Waikato Farming Lifestyles, September 2023

For dairy and trees

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Be careful what we vote for

by Barbara Kuriger MP For Taranaki - King Country

What’s important at your place right now?

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WAIKATO COROMANDEL

Is it the cost of living, the price of fuel, power, meat, eggs and vegetables?

Is the interest rate on your mortgage or rising crime constantly on your mind?

Is your business or farm is being drowned in regulations?

Has your child been affected by the amount of disrupted schooling this year alone?

When was the last time you managed to see your doctor?

These questions are among those you’ll be considering on October 14.

So, I encourage everyone to look closely at the policies on offer not the personalities.

The New Zealand we know, and love, depends on it.

For the past six years, we’ve seen it fall victim to the ideology of the government.

We’ve become a nation divided over governance, language and resources, of haves versus have nots, of failing systems and lawlessness. A country where people can walk out of a store without paying for what they have taken without consequence.

The confidence of our food producers, our biggest earners, is at a record low.

Not content, Labour in its final weeks have passed Three Waters and two of its three RMA replacement bills, taken GST off fresh fruit and vegetables but added a staggered 12c fuel tax.

Getting the economy pumping again, household costs under control, repealing legislation, underdoing red tape, resetting systems and fixing broken ones, restoring roads, education, health and law and order systems, just some of the urgent priorities, will take time.

As someone who entered parliament to work for the betterment of the communities I represent — my colleagues and I are up for the challenge.

National has announced many of its policies and countered those put forward by others.

We are builders and our previous terms in government attest to that.

We just need the might of a majority vote to do that.

So come October 14, there’s really only one question.

Whose policies will make your life better?

— Authorised by B Kuriger, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Barbara Kuriger

Considering quarry wetlands

The Aggregate & Quarry Association is saying the government needs to include quarries as well as farmland in fresh considerations of using wetlands to absorb carbon.

“Many quarries create or expand wetlands as part of their activities, helping offset the 90 per cent loss of New Zealand’s wetlands, mostly to farming,” says AQA CEO Wayne Scott.

According to a recently released cabinet paper, New Zealand is relying too much on planting exotic forests to remove carbon from the atmosphere, and this brings risks and costs. It recommends incentivising other options like restoring wetlands.

“Quarries have to break ground and create holes to access the rock, sand and stone materials that we all rely on to build anything. These are often later developed into other resources like agriculture, parks or wetlands.

“For example, within a few kilometres of each other in Waikato, we have two quarries which have both won awards for the wetlands they have created, Winstone’s Baldwins Quarry at Meremere and Stevenson’s Waingaro Quarry at Ngaruawahia.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw responded to the suggestion saying, that at the moment, only one technology, planting trees, is being used to draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

“Wetlands, mangroves and peatlands soil can also sequestrate carbon dioxide” he said.

Last year, the AQA helped get changes to the government’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, which initially would have halted quarry expansions on land that used a very narrow definition of a wetland.

“If James Shaw wants to encourage further wetland development, he should

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encourage Forest & Bird to withdraw its appeal against the revised definition,” says Wayne.

“Many farmers are now recreating wetlands, in part, to help process or reduce nutrient run-off. This can reduce the amount of carbon offset. Quarries don’t have the same need to reduce nutrients, so they can provide wetlands that not only manage water run-off but are even more efficient at storing carbon dioxide.

“Our sector is not looking for incentives. We just need politicians and activists to recognise what we contribute to our communities and the planet through creating and enhancing wetlands, and allow us to keep doing that.”

Wayne Scott, Aggregate and Quarry Association CEO

“Many farmers are now recreating wetlands, in part, to help process or reduce nutrient run-off. This can reduce the amount of carbon offset.”

“Ifamily to farm here,” says Chris.

“The property has been in the family for 123 years since my greatgrandfather purchased it in 1900. He cleared it and spent a lot of time developing the farm. It has been utilised in many ways over the years.

“My grandfather and father continued the farm’s evolution and were milking cows before it was converted to sheep and beef. I returned to the farm in 1989 and changed tack again by growing vegetables for local and export markets.”

Chris uses his knowledge to carefully protect and enhance the soils while maximising production at Pellows Produce Ltd. He won the 2023 Ballance AgriNutrients Soil Management Award, Hill

GROWING QUALITY FEED

For the past 20 years, Chris Pellow has adopted state-of-the-art cropping techniques at his family farm at Kaipo Flats to get the best crops he can from his

Laboratories Agri-Science Award and Norwood Farming Efficiency Award.

“The property has an effective area of 146ha, comprised of 122ha in continuous cropping, about 17ha in pasture and seven hectares of pine forestry. I added maize grain to the mix in the late 1990s, and the crop has been the business’s mainstay since the early 2000s.

“I cherish the farm, especially since it has been in our family for 123 years. I turned back to growing crops because although I don’t mind stock, I enjoy the machinery and crop side of things. We have stock on small areas that are not worth cropping.

“We do all arable crops, including maize, grain, silage and barley to sell on. I introduced precision technology around 2005. It guides the application of fertiliser and chemicals. Using this technology

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Chris has 122ha, which is continuously cropped on rotation

land.

“I further enhance the soil with a no-tillage approach to all cropping. It is something I began trialling in the early 2000s and is complemented by direct drilling, which reduces soil disturbance, maintaining the soil’s structure to 20cm.

“The no-tillage is a big one and I’m probably one of the longest no-tillage operations in the country, especially where maize is concerned. New Zealand is still a net importer of arable crops and grains because we are not selfsufficient, and there’s still a big demand for growing food for human consumption as well.

