Northern Farming Lifestyles, September 2011

Northern

Farming Lifestyles

September 2011 Edition

Phone: 09 439 6933 | Freephone: 0800 466 793 | Fax: 09 439 6930 | www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

Equine industry exhibition Li

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tractors and machinery ACRES OF NEW & USED EQUIPMENT ON DISPLAY – CALL IN TO VIEW Hustler CH8000, trailed multiple bale/ silage feeder.

Duncan Sidewinder, round bale feeder.

Giltrap RF9 Tandem axle, side feed, silage wagon with load scales Giltrap MSX100, tandem axle, side feed silage wagon.

Webco 900 T/A, side feed silage wagon Bucton CF800, side feed, tandem axle silage wagon.

Seed Drill linkage mounted, 3.0m, 100mm spacing, triple disc with roller.

Duncan/Austin roller drill with transport wheels.

Aitchison 3016 3PL seed drill.

Duncan 750 till seeder undersower, seed & fert box.

Connorshae 18 row trailing seed drill.

Maxiscoop 400 HYD earth scoop, tilt axle, near new.

Tortella RPT6-320 3.0m spike rotor hoe with Aitchison seedbox and packer roller.

Gallagher 2 leg shakerator.

Buckton 6t trailed fert spreader.

Sam 5T tandem axle fert spreader, plastic hopper, cover, latest model.

Sam 4T tandem axle fert spreader Case CX80 Cab, 4WD, loader, 3500h.

Case CX80, 3950h, rops, Pearson loader.

Claas 696RZ cab, 145hp, hyd shuttle and 4 speed power shift creep box.

Ford 555 Industrial loader tractor, 4wd.

Case MX100, cab, Pearson loader, 4wd, 4700h.

International 454 2wd, loader, 50hp International 674, 2WD, loader, 70hp.

John Deere 6300 cab, 4wd, loader, 90hp.

John Deere 6520S 4500h, factory loader, 24 speed, 115hp.

John Deere 8400, 250hp, 7920h, near new tyres, duals.

Massey Ferguson 28, tidy tractor.

Valtra T131. Cab, 4WD, Stoll loader, 1040h, front suspension, 150hp.

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McCormick MTX140, speed sequencer trans, 4700h, loader.

New Holland TSA115, cab, 4wd, self levelling loader, 115hp.

Shibaura 1840, rops, 4wd, 18hp with mower.

CAT 311 digger, aux piping, 3 bucket, 11T. Komatsu PC120-6 digger, hyd hitch + tilt, aux piping 5024h.

Komatsu PC40-8 digger. Blade, tilt bucket, digging & trench bucket.

Kobelco SK70 digger, blade, cab, hyd tilt hitch, thumb.

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Farmguard ‘bulldozer’ grader blade, 3 ram and landwheel, 2.7m.

Walco 12.75, PTO, 3 pt fert spreader.

Fieldmaster Jumbo 1.8m H/D rotary slasher.

Berti Eco-Forestry, 1.8m heavy duty scrub mulcher.

Nobili BNU230 Y flail mulcher.

Tortella TP15-250, 2.5m Y flail mulcher.

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5

Soulful Singer

What price on a great lifestyle?

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Page 13

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

The Northern Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned Northland company.

Contact Details: Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 • Fax: 09 439 6930 Email: info@thelifestyler.co.nz • Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville

In what is believed to be a national first around 50 Northland students are taking part in a programme which teaches how to trap possums and recover the fur and pelt for profit

Physical Address: Lifestyler House, 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Allan Mortensen 021 439 697 Editorial:

Paul Campbell

Graphic Design: Greer Mackay Gavin Bainbridge David Stevens

Advertising:

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Production:

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Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

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Hone Kena, from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa in Whangarei, learns how to skin possums during ‘Project Possum’ — a skills programme which not only earns student NCEA credits, but could potentially create more Northland jobs

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Enviroschools Northland, the Northland Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and a private trainer have joined forces to offer ‘Project Possum’ a New Zealand Qualifications accredited course through which participating

students are able to earn NCEA Level 2 and 3 credits.

Two ‘skills’ workshops led by Northland Enviroschools facilitator, Marty Taylor, were held early this month, one at the Tangihua Lodge and the other at the Ratea Scenic Reserve in the Far North — followed up by classroom learning.

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training will not only allow students the chance to earn the NCEA credits, but will potentially create jobs for young Northlanders.

To her knowledge, it was the first time the Enviroschools programme had offered such training anywhere in New Zealand.

The senior secondary pupils from a number of Northland Schools learnt about the biology of possums, the applicable techniques, skills and lures and traps to hunt possum.

They also learnt how to pluck and skin possums in preparation for sale.

Participating schools met the $150 per person cost of the training.

Later this month same students will attended a two-day assessment workshop run by Geoff Allinson of Can Train NZ. Once the training is complete, Enviroschools Northland and several students from Te Kura Taumata o Panguru will pilot a programme that could see them set up a small business to trap local possums and sell their fur and/or skins.

The New Zealand Association for Environmental Education has already purchased 20 humane possum traps worth about $400 for the students to use.

The purchase price will eventually be paid back through fur and skin sales.

Fifty-eight Northland schools take part

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The North’s Enviroschools programme is run through the Northland Regional Council, with support from the Enviroschools Foundation and the Department of Conservation.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

What price on a great lifestyle?

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Who would ever have guessed what a weekend away on Coastguard duty would make to ‘city slick’, Warren Slater’s life.

Back in the late 1990s when Warren Slater returned home from a ‘duty’ weekend away he was somewhat surprised

by Pat, his wife of many years, ravings about alpaca and oh — ‘we just have to have one or two or even a farm!’

“Pat had never been ‘one to want’,” laughs Warren, “so I really took her seriously, but the number one question for me was — what are alpaca?

“Apparently some television programme (in his absence) had featured alpaca and, whatever they were — had made quite an impact on Pat,’’ he recalls.

Talking aside it was time to check them out. Farming activities, let alone livestock were not all that familiar in the Slater household and certainly hadn’t yet appeared on that list of ‘things I must do before I turn 40 or even 50’.

“As a young child during school holidays, I had up until the age of eight, stayed at a friend of the family’s farm, in Awhitu,” says Warren.

“On the other hand Patricia’s experience of farms was zilch; only visiting my old haunt Awhiti, when we were newlyweds in the 70s.

“Living at this time in Henderson, in Auckland with city careers it was all a bit foreign. We visited the alpaca farm

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011 that had featured on the infamous TV programme in Whitford, watching these ‘newly found’ animals grazing.”

Warren recalls visiting and observed the animals on many occasions, until finally arranging to meet the owner — armed with a raft of questions.

Convinced a better lifestyle lay ahead of them they started looking for a small farm — after all keeping alpacas in the back yard would hardly be acceptable in Waitakere City.

I remember thinking, “This was going to be a new experience for us,” he laughs.

The couple moved to Kaukapakapa in 1997 still commuting to work in the city, and began climbing the steep learning curve about to begin — fencing, shearing, drenching, clipping feet, installing water troughs and water supply were to name just a few of the tasks ahead.

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Pat shows off her pride and joy to the next generation

in the rain, hail or frost. The good times far outweigh the not so great times.

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Half a dozen sheep and a couple of goats started the project.

It was then a heifer — the sheep sold and replaced by Suffolk sheep for a few months until after lambing when the first alpacas were purchased.

“It was November 1999 and now the time to focus on increasing our herd to a level we hoped would be sustainable,” he said.

As all good plans do the Slaters plans all changed when their jobs became redundant early in 2004. Later the same year when Warren’s elderly mother’s health took a turn for the worse it was decided it was time for her to live with them.

“We decided to sell Kaukapakapa and bring our long term plans to move north forward earlier than anticipated.”

The current property in Maunu was purchased in February 2005 and it was back to the beginning all over again with fences, water supply, pasture improvements and other tasks all needing to be undertaken.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

. . . continued from page 5

What price on a great lifestyle?

Since the Slater’s have steadily increased their herd and now maintain numbers to the current level of 13; being eight females, two certified stud males and three young male cria (baby alpaca).

“This level is self imposed because we wish to maintain a lifestyle rather than a commercial venture to allow us time for other interests,” says Warren.

“We sell a few animals and have very good contacts available for anyone who wishes to invest in this industry.

“In our opinion, alpacas are not hard on the land. As far as their wellbeing — shearing once a year, normally October or November — before summer and the potential of heat stress.

“Parasite injections, three times a year and nail trimming are the essential regular maintenance programmes needed.”

These tasks are carried out on site mostly by the couple, with help from willing friends when needed.

The Slaters have been feeding out hay over the last couple

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of years and a few alpaca pellets since the effect of the drought of 2009 and 2010 has had an impact on their pastures. They count themselves fortunate not to have required the assistance of the vet very often.

“We must be doing something right,” says Warren.

They sell the fibre from the annual shear to home industry and hobbyists and sell off the cria to offset the cost of this lifestyle choice.

They also made a liquid fertiliser from alpaca dung and have a few keen gardeners who like to use this regularly — the only cost to them being they come and shovel it up.

“We may not get rich from it, but what price do you put on enjoying what you do?” they say.

“There’s a great life to be had on a lifestyle block, even when you are out there in the rain, hail or frost. The good times far outweigh the not so great times.’’

Over the years the couple have enjoyed the company of many who have wanted to experience what alpacas are all about and have regularly hosted visits from groups looking for a ‘new experience’.

The Slaters agree ‘If you want the warm fuzzies check out alpacas, you surely won’t be disappointed’.

Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

Triple bottomline accounting

Dorothy’s Spring Styles Now Arriving

by Bob Cathcart

The recent formation of the ‘Pure Advantage’ group to promote responsible production and exporting in New Zealand raises some interesting questions and opportunities for Northland’s primary sector The group recognises that not only can products carry the green tick, but the actual skills used in producing such products and services sustainably are themselves a valuable export opportunity.

