Science — keeping our farmers on top
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A new initiative, Science for Farmers, was launched at Fieldays in June 2024, and is being rolled out at various agricultural shows over the next two months, starting with Dargaville, Wānaka, Feilding and Kirwee.
Laying the groundwork for the initiative, my colleague, Agriculture Minister Todd McLay, said Science for Farmers will bring leading scientists to the regions to talk directly with farmers about research and innovation that’s already paying dividends on farms around the country, as well as other potential advances that could do the same in the future.
To me, it is a significant evolution of the partnership between science and farming that has already made our farmers and agricultural scientists among the world’s best. I have no doubt that it will be successful. I just need to look at the lineup of contributors and subject topics to know that.
The initiative has been collaboratively developed by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ On Farm Support service and key research partners, such
as AgResearch, AgriZeroNZ, LIC, Massey University, Manaaki Whenua — Landcare Research, and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
Topics include alternative pasture types designed to help farmers adapt to a warming climate, advanced genetics to boost production while meeting environmental and emissions obligations, and on-farm management systems that enhance profitability and resilience. As these conversations unfold at regional events, the future of farming looks promising. I encourage all farmers to participate in the upcoming shows, engage in discussions with our leading scientists, and explore the innovative practices that can propel your farms into a sustainable and productive future. Together, we can ensure that New Zealand stays at the forefront of global agriculture. I urge you not to miss out on this opportunity to shape the future of farming — please mark your calendars and join us. Email my office for details at Kuriger. Inglewood@Parliament.govt.nz.
Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
Council consultation on regional water entity
South Taranaki District councillors recently voted to consult with the community on a proposal to join a Taranaki regional water entity with New Plymouth and Stratford district councils.
A regional water entity will deliver future water and wastewater services as part of the Local Water Done Well (LWDW) reforms.
The LWDW reform programme replaces the previous government’s Three Water reforms. The programme aims to provide local councils with the choice of how they will provide reliable and safe water services to their communities for the next 30-plus years.
Councils can choose to deliver water services under LWDW either separately or with other councils, as long as all relevant standards are met, they are financially sustainable and infrastructure investment required is provided.
South Taranaki District Council mayor Phil Nixon said the council has been looking at several different delivery options for water services since March last year.
These options include delivering water independently, as well as working with Stratford and New Plymouth district councils to investigate what a joint water services model could look like in Taranaki.
“In September, we decided to undertake more in-depth investigations into three models of water services delivery. A South Taranaki District Council (STDC) in-house water services business unit, a STDC council-controlled organisation and a regional (Taranaki) water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO).
“Further investigation showed that a South Taranaki council-controlled organisation on its own was not financially sustainable, which left two remaining options: the STDC in-house business unit and a regional (Taranaki) water services council-controlled organisation.
“After really good and robust debate, we agreed to consult with our community
on both options, with our proposed model being a joint Taranaki regional water entity with New Plymouth and Stratford district councils.”
Mayor Nixon said the discussion reflected how complex and important the decision was, and continues to be, noting that both options have advantages and disadvantages.
Consultation on the proposal will be available from Wednesday, April 30, on southtaranaki.com and will continue throughout May.
New Plymouth and Stratford district councils have also both chosen a joint Taranaki model for delivering water services as their preferred option when consulting with their communities.
Phil Nixon, South Taranaki District Council mayor
Trading as NRGE Farms Limited, with the business name created using the initials of Nigel, Raewyn and their two children, Grace and Erik, the farm currently runs as a small beef unit.
Nigel and Raewyn were both born into dairy farming families in Taranaki. Raewyn grew up in the Ōkato area before moving to South Westland as a nine-year-old with her family.
Taranaki
76b De Havilland Drive, Bell Block PH. 06 755 2400
HARD YARDS EARNS RECOGNITION
When Raewyn left school, she took up seasonal and full-time jobs on dairy farms. Growing up on the family dairy farm at Warea, Nigel’s father employed managers and contract milkers.
“I never had a lot of contact with the dairy side, other than helping feed the calves with my parents,” said Nigel. “I would also help feed the pigs and help out on the run-off that ran sheep, some beef and grazed the dairy youngstock.
In the three years since Ōpunake farmers Nigel and Raewyn Chapman purchased their farm, the couple have made great strides to improve the property.
