For the past six years, I’ve witnessed the proposal or enactment of some of the worst anti-farming legislation ever devised in this country.
No longer are we a proud agricultural nation, with many of the best food producers in world, it seems.
Instead our producers, especially those in red meat and dairy, are the government’s constant target for umpteen rules and regulations as Labour tries to run farms from Wellington.
All this legislation is borne out of simplistic, idealistic views by people who have absolutely no understanding of how rural New Zealand, agriculture, horticulture or arablefarming works.
In fact, we have few members of parliament who do. It’s one of my main drivers for wanting to be there.
In our own party, we have two retiring farmer MPs, Ian McKelvie
and David Bennett. While we may gain more after October 14, having rural voices around the table is an absolute must.
Whichever way you look at it, producing food is what we do. For ourselves, for millions of others around the world, and we’re really, really good at it.
Since 2017, Labour has imposed more than 20 new or updated laws on the farming sector.
So National’s new Getting Back to Farming policy reflects the ‘red tape’ battle farmers have been fighting.
It includes sweeping changes to 19 of the above regulations, improving access to RSE workers, restoring local decisionmaking and offering greater protection to our food producers.
I urge everyone to read it — national. org.nz/priorities.
It can be tough biting my tongue in parliament some days.
Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King CountryBarbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
by Denise Gunn
Donna received the award at the recent Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) 2023 conference. She was recognised by judges as an outstanding woman who contributes to the dairy sector with passion, drive, innovation and leadership.
The fourth-generation dairy farmer has lived on a dairy farm for most of her life. Donna and her husband, Philip, milk a herd of 270 predominantly Friesian cows on their 177ha (107ha effective) Awatuna farm. The couple have two adult children.
Donna is heavily involved in the community holding several governance positions as a councillor at the Taranaki Regional Council, chair and founder of the Taranaki Catchment Communities, a Dairy Trust Taranaki trustee, and on the executive of Taranaki Federated Farmers. She is also a qualified chartered accountant.
DWN trustee Donna Smit said judges had an unenviable job with an incredible group of women.
“What stood out for them was the way that Donna inspired her community and especially encouraged young people. Her ability to see the big picture and then mobilise those around her was something the judges thought was really special.
“They were looking for commitment, drive and passion for the dairy sector, someone who is a positive role model for women in dairying. They were looking for a strong performer who demonstrates leadership within her community, and
with a wider circle of influence, and who epitomises the bigger, brighter, bolder mantra shared through the DWN conference.”
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said Donna is well known within the co-operative and is an outstanding ambassador for the industry.
“Her leadership qualities, community engagement and commitment to sustainability represent some of the best attributes of Kiwi dairy farmers.”
Donna said she is both humbled and honoured to receive this award.
“I am grateful to both Fonterra and DWN for the work they have done to make the award possible. I am excited about the Fonterra scholarship and opportunities that it may bring outside of New Zealand.
“I am proud of the milk we produce on farms across New Zealand and the delicious products that Fonterra produce from our milk. I look forward to having the
opportunity to share our amazing food story in the coming year.”
Donna acknowledged the other three finalists — Kimberley Crewther, Rebecca Miller and Sheena Penwarden.
“The work they are doing is important to our industry. I wish them all the best and hope, in some way, I can also promote the great work they are doing in the coming year.”
BY DENISE GUNN
The couple looked at a few small breeds before settling on Lowlines.
“We didn’t want anything carrying a dwarfism gene, which I think some of the breeds that are classed as miniature do,” said Sandy.
“Our young daughter was very keen to get involved. It was her wish to show them as a 10-year-old.”
Their first Lowline, a three-year-old incalf heifer, arrived on the family’s Eltham property in 2004. Five months later, the Moores bought a bull calf, eventually giving the family’s Triple M Stud their first crop of calves.
