Waikato Farming Lifestyles, July 2011

Wa i k a to

Farming Lifestyles

July 2011 Edition

Phone: 09 439 6933 | Freephone: 0800 466 793 | Fax: 09 439 6930

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July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Design Excellence Award Win New Zealand agritech company, Simcro, has won a prestigious design award in an American competition for its revolutionary Optiline sheep drencher, the only Kiwi company to succeed in its category.

Industrial Design Society of America.

Out of 524 finalists, 27 received a gold award, while 68 received silver and another 96 got bronze.

“The awards are considered by many as the ‘Oscars’ of design competitions because the judging process is rigorous and judged by the experts in their field,” said society chief executive, Clive Roux.

The judges cited Simcro’s commitment

The Optiline drencher picked up a silver award in the medical and scientific category of the 2011 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), held by the

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

Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 • Fax: 09 439 6930 Email: info@thelifestyler.co.nz • Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: Lifestyler House, 107 River Road, Dargaville Editorial: Paul Campbell Annette Lambly-Robinson

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to design excellence and said the competition for places in 2011 was the most intense in the history of the awards. So many entries were received that jury chair, Davin Stowell, said three additional judges were required to process the record number of entries.

Simcro chief executive, Will Rouse, said the award gave complete vindication to the strong research and development focus the company had developed.

The Optiline sheep drencher in action “Specialising in customised animal health delivery systems to the In March 2011, The company was a pharmaceutical industry has become finalist in the Melbourne Design Awards for a very successful business model,” he Optiline after, in 2006, the Swiss company said.

Novartis Animal Health, challenged Simcro Rouse said the company expects to roll and several of their global competitors out some exciting new projects in 2012 to supply a revolutionary new sheep and he was particularly looking forward drenching system. Simcro challenged to Simcro developing products in the fast the design of the traditional pistol-grip growing companion animal sector. style drench gun, which had not changed Simcro currently has a significant from its basic form in 30 years and which number of projects under development for resulted in incompatible biomechanics, leading global animal health companies. creating significant operator fatigue and In May 2011, The company was a discomfort — and with sustained use — finalist in the Australian International injury to the wrist, forearm and back.

Design Awards for its ‘self-tenting’ safety The Optiline drench gun overcame these injector, Sekurus. problems.

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by Annette Lambly-Robinson Christchurch is now beginning the huge task of building a bigger and better city.

Two Cantabrians, Justine and Jo Ottey, wanted to help put their city back together and came up with the idea of ‘aftersocks’ — red and blackstriped socks, emblazoned with an earthquake shake line.

Justine and Jo enlisted the help of Rural Women New Zealand, who approached a family-owned Ashburton based company, NZ Socks, and the concept became a reality.

The merino blend socks went on sale in mid June and with orders coming in from around the world, had sold 1,500 pairs in the first three days.

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Wa i k a to

Farming Lifestyles

0800 466 793

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July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Sled Dog Team Coming to Taupo

by Annette Lambly-Robinson

Kaiangaroa Forest near Taupo may not be Antarctica but it will be the action packed venue for this year’s national sled dog championships About 50 people and more than 100 dogs will take part in the gruelling New Zealand sled dog events on Saturday, July 23.

Among those competitors will be Mark Roberts of Christchurch who is the current national four-dog freight team champion.

Mark and his team will be at RD1 in Taupo around midday on Saturday for people to meet the dogs, have rides and chat about the sport, training and caring of the dogs.

Jinx, Jet, Mya, Cheesy, Yuri and Beavi, who range in age from 18 months to six years are sure to be crowd pleasers. Mark has had some of the team since they were puppies while the rest have been re-homed from elsewhere.

This year Mark hopes to take out the six-dog freight title. No mean feat when you consider his team of six Siberian huskies will be pulling more than a quarter of a tonne around an 8.5 kilometre course.

“My event is the most difficult of all the races because in freight races the dogs are pulling added weight — in this case — 140 kilogrammes in weight plus the 40kg cart and me which totals 260kg — or over a quarter of a tonne,’’ he said.

This is the tenth year for the nationals and the four and six-dog freight events are known to be the toughest races.

“It’s tough for me too, because if I’m working up a hill or through mud I have to get off the cart and work with the dogs.’’

He expects to finish the race in around half an hour.

When running in this type of terrain the sleds run on small wheels rather than the runners used in snow racing. Mark uses a sled purpose built from a company in Otago.

Mark has been competing for six years.

He says he has always had an interest in sled dogs, possibly because his father spent time in Antarctica in the 1960s with sled dogs. Apart from the dogs, he also

Mark Roberts and his team of Siberian huskies who will contest the national six-dog sled freight race championship later this month

Mark says he trains his team of dogs five days a week for up to 13 kilometres a day to prepare them for racing loves the outdoor aspect and physical exercise the sport demands.

Other dogs competing in sled dog sports in New Zealand include pointers, Alaskan malamutes, huntaways, weimaraners and a range of cross breeds.

The course for the championships is on typical undulating forestry trails with a mix of pine needles, gravel, and occasional puddles on a clay/pumice base.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

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July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Returning Home With a Mission

by Annette Lambly-Robinson

After a decade across the ditch with one of Sydney’s leading trainers, Paul Shailer, a former top New Zealand apprentice jockey, has returned to New Zealand to set up his own training enterprise The first season thoroughbred racehorse trainer has already produced his first winner in Tiz Weissmuller at Matamata in mid-June. In just his second start, the fouryear-old son of Jungle Pocket outstayed his 2,000m maiden opposition by three-anda-half lengths.