“I am basically a one-man operation, so I am really busy. I enjoy the machinery and the precision agriculture side of things and working out the plan for where you are going to get the most effective return for your investment while minimising the input.

“All the crops have their challenges, but the biggest challenge is the seasons, which are outside our control. How you look after your feed once you get it onfarm depends on the different grain, so people need to ensure they know what they are doing. Lifestyle block owners generally buy a couple of bags of product from the merchants.

“To ensure the operation is sustainable and profitable into the future, I’m continually evaluating new crops and tailoring our farming techniques based on the previous season’s production. I’ve also undertaken extensive research, giving me an in-depth knowledge of the farm’s environmental footprint, including its greenhouse gas emissions.

“Entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards was an interesting process and a bit challenging at times. I recommend others go into the awards — it’s definitely well worth

the effort. You don’t have to have everything done. It’s about the vision you have got, the path you are taking and proving you are doing what you’re doing.

“Entries for the 2024 Ballance Farm Environment Awards are open now. Farmers and growers across the

country are encouraged to enter and help continue to grow a healthy future for farming. It’s run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, and the awards champion sustainable farming and growing and celebrate good practice and innovation across the primary sector.”

One of the main crops Chris grows is maize

Every paddock is soil tested on a three-year rotation, and Chris further enhances the soil with a no-tillage approach to all cropping

Nathan Fogden | Managing Director

Planting | Pruning | Releasing | Thinning | Scrub Cutting Establishing

FOR DAIRY AND TREES

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

Graham and Tess Smith of Miraka Farm are diversifying in such a way that their small property has a variety of revenue streams that ensure it is sustainable while nurturing the environment.

“Miraka is Māori for milk. The property is very special to us as it is Tess’s ancestral land, which strengthens our connection to it,” says Graham.

“Tess is Raukawa and all this land belonged to them before the Europeans settled here and purchased it. We run 80 cows across our 28ha dairy unit, forestry across nine hectares, and grow Paulownia on 7.2ha.

“Dairying with trees to enable diversification is the foundation of our farming approach at Miraka.”

Graham and Tess were the 2015 winners of the New Zealand Landcare Trust Award for Innovation in Farm Forestry and the 2023 winners of the Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award and NZFET Biodiversity Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

“Tess has a garden maintenance business with four staff and is flat out with that. We do planting together and a few other chores and she checks the cows if I have an early night. It’s a great balance for us.

“I came from Pukekohe and am a city boy who went farming, which means I’m

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not indoctrinated with typical farming views. I have my own thoughts on how farms should be farmed, and didn’t learn bad habits from my father — consequently, this farm is different to the average.

“I was always interested in agriculture and had a job with the MAF in the port and airport quarantine. I had a taste for farming, and back in 1977, a friend called and said he had a milking job and needed a partner, so I left my job and have been milking cows ever since.”

Graham says he enjoys the consistency of dairy farming.

“You can measure the production every day and the feedback the cows give you because they react to how you react. It suits me to be challenged, and there’s a variety of challenges every day, and you need multiple skills to do the job.

“In the last 20 years, I’ve become interested in the science of trees, but no one could tell me about it, so I did my own research and have been doing what I discovered ever since. I have three children, and Tess has one. My younger son Lance recently came home to run the farm, and we have a succession plan in place.

Graham’s son Lance now helps him to run the property

“He always farmed with me until he left school and then worked for a guy in Karapiro for 20 years until he came to help me. Lance was milking 500 cows and managing staff. Now he milks our 80 cows, and I help him, and he helps me. It’s a great life for both of us, and our succession plan helps ensure Miraka stays in the family for future generations.

“People treat farmers like we are an asset to be milked, and that’s happening a lot at the moment, and a lot of us have met

the limit and are giving up. We are getting everything but the kitchen sink thrown at us, and I blame the governments and the inflation or pumping all the money into Covid.

“I think everyone who couldn’t work could have lived on less. The handouts were too good, and now, we have a problem. There is a new expectation about lifestyle, and now the living wages aren’t helping because when the living wage goes up, it all goes into cost increases, and I don’t know how they will stop the spiral.

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“We are lucky to have very free-draining country. It’s been cold, and the growth of the grass is slower, but we don’t have much mud, and we have been really careful. Miraka Farm is the culmination of years of saving and staying true to our vision. It has resulted in a beautiful property now that has no erosion and zero brown water leaving the property.

“We are being guided by 34 years of knowledge. In 1988, we bought the dairy farm, and we began planting trees four years

later. We then began planting Paulownia in the paddocks around our cows in 1994. It is a strong, light timber that is a valuable material for making surfboards, musical instruments and fishing lures.”

The couple then registered with the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2020, enabling them to trade carbon credits, which is complemented with forestry consultancy.

Read part two of Graham and Tess’s story next month.

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Graham and Tess Smith have turned Miraka Farm into a dairy and tree growing property

A LIFELINE FROM THE HEARTLAND

BY PAUL CAMPBELL

A waterway rich in history and a New Zealand icon, the Mighty Waikato River has been in recent environmental focus with an invasion of exotic clams, another chapter in a saga beginning in pre-history, flowing on through to modern experience.

Recently, iwi collected 125kg of invasive gold clams after an experimental control harvest along a stretch of the Waikato River near Karapiro, an incursion due to modern transportation facilities, but not the first to be encountered.

At 425km, the Waikato is our longest river, running from Mt Ruapehu, draining into Lake Taupō, exiting via the Huka Falls and flowing to the Tasman Sea at Waikato Heads. For some eight hundred years, Māori enjoyed its source of food, including eels, fish and

plants. The recent imposition of clams threatens this bounty.