“After leaving school, my younger brother and I were thrust into taking over the running of the dairy farm for six years.”
Nigel’s farming experience expanded when he moved to the South Island, working for wages in Southland and West Otago. He then secured a 50/50 sharemilking position on the Taieri Plains.
When Nigel and Raewyn became a couple, they finished the last 18 months of the sharemilking agreement and then obtained a 50/50 contract at Ahaura on the West Coast.
Three years later, in 2002, they returned to Nigel’s family farm at Warea as a married couple with two children, starting a new 50/50 contract with between 350 to 400 cows.
“We brought the herd and all the youngstock on the farm, and culled heavy, fast,” said Raewyn.
“In 2007, we purchased the farm and the run-off from Nigel’s father. Both properties were in a state of very bad repair when we arrived.”
BY DENISE GUNN
Nigel and
hard work was recognised at the 2024 Taranaki Regional Council’s Environmental Awards
Raewyn’s
The couple put in the hard graft to improve these properties, winning an environmental award for their efforts in 2014.
Dealing with a tractor that sank in the mud has been just one of many challenges to overcome
Due to health issues, Nigel and Raewyn sold both properties in 2021, and bought their current farm with the intention of breeding up a line of white Murray Grey stock.
However, after several near misses when tagging newborn calves and Raewyn being stood on and rolled over, Nigel said their thoughts are still evolving.
“We know there will still be beef stock. Our safety is more important.”
There have been plenty of challenges since buying the farm.
“We came in underprepared and overstocked, moving from a seafront property to up under the mountain,” said Nigel.
Blocked drains flooded accessways, the tractor sank in mud, and potholes continued
to appear in the race as fast as Raewyn and Grace could fill them with rocks.
A ram pump was installed to draw water from the river, replacing the farm’s original gravity feed system.
“That only went to six paddocks. A tank collects that water then an electric pump pumps it around the farm.”
As the cattle were drinking out of the drains, Nigel placed water troughs in each paddock.
Raewyn said unearthing the farm from the hold that blackberry, ragwort and numerous thistle species had on it is a constant and ongoing job. Inkweed is now also a problem.
Through their Taranaki Regional Council field representative, the couple made
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The Chapman’s efforts were recognised in the 2024 Taranaki Regional Council’s Environmental Awards, receiving a highly commended excellence award in environmental stewardship, sustainable farming and land use practices.
“Receiving another award shows that what we are doing is appreciated by others. We always aimed, wherever we have lived, worked or owned, to leave things better than when we arrived.”
“That takes blood, sweat and some choice words at times,” Nigel said.
contact with the QEII National Trust. A large majority of the waterways and wetlands are now protected with upgrades, fencing and new planting completed.
Clearing drains, fencing and planting is ongoing. “This is making our winter farm management easier but there is still more to do.”
With the dairy side of farming behind them, Nigel now works part-time for Riverlea Contracting, driving the recycling truck. Raewyn and Grace have a small cluster of gardening clients in Ōpunake.
Finding new species of trees, fungi and orchids on the farm is one of the couple’s highlights. Seedlings are eco-sourced from their property.
Planting is ongoing, along with fencing and clearing drains
“WNICHE CROPS OFFER LIFESTYLE OPPORTUNITIES
In the eight years since moving to their lifestyle property near Hāwera, Dan and Kylie Zinsli have transformed and developed bare paddocks into several crop-producing areas.
e were on a wellness journey and part of that was learning about the environment and alternative foods,” said Kylie.
After engaging the services of consultancy company Greenbridge, the couple received a list of suggested crops, which included hazelnuts and truffles.
Dan and Kylie were excited about the idea of growing truffles and felt these were less risky in their windy environment.
The couple began by planting shelterbelts around their paddocks followed by 500 lavenders planted in 10 rows.
“Finally, when the trees were ready and up to standard, we had about 150 white heart hazelnut trees inoculated with Tuber Melanosporum (Perigord black truffle). These were planted between the lavender and 150 Ilex oak trees, which were also inoculated with Tuber Melanosporum, in the front paddock, creating an oak forest at the front.
“Lavender is a perfect companion plant for truffles, as they require the same soil and climate conditions,” said Kylie.
