Waikato Farming Lifestyles, February 2024

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Safe pathway to sea

Commissioned by Waikato Regional Council, New Zealand’s first home-grown fish-friendly flood pump has successfully passed a 1.2-metre-long shortfin eel.

“The largest tuna was 1.2 metres in length and weighed 4.2 kilograms, while the other six ranged in size from 664 millimetres to 878 millimetres,” says Pathways to the Sea programme manager Michelle White.

“The eels were released in the lower catchment and are now free to safely make their way out to sea to breed. This is an awesome first result. The big eel was a resident shortfin eel that had been living in the catchment for decades. This eel is a developing migrant and was in perfect condition after going through the pump.”

The prototype pump has been developed to replace existing MacEwans PPF axial pumps and is being tested by the council. It was installed at the council’s Huntly golf course pump station in December.

With the arrival of heavy rain on January 28, seven tuna/eels passed through into a net attached to its outlet as part of the council’s monitoring programme to determine the pump’s success.

The council, which owns and operates over 120 pump stations, first started its journey to ensure safe fish passage in 2015 with an investigation that showed there could be significant mortality of tuna more than 600 millimetres in length as they travel through existing flood pumps during migration to the sea.

In response to this finding, the council set up its Pathways to the Sea research and development programme to improve downstream fish passage at pump stations. The council approached MacEwans Pumping Systems to develop a fish-friendly pump, and the New Zealand company jumped at the opportunity.

“The challenge to build a fish-friendly pump really opened his eyes to the life cycle of New Zealand short and longfin eels, which breed only once, at the end of their life, and at sea,” MacEwans Pumping Systems general manager Tom Bailey said.

“We’d been approached by councils to build fish-friendly pumps for a couple of years, but to have Waikato Regional Council willing to be involved and have funding for the project made the decision a much easier one.

“I was so pleased with that big eel coming through. This has been a fiveyear endeavour with many challenges along the way, like Covid-19 and labour shortages, so to have this result the first time the pump operated is such a relief.

“The fish-friendly prototype has been designed to retrofit pumps with 24-inch impellers that MacEwans installed widely across New Zealand between the 1960s and 1980s. If this pump proves to be a success over the entire migration season, we’ll also look at changing out larger 30inch impellers to fish-friendly.”

Tom Bailey, MacEwans Pumping Systems general manager with a model of the new pump

Michelle White, Pathways to the Sea programme manager with the 1.2-metre tuna that made it safely through the fish-friendly pump

Ahuwhenua finalists announced

The finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm were announced at a special function at parliament recently with the Minister for Māori Development, Honourable Tama Potaka.

The guests included politicians, agribusiness leaders, industry representatives, diplomats and finalists. The finalists are Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation, based in Mangakino, and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, based in Opotiki.

“Once again, the competition has attracted a high calibre of entrants from around the country,” said Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee chair Nukuhia Hadfield.

“The dairy sector, like all primary sectors, faces huge challenges such as global financial disruption, war, rising costs and some major markets that are taking longer than expected to recover from the covid pandemic. Our dairy farmers are not immune from these challenges, but this has not deterred them from entering this year’s competition.

“This year’s finalists, along with the other entrants in this competition, show the strength and determination of Māori dairy farmers to successfully overcome adversity and get on with the daily task of producing their products in a truly sustainable way. Aotearoa should be proud of what they do. The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition ensures that their efforts are recognised and celebrated.

“An issue Māori farmers face is that their contribution to the Aotearoa economy goes largely unrecognised. One

of the goals of the Ahuwhenua Trophy is to build awareness of this important contribution within te ao Māori, with the wider public and throughout government and industry circles.”

The finalists will each hold a public field day at their respective properties.

Each day runs from 9.30am–2pm, and all are welcome. Further details, including start point addresses, will be posted on the Ahuwhenua Trophy website and Facebook page.

Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani

Incorporation will host its field day on

Thursday, March 28, with Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board holding its on Thursday, April 4.

The winner will be announced at the awards dinner held on Friday, May 17 at the Globox Arena, Claudelands Event Centre, in Hamilton.

Finalists from Whakatōhea Mãori Trust Board and Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation with Minister Tama Potaka, Minister Todd McClay, Ahuwhenua Trophy Chair, Nukuhia Hadfield and Pou Tikanga Trevor Moeke

“Last year marked a century of the farm in the Bayley family and 25 years of us being organically certified. We have evolved the farm into a system and still have much to learn. Many people thought I’d go back to conventional farming, but we are still going on 25 years later,” said Russell.

