Waikato Farming Lifestyles, October 2016

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

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Paul Campbell

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Ayla Miller

Ann Morgan

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Showcasing equestrienne talent

Spectators were treated to a display of jumping competitions as well as world-class seminars and clinics at the 2016 Equidays.

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The two main jumping classes came down to tight finishes with intense jumpoffs against the clock to determine the winners.

In the Category A FEI World Jumping Challenge, Taupo teenager Briar BurnettGrant took out the win on Fiber Fresh Verona. She was one of the last to go in the jump-off and Briar’s time was just over a second faster than second placegetter Maia Coster, on Landenfeld. Third

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was Nicola Hammond on Carlo I. The FEI Challenge is a two-round contest where riders of the same level compete against other riders from all over the world. Each rider jumps the same course and the overall Category A winners in each geographical zone will have the chance to head overseas for the world final.

Briar was very pleased with her young horse, especially as she hasn’t had him for that long.

“It was obviously a good choice. This is going to be my first full season on him; I had him for about two months last season. I know he is a fast horse, that is naturally how he goes, so I knew if I let him do his thing he is quite a careful horse.”

Olivia Ahlborn, from Napier, was the winner of the Honda New Zealand Pony Derby riding Aorangi Ragtime, beating the other five riders who made it through to the jump-off, out of the 57 starters in the class.

Olivia described her win on the eyecatching Appaloosa as “pretty awesome. It is great to do this with him as we have been together for four years. He is just such a great pony. It is really cool to do really well with him.”

Sarah West was second on Showtym Cruiser and Isabella Du Plessis third on the well-known Kabo Silver.

Icon was selected on plant characteristics including improved disease and pest resistance. Icon is a very good dual purpose hay, silage and grazing cultivar because of its resistance to grazing which it was bred for, from selections of fields grazed by sheep and cattle. Icon has low crowns that will tolerate closer grazing, particularly by sheep.

2016 Equidays was off to a good start

Awards competitors announced

Six businesses are competing in three categories this year and the ultimate winner will receive the supreme prize for the Enterprising Rural Women Awards.

Rural Women New Zealand’s annual awards showcase rural women who run their own successful businesses. For the entrants, it is an opportunity to promote their innovative rural enterprise and gain recognition for their contribution to their community.

The 2016 ERWA categories are Emerging Enterprising Rural Woman Award, Innovative Enterprising Rural Woman Award and Entrepreneurial Enterprising Rural Woman Award.

“This year we have seen some very dynamic businesses emerging in the regions,” said RWNZ National President and judge for the awards Wendy McGowan.

The judging panel also includes representatives from our partners ANZ Bank, Swazi New Zealand and HP New Zealand. They have been impressed by the high calibre of entries and “outstanding rural businesswomen.”

The entrants this year include Barbara Faulls of Smiths Farm Holiday Camp, Picton.

Smiths Farm is proud to offer a quality holiday with space, peace and the clean country air and has been rated as 4+STAR and Enviro Silver by Qualmark.

Next is Bernadette Jackson of LaValla Estate, Tuakau. She runs a function and event centre with accommodation and a theatre. The venue recently hosted the Fieldays Bachelor Breakfast with Rural Women New Zealand.

Fellow entrant Marian Hirst is from Bay Blueberries, Hastings. She is passionate about producing quality apples and blueberries in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

Monique and Lyn Neeson of Shear Warmth, Taumarunui are also competing. They are producers of top quality wool blankets, made in New Zealand and can be traced back to wool grown on the family farm.

Helen Slattery of Slattery Contracting Limited, Matamata is another entrant. The Slattery Family has been involved in Ag Contracting since the mid 1950s, starting haymaking and cultivating land.

Finally there is Amy Dibley of Physio Direct, Rotorua. Amy started Physio Direct when she realised that many small rural areas do not have adequate physiotherapy services. She grew up on a dairy farm in Ngongotaha on the outskirts of Rotorua, understands the physical demands of a rural life

and believes everyone should have the right to health services, which is why she offers physiotherapy to small communities.

The winners will be announced at the Enterprising Rural Women Awards ceremony on Saturday November 12 in Wellington.

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Wendy McGowan, Rural Women New Zealand national president

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“My father didn’t want me to be a farmer because in the United Kingdom it is very different to here in New Zealand and quite difficult. When I was 13 years old I went on an agricultural business taster course at the Duchy College in Cornwall which at the time was on Prince Charles’ estate. We learnt how to drive a tractor and weld and do certain other jobs and I loved it,” says Helena.

She attended Liverpool University and became a doctor and then returned to Devon to live and there she met her husband Ed, also a doctor.