With the arrival of European settlers in the mid-1800s, the river was the main access route inland for traders and missionaries, and social upheaval soon followed. More than 1.2 million acres of land were confiscated following battles between British troops and Waikato tribes.

It was not until 1928 that a Royal Commission found the confiscation to have been immoral, illegal and excessive. Settlement for the Crown action took

many more years to be recognised, a history that may be dealt with elsewhere.

For the river itself, progress and development continued with the first organised regatta in 1896, to go on to become one of the country’s largest aquatic events and showcase the river as a recreational source for events and simple family relaxation.

In 1913, the first hydroelectric station opened and powered a gold mine in Waihi before being bought by the government to

electrify Cambridge and later, the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

Then, in 1947, Karapiro Power Station was built, creating Lake Karapiro, becoming one of eight stations to appear along the course of the waterway.

It is to be said that progress is not always kind, and human use has been marked by the untoward, with noxious weed hornwort found in 1963, and in 1983, koi carp was found in the river. Now, this year, came the clam infestation.

The river was a highway for stores delivery

The centre of Waikato commerce, Hamilton, was formally established in 1864 when Captain William Steele established the first military fort. After the land wars, settlers cleared land and from the 1880s, dairy farming grew. Small towns grew near dairy factories, and the river and its tributaries were used for transport. Hamilton became a centre of economic activity. A century has seen huge changes to the Waikato region.

After the second world war, more service towns and industries thrived, and small settlements grew around the hydroelectric dam constructions along the river.

Native timber was logged north and west of Lake Taupō. Pinus radiata planted in the 1920s and 1930s started today’s extensive plantation forestry industry. Tokoroa’s population more than doubled in the 10 years between 1961 and 1971

as people moved to jobs created by the demand for wood products.

Government housing policies encouraged Māori to move to towns and cities. The government incentives during this period promoted sheep and cattle farming and bush clearing, so more land was put into farms and forestry. Much of this was marginal land and could only be farmed with the use of fertiliser, and aerial top dressing saw busy rural skies.

In the 1970s economic recession, changing markets and automated industries meant less employment in the coal and timber industries. The number of people living in Huntly and Tokoroa fell. In the 1980s, New Zealand’s economy was restructured. Farming subsidies were removed, and, as a result, working the land had to become more efficient with increased stocking rates and more application of fertilisers. Over time, the

human activities along the river and the increasingly intensive land uses through its catchments have created problems.

On the political front in 2010, the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act was passed. The Crown and Waikato-Tainui signed a deed of settlement, and the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Waikato River Authority were established. The Guardians Establishment Committee was formed with the support of other Waikato River iwi. It finalised a vision and strategy for it to restore and protect health and wellbeing to reflect the interests of Waikato River iwi and of all New Zealanders.

These objectives encompass all people of the river and their relationships with it through their communities, industries, recreation, social and cultural pursuits. It will take commitment and time to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the river.

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Ag policy emphasises sector growth

by Rt Hon Winston Peters

As the election campaign reaches its peak and the major parties focus on the big urban populations to harvest votes, I can assure you that at least one political party, New Zealand First, has not forgotten where this country’s economic fortunes are tethered.

Despite the plethora of naysayers, the cold, hard reality is the primary sector, especially pastoral agriculture, is the sector of any scale that New Zealand holds an internationally competitive advantage. The focus of New Zealand First’s Ag policy is unequivocally to play to our strengths and grow the sector.

The sheep and beef sector is particularly dear to my own heart. As a sheep and beef farmer of 36 years, I have unwavering belief in its potential.

What we won’t be doing is shrinking the sheep and beef sector by a quarter by putting a price on agricultural emissions. The He Waka Eke Noa experiment failed, and sheep and beef farming was going to be the proverbial sacrificial lamb at the altar of climate policy, taking with it the viability of many rural communities.

What we will do is incentivise innovation with the tools we do have, like assisting with the roll-out of low-methane genetics, already commercially available in sheep and readily being identified in our cattle genomics. As seedstock breeders, you will have a critical role to play here. It’s something that you are world-class at, and we will back you to the hilt.

There will be restrictions on exotic plantation forestry with limits to the amount of forestry able to be entered into the ETS on good food production land.

We would provide concessionary tax rates for exporters to help grow our export opportunities and support brand NZ initiatives to build on our provenance story. We could look no further for an exemplar than the incredible job the Angus breed has done positioning its products at the premium end of the market.

We intend to deliver a Rural Infrastructure Fund to enable the construction of critical rural infrastructure, like flood banks, water storage and bridges.

Planning laws will be overhauled to be more permissive of light groundworks and focussed on catchment by catchment solutions and weed and pest control prioritised for government support.

New Zealand First has very much focussed on a ‘back to basics’ approach to agriculture that will help grow the sector, support where it’s needed and then get out of your way to let you get on and do what you do best — producing world-class meat and fibre.

The Right Honourable Winston Peters, NZ First leader

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Chondroitin sulphate for sore joints (Part one)

by John Arts

Enhancing farmer wellbeing

New Zealand Young Farmers and Rural Support Trust have joined forces and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their collaborative efforts in supporting and empowering rural communities across New Zealand.

“We believe that by combining our efforts with Rural Support Trust, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people working and training in the food and fibre sector,” says NZYF chief executive Lynda Coppersmith.