How then can we prove that New Zealand’s exports are being produced sustainably?

Some orchardists, particularly avocado growers, are already meeting that challenge. As are some major New Zealand companies which are presenting balance sheets showing their environmental, social and financial impacts — triple bottom-line accounting.

Financial accounting is well-established however environmental accounting is a new discipline for most primary producers, but something of increasing interest to consumers.

Farmers have a very valuable modelling tool in the continually evolving AgResearch OVERSEER programme however the effectiveness of any modelling system depends on the quality of the inputs.

Accurate mapping of soil types and slope, and recording of rainfall will help to ensure the model is farm-specific, rather than generic as it has tended to be.

Better control over dairy effluent application, more accurate distribution of fertiliser and careful recording of grazing pressures, all supported by soil and foliage sampling, will help to refine and get greater value from this tool.

Assessing stream health at the upstream and the downstream end of your property will measure the net effect of your farming operations on water quality.

The third side of the triple bottom-line accounting triangle covers health and safety, employee-employer relations; what you as a business person are contributing to the local and wider community and the wellbeing of all those involved in the venture.

Farming is a high risk industry, both in terms of the number of farm accidents and the stress-related health issues faced by owner-operators in a volatile industry subject to extreme climatic and market fluctuations.

Can you provide evidence of staff training, health and safety briefings for new plant or practices and regular medical check ups?

What systems do you have in place to measure staff efficiency and to correct any inefficiency to both improve productivity and prevent accidents? When did you, yourself, have a medical and what do you do to unwind?

With a good set of triple bottom-line accounts, you can prove that you are, indeed, producing sustainably.

You are not downgrading the environment, you are a good employer, the true value of your business is increasing and you are making a profit!

Funding available

– exceptional environmental projects The application deadline for ‘exceptional projects’ funding from the Northland Regional Council’s 2011 Environment Fund is almost here.

7

Bob Cathcart is a Land Management Specialist with more than 45 years’ experience in land management and soil conservation. He is a registered Farm Management Consultant, a member of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management and the NZ Association of Resource Management.

Have a talk to your accountant and your rural professional about it or contact the Northland Regional Council and ask to speak to the land team (0800 002 004) for advice about the tools available to land owners, to ensure you’re getting the most accurate monitoring data available.

For all the women who are forty and up, so many wonderful styles that will take you anywhere. For that special occasion or a casual affair, the styles, colours and fabrics this year are better than ever.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

Soulful Singer

Northern

Farming Lifestyles

Online

www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

The Mermaid Dance Band: From the left: Tammy D’Ath, Joe Cotton and Pauline Berry

Northland’s ‘singing cowgirl’ is heading south to Ashburton to continue with not only her singing career, but her ‘day job’ as an herd technician.

Ruakaka’s Tammy D’ath, the winner of last year’s ‘Find a Star’ contest and AI technician for Livestock Improvement has been asked to work on the southern dairy farms for the upcoming spring mating season.

The 25-year-old Northland farm worker hit the headlines last July when she won the ‘Good Morning Show’ talent quest with her heart and soul rendition of Billie Holiday’s, ‘God Bless The Child’.

Tammy says she has been milking cows almost as long as she has been

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singing and the love of both (cows and music) make her happy.

While Tammy has done most of her technician work in Northland, she has also worked in the Waikato and in 2009 travelled to the South Island.

Now in her eighth season as an LIC technician Tammy is ranked in the top 10 percent in the country.

She is looking forward to working in the South Island again, noting the difference the size of the herds makes to her run.

“The herds are bigger in the South Island, compared to Northland so for me

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011 my AB run in the South Island was a really cool experience.

“In Northland when you arrive on a farm you can expect to find about 15 cows waiting in the shed or you, and that is a big day. But as some South Island herds are 1,200 to 1,500 cows, it is possible I will find more like 60 cows waiting for me some mornings.

“In comparison I normally inseminate approximately 3,000 cows in Northland per season, in the south Island I did around 7,000.’’

While in the South Island Tammy is hoping to get some gigs as she did when she was in Christchurch in 2009.

Apart from doing gigs as a solo performer Tammy is also enjoying performing at various corporate functions as part of the trio — Mermaid Band.

She joined the band, which features singer Joe Cotton (from the band True Bliss) and Pauline Berry in March.

In the meantime she is also working on her first album, due for release early 2012.

“I am hard out recording vocals in Auckland once a week while the rest of the time I am still milking cows in Northland. I’m trying to get as much work done on the album as possible before I head south, so hopefully it will be finished and available early next year.”

For the upcoming mating season (October to December) Tammy has arranged to take time off from the band — to do what is arguably the most important job on a dairy farm each year — get cows

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Soulful singer Tammy at home on the farm in Ruakaka

in calf. “I love being an AB technician — I feel like I’m a professional. I love singing and love the cows, but doing AB is something more. It is a job that gives me a lot of satisfaction — seeing the results, travelling and meeting lots of new people.”

Tammy says the three months work also allows her to save money allowing her to concentrate on her music without having to worry about the finances.

Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz Save up to $1,300* with the natural way to a warmer, drier home Now’s your chance to take advantage of government grants of up to $1,300 to make your family’s home warmer, cosier and easier to heat. It’s a move that will not only make you more comfortable – research shows it will result in health benefits for your family too. What’s more, Eco Insulation – the award-winning innovators behind the use of all-natural wool, the healthy and natural alternative for home insulation – can handle the whole process for you.

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Farming Lifestyles

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What on Earth is Diatomaceous Earth?

Every day at DENZ we ask people if they have ever heard of Diatomaceous Earth?

Often their response is — What on Earth is Diatomaceous Earth?

Firstly Diatomaceous Earth or DE is not actually earth. DE is the naturally occurring deposits of tiny fossilised shells from single celled phytoplankton’s known as ‘diatoms’. There are so many species of diatom they have been referred to as ‘the grass of the water ways’.

As these microscopic diatoms grow they extract minerals and nutrients from the water to build their protective shells.

The elemental make up along with the constructed form of these shells is what makes DE a truly magical mineral. DE is 89–95% amorphous silica as well as containing 15 essential trace elements, including calcium, selenium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron.

Although microscopic, DE is also extremely hard and sharp, on the hardness scale diamonds are 9 — DE is 7.

When viewed under a microscope diatoms resemble tiny cylindrical cheese graters.

Well what can it be used for and how does it work? The many uses for DE is simply astounding from feed supplementation, intestinal cleanser, organic de-wormer, chem-free insecticide

to soil conditioner and more.

DE literally means DEATH TO BUGS. When diatom shells make contact with an insect’s exoskeleton DE wins.

DE acts like razor blades, the lacerated parasite will lose its body fluids and die of dehydration. This action being purely mechanical not chemical, therefore immunity over time is not possible.

The same applies for our pets and livestock internally, the hard and sharp shells of DE will lacerate and remove internal parasites. Despite this there is no harm to the host mammal.

It also breaks down excess mucus build ups and cleanses the GI tract paving the way for improved nutrient and mineral absorption.

Noted health benefits of DE feeders range from better feed conversion, improved skin, coats and hooves, no worms, improved mobility (silica is essential for organ and connective tissue elasticity) eliminates scours, no mastitis,

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increased milk and butter fat, chickens lay more eggs with stronger shells, heavy metal extraction, and deodorisation.

Again these are just a few that make for healthier, happier livestock and pets.

DE has a zero withholding period for livestock, fruit and vegetables — you can apply, harvest and eat all in the same day!

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Winter is a great time for bulk milk chilling systems, chilling water temperatures are low and milk volumes are small.

It won’t be that way for long, summer will arrive and temperatures will rise, not the least of which will be the milk going into the Vat. I looked up the NZFSA (New Zealand Food Safety Authority) NZCP1: Code of Practice for the Design and Operation of Farm Dairies.

On page 38, 7.14 Milk Cooling it states: Milk must be cooled to 18 Deg C or less at the completion of the first milking into the bulk milk tank, and should not exceed 13 Deg C at the completion of subsequent milkings and milk must be cooled to and maintained at 7 Deg C or below within 3 hours of the completion of milking and kept at7 Deg C or below until it is collected or the next Milking.

This is a tough call for a lot of Dairies with Primary chilling water for some over 23 Deg C during summer and very ordinary chillers. It is a reality however that the Dairy Companies are toughening up around the Code of practice and quickly.

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At Milfos we have the iCONVERTER Chilling Solution that can Snap chill the milk into the vat at around 5 Deg C, maintain the Vat temperature and supply free Hot water up to 85 Deg C in abundance. It should save you around 35% Of your electricity costs.

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Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz LUPTON HOUSE BOARDING HOSTEL for students of Whangarei Girls’ High School invites applications for 2011 Lupton House offers residents:

• Safe and secure boarding with friendly caring staff and a warm positive atmosphere • Clear routines and firm guidelines • Residents of Lupton House experience the quality learning and diverse range of subject opportunities provided at Whangarei Girls’ High School • Close and long standing friendships Located on spacious grounds directly adjacent to the School.

Study time on Monday to Thursday is compulsory and supervised by an educational professional. Other organised programmes include sporting and social activities.

For more information about Lupton House and Whangarei Girls’ High School please refer to the School website www.wghs.school.nz or phone 09 437 7359.

Assistance with fees, intending residents may be eligible for a range of boarding bursaries and funding.

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

Equine industry exhibition

13

Momentum is building in the equine industry as exhibitors book their spaces for New Zealand’s first major equine industry exhibition — Equidays

The inaugural event will be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre between November 18–20 and will cover the full spectrum of the country’s equine industry.

The exhibition will highlight the industry on a national level, bringing the New Zealand horse community together as well as attracting international visitors and exhibitors.

The three-day event includes exhibitions, demonstrations and a range of equestrian activities. All disciplines within the industry will have equal opportunity to showcase their areas of expertise at the event.

