Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, February 2021

February 2021 Edition

Recognising natural treasures Pages 4–5

Projects receive government funding

P3

Feilding high school to celebrate centenary

Livestock interest sets career course

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Draft report raises concerns New Zealand’s largest manufacturing industry is generally supportive of the Climate Change Commission’s draft report, and its focus on reducing the use of fossil fuels, but is concerned about the stated 15 per cent reduction in sheep, cattle and dairy numbers.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said red meat processors and exporters are committed to reducing and eventually eliminating the use of coal, although achieving the commission’s 2037 target will be difficult.

“We do need a fair and just transition away from coal to ensure jobs and livelihoods are not put at risk. However, our chief concern is any drop in livestock numbers may jeopardise the viability of some processing plants and jobs in rural communities.

“Meat processors rely on throughput of livestock to create efficiencies of scale and be profitable. The commission estimates that without major on-farm practice change and new technologies, a 15 per cent reduction in livestock numbers will be required to achieve the targets by 2030. This would have a serious impact on the ability of many processors to keep operating.

“On the face of it, this assumption by the commission that we can reduce livestock numbers by 15 per cent while still maintaining current production volumes seems optimistic. We need to understand why the commission made this assumption to better assess the likely effects for the industry.”

Ms Karapeeva said we can’t plant our way out of climate change.

“Wholesale planting of pine trees on sheep and beef farmland is not the answer, and it will have significant implications for jobs in regional New Zealand.”

“The red meat processing sector generates more than $10 billion in export revenue every year and is also a significant regional employer in New Zealand so any changes would have a major impact on people’s livelihoods,” said Ms Karapeeva.

“In Taranaki/Manawatu and Whanganui, the sector supports almost 10 per cent of full-time employment in

Taranaki Federated Farmers president, Mark Hooper

the region with 5,200 directly, and it underpins more than 8,300 full-time equivalent jobs.”

Taranaki Federated Farmers president Mark Hooper said local feedback received indicates there is a high level of anxiety and frustration about both the report’s recommendations and some of the responses to those recommendations.

“One has to wonder about the logic of trying to make significant reductions to the lowest carbon-emitting red meat and dairy systems in the world when no other country appears to be enforcing similar targets.”

He said there are several key messages that need to be made to decision makers.

There are also concerns about the loss of productive pastoral land to exotic forestry for carbon offsets.

“These offsets have about a 30-year effective life, but permanently deny future generations of New Zealanders the use of that land for food production.”

Submissions can be made via the Climate Change Commission’s website and are due by Sunday, March 14.

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FEBRUARY 2021

Projects receive government funding Nineteen waterway projects around New Zealand have been awarded $36 million of government funding, including schemes in Taranaki.

Together with councils and other contributions, the package will see more than $70 million invested nationwide to improve New Zealand’s freshwater.

Te Mana o Te Wai, the guiding principle of the recently-released Essential Freshwater reforms, means protecting the life-supporting capacity of freshwater. It gives priority to the health of freshwater, then the needs of people followed by commercial uses.

“The funding will support councils and landowners to implement the new freshwater regulations and give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai by supporting stock exclusion, fish passage remediation, the development and implementation of freshwater farm plans and sediment control activities like riparian planting,” said Environment Minister David Parker.

The funding comes from the Freshwater Improvement Fund, which is part of the government’s $1.245 billion Jobs for Nature package. Jobs for Nature aims to create significant environmental benefits and employ thousands in the regions to help accelerate the recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) group manager planning and infrastructure David Langford said iwi, hapu, marae and NPDC are pleased the government has come on board with funding for this work to restore the

culturally significant Tangaroa Stream to its natural course, resolving flooding issues in the area.

“We will also end up with better habitat for birds, inver tebrates and fish.

Currently, the stream is in poor condition and part of it travels through an underground pipe, but we will be opening it up and working alongside locals to plant it out and keep it in good condition for years to come.

“Hapu and marae aspirations for the Tangaroa are based New Plymouth District Council group manager on restoration so it is clean, planning and infrastructure David Langford open and flowing. The project is being co-designed by Te Kotahitanga budget in March, so people should make o Te Atiawa Trust, hapu, Owae Marae sure to keep an eye out for the chance and NPDC. The government funding of to have their say.” $1.79 million is a great boost, but it is The project will create local job important to remember it is part of a opportunities in the engineering and much larger piece of work.” construction industries, as well as Mr Langford said some residents in opportunities in landscaping, planting Waitara have been calling for repairs to and native plant supply. Construction the town’s stormwater system to help is scheduled to begin in late 2021 and avoid regular flooding. take place for five years.

“That’s why about $20 million has Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) been earmarked as the first stage in director-environment quality, Gary fixing the stormwater system in our draft Bedford said TRC welcomes any initiative 10-year budget. Some of that money and funding assistance that will help to would go towards this project. NPDC improve the quality of the region’s rivers will be asking for feedback on the draft and streams.

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FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

RECOGNISING NATURAL

treasures

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

WOOD CARVING ARTIST BRETT SUTHERLAND HAS A VISION TO REMIND US OF THE NATURAL TREASURES WE HAVE, AND ONCE HAD, AROUND US BY CARVING IMAGES OF NATIVE BIRDS INTO NATIVE TIMBERS.

B

rett learned the art of bone carving when he was 16 years old, and the skill enabled him to travel the world.

“We are all artists in different mediums. If you are a writer or good at making food, you are an artist.

Everybody has something they are good at with natural ability,” says Brett.