Brimming with knowledge and experience, Paul returned to New Zealand last July and has spent the last 10 months setting up what he considers a ‘top class’ thoroughbred training facility at Waharoa in Matamata.

The Shailer Racing stables — the former Mellfield Stud on Wardville Road — are 15 minutes away from the hub of New Zealand racing, the Matamata racecourse.

Foxton born Paul, now 32, began his career as an apprentice jockey in 1995 under his well-known trainer, Kevin Gray.

Paul saluted the judge on 112 occasions, until climbing weight forced him out of the saddle. After a short and very unsuccessful career as a ‘jumps’ jockey — “only three rides, two falls and a last,” he laughs, he decided it was time to broaden his horizons.

In 2000 he headed to Australia to join what was then a young and ambitious exKiwi, Chris Waller.

Now a premiership winning trainer, Chris’ stables had gone from 12 horses and three staff on Paul’s arrival as foreman, to more than 100 horses and 45 staff when he left.

During that time Paul assisted in training group one winners such as Rangirangdoo, Danleigh, Metal Bender and Triple Honour.

“I decided to come back to New Zealand to make a go of it, along with my fiancée Belinda and my brother Kris, and finding the property at Waharoa was to lease was a stroke of luck,” he says.

Plans are also afoot to move the training on course to Matamata in the near future.

Kris has joined the stables as assistant trainer while Belinda tackles the management side of the fledgling business.

Kris started his riding career in 1998 as an apprentice to champion trainer Stephen Autridge, but after 25 wins his weight edged him into becoming part of the Autridge/Rogerson team in Hamilton, where he served as stable foreman for five years.

Following a brief two-year stint in Sydney with the Martin stable, Kris returned to the Autridge camp in Matamata before joining Paul last year.

Newly licensed racehorse trainer, Paul Shailer

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011 British born Belinda moved to Sydney in 2000 and started in the racing industry working for trainer Craig Carmody at Randwick Racecourse in 2006. She rode and worked for many different trainers including David Payne and John O’ Shea, while studying for a science degree at the University of New South Wales.

The Waharoa complex boasts 31 stables with day yards, spelling paddocks, a 1,000m training track, eight horse walkers and a 35-metre equine swimming pool which is proving invaluable for training and rehabilitation.

Paul is looking forward to building up his racing team and is keen to hear from owners looking for a young and upcoming trainer.

He says he brings his own unique training principles and, while his current profile might not yet match that of other members of his profession, he believes he has a solid background of experience which will ensure the winners will begin to flow as his team builds.

After only 19 race starts this season, his recent win bolstered that confidence in the team’s ability and he looks forward to future successes.

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July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Perfectly Potty

with Annette Lambly-Robinson

It’s always good to have some potted container plants, but none more so than during the winter months when the days are often grey, wet or cold The beauty of potted plants is they can be moved around the garden according to the weather or planted especially to the season and placed in a situation best suited to the plants.

I love potted colour — it is so cheering by the entrance door — welcoming you home each day or welcoming your guests to your hospitality.

Pansies, violas, primulas and polyanthus are good winter colour for pots, but there are plenty of suitable plants to choose from — annual or perennials, plants and shrubs.

I like a splash of colour, so I usually choose seasonal annuals for my containers — although I do have a few standardised plants — a bit more expensive to initially buy, but are so impressive they are not only great talking points, but spectacular in their appearance.

Apart from providing the opportunity of being able to move containers around the garden, the other great thing about pots is that no matter how big or small your home is, there is always room on the terrace, balcony, entranceway, courtyard or patio for a plant or two and they can be transported, if and when you move, making them perfect for renters and leasers.

Make sure your container will do the job you want it to do.

Drainage holes are essential for good plant growth.

Choose good quality potting mix — patio and tub mixes are best. A regular feed with either liquid or granulated fertiliser (slow release) will benefit the plants.

Choose colours and plants that will enhance your home and garden.

A handful of shingle or loose gravel in the bottom of your container will help increase drainage.

Do not overfill your pot; you want to leave a good few centimetres for watering (or shedding purposes).

Make sure the container is deep enough for the plant or plants you want to grow.

When multi-planting, plant the biggest plants first and the shallower plants around it.

I have a potted acer as the main plant and change its appearance with seasonal annuals at its base.

You could even plant bulbs or succulents around the base if you prefer.

Growing Tips • Pansies, violas and polyanthus enjoy a moist, well drained soil.

Use a quality potting mix that has a wetting agent and water storage granules added.

• Pansies will grow in full sun to filtered shade. Polyanthus and primulas will also grow in full sun but prefer shade, especially from the hot afternoon sun. Both dislike hot, exposed sunny situations.

Pebbles, shell, polished stones, marbles or other toppings such as driftwood or bark can all look stunning as a finishing touch not to mention also reducing weeds.

Treat your potted plants much as your would clothing or home accessories — they compliment you home and garden — can be changed at a whim or by season — and can go a long way to personalising, or updating your home.