The couple moved to New Zealand and found a 28 hectare property at Te Pahu which reminds Helena of Devon. They called the property Monte Pahu, drawing on Ed’s Spanish roots as Monte means mount.

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“It is a very nice place to live — it is just a bit hillier than where I come from,” said Helena.

Helena takes care of the day to day running of the farm including the shearing, docking and tagging of their

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Helena Barrio of Waikato's Monte Pahu Red Devon Stud grew up in Devon, England on a small holding and is very much a country girl at heart.

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sheep whilst Ed takes care of the larger jobs such as fencing.

“When we purchased the property there were plenty of cross cattle around and we started with them and hand reared our calves. We have three children and they loved it but I found that although we are in the Waikato and the grass does grow quickly, we couldn’t fatten them as quick as I wanted.”

Helena became very disappointed and decided to go back to the animals she knows, Red Devon and start her stud.

“I knew they would be a good match for our land and being such hilly country we needed stock of a medium build that would finish quickly and get up to weight.

“The cattle are doing well and look how I think they should.

“I found the dairy cross quite difficult and I find the Red Devon an absolute delight, they always look so fat. The weather can be thundering and you go and see them and they still look fantastic.”

Helena says Red Devon are known for their calving ease, are easy to handle and have a good nature. They are a high milking cow and their calves get very fat.

“They just make you happy and they are good with the children. Some of them really like to see you and come up for a scratch. They really do like the attention.”

“The older cows will hide their calf and you don’t know where they are, they are so discreet. Their instinct is to protect their baby — they are very good mothers.

Helena says the cattle spend their time eating and sleeping and the

condition goes on them so easily. “Not everyone has intensive finishing land to fatten their stock on high quality grass as we do and some people call me because they just want one or two beef cows to eat their acreage and devons are well suited for such things.

“They go everywhere foraging and get their noses into everything. They aren’t shy to push through weeds to get to the very top of the hill.

“They do just what I want them to do, get fat and have a calf every year and thrive.

“I keep data for their Estimated Breeding Values and assess the worth of the cow’s and the calves. It is important to be able to provide as much data as you can when people purchase your stock,” she says.

“We record all of our newborn weights. Our customers need that for

reassurance if they are using the bulls on heifers.

“There aren’t that many Red Devons around which is a shame. It would be nice to see them cross with a dairy cow. I think they would finish a lot quicker and they are so dependable.

“I feel the worldwide trend for bigger uniform stock is a mistake, and a flawed philosophy, as so much genetic variety will be lost by concentrating on one or two breeds and breeding them to produce such homogeneous cattle. Sadly it seems to be what the big markets want and there is the issue of bigger animals need more food to finish, and along with everything else can come calving difficulties with big calves.

“I like the Red Devon and think there will always be a need for smaller animals.”

BY ANN MORGAN

The donkeys enjoy company and they are worked with daily from the time they are born

Beth is a farming girl at heart and grew up with donkeys when she was young. When she moved to the current property with Paul they wanted interesting animals around them so Beth researched and found the American miniature donkeys.

“They are so cute and loving with great personalities,” says Beth.

COLLINS

“I started with small donkeys initially and then around 10 years ago we went on a waiting list to get our first miniature Jenny (female) and went on from there. We now have 12 Jennys at their stud and an outstanding black Jack (male) which I purchased from America. He is presently residing with the girls making lovely foals.”

She says the donkeys are a little bit like potato chips, you keep wanting more.

“They are so gentle and grow to between 30–36 inches in height and they are very affectionate and loving — they love people company. I enjoy them, especially after a stressful day you can go into the paddock and they just love you.” The McVerry’s donkeys are all registered with the Donkey and Mule Association here in New Zealand. “We also have Riggit Galloways as well, they are an interesting animal, they have a dorsal stripe that runs right up their back. They help keep the grass down which is good as donkeys don’t like much grass — it’s not good for them. The two animals work hand in hand as the donkeys are a browser rather than grazers.”

They also eat hay and approximately every eight weeks they have their hooves

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The New Zealand Institute of Rural Health and the Waikato District Health Board are offering scholarships to support rural Waikato origin students in health science studies.

These scholarships are available to support: • Study Fees • Accommodation • Travel • Living Expenses

The scholarships, worth up to $10,000, are open to students with a rural Waikato background who are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited undergraduate health science course. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

This programme is part of the Waikato District Health Board’s rural strategy to improve access to quality health care in rural and regional Waikato.

Closing date for applications: 17th December 2016

For further information about Rural Waikato Undergraduate Scholarships and application forms: www.nzirh.org.nz | Telephone: (07) 823 9274

Beth and Paul McVerry live in Cambridge at Cherrybank Stud with their herds of miniature American Mediterranean donkeys and Riggit Galloway cattle on four and a half hectares of land.