“I carved miniature compact sculptures called Netsuke and ended up in St Martin on my catamaran that I built in Brazil.

“I was known as the bone carver of the Caribbean and became a tattoo artist as well to diversify my creative options. Carving is my place of Zen. I

believe if you discover something you Zen with, you are doing God’s work.

“While in Alaska in the 1990s, I discovered woolly mammoth tusk is available, and I became a greenie, zoologist, ivory carver. You are not endangering anything using woolly mammoth tusk.

“Eventually, I returned to New Zealand because my mum became ill. I was one of the first people to present ivory carving in New Zealand, and I also built one of the first tiny homes in New Zealand in her driveway in Hamilton.

Since then, I worked in the film industry making items such as costumes, armour and helmets.”

Brett Sutherland believes native birds of New Zealand are one of our most treasured species and is using his carving skills to preserve their images

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Brett is also a zoologist and recently completed his first full-sized totara totem pole of six coastal native birds relevant to the Kaipara area, which now graces a local property. He hopes to create totem poles relevant to each area of New Zealand.

“The Kaipara coastal birds are the fairy tern, kingfisher, oystercatcher, white-faced heron, pied shag and the spoonbill. I always knew that one day I would carve my own totem. I fell in love with totem poles when I was living in British Columbia, travelling on a motorcycle, staying with indigenous carvers on reservations. I was totally drawn to their stories, designs, what they represent and why.

“The Native Americans have a ceremony for each pole. They say once a totem is raised, the pole takes on a spirit and becomes alive. When it eventually falls, they leave it as that is what the pole wants to do. Some can be standing for 100 years before falling over.

“I am self-taught because at school, my teacher was uninterested in helping me and my family didn’t know anything about carving. The biggest honour I have had was a master carver offering me to attend a carving school in Whakatane.

That was a rare opportunity for someone like myself, but I was returning overseas at the time.

“To begin a large piece, I firstly make a miniature called a maquette. To begin a large pole, I pull the bark off the log, set it up on stands and draw the plan onto the wood.”

Brett makes the first cuts on the totem with a chainsaw.

FEBRUARY 2021

5

Carving totem poles of endangered, extinct and common birds from native timber has become Brett’s passion, and he hopes to use the different species important to each New Zealand region

“From there it is all chisel work and no sandpaper. Each piece is finished with oil to protect the wood. I started during the first Covid lockdown and was very happy carving all day.

“I finally had the time to realise what I want to do.

“The large totem took me some 400 hours to create, and the miniatures take up to 50 hours each. My nine-bird pole has three common species, three endangered and three extinct. Other sets include eight commonly seen native birds, eight endangered and eight extinct New Zealand native birds.

“I believe we need sculptures that are seen and understood, and our

most treasured thing is genetics, and that means life. I see our birds as the most treasured taonga that we have.

There is nothing more important to me than what is seen around us, what is not commonly seen and that which has gone before us such as moa.

“I am open to commissions by contacting me at bonecarver@yahoo. com. My plan is to create works for different regions with extinct, endangered and commonly seen birds.

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For example, areas of the South Island may have totally different species to areas in the North Island.

“Wood and bone carving as a career is heartful and positive to me. It has a good presence, is life-giving and real, as opposed to unnatural materials that end up in the landfill. Art enriches us. You can argue we don’t need it, but it helps identify another aspect of ourselves.

It is the most valuable thing besides our genetics.”

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FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE CENTENARY

BY DENISE GUNN FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL IS OPENING THE GATES TO PAST AND PRESENT TEACHERS, STAFF, PUPILS AND FAMILIES IN MARCH, TO CELEBRATE THE SCHOOL’S CENTENARY.

T

he school, formerly Feilding Agricultural High School, was established in 1921. It is the only institution offering extensive agricultural education for secondary students in the Manawatu.

Local farmer and businessman, Harry Tolley, was the driving force behind founding Feilding Agricultural High School. As chairman of Feilding’s Technical School committee in 1913, Harry’s vision for a new school teaching agriculture laid the foundations for Feilding Agricultural High School. It

wasn’t all plain sailing, however, as progress was slow and there was opposition to the proposal.

In 1920, Harr y formed a subcommittee with other local farmers

The committee raised funds and selected a site for the proposed school. and business owners, Hugh Atkinson, Archibald Campbell and James Knight.

Another founder, the Hon Harry Guthrie, was MP for the Oroua electorate and

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held the Ministry of Lands portfolio. He was also a former teacher and worked closely with the other four founders.

The committee raised funds and selected a site for the proposed school.

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Kiwitea, Oroua and Manawatu County Councils provided financial assistance, and Feilding Borough Council permitted the purchase of 20 acres on North Street. The following year, four classrooms and a chemistry laboratory were constructed on the site. Mr Knight gifted a hall to the school.

Dr LJ Wild was appointed the first principal of Feilding Agricultural High School. The former Canterbury Agricultural College chemistry lecturer, and teacher at Wanganui Collegiate

School, also lectured in natural science at Christchurch Teachers’ Training College.

During a visit to Feilding resident, Sir Hector Booth, Dr Wild asked him to provide a school motto in the Maori language. Sir Hector, a former interpreter between Maori selling land and the purchasers of the Manchester Block, immediately said: “Kia Toa Kia Ngakaunui”.

It means ‘Have courage, desire greatly’. The school’s crest, made up of huia feathers representing chieftainship and honour, was gifted by Sir Peter Buck (Te Rangihiroa).

The school was officially opened by the prime minister, the Hon WF Massey.