“Everybody has a different idea of what organic is, and the hardest thing to convert is the farmer — you have to change the way you think.”

Growing up, Russell was very ill, something the doctors couldn’t solve. It wasn’t until his early 20s that the cause of his illnesses was revealed to him when he sought help from a natural health professional.

“I had chemical poisoning. Chemical use was normal growing up. My father got sick from using sheep dip and couldn’t use it anymore, so I did. The natural health

lady started cleaning me out, and from there, I worked out what was harming me. As time continued, I began to have more energy, but it took me quite some time before my health recovered.

“Even today, I am aware of what chemicals are around. When a helicopter is spraying, and the wind blows my way, it can make me quite crook. Chemicals are designed to kill. I decided to find another way to farm or find another career to pursue.

“My system was overloaded with chemicals. It also turned me towards the organic path, which connected me to an excellent auditor. He came to the farm to ensure we were doing everything right. He offered me help with organic ideas and contacts in the industry.”

Lil met Russell in 2013. She was in Rotorua, competing in the World White Water Rafting Championships with the Costa Rica team. Originally a dairy

Lil and Russell Bayley met each other about a decade ago, each on their organic pathway

farmer and artisan cheese maker, she wanted to stay in New Zealand to explore organic methods.

“I was interested in organic dairy farming, and it wasn’t popular in Costa

Rica.

Russell enjoys the healthy lifestyle of organics and shifting stock on his Waikato farm

“I adore the mornings when I am out enjoying the farm. Our animals become more robust and have better immunity to illnesses using an organic system. If we bring bulls from a highly different system, they rely more on antibiotics, vaccines and drenches and are unsuitable for our system.

“We encourage parasite resistance in our animals by using homoeopathy and

Lil dairy farmed in her home country, Costa Rica and was an artisan cheese maker

minerals so they are stronger. It helps them prevent and fight bugs more easily. When the cows are sick, we give them homoeopathy and time for their immune system to fight naturally what is wrong.

“Genetics have an impact on our farming. We were buying conventional rams into sheep and every year, we had a lot of dags and problems. One year, we bought 20-odd generations of

Russell changed from conventional farming practices to using an organic system about 25 years ago

an organic ram sire and the problems disappeared overnight.

The couple began The Organic Farm Shop five years ago. The store sells meat, eggs, honey and vegetables from their farm. They are also part of Fonterra’s organic programme.

“I have been managing our boutique butchery since June 2023. We love producing fresh produce. All our products are organic certified by BioGro now, and we are audited yearly.”

“We have milked cows for 18 years. Us and the rest of the 100 organic farms make up 0.6% of Fonterra’s total organic supply base. I believe organic farming can benefit the whole industry. I love the healthy lifestyle, shifting stock and the animals. Moving forward, we are trying to get our processes closer to home to simplify it for us and those who buy our organic produce,” Russell says.

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BA VIVID RECORD OF MUSTERING LIFE

ack in the 1950s, it was all about horses, dogs and primitive conditions in 100,000 hectares of far-flung high country and those times emerged in vibrant colour after a young shepherd lied about his age to be a musterer.

Then, 20 years old, in 1959, David Withers was armed with a camera and the colour transparencies he took lay in a dark cupboard for the next 60-plus years, to

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A 70,000-hectare high country sheep and beef farm off the Taupō-Napier Highway, Ngamatea Station, is renowned as a sheep and beef producer with a rich history, now highlighted in long-lost colour photos.

emerge in a digitised new record detailing a life that has now been passed by.

Now in his 80s, Mr Withers is retired on his remote family farming property on the edge of Te Urewera country, and he recalls how musterers would be hired for eight months of the year to bring sheep in from the far reaches of Ngamatea.

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A 20 year-old David Withers off to work in 1960

I set my sights on a job on Ngamatea Station. This was real outstanding country, and I lied about my age when I applied for the job, as I had been told that Lawrence Roberts, the owner, wouldn’t take anyone under 21. Of course, when my 21st birthday actually came around, word leaked out, and I was caught out. Mr Roberts just grinned and shook my hand.

