Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, March 2022 by Integrity Community Media

March 2022 Edition

Kaimanawa horses need homes Page 2

Dairying an ideal lifestyle

Growing medicinal herbs commercially

Keeping it country

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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KAIMANAWA

HORSES NEED HOMES BY DENISE GUNN

With this year’s Kaimanawa wild horse muster fast approaching, suitable homes are required for the target removal number of 150 horses.

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aimanawa Heritage Horses (KHH) chairperson Sue Rivers said the breed’s intelligence and highly-engaging natures make them incredibly trainable. “Their sure-footedness and perception of surroundings make them suitable for all equestrian pursuits, with most of them being incredibly talented jumpers. They are loyal and trustworthy, and will try harder than most domestic bred horses at whatever is asked of them.” Applications to adopt a Kaimanawa are now open, providing enough time for references to be checked. Area representatives conduct a home check process, assessing each property the horse is likely to spend time on. Sue said many horses are handled at one property with facilities then moved to the home property. “If there is any work required to ensure a safe arrival for any horse, then instructions are given, and a recheck of any work is done before the application is accepted. Once accepted, the applicant is told and provided with information to help prepare for the arrival of their horse or horses.” Good quality stockyards with a minimum height of 1.8 metres, a safe ramp for unloading and a suitable sized yard to contain the horse while its handling is done are required. “We highly encourage applicants to have a safe paddock adjacent to the yards for the horse to graze in as quickly as possible.” Experienced help is available with a group of area representatives throughout New Zealand, as well as the KHH committee members. Sue said these people are always in place to help anyone who has a Kaimanawa horse and finds themselves in need of assistance. “There are KHH registered handlers for those that would like a horse but need the initial handling done for them,

The Kaimanawa horse is excelling in all types of equestrian disciplines

as well as KHH-endorsed workshops for those that prefer to be a part of the handling process.” Applicants are given a first and second preference choice taking horse’s age, gender, and mare and foal combinations into consideration. “We do our absolute best to match horses to people’s preferred choice, but we can’t always guarantee they will receive their first preference.” All applicants receive a muster pack with the required information and contact details for assistance if required. Area reps visit each horse soon after each arrival to check on progress. The KHH committee and wider welfare team are always available to answer questions, offer support, guidance and organise additional help if necessary. KHH also runs a sponsorship programme for both muster horses and welfare cases that come into their care throughout the year. “Sponsors get updates and visits of their sponsored horse, so this is a great way for people to help a horse when they can’t take one themselves. Sponsored muster horses mean we can save those that don’t get a home as part of the application process.” Donations are always appreciated and a tax donation receipt will be issued. Applications close Sunday, April 3, 2022.

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Protag picks up pace

MARch 2022

University engineering PhD students Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr are using their entrepreneurial skills to create game-changing technology for the agricultural industry with their agri-tech start-up Protag. Protag’s small Internet-enabled device clips onto a cow’s ear, transmitting crucial health and location data to dairy farmers within seconds. Machine learning is used to process data from the device’s temperature, movement and location sensors. Farmers can continuously monitor the animal’s health, grazing and breeding habits, helping them map animal behavioural patterns and detect the early onset of illness in real-time. With $1 million raised from investors, the newly-raised funds will be used to accelerate the company’s product development and validation in preparation for large scale trials planned for later this year. Several expressions of interest have been generated from farmers in Waikato and the South Island. Funds raised for Protag came from various sponsors, including Finistere, OurCrowd, Fonterra, Sprout and Callaghan. Protag co-founder Tyrel Glass said the company’s small, lightweight device is 100 times more power-efficient than other GPS-based devices using bulkier battery packs. “We see a future where every farmer has detailed information on the health and wellbeing of every animal. “The power of remote sensing in animal health is huge. Protag is the gateway into this data, providing advanced analytics

Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr — Protag founders

for each animal that can map the whole story of the cow, and at an accessible price point for all farmers.” Fellow co-founder Baden Parr said mastitis, lameness and reproduction issues are the main ailments dairy cattle face. By detecting these early, Protag paves the way for more sustainable farming and improved animal welfare.