Go on — get potty and enjoy the versatility it brings to your home and garden. And don’t limit your container plants to flowers and shrubs — fruit trees and vegetables are just as trendy, look great and provide fresh seasonal produce year round.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

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National Fieldays Report

‘Simply the Best’ Te Awamutu farmer Mat Sheriff is the ‘Best of the Best’ Rural Bachelor of the Year Mat along with seven other rural lads put their skills and reputations on the line to battle it out in the ‘Best of the Best’ competition — a new take on the popular Fieldays Rural Bachelor contest held annually at the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays.

Heats were held over the four-day Fieldays event at Mystery Creek on June 15–18. The eight contestants, all previous winners of past competitions, were eager to show they still had what it took to contend in this — the ultimate challenge for the supreme Golden Gumboot title.

This year’s heats had a strong rural focus on skills and knowledge required on the farm and in the agriculture industry. New challenges included fencing, horse handling, general knowledge, dog handling and excavating.

Mat, winner of the ‘People’s Choice’ title at the 2003 — the first ever Rural Bachelor competition, is now a farm owner and manager. Settled down with a partner and child, he proved himself to be a good all-rounder during the contest.

His determination was prevalent throughout the competition. He won several heats including the Equidays Equine Challenge, the Goldpine Fencing Heat, the STIHL Logging Skills Heat and the University of Waikato Challenge.

Piopio’s rural supplies account manager, Charlie Taituha, who won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in 2008, charmed the crowd again with his cheeky grin and massive sense of humour and walked away with a mountain bike and the 2011 People’s Choice title for his efforts.

photo courtesy of the Fieldays

‘People’s Choice Award winner’, Charlie Taituha

Other contestants were: Tony Buckingham — farmer from Wyndham, Southland, 2005 Golden Gumboot and People’s Choice Award winner; Christen Diamond — farm and bar owner from Waitomo, 2006 Golden Gumboot winner; Paul Slater — cropping farm worker originally from Te Pahu in the Waikato, now based in Western Australia, 2007 Golden Gumboot winner;

photo courtesy of the Fieldays

Mat Sheriff, winner of the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, ‘Best of the Best Rural Bachelor’ title

Mark Woodcock — dairy farm manager/owner from Dargaville, 2008 Golden Gumboot winner; Mike Short — bull farm manager from Sanson/Bulls in the Manawatu, 2009 Golden Gumboot winner; and last year’s golden Gumboot winner Nick Torrens — sharemilker from Te Aroha in the Waikato.

Jacqui Cooper, event co-ordinator said, “The Best of the Best competition was an excellent way of celebrating the ninth anniversary of the competition. It was a nice way to wrap it up to allow for a fresh and innovative rendition of the concept in 2012,’’ she said.

Mat received a prize package consisting of a luxury trip for two to Rarotonga, a Suzuki Trojan motorbike, vouchers and a clothing package.

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July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

National Fieldays Report Alle Agwear A 14-year-old Hamilton girl has wowed the audiences and topped this year’s New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays’ Ag Art Wear competition with two wins and a second place.

Barely recognisable in their previous forms, designers transformed rural implements into artistic masterpieces.

Now in its 17th year, thousands of visitors watched the competition’s daily shows held over four-day events culminating in a sell-out finale on Friday afternoon.

Alle Peterkin, a local fourteen-year-old, took out the Avant Garde section with her inspiring piece ‘Semi Precious’ which was also was the ‘People’s Choice’ winner. The plastic hexagon-shaped design pumps water throughout the garment symbolising how precious the water is on the land.

Alle was also runner-up in the ‘Under 21’ category with her Dairy Fairy entry.

Runner up of the Avant Garde division was Katherine Morrison for her structurally intricate piece, ‘The Dance of the Wired and Woolly Fence Breaker’.

‘Arachnophobia’, a webbed wonder by Corinne Heintze took the highly commended award.

The Under 21 category — similar to the Avant Garde section — asks designers to create something unique that challenges conventional design.

Laken Semmens won this section with her

elegant dress ‘Just another “Mad Hatters” tea party’ made from tea bags.

An Australian entrant, Lachlan Sully, placed highly commended with his graceful piece, ‘Gone Fishin’.

Nina McBeth from Taupo won the NZ Landcare Trust category with her wild sika, deer hide, feathers and cow hide creation ‘Kohara Whakapaipai’’ (Wilderness Jewels).

Runner up was Tracey Brown’s ‘Pingao o Maiden’, while Bill and Rose Paul received d highly commended with ‘Kokiri Aroha’.

Another Australian entrant, Betty Park,, won the Designer Traditional section with h ‘Jungle Jigsaw’. Runner up was awarded to o Charlotte Lind with her wool inspired creation, n, ‘Fleeced’ while Colleen Mak received the highlyy commended award with her gun shell dress, s, ‘Shell We Dance?’

Judges of the Ag Art Wear competition on were Marion Manson from ArtsPost, Jennifer er Whitty a Senior Lecturer from Massey Institute te of Design, Nardene Berry from NZ Landcare re Trust and flourishing designer of the fashion on label Love Lucy, Jenna McLachlan.

The award winning ‘Semi Precious’ (Top) and runner up ‘Dairy Fairy’ (Bottom) from fourteen year old designer Alle Pe terkin

Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

11

National Fieldays Report

’

‘Gone Fishin ‘Pingao Maiden’

The 2011 winners were:: Avant Garde Alle Peterkin — Semi Precious Katherine Morrison — The Dance off the Wired and Woolly Fence Breakerr Corinne Heintz — Arachnophobia Under 21 Laken Semmens — Just another ‘Mad Hatters’ Tea Party — Time for a Tea Break?