In 1922 a boarding facility was built to accommodate 60 students, giving them direct farm life and work experience onsite. Four years later, the school took up the lease on 178 acres of rolling

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STUDENT DRENCHING SHEEP ON THE SCHOOL’S SHEEP AND BEEF FARM country, located nearby. A 40-acre farm, Ngakaunui, which adjoined the school, was purchased in 1930.

Improvements to the school continued with an additional wing added in 1925, an animal husbandry pavilion in 1927, and a new block of classrooms in 1931. Further additions were made to the school and a piggery constructed on Ngakaunui.

Feilding High School now owns two farms, Manawanui and Ngakaunui, providing students with practical experience. Manawanui, an 81.3ha sheep and beef farm, is located on the outskirts of Feilding. The 16ha dairy farm, Ngakaunui, is situated adjacent

FEBRUARY 2021

7

FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL NATHAN STEWART

to the school, milking 60 Friesian cows year-round, with split calving.

In October 2016, the school was the first in the southern hemisphere to introduce a robotic milking system.

The herd is wintered and summered on Manawanui, returning to Ngakaunui before calving is due to start.

Replacement stock are also raised on Manawanui.

A farm manager runs both properties and Year 10–12 agricultural students are rostered on to farm duty.

The school’s TeenAg Club is the largest in New Zealand.

Feilding High School’s Old Pupils’ Association (OPA) has been organising

the centennial event, alongside the school, for the past couple of years.

“Feilding only has one high school,” said OPA president Amanda Norris. “If you’ve lived in Feilding, you’ve been associated with the school in some way. It’s a major part of Feilding, so we want people to support the local businesses and eateries and look at the new developments.

“As well as people coming together with their friends, and people they haven’t seen for years, we plan to organise tours of Feilding. We can all give back that way.”

Organisation of the event began to ramp up towards the end of last year.

“Then Covid struck, and we then had to rethink everything we were doing,” said Amanda. “We’ve just had to adjust our expectations.”

The committee has future-proofed the celebrations in the event of l ockdowns and also come up with a backup plan.

A weekend to commemorate the centenary is set for March 26–28, 2021. A wide range of events and activities are planned, including tours of the school, the two farms and Feilding township.

To register for the centenary celebrations, visit feildinghigh.school. nz and click on the 100 years tab.

South Taranaki farmers We need to conserve water now Please fix leaks now

We encourage people to have any water leaks on their property repaired as soon as they notice them. A leaking pipe/hose might not be obvious, but it can waste thousands of litres of water (literally money down the drain). A dripping tap can easily waste 5 litres of water every day. Fixing leaks will not only save water, but also save money.

If you see a leak, either on the Council network, please call us on 0800 111 323 so that we know about it and can arrange to have it repaired.

It’s been a long, hot summer and already our water reservoirs around the District have been feeling the pinch.

Even though it’s been six years since we’ve had restrictions, it’s because of the constant conservation efforts from our community.

So again, we remind you, that in order to avoid restrictions, please do what you can every day to save water so we can make it through another summer restriction free.

How to save water on farm •

•

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Check your meter regularly.

If your consumption seems higher than usual, you could have a leak that is wasting water and costing you money.

Check that ball cocks on troughs are set correctly and have not been damaged. If a ball cock is set too high it could spill water during windy conditions or overflow constantly.

Re-use the pre-cooler water that chills down milk.

Use wash down water for irrigation.

Capture rainwater and use it wherever possible.

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FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIVESTOCK INTEREST SETS CAREER COURSE

BY DENISE GUNN

A LONG-HELD INTEREST IN FARMING LED BRENT ESPIN TO TAKE UP A CAREER AS A LIVESTOCK AGENT.

F

rom a young age, each morning and every opportunity he had, Brent would head out on the family’s sheep and beef farm with his father. The Espin family had 700 acres covering two farms in the Meremere area, east of Hawera.On leaving school, Brent’s first job was working as a sales rep for Taranaki Farmers. He continued in that role, and other similar positions, before heading overseas. On returning to the region, Brent resumed working as a sales rep for Taranaki Farmers in Manaia.

“I went door-to-door knocking selling grass seed and general farm

merchandise,” he said. During the next 10 years, Brent carried on as a sales rep until he joined RD1 Livestock as a livestock agent.

“I’ve been in that role ever since and for the last seven years as Taranaki regional livestock manager.”

In March 2019, when Carrfields acquired RD1 Livestock, Brent found the transition fairly easy.

“It was just a change of shirt really.”

As a youngster, Brent’s enthusiasm to rear and sell calves sparked his interest in buying and selling livestock.

Now he’s passing on this knowledge to his children.

IN FULL SWING AT A LIVESTOCK AUCTION

“My three kids are farm and animalmad. Whenever they can, they are with me out on the farm or to the sales.

I can see them following the same career path.”

A typical working day begins with Brent on the road by 8am. Although he covers south Taranaki through to the Whanganui and Waverley area, it’s not uncommon to travel to other parts of the country looking at cattle. “We follow the farming calendar. Everything is quite

seasonal. June is usually a quieter month, but most of the time, it’s pretty full-on.

“It’s rewarding seeing someone achieve good results with a plan you’ve put in place for them.”

Brent said on-farm sales and herd sales could be very emotional, particularly when the sellers have been connected for a long time.

“It’s quite a process and can take a lot of planning. I’ve been involved with

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

a lot of good on-farm auctions, which are definitely highlights. It’s something I pride myself on and enjoy.”

Technology has changed the way business is done within the industry too.

