Dairy Exporter December 2021 by NZ Farmlife Media

Learn, grow, excel

December 2021

Doing children it for the

DECEMBER 2021

$12 incl GST

Mike van Marrewijk gets involved with Open Country’s Farm Environment planning tool for the next generation.

$12

RECORD MILK PAYOUT: Will it be a new tractor, new ute or upgraded effluent system? Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

FAST-TRACKING GRADUATES: For dairy farm management

Strategies for less heat stress 1

WE’VE WE’VEDONATED DONATED TO TOMEAT MEATTHE THENEED NEED Thanks Thanks to the to the fantastic fantastic and and loyalloyal support support of our of our advertisers advertisers in 2021, in 2021, we’re we’re ableable to donate to donate $1800 $1800 to help to help Meat Meat the the Need Need deliver deliver more more meat meat to struggling to struggling households households across across NewNew Zealand. Zealand. Meat Meat donated donated by farmers by farmers is processed, is processed, packed packed and and delivered delivered through through Meat Meat the the Need Need to city to city missions missions and and foodbanks foodbanks for delivery for delivery to families to families struggling struggling to put to put foodfood on their on their tables. tables.

Want Want to help? to help? HopHop overover to meattheneed.org to meattheneed.org to make to make a livestock a livestock or monetary or monetary donation donation of your of your ownown and and helphelp Meat Meat the the Need Need reach reach theirtheir target target of 1,000,000 of 1,000,000 meals. meals.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

You can play your part too by supporting the companies that have advertised in NZ Dairy Exporter during 2021: A T Cook Contracting ABC Milking Solutions Advantage Feeders Ag Imports AgFirst Engineering (Waikato) Agilis Vet AgriHealth NZ Agrivantage Alleva Animal Health Allflex NZ AMR Group Angus New Zealand ANZCO Foods Archway Group Artikel and Swint ASB Bank AsureQuality Attivo (Harvey Cameron and Rainmakers) Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Barenbrug New Zealand BASF Bay Milking Bayer Crop Science Bayleys Realty Group Beef + Lamb New Zealand Bettle and Associates Biobrew Bioworks Black Ridge Angus BlackmanSpargo Blue Chilli Blue Wing Honda Boehringer Ingelheim Boma New Zealand Bremworth Bryant Tractors Carat Carters Bulkhaul Case - IH New Zealand Contagion Media Convergence Coombridge and Alexander CopRice Corson Maize Corteva Cosio Industries

Craigmore Polled Herefords Cropmark Seeds CRV Dairy Business of the Year Dairy Hoofcare Institute NZ Dairy Trust Taranaki Dairy Women’s Network DairyNZ Dechra DeLaval Limited Diamond Media Dominion Salt Limited Donaghys Industries DSM Nutritional Products Dung Beetle Innovations Dynamo Ecolab Effluent and Irrigation Design Elanco/Bayer Animal Health FARMit Rural Accounting Farmside Fertco FIL Industries Fitzherbert Rowe Flexi Tanks NZ Flipp Transport FMG Forsi Innovations Forward Farming Consulting GEA Farm Technologies New Zealand Genetic Technologies Germinal Seeds Graham Brown and Co Graincorp Feeds Greenwood HainesAttract Handypiece HiFlo Pumps and Irrigation Homeopathic Farm Services Hustler Equipment Ideation Inflex International Iona Hilltop IS Dam Lining J. Dee Media KH McConnel Ltd King Farm Services

King Street Advertising Kliptank Landpower New Zealand Laser Electrical Putaruru LIC Lightforce Lonza Lowland Park Mahuta Herefords Maxum Foods MBM McIntosh Bros Engineers McLennan Groundspread Mediacom Meridian Energy Metalform (Tow and Farm) Mike and Cath Cranstone Milking By Time Milligans Food Group Mixrite Moanaroa Angus Romney Morrison Hereford MSD Animal Health MyMilk Naylor Lawrence and Associates Nedap Livestock Management Nevada NZ New Zealand Forest Leasing Limited Nufarm NZ Numedic NZ Farm Source NZ Hereford Association NZ Milking and Pumping Trade Association NZ Red Devon Association NZME OMD Onfire Design Origin Agroup Our-Media Australia Pasture Summit Conference Pedley Slurry Service Peta Enterprises PGG Wrightson Agricom Plucks Engineering Power Farming Wholesale

PPP Industries Precise Dairy Effluent Primary ITO Prime Pumps Puke-Nui Angus Pure Breast Care NZ Ravensdown RDG Technologies Redpath Pacific Reid and Harrison Ringrose Stockfoods Rural Coach Rural People Samen NZ Seed Force Senztag Sgt Dan Stockfoods Shoof International SIDE Skellerup Industries South Taranaki District Council Speckle Park Society Strautmann Hopkins Strettons Syngenta Crop Protection Takapoto Angus Te Atarangi Angus Te Pari Products TechniPharm New Zealand Thames Farm and Industrial Supplies The Digital Cafe The Media Dept The Wrangler Tiny Homes Tracmap Tracta Veehof Dairy Services Virbac New Zealand Whakatane District Council Wilco Engineering Williams Engineering Winstone Wallboards World Wide Sires Xero NZ Zinpro Animal Nutrition New Zealand Zoetis New Zealand

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Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

CONTENTS

Page

MILKING PLATFORM 10 Frances Coles loves being an ambassador for Kiwi farming 11

Kirsty Verhoek keeps the faith with the payout

12 Future farming will need to give more than profit, writes George Moss 13 What a payout, writes John Milne, but what prices

BUSINESS 22 Ahuwhenua Trophy: Quality on the coast 26 Ahuwhenua Trophy: Taking the leap to manager 28 Wairakei Estate: Pasture on the pumice 32 Benchmarking: Measure it to be sure

SYSTEMS 34 Taranaki soft core 39 Ryegrass: Twelve years of torture

UPFRONT 14

Spending the payout: new kit or cutting debt?

18 Global Dairy: All change at FrieslandCampina 20 Market View: Hedging bets on Singapore

Page

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Page

YOUNG COUNTRY 76 Fast track to management 78 Variety from consulting to composting

WELLBEING 82 The art of saying no

RESEARCH WRAP SPECIAL REPORT: Covid Fatigue 42 Prepare for a virus attack 44 When the lights go red 46 It’s a health and safety issue 48 No Jab, No Job in the milking shed 49 Dealing with vaccine reluctance 50 How to handle Covid-19 coming onfarm 52 There’s a sense the battle is coming 54 When will all this end? 56 Social media and anti-vax: The dirty dozen

84 Plants waiting to be weeds 85 A beetle to beat the thistle

DAIRY 101

Page

86 Never too late to learn

SOLUTIONS 88 Tracmap unit eases compliance pain 89 Gen Z to make their mark

OUR STORY 90 The Dairy Exporter in December 1971

ENVIRONMENT 58 Sustainability: Gaining the knowledge 62 Open Country: Online tool for FEP 64 And now, freshwater plans 65 Restoring Horowhenua’s waters

Page

STOCK 68 Sire proving: No short straws 71 M. Bovis: It had a head start 73 Reducing heat stress over summer 74 Vet Voice: More to it than “drenching for worms”

OUR COVER Mike, Matthey and Kaitlyn van Marrewijk enjoy playing in the beautiful clean stream running through their property, where the children love to go eeling. Photo: Alan Gibson.

Dairy Exporter |

www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

DAIRY DIARY Please check websites to see if events are going ahead at changing Covid Alert Levels. December 16-17 – Owl Farm near Cambridge is running ‘season snapshot and the summer ahead’ events over two days with small groups taken on a two-hour farm tour. For details visit www.owlfarm.nz. January 26-28 – New Zealand Dairy Event is held at Manfeild Park, Feilding. Visit www. nzdairyevent.com. January 26 – The New Zealand Dairy Event sale features animals of the highest quality from all over the country. The 2022 sale features the pick of the herd from the famous Thurvalley Brown Swiss where Tony Buehler and family offer the opportunity to pick your favourite cow, heifer or calf from the herd. Visit www.nzdairyevent.com. February 9-11 – The 34th annual Farmed Landscapes Research Centre (FLRC) workshop at Massey University. More at www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops.html. March 3-5 - Northland Field Days are held near Dargaville. Admittance only

to those who are Covid-19 vaccinated or under 12 years of age. For more about the field days and ticket information visit northlandfielddays.co.nz. March 17-19 – Central Districts Field Days in Feilding has been held for the past 28 years. To find out more and check out its Covid-19 plans visit www.cdfielddays.co.nz. March 17 - Owl Farm plans a focus day on the Cambridge demonstration farm. To get more details about the farm and the latest farm data, visit www.owlfarm.nz. March 30-31 – DigitalAg is the rebranded MobileTECH Ag and will take place in Rotorua for the 2022 event. It will showcase new agritech developments and provide a platform for the sector to come together, discuss the issues and encourage collaboration. The programme will be split into five sessions: technology trends post-Covid, ag-data digitisation, applying machine vision and Al Smarts, rethinking agritech business models and agclimate technologies. To view the two-day programme and to register, visit digitalag. events/digitalag-2022-programme-is-outregistrations-open. It will also be streamed online. Super early-bird registration is available until December 22.

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25/09/20

March 31 – Entries close for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards including New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and New Zealand Trainee of the Year. Some changes have been made to the awards including an age range for trainees and no minimum time in New Zealand for the dairy manager category. The format for judging has also changed slightly. To find out more and to enter, visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz. March 31 – Entries close for the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award which recognises farmers who are demonstrating leadership in their approach to responsible dairying, have proven results and are respected by their farming peers and their community. For more about the award and to enter go to www.dairyindustryawards. co.nz/responsible-dairying-award. March 31 – Entries close for the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award which celebrates contribution to the dairy industry. The recipient receives a scholarship up to $20,000 for an approved development programme or similar. Check closing date and make a nomination at www.dwn.co.nz/ fonterra-dairy-woman-of-the-year.

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STRONGER Editor’s note

TOGETHER

taying strong onfarm portrays an innovative programme run by Reporoa dairy farmer and cancer survivor Sarah Martelli, who helps other women find their balance and build strength and wellbeing to be the best they can be. Strong Woman is an online community for women to work on their fitness with a workout to do at home, find quick and easy healthy recipes, goal planners and to connect with other women on the same journey. Her philosophy is to help women create healthy, sustainable habits around moving and feeding their bodies and their families. If women can prioritise their own health and fitness, they can inspire their partners, their children and their community around them, Sarah says (p82). She is an inspirational woman creating a moment of lift for many women. e planned for our Special Report war in the middle of a wave of the polio In this issue we take a look at the regenerative agri for the month of December to be epidemic and had to shelter on an island for journey some NZ farmers are already on, and that the all about Mindfulness, thinking many months until it passed. government has signalled they want others to join in on, that would be a good lead into summer and Older folk will remember family members in our Special Report. helpful after a busy spring period on the who were taken by the Spanish flu, after The regen debate has divided the farming community farm. World War I, when 9000 people died in NZ in a big way - many scientists are affronted that NZ would Mindfulness is the basic human ability to over a couple of months. need regenerative methods from overseas countries with be fully present, aware of where we are and We are lucky to have the modern highly degraded soils - would that then infer that our what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or vaccination technology and a government conventional methods were degenerative? overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. able to afford to roll it out for us, so we can They say the methods won't work, and that research But throwing around ideas among the protect those who are too young or have a has already shown that, and also our farmers are already team, discussion pretty soon all came back compromised immune system. following regenerative practices. Others say that the to Covid-19 - the omnipresence of it in the While it seems that this pandemic has methods are not prescribed and each farmer can take news, the fatigue surrounding it, the issues been going on for a long time now, this too out of it what they want. It has been called a social playing out in the country with to vax or will pass if we stay the course and do all we movement rather than a science and the claimed benefits not to vax, the misinformation and anger in can to protect ourselves, our families and of improved soil and stock health and building soil some circles and the fact that until now we our businesses onfarm. carbon through diverse species, use of biological fertilisers have been relatively isolated and safe from It’s not all doom and gloom though, the and laxer and less frequent grazing practices along with it, in the provinces and onfarm. But times payout is cranking and farmers are facing less nitrogen is something that resounds emotionally are changing. making decisions about how to spend extra with many. So added to the public health response income - a great problem to have! Phil We have taken a snapshot of thinking by scientists in in these unusual, pandemic times, we Edmonds looks into the issue and gets the MPI and DairyNZ (p46) and portrayed what farmers using thought the best way to bring you some sense it’ll be invested into sustainability the practices are finding, including ongoing coverage of mindfulness peace and absence of worry and resilience initiatives rather than new the comparative trial work by Align Group in Canterbury would be to cover what you need to know machinery or expanding the farm. (pg14) on the farm - what happens if Covid hits Our thoughts and sympathies are with one of your team, how to prepare for it, how John Luxton’s family, noting his passing this | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | June 2021 for many years to encourage your team toDairy keepExporter themselves week. John worked tirelessly and their families safe by vaccinating, and for the good of the industry. how to deal with those who are not keen, or I hope you get the chance to have a very anti. mindful and relaxing break with family over We have comments from well-prepped the festive season, even if it’s a staycation! farmers, corporate farmers, employment lawyers and HR specialists and policy makers - along with how to avoid the overwhelm and weather the Covid storm. While my generation and younger haven’t encountered a pandemic before, my mother arrived in New Zealand as a child after the

Mindfulness

(p42). We also cover the Heald family of Nor (p52) who have transitioned to organics, OA philosophies and are enjoying the less inten more resilient system they have moved to, a improved profitability. There is more research to be done in the N system context, says MPI’s chief scientist Joh figure out what will and won’t work, but he farmers to engage and learn more, and to em regenerative as a verb - saying all farmers cou be more regenerative, more resilient, lowerin and building carbon storage. If you are interested in getting into farm o getting out but retaining an interest, read ab Moss’ innovative idea for a speed-dating wee potential partners (p11). We think it could b

in the time of Covid

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

@Yo

@nz

Sneak peek JULY 2021 ISSUE

In the next issue: •January Special2022 Report: Farming/business investm – if you are starting out or bowing out. • Special report: • Wildlife What’sonfarm new in contract milking • Ahuwhenua winners • How bananas can use • Sheep milking conference coverage the nutrient from your dairy effluent. • Cow-side pregnancy testing

NZ Dairy Exporter @YoungDairyED @DairyExporterNZ @nzdairyexporter

NEW ZEALAND NEW ZEALAND

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NZ Dairy Exporter is published by NZ Farm Life Media PO Box 218, Feilding 4740, Toll free 0800 224 782, www.nzfarmlife.co.nz

New Zealand Dairy Exporter’s online presence is an added dimension to your magazine. Through digital media, we share a selection of stories and photographs from the magazine. Here we share a selection of just some of what you can enjoy. Read more at www.nzfarmlife.co.nz

Take a look at our story: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fLfhOACjd-U

Factum Agri is dedicated to New Zealand’s primary industry, working with the Rural Support Trust. Each week Angus Kebbell talks with farmers, industry professionals and policy makers to hear their stories and expert opinions on matters relevant to both our rural and urban communities.

Sinead Lehy Interview with Sinead Lehy, principal agricultural science adviser at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. Emma Taylor Interview with Emma Taylor, general manager of Vineyard Plants in the Hawke’s Bay about viticulture. The company supplies vines, predominantly sauvignon blanc, to the New Zealand wine industry. Fiona Bush Interview with North Canterbury sheep and beef farmer, Fiona Bush. Fiona is giving her perspective on MPI’s Primary Industry Advisory Services available to the rural sector as well as the key issues farmers face today such as the environment and the rural/urban divide. Find these episodes and more at: buzzsprout.com/956197 8

We are tracking the comparative trials at Align Farms in Canterbury, this month taking a look at the fertiliser programmes. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zoenATHDmyk

Sub-editor: Andy Maciver, P: 06 280 3166 andy.maciver@nzfarmlife.co.nz Reporters Anne Hardie, P: 027 540 3635 verbatim@xtra.co.nz Anne Lee, P: 021 413 346 anne.lee@nzfarmlife.co.nz Karen Trebilcock, P: 03 489 8083 ak.trebilcock@xtra.co.nz

MAATUA HOU

Delwyn Dickey, P: 022 572 5270 delwyn.d@xtra.co.nz

Maatua Hou. A bobby calf rearing venture with a twist - four young couples have set up an equity partnership, bought a 34ha block and created a venture where the farmers supplying the calves also pay. The farmers are guaranteed to get their money back when the calf is sold along with a share in any profit. Could this be a way to help reduce bobbies? Is there another way we could be rearing beef in this country?

Phil Edmonds phil.edmonds@gmail.com Elaine Fisher, P: 021 061 0847 elainefisher@xtra.co.nz Alex Lond lond.alexandra@gmail.com Design and production: Lead designer: Jo Hannam P: 06 280 3168 jo.hannam@nzfarmlife.co.nz

Take a look at our story: ww.youtube.com/ watch?v=yLxdY5mkH8Y

Emily Rees emily.rees@nzfarmlife.co.nz

MILK PAYOUT TRACKER:

Average $8.60/kg MS

2021/2022 Fonterra forecast price 9

8.75 8

8.90

8.20

8.90

8.78

8.90 Mid 8.40

8.85

7.90

7.80

7 6 5 4

Fonterra forecast

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Q3 FC due for review Dec

Andrew Barlass and family are committed to ryegrass on their two Canterbury diary properties - he is trying out alternative forage mixes as well, but says that ryegass is the kingpin and the other species will be grazed in a way that is not at the expense of the ryegrass.

Deputy Editor Sheryl Haitana M: 021 239 1633 sheryl.haitana@nzfarmlife.co.nz

REGEN VS. CONVENTIONAL FERTILISER

$/kg MS

BARLASS STORY METHVEN

Editor Jackie Harrigan P: 06 280 3165, M: 027 359 7781 jackie.harrigan@nzfarmlife.co.nz

Printing & Distribution: Printers: Ovato New Zealand Single issue purchases: www.nzfarmlife.co.nz/shop ISSN 2230-2697 (Print) ISSN 2230-3057 (Online)

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MILKING PLATFORM SOUTH CANTERBURY

Sing from your

ROOFTOP TODAY Frances Coles relishes the opportunities she and her family have had to be ambassadors for farming.

arming is a profession to be proud of and we should be singing it from the rooftops. We feed the world. We are one of, if not the, most efficient producers of milk in the world and guardians of our land for future generations. When a global pandemic brought the local economy to a grinding halt, we kept on keeping on. While other sectors face ongoing uncertainty and massive financial challenges, we are keeping our teams working and their families housed and fed. They say you should focus on the controllable, and while it may feel like we are being tossed on the political currents like a rudderless boat in a storm, we are able to manage how our industry is perceived by the people we interact with on a daily basis. How are you telling your story daily? I’ve been so encouraged in the past few weeks by many examples of people starting the conversation small but gaining big momentum and precious large-scale coverage over time. Over the last couple of Sundays I’ve enjoyed seeing friends Wayne and Tyler Langford, and Michael and Susie Woodward on Country Calendar, sharing what makes their operations unique and special to them and generally being excellent ambassadors for the industry.

I was the last at our table to finish eating my lunch because the others in our group had so much to ask me about farming and operating a large-scale business requiring such a varied skill set. One of my daughter’s friends has had a niggling feeling for a while that farmers have been getting the short end of the stick in terms of blame for water quality issues, so set about researching a local waterway for her science fair project. She asked us about all the mitigation measures we put in place onfarm, where our water quality in the streams running through the farm is proven to be excellent. Her project ‘Battle of the Lands – Rural vs Urban’ went on to win the Senior 10

Ecan Award at the regional Sanford Science and Technology Fair. Last week I had the opportunity to attend a new ‘Women in Business Network’ lunch hosted by our local Chamber of Commerce. The idea behind the formation of the group was to bring together business women who might not usually get the opportunity to leave the office or mix with each other, and share experiences, ideas and resources to help provide personal and professional development opportunities. I was the last at our table to finish eating my lunch because the others in our group had so much to ask me about farming and operating a large-scale business requiring such a varied skill set. But the ‘small’ conversation I’ve been proudest to witness of late has been the one relayed to me by my youngest daughter. She was deeply offended when her primary school teacher implied that dairy farmers are mostly to blame for global warming during a discussion on climate change, and didn’t hesitate to challenge her to back up her opinion with facts. It was another disappointing example of someone who doesn’t understand the difference between short life cycle gases like methane and long-term gases like carbon dioxide, or the bigger picture of which sectors are pulling their weight in terms of meeting climate change targets. I’m looking forward to following up with a ‘small’ conversation of my own with her in the near future about the wisdom of sticking to the curriculum in class time and inviting her to learn more from someone who actually has a vested interest in protecting the environment for the good of my land, people and community. There are so many ways to share the positive – conversations with family and friends, photos and videos of what you’re doing onfarm shared through your social media, the opportunity to host field days, making it known how your farming business supports your local community with time, resources or money... Remember to be proud to be a farmer – how will you sing from your rooftop today? Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

MILKING PLATFORM WAIKATO

‘GOTTA KEEP THE FAITH’ The dairy payout may have been good, but there has been plenty to trouble dairy farmers, Kirsty Verhoek writes. Farming as a way of life, finding the right balance.

f you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything at all. True, but there is no point sugar-coating something if it isn’t – and for us, despite the payout, the dairy industry right now certainly isn’t a bed of roses. This season has been hard. We are questioning the dairy industry as a way of life. With a lack of time off farm, we can see how mental health and wellbeing is a huge issue in this industry. For us, it has been staffing woes. It has been the gift that has kept giving all season. We know we are not unique; that sinking feeling when a text comes in at 4am that someone can’t make it in to milk, when someone simply doesn’t turn up, or, when staff leave in the busiest part of the season. When you continuously work your rostered days off, or you hardly see your kids because they are in bed by the time you get in. We feel disappointed and let down by the government for not providing better support in this area. It shouldn’t be a big ask. While a pandemic is wreaking havoc we are making a significant contribution to the economy and we are in an industry that can afford to employ staff (if we can find them!). These girls are one of the main reasons So, how to keep the why we love what we do. faith and persist? The pep talks we give each other have helped, as does reminding ourselves of the bigger picture. The tricky bit is to get through it and not put our kids off farming. We are so grateful for our community of support; friends and family who have chipped in and helped. We are constantly looking at our business and how to make farming more attractive for staff. Good rosters, time off, remuneration, quality onfarm accommodation etc. We have invested in the services of a Recruitment Agency to help us Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

find the right people. We are also investing in technology with Halter coming on board in the New Year. To be frank, we hope that technology will make our business less vulnerable and exposed to Welcoming our third child Lachlan on August 7. staff shortcomings. Not to be all doom and gloom; there are good things. For us it was recently welcoming our third child Lachlan and celebrating a ripper of 2020/21 season as first-year 50/50 sharemilkers. We do monthly benchmarking with BakerAg and it’s invaluable to our business. The benchmarking lets us celebrate what we are doing right – it keeps our faith. It also keeps tabs on things that have the potential to go awry, and it gives us the chance to improve on areas that aren’t stacking up.

The pep talks we give each other have helped, as does reminding ourselves of the bigger picture. The tricky bit is to get through it and not put our kids off farming. Based on our monthly benchmark reports, going forward we are really focusing on managing our costs. According to BakerAg Milklines Nov 2021 Issue, costs are ballooning since last season, e.g. +45% for diesel, +13% for palm kernel, +6% for wages; +60% for urea – to name a few. We want to reap this good payout and not get to the end of the season and find we made less profit compared to last season. This is proving harder than first thought. Closing remarks; costs are up, review your budgets. Now is the time to do it and have a good handle on what you are spending. Don’t be like us; make sure you have a break and get some time off farm. Christmas is a good excuse for this! 11

MILKING PLATFORM SOUTH WAIKATO

GRASS GROWTH

explosion Farming businesses of the future are going to need to deliver to society (humanity) a lot more than just a return on capital, George Moss writes.

t has been a very hectic three months which has put pressure on all concerned. After a brilliant June and average July, August and the first three weeks of September proved to be very demanding with low sunshine hours and unusually slow growth resulting in huge amounts of baled silage being fed out plus nominal amounts of palm kernel to keep the cows fed. This was tough on already busy staff. Despite the efforts, cows peaked about .2kg milksolids lower than last season. Grass exploded in the last week of September and it has been a struggle to control since then. Good amounts of silage have been been made between wet days and there is more to cut. I feel for the local contractor trying to manage the needs of farmers when chronically short-staffed. Soil temps here topped 22C which we would not expect till late December and with plenty of rain there is lots of low ME feed impacting cow performance. A decision was made this year to feed milk powder to calves on one farm, this was a mistake in my view. The decision resulted in significantly extra work for our staff, while the calves are still very good and are above target on MINDA weights. A non-scientific trial by yours truly years ago showed that they may have a lower resistance to internal parasites going forward. Money-wise, possibly in the money as the price of milk climbs. I’m absolutely convinced that while good calves can be reared on both milk powders or low milk diets – nothing beats large amounts of cow’s milk, if one wants high-performing first calvers. We took Fixed Price on milk across both farms fixing about 50% (depending on final production) at an average of $7.50/kg MS. This will leave us “out of the money” and while not desirable, it is the price we are prepared to accept for some certainty around cash-flows. We were “out of the money” last year also. It is about risk management and I am surprised how little focus some farmers apply in this space. Regrettably, I have spoken to a number of farmers who see little merit in getting the Covid vaccination and yet they will vaccinate their stock. It is about managing risk 12

George and Sharon Moss on their Kinloch farm.

especially in a labour-constrained environment where very few of these businesses can afford to have any staff or themselves out of action for any period of time. I wonder how long it will be before bankers factor risk management in their margin pricing models on borrowed money – if not already done! I was fortunate enough to be able to meet with some of PAMU’s senior farming staff and was impressed that they understand and realise that farming businesses of the future are going to need to deliver to society (humanity) a lot more than just a return on capital.

