Dairy News 28 May 2019

Fonterra defends wide forecast range. PAGE 3 COME AND MEET SAM National Fieldays preview PAGE 27-43

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Battle over Gouda PAGE 14

MAY 28, 2019 ISSUE 423 // www.dairynews.co.nz

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Fonterra defends wide forecast range. PAGE 3 COME AND MEET SAM National Fieldays preview PAGE 27-43

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Battle over Gouda PAGE 14

MAY 28, 2019 ISSUE 423 // www.dairynews.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 3

Fonterra defends forecast price range SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

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FONTERRA IS defending the wide forecast milk price range for the new season announced last week.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell says while the global supply/demand balance is in very good shape, there are some potential downsides.

He listed the trade war brewing between the US and China as something to watch out for.

“Ultimately we will have no winners over the long-term,” Hurrell says.

Fonterra will also be watching milk production during the spring flush in Europe: how much milk comes of EU countries this peak season and how fast the milk comes onto the global market.

Hurrell says the co-op has to take into account these factors when coming out with a milk price forecast for its farmers. “It’s not easy but we are required to do this. The range we’ve presented is the best estimate at the time.”

The co-op’s forecast 2019-20 farmgate milk price range is $6.25 - $7.25/kgMS. It will be “narrowed down” as the season goes on.

ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny says the opening forecast range is relatively healthy. He notes that using the midpoints, the forecast, if realised, would represent a 40 cent/ kgMS gain on 2018-19.

However, Penny remains more bullish than Fonterra on the 2019-20 season.

“Fonterra expects very modest milk collections growth of 0.6% which would also underpin the new season’s milk price forecast,” he says.

“While we agree with the sentiment, we are more bullish on the outlook for global dairy prices than Fonterra.

“The current ‘spot milk price’ is a shade under $8.00/kgMS. Global production growth is soft

and unlikely to match growth in global demand over the remainder of 2019.”

With the NZ dollar falling below US75c, the bank has pencilled in a $7/kgMS milk price forecast for 2019-20.

“And we see upside potential to that number.

Indeed, if we were to use a similar $1/ kgMS forecast range, ours would be roughly $6.70 to $7.70/kgMS.” Fonterra chairman John Monaghan says the opening forecast is realistic.

“We are having to look out more than a year into the future which is difficult.

But the information available is continuing to show us that demand remains strong across key trading partners and this is reflected in GDT prices.

“We are giving farmers a wide range for the openFonterra chief executive ing forecast milk price. It will be narMiles Hurrell says it isn’t easy to forecast the rowed as the season goes on.”

The 2019-20 advance rate schedule has been worked off $6.75 per kgMS.

milk price.

MILK YIELD DEPENDS ON WEATHER FONTERRA CHAIRMAN John Monaghan says weather plays a significant role in determining global milk volumes and therefore price.

The co-op is forecasting New Zealand collections to be 1520 million kgMS for the new season, up slightly on the current season.

“There’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge before we’ll have a clear view of what the season holds for both our coop’s production and global dairy supply,”

Monaghan says.

Fonterra has also dropped its 201819 forecast farmgate milk price range to $6.30 - $6.40/kgMS, reflecting favourable foreign exchange movements but slightly weaker than expected pricing for whole milk powder and skim milk powder.

Monaghan says the co-op has now contracted most of its farmers’ milk for the current season and has greater certainty on the likely closing farmgate milk price, reflected in the tighter forecast range.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

4 // NEWS

No future in lossmaking businesses SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA CANNOT

continue to run unprofitable businesses, says Federated Farmers Dairy vice president Wayne Langford.

He says shareholders feel for people affected by closure of assets but he says the writing had been on the wall for its struggling Australian business.

“Thankfully we have a board that can make those tough decisions otherwise it will be difficult for all farmer shareholders to come out of the

hole we are in right now,” he told Dairy News.

Fonterra last week announced it was closing its Dennington milk plant in Australia, leaving 98 people without jobs.

The co-op is commencing a strategic review of two wholly owned farm hubs in China and reviewing its joint venture partnership with Nestle in Brazil -- Dairy Partners Americas (DPA) Brazil.

Fonterra chief excutive Miles Hurrell says China remains a key market for Fonterra.

“We have contributed to China’s dairy industry by developing high quality

model farms and showing there is a valuable opportunity for fresh milk in China’s consumer market, and this continues to be an attractive prospect.

“However, this does not necessarily mean that we need to continue to have large amounts of capital tied up in farming hubs.”

The two hubs milk 31,000 cows. Fonterra has spent about $1 billion setting up the farms but very little profit has flowed back to farmer shareholders.

Langford says the farms were set up to get market access into China

and not just to make a profit.

“While it hasn’t been overly profitable it has allowed us market access,” he says.

“Having said that we cannot keep a loss making asset. The bottom line is that Fonterra cannot keep running unprofitable businesses.”

Should Fonterra decide to sell the China Farms, it would still have a milk hub it jointly owns with listed company Abbot Laboratories. Hurrell says this will allow Fonterra to participate in the lucrative fresh milk market in China.

On Fonterra’s DPA business in Brazil, Hurrell says a decision will be made by the end of this year. The joint venture distributes chilled dairy products throughout Brazil.

The Dennington plant in Victoria is at least 100 years old and considered unviable. Fonterra has been in talks with staff at the plant.

“The Australian ingredients business continues to feel the impact of the drought and other significant changes that mean there is excess manufacturing capacity in the Australian dairy industry,”

Wayne Langford

says Hurrell.

“This is not a one-off for this season, it’s the new norm for the Australian dairy industry and we need to adapt.

“We need to get the most value from every drop of our farmers’ milk and, with the reduced

REVENUE UP, EBIT DOWN FONTERRA’S REVENUE for the

nine months of this financial year touched $15 billion, up 1% on the same period last year.

Sales volumes were 16.6b liquid milk equivalent (LME), up 4%. However, normalised EBIT was down 9% to $522 million.

In ingredients, sales volumes for the first nine months were up 10% to 16.3b LME, gross margin was down to 8.6% from 9.6% and EBIT was down $64m to $602m.

In consumer and foodservice sales, volumes were down 1% to 3.8b LME, gross margin was down to 22.8% from 23.6% and normalised EBIT was down $62m to $266m.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell says the New Zealand ingredients business is performing as expected but

Australia ingredients continues to face challenges and it is taking longer than planned to lift performance in some parts of the co-op’s consumer and foodservice business.

“Due to the challenges in Australia ingredients and tightening relative price differences between reference products, or those products that inform the farmgate milk price, and non-reference products – that’s all our other products -- we are reducing the forecast full year normalised EBIT for the whole ingredients business to $645 - $725m, down from the $750 - $850m range we shared at our interim results.”

Consumer and foodservice improved its performance in the third quarter relative to the first half.

“Due to our performance in Latin

milk pool in Australia, we must put it into our highest returning products and most efficient assets.

Dennington is over 100 years old and not viable in a low-milk pool environment.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

Fonterra says it’s NZ ingredients business is performing well.

America we have lowered our forecast normalised EBIT from $475m - $525m to $400m - $430m for this part of the co-op,” he says.

The China foodservice business recovered as demand for butter bounced back, helping pricing and in market inventory return to more normal levels.

There was good demand for Anchor Food Professionals UHT culinary cream and the Waitoa UHT factory had worked hard to get shipments to China foodservice customers.

The co-op’s Oceania consumer and foodservice business continued to perform well with Australia’s spreads category, including Western Star butter, contributing significantly to gross margin.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 5

Goat milk cheese reigns supreme SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WAIKATO CHEESEMAKER Meyer’s foray

into goat milk continues to pay dividends.

Last week the family business scooped the Countdown Champion of Champions (Commercial) award for its Goats Milk

Gouda.

Traditionally makers of cow milk cheese, Meyer Cheese started using goat milk in 2016.

In 2017, its Meyer Smoked Goat Gouda won the champion of champions award for commercial cheese.

Meyer Cheese chief executive Miel Meyer says the company is “abso-

NO SURPRISE IN SOFTER WMP PRICE SOFTER WHOLE milk powder (WMP) prices are

not surprising given China’s strong import activity recently and the steadily increasing WMP pricing, says Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins.

“We have been expecting China’s import growth to seasonally slow, combined with our expectation that inventory pipelines are full,” Higgins told Dairy News.

She was commenting on the final GDT Event last week for the 2018-19 production season. The GDT price index dropped 1.2% to US$3414/tonne. It ended a good run of 11 positive GDT Events since December 2018, says Higgins.

WMP prices moved lower by just over 2% to US$3180/t. Skim milk powder saw a small lift of 0.5% to US$2529/t.

“This was a good result given that more SMP was on offer for this GDT Event by 17% on prior forecasts and the last GDT Event. Oceania SMP prices are leading international prices, with NZ product retaining a premium over both European and US product.”

Fats dived. AMF results were lower by 1.4% to US$6140/t. Butter was softer by 3.2%, landing at an average price US$5297/t.

“Despite this, Oceania butter is still priced ahead of US and EU product. Part of the recalibration of fat prices seen in this GDT Event comes down to the affordability of European product compared to Oceania butter, in particular.

“The other factor is that the northern hemisphere season is well underway, with reports of improved milk flows from earlier in the year….

“We are moving into the quieter months for NZ production and therefore fresh product for the GDT. Any major price movements over the next GDT Events will be influenced by the urgency of buyers looking to obtain product over NZ’s seasonal hiatus period.”

She notes EU milk production for March 2019 was higher by 1.1%. This brings total EU milk production for the first quarter 2019 to a small decline of -0.1% year on year.

BNZ senior economist Doug Steel says the small decline at last week’s event was in line with expectations and “fits with our broader view that prices will drift lower over coming months”.

“Not all prices fell. Cheese bucked the trend with a massive 15.2% gain [from already elevated levels] and casein prices also rose strongly,” he notes.

– Pam Tipa

Meyer Cheese Goats Milk Gouda.

CUMIN GOUDA TOPS THE MAHOE Farmhouse Cheese entry Cumin Gouda was awarded Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions in the boutique cheese category.