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trimmed, their teeth get checked yearly and worming takes place at the change of every season.

“My babies mostly go off as pets for families. We work on them daily from the time they are born. We go out each day and touch them, and lift their feet and handle them so by the time they go to their new home at six months they are ready to and are used to contact with humans. The boys are gelded so they don’t have so many issues and they make the best pets.”

The donkeys have little shelters so they can get in and out of the rain as they don’t have water proofing in their coats so they can catch a cold quite quickly.

“They have three-sided shelters they can wander into, it is perfect for them. They don’t mind warm rain but the cold sends them inside.”

The gestation period is approximately 12 months and Beth gets up and checks the expectant mothers when they show signs of labour.

“I always like to get up to check on them just in case they need help. I observe from a distance but have never had to help with foaling, they are wonderful mothers and know what to do. I make sure they are OK and that the baby gets up, and from the next day we start handling them daily.

“My Jack is black and my Jennys are a variety of colours including dun-grey, brown and white skewbald, and other colours ranging from light to chocolate brown and reddy colour. They all have a cross on their back.

“They are a very intelligent animals and have a lot of fun. I had one that liked to hold the other ones’ leads in her mouth — to be the boss and walk them around, and they have a ball that they play around with in the paddock.

We have hills on the property and when they see you they come running down to get a cuddle.”

Beth recommends you should only have Jacks if you are breeding as when the female hormones are flying around they get a one track mind to breed and you need to be careful near them as they are like any male animal.

“Geldings are the best for a pet. I have had a few visits from elderly care homes, and even with wheelchairs and zimmer frames in the paddock the donkeys took it in their stride. They are lovely for the visitors as they can

interact with them and they have little nuzzles on their laps and they show so much affection.

“They are great with children as they don’t bolt if they get a fright, they just freeze.

“We have three grand-children and our three-year-old granddaughter is informing us this summer she needs to ride her donkeys. She has a little saddle and she likes to ride them around.”

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The McVerry’s grand daughter Evelyn is very involved with the miniature donkeys

BY AYLA MILLER

Jennie and Craig Redshaw knew from the very beginning they were meant to be together when they met at a single farmers’ ball in the Waikato and were engaged 12 weeks later.

Fast forward 12 years and the couple have three boys, Jack 9 years old, Harry 8 years old and Charlie 5 years old.

Jennie was born in the United Kingdom and first arrived in New Zealand from South West Wales as an agricultural student on an exchange through the Marvin Farm Workers’ programme.

This programme recruits students from the UK to come to New Zealand and live with farming families in exchange for work experience and a small wage.

She knew early on she wanted to stay in New Zealand permanently and spent the first year moving around Matamata managing various farms until she scored a permanent position in Raglan.

“I loved it as soon as I got here. It was a no brainer. In fact I’ve been back to the UK a few times and it doesn’t feel like it is home any more,” she says.

“I’d never thought about New Zealand until I heard about Marvin Farm Workers. I didn’t know what I was going to do after I left college. College was sort of a stop gap. I thought I’d learn a bit more about agriculture and then all of a sudden it was like a light bulb moment.

“The area where I am from had New Zealand farm consultants visit and had

started implementing New Zealand farming systems on a few farms I was working on when I was in my 20s. It all fell into place just like meeting Craig.” On one of their early dates Craig took Jennie up a hill on his parents’ farm in Matamata to show her the view.

“We had literally only known each other for a couple of weeks, and he said do you think you could get used to this view. I said it was beautiful and he said ‘cool because see this ragwort over here, if you start pulling them now you will have less work to do next year,” Jennie laughs. “That’s when I knew it was serious.” The family of five now live on Craig’s parents’ farm sharemilking 440 cows. The rest of Jennie’s family moved to New Zealand the same year she and Craig married and her father now relief milks for them whilst her nephew is their main assistant manager.

Jennie says it was because of her father that she got into farming.

“Dad has always farmed. He left school when he was 14 and that is all he’s ever done. Being really close to Dad, I grew up sitting on the cowshed steps. Eventually Dad said if I learnt how to milk I’d actually get paid instead of just hanging around. It was basically just following in my father’s footsteps.”

The farming lifestyle means their boys have space to run around although it doesn’t come without challenges.