While the company has its immediate sights on the New Zealand market, Ireland and Brazil have also been identified as future markets. Associate professor in computer engineering Fakhrul Alam is Tyral and Baden’s PhD supervisor.

He said the students had created potentially game-changing technology for the agri-tech industry. “Their engineering smarts, combining cutting-edge remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence, will bring crucial insights to dairy farmers.”

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

DAIRYING

AN IDEAL LIFESTYLE BY DENISE GUNN Ngaiana Millar hadn’t considered dairy farming as a career until she met her former partner, Dylan.

ow, the 25-year-old is a herd manager, milking 440 KiwiCross and Friesian cows at peak, and volunteers as a facilitator for the Taranaki Rural Support Trust. The first nine years of Ngaiana’s life were spent in Auckland City. After moving with her family to Taranaki to be closer to her grandparents, Ngaiana finished her schooling in the region. She later moved to Raglan to take up dairy farming, milking 1,000 cows with Dylan. “We were there for about six years,” said Ngaiana. “Then Dylan took his life in 2017, and I took a few years off farming after that.” Ngaiana moved back to Taranaki and began working as a farm assistant for Stephen and Deborah Clough. The 169ha farm, near Eltham, milks a herd of 440 cows at peak.

“I started as a farm assistant, and then a year and a half in, I was moved to assistant herd manager. I’ve been the herd manager for one season.” Ngaiana is now just finishing her fourth season on the Clough’s farm. When the summer dry kicks in, drought conditions are quite common on the farm. “In the summer, we can see grass staggers, but we try to get on top of that before it becomes an issue. Animal health is proactive rather than reactive on this farm. “In the winter, we get very heavy frosts that knock temperatures back to minus five degrees Celsius, which stunts the pasture. We are blessed where we are, as we get rain and sun. “We get the odd southerly. When we put in our maize, the easterly knocked the outside ring of our maize paddocks.”

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Ngaiana is also a volunteer facilitator for the Taranaki Rural Support Trust

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Ngaiana said a winter grazing block about 15 minutes from the farm takes the stress off pasture during spring. “It meets the demands of the cows and gives the home farm a rest.” A nearby run-off produces around 200 round hay bales. “This season to early March, we’ve produced 142,226kgMS. Last year, we did 155,128kgMS.” Helping out farmers in need through her volunteer work as a facilitator for the Taranaki Rural Support Trust is close to Ngaiana’s heart. “I’m a crisis person, so if there is a crisis call at my end of Taranaki, I assess the situation and report to the boss whether outside organisations need to be involved.” Entering last year’s New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards was a big career

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

A herd of 440 KiwiCross and Friesian cows are milked at peak

Ngaiana has worked her way up from farm assistant to herd manager

“It was a massive confidence booster for me.” Studies continue through PrimaryITO. “I first started off with a level three agricultural course. It took a year and a half to complete. I’ve just started a level four course.”

When Ngaiana completes level four, she plans to move on to level five business management. “The academic side of dairy farming is challenging. I’m more of a physical learner. That’s probably the only challenge to face personally. I’ve always had supportive bosses.

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March 2022

Ngaiana is the herd manager on Stephen and Deborah Clough’s farm near Eltham

Spending most of the day outdoors appeals to Ngaiana

“It’s a solid foundation as you’ve worked your way up.” Ngaiana has found working in the dairy industry to be an ideal lifestyle. “I’m always learning; the industry is always evolving. It’s so rewarding. You are

out in the elements all day; then you get to come home — it’s a stable lifestyle.” She is considering looking at contract milking next year. Eventually, depending on finances, Ngaiana would also like to look at sharemilking.

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

GROWING

MEDICINAL HERBS

COMMERCIALLY A project assessing the feasibility of growing medicinal herbs on a commercial scale is gathering momentum in Taranaki.