It is made to a traditional Dutch recipe that adds the cumin seeds to the curd. After three to six months of ripening the refreshing lemon zing of the cumin flavours the whole wheel.

According to master judge Russell Smith, Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese’s Cumin Gouda “is an exceptional cheese”.

Anna and Bob Rosevear and their family have been making Mahoe cheese in the Bay of Islands since 1986.

lutely ecstatic” with the win.

“It’s really a positive result for our business and team behind the scene and acknowledgement of my brother’s hard work as lead cheese maker for our business,” he told Dairy News.

He says cow milk is still the bread and butter of the business but the demand for other milks is helping drive sales.

“Since 2007 when I took over the business we started making a little bit of sheep milk cheese after constant positive feedback and building confi-

dence in making cheese.

“Ten years later with an opportunity to buy some goat milk from a local supplier in Morrinsville we took the plunge in 2016 and started producing goat milk Gouda style cheese.”

The company gets its goat milk from the Averil family in Morinsville.

“Our supplier owns and manages Goatland Farm Ltd. They are suppliers of the Dairy Goat Cooperative but with the co-op’s support we are able to take some of the milk to produce this wonder product.”

Meyer says goat milk products are on the rise and consumers are looking for the products on the shelves.

“We are forecasting about five tonnes of goat cheese per year but after last night I expect this might increase.”

Meyer Cheese is a fully fledged family affair.

Founded in Waikato in 1976 by Fieke and Ben Meyer, their next generation is now at the helm.

Their son Miel took over as general manager in 2007 when Ben and Fieke retired. In 2011, eldest son Geert returned from The Netherlands to become the head cheesemaker.

Geert also collected a trophy at the awards

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when he was named Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker – the second year in a row he has won the title.

Meyer cheeses are widely available at supermarkets and specialty retailers NZ-wide.

Australian master cheese judge Russell Smith reflected on the results saying the awards for Dutch style cheeses reflect the quality of these cheeses in NZ. “Kiwis are fortunate to have a handful of

brilliant cheesemakers here making these types of cheeses.

“I judge across the world and Dutch style cheeses made in NZ are as good as anywhere in the world.”

Commenting on the Meyer Cheese Goats Milk Gouda, Smith said “It doesn’t come any better than this. This is a cheese you never want to finish.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

6 // NEWS

City cash squeeze led to a life they love on farm PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

ECONOMIC NECESSITY forced 2019 Dairy

Industry Award winners Colin and Isabella Beazley into dairy farming but now they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Share Farmers of the Year were both at university in Auckland when the global financial crisis struck in 2008. The high school sweethearts couldn’t afford to stay on in the city.

They returned to Colin’s parents’ sheep and beef farm in Kaikohe where he grew up.

The farm was sold and

management degree.

“Neither of us graduated because we literally couldn’t pay the bills to stay in Auckland City. But

“It would be pretty hard to pry us away from here.” the new owner converted it to dairy, also buying neighouring farms. He kept Colin on.

Isabella had been studying marketing and Colin was close to finishing an accounting and

it worked out for the best though because now we are in dairying.”

It’s a lifestyle they now wouldn’t want to give up.

Both aged 31, they are 50/50 sharemilkers for Neil Jones and Wendy

Crow-Jones, milking 330 cows on the 163ha Wellsford property.

They have been in Wellsford for six years after a stint as herd manager then manager in Titoki, Whangarei. They first worked on the CrowJones neighbouring 200 cow farm and now milk the 330 cow herd with a 50/50 split autumn and spring. In the new season they will go up to 530 cows with an additional 100ha.

“It’s a lovely place and lovely community,” says

The Beazleys run a low stocking rate because of autumn calving.

TIME TRUMPS MONEY THE BEAZLEYS say a few years ago they were driven to make as much money as they could. But a family situation has tempered that and changed their approach to farming.

“Our whole goal was trying to get to farm ownership and make lots of money. And then we had our son and he was quite sick at a young age,” Colin says.

“He is fine now. But it sort of changed our whole mentality on how we were running our farm and it put a lot of emphasis on

family time and making things easier for ourselves and those around us.

“Instead of getting to farm ownership in five years we have now pushed that out to 10 years.”

They have two children, a daughter Erin (7) and son Dayton (3).

“We didn’t want to miss out on our children growing up because life is short. We could lose one of each other at any stage.

We want to make sure we have

memories and stuff like that.”

Colin says they are having more fun now than they ever have because farming is more enjoyable.

“It makes you want to get up in the morning and go out there.”

The new approach saw no impact on production. They run a low stocking rate because of autumn calving.

“Other than our getting to spend a lot more time with our family now, really nothing has changed,” Isabella says.

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Share Farmers of the Year Colin and Isabella Beazley.

Colin. “It has a good mix of urban and rural and it is very tight knit. It is awesome to be part of it.

It would be pretty hard to pry us away from here.”

This was their third entry in the Dairy Industry Awards.

Share Farmer head judge Kevin McKinley, from DairyNZ, says the Beazleys impressed the judges with their resilience, team work and attention to detail. “They are a great team and complement each other in their roles onfarm.”

The judges praised their pasture management and noted they weren’t afraid to trial new things and were innovative in pasture species and management and their use of technology.

Colin thinks the ‘attention to detail’ particularly applies to the shed – everything is labelled. “On a day to day basis we work well as a team but I wouldn’t call it organised. We get the job done and we get it done in a timely manner.”

Isabella says Colin is naturally organised and his management degree learnings contribute.

Colin says the time man-

agement between the two of them is good.

Everything is in place.

“It goes through the whole farm. That is the way we like to keep our farm really.”

The judges praised their staff policies.

“This farm is the first where we have had staff,” Colin says. “So we are still learning and trying to grow our systems and obviously we will have more staff next year.

“It was pretty much through the dairy awards that we have grown our human resources side of things. It is the feedback we get from the judges that tells us what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong.”

Isabella says under health and safety lies the realm of mental health and wellbeing. “We are giving staff a well balanced life where they get to be at home with their families too.”

Two extra staff next season and Isabella moving towards a fulltime role on the farm means more work on the strong team culture.

“Right from day one we have got things planned,” says Isabella.

“For day one no real work will be happening between milking. We will have a big team building exercise getting to know each other.”

Colin says they are looking forward to it.

“Having a team environment adds to having more fun. Being able to come to work and have work mates -- it will be awesome.” Each staff member has family so including wives and children in the business will be enjoyable.

They entered the industry out of necessity but Colin says they don’t look back. “We love it.”

Isabella says living in Wellsford is the best of both worlds. “If we want to go into Auckland City and have a catch up with friends or go for coffee or go shopping, it is just an hour. Wellsford has it all.

Why would we want to leave?”

Asked about advice to young people looking at entering the industry, Isabella says you need resilience.

“Yeah there’s tough times but they only last a little while,” says Colin.

“It is definitely not the easiest job in the world but it is very rewarding.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 7

Synlait pressing on with new plant NIGEL MALTHUS

SYNLAIT CHIEF executive Leon Clement says the company still hopes to open its new Pokeno milk powder plant on time despite a Court of Appeal ruling reinstating restrictive covenants on the land it’s built on.

The covenants effectively restrict the factory site to farming or forestry. They were lifted by the High Court in December but reinstated by the Court of Appeal earlier this month.

Clement said Synlait is still working towards ‘option A’ -opening the $250 million plant on time about October. It is already largely complete.

“We are speaking to all parties involved and hope we can get to a solution here,” he said. “The overturning of the ruling was a surprise to us and to others.”

The Canterbury company had announced the conditional purchase of the 28ha site in February 2018 to establish its second nutritional powder manufacturing site.

The land was subject to covenants limiting its use to grazing,

lifestyle farming or forestry, but Synlait was confident they were no longer relevant due to the land having been rezoned industrial, and other industrial development in the area including another dairy powder plant.

The High Court agreed, removing the covenants in November 2018. The title was transferred to Synlait only after that ruling, although work was already underway.

However, the Court of Appeal has now effectively reinstated the covenants in a ruling delivered on May 9 in favour of the beneficiary of the covenants, adjacent land owner New Zealand Industrial Park Ltd. A spokesperson for New Zealand Industrial Park Ltd said the company was unable to comment due to legal processes now underway.

Asked why Synlait had gone ahead with building the plant when an appeal was still possible, Clement said Synlait had always acted in line with legal advice “and that was supported by the High Court finding which was pretty unequivocal”.

“So we were surprised the

Court of Appeal overturned it. We were also acting in line with the industrial zoning of the area, which is consistent with the neighbouring land and the other area around it including an infant nutrition factory.

“Our confidence was supported by the High Court ruling and that’s why we continued to build.”

In the latest development, Synlait has now acknowledged receiving a ‘cease and desist’ letter from NZIP but is treating the letter as a request and has continued the build. Clement said the NZ Stock Exchange was advised of the letter because it was important to keep the market up to date.

“But it doesn’t mean we have to comply with it. It’s not an order from the court.

“We are considering our options but it’s important to note that we’re committed to Pokeno and to our investors and shareholders and farm suppliers.

“We’re in discussion with all parties and still hope we can get to a reasonable solution.”

In anticipation of the opening, Synlait has signed up local farmers to start supplying milk from June

1, and collection is not expected to be affected by the legal hurdles. Arrangements were already in place to handle that milk before the scheduled opening in spring.

“We’re committed to Pokeno and to the supply relationships we have built there and we will be acting accordingly.”

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Synlait has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration process required to launch Munchkin’s Grass Fed infant formula in the US has been put on hold.

Synlait had been informed that the clinical study has been put on hold to allow Munchkin to explore other options in the US. “Munchkin has not terminated its supply agreement with Synlait.

For other markets where Grass Fed is sold the relationship continues, with business as usual,” said Clement.

He said the development would not have a material impact on Synlait’s forecast infant formula volumes.

Leon Clement, Synlait chief executive.

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THE TAUPO Maori

owned dairy company Miraka has scored a promotion deal involving Singapore Airlines.

Soon passengers will see Miraka’s premium international brand logo Taupo Pure on their ice cream.