Racing great Sir Patrick Hogan is among those in the equine industry supporting the event.

“The equine industry is very lucky to have an events organisation such as the Mystery Creek team, with its reputation and events expertise now focussing on our industry with the development of a specialised equine event.’’

Sir Patrick believes the event will be well supported and will build in momentum as time goes by.

Mystery Creek Events Manager, Vanessa Richmond, urges exhibitors to book in quickly as the events kicks into the final stages.

“If you’re involved in the equine industry, you can’t afford to miss Equidays. We’ve had great response to the event so far and it’s gaining momentum,’’ she said.

“The Waikato is world-renowned for its bloodstock and sporthorse industries and has more horses than any other region in New Zealand.”

Event hours are 10am to 5pm, with an indoor night show Friday and Saturday from approximately 6.30pm. Tickets include all activities during the day events including clinician

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demonstrations and seminars. Tickets to the night event are separate and details of the night show’s headlining international clinicians will be announced late July.

Tickets are available online from July 31 at www.streamticketing.co.nz or onsite at Mystery Creek Events Centre.

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14

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

Economy boost for Northland Iodine research wins top award through waste minimisation projects A 16-year-old Kerikeri High School The Government is investing $2.3 million in waste minimisation projects in Northland that will create new jobs and boost the local economy

The cash injection was announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith during a visit to Northland early this month.

Enterprise Northland is to receive $2.1 million from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund to help declog the harbour around Opua in the Bay of Islands.

The harbour area is currently estimated to have more than 6,200 tonnes of waste oyster shells and 300 tonnes of waste timber.

With the Northland oyster industry poised to expand oyster farmers are needing the space is currently clogged with waste shells and timber for growth.

“It’s estimated that a fully operational aquaculture industry could inject more than $200 million a year into the Northland economy,” said Dr Smith.

This project is expected to create 10 new full-time positions and four part-time roles.

The machinery being funded will process the oyster shells into an ingredient for cement and other calcium-based products.

The waste timber will be turned into mulch for the Far North District Council’s civic gardens.

“This is exactly the sort of innovative

project the Waste Minimisation Fund was set up to assist,” said Dr Smith.

“It was also announced $190,000 from the same Government fund would be used to help establish the Whangarei Resource Recovery Park.

“This park will create new jobs while stopping an estimated 10,500 tonnes of waste being dumped annually at landfills,” said Dr Smith.

A composting facility, and the sorting of demolition and construction waste for recovery, reuse or recycling, will be provided at the park.

This is a real community effort, with local iwi, businesses and the community working together to deliver a great asset for Whangarei, he said.

The Minister also announced that Environs Holdings Trust will receive $35,000 from the Government’s Community Environment Fund for a series of community workshops that will develop a collaborative approach to support restoration of the Kaipara Harbour.

Support for all these projects demonstrates the Government’s bluegreen approach of backing practical initiatives that grow the economy while ensuring we make a real difference to improving the environment.

Hilders Northland & United Livestock Divisions of Stan Semenoff Livestock Ltd

26 Te Wai Iti Place, Whangarei - PO Box 6058, Otaika, Whangarei 0147

student’s study into iodine levels in equine nutrition has earned her the top award at this year’s Top Energy Far North Science and Technology Fair.

Student Sophie Burling’s investigation into the concentration of iodine in common horse feed products was awarded the Northland Regional Council ‘Excellence’ Award.

Sophie’s was one of 124 science fair entries involving about 200 students from nine Far North schools.

The three day science fair — which began in 1978 — was held recently at The Centre in Kerikeri.

The Northland Regional Council prize contributes $1,000 towards the cost of the winner’s university studies.

Next year, Sophie, a Year 13 Sophie Burling — winner of the student from Kerikeri, intends to study Northland Regional Council’s Excellent Award biological sciences at either Massey University or the University of Auckland, “People might, for example, see a before moving on to specialised study in horse with goitre and immediately up equine genetics. iodine supplementation thinking the horse Her research investigated levels of the was lacking in the mineral. However, the important trace mineral iodine in common opposite in fact could apply. The only true horse feeds and supplements such as way to test iodine levels is to blood test,” wheat chaff, dried kelp, a grain-based she said. feed and a mineral mix.

A rider herself, Sophie has represented She chose her research topic after New Zealand three times in show jumping, noticing common physical signs of iodine the first in Columbia, South America, at imbalance in horses at a number of horse the tender age of 12. studs.

He current goal is to compete at the Diagnosing the problem can be tricky 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — too much or too little iodine can display and to that end she is currently developing the same physical symptoms. her own team of horses.

Kumara Korner Enjoy Kumara Available Now

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

15

Liftout Feature Precision in the paddocks

The days of hitching a cultivator, sprayer or seed drill to the power take off of the old Fergie tractor and heading out into the field are pretty much a thing of the past, as technology use snowball in all walks of life.

None more so than on the farm.

The development and implementation of precision agriculture has been made possible by combining the global positioning system or GPS and geographic information systems, GIS, and today’s sophisticated farm vehicles are hitting the market with the latest advances from the boffins.

These technologies enable farmers to couple real-time data collection with accurate position information, applications that are being used for farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop scouting, and yield mapping. GPS also allows farmers to work during low visibility field conditions such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness.

Today, more precise application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers, and better control of the dispersion of those chemicals are possible through precision agriculture, thus reducing expenses, producing a higher yield, and creating a more environmentally friendly farm.

Precision agriculture is now changing the way farmers and agribusinesses view the land from which they reap their profits.

for improving land and water use can be collected. Farmers can achieve additional benefits by combining better utilisation of fertilisers and other soil amendments, determining the economic threshold for treating pest and weed infestations, and protecting the natural resources for future use.

By using GPS on tractors, the entire process from levelling the field to planting the seed to irrigating the crop has been much more efficient than in the past.

Northland Vegetation Control implements such GPS mapping technologies in their spraying trucks

Where farmers may have once treated their fields uniformly, they are now seeing benefits from micromanaging their land.

Many of the new innovations rely on the integration computers that are being built in to top-line farm machinery.

There are actually inexpensive and easy-to-use methods and techniques that can be developed for use by all farmers. Through the use of GPS, GIS, and remote sensing, information needed

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

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Farming Lifestyles

Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

Maungatapere transport Livestock & general carriers Hardware store & farm supplies Silage & hay making Workshop repairs Water

The answer is in the soil

Management is the overall key to maintaining farm pastures, the key component at the end of the day, for our commodity-led export sector Healthy, productive pastures lead to increased production and add up to greater farming returns — a better bottom line.

But New Zealand’s pastures are a mix of fertile soils and a helping hand, with fertilisers playing a key role.

Occasionally there has been some confusion in regards to how much fertiliser to apply. Peter Lester, of Quantum, says that when soil tests are carried out, they reveal, via multiple calculations, an estimate of the total amount of plant available nutrient required to theoretically bring your soil into balance, or to full fertility.

“The test results are for the specific sample as submitted at that time and it is not intended that this amount of fertiliser is necessarily to be applied,” he says.

“Without any fertilisation, with or without interference from man, there is a continued weathering and changing in the

soil, a natural evolution that continually changes the soil’s fertility status.

“In conjunction with this natural evolution of the soil, the application of fertilisers will further stimulate nutrient levels to various degrees by releasing, or making more available, those elements which are currently ‘locked up’ or retained in an unavailable form. Unfortunately,

there is no mathematical formula to predict this change; therefore, the future requirements of your soils cannot be easily predicted. As soils are undergoing continued change, with or without man’s intervention, each soil type should be retested on an annual basis.”

He adds that secondly, with the recommended maximum application rate,

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

there is a warning, this amount need not necessarily be applied either, as it is based on the potential for toxicity to grazing animals or the soil micro flora.

“The ‘how much fertiliser should I apply’ scenario can be likened to taking a course of antibiotics; you can elect to take the whole bottleful at once, which in turn could be fatal, or go along with doctors’ recommendations taking only the recommended amount over the recommended period of time.

“Things may begin to improve after just the first dose and by the time you have completed the course you should have obtained the desired result. However, an interim checkup and change of treatment may also be required.”

A likening to this scenario appears in the book ‘Super in the South’, by Clive A. Lind, published by the old Southland Co-operative fertiliser Co Ltd, in 1983.

It states that ‘estimates were that it would take three years for soils to reach adequate P levels’.

“We are not concentrating just on your soil’s P levels, but also the rest of the plant nutrients, S, Mg, Ca, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Co, in which case is it not likely that we can achieve 100% overnight. What it boils down to is that if you stick to your fertiliser budget, spending only the same amount of money per year, by working with nature you will end up getting more bangs for the same bucks.”

On the farming front, using livestock to harvest forages effectively leads to improved soil fertility, a varied ecology and an extended grazing season, and in turn this supports healthy animals.

Of course, different livestock have different feed requirements.

The Farm Environment Trust offers a number of guidelines to good pasture management and this boils down to these effective bullet points: • Keep a healthy residual cover to protect the soil, by avoiding overstocking and overgrazing • Keep stock pressure light during wet periods to reduce pugging • Use grazing management and different stock types to control weeds • Establish pasture species that thrive in your local climatic conditions they’ll do better!

Thus creating a mixture of feed coming ready at different times means a longer grazing season that is also capable of being sustained.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

9 R d for ncy 0 r e 20NNtaEl AweaEffici I en urc Wronm eso

Mastitis is a Man made problem

vi s R En nes The drug company has a ready remedy to You shouldn’t have to put up with si u B this headache, nor should the cow. If we sell called an antibiotic so now we add another can just understand that for every infection there is a reason, and if we can identify the reason, it is not too hard to ascertain the remedy.

As we all know, the bug that causes the problem is a foreign protein that has invaded the udder.

That established, we must then ask, ‘who invited the bug in? And how do we insist that he leave and never return!