Regrettably, I have spoken to a number of farmers who see little merit in getting the Covid vaccination and yet they will vaccinate their stock. “Value” will be about what the business brings to managing the environment, it’s people, the wider industry and, lastly, profit. In time, this will apply to us all. They have developed a positive view of what the 2030s and beyond will look like from the marketplace backwards. Impressive! We live in uncertain and divisive times where both the pace and quantum of change is unprecedented and it is easy to feel angry and or frustrated. As farmers we are privileged to be guardians/custodians of a very significant part of this nation’s natural assets and wealth. Markets and society are expecting us to do a good job even better, whether it be water, air or people. Yes, for some farmers it may be a cost, for many it will be an opportunity for improved profits and performance, but ultimately if we wish to lead in the market place we need to get on and “do this”, not because we are told but because it is the “right thing to do”. Given that most of us sit in the top 10% of net wealth in NZ the debates on “fairness” seem self-righteous and selfcentered. When change is embraced a whole new world of possibilities opens up. Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

MILKING PLATFORM WESTPORT

What a PAYOUT First the good news - the payout. Now the not so good news - look at the price of things. Westport dairy farmer John Milne considers the dilemma.

hat a forecast for a record payout. Sound’s fantastic doesn’t it? This isn’t our first rodeo in regards to getting the icing on the cake, for the hard graft and sticking with this game. Now getting the icing to set on the cake is actually going to be quite a different situation, which not many of us have seen before. Constant conversations between us and fellow farmers are strongly following the same line. “Hell things have got expensive” or “did you see what happened to fertiliser prices?”. It’s definitely showing through at present.

Supply and demand is the one thing that is really concerning, probably more so than the increases, to be completely honest. You know you need it but have to wait, and who knows what that will add to the cost.

So what can we do about it? That’s a question that has been bandied around between ourselves regularly. One thing that will be forefront of our decision making is “If you are going to do it, do it once and do it properly”. That’s the biggest saving you will make. The increases are across the board, whether it is fertiliser, feed or consumables everything has leapt in price. I could list a few examples but you will all be noticing them. Supply and demand is the one thing that is really concerning, probably more so than the increases, to be completely honest. You know you need it but have to wait, and who knows what that will add to the cost. Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Moving forward is going to look something completely new for us from what we have been used to. Planning for plant replacement, it’s not going to be a matter of getting a specification of what you want. It’s going to take planning and commitment to putting your name on something that is 12-18 months away from arriving. That’s quite a mindset shift that we will have to adjust too. So in the meantime you will keep patching up and repairing bits and pieces in the hope you can just keep the gear running just that wee bit longer. This is where planning must come into our businesses now. I’m sure suppliers want that conversation as well, their mindset has definitely changed from 12 months ago. No longer trying to force the latest new machine or hardware on to you as quickly as possible, they are just happy to have enquiries now and most will have the same opening line: “We could sell it to you if we could get it”. I think back to my Nana sitting in her chair and telling us kids of when she grew up in tough times. When she and my Grandad ordered a new tractor after the Great Depression, they couldn’t get it unless they ordered a new car as well. That’s how the world got trading again. The shipping and cargo freight will sort itself out, I’m sure of it, but it’s going to take a long time. There’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge yet, so to speak. I’m sure one day we will sit back and say “I can remember when we waited four months for a new ATV, six months for a new ute” and so on. No one will remember the payout though. 13

UPFRONT RECORD MILK PRICE

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INSIGHT

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$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Despite temptation to buy a bunch of new kit with the latest record dairy payout, farmers are being advised to pay down debt and invest to cope with environmental regulations, Phil Edmonds reports.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

n October Fonterra upped its forecast milk price for the season to a range of $7.90 to $8.90/kg milksolids (MS). Something in between could signify a record for New Zealand dairy farmers and represent a chunky increase on last season’s final wash up of $7.54/ kgMS. Without doubt, many farmers will have started planning on how to spend the projected windfall. ‘Be cautious’ is a predictable message coming through from those with foresight. But after caution is taken care of, this does represent a moment that hasn’t been around for a while where farmers will have an opportunity to make significant capital investments. This time however it’s far less likely to be: buy the neighbour’s farm; more probable will be prosaic resilience building. First, a stab at some numbers. What extra income are farmers realistically looking at? If we consider averages, it could realistically be six figures. Based on DairyNZ analysis, the average output per herd is 169,595kg. If the midpoint of Fonterra’s current milk price forecast is taken ($8.40), that adds 86c to the per kg price from last season, which for the average farm comes in at $145,800. If we take ANZ’s slightly more modest forecast price ($8.20), the extra income reaches $112,000. At the top end, ASB is forecasting $8.75 which would bring in north of $205,000 over last season’s return. Even this may yet be undercooked. NZX milk price futures are signalling an extraordinary $9.07 offer for this season, and a possibly more significant $8.80 for the season ending September 2023. Whatever washes up, it will likely mean a considerable increase in lolly. Of course, that extrapolated increase in income is a very gross figure. Grant Robertson and friends will want their share of that, which is something some farmers may not have been thinking too much about. And then there’s the hike in onfarm costs everyone is experiencing. AgFirst economist Phil Journeaux says one of the dangers of increases in income is a complementary increase in costs. “There’s not necessarily a strong correlation between rising income and rising expenses, but at the moment onfarm cost inflation has accelerated. Particularly significant at the

moment are fertiliser costs, which are likely to be semi-permanent. “Farmers will need to keep this in mind - if the payout was to drop, the cost of fertiliser isn’t going to automatically fall in conjunction.” The same will be true of feed and vehicle costs. Somewhat surprisingly (particularly given the way the milk price futures are tracking), some farmers are steadfastly focused on the incremental costs identified above. This is reflected in recent rural confidence surveys, and in DairyNZ’s View from the Cowshed which presented a downbeat sense of the industry’s hopes for near-term prosperity. Nearly 20% of those farmers surveyed said increasing costs for farm expenses was the number one issue impacting their profitability.

Phil Journeaux, AgFirst.

‘Farmers are looking at the milk price and realise they’re better playing the game than putting their head in the sand.’

In reality, this fear is likely to be misplaced. Journeaux’s analysis shows working expenses this season are well covered at $8.00kg MS, so earnings over and above the $8.00 mark should then trickle out into capital spending, including the inevitable new tractors and quad bikes, and then farm development beyond maintenance. It would be difficult to find cause to believe the season will be anything like a modest breakeven one. And no one should really be considering it a ‘catch up’ season. “There may be a little bit of catch up, but we have had pretty good payouts for the past three years, so most farmers should have ‘caught up’,” Journeaux says. Indeed, anyone still struggling to cover costs will be underperforming and it will probably be due to factors beyond the mean. Rural professional service firm BakerAg models a 415-cow, 160-hectare lower North Island farm and consultant Martin Boyle says when reviewing the model farm’s budget, cost creep is now factored in. They have identified farm operating expenditure to increase 9% from the 2020-21 season, with fertiliser costs leading the charge, up 40%. But BakerAg has pinpointed a

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Martin Boyle, BakerAg.

definitive opportunity for farm businesses to spend more; based on a $8.19 milk price for the 2021-22 season, an allowance has been made for a 115% increase in capital expenditure and compliance from last season. So, what’s on the shopping list? Predictably, debt repayment will be in capital letters at the top of the list. Journeaux says bringing debt down still needs to be the focus – if for nothing else because the less debt you have, the more opportunity you have to navigate through a future season where the payout drops, and you potentially need to reborrow. “There’s a rule of thumb that debt servicing shouldn’t be more than 25% of your gross income, and it’s still a good one.” Not only does paying down debt make sense at a farm business level it also eases concerns of the lenders and may ultimately lead to fresh funds becoming more available to the sector. In its November Financial Stability Report, the Reserve Bank noted the dairy sector has continued to deleverage with higher export prices, and the total sector debt per kg MS produced is now back at early 2015 levels. That should keep falling before it plateaus. Journeaux says now is the time when most of the farmers who got hit with the price slump in 2015 are able to actively pay that down. The Reserve Bank also noted that “banks are continuing to encourage dairy farmers to improve their long-term viability, which will ensure they are better placed to deal with any potential future downturn in dairy prices.” Beyond reaching a position where debt is manageable, long-term viability is another way of saying check your farm’s warrant of fitness. And

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this is where professional advisers are expecting the funds left over from the elevated payout should spill into. Journeaux suggests completing a farm environment plan is the best first step, as it will give farmers some idea what needs to be done in the next five to 10 years. “It’s a little bit tricky at the moment because in many regions we still don’t know what all the rules will be, and we don’t know the rules around reducing greenhouse gases, other than we need to reduce them.” But getting underway with this is effectively ensuring your operation is ‘viable’, in the eyes of the banks. This view is endorsed by NZX dairy insights manager Stu Davison, who is seeing a change in focus among farmers actively looking to future-proof their farms with some anticipation of surplus income. “As an example, Waikato farmers have been aware their existing clay-lined ponds need to be replaced with plastic-lined ones for some time but are now considering moving forward with the change. “They know that now is a good time to invest for environmental compliance if they can, because if the milk price turns, they may not have a resilient business if they haven’t invested in these measures. “Farmers are looking at the milk price and realise they’re better playing the game than putting their head in the sand. There’s an awareness that if you want to be able to operate, you have to play the game.” This latter finding is being evidenced on the ground. AgFirst director and environmental engineer Davieth Verheij says he’s been receiving a lot more inquiries as the milk price has firmed with upside risk.

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AgFirst director and environmental engineer Davieth Verheij.

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He’s been engaging with farmers in Waikato and Taranaki who have consents coming up for renewal in the next five years. “I’m getting calls from dairy farmers who have had design work done but haven’t yet completed their project. Now they’re saying the payout is looking good, let’s get it done.” Farmers are well aware of the changing regulatory landscape and realise that it’s worth getting in now ahead of the compulsion. But it’s not just about doing the bare minimum. Farmers are now starting to address silage and feed storage issues even though rules have not necessarily been enforced. Verheij says he’s seeing new silage bunkers and catchment systems going in on farms with more and more people starting to look at these things and sharpen up their businesses. More investment is also likely to be seen in the uptake of water monitoring, proof of placement solutions and failsafe type infrastructure. “Over the past 10 years there have been a lot of upgrades in infrastructure to physically make

effluent spread further, with more storage. Now we are starting to see some fine tuning going on utilising the more advanced technology.” All this suggests the next year could become something of a watershed moment where agritech solutions that enhance environmental sustainability become normalised and potentially switch from ‘nice to haves’ to ‘must haves’. Reflecting on how farmers are approaching their strategic planning compared with 2014 when the payout last exceeded $8.00/kg MS, Martin Boyle says the options to expand farm operations as they did then are severely limited now. Not only was there less environmental regulation seven years ago, but banks were a lot looser with their money. There will be some opportunities to buy neighbouring farms, but not a high percentage. There will however be a higher proportion of farmers looking to shore up their businesses with more environmental resilience and also succession building. Ticking the environment is the new buying another farm.

Stu Davison, NZX.

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GLOBAL DAIRY NETHERLANDS

All change at FrieslandCampina Words by: Sjoerd Hofstee

rieslandCampina, one of Europe’s largest dairy co-ops, has been struggling to make a profit for three years in a row. But in recent months it has been less about the company and more about the co-operative. The chairman resigned three months after taking office, to be replaced by a veteran. The results at FrieslandCampina have been disappointing for several years now. This year, too, the management is again struggling to turn a profit. However, members need not worry about the company’s financial stability, the chief executive and chief finance officer recently emphasised in a specially scheduled webinar.

The disappointing results naturally cause irritation among dairy farmers. But there is clearly more going on. Only the return on invested capital is much lower than hoped; an inheritance from around 2015. Then, large expensive factories were built that are now not being used properly due to less milk supply (see table). The disappointing results naturally cause irritation among dairy farmers. But there is clearly more going on. Last year, the Members’ Council approved the board’s proposal to overhaul the co-operative’s entire financing system. In short: all milk supplied must be matched by €8 ($NZ13) 18

Cows in the Netherlands, home of FrieslandCampina.

per 100kg of milk. RESULTS VS. FORECAST BY FRIESLANDCAMPINA FrieslandCampina Target 1st half year 2021 had not arranged this in such a way in recent Net debt total (in million €) 1,165 years because many Net debt / EBITDA <2,5 1.7 former members left Interest ratio covering >3,5 7.5 their capital (partly) in the co-op. Now these Solvability >35% 39.20% are slowly but surely Return on invested capital >10% 3.30% disappearing, many (young) farmers are obliged to invest more money in their coThis internal struggle shows how op in order to be able to supply milk. emotions and contradictions can arise Another delicate issue is the requirement if the financial results are disappointing of the dairy company for farmers to over a long time. But it also exposes an produce more sustainably and to meet the important question for large dairy codemands of customers such as Unilever, operatives worldwide such as Arla, DMK Nestlé and Danone. Many member and Fonterra to consider again and again: dairy farmers are extremely annoyed by who has which responsibility within the the increasing regulatory pressure and company and the co-op and how do you, interference from their own dairy coas directors and member dairy farmers, operative. get along when things don’t go well for Last December, a critical dairy farmer a while? FrieslandCampina has set an and member joined the central board. example of what not to do. He resigned again after eight months. And now Sybren Attema, who from Subsequent debate saw co-operative FrieslandFoods helped set up the merger chairman Erwin Wunnekink also leave, with Campina to form FrieslandCampina just three months after taking up this in 2008 as chairman at the time, can once position. again hold sway. Behind the scenes, on top of the Attema is younger than Joe Biden, who irritation about the mediocre results and became president of the United States interference, a major battle was going on at almost 80 years old, but is also retired about how the co-op and company should and no longer an active dairy farmer. be managed. However, the relationships between One camp wants to look over the members, members’ council and central shoulder of the management and help management have deteriorated to such make decisions. Other (main) board an extent, an old-timer has stepped in members stated that this way of managing to restore peace. It’s not a situation to be absolutely cannot and should not be done. jealous of. The board must control the management, but certainly not dictate how they should • Sjoerd Hofstee is a dairy journalist at do their work from day to day. Persbureau Langs de melkweg, Netherlands. Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Pasture & Forage News Get back in clover There’s no missing white clover at this time of the year - unless, that is, clover is missing from your pastures. And that’s a lot more common than it used to be. In fact, today, not many paddocks are thought to contain the 30% clover recommended for optimal pasture and animal performance.

Rust never sleeps, so here are some tips to manage it this summer

Fortunately, it’s not gone for good, and now is the perfect time to start planning to restore it. All you have to do is take a good look and check how much clover is growing in each paddock.

The tiny fungal spores that can cause rust in your pasture over coming weeks may be a force of nature, but there are some things you can do now to discourage them from turning paddocks orange instead of green.

Make a note of any with minimal to nil clover, and use the time between now and early autumn to first find out what’s caused this situation, then resolve the issue(s). Soil and herbage tests can be very helpful.

Although it will attack any ryegrass, rust really loves a good build up of dead and dying leaves in the base of a pasture. When you combine that with warm, humid weather, conditions are perfect for spores to multiply and spread.

In a few months’ time, you’ll be all set to oversow Kotoku clover into pastures which need a topup. Use 4-6 kg/ha AGRICOTE Oversow seed, ideally no more than three days before grazing, or a day or two after.

The resulting infection won’t harm cows, but they don’t like eating rusty grass, so the key is to be vigilant about maintaining correct postgrazing residuals. That limits one opportunity for spores to take hold in the first place. (Rust spores are a distant cousin to facial eczema spores, so good grazing management can help alleviate the risk of high FE spore counts as well.) Along with trashy build-up, rust also likes pastures which are under stress, especially in the next two months of hotter, drier weather. Again it will

seek out older or unhealthy leaves first, before spreading to the rest of the plant. Nitrogen can help. You may have noticed that you never see rust in a urine or dung patch. That’s because rust does not like N. If your pastures do get infected, graze with dry stock to clean up as much rusty growth as possible. Apply 2030 units N/ha – moisture permitting – and the regrowth should be rust free. Increased rust tolerance is a key part of our ryegrass breeding programme. Highly palatable tetraploids like 4front have the added advantage of making it easier to achieve target residuals even if the pre-grazing cover is higher. That said, if conditions are ideal and disease pressure is high, all ryegrasses will get some rust.

facebook.com/BarenbrugNZ barenbrug.co.nz 0800 955 Dairy Exporter | 449 www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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Clover needs sunlight to germinate, so don’t let oversown pastures get too long afterwards.

INSIGHT

UPFRONT MARKET VIEW

Hedging bets on Singapore Words by: Stuart Davison

y the time you read this article, the NZX (New Zealand Exchange) and the SGX (Singapore Exchange) would have completed the transfer of NZX Dairy Derivatives from NZX to the biggest exchange in Asia, the SGX, completing a real boon for the NZ dairy industry, which has probably flown under the radar here at home. Obviously, this effort was not missed in our offices, as the NZX Dairy Derivatives team has tirelessly worked to complete the transfer. But, I know what you’re asking; how is this a boon for the NZ dairy industry? Well, let’s start by pointing out a few key points; our biggest region of dairy customers (or, end users) is Asia, which includes China and all of the other key South East Asian regions. China on its own consumes 41% of NZ dairy exports, and this trend is unlikely to change in a hurry. NZ historically has been completely exposed to commodity trend cycles, without any way to protect the industry from shocks that usually come from commodity production; think 20132014 price rise and crash. This is where financial instruments such as futures and option contracts come into the picture. I’m sure you’ve heard of the concept of “hedging your risk”, well this is one of the key concepts of having a derivatives market. This market is a place where buyers and sellers of a certain commodity can

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40 30 20 10 0 Mar 19 WMP Futures Butter Futures 20

Sep 19

Mar 20 SMP Futures WMP Options

buy and sell a financial contract, tied to is only one part of Fonterra’s overall the underlying physical commodity, for derivative uses. So, if more buyers of a certain price agreed upon now that will WMP are willing to also engage in using trade at a determined time in the future. WMP futures contracts, then Fonterra This “hedges” both the buy and sell side’s can increase the volume of risk that it risk before the actual trade occurs; aptly can mitigate, while the buyer can also named futures contracts. mitigate their own risks. Futures contracts, which are This creates a much more financial derivatives, use this stable marketplace, as buyers basic concept to help manage and sellers are both more risk for those within certain engaged in price discovery. industries. There are derivatives This market also creates for almost everything you can a forward view of prices, imagine, ranging from sugar to as both buyers and sellers Stuart Davison. trade for timeframes into the coffee, oil to currency. Now back to how moving dairy future, giving a forward view of derivatives to SGX is a boon for the NZ intentions of both sides of the market. dairy industry. Local dairy processors, Speculation is also a key part of a Fonterra etc, and end users, such as derivatives market, where speculative Mengniu in China, use these contracts to traders aim to make profit from picking mitigate their individual risk exposure to which way the market is heading. the price movements of the underlying Speculation trading in a derivative market commodity. is like grease on a silage wagon, they Whole milk powder (WMP) futures help to keep things moving, creating contracts are the most traded dairy liquidity within the market, or the speed derivative on the NZX market, which is or quantity of trades within a market. By also NZ’s biggest dairy export. Moving this nature of its size, and financial maturity, market to the SGX exposes the contracts to the SGX has more speculative traders than more brokers, more speculators and closer here in NZ. to more end users, helping to balance the As the NZX Dairy Derivative market demand and supply for these contracts moves to the SGX, all of these facets better. combine to create a set of financial For a company like Fonterra, the ability instruments with more liquidity and closer to manage risk with a derivatives market to industry end users, that will help to deis paramount to reducing their overall risk risk the dairy industry, as uptake and use exposure. of these instruments grows. Everyone gets bogged down with The boon for the industry comes from Fonterra’s currency trading, but that increased price stability, a forward view of the market, along with derivative products that can be used onfarm, such as milk price futures, that will allow for risk management from every point in the production chain; the farm gate to the factory floor in China. All in all, a great step forward in maturing the NZ dairy industry, and growing resilience to price shocks into Sep 20 Mar 21 Sep 21 the future.

AMF Futures SMP Options

Source: NZX

• Stuart Davison is an NZX Dairy Analyst.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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BUSINESS AHUWHENUA TROPHY

Quality coast on the

Things are changing for the better at Tunapahore B2A Incorporation (TB2A), at Torere on the East Coast, with the iwi doing it for themselves. Elaine Fisher reports. Photos: Alphapix.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

strong balance sheet, loyal staff, a willingness to embrace change and to seek expert advice are among the attributes which not only contribute to the success of Tunapahore B2A Incorporation as a dairy operation, but are also among the reasons it is a finalist in the 2021 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori farming. It was the incorporation’s financial stability which, in 2018, enabled the Committee of Management to quickly transition from a 50:50 sharemilker to 100% herd ownership on the 132-hectare milking platform at Tōrere on the North Island’s east coast. Also key to the successful operation of the farm then and now is Janet Poihipi who after 14 years working on the farm, at very short notice, took on the role of farm manager. B2A Incorporation Dairy Farm: Chairman of the Committee of Management (COM) Jack TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mihaere says the committee Ngai Tai acknowledges Janet’s role, both NUMBER OF OWNERS: as tāngata whenua and for 221 shares divided amongst taking on the responsibilities 680 shareholders of sole charge farm manager, MILKING PLATFORM: 132 ha especially during the transition from 50:50 sharemilking. CONTOUR: flat and rolling “It is clear to us that she has to steeper hills a deep affection for the land CLIMATE: coastal and prone and animals. Janet is regarded to summer droughts as an absolute asset to the COWS: 385 incorporation.” In April 2018, when the PRODUCTION: approximately sharemilkers decided they no 126,000 kgMS longer wanted to continue DAIRY: 40 aside Herringbone farming, the COM had just a few weeks to hire staff and

Tunapahore

Above: Back row: Carl Ahlers (Committee of Management) Graham Hill (Opotiki Valuation and Consultancy Ltd – Farm Advisor) Tawa Herewini (Committee of Management) Jack Mihaere (Chairman) Stephen Dennett (2IC) David Peters (Committee of Management) and Rangi Davis (Committee of Management). Front row: Stella Taku (Committee of Management) Janet Poihipi (Farm Manager) Lisa Dodds (Carlsen Dodds Ltd – Accountant) Sarah Abbot (Carlsen Dodds Ltd – Secretary) and lying on the ground in front is Tau Rewharewha (Committee of Management).

buy a dairy herd and plant and equipment. Ahuwhenua judges said this was a huge undertaking, which showed the committee members’ “progressiveness, ability and willingness to roll up their sleeves and assist wherever necessary to get things moving”. The judges were also impressed by the committee’s strong understanding of the business. “We were very impressed with how the COM are open in acknowledging what they don’t know, and their willingness to learn, as well as to seek advice and support on different aspects of their business where necessary. Governance training is an important part of this.” Jack, himself a former farmer, says seeking expert advice and learning from other farmers is vital. “We have some ex-farmers on the committee but you’re talking back in the 1960s when things were more simple. For modern farming you’ve virtually got to be a scientist. We willingly accept we don’t know everything, so we bring in good people to help.” Now in its third season of full herd ownership, Tunapahore B2A Incorporation (TB2A) is a coastal farm of 132 effective hectares milking 385 cows producing about 126,000kg milksolids (MS). It is on State Highway 35 on the East Coast of the North Island and is a mix of flats and rolling to steeper hills. The very steep hill country is leased for forestry and regenerating native forestry under a Department 23

Values PRIDE in our operation OWNERSHIP – it is part of us PASSION APPROACHABLE and open to change VALUE shareholder input INTEGRITY and professionalism OBSERVE and adhere to social, environmental, cultural and economic best practice and values. Back row: Tawa Herewini, Stephen Dennett, Rangi Davis, Janet Poihipi, Jack Mihaere, David Peters, Graham Hill. Front row: Whitiaua Poihipi, Sarah Abbot, Ripeka Mihaere, Lisa Dodds and Tau Rewharewha.

of Conservation Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata fund. The climate is coastal and prone to summer droughts particularly in the last two years. The property has two quality houses, a half-round calf shed, implement shed and a 40-aside Herringbone dairy shed. A good water supply comes from the Waipuna Stream with a backup from the farm’s runoff. This source also supplies the kura, marae, and the community. Riparian planting is a priority, particularly in a retired gully and funding has been obtained to support this. There’s a strong focus on benchmarking, which includes using information provided by farm consultants and from being part of a Ministry of Primary Industries Māori agribusiness cluster. “There are eight farms in the cluster and most face the same problems so it’s useful to find out how each one deals with them,” Jack says. “However, what works on other farms sometimes doesn’t work for us and it often comes down to differences in soil types.” Pastures are carefully managed and monitored and there is a good level of knowledge among staff about pasture covers and feed intake, assisted by LIC’s SPACE™ pasture monitoring system. There is a regular re-grassing programme to improve overall feed grown on the milking platform and purchased maize silage is tested for quality. The Harvest Dairy Effluent Irrigator Tracking system is used to obtain real-time 24

information on effluent spreading but Jack says unreliable cellphone coverage can be an issue and limits the ability to introduce other smart technology. While the coastal region can be subjected to summer drought, heavy rain and flooding are also an issue. Three years ago, a storm caused significant erosion which restricted access to part of the farm and became a safety issue for staff and stock. “We had been frustrated by continued delays in getting resource consent from council to put in a 3m by 1200 culvert. The lack of the culvert hindered our feed pattern because we couldn’t access 40-odd hectares of the farm by tractor and staff had to change their milking procedures to let one row of cows go at a time instead of the whole herd, so they wouldn’t push one another over the side.” In mid-September, consent was finally granted for the expensive and much-needed work. Tunapahore was originally one whole block between the two coastal points of Hāwai. In 1953 the Māori Land Court decided to split the land, so there are now two blocks known as Tunapahore B2A and Tunapahore B2B. Jack hopes that one day the two blocks will be reunited. Tunapahore B2A is fostering that aspiration by giving grants this year to young people from both blocks. “In previous years we have received eight applications for grants. This year we received 17 so we decided to give an equal amount to each applicant. Most are aged 17 to 18 and I hope one day they will see

the wisdom of reuniting the two blocks for everyone’s benefit.” Today TB2A farm consists of a total of 400.83ha located at Hāwai and Tōrere. There is a runoff of 10.93 effective hectares and two other leased areas. One is part of the milking platform (16.5ha) the other is leased for maize silage production (10.1ha.) Originally the farm was leased for about $2000 per annum. In the late 1980s the Committee of management (COM), along with its farm adviser Alistair Hall, obtained bank funding (using Hall’s own land as security) to bring the farm back under the management of the committee. It was operated as a dairy farm, originally with a farm manager and later for many years with 50:50 sharemilkers. A lease of the adjacent Tawaputa Block was used to increase the milking platform. A 20-aside Herringbone shed was built, and Mike O’Carroll from Taranaki was the first 50:50 Sharemilker, with Colin Mihaere, nephew of the current chair, as his milker. The success of the farm has enabled further investment opportunities. In 1985, portions of the hill country were leased to be planted in pine forest with the coastal block harvested in 2014. Six hectares of this block was returned to the dairy platform and the remaining land left to regenerate to native bush. Within the forest are a number of registered archaeological sites, including the remnants of a pā that would have held up to 300 people. In 2010, a partnership was entered into with Ngā Whenua Rāhui to regenerate native forest.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

A 5.54ha Hayward green and Hort16A gold kiwifruit orchard was bought in July 2006. When in 2011 they were threatened by the vine disease Psa-V, the vulnerable Hort16A vines were replaced with the variety known as G3 which is more tolerant of the disease. There has since been a further conversion of 0.55ha of Hayward to G3. The orchard consistently grows quality fruit and is within the top producers for both EastPack and Zespri. Shares have been purchased in Whakatohea Mussels (Opotiki) Limited, and the Incorporation also owns shares in Fonterra, Zespri, Ballance, Farmlands and EastPack Limited. Jack says it took some convincing to get the COM members to enter the Ahuwhenua Awards. “They were finding all the excuses under the sun not to enter when I said; ‘too late, I’ve signed the papers’ and all hell let loose.” However, when against their own expectations, the farm was announced as among the top three finalists, Jack says the committee, farm staff, whanau and wider community were delighted. “I had hoped we might make the top five but when we made the top three everyone was stoked. I would strongly recommend other Māori farming and horticultural businesses to enter the awards. By entering you can move forward. You don’t know where you are succeeding or failing until judges come and show you and give valuable feedback.” Having the courage to put its operations up for scrutiny by judges and their peers, the Tunapahore B2A COM has not only brought an increased sense of pride to all involved but also stayed true to its visions statement: “To create a highly successful business that actively pursues growth to benefit and engage our shareholders and beneficiaries for the future”.