Alle Peterkin — Dairy Fairy Lachlan Sully — Gone Fishin’ Landcare Awareness ai Nina McBeth — Kohara Whakapaipai Tracey Brown — Pingao Maiden Bill and Rose Paul — Kokiri Aroha

paipai’

‘Kohara Whaka

Designer Traditional Betty Park — Jungle Jigsaw Charlotte Lind — Fleeced Colleen Mak — Shell We Dance?

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12

July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

National Fieldays Report Marc Ellis Shows off Auctioneering and Gumboot Throwing Skills at Fieldays One lucky Katikati farmer is looking forward to a ‘bit of a shindig’ with Marc Ellis at his place later this year thanks to a Fieldays’ promotion by The Barn Company.

The Barn Company have two ‘barn warmings’ with Marc Ellis up for offer, with one awarded to the winner of the barn auction at this year’s Fieldays. The building up for grabs was a four-bay 14x9m gable barn on display at the Fieldays, with some intense competition among bidders.

A large crowd enjoyed the entertaining auctioneering of Marc Ellis, who managed to push the bidding up to over $17,000 before the building was finally sold to a Katikati local. Marc also spent several hours on the barbecue at the Fieldays, cooking up free sausages for Barn Company customers, and challenging the crowd to gumboot throwing.

Marc Ellis cooks up free Marc teamed up with sausages for Barn Company customers The Barn Company after A New Zealand owned and operated discovering the benefits of their products in his own search for a new building. business, The Barn Company has Marc says the barn warmings follow franchises across the country, including the kiwi tradition of shed warmings and Trina and Gary White in the Waikato, who ‘were run off their feet’ with strong house warmings.

“It’s an opportunity to get a crew of interest at the Fieldays. us along to turn a few sausages, drink a “We were kept really busy with few sherbets and make sure that your enquiries, not just for the Waikato area barn gets the right sort of welcome to but from customers throughout the North your property. You name the activities and Island as well.” we’ll be into it.”

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Rural Women

13

F or

Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

A Useful Work of Art Robyn Vickers hadn’t realised just how much she had missed the usefulness of good-old fashioned bellows to light her fire until the day she re-leathered her old set and got them working again For the Te Poi beneficiary, the realisation sowed the seed for a cottage industry and with it a new belief in herself.

pride in using good quality hide. She wants the bellows to be treasured — not a throw away item — and she expects them to Robyn’s bellows had been last a lifetime. made for her by her father The bellows maker says who used to craft and sell them she would never consider when Robyn was a youngster. using synthetic material in She and her sister used to place of leather as the end decorate each pair with a result would not be nearly keruru. as durable, authentic or Years later, when her own aesthetically pleasing. fell into disrepair Robyn didn’t A work of art — but so very useful After completing the immediately fix them. In fact artwork and finishing the timber, the they remained unused for about four years, before one day, with internal workings are carefully pieced some time on her hands, she decided to repair them. together.

She then painstakingly glues Lighting the fire was no longer a difficult chore — no more the leather into place, finishing each pair huffing and puffing trying to get it to catch. by drilling the holes for the decorative “I suddenly realised just how valuable an asset they actually furniture nails which give them the final were — they really did take the struggle out of lighting the fire. touch.

It set me to thinking others may well face the same problem It hasn’t been an easy road. “Starting and wondered if they were a saleable item.” a business with no equity is not for the Robyn, a mother of four, who had been struggling on a faint hearted, but I’m glad I persevered domestic benefit for the past three years, embarked on some and plan to see it through,’’ she said. low-key market research.

“Many people have a very negative She hoped the idea would provide a way of her coming perception of beneficiaries, so it was easy off the benefit. Encouraged by those who believed in her idea to lose confidence and, when set-backs she set about finding people with the skills to help her get came (as many did), it was easy to want started. She especially needed engineering help to learn how to give up,’’ she says. to make the nozzles, and using her own bellows as a template “I thank those who encouraged, soon perfected the craft. She uses mainly macrocarpa, but on supported and believed in me and this occasions rimu and other timbers and has chosen pokerwork venture, and who gave me the strength to turn each pair into a work of art. to get it started.’’

Long-time Matamata cabinet maker Bob McGrail supported The bellows are not only good for open her fledgling venture by cutting out the shapes for her, until she fires, but for any type of wood or coal had the capital to purchase the tools she needed. burner and make useful gifts for men and She calls her business ‘Elements of Nature’ and it is no women alike. surprise each pair is decorated with flora and fauna such as While researching fireside bellows, chamois, stags and native birds.

Robyn discovered each country has its Cutting out the leather calls for precision and Robyn takes own individual design, shape and style.

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14

July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Winter Maintenance Gearing Up for Next Season Windy, wet and cold it may be, but we have been lucky with unseasonal temperatures right up until the shortest day, but while the chills may have arrived, work doesn’t stop on the farm

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So now is the time that maintenance tasks are keeping most of us busy, particularly for the Waikato dairy industry. It’s a time when the list grows long on jobs to do, while the cows are reproducing.

A well organised and well maintained farm property, with the plant all kept up to scratch, means an economical operation going into the new milking season.