They also added 150 white sage plants to their third acre.
BY DENISE GUNN
“I bought some plants, which grew really well. Then I propagated them, and now have many plants.
“It’s a native American plant and commonly used for purification rituals. No one grows it here in New Zealand, and it is all sprayed when it comes into this country. It made me feel uncomfortable knowing people were burning imported sprayed sage for purification purposes, so we started selling it.”
The couple also grow rosemary, kawakawa, lemon verbena mullein, a range of sages, saffron milk caps, pine nuts and other medicinal plants on their three-acre Mountain Road Estate property. After harvesting, all plants are either dried or distilled or both, on-site.
Their first crop of lavender was distilled six years ago in the couple’s own 40-litre
in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
Dan planting another tree on their property
handmade alembic column copper still bought from Alembics NZ. Their hard work has been recognised with multiple silver awards at the New Zealand Lavender Growers’ Association Supreme Oil Awards
Kylie
Dan works full-time as an engineer at Fonterra in Hāwera. When he’s not working at the factory, the couple is investigating truffle growing best practice.
Mycorlab director Maria Hance has mentored the couple through the process of growing their own inoculated truffles.
“The first 250 weren’t up to our high standards,” said Kylie. “It’s a lot of work to grow 250 seedlings. We tried again the next year.
“We altered the process, perfected it, and the next trees were great. We grow inoculated truffle seedlings for other truffle farmers and have a limited amount of trees available next year.
“Our long-term goal is to grow highquality truffles and support other truffle farmers with this sustainable crop option.”
Dan and Kylie are hoping truffles will fruit in their paddock in 2027.
“We have high pH and free-draining soil. Truffles require a hot summer with
random downpours of rain. Early frosts help the truffles ripen.”
As coordinators of the NZ Truffle Association Taranaki/Manawatū region, the couple has friends with truffledetecting dogs in their group. This provides them with access to truffle dog services to locate the truffle when they start producing.
“We would like to host truffle hunts in the future,” said Kylie.
Balancing children, a boutique micro-business and chores on their land is challenging but the couple is finding time-saving methods wherever possible.
“We’ve recently bought a Yarbo robot lawn mower that will be able to mow our three acres and around other trees. This will hopefully free up two to three hours a week.”
Lavender bushes are weeded around once a month.
“In the beginning of summer, I harvest for dry bunches. Then the bushes are pruned into round shapes again.
“At the end of January is the distillation process. Then generally in autumn, we give all the lavender another prune to keep them small for the winter.”
The white sage is regularly pruned to allow airflow, which prevents fungus
growing on it. Truffle trees also require pruning to retain the right shape.
Kylie said their business is a way of contributing to the community by providing natural tools to help balance energy and soothe the nervous system.
“We’ve received really positive feedback, and look forward to having hazelnuts to offer to the community as well.”
The Zinsli family on their Mountain Road Estate The couple
Mountain Road Estate label
Dan and
have developed several crop-producing areas from bare paddocks
THRIVING OFF THE LAND
Wanting to live off the land, Greg and Gill Miles settled on the outskirts of New Plymouth 12 years ago and are living their sustainable dream — Black Gates.
Producing most of what they need, the husband and wife team grow produce for themselves and the local community, and keep animals for meat and eggs.
“Greg grew up on a dairy farm in the Waikato, and from the age of five, he was always planting and growing in his vegetable garden. He is a cabinetmaker, but he has always wanted a
BY AMY FIFITA
block of land for growing vegetables,” said Gill.
Gill originates from Hāwera, and has a background as a pharmacy dispensary technician. She says she loves the rewards of gardening and puts the labour into weeding and harvesting.
“Greg has always had green fingers, and when we moved here, we set our hearts on having a lifestyle block. We wanted to eat off the land.
“I do the harvesting and cooking to turn our grown produce into something to eat, rather than going to the supermarket. We have tomato month or broccoli, leek, carrot or cauliflower week, but if it’s harvested together, it can be a stir fry.
“Our property is on a hill, so Greg came up with the concept of stepping it down in boxes so we could tend to one part at a time.
Gill and Greg Miles have been developing their garden since moving to the 1.9ha property
“Greg designed it so we could do a few boxes at a time and, because he can build, everything is straight and level. It has grown from there and he can add on bits as he needs to it like a glasshouse for seedlings.”