BY DENISE GUNN

s one of several opportunities in the region currently being evaluated by Branching Out, medicinal herb production could potentially create a new industry for the region. Branching Out, a project launched in March 2020 and coordinated by Venture Taranaki, has input from a wide range of stakeholders, along with support from the region’s three district councils and the Ministry of Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF). Venture Taranaki general manager Anne Probert said the region has untapped potential for high value-added products and market to consumer opportunities. “Branching Out is actively undertaking several investigations to strengthen and diversify the Taranaki economy and value chains by identifying innovative,

commercially viable opportunities for food and fibre enterprises in the region. “Investigations will lead to identifying 10 feasible ventures resulting in a series of investment-ready Venture Blueprints.” Branching Out Project lead Michelle Bauer said medicinal herbs are already being grown within the region. “We have a supportive community including the Stratford Herb Society, the Herb Federation of New Zealand, and other enthusiastic and engaged growers. “So, it made sense for us to work together and investigate the commercial potential and viability in Taranaki. “To take this growth potential to the next level, we also needed to consider not only what grows well, but consider the market demand and value proposition.”

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Herb growers are welcome to contact Shonagh for further information on the project

A herb drying room

Local growers, Venture Taranaki, and the Stratford Herb Society collaborated to collect information and develop a long list of medicinal herbs which can be grown commercially in the region. “Venture Taranaki then engaged AbacusBio, an eminent research organisation, to use this information as the basis of a study, developing an approach for Taranaki growers to assess which plant species have the most commercial potential for our region.” Michelle said the project’s momentum is really ramping up with consistently high turnout at events and people making enquiries. President of the Stratford Herb Society and Herb Federation of New Zealand vice-

president Shonagh Hopkirk has been collecting information from Taranaki herb growers. “We started off with a list of herbs that we put out to all my sources to see who grows what, where and which herbs grow well in Taranaki as well as what herbs don’t,” she said. “We’ve had useful feedback from a range of people, from those who only grow calendula to those who grow a variety of medicinal herbs and have a huge selection.” Shonagh believes the project would work well as a co-operative. “I would like to see various people being able to grow whatever quantities they can of their chosen herb or herbs. We will have contracts with supplement

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producers to grow a specific quantity of each herb at a specified quality.” The initial list of herbs was developed through discussion with some of the herbal supplement businesses in New Zealand and local herbalists. Through the two-year initiative, the goal is to develop a pilot project. “We tried to come up with a list of three herbs to do a pilot project.” The infrastructure required will also be considered, including the harvesting process and drying herbs while retaining the quality throughout the process. Shonagh said most herbs currently used commercially in New Zealand are imported. “Venture Taranaki is also looking at options for a centralised drying facility. The drying is a critical process to retain

medicinal benefits. There are a lot of strings to pull together. “AbacusBio is looking at the potential of the different crops, the value, infrastructure required, and how it can be controlled. There’s so much potential out there. They are doing a really good job doing all the research behind it.” Shonagh is reaching out to the large number of home growers scattered around the region, supplying information and helping where required. “There’s a huge need as well as huge potential. It just needs someone to kickstart the investigation, which is what we are doing now.” Herb growers interested in further information can contact Shonagh on 021 255 6390 or email stratfordsherbs@ gmail.com.

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

KEEPING IT

COUNTRY BY DENISE GUNN As the youngest girl growing up in a musical family with nine siblings, Lynn Crawford-Putt’s love for country music developed from a young age.

aising a family of 10 while dairy farming at Tikorangi was a busy time for Lynn’s parents. Whenever possible, Lynn’s mother would grab some time to sit outside with her ukulele and roll out songs. Occasionally a yodel could also be heard echoing across the paddocks. Some of Lynn’s sisters played the piano, piano accordion and guitar. A couple of her brothers sang, but only one performed in public. “He and I would attend music clubs and sing together. I never mastered the yodelling but my brother did,” said Lynn.

