capacity, handling, maintenance costs and general efficiency to see whether this could be the shape of milk tankers to come. Ironically, the very first example will roll out from the Waikato-based Waitoa plant, where, a century ago, the milk factory ran the nation’s biggest fleet of electric vehicles.
♥
NZ’s most loved magnesium Loose bulk & bagged Available ex Mt View call 0800 4DOLOMITE (0800 436 566) for pricing www.dolomite.co.nz
SIS BALL COCK VALVE Price $99.50+GST EACH Freight free anywhere in NZ • Buy 10 receive 12 and 2x service kits • 3 models available – all the one price • Nearly indestructible • Only NZ Manufacturer providing lifetime guarantee on the body of the ballcock
www.sisballcock.co.nz | 0800 175 720 Only available direct from manufacturer
WANTED
• Reject milk for feeder calves. • Price varies depending on quality. • Will travel for reasonable quantities. • Efficient pick up.
DON’T DUMP IT DOWN THE DRAIN.
GRAB THE CASH! Contact Tracy on 021 872 299 or Grace on 021 861 715
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MARch 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
FINANCE ON
MASSEY FERGUSON GLOBAL SERIES
3
YEAR
WARRANTY
STOCK ON SITE AVAILABLE NOW!
4 Turners Road, Feilding 06 323 0309 www.trctractors.co.nz | tractors@trctractors.co.nz *Terms and conditions apply. See instore for more details