Gill and Greg’s self-sustaining property is more than growing produce; it’s also raising animals for meat and eggs.
“We have sheep, lambs, cows and chooks. We have fresh eggs and have our own meat. We have lemon trees and more. We eat seasonally.
“Our whole life has changed, and we aren’t reliant on the supermarket. We do a lot of freezing, and during the winter months, we can pull out tomatoes and other produce from summer.”
While Greg and Gill had emerged themselves into becoming selfsustainable lifestyle block owners, they were soon encouraged to share their flourishing gem with others. They
entered their Black Gates paradise into the Taranaki Garden Festival.
“Everyone eats differently now, and we are noticing that people want to eat food straight from the garden. Covid taught us that, so we entered the festival.
“When people visited to see what we did they were impressed and the positive responses we got surprised me. Last year was the fourth time we have entered the festival.
“There is no wrong and right way to garden and you still get the benefits from it. I enjoy foraging, so my technique is a little scrambled, whereas Greg works in straight lines, measuring and marking everything. Our current garden is practical and because it is achievable, people love the concept.”
Being part of the garden festival made room for growth with visitors wanting to buy directly from Gill and Greg.
“Most of our produce is for personal use, but we have recently ventured out to provide veggie boxes. We sell seasonal boxes to a few local people who are interested in our journey.
“During the garden festival, people buy potatoes, eggplants and peppers and, with Greg growing an abundance of tomatoes, we sell plants also.
“Greg makes his own compost, too, so we have rich organic soil. Nothing gets wasted, we recycle everything here — there is hardly any waste.”
With bountiful vegetables and fruit, plus livestock, the Miles family has minimal need to go to the supermarket.
“I love knowing that I am eating spray-free vegetables and it tastes so much different. I enjoy the colours that homegrown produce has. It is a great place to live and enjoy the lifestyle. People can approach us by going to the Black Gates Facebook page.”
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Many people love the Miles’ garden concept because it is practical and achievable
Greg designed the gardens to be boxed steps making it easier for the couple to maintain
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Farming can be hard on joints (Part two)
by John Arts
Some occupations seem to increase the risk of osteoarthritis. I have spoken to many farmers whose osteoarthritis started when they came off second best in an incident with livestock.
Builders, mechanics, nurses and similar roles are very physical. We know for certain that repetitive joint strain and trauma is a contributor to osteoarthritis.
There are also many people who develop osteoarthritis who have had more sedentary occupations. This indicates that ‘wear and tear’ is not necessarily the reason for cartilage loss. An X-ray of a farmer or teacher with knee osteoarthritis looks much the same, despite significant differences in occupation.
called chondrocytes. Each chondrocyte is responsible for maintaining a patch of cartilage. Chondrocytes are damaged by a combination of free radicals and destructive enzymes. Adding 800mgplus of chondroitin sulphate can be very effective as this stimulates chondrocytes to secrete cartilage.
Nutritional therapy for osteoarthritis can be very effective. Last year I had a call from someone with pain from osteoarthritis in both his hips and knee. I started him on intensive doses of chondroitin sulphate (1,600mg) glucosamine sulphate (1,600mg) and 100% water soluble curcumin extract (400mg). He noticed a difference within a few months and now reports significant benefits. Please email me if you would like a copy of my osteoarthritis programme.
The key diagnostic features on X-rays are a narrowing in the spaces between joints and the growth of bony spurs on the ends of the bones of the joint. X-rays do not show cartilage. All they show is the space between the bones. Cartilage is calculated on the size of the joint space. If wide, this means cartilage exists. If little or none, this means the cartilage has largely disintegrated.
It might surprise you that cartilage is not lost by wear. It is lost by disease processes. Cartilage is maintained by amazing cells
John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.
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How can Bettaflex help?
• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.
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John Arts comments:
by Liz Clark
Plan ahead before you build
With an increasing number of rules for building in rural areas, getting it right from the beginning will save time, money and headaches.