The drug classi cation then goes on to give speci c information:

‘Chondroitin sulphate, used with glucosamine, is indicated to alleviate pain and in ammation from primary osteoarthritis. This supplement is reported to improve joint function and slow disease progression.’ (drugbank. ca/drugs/DB09301)

I recently read a health store yer in my morning newspaper. One promotion was for a glucosaminebased joint product. There is no doubt that glucosamine can help joints. That is why I include it in my joint formula. Still, why is there no mention of chondroitin?

The company is a large international company that would clearly know about the bene ts of chondroitin. What, then could be the reason for not including therapeutic amounts of chondroitin?

For that matter, why do most joint products sold in NZ have either no chondroitin or so little to have a negligible impact on joint health? I think the answer is quite simple. Good quality chondroitin costs almost 10 times that of glucosamine.

My preference is to have equal proportions of chondroitin and glucosamine and for most people to start at a double dose. The standard daily dose of my joint supplement delivers 800mg of both ingredients while the double dose is 1,600mg each. This, combined with fully water-soluble, high bioavailability BioSolve® curcumin (from turmeric) extract, can quickly settle sore joints. I usually add omega-3 sh oil rather than plant omega-3 sources as only sh oil has EPA, which is profoundly anti-in ammatory.

As an example, I have been helping someone for several years with sore knees caused by osteoarthritis. He is much more comfortable and mobile and feels so much better about life in general. In his own words, “I have stopped limping and now telling everyone.”

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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• Bettaflex has 400mg (per capsule) of high-grade avian chondroitin, 400mg of glucosamine and 100mg of BioSolve® bioavailable Curcumin (from turmeric).

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• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.

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

“This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to support and empower the next generation.”

Under this MOU, Rural Support Trust and New Zealand Young Farmers commit to working together to leverage their respective strengths and expertise and will seek to achieve several vital objectives.

“The partnership aims to raise awareness of the existence and services provided by both NZYF and RST. By working together, we can ensure that young individuals working and training in the food and fibre sector are informed about the resources available to them for maintaining good mental health.

“One of the primary goals of this MOU is to improve the connections between young people in the industry and the support they need for positive mental health outcomes. By fostering stronger relationships and networks, both organisations aim to create a supportive environment where young people can thrive.

“NZYF and RST are committed to increasing access to appropriate support for young people with mental health and well-being concerns. This includes providing resources and guidance to those who may be struggling and facilitating referrals to the right professional support, ensuring they receive the help they need promptly.

“As a result of this partnership, rural communities and their connections will be strengthened. By focussing on the mental health and wellbeing of young people in the food and fibre sector, NZYF and RST hope to create resilient and supportive communities that contribute to the overall wellbeing of their members.”

The signing of this MOU marks a significant step forward in addressing the mental health challenges faced by young people in New Zealand’s agriculture and rural sectors. Both organisations are deeply committed to the well-being of young individuals in these industries and recognise the importance of working together to achieve positive outcomes.

“We are delighted to partner with New Zealand Young Farmers in this important endeavour,” says Rural Support Trust’s general manager Maria Shanks.

Services:

• Dairy Shed and Asset Maintenance –No job too big or small.

• Concrete grinding and resurfacing to remove pitted concrete from $157.5m2

• Ensure high ratings on shed inspections.

• Maintenance programs to ensure upkeep on property assets.

• Non slip epoxy coating, providing safe walkways in the workplace.

• Acid washes and chemical treatments to remove grime and dirt build up.

• Moss and mould treatment $300

• Chem wash $7m2

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• New BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin helps joint function while gentle on the stomach.

• Research indicates that chondroitin is highly effective at 800mg daily.

John Arts comments:

“My latest Bettaflex formula includes BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin for faster results. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend an initial higher dose for 1-3 bottles to saturate join tissue.”

(John Arts, Founder, Abundant Health)

• Ability to work in between milkings.

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Chondroitin sulphate is classi ed as a Dietary Supplement in NZ but in In Europe is available on prescription where It is classi ed as “a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis.”

Conference for rural women

Rural Women New Zealand has announced that it is pleased to be hosting a National Conference in November this year.

“After two postponements due to Covid-19 restrictions in recent years, RWNZ members are looking forward to meeting together in person,” says national president Gill Naylor.

This year’s conference will be held in Christchurch from Thursday, November 23 until Saturday, November 25.

“The National Conference programme wraps around the organisation’s Annual General Meeting and the much-anticipated NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2023. Highlights of the programme include guest speakers Alice Ritchie and Rosemary Banks and a performance by The Bitches’ Box of its internationally acclaimed Life’s a Bitch show.

“We are delighted to have guest speakers of the calibre of Alice and Rosemary. Alice is the Lead Nature and Forests Manager at Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest food retailer.

“Her role involves setting the strategy for Tesco across nature, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, water and soil across both international and domestic supply chains and working closely with WWF to help halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket.

“Rosemary is a highly-respected diplomat and has held a number of important government roles, including representing New Zealand at the United Nations and as a Crown negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi settlements. She served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the

Gill Naylor, Rural Women NZ national president United States between 2018 and 2022, the first woman to hold this position.

“There will be a very special performance of Life’s a Bitch as Amelia Dunbar, who, with Emma Newborn, form the comedy duo, The Bitches’ Box. They won the Creative Arts Category before being named the Supreme Award Winner in the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards in 2022.

“The conference theme this year is Strengthen, Support, Connect, which underpins and describes the role that RWNZ plays in our rural communities. The conference also provides an excellent opportunity for people to come and experience a taster of what the organisation has to offer.”

Tickets for the conference sessions, the Bitches’ Box performance on Thursday, November 23 and the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards on Friday, November 24, are available for sale to the general public.