Miraka chief executive Richard Wyeth told Dairy News the Singaporean maker of Udder brand ice cream had sought New Zealand ingredients for an ice-

words cream it ‘using planned New Zeafor the land dairy airline made promofrom Taupo tion. It did a Pure’ and it deal through includes the NZ Trade Taupo logo. and EnterIt’s a promoprise and the tion they see company’s getting to a milsales manager lion customers in China.

Ice Cream made from Miraka ingredients. within a few months “Our Taupo Pure which is pretty exciting.” said. whole milk powder is Wyeth says getting “On the side of ice the main ingredient in the brand out so widely cream punnet are the the ice cream,” Wyeth

and especially to Chinese consumers has significant potential for Miraka. While this is a promotion only, not a permanent deal, getting such brand exposure is still great news.

This is Miraka’s first visible foray into the ice cream market. Wyeth believes other ice cream makers use the company’s whole milk powder but it does not get brand recognition.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 9

Green light for $280m plant SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WAIKATO SHOULD

have a new $280 million milk plant up and running

by August 2021.

This follows Happy Valley Milk Ltd securing necessary consents from Waikato Regional Council this month.

Happy Valley’s new plant at Otorohanga will

specialise in consumer ready infant milk formula and other nutritional milk based formulas using A2 and organic milk Happy Valley director Randolph van der Burgh told Dairy News the ground breaking ceremony is planned for September.

“Assuming everything goes to plan, site preparation, earthworks and preliminary works will take

80 SUPPLIERS ONCE CONSTRUCTION has begun, Happy Valley Milk will finalise contracts with about 80 farmer suppliers in King Country/Waikato, depending on herd size.

Randolp van der Burgh says this is no more than 2% of the milk supply in the region.

“We will select our farmer suppliers based on strict criteria underpinned by our... four sustainability pillars: environment (effluent, waterways, water use, nutrient management and land use), animal health and welfare, milk quality, and social responsibility.”

six months,” he says.

“Construction of the plant is anticipated to take 12 months then commissioning a further six months. Production will then commence, currently targeted for August 2021.”

The company is working closely with Otorohanga District Council and the community on the project.

“We’re grateful to all who have been involved and contributed throughout the process to date and look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders,” he says.

The project will be a financial boost for the district. Reports have indicated the initial construction phase will provide the region with a one-off impact of $29 million, the equivalent of 330 full time jobs.

Van der Burgh says more importantly, from

a community standpoint, the company think it signals increased prosperity and opportunities for current and future generations.

The resource consent process has taken longer than expected due to initial concerns by Otorohanga District Council on the environmental impact of the project.

Van der Burgh says it was a robust process and the company is happy with the outcome.

“It is obviously a very significant milestone for us as a company and as a member of the Otorohanga community. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by a number of people who saw the potential of the district and shared a vision to provide pathways for it to prosper.”

Happy Valley Milk says work on the new plant should start in September.

COMPETITION GOOD FOR FARMERS FEDERATED FARMERS Waikato president Andrew McGiven says Happy Valley will increase farmgate competition in southern Waikato, a good thing for farmers.

But he worries that Fonterra continues to bleed suppliers to rival processors.

“If the milk supply reaches a tipping point so that Fonterra is left with uneconomic stranded assets, they may become uncompetitive in setting the milk price, resulting in a lower milk price that will impact all dairy farmers as the corporate processors all base their milk price on Fonterra’s.

“However I hope this will mean Fonterra continues to rise up and meet the challenge, fight to keep its suppliers and [so] ensure that all farmers continue to get a competitive milk price.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

10 // FONTERRA RESPONSIBLE DAIRYING AWARD

Treedom in Dairy industry critics – in fact every Kiwi – should look at the dairy farm run by Damian and Jane Roper on a small rural road near Patea, Taranaki. There, with their children Jack, Harriet and Adelaide, the Ropers have created a model dairy farm -- a haven for themselves and for their livestock, native birds and other creatures. Peter Burke reports on this remarkable yet unassuming family.

A FEW weeks ago Damian and Jane Roper won the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award and received the John Wilson Memorial Trophy.

The prestigious award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are

Jane and Damien Roper.

respected by their fellow farmers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying.

One judge summed it up beautifully, saying the Ropers are “passionate, enthusiastic and energetic with an ability to motivate those around them”.

“They are determined to be better than just compliant. Hearing where they have come from, where they are now and where they are heading in the future, I want a ticket to ride their train”.

The Ropers knew John Wilson personally and receiving a trophy with

his name on it was very special to them. They said they were surprised to win and delighted to be a part of the whole dairy industry awards event which they say was made up of people just like themselves.

The pathway to their success as sustainable

Benefits of planting trees outweigh costs IN THE seven years before they started running the present farm in their own right, Damien and Jane Roper did a mass of riparian planting -- at least 9000 trees to date.

Last week Damien had picked up two more loads of trees.

Near their back door is a beautifully preserved stand of native bush. They call it Ropers Bush and its upkeep and preservation is a task for the Roper children – Jack (23), Harriet (21) and Adelaide (16).

Jack works on the farm and runs a small contracting business with a focus on no tillage. Harriet teaches at a primary school in Hawera and lives at home. Adelaide is at boarding school and enjoys running.

The trees took a hammering in the 2012 storms but somehow with the

help of the Taranaki Regional Council the Ropers have managed to restore the stand of bush and the children are now building a boardwalk through it to allow visitors to view the area without damage.

The native trees provide food for the native birds and the dawn chorus is something to behold.

Ropers Bush is classed as a Key Native Ecosystem and will be covenanted under the QEII scheme, ensuring its preservation.

Down a gully a few hundred metres from the dairy shed is Lake Ohurai, created by the Ropers in a once boggy, ugly area of swamp. The 2ha lake gets its name from the small stream that feeds it. Artificial islands foster the bird life.

“When we took over the farm it was proba-

The Ropers have planted 9000 trees to date on their farm.

bly the ugliest area, now it’s the most picturesque.

We have made underwater reefs for the kura and planted a whole range of native tree species to not only improve the aesthetics of the lake but to provide food for the birds.

“We have planted nursery species such as cabbage tree, carex,

coprosma, kohuhu and canopy trees puriri, totara, rata, rewarewa and even beech trees which attract the bell birds,” says Jane.

“We have even started a small propogation area with a focus on regenerating the rare swamp maire to the region.”

The Ropers contracted an independent geolo-

gist to set up a robust lake management plan.

“It was well worth it as it gives us a road map to work to. It also gives us actual data on the health of the lake. We take water samples twice a year to measure nitrogen, phosphate, sediment, temperature and dissolved oxygen.

Also we snorkel the lake in the summer to monitor the aquatic life which is

flourishing.”

The family also regularly swim and kayak the lake. Their planting continues.

“We have noticed a lot of duck species coming in such as the teal, scaup and dab chicks. There are also flocks of herons. We have planted carex near the waters edge which provides good areas for nests,” says Damien.

The word has got out in Taranaki about the remarkable contribution the Roper family have made to dairying and the environment. They frequently host visitors and schools to see what they have done and the small, relatively inexpensive changes they have made to reduce the farm’s environmental footprint.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw has been to the farm.

“We see this as an education tool and we will

never charge people to see it,” says Damian.

He and Jane, modest about their achievements, say their goal as the first generation on the farm is to set things up for future generations. They are thrilled that their children share their vision and are involved.

The Ropers aim to help build a positive image of the dairy industry which they see as tarnished.

They want the public to see the positive side of their industry and show other farmers what they can do to.

Says Damian, “We don’t expect everyone to create a lake but there are little things that can be done that make big gains on the environmental front and a positive look for dairy farmers.”

It’s not hard and it need not be expensive, he says. The benefits outweigh the costs ten fold.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

FONTERRA RESPONSIBLE DAIRYING AWARD // 11

Taranaki dairy farmers has been one of hard graft and based on an unwavering, strong vision of creating a modern, tidy dairy farm that is profitable and has no negative impacts on the environment.

Jane was born on a mixed sheep, beef and cropping farm in South Australia. She completed a diploma in hotel and restaurant management then came to New Zealand where she met Damian.

He was born in Rotorua but spent many holidays on his grandparents’ dairy farm at Rununga on the West Coast, where he helped milk the 30 cows they were running.

“That was the grounding that set me up for being a farmer. I knew when I was 11 that I wanted to be a farmer and went to Massey University and did a BAgSc.” After he and Jane met they headed off to Austra-

lia where he learned to shear and then did shearing in Wales and England.

When they returned to NZ in 1992, Damien continued shearing until a wrist injury forced him to take a break.

“During that time we came to Taranaki for my best man’s wedding and got a nice feel for the place and thought there was a pathway to farm ownership which was always our goal,” says Damian.

So began a 23 year climb up the ladder of the dairy industry from farm workers to contract milkers and then 50/50 share milkers.

In 2006 they bought part of the farm they are on now and a second block in 2008. Then in 2015 they gave up sharemilking and came to set up home on the present property. All told there is 200ha of which 148ha is the dairy platform.

There are 30ha in pine

FEWER COWS, MORE MILK DAMIEN AND Jane Roper live their vision in the management of the farm.

For example they have built a large modern dairy shed with a feed pad attached to maximise feed utilisation and to reduce the environmental footprint of their stock. They have also reduced stock numbers but their production has lifted by 29% over three years.

“We used to run 510 cows but now we run 425 and this has resulted in putting less pressure on the whole farming operation. We have noticed cow production has lifted considerably with less stress during winter and spring and we can cope well when extremes happen due to climate change.

“We are better off in having 425 high quality cows that are more efficient at converting grass to milk, than 510 average to below average converters that emit more greenhouse gases,” says Damian.

He says when they had 510 cows their stocking rate was 3.2 but is now at 2.7. They have built a quality herd of two thirds Friesian and one third Friesian cross. This season Damian says they will produce 240,200kgMS which equates to 586kgMS/cow.

“When we had 500 cows we were barely doing 400kgMS/cow so you can see how having fewer, better cows has helped raise production.”

Reproduction and in calf rates have improved allowing fewer replacement numbers.

But it’s not all about reducing cow numbers.