“When I first started out, you would spend a lot of time on the phone every night. Technology changed that, and most people are pretty savvy around phones and computers. Tech and social media are changing the industry.”

Videos and live-stream auctions have also added extra options for buyers and sellers.

“I still believe 95% of people like to see the cattle in the flesh, and that will never change. They like to see what they are buying.

“I try to keep moving with the times and keep servicing clients to the best that I can. Clients build up a lot of trust in you and 80% of business is repeated year-on-year.”

For the past few years, the industry has gone through changes with a lot more restrictions placed on farming in general.

“Mycoplasma bovis and Covid have had a bearing on things. Extreme weather events are also challenging, especially when the whole country is wet or dry, and the markets are overcrowded. However, the same amount of cattle generally gets sold every year, and it’s finding different buyers and markets. Farmers are pretty resilient and good people.”

While the role of a livestock agent is busy, stressful and demanding at times, Brent finds satisfaction in meeting the challenges.

FEBRUARY 2021

9

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STAY AFLOAT BRENT ASSESSES SOME CATTLE ON-FARM

“You need a supportive family because there can be some long hours and you can never escape the phone.

That will never change. If you want to be successful, you need to take those calls.”

“It’s not a job you can teach someone to do. You need the drive and passion for the industry to succeed.”

Through contact with people in all areas of the agricultural sector, Brent

has met some good operators along the way and gained an understanding of values from a lot of his clients. That has led to making many good friends in the industry.

“I love going to work every day, working with cattle, meeting people and helping clients,” said Brent.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Central Districts

FIELD DAYS

FEBRUARY 2021

11

18 – 20 MARCH 2021 MANFIELD PARK, FEILDING

Outstanding in the field New Zealand’s largest regional agriculture event, is expected to be a must-do event for people across the North Island.

Now in its 28th year, Central Districts Field Days returns on March 18–20, when Feilding, will become a hub for the heartland rural sector. Thousands of people will flock to Manfeild to reconnect with the community and discover the latest in farm machinery through vehicle deals, and experience primary industry innovations as well as new lifestyle products.

There will be a range of first-tomarket products, new to New Zealand machinery and other innovations.

“The Forestry Hub is a collaboration of the sector, showcasing safety, training opportunities and local companies, with a series of speakers discussing carbon, farm forestry, industry safety, investments and training,” says event director Henry McLernon.

“There is something for every member of the family. With more than 500 exhibitors across all facets of rural life, drawcard attractions including local FMX legend LeviSherwood as part of the Freestyle Motocross, crowd-pleaser competitions such as Central Districts Doubles Power Fencing Competition and the National Excavator Operator Championships, as well as the everpopular Chelsea Marriner’s Ultimate Canines Dog Show and Amazing Race-

style AgriQuest competition for high school students.”

The Cuisine Pavilion will whet your appetite; there will be the latest in lifestyle products, including locallyproduced fare. Younger attendees will love the activities at the Kids Zone, and there will be opportunities to immerse yourself with experts in primary industries.

One attendee will win the highlysought-after Central Districts Field Days prize pack including a Honda XR150, a laden Brent Smith trailer plus more.

“True to the event’s 27-year tradition, there will be great deals. We are in the final throes of putting together an actionpacked event that will be a great day off the farm and look forward to seeing Manfeild buzzing with people getting amongst it all,” McLernon says.

The three-day expo will also raise money for Rural Support, a charity helping the rural community in times of difficulty. “We want this to be not only the biggest rural event on our attendee’s calendar but also the best.”

Central Districts Field Days - Thursday, 18th to Saturday 20th March, 2021 Tickets: Adults (16+) — $20, Seniors — $15, Children (5–15) — $5. For tickets and visitor information, go to cdfielddays.co.nz.

GREAT FUN FOR THE FAMILY Come see us at Site #L36

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE OUR LATEST MODELS NOW AVAILABLE! Phone Bryce 027 273 1429 – Jan 027 480 7611

DRIVE PHONE FREE!

Lanco Ex Ltd Earthmoving Solutions

P. 06 764 7004 M. 027 764 7004 Farm suppliers store info

• Excavator & Dumptruck available • Section clearing & Drainlaying • Earthworks 179 Radnor Road, Midhirst • RD24, Stratford 4394, Taranaki lancoex@outlook.com • Greg Ph: 027 449 6026 • Pauline Ph: 027 498 2058

178 Bridge Street 06 764 7003

Timber Fencing Water Pipe Fittings Farm Supplies Stock Feed

Eltham Construction – Pole barn and general building work

25a North Street, Eltham

12

FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S ADVERTORIAL

Monitoring technology encourages work-life balance Locally owned and operated We cover all of Taranaki Made in New Zealand

Vinyl and Vinyl Planks Free Phone 0800 255 855 callie@carpetmill.co.nz

Wear a helmet.

A helmet is a must while riding a quad bike around the farm.

Allflex New Zealand is well-known for animal identification and cow collar technology that monitors individual cow health and heat status.

Rhonda and Steven Bamford use the Allflex cow collar monitoring system on their 920 cow Jersey herd. That helps relieve time pressure on Rhonda and the team during mating.

“The decision to use the Allflex monitoring system and invest in collar technology was an easy one,” says Steven.

“We knew Allflex was a trusted brand with experienced people. Our rep knew we were early adopters to tech and that we were looking for ways to take the pressure off me and not be so reliant on me during mating.

“We have access to accurate, reliable information and get early detection of cows who are under pressure. The collar allows us time to focus on the goal of achieving an empty rate of five per cent.”