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“Sometimes it feels like you aren’t giving your family a good lifestyle because you are so busy but there are other times of the year when you get to see your kids in the middle of the day during the school holidays which you couldn’t do if you had a 9–5 office job.” The pair are also aware that keeping themselves healthy and in a good mind set is extremely important when dealing with the stresses of farm life and they maintain a balance between work and social life. “It’s not only that you are tired and overworked, you aren’t getting much money for it and you are often

living remotely. We sometimes call on my Dad and ask for the weekend off so we can take the kids to the beach. I can’t stress it enough how important it is to have that balance.

“You are no good to anyone when you are a bawling heap in the corner of the room. Your family comes first but if you aren’t healthy yourself then you are no good to them. “We have a really great working environment and lots of fun. It’s not perfect but it’s darn near close to it. Seeing the funny side of things is really hard but if you can do that then you are winning.”

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Having three active boys means the Redshaw family require a lot of space for fun. Pictured from left: Harry, Charlie and Jack Redshaw

Jennie Redshaw is in charge of calf rearing on the farm and loves to watch them grow up

Organx™ – The New Way to Farm

Nutrient rich soil produces nutrient dense food, bringing health and vitality to all life.

Topsoil and water are the two most precious things we have on our planet, more precious than gold, silver or platinum.

Without topsoil and water we cannot feed ourselves, so, it is paramount that we take good care of our topsoil and our water.

Today, based on current agrochemical production methods, many

experts are predicting that agricultural topsoil around the globe will be lost within the next 60 years.

United Nations, Food & Agricultural Organisation, stated in 2015 — The International Year of the Soil, that soil is a nonrenewable resource. Its preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future, it also commented that soil is a nite resource, meaning its

loss and degradation is not recoverable within a human life span. Here at Agrissentials we dispute that call.

From anecdotal evidence recorded over an eight year period, we took 50mm topsoil on a clay base down to 250mm — 300mm of topsoil depth, just by applying our multi-mineral, microbial rich fertilisers at two applications per year over Ralph Littler’s Dairy Farm in Ruawai, Northland.

The agro-chemical fertilisers and sprays have a huge impact on microorganisms resulting in soil erosion — according to Dr. Morgan Williams’ report to the Government in 2004 soil erosion from farms was calculated at 200 — 300 million tonnes of topsoil per year — that is not sustainable!

However, don’t panic, Go Organx™! With our system you have the opportunity to set up your own topsoil regenerating and re mineralising system using Agrissentials multi-mineral, microbial rich, certi ed ORGANX™ fertilisers.

The new market is ORGANX™ and Agrissentials ORGANX™ system hold the key to the “X FACTOR” of soil health and soil wealth, with our live, living, certi ed BioGro fertilisers.

Here is the opportunity to break the chains of chemical torture, to walk away from the agro-chemical system that is locking farmers into low price, commodity markets, and high price chemical rescue remedies, that no longer

work — it’s a crazy chemical treadmill. The time is right for ORGANX™ with the consumer calling out for safe, certi ed, nutritiously rich food together with farmers beginning to look and understand that the best way to secure their farms and their farming future is to start working with mother nature instead of working against her and having to pay bag loads of money to the chemist for remedies that struggle to maintain production.

The game is changing, the consumer has already changed and the farmers are recognising new opportunities to produce better quality food for better returns.

The transition from agro-chemical to ORGANX™ is seamless; basically all that happens is to exchange synthetic, soluble, erosive chemical fertilisers for Agrissentials live, living, multi-mineral, microbial rich fertilisers which bring health and vitality back to the farm and back to the environment — now, how simple is that!

Call us today on 0800 THE KEY for a FREE INFO PACK, that’s 0800 843 539 to nd out how we can partner with you to nd a better way of farming. Alternatively you can contact your best on earth fertiliser representative Chris Storm (Coromandel/North, Central & East Waikato) on 021 738 609, Ken Pitts (South/West Waikato) 027 5023 036 to grab your special deal today.

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Healthy Smile, Healthy You

Routine or regular visits to dentists can do more than keeping your smile beautiful and attractive – they can also tell dentists a lot about your overall health, including whether or not you may be at risk for chronic disease.

New research suggests that the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. Research shows that good oral health may actually prevent certain diseases from occurring.

How your oral health is connected with your overall health?

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defences and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However if proper oral hygiene is not practised, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Studies also suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease — might play a role in some diseases.

What you can do?

Seeing a dentist once a year for oral assessment and a teeth cleaning specialist (dental hygienist) at least 2-3 times a year, helps to keep your mouth in top shape and allows your dentist to watch for developments that may point to other health issues. This is your commitment to maintain a good oral health. At home, you can practice good oral hygiene by:

Gum disease can lead to health complications

Research suggests there is a relationship between gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as a stroke and heart disease. Other research shows that more than 90% of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, such as swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems. Such diseases include, Diabetes, Leukaemia, Oral Cancer more. Poor long term oral health/hygiene can lead to problems like:

Oral and facial pain - can be due to infection of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss.