At the heart of the operation of course, is the milking plant and dairy shed. It’s a time for a mechanical strip down and close inspection of pulsators, the milk lift rubbers, water pumps, gearboxes and all the other vital components that come together to deliver the milk in optimum time and condition.

Effluent disposal is another vital area and a bit of time spent when the system is not under any pressure can pay dividends as milking gets under way again.

But outside the shed there are a lot of acres and getting about the farm easily is vital.

Farm tracks and races are vital links and winter is a fine time to check the paths on the property and spread a bit of lime where it’s needed. Poor races are always a problem that can be dealt with by regular maintenance. An angled tilt bucket on a digger can work wonders in keeping races shaped up and the sides clear of mud and slush, mounding up the race surface to allow good run-off on each side, preferably into a cleared drainage. Good tracks and races make getting around the farm, to check or move stock, quicker and easier, plus they reduce wear and tear on farm vehicles. Having the right track surface and width also helps prevent stock lameness.

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day, but a hands on inspection will soon turn up weak spots that might cause a summer hassle.

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A perished hose replaced here and a couple of belts there makes for peace of mind when it all gets busy again. Quad bikes and farm bikes might benefit from a good steam clean and a once over from the local mechanic. They are getting pretty sophisticated these days and are expensive to own and repair, so it doesn’t make sense not to provide specialist and constant maintenance. Watching out for frayed and worn hydraulic hoses and cracked or worn tyres is a simple selfhelp job. Preventive maintenance is a great cure for breakdowns.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

15

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There’s no other product on the market that can be used as an aid to prevent AND treat scours by treating the calves themselves. The benefit of treating your calves with Rotagen is that by testing the faeces of the scouring calves, the correct combination of antibodies can be chosen to use on your specific calves. Rotagen Combo comes in various combinations

of antibodies for Rotavirus 6 & 10, Cryptosporidia, Coronovirus, E. coli and Salmonella.

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Rotagen Rotagen is only available from your veterinarian who can test and advise of the type of Rotagen you require. Rotagen can be formulated to protect against the below viruses: • Rotavirus 6 and 10 • Cryptosporidia • E. coli • Salmonella typhimurium • Coronavirus Rotagen has a nil withholding period.

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July 2011

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Changes in the Road User Charges legislation are quietly filtering through parliament and the Bill is now awaiting its second reading Like so much legislation, there have been a number of submissions, but as the legislative process drags on, all to often, the law appears as a fait accompli, while the affected sector of the economy is busy getting on with the business of making a living.

So it is worth noting that new RUC rules are still well and truly in the pipeline.

The trucking industry is already on record, from the mighty Fonterra down to the smaller rural operator, as saying proposed changes will push up costs.

The changes would see a truck’s road user charges calculated on the maximum total weight it is able to carry, regardless of what it is carrying.

Fonterra has pointed out that its trucks travel empty before progressively filling up at dairy farms.

Other firms — for instance those carrying fertiliser — would have to nominate the

gross weights they will be carrying and buy their RUC based on that. So they’ll pay even when they have discharged their load and are heading back empty for more. They say a lot more cost will be laid on businesses even though they are not operating at maximum weights.

For all that, many operators support the Bill for streamlining charges. The final form of the legislation should be known a little later in the year.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

17

Fishing Hunting

A Mixed Bag for Duck Hunters Arrive Alive.....

‘Duck hunting is a bit like fishing — it can be good on one side of the boat and not on the other’

This analogy from a Waikato hunting enthusiast pretty much summed up the shooting season as it draws to a close for another year.

Over the bar at a country pub, shooters were of the opinion that the wet weather spread out the game bird population, giving them more wetlands to conceal themselves in.

“So it’s been patchy really,” said one. “Some have had good bags and others have been less lucky.”

Fish and Game have yet to assess the season as it comes to a close this month, but say that since waterfowl hunting began in New Zealand, the Waikato/Hauraki area has been known as the country’s ‘duck factory’. Those living in the Auckland/Waikato region have ready access to the best waterfowl hunting in the country — most of it within an hour’s drive of Auckland. Major areas of wetland owned by the Crown in addition to Fish and Game are readily open to public access via roads, walkways and boat ramps.

An interim ‘official’ view of the season has it that it’s been a mixed bag, with many Waikato hunters finding it very quiet compared with most years.

According to its website posting for the season opening, ‘the weather created pools in paddocks that lured birds away from permanent water bodies where many hunters waited patiently in maimais. Fry-ups replaced shoot-ups and the bangers and the gossip just had to fill in the gaps in the action’.

Stand & Deliver

That is not to say that some hunters didn’t do well, limiting out in a matter of hours. Some reported their best opening in years.

Fish and Game adds that across the country as a whole, rangers found the usual suspects in the field with no licence and/or lead shot.

‘Guns were confiscated and court cases are pending, but the great majority of people towed the line. A number of sites where great wrong-doings were alleged beforehand were visited early on but generally everything was okay.’

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PARADISE SHELDUCK DECLINING IN THE KING COUNTRY March Special Season likely to be cancelled Fish and Game have been monitoring paradise shelduck numbers by conducting annual aerial moult counts during the month of January in the King Country since 1983.