The best source of information is from a local council’s planning department. Talk to your local council if you’re planning to build a home, a shed or another structure on your land before rushing ahead and getting in the digger to clear the building platform. While it may seem cheaper and easier to get a kitset, for instance, it pays to talk to the planning team about whether or not the plans for the build meet the building and resource consent requirements. A reputable building company can supply all the plans and site drawings for the proposed building. In some instances, where the proposed building is non-compliant with the district plan rules, such as a relocatable house, resource consent will be required.
The best plan of action for any build is to use a local licensed building practitioner who knows the local council rules and regulations to get construction underway. Alternatively, a well-established company with a locally based team can provide the expertise required to navigate local council rules for rural builds and obtain the necessary building consent to get
construction underway. Always research before committing to a building project and ensure the best professionals who know the region are engaged to make it happen.
Check first on the Licensed Building Practitioners website at kete-lbp.mbie. govt.nz before committing to any contract.
The same applies to any subcontractors your builder may engage for work such as plumbing and electrical, which requires certification by a registered electrician. Your builder and their subcontractors should all have public liability insurance — your bank will require verification of this and a copy of the building contract, especially if it is a fixed-price one.
Once the house is complete and the council inspector has done the final certification, if there are concerns, engage an independent building inspector to ensure your new home meets the required specifications. There is usually a grace period of two weeks for due diligence on your new home after moving in before the final settlement is made with your construction professional.
Planning and research are essential before committing to a build project
• Locating of unmarked grave sites
• Survey concrete structures for seismic proofing
• Water Leak Detection
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Our team coordinates around your schedule, ensuring your project progresses smoothly while respecting your daily commitments.
Whether you’re planning a modern farmhouse that seamlessly blends indooroutdoor living, a secondary dwelling for family or staff, or a country retreat that captures those stunning rural views, we deliver homes built to withstand the region’s unique conditions. Every project comes with a 10-year Stamford Build Warranty and fixedprice contracts, giving you complete certainty from start to finish.
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View our project portfolio at slate.co.nz. Let’s discuss how Slate can create a home that perfectly balances sophisticated design with rural practicality — a place your family will cherish for generations to come.
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Giving old materials a new life
At Revive Building Recyclers, we believe that demolition doesn’t have to mean destruction. Every year, thousands of tonnes of perfectly reusable building materials end up in landfills — we’re changing that.
By carefully deconstructing buildings rather than demolishing them, we salvage high-quality materials like timber, windows, doors, bricks and more, giving them a second life in new projects.
We buy and sell recycled building materials
Renovating or demolishing? Don’t send good materials to the dump — we’ll buy them! If you have hardwood beams, old doors, flooring or other salvageable materials, we’ll assess their value and offer you a fair price. Selling to Revive isn’t just good for the environment; it also helps you clear space while making extra cash.
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RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS
Bringing the roadshow closer
Rural Contractors NZ will kick off its 2025 roadshows in four centres in June and like the organisation’s conference, attendance will be largely free.
The RCNZ Board confirmed the dates and venues at its February meeting. CEO Andrew Olsen says the first roadshow will be held at the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton on Tuesday, June 17, with another, the following day, at Palmerston North’s Distinction Hotel.
The following week sees roadshows at the Croydon Lodge in Gore on Tuesday, June 24, and at the Commodore Hotel in Christchurch, the next day. He said the roadshows, initiated in 2022, provide RCNZ members with an alternative to attending the organisation’s now biannual conference.
“We’ve got more than 600 members country-wide, and fewer than a third can attend our conference. So, we are putting together the roadshows for more members to engage,” said Mr Olsen.
The roadshows will kick off with an early afternoon session, sponsored by Nufarm, dedicated to members who are agricultural sprayers. It will then merge
with those focussed on grass harvesting and other cropping-related activities.
Andrew is planning for some short industry updates, including one on health and safety in rural contracting, which will reinforce the RCNZ’s summer campaign on fatigue risks. The afternoon will finish with an opportunity to have a drink and catch up with old mates and some sponsor prize draws.
Andrew says any Rural Contractor NZ member is entitled to attend and also bring three other family or staff members for free. Any further attendees are welcome for a modest charge.
“Our balance sheet and the support of our partners allows us to put this on for our membership at no cost. We know it is a challenge for all of our members to get to our conference every second year, so we are bringing the roadshows to their regions.”
The 2026 RCNZ conference will be held in June next year in Christchurch.