To find out more about the RWNZ National Conference and purchase tickets, visit ruralwomennz.nz/nationalconference or phone 0800 256 467.

Practical solutions for Waikato farmers

by Hon Shane Jones

Far too much time has been wasted by the Labour Party on policy workshops and endless iwi engagement.

Consider, for instance, water. Since 2020, no minister has boosted the capacity for our farmers to future-proof their enterprises with water storage dams. Instead, it’s been all about the deeply unpopular Three Waters reform package.

El Niño, a weather system that brings hot weather to New Zealand, will likely deliver a scorching summer. This system will be challenging, and luckily, Waikato has a host of existing water catchment dams. Currently idle assets they ought to be operationalised to ensure local farmers can maintain productivity. Unfortunately, the regional and district councils do not seem to appreciate the utility of these resources.

Every farmer should be entitled to establish appropriate dams and reservoirs. Such assets ought not require resource consents providing they are constructed under the supervision of an engineer.

Consider, too: koi carp. Some challenges require Crown funding such

as the curse of koi carp, a chronic problem for Waikato landowners and those concerned about water quality improvements. New Zealand First believes koi carp should be a priority in terms of pest eradication. Instead of funding sluggish local government bureaucrats, however, support should be made available to other stakeholders, such as farmer catchment groups who know their environment, are highly motivated and are far more efficient than council staff.

As the economy continues to slide backwards, koi carp eradication can be an opportunity to employ locals such as rangatahi and youth. It will not only teach them practical skills but will acquaint them with their local Waikato environment.

Waikato farmers deserve practical solutions and opportunities to collaborate with other local stakeholders. New Zealand First is committed to timely ‘on the ground’ solutions to boost the economic output levels of farmers and enhance productivity.

Top dressed for success

by Amy Fifita

Following applying fertiliser to encourage maximum growth, early spring is the ideal time to top dress your pastures to optimise the effects.

After assessing the state of the ground, it is decision time for how the fertiliser is applied. If the pastures are boggy, they will be unsuitable for heavy machinery. The best course of action would be aerial topdressing. The application is quicker than landbased operations and protects the soil from compaction that can be worsened by machinery. New technologies have improved the accuracy of dressing natural and synthetic fertilisers.

All that is required for the pilot is a good airstrip. One inhibitor can be the weather, which could get in the way of timeframes. Some farmers have access to an aircraft and loader and can apply the fert themselves.

Of course, before aircraft, there were other means to achieve farmers’ top dressing goals — a tractor or truck and a spreader. The downside to using a vehicle to top dress the paddocks is it can depend on the pasture condition.

Hill country can be difficult for machinery to navigate, and it will also take longer to apply. However, it does have its advantages. The benefit of using machinery to top dress is that they can hire a contractor or do it themselves. They can apply quantities that specific paddocks need because they know their farm.

Another option is to use the two together where alternative methods are easiest and needed. An aerial

sprayer can do parts of the land with boggy or hilly terrain, so the tractor work can be focussed on other parts of the farm.

For farmers who want to save time, there are multiple land and aerial contractors to choose from. Top dressing will help improve pasture health and fodder for your livestock to eat, which should reflect on their returns and maintain usable and sustainable grounds.

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Aerial top dressing is useful on hilly pasture and areas where the land is too wet for heavy machinery

Expanding forestry vision

Dr Elizabeth Heeg, the new Forest Owners Association chief executive, is looking to forestry as a sustainable keystone of bioeconomy and is promising to expand the vision of the forest industry.

Dr Heeg was previously working at Te Uru Rākau New Zealand Forest Service and replaces long-serving chief executive David Rhodes.

“New Zealand forests are a vast resource which could produce a significantly greater value for Aotearoa New Zealand,” she says.

“The world economy is transforming out of a dependence on fossil fuels, which accelerates climate change. Renewable resources, such as wood, are vital to powering the global bioeconomy.

“New Zealand has an opportunity to use forestry to achieve a low emissions future. The Forest and Wood Industry Transformation Plan, which was launched just last year, lays out a clear pathway to maximise forestry’s role and value-add to address the climate crisis.

“As we meet the challenges of realising the full potential of our forests and development of an advanced processing industry, the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle earlier in the year have also reminded us that we must adapt to climate change as well.

“We’ve got to get better at managing our forest debris and do it ahead of the growing intensity of storms which put all land use at greater risk.”

She says she’s looking forward to working with FOA member companies, other primary industry organisations and associations, decision-makers and communities.

Dr Elizabeth Heeg, newly appointed Forest Owners Association chief executive

“FOA has always been close to the Farm Foresters Association, which represents small-scale forest operations, and they are important partners as we look towards diversification and adaptation.

“We’re also looking to future partnerships to utilise woody biomass for energy, with companies such as Fonterra. Forestry is moving into a new age of partnership and collaboration.

“By building partnerships across the forestry supply chain with the Wood Manufacturers Association and Timber Industry Federation, we can process more wood onshore, use more wood for building, and get the highest value from our forests.

“The ITP estimates New Zealand could lower its projected carbon emissions by 54 million tonnes by 2050, if we increase domestic processing and biomass efficiently. That’s a target worth aiming at.”

Forest Owners Association president Grant Dodson says he’s delighted to welcome Dr Heeg as a highly qualified woman as CE of the association.

“She’ll be bringing a whole range of new perspectives to the top of the industry. There’s a lack of female leadership in the sector, and Elizabeth’s appointment is going to go towards redressing the imbalance towards a more diverse leadership and participation in forestry and its supply chain.”