Lowline cattle developed from the Aberdeen Angus breed as part of a major breeding research project at Australia’s
Trangie Agricultural Research Centre in the early 1970s. The bulls average 105cm in height and weigh between 450–500kg. At 100cm tall, the cows are slightly smaller, weighing, on average, 350kg. Following the release of the Lowline onto the market in 1993, the first of the breed arrived in New Zealand two years later.
During the years, Triple M Stud has expanded, and now runs a senior bull, several cows and youngstock. Sandy said the stud mostly breeds their own, except for the senior bulls.
“We have brought in a few cows over the years as well to put different blood and genetics into the herd. We look for temperament and good feet to carry a well-balanced and muscled frame.”
An easy calving ability, fast growth aspect and ease of handling initially drew Sandy Moore and her late husband, John, to the Australian Lowline.
Sandy said the Lowlines’ smaller frame makes the breed easy for everyone to handle. “We don’t need full-sized yards. We work ours through sheep yards.”
Youngstock at Triple M Stud are handled from birth, depending on the weather.
“They are taught to tie up, lead and tolerate noise, be washed and pampered. Animals normally come up through the ranks, so they go from being a calf-atfoot showing with their mother and having their own calf class.
“If they grow well with desirable traits, they are then shown as yearlings, then sometimes two-year-olds and finally take their own calves into the ring as threeyear-olds.”
Katherine, Sandy and Tylah have successfully shown Triple M cattle from Kumeu to Wairarapa and regularly
attend shows in Stratford, Egmont and Manawatū. “We have many multi-supreme champion cows and youngsters.”
When John passed away two years ago, a key part of the Triple M Stud was lost. “He kept things under control while we were away,” said Sandy.
When showing their cattle, Sandy, Katherine and Tylah meet new people everywhere who are fascinated by the breed.
“We now have a show family who are an amazing bunch of people who are in competition in the ring but whom we’ve formed lifelong friendships with.”
Katherine, Sandy and Tylah belong to the North Island Lowline Promotional Group and the Australian Lowline Cattle Association. Sandy said some farmers are raising Lowlines for the commercial market.
“One of our group sold off his dairy herd to do beef rearing, and he loves the Lowline breed. There are also quite a few farmers now using them as sires for first calving dairy heifers and tailing off at the other end. The calves are born quickly, smaller but very feisty and grow very quickly.”
Helping people to start a stud and watching it grow is another highlight of their involvement with Lowlines.
“There was only one stud in Taranaki, to begin with; now there are five,” said Sandy. “Our door is always open for anyone who wants to view the cattle and learn more about them.”
Daniel’s father used to drive logging trucks, and whenever he had the chance, Daniel tagged along with him.
“My first job in forestry was in Whanganui, where I live, for a guy called Murray Williams of Williams Forestry Harvesting.”
Since starting out in the forestry industry at 17, Daniel has driven a loader, learning on the job. The 38-year-old now owns a Tigercat 865 and established HCD Contracting two years ago.
“I used my initials and my two daughters’ initials in the business name.”
Currently, Daniel is working as a subcontractor for Clint Newland of CJ Newland Logging Limited.
“We’ve been all over the show. When I first started the business, we worked in Lismore Forest, and then went over to Hunterville for a bit, then Turakina, and then ended up back here again.”
Early starts are part of the job, and Daniel’s working day begins at 2am. “I hop in the ute and come out here, then start loading the first truck at 3.30am.”
Throughout the day, Daniel is at the helm of his Tigercat 865, either loading logs on to trucks or stacking away timber cut by the processor.
A line-up of competitors who travelled from around the North Island to take part in the Golden Loader Forestry Championship
“We usually work 12 to 14-hour days,” he said. “It’s pretty good. I like it because you are busy all the time. There are good people in the industry, and everyone gets on.”
Daniel said the only drawback is when the markets slow. “That hinders everyone, and when the markets are down, we don’t get our normal hourly pay.
“The last couple of years have been up and down. We are having a good run at the moment, though, so it’s a chance to put money in the bank to counteract it.”