Heart problems and other major organs - Mouth infections can affect major organs, for example, the heart and heart valves can become inflamed by bacterial endocarditis, a condition that affects people with heart disease or anyone with damaged heart tissue. Digestion problems - Digestion begins with physical and chemical processes in the mouth, and problems here can lead to some digestive disorders.

• Brushing your teeth twice a day for at least 2 mins.

• Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach.

• Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, especially) to prevent gum disease.

• Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which are known to contribute to gum disease and oral cancer.

• Visit the dental hygienist (teeth cleaning specialist) regularly. This is one of the most effective ways to detect the early signs of gum disease.

To find out more about special offer for our Waikato Farmers, please call 07 856 4116

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When it comes down to business, Mazda BT-50 is ready to be put to work. Built tough to take on any task, and do it in style. It’s where hard working performance meets refined comfort

a powerful presence and all the creature comforts, Mazda BT-50 is even more equipped for work, play and

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To tender or not?

Rural contracting often starts at home — on the farm. Agriculture equipment standing idle is not going to help the bottom line and many farmers take the opportunity to undertake contract work to boost income.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has some advice on how to proceed in tendering for contracts. It says tendering for work can be time consuming but it can

also lead to substantial rewards. ‘You should think carefully before, during and after the process. Finding the right opportunities, doing the prep work and being vigorous during the tendering process will increase your chances of winning contracts,’ it says.

‘Tendering is the process involved in responding to an Rfx, a catch-all term meaning Request for information, a quote, a proposal, or tender.

‘An RFx can come in many shapes and forms. If it’s for a small amount of work, it will be fairly straight forward. But applying for larger and/or longterm contracts will require a significant amount of time, thinking and resources to complete. You’ll need to be strategic when you decide which tenders to respond to. Going for every RFx you come across is a waste of time and energy. Your probability of success will increase if you only respond to ones in the area of your existing services and expertise.

Even if the contract is relevant to your business, you should first consider how

much preparation will need to go into the application process, and whether your business is able to sustain that effort — especially as winning the contract isn’t guaranteed.

Losing a tender can be disappointing, but it can be an important business opportunity. Always ask for feedback from the buyer on why your application wasn’t successful. You can use that

information to help you learn what to do, and what not to do, the next time you apply. You’ll need to think about the day-to-day and long-term effects on your business.

Before applying, ask yourself: Do I have the people and resources to fulfil the obligations of the contract, or will I have to hire new employees or buy new equipment?

Behind the scenes

With agriculture the heartbeat of the New Zealand economy, there is a massive investment in plant and machinery to improve production in our largest export sector.

Be it beef or dairy, grain or fruit, vegetable or value-added processed food from a myriad sources, our primary produce has acquired a deserved reputation in the international marketplace for quality.

And quality starts with the basic production line — the land. Rural contractors and agrichemical applicators are working to make sure our agricultural products stay world leaders.

The aforementioned large investment in machinery, together with health, safety and environmental requirements, means that having the right skills and knowledge is more important than ever. InfraTrain, formerly known as

the New Zealand Contracting Industry Training Organisation Ltd has worked with the rural contracting industry to develop a range of qualifications which recognise these skills, and represent best practice.

Qualifications are suitable for people at all levels — from those just starting out, or moving from a different industry, to those in supervisory or management roles in rural contracting.

The National Certificate in Agrichemical Application has been developed for those involved in applying agrichemicals across the board. This qualification, plus at least 200 hours of practical experience, is required for

Silage & Hay - Mow, turn, row, bale, wrap, stack & cart.

Conventional Hay Baler - Mow, turn, row, bale & stack with Arcusin Stacker (10 bales per pack). Buy standing Grass or 50/50 option. Selling Silage & Hay.

Cultivation Work - Discing 5m Power harrow, 3m Power harrow with air seeder, Roll Seed Roll, Direct Drilling, Aerating & Deep Ripping.

Ground Work - Tractor Blade/Level Bar.

Bulk Transport - Lime Fertiliser, Palm Kernel, Metal, Sand, Bales. Fencing - Experienced Fencers (Farms, Residential, Stockyards).

Over the Fence Post

Good farmers wear protection

I’ve just read about another quad bike fatality on a farm and this needless loss of life has shocked me, once again.

A quick visit to Worksafe’s website has revealed that 850 people every year are injured on farms while driving quad bikes. Five of these people die. That’s 28 per cent of all of the work related farming deaths, every year, while driving a quad.