“NZ has an opportunity to use forestry to achieve a low emissions future.”

FISHING, HUNTING & OUTDOORS

Sika Show’s birthday bonanza

by Andy Bryenton

This year marks the thirtieth birthday of New Zealand’s biggest show for outdoor enthusiasts, and to accommodate its burgeoning popularity, the 2023 Sika Show will once again light up Mystery Creek.

“The event has grown from its humble origins to become a diverse and exciting gathering, attracting a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts from all over NZ and now internationally as well,” says show spokesperson Mike Penn.

Those origins took root when a band of keen hunters met at the Spa Hotel in Taupō to compare notes and anecdotes about their time in the backcountry, doing what they loved. From what was effectively a hunting competition meeting, things escalated. People from around New Zealand gravitated to a chance to discuss the state of the art in hunting and the outdoor lifestyle. By 2000, the Sika Show packed the Great Lakes Centre in Taupō, and last year, the event took its place at Mystery Creek.

This year, bigger than ever, the Sika Show will feature all the gear, technology, big names and innovations in outdoor adventure, alongside a massive hunting

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competition with prizes for every game species in New Zealand and prizes totalling more than $70,000.

“The Sika Show’s legacy extends beyond a mere hunting and outdoor trade show; it symbolises the essence of outdoor living,” says Mike.

“The show’s allure lies in its multifaceted appeal. It stands as a platform for the community to come together to celebrate

and support New Zealand’s game animals while also fundraising for national game organisations and hunter-based conservation groups.”

Foremost amongst these is the Central North Island Sika Foundation, which goes further than just supporting the sport. Members have put in more than 6,000 volunteer hours in the past year to aid conservation, trapping pests, maintaining huts and tracks, protecting the native whio (blue duck) and donating tonnes of organic venison to the needy via food banks.

This October, the Sika Show will fill the space traditionally associated in many minds with the biggest event in Kiwi agriculture, addressing the other most important factor of rural life, love of the wilderness. There will be plenty to see and do for the whole family and an abundance to learn, engage with, test, taste and explore.

Mark your calendar, and make a plan to head down to Hamilton on October 28 and 29 to experience the show bringing the best of the wilderness together in one place with the people who enjoy it most.

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“Our unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction sets us apart from the competitors. We have a keen understanding of our customers’ needs, which enables us to provide personalised service that goes above and beyond expectations.”

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“From answering product inquiries to offering practical advice, our team members are always eager to go the extra mile. We stock an extensive selection of rearms, ammunition, optics, shooting gear and more.

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GST just part of the produce equation

by Andy Bryenton

The people who grow our nation’s fresh vegetables and fruit are eager to see more healthy local produce sold for an affordable price but question whether GST-removal plans will deliver the best for both growers and customers.

“The need to remove unnecessary red tape and form filling came up time and time again at Horticulture Conference Week earlier in the month,” says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley.

“While opposition members of parliament promised a lot and got great grower support, as we all know, reducing regulation is easier said than done, particularly when in New Zealand, central government regulation is overlaid by regional and local. Plus, reform takes decades, and not years, for example, reform of the Resource Management Act is expected to take up to 10 years to complete.”

In her recent newsletter to growers, Tunley also quotes similar sentiments from Vegetables NZ chairperson John Murphy, who says he welcomes a debate on GST.

“Vegetables NZ applauds any attempt by regulators to increase fresh vegetable consumption because of the health benefits,” said Mr Murphy.

However, he also stated that fit-forpurpose regulations, and the elimination of the hurdles which limit productivity were major issues outside of any tax debate. That’s a stance HortNZ’s president, Barry O’Neil, articulated in previous discussions on the GST topic. Over-regulation is a malaise lamented across the rural sector, and there is also the matter of competition, or lack thereof, in the existing supermarket duopoly.

“What I think we can be fairly confident about is that our growers, who are struggling to get a reasonable price when supplying New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly, won’t end up with any more coin in their pockets if GST is removed from fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Mr O’Neil in June.

“We are on record as supporting moves to increase competition, for example, our

HortNZ president Barry O’Neil stance on the Commerce Commission’s review of supermarkets, the outcome of which was unfortunately watered down,” Nadine Tunley said.

“HortNZ and the wider horticulture sector support any move that would see an increase in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit. However, there are other complex issues that need to be addressed at the same time, which is why a more targeted approach is likely to be what’s ultimately needed.”

“Vegetables NZ applauds any attempt by regulators to increase fresh vegetable consumption.”

of New Zealanders are concerned about “fake news” and its implications

& PASTURE

Doing the groundwork first

by Amy Fifita

After a wet winter and summer period, it is ideal to test your soil to discover what treatment it requires so your pasture can flourish during the spring and summer periods.

New Zealand has had its fair share of wet weather in the past eight months. While water can be refreshing, we all know that the downpours were damaging to the ground, crops and land. Heavy rain affects nutrients in the earth and can lead to the leaching of organic matter, so now is a good time to soil test to discover what nutrients remain.

It also makes farms more susceptible to soil compaction, which can cause debilitating effects on your growing produce or fodder. There are various methods to reduce soil compaction like adding organic matter, improving drainage or decreasing the pressure on the soil with vehicle and livestock traffic. A soil scientist can assess a farm to see what factors are damaging the ground, especially before farmers get their fertiliser plans together. Knowing what type of earth you have is beneficial too. Once you understand its physical structure, you will be able to maintain and monitor it according to how much clay, silt, sand and other materials you have in it.