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is part of MSD Animal Health, the world leader in the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of solutions for animal identification, monitoring and traceability.

“The collars were a substantial investment, but what price do you put on your health and wellbeing? The collars

What Keeps You Awake?

• • • •

Staff rosters?

Milk production?

Breeding performance?

Cow health?

Allflex cow monitoring is the smart solution for NZ farmers.

Come and talk to the team at site E28 at Central District Field Days to find out more about this leading technology, or visit thegamechanger.farm

Rhonda and Steven Bamford use the Allflex Monitoring System on their herd

measure rumination amongst other indicators which provide the optimal time for artificially inseminating a cow.

Each morning, a heat report is produced and sent to the drafting gate. During milking, the cows that are on that report are automatically drafted out ready for the AI technician,” says Rhonda.

“I no longer spend hours in the shed visually eyeballing each cow and selecting those that are showing signs of bulling. I now can spend that time focussing on other farm jobs. The real-

time health reports inform us when a cow is in distress, around 30 hours earlier than when she would show visual signs of distress.

That has been of equal value. We now confidently transition cows from the colostrum mob to the milking mob and back again, not just after they have calved but during the season too.”

To find out more about Allflex monitoring technology, come meet the team at Central District Field Days, site E28, or visit thegamechanger.farm.

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

FEBRUARY 2021

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S

13

ADVERTORIAL

Top-quality hire tools Tool Hire Taranaki (THT) is a locally owned and operated family-run business operating since 2014.

Located in Fitzroy, they offer a full range of professional quality hire tools and equipment for longor short-term hire.

COME AND SEE US AT THE CENTRAL DISTRICTS FIELD DAYS Check us out at Site #059. The Field Days is an opportunity where you can see all the manufacturers in one place at the same time.

Come and see our trailers, talk to our staff and ask them to show you all the design features and benefits of owning a Prescott.

Ph 0800 888 323 www.prescotttrailers.co.nz

Tool Hire is there to take the hassle and expense out of your construction, maintenance, DIY or landscaping project and to meet the needs of professional tradespeople, avid DIY enthusiasts and businesses.

They provide free advice and instruction on the safe operation of all the hire equipment and also have the safety accessories available to suit your hire. They can deliver and pick

up the piece of equipment you require to your construction site, business or home, Taranaki-wide and also provide a test and tag service at the shop or on location.

Passionate about what they do, husband and wife, Daniel and Charlotte Lock and their friendly team strive to be the best hire centre in Taranaki. Giving back to the community is high on their list of priorities. They are involved in

numerous community events, providing equipment and sponsoring local clubs, schools and organisations each year brings them a huge satisfaction.

For your next hire, contact the friendly team at Tool Hire Taranaki for a free no-obligation quote on commercial or domestic equipment. Open seven days a week.

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It’s more refined and loaded with technology, making your ride more comfortable. And it’s achieved the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating across the entire range, making it the safest ute in New Zealand.

06 759 8070 | energymotorsisuzu.co.nz 24 Eliot Street, New Plymouth 4310

14

FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S

ADVERTORIAL

Better products mean better homes At Hawkeye Products, we are in the business of creating chemical products that work better for homeowners.

If you’ve got a problem, we want one of our products to solve it for you, in a way that works better for you than any other products available.

We want our products where possible to be safer, more renewable, more natural and biodegradable all the while working at least as good as other products available. We’re constantly striving to make them perform better in this way.

We’re also 100% New Zealand owned and operated and do all of our development work in New Zealand.

So you can be sure that the products you purchase from us will work in the sometimes unique conditions we have in New Zealand.

We fully support other New Zealand manufacturers and businesses and purchase everything we can from them, only purchasing from overseas suppliers if we can’t get what we need made here.

Our approach is to decide on a product concept that needs improvement, then identify all the attributes that will lead to that improvement. Our scientists then develop a formulation that gives

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Ph: 06 754 6022

Production manager Neil Koch working on our production line in the plant

all the desired attributes, using a combination of scientific methodology, technical knowledge, experience and sometimes, instinct. The formulations are rigorously tested in NZ conditions to be sure they’ll do the job before we launch them. We do not purchase ready-made products from overseas.

Our current product range is designed

to treat the common (and less common) insect pests you find around your home.

Moreover, it won’t just stop there. We have a whole bunch of other products in our development pipeline.

Hawkeye is a great NZ-made product that works. Visit our online store hawkeye.kiwi to see what products we have to make your life easier.

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Wasp Lure: Draws Common and German wasps to the wasp trap and catches the active foragers that cannot find their way out of the trap.

Banshee: Banshee is a natural solution to manage and control red mite infestations in poultry sheds, coops, hutches or houses.

To learn more, head to: Hawkeye.kiwi or call 0800 002 920

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

FEBRUARY 2021

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S ADVERTORIAL

THE GO ANYWHERE UTV

A one-stop shop for surfaces

$21,735 EX GST Special 100% finance rate offered by UDC

The skilled team at Manawatu-based Surfatex 2019 Ltd, under the guidance of director Glen Sinclair, covers a range of surface coatings.

“We aim to get the Surfatex name out there,” said Glen. “To be a one-stop shop for enhancing your cowshed, old or new.

“We can repair the yard, plant or milk room, either with plaster or for longevity resin, and we can paint any other parts which require it to make it look grand.”

Since coming out of last year’s Covid-19 lockdown, the business has been extremely busy. In addition to applying Acraflex Dairy Wall Coating to several milking sheds, the Surfatex team has also coated several shower blocks. Glen said the coating system is hard-wearing and easy to clean.