Lynn’s first ever performance was during her primary school’s Christmas break-up. “I sang Silent Night while other class members held candles. I had a couple of very proud parents in the hall that night. I would have been all of 10 years old. At high school, I won a talent quest singing LA International Airport.” At that stage, Lynn was starting to play the guitar by ear and learning chords by watching others play. “I have never been able to read or follow written music,” she said.

New Zealand countr y music artists John Hore/ Grenell, Eddie Lowe and John Rowles were among Lynn’s early favourites. Patsy Riggir, Susan Raye and Loretta Lynn followed. “All their music told stories about all sorts of things. I liked what they sang and would begin writing out the words to these songs. “Singing them was a pleasure but singing them my way. I didn’t copy their style but come out with my own feeling and expression in the songs.”

Lynn grew up in a large musical family

Lynn has always lived on the land, marrying and settling on her husband’s parents’ farm in Okato and raising two children.

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Lynn recorded and released three CDs

Performing with the Topp Twins at the Egmont Country Music Festival

She said farming near the sea meant careful planning around the grazing of stock. “Week by week, I would plate meter the farms as things changed very quickly once the dry set in. “We would drench the herd all year, starting after calving with Causmag, moving to bloat oil then into zinc.” Lynn’s day on the farm began early, milking 170 cows in a 12-aside herringbone shed before getting her children to school. Eventually, the couple built a new 20-aside herringbone shed. “We added to the farm by buying a 60acre block and putting in an underpass. Then a couple of years later bought another block, which allowed us to increase the herd to 240.

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“It’s small fry on today’s farming, but it’s got me to where I am today. I still say less is more. I consider myself very lucky to have done what I have done in my farming time.” When sharemilkers moved on to the farm, Lynn moved to a 10-acre block in Brixton, raising beef stock. Three years ago, she sold the dairy farm. Lynn said Loretta Lynn’s song, Coal Miner’s Daughter, ignited something within her to tell her own life story in a song. “Calling it Dairy Farmer’s Daughter, I wrote of my life on the farm with my parents and schooling to marriage and own family. Lynn received written confirmation from the song’s original composer to use this track.

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Dairy Farmer’s Daughter was recorded and released on Lynn’s last CD called I Wanna Sing For You. During her time on the dairy farm, she recorded and released two other CDs. The first, Coastal Country, was followed two years later by Discover My Kinda Country. Both recordings were produced at Rowan Studios in Kaponga. When Lynn’s elder sister, founder of the Marton Country Music Festival, suggested a similar event in Taranaki, Lynn and

two of her sisters jumped on board as organisers. Lynn has now been part of the Egmont Country Music Festival organising team for the past four years. She said if her singing can make one person smile, that makes her day. “It’s also a medicine. If you’re feeling a bit low, switch on the music, and in no time, you will be working away as time goes so much quicker. You will feel lighter and more energised. While I keep getting a smile back, I’ll keep on singing.”

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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by John Arts

Chondroitin sulphate is classified as a Dietary Supplement in NZ, but in Europe is available on prescription where It is classified as ‘a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis’. The drug classification then goes on to give specific information: ‘Chondroitin sulphate, used with glucosamine, is indicated to alleviate pain and inflammation from primary osteoarthritis. This supplement is reported to improve joint function and slow disease progression’ — (drugbank.ca/drugs/DB09301). I recently read a health store flyer in my morning newspaper. One promotion was for a glucosamine based joint product. There is no doubt that glucosamine can help joints. That is why I include it in my joint formula. However, why is there no mention of chondroitin? The company is a large Hong Kong-owned company that would clearly know about the benefits of chondroitin. What then could be the reason for not including therapeutic amounts of chondroitin? For that matter, why do most joint products sold in NZ have either no chondroitin or so little to have negligible impact on joint health? I think the answer is quite simple. Good quality chondroitin costs ten times that of glucosamine.