The last four years have revealed a large reduction in the total count and in 2011 we counted only a quarter of the birds observed in 1993. This has also been coupled with a reduction in harvest rate during the special King Country paradise shelduck season which has traditionally been held on the first weekend in March, every year for the last 24 years. In recent times due to the reduction in moult counts, Fish and Game have had to implement more restrictive conditions during the special season but despite this, numbers continue to decline.

Fish and Game are trying to strike a balance between the farming sector and hunter interests. It is acknowledged that large flocks of paradise shelduck can do damage to pasture and crops and we have a number of mechanisms to deal with such situations.

As always, we urge any farmers that experience issues to contact us immediately so we can help to alleviate the situation without delay.

If the trend continues to decline there is a strong possibility that the special season will be cancelled next year to let the population recover. Paradise shelduck are likely to concentrate on high quality pasture and certain properties such as those who have converted from sheep and beef to dairy, tend to experience the greatest problems, especially on new grass.

Individual farms with problems will continue to be managed by issuing permits to disturb and/or cull, however, it is imperative that landowners go g through g the correct channels and Fish and Game will prosecute anyone partaking in unauthorised culls.

This year we also ask any farmers in the King Country, encompassing the Waitomo, Otorohanga and Ruapehu district council areas that have large congregations of moulting birds during summer months to contact us on 07 849 1666 or email to admin@awfg.org.nz.

18

July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

FARMERS OF NEW ZEALAND

Phone 09 439 5219 — Fax 09 439 5719 — P.O. Box 484, Whangarei, Northland email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz — www.newzealandfarmers.com

by Bill Guest

If the Hat Fits, Wear it

While visiting the National Fieldays, I was surprised to see reported in the local papers that ANZ rural economist, Con Williams, was suggesting that New Zealand farmers were lacking in the skills to manage the farm budget, that they

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I take umbrage at this.

Mystery Creek is in the heart of the Waikato where annual rural production in the province was five per cent ahead of last year, a figure that is also reflected in Northland, despite the drought we experienced before Christmas.

Mr Williams suggested farmers need to be more actively involved in managing costs and there were not enough of us doing that because of age and the lack of skills in place.

He suggested that sometimes the farmer’s wife is doing the books and not discussing what the farmer is spending and it comes back to educational skills and discipline.

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Well, in fact, there has been a decline of $900 million in overall farm debt since September 2010 — down to $46.3 billion. This has been due to pressure from banks, including forced sales but also natural reduction of debt by farmers because of good commodity prices.

We have heard the Labour Party suggest that farmers are having a golden age and don’t pay enough tax.

To me that is a clear indication that urban New Zealand is not going to let six per cent of the population — the farming community — contribute 85 per cent of the country’s wealth and go unscathed.

We have banks and consultants using farming as the new feeding ground to keep them going. Farming is the trough everyone wants to feed out of.

It is clear that banks have actually been the perpetrators who have been responsible for creating that $46 billion debt through 100 per cent loans and other clearly irresponsible lending in the last few years.

Any implication that farmers, because of their age, and the wives doing the books, don’t have the skills to run the business, is absolutely ridiculous. These are the same banks who have received government guarantees and bailouts to keep them afloat. Many of these banks were involved with the 35 to 40 finance companies that have crashed over the last two years.

My issue is that the overwhelming majority of farmers have good business skills and the good judgement to invest millions of dollars into the dairying industry — and that is what has kept this country

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As to the issue of their wives, many of them have kept farms afloat during hard times using their business acumen and when necessary, going off the farm to work in former jobs and professions to keep the farm afloat. Ninety per cent of farmers’ wives control the cheque book as well.

They know the reality of work on the farm and the economic facts of life all too well.

In terms of business skills and acumen, and an appreciation of realities, I rather think consultants, economists, banks and the rest of the ‘advisory community’ should be looking inwards and not outwards.

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Alena Homes Ltd offers beautiful character homes with many added features for one of the most competitive m2 rates in the Waikato. Ask for a brochure and see for yourself!

Bungalow Style 209 m2 including verandahs. 3 double bedrooms + office, 2 living areas, ensuite.

Villa Style 230 m2 including verandah and double garage. 4 double bedrooms, 2 living, ensuite, attached double garage.

Cottage Style 82.3 m2, 2 bedrooms, generous living. Complies with the 2nd dwelling regulations.

P: 07 838 3928 E: helen@alenahomes.co.nz W: www.alenahomes.co.nz Sales Manager: Lena-Jane 027 583 8392 A: 183 Collingwood St, Hamilton

Waikato Farming Lifestyles July 2011

A Dog’s Tail . . .

Waikato CLASSIFIEDS

Makin Dollars an’ Sense

Reach 30,000 Rural Homes • Phone 0800 466 793 For Sale

Rural Services

CALF MILKPOWDER $78.50 per 20kg bag +GST. Call 07 825 5812 or visit www.mirofeeds.co.nz.

AT KIWISPAN Waikato we take the time to listen to you and to ensure you get a premium quality shed that caters to your individual needs.

Call 0800 549 477.

DOG KENNELS and Runs – suitable for all breeds of dogs from Foxies to Great Danes. NZ’s best value, ex our Penrose factory. Arthurs Phone 09 579 7496. www.arthurs.co.nz.

Situations Vacant Commission Sales Agent

GLASSHOUSES / GREENHOUSES 17 sizes ideal for the home garden to lifestyle blocks. NZ’s best value ex our Penrose factory. Authurs Phone 09 579 7496. www.authurs.co.nz.