Yet despite all this, it seems we still have a problem about wearing ‘that’ helmet.

So what does the law say? Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must take ‘reasonably practicable’ steps to ensure the safety of their workers. With 850 quad bike injuries on farms every year, it is reasonable to expect that a quad bike accident could happen.

As the business owner, you must ensure that your workers are trained in the correct use of a quad bike and that they wear any protective equipment that could minimise the risk of injury. It’s all about managing risk and driving

a quad is risky. Quads need skill, cognitive ability and strength to drive them. Moreover, they are heavy! If they roll, and they do, the chances of lifting them off your body are slim to nothing.

After talking to farmers about this, the statement I often hear is “but my workers won’t wear a helmet.” The law is very clear here too. Workers are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and comply with any ‘reasonable instruction, policy or procedure’ to allow the PCBU to comply with the Act and supporting regulations.

There is no doubt that farming is a hazardous occupation. Creating an atmosphere where safety becomes second nature, such as holding your

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monthly fencepost meetings to discuss safety as a group, will gradually move your farming practice from the ‘old way of doing things’, to a new, safety focussed team.

Put your gumboot down — you may save a life.

MAYBE A COMPACT MOTION ACTIVATED SECURITY CAMERA IS FOR YOU!

There are several models to choose from, which include cameras that send instant photos to your email or cellular phone, plus other cameras that can capture a vehicles number plate travelling up to 60km during daylight hours.

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

Battery aid for top performance

Lead acid batteries usually die prematurely from sulphate build-up on internal lead plates and, according to Gerard Anselmi of Recharge Battery Revitaliser and Conditioner, this crust is very easy to treat.

“We have been saying for years that farmers are getting 8–10 years in our battery conditioning programme. However, most shows we do these days we meet people using our programme with 12 and 14-year-old batteries often still going.”

“In fact our record battery life is 18 years old and still starting a tractor and after 18 years on the market in New Zealand and 13 years in Australia I think we may do better yet.”

The recharge treatment will dissolve the lead sulphate build-up turning those sulphur ions back into sulphuric acid holding electrons.

“We are chemically reversing the sulphate build-up. Once treated a battery is essentially running at full capacity, provided the lead plates are still in good condition.

Prevention is the key — treat them early, repeat every two to three years and keep them charged.”

Recharge is available at Farmlands or Gerard and Debbie will be at Christchurch A and P show again this year on site TP-20 and also the Camper Care Caravan show in Hardcastle Arena the week prior. The 500ml farmer pack

works out at $4.50 per car battery or $8.50 to treat an N-70. A more cost effective two litre commercial pack is also available and that pack can also be purchased on line at www.recharge.net. nz or on TradeMe. As recharge is acid based it is classed as dangerous goods and expensive to freight. You can treat sealed batteries simply by drilling into

each cell and re-sealing with silicone, sika- ex or a plastic bung. Recharge is also great for deep cycle batteries like forkifts, golf carts, scissor hoists and lighting system batteries.

Power, prejudice and purists

by Andy Bryenton

Not messing with a good recipe seems to be evergreen advice. From Marmite to chocolate to the formula for mind-numbing reality television, the correct dollops and drops which make up success need to be carefully doled out.

It’s the same in the world of motoring, where (as the head designers at Porsche can attest) there is no such thing as too much of a winning formula.

Or is there? When the new Ford Mustang was released with the option of a two-litre ecoBoost engine, strapped with double turbos, the outraged intake of breath could have emptied several Dearborn-sized assembly plants of oxygen. The Mustang, they said — the same ‘they’ who know for certain about certain celebrity persuasions — has to be a V8. Case closed. Chapter and verse. Less displacement means brand debasement.

Then, one chilly spring morning, I stepped aboard a stainless-steel silver convertible Mustang equipped with the ecoBoost power plant. I put figures, quoted 0–60 times and prejudice out of mind and simply drove. What a revelation.

Cast adrift from the expectation of the Mustang as a snarling V8 beast, the visceral pleasure of commanding 300 horsepower in a vehicle cut loose from excess weight up front is immediate. It has been said before, but there is something of the feel of

Nissan’s old (pre currentform techno rocket) GT Skyline in the way that the Mustang handles its large proportions with grace, and all with what seems on paper to be a tiny handful of displacement. Certainly, if one were to take on the purists in their own language, the ecoBoost makes sense.

Better fuel economy is not part of the lexicon for many V8 stalwarts, but when a car accelerates this smoothly, corners this neatly and boasts a neat, mechanically satisfying gearshift (I was not tempted by the paddles on the fat, grippy wheel), then it’s hard to agree with those who opine that ‘half the engine is missing’.