“One particular project was a Keter shed a client had set up outside by the pool and was fitted with a shower and a toilet. We coated the walls in Acraflex Dairy Wall Coating and the floor we coated with Allnex Terraflake.”

Allnex Terraflake is an epoxy designed for interior and exterior situations and has good anti-slip qualities. “We have also Terraflaked the floor in the Woodville toilets by Fountaine Square if anyone wants to see what it looks like,” says Glen.

The team coated the concrete block walls in an apiary with Acraflex too, sealing it for hygiene purposes. “A couple of cafes have had us repair their floors. One ripped out the lino and got us to lay a complete floor of Allnex Superscreen Resin.”

This year is already off to a busy start, coating More than 900 metres of factory floor with Allnex Terratuff. The product is a general-purpose epoxy floor coating, designed for commercial and industrial applications.

15

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Surfatex 2019 Ltd director Glen Sinclair with his dog Titch

“We have had ongoing maintenance work at the many meat processing plants in the area, repairing small floor areas and patching where they have modified fittings and structures.”

Surfatex holds the franchise to apply Acraflex Dairy Wall Coating in the lower North Island.

“We also use a lot of Allnex products. The Allnex company has been great to deal with and very helpful with any advice we require, including the most appropriate product for the task. Permacolour is another

company we deal with, which supplied the dairy fix plaster for the cow yard repairs and other concrete coating to enhance the look of concrete around the house.

Towards the end of 2020, the entire Surfatex team attended a Permacolour course in New Plymouth. The team is looking forward to this year’s Central Districts Field Days and booked the same site, O-14. So come and say hello,” said Glen.

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Surfatex specialise in dairy wall coatings, yard repairs, protective flooring, anti-slip solutions, concrete overlays and painting services.

Before

Our skilled team is based in the Manawatu and is fully mobile across the central and lower North Island.

After

Come see us at the Central District Field Days site number o14

Phone: 027 430 8209 | email: office@surfatex.co.nz | www.surfatex.co.nz

Services provided to the Farming Industry • Septic Tank Cleaning • Drain Cleaning • CCTV (Drain and Pipe Inspection) • Hydro Excavation / Hydro Demolition • High pressure water blasting • Sand blasting and painting • Dairy shed & plant cleaning • Culvert cleaning / Drain jetting • Sour milk removal

South Taranaki Branch 25 Wallscourt Place, Normanby Ph 06 272 8725 | Fax 06 272 8724 New Plymouth Branch 28 Hudson Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth Ph 06 755 9150 | Fax 06 755 1611

16

FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S

ADVERTORIAL

QUALITY MUFFLER MANUFACTURERS

Earthmoving Equipment Agricultural Machinery Commercial Transport Industrial Plant & Equipment Oil & Gas Industry Specialty One Off Custom Mufflers 06 754 4166 027 754 4166 sales@mufflersnz.co.nz www.mufflersnz.co.nz See us at the field days site number K40B

23 Mayne Street, Business Park,

Waitara 4320, Taranaki

DRIVE SAFE On Rural Roads

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER

Growing great dairy farmers Coming from farming stock, Taranaki’s Jax Flintoff was always going to pursue a career in agriculture, but it was the television show McLeod’s Daughters that sealed the deal.

Essential viewing through her high school years, she decided that shepherding was the career path to follow after leaving school.

As it turned out, the reality of shepherding wasn’t quite the same as it was on TV and, at that time, didn’t offer the career pathway Jax was looking for.

She shifted her focus to the dairy industry and other than a short stint managing a poultry farm, she has not looked back.

Today Jax is a training adviser for Primary ITO — the industry training organisation for agriculture, horticulture and other primary industries.

Completing Primary ITO programmes helped fuel Jax’s own career progression. As a training adviser, she knows first-hand what it’s like to be juggling long hours on the farm with study requirements.

However, she also knows the satisfaction that comes with completing the papers, applying her newly acquired knowledge and skills on the farm and gaining a well-recognised qualification.

It is this sense of satisfaction she strives to instil in the farm teams she is working with, as she identifies skill gaps in employers’ staff and encourages her

trainees to fill those gaps while driving their own careers forward.

“Every time I put anyone into a training programme, I think holistically, taking into account the needs of the employer and the employee.”

Jax’s passion for the dairy industry has not waned during the years. She loves watching future talent coming through and seeing their success as their career progresses.

She sees her trainees go from assistant to 2IC and onwards, and as a

facilitator, she feels fortunate to be part of their journey.

“I’m the lucky one really. I get to watch these amazing people flourish and become great dairy farmers.”

Since starting in South Taranaki, Jax has brought Primary ITO programmes into the Waverley and Patea catchments.

“I am super stoked to be able to offer more programmes in that area which means easier access and less travel for trainees.”

“We always see a difference with their understanding in the day-to-day work.

They come and talk to us about what’s happening and it helps join the dots, which is ultimately better for us and our business,” says Phil.

“They are more confident to go ahead and take the initiative.”

The type of Primary ITO programmes their staff undertake include stock handling, animal health, milking systems and pasture management.

The couple, who milk 330 cows in a split calving – so they are calving in spring and autumn and milking all year round – offer their staff the opportunity to study with Primary ITO. Phil says while they do gently encourage their staff to undertake study through Primary ITO, they need to be committed. They have to want to do it.

The couple and their staff have found their Training Adviser Jax Flintoff to be very good at both supporting their employees and understanding their business and skill requirements.