A soil test will give you insight into what nutrients are lacking so you can

Discover what needs to be addressed for your soil health before applying fertiliser to your land treat them accordingly. With your results in hand, you can go to your supplier and see what treatment they recommend. A fertiliser consultant is another means of receiving advice to maintain the nutrients of your pasture.

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Force of nature

by Andy Bryenton

It’s been a year since the refined and redefined CFMOTO CForce 520 touched down in New Zealand, and they have been four of the toughest seasons in living memory, a good test for any ATV’s toughness.

The mid-sized segment of the market was always a winner for CFMOTO, even before a big range upgrade pushed the specs higher late in 2022. A sharp price point, with even the beefiest, powersteering equipped 520 EPS coming in under $10,000, was part of the compelling package. The rest was down to good design and capable application.

“The CFMOTO middleweight ATV range has been a key pillar of our business for a long time.” said CFMOTO New Zealand director Michael Poynton.

“All three models have been absolute warriors, but the time was right for an update, and CFMOTO obliged by delivering a range with improvements and refinements across the board.”

Normally, such an upgrade might deliver a few percentage points of power and torque and a new cosmetic look. However, CFMOTO went over the CForce mid-range with a ruler and callipers, delivering a 25 per cent better turning radius, an impressive 50 per cent more front and rear rack loading capacity, a frame which was 30 per cent stronger and 10 per cent lighter, 26 per cent more suspension travel, and lots more clever design points.

Riders wanted less vibration — they got it. They wanted less heat coming through to their legs from the motor and exhaust; it was sorted. They demanded ease of access to things like the filter box, fuses, brake fluid reservoir and coolant tank for swift maintenance, and they got

those, too. CFMOTO even increased the fuel tank capacity on the CForce, and they’ve left in favourite features like a true locking differential.

It’s fair to say that the upgraded CForce 520EPS was well received. Even commentators in the brand-focussed and power-hungry US market called this ATV highly impressive. They questioned why you’d choose certain other models costing much more, considering what was on offer via the CFMOTO range.

A year on the ground in New Zealand, especially this past year with its torrential

CForce range has been there and done what was necessary for

hundreds of local customers. With spring here and many people now looking at new farm hardware or summertime trailriding adventures, the CForce 520 EPS is positioned just right to attract a big share of the market.

CFMOTO’s CForce 520 EPS has been on Kiwi shores for a year now, and its combination of practicality, price and performance has made it popular rain, cyclone winds, deep mud and extended winter, has been a proving ground far beyond what even the brand’s designers may have anticipated. Yet, the upgraded

New model, boots and all

by Andy Bryenton

Whether you wear gumboots, army boots or steel-capped work boots, you likely know and respect the Toyota Land Cruiser.

The big 4x4 has utterly dominated all competition for many years, leaving a slice of the luxury market for Range Rovers and big Volvos while otherwise crushing all kinds of terrain and global markets,

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beneath its knobbly tyres. In the Aussie outback, for example, the Land Cruiser is something you’d never leave home without, like your trousers.

Now, there’s a new Land Cruiser on the way, and the folks in Toyota’s design department have decided to take a leaf from the book of their German counterparts over at Porsche. No, they haven’t decided to make the LC70, out in 2023, look like the 2003 Cayenne. They have, apparently, been musing on the 911.

A great car, that. It’s not the world’s most impressive 4x4, though there was that singular Paris to Dakar escapade. No, what the Toyota designers have done is take note of the single most defining characteristic of Porsche’s speedy twoseater. It’s always looked like a 911.

In that vein, the new LC70 looks exactly like a Land Cruiser. Pointedly, it looks like a classic ‘landy’, and not in the way that the old FJ Cruiser rendered a loving homage. No, this thing looks as if it had burst through a time portal from the 1980s. It’s fantastic. Those big chrome letters on the grille, those round headlights, that crisp, purposeful side profile with fewer curves than an origami lobster; it fits.

“The Land Cruiser 70 has a loyal following in New Zealand, and the new

Toyota’s latest update to the Land Cruiser takes a retro turn while switching up engine and drivetrain technology for efficiency — torque is up, too vehicle represents a ‘back to the roots’ concept in terms of design. It truly can go anywhere. It’s the ultimate representation of the outdoor Kiwi working vehicle, of making the inaccessible parts of New Zealand accessible,” says Toyota NZ CEO Neeraj Lala.

Helpfully, there’s the heart of the new Hilux ute under the hood, meaning that the LC70 is more economical

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than ever while still promising to be an absolute beast when it comes to slogging, trekking, towing, farming and adventuring. Better yet, you know you’ll look great doing it. This is one machine that you know off-road tuners will lavish with 24-carat attention to detail, making some beautiful monsters. Alternatively, take it right to the farm. It’ll look brilliant with mud on it, too.

Election issues in farming

by Andy Bryenton

Dairy farmers, their industry advocacy associations, and grassroots protest groups speaking on their behalf,

identified issues during the past three years which may well shape the coming election.

Over-regulation

This catch-all term has become a rallying call covering many issues, from winter feed-out rule changes to some of the bigger issues detailed below. Overregulation has been met with resistance by farmers who believe Wellington knows little about the practicalities of farming, nor the costs involved with it.