The only place where the lack of a full eight-pack is truly felt is aurally — there is nothing, not even Ford’s sonic wizardry, which can replace the hellfire chorus of a big mill. But, to be fair, the ecoBoost does have a very fine stereo and I do have AC/DC’s seminal Back in Black on hand. In reality, it’s tough to question whether the sound of the GT’s

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V8 alone is enough to justify the price difference. Yes, of course, there is a slight edge on power. There is that dragrace velocity which has the potential to get slightly heftier speeding tickets in the V8.

It is, after all, a fantastic machine. But on a country road, on a spring morning, with preconceptions put aside, the 2.3 ecoBoost Mustang is simply excellent in and of itself. Try to find more fun for the price tag.

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Hoof Print

with Fred Hoekstra

Challenging assumptions

The season is now well under way

But even with a good spring we still get lame cows. Why is this? What are the risk factors for lameness? We see an increased prevalence of lameness during mating, and animals in housed environments have different lameness challenges. There also seems to be challenges associated with diet that may contribute to lameness. The question then becomes ‘what are the real causes’?

Research has shown that rough tracks and poor animal handling increase the prevalence of lameness.

This is great information to have but, in and of itself, is of little value because there are farms with tracks that are so good that you could land a plane on them if they were a bit wider and yet lameness is very much an issue on some of those farms.

There are farmers who are very conscious of, and particular with their animal handling — eg no pushing in the yard and staying 20 metres behind the cows when they walk to the cowshed and, once again, some have major lameness

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issues. And, of course, there are farms where the tracks are perfect and animal handling is fully under control and still the problem of lameness remains. The question therefore must be: “Why does research tend to only point to rough lanes and animal handling as the major causes of lameness in dairy cows?” Could it be that the focus on this one issue creates a blind spot where we are missing alternative causes?

Research is great and can be very helpful to understand the environment around us. Often we understand a theory to be true but when a proper trial is being conducted it turns out that our theories are incorrect. Research is done starting with a limited understanding of the ‘truth’.

Even if we know quite a lot about the subject, it is still limited. It is also very difficult to eliminate the bias factor when it comes to research and be 100% objective. So, assuming that the research is done properly doesn’t mean that the conclusion drawn from that research is correct. This is why

theories are often changed or even ‘proven’ wrong.

A classic example of this is the research on eating eggs. I can choose whatever research result suits me on any given morning to justify me eating an egg or not.

So, when we read a research paper that tells us that tracks and animal handling have an influence on the prevalence of lameness then that is the only conclusion you can draw from that. If you, the reader, then draw the conclusion that the research means that stones are the reason why bad tracks and bad animal handling is a problem then you have jumped to a conclusion based on assumptions.

It may be an assumption coming from the research but nevertheless it is still an assumption. In order to ‘prove’ that it is the stones that are the culprit we need more targeted research to find evidence.

As far as I am aware there has never been research done that supports that theory.

I have heard arguments that say that it doesn’t matter because we know from the research that we need to handle our animals well and there are benefits in improving our tracks. This is true, however, without proper understanding we can never eliminate a problem completely.

Whilst I don’t believe it is possible to completely eliminate lameness,

how close we get will depend on understanding what the true causes of the problem are. Is it possible that bad tracks increase the prevalence of lameness because the cows spend more time per 24 hours on walking and therefore that decreases their available time for resting?

Is it possible that poor animal handling increases stress hormones in the body beyond healthy levels and this contributes to problems like lameness? Research has shown a link with resting time, stress and lameness (Time Management for Dairy Cows — Michigan Dairy Review).

Let me know what you think, email me: fred@veehof.co.nz.

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Helping with arthritis

I could ll a book with the testimonies of clients that are experiencing signi cant improvements in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA).

As an example I have been working with someone with OA in her ankles and back. Through diet we wanted to reduce in ammation but also help lose a few kilos to take more pressure from the affected joints.

Back arthritis is generally the least responsive to diet and supplements. Because of this we started with much higher doses of supplements. We added high levels of anti-in ammatory omega-3 with higher doses of broad spectrum antioxidants and minerals.

We added a temporary antioxidant booster and a double dose of my joint formula.

In the rst two months she was on over 1,500mg of high grade chondroitin and glucosamine with 200mg of 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. Within two months she started to notice the difference. She has been able to signi cantly reduce pain medication and has greater mobility. As a bonus her energy has improved and feels much better in herself.

Last week I carried out a monthly review with another client in her mid80s who had arthritis in her shoulder

and hands. She commented on how much better these were. Nutritional therapy can have unexpected improvements. This client also had a long-term problem with very dry skin. While it has taken time to improve, here we have an 85-yearold whose joints and skin have improved signi cantly.