“A welcome gift from my mother was a Braun Praktica camera that arrived

on horseback and then remained permanently at hand in my saddlebags. It had a light meter, and I pretty much became self-taught in its operation.

“Ngamatea was very serious farming,” Dave said. “Boy, that central North Island high country could be cold. I remember line huts where rainwater ran cold and deep across the dirt floor. We were constantly shivering and snowed into huts, so bored we would reread the descriptions on cereal packets, sauce bottles, and the like.

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Pack horses were the transport of the day

“It was not always winter, and high summer in the rolling hills was a joy. In the aptly named Golden Hills, the musterer’s hut was a frequent home and the atmosphere of those days was captured by the late Hazel Riseborough in her comprehensive history Ngamatea: The Land and the People.”

In it, a pack-man cook, Peter van Dongen, tells of setting out from the homestead.

‘It was quite a logistic feat taking all the food for 12 or 14 days for the musterers and the horses. The station cook would make up a couple of lovely big fruitcakes, and they would last for the first two or three days, and after they’d gone we were on our own. I’d get up about three o’clock in the dark and light the fire and boil the billy, and get breakfast ready, porridge and chops.

‘The musterers would be gone before first light, so they could get out and get into the sheep before they began to move.

Once they’d gone, I’d clean up then I had a few hours to myself and I’d prepare that evening’s meal and go and look for a deer to shoot or perhaps kill a bit of mutton.

Then they’d start coming back about two or three o’clock in the afternoon, and so I always had the billy boiling and something to eat. The afternoon was quite relaxing.

Then the evening meal was always a stew or a mutton roast and a steamed pudding.’

“Despite their youth, most of the musterers were busy on long and hard working days, with daily survival an integral part of their efforts,” says Dave. “It was not all work and no play. There was great adventure as well. Deer hunting was a popular diversion, and I shot my share of good stags. By the same token,

I remember once coming over a hill, and there was a big 14-pointer just looking at me. He was in velvet, and his antlers appeared to be wavering in the wind. There was a picture to behold, and I kept my rifle lowered. The moment was far too

KARAKA TREE MOTEL

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Counting sheep for a correct tally was a vital mustering task

magic to spoil, and he soon sauntered away free.

“Overall though those were days of intense physical activity and the companionship of mates who became lifelong friends and overall there was a simple communion with nature. My world was a vast outdoor theatre often shared out in the hills only with my horse and my dog.

“The true spirit and novelty of Ngamatea life never really leave anyone fortunate enough to work there. Now, I have been able to publish those photographs I took along with my fellow shepherd back then, Paul Thomas. The landscape book

now is available from me at home, at davidwithers@xtra.co.nz or on 06 838 3858 at $70 plus postage.

“The loss of the big leasehold blocks out the back, the inevitable split of big stations, the development of the grasslands and the replacement of horses with motorbikes mean some of the challenge, the mystique of Ngamatea as a whole started to disappear. These ‘lost’ photos bring it all back.”

T: (07) 378 2432 | M: (022) 414 7370 info@karakatreetaupo.co.nz

The club’s first fundraising sale, held in 2020, had just 24 dogs presented for sale. This year, 45 dogs were entered, with 19 Huntaways, 24 heading dogs and 10 youngsters sold under the auctioneer’s hammer.

Buyers and sellers travel from around the North Island to attend the annual sale, held at Te Anui farm, near Whangaehu.

The top price from the January sale went to Simon Prouting’s Huntaway named Girl, fetching $9,800. Simon, a

ANNUAL SALE A BARKING SUCCESS

regular vendor, farms near Dannevirke. Howard Ingles, formerly of Gisborne, travelled to the sale from Hawke’s Bay, selling his five-year-old heading dog Clyde for $9,500. Marton farmer Wayne Falkner made $9,000 selling his heading dog Glen.

During last year’s sale, Justin Booth, manager of Te Paenga Station, sold a Huntaway for a record New Zealand price to an Australian buyer for $17,500. Club secretary Brenda O’Leary said a large percentage of the dogs sold came from within the Manawatū/Wanganui area.

“The prices held up well with the fully broken-in dogs and the well-started younger dogs realising their value. One or

BY DENISE GUNN

two dogs were passed in but were sold before the day ended.”