The Ropers operate on system four and to maximise inputs they have hired a nutritionist to make sure they feed the right amount of the right feed at the right time.

Damian says while their feed bill has increased slightly their utilisation of feeds is a lot better. And they re-grass about 18% of the farm annually, mostly by no tillage.

The Ropers say having fewer cows helped them raise production.

trees, 4ha in bush and the remainder carries a small sheep and beef operation. They run 150 ewes and produce lambs for the summer market and then trade between 25 and 30 steers and heifers they rear each year and take through just one winter.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

12 // NEWS

Sheep milk industry eyeing dairy farmers SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE SHEEP milk industry is setting its sights on the dairy industry as it looks to pick up more farmer suppliers.

Sheep milk producer Spring Sheep Milk Co, claiming good growth during the 2018-19 financial year, says the time is right for established farmers to get into the industry.

Business manager Thomas Macdonald says international demand for New Zealand sheep milk products is strong, and he’s noticed more farmers inquiring about converting their dairy farms to sheep milk.

“Heading into our fifth dairy season we are noticing a lot more interest in the industry,” says Macdonald. “Last year I might have received around one inquiry a month from a farmer looking at their options, but those inquiries are now coming in thick and fast.”

Spring Sheep milks 4000 sheep on three farms in central North Island. Milk is processed at Melody Dairies’ spray drier at Waikato Innovation Park in Hamilton.

Because demand is mostly from Asia, driven by consumers’ increasing preference for alternative milks and nutritional focused products, growth in this market is high on Spring Sheep’s agenda,

Macdonald says.

Dairy farmers in Waikato, being within the two-hour travel zone for processing, would be ideal suppliers, he says.

“The Waikato region is rich dairy country, and the pastoral farming practices and core skillset of dairy farming found here are easily transferred to sheep milk.

“The optimal sheep milking system in NZ

requires the use of highperformance genetics, combined with a farming system that utilises our pastoral advantage. We now have those genetics available and we’re looking to work with passionate, skilled dairy farmers with high-quality land.”

Federated Farmers Waikato president and Fonterra supplier Andrew McGiven says he hasn’t heard of dairy farm-

ers looking to convert to sheep milk.

“But if the returns are there and it is a viable option then I don’t see why farmers wouldn’t look at it,” he told Dairy News.

“Most I know are looking at organics to improve the bottom line, but if sheep milk has a better operating profit and is more environmentally sustainable then it will

appeal to some.

“Milk prices in dairy farming have been very volatile for some time now as we all know, so if sheep milk can give a more stable rate of return and avoid some of the rigorous compliance requirements that dairy are subjected to, then it could be an attractive alternative, especially for the smaller farms,” says McGiven.

Thomas Macdonald

Genetics lines imported from Europe has helped boost milk yield.

PRODUCTIVITY DOUBLES LAST YEAR Spring Sheep doubled its productivity thanks to new genetic lines imported from Europe.

Previously NZ-bred ewes were producing 120L each per season, but the new high-performing genetic lines have the potential to increase production to over 600L per ewe per season.

Spring Sheep business manager Thomas Macdonald says most

farming systems need about 250-450L per ewe per season to achieve a good return.

“So the improved productivity we’re seeing presents a good opportunity for farmers considering a conversion to sheep dairy farming.”

Spring Sheep has two farms near Cambridge and one in Reporoa. It has just finished its first season successfully running three

farm system trials: full grazing outdoor, hybrid indoor-outdoor grazing and large scale hybrid models.

Macdonald says the growth in the industry is encouraging for farmers who are looking at sheep milk as a viable, high-return farming option.

“As a value-added product, sheep milk isn’t at the mercy of fluctuating market prices so the farm

gate price remains stable,” he says.

He recommends two farm models for those looking to get into the industry: a hybrid indoor-outdoor grazing model and a fully outdoor grazing model.

“The grazing model, a bovine-to-ovine conversion, is a former cow dairy farm that’s retrofitted with sheep milking equipment and fences. It has the lower cost

of entry of the two models and is highly recommended for those looking to enter the industry.

“We can also provide great wraparound support for farmers, with a tailored farm support programme drawing on our own sheep milking expertise, access to genetically superior dairy sheep and farm data, training and the option of fully managed farms.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

14 // NEWS

When is a gouda not a gouda?

PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

TRADE EXPERT Ste-

phen Jacobi says he thinks New Zealand cheesemakers are rightly concerned about a European Union plan to protect the names of common cheeses.

It is a concern in the context of the EU-NZ free trade agreement negotiations, he says.

“The Europeans say they are not looking to penalise in any way the generic names,” he told Dairy News. “They are saying they are only interested in the ones that have geographical connections.”

This means not ‘parmesan’ but ‘Parmigiano’, and not ‘gouda’ but ‘gouda hollanda’.

But, Jacobi says, although the Europeans say that, they have listed a number of names that aren’t geographical, for example ‘feta’. But there is no place called ‘feta’.

“The EU says the list is a starting point but the concern is that we don’t know the rules that will apply to these generic

names,” he says.

“That is a bit of a problem, but this is a negotiation that has to be worked through.”

Jacobi, executive director of the NZ International Business Forum and a former diplomat and trade advisor, says he also understands that the EU has not made a substantive offer on agriculture market access.

“Until that has happened I don’t think they can expect NZ to start reciprocating on the names of certain cheeses.

But this is a negotiation so it is still very much in play.

“The dairy companies and the cheesemakers make a valid point and hopefully we can work this negotiation out so that some of the risks are reduced and some of the opportunities are magnified.”

Jacobi points out that he is commenting on the latest information he has, but there was a negotiating round in the previous week and he does not know what happened in that.

“My understanding is

that in prior rounds they had not begun to negotiate seriously on market access for agriculture products.

“I don’t think they can be surprised that NZ is not willing to engage in other agriculture issues [at this stage].”

He says they have submitted a list but we don’t know exactly what the rules are.

“The Europeans will tell you they have negotiated other FTAs and we can see from those the sorts of things they want in this one. But I think obviously our industry is saying it needs a lot more clarity.

“The use of generic names is important both within NZ and to NZ cheese products exported globally.

“So it is important but it is a negotiation that will have to work its way through. But the dairy companies and cheesemakers are saying this is a key issue for them. It needs to be thought about in the context of the negotiation.”

This shows this negotiation is not as straight-

forward as some people might think, says Jacobi.

“There has been a lot of talk about finishing this negotiation by the end of the year. It would be great if we could but there are still some very complicated issues to work out.”

Future use of popular cheese names by NZ cheesemakers could be prohibited.

EU PROTECTING ITS PATCH NEW ZEALAND chee-

semakers fear that European proposals to protect names of many common foodstuffs may stifle local investment and innovation in cheesemaking, and limit choices for NZ consumers.

Their warning is prompted by a fourth round of negotiations towards an EU-NZ free trade agreement now underway in Wellington.

The NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Associa-

tion (NZSCA) and the Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ) are concerned that the extensive ‘geographical indications’ (GIs) framework proposed by the EU could limit future use of common cheese names by NZ cheesemakers.

“We would be concerned if the trade agreement started to remove choice for NZ consumers,” says Mike Hannah of the NZSCA. “Our cheesemakers

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have spent years developing their products and brand identities. It would be hugely disruptive and potentially very costly if the agreement put at risk NZ products like Meyer Vintage Gouda, Zany Zeus Creamy Feta, Talbot Forest goat parmesan or Clevedon Buffalo Mozzarella.”

DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther notes the EU’s GI agenda has intensified in recent years and is now extending to a broad range of cheese names that are globally generic rather than geographically unique in nature.

“In pursuit of commercial advantage for European producers, the EU is ignoring common food heritage to extend protection to cheese names that have been produced and traded between many geographies for decades,” Crewther explains.

There is a lot at stake for the NZ dairy industry with exports of $2 billion of cheese exports each year.

NZ also has a diverse and growing number of specialist cheesemakers, some of whom have used common cheese names on the local

market for decades, reflecting our rich history of immigration.

In international and domestic markets NZ cheesemakers compete with products from many countries, including the EU where producers get big subsidies.

Mike Hannah says the potential costs of losing the opportunity to use common cheese names are wide-ranging -- loss of investment, intellectual property, rebranding and relabelling.

And it is difficult to see how NZ consumers, or even EU producers, would be better off under this scenario.

“Locally made cheeses like havarti, halloumi and gouda are no longer strongly associated with European locations,” he notes.

“There are long family and company heritages behind many local NZ specialty cheeses. This history has been the foundation of the cheesemaking we are seeing today.”

The associations are urging the negotiators to work towards removing barriers and distortions from global dairy trade, rather than creating new ones for NZ producers.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 15

Winter grazing okay for farms under surveillance honest.”

A farm under active surveillance has a lower risk that its cattle are infected with M. bovis and, although testing is being done to check for infection such a farm is not under movement restrictions.

“Fewer than 5% of properties under active surveillance go on to have confirmed status, so the risk is low. But careful management remains essential,” said Finch.

“Farmers looking for advice and support are encouraged to contact us. We have staff on the ground who can help answer questions and prepare a plan. Shifting stock requires separate management of multiple mobs, completing NAIT requirements, following biosecurity precautions and record keeping.”

DairyNZ staff can help farmers continue as normally as possible while under surveillance or restrictions.

“Our M. bovis team can help support farmers

GRAZING GUIDANCE GRAZING GUIDANCE for farms under active surveillance includes: ■■ Farms with multiple mobs, or from multiple herds, should be kept separately on the home farm and at grazing.

■■

Have a grazing plan and record keeping which outlines key dates: stock arrival, paddock grazing days, animal health notes.

■■

Ensure NAIT records are up to date and detail any movements between properties.

■■

Follow all biosecurity precautions. At a minimum, double fence between mobs, stagger yard use and ensure boundary fences are secure.

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with managing the herd and forward planning into the next dairy season,” says Finch.

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DairyNZ South Island lead Tony Finch says farms under active surveillance should work closely with their grazier to develop a plan which protects them and the grazier.

“With winter fast approaching, planning and preparation is of the utmost importance now,” says Finch.