For any unwanted guest to enter a potentially stable abode, in this case the udder, some one must have opened the door! That door in the udder is normally locked securely by a muscle found in every orifice in the body, that muscle is termed the “SPHINCTER MUSCLE” and is designed to let products out, and stop foreign products entering or invading. It is a one-way door lock, a one-way hinge.

We have now established that it is a muscle that normally holds the door closed, now its open, so what compromised this muscle? What caused it to fail? The atom ‘calcium’ controls the contraction phase of each muscle, the relaxation phase being controlled by potassium. Your heart beats the same way. If we were to increase the calcium to excess, the heart would stop in the fully contracted phase, this is termed ‘calcium rigor’; if on the other hand we were to increase large amounts of potassium into the portal blood, the heart will cease to function and stop in the fully relaxed phase, and is termed ‘potassium inhibition’. Therefore, the rate and ratios of these two elements in the diet have a major influence on the contraction and relaxation of all muscles.

Now, we are concerned with the sphincter muscle, remember this is the wee muscle that controls the door to each orifice, in this case the udder. If the animal was to receive too much potassium, and she is, the door or sphincter muscle will fail to fully contract and the udder will be open to the invasion of bacteria and hey presto, we have a condition of inflammation of the mammary glands termed mastitis.

The animal is subject to infection all because we placed her under stress. Stresses and strains have one thing in common; they all take money out of your pocket and put it in someone else’s, in this case the drug companies.

foreign protein to the mix.

If you have a drug like penicillin or some other foreign protein and it is in the milk and it winds up in the milk you sell and the buyer or the processor discovers this contaminant you will instead of getting a payment for the milk you thought you sold you will get a bill for the tanker load you spoiled with the contaminating item you put in the milk you sold.

When we think we can outsmart the perfect systems in the natural mechanics of crop and animal production we run the risk of adverse reactions.

All things in nature have a spectacular balance. If we attempt to accelerate the growth of crops or grass in the field and add excessive nonprotein nitrogen of any source we can certainly make the crop grow differently. The cells are longer, the grass is greener and the nutritional quality is lessened. Our meddling has changed the perfect balance and the more we meddle the bigger the change we cause in the plant and the animal that consumes it. When we change the structure in the plant we have set up an undesirable condition for the animal to deal with.

The purpose of Quantum Laboratory is to ensure that our advice of what to add to the soil in the form of fertiliser will contribute to the natural harmony of food for the crop.

If the crop is wholesome because of the nutrients it contains, and we have corrected an imbalance we can rest assured the animal who eats the perfect balanced crop will reward us with a healthy and abundant production.

We can take this step a bit further. If we know what is in your crop and we discover that a simple addition of a special element like calcium of even a trace mineral is required we can advise you how to establish the proper balance. But the qualification is that we must know what we are doing. We don’t know until we test. Our test will give us the answers.

The bottom line is always better when you know what you are doing. Unless you know what your soil contains you can easily make things much worse by adding an element that spoils a balance.

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The time and effort to properly sample and test the soil or the crop can be the most profitable expense you can make in your farming enterprise.

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We base our advice on scientifically diagnosing what is needed to ensure the correct balance.

If you’re farming project has a glitch of some sort and the profits are not there remember we know how to find the answers.

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The ratios of electrolytes in the diet have far reaching implications ranging from mastitis, bloat, foot rot, pink eye, fly strike, heart failure, the list goes on and on. Now the system wants to apply urea along with an inhibiter. This inhibiter is specifically designed to curtail the activity of the bacteria so that the applied ammonia stays in the soil. This applied ammonia will attach itself to the surface of the soil particles and effectively sterilize it. By its very chemistry, it will displace all of the attached minerals, temporally raising the soil pH and then the plant will become saturated with ammonia. You think you have a mastitis problem now, just stand back.

N

Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

19

Put energy into production There is a buzzword applied to pasture management — me.

But not in the sense of me, myself and I — it is a capitalised ME and it stands for metabolisable energy Post the winter months there is often a downfall in spring feed quality with pastures adapting to new temperatures and good advice from NZ Agriseed is that it’s important to monitor and manage your post-grazing regime.

If you leave the paddock in the right condition after grazing, it will re-grow leafy, high ME feed for the next round.

This simply involves grazing to ensure emerging seed heads are nipped off before they can mature, and dead leaf material is prevented from building up at the base of the plant.

In wet weather, particularly on heavy soils, it’s often not possible to achieve low residuals.

In the case of too much grass in a paddock, silage may be a good option.

Light silage crops allow the paddock to come back swiftly and in good quality if conditions change.

Nitrogen can help promote the rapid turnover of ryegrass tillers that takes place at this time of the year, and boost plant growth through late November and into December.

Pasture renovation is one of the best investments you can ever make in your farm.

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Annual dry matter production ranges through a wide spectrum between the various paddocks on just about every farm and by measuring the growth in each paddock, it’s becomes easy to identify which ones are really putting the brake on overall production.

The precise way to grow

These are the paddocks that should be selected for renovation. And try and fix the reasons for poor production.

Run-out pastures may be only part of the reason for poor growth. Check the other usual suspects — drainage, fertility, compaction, weed and pest pressure.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

Aerators reap benefits

After the rains

Increase yields Improve drainage Pasture recovery

The equinox has been pretty kind to Northland farms after a late winter dry period and with spring temperatures it bodes well for the region's pasture growth, provided those westerlies don't suck up too much moisture Dairying advisors are firm in their recommendations that effective use of spring growth is a vital spingboard into summer, which as we have experienced, can produce lengthy dry periods — a fact driven home a couple of seasons back.

With adverse growth in the dry, a key management task is best practise grazing management in summer and autumn which helps contribute to the overall result of those good practises applied in spring.

At the end of the day we are all grass growers and we use our livestock to manage that growth with the ultimate strategy being to produce enough goodquality forage to keep livestock in peak condition.

Of course, different livestock have different feed requirements.

The Farm Environment Trust offers a number of guidelines to good pasture management. These include keeping a healthy residual cover to protect the soil, by avoiding overstocking and overgrazing, keeping stock pressure light during wet periods to reduce pugging damage and using different stock types to control weeds, reducing both workload and the need for costly chemicals.

It goes without saying that in the first instance, establishing and maintaining pasture species that

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Strategic subdivision also allows you to manage different soils according to their specific needs both improving pasture production and protecting soils.

The farm computer can come into play too, as it's an easy way to keep track of pasture reserves and simplify the process of allocating feed better and avoid grazing stress. Use drainage to prevent soil and pasture damage and runoff.

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One of the most common problems facing farmers today is a lack of clover in their pastures. A healthy pasture should have 1/3 clover as part of its make up. This is considered ideal for a balanced and productive Parker Lime co :: knowLedge Base pasture that performs One of the ways to test for efficiently. Recently we have the right environment of micro organisms is the earth noticed a lack of clover in our worm population and a farmers pastures and asked ourselves why? soil with balanced nutrients at a PH of 6.3-6.5 usually provides the right house for

Extensive research and soil testing has shown that the microorganisms. this deficiency the Benefits of heaLthy Lthy soiL: L is due to an imbalance of minerals in our soils. The n Optimum clover nitrogen relationship that nutrients such as magnesium and fixing qualities boron play along with others is vital to maintain n Improved pasture sugar content a balanced and productive soil that encourages n Increased pasture yields healthy clover production. n Lower risk of fungal & insect attacks

To correct these imbalances we will create a tailored fertiliser mix to suit your soils individual needs. This mix will benefit your particular pasture with the long term goals of higher yields and lower input costs through fertile and healthy soils.

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September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

“We will certainly be growing more PAC 624 this year”

Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz The No-Tillage Seed drill

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Before Northland Operations Manager Kelly Ludlow of KVL Ltd recommended PAC 624 from Pacific Seeds last year he spent some time evaluating the hybrid to ensure it was the right option for his rural clients “That research showed a hybrid with the strong agronomic traits suited to this region,” he said. “That information was further supported by feed back that we received from other local growers who had planted PAC 624 during the previous year.”

A silage only maize hybrid, with a 114 CRM, PAC 624 is a large robust plant with good stalk and root strength, very large cobs, good disease resistance and high yields of soft starchy grain — even at lower planting rates.

It also has a slow dry down which provides a long harvest window, allowing growers the opportunity to harvest at ideal maturity levels for optimal silage quality.

“These strong attributes have really impressed our customers throughout

Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty,” said Pacific Seeds Regional Manager Barry Smallridge.

Positive comments received from these growers have included things like ‘higher ME levels than have been achieved previously with alternative hybrids’, and ‘excellent cob to stover ratios and standability’.

For Kelly’s clients, who collectively planted 75 hectares of PAC 624, the results were equally impressive, particularly in regard to the hybrids’ excellent staygreen and strong resistance to Northern Leaf blight.

“Last year was extremely dry, and whilst other hybrids were pineappling all around us, PAC 624 really stood up to everything our Northland weather could throw at it.

“Best of all, and despite the drought, it still yielded an average 25 tonnes per hectare of DM, with the best property doing 30 tonnes DM,” said Kelly.

“We’ll be increasing our planting to 100 hectares this season.”

For further details contact Barry Smallridge of Pacific Seeds.

Ph 027 494 7706 or visit www.pacificseeds. co.nz.

Hear growers talk PAC 624 @ www.pacificseeds.co.nz

THEY’RE COMING BACK FOR MORE

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FARM

Wheels

Northern

September 2011

New on the workhorse front The farm vehicle market offers a wide choice as work gears up for spring and summer with Polaris introducing updated machines, all with advanced features and versatile configurations. Honda’s Big Red also catches the eye.

Farming Lifestyles has a closer look at what’s on offer.

New to the Polaris Ranger utility vehicle lineup is the mid-size Ranger 500 with electronic fuel injection, a fourperson Ranger Crew 500 and the Ranger Diesel.