VALINTINE CONTRACTING STRATFORD
All roadshows start with an early afternoon session dedicated to agricultural sprayers
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS
by Andy Bryenton
Export figures show ‘green shoots’
The government is hailing export gains made across the dairy, beef and lab sectors as indicative of the green shoots of an economic turnaround, and the harbinger of reined-in inflation.
By the numbers, the results look positive for a government aiming to position itself as the force that crushed the cost-of-living crisis through smart fiscal management. A strong demand for Kiwi beef and lamb in Europe and the Middle East has added approximately $1.2 billion to the economy in 2025.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says one of the driving factors behind this result is the diversification of trade. For example, thanks to a recently inked agreement with the European Union, 24 per cent more Kiwi goods are finding their way to EU markets.
“This is extremely positive news for sheep and beef farmers who have been doing it tough over the last six years,” said Mr McClay. “Red meat exports are forecast to grow by 13 per cent this year which will have a positive economic impact on many of our provincial towns.”
Over the fence in the dairy industry, increased production and higher export prices are also having an impact, with an additional $4.5 billion forecast for dairy farmers in 2025. Milk production is at its
highest level in a decade, up four per cent on the previous year.
“The primary sector is fundamental to achieving our ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in 10 years and the coalition government is backing farmers to be the world’s best,” says Mr McClay.
“With strong production already in the vat, feed crops coming in, and consumers eager for our products, the sector is well positioned to turbo charge the economy and deliver for every New Zealander.”
While production and efficiency are in the hands of producers, making trade deals which, like the aforementioned EU agreement, leverage Kiwi advantages
Their success or failure may be measured in the number of carbon-credit pines planted in the next 12 months in regional New Zealand.
into dollars is a matter of diplomacy.
As some markets and nations become more volatile with talk of trade wars and tariffs, New Zealand negotiators come from a place of relative stability, with a desirable product.
A more difficult balancing act may lie in promoting the rural sector, and thus the entire Kiwi economy, while still meeting ambitious new climate and emissions targets.
“The government is committed to meeting our environmental and climate change obligations, but we will do this without closing down farms or sending jobs and production overseas,” McClay said.
Export earnings for dairy and the red sector are projected to bring in billions during 2025, a feat touted a bellwether moment economically
by Andy Bryenton
Reaping the benefits of fresh grass
The Lely farm machinery company from the Netherlands is no stranger to innovating at the very edge of what’s possible, and this time it’s developed a robot that brings high technology to a fundamental of farming.
In New Zealand, we know the value of grass-fed cattle, and how there’s really little substitute for verdant pasture. Sowing and seeding is underway this autumn to deliver a new crop, driving the engine room of the rural economy one blade at a time.
However, barn and covered-pad cattle farming is prevalent overseas, and farmers in this situation were calling out for a means to deliver fresh grass to their herds. What Lely came up with also works well when a whole herd might pug a pasture to pieces, but a single robot can move lightly.
The Lely Exos is about the size of a delivery van, and it’s centred around a voluminous grass catchment hopper. This is fed by belts and cutters, which slice a swathe through fresh pasture, chopping it into a cattle-friendly feed. At the same time, the Exos disperses liquid fertiliser to replenish the land it traverses. This means that pasture quickly regenerates in its wake, ready for another round later on. The whole operation is accomplished as gently as possible, both for the grass itself and the land it springs from.
Despite being battery-powered and completely autonomous, the Exos is lighter
than many tractors, and it runs on big wide flotation tires with just 0.8 bar pressure. This means that Lely’s machine can operate deep into the muddy conditions of a European autumn, getting the most out of the entire grass-growing season. The robotic nature of the Exos should be no surprise to those who know the Lely name. The company’s automatic milking machines, such as the Astronaut, have proven popular with farmers and with cattle too. Lely has made the Exos work without a human operator, heading out
multiple times each day to cut a hopper full of grass and serve it up directly to cattle in a barn or feed-pad situation. It can even work at night.
Lely touts the better nutritional value of fresh grass compared to silage or hay, and Kiwi farmers who utilise the more direct method of pasturing their cattle right on top of their lunch would likely agree. The principles behind this machine, and the level of robotic autonomy it represents, point toward a near future where other pasture management tools
are no longer linked to a tractor and a human driver. Seed drills, soil testers and balers using lightweight construction and adaptive AI are already in the works at multiple companies.