Many people respond to health problems by purchasing supplements at the supermarket, health store or that advertise on TV.

There is nothing wrong with that but in my experience the best results come from using a full nutritional programme covering diet, supplements and appropriate lifestyle changes. These are the steps that can really make a difference. Give me a call or email if you need more information.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For personalised advice, contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@abundant.co.nz.

Join his full weekly newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz.

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Great pasture hunt

The hunt is on for great dairy pastures in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty as entries are now open for The Pasture Renewal Persistence Competition run by the DairyNZ-led Pasture Improvement Leadership Group.

Competition organiser and DairyNZ developer Sally Peel says pasture renewal is one of the first steps to achieving high-performing pastures.

“Improving poor yielding paddocks through good renewal practices can achieve a substantial increase in pasture tonnage and this competition highlights that,” said Sally.

Last year’s winner of the ‘best first year pasture’ category, Aaron Price, says choosing to focus on achieving quality pastures is an easy decision.

“Pasture is our cheapest feed on the farm and it’s important to maximise what we get from it. Regrassing is a significant cost so we have to get the full benefit from it,” said Aaron.

Te Pahu dairy farmer Noldy Rust won the ‘2015 best pasture more than three years old’ category with an 11-year-old paddock and he says the win was humbling.

“I know there are many farmers around with great paddocks. It’s just our good fortune we entered a good competition and won it,” said Noldy.

Judge, AgResearch senior scientist Dr David Hume said Noldy’s win is a good example of how the competition is not just about producing a good pasture on the day. “It’s about doing a whole combination of things to make a

pasture last a number of years. “Noldy’s paddock scored particularly well on content of ryegrass and legume, and a good cultivar choice. It was well looked after in winter and summer, had good grazing residuals and good soil fertility. It ticked all the boxes.

“Noldy was familiar with new cultivar choices and was using AR37 endophyte on parts of the farm, where historically black beetle had been a problem.”

The Pasture Renewal Persistence Competition is an initiative of the Pasture Improvement Leadership Group, a DairyNZ-led industry group including researchers, the seed industry, farmers and agricultural contractors, formed to develop better tools, resources and advice for farmers.

The competition includes two categories. Waikato/Bay of Plenty first year pasture sown this year and Waikato/Bay of Plenty pasture sown more than three years ago (prior to May 2013). Prizes include two $1,500 pasture renewal packages provided by Agriseeds and Agricom.

Entries close on Friday, November 11, with judging held during late November. Winners’ field days will be held in February 2017.

To enter visit www.dairynz.co.nz/ pasture-comp.

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• Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes.

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John Arts comments:

“I formulated Bettaflex based on the latest research into natural compounds that can help with joint support and function. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend a double dose for the first 1-2 bottles to saturate joint tissue.”

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STOPS LEAVES, RATS & BIRDS

Water testing welcomed

Waikato Regional Council is welcoming a Federated Farmersled joint project testing the implications of the Healthy Rivers/ Wai Ora: Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change One for the rural community.

The council is contributing $30,000 and staff resources to the project which is exploring the realities of implementing the plan change across all sectors including dairy, sheep and beef, arable, drystock, equestrian and lifestyle blocks.

“The research will help provide critical information for the submissions process of the proposed plan change itself and also for when we enter the implementation of the new rules once they become operative,” said council

chief executive Vaughan Payne. “Our support for this Federated Farmers initiative underpins the strongly collaborative approach we are taking with the rural sector on Healthy Rivers Wai Ora.

“There are a lot of questions circulating about what the plan change will look like in practice and this project will help us further understand where the issues really are,” said Mr Payne.

The project focusses on the development of farm environment

plans which are a key aspect of the plan change.

These farm environment plans are due to identify contaminant losses from individual farms to water bodies, how contaminants escape from farms and what actions will need to be undertaken to mitigate and reduce these losses.

If adopted, the plan change will see landowners farming over 20 hectares and commercial vegetable growers needing to provide farm environment plans. In first priority areas these will be required from July 2020, with different deadlines for other priority areas after that.

The Federated Farmers-led project is designed to assist in ironing out any

fish hooks in the farm environment plan process so industry sectors can make informed submissions and suggestions for how the plan change can be improved.

The project is jointly funded by Federated Farmers Waikato, the council, Fonterra, DairyNZ and the Foundation for Arable Research.

There are 12 independent farms taking part and another 12 Fonterra farms participating to determine what the plan change could look like run under an industry scheme.

The council will publicly notify the proposed plan changed later this month and has allowed more than four months for the public to make submissions to ensure they have time to understand what’s planned and make informed comments.