“Stock can still be sent to grazing but communication is key. Make a plan together and be open and

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

16 // NEWS

Townies ringing the changes on rural folk NIGEL MALTHUS

DECISIONS ARE being made about

and for New Zealand’s rural communities by the 80% of the population who live in urban areas, say the authors of a new book on rural change.

Current trends favour a market led, business focussed approach to regional growth, but these trends downplay social and community considerations, and that needs further thought, the authors say.

Heartland Strong: how rural New Zealand can change and thrive finds that rural communities have enormous strengths which could be enhanced and maintained even in the face of inexorable change.

The book condenses the findings of a 10-year study of the resilience of NZ’s rural communities led by AgResearch senior social scientist Dr Margaret Brown.

“Over 100 academic papers and reports later we decided that the people

who make the decisions affecting rural communities actually don’t read academic papers so let’s take a selection of the research and write it onto a popular and far more accessible style of writing,” Brown says.

The researchers found “great” examples of rural resilience from Wairoa to Southland, and discovered that strong relationships, connectedness and support networks are what they have in common.

They say the lessons learned by successful communities should be shared more widely and they call for engagement and changes to the way government services are delivered in rural areas.

“One overlooked opportunity is the interest and capability of many rural people who would like to be engaged and valued in making decisions about rural resilience that directly affect them.”

Brown says the authors define resilience as the ability to bounce forward to a new state, not back to the way

things were.

“So many things are either driving change or imposing change on agriculture that it can’t be business as usual. It has to change. And to be able to change at a farm level and at a community level you’ve got to have resilience.”

Margaret Brown, one of the Very little work had authors of Heartland Strong. been done on NZ rural communities when the research began, change is the 1 billion tree initiative, Brown says. The main message was which some people se as an opportuthat resilience was complex and there nity but others as “quite a threat”.

“Many people we’ve been working was not one recipe for all.

Farmers and rural communities had with see the Government 1 billion trees always been resilient and reacting to initiative as threatening to agriculture change but more and bigger changes and to rural communities.

“In the East Coast in particular were coming.

“What we haven’t seen before is the there was quite a hollowing out of the public scrutiny of farming like we are towns because the labour didn’t actuseeing now. That change will take quite ally come from the towns but was a bit of getting our heads around and brought in. And of course trees don’t generate much labour except at certain adapting to.”

Brown said an example of coming times, and then the workers left.”

There was also “terrible” erosion on vulnerable land when the mature trees were cut down, she said.

Another change was the way smaller rural centres were closing down and rural services concentrating into the larger centres.

“I’m a farmer here in Manawatu and one of the things that people coming to work for us ask is, is there a local school? They don’t want their children travelling too far. They want to know if there’s a rugby club and whether all the support services not too far away.”

RURAL MEDIA HABITS

THE FACTS! ● ● ● ● ● ●

88% of farmers read rural print at least weekly 79% of farmers say print is their preferred format 82% of farmers are influenced by rural print 77% of farmers use rural print for business and research 74% of farmers pay attention to the adverts in rural print 90% of farmers act as a result of reading rural print

Per•ceptive

The Rural Media Habits Survey 2018 is independent research conducted by Perceptive Research on behalf of the majority of rural publishers. Participants were screened to exclude lifestylers and ensure a robust sample of 820 Commercial Farmers. Results show the majority of farmers read rural print, find it highly relevant to their businesses, and that it influences their purchasing decisions more than all other media.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 17

AB technicians see drop in injuries are safer onfarm after a national safety campaign to improve their work environments.

LIC national AB manager Dave Hale says AB technicians have a very important job onfarm but their success can be compromised by the state of facilities provided.

“The variation between facilities on each farm was vast, with most technicians required to do their job in the confines of milking sheds.

“Balancing precariously on unstable platforms while inseminating cows wasn’t out of the ordinary and it wasn’t good enough.”

To ensure LIC’s 840 AB technicians are working in a safe environment, the co-op developed a national standard for AB facilities and trained 30 technicians to make checks NZ-wide.

To date, reportable health and safety incidents for LIC AB technicians in the 2018 season have dropped by 47%.

“Although it was common practice for facilities to be checked before the start of the AB season, the approach wasn’t consistent.

“Setting up a national standard for AB facilities and implementing this nationwide is a first for NZ. It has meant all

farms are treated fairly as they’re checked and graded based on the same criteria,” Hale says.

The new standard requires that all animals are held safely and securely and technician’s footing is firm, safe and on the same level as the animal. “[We’ve set up] a bronze minimum standard and silver and gold grades. This is a long-term initiative so we wanted to give farmers a gold standard to aspire to.”

Some farmers have challenged the standard, Hale says. But once they understood the purpose of the checks most have been understanding and some even welcoming.

“This isn’t a tick box exercise. There’s a bigger picture. We simply want our staff to have the best opportunity to get our farmer’s cows in-calf and return home safely every day.”

The checks are now standard practice for the co-op and are continuing NZ-wide.

“To date 6500 of our 8600 AB facilities have been checked. We’re finishing off the first round of checks with the aim of having, by late June, inspected and graded every AB facility where LIC’s AB technician service will be supplied in spring 2019.”

INNOVATIVE APPROACH PAYS OFF EACH YEAR Paul and Rosie Franklin synchronise 600 heifers and mate them off-farm near Waipukurau.

“All we had at the grazier’s property was conventional cattle yards,” Paul says.

“It was just a long race. You could put the first heifer securely in a front bail, but to inseminate all the others somebody was having to climb over the rails to get access to the race and all the other heifers in there.”

“We’ve known the facilities have needed upgrading for a long time.”

The visit by a member of LIC’s AB facilities team prior to last season’s mating seemed to provide timely impetus for the upgrade.

“The owner provided a bit of timber for the job and we got a second-hand herringbone rail from a nearby farmer. We made a gate coming off the side of the race, so we poured concrete, set some pipe in the ground and welded the herringbone to it.”

Their approach was endorsed by LIC’s AB facilities team.

The results are promising. Total reportable incidents for the 2018 season (ending May 31, 2019) across the AB technician group has so far reduced by 47% versus 2017 and 43% versus 2016.

Hale thanks farmers for their support. “Without the help and cooperation of our farmer shareholders, this campaign would not have achieved such an outstanding initial result.

Paul and Rosie Franklin’s upgraded AB facility.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

18 // NEWS

Catch crops crunch leaching NIGEL MALTHUS

THE KEY to using a catch crop to reduce onfarm nitrate leaching is to get it in the ground as soon as possible after winter feeding, says Plant and Food scientist Dr Brendon Malcolm.

Malcolm recently presented “hot off the press” research into catch crops sown following May grazing by cows.

Modelled on 25 years of rainfall data, the research showed that sowing a catch crop in June reduced nitrate leaching by 61%, 41% and 35% under low, medium and high rainfall scenarios respectively, compared with leaving the ground fallow.

But under all three scenarios the effectiveness dropped off pro-

gressively, to as little as 10%, if planting the catch crop was delayed to July, August or September.

“The modelling suggests here on average when we sow straight after grazing you get a 41% reduction. And you can see the longer you delay the lower the effectiveness of that catch crop,” said Malcolm.

The sooner the crop is planted the less the deposited urine is exposed to winter rain.

“The key thing is to sow the catch crop just after the urine is applied,” he said.

Malcolm also presenting findings of lysimeter tests which backed the value of early sowing, and other research showing that cereals were better catch crops than ryegrass.

Malcolm was among the key speakers at a

Scientists David Scobie and Robin Dynes with farmer Bill Wright (right) in a trial plot on his farm.

recent field day on Bill and Shirley Wright’s sheep and beef farm at Cave, near Timaru, dis-

cussing the large Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) research programme.

MBIE, DairyNZ and FAR, with financial and other assistance from CRIs and Lincoln University.

The programme, now running for nearly six years and due to end in September, is funded by

Research has been done on nine monitor farms spread throughout Canterbury – four dairy, two

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 19

– research arable, one arable/dairy, and two sheep and beef, one of them being the Wrights’.

Dr Robyn Dynes, who co-ordinates AgResearch’s involvement in the programme, said it started with the goal of a 20% reduction in nitrate leaching across all three sectors -- sheep and beef, arable and dairy.

She told the field day nitrogen was a critical biological cycle. Inputs were fertiliser, clover and feed, and outputs were milk, meat and the feed that goes off a farm.

“If we feed in excess of what they need most of it ends up in the urine and that’s where most of our nitrate leaching comes from.”

Nitrogen deposited in urine is available to be captured by plants and it costs dollars if it’s not, she said.

“So we’re all in behind how we do more with what we put into our system -- reduce our inputs, increase our outputs and reduce our nitrogen surplus.”

FRNL had started looking at a lot of options but quickly focussed on the three that showed the most promise -fodder beet for winter feeding instead of kale because of its lower nitrogen content; plantain, which increases N uptake, dilutes N in urine and also appears to have a suppressing effect on

nitrification in the soil; and catch crops.

Dynes said most of the dairy monitor farms are now growing fodder beet on their platforms. Plantain has also become a big focus for dairy farms although it is difficult to maintain the optimum plantain percentage in the sward.

Dynes said the 20% reduction goal had proven difficult on the Wrights’ farm in part because they are already leaching at very modest levels.

The challenge for a sheep and beef farm is that it is stocked and managed to utilise the feed that they grow and they don’t bring in lots of nitrate as fertiliser or supplements as dairy farms do, she said.

“So if they remain as livestock farmers, their opportunity to reduce leaching is quite limited.”

Catch crops had not made a big impact on the Wrights’ heavier soils but would potentially do more on the lighter and more freely draining soils.

However, the Wrights had “picked up and run with” a number of approaches and shown they can get more production at the same nitrate leaching, primarily by using high quality feed and finishing animals faster.

Dynes told the field day attendees that the monitor farms invited to take part in the FRNL

PLANTAIN EYED FOR OVERSEER PLANTAIN COULD be incorporated into Overseer as early as September, says Overseer chief executive Caroline Read.

Workshops and discussions with the Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) programme scientists have begun.

Proposed methods for including plantain, fodder beet and catch crops would be developed using collaborative software to make the process as transparent and inclusive as possible.