Simon Prouting with the top seller on the day, Girl

Auctioneer and club member

Brenda said another regular attendee, Neville Hughes of Otaki, entered four dogs in the sale, including two that his young children, Shelby and Colton, presented. Shelby and Colton paddock-trained their dogs to earn some pocket money.

“Colton sold his eight-month-old heading bitch Tako for $1,400, much to the delight of those present.

“It was a pretty daunting experience for both youngsters to get out in the selling arena in front of the huge gallery of buyers, but they said they would be back.”

Funds raised from the annual working sheepdog sale are used by the club to purchase anything needed at the club grounds.

“We initially had huge expenses setting up at the new grounds, and like all clubs,

Chris Hay calling for bids

continue to have ongoing expenses such as cartage of sheep to events. If we can help the landowner, we are able to oblige.”

This year’s sales turned over $84,000, with the club making $4,520. Brenda said the club charges a flat fee of $100 a dog entered for sale and $50 for any pup six months and younger.

“The constant demand for good working sheep dogs has not dropped. If anything, it is stronger.”

Club president Duncan Atkinson, who manages Te Anui farm, has been the driving force behind the annual sale. He and his partner, Donna McClean, work together with Brenda to handle all the entries and paperwork. Brenda said all other club members are roped in on the day to lend a day. “It is pretty full on.”

Club member and independent livestock agent Chris Hay is the club’s regular sale auctioneer.

“Chris did a massive job in the sweltering humidity, knocking the dogs down to the many very eager buyers who came from all over the North Island.”

Ian Burling from Turakina set up the sheep for the vendors in the selling paddock. “He was kept pretty busy,” said Brenda. “Our annual sale now has a reputation for being a good place to sell a dog and get its full value.”

The Parapara/Mākirikiri Sheep Dog Trial Club was established in 1958 and now has around 40 members. “It varies with shepherds being a transitory lot.”

Duncan said the club will continue to provide a platform and venue for working sheepdogs to be sold as long as the demand is there.

The youngest seller at the sale Colton Hughes showing off his eight-month-old heading dog Tako

by John Arts

Do I need extra magnesium?

(Part one)

Magnesium is one of my most frequently prescribed supplements; this is because magnesium is used in multiple enzymes and affects most tissue types.

In particular, it relaxes both nerves and blood vessels. Relaxing nerves is helpful for sleep and restless legs while relaxing blood vessels helps with lowering blood pressure and helping circulation.

Magnesium is involved in numerous body processes and can help problems in different tissue types and body systems, especially muscles. I recommend it for cramps, restless legs, PMS, hypertension and heart rhythm problems. I usually recommend that magnesium be taken 30–60 minutes in bed for maximum impact on muscles and nerves and to help with sleep. If taken for hypertension — daytime and evening dose is recommended.

I have many clients now largely free of night cramps and restless legs. In stubborn cases, I also add a multi-mineral/antioxidant complex to help with nighttime circulation and improve muscle function. It is rare that we cannot get improvements with these problems that can significantly disrupt our sleep.

Unfortunately, many magnesium supplements have just one form of

magnesium and are one a day, making dose experimentation almost impossible. In my experience, the required dosage differs a lot between people with similar problems. Additionally, many supplements use cheaper, low-grade ingredients, which are harsh on the digestive tract.

I prefer to use three different forms of magnesium. While this makes manufacturing more expensive, each form of magnesium is absorbed differently. I combine bioavailable marine (seaweed) sourced magnesium with amino acid chelated magnesium diglycinate with magnesium citrate. I deliberately formulated the capsules to have a dosage range. Normally two capsules before bed will suffice, but short-term doses of four capsules can be used. Please contact me for personalised advice.

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.

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An event for everyone

by Amy Fifita

The Central Districts Field Days 2024 is approaching and will begin on Thursday, March 14, until Saturday, March 16, at Manfeild, Feilding, with plenty in store for visitors.

Boasting being the largest agricultural fete in the region, the field days is an event everyone based in rural or urban areas can enjoy. There are competitions, entertainment, culinary treats, machinery and more.

There were nearly 500 exhibitors in 2023, with more than 100 being new. So far, there are various exhibitors ready to showcase their clothing, pet and working dog accessories, outdoor gear, farming equipment, power tools, buildings and much more.

In the Cuisine Pavilion, there will be a selection of tasty treats for guests to indulge in. Stallholders are ready to sell patrons traditionally-made cheese, sheep’s milk products, chutneys, honey, sweet delights and rich-tasting adult beverages. The Premier Foodcourt lies next to the culinary marketplace. Visitors will discover various food courts around the grounds to enjoy at their leisure.