TUNAPAHORE B2A INCORPORATION Farm Info

2018*

2020

Benchmark

Eff dairy ha

132

151.2

Support block eff ha

10.9

40.2

Peak cows milked

390

385

320

Milksolids (kg MS)

113,913

125,940

94,621

Staff numbers (FTEs)

2.2

2.5

Sup[plement fed (kg/cow)

674

904

392

Nitrogen (kg/ha)

101

Cows/ha

2.9

2.1

Kg MS/ha

863

954

643

Kg MS/cow

292

327

300

Kg MS% cow weight

56%

69%

68%%

Cows/FTE

177

175

128

Kg MS/FTE

Physical KPIs

51,779

57,245

38,213

Pasture eaten (t DM/ha)

11.6

8.2

6-week in calf rate (%)

51%

71%

-2.18

7.7

8.22

Farm Working Expenses ($/kg MS)

1.8

6.37

5.14

Cash operating surplus ($/kg MS)

-3.99

1.32

3.08

Gross farm revenue/ha

2971

6704

5251

Operating expenses/ha

1788

6670**

4222

Operating profit/ha

1182

1030

Gross farm revenue ($/kg MS)

3.44

7.03

8.2

Operating Expenses ($/kg MS)

2.07

6.99**

6.69

Operating Profit ($/kg MS)

1.37

0.04

1.51

Operating Profit Margin (%)

39.80%

0.50%

18.50%

Liquidity (Cash) Net cash income ($/kg MS)

Operating profit $/ha

Operating profit $/kg MS

Stephen Dennett and Janet Poihipi.

*Tunapahore B2A Block Inc had a 50/50 sharemilker in the 17/18 season. ** Extraordinary R&M expenses incurred in 19/20 due to deferred maintenance, estimated to be $300/ha. Interim Benchmark (<less than 20 farms available): Northland, Low input farms (Systems 1&2). Financial KPIs from Owner Operator farms only.

Strategic Plan Medium to long-term goals:

MAXIMISE DISTRIBUTIONS to shareholders once debt reduction is achieved INCREASE THE SKILLS and knowledge of the COM over time TO MAKE A PROFIT in each operating unit in any ‘ordinary’ operating year EQUITY INCREASING on a rolling five-year basis MAXIMUM OF 60% TAX PAID PROFIT reinvested annually.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

BUSINESS AHUWHENUA TROPHY

e h t g n Taki leap to

r e g a man Janet Poihipi and Jack Mihaere.

Words by: Sheryl Haitana

hen you start driving east of Opotiki, it can feel like you’re going back in time. The $3-million holiday baches in Ohope give way to small old houses. Winding around the coast road, the land is divided into orchards, forestry and dairy farms and just before the small township of Hawai, is the Tunapahore Maori Incorporation dairy farm. That’s where I find farm manager Janet Poihipi busy cooking pikelets for the meetings she has with this journalist and then the farm adviser. The 53-year-old is preparing to go away on holiday for a month - her first holiday in six years and her anxiety about leaving the cows and calves is growing. Not that she doesn’t trust the relief manager that will step in for the four weeks she will be away, she just doesn’t like leaving the farm and her stock when she goes anywhere. “They’re my babies, I’m always in a hurry to get back to them. I absolutely love being hands-on with the stock – the farm is my pride and joy.” Janet milks 400 cows on the Incorporation’s farm with one 2IC and one relief milker and also runs the young stock on the runoff next door. 26

She admits she might not have the best work/life balance, and her children are always telling her she should have more whanau time. But she is content when she is out working onfarm. “When I’m up at 3am getting the cows in, I’m in my happy place.” It took Janet half her life to find out that her ideal vocation was working on a dairy farm. Born and raised in Porirua, Wellington, to her Maori mother and Czechoslovakian father, she was the youngest of their three children. It wasn’t until she was about 13 when she was visiting her grandmother in Opotiki that she realised she had 11 other siblings to her mother’s first marriage. That was also where she met her husband Whitiaua when she was 16 and the couple moved to Wellington then Invercargill where they spent 22 years working and raising their six children. Janet worked in shearing sheds while Whitiaua worked on a drystock farm. When their first mokopuna was born, they realised their children and grandchild had no connection to their people and culture and decided to move back to the Bay of Plenty. “One day it was like a lightswitch, we needed to go home because they didn’t

know any of their whanau. We packed all our things up and freighted them up. “When we got up here I wished we had come to have a look first. A lot of our whanau were living how they were when we left, still in shacks with no running water.” It was a big change for the children, getting back on to maraes, talking Maori, things they didn’t do down south. “It was hard, our kids wanted to go ‘home’ to Invercargill.” Finding a job was the next challenge and Janet did some work in a kiwifruit orchard which she didn’t enjoy. They got a house in the township of Hawai and the Tunapahore Incorporation dairy farm was just up the road. “I thought I could give milking cows a go. There were sharemilkers on here at the time, Pete and Liz Quarry. “The day I came up to ask about a job, Liz was having twins and the helicopter came because she was having difficulty. I told Pete I didn’t know how to milk cows, but I was a fast learner.” Janet ended up staying on as a relief milker as well as helping Liz around the house cleaning for the next 12 years. When the couple moved on, they recommended Janet to the next

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

‘Part of me was scared to take that leap, but I did it with a massive wrap around support system. Them having that faith in me gave me the push to keep going and upskill myself more.’

Janet Poihipi was humbled to be given the call up to manage the Tunapahore B2A block at Hawai.

sharemilkers so she carried on working for them for three seasons. It was when those sharemilkers abruptly decided to leave six weeks before the 2019/20 season that the Committee of management (COM) decided to buy a herd and put a manager on instead. “At this stage I had been working on the farm 13-14 years. I knew it well, so was offered the job of 2IC to help the new manager adjust.” The new manager from the Waikato didn’t adjust easily to the Kikuyu grass system and then halfway through the season suffered health issues, so Janet stepped up as an interim manager for the rest of the season. When the manager resigned due to ongoing health issues, the COM offered Janet the role of manager. “The farm adviser wanted to advertise for the role, but the committee said: “why?

Janet has been doing the job for the last year.” “I was in tears, I would have been happy to stay on as 2IC, but for them to put my name forward, I felt really humble. What an honour that was. “Part of me was scared to take that leap, but I did it with a massive wrap-around support system. Them having that faith in me gave me the push to keep going and upskill myself more.” Everything Janet has learnt has been through hands-on experience under the sharemilkers she has worked for. She reads a lot and watches videos on dairy farming. The farm is also part of a DairyNZ cluster group which has helped her gain knowledge through networking with other farmers. Janet managed record production in her first year as manager, 140,000kg milksolids (MS) up from 125,000kg MS the year before. One of the biggest things she

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

has learned since stepping up to manager is that every decision has a flow on effect. “I’m now always thinking five days ahead, and planning and strategising.” Entering the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition in her first year as manager was another daunting prospect that Janet had to step up for. “Public speaking was really intense. I didn’t want to look stupid. Most farm managers have a university qualification, I don’t have anything. I just have done the basic Milk Quality Level 1 and 2.” Being named as a finalist and one of the top three Maori dairy farms was an awesome achievement, however, she says. When it comes to Janet’s plans for the future, she says she only looks a few months ahead. She’s just enjoying life on the farm and learning more every day. “I still can’t believe I’m managing a dairy farm.” 27

BUSINESS WAIRAKEI ESTATE

Words by: Elaine Fisher.

Pasture on the pumice Where vast swathes of pine forest once covered what is now Wairakei Estate, 19 dairy farms have taken their place. By Elaine Fisher.

espite reducing stocking rates on Wairakei Estate by 15% since 2015, per cow performance is up by 20%, says Shaun Neeley, Pāmu Farms Head of Farming for Pastoral. “The business is now achieving its highest per hectare performance while having a lower stocking intensity than in the past. This improvement in efficiency has resulted in an improved cost structure with items like animal health, breeding and youngstock costs reducing as the stocking rate is reduced,” Shaun says. “The reduction in stocking rates from 3.2 in 2014 to 2.2 dairy cows per hectare today has been driven by Pāmu’s recognition of the need to stay ahead of the curve in its response to Government policy and 28

direction. A big decision was made in 2015 around stocking rates, nutrients and the dairy downturn at the time.” Formerly Landcorp Farming Limited, Pāmu Farms is New Zealand’s largest corporate farmer and is one of Wairakei Estate’s close partners. Pāmu Farms runs 19 dairy farming operations, milking a total of 19,500 cows on 9100 hectares with youngstock on a further 3300ha of pastoral land on the estate, just north of Taupo. Its lease of the farms is due to end in 2049. The properties are between 400 to 2000cow farms. Each has its own dairy and all but the herringbone shed on the smallest farm, are 54 to 80-bail rotary platforms. The farms supply milk to Synlait, Miraka and Fonterra factories with a mixture of

organics, A2, winter milking and farm assurance programmes (Lead with Pride and Te Ara Miraka) offering options for adding value over standard milk pricing. In a further move to meet environmental standards, four of the estate’s dairy units are managed organically with one having completed full organic certification and three more in the conversion stage. “Our organic farms are irrigated and had, as conventional farms, the highest levels of nutrient leaching across the estate, so it made sense to convert to organics and reduce the stocking rate and inputs while being supported with the organic price premium. These farms are now not at risk of failing to meet nutrient leaching levels in line with what the Waikato Regional Council wants to see. “Converting to organics also offers the opportunity to earn a premium for milk while dropping the stocking rate to take a load off the environment. There has been 30-40% less N leaching from those farms since converting so the conversion for them was a no brainer. “Organic conversion at scale in a

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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‘Our organic farms are irrigated and had, as conventional farms, the highest levels of nutrient leaching across the estate, so it made sense to convert to organics and reduce the stocking rate and inputs while being supported with the organic price premium.’ corporate setting is quite rare and requires careful attention to organic principles and input restrictions. Pāmu’s successful work in this space is a real credit to our Organic Business Manager, Cleo Te Kiri, and her team.” The company uses Overseer to gather information about the farming operation’s environmental impacts, including green house gas emissions. Shaun says there is no apparent ‘easy fix’ as cows which efficiently convert pasture to milk are also those which consume more feed and therefore produce the most emissions. “However, we continue to look at the data and the efficiency of our systems. There are some very clever minds in the science community seeking solutions

which we are very keen to trial.” All 19 farms have the light ash and pumice soils of the volcanic plateau, classed by the regional council as typically erosion prone. “However, we are farming on beautiful flat land and with careful planning when resowing pastures, the erosion risk is manageable,” Shaun says. He joined Pāmu in November last year after overseeing the conversion to organics of a large-scale corporate dairy farming business in the South Island. Dairying on the volcanic plateau is not easy, especially given the very light soil structure and the climate, with cold, frostprone winters and long dry summers. “In summer it can be dry for up to six weeks and often, despite frosts we grow

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more grass in winter than in summer. Spring was late this year and grass growth has been disappointing. A wet summer would be very nice.” Developing fertile topsoil and pasture on what was previously forest land takes time and careful management. The earliest farms were converted to pasture from 2005 and more came on stream as additional individual forestry blocks were felled, meaning the farms are at different stages of development and fertility. Pasture renovation and renewal is ongoing, especially when dry summers see some grass species die. Where possible paddocks are under sown and work is continuing to find the best pasture species, or mix of species, which suit the sometimes harsh environment. “We are fortunate that Pāmu has excellent agronomists on the team who work with us on farm production systems and environmental indicators. There is a lot of discussion about the value of multispecies in the sward and we are big enough to be able to test ideas and carry out research trials.” Lucerne is grown for supplementary feed, either as cut and carry or grazed in situ and some additional feed is brought in from a Pāmu drystock farm at nearby Aratiatia. Pāmu does not use palm kernel. Grain is fed in-shed. Other inputs are maize and grass silage. “Trial maize crops have been grown in the last few years. Even though the land is frost-prone, it is worth trying to find a variety which suits these conditions.” Investigation into different pasture and supplementary feed species to boost production while keeping stocking rates low is not all Pāmu is doing. It’s also looking for genetic traits which might make cows more suited to once-a-day milking, without a drop in production. The herds, predominantly Kiwi Cross F9, are milked twice a day with targeted OAD milking introduced for animals which are struggling pre-mating or because of weather conditions. “Massey University is researching to develop cows that will be genetically suited for OAD throughout the season, and we are in the early stages of talking to them about carrying out trials here. “Once again, because of its scale and ability to capture good data, Pāmu is often involved in trials of new technology,” Shaun says. 30

Staff health and safety, welfare and training have high priority for Pamu.

Each of the Wairakei farms has its own dairy and all but the smallest herringbone shed on the smallest farm, are 54 to 80-bail rotary platforms.

When it comes to calves, Pāmu is using Angus and Stabiliser bulls to produce more dairy beef calves, reducing bobby calf numbers. “That way we not only produce a more valuable animal, but also give it a better life and address some of the concerns from consumers around bobby calves. The Stabiliser bulls from Focus Genetics generate a fast-growing dairy beef calf that adds a lot of value to our system. We are also investing in a large-scale calf-rearing facility on the Estate to grow more nonreplacement calves through to 100kg when they will be sold to our livestock farms as an efficient beef option.” The 19 farms, and two support businesses, employ a permanent staff of

130, with numbers increasing to 150 at calving. “Only six or seven of our current staff are immigrants. In the past we have employed a large immigrant workforce, but Covid-19 has created complications and many staff have gone off-shore. As is common in the dairy industry we have a constant challenge filling vacancies and are always looking for staff.” Staff health and safety, welfare and training have high priority. All staff have personal locator beacons when working in remote parts of the farms; high viz gear is standard and side-by-side vehicles rather than quad bikes are used. “If anything needs towing it’s done by tractor or ute. Staff have 104 rostered days off per year

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Staff have 104 rostered days off per year and while long hours may be worked at times during calving, management keep a close eye on hours worked to ensure no one works longer than they should.

and while long hours may be worked at times during calving, we keep a close eye on hours to ensure no one works longer than they should. All staff have the opportunity and are encouraged to take up industry training.” While farms were developed, each with their own name (all of them for famous ships) and signature stands of exotic trees lining the driveways, modern homes were also built for staff. Shaun says the brief was to not only create efficient farms but a beautiful landscape that integrates natural features and supports the ecological integrity of the area. Owned by Wairakei Pastoral Limited, Wairakei Estate began its forest to farm conversion in late 2004, and encompasses more than 25,000ha of land, with nearly 150kms of rivers and streams flowing through it, including 28km of Waikato River frontage. This leaves a diverse mix of land use that encompasses 1450ha of wetlands and riparian areas which encourage native biodiversity to thrive, and ultimately

about 8000 ha in re-established forestry. The 19 dairy farms, one sheep farm and associated support blocks which make up the properties under Pāmu management have been developed in succession from forestry blocks in what has been a very large, very public and sometimes controversial conversion. Much of the conversion happened on either side of State Highway No 5 so the felling of pines to the fencing and establishment of pasture and building of homes and dairies has been very conspicuous to the passing public. Many questioned if dairying on the volcanic plateau was the right use of the land, or indeed, given the free-draining nature of the pumice soils, even feasible. Seventeen years on, in Spring 2021, the landscape has been completely transformed from tall forests obscuring the horizons, to wide vistas, dissected by large riparian areas, across gently rolling green pastures planted with young ornamental and shelter trees and grazed by dairy cows and calves.

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BUSINESS BENCHMARKING

Measuring it,

to be sure Words by: Dianna Malcolm

umbers don’t lie, but which ones should dairy producers listen to? Benchmarking statistics have just been released by MilkMaP Consulting for the 2020-2021 season for clients throughout the country with the results encouraging farmers to look deeper into measures of profitability. Senior farm consultant Andrew Trounce says they have never dug so deep into the cost/benefits before, and his findings have thrown new light on some age-old debates. The business focuses on milk, management and profitability, Trounce says, by analysing the cost structure of the business – and the impact of any proposed feeding/stocking rate changes. COSTS CAN BE MISLEADING While the industry is heavily weighted towards keeping costs down, this season’s findings are telling him a different story,

Trounce says, and it has a different ending. “We 100% agree that good cost control measures are important. But, it can be misleading to use farm working expenses on a per kilogram of milksolids (MS) as your only measure of profitability. “Because, at the end of the day you might have done a really good job keeping that number low, but it could be reflecting a missed opportunity. You must ask yourself, ‘Does this cost contribute to improved production?’ Also, ‘What other impacts could restricting it have on my overall result on everything from production to Body Condition Score (BCS) to reproduction?’” Trounce says the work is giving them a better understanding of their clients’ businesses, it is also giving their team validation for the company’s philosophy – that if cows are working close to (or at) their potential it will lift production per hectare. That, in turn, means more milk from fewer cows which creates a more efficient system because there will be less

MilkMaP’s senior farm consultant Andrew Trounce says New Zealand farmers are better positioned to deliver the best level of profitability for their farm by taking the time to understand the costs and key profit drivers (production/cow and therefore/ha).

per cow fixed costs. “If you own a farm your investment is in your land. Surely your measure of profitability should be against that hectare? So, how I look at it is, ‘What is your EBITD/ha (Earnings before Interest, Tax, and Depreciation)? If you have a big mortgage you need to know if you’re performing on that basis.”

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

With increasing compliance and regulation, the need for solid cash flow in times of uncertain payouts is also critical. “Especially, given that farm values are unlikely to see the gains made in the past two decades going forward because of new regulation. Creating efficiencies and having strong performance within your system will be vital.” MILKMAP BENCHMARKING “Other industry systems will give you a quartile result or an average, but they don’t give you an idea around the spread of the farms, or a true understanding of the total picture,” Trounce says. “Each farm that has agreed to be included in this season’s summary is identified by a number, and they can look themselves up and also further refine that selection by comparing themselves to other farms that might be in the same region, might also have a runoff, have irrigation or not, or winter milk premiums. So, it is comparing apples with apples. “It’s about understanding the main profit drivers for your dairy business in a forever changing environment. We use this summary as a way to give our clients the scope to understand their own business within their own operation and against their direct peers. Information is power.” The benchmarking supplies EOY summaries, which includes comparisons on all the main income/cost categories, the data breakdowns, the costs and profit per hectare, per cow, and per kg of MS. The reports are visual and numerical and show correlations between key performance criteria. PRODUCTION PER COW DILUTES OVERHEADS This year’s numbers clearly tell Trounce that additional and mindful production/ cow dilutes overhead costs. The 10-year average milk price in New Zealand is $6.26/kg MS (2010-2020). The five-year average is $6.05/kg MS. To achieve a more profitable system fully feeding cows at feeding systems 3-5,

If cows are working close to or at their potential it will lift production per hectare.

‘If you own a farm your investment is in your land. Surely your measure of profitability should be against that hectare?’ Trounce says the milk price needs to be above $5/kg MS. On the 2019-2020 season milk price, system 3-5 farms achieved almost $1000 more/ha than the farms on a 1-2 feeding system. “This tells me – going on that 10-year average – that you should build your system towards a system 3 to 5 to be more profitable. “We need to stress that it’s not all about maximising MS/cow, it has to be within reason with the cows’ bodyweight and the farm’s physical resources. It’s how well you implement a system, which will truly be the measure of how profitable you can be. “It’s helpful to know how you got there. Farmers who might not be doing as well might wonder, ‘Are we spending a lot, or are we not producing enough so we can’t dilute our costs? Or, are we not investing enough into regrassing to grow the pasture required each year?’” PRODUCTION LINKED TO PROFIT Trounce believes maximising pasture growth – combined with the right supplementary feed when it’s needed – will help achieve better production outcomes and drive stronger financial results.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

“We understand that grass is king, and we understand all the other parts of that conversation that drives optimum profitability.” Last season MilkMaP’s clients (on average) lifted their production by 48kg MS/ha (+2.95%), in addition to a 19kg MS/cow increase (+3.93%) Andrew acknowledges that – for the most part – their clients are more weighted towards 3-5 feeding systems. “Farm working expenses/kg MS are up by 2.5%. Without that extra production/ cow and per hectare it would have been an increase of 5.50% in farm working expenses. Overall the farms had a 13% increase in EBITD/ha. Half of which is fuelled by the 6.3% increase in the milk price. “As inflationary pressure continues on products used onfarm, and in the service industry what we’re seeing is a greater need to dilute overhead costs. If we stand still those costs will keep creeping up and eat into the profit.” “The take-home message I’m seeing is that by understanding your costs and knowing your key profit drivers (production/cow and therefore/ha) you can deliver the best level of profitability for your farm,” Trounce says. “And, unless you know the data and you’ve seen the analysis it can be very hard to stay on top of it.”

SYSTEMS ONFARM

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Farming on the high-rainfall slopes of Mount Taranaki brings its challenges to a project to boost efficiency and reduce emissions. By Jackie Harrigan. Photos: Ross Nolly.

onna and Phillip Cram have undergone their own quiet step change project over the last few years, quietly working away at increasing the efficiency of their farming operation. “More production from fewer cows is our aim for reducing emissions as part of the sustainability of our farm business for the future.” Wylam Dene Farms at Auroa is home to Donna, an accountant by trade, and Phil, a diesel mechanic from the United Kingdom. They met in the local Oeo pub and she encouraged Phil into the industry. They started out dairy farming on her parents’ farm and worked up to farm ownership in the same district by leasing a farm, along with sharemilking, rearing and leasing out extra heifers and rearing bull calves and selling excess cows to the South Island, and buying with a large mortgage and with vendor finance left in. More recently they purchased the back half of her home farm to add to their dairy platform. The Crams’ 107-hectare dairy farm is on the flanks of Mount Taranaki at Awatuna, up the mountain east of Opunake where rainfall is over 2000mm, and sometimes up to 2500mm, which does bring its challenges, Donna says. The Crams were asked to be part of the Step Change project, and come up with three scenarios to model what the changes to their farm system would do to their Left: The team like to relax around the wetland enjoying the surroundings was an important part of building the wetland.

nutrient loss and greenhouse gas numbers and farm profitability. The three scenarios modelled by then Dairy NZ Taranaki regional leader Mark Laurence looked at three different scenarios. 1. Fewer cows and less imported supplements 2. Increased stocking rate and wintering cows off 3. Removing summer crop The results were modelled for each scenario, using their base figures from the 2019/20 season, and then the couple set about making changes to the system - in essence testing the modelling. Dropping cow numbers from 276 to 250 cows and winding back the system from 4 to 3, meant they reduced supplement through their in-shed feeding and profit was modelled to increase slightly while the total GHG reduction should have dropped by 11%. (see Table 1.) Donna and Phil have been pretty happy with the results of the changes. “We are just trying to understand Overseer and how it all works, we are thinking it will take a few years to figure out the most sustainable system for us. “Having dropped out the 25 cows we have maintained production and I think we are kind of where we want to be with that. “If every season was the same, the job would be easy - things are always changing. “This year we went through the winter with no palm kernel for the first time in three years.