The Ranger 500 EFI is built with the same two-seat chassis as the Ranger 400 but with a 499-cc EFI engine and full instrumentation. The engine provides 32 hp for a top speed of 44 mph. The smaller chassis allows the vehicle to fit in the back of a pickup, while still offering a big towing and payload capacity.

In addition, Polaris is offering a Ranger Crew 500 with the same features as the side-by-side but with room for four passengers.

The Ranger Diesel is the company’s first entry into the diesel utility vehicle market.

Honda’s MUV, the Big Red, is updated this year. Bridging the gap between a tough work rig and a sharp sport machine, the Big Red is a comfortable, fun ride but make no mistake, it leans heavily toward the realm of hard labour.

The 2011 Big Red doesn’t look much different from the previous model, but minor changes make it more usable.

The oversized rear box is now rated for double the previous cargo rating. Additionally, towing capacity has increased. It also features an updated single bench seat made from durable

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FA R M M A C H I N E RY

24

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles – Farm Wheels

FA R M W H E E L S

A case for tractor grunt

One of the most powerful front wheel drive tractors yet has come off the production line at Case IH in the US, aimed at the corporation’s 4,000 worldwide dealers for the 2012 market.

The company has sneak-previewed a new Magnum 370 CVT model at this year’s US Farm Progress Show, and after a testing regime over all sorts of farming conditions and varying climates the new

machine is slated to be available here by late next year, or early in 1213.

“The new Magnum 370 CVT will represent our most powerful MFD tractor yet, and continue to deliver the efficient power that the Magnum series is known for,” said, Case IH marketing manager John Bohker.

The model will offer operator-friendly continuously variable transmission, CVT,

across the entire Magnum lineup, including the current 235, 260, 290, 315 and 340 models.

on today’s bigger planting and tillage tools, allowing producers to expand their operation.”

The new machine has an efficient 8.7L Case IH FPT engine, which delivers up to 419 maximum boosted engine horsepower. To harness this added power, it will employ a heavier final drive and rear axle assembly. In addition, selective catalytic reduction, SCR technology allows delivery of maximum power with top fuel efficiency for a lower operating cost.

With its world-wide headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. The company provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a wide network of professional dealers and distributors.

“With the CVT transmission, you can go from 0 to 30mph without having to manually shift, says Bohker.

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“You get the optimum combination of power, efficiency and ease of operation.

“With the CVT and added power in the Magnum 370, producers can take

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Farm Wheels – Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

25

FA R M W H E E L S

On farm quad safety checks Health and safety inspectors from the Department of Labour have already begun farm visits to check on how quad bikes are being used on farms.

Around 400 farms across New Zealand, starting with those in Kaipara and Rodney can expect checks from inspectors in the next few months.

The visits began early this month — the day after a man died in a quad accident in Albany and a Northland teenager was seriously injured as the result of rolling his quad at Kauri a few days later.

Quad bikes are involved in approximately 28 percent of all work-related farm deaths.

Every year, five people die and 850 people are injured while riding quad bikes on farms.

Last year in Northland three people died on their farm after being pinned by their quad. In all three cases, the deceased was either self-employed or the employer on the farm and had the responsibility for their safety and the safety of others.

The department launched a safety campaign in an attempt to reduce this toll. The latest round of farm visits follow on from previous visits in April to mid-June this year, where 376 farms across the country were visited as part of the quad bike safety campaign.

Of those farms visited, 117 received written warnings or improvement notices requiring them to take action to improve the way quad bikes were being used on their farm.

“From September to November we’ll be back out talking to farmers in a bid to reduce the number of serious quad bike accidents on farms,” says the Department’s Deputy Chief Executive, Labour Group, Lesley Haines.

“The statistics say it all — we must bring this toll down,” she said.

The Department launched its quad bike safety campaign last year — it has four key safety steps; to ensure riders are

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trained and experienced; to always wear a helmet; to never let kids ride adult quad bikes and to choose the right vehicle for the job.

“Farms are workplaces and farmers must remember they have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their staff,” Ms Haines says.

“We’re challenging unsafe behaviour on quad bikes. That means regularly getting out and ensuring farmers are taking the right safety steps.

“Where we find people working with quad bikes in a dangerous way we will take action. This can range from warnings or penalties, to stopping quad bikes being used until safety issues have been rectified.”

The Department will consider prosecution where a worker has been seriously injured or killed at work because key safety steps have not been taken, she said.

An interim update on the spring quad bike farm visits will be provided in late October.

Guidelines for the Safe Use of Quad Bikes is available from the Department of Labour website.

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26

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

Read the paper online

FARM BUILDINGS Character both new and old

www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

by Paul Campbell

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The choice of building materials and components and the way they are put together has a huge bearing on the appearance and indeed the performance of farm buildings Drive rural New Zealand today and you will see everything from a crazily leaning old disused cow shed, to an ultra modern stainless steel dairying centre, with a widely varying quality of building in between.

The history of modern farm building can be traced to the development of wide span roof trusses and the use of steel. In the 21st century, roof spans of more than 40 metres are achievable. There are three main forms of rural building construction today.

Frame construction, sometimes described as a ‘umbrella’ building, is usually constructed of steel portal frames — supports and rafters — with a clear span of 10 to 30 metres. The infill walls between the columns are filled with brick or concrete blocks and/or steel, or timber cladding, and the roof covered with steel, with modern designs a quantum leap forward from the ubiquitous kiwi corrugated iron.

Insulate your walls before painting or renovating

photo courtesy Aztech Farm Buildings

The advantages of this structure are rapid construction. The frame can normally be erected in a day and the roof cladding in a week which then protects the site from the weather and allows walls, floors and internal fittings to be completed without interference from the elements.

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

27

No Trees?

No problem!

FARM BUILDINGS

S L I A S E D A H S

by SHADE SYSTEMS

Load bearing walls support the roof and are usually made of brick or concrete block. Increasing, affluent lifestylers are using stone as a feature, but unless it’s a Matamata race horse stud or a Northland winery, it’s a rare sight on a fully working farm.

This construction is reserved usually for most farm domestic housing, since it’s difficult to change building use when walls, internal divisions and the roof are integral parts of the structure.

Timber frame construction still dominates rural building, clad in ply or steel — light, relatively cheap and commonly used for poultry or pigs. Naturally, farm types dictate farm buildings.

Outbuildings for most animal farms will include a hay barn and its here that we begin to see a little original thinking come into play. There is something of a growing trend towards composite building especially on smaller farms and lifestyle blocks.

This is the barn home concept, with living quarters tacked on to a utilitarian shed which may house anything from ride-ons to tractors, horses to hay.

The writer recently visited a home in Northland that has emerged from a century old shearing shed, and the addition of modern facilities, and of course an extensive refurbishment and lining of

the original structure has created a home of considerable character.

My host, perhaps jokingly, suggested at at a pinch, he could fire up the machinery that is now more a decorative feature and ‘run a mob through the lounge.’

Underneath the original woolshed, the area has been converted at one end of the building into a garage, both for farm machinery and the family car and bikes.

At the other end of the structure, a stable annex has been built for the kid’s ponies, as well as a couple of show-jumpers that are a family passion, leading out to an exercise area.

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One consideration though that many, especially new rural dwellers often forget is the necessity for secure storage.

Chemicals and fuel are a volatile mix, and on most established farm properties, these storage areas are well removed from domestic tenure.

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28

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

GORSE GONE IN A DAY Improve your land’s value in hours by removing gorse and other noxious weeds without chemical sprays Transforming paddocks from unusable eyesores into great looking areas that help pay for themselves is keeping Ken Borg’s company busy.

Ken has been in business since 1997 as a qualified builder and started All About Earth Moving 2005 to offer clients a range of land enhancement services.

The purchase of an $80,000 mulching attachment to his digger gave the company an edge and led the company into a whole new area of land clearing services.

The firm’s go-anywhere digger is able to clear acres of gorse, long grass and noxious weeds in a matter of hours.

“Land is expensive and so owners need to make every inch pay for itself,” says Ken. “Whether they want to increase grazing land for their cattle or increase the land’s resale value, removing unwanted shrubbery such as gorse can make a big difference.”

All About Earth Moving’s services really is a case of ‘no job too big’ as its machinery is able to access any gradient and plough into gorse the size of trees — and mulch it down to nothing.

“The mulcher is very powerful and can turn gorse into tiny fragments,” says Ken. “Getting good results is far quicker than spraying which can take months to kill gorse. Even after gorse is dead, it still sits on the land looking brown and horrible – it can take years to deteriorate and break down.

“Using the mulcher gives an instant result, the gorse is there one moment and gone the next.”

Mulching gorse saves on using expensive and dangerous chemical sprays too, says Ken. “There is a place for spraying gorse because we all know that this is a hardy weed that doesn’t die easily,” says Ken. “Gorse seeds can live in the ground for up to 50 years — so the best anyone can do is manage the problem.”

Ken recommends people save money by using a selective spray on gorse re-sprouting that may appear the following season after the machine has been over the land.

“Gorse can really choke up the land, so by removing it we give grass a chance to grow,” says Ken. “Of course, gorse may begin to sprout in time, so we recommend the land owner keep an eye on this and perform targeted spraying when required, normally the following season.

“This saves a fortune in chemicals and is better for the land. Mass spraying of large areas is not something I would recommend as it can also take out native bush that you are trying to keep.

“Mulching breaks up the gorse so it rots down and puts nutrients into the soil to promote grass growth, the mulch also stops soil run off when it rains.

Ken says real estate agents value the work his firm does as removing gorse increases the chances of land being sold.

“Real estate agents know we can make land far more attractive and sellable — after all — who wants to buy land covered in acres of gorse and other noxious weeds?

“What we can offer people is a very quick way to add value to their land. So it is a perfect solution for land owners who need to free land up for grazing live stock.”

Apart from gorse, All About Earth Moving can remove all sorts of noxious weeds on steep hills, including trees still standing in place down to ground level.