Last year, for its 30th anniversary, more than 27,000 visitors crowded the event to participate in the family-friendly farming affair. Pony rides were a feature for children, and there was plenty of entertainment for those young and old.

Children can enjoy some

Field Days face painting marquee in the Kids Zone

The Kids Zone has a choice of inflatable adventures or the playground for children to bide their time in, or their faces can be bedazzled at the face-painting marquee.

Visitors can watch competitors face each other at the New Zealand Fencing Competition or the National Excavator Operator Competition area.

To book online or discover more information about the event, visit cdfielddays.co.nz.

Feed fibre to feed your budget

For cows to produce high-quality milk at this time of the year, they require a balanced diet of digestible fibre, energy,

minerals and vitamins, and proper hydration.

New Zealand’s dairy industry has seen an unsettled period of cost and milk price fluctuation in recent years, compounded by unpredictable environmental conditions.

Nutrinza managing director Warren Morritt says when it comes to feeding, dairy farmers are seeking a sense of control on their farm, and tailored supplementary feed options are one way to provide this certainty to achieve productivity and profitability.

“To ensure optimal milk production and health while being cost-conscious, having a customised feed strategy for the herd is essential,” says Morritt.

“Soya bean hull is one option, especially during the drier months when pastures are limited, and production needs to be maintained and supported with higher levels of supplementary feed.”

He said other options include citrus pulp pellets and sunflower meal, which are high in protein and good for summer and early autumn feeding with maize silage.

“High fibre, high protein feeds can be blended with vitamins and minerals

High-fibre, high-protein feeds can be blended with vitamins and minerals to meet the herd’s energy and protein requirements to meet the herd’s energy and protein requirements and sustain overall herd health and productivity.

Nutrinza has a range of other blend ingredients and mineral additives that can supplement feed to ensure optimal nutrition for herds.

“We can custom blend to farmers’ requirements. We have fully computerised and FeedSafe-accredited blending plants in Mount Maunganui, Stratford and Marsden Point, which ensure accurate and homogenous mixing of your feed and minerals.

“Blends are also available from our other regional stores across the country.”

Every herd is unique, and farmers should chat with their local technical

consultant for the best advice and to form a tailored feed strategy. Visit nutrinza.com for more information.

by Denise Gunn

Taylor Made Gates has serviced rural New Zealand with the manufacture of gates for sheep and cattle yards, hay feeders and a variety of personalised products since 1996.

Based in Takapau, in Central Hawke’s Bay, the family-owned business has a client base stretching from Bluff to Kaitaia.

Lincon and Julayne Taylor own and manage Taylor Made Gates. In the past couple of years, their two sons, Corbin and Travis Taylor, also joined the business.

With 12 staff members, the team is constantly looking to improve as well as add to its product lines.

“As the name suggests, we tailor to the customers’ needs and requirements,” said Lincon.

The business’s line of portable sheep and cattle yard sets has expanded to include permanent yard sets.

“Taylor Made Gates now has the ability to offer permanent cattle yard options.

From basic lifestyle sets to fully large scale cattle operations, including cattle crushes and load out race options, made to individual requirements,” said Lincon.

looking at 18 years of attendance at the same site O85-O86A, down by the foodcourt,” said Lincon.

The team at Taylor Made Gates is looking forward to the Central Districts Field Days. “Taylor Made Gates will be

“It’s always been a great opportunity to catch up with clients, new and old, and take the opportunity to discuss past and future business.”

Taylor Made Gates has expanded its product line to include permanent yard sets

by Andy Bryenton

Alongside the coveted title of tractor of the year for 2024 sits a more specialised category,

for machines with a more focussed approach.

This year, the Fendt e107 Vario made it onto the shortlist for this category. Some opine that it only missed out on the top spot due to winning another very important accolade at Europe’s gigantic Agritechnica festival and show, the title of Sustainable Tractor of the Year.

Slim and able to manoeuvre between the tight rows and close-packed trees of commercial orchards dealing in highvalue crops, the new Fendt is remarkable since it’s entirely electric. A 45-minute charge will give this machine a runtime of approximately four hours, putting in the hard yards with a top speed of 40km/h and 90 horsepower on tap.