“Pasture growth rates are monitored closely and by budgeting carefully, we reduced our methane and everything has actually reduced.” One unforeseen and very unwelcome problem was an unusual outbreak of mastitis, the unusual Klebsiella strain, more common in the UK where cows are housed indoors. “It was a nightmare because it was subclinical - we had to test cows constantly and do an emergency herd test. Our vet was able to come and help set up a system of testing, but we lost 20 cows from the herd after their cell counts were spiking. “We had to isolate the cows until December and got rid of the problem but we ended up culling them. So we lost around 1500kg milksolids across the season and $20,000 in lost production and costs. “It was awful, but this year we have been very vigilant, well we always are - but our cell count has been really good, we are sitting around 90,000 -110,000.” In the actual performance for 20/21 season Donna says the results on methane, NO2 were all actually better than the model suggested it would be, but CO2 was higher, resulting in higher Total GHG than modelled - maybe due to less dilution with the lower kg MS production than anticipated due to the mastitis outbreak. Donna was pleased that both N loss and Purchased N surplus dropped considerably in the modelled scenario, N loss dropping from 70 to 67kg/ha modelled and 63kg/ha actual loss. 35

TABLE 1. MODELLING RESULTS Base (2019/20)

1. Less cows, less imported supplement

Actual (2020/21)

2. Increase SR and winter off

3. Remove summer crop

N loss kg/ha

Purchased N surplus (Overseer)

115

120

111

Total N loss (kgN)

8218

7842

8460

7098

Mitigation

P loss (P kg/ha)

1.4

1.5

Total P loss

170

167

1.5

176

173

Total feed eaten (including grazing off/ha)

17.3

16.5

19.1

17.3

Methane kg/ha (Overseer)

7764

7576

7533

7758

7843

NO2 kg/ha (Overseer)

2355

2282

2155

2422

2322

CO2 kg/ha (Overseer)

2817

1688

2379

2856

2837

Total GHG kg/ha (Overseer)

12067

12936

11546

13036

13002

N loss % reduction

-5%

-14%

P loss % reductions

-2%

Total GHG reductions

-11%

Operating profit ($/ha)

2551

2597

3112

2521

22%

-1%

% change operating profit relative to base

N loss was reduced by 5% and P loss by 2%. Applied nitrogen was reduced from 159kg N/ha to 131kgN/ha and Donna says they are now using a coated product and have taken the effluent block out of the nitrogen round. “We have been working pretty hard to increase our P and K levels and through all paddock testing for the past three times over five years and we are at the stage where we just want to apply the nutrient exactly where it is needed. “Pasture and crop eaten has definitely increased this year.” The new effluent block of 24ha will not be needing or receiving any nitrogen, so the N application will be further reduced to 110kg/ha.

our property as we don’t have a support block. “And increasing the stocking rate and having that many feet on the ground later in the spring when it is usually so wet is very difficult, we have to manage that with a lower stocking rate and strategies to protect our pastures.” The modelling showed a potential 22% increase in operating profit from that scenario but slight increases to GHG emissions and N and P losses.

of turnips, for feeding out through summer when it gets relatively dry. “And last season we were so lucky that we had used no-till crop establishment because honestly from the day we sowed it, it didn’t stop raining, so we would’ve lost so much topsoil - it was terrible.” This year they plan to sow 3.5ha of turnips, and make more silage, to take the pressure off in late spring when we are really busy, with mating and trying to get crops in.”

‘Pasture growth rates are monitored closely and by budgeting carefully, we reduced our methane and everything has actually reduced.’

Other scenarios Wintering cows off and increasing the stocking rate was the second scenario, but Donna and Phil have decided not to pursue that strategy. “We used to winter our cows off until two years ago, but the cows didn’t come back in the condition we wanted - we prefer to manage the cows ourselves and control their condition. “We have to make the decisions for

Halving cropping Option three was removing summer crop and the model showed a 14% reduction in N loss and only 1% reduction in GHG emissions and no real change to operating profit. This season the Crams plan to halve the cropping area. “In the past we have had 6.2 hectares

As a Climate Change Ambassador and a Dairy Environment leader, Donna is very aware of the need to reduce GHG emissions by 10% by 2030. “I am fairly confident that we have dropped 10% from the base year 2017/18.” The actual number is 13.5% reduction from 13,958kg GHG/ha emissions to

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

12,067kg GHG/ha in 2020/21, which Donna and Phil are happy with.

Season’s goals The goal for this season is to reduce crops by half but keep the stocking rate the same. Pasture management becomes difficult with the lower numbers but with increased fertility and pasture management the aim is still to reduce bought-in feed. Managing the effluent block separately will reduce overall nitrogen use. “We need to make money because we have a substantial mortgage and are trying to get a balance between mitigating nutrient and GHG and being economic. “We have also been investing in infrastructure to make life easier. We put a Dungbuster into the dairy yard, to save time with hosing down - saving 20 minutes each day over 270 days of lactation is a lot of time. “It’s about making life easier so that

people will want to be on our farm.” The Crams have also installed Cow Manager technology this season, and while Donna says it’s taking a while to get to know their cows at that individual level, she says it certainly is great to pick up any sick cows much quicker. Mating has been a breeze this season with the CowManager system talking to the drafting gate and auto drafting cycling cows out for mating. “It’s made it so much easier - Phil even had time to have a weekend off unheard of in the past - to continue his cycle training to take on the East Cape to Cape Egmont cycling trip,” Donna says. They have also taken on a part-time staff member, Jacinta Kete who is sharing time with a neighbouring farmer. “She spends 60% of her time with us and 40% with John and Kristina Wyatt, on a three week roster of seven on:two off and then eight on:foiur off. “It’s a great job share, it works really well.”

Donna and Phil Cram with Jacinta Kete, their farm assistant they timeshare with another family.

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The high producing cow herd.

The Interceptor wetland The Crams have had a 4500 square metre constructed wetland built on their farm in conjunction with Taranaki Regional Council which the TRC tests monthly with continuous sampling at 30 minute intervals to measure turbidity and nitrogen. Fourteen months of data has been collected and the numbers show good rates of nutrient extraction from the area which drains a catchment of 18ha. The area takes a mixture of flow from the existing tile drains in the areas as well as surface runoff, says Chris Tanner, NIWA principal scientist, Aquatic pollution. The Project Interceptor covers a group of ecotechnologies to intercept and capture nutrients from runoff and drainage, including constructed wetlands, riparian buffers, denitrifying woodchip bioreactors, phosphorus sorption filters and filamentous algal nutrient scrubbers. The constructed wetland at the Cram’s farm is removing 40% of total nitrogen and 20-30% of P and seeing a 60-80% reduction in sediment and E coli from the drainage water. The wetland cost about $50,000 to construct, set up monitoring gear and plant up, but has been designed with a 20 year+ lifespan, with initial sedimentation ponds before the wetland allowing sediment to be removed to stop siltation of the shallow wetland areas. 38

The NIWA involvement and MPI funding under the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Programme has allowed intensive monitoring, in collaboration with Taranaki Regional Council. The data will form the basis of numbers proving the efficacy of the wetland and be included on the farm environment plan as part of mitigations to reduce nutrient loss from the dairy farm, and other farms who build similar structures. Six wetlands have been similarly constructed and monitored in five regions and will be opened to farmer field days to encourage others to consider the mitigation strategy. “It’s just another nutrient loss mitigation tool, one that many farmers could use with residual wet areas where they could be developed.” Donna and Phil have embraced the development and made it into a pleasant area for their family to spend time on the farm. “We are all learning together.”

Bringing catchment communities together Chances are anyone who has driven around Mount Taranaki will have noticed how many bridges there are over streams and rivers radiating off the mountain. There are a lot of catchments and Donna was concerned at the way regulations were

moving and felt farmers needed to start leading their own destiny. So along with the Dairy Environment Leaders forum members and Federated Farmers members in the Taranaki area she marshalled the troops. With help from Venture Taranaki and advice from Thriving Southland and a number of other catchment groups, an umbrella group called Taranaki Catchment Communities (TCC) was formed. Donna’s original Predator Free group has been morphed into a Catchment community group - the Awatuna/ Auroa group, called ‘Farming for the Future’ with oversight over five streams. The existing group was 30 farmers involved with Predator Free Taranaki and working on ridding Mount Taranaki of predators. They have a LOWRA system monitoring traps in the national park, alerting the group when traps have been set off and need resetting. There are 13 catchment communities funded under the TCC umbrella thus far, and three more are keen to join. School groups of agri-kids are also getting involved. “We have district groups, a high rainfall group, sheep and beef farmer groups we are trying to empower farmers with knowledge to work with each other, within their environments, and to look at their economic, social, wellbeing and environmental needs.” A seed funding grant of $50,000 from MPI allowed facilitator Trish Rankin to meet with each community group to help them identify what their challenges, opportunities and needs were. She was amazed at how different each community was. The group then managed to secure a $1.25 million grant from MPI, to help meet the needs of the groups along with funding the testing, monitoring, and handling of water quality data, with wrap-around support from the Taranaki Regional Council and other farming and professional groups in the community. Seven catchment co-ordinators are being upskilled to facilitate the groups and lead the initiatives. “The important thing is that the communities are farmer-led, farmerdriven and cross-sector, and people are keen to get involved - it’s really exciting,” Donna says.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

SYSTEMS RYEGRASS VARIETIES

Colin Eady and Graham Kerr – the continuum from annual to perennial means ryegrass has something for everyone.

Twelve years of torture Words by: Anne Lee

lant breeding has given farmers a range of ryegrass cultivars to suit just about any situation but it’s important they understand that if they’re heavily focused on one aspect there may be compromises on others. If yield and cool season growth are the top priorities then there are cultivars that can give outstanding results but it may be that same pasture will need renewal in less than five years. Barenbrug science officer Dr Colin Eady describes it as a push and pull kind of paradigm when it comes to breeding some characteristics. Lowering the amount of crude protein is another good example. Much of the plant’s protein is in the enzyme RuBisCO which incorporates CO₂ into the plant and is integral to the function of photosynthesis. “There might be excess protein in the ryegrass for the animal eating it but if we try and lower it to solve a nitrogen excretion issue, we’re going to compromise the very photosynthetic machinery that’s going to capture the carbon and build the sugars the plant needs to grow and achieve plant yield.

“That’s the push and pull we see so often and what breeders are working with all the time. “Most farmers would say the ideal ryegrass would be one that’s very high yielding, maintains quality and is very persistent. “But persistence and yield are inherently pulling in opposite directions. “To be more persistent the plant is putting more of it’s resources into being robust rather than growing an abundance of soft, tender leaves.”

is programmed to come back year after year and will sacrifice some of this year’s activities to have the reserves for next year,” he says. “What we’ve done in plant breeding is to create a continuum between the two extremes. “So, we have hybrids – the cross between the perennial Lolium perenne and the short-term Lolium multiflorum, also known as the Italian. “That also gives us a shot of hybrid vigour.

‘Most farmers would say the ideal ryegrass would be one that’s very high yielding, maintains quality and is very persistent.’ Barenbrug marketing manager Graham Kerr says the true perennial characteristics of ryegrass are what drive it to be hardy while annual varieties are “the party animals” here to grow as fast and as vigorously as they can. “Annuals aren’t programmed to put energy into reserves, they put it all into immediate regrowth whereas the perennial

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

“Then we have the crosses back from the hybrids to either the perennial or annual to give intermediates. “That’s creating this continuum in growth and persistence,” Graham says. Warmer temperatures and farmers moving calving dates earlier over the past 20 years has pushed up late-winter/spring feed demand so cultivars with strong cool 39

season growth are increasingly being used. Environmental concerns with nitrogen leaching are also driving the use of cool season active varieties. They use up nitrogen through the cooler months that was deposited over autumn and could otherwise be potentially leached in wetter winter conditions. “I think we’ll see that trend continue – where farmers are chasing more and more of that winter/cool season growth the hybrids can give.” Plant breeding is a long-term game with about 12 years from first cross to a commercial cultivar being ready to go. Barenbrug plant breeder Dr Will Clayton says the challenge is to anticipate what farmers will be looking for as their major drivers 12 years out. “Our objectives are always going to be yield, maintaining quality and persistence. Those things are givens, but issues like climate change, changing pest challenges, environmental aims – they can mean quite rapid shifts in what farmers’ needs are,” he says. Farmers can be sure that new varieties have been put through their paces before they become available. “It’s basically a torture test for 12 years – they’re exposed to insects, heat, low nitrogen, low rainfall – they’re not pampered.” They’re grown around the country, pitted against other varieties, grown on commercial farms and grazed. Plant breeding is all done using natural, traditional methods and while it takes time, it’s become efficient in terms of costs and results, Colin says.

Will Clayton – putting new contenders through the torture test.

Genomic selection like that used for dairy cattle is being explored but unlike the structured global dairy cattle population ryegrass is open-pollinated producing much more variable populations which, combined with lower margins, makes them a less attractive proposition for expensive genomic selection methodologies. “It’s something we are involved in and it is starting to supplement our traditional breeding methods, but will still require considerable innovation before it becomes a principle approach,” Colin says. Genomic selection requires the identification of gene markers for specific traits. If a cross is made the plant can be DNA tested and predictions made on its physical traits based on the gene markers identified rather than growing it out and putting it through its paces.

The technology could dramatically speed up genetic gain and enable breeding programmes to come up with new varieties in a more rapidly changing environment. But, unlike dairy cattle there isn’t a wide number of traits recorded over a long period to kick start the huge data base needed to make genomic predictions. “There’s plenty of yield data but we don’t have big data bases on crosses made over the traditional breeding programme period on traits like lipid levels or water-soluble carbohydrate levels.” Then there’s the complication of endophyte selection. Endophytes are ryegrass’ valuable friend. They’re asexual fungi and exist symbiotically in the plant, making their way to the seed so they can move onto the next plant generation with the plant. They are discovered not bred and not all endophytes are compatible with all cultivars of ryegrass. They create alkaloids which deter pest insects but can also contain substances that can potentially cause animal health problems such as heat stress and staggers. Finding endophytes with the right balance of those substances which are also compatible with a new cultivar is another challenge for the plant breeders. New varieties can be inoculated with known endophytes but not all will exist happily together. “There are technologies that can and are helping us with all of the challenges we see in plant breeding and we will see more of those technologies make a difference over time,” Colin says.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Covid fatigue:

Keep on farming

PREPARE FOR A VIRUS ATTACK

NO JAB, NO JOB IN THE MILKING SHED?

THERE’S A SENSE THE BATTLE IS COMING

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO RED

DEALING WITH VACCINE RELUCTANCE

WHEN WILL ALL THIS END?

IT’S A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE

HOW TO HANDLE COVID-19 COMING ONFARM

SOCIAL MEDIA AND ANTI-VAX: THE DIRTY DOZEN

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

Prepare for a

virus attack

Words by: Anne Lee

armers are being strongly urged to plan for a positive case of Covid-19 on the farm so they’re not caught unprepared and can smoothly continue to keep the farm running. DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Beef and Lamb New Zealand and other primary sector groups have been working with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Primary Industry officials to get answers to the myriad of questions farmers have as the country moves to a likely state of more widespread community transmission. As vaccination targets are reached more freedoms to travel and meet will likely bring an increase in positive cases and although it may not necessarily mean people who are double vaccinated become very ill, they will still have to isolate. People who are close contacts of a positive case will also have to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. That could all put pressure on remaining staff and in some cases on smaller farms, could mean the entire workforce is out of action. DairyNZ Covid-19 project lead Hamish Hodgson says the Ministry of Health has indicated it is up to the Medical Officer of Health in each region’s District Health Board (DHB) to decide if a person who has tested positive can safely self-isolate at home or should be moved to another location. “What’s clear from our discussions 42

KEY POINTS: Medical Officer of Health will decide if people can safely isolate onfarm and if they can continue to safely work.

Have a prepared plan for a Covid case or close contacts, this will help in discussions with Medical Officer of Health.

Have a plan B for housing so people can self-isolate.

Talk with your neighbours so you have a contingency if your own team can’t work.

with the Ministry of Health and DHB’s is that the decision on whether someone can isolate at home, onfarm or continue working will depend on the health status of the person and the situation on that particular farm. “Having a clear, pre-thought-out plan on how people can safely remain isolated, that can then be discussed with the Medical Officer of Health will make that process more straightforward,” he says. Federated Farmers facilitated a webinar with Ministry of Health officials and Southland’s Medical Officer of Health for the Southern DHB Dr Michael Butchard

in November to help answer farmers’ questions. The aim of isolation is to stop the spread of the disease. He was asked if a farmer, who was deemed able to isolate onfarm, could then work on the farm. “If you are able to convince us you can work without spreading it to anyone else – in theory we’d say ok that’s all right,” he said. That would mean being isolated from others onfarm or being a sole operator. In reality though some people will be too unwell to work, he warned.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

‘HAVING A CLEAR, PRE-THOUGHT-OUT PLAN ON HOW PEOPLE CAN SAFELY REMAIN ISOLATED, THAT CAN THEN BE DISCUSSED WITH THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH WILL MAKE THAT PROCESS MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.’ If a person is positive and capable of working, they would not be permitted to travel a distance on a public road to get to other blocks or support areas. There would be a risk to emergency service staff or anyone who stopped to give assistance in the case of an accident on the road. While a farmer could have an accident on the farm while self-isolating, emergency services would know who the farmer was and that they were Covid-19 positive if called to the farm. If you have staff in shared accommodation, it would be necessary to ensure they could be isolated from others. “That’s where having a pre-prepared plan with a plan B for situations such as this is important,” Hamish says. It could mean bringing in a campervan or caravan or moving the non-infected people to different accommodation to allow the isolating person to remain where they are. “Every farm will be different, that’s why the plan should ideally be put together with the whole team, so they can have some input and come up with ways to make it work that will suit everyone while achieving the ultimate outcome of ensuring everyone’s safety,” Hamish says. As well as living arrangements, the plan needs to include policies on how you will safely milk, how people will keep a safe distance from each other, how you will eliminate vehicle sharing or introduce a

safe procedure so the vechile is ventilated and wiped out before another person uses it and how meetings and communication will occur. “It’s about looking at the jobs that are coming up and how they can safely be carried out so there’s no contact.” The whole team needs to understand and have access to the plan so they can talk through it with the Medical Officer of Health if they are contacted. Contingency plans need to be made to enable others to step in and run the farm, if the usual team is unable to do so. “Talk to your neighbours or other contacts now so you have a plan for this. “We have a good template with prompts for the things you need to think about and write up instructions and directions for in our contingency planning tool online which is available for farmers to look at and work on now.” It needs to cover off the details on how to turn on the shed, how to do the wash, a farm map, who the staff are, key phone numbers, where keys or instructions and

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

written procedures are kept, what cows are being fed and how much and what tasks are coming up onfarm including contractors due onfarm. Industry groups and MPI will be available to facilitate emergency plans if an animal welfare issue arises because no one can milk cows or shift them to new breaks but the push to get farmers to set up their own contingency plans now aims to avoid those situations arising. In all cases of a positive Covid-19 test result onfarm the milk processor must be informed as soon as this is known to allow them to plan the next steps for the farm given the disease has been deemed a notifiable disease. Contractors should be informed if there is a positive case onfarm or someone is self-isolating but they can come onfarm to carry out their work providing they have no contact with others. “The key is to be prepared and work through it now so you’re not scrambling if Covid comes to the farm. It’s easier to work together with the whole team while you have clear heads and it could make all the difference to your animals and businesses in the situation you cannot be there,” Hamish says.

MORE? Fed farmers: www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/Policy2/National/2021/ Preparing_for_COVID-19_on-farm_checklist_for_farmers.aspx DairyNZ contingency plan: www.dairynz.co.nz/business/planning/ business-continuity-planning/

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

When the

lights go red

Words by: Anne Hardie

hen the Government’s Covid-19 Protection Framework moves the traffic lights to red in a region, farmers will need a plan to know how they will continue to operate their business with higher risk and more restrictions. The traffic light system assumes Covid-19 is in the community, but about 90% of eligible New Zealanders will be double vaccinated. The higher the risk, the more restrictions and public health measures, beginning with green and moving up to red as the risk increases. Green is when there are some Covid-19 cases in the community, limited community transmission and hospitalisations are at a manageable level. Orange kicks in when there is increasing community transmission that is putting pressure on the health system and there is an increasing risk for at-risk people.

Red is the high-alert level when more action is needed to protect at-risk people and protect the health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations. On the farm, there are the basics to follow regardless of the traffic light system, including social distancing, mask wearing, cleaning protocols and personal hygiene through to isolation of anyone on the farm who has, or may have Covid-19, and vaccination. Pāmu Farms has created a manager’s guide under the traffic light system and head of health, safety and wellbeing, Mark Ogilvie, is quick to point out that the plan will be continually updated as the industry learns how to operate at different Covid-19 levels. For the most part, he says its managers – and it’s the same for anyone in charge of dairy farms – will be following the basic precautions they have already had in practice to keep people safe and that is knowing where everyone coming on to the farm has been and what risks they might bring to the farm.

Pamu head of health, safety and wellbeing, Mark Ogilvie. “The nub of the issue is that internally on the farm we have an understanding of where our people are and what their level of exposure has been. But if you have contractors or vets coming on, then you can’t guarantee where they have been and you have to base it on trust where they have been and if they are vaccinated or not.” It comes down to mitigating the risks and when there are large outbreaks of the virus in a region that push it into the red light, those on the farm will need a plan, albeit flexible, to ensure

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

‘IF YOU HAVE CONTRACTORS OR VETS COMING ON, THEN YOU CAN’T GUARANTEE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN AND YOU HAVE TO BASE IT ON TRUST WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN AND IF THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.’

business continuity. As Mark says, it won’t take much for some rural regions to reach the red light setting because their healthcare facilities may quickly become overwhelmed with a Covid-19 outbreak. At the green light, which is when there are only a few Covid-19 cases in the community, life on the farm is pretty much the same as it has been since the virus has been in the country, with basic precautions taken to keep people safe from Covid-19 or risking its transmission. As community transmissions increase and the region moves to the orange light, Pāmu farms is planning to allow visitors and contractors onfarm without vaccination certificates. However, certificates will be encouraged and extra precautions will be taken when they don’t have one. Everyone on the farm can still travel to other green and orange regions and gatherings can continue without limitations using vaccination certificates. Once a region moves into a red light, operations on the farm will need to be reviewed and potentially reduced where social distancing cannot be conducted with the basic precautions. Pāmu has decided visitors will not be allowed onsite and in most cases

Caught at the lights. contractors will be required to provide vaccination certificates to work on farms. It will also halt all staff travel to and from red regions. Managers and farmers are going to have to be prepared to be flexible as Covid-19 goes through different phases in each region. Mark says the industry went through lockdown during calving, so farmers know they can basically shut the gate and continue to operate in isolation if they have to and that is reassuring. Reviewing the basics and ensuring they are all in place is an obvious place to start the process to getting a plan in place. Federated Farmers’ policy advisor Julie Geange says many farmers still don’t have a Covid tracer QR code at the farm entrance which is a vital part of the puzzle

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

for contact tracing. Farmers can get one online at www.covid19. govt.nz/business-andmoney/businesses/getyour-qr-code-poster/. Federated Farmers has developed a checklist that covers the farm’s particulars, minimising the risk, through to requirements for managing the farm during a Covid-19 outbreak onfarm. It is aimed at getting farmers prepared for a Covid-19 positive case turning up on the farm, but it can also be used to help develop a plan to ensure business continuity as the virus spreads through a community. Farmers need to think ahead about how they can minimise the risk to the farm, animals and staff, with a plan in place for when there is a close contact or someone on the farm gets Covid-19.

SPECIAL REPORT

It’s a

health and safety issue

Words by: Anne Hardie

mployers are being urged to avoid the potential conflict between vaccinated and unvaccinated staff by being proactive about the culture within their workplace and clearly communicating their expectations. Vaughan Granier is national workplace relations manager for HR Assured NZ and he says there could be hard times ahead for employers such as farmers as they navigate the uncharted waters of the Covid-19 workplace. The last thing anyone wants is accusations flying between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees which may create a toxic workplace culture. That’s just one aspect of the vaccinated-unvaccinated dilemma. Employees need to know early on if they need to be double vaccinated in their role and what restrictions they face onfarm, or with contractors, vets, AI technicians and anyone coming onto the farm, if they are unvaccinated. At the same time employers need to remember privacy laws and employees don’t have to tell them if they are unvaccinated. Though if they don’t say they are vaccinated, they will be considered unvaccinated because employers need to have a plan in place. 46

COVID FATIGUE

Ideally, Granier says employers need to start communicating with their staff early - before conversations are weighed down with emotional content. “When an employer does nothing about culture, then the employees create that culture,” he says. Employers should never talk about who is vaccinated and who is unvaccinated and shouldn’t treat anyone differently. Rather, they should try to create a culture where everyone is treated the same. When an employee informs their employer of their vaccine status – or doesn’t – the employer must treat it as personal information which comes under the Privacy Act 2020. That information is only shared internally on a need-to-know basis. “Employers should encourage people not to have those discussions among themselves – employees should respect privacy and stay away from inflammatory debate.” If employers have had discussions with staff about their expectations, he says staff are more likely to be self-censoring and not cross the line. Employees can be given informal warnings if they are causing conflict and he says employers should keep a record of what they are doing and what has been said, in case they then have to give a formal warning.