Do you understand HSCC, Scours and enjoy Cows and Calves.

We need someone to sell Natural Health Products to Dairy Farmers.

Good Commission, Open Territory.

To ďŹ nd out more Call Murray 022 685 7045

Custom Made For You & !! $ ! & " $ ! & # "% ! " ! & #!" " ! & ! & ! ! & ! & $ ! & " !

COMPLETE BATHROOM RENOVATION SERVICE Free Measure & Quote

! " # $ ! $ " ! % " WAIKATO

WAIKATO

Phone: 07 847 2221 Toll Free 0800 466 375 Rural Services

FARM BRIDGES Phone Pat now 0800 222 189, www.bridgeitnz.co.nz. Bridge It NZ Ltd. UDC FINANCE New Zealand’s finance company providing asset-based finance for transport, plant and equipment Ph 0800 500 832 or visit us at the Fieldays on Stand 54.

LEE ROOFING Limited Quality Roofing Installation throughout the Waikato. Ph: 07 849 1441 Fax: 07 849 1445 Email: leeroof@xtra.co.nz.

19

Email: murray@dairycare.co.nz

Commission Based Sales Agent We are a Dargaville publishing company who is expanding into the Waikato with a monthly community paper based around the Farming sector.

Looking for people to work from home selling advertising space utilising our online database.

Can be part time for full time.

Skills needed would be the ability to communicate well with people and good time management.

All you need is a computer with broadband internet and a phone.

We are not telemarketers we believe in building relationship with our clients to give them the best possible value for their advertising $.

Experience in the farming sector and sales not necessary as full training will be provided.

Please apply to PO Box 474, Dargaville or email dw@thelifestyler.co.nz

NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd

“Tellya wot Dog, I’m m startin’ a campain. It’s time tha a country rekignised wot the farm m duz fer the national economy.�

Yep, me Billy BC here re and The Boss, as wot he duz from m time ter time, has had another idea. dea. “Yer see Dog, tha reserve bank, that’s wot supposed ed ter regulate the ekonimy, which is wot keeps me and you in tucker and houses es and kennils, wants ter design a new kiwi banknote.�

Well, I can tell yer, that’s a big So What frum me. Munny? Yeah, I kin just see me steppin’ up ter the bar downa pub wiv a’ Boss. “I’ll ava pint pleaze!�

Na got no real intrist in munny. Thena Boss musta red my mind. “Look Dog, they reckin they wanna make new munny wot will ’mortalise a new series of New Zealanders.� Ha. Who d’ya reckin? Honi wassisname maybe? Or ’is Mum? Wadda ’bout that employment feller wot wants ta pay sheilas like Sharlene, The Boss’s skooltecher girlfren’, less munny than us blokes? “No, Dog. Bugga the people. Let’s rekignise tha real backbone o’ the country.

The farm, and all who sails in her.� (Boss is startin’ ta get a bit eliquent in ’is old age, eh?) “Lets have a hundred dolla note wiv the reel hero ofa farm on it Dog.� (Me, Me, I thort) Na. “The blimmin’ cow Dog! Come ta that, we could have a wee herd ona note. A jersey, eh, ana frisian, an a ereshere.

May Maybe a herefid bull ona back for tha beef farmers. “Then, we could put a buncha sheep ona ten cou dolla, a tractor ona twenty dolla.� doll Tha Boss wandered off up the T race ta check on Trev, who wus speadin’ spead a bita limestone.

Then ’e yelled back ta me: “Hey “H Dog, gues wot we cud put ona five dolla note — a blimmin’ on ffarmer. That’s about alla bloody banks are lettin’ us get these days anyway.�

Well, I hada chat wiv Sharlene when we wuz havin’ sum writin’ lessins later on, an she sed the reserved bank is gonna include new sekurity features to prevent countafit notes. “Tell ya wot dog, talkin’ bout sekurity,� she sid. “Whaddabout tha mos’ portant animal ona farm. You!�

Nex’ thing I no, Sharlene was ona cumputa ina bedroom an’ tappin away like crazy. Thin she come back an’ showed me a bita printed out papar. “Dear Reserve Banker,� she writ, “You should put The Dog, Billy Border Collie on the fifty dollar note, to recognise the immensely valuable part his whanau play in the national economy.�

Wow — she gotta way wiv werds eh?

Tell ya wot though, I rekin she blimmin’ well right. An’ wen she shows Boss, well, I kin tell yer, he’ll agree — if ’e no’s witch side ’is breds buttered on.

Fancy that tho’ — me bein’ a Fifty Dolla Dog. Sheesh!

See ya at the Pub.

Billy

Waikato Rural Marketplace Specialising in muscular, neurological or skeletal problems in your horse and dog.