“We want to be in a position by [September] to at least introduce plantain if not the other two,” she said.

Fodder beet is already in Overseer but new data from FRNL will be used to update some of the characteristics.

“And we want to be able to represent catch crops. We know that will be really helpful for that winter risk period,” said Read.

“The FFRL project has helped get us to a point where we actually understand what needs to change in Overseer so that’s been very helpful.”

made sure the science was being questioned in ways that made it relevant to farming.

“We want you to leave today feeling no fear for the environmental challenges we’re all facing because we think there’s huge opportunity for all of you to do more with less.

And you’ve proven time and again your capacity to do that when the signals are right.”

Benefits of getting catch crops into the ground as soon as possible after winter feeding.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

22 // NEWS

POWER PLAN TO SLASH SHED COSTS GENESIS ENERGY has launched an electricity

Don’t take pests with you on gypsy day FARMERS ARE being urged to help protect farms from pest plants by cleaning machinery, vehicles and equipment before

they move on gypsy day (moving day).

In time for the new dairying year starting June 1, masses of cows and

machinery are trucked around New Zealand as farm contractors relocate themselves and their stock.

NO GREEN FEED FOR STOCK STOCK MUST be stood off green feed before they’re transported to help keep roads clear of effluent and safe for users.

A cow’s daily combined effluent is about 52L and a truck effluent tank’s capacity is just 200L. It means the spillage of effluent onto roads is a real risk unless farmers in particular take some simple steps ahead of time.

The regional council recom-

mends that farmers: confirm stock pick-up times in advance to eliminate confusion

■■

■■

move stock close to the loading ramp the day before when possible

■■

stand stock off green feed for a minimum of four hours (with water)

■■

use dry feed before transport because it results in less effluent.

“Farmers and contractors can prevent the spread of pest plants and weeds,” said Waikato Regional Council pest plants team leader Darion Embling.

“Unclean machinery is a confirmed pathway for the spread of infestations such as velvetleaf and alligator weed between some farms in our region. That makes machinery hygiene especially important with Gypsy Day coming up.”

Embling said machinery cleaning is essential before moving between properties.

“Any form of plant or soil contamination can

harbour pests or weeds.

Machinery should be cleaned so no visible soil or plant matter remains which might spread pests or weeds.”

Ideally, machinery wash down should occur on the property prior to movement, containing any problems at the source. Alternatively, machinery may be cleaned in a wash-down facility but taking care not to risk pest spread during trucking.

• More information is available at waikatoregion.govt. nz/biosecurity. @dairy_news

supply plan which it claims is the first ever tailored specifically for dairy farms.

The plan divides up electricity pricing into bands across the day that take into account the varying loads of a working dairy shed.

Genesis says it should save 5% to 25% on a shed’s electricity costs, depending on whether the farmer continues operating the shed exactly as before or shifts what loads he can to the off-peak periods.

The plan, branded For Dairy, is being marketed to farmers through Fonterra’s Farm Source.

Genesis executive general manager James Magill says For Dairy recognises that the way dairy farmers use electricity is far from standard.

“We know the milking shed is central to a dairy farming business and that the electricity it uses is at off-peak and shoulder times of the day, when everyone else is sleeping or at work. Essentially we’re rewarding farmers for using energy when no one else is.

“We’ve created a tool to show exactly how For Dairy works and bring its benefits to life for dairy farmers. It graphs and forecasts their electricity use and savings, allowing for seasonal variations and usage patterns during a typical milking day,” says Magill.

Fonterra Farm Source group director Richard Allen says energy costs farmers a lot of money, “so we’ve been focused on finding the best deal for our farmers and it’s great to have Genesis on board and investing in innovations to enable this”.

Magill says one participating farmers reviewed his usage and realised an immediate cost saving.

“Instead of leaving the water pump running around the clock, we suggested he get a timer so he could set it to turn on when he needed it, which was during off-peak times, getting the pump warmed up right before the milking schedule and allowing it to cool down soon after.”

Genesis will also give dairy farmers greater transparency by splitting out the network charges from the energy charges. – Nigel Malthus

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NEWS // 23

US milk powder giant rejoins GDT DAIRYAMERICA IS coming back to Global Dairy Trade (GDT), relaunching skim milk powder on July 16.

The federated marketing company represents four major US producer owned dairy cooperatives.

It last traded on GDT during 2011 to 2014.

Chief executive Dan Block says “ongoing change in digital technology, customer needs and international trading arrangements means that DairyAmerica continually reviews its sales strategy to ensure we provide more options to our customers”.

“We have always viewed GDT as playing a positive role in the international market and now is the right time for DairyAmerica to expand contracting choices with the GDT Events platform.”

GDT director Eric Hansen welcomed DairyAmerica’s return to GDT Events and says during its former participation it successfully sold large quantities of skim milk powder (SMP) to a diverse range of buyers.

“Compared to when they previously participated on GDT, we can now provide DairyAmerica with more choices over who sees their supply information and how their winning

prices are published,” Hansen says.

“We look forward to working with DairyAmerica once again and providing access to a truly global and diverse pool of active buyers to achieve credible price discovery for their products.”

DairyAmerica members include Agri-Mark Inc, California Dairies Inc, O-AT-KA Milk Producers Inc and United Dairymen of Arizona.

DairyAmerica markets 100% of the SMP, nonfat dry milk (NFDM) and buttermilk powder (BMP) produced by its members. It is the single largest US supplier of these products, reaching at least 50 countries.

TARANAKI FARMER JOINS AGMARDT BOARD AGRIBUSINESS

FUNDER

and experience governance in action within an innovative agribusiness environment.

O’Sullivan farms a coastal Taranaki dairy farm milking 400 cows where he and his family have been since 2014.

Prior to this he had a 16-year agri banking career in the North Island, including senior regional leadership roles.

He is a recent graduate of the Fonterra Governance Development Programme (2018), holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies (Valuation) and has held governance and advisory board positions in farming

companies. He is a member of the Taranaki Dairy Environment leaders’ group.

“I am stoked to be part of the Agmardt team and look forward to contributing to the good work the trust does to add to the bright future of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors,” O’Sullivan said.

“Developing people with good leadership and governance skills is paramount given the importance of agribusiness to the New Zealand economy.

“Agmardt intends to continue to support initiatives focused on growing leadership skills and good governance.”

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Agmardt has appointed Taranaki farmer Liam O’Sullivan as the next associate board member.

Agmardt chairman Tony Egan says the board is delighted with O’Sullivan’s appointment.

“There was a lot of interest in the role and the quality of applications was excellent,’ he says.

Agmardt is an independent, notfor-profit charitable trust that has been funding businesses and individuals in agribusiness for 30 years.

The purpose of creating the associate board member position is to provide an emerging agribusiness leader with an opportunity to observe

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

24 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Role model farmers making industry proud

MILKING IT...

What is good news?

MILKING IT recently saw a timely parallel between dairy farming and ocean conservation in an article by the World Resources Institute.

It told of improvements in ocean conservation -- huge wins nobody ever hears about because the media only ever report the bad news.

Said the writer, “It’s easy to lose sight of good news amid the barrage of negative stories about the threats facing the ocean, notably rising plastic pollution and dying coral reefs.

However, there is a lot to celebrate when you look more closely at oceanrelated developments.”

This is exactly what happens to the dairy industry, which continues to make gains in environmental standards. The daily news ignores most of this good news.

Thank goodness then for the various groups set up to advocate on farmers’ behalf. At least farmers have a voice loud enough to compete with the noise from the knockers and give the media the other side of the story.

All hot air WHATEVER YOUR view on climate change, one thing most people can agree on is that the only option available to farmers to meet the harsh emissions targets proposed by the Winston First Coalition Government (not its official title) is to massively cut stocking rates and therefore production.

This ‘option’ is of course not a viable business decision for farmers that would like to stay in business.

There is no technological solution available to reduce livestock emissions to any real extent.

Farmers know this and Federated Farmers knows this. Greenpeace, the Green Party, Winston First, Labour and, it would seem, some banks, do not know this.

One bank -- we won’t name it -- busting to show how tuned in it is to the ‘climate crisis’, ignored the aforementioned obvious problem and advised farmers as follows on how to “tackle climate change”.

If the said bank could provide a detailed list of said ‘options’, Milking It would be grateful. And very surprised.

Bizarre challenge

Unhappy – again

A BIZARRE online cow kissing challenge has been slammed by the Austrian government.

The #KuhKussChallenge (Cow Kiss Challenge) was launched this week by a Swiss app called Castl. It encouraged users to kiss cows to raise money for charity.

Castl, which has users in Switzerland and other German-speaking countries, suggested cows could be kissed “with or without tongues,” the Daily Mail reported.

Austrian Agriculture Minister Elisabeth Koestinger called the challenge a “dangerous nuisance”.

“Pastures and meadows are not petting zoos. Actions like these could have serious consequences.”

ANIMAL RIGHTS group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) isn’t satisfied with Starbucks offering alternatives to milk.

The lobbyists now want Starbucks to stop charging extra for milk substitutes such as coconut, soy and almond “as they are beneficial to animals and the environment”.

The group is now organising a petition.

“It’s awesome that Starbucks offers so many delicious vegan milk options but customers shouldn’t have to pay extra to have a dairy free drink.”

Head Office: Top Floor, 29 Northcroft St, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone 09-307 0399. Fax 09-307 0122 Postal Address: Published by: Printed by: Contacts: Advertising material: Rural News on-line: Subscriptions:

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ABC audited circulation 26,603 as at 30/9/2018

ISSN 1175-463X

THE LABEL ‘role model’ tends to be applied liberally in New Zealand, often to sports people whose achievements seem to merit this status.

Some go feral, turning their sponsors’ dreams into nightmares.

But that’s unlikely to afflict a standout winner in this year’s NZ Dairy Industry Awards. These brought to light a Taranaki dairy farming family whose legacy will surely endure. The title of ‘role model’ applies to them in spades.

Damian and Jane Roper, who live and farm at Alton, are quiet, thinking, hard working, modest individuals with ambitious goals they are now realising. And they don’t plan to stop any time soon.