For the wellbeing of the workplace, ongoing warnings might lead to termination of employment, although Granier wouldn’t recommend Vaughan Granier. any employer to terminate an employee in this situation without thorough legal advice. Clarity on where the law stands will depend on some cases being heard in the courts. While employers can’t discriminate against someone’s view on vaccination, he says they can require employees to be double vaccinated for certain roles because of health and safety reasons. On farms, a particular role that interacts with people coming onto the farm may need a vaccinated person because of the potential impact of transmitting the virus to someone who could then take it far and wide. At the same time there is the need to minimise the impact of getting an infection within the farm’s workforce and employers may have to change roles around to keep people safe. He suggests employers should ask staff to tell them if they don’t want to be

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

WHILE EMPLOYERS CAN’T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE’S VIEW ON VACCINATION, HE SAYS THEY CAN REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO BE DOUBLE VACCINATED FOR CERTAIN ROLES BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS. vaccinated so they can find alternative roles for those unvaccinated people if it is an issue in their specific role. Though as mentioned, employees have no obligation to tell employers whether they have been vaccinated or not and don’t need to explain their reasoning. Employers have the right to then assume they are not vaccinated against the virus and must tell the employee of their assumption and what it might mean for their ability to continue working in a role that needs double vaccination. Granier suggests a quiet one-on-one with that person to say the role will need a double-vaccinated person from a certain date. On a farm, it’s going to be easier to find alternative roles than a lot of businesses, but it still needs thought that becomes a plan.

For that reason, and other legal reasons in case there are any problems with employees down the track, he says employers should follow a health and safety assessment. Discussions with staff need to be done with a huge amount of delicacy, rather than going in “like a bull in a china shop”, especially when discussing the need for vaccination for a certain role with someone who may not be vaccinated. Though the Government has provided broad-brush guidelines, he says employers are going to be working a lot of issues out themselves and though Auckland businesses have had longer to get their head around Covid-19 issues, those in provincial New Zealand have a steep learning curve ahead of them.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

No Jab,No Job in the milking shed?

Words by: Amanda Douglas

ovid-19 has impacted the lives of every single New Zealander. The Government has stated that it considers vaccination to be the best form of protection against the virus and has already mandated that employees are vaccinated in several industries where it considers the risk of spreading the virus is high. Primary industries, including the dairy industry, have not yet been mandated, but it is possible that new industries could be added. Arguably, there are justifiable reasons for this within the rural community, particularly given that agriculture and horticulture sectors make up an important part of NZ’s food supply chain and are the backbone of the country’s exports and economy. With the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, the spread of Covid-19 within rural workplaces could have a significant impact not only on the affected businesses, but also on the economy. Employers whose workplaces are not yet covered by the Government’s vaccination mandate (including farms) should still consider what measures they should be taking to protect their workers. The first step is often to ask employees to disclose their vaccination status. Employers can ask employees for their vaccination status if they have a genuine need for the information and they collect, store, and share the information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. Employees do not have to provide their vaccination status to their employer, however, if they choose not to disclose this, the employer may let them know that they’ll therefore assume that they are unvaccinated (and the employer should inform the employee of this assumption). 48

Employers can also undertake a health and safety risk assessment to determine whether certain roles within their business should be undertaken by a vaccinated employee. Such an assessment includes considering the likelihood of employees being exposed to Covid-19 in their workplace and the potential consequences of that exposure for others, alongside possible control measures. WorkSafe New Zealand has published guidance on how to undertake a risk assessment and the Government has indicated that they will soon introduce a risk assessment process in law. If the outcome of the risk assessment indicates there is low risk associated with these factors, the employer may allow unvaccinated employees to continue in their role. If the outcome of the assessment indicates that there is high risk associated with the relevant factors, the employer may decide to mandate vaccinations for individual roles. This can be done by introducing a mandatory vaccination policy. However, before any decisions are made to introduce such a policy, the employer must first consult with employees about that proposal and how they might be impacted. If a mandatory vaccination policy is introduced, and if employees are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated, employers will need to tread carefully and before terminating employment consider whether there are available alternatives to termination of employment, such as redeployment into a lower risk role or working remotely. As the dairy industry has its own unique factors to consider - like shared accommodation - these can also be addressed in a policy. The risk assessment will assist to justify the outcome, whether it is to require vaccination or not. Therefore, it is an

important step in the process either way. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers have a duty to keep their employees safe at work. This includes identifying hazards that could give rise to reasonably foreseeable risks to health and safety, and when it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, to implement control measures to minimise risks to health and safety. To uphold this legislative requirement, employers should ensure that any employee required to self-isolate due to testing positive to Covid-19, or being a close contact, does so, as this should reduce the spread of Covid-19 to other employees. Similarly, employers should ask an employee to get tested for Covid-19, if they suspect they may be positive. A farmer may also determine it is prudent to implement a mandatory vaccination policy requiring all persons entering their farm to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to protect those onfarm from risks to their health and safety. Prior to implementing such a policy, however, careful advice and process steps should be followed including engaging with those frequently visiting the farm to explain the reasons for the proposed policy and to discuss the implications. The Covid-19 vaccine is a highly charged and fast-moving topic impacting on human rights, privacy, employment and health and safety laws. If you have any questions in relation to the above information, including regarding risk assessments, mandatory vaccination policies, or termination, please feel free to email amanda.douglas@wynnwilliams. co.nz • Amanda Douglas is a partner at Wynn Williams and leads the firm’s Employment Law Team.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

Dealing with

vaccine reluctance Words by: Delwyn Dickey

inding good staff on short notice can be pretty tough at the moment, especially if you have a well-oiled team who all get on well together. With farms now tightening up on who can come on to the farm – some farms won’t allow contractors on unless they’re double vaccinated - finding out someone on your team hasn’t been vaccinated can cause a really difficult situation. Especially if it’s a requirement of employment or is likely to become a requirement. But how to approach them to give them, and you, the best chance of getting them over the line? Rather than ‘having it out with them’ on why they aren’t vaccinated and giving them an ultimatum, Dr Dougal Sutherland, clinical practice manager with Victoria University’s School of Psychology says a better approach is to quietly sit down with them and understand why they haven’t been vaccinated. And don’t try to change their mind, he says.

People will get defensive and dig in. “At the same time be clear about the kind of consequences of those decisions,” he says. “Be clear about the farm rules and what the boundaries are, especially if it means that person can’t continue working there.” For rural areas it may simply come down to accessibility, he says. It may not be easy to pop into town in the lunchbreak if town is an hour’s drive away. Or they may think it’s too busy on the farm at this time of year to take the time off. The thinking can be myriad - Covid-19 is the North Island’s problem, or it’s unlikely to reach them because they’re so isolated. Or it may be much simpler - they haven’t gotten around to it yet. Sutherland advises employers to be reasonable, be practical and lead by example. If you’re going into town to get vaccinated or if someone else is, offer to take them in too. He also believes this is a health and safety issue. If not getting vaccinated is serious enough that person could lose their job, then it’s serious enough to pay for their time to get vaccinated, he says. Even if that means a paid afternoon or even a paid day off for that to happen, possibly including for someone else on the team to go with them if they need a figurative handhold, because they don’t like needles or putting something foreign in their bodies. This support could also extend to their local communities so encouragement could also come from someone they like or respect in the community – a role model. When it comes to conspiracy theories and disinformation on social media

‘IT’S JUST GOING TO GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO GET INTO, AND PEOPLE WILL COME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF WEIRD FACTS AND FIGURES.’ being behind the hesitancy Sutherland recommends not to try and have a direct argument about the facts. “It’s just going to go down a rabbit hole that you don’t want to get into, and people will come up with all sorts of weird facts and figures.” Just say you’re not sure about that that’s not what you’ve heard, and sowing some seeds of doubt around the type of information they’re getting, he says. And gently pointing out that the things they are getting off Facebook are actually taking people’s choices away from them, limiting the safety of the community, robbing us of our rights to make our own decisions. While it might be good to tick the meeting off as Job Done it will also likely need to be a series of conversations rather than a one-off. “As we’ve seen, once Covid gets into a community the vaccination rates shoot up,” Sutherland says. If they’re still reluctant and their job isn’t on the line this may well be what gets them over the line. 49

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SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

How to handle

Covid-19

COVID-19

coming onfarm

Words by: Sheryl Haitana

hat is your plan if you, someone in your family or your staff tests positive for Covid-19? Is your business prepared if someone does? “Things can happen quite quickly so it pays to be prepared. And you don’t know what can take you down, it’s not all about Covid,” Federated Farmers national board member and employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says. Federated Farmers and other industry bodies have prepared a checklist for farmers to have important information at hand in case they or their staff are required to leave the farm at short notice. The detail contained in the plan is unique to the farm and circumstances to allow temporary staff, family, friends or neighbours to come in and tend to the immediate needs of the livestock and other farm duties. The checklist includes details from key contacts, to key feed and animal health instructions, how the water and irrigation system works, even down to the dogs’ names, and where their food is. “I was carted off to Waikato Hospital about seven years ago, and having staff who could easily fit into the boss role and having a contact list was very helpful. “You can’t be 100% prepared, but if you have basic planning it can take some of the stress away.”

Being in the middle of calving and mating recently has been a natural barrier to farms being impacted a lot by Covid-19 because people haven’t been off-farm socialising, Chris says. “But with summer coming and as Covid begins creeping around the country, the rule book is about to change. “It’s only a matter of time before we get more positive cases of Covid-19 turning up onfarm. “Distance from health and other facilities, workforce shortages and the need to continue to look after animals and crops raise all sorts of complications. “As DHB Medical Officers of Health will be making the decision on whether it’s practicable for a farmer or key farm staff member to self-isolate on the farm, evidence of pre-planning and preparedness will be an important factor.” The checklist also includes key information about who lives onfarm and their health records to pass on to a medical officer in the event of a positive case. In regards to coping with staff onfarm in self isolation it is up to each individual farm on how they deal with it, Chris says. For bigger farms, staff could carry on working some jobs without coming into contact with others. However on smaller farms that’s unlikely. The government has two support packages to help farmers fund staff being off work to self isolate, which may also offer the opportunity not to use an

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Chris Lewis: Having staff who could easily fit into the boss role and having a contact list is very helpful. employee’s sick leave or annual leave, Chris says. The Covid-19 Leave Support Scheme is a two-week lump sum per eligible employee for businesses, including self-employed people. The scheme is paid at the rate of $600 a week for each full-time worker and $359 a week for part-time employees. There is also a Covid-19 Short-Term Absence Payment, which is a one-off payment of $359 for each eligible worker. You can only apply for it once, for each eligible employee, in any 30-day period. Employers cannot get more than one Covid-19 payment for the same employee at the same time. • * The checklist is available on the Federated Farmers and DairyNZ website. • www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/Policy2/ National/2021/Preparing_for_COVID-19_ on-farm_checklist_for_farmers

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

‘There’s a sense the

battle is coming’

Words by: Anne Lee

nxiety levels onfarm will be rising for many as the likelihood of Covid-19 breaching the farm gate increases. Those feelings are normal but they don’t have to be overwhelming. Former police crisis negotiator, Lance Burdett runs mind health coaching company WARN International - WARN stands for wellness, awareness, resilience and negotiation. For many, Covid-19 has been out there in the distance, he says. We’ve known it’s there but it hasn’t been something we’ll encounter in daily life on the farm. “You’ve been able to hear the guns in the distance but now they’re getting closer and there’s a sense the battle is coming,” he says. That sense of anticipation, even if it’s at a subconscious level, will be affecting what’s happening in our brains.

Lance Burdett: ‘There’s a sense the battle is coming’ 52

The key, Lance says, is to first understand that’s normal. “It’s how we’re wired, what we’re supposed to do. “As a species we’re subconsciously continuously looking for future risk which is always based on our past experiences, our timeline of events. “Whenever we face what our brain perceives as a danger and we go into fightor-flight mode, our brain puts a marker in our long-term memory as a reference point for the future should something similar happen again. “None of us have been through anything quite like this pandemic before so our brain is still trying to work out a response to this new danger. “Our brain doesn’t enjoy this uncertainty, it views it as adversity, a dangerous situation that it needs to find an answer for. “So, although we don’t realise it, we’re constantly in a fight or flight mode to a greater or lesser degree.” Even if we don’t consciously feel anxious there can be emotional and behavioural signs we’ve been living with this heightened sense of impending danger, he says. Signs such as: • Being thirsty even though we’ve been drinking a lot of water. • Eating more than usual and craving sweet treats or fatty food. • Feeling more tired, even after a great night’s sleep.

W ellness

A wareness

R esilience N egotiation • Having mood swings, inwardly and outwardly. Anger and sadness washing over us in waves. • Wanting to go to bed an hour or so earlier than normal. • Having unusual dreams and waking up three or four times when normally we slept through the night. Simply recognising what’s behind these emotions and behaviours can help to reduce them but Lance has some tips on how to actively curb that fight-or-flight response too. “Run to the fire – instead of letting Covid-19 anxieties sit out there somewhere in the distance, confront them. “Look at what it is you’re afraid of and what you can do about it. What are the actions you can take?”

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

‘NONE OF US HAVE BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS PANDEMIC BEFORE SO OUR BRAIN IS STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT A RESPONSE TO THIS NEW DANGER.’ If you’re vaccinated, tell yourself you’ve done what you can to protect yourself and the people around you. Have a plan for what you’ll do on the farm and at home if there’s a positive case in your community or on your farm. “Having a plan, writing it down and talking it through with others means you’re taking action,” he says. That means it’s not sitting in the subconscious anymore, you’ve taken it out, looked at it and dealt with it. Then when you hear of a case in your area and you feel the anxiety start to rise, you tell yourself - “We’ve worked through this, we have a plan, there’s nothing more I can do, it’s okay.” If you’re someone who is glued to the 1 o’clock announcements and daily case numbers, watching your phone for the latest updates and stories, try to wean yourself off that. It’s important to be informed and know what the rules are but the hype and click-bait headlines will just feed your fight-or-flight response, he says. Lance says it’s also important to deal with emotions and negative thoughts rather than pushing them down. A technique used to help people get over the feelings associated with a bad experience can also help deal with current emotions. Some of the fear and anxiety may be associated with that initial fear we had in 2020 when Covid arrived in New Zealand and the country was plunged into level four lock down. “Just as the brain holds on to memories of negative events, designed to do so to keep us safe from harm, it also holds on to the feelings and emotions which are attached to that memory. “As that nervous, sickly feeling arrives, get curious with it. “Think to yourself - Hmmm what are you doing here? What are you trying to tell me? “You could go further and welcome it back, focus on the physical sensation, where it is, how it feels. “By getting curious and welcoming the thought, feeling or emotion, our subconscious simply lets go. “We remove the negative attachment, we embrace the fear and our brain says – nothing to see here, let’s move on.” And that might just be the motto we need too. “We all just want to get on with life and if we follow the rules, do what’s sensible and use some of these tools when the old anxiety pops up we’ll be able to get on with it and see life as normal.” Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Going to be d early Anger and Tired sadness Mood swings y t s r i Th Unusual dreams

Waking at night Eating more CALM THE FARM WITH THIS VAGUS NERVE HACK The limbic system comes into play whenever our brain senses that danger is near and activates our fight or flight response. It’s an automatic function that is largely unwanted in today’s world. It’s designed to help deal with a perceived danger. Anxiety and panic attacks are kicked into gear by the fight or flight response as part of what’s known is our sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS). But we can use a simple hack to deactivate dysfunction by engaging the Vagus nerve and engage the parasympathetic nervous system to create a sense of calm - essentially we want to go into freeze mode.

HERE’S HOW:

• Sit up straight, take a deep breath through the nose pushing the stomach out as you fully breathe in. • Then sigh as hard as you can. • It will reset your mind and stop rapid, repeated thoughts. • When we sigh, little nodes in our lungs fully collapse causing a rush of oxygen into the brain which clears our head. • Other ways to stimulate your Vagus nerve: • A cold shower or splashing cold water on your face, yoga, eating foods high in tryptophan. Whole milk is the best source, low fat milk has slightly less but is still high. • Other foods include tuna, chicken, turkey, oats, cheese, nuts and seeds, some fruits and even chocolate.

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

When will this all end?

Words by: Elaine Fisher

s far as I know I’ve not come into contact with the Covid-19 virus, in its many guises, but nonetheless it’s succeeded to insidiously infect me and just about everyone in New Zealand in another way. I think the majority of us are suffering from ‘Covid Fatigue’ or ‘Covid Anxiety’. Feelings of “I’m over it” and “when will this all end?”, nervousness and uncertainty are common to us all, even for those of us lucky enough not to live in a lockdown zone – where it must be so much worse. I’ve tried to resist consulting ‘Uncle Google’ about my symptoms but I did promise The Dairy Exporter editor Jackie Harrigan I’d write about Covid fatigue, so I 54

poured a strong cup of coffee (probably not a good idea really) and began the search. It appears Covid Fatigue or pandemic fatigue for those not actually infected with the virus is very real and people around the world have been experiencing it since 2020. Researchers report people feeling demotivated about following recommended behaviours to protect themselves and others from the virus. Finding effective ways to tackle this fatigue and reinvigorate public vigilance is a growing challenge as the crisis continues. The problem is that while the Government and health agencies try to advise us about and protect us from infection, the way they do it is so invasive. Those yellow, white and black Covid hazard lines are everywhere, along with QR codes, face masks and the annoying voice of the woman on TV and radio adds… “this is a Covid-19 announcement…” I think she’s now been swapped out for a man but as I turn the volume down, I’m not sure. Covid cases, deaths, new lockdown restrictions or easing are the biggest news stories each day – unless they are eclipsed by a tragic murder or car crash. Talk back radio (which I refused to listen to) is full of it, so is social media – which I also refuse to engage in. Add to all that visual and audio ‘noise’ is isolation from work, from loved ones and serious

Elaine FIsher finds getting out in nature helps to settle the Covid fatigue and anxiety.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Ways to protect your

restrictions on freedoms, something those born since the end of the Second World War have never experienced. My generation and those which have followed have largely escaped the ravages of earlier pandemics so to bring some perspective, I’ve delved into what’s gone before. The lethal influenza pandemic, known inaccurately as Spanish flu (it probably started in Kansas) arrived in NZ in 1918 and from October to December killed about 9000 people. Worldwide an estimated 500 million people were infected in four successive waves and deaths are estimated at between 17 million to 50 million, possibly as high as 100 million, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. By the second week of November the estimated number of Covid-19 cases worldwide was 251 million with 5.06 million deaths. NZ experienced seven polio epidemics between 1916 and 1956. The most deaths in one year were in 1925, when 173 people died. In the 1947-49 outbreak more than 1000 people were infected and 70 died. Many of today’s senior citizens remember schools and other facilities were closed for months on end. Effective polio vaccines were developed in the 1950s. Jonas Salk’s inactivated vaccine of 1955 was followed by Albert Sabin’s weakened live virus oral vaccine in 1960. In NZ use of the Salk vaccine delayed the reappearance of polio between 1956 and 1961. After this a mass immunisation campaign using the Sabin oral vaccine achieved high population coverage and eliminated the polio virus from the country. (Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/ epidemics/page-5) So vaccinations helped eliminate polio. There’s little hope the current vaccines will do the same for Covid, but hopefully they will reduce its spread and severity. So, what to do about the other Covid ‘infection’ – Covid fatigue? Here’s some advice from the Health Promotion Agency website: It’s totally normal to feel stressed or anxious. To help, here are some things we can all do to stay mentally healthy during these times.

KEEP YOUR USUAL ROUTINES: If you’re working from home, stick to your usual mealtimes, bedtimes, etc, as structure helps keep us grounded and calm. If you’re not working at all, write a to-do list for each day so you have something to achieve.

DON’T OVERWORK: Don’t forget to clock off as becoming overtired or fatigued isn’t going to help your mental wellbeing or your organisation. Whether you’re an employee or the business owner, be careful not to overwork. EAT WELL: Choose healthy foods that help boost mental health. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables; wholegrain breads, rice and pastas; and legumes, such as lentils and chickpeas. Keep sugary, salty and foods high in saturated fats to a minimum. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

KEEP ACTIVE: Even if you don’t feel comfortable going to the gym, try to get some exercise. Head outside - garden, go out for a walk or run, but still keep your distance from others. Search the internet for some yoga, Tai Chi or stretch routines, which can also be calming. CONNECT: Keep in touch with family and whānau, friends and workmates. Depending on the Covid-19 situation, and people’s health, you may need to keep a physical distance.

PRACTICE ‘GROUNDING TECHNIQUES’: If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, use grounding techniques to reconnect you to the present and calm down. These are measures such as controlled breathing, stretches, quick bouts of exercise, or mindfulness techniques. IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT: If you feel you are becoming distressed, call or text 1737 at any time to talk to a trained professional for free. Contact your psychologist, therapist or counsellor if you have one.

Wellplace.nz is a website run by (HPA), a Crown entity established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. The role of HPA is to inspire all New Zealanders to lead healthier lives so that we, as a country, experience better health and wellbeing, and less harm, injury and disease.

www.wellplace.nz/facts-and-information/mental-wellbeing/coping-with-covid-19

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

SPECIAL REPORT

COVID FATIGUE

Social media and anti-vax:

The dirty dozen

Words by: Delwyn Dickey

isinformation and conspiracy theories on social media are rife and are often behind why some people are vaccine-hesitant. Then add to the mix an array of bad actors connected to far-right extremism and white supremacy in the United States stoking local fires here on social media and the anti-vaccination protest events around the country start to make a bit more sense. While there have always been antivaxxers, social media has given them a much larger and, with the way platform algorithms direct viewers to similar and progressively more extreme material, more captive audience. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), noted earlier this year roughly 31 million people follow anti-vaccine groups on Facebook. Another 17 million subscribe to anti-vaccine accounts on YouTube. Between 2019 and 2020 the number of social media accounts held by people opposed to vaccinations rose by 8 million, they say. They also found 65% of Covid-19 antivaccine misinformation and conspiracy 56

theories came from the ‘disinformation dozen’, just 12 personalities. Another study out of the University of Southern California into the link between social media use and vaccine hesitancy also found that anti-vaccine misinformation on platforms such as Facebook was extensive and poorly policed with 95% of the Covid misinformation reported to these platforms not removed. “Facebook, Google and Twitter have put policies into place to prevent the spread of vaccine misinformation; yet to date, all have failed to satisfactorily enforce those policies,” CCDH CEO, Imran Ahmed, said in their report. “All have been particularly ineffective at removing harmful and dangerous misinformation about coronavirus vaccines.” Leaked information from Facebook earlier this year, as disinformation around vaccines really ramped up, shows a group of Facebook employees found they could reduce the spread by changing how posts about vaccines were ranked in people’s newsfeeds, and offering posts from legitimate sources including from the World Health Organisation. But this was shelved after a meeting with Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee also released internal documents this year accusing the social media giant of repeatedly prioritising profit over clamping down on hate speech and misinformation. “Why would you not remove comments? Because engagement is the only thing that matters,” Ahmed says, “It drives attention and attention equals eyeballs and eyeballs equal ad revenue.” Closer to home and the news is also bad. After the country went into Alert Level 4 lockdown in August, researchers at Te Pūnaha Matatini connected to the University of Auckland spotted a big increase in popularity and intensity of Covid-19-specific disinformation online in New Zealand. As part of The Disinformation Project they keep tabs on what’s happening on NZ social media. “We’ve really witnessed a downgrading of social discourse – so an acceptability of really vulgar, obscene, denigrating, rude, misogynistic, racist terminology just being used,” lead researcher Kate Hannah says. The extreme nature of some of this material seems to have become more appealing to New Zealanders during

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

‘FACEBOOK, GOOGLE AND TWITTER HAVE PUT POLICIES INTO PLACE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VACCINE MISINFORMATION; YET TO DATE, ALL HAVE FAILED TO SATISFACTORILY ENFORCE THOSE POLICIES.’ lockdown and has spread locally, particularly on the platform Telegram. More worryingly, given the lower rates of vaccination among young Māori, Māori motifs and symbols – like the term hīkoi, and the United Tribes flag – have been used by pākehā disinformation spreaders. These overseas narratives are being directly imported from white supremacist campaigns in the US, researcher Tina Ngata says. On Facebook alone, the know Disinformation Dozen are responsible for 73% of all anti-vaccine content, though the vaccines have been deemed safe and effective by the US government and its regulatory agencies. And 95% of the Covid misinformation reported on these platforms were not removed. A study out of the University of Southern California into the link between social media use and vaccine hesitancy found anti-vaccine misinformation on platforms such as Facebook was extensive and poorly policed. The 2021 study by Mckinley and Lauby, found 31m people belonged to anti-vax groups on Facebook and a further 17m subscribed to anti-vax accounts on YouTube. Kyle MacDonald, a licensed psychotherapist based in Auckland, thinks talking about the pro-vaccination versus anti-vaccination divide is important right now. “I think it is coming up all over the place and it’s getting really heated,” MacDonald says. This, he adds, is the crux of the problem. “I think it is important to slow it down and get the heat out of it.” “Anger is the natural response, but anger doesn’t help the relationship and it doesn’t help resolve conflict.” Instead, he suggests that by attempting to see the other person’s “truth” we are better able to salvage fractured relationships. “The reality is that things are going to change,” he says optimistically, implying that when that happens, we don’t want to have said things to each other that can’t be unsaid. “It can be hard for both sides to see how ‘true’ the point of view is for each person.”. No matter how invested you are in your position on vaccination the person opposite you feels just as strongly. MacDonald reassures us that while establishing “boundaries” with family and friends who stand across the divide from us is healthy, avoid pouring petrol on the entire relationship and lighting a match. But then add to the mix an array of bad actors connected to far-right extremism and white supremacy in the US stoking local fires here on social media. Suddenly the outlandish fears the government is going to use the vaccine to control people, the vaccine affecting DNA so women will have mutant babies, and more stop seeming simply ridiculous and start looking more sinister. There is a serious campaign happening online to hone people’s thoughts and get their attention. Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

RED FLAGS Where the information comes from. If it stems from any of the known Disinformation Dozen or Covid contrarians, and if it’s coming from platforms like Bitchute, which is for people who’ve been chucked off YouTube, then definitely stay well clear. Are they downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic? Are they claiming that most people survive Covid-19 just fine? That it’s just a bad flu? That’s an immediate red flag. Here’s another. Are they emphasising your personal choice and freedoms over acting for the collective good? Are they pushing some supplement as a cure or treatment for Covid-19? You guessed it. Red flag. The last red flag to look out for - is the information presented in a way that seems designed to make you angry or scared. Good information put out to help you make an informed choice won’t do that.

ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY

GAINING THE

KNOWLEDGE Open Country’s new farm environmental plan tool has helped increase Mike van Marrewijk’s knowledge so he can build a more sustainable and profitable business for the next generation. Sheryl Haitana reports. Photos: Alan Gibson.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

D Above: Doing it for the next generation: Open Country supplier Mike with his two children, Matthew, 12 and Kaitlyn, 9.

airy farmers don’t want to give their kids a hospital pass in the future, with a farming business that is not set up to survive under environmental regulations. The number one vision for Mike Van Marrewijk is to have a sustainable farm for the next generation. Whether his children decide to go farming or not, he wants to ensure he’s passing on a viable farm that is operating profitably. “You don’t want to pass on a shambles.” Mike has just participated in the pilot programme for Open Country’s new online farm environment plan (FEP) tool. The pilot involved seminars for the group of farmers to meet Waikato Regional Council and Open Country experts and ask questions. “No question was a dumb question,” Mike says. The farmers filled in their own FEPs which included farm facts and goals, with plenty of onhand support from Open Country. Mike has found the process empowering, growing his knowledge of the coming regulations and what the best options are to be ahead of them. “I went in green but open minded about it. There is no point banging your head against a wall, you want to do these things for the benefit of your operation.” All of the environmental regulation coming at farmers can be daunting, but Mike says he is more comfortable now with what he is doing onfarm and what else he needs to do.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Farm facts Owners: Van Marrewijk Farms Ltd Location: Manawaru, Matamata Area: 62ha effective Cows: 200 Friesians Production: 73,000kg MS, 365kgMS/cow 1177kg MS/ha Farm dairy: 21-aside herringbone Somatic cell count: 150,000 Calving: 1 August Average rainfall: 1800mm Effluent irrigation area: 12ha Fertiliser: 150kg N/ha (PhaSedN), 4t chicken manure/ha FWE: $3.40/kg MS Farm operating expenses: $4.00/kgMS N Surplus: 100kg N/ha GHG:11 Tonne/ Ha

Left: Through completing their new Farm Environment Plan for Open Country, Mike feels more comfortable with what he’s doing onfarm to meet environmental targets. Right: Mike wants to be able to pass on a sustainable farming business to his children.

“A lot of farmers can have a negative attitude or a tick-the-box attitude. But if farmers are honest with themselves, they’re looking after the environment on a day-today basis anyway. This makes them realise what they’re doing and gives them credit for it.”

greater understanding of the regulations and guidelines surrounding farming for the environment. She has seen Mike’s confidence and knowledge grow around the environmental regulations and setting future goals for the farm.

‘I went in green but open minded about it. There is no point banging your head against a wall, you want to do these things for the benefit of your operation.’ Mike says it’s better for Open Country farmers to have this tool and fill in the FEP themselves, rather than the dairy company doing it for them, because farmers will grow their own knowledge and be better prepared for future changes. “If farmers do the plan themselves, in the long run they’re going to be more sustainable. “You’re understanding it and you’re in front of it. You’re aware of the regulations and what you have to do to abide by them.” Mike’s wife Sarah, a former vet technician, is off a dairy farm at Te Kauwhata and still helps her parents who are milking 850 cows. She was involved in the process of doing their FEP alongside their dairy company, and says after the Open Country FEP she now has a much 60

As part of the process, Mike had Open Country and council representatives visit for an onfarm assessment where he explained to them what he was planning on doing with potential risks onfarm. In the past, he would have balked at anyone from council coming over the farm, but by the time they left he was stoked because the visit had confirmed he was on the right path, Sarah says. “You are working alongside the regional council and Open Country, they are there to help. “Feedback from council was that we were on the same page, on the same level. It gives you the confidence knowing you’re not doing anything wrong,” Mike says. Their FEP will now go online and will remain a live document, so Mike and Sarah can go in and update it at any point.

Open Country is planning to make it easy for farmers to then share this data with other organisations. (Read more on page 62). Mike has lived in the Manawaru area his whole life, growing up on the dairy farm two farms down the road from where he farms now. In 1999, at 16, Mike and his brother Leo were offered an opportunity to buy the farm. Mike had to make a big decision and put his mature hat on at 16, but he has no regrets. Mike and Leo made the transition to Open Country Dairies in 2006 when the company was just starting out and it didn’t have many suppliers. “We thought we could do more with our share money than Fonterra was at that point, and we invested it into a runoff. “We had been farming for about five years and we had had some tough seasons, with droughts and even cutting down poplars to feed our cows. We thought that was best for our business, getting the runoff eliminated supplement and grazing costs.” The decision has allowed them to continue to expand their family business. Along with the home farm, where Leo is milking 300 cows, the family trust also owns another dairy farm in Matamata milking 300 cows, which Mike oversees, and two 100-hectare runoffs, Leo manages one, with their Dad, running the other.

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Mike’s farm is a DairyNZ System 3, feeding grass silage and 2kg meal/cow through the farm dairy to deliver minerals. The farm imports all its grass silage from the two runoffs where they make 3000 bales to be shared among the farms, this allowing them to milk a full season comfortably regardless of a drought being present or not. His spring calving operation starts calving on August 1, which suits the climate and the farming system. They don’t use any artificial insemination, using only Friesian bulls for nine weeks. “We have a 75% conception rate in the first three weeks, with 150 of our 200 cows calving in the first 21 days, that’s why we don’t start calving too early.” They sell all bulls at four days old. They use 150kg N/ha in the form of PhaSedN and Sustain, otherwise the bulk of their fertiliser is chicken manure combined with their effluent solids and post peel from the stand off pad. Mike spreads it himself using their muck spreader in autumn. Mike is looking into scales or a GPS to be able to collaborate exact application rates and locations on the farm to input into the new FEP. They irrigate effluent over 12ha from their new 1.2 million litre pond. Mike was in the process of building the new

effluent pond with his father Leo when he completed the FEP with Open Country. They made a few adjustments to their design after learning more at the seminars and feel even more comfortable with the design of it after going through the process. This winter has been a dream with the extra effluent storage, Mike says. “Even when the effluent pump broke down, it takes the stress out of it.” They extended the existing pond and lined it themselves with the kids pitching in to help. “Matthew and Kaitlyn both helped build the new effluent pond, laying the pipes. They’ll remember that.” The kids know what is right and wrong when it comes to the environment so it’s good for them to be part of those projects onfarm, Sarah says. “Our kids go eeling all the time, so they can be comfortable doing a hobby they enjoy and knowing the water is fresh.” One of the next projects for Mike is to pipe a 70-metre drain which is at potential risk to nitrate runoff. “We can have big rain and wind events here, getting 100mm in 24 hours with 100km/h winds. “Some farmers will look at that as a cost, but I’d rather put money into that to do

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

the right thing than spend that money in court or on a fine.” When it comes to GHG and emissions costs, Mike envisions them being able to offset the milking platforms with native plantings they already have on the runoffs. Having marginal and less productive land in trees makes sense to him because there is less erosion. “Going forward I think we will be putting more pressure on quality land like our farm. In my opinion, there is land that should not be milking cows and that’s going to become more obvious when those farmers start doing their FEPs.” Another bonus of completing the FEP and growing his knowledge has been sharing the information with his neighbours, Mike says. The Wairakau District community has a great social network with farmers meeting up regularly for a beer, helping each other out on farm and a group of them even plan trips away together. Having that social scene is important with the pressures farmers are under, from bad weather events to the stress of future environmental challenges. “I’m not a farmer who just stays within the four fences. It’s good to have that interaction and know everyone is in the same boat.” 61

ENVIRONMENT FARM ENVIRONMENT PLANS

Online tool for FEP Words by: Sheryl Haitana

pen Country is launching a new online tool for their farmers to complete their own Farm Environment Plans with plenty of support. Putting the process in farmers’ hands gives them control, whilst growing their own knowledge on environmental risks and regulations and how to manage them on farm, Open Country Environment and Sustainability manager Caleb Higham says. “Listening to our farmers, they were asking questions about Farm Environment Plans (FEP). “They wanted some leadership from us and some direction. We came to the conclusion we needed a tool to help farmers and we decided to build a digital one,” he says. It is a tool farmers can have total control over, with support around it to help farmers through it, he says. The dairy industry has a target for all farmers to have a FEP by 2025. About 20% of Open Country’s near 1000 suppliers already have one and the company wants to help farmers keep them live and updated to meet new standards that come from government. This online document will be live, which means farmers can continue to update it and upload progress reports for work they are doing on farm. For example farmers can upload photos of any environmental projects they’ve carried out. Open Country is offering plenty of on-the-ground support to help farmers through the process. Left: By the end of the process, when farmers understand the intent of the rules, the penny drops and there is a sense of pride for what they’re achieving,

Farmers can seek support or advice at any point and the FEPs get reviewed by Open Country before they are signed off to ensure farmers are understanding the risks and have best practice implemented on farm. A big focus is to make it farmer-friendly and for it to make sense, Caleb says. “We know not all farmers are comfortable using computers. We know not everyone will be able to do that, so we are hiring FEP facilitators to help farmers.” Farmers can also still use a consultant to fill in the FEP tool for them. The tool is being built to have data protection, but will also have the capability for farmers to share access or certain data with parties such as councils when they need to. The tool will evolve over time with any changes in environmental regulations popping up to alert farmers of the changes and any new requirements. It is expected to be built by early 2022. By offering a tool that farmers are more engaged with, rather than it being done for them, is the road to better outcomes, milk supply manager Tim Sandbrook says. Eleven Open Country suppliers recently participated in a 10-month pilot programme where they attended workshops with Waikato Regional Council and Open Country representatives and completed a FEP. Some of the farmers started the process with their arms folded because they were apprehensive of the rules coming their way. But by the end of the process, when farmers understand the intent of the rules, the penny drops and there is a sense of pride for what they’re achieving, Tim says. “A lot of the logic and strategies we are asking for in a FEP are day-to-day obvious things farmers do because they have a positive financial flow-on effect anyway.” Farmers submitting environmental data is ultimately benefiting their income as Open Country can share a positive environmental story when they are marketing products overseas. “We are getting asked more and more by customers what our GHG numbers are, also questions around animal welfare, biodiversity,” Caleb says. For farmers to be able to provide those customers who are buying their milk with this sort of onfarm environmental information will be of benefit.

Apply Gypsum now Caleb Higham putting the process in farmers hands gives them control.

The benefits of gypsum in soil treatment are well known, but its value goes well beyond this: Helps mitigate flow of nitrates and phosphorus in New Zealand waterways Tim Sandbrook - once the penny drops, farmers get a sense of pride in the farm environment work they’re already doing on a day-to-day basis.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Addresses sodium from applied effluent issues Reduces surface run-off and drainage loss, reduces preferential flow of water run-off in soil Can be applied by a number of different means to target risk zones Assists with addressing high soil potassium levels

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit gypsum.co.nz

Rates vary per farm and soil type. Applications can last for up to three 63pads. years and can be used as a base layer in stand-off (loafing)

ENVIRONMENT FRESHWATER

And now, Freshwater Farm Plans Words by: Charlotte Glass

rom Farm Environment Plans to Freshwater Farm Plans – why the change and what’s the difference? Many farmers across New Zealand have been using Farm Environment Plans as their first step to recognising and managing the impact of farming on the wider receiving environment. The Essential Freshwater Package released in August 2020, notes the requirement for farmers to have Freshwater Farm Plans in place in order to plan and manage the impact of farming operations on freshwater quality. These new plans will make up one of the modules within a broader Farm Planning Framework. The details of these plans are still emerging, and the Government is now in a consultation phase seeking feedback on the content, outcomes and certification/audit aspects associated with these plans. The Farm Environment Plans many farmers are already using have provided a useful structure to consider and manage how our farming operations impact the environment. The Freshwater Farm Plan introduces more catchment context to our plans and requires a better understanding of how water moves through a whole catchment, not just one farm in isolation. It will also introduce more awareness of the concept of Te Mana O Te Wai, or “the life-force of water”. This concept is easy for farming people to relate to, simply put, it means, when the water is healthy, then the life it supports is healthy too. Achieving “healthy water” now has a higher priority when seeking permission from councils to undertake farming activities that require their consent. 64

The Freshwater Farm Plan introduces more catchment context to our plans and requires a better understanding of how water moves through a whole catchment, not just one farm in isolation.

Freshwater Farm Plans will be central to farmers being able to understand and communicate how their farming supports maintenance or improvement of freshwater quality. The intention is that these are living documents and capture continuous improvement and learning. As our understanding of the connection of water and lag phases between farming activities and impact in the catchment improves over time, then farmers’ Freshwater Farm Plans will become more specific too. They will continue to include an assessment of risk from farming activities on water quality from nutrient management, waterways, land and soil, effluent and water use (including irrigation), and will be useful in communicating winter grazing strategies too. Farmers are familiar with the balance that is important in grassland ecosystems. Sheep, cattle and deer eat pasture, and in doing so feed the soil by cycling nutrients back in dung and urine which in turn allows more grass to grow. The same sort of balance is important for freshwater ecosystems to thrive too. Tools that help farmers consider the habitat and health of freshwater ecosystems on farms are now more accessible and will become increasingly important as a means of communicating the health and quality of freshwater. By being aware of the non-farmed species that are, or were once present in our catchments, farmers can seek to support the appropriate balance and habitat for

them to thrive in conjunction with our productive farmed species. Freshwater Farm Plans should provide a framework to prompt farmers to weave these aspects together. We don’t yet have perfect knowledge or measurement of these indicators at farm scale and gaps in science and current knowledge will be exposed. Farmers will play an important role in developing a deeper understanding of the interaction of farming with broader freshwater systems. For those that have already prepared a Farm Environment Plan, and particularly those that have already had those plans audited, then the Freshwater Farm Plan is expected to be a subtle change. It will need to be certified by someone who is accredited to ensure it is “fit for purpose” and then audited 18 months after certification and then every three years. For those farmers that have never completed a Farm Environment Plan, your industry bodies can help get you started. They have templates you can use and provide workshops to get you started or you can connect with professionals who specialise in working with farmers. It might sound like something new or different, but for people who understand dynamic systems as farmers do, it really isn’t that new! • Charlotte Glass is a consultant and director of Agri Magic, a farm systems consultancy company that specialises in environmental aspects. • First published in Country-Wide Sheep October 2021.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

ENVIRONMENT REMEDIATION

The sediment trap near the shores of Lake Horowhenua.

Restoring Horowhenua’s waters Words by: Jackie Harrigan

substantial grant from the Covid Recovery Jobs for Nature fund has supersized plans to remediate the badly degraded water quality in Lake Horowhenua. The lake, to the west of Levin, has been degraded over many years by the effects of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from nearby farms, both sheep and beef and dairy, by major horticulture operations and from the impact of stormwater and urban run-off. Lake Horowhenua is a taonga for local iwi/hapū and was once an important source of food for local iwi and a popular recreational playground. In 2013, the Lake Horowhenua Trust, Horizons Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council, the Lake Horowhenua Domain Board and Department of Conservation formed the Lake Horowhenua Accord, a collaborative effort to invest with the crown in a number of projects related to improving the health of the lake. The accord has implemented a range of projects including a Freshwater Clean-up fund work programme and a Te mana o

te wai work programme, both of which have contributed to a range of projects to enhance the lake. Building on the idea of a local alliance that involved local iwi, growers and community members, Horizons Regional Council has secured extra funding of $11.2 million through the Jobs for Nature fund, under the Ministry for the Environment, to build a wetland complex to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs into the lake.

Sheep and beef farms cover about 43% of the lake’s total 7000ha catchment while dairying makes up about 19%.

The project was first planned to cover about half of a dairy farm in the catchment, however the programme was rescoped to buy the entire farm, which was purchased in June 2021. This project, co-chaired by the Regional Council Chair Rachel Keedwell and Lake Trust Chair

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Clinton Hemana, has a governance team that includes iwi, the Lake Trust, district and regional council. The wetland complex development is one part of the plan to reduce both sediment and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) flowing into the lake. Weed harvesting on the lake is another strand to the clean-up project, along with an investment of $4-5m from the Horowhenua District Council on stormwater upgrades. Lake weed alters the chemistry of the lake by increasing the pH of the water, lowering the nitrate concentration (raising the toxic ammonia concentration) and providing a favourable environment for phosphorus release and promoting cyanobacteria blooms. Harvesting weed interrupts this cycle and provides an environment more favourable to fish and other aquatic life, including native lake plants. Horizons chair Rachel Keedwell says the wetland complex and weed harvesting are two significant projects that partners are pleased to have underway. “Both are complementary to a number of other past and planned interventions that will help restore pride and mana to Lake Horowhenua and enhance its social, 65

cultural, environmental and economic values.” Farm consultant and Lake Horowhenua trust co-chair Clinton Hemana is excited by the progress made by the trust and says the plans for remediation are a step in the right direction. “The owners of the lake, Muaūpoko, have been disappointed in how the lake has been treated in the past but they are pleased that progress is being made in the right direction and think it’s neat that the whole community is coming together to have an input.” Stakeholder group consultations will start soon, Hemana says, and the locals will be invited to come in and have a say on what they would like to see for the Lake. “We want to build a big masterplan, and then see how much it will cost and where we want to spend that money - we will have to go out for more funding too.” Hemana mentions ideas of walkways and mountain bike tracks and building a Pa harakeke where flax is grown in the

The catchment is one of the country’s most important horticultural areas.

wetland area, removing nutrients and to be used for economic sustainability. Along with reducing the amount of excess nutrient entering the lake through the wetland initiative, plans are underway to cut excess nutrients being used and lost in the catchment. Sheep and beef farms cover about 43% of the lake’s total 7000ha catchment while dairying makes up about 19%.

The 11 dairy farmers in the catchment were consented under the Horizon’s One Plan but now await implementation of Plan Change 2. All are required to implement farm environment plans covering water and nutrient use, effluent processing, riparian planting and numerous other initiatives with possible new standards coming under the National Policy for Freshwater 2020.

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DAIRY & CALF

SHELTERS FF O NDEDS A ST SH

Lake Horowhenua with the snow-capped Tararua range in the background.

The catchment is also one of New Zealand’s most important horticulture areas, with 13 vegetable growers growing producing about 10% of the country’s supply of green vegetables in the highly fertile Arawhata sub-catchment. Alongside the wetland development Michelle Sands, HortNZ environment manager, says growers are developing and fine-tuning their farm environment plans (FEPs) to improve growing practices. The certified FEPs help growers look at ways to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff (including use of sediment ponds and buffer strips) and will be independently audited. The implementation of soil testing prior to planting is helping establish ‘careful application of fertiliser’. Sands says the mild climate and good soil in Horowhenua make it one of the best places in NZ for horticulture. More than 38 vegetable varieties - including cabbages, leafy greens, Chinese greens, salad crops, potatoes and onions - are grown on a total of 500ha by the catchment’s growers. A Sustainable Farming Fund project called Future Proofing Vegetable production, completed with co-funding from the regional council, is further looking at strategies in the paddock for minimising nutrient loss, sediment loss and in particular nitrogen loss from the horticulture soils. The research and extension is being undertaken by LandWISE, researchers into precision agriculture. The project focuses on developing and testing new production techniques for vegetable growers including precise nutrition prescription, precise application, maximising retention of nutrients, and recapturing nitrate that moves beyond

the rootzone. The overall aim is to reduce nutrient leaching and improve efficiency while maintaining production. The key outcomes are use of the nutrient budget developed by LandWISE by growers in the crop planning stage to ensure planned fertiliser practice follows industry good practice. An online app version is currently in development. Adoption of the Nitrate Quick Test soil test will be used to validate any additional fertiliser applications. More regular calibration of the growers’ fertiliser equipment has shown that there can be large variation in application, and improving this practice will help to identify issues early. Understanding of nitrate pathways has improved with growers through the use of Nitrate Quick Tests. The Horowhenua Freshwater Management Unit water quality interventions project will be lodged for consents by 2022, construction aims to start in 2022/23 with the first build phase aiming to be completed by 2024, Lake Horowhenua Trust Chair Rachel Keedwell said. The project is also about employing locals in ‘Jobs for Nature’ and plans are in place to employ one Freshwater Coordinator and three monitoring/science staff. Later planting and construction will provide up to 45 jobs, according to the project proposal. The project is a collaboration between Muaūpoko, Lake Horowhenua Trust, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Horizons Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council, dairy farmers, horticulturalists and the wider Lake Horowhenua community.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

G IN R TE EDS N I W SH

LF ERS A C LT E SH

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Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

STOCK SIRE PROVING

No short straws

down on the farm

Sire proving on a Northland farm has stood the test of time. Story and photos by Karen Trebilcock.

hen Rhys and Jo Watkins took on a 68-hectare dairy farm at Ruawai in Northland 10 years ago they continued many of the previous owners’ practices including sire proving. The 200 cows are inseminated every year for five to six weeks with LIC Kiwicross sire-proven semen with some Hereford straws going in near the end before the Jersey bulls go out.

‘I never was a farm chick. As a kid I used to visit my cousins who lived on South Island sheep and beef farms in the holidays but I never thought I’d be a farmer.’ And with the herd’s BW at 173, they’re happy with the results. “You get one or two every year that aren’t great but otherwise they’re good cows,” Rhys says. The herd’s low empty rate, 8% last year, allows them to cull on production Left clockwise: Number 23 is one of Matthew’s favourite cows. One of this year’s calves gets a hug from Nate (10). Jo and Rhys Watkins fill in their opinions on this year’s heifers for the Sire Proving Scheme. Eight-year-old Jackson hangs out with the cows.

Jo and Rhys Watkins with children (from left) Jackson (8), Nate (10) Matthew (13) and Ben (15).

and other traits and anything with a temperament problem stands out on this farm where some of the cows can be ridden by the couple’s four children. Ben, the eldest at 15 is not so keen but Matthew (13), Nate (10) and Jackson (8) are happiest among the cows and calves and all have their favourites. Rhys had been a bike courier in Auckland and Jo was working at a bank when both decided they’d had enough of city life, especially for their young family. Rhys’s brother Gary was already on a dairy farm at Ruawai and his dad was the DeLaval franchise holder in neighbouring Dargaville so Rhys spent a week with his brother and decided dairying was for them. After two years on a farm at Whangarei Heads and another year at Te Kopuru, the family invested in the Ruawai property for them with Rhys and Jo buying in once they’d sold their Auckland house. Jo now works as a teacher aid at Ruawai Primary School and is also on many of the

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

community’s committees. “We raise a few calves every year for the fire brigade and one for Ruawai Sports Clubs for fund raisers,” she says. “We really love living here. It’s a great community. A really nice place to live. “I never was a farm chick. As a kid I used to visit my cousins who lived on South Island sheep and beef farms in the holidays but I never thought I’d be a farmer.” Each year 50 sire proving heifers enter their herd with the planned start of calving July 1. Three months later the newbies are assessed by TOP (traits other than production) inspectors and weighed with Rhys and Jo putting down on paper what they think about them as well. They have to rank each heifer from one to nine on adaptability to milking, shed temperament, milking speed and overall personal opinion. It’s often a family affair with the kids remembering which heifer kicked who in the dairy. 69

Right: Eight-year-old Jackson hangs out with the cows.

The farm has a 38ha runoff nearby for the young stock, all on Ruawai’s flat, fertile soils, some of which are below sea level. Stop banks keep the Wairua’s tidal waters where they should be and the farm’s drains and flood gates are always well maintained just in case. The crossbred cows suit the land well with Friesians often too heavy and the family think the Jerseys sulk in the rain. But rain is welcome here because when it gets dry it stays dry and the past two years have been drier than normal. By January Rhys and Jo have put the cows on 16-hour milking and then once-a-day before drying off on May 1. Their best production so far has been 90,000kg milksolids (MS) but with the dry last year they were about 5000kg MS short. The farm is ryegrass and white clover with maize silage bought in plus they feed as much palm kernel as they can. They’ve had summer crops of turnips and chicory in the past but the dry has put a stop to that. As well as benefiting from the cheaper price of AI with the Sire Proving Scheme, Jo says the requirement for records to be kept upto-date makes sure they keep on top of things. The four herd tests a year give them good information for culling. “It’s quite cool to be part of it. You’re getting better results not just for you but for other farmers in the future as well.” DNA parentage testing of the heifer calves, paid for by LIC, not often done by the neighbouring farmers, make it easier at calving as well. “So often a cow will take another cow’s calf when she hasn’t even calved herself.” While Jo and Rhys are yet to have a bull calf selected by LIC, the farm’s previous owner Billy Salter, who started using sire proving in 1987, produced the bull Ice Age. But for now the kids are content to play with the calves – the very calves that in two years’ time will be milking and showing which bulls are the best for the rest of the country to use. 70

Still proving the best

ven though genomic selection is now playing a major part in finding the best breeding bulls, sire proving is not going to disappear anytime soon. This year LIC celebrated 60 years of its Sire Proving Scheme which has between 180 and 200 herds spread across the country and farm systems. To be eligible farmers must sign up for four years, have a stable herd of at least 200 cows, calve in spring, mate 90% of their cows to Sire Proving bulls, have four herd tests per year and keep full and accurate records. LIC general manager New Zealand markets Malcolm Ellis said sire proving allowed the bull’s genomic proof to be verified and measured. Each spring about 1700 bull calves are genomically tested and from them about 200 are selected with 180 ultimately entering the Sire Proven team (75 Friesian, 35 Jersey, and 70 crossbred) as one-yearolds. They’re grazed at LIC’s bull farms at Newstead and Awahuri and their semen is collected for daily despatch throughout mating. A small amount of frozen semen from selected bulls is also used for LIC contract matings and is also available for limited nominated sales. For the following three years about a third are used as genomically selected bulls by LIC. “They are the very best of them, the cream of them, chosen through genomics,” he said. By age five, the bull’s first daughters on sire-proving farms are milking and can be

assessed for production and TOP (traits other than production) which include temperament and milking speed. It is then about the top 20 who make the grade to go in the daughter-proven teams, with the very best seeing a number of years of service. Malcolm says selecting the bulls on their genomic value, instead of waiting to see how their daughters are milking, is accelerating the rate of genetic gain in the national herd. “A farmer who used our Forward Pack Premier Sires team, which are two-thirds genomically selected, instead of daughterproven bulls, from 2018, will have gained 18 extra BW points if they used Friesian, 15 extra BW points if they were using Jersey and a massive 45 extra BW points if they were using KiwiCross. “It shows our co-operative’s $78 million, 25-year investment into genomics research is paying off for the New Zealand dairy farmer.” He is also excited more farmers are using genomically selected bulls. “Last year, 43% of all inseminations carried out by LIC were completed by genomically selected bulls. This year it will be 53% which is a massive increase and will positively impact genetic gain at a national level. “Sire proving continues to give us confidence in our genomic testing by verifying the genetic potential of these animals. “We’re very thankful for the commitment and dedication of the farmers in our Sire Proving Scheme.”