My preference is to have equal proportions of chondroitin and glucosamine and for most people to start at a double dose. With my joint product, the standard daily dose delivers 800mg of both ingredients while the double dose 1,600mg each. That, combined with high potency curcumin (from turmeric) extract, can quickly settle sore joints. I usually add Omega 3 fish oil rather than plant Omega 3 sources (such as flaxseed or hemp oils) as only fish oil has EPA, which is profoundly anti-inflammatory. As an example, I have been helping someone for a number of years who contacted me with sore and swollen knees caused by osteoarthritis. She is now much more comfortable and mobile and feeling so much better about life in general. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

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zucchini, cut in half and scoop out the seeds before grating. Place grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and twist the towel to wring out moisture. When excess moisture has been removed, add the grated zucchini to a medium-sized bowl. Chop up the chives, basil and parsley, and add these to the bowl along with the garlic. Add chopped bacon or ham. Lightly beat the egg and add to the bowl. Then add the cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined. Scoop out tablespoons of zucchini mixture, shape into small balls, and place on the baking sheet or greased tray. Bake until golden and serve warm with a dipping sauce.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

MARch 2022

TO BUILD OR RENOVATE

Virtual spaces, real results

by Andy Bryenton

There’s nothing more solid and concrete than a physical building; concrete is usually a big part of making one. However, modern cloud-based computer technology is changing how designers and builders approach the physical stage of new construction, with the benefit of flexibility and more timely, accurate cost projections. One example of this is the Utecture system, which claims cost savings for builders exceeding 58%. That is achieved by making the plans for a construction project digital and incorporating costing data into them. If a wall is moved, a window added or a doorway changed, the projected costs change too, in a system called ‘live pricing’. Customers have access to the same data as designers and builders, helping keep everyone on the same page. Further gains can be achieved with augmented reality, a system using LCD screen transparent lenses to display digital information over a view of the real world. Augmented reality systems allow surveyors to see data from satellites while

they are on the ground and can measure in real-time as well, allowing for builders to match digital plans to their real-world work with utter precision. Augmented reality can also allow tradespeople to access information on materials, tools, safety advice and logistics on the job. It will soon be commonplace in the driver’s seats of excavators, cranes and earthmovers. Even more advanced are tools that augment not just the information coming to tradespeople and construction workers but their physical capabilities as well. Once the stuff of science fiction, power gloves, exoskeleton suits and tool support harnesses with artificial ‘muscles’ are being trialled now and could allow workers to wield heavy equipment with no strain or carry large loads effortlessly. Finally, drones look set to have an even more important role in construction. Some will be used for simple tasks such as fetching and carrying tools and

New technologies are already reshaping the building industry, such as drones like the one controlled by these engineers

consumables to tradespeople up high or in hard to reach places. Others already come equipped with infra-red and thermal cameras to scan for weaknesses, areas in need of extra weatherproofing, or areas

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

MARch 2022

TO BUILD OR REN OVAT E

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A tiny housing solution Tiny homes may well be a lifeline for many employers in the primary industry in this country – and for their workers. With the housing shortage in New Zealand affecting not just cities but also small and rural communities, the option of offering affordable, on-site housing could make a big difference for employers in the agricultural sector who are trying to attract workers. Bryce Glover of HouseMe says his business has tripled its growth in the past year. “There is so much pressure on housing and so many people in dire straits. Affordable, tiny homes are an easy and convenient option for some, and for others, they are the best choice because of the high price of conventional housing.” HouseMe designs and builds tiny houses, portable cabins, granny flats, sleep outs and transportable homes and hand delivers them to your site. The product catalogue includes various standard designs from one openplan room to a deluxe version with a living area and full kitchen, bedroom, and separate bathroom with washing machine. The smallest cabin is a compact 7.4m x 3m, and the largest of its tiny homes is 3.6m wide and 12.5m long. “In the rural sector, we have sold our units to people looking to house everyone from local and overseas seasonal

labourers to farm workers on dairy and equine farms,” Mr Glover said. “Our most popular house, with separate bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area, can be up and running for under $100,000 including GST. We can have it set up on your property within 14 to 16 weeks of taking the order. “Houses are delivered on the basis of ‘Plug and Play’,” he says. “Our final invoiced price includes delivery and siting, so once we leave your site, the house is generally ready for you to use.” HouseMe is forecast to produce and deliver well over 600 of its tiny homes this year. All new HouseMe homes are fully insulated and double glazed, built to NZ Building code standards and are issued with a CCC. Show homes are in Auckland, Taupo and Tauranga — all pricing can be found on their website houseme.co.nz.