Learning dairy on-farm key to success Dairy employers and employees are recognising the value of gaining industry qualifications on the job.

South Taranaki dairy farmers Tanya and Phil Nixon have found Primary ITO programmes and qualifications benefit their business through having employees who grow in confidence as well as skills.

“It is a three-way stakeholder arrangement. Jax, as an educator, has an understanding of our business and our staff, and will marry them all together.”

Sydney Porter works for Phil and Tanya and is learning through Primary ITO. She has been working in the dairy industry for two years and believes it’s invaluable that Jax has also done the programmes and the hard-yards on-farm herself.

“She has ways of explaining things that help me understand because she knows what she is talking about. She has been there and done that.”

Last year Sydney completed a livestock husbandry qualification and is now studying livestock feeding.

The Government is covering training fees until 31 December 2022, so there’s never been a better time to connect with Jax. Phone 027 446 6267 or email jaclyn.flintoff@primaryito.ac.nz

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

FEBRUARY 2021

C E N T R A L D I S T R I C T S F I E L D DAY S

17

ADVERTORIAL

Passing the toughest tests Prolan’s new lanolin ‘Extreme’ product is proving to be a successful natural rust protection solution for some of the toughest testing grounds around to protect equipment and machinery exposed to fertiliser, sand, salt and mud.

Local Ashburton company Green Fertiliser Spreading director, Darren Green says: “It’s fantastic! I always had an A+ rating at the vehicle testing station without it. Now, they want to give me a higher rating”.

The Extreme product is new in the Prolan range manufactured in New Zealand using sheep’s wool lanolin. It was initially developed for the Danish offshore turbine windmill industry as long-term natural rust protection with a less tacky finish.

Extreme has proved itself as once applied it stays on and protects in harsh environments, reducing maintenance costs, and at the same time, it ticks the boxes for environmental friendliness.

Closer to home in New Zealand the product has proved successful in the fight against corrosion for the Ninety Mile Beach spat farming industry. Loaders are coated to prevent corrosion from a harsh salt-water environment.

Vehicles can be water blasted after the vehicle has been exposed to beach conditions and the Prolan product stays on.

Operators recommend a Prolan coating as a crucial part of their maintenance programme, reducing

downtime in maintenance and component replacement with improved WOF and COF pass rates and resale value on machinery. Rust is an everpresent problem. Prolan is effective in shutting off the supply of oxygen to a surface.

It can be used on areas where existing rust is present and prevents it going any further.

The preparation time is minimal.

The surface needs to be clean and dry. For example, a used vehicle chassis may require a quick water blast and wire brush over flaky rust.

The Prolan can then be applied straight on to the surface.

Prolan Extreme is perfect as a coating for vehicle chassis — 4WDs, trucks, motorhomes, loaders, fertiliser spreaders; horticultural tractors spray equipment, bridges or marine applications.

The product is easily applied using a trigger pack, airless spray gun or garden sprayer for smaller areas; it is also available in an aerosol form. A one-litre of Prolan covers 8–10 square metres; so a four-litre tin will cater for a five-metre truck chassis.

Prolan is made in New Zealand by Kiwis using a by-product of the wool

Trade in on NZ’s favourite Farm Bike Trade in your old farm bike and we’ll give you at least $600 dollars. With minimum trade in applied, pay just $4,695 + GST for a new Suzuki DR200SE Trojan. Still made in Japan, with all the quality features you’d expect from Suzuki.

Be quick! Stock is limited.

Terms & conditions: $600 minimum trade includes GST and applies to new Suzuki DR200SE only when you bring in your old farm or road motorcycle, going or not. Price excludes GST after minimum trade in.

Offer not available in conjunction with any other promotion. Promotion period runs from 20 January – 30 April 2021 or while stocks last.

DARYL SEE DARYL Phone (06) 278 4160

141 Glover Road Hawera • 027 456 7875

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 9am-12pm

industry and adding extra value to an already environmentally friendly product

with multiple benefits. Try Sheep n a Can today!

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18

FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

Cool season Captain wins in winter Less than six months before pastoral farmers must comply with strict limits on nitrogen use, plantain is back in the spotlight for autumn sowing this year.

One plantain, in particular, is providing great cool-season growth. That means it mops up more soil nitrogen at the riskiest time of the year for leaching, plus it provides extra feed when it is most needed on-farm.

Pasture systems specialist, Blair Cotching, says Captain CSP (cool season plantain) has been specifically bred to keep growing during the cooler months of the year.

That is very important for reducing soil nitrogen (N) losses, particularly in the current regulatory environment.

“Many farmers are looking for ways to mitigate the risk of soil N loss from their systems while maintaining sustainable levels of production.

“Industry research has shown plantain has real potential here, to the point where it is now included in Overseer.”

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Captain’s value to both red meat and dairy producers extends beyond a strong environmental profile, says Blair, who heads the pasture systems team at Barenbrug.

Captain also grows strongly in other seasons and performs particularly well in the summer despite being bred for cool-season performance.

“In terms of stock performance, it’s palatable, easily digested and rich in essential minerals and trace elements. So there are distinct animal nutrition benefits, on top of its use as an N-mitigation tool.”

Grazing utilisation is good because Captain remains obviously upright in the pasture year-round.

Captain has shown good persistence in mixed-sward trials. Well-managed, it will thrive for up to three years.

Blair says a key benefit is the ability to use the new plantain in different ways, depending on farmers’ individual priorities.

In red meat systems, for example, mixed with red and white clovers, Captain offers a high live weight gain finishing crop. Alternatively, it can be part of a perennial pasture mix.