There’s no compromise on versatility, as the e107 V can utilise all of Fendt’s existing suite of implements, through a front and rear PTO system that works just like those on a diesel tractor. To keep slim and fit between the rows in vineyards, the Fendt is only 1.07 metres wide, running on specially designed Trelleborg tyres with low rolling resistance and maximum grip in a tight corner.

“Lead engineer Christoph Mayer and his team have developed a sustainable and practical tractor,” said Fendt research and development managing director Walter Wagner.

“The challenge lies in the right overall package of dimensions, weight and performance. Charged with green electricity, it is CO 2 neutral and has numerous functions for particularly efficient use of energy.”

The international jury agreed, lauding that this is the first specialist orchard and vine tractor to market, which is fully electric. However, green credentials aside, the jurors were also impressed by the comfort and space of the Fendt’s cab, which allows for greater all-around visibility thanks to a lack of an exhaust stack. There’s more room inside for the operator, a big concern in tractors with the narrow profile needed in tight conditions, thanks to the battery infrastructure being

placed down low on the frame and a lack of diesel engine components up top. Fendt may have missed out on taking home two awards, as the Landini Rex 4-120 GT RoboShift Dynamic took home the gold for specialised tractors in 2024. However, to win the eco-tractor crown with a whole new type of machine and yet still challenge more than 100 years of internal combustion dominance by making the shortlist for the specialised category speaks volumes about just how much thought and technology Fendt has packed into its e107 V.

The helicopter specialists

Helisika Agricultural Limited is an agricultural and commercial helicopter company based in Ardmore Airport Auckland, servicing Waikato, Auckland, Northland and Coromandel Regions.

For more than 40 years the company has provided specialist helicopter agricultural services. Founder Greg Gribble in Poronui, Taupo, took hunting and fishing trips in the surrounding bush. He then switched focus to agricultural operations and moved to Auckland to start Helisika Agricultural, operating a Hughes 300 from a grass pad at Ardmore Airport, where it continues to operate and Dargaville Airport, under Helinorth Helicopters. Sadly, Greg passed away in 2022, but his son Jaz continues to operate the company.

Helisika operates three, sometimes four helicopters providing agricultural and commercial services to the upper North Island. Squirrel helicopters are used for their safety, increased payload, and ease of reconfiguration to suit client needs.

It has 16 staff members, including pilots, ground crew and office staff. The company runs an honest, professional business that doesn’t cut corners in terms of safety or service, providing a high standard of job completion within client-specified timeframes and maximum value for money.

Our clients receive benefits, including consistent and accurate application across all terrain types, reduced impact on farming activities, expert knowledge and local experience.

As winter approaches, we begin to switch our focus towards that season’s applications, assisting farmers with pasture management, weed spraying and fertiliser applications.

Our helicopter spraying services include gorse and other weed spraying, thistle, ragwort and pasture spraying, facial eczema spraying, liquid fertiliser applications and more. We stock and supply various agrichemicals for a range of applications at competitive prices. Clients only pay for the chemicals applied, ensuring minimal wastage and eliminating the accumulation of unused stock.

Helicopter topdressing services allow fertiliser application of bulk or bagged products. With several loading options, Helisika can load from almost any property without the need for airstrips or bulk bins.

We provide aerial lifting services to councils, DOC and local businesses.

damaged material, utilising its custommade hydraulic grapple, and repairing damaged roads, tracks and services.

The company fly building materials and structures, water tanks, statues, bulk materials, pools and fencing equipment into remote sites for clients.

Helisika provided assistance during Cyclone Gabrielle, evacuating the public, transporting civil defence personnel for damage surveys and rescues, and transporting food and other necessary supplies. They assisted with clean-up, removing debris and

Helisika Agricultural Limited supplies agricultural and commercial helicopter services

Business relationship with farmers redefined

by Andy Bryenton

The relationship between primary producers and the supermarket and banking sectors has come under scrutiny in early 2024, with change on the agenda.

One area in which the relationship between farmers and big business has been under the spotlight is the case of supermarkets, which will be subject to a new code of conduct set out by the government during the next six months.

“They’ve got to operate in good faith, which is a very broad, overarching term, but ensuring that supply agreements are in writing,” said Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden.