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS Warriors to workhorses

by Andy Bryenton

The years following the second world war were ones of profound change in rural New Zealand, as more land was broken in for the expansion of modern farming by the application of combustion power. Areas, where the horse and bullock had once reigned, were tamed by the power of trucks adapted for every possible purpose, modified by small engineering firms in the provinces and set to every task from hauling bales to drilling wells. At the forefront of this advance was a brand that had proven itself during the conflict of the 1940s; the Bedford. A division of General Motors via Vauxhall of England, Bedford’s predominant model M built on the reputation of the wartime QL model. It was nicknamed the ‘Queen

Lizzie’ in an affectionate dig at the reigning monarch, who trained as an auto mechanic during hostilities. The big QL was not unknown here as a post-war import, with its four-wheel-drive system making it a favourite for early rural contractors and fledgling fertiliser companies. It was also pressed into service to carry cranes and drilling rigs for rural construction — with more than one model turned into a fire appliance. The more common M-series boasted a long nose and flat deck like the utes that

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Bedford’s versatile trucks were converted into everything from buses to mobile cinemas, as well as a host of farming applications

were to come in later years. Under the hood lived the famous overhead-valve stovebolt six, a simple but relatively powerful Chevroletderived motor that would be a Bedford standard, through various upgrades, for many years. Rural dwellers of the 1950s and 1960s may recall M-series buses plying the roads between small towns. In 1960, the Bedford company launched the ‘truck that broke in New Zealand’, the legendary TK. It was destined to be in production until 1992 and adapted to almost every role imaginable, from military service to

livestock transport, heavy haulage to construction. TK Bedfords helped build the motorways other trucks drive on today. Amazingly, there are still working examples out there being driven daily. Many companies got their start with a six-cylinder Bedford or one equipped with a Perkins diesel. Rugged, reliable and (as drivers will remember) without any of the modern conveniences truck drivers enjoy today, the M and TK models, along with their heavier variants, were a driving force in building up provincial New Zealand and can still evoke fond memories to this day.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

MARch 2022

RURAL CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS

STEAMY

REMINDERS BY AMY FIFITA

Long-term Steam Traction Society Incorporated (STSI) member Alec Birch is encouraging visitors to come along to enjoy the machinery and family atmosphere at the society’s museum.

“S

ixty years ago, steam was coming to an end on New Zealand rail, and the STSI was looking to get a railway engine. The deal didn’t happen, and somebody suggested a traction engine, and that’s how the society began,” Alec says. He has committed his life towards these vintage machines gaining extensive knowledge in the process. “I’ve been messing around with steam engines since I was a child, and that’s always been part of my world. “There was a miniature railway with a steam engine on it, and the council still owns the steamroller I used to look after.

“I needed a qualification to be an unaccompanied engineer, and somebody suggested that I join the Steam Traction Society to do that. It’s been almost 20 years since I joined. “I got my qualification, and I stayed. I wouldn’t change a thing. Traction engines are a different way of doing things — it’s a hobby, and I like machinery.” The society’s 2022 Steam Fair was cancelled; however, it has a museum for the public with workshops and displays in Feilding. “It’s a working museum with a dirt floor like they would have had 100 years ago, apart from the workshop. There are machines

ONTRACTING

A pipe band enjoying the steam scene

in pristine condition and others that are completely derelict — it adds to the wonder.” The society is about more than engines; it’s about the community connecting with each other and about family. Visitors have the option to spend nights there on the museum grounds. “At the club, there’s no phone, no television, and you can spend some time with your friends. It’s a family-based club where families can join in. “We have clubrooms and facilities that people can stay at if you live further away. If you live close by, you can have a day trip. We’re always developing and finding ways to make the place better.”