The Ropers won the 2019 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Awards, receiving the newly created John Wilson Memorial Trophy. This was presented by Belinda Wilson, wife of the late John Wilson, a former Fonterra chairman who championed sustainable farming.

Ropers’ 148ha dairy farm is in every sense of the word a model farm. They live and give real meaning to the word sustainability. They are not rabid greenies, just ordinary smart individuals who show that achieving high environmental standards does not conflict with running a profitable farming business.

They have cut their cow numbers by about a fifth yet their profitability has increased by nearly 30% and the amount of milk solids produced per cow each year has gone from 400kgMS to 585kgMS. What does that say? It says too many cows in NZ are either underfed or unable to perform as they ought.

Too often farmers blindly skite about the number of cows and the milk solids they produce but seldom disclose their true profit.

How many farmers say they can’t do things about the environment because of the cost? You won’t hear this from Damian and Jane Roper. They say doing what they have done is not expensive and the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Actions will always speak louder than words. Stories like the Ropers’ should be up in lights and the industry organisations should throw serious cash at promoting such role models.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

OPINION // 25

Why we must act on climate change The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill had its first reading in Parliament last week. The environment parliamentary select committee will now consider the bill and report back by October 21. Climate Change Minister James Shaw presented the Bill. Here are excerpts from his speech.

TODAY WE begin the

task of amending the Climate Change Response Act [2002], to fulfil the commitment we have made as a country to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Together with the rest

gency. It is the causal force driving up the frequency and severity of each of these other crises.

We ought to call it what it is. We cannot say we did not know, or that we were not told. The world is on fire.

The climate emergency we are now facing will

Together with the rest of the world New Zealand faces unprecedented challenges from the effects of a changing climate. It will be ongoing and at times, unyielding. of the world New Zealand faces unprecedented challenges from the effects of a changing climate. It will be ongoing and at times, unyielding.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, it may be punctuated by more severe flooding and drought, coastal erosion and storm surges than we have ever seen before.

Globally, climate change will increase existing risks, including the spread of pests and disease, threats to food security and social disruption.

These hazards will impact whole communities, severely strain critical public infrastructure and result in unprecedented social, ecological and economic losses.

When these crises occur – flooding in Whanganui, fires in Tasman, coastal washout in Greymouth, storm damage in Coromandel, droughts in Northland – we declare an emergency and we marshal the resources to respond.

It is not alarmism to suggest that climate change is itself an emer-

change the way we live.

Where we live. How we travel and how we work, how we raise our children.

Our response, outlined in this Bill, needs to be appropriate to the scale of the challenge.

The Bill has as its purpose to provide a framework by which NZ can contribute to the collective global effort to limit the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, thereby significantly reducing the impacts and risks of climate change.

As far as we are aware we are the first country to locate that commitment -to hold global warming to no more than 1.5 °C -- in primary legislation. This ensures that, whatever else we choose to do, it must further that critical outcome. Nothing we do should undermine it.

This Bill will establish a climate change commission, an independent Crown entity to provide expert advice on the transition to a low‑emissions

and climate resilient NZ. This Bill outlines an emissions reduction target for NZ in line with keeping global warming to under 1.5 degrees.

The target has two

components: It will seek to reduce our emissions of all greenhouse gases, except biogenic methane, to net zero by 2050.

TO PAGE 26

James Shaw

MOVING JUNE 1?

ENSURE YOUR NAIT ACCOUNT IS UP-TO-DATE Declare land you manage animals on. All NAIT locations are fixed, If moving farm or herd you have to register the NAIT number for your new farm address.

Tag and register all animals before moving off-farm – this creates lifetime traceability.

Ensure all animals have completed a TB test prior to movement – this supports disease management.

Record and confirm all livestock movements and complete an animal status declaration (ASD) form – this builds animal traceability.

NAIT is an OSPRI programme

Need help? 0800 482 463 7am-6pm (Mon-Fri)

ospri.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

26 // OPINION

The need to act on climate change FROM PAGE 25

Recent flood on the West Coast.

It will also seek to reduce our gross emissions of biogenic methane within the range of 24-47% below 2017 levels by 2050, and will include an interim

requirement to reduce gross emissions of biogenic methane by 10% below 2017 levels by 2030.

Emissions budgets will act as stepping stones towards the long-term target.

Each budget will state the quantity of emissions that will be permitted in a fiveyear period and will be supported by a plan to achieve those reductions.

Taken together, successive emissions budgets should define an optimal pathway towards our long-term climate objectives.

Finally, this Bill will require the Government to have a plan for how we adapt to the effects of climate change.

The commission will conduct a national climate change risk assessment every six years and, in response to each risk assessment, the Bill requires the responsible minister to produce a national adaptation plan.

The Bill also gives the Government power to require appropriate organisations to report information for inclusion in the national climate change risk assessments.

Critique of the Bill Since I introduced the Bill to the House a number of concerns have been raised about the Bill at hui and workshops, and in the media: First, should there be a limit on the extent to which the Bill permeates across the Government.

Should it instead be able to affect the interpretation of other statutes as happens with our human rights and privacy legislation?

Second, should the level of legal liability be proscribed or should the Bill be silent on

this, allowing common law norms to develop as public expectations evolve?

Third, should the commission be advisory only, or should it have some level of decisionmaking powers as some have suggested?

Fourth, are the proposed emissions reduction targets too ambitious or too conservative given our commitment to stay within 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming?

Fifth, should the Bill exclude international aviation and shipping as currently proposed for consistency with the Paris Agreement or should we bring them within our domestic framework as has been done in France and as is being considered by the UK? Finally, does the Bill adequately address the Crown’s duties under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to protect land and water and to consult and engage with iwi/Maori?

The feedback I have received so far suggests that these issues warrant thorough consideration by the select committee, although I have to say that the Bill reflects nearly 18 months of consultation and negotiations between political parties and with farming leaders, environmental NGOs, businesses and iwi/Maori organisations.

So I wish the select committee the very best of luck. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

NOW READ IT ONLINE READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER ■ BREAKING NEWS ■ MACHINERY REVIEWS ■ MARKETS & TRENDS ■ MANAGEMENT STORIES ■ COMPETITIONS ■ AND MUCH MORE...

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 31

Buoyant Fieldays on the cards PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

PLENTY OF optimism

in the primary sector points to a buoyant Fieldays this year, says the banking sector.

But with a few notes of caution.

The scene at the Fieldays will be pretty positive, Rabobank NZ chief executive Todd Charteris told Dairy News.

“Milk prices have rebounded pretty strongly… the forecast for next year is strong, a little bit of softening in the dollar which will help exporters.

“The outlook for dairy is certainly strong which dominates that part of the country where the Fieldays is held.”

And other commodities are also looking good.

Sheep and beef continue

strong and horticulture is buzzing.

“We saw that with the recent release of extra licences (for SunGold) by Zespri and the subscriptions that were chasing those licences are a great indication of confidence.

“Things are really positive so that is something to be excited about.”

BNZ senior economist Doug Steel says overall he thinks this year’s Fieldays will be upbeat.

“It’s a great event for farmers to get off farm and talk with like-minded people.” But as is often the case with farming, the weather will play a big part in the final numbers.

On the economic side there are strong opposing forces to consider in the primary sector.

“Revenues and cashflow are buoyant for many across the primary sector so that’s a big plus.

Optimism in the primary sector points to a buoyant Fieldays.

But there’s been concern about possible policy changes including tax and the environment as well as ongoing global trade tensions. Meanwhile, interest rates are low but there are concerns about the influence of proposed bank capital changes.

“So a lot of pluses and minuses to weigh up. But overall I reckon it will be another good one.”

ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny says he thinks the mood will be cautiously optimistic.

“There are good positive signs for dairy, and

more broadly across agriculture there are many sectors that are doing pretty well.

“The sheep and beef sector… arguably you could say the lamb sector is in rude health and horticulture is going great guns.

GUIDE TO FIELDAYS Gates open daily Wednesday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm.

■■

Ticket prices are $30 adult general admission one day, $15 for children aged 5-14 years for one day. Child under five free.

■■

Parking at Fieldays is free and open from 5.30am – 10pm. To avoid queues arrive early. Due to high volume of traffic expect delays.

Parking for the disabled available through gate 1 for permit holders.

■■

Food and beverages will be located in four large food hubs around the venue.

■■

To get to Fieldays, use your Fieldays ticket to catch the bus free from one of three locations: Hamilton, The Base, Te Rapa (park & ride); Hamilton Transport Centre; Cambridge, BMX Club, Milton Street (park & ride).

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“Given the outlook for incomes you would expect the farming sector to be generally pretty positive and for punters to be cautiously optimistic.”

With capital gains tax no longer on the agenda “we can move on and that may help the mood as well”.

ASB will have its site as usual and a big presence. “I am looking forward to meeting farmers and whoever else is about. My view and the bank’s view is pretty positive about the long-term outlook for the sector.”

Meanwhile Charteris says from Rabobank’s point of view it is an important event on the calendar. “We can host a number of our clients from all over the country.

It is important that we do that.”

Interesting activities in their marquee will include hosting the trade delegation from the European Union.

“The NZ-EU trade negotiations are topical so we have a session with a group of them on the Wednesday which I think will be interesting.

“Also a session on a recent report by Blake Holgate, one of our research analysts, on carbon farming and some of the key considerations for New Zealand farmers if they are thinking about planting trees on their properties. There are interesting topics which hopefully our clients will appreciate some insights into.”

That’s the type of opportunity the Fieldays offers many businesses.

“It is that alignment.

People go there to network, to see what is new on the innovation front, make new friendships and build on the existing ones they have. That is why it is such an important event on the calendar.”

Charteris says he is looking forward to it because it is always a great opportunity for him to get out and “really get a sense of how the farming community is feeling and how we can continue to support that”.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

32 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Tractor trader to showcase technology INDUSTRY LEADING

technology will be plentiful on the AGCO site, says

on industry leading technology with our Fendt, Massey Ferguson and

New Zealand manager Peter Scott.

“Our focus this year is

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Valtra brands, showing AGCO’s investment and commitment, particularly in the technology space.”