“There aren’t any unilateral variations from the supermarkets. They can’t force suppliers to use certain transport or other services. They can’t force suppliers to pay for their own business costs, like transporting goods between stores, merchandising and other things. Prices are higher than they should be, and competition will enable them to come down.”

The new grocery code of good conduct for supermarkets requires them to act in good faith with suppliers and pay them on time to have plain English supply contracts. It bans retrospective contract changes. Breaches of the code will result in fines up to $3 million or three per cent of turnover, whichever is the greater.

However, when Horticulture New Zealand hosted a workshop with fruit and veggie growers earlier this year, they

A new code of conduct will regulate how supermarkets interact with those supplying their goods

heard that most primary producers work through an intermediary, meaning they are not protected by the new code.

The other major business under scrutiny by rural advocates right now is banking. A Federated Farmers survey indicates farmers are feeling excessive pressure from their banks, and satisfaction with their banks is at a record low. Interest rates far in excess of those that have struck the residential lending sector are cited as a key driver of this dissatisfaction.

“The banks seem to be charging far higher interest rates for farm lending than for home loans, which is raising eyebrows in farming households across the country,” says Feds commerce spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

“Farmers are already under huge financial and mental pressure with high costs, falling commodity prices and extreme weather events. As if that wasn’t bad enough, now they also feel like they’re getting a raw deal from their bank.”

“This is exactly why Federated Farmers has been calling on the government to support an independent inquiry into rural banking, so farmers can have confidence the banking

systems are operating in a fair and proper way,” McIntyre said.

by Amy Fifita

Part of living rurally and away from a town water supply involves ensuring that it is safe for the family, visitors, pets and livestock to drink all year round.

Rural property owners remain responsible for testing and maintaining their water quality. Supplies require testing, especially since some contaminants cannot be seen by the eye. Contaminants like chemicals, bacteria, viruses and micro-organism pollutants can only be discovered under a microscopic lens.

Part of maintaining drinkable water is protecting reservoirs and ensuring they are a suitable distance from rivers and septic tanks. Even groundwater supplies from wells and bores need to be tested. Bore systems rely on aquifers under the ground. It is useful knowledge to determine whether they are secured or unsecured.

A secured aquifer is an underground space protected by solid materials like rock and overlays. That makes it difficult for pollutants to penetrate that confinement, making it more unlikely to be spoiled. If the aquifer is unprotected

by hard materials, it is classified as unconfined.

Rural landowners can discover whether the aquifer is confined or unconfined when the initial bore is being drilled. There are ways to protect the water so it remains safe to drink. Sealing the area with concrete will prevent rain or surface water from penetrating the reservoir, as will sealing the cables to the well.

If a well is unused, a protective cap can be used to reduce the chances of contamination. Ensure that rubbish, pesticides, fertiliser and other potential pollutants are secured away from the area.

Installing an approved filtering or purification system can reassure homeowners that the water is drinkable. Alongside these preventative measures, testing water supplies at least once a year will ensure it is safe to drink. There are various checklists online to ensure good maintenance and protection of aquifers.

Flood resilience boost

Waikato Regional Council has been awarded $2.286 million from the Local Government Flood Resilience Co-investment Fund towards three projects to improve the resilience of communities impacted by Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

“The summer 2023 flooding from the cyclones and frequent localised heavy rain left behind a substantial trail of damage for Waikato Regional Council to remedy for its communities,” says Integrated Catchment management director Greg Ryan.

“The flooding has placed a huge workload and financial burden on the council, so this funding is greatly appreciated.

“Within the Waihou Valley Scheme, for example, the cost of recovery and increased resilience of rivers is estimated at $1.26 million above what we’ve already spent and is expected to take a further two years.

“For all these projects, we need to do more than just the basic remedial works, which will only withstand a flood of similar size or less. To increase resilience against larger magnitude events, we need to conduct full-scale stabilisation of the riverbanks and remove gravel, bed loads and debris that were deposited in the channels during the extreme weather events.”

Funding has been allocated to the following:

• $940,000 towards river management within the Waihou Valley scheme, with a focus on gravel management and stabilisation/revetment works in the Kauaeranga River, Kirikiri Stream, Puriri River, Omahu Stream, Hikutaia River, Komata River and Ohinemuri River

• $704,000 towards mitigating future flood risk in the Waipā, lower Waikato and west coast catchments by removing waterway obstructions and constructing at least 85 in-stream erosion control structures

• $642,000 towards the removal of storm-affected vegetation (largely old poplar, willow and pine) from waterways in the Coromandel Peninsula and planting willows and poplars to help stabilise the riverbanks

“The funding is in addition to the $1.038 million it received from the fund in October last year towards river management works in the Coromandel Peninsula and to remediate damage to its Graham’s Creek catchment flood scheme in Tairua.