Captain CSP, front and centre, showing its winter growth advantage compared to other plantain cultivars

Dairy farmers can sow it as a specialist three to four-year pasture, mixed with hybrid ryegrass and white clover or include it with new autumnsown perennial ryegrass pastures.

“It’s also well-suited to over-sowing into thin pastures in spring.”

Barenbrug is working to develop new plantain cultivars, with both environmental and animal nutrition benefits in mind, he says.

“We have two goals with our plantain research, both revolving around N mitigation. The first is breeding improved plantains, with even more cool-season growth to utilise more N in winter. The second is to increase the levels of the secondary metabolites that help reduce N leaching.”

Seed for Captain CSP is available for autumn sowing now. For more detail, contact your merchant.

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Morrow MS red clover

Captain CS plantain

Morrow multi-stemmed (MS) red clover’s high stem number gives improved grazing tolerance, with its deep tap root delivering high summer-autumn yield.

As well as reducing N leaching, Captain cool season plantain (CSP) has more growth in this period - the most valuable feed in farm systems.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

FEBRUARY 2021

19

AG CONTRACTORS A lighter tread on soil

S HORT T OP & S IDES

by Andy Bryenton

• Hedge, shelter & tree trimming • Clean up service available

It’s a well-known fact that soil health is affected by compaction, both from animal pugging and the action of today’s large, heavy agricultural machines. Now tyre manufacturers and engineers are working to turn this around.

Soil is a complex mixture of solid minerals and organic components, interspersed with water, air and living organisms. When a tractor or implement weighs down on this structure, the gaps close up, expelling the life-giving water and oxygen, which help good bacteria and soil microbes thrive. There’s even the chance that the roots of plants will have to divert around compacted clumps, expending the energy of the plant that you’d rather went into saleable crops.

On modern farms around the world, yield losses due to compaction are roughly 20%. It can even reach 50% in certain cases, such as areas with damp loam or a clay-based soil structure.

That’s a significant financial setback, so tyre and tractor manufacturers have been hard at work to rectify the issue and provide smart solutions. One example comes from a recent British initiative on soil health and compaction.

Richard Hutchins, an agricultural tyre specialist at Continental, David Purdy, from John Deere, and soil scientist, John Williams, joined forces to highlight

Call Damon

027 368 5959 how farming practices must change to protect productivity. Mr Williams suggested that up to 30% of soils in the UK are severely degraded.

“Where soils have been placed in this category, there is very little porosity, and the soil has become grey and compacted, making it difficult for crops to root and for the land to drain,” he explained. Continental Tyres has found a way to offset compaction damage through tyre technology. Their new, very high flexion (VF) tyres with a single bead wire are more flexible and can be run at lower pressures. VF tyres carry 40% more load than a standard tyre at the

same pressure. Alternatively, in the field, the pressure of VF tyres can be lowered by 40% compared to standard tyres, even when carrying the same load. That spreads the weight of the vehicle over a larger surface area and reduces soil compaction. Meanwhile, manufacturers of tractors and implements are experimenting with materials technology to craft lighter, more soil friendly implements and tractors.

Pay attention!

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region for more than 25 years Contact Greg for all your strip tiller, cultivation and pasture renewal needs.

027 452 6717 or 06 273 4264

• Claas harvesters with the latest harvest yield mapping technology • Ploughs • Power harrows • Maize planters — GPS equipped 20" & 30" spacing A IN &

SEED DRESSI

ID G E CRSEEDS

GR

Effluent Pond Cleaning • With Ground Hog injection • TRC approved & permitted

NG

QUA LITY PASTURE SEED

Cutter Italian ryegrass Autumn sowing is underway

• Hedge mulching • Re-grassing • Cultivation • Levelling & scooping • Urea & fertiliser spreading “Put it in the hands of the experts”

Phone Billy at: Ken G. Moratti Ltd | 7 Carrington Street, Inglewood Ph: (06) 756 8066 | Mob: 0274 434 858 | A/h: (06) 756 8804

Cutter tetraploid Italian ryegrass our top quality own brand of annual ryegrass which sells out very quick. Well known ryegrass sold nationwide over 15 years Performing well above producing 264 bales from 4 ha 22 tonne dry matter per ha.

Farmers very impressed!!

Stock find it hard to keep up with in spring Please view our website for more photos and prices Phone Nick 022 083 3579 or Julie 027 324 4431 or 0800 4 seeds Still here year after year www.cridgeseeds.co.nz

20

FEBRUARY 2021

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

10+ REASONS TO BUY YOUR NEW CAN-AM FROM THE

LOCAL!

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Taranaki owned and operated More than 20 years in the powersports business Can-Am and Sea-Doo specialist dealership Manufacturer certified Platinum Dealer “best of the best” Friendly and knowledgeable staff Well-stocked retail showroom Fully equipped workshop Qualified and experienced service technicians Extensive stock of spare parts and accessories No-obligation 3-day ATV and SSV demos* Farmlands discount available on all ATV and SSV models* FREE pickup and delivery for ATV and SSV servicing* Loan bikes available* *Conditions apply

337 Broadway, Stratford 06 765 6942 or 021 478 558 www.canamtaranaki.co.nz ®

WE’RE BUILT FOR THIS.

© 2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved.®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. Make sure that all laws and regulations are respected. Ride responsibly. *Terms and conditions apply. Full details can be found at nz.brp.com/off-road/promotions. Offer available at participating BRP approved Can-Am dealerships only.

®