Alec says there is interest from younger generations, and he would like to see more people interested in the steam society. “The demographic is generally older, but it’s encouraging that some younger people are coming through. “Our youngest member was a female in her early 20s. It would be good to see younger people coming through; to attract someone to something 100 years old can be a mission.” Anyone interested in seeing or becoming a member can contact the Steam Traction Society Incorporated at facebook.com/steamtractionsocietynz.

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RURAL CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS

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Treat your stock to the best by Blair Cotching, Barenbrug Pasture Systems Manager

What’s gorgeous, nutritious, made in the North Island, happy in the sun and guaranteed to tempt the fussiest eater? Morrow red clover, that’s what. If you haven’t yet treated your animals to this energy-rich palate pleaser, get some in the ground this autumn, and get ready for multiple nosh-ups next season. Yes, that’s right — I said ‘multiple’. Morrow is different from traditional red clovers. You can graze it more often. Picture an exposed, dryland Bay of Plenty dairy farm, grazed rotationally and intensively. That’s where Morrow’s parents came from. They not only survived but thrived in an environment where red clover would normally be expected to give up the ghost pretty quickly. Come summer, when grass struggled in the heat, they flourished, and so did the cows. You are what you eat. We all have our favourite foods. Some of them are even good for us. Grazing animals have the best of both worlds — their forage of choice is a nutritional powerhouse. You’ve probably seen your animals go through a pasture and deliberately pick out the clover. That’s because legumes taste lipsmackingly good to cows, sheep, cattle and A IN &

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sends ryegrass to have a lie-down. Fertiliser is not getting any cheaper. Sow Morrow, and pasture and nutrient balance will benefit because it fixes its own nitrogen, feeding it naturally into the pasture slowly and continually. At a fixation rate of about 25 kilograms of nitrogen a hectare for each tonne of dry matter grown, it can add more than 200 kilograms of nitrogen a hectare to your pasture in a year. Contact your seed rep today.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

MARch 2022

RURAL CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS

by Andy Bryenton

Scoring pasture for better undersowing

S HORT T OP & S IDES • Hedge, shelter & tree trimming • Clean up service available

Autumn is here, and that means it’s time to make a practical assessment of paddock condition, with an eye to planting the right kind of grass to weather the winter.

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Undersowing season is on its way, so it’s a good time to make a call on how to proceed with different types of ryegrass for different pasture conditions

A pasture that has reached level one is clearly damaged and not worth undersowing remediation for short-term gains. Instead, it’s time for weed killing treatments and the planting of a six-month annual ryegrass, which provides cover and weed control until springtime planting of maize or turnip crops. This five-point system provides a handy general rule to assess the way to lean when making a call on undersowing activities. Talk to your seed provider or undersowing contractor about specific cultivars that may work in tandem with your climate and soil conditions.

Level three paddocks show dispersed areas of weeds, visible damage from animal activity and some bare patches. They could be called marginal but are good targets for undersowing with perennial ryegrasses, which can offer a further two to three years of good productivity. Level two paddocks are further deteriorated and show extensive weed growth alongside poor desirable grass retention. Experts suggest undersowing with short-term ryegrasses, such as Italian varieties, which may add one and a half to two years of grazing.

T, WORK, P EA , L Y

As farmers know all too well, not all grasses are created equal. In a cycle as old as agriculture, there comes a time when pastureland needs to rotate through a period of spring cropping, giving the soil and its microbiota variety. The key to successful autumn set-up is scoring paddocks according to the amount of damage they have sustained and the kind of growth remaining as summer draws to a close. It’s recommended that paddocks should be evaluated on a scale of one to five by eye. Veterans of the rural sector can spot the differences that define these gradations and be honest with themselves about aspects such as cracking, weed coverage and drainage. A level five paddock will be bursting with grasses and clovers and show no bald patches or damage. Level four is defined by less vigorous grass growth and a scattering of weeds but is no cause for immediate concern. Management of these paddocks to continue healthy growth is required. However, pasture displaying characteristics below this standard is a definite candidate for undersowing.