Lely has automated the harvesting and delivery of fresh grass with a system that points the way toward pasture management robotics for tomorrow
Study provides new insights
A research programme supported by Beef + Lamb New Zealand is investigating the potential for using accelerometer sensors for early detection of conditions such as facial eczema (FE) in sheep.
Accelerometers can gather data through measuring the movement or acceleration of an object. In farming, they can be used to monitor behaviour of livestock to inform management decisions around welfare and production efficiency. Actions such as head shaking or avoiding sunlight may be indicators of FE.
The B+LNZ project, jointly led by senior AgResearch scientist Dr Karin Schütz,
investigated the use of accelerometers fitted to a collar to predict the behaviour of sheep.
It established that the collars with sensors attached were simple and effective to use with sheep. The data gathered is now being analysed, including identifying findings, which could be used to predict early signs of disease or injury.
“Technology such as accelerometers allow for data from a large number of animals to be obtained continuously, 24/7, without the presence of humans,” says Dr Schütz.
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“It is relatively cheap compared to using humans to observe the animals or setting up video equipment. This makes the technology particularly attractive for extensively managed livestock, which can be studied under normal management conditions.
“Behaviours such as grazing, ruminating and resting are the main behaviours of sheep on pasture. Monitoring changes in daily behaviour patterns across the annual production cycle, while capturing changes in environmental conditions, can reveal key metrics that can be used to improve welfare and production efficiency on-farm.
“These same metrics could possibly provide early warning systems for significant issues such as facial eczema, lameness and gastrointestinal parasites. By developing tools for early detection, farmers can reduce economic losses
and enhance productivity and welfare through timely interventions and improved management practices.”
The research project was undertaken in November 2024 at the AgResearch farm in Hamilton with a group of mixed-age Romney-type ewes.
Dr Mhairi Sutherland, B+LNZ’s senior scientist animal health and welfare, said the research could be a step towards providing a practical tool for farmers to manage disease risk.
“Facial eczema is a serious issue for livestock farmers, particularly in warmer and more humid regions. Having a way to detect the early signs of the disease before visible signs appear could make a significant difference in mitigating its impacts,” Dr Sutherland said.
“By integrating this data with other risk factors such as spore counts and weather conditions, farmers could take proactive measures to reduce the risk of outbreaks and improve overall animal health.”
GUN +BOOM SPRAYING
New research into sheep behaviour could help provide early detection of FE and parasites
ADVERTORIAL
by Denise Gunn
Warm and dry with Woodward’s Firewood
Woodward’s Firewood provides top quality
Managing directors Heath Priest and Ted Dorrian bought the business in 2008. The pair previously worked for the Department of Conservation, but in their spare time dabbled in firewood and milling.
“We thought we would go out on our own,” said Heath.
Since taking over the business in Bell Block, New Plymouth, the pair has taken it a step further with the addition of animal bedding and garden mulch.
Heath said their animal bedding has grown in popularity and receives great feedback from customers.
“We use untreated ground-up wood-waste from local sawmills, which is repurposed into animal bedding. The raw material is stockpiled, then ground to order, so it remains dry and absorbent.”
Deliveries are available and prices vary for each area.
“The 50mm screen stuff is good for calves and goats, and people use it for horses. Also people are starting to use it for herd homes, as it’s a bit finer than the 100mm stuff and should compost better.”
and
Plain natural garden mulch is also available for pick-up or delivery.
Woodward’s Firewood offers a range of pine blocks of varying sizes, split macrocarpa, gum and kindling. A drive-through shed for pick-up enables customers to fill their car boots, utes or trailers.
“When we bought the business, it sold pine block off cuts from the sawmill. Over the years, pine blocks have become less and less, so we’ve had to do more split wood,” said Heath.
Loads can also be mixed and matched for delivery or pick-up from the selection of wet or dry wood available. The team even offers tips on stacking firewood and firelighting.
“We enjoy meeting the needs of customers and finding what is working well for them. I like to deliver and have a chat with them.”
Woodward’s Firewood is open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Phone 06 755 2047 or email office@woodwardsfirewood. co.nz, for further information.
Woodward’s Firewood offers a range of products
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