“Using track grips fitted to our digger means our machinery can go anywhere,” says Ken. ”And while long grass may not be such a big problem during winter, in summer it can be a fire hazard. We can remove it quickly and easily and give landowners peace of mind.”

Some people find it hard to understand what an effective job the company’s machinery can do.

“So we had a video made so people can see with their own eyes how we can transform a paddock in hours — anyone can watch it on our website,” says Ken. Using such powerful machinery, health and safety comes first, second and third for Ken. “The safety of people, livestock and property is the top priority for us,” he says. “We understand we are working on other people’s land with very powerful machinery. So health and safety is a priority.”

Naturally, the company is fully insured so landowners can be confident that if anything untoward did happen on site, they will not be left out of pocket.

“Our business is built on our reputation, people trust us and building on that trust is very important to me personally,” says Ken. Watch All About Earth Moving’s video at the company’s website: www.allaboutearthmoving.co.nz For more details about the company’s range of services, call: 0800 600 500, 09 425 4520 or 021 635 577.

Email: Ken@allaboutearthmoving.co.nz

IS GORSE OR SCRUB ERODING YOUR LAND’S PRODUCTIVITY? Before...

After!

For an online video demonstration visit www.allaboutearthmoving.co.nz

We’ll make quick work of the tallest gorse on steep, hard-to-reach sites.

Also ask us about mulching whole trees in place, storm damage work, k k, shelter belt removal, scrub and other noxious weed removal - spray-free! $5,000,000 Public Liability Insurance covering all fire risk

Call Ke K Ken n Borg r rg 0800 600 500 | 021 63 55 77 A/Hrs 09 425 4520 | Fax a 09 425 4521 ax ken@allabouteart ken@allaboutearthmoving.co.nz r hmoving.co.nz rt www.allabouteart r hmoving.co.nz rt www.allaboutearthmoving.co.nz

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Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

Legal matters with Graham Day

How to fire a farm worker — and not get sued I recently read two interesting news stories about employment law.

Because employment issues are a concern of many farmers I felt I should share these, and offer some tips to avoid common problems.

In the first, the Employment Relations Authority found that a farming company unjustifiably dismissed a milker. After an argument in the milking shed the company director told her to ‘take your apron off and bugger off’. The worker was also called a ‘silly b****’. The argument started when the milker’s dog was found to be in the milking shed pit, which was against the rules. The company was said to have not followed ‘fair and reasonable’ procedures when dismissing her.

The company was ordered to pay the milker $6,000 for ‘injury to her feelings’, over $4,000 for wages in arrears, and nine weeks lost wages and holiday pay (exact figure undisclosed, but approximately $4,000).

The second story was about an annual report of the Authority’s decisions. The report indicated that around three quarters of employers who lost personal grievance cases did so due to inadequate procedures. The report also indicated that the average cost to an employer who defends employment proceedings and lost was $34,411.

As the report has confirmed, and the above case illustrates, the steps to fire an employee are often insufficient.

The dismissal is considered ‘unjustified’ simply because the employer has not gone through the proper process.

So what is the correct process?

How can you be sure you don’t fall into this trap? Case law has said there are minimum requirements which you must adhere to. These are: The worker must be: given notice of the specific allegation of misconduct; given notice of a meeting to discuss the allegation; told that dismissal could be

Ruarangi Quarry, Paparoa/Oakleigh Road, Ruarangi supplies a wide variety of aggregate, including excellent Quarry Run for farm raceways.

Millbrook Quarry, Waipu, supplies among other aggregates, Waipu Stone for paving and

Enjoy this All American Favourite: Sloppy Joe with Greek One Spice®

Ingredients • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan • 1 1/4 pounds prime beef • 1/4 cup soft brown sugar • 2–3 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon Greek One Spice • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 small red bell pepper, chopped • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 2 cups tomato puree • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 4 Hamburger buns

Directions Step 1. Brown meat in oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar and Greek One Spice then add to skillet, mix throughout.

Step 2. When the meat has browned, add onion, red peppers red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet.

Reduce heat to medium, cook for 5 minutes.

Step 3. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer.

Serve on Hamburger buns

Spice up your life!

Graham Day Solicitor, Law North Limited

the outcome of a planned investigation; given a real opportunity to explain or refute the allegation; and there must be an unbiased consideration of the explanation.

By working your way through the steps above you will be in a much better position if you have to defend your actions. The key is to not fly off the handle and let the situation get out of hand. An employment law argument is like an avalanche: when the argument gathers momentum it can be impossible to stop it before it causes a big mess for those involved.

As always, if you are unsure, take professional advice. Seeking advice and then acting on that advice is a sure-fire way to demonstrate that you have acted reasonably.

Graham Day is a lawyer at Law North Limited in Kerikeri. He can be contacted on 09 407 7099 or gad@lawnorth.co.nz. Feedback and suggestions for future articles is appreciated.

Earthworks, Drainage, Roadworks Phone all hours A & S Contractors is a local family firm, and with their team, operate three quarries and offer a range of contracting services from farm and development road work, building sites, to spreading crushed metal on to roadways. Delivery is a specialty.

29

building work, in colours from blue and green through to shades of terracotta. Landmark buildings of Waipu including Waipu’s House of Memories are fine examples of this beautiful stone. Waipu Stone feature rocks were the markers used for the ‘Heritage Trail’ of the history of the Waipu area.

Brewer’s Road Quarry, Poroti has high grade Basalt Rock used mainly for embankment stabilisation and Coastal protection work.

Greek One Spice — Original • Use instead of salt & pepper • Cut back on your salt intake by 80% • Contains 84 essential minerals! ® • Gluten free & vegetarian.

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Septic Tank Owners

How you can save money by keeping your septic system effective and healthy Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them.

Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur.

Good and best economical practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained.

A malfunctioning septic system can become a health hazard.

When a system is not maintained or operated as a delicately balanced environment, problems occur.

These problems include nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface, toilets gurgling and taking time to empty.

At this stage your septic system is a serious health hazard to you and your children. Human waste produces faecal coliform bacteria, a source of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis as well as Hepatitis A and other diseases. Hepatitis can be a debilitating condition and cause long-term harm to children.

There are only three remedies.

One: stop using the septic system until it recovers.

This can take over a month and is not normally practical. Two: excavate your septic system and relocate it. This is very costly and time consuming, sometimes requiring new resource consents and different systems. Three: treat your septic system with Septi-Cure™ every six months.

Septi-Cure is Cost effective.

By far the most cost effective solution is to pour one litre of Septi-Cure™ down each toilet bowl every six months. This simple action will help keep your system working at top efficiency by reducing solids and scum. Instead of emptying your tank frequently, the reduction in solids and scum saves you expensive pump out costs. Your irrigation field and leach lines will become clear of slimes and

b blockages so nature can handle the gradual seepage and evaporation for you. When this is happening your system will be operating effectively and not endangering you or your family’s health.

What is Septi-Cure™ Septi-Cure™ is a concentrated mixture of selected naturally occurring microorganisms. These harmless tiny organisms live and multiply by feeding on waste material. When introduced to your septic tank system, they go to work straight away digesting waste material, reducing solids and scum, allowing your septic system to start operating to its maximum efficiency. As they progress through to your irrigation field they feed on the slimes that prevent seepage and evaporation. When seepage and evaporation return to normal, you have reduced the risk of contaminating groundwater and the environment as well as reducing the chances of infection for you and your family. Eventually, they get washed out of the system and have to be replaced to continue their work. This is why you introduce Septi-Cure™ to your septic system every six months for maximum efficiency.

Ron Simpson of Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for three years.

He says this allows them to have an odour-free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition.

Problematic septic tanks – treat with Septi-Cure™.

Prevent septic system problems – treat with Septi-Cure™.

For Septi-Cure™- Call: 0800-109-202 Website: www.ecoworld.co.nz Also Available in Farmlands

30

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

Fishing Hunting

Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz Can’t read the paper online because your broadband is slow and unreliable?

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HUNTING PERMITS ARE FREE FOR NORTHLAND! You can now get a hunting permit from the Department of Conservation website (www.doc.govt.nz) and print it off in your own home.

This gives you the freedom to hunt in many great reserves around the region!

Please read the permit conditions carefully. If you have a dog, you will also need a current kiwi/bird aversion certificate to get a hunting permit. This is because our very own Northland brown kiwi are under threat from dogs.

Any dog of any age, breed, size and background can kill a kiwi!

Having your dog trained to avoid kiwi does help. Training is free and run regularly around the region. Simply contact your nearest Department of Conservation office.

Pheasant release marks 150 years of Fish and Game

Northland Fish and Game released 150 pheasants — sought after game birds, in the Aupouri Forest on the weekend.

The release marked one hundred and fifty years of work to introduce and manage fish and game in New Zealand.

The exotic forest has been open to hunters for the game bird hunting season for more than 40 years.

Northland Fish and Game regional manager, Rudi Hoetjes, says the company proposes hunters pay a small levy on their permit to hunt in the forest to help fund Fish and Game’s predator control operations.

The crown owned land is managed by Juken New Zealand who paid $2,000 towards the cost of pheasants and has provided extra funds for maize to be fed to the birds following their release.

The project is to help boost pheasant breeding and numbers.

“We are grateful to Juken for their assistance with the project which should lift the prospects for game bird hunters to harvest more birds from the forest,” said Mr Hoejtes.

The 150 pheasants were transported from Lakelands Upland Game property in to 27ft boats the Waikato.

Their release is a very fitting way to celebrate 150 years of work by acclimatisation societies which were set up in 1861 to look at introducing new species as long as they weren’t ‘noxious’.

By the 1890s, acclimatisation societies focussed on species for hunting and fishing such as deer, game birds, trout and salmon.

In the 1990s, the societies changed to the Fish and Game Councils around the country.

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Pheasant in NZ

The first English pheasants arrived in Wellington in 1842 and further liberations resulted in the bird being abundant in both islands by 1870.