The Emissions Trading Scheme

A tax on emissions from ruminant animals is heralded as an environmental ‘silver bullet’ by some but roundly criticised for a raft of reasons by those in the primary sector. The government’s numerous backtracks on aspects of the scheme, pricing described as ‘out of touch’, and an initial failure to compensate carbon uptake by on-farm flora have led to a rocky road for this legislation. The latest scandal surrounding the ETS is the call for methane emissions recording to be brought into line with scientific thought. Combined with accurate reciprocation for carbon absorbed by on-farm flora, a recalculation might mean some farms are already carbon neutral. The replacement to the RMA

Building and resource consents can be torturous processes, so a streamlined new Resource Management Act should be a good thing for the rural sector. However, the Natural and Built Environments Act

has been met with scepticism, especially its removal of local democracy governance of aspects of the process, and a raft of additional environmental regulations. The opposition has promised to scrap this, along with water reforms, if they are elected.

Staff shortages

The rural sector has been starved of international staff due to Covid, and there’s a shortfall proving hard to recover from. Any party promising easier access to international labour, international skilled migrants in technical roles, and training for young future farmers will meet with approval in rural New Zealand. It’s not just farming that suffers from staff woes; rural towns lack medical professionals due to similar pressures.

Water regulations

While the rural industries have made great strides, largely voluntarily, to improve riparian planting and fence off waterways, other water-related matters weigh heavy on their minds. Plans to enforce water purity standards across tanks that service two or more homes on a farm have led to consternation, as has the entire concept of Three Waters, with its centralisation of amenities. Farmers have opined that this will move water governance to big cities and rural areas will suffer from higher prices and less maintenance.

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“We have been distributing Firestone’s premium lining membranes to the dairy ef uent sector for more than 10 years. Therefore, it was a logical step to release the product range into the silage market,” says Vaughan Podbielski, Cosio Industries lining category manager, the authorised agent and distributor of Firestone Building Products for New Zealand.

“Most traditional silage covers have a thickness of 120–150 microns with a life expectancy of 12 months and are considered single use and need to be disposed of correctly,” says Vaughan.

Firestone Eco Silage Covers are more than 1,000 microns thick and come with a 10-year guarantee but are expected to last well beyond this.

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far easier than the traditional covers and being heavier means it only took two people and we only needed tyres on the edges, partly on the middle and at the join.

“My main concern was pukeko and rats as in the past we had holes and rats in our feed but we’ve had none of that. We removed the spare tyres, sprayed grass and laid bait stations as an extra precaution and only had a couple of rat holes that were easy to x.

The absence of tyres is what many farmers value with the premium lining membrane and that it won’t be damaged when walked on the edges and overlaps. The exibility and elasticity of the rubber membrane, comparable to a tractor tube, ensures it conforms exceptionally well to the silage pile, accelerating fermentation, which reduces spoilage and improves silage quality.

“The thick durable membrane is synthetic rubber and can be walked on easily without damaging the cover.” Dairy farmer Ross Patchings says he has used the Firestone Eco Silage Covers and is very impressed.

“I used them this spring for the rst time doing grass and maize silage. It’s

“I grow a cereal silage and intend on using the covers for that in February. It’s good to know that once you outlay the cost, as long as you look after it, you have years of use. We have our covers in 10-metre-long strips and once nished with that section, we pull it out, fold it up and roll it on a piece of PVC ready to put on the next feed pile.

“If you know you’re going to be doing this for 5 to 10 years, it’s de nitely worth investing in the Firestone Eco Silage Covers. I’m pleased I did it because I can use the covers year in, year out and don’t have the plastic rubbish to deal with.”

Farmers chance to be heard

by Andy Bryenton

The second in our two-part series on the big issues facing the rural sector this election, ones which could swing the balance of power on voting day.

Significant Natural Areas

Designed to protect indigenous species and areas of natural beauty, the SNA mapping process sparked controversy when it was revealed that it could involve inspectors effectively ‘locking down’ parts of privately owned farms and banning their use for agriculture. The concept of ecological credits to be given to landowners thus impacted failed to sweeten the proposition enough to take it off the list of concerns for farmers this election and also raised the question of rewards for those who do voluntarily undertake to protect natural taonga on their land, as with the QEII trust. Carbon Afforestation

As a result of a drop in profit for farmers, increasing regulatory pressures coupled with a lax carbon credits regime allowing full offset by foreign polluters, many farms are being sold off to become

unproductive carbon-sink pine forests. It’s seen as a symptom of a broken system and corrosive to rural communities.

International Trade

Farmers are keen to see a newly formed government take a proactive stance on trade, busting tariffs and getting Kiwi produce out to the rest of the world. There’s a sense that the post-Brexit opportunities in the UK could have come to greater fruition, but other markets are also ripe for the highquality protein and fibre products we offer. The cost of farming

Farmers are feeling the squeeze of the cost of living as keenly as their urban counterparts, but, as primary producers, the pressure runs both ways. They feel pressured to accept low prices for their production while watching supermarkets rack up huge profits. They are constrained by set prices for commodities such as milk but prey to

The rural vote is an indication of the mood in the engine room of the New Zealand economy rising costs on necessities such as diesel fuel. Anything adding to the cost of farming drives inflation for the whole nation, including extra taxes on new utes just as much as it does ‘big picture’ policies like the ETS. Hunting, fishing and gun control

While not a core part of the farming business, gun ownership is necessary for the operation of many farms. It also forms part of the traditional hunting and outdoors culture of the Kiwi countryside. Fish and Game has expressed concerns

over the recently announced changes to the Wildlife Act, which they say could impact hunting and fishing. Opponents also point to the billion-dollar failure of a firearms registry in Canada and do not wish to see the same mistake made here while also opposing massively increased pricing for gun licensing. The opposition has proposed establishing a Minister for Hunting and Fishing, opening a new debate on the importance of these sports in our culture.