Entering the Golden Loader Forestry Championship was Daniel’s first opportunity to put his work skills to the test. The contest was held during the Ford Ranger NZ Rural Games in Palmerston North and drew entrants from all over the North Island.
“Nerves were the biggest challenge,” he said.
Fourteen competitors raced against each other and the clock to load and unload a truck and trailer through a series of heats, semi-finals, followed by the final. Health and safety, driving abilities, loading care, as well as speed were all taken into consideration by judges.
The competition, funded by the Forestry Growers Levy Trust, and organised by the Southern North Island Wood Council, was open to those currently working in the sector in machine operating positions.
Team members from John Turkington Limited and McCarthy’s Transport managed the championship. “It was a well-organised event,” said Daniel.
New Zealand Rural Games founder Steve Hollander said it was a long-term ambition of the rural games to host a forestry championship alongside traditional sports that helped build our nation.
“Forestry is a huge part of rural Aotearoa. It’s only fitting that we celebrate its role by creating a championship highlighting the skills required to drive forestry machinery.”
Southern North Island Wood Council chief executive officer Erica Kinder said the rural games provide forestry with an excellent opportunity to lift the sector’s profile.
“Forestry is growing and currently contributes $6.6 billion to our economy and employs between 35,000–40,000 people.”
As New Zealand’s fourth-largest export earner, forestry and wood products are just behind horticulture. She said the forestry industry is one of the fastestgrowing sectors within the food and fibre sector.
Daniel’s ultimate goal is to have his own full logging crew. “I’m trying to work towards that in my five-year plan.”
by Denise Gunn
More than 75 submissions were received following the call for Taranaki landowners to apply for participation in upcoming Branching Out growing trials.
The growing trials, which run under regional development agency Te Puna Umanga/Venture Taranaki, aim to foster an environment which allows value chain diversification to be investigated, adopted and flourish in the region.
Branching Out project lead Michelle Bauer said the submissions came from individuals, whānau, hapū and growers’ groups.
“We have received 250 plus for individual crop trials. Some people applied for more than one trial.”
“We’ve done a lot of work to get the message out there about the project, so the response is reflective of the interest. We are really pleased with the number of responses.”
Michelle said it was also great to see the variety of respondents, from smaller landowners to large dairy, sheep and beef operations.
With applications received from all over the region, growing trials will take place in a variety of geographical locations.
Trials will run for seven individual crops. In some cases with medicinal plants, there will be two trials. The list of crops identified includes angelica (gin botanicals), ashwagandha (medicinal plants), Echinacea (medicinal plants), hemp for fibre production, hops, liquorice (gin botanicals), and sustainable crop rotation: high-value grains, legumes and vegetables.
“As a starting point, we’ve plotted locations on our GiS map for suitability of crops of interest. Our map takes into account soil, climate, data our respondents have filled out, viable land, machinery and water availability.”
Michelle said the process will have to be rigorous. “Our next step is to get in touch with those shortlisted. First stage was our theoretical identification. We then recognised ventures suitable to the region. Now, we are looking at the practical implementation.”
The duration of the project for phase two will take two to three years. Trials will
“We ask people able to commit to one year but would ideally like them to participate in the second stage to prove the commercial viability of the venture,” said Michelle.
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These skills are complex and don’t come easily for many children who can get left behind in a classroom of 30.
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Every child who comes to NumberWorks’nWords New Plymouth receives an assessment to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Once Natalie, the centre owner, understands a child’s capabilities, she creates a learning plan in consultation with parents that focusses on closing learning gaps or extending their knowledge, not teaching them what they already know.
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NumberWorks’nWords is a fun, supportive environment that will help your child gain a love of learning. Many children who struggle academically suffer from a loss of learning con dence. Tutors at NumberWorks’nWords provide constant feedback on progress and award certi cates for achievements. Based on success, children who attend NumberWorks’nWords experience a positive change in mindset about their capabilities.