Due to eating poisoned grain used for rabbit eradication the pheasant population then plunged into a rapid decline, from which it has never recovered.

The later release of stoats and weasels to quell the rabbit plague added further to the decline in pheasant numbers.

Today there are enough pheasants for seasonal hunting, assisted in some regions by annual releases of hand reared stock.

The pheasants stronghold is in the warmer climate of the far north although some exist in limited numbers around the Nelson area and some coastal riverbeds and a few other isolated habitats in Canterbury.

Pheasants are found in a variety of habitats but mostly in open farmland near rough scrub, hedges or trees which provides essential escape cover.

They feed on a wide range of berries, seeds and other vegetation.

Cock pheasants are polygamous and mate with several hens. Nesting usually begins in September and may continue through to January. Six to 14 eggs are laid in a hollow in the ground located in thick cover.

Only cock pheasants can be hunted.

The North Island season begins in May and continues throughout August. In some regions the season is a month shorter and in the South Island pheasant shooting may only be permitted for a single day. source: www.fishandgame.org.nz

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Northern Farming Lifestyles  September 2011

SOUND DAIRY INVESTMENT

Whangarei

Mangapai Caves Road

Auction 12.30pm,

On offer is a 215ha self contained dairy unit just off the state highway south of Whangarei.

Milking and wintering 388 cows, the property carries all stock and produces all feed (40 ton PK excepted). No maize is fed, the property features a high percentage of new grasses. Well situated with good water, two homes, a full range of farm buildings and offered with 92,900 shares, our vendors are leaving the industry so the herd may be available if required.

Those looking for a top dairy unit in a sought after area should inspect.

3 Nov 2011 (unless sold prior) Bayleys, Laurie Hall Lane, Whangarei View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/185365

Tony Grindle M 021 432 308 B 09 430 0032 tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz

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MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

ENTRY DAIRY UNIT - SUPERIOR LOCATION

Dargaville

State Highway 12, Parore

Auction 12.30pm, 3 Nov 2011 (unless sold prior)

On offer is a 110ha self contained dairy unit just minutes from Dargaville and handy to Baylys Beach. Milking and wintering 190 cows, the property carries all stock and produces all feed (50 ton PK excepted). Offering fertile peat flats and a small quantity of gentle hill, the farm is well set up and is offered with 60,000 Fonterra shares. The property boasts a well presented four bedroom kauri villa, extensive farm buildings, good water, new effluent system and multiple titles go some way to complete the picture.

No capital costs required, walk in and start farming!

www.bayleys.co.nz

Bayleys, Laurie Hall Lane, Whangarei

View by appointment Tony Grindle

M 021 432 308 B 09 430 0032 tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

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LOWER NORTHLAND COASTAL DAIRY

Tapora

312 Okahukura Road

Auction 12.30pm, 10 Nov 2011 (unless sold prior)

This well run coastal farm totals 128ha and is situated 25 minutes west from Wellsford on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour. Boasting a mix of sought after soil types the farm currently milks 270 cows from the 110ha milking platform with an average production in the vicinity of 92,000kgms. Solely a spring milk farm this unit operates as an intensive platform where the free draining sand soils come into their own. With a good range of homes and farm buildings the property has all capital costs met. Extensive regrassing, good fertility levels and full shares to the Tapora community water scheme, this property is a very good first farm or additional investment unit.

Bayleys, 14 Florence Ave, Orewa

View Open Day 28 Sept, 8 & 12 Oct, 11-1pm www.bayleys.co.nz/185374

Tony Grindle M 021 432 308 B 09 430 0032 tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

DAIRY WITH CASH FLOW

Maungaturoto

934 Golden Stairs Road

For Sale $2,190,000+GST View phone for viewing times

This property represents as a solid performing lower Northland dairy unit.

Consisting of 120.8ha the farm has an increasing production graph and is being sold with 70,800 shares. Featuring a fertile rolling platform, new effluent system, great water supply, a current shed and plant, two good homes and with a quarry that earns the landowner substantial royalties. Real opportunity exists here for further development of both the quarry and the production.

Situated between Waipu, Paparoa and Tauraroa this property makes very good financial sense.

www.bayleys.co.nz

www.bayleys.co.nz/185541

Tony Grindle M 021 432 308 B 09 430 0032 tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

Kiwi riders shine at Burghley

by Emma Jones, Reporter Country 99 TV Kiwi eventers have dominated the top twenty placings at the prestigious Burghley Horse Trial this year, taking out three of the top five spots.

Within a whisker of winning, both Andrew Nicholson and Caroline Powell were in with a chance, with one show jumping rail between the top four after the cross country event.

But after a very sticky show jumping course it was Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt on his kiwi-bred steed Parkland Hawk, who took the title for the sixth time, a new record for the event.

World Champs bronze medallist Andrew Nicholson had two horses in the top five, going into the final show jumping phase, but three rails on Avebury saw them slip from second to eighth spot, and even a clear on Nereo just wasn’t enough to edge out Fox-Pitt.

Defending champ and crowd pleaser duo, Caroline Powell and Lenamore, had two rails down in the show jumping, and finished fourth. First time Burghley competitor, Jonathan Paget, finished fifth on Clifton Lush, and was twelfth on his World Championship horse, Clifton Promise.

Mark Todd rode Major Milestone to a brilliant clear round to finish in fourteenth spot, with Clarke Johnstone and Incognito III also going clear to finish in seventeenth position.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand eventing high performance leader, Erik Duvander, told Country99TV reporter Emma Jones the Kiwi team had high expectations.

“We arrived at Burghley with a whole bunch of horses that were looking really competitive. I would say in general we did very, very well. Having four riders in the top eight is brilliant, but I know the riders all really wanted to win.”

Mr Duvander said it was just devastating to see Caroline Powell and Andrew Nicholson just miss out on the win. “When you see horses like Lenamore who is a legend, having rails, it is just devastating, obviously.

Caroline is such a great rider, she deserved another win at Burghley, and same thing with Andrew Nicholson on Averbury, who was very well positioned before the show jumping.

“We had a lot of rain on the day and the conditions worsened, and the final horses that went into the ring, got the worst ground compared to the earlier horses. I feel sorry for them because they put everything into it, but it didn’t come off for them today, that’s for sure.”

Mr Duvander says the strength of the placings at Burghley show a team that looks promising heading towards the London Olympics for 2012. “Four New Zealanders in the top eight is brilliant.”

The NZ team is really getting momentum here and they are looking very good. We’ve still got a bit more work to do and there is still a lot of improvements to be done, but we are in a good place.

Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

New website launched New Zealand Young Farmer’s new look, easy to use website is now live.

The new NZYF website boasts features such as individual pages, with meeting times and contact details, for each of the organisation’s 86 Clubs.

It is also up to date with the 2011 National Competition results along with photos from the TBfree NZYF Annual Conference earlier this year.

A strong focus of the website is on the opportunities NZYF offer its members; from tertiary scholarships to industry opportunities such as international scholarship tours and representing New Zealand abroad.

Head to www.youngfarmers. co.nz to see the new site.

Great Property — Bargain Price $125,000

Te Kopuru

9kms south of Dargaville — 10 minutes drive to Glinks Gully and Ripiro Beach, the longest driveable beach in NZ

Great little home with heaps of potential or a base from which to enjoy the wonders of the Kauri Coast, the forests, the lakes and the beach

Country99TV will be screening coverage of the event on October 7 at 9.00pm.

2-bedroom cottage with covered deck, powered single garage with workshop, single carport and garden shed all on a large well planted section close to shop, school and play centre.

BIOLOO

COMpOStING tOILEtS • No ground or water pollution • No water or chemicals required • No Bad Smells • No need for outside contractors for servicing • As used by the Department of Conservation • Water tanks and grey systems also available

ND NEW ZEALA IGNED MADE & DES Freephone 0800 BIO LOO

(246 566)

Email vanb@wave.co.nz Web www.bioloo.co.nz

33

Phone Allan on 09 439 6933 or 021 439 697

tWO SIZES AVAILABLE – FAMILY & LARGE

Farmers oF New ZealaNd

Phone 09 439 5219 — Fax 09 439 5719 — P.O. Box 484, Whangarei, Northland email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz — www.newzealandfarmers.com

34

September 2011

Northern Farming Lifestyles

Northern Rural Marketplace Acraflex Dairy Wall Coatings New or existing walls

AFFCO LIVESTOCK Terry North

Smart new homes…

Able to be applied between milkings during summer months

Colourcrete Dairy Floor Resurfacing System Suitable for repairing damaged dairy floors or slippery areas Bruce Cameron 027 498 8412 / 09 235 8263

Anlyn Piling & Contracting Ltd Whangarei

Andy Payne

• Pile Driving & Drilling • Farm & Rural Bridges • Dams • Retaining Walls • Earthmoving • Drain Cleaning • House Sites • Races & Driveways • 12 T & 5 T Diggers • 6 Wheel Tipper • Bulldozer & Sheepsfoot We dig your dirt

Visit:

FAST BUILD | 0800 327 828

ATS

ProPerty Maintenance & rePair

10% discount for senior citizens

email: anlynpiling@value.net.nz After hours & Fax 09 436 2982

CARS WANTED TOYOTA HIACE, HILUX, LANDCRUISER AND ALL TYPES OF TRUCKS, VANS AND 4WDS

TOWED AWAY FREE!

No job small Ringtoo Andrew

Ph/fax 09 439 8628 Cell 027 455 7750

Better Health

Less Metabolics

FENCING SERVICES LTD Solo KnapSacK SprayerS partS, SaleS & Service Wire netting cut to length WaratahS 1.5m to 2.4m long galv WaratahS 1.5m to 1.8m long

Implements irect

Maungaturoto Flooring Co

PH 0800 733 355

Do you need plants for a revegetation or landscaping project?

Choose from our range of trees, shrubs, hedging plants, flaxes, ornamentals, ground covers and grasses.