Animal Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Ltd Physiotherapy can help with: t 1PTU PQFSBUJWF SFIBCJMJUBUJPO t "SUISJUJT t #BDL BOE OFDL QBJO t 1FSGPSNBODF QSPCMFNT t /FSWF JOKVSJFT BOE NVDI NPSF

Bringing out the

athlete in your animal For free, further information call Kirsten on 027 392 1232 or visit www.animalďŹ sio.co.nz

Australian-made Hydraulic Woodsplitters us See stery y ! at M reek C

Setting new standards in Safety, Design and Performance Call for a Free Brochure or DVD

0800 702 701 www.superaxe.co.nz

Tank Teller To purchase Tank Teller either: Phone 09 537 4148 /027 471 7198 or Email: info@tankteller.co.nz For more details visit: www.tankteller.co.nz

Water Tank Level Indicator

• Tank Teller enables you to manage your valuable water supply. • Can be installed on plasĆ&#x;c or concrete tanks. • Tank Teller measures only the useable water. • All parts are UV protected non-toxic, insuring a long lasĆ&#x;ng maintance free life. • $170.00 including P&P.

Elements of Nature

Fireside Bellows

TOYOTA HIACE, HILUX, LANDCRUISER AND ALL TYPES OF TRUCKS, VANS AND 4WDS

WE PAY TOP CASH

Handcrafted using timber, leather and copper these high quality fireside bellows are a great addition to any home

TOWED AWAY FREE!

Phone (07) 888 1521 www.elementsofnature.vpweb.co.nz

PH. JAMES 0800 442 445

Big Frog Broadband

BigFrog satellite Broadband CAN give you internet access at ANY location.

We are not a affected by trees and hills as we have a “steep point angle� which allows us to get out virtually anywhere.

More Milk

If you have tried before to get broadband and given up or have unreliable broadband, then give us a call on 0800 244 376.

out deco

buy online at www.outdeco.co.nz or phone 0800 55 88 89

NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTORS FOR

Better Health

Less Metabolics Power Generation Pumping Equipment

phone 0800 4 DOLOMITE 0800 436 566 Bio-Gro certified

PORTABLE GENERATORS – DIESEL GENERATORS LOAD TRANSFER PANELS – DEEP SEA ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTION BOARDS – DEWATERING PUMPS – PARTS & SERVICING www.powerplantsupplies.co.nz • sales@powerplantsupplies.co.nz Ph: 0800 800 837

20

July 2011

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

SADDLERY Our new location is 1 Oliver Street, Cambridge next to Mitre 10 Mega

A winning combination

Oliver St

To Hami To Hamilton m lto ton Hamilton Rd

SADDLERY

Cambridge

Queens St

Queens St

Queens St

Gillies St Albert St

St ria to Vic

Waik ato

To o TTira Tirau ira rau d Tirau R

Duke St

Rive r ® t

Available from Saddlery

To Te To T Awamutu Awa Aw wamutu tu Te Awa m

utu Cam

OLD SHOP

bridge

Coo k St

Road

not the cause”. It is natural to be healthy, not naatural to be sick. We are brainwashed into believing that headacches are a lack of aspirin. We apply chemicals to fight predatory and weed problems which is as foolish as applying makeup too cover up pimples. It is about as foolish as smacking yourself oveer the head with i h a sledge l d hhammer so that h you don’t d ’ feel f l your toothache any more.

Don’t blame the black beetle. Like all predators, they are opportunists. They attack when the opportunity is right. If the predator was at fault the whole system would have imploded when the very first one raised its head. They were put there to weed out the weak so that only the fit will survive. You never see the wolves in North America take on the big Bull Moose, they seek out the weak. The Lions in Africa take out the stragglers from the herd of wildebeest they just feed on the injured or sick; this is natures check and balance, it is how nature evolved.

The soil is the plants rumen, end of story. Feed the plant via soil fertility and you will have a plant that can defend itself. Here in this country most of what we grow evolved from another hemisphere and in another environment. Therefore, in our acidic soils they will

always have difficulty manufacturing their full set of defences in the form of complete proteins unless we duplicate as near as possible those conditions it evolved in. When we put a man on the moon, he had to take his environment with him. The plant can’t do the same, so we must do it for him.

When the plant cannot produce complete proteins they accumulate amide nitrogen compounds, crude sugars and incomplete bio-chemical products. These trigger in the predator, be that black beetle or whatever, that this plant is dying and it is just the place to lay its eggs. This cycle of events is termed the Calvin Cycle and is the cycle that converts crude sugars into starches.

From starches the plant produces lignin, from lignin cellulose from cellulose to proteins, from proteins to fats, from fats oils and from oils alcohol is produced; on and on up the food chain. The higher up the food chain the harder it is to break down, that’s why you get pinged for drinking too much alcohol and never for too much pop.

The lynch pin in the whole process is the atom of manganese.

This is the element that splits the water molecule and kick starts off the whole cycle. When manganese is in short supply the cycle slows down; when this occurs sugars accumulate and become an invitation for predation. In nature there is always a cause and effect, don’t fight the predator, take the stress out of the host.

Send for our free DVD and we will show you how to control all predators in both plants and animals. Call us on 0800 85 77 33.

Quantum Laboratories Freephone: 0800 85 77 33 Web: quantumlab.co.nz Email: info@quantumlab.co.nz

f

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h

Ride more, pay less!

Black Beetle, Grass Grub, Californian Thistle, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all

vi s R En nes As my old tutor used to ram into my heead, “Plant si predators and disease are symptoms of a faailing crop, u B

di

Warehouse Cambridge

15 Cook Street. . 07 9 94 436 1 Oliver Street.

07823 8239436 9436 PRODUCTS COURIERED OUT TO CUSTOMERS

www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

9 R d for ncy 0 r e 20NNtaEl AweaEffici I Wronmeensourc

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Peter Lester