You can help your child with maths or English by calling Natalie Smith on 06 769 6465 for a no-obligation free assessment at Numberworks’nWords New Plymouth. It’s a great place to learn.
by John Arts
Science buffs will know that magnesium and calcium are in the same column in the periodic table. It is unsurprising that these two essential minerals control nerve and muscle function.
In muscles, calcium dominates magnesium when muscles contract. Magnesium should then dominate calcium in the relaxation stage. If magnesium is low, then calcium dominates both stages.
What this really means is that inadequate magnesium is a recipe for cramping, stiff, sore and tired muscles. A tell-tale sign of low magnesium is muscle cramps, especially at night. We must be aware that dehydration, low salt intake and some drugs, notably stains, can affect muscles. While muscle cramps are uncomfortable, it is the effects of low magnesium on the heart (cardiac) muscle that are frightening as it can affect electrical impulses and blood ow in the heart.
The best way to think about magnesium is its effects on ‘tubes’ in the body, especially blood vessels.
Our muscles contain tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to our muscles. With suf cient magnesium, our blood vessels should open (dilate) after contraction. Low magnesium does
the opposite, whereby blood vessels narrow and can then spasm.
In our skeletal muscles, this can bring muscle tightness and cramps. In smooth muscle that lines our blood vessels, this can cause blood- ow restriction and can lead to hypertension. It is not just blood vessels that are affected; it is our heart muscle, eyes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and, in women, their reproductive tracts. That is why magnesium is so helpful for PMS.
For people without symptoms, I recommend my multi-mineral/vitamin/ antioxidant complex as it includes magnesium. If you are symptomatic, I recommend adding my triple formula magnesium that combines marine magnesium, magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate.
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 newsletter at abundant.co.nz.
‘Just because’ was a phrase I used when I did something that might not have been well received by my parents.
“Why did you cut your hair?”
“Just because,” was the response.
It would seem this phrase has been taken to a completely new level. Just because you have a different outlook on life, you are wrong. It’s not wrong, however, if it’s just a differing view.
What is wrong is how people react to differing views or how they feel everyone else should react to them.
We have a government that tells us to think and feel a certain way, and we have other groups or individuals telling us how we should think about or treat others. I don’t know about you, but I’m over it. If I think the sky is green and the grass is blue, so long as I’m not trying to force my point of view on you or hurt you, what does it matter?
I guess that’s the problem, really. There are so many trying to force their view on us, and god forbid if we have an alternative view. In that case, you are ‘wrong’, and they
are offended. A lot of those trying to force their views on others are paid a lot of money to be controversial and cause as much hurt as possible. Often part of their rhetoric is to frighten and promote bigotry. Of course, it is; after all, that sells a lot better than facts.
Reasoned debate is important for society; it’s how we learn and grow, and be strong, cooperating as equals. Accepting differences is equally as important — it’s what makes us good people.
There are so many things wrong in the world today, like war and poverty; surely the colour of someone’s skin or their sexuality is nothing that anyone should ever be worried about, no matter the circumstances and has nothing to do with who they are as people, it’s time to treat everyone the way you like to be treated.
That’s my opinion, of course, and you can take it or leave it. I won’t be offended. Why do I believe it? Just because — I do.
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IN YOUR COMMUNITY NOT “EXPERTS” ONLINE
This year’s centenary is a chance for the brand, Farmall owners, and collectors of the iconic tractor to celebrate the long history of the machine and honour its place in the advancement of agriculture around the world.
Major historical milestones for the Farmall include:
1923: International Harvester engineer Bert R Benjamin designs the rst Farmall prototype
1931: The F series is presented for farmers with more acreage
1939: Second-generation Farmall designed by Raymond Loewy
1941: Farmall introduces the world’s rst diesel row crop tractor
1947: The one millionth Farmall rolls off the line
1958: The most popular tractor in the US, the Farmall 560 is introduced
1965: Farmall is the rst 2WD row crop tractor to exceed 100 horsepower
1974: Case IH sells its ve millionth Farmall — the rst tractor to ever reach that number
2003: Case IH continues to expand the line-up of products spanning from 31 to 105 horsepower
The legacy of Farmall continues today with more than 30 models to choose from. This iconic tractor series will continue to evolve alongside the customers who made this milestone possible.