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MARch 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS

by Andy Bryenton

Genetics, trade and red sector gains

A free trade deal with Britain and an export market already approaching the $10 billion mark all points to a positive season ahead for the red sector, with government investment in beef genetics adding to future prospects.

“This is an opportunity for people who want to grow the value of their exports, and it will be at the top end of the market,” said Trade Minister Damien O’Connor of the recent trade deal

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Local drystock farmers will be buoyed by news of the first tariff-busting trade deal with the United Kingdom in close to 50 years. A process that has been in the works for some time and aligns with new, post-Brexit global trade restructuring. With the sector set to grow, contractors who can guarantee the best pasture to feed and raise these beasts will be in hot demand. “New Zealand has not had tariff-free access into the UK since Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973, so this deal will deliver a major boost for sheep and beef farmers and exporters,” says Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association. Meanwhile, the New Zealand Meat Board has committed to investing $1 million a year into the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) genetics programme. It’s a follow-up to genetic science advancements that have worked well for the sheep sector. The NZMB will join forces with the Ministry for Primary Industries and Beef and Lamb New Zealand in supporting a seven-year-long Sustainable Food & Fibre

Futures partnership that aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460 million for the next quarter-century. While the genetics of animals is important, the health of the soil biota and chemistry sustaining them is equally in the spotlight. Gains in fertiliser and undersowing science will need to balance improvements in bloodlines to guarantee maximum value. “The INZB programme will put tools in the hands of farmers that will increase the rate of genetic gain across our beef industry,” says NZMB chairperson Andrew Morrison. Even aside from the free trade deal and the investment in better herd genetics, Beef and Lamb has forecast farm profits before tax to lift 29% in 2021–22, to an average of $116,200 for each farm, adjusted for inflation. While drystock farms lack the requirement in specific infrastructure their dairy counterparts must invest in, operations such as fencing, riparian planting and pasture management will all be vital to accommodate a projected larger beef and sheep population.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

MARch 2022

DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK

Electric revolution on rural roads by Andy Bryenton

Fonterra is rolling out a new fleet of electric milk tankers, starting with a single unit sourced from industrial machinery giant XCMG. A number of changes are being considered to the preferred option initially put forward in the consultation booklet in May, including adjusting the proposed minimum shareholding requirement for farmers and enabling sharemilkers and contract milkers to own shares. “It’s a good time for the board to step back and reflect on the feedback as most farmers will now be busy with calving,” says chairman Peter McBride. “Once they have come through this particularly busy time of the season, we will be ready to consult on the updated proposal.” Consultation has been extensive to date. Since May 6, directors have held 90 farmer meetings, attended events such as the My Connect conference and Fieldays®, as well as leading seven online webinars and speaking with many farmers directly. More than 5,000 farmers have directly engaged through feedback channels, in addition to discussing the options with each other. Members of Fonterra’s board and management have also talked with other groups such as the Cooperative Council, formerly the Shareholders’ Council, the Fonterra

Shareholders’ Fund, the government, major banks and rural professionals. This engagement will continue as the consultation progresses. “We would like to thank our farmer owners for getting involved and approaching the consultation with open minds. “We also want to acknowledge the uncer tainty that comes along with us considering changes to our capital structure and the significant challenges that it’s creating for some farmers. The best way to give certainty is to ensure we have a full discussion as a co-op and get to a quality outcome. “The board maintains its belief that, in a flat or potentially declining milk environment, making changes early will put us in the best position to provide farmers with more flexibility while protecting farmer ownership and strengthening our co-op’s financial sustainability.” Many farmers said that additional information on the co-op’s business strategy and future performance would help them form a clearer view of capital structure. Further information is available at fonterra.com/capitalstructure.

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