Prices start at just $2.50 per plant plus GST with great discounts for purchases of 50 plants or more.

Enquiries welcome, phone 09 439 4223 or email lbright@xtra.co.nz

Phone Craig 021 440 634 09 439 6465

CALL GRANT PH/FAX 09 438 9330 113 LOWER CAMERON ST, WHANGAREI

*Post hole borers *Box Graders *3 pt Scoops *Concrete mixers *Wood Chippers DEMO VIDEOS AND MORE

Wholesale plant supplier specialising in New Zealand natives and coastal tolerant plants

Commercial • Industrial Domestic • Dairy

phone 0800 4 DOLOMITE 0800 436 566 Bio-Gro certified

for tractor attachments visit us online

BABYLON COAST GARDENS Ltd

C&C Contract Electrical

PH. JAMES 0800 442 445 More Milk

Phone 09 439 5902

Mobile 027 484 1823 • Fax 09 439 1320

www.advancebuild.co.nz

Fences & Repairs • Kitchen/Bathroom Fit Outs Wet Wall Lining • Flooring Repairs • Decks • Water Blasting & Chemical Washes • Windows & Latches • Plus Much More

027 543 7244

WE PAY TOP CASH

Enquire today: 0800

Free parking and we don’t run late

Neil Johnson P: (09) 438 4273

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING®

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

Instructions supplied with the fitting.

$20 plus p&p

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING 21 LITCHFIELD ST, BLENHEIM

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

FARMERS – How clean is your water?

Would you drink the water out of your troughs?

Now is your best time to service your water system…

Give us a call and let’s check it out.

• Carpet & vinyl • Residential & commercial • Floor preparation • Top quality installations • Measure & quote • Mobile service Galvanized Towbar BUY ONLINE $195 Inc GST

www.implementsdirect.co.nz

PHONE 09 438 9103 (24HRS) CALL FREE 0800 McQUINN

0800 627 8466 148 Lower Dent Street, Whangarei

Ph 09 431 1017 Ah 09 431 8760 Mobile 021 515 415 Christine Barrott

www.mcquinnpumps.co.nz

For all your:

◆concreting◆fencing◆ ◆retaining wall work◆

Doug Wilson Manager Phone: Fax: Mobile: Email:

Phone Mike O’Halloran Concreting

021 88 22 86

Make Your Life easier! use our services now!

• Pipe & Steel Supplies • LTNZ Approved Workshop • General, Agricultural & Structural Engineering • Mobile Welding Services • General Repairs & Maintenance • 2 Ton Gantry Crane • Plate Roller, Profile Cutter & Press Brake • de-CRAP-it®, Landplane®, Serious Incinerator® • Field Rollers, Water Carts • Kumara Gear

Newman Engineering (2004) LTD Ph 09 439 5065 Dargaville www.newmanengineering.co.nz

MARGARET & JOHN BISHOP

TANK WATER TESTING

High Quality, Reliable Microbiological Testing Of Tank and Bore Water.

Collected samples are tested at a MOH Certified Laboratory and a printed report (with recommendations) issued.

Ph (09) 422 9345 or E-mail tankwater@xtra.co.nz

09 430 2934 09 430 2936 0274 302 934 dougw@nrh.co.nz

Specialising in Fertiliser and Metal cartage.

30 Tonne units available.

We cover your country!

DOMESTIC AND RURAL INSTALLATIONS

• • • • •

ALL ELECTRICAL AND ALTERNATIVE POWER NEEDS WHANGAREI BASED Domestic installation and improvements Wind Turbines • Hydro Solar Panels • Inverters Herd Homes • Rural Based Guaranteed Workmanship

CALL PHIL 027 436 5445 A/H 436 5442

Lifestyler_120911_v1.pdf 1 12/09/2011 1:21:57 p.m.

Northern Farming Lifestyles September 2011

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NORTHERN FARMING CLASSIFIEDS Reach 33,300 Rural Homes — Phone 0800 466 793 For Sale

For Sale

Work Wanted

Rural Supplies

4 SALE YEARLING PEDIGREE red poll bulls.

Phone 09 439 1834.

NEED NEW ATV TYRES? GET 20% OFF RRP & FREE FITTING at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi.

Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. Be quick – offer ends 30/08/11.

BACK 2 WOOD Demolition. For your renovation needs. Servicing Northland – Auckland. Specialising in windows, doors and ranchsliders. Also kitchens, vanities, roofing and more. www.back2wood.co.nz.

Ph 09 408 7163.

WATER TANKS! PROMAX. SPECIAL PRICE! PLUS BONUS FREE CHANNELLOCK PLIERS with every TANK this month only. Fittings, valves, troughs, pipes, taps. Shop online at www.nzplumbingsupplies.co.nz or call 0800 428 376

FURNITURE MOVING Around NZ or around the world. Single items or house lots. Pro Packing, moving, insurance. Via trucks, containers, shared loads.

Ph 0800 496 753 www.worldmoving.co.nz. “Experience & Advice You Can Trust”.

Travel

ATV MATS from $89 – Come in & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. Be quick offer ends 30/08/11.

ATV SAFETY HELMETS – from $119 accessories from $15. The law has changed! Have you got yours?

Come & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz.

Subject to availability.

CHAIN & SPROCKET KITS DIRT OR FARM BIKE. SAVE 10% off RRP If you get them fitted at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. Be quick – offer ends 30/08/11.

CHICKEN INCUBATORS for 7 eggs to 20,000, Quails to Ostriches. Guaranteed Good Results, plus 1 Year Warranty. DOMINION INCUBATORS, 11 Prospect Place, Hamilton. Phone 07 846 5569. Email: info@ dominc.net.

CHICKEN MANURE $20 per ton plus freight. Supply, cart and can spread. Call Jeff 09 432 2444 or 0274 765 458.

EDEX TOYS – quality educational toys for centres and individuals. Shop online-delivered to your door. Awesome selection of toys for your children.

Queries to Sheryl 09 432 2446, www.edextoys.co.nz or northland@edex.co.nz.

ATV FARM BIKE MX SPARES

INTRODUCTORY OFFER. New Customers Receive 7.5% discount off RRP for all stocked items with this voucher at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. Be quick – offer ends 30/09/11. Conditions apply.

PROGRESSIVE RED DEVONS. Docile yearling red devon bulls. Very easy calvers. Phone Lee Fulton on 09 432 2724.

QUALITY MEATS, homekill processing, raffle packs.

We take phone orders and have daily specials. Bream Bay Butchery at Ruakaka Shopping Centre — Phone Shirley & Wayne 09 432 8140.

SINTERED BRAKE PADS – for MX & FarmBikes – from $39 at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi.

Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz.

WEED EATERS & CHAINSAWS – GET 10% OFF STOCKED ITEMS at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz.

Be quick – offer ends 30/08/11.

WINDMILL WATER pumps by Ferguson Windmills Company. www.windmills.co.nz sales@windmills.co.nz Phone 09 412 8655.

MX FARM BIKE SERVICE. Receive 7.5% discount off RRP for standard service parts* with this voucher when you get your MX / Farm Bike serviced at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. *Conditions apply, offer ends 30/09/11.

Services FARM BRIDGES Phone Pat now 0800 222 189, visit www.bridgeitnz.co.nz. Bridge It NZ Ltd. CONCRETE BUNKERS designed and produced by farmers for farmers. Formed with high quality materials and a rapid construction time. Complete cover solutions to eliminate wastage and save $$$.

For more information call 0800 292 546.

CONCRETE PADS, shed floors, feedout pads, house floors, driveways, footpaths, concrete cutting and drilling, retaining walls, paling fences, excavation work. Waipu, Ruakaka, Whangarei, Mangawhai & Langs Beach. Phone Mark 027 443 3130 or 09 439 0107.

Cabins to Rent Northland Your ideal solution to short or long term accommodation.

3 sizes available.

ATV SERVICE.

Receive 10% discount off RRP for standard service parts* with this voucher when you get your ATV serviced at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz. *Conditions apply, offer ends 30/09/11.

Sleepout, home office, storage worker accommodation etc www.cabinstorent-nld.co.nz

Ph: 0800 CABINS

COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL NORFOLK ISLAND. Escorted tour 20-27 May 2012. $2475pp. One of the most popular events in the island’s calendar. Skylark Tours 09 432 8065.

GOVERNOR’S CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT NORFOLK ISLAND. Escorted tour 30 Oct – 6 Nov 2011. Amateur Pairs Event. Incl entry fees, green fees, gala events – $2095pp. Skylark Tours 09 432 8065.

JAZZ IN THE PINES NORFOLK ISLAND. Escorted tour 4-11 Dec 2011 $2,149pp – Incl fares, accom, six jazz concerts & music events. Skylark Tours 09 432 8065.

Northern

Farming Lifestyles

Advertise in the Northern Farming Classifieds PH 0800 466 793

36

September 2011  Northern

Farming Lifestyles

MADE

SPORTSMAN 400 H.O.

4X4 with a 455cc auto engine, high ground clearance, long-travel suspension, high radiator placement, on-demand true all-wheel drive and a 555.7 kg towing capacity.

SPORTSMAN 500 H.O.

4X4 with a 498cc auto engine, on-demand true all-wheel drive, independent rear suspension, integrated front storage compartment and 28.6 cm ground clearance.

*Conditions apply. See www.polarisindustries.co.nz for details.

Offer ends 30/9/11 or while stocks last. Sportsman 500 H.O. shown with accessory alloys and tyres.

CALL TODAY FOR MORE AMAZING POLARIS PROMOTIONS ROUSE MOTORCYCLES

HIKURANGI. PH: 0800 96 36 36.

MAUNGATUROTO MOTORCYCLES LTD MAUNGATUROTO. PH: (09) 431 8555.

www.polarisindustries.co.nz

KUMEU CHAINSAW & MOWER HUAPAI. PH: (09) 412 8109.