“The Farmall is a much-loved tractor right around the world, including
Australia and New Zealand, where it ful ls a range of tasks in so many different farming operations. Whether it’s a utility tractor for a broadacre operation, or the principal tractor for a small horticulture business, its importance and relevance across so many decades is unmatched for any other tractor model,” said Seamus McCarthy, Case IH Australia/ New Zealand product manager for midhorsepower and compact Tractors.
Its history and signi cance also make it a highly collectable piece of farm machinery, with hundreds of Farmall collectors across Australia and New Zealand.
Tom Horwood, based in Inverell, NSW, runs Rural Wrecking Co Pty Ltd, a tractor buying, dismantling and spare parts speciality business. In his spare time, he’s also been a passionate Farmall collector for the past 40 years.
Tom said his passion began as a teenager when he started a mechanic apprenticeship with Inverell Harvester, the local International dealer, with his work bringing him into contact with a lot of International tractors, including the Farmall. His interest in the International brand was ignited, and in his 20s, he started his tractor collection.
“I worked on many Farmalls during those years and just developed a real fascination for them. They have such a rich history, so when I started to collect tractors, they were high on my list. Collecting them gets into your
Case IH’s much-loved Farmall celebrating a century has withstood the test of time blood, and I won’t be stopping any time soon.”
Tom now has a collection of tractors of all brands that numbers in the hundreds at the family farm at Inverell, where he runs his business. He has many old
Farmalls, 40 in working order, with his oldest a Farmall Regular from the late 1920s. His collection will feature as part of a centenary event Case IH is holding in Inverell, Australia, later this year to celebrate the Farmall’s special milestone.
Our unique range of wheeled and hanging feeders protect feed from bad weather and ensure your stock have feed when they need it.
The protection comes from Prolan, an iconic by-product of New Zealand’s sheep industry — lanolin. Prolan makes natural, environmentally friendly lubricants and corrosion inhibitors, which are getting noticed on the other side of the world.
Prolan owners Murray and Julie Shaw now export their product to Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, the UK, Netherlands, Canada and even Guam. Prolan is used for wind turbines and cranes and by pump manufacturers and trucking rms.
Prolan NZ Director, Murray Shaw, said the company has an extensive range of products made from lanolin (wool grease), secreted by sheep to protect their eece in harsh conditions. We’ve replicated that action to protect a range of surfaces.
“We spent a lot of money researching how to take the lanolin and blend it with natural products to make industrial lubricants,” says Murray. “I’m so proud of the ground we’ve made in our export markets. We’re well ahead of our competitors. It’s solid progress, and it’s exciting.
“Prolan’s rust treatment more than doubles the life of farm machinery. A quad bike, for example, costs around $20,000 and often only has a life of four to ve years on a dairy farm. Washing and drying that bike and applying a coating of Prolan will prevent the chassis of that bike (or any other
farm implement) from developing rust — effectively doubling or tripling its life.”
The Prolan can be applied by a compressed air paint system and, once dried to a waxy surface, will withstand water-blasting.
“Where paint hardens and cracks as the implement exes under use, the Prolan coating remains exible, preventing any ingress of moisture,” Murray said.
“It’s so versatile — everyone should have a can. We live in a coastal country, so anyone with a motorhome, a boat, a trailer or a quad bike would bene t from the anti-corrosive properties. Even small jobs like a squeaky door hinge or a sticky shower door are an easy x with Prolan.”
It’s also environmentally friendly — taken from nature to protect nature!
See us at the Mystery Creek National Agricultural Fieldays — Site F11.
“We’re well ahead of our competitors. It’s solid progress, and it’s exciting. Prolan’s rust treatment more than doubles the life of farm machinery.”