“More stable rivers and natural features slow the flow of water, store excess water and reduce sedimentation.”

The river management practices undertaken by Waikato Regional Council protect people, property and infrastructure by creating increased capacity within river channels, reducing the risk of tree fall, causing instream blockages that exacerbate flooding and debris impacts. It will also help with improving bank stability to cope with high rainfall events and decreasing sediment input into channels and harbours.

Greg Ryan, Integrated Catchment Management director

Mark Turton along with his wife Megan, have been servicing the Tararua area for over 35 years with their fencing business. Wanting to further assist their clients with farm maintenance, eight years ago Mark invented a specialised hydraulic machine to go under woolsheds and remove all the sheep manure. It is a hydraulic-driven rotary hoe system which goes under the

shed by itself, digging along the pile line for up to 30 metres. When full, the machine is pulled out and emptied out.

“Underneath the shed is a horrible place to be for obvious reasons, but by using the Clean Sweep machine you don’t have to be amongst it,” says Mark.

The system is highly versatile, being able to be used for any type of woolshed.

pens, and

using the Kanga and bucket setup they can clear away deposits on the under-covered yards.

Moreover, because the bulk of the work is being done automatically from outside the shed, it is not labourintensive, so is fast and cost-effective.

It is important for woolsheds to be clean, Mark points out. “It creates a healthy space on many levels. The sheep have good airflow if penned overnight, and they dry faster.

“It also decreases wool staining, and most important of all, it reduces

the ammonia smell which the shearers will appreciate.”

They have a great team, consisting of Sean and Tarns who do a fantastic job. They rock up to the site, with the equipment loaded on to the trailer, quickly unload and are into the task.

As there is a huge variety of woolsheds around, each farm is visited first, and a no-obligation quote is given.

If you have not cleaned out under your woolshed, count-out pens or covered yards for a while, give Mark a call at 027 682 1186 or email markturton@ xtra.co.nz. You can even visit our website cleansweepwoolsheds.nz.

Expo provides insights

Dairy farmers have the chance to discover unique opportunities to understand better workforce dynamics and ideas on actions they can take to find and keep great people as the People Expo events return.

DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network are partnering to deliver four People Expo events in the Northland, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu-Whanganūi and Southland regions throughout March.

MC for the events, DairyNZ lead adviser for people, Jane Muir, encourages farmers to join the People Expo to hear what is needed to tackle the big employment issues on-farm.

“Supporting great workplaces and people on-farm is critical,” says Jane. “We want to support farmers with credible evidence and practical solutions that help them find and keep the staff they want.

“These People Expos are opportunities to connect with other farmers facing similar challenges, while guest speakers and workshops provide inspiration and practical tips you can apply with your farm team.

“I encourage farmers to attend, as I think everyone will take something positive away from these events that is directly applicable to their farm.”

A range of guest speakers headline the People Expos, including Waikato dairy farm owners Sue and David Fish, focussing on their ethos of teamwork. Chris Parsons, chief commercial officer of MyFarm, shares his story of teamwork and leadership in a varied career, including time in the NZ Defence Force.

Guest speaker Shamubeel Eaqub, a leading economist, will discuss global, national, and regional economic and workforce changes and outline why farm businesses must act differently and look in new places to stay successful.

“The global and political backdrop for farmers is increasingly unpredictable, affecting interest rates, dairy price, and the input costs of critical things, like feed and fertiliser,” says Shamubeel.

“This makes businesses and farming more unpredictable, and we cannot influence these things. However, we can influence how we lead and manage our businesses.

“Part of this is around our most important resource, our people, who are in short

“We want to support farmers with credible evidence and practical solutions.”

supply but demanded from every sector. I’m looking forward to sharing practical ways for us to think differently as leaders and act differently as a sector, along with having insightful discussions with farmers.”

The People Expos are free for dairy farmers and their teams to attend. To find where the Expos will be held, for more information and to register, visit dairynz.co.nz/peopleexpo.

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