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

STOCK MYCOPLASMA BOVIS

Left: The number of farms known to be infected with M. bovis has been very low for quite some time.

‘It had a head start’ Scientists are optimistic, but not complacent, that the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis is now very low on New Zealand farms. Elaine Fisher reports.

re-border protocols, including PCR testing and treating semen with antibiotics, aim to help minimise the risk of Mycoplasma bovis re-entering New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Chief Science Adviser Dr John Roche says “Now we can have batches of semen tested before it is sent here or have it treated with antibiotics that inactivate the bacteria, if it is present and viable. That, together with on-going research, is giving greater confidence,” he told the Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital forum “Readiness & Response in a Pandemic: the Application of Science”, held on-line in mid-October. Protocols for the use of new testing procedures have been established; in particular, a PCR test validated by the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease in Wallaceville. M. bovis is spread animal-to-animal and because there is no longer any live animal trade into NZ, that risk has been removed from the border. “However, one avenue of concern is the

Mary van Andel, MPI chief veterinary officer.

illegal pathway. We don’t know if M. bovis came here via a legal or illegal channel, but it is a challenge to shore up all points of entry. M. bovis took a long time to come in the first place and we have strengthened the border even further.” From July 1, 2018, when the decision was made to eradicate and the programme was stood up, $523m has been spent on operational and compensation payments. By October this year, $211.7 million had been paid in compensation with 2,676 claims paid and completed and a further 23 being processed. In total 172,816 cattle have been culled. As of October 24, 2021, there were just four “M. bovis Active Confirmed”

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

properties in NZ, John said. “That’s good news. The number of farms known to be infected with M. bovis has been very low for quite some time. Now we are at the tail of the disease, we are looking harder and harder and finding less and less infections. We have got reason to be quietly confident that there is a low national prevalence of M. bovis. This is cause for cautious optimism, but not room for complacency.” In total M. bovis has been found on 272 farms of which 268 are now ‘cleared confirmed properties’. In October 2021 there were no active properties in the North Island, and four in the South Island. The disease probably arrived in the country in 2015 or 2016 and was discovered in July 2017. “It had a head start and our response needed to catch up to find, contain and control the infection that was out there.” The success to date was credit to the tremendous MPI team of disease management experts and staff, working collectively with industry organisations and farmers, he said, making special mention of MPI chief veterinary officer, Mary van Andel for her strategic leadership of the M. bovis response. “We were able to share the learnings we had from tackling M. bovis with the Covid-19 response team. Many of our experts were seconded back and forth across government departments to provide important insight into tracing, testing systems and communications.” M. bovis is difficult to diagnose in an individual animal, as clinical signs are not seen in all infected animals, so collecting samples for diagnostic testing is necessary to identify groups of infected animals. The two tests used to detect M. bovis are: • ELISA test (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) • PCR test (Polymerase Chain Reaction) which is the same type of test used to identify Covid-19. Background surveillance for the disease continues and John said less than 0.5% of commercial dairy herds react on BTM (bulk tank milk) ELISA tests. Since monthly BTM 71

screening began in July 2019, 19 infected dairies have been identified. In September 2021, the Bulk Tank Milk screening programme tested samples from 10,714 dairy farms, and overall, 10 farms had a ‘detect’ result that required further onfarm investigation. Of the September’s 10 detects: • 8 dairy farms have been found not infected after on-farm investigation • 1 dairy farm was already an Active Confirmed Property • 1 dairy farm has been determined not to require onfarm testing, following an epidemiological investigation. The Beef Surveillance Programme screens beef cattle not connected to the known network of infected properties.

‘One avenue of concern is the illegal pathway. We don’t know if M. bovis came here via a legal or illegal channel, but it is a challenge to shore up all points of entry. M. bovis took a long time to come in the first place and we have strengthened the border even further.’ As at October 27, 2021, more than 504,800 animals had been sampled by the Beef Surveillance Programme, from about 16,000 farms. No infected farms have been found from this surveillance to date. These results are giving increasing confidence that M. bovis is not widespread in the beef sector. Farming practices in NZ involve

large scale and frequent movement of cattle to maximise pasture utilisation and mitigate the effects of high land costs. The economic basis of livestock production is underpinned by these movements, but they are also an issue in disease spread, detection and prevention. “You can look at disease management like trying to run up an escalator which is coming down. You can either run really quickly or slow down or stop the escalator, so you can climb up and finally start the escalator again. “With M. bovis the first step was to stop movement of livestock to stop the movement of the pathogen. (i.e., a ‘lockdown’ or other measures to slow the speed of the escalator).

“The second was to develop more agile processes so that we get faster at finding, containing and controlling M. bovis infection (run faster).” Now the levels of detection are low, John said background surveillance to regularly look for disease was even more important. “We can’t calculate a time period for when the delimiting will be over but the signs are encouraging.” Those signs include that the outbreak was caused by a single incursion into NZ; cases are linked by tracing and phylogeny; effective reproduction number and case finding incidence are trending downwards; operational timeframes are decreasing; and there is no widespread disease in unlinked populations.

M Bovis response The response to M. bovis got off to a bumpy start; farmers were not always supported well enough and there were delays in compensation, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Chief Science Adviser Dr John Roche says. “Among the learnings from an independent review in 2019 conducted into the response was the importance of effective communications. “We did not do enough to bring everyone along on the journey with us and we did not work as closely as we could have with the wider industry. “The responses to M. bovis and Covid-19 involve dealing with humans with beating hearts. Every response, from MPI driving up a farm driveway or someone testing positive to Covid-19 and going into MIQ, is not pleasant. It is vital to wrap care around the individuals, so the experience is as good as it can be. “Taking on farmers’ feedback has resulted

“making milking easier and faster”

John Roche, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Chief Science Adviser.

in quicker compensation payments, improved farmer-focused processes and shorter turnaround times for farms under movement restrictions.” Since the beginning of the response, the average number of working days to pay an M. bovis non-complex claim has reduced from 47 days to 20 days. The time under Notice of Direction/Movement Control has improved significantly in the last two years—97 days in November 2019 compared to 27 days in September 2021.

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Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

STOCK HEAT STRESS

Reducing heat stress over summer in your herd Words by: Frank Portegys, Dairy NZ Senior Extension Partner

ecember marks the official start of summer and temperatures will only continue to rise across the country in the coming

months. During summer, it can get hot and uncomfortable. Summer can get sticky for cows too, and they begin to feel the heat sooner, as they prefer temperatures between 4 and 20C. When cows get uncomfortable in the heat, they try to stay cool the same ways humans do – they drink more, become less active and use shade where available. When the temperature gets above 21C, Friesian and crossbred cows also start to reduce their feed intake and produce less milk. Jersey cows cope better with warmer temperatures and don’t usually start producing less milk until the temperature reaches 25C, although factors like high humidity and warmer night temperatures affect this. You can use some good strategies to protect your cows from discomfort during summer.

Like humans, cows need to drink to stay cool in warmer weather so make sure you provide them with plenty of water.

after milking. You will also need to check you have good flow rates, so troughs don’t dry.

Milking times

Water

Altering milking times so cows avoid walking in the heat of the day is another strategy to reduce cow discomfort. This not only benefits the herd but will help your farm staff feel more comfortable too.

One of the first things to consider is your water supply. This is the easiest and cheapest way to reduce Frank Portegys cow discomfort. If your cows are rushing to drink after milking, or the Sprinklers can be used over the dairy yard trough can’t always keep up, your cows are to wet the cows’ coats and aid evaporative thirsty. cooling. You’ll need to use enough water To reduce this, you should have good that it runs off the cows to be effective. water supply both in the paddock and in This is best used in conjunction with the raceway up to the shed, so cows can fans to help move humid air away after have a drink on the way to the paddock wetting.

Cooling

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Pre-cooling the yard with water before the cows arrive and allowing them space so they aren’t too close together in the yard also helps to keep cows cool.

Shade Using paddocks with shade from trees helps reduce heat stress in livestock. If you don’t have trees now, consider planting some to provide shade in the future. While hotter temperatures can be more stressful for cows, many farmers are using a range of strategies to keep their cows as comfortable as possible. Now is a good time to talk to your team about what you can do to reduce heat stress amongst your herd. • More information is available online at dairynz.co.nz/heatstress. 73

STOCK VET VOICE

More to it than just “drenching for worms”

Weighing youngstock regularly gives the level of detail required for a targeted drenching programme.

Words by: Lisa Whitfield

Cooperia oncophora

Cooperia inhabits the small intestine. orms are a significant risk Numbers peak on pasture in autumn, and for stock kept at pasture. it is most likely to affect youngstock at The risk is greatest for this stage, during their first year. Cooperia young stock, who doesn’t like cold weather so doesn’t persist need to develop immunity to well between autumn and spring worms in order to be able to when there is a good winter in clear themselves of parasites. between. Cattle typically develop The full development of immunity to this worm by one immunity to important year old. species of worms takes 18 Gastrointestinal disease from to 20 months in cattle. In Cooperia infestation is frequently the meantime there is lingering on farms which practice exclusive Lisa Whitfield susceptibility to the development reliance on single-action macrocyclic of production-limiting disease if lactone pour-on drenches for their good management practices are not put in calves. There is widespread resistance of place and followed. Cooperia to macrocyclic lactone drenches. We are lucky to have only a small number of worms which we need to Trichostrongylus species manage in cattle. Common worms which Three Trichostrongylus species can affect you need to be aware of are: Cooperia cattle in New Zealand - T. axei, T, vitrinus oncophora, Trichostrogyle spp., Ostertagia and T. colubriformis. These worms can ostertagi, and Dictyocaulus viviparus inhabit both the abomasum and the (lungworm). small intestine of their hosts. Immunity

to Trichostrongylus does not develop until young stock are about 18 months old. Larvae are tolerant to the cold and numbers peak on pasture in spring, so immunity to these worms follows this peak of exposure.

Ostertagia ostertagi This is considered the most significant worm of cattle in NZ. Ostertagia inhabits the abomasum and has the potential to cause significant damage to the lining of this organ. Larval numbers peak in autumn so disease is often seen at this time. Larvae also become dormant in the lining of the abomasum over winter, so disease can also occur the following spring and summer if good immunity has not been developed. There is low efficacy of levamisole and benzimidazole drenches against Ostertagia. On most farms, macrocyclic lactones are effective in controlling Ostertagia, however, resistance to macrocyclic lactone drenches has been found in New Zealand and this should be of concern to all cattle farmers.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Weaner cattle affected by Cooperia oncophora when there is drench resistance

‘Grazing management practices which see areas of pasture grazed exclusively by young stock with no cross-grazing by adult cattle or other species of livestock year on year, and under the right climatic conditions, can see the build up of worms in the environment.’ Dictyocaulus viviparus (Lungworm) Lungworm lives in the airways of cattle where it causes inflammation and irritation, and in severe cases leads to the development of secondary pneumonia. It is quite common for this worm to cause disease in young cattle in New Zealand. Immunity develops within a few months of exposure. Where there is frequent drenching of youngstock such that exposure is insufficient to cause a good immune response, it is possible to see lungworm disease in mature cattle.

fall below this target are good candidates for a targeted drench programme. They should also be examined for other common diseases of young stock. Grazing management practices which see areas of pasture grazed exclusively by young stock with no cross-grazing by adult cattle or other species of livestock year on year, and under the right climatic conditions, can see the build up of worms in the environment and very high infection pressure on successive groups of calves grazing there. Regularly shifting young stock rather than having them graze pastures to low levels reduces exposure to the areas of pasture which carry the highest larval loads – that is the few centimetres of pasture closest to the ground. Grazing strategy should balance access to good quality pasture with not grazing too close to the ground. Physiological stressors such as weaning, underfeeding, poor weather conditions, lack of shelter, and concurrent diseases, will all suppress immune responses and increase the risk of worm burdens getting out of hand. To ensure worm management of cattle is sustainable, we need to modify our rearing practices to give our stock their best chance at dealing with worms themselves, rather than relying on drenches alone. • Lisa Whitfield, is a Manawatu production animal veterinarian.

Rearing Practices which underpin good worm management Healthy, well fed, and stress-free animals have a head start on the process of immune system development against worms. The provision of good quality nutrition in good quantity is fundamental to the good health of young stock. Healthy calves regardless of breed grow from 0.6kg to over 1.2kg per day and failure to achieve this indicates a management problem which should be identified and actively addressed. In order to be able to quantify that they are achieving this weight gain, you need to regularly weigh your youngstock. Guesstimating or eyeballing will not provide the level of detail required to know whether young stock are meeting their growth targets on a short-term basis. Individual animals which Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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Lincoln High School student Euan Coates, right works for Tony Dodunski before and after school.

FAST-TRACK TO MANAGEMENT A group of Canterbury dairy farmers have formed a management training programme for university graduates. By Anne Lee.

pportunities to partner and grow in the dairy sector are there for the taking and a group of Canterbury dairy farmers has set up a programme that will enable recent graduates to join them and others so they can grow together. The Grassroots Dairy Graduate Management Programme is a formalised pathway that can fast track young graduates into leadership level roles on dairy farms. Dairy farmer Tony Dodunski is chairman of the steering committee which has set up the programme that will take five graduates next year. They’ll each be placed with one of the programme’s network farmers for a fixed term from February to November giving them 44 weeks of paid employment. Tony says they’ll be paid a competitive graduate salary, similar or better to salaries offered to rural professionals when they start out and be working a roster with sociable hours. “They’ll work on the farm, going in at a level chosen by the network farmer (employer) and they’ll learn the day-to-day farming but they’ll also spend time each week, or each fortnight over calving, getting together to carry out 30 modules that will skill them up on the types of things they’ll need at the management level. “Things like financial management and skills they’ll need in dealing with the bank, environmental compliance, growing equity, risk, the 72 rule of compounding returns, using technology onfarm, pasture and feed management. “People management is an important one, especially in places like Canterbury where we’re dealing with big herds and big teams so we will spend time developing skills in that area.” While it will include the compliance aspects of employing or managing staff it will also cover aspects such as understanding and working with different personality types. The personality type development is helpful in a work situation where the graduate will go on to manage individuals in a team and to understand how the team interacts with each other but it’s also an insightful personal development tool that will enable graduates to better understand themselves.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

ONFARM TRAINING Modules will include: • Personal development • Dairy industry introduction • Environmental compliance • Wealth growth • Business ownership • Environmental enhancement • Banking basics • Engineering and electrical skills • People management • Mating • Raising quality stock • MINDA • Animal health • Utilising technology • Pasture and feed management Tony Dodunski, right and 2IC George Dodson – the graduate programme would help fast track people like George.

“We’ll also be ensuring the farmers they’re with are mentoring them, always with an eye on including them in managementlevel discussions whether that’s as simple as copying them in on an email with the spraying contractor setting up a job or bringing them into a monthly budget revision meeting. “The aim is to be exposing them to the management and ownership type decisions from week one.” Tony’s 650-cow property is just a few kilometres from Lincoln University and he says the people strategy on the farm was to tap into that resource. “But over the last couple of years of talking to Lincoln students informally we could see there really wasn’t anything in the market that caters for graduates going straight into dairy farming. “Nothing in our industry is competing with other rural professional graduate programmes and we aim to challenge this. “As a group of farmers we went along to the careers day at Lincoln University in August and we got a lot of feedback from students about the lack of a farming pathway post uni.” As a result, they created a steering committee to put together the programme with committee members including Tony, ANZ Southern regional manager Mark Grenside who has experience of banking

graduate programmes, Campbell Tait, a dairy farmer from Hinds, and Kimberley Grayling, a human resources advisor and dairy enterprise equity partner along with her husband Will. Six leading Canterbury farmers will be network farmers and host the graduates over the 10-month period in 2022: Tony Coltman, Matt Ward, Will Grayling, Campbell Tait, Josh McAtamney and Tony. “We’re not trying to create an elitist group of graduates or farmers with this, we’re just trying to give young graduates a clear, formalised pathway into leadership roles on dairy farms.” “The sector needs these smart young people involved onfarm to be able to grow and we’ve potentially reached a level of maturity in the industry where business owners are actively looking at ways to facilitate young people into their businesses. “There are a lot of challenges out there but with challenges come opportunities and in my 11 years farming I don’t think I’ve seen a better time to be a young person in the industry. “We need the next generation at that management level to come on board with us so they can be our next business partners. “Ultimately we want them to be the ones bidding on our farms or taking over our jobs.” Tony says there’s been no issue in

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

getting farmers as network farmers in the programme. “The intention is the network farmers will have the opportunities for the graduates to go into their businesses but at the end of the programme the graduates will be free to take up opportunities with others too. “If there isn’t an immediate opportunity on the farm the graduate has been placed on over the programme, we’ll help facilitate progression on another of the network farms. This year they’ve cast the net quite widely for young people to come into the programme.” “It’s open to graduates who are within three years from graduating and we’re not just looking for Lincoln University graduates – they can be from Massey University, Canterbury University, wherever. “What we want are bright, talented young people capable of picking up the operational side of things quickly who we can develop and fast track into the leadership positions. “We’ve got three main objectives. The first one is to attract graduates straight out of university on to dairy farms. “The second is to fast track them into onfarm leadership and decision-making positions using our farmer-created, structured modules. “The third is to support and mentor them so they thrive.” 77

Variety from CONSULTING to COMPOSTING After spending life growing up not quite knowing what she wanted to do, Rachel Durie chose a job where she could learn how to do it all. Alex Lond writes. Photos by Alan Gibson.

hen Rachel Durie signed up for the Perrin Ag graduate programme, it was the variety of work that appealed to her. The fact that the agribusiness consulting firm’s head office was in Rotorua, just an hour from her family dairy farm, was an added bonus. Especially as most of her work focuses on the dairy sector, working with Maori Trust farms on improving all aspects of their farm systems. “I work directly with the onfarm team, depending on the farm; it’s an extremely rewarding role when you can see how your work is benefiting a farming system.” There’s no time for Durie to get bored in her role, as the diverse variety of work from farm to farm allows her to keep her finger on the pulse in all aspects of agriculture. Much more than just a farm consultant, she explains that now she’s into her first year with her own clients, she is often in charge of other aspects such as organising fertiliser, feed budgeting as well as overseeing recruitment on some farms.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

“Farmers often know the right answer, they just need help finding it. The variety of work with Perrin Ag is immense, and there are so many opportunities to expand our clients’ knowledge.” The variety of work involved in the company results in a diverse team environment, and this is reflected in the graduates coming onboard. Perrin Ag’s graduate programme has come ahead in leaps and bounds in Durie’s time, with the firm launching its formal Empower graduate advisor programme this year. She emphasises how having the ability to adapt, being curious and most importantly being passionate about agriculture are all important when it comes to the qualities Perrin Ag looks for in graduates. It’s about finding people who fit into the supportive team environment as well as wanting to work in a progressive position, she explains. After completing the programme Durie is well into her third year with Perrin Ag. She’s already been involved in projects such as the One Billion Trees Project, with Perrin

“

If you can’t decide what you want to do, just do a job where you can do a bit of everything and be mentored by great people along the way.

“

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Ag completing 10 case studies across the Bay of Plenty, Rangitikei and Waikato regions investigating how farming and forestry can be successfully integrated. Her latest project this year involves research into composting shelters through the Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund, and she has a real interest in how these can benefit farmers. Durie feels privileged that her heavy involvement with Māori Trust farms has allowed her to expand her knowledge in environmental projects on farms. With farming constantly progressing and changing, she also feels fortunate to have so many opportunities to work for a company that is constantly advancing in the industry, and with such a supportive group of people. With over 20 employees and more than 500 active client relationships across the country, the firm has grown since Durie joined in 2019. She is never short of something to do. As well as her full-time role with Perrin Ag, Rachel and her partner Mania have just started contract milking the family farm in Lichfield, South Waikato. “You learn a lot from pulling information together, and Perrin Ag has definitely helped me prepare myself for this next challenge of contract milking. Although, it’s Mania doing the hard yards on the farm every day.” The couple are peak milking 690 cows on a high input system 5 farm, providing plenty of challenges for them in their first year. Already they have made their way into the top 10 suppliers for the lowest cell count for dairy company Miraka, sitting at 79,000. This was achieved mostly through implementation of strict protocols, good observation, rigorous manual teat spraying and attention to detail, with Mania very rarely being out of the dairy shed. “It has been a fantastic result given the farm’s history for cell count. Mania was determined, and that determination has paid off for us.”

The farm aims to avoid waste with Speckle Park bulls used over their heifers and at the end of AB, reducing the number of bobby calves each year and producing higher value calves that can be sold. “We have a lot of support from my family, with my uncles doing calf rearing and silage making and mum having a pedigree Speckle Park herd. This allows us to focus on the aspects that are important to us, such as feed management and cell count.” Durie aims to keep her future relatively broad, with no set goals other than to make it through their first season with no major mistakes. She explains how she is always looking to grow, but is never too set on a direction, just aims to continue learning and expanding her knowledge both through Perrin Ag and on their own contract milking business. She is certainly not looking to follow the standard route from contract to sharemilking and believes there are plenty of other ways to invest in farming. Keeping things broad and forward thinking are more important. Her approach means she is able to keep up with the ever-changing environment that farming provides, while still enjoying a relatively balanced life, getting out hunting with Mania when they both find time to take off together. While goals are important, she believes keeping an open mind allows you the opportunity to adapt to your environment, while still enjoying the work that you are doing. For Durie, that is a key to success.

DIGGING UP THE LATEST ON COMPOSTING For her latest project, Durie is investigating how a composting shelter could be successfully integrated into a farming system. She is leading a team of Perrin Ag consultants investigating the impact composting shelters have on the environment, on animal and staff welfare 80

and financial performance, all the while aiming to reduce the misconceptions that are out there. While Durie completed her honours project on composting shelters at university, she says that there was much less knowledge at the time, but now with tougher regulations and farmers interest in the shelters increasing, there is a lot more information available for her and her team to work with. She avoids the term ‘composting barn’, favouring ‘shelter’, to avoid common misconceptions, because the word ‘barn’ implies that they are something more expensive to build and might be similar to situations more common in the US and Europe, that often raise questions about animal welfare. Composting shelters are different, most obviously because they have no side walls, though some operators will use sail type arrangements in windier areas. Also, the deep layer of bedding material in the shelters is most often wood chips or sawdust, but Durie says that some people are trying different options, such as miscanthus. When the cows come in, they pee and poo in the bedding and the composting process is aided by daily tilling by a tractor. If the design is right, a lot of the urine simply

evaporates, and a key benefit is that when the composting is done properly, no liquid effluent comes out, so you don’t need the effluent systems required for other similar systems, Durie says. Solving these issues as well as those of animals being outside during the harsher winter months, while providing shade during the heat of summer, composting shelters seem to be a good option for farmers looking for ways to meet stricter environmental regulations. Durie’s project also aims to gather data on the benefits in terms of reducing nitrogen loss and potential impacts to greenhouse gases, to allow farmers to see if there are numerous benefits to the shelters that would justify the initial cost. She is already involved with Māori Trust farms through her work at Perrin Ag, and she will be working alongside Putaruru-based Māori farming trust Kokako Pi Karere LP on this nine-month project. While the first phase is research-based learning, visiting other farmers that already facilitate composting shelters, the second phase will be a case study on one of the Kokako dairy farms looking at a range of scenarios for how a composting shelter could be integrated and the impacts to the farm system.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

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WELLBEING SAYING NO

It’s too easy to be a people-pleaser by always saying Yes. There are times when we need to say No, Harriet Bremner writes.

L Harriet Bremner and Poppy.

et’s be frank. No. Such a simple, seemingly easy everyday word that can be so incredibly hard to say. Why? As an all-around people pleaser, I have always struggled with saying no, simply because I don’t want to let people down. I have been working on learning how to say no for a while now as it took me ages to realise that saying yes can sometimes mean you are not doing the best thing for yourself. Last month, I could not write my column for Dairy Exporter for health reasons and have just come out of another surgery, so I am sitting here writing while recovering. This time is different though. I am feeling able to contribute whereas last month I was really battling and had to be brave and say no to writing my column. I found that really hard, but when I finally plucked up the courage to let Anne Lee know what was going on, I received the most amazing support and understanding. This is when we decided it would be a good topic for this month. I was so relieved that I had taken some worry off my shoulders and wished I had not stressed so much about saying I wasn’t well enough to write. Through saying no and having an honest and open conversation, I realised, once again, that you are allowed to put yourself first and it is ok!

No decent human being will actually stop and judge you and if they know you well enough they will understand there is something going on that makes for a genuine reason to say no in the first place. This can be the most stressful time of year for so many reasons from financially, pressure to be everywhere and at every social occasion any day of the week, juggling work and family, where you should be going for Christmas and who will look after the animals. Chances are one of these things is sitting heavily on your shoulders as you read this. It’s okay to say no. Saying no to an invitation doesn’t make you rude or antisocial or not fun, it makes you human. With daylight saving comes that habit of working longer hours to make the most of the drawn-out days. With that comes less sleep and sometimes you just need to have some ‘you’ time at home. I’ve done plenty of this lately and while some people don’t understand, you don’t have to explain yourself to them. It’s something I haven’t been good at doing. I’ve felt as though I owed the world this massive list of reasons why, if I said no. When you’re an introvert, like me, you really don’t want to let anyone down so you feel obliged to explain. However, you just simply don’t have to!

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Am I saying yes for my best interest or theirs?

Is this going to put more pressure on me emotionally, financially and/or time-wise?

If you have got something weighing you down that you don’t want to do or cannot go to then I dare you, just say no. It really is that simple and, once you have done it, you will feel instantly lighter. Ask yourself; • Am I saying yes for my best interest or theirs? • Is this going to put more pressure on me emotionally, financially and/or timewise? • What is the worst thing that can happen if I say no? • Is this something that I really actually want to do? If you don’t want to or can’t do something then don’t. A true friend will understand and won’t hold this against you in the future. You do you!

SAYING NO TO POTENTIAL COVID EXPOSURE

This is possibly the trickiest situation I have heard of someone dealing with for some time as it surrounds the whole Covid-19 scenario. There is a farm where all made their personal choice to get vaccinated. They have got a friend who is a rep for the whole South Island who really wants to come and stay for a week while travelling for work. They have made the personal choice to not be vaccinated. There are new babies in the family and older family members who are at high risk of contracting Covid. The family wished to explain to their

What is the worst thing that can happen if I say no?

friend that they are uncomfortable with them coming to stay. This is an Is this something that I really interesting conversation actually want to do? and I believe that people need to respect others’ decisions - no matter whose side you are on. The farm has since decided a ‘no vaccine, no entry’ policy is best for them. This is their way of saying no. This doesn’t require any explanations, it is what it is. No matter which way you have decided to go, we should not be losing friendships over this, we just need to respect each other’s personal decisions around the matter. No is a hard word to say as it can have repercussions where someone may not react well to your response, which can hurt, especially if you’re like me, a people pleaser. You need to remind yourself to put yourself first and if someone doesn’t understand then quite frankly that is a ‘them’ issue not yours! So good luck, go forth and conquer this seemingly simple to spell but so hard to say, word! I wish you all a safe, happy and fun Christmas with your nearest and dearest and remember you come first always so if the best thing for you is to say Harriet said “yes”. Congratulations no OR to say yes, then go for it! Harriet from us all. Harriet Bremner

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

and her fiance Ed Pinckney.

RESEARCH WRAP WEEDS

Plants waiting to be weeds Words by: Elaine Fisher

GRAPH 1. How sleeper weeds turn into legacy weeds.

Legacy weeds

Detection

Land area invaded

bout 187 ‘legacy weed’ species occur in New Zealand’s pastures. Based on published information on 10 of these species, our legacy weeds cause at least $1.3 billion in loss of production on NZ’s pastoral farms each year, despite control practices. Others in a pool of more than 2000 naturalised and casual species are potentially ‘sleeper weeds’ poised to join their ranks. AgResearch’s key researchers in internal biosecurity, Graeme Bourdôt, Chris Buddenhagen and Shona Lamoureaux say there are 2841 introduced plant species that have either naturalised or are casual species in this country. Of the naturalised species, 187 species are common weeds in pastures and others will be ‘sleeper weeds’ and become a problem here in the future. With changing climate, changes in land management practices, and loss of herbicide products, there is potential for sleeper weeds to become widespread. The researchers say pastoral agriculture in NZ is uniquely vulnerable to weed invasions. NZ pastures are highly productive, but simple systems, comprised of a small number of imported non-native forage species While sustainable control of legacy weeds is important, there is an ever-present internal biosecurity risk of new weed problems from the pool of 2841 species. Research in the AgResearch Strategic Science Investment Fund weeds programme (Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment-funded) aims to deliver innovative solutions to

Sleeper weeds Exclusion

Containment

Eradication

Sustained control

Time

reduce the environmental footprint of weed control practices and maximise the biological and economic efficiency of pastoral farm systems. Novel models are being developed that can quantify the weed risk of each of the 2841 naturalised and casual plant species. The models utilise global information on the invasion history, climate preference and weed problem status of the species to assist their prioritisation as internal biosecurity threats to NZ. AgResearch is NZ’s leading independent provider of scientific research into agricultural weeds and their management. The CRI maintains a ‘weeds community of practice’ which involves five scientists (two in Hamilton and three in Lincoln) and

four technicians (three in Hamilton, one in Lincoln), students, and industry and university collaborators. The team’s long-term focus is on delivering to the ‘Pastoral sector weed research strategy’ co-designed by industry leaders and scientists from CRIs and universities. The AgResearch team has to date focused on addressing the three most highly ranked key issues in the strategy: internal biosecurity; alternatives to herbicides; herbicide resistance. • To find out more visit: https://www. agresearch.co.nz/assets/Uploads/ agresearch-pastoral-weeds-researchstrategy-2018-2031.pdf

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

RESEARCH WRAP HERBICIDE ALTERNATIVES

That yellow pest Words by: Elaine Fisher GREEN THISTLE BEETLE: LIFE CYCLE

A beetle to beat the thistle Words by: Elaine Fisher

gResearch is combining empirical and modelling work to understand and optimise the regulatory effects of nonchemical control methods on weed populations, including manual removal and natural enemies, under current and future climates. AgResearch’s Mike Cripps and Graeme Bourdôt are key researchers focusing on biocontrol of naturalised species of thistles (tribe Cardueae). This tribe contributes more species to New Zealand exotic pasture weed flora than any other taxonomic group. It contains some of the most economically damaging weeds and many ‘sleepers’. The tribe is uniquely amenable to biocontrol using agents imported from the plants’ native ranges overseas because there are no native NZ thistles and few economically valued species in the tribe, the researchers say. An example from this element of the research programme is the green thistle beetle, imported and released in NZ in 2007 for control of Californian thistle. The impact of the beetle on thistle shoot population density and spread was assessed over two years on a North Canterbury sheep and beef farm. Where there were high beetle densities of 10 or 20 beetle larvae per thistle shoot, the population of Californian thistle declined. At these high beetle densities, the spread of the weed in the paddock was also reduced. In comparison, where there were no beetle larvae, or only low densities of five larvae per shoot, the thistle population increased in density. The green thistle beetle can also attack other thistle weeds, however, its impact on other thistles that reproduce via seeds appears limited. • (Source: Cripps MG, Jackman SD, van Koten C 2019. Folivory impact of the biocontrol beetle, Cassida rubiginosa, on population growth of Cirsium arvense. BioControl 64: 91-101). Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

n app to assist farmers to control the pasture weed species giant buttercup has been developed by AgResearch and is available free to use from the Dairy NZ

website. Dr Graeme Bourdȏt, AgResearch principal scientist, Weeds, Pests and Biosecurity Team, says the app enables the user to determine if the giant buttercup infestation in a paddock is economically worthwhile controlling (do the benefits outweigh the costs?). “It accounts for the loss of clovers from herbicide damage, enables herbicide options to be compared and herbicide resistance to be managed.” The tool requires estimates for: • % of the pasture covered by the buttercup prior to the intended control operation • pasture drymatter eaten or grown currently in the paddock • conversion rate for pasture drymatter to milksolids • pasture utilisation rate • clover content • milksolids payout • herbicide cost • N-fertiliser cost and % N content • herd lactation length • stocking rate Default values which can be edited are provided as examples for some of these input variables. The calculations used in the app utilise a unique data set comparing the efficacies of all herbicides available in New Zealand with a label claim for giant buttercup obtained from a three-year experiment on nine dairy farms in the Golden Bay district. The model used in the App is described in the peer-reviewed journal paper: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/pasture/pestsand-weeds/giant-buttercup/. • (Source: Bourdôt GW, Lamoureaux SL, Jackman S, Noble A, Chapman DF 2021. Net economic benefit of Ranunculus acris control in dairy pasture - accounting for herbicide damage to clovers and evolved resistance. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2021.19 81954) 85

DAIRY 101 TRAINING

Never too late to learn The new year brings fresh opportunities to gain or improve on your skill and educational levels. By Karen Trebilcock.

t’s almost the end of the year and thoughts should be turning to the next. What are your goals for you and your staff and how are you going to achieve them? Somewhere in the mix could be, and probably should be, some training. That expression that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks was busted long ago – it is never too late for anyone to learn something new. For your staff and possibly you, make sure the PrimaryITO courses are ticked off. They start at the beginner’s level and there’s a Diploma in Agribusiness Management at level five. Separate units are on driving tractors, quad bikes and other machinery to keep you and your workers safe. These courses have been designed for workers on farms so they mix online and practical learning and if reading and writing are not your thing, then there are people to help with that too. If no one is keen to upskill on your farm, at the very least, make sure everyone, including partners, has done a first aid course in the past few years. If not, schedule it. Ask around about gun licences too. Make sure the people who need to use a firearm for work, or own one, have an up-to-date licence. Make sure licences don’t lapse. It’s a lot easier to renew than to have to sit the test again. And if any of your staff are still on their restricted driver’s licence when they should be on their full by now, get it organised. I know you shouldn’t have to hold people’s hands for this sort of thing but often it gets forgotten about. Making it important for you and them means it gets done. For those who are still making their AI techs stand on trolleys or boards in the pit, find a welding course

Above: A farmer checks a worker’s training manual.

in your area. It’s not that hard to weld together an AI race in the yard, or fix that gate that has never closed properly or the backing gate that just doesn’t work. You could add a basic plumbing course as well. Fixing leaking water troughs, or leaking anything, is easy if you know how. The equipment needed, and the materials, are a lot cheaper than they have ever been. Also remember mental health. There are courses on dealing with stress, counselling and general wellbeing and most include practical tools and strategies that can be applied on the farm. For courses on all of these, just google. There will be one near you but check what you are going to learn is what you need to know and the price is right. Training is now big business and there are not many courses that are free although subsidies and grants may be available. If you are looking for something more structured, and possibly a change in career, check out the

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Open Polytechnic or Massey University. Both offer extramural (at home) learning and the degrees and diplomas are numerous if you like this sort of learning. If you already have a university degree and want to add to it while still working onfarm, Massey is a great choice. But if while putting cups on cows you find your mind wandering to things beyond the farm gate such as the latest legislation affecting waterways, or why the New Zealand dollar keeps fluctuating or what on earth is happening to your Sharesies portfolio, then maybe a course on governance is what you should be thinking about. You may not own the cows or the farm, but this could be where you’re hopefully heading, and knowing how business works, long-term strategies, risk management and your part in the wider industry are things you need to know about. It also gives you the tools and knowledge to step forward for a variety of voluntary and paid positions from school and sports committees to company boards. And we need more farmers on company boards. Fonterra has its own governance programme for farmers and herd-owning sharemilkers. It includes residential courses, distance learning, assessments and one-on-one coaching and by the end of it you will have enhanced your leadership skills, practiced working through governance scenarios, gained greater insights into personality styles and developed your capability for critical and reflective thinking within governance contexts.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Above: Courses have been designed for workers on farms so they mix online and practical learning and if reading and writing are not your thing, then there are people to help with that too.

There are other governance courses out there too so if you want to be around the table with other decision makers start applying. The Kellogg Rural Leadership programme has closed for the year but maybe think about it for next. It’s known as Kelloggs as it was founded by the US Kellogg Foundation. Lincoln University ran the course from 1979 until 2013 when New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust took over the programme development and delivery. If you are a farmer, producer, grower or an agribusiness professional you can apply as long as you fit the rest of the criteria – applicants are selected based on their passion for the community, ability to demonstrate effective decision making, commitment to the rural sector and aspirations to be a rural leader. As well as working on a chosen project for six months, you’ll get to network with your fellow students plus with industry leaders. You’ll also get to brush up on your leadership skills, gain a better understanding of economics and politics as well as many types of farming in NZ. If you want to know how to influence decision making, whether at a local or national level, then this course is for you. Also run by the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust is the Nuffield Farming Scholarship. Every year five scholars are chosen from applicants within NZ and 70 in total worldwide from the seven participating countries. Applications are already closed for next year so again this is one to be thinking about for the future but remember there is an upper age limit – you can’t be older than 49. As with Kellogg, Nuffield scholars research a topic of personal interest which will also contribute to NZ’s agri-food sector development particularly in advancing knowledge around current challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

SOLUTIONS What’s NEW? FERTILISER

Tracmap unit eases compliance pain

uaranteeing accurate placement of fertiliser and proving where it has been applied is easy when a Tracmap TML is installed in the tractor cab. Tracmap’s Southern North Island sales manager Marty Orange says Tracmap’s clever kit is saving farmers who spread their own fertiliser hours of time, money and stress, particularly when complying with the new nitrogen fertiliser cap and reporting requirements. “Our Tracmap TMLs provide a GPS guidance solution for farmers or their staff so they can place the fertiliser accurately in the right paddocks on the farm,” he says. All the information collected by the unit in the cab as the fertiliser is spread on each paddock is then sent directly to the farm office computer for proof of placement requirements. “Having that history of proof of placement automatically saved in your computer makes the reporting back to regional or national authorities really

simple and easy to manage because it’s all saved automatically in one place,” he says. Another advantage for self-spreaders who install a Tracmap TML unit is the ability for a list of paddocks to be uploaded into it from an office computer so any staff member can be given the task to spread the fertiliser. “Farmers can rest easy knowing it’s going on the right paddocks at the correct rates, and the unit is capturing all the proof of placement information required to meet reporting requirements.” “You don’t end up with fertiliser spread on the same paddocks that were done two weeks earlier, or fertiliser is spread at the wrong rate.” Tracmap’s technology integrates fully with most other fertiliser management software solutions, including from Ballance, FarmIQ and Ravensdown. Marty has clients of all ages and farm size using the TML units across his sales region of the lower North Island. “ Age is definitely not a barrier because

A Tracmap map in the cab shows where fertiliser is to be spread.

the units are so simple to use. One of my clients is in his seventies and he’s right into it.” Tracmap also has a GPS guidance system for farmers using K-line irrigation systems. It ensures lines are pulled to the same spot each time, ensuring even watering every time. Tracmap’s clients are supported from a New Zealand-based support centre, in Mosgiel, south of Dunedin. The company was set up by farmers for farmers, so there’s a real appreciation of the challenges faced by those working on farms. “When you call our 0800 support line you get a New Zealander on the phone to answer any questions.” More? Visit tracmap.com

Gypsum aids dairy factory wastewater

airy Factory wastewater (DFW) can be a useful resource for pasture and crops, however high sodium levels in the wastewater may accumulate in soil. Excess sodium can be detrimental to pasture and crop growth since it causes low soil water availability and poor soil structure. Soil structure effects may reduce the ability of the soil to receive DFW before surface ponding or runoff occurs. Gypsum is an ideal material to address any buildup of sodium in soils receiving DFW, extending the number of years that affected land remains useful for receiving wastewater. Gypsum can also enhance soil structure, water infiltration and drainage in the face of high sodium levels. Sodium in wastewater largely comes from the use of caustic soda and sodium 88

hypochlorite in cleaning and sterilising. Sodium is relatively easily leached and the role of gypsum is to accelerate that leaching to reduce the chance of sodium accumulation. Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulphate. Its application is a standard practice worldwide for addressing the build up of sodium in soils including soils receiving wastewaters. The combination of calcium and sulphate effectively address sodium. Calcium release from the partially soluble gypsum is faster than from lime (calcium carbonate). Gypsum is typically and most easily applied as a broadcast application to the soil surface. Incorporation of gypsum into the soil is not generally required as the gypsum can work through the profile of most soils. Many soils will have quite high

thresholds for sodium before soil structure is affected; this depends on the balance of the monovalent cations (sodium and potassium) with calcium and magnesium, the electrical conductivity of the soil. It also appears that soil resilience to sodium is increased by the organic content (lactose etc) in DFW. Gypsum can reduce surface runoff of phosphorus and other nutrients by improving water infiltration (through soil structural and chemical changes), by binding organic matter and soil particles together better and by increasing the ability of soil to drain and thus cope with larger water inputs. Gypsum also increases the binding of phosphate to soil minerals including calcium and reduces the susceptibility of all forms of phosphorus to drainage losses.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

SOLUTIONS What’s NEW? AG CAREERS

Gen Z to make their mark

ood and fibre sector leaders are counting on Generation Z (loosely defined as those born between 1995 and 2010) to take on the future of New Zealand’s food and fibre sector and meet the challenges it faces. The key to attracting Generation Z (Gen Z) to the sector will be making them aware of the scope of opportunities across the sector, says Madison Pannett, the Kellogg Rural Leadership scholar behind the report, Generation Z and the environment – how can we use their passion to attract them into food and fibre sector careers? “I have found my journey into the sector so personally rewarding, so I was keen to explore how to inspire young people to join,” Madison says. She now works for the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) as a senior adviser in the Animal Welfare Liaison team. “From my research, I found that Gen Z mainly associates food and fibre sector careers with roles onfarm and not with the wider opportunities that are available.” She says that sector leaders need to tell the story of the scope of rewarding and diverse roles available for Gen Z to contribute and work in line with their values. Head of Massey University School of Agriculture and Environment at Palmerston North, Paul Kenyon, says Massey has a wide range of study options that cover the spectrum from pre to post the farm gate, encompassing animal health and welfare, and the environment – key interest areas for Gen Z. “What sets us apart is the fact that we have many disciplines together on one site that individually contribute to our agricultural ranking. “Obviously, there is our agricultural programme of study, but we also have horticulture, animal science, agribusiness, environmental science, earth science, ecology, food science, and veterinary science, with all groups working together collaboratively.” Paul notes Massey ranks particularly high in employer reputation, as in what employers think of their graduates. Job prospects are so good for agricultural tertiary students, that they need more students to meet industry demand. “Many of our students have roles confirmed halfway through their last year and the majority have roles confirmed before the end of their last year,” he says. Ben Crane, who was awarded Massey’s 2021 Agriculture Student of the Year, can advocate for Massey’s agricultural programme. Originally from urban Taranaki, Ben had zero experience in agriculture, and his first glimpse into the field stemmed from being part of his school’s trial of the NCEA Agribusiness courses. The driving force for his decision to attend Massey University was the range of industry scholarships available and the job prospects upon graduation. This meant a minimal student loan, and a maximum return on investment for Ben, which has indeed paid off for him as a graduate. Here is his sound advice for school leavers considering their options: “My number one piece of advice for school leavers, or anyone Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

wanting to do a degree, who are unsure exactly what to do, is to choose something that is so broad you can work in any sector or business. “As a school leaver, or anyone in fact, you are highly likely to be a different person when you finish your degree. Agribusiness allows you to complete a wide range of papers giving you the ability to pick up an understanding on business and science topics.” Ben was a part of DairyNZ’s scholarship programme during his Ben Crane. degree, which led to the opportunity to be the student representative for the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management. Recently, he has been awarded the graduate placement for H&T Agronomics where he will begin training to become a qualified forage and crop advisor, following his strong passion for the seeds industry. Another notable Massey University alumnus is Hannah Wood, a food technologist who is now paving the way for NZ’s gelato scene with her award-winning business Little ‘Lato. Hannah, who features on the This Working Life series on Fieldays TV, says she was unsure about what she wanted to do after school, but a representative from Massey University inspired her to study food technology there. “I think food technology was a great platform for learning about different areas [of the sector], and everything you do is going to give you breadth of experience that will help you,” she says. “The ultimate goal would be to bring authentic gelato to New Zealand and get people on the bandwagon!” To check out how other young people are making their way in the food and fibre sector, head to the This Working Life channel on Fieldays TV at fieldaysonline.co.nz and watch on demand. Head to massey.ac.nz to explore their programmes of study.

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OUR STORY 50 YEARS AGO IN NZ DAIRY EXPORTER

50 years ago in the Dairy Exporter December As NZ Dairy Exporter counts down to its centenary in 2025, we look back at the issues of earlier decades. 50 Years Ago – December 1971. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE A DAIRY COW’S DRINKING

The only substantial research into the drinking habits of grazing dairy cows that has been done in New Zealand was carried out several years ago by Campbell and Munford at Massey University. One of the most important points in their study was that they found nothing to suggest that production would decline if cows were restricted by two drinks a day at the shed. If water was available in adequate quantities at the shed when the cows came in for milking they would soon get used to the system and satisfy their daily needs then. Putting water into the paddocks would not boost production. Advisory officers have generally endorsed this finding over the years since the study was done.

POTENTIAL BECKONS FROM SOUTH IS. FLATS

Irrigation schemes can make a vast difference to farming and potential buyers and sharemilkers from the North Island should perhaps investigate the possibilities of moving into dairy farming in the region. The sheep farmer is finding it increasingly difficult to stay viable and perhaps some might be interested in employing a sharemilker and becoming dairy farmers. Indeed uneconomic sheep farms which have not been released from Lands and Survey Department development programmes possibly could be considered as a source of dairying potential and perhaps made available for this purpose. Traditionally, Canterbury is not a 90

dairying area. In part, this has come from the climate, which is suitable for cropping; vast expanses of flat land and the pasture growth patterns more suited to flat land farming. The rainfall usually fluctuates at about 25 inches which is insufficient to support dairying unless augmented by irrigation.

NITROGEN TRIALS TEST “OUT OF SEASON” GRASS

The economics of nitrogen usage for the production of “out of season” grass have changed appreciably with the availability of nitrogenous fertilisers at considerably lower prices. A fresh look at the value of nitrogen in providing out-of-season grass to bridge possible production gaps has been taken by the Field Research Section of the Department of Agriculture with trials in the main grassland farming areas during the past two years. When yield responses were considered as a substitute for hay or other supplementary feed, payable results from nitrogen applications occurred above a level of about 7lb of drymatter to 1lb of nitrogen (7kg DM/kg N). If a payable response was reckoned as producing drymatter at one cent per lb (2.2c/kg), approximately the cost of hay, then spring applications brought payable responses in most areas used in the trials.

AVERAGE DAIRY HERD SIZE NOW PAST 100

The average dairy herd size in New Zealand reached 100 last season, the Herd Improvement Council was told at its

Cover photo: Sizzling fish on a stone-edged fire and lazy lying in the sun make a welcome Christmas break for this family on the shores of Lake Taupo. Even with the chores and the pressures of haymaking, we hope many readers will find time for such family outings this Christmas.

meeting this month. This represented a 3.1 per cent increase on the average of 97 in 1969-70. Milkfat per cow rose by a similar 3.2 per cent over the country, 257lb in 1970-71 compared with 249lb the previous season. Milkfat per farm increased even more, by 6.7 per cent. Last season’s average was 25,780lb compared with 24,160lb in 196970. Cow census returns for 1970-71 presented to the council showed the percentage of calves sired by the various breeds. The figures, with comparative percentages for 1968-69 in parentheses, were: Ayrshire 3.2 (2.9), Friesian 39.4 (25.7), Jersey 55.7 (68.9), Milking Shorthorn 1.0 (1.1), others 0.7 (1.4).

MAKING THE COWS HAPPY

A chewing cow is a happy cow, apparently. And at milking time it shows its happiness in a tangible, and profitable way. Dr D. G. Edgar, director of the Ruakura Animal Research Centre, told the Herd Improvement Council this month that there seemed to be some evidence that feeding small amounts of concentrate to cows at milking time was beneficial. While insufficient to affect them nutritionally, it did produce contentment that encouraged the let-down of milk. • Thanks to the Hocken Library, Dunedin.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Check out our latest podcast episode on greenhouse gas emissions pricing. Go to dairynz.co.nz/podcast or your favourite podcast platforms.

Join the hundreds of dairy farmers listening to our Talking Dairy podcast, where we tackle topical and seasonal issues like climate change, contract milking and staff retention.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021

Talking dairy

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Dairy Exporter December 2021

Articles inside

The Dairy Exporter in December 1971

Gen Z to make their mark

Tracmap unit eases compliance pain

Never too late to learn

A beetle to beat the thistle

Plants waiting to be weeds

The art of saying no

Variety from consulting to composting

Vet Voice: More to it than

Fast track to management

Reducing heat stress over summer

M. Bovis: It had a head start

Restoring Horowhenua’s waters

And now, freshwater plans

Sustainability: Gaining the knowledge

Open Country: Online tool for FEP

When will all this end?

Social media and anti-vax The dirty dozen

How to handle Covid-19 coming onfarm

No Jab, No Job in the milking shed

It’s a health and safety issue

Dealing with vaccine reluctance

Taranaki soft core

When the lights go red

Prepare for a virus attack

Ryegrass: Twelve years of torture

Benchmarking: Measure it to be sure

Ahuwhenua Trophy: Taking the leap to manager

Spending the payout: new kit or cutting debt?

Ahuwhenua Trophy: Quality on the coast

Frances Coles loves being an ambassador for Kiwi farming

Future farming will need to give more than profit, writes George Moss

What a payout, writes John Milne, but what prices

Market View: Hedging bets on Singapore

Global Dairy: All change at FrieslandCampina