The Fendt 1000 series tractor occupies a new segment with its power output, and ingeniously combines compact design, high manoeuvrability and visibility with cutting edge technology and cabin comfort, Scott says.

The Fendt 1000 series, with power up to 500hp, suits many different applications such as seeding, pulling a chaser

bin, spraying and baling, which until recently may have required farmers to own several tractors that “can spend a lot of time in the shed,” says Donny Cloney, product manager for Fendt.

Also on the site will be the new Massey Ferguson 8700 S with its improved power, comfort, usability, efficiency and reliability.

“The new MF 8700 S exemplifies our pragmatic approach to developing the highest levels of technology which are easy to

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Fitted on the N, T, and S series, Valtra SmartTouch is available on tractors in the 135 to 405hp brackets.

Valtra SmartTouch symbolises Finnish design with its intelligent solutions that make using a tractor more productive.

Using ergonomic design and first-class materials, SmartTouch is designed with the farmer in mind.

It even has safety features built in to prevent accidental use of linear levers. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

No 8 wire award HAMILTON ARTIST Gaye Jurisich has won top

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use, while delivering tangible benefits and high performance to owners and operators alike,” says John Horan, product manager for Massey Ferguson.

The Valtra N and T Series will show the Valtra SmartTouch which has raised usability to new levels, making it even more intuitive than a smart phone.

“What makes Valtra SmartTouch so extraordinary is that settings are easily accessible with only two taps or swipes,” says Paul Morris, Valtra product manager Australia and

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honours in the 2019 Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award with her piece labelled Snare.

The awards are hosted and coordinated by Waikato museum, partnered by Farmlands cooperative and supported by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society.

Judge Linda Tyler praised Jurisich’s art for using the space effectively.

“Often with sculpture, people think it’s fine to have something wall mounted. The whole attraction of that piece was its sprouting out of the walls and using the floors as well. It was a real installation.

“The sculpture captured the energy of the material well. No.8 wire is strong stuff and when it’s coiled it’s got all that springing energy. It really did express the quality and energy that’s inherent in the wire.”

Snare was one of 25 artworks created by 23 artists on display at ArtsPost Galleries & Shop showing the value, versatility and symbolism of No.8 wire.

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We are proud to be part of Mystery Creek Field Days and support farmers with New Zealand made dairy hot water cylinders.

superheat

We are proud to supply New Zealand dairy farms with hot water cylinders that provide reliable and significant amounts of hot water for wash down requirements.

With electricity costs a major concern, our dairy hot water cylinders are designed and built to ensure the best insulation and heat retention possible in the harshest New Zealand conditions. Using copper or stainless steel barrels and high quality insulation, our dairy cylinders will reliably heat water above 85 degrees for cleaning and wash downs in the milking sheds.

We can manufacture capacities up to 1,500 litres. We provide standard sizes to fit most applications and we can also make other sizes on request.

Dairy Hot Water Cylinders

For more information, contact us on 03 389 9500 or visit www.superheat.co.nz to find your local dairy merchant

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 33

FORESTER FERRIES FEDS MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

FEDERATED FARMERS will front for

Trojan designed for Kiwi farms THE DR200 Trojan has been a bench-

mark farm two-wheeler motorcycle since its introduction 23 years ago.

Designed from scratch by the engineers at Suzuki New Zealand for the country’s unique conditions, it’s ideal for all types of NZ farms. During its development Suzuki NZ custom-built a farm-oriented version of the already robust DR200 trail bike, added features that NZ farmers needed then sent it back to Japan for final signoff and manufacture.

A popular feature on the Trojan has always been its large 12V headlight, a bonus during early morning starts, and the quality aluminium protectors that give handlebar levers a second chance, not to mention saving knuckles from nasty

skinning.

Japanese-built means a quality standard that has some competitor products looking distinctly cheap. A case in point is the four-stroke engine’s exhaust header pipe (stainless steel) and oil cooling for performance and durability.

Dual side stands are a winner on any farm and the chunky Bridgestone knobbly tyres front and rear make for great traction.

Low gearing with a quality O-ring chain allows slow speed riding without continual stalling or heavy clutch use, and the 13L fuel tank holds enough to last most farmers all week.

The Trojan is a real Kiwi farmbike.

Subaru at Fieldays, a spin-off from the partnership the vehicle maker formed with Feds in 2018.

Feds president Katie Milne and its nine territory managers nationwide drive Subaru Foresters, recently named New Zealand Car of the Year.

Like all Subaru models, its all-wheel drive and 220mm ground clearance give the Forester lots of traction on slippery farm tracks and make for optimal driving stability on the roads to town.

The family friendly SUV won five awards last year and earlier in 2019, many for the technology

Subaru Forester

Regularly travelling from her Lake Brunner farm over Arthurs Pass to fly from Christchurch airport, Milne applauds having “all sorts of technology, like the improved X-Mode, working for me if the roads are slippery, snowy, or icy”.

The new Forester has better rear seat access and room for three slimline child car seats across

that keeps drivers and passengers safe.

Milne says the Forester is the perfect vehicle for her and her colleagues. “It gives me confidence that they have the Forester’s safety and technology at their fingertips as they drive New Zealand’s highways and rural roads. It gives me peace of mind to know they are in the best car for their roles.”

the back.

The class-leading driver monitoring system uses facial recognition to identify and monitor the driver. Subaru’s updated crash-avoidance technology, EyeSight, helped win the Forester the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Starting price is $39,990 RRP. Federated Farmers site PA1C.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

34 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Say howdy to Hardi sprayers DANISH SPRAYER

supplier Hardi will again join the ranks of sprayer suppliers at Fieldays.

Its sprayers, booms and nozzles were first

Visit us at Fieldays Mystery Creek

sold in New Zealand in the early 1980s.

Then in 2011, Hardi aligned its NZ business with a regional base in South Australia. It has

A better way to snap chill milk.

10,000 m2 of manufacturing and distribution facilities in Adelaide.

Its NZ regional managers are Andy Elmslie in the North Island and Ross Dickson in the South Island.

Its Fieldays site will show the NK linkage sprayer and the more sophisticated and larger Master range. The NK is available with tank sizes from 400 to 1000L and boom options from 6m to 12m, making it light and flexible on difficult slopes.

The Master has 1000L to 1800L tank options with booms from 12m to 21m, making it suit-

able for rolling properties and commercial row crop spraying.

The company also markets a range of mist blowers for vineyard or orchard applications, and trailed and self propelled sprayers for large scale farming and contracting operations.

Hardi will promote its expertise developed during 60 years of R&D in fluid control systems, chemical induction hoppers, manual and hydraulic folding booms, diaphragm pumps and precision ISO-standard nozzles.

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NATIONAL FIELDAYS has secured three new sponsors for its innovation awards: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Gait International and James & Wells.

They join sponsors Vodafone NZ, Callaghan Innovations and Massey University.

The awards enable innovators to do market research, gather information, receive advice, make connections and launch their ideas nationally and internationally.

Fieldays Innovations event manager Gail Hendricks says the support, advice and connections each of the partners has for entrants will do wonders in advancing their ideas, propelling them onto the national and world stage with reputable knowledge behind them.

“AWS has supported many successful New Zealand start-ups and enterprises in their technology journeys, and with AgTech being such a common theme amongst innovation entries, we see them being a hugely beneficial part of the Fieldays Innovation Awards’ team of sponsors, says Hendricks.

Founded by Kiwi entrepreneur Daniel Given, Gait International works in design for manufacture and value engineering. It devises supply chain management solutions used by global companies to produce world class engineered products.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 35

Red Band hot on safety SKELLERUP HAS

taken gumboot design a step further – into greater wearer safety.

Its new Red Band Safety gumboot “is all about hazard management and mitigation to prevent workplace injury,” says Perry Davis, the company’s national manager.

“One of the simplest safety steps is to wear the right footwear. It’s a rou-

tine, everyday choice that can make a huge difference, not just to guard against direct foot injuries from crushing or penetration, but also slips and falls.”

Anyone unable to walk properly, even for a short time, knows how critical their feet are for both work and life in general.

The human foot has no fewer than 28 differ-

ent bones. Together, both feet contain a quarter of all of our bones, 66 joints, 200 tendons, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and about 8000 nerves.

And good legal and financial reasons support protective footwear too.

Businesses can face heavy fines for failing to keep staff safe at work.

The new Red Band Safety gumboot ensures a

wearer faces minimal risk of injury on the job.

The boot is knee high with an external leg trim line so it can be easily converted to calf length.

The steel toe cap protects the foot from crushing and the nitrile rubber outsole resists oil, acid, heat and electrical hazard.

A steel shank in the sole guards against penetration and an anti-slip

outsole makes the boots skid-free on wet ceramic tile flooring.

Like all Red Bands the Safety gumboot is handmade from UV resistant natural rubber, with a hard-wearing internal cotton-canvas bonded lining and a 5mm rubber sponge insole.

Sizes range from 4-14. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

Woodsplitters

SNAP CHILLERS HOPING TO BE A DRAWCARD THE ONLY snap chilling system that can simultaneously perform a range of functions is set to be a drawcard at Fieldays.

The variable drive VariCOOL, VariCHILL and VariVAT range of snap chilling systems are unique in being able to to snap chill milk in multiple vats, generate hot water and measure, record and report milk temperature -- all at the same time.

The brainchild of Coolsense founder Allan Steele, the systems are designed and manufactured in New Zealand.

They give farmers assurance that their milk is being chilled to the highest standards with minimal power use.

Says Steele, “Compliance across a range of functions is a distraction for farmers from what they do best – producing the best milk in the world.

“They want systems which do what the makers say they’ll do, easily and efficiently.

“Our systems do that.

One box, easily retrofitted to existing sheds or incorporated into new builds, snap chills milk to below 6 deg C within two hours of milking. One ‘box’ is capable of chilling multiple vats simultaneously.

“The range of chillers operate on variable speed matching demand and minimising power usage.

They also generate high grade heat recovery to a maximum of 70degC and 480 litres per hour.”

Steele said an awareness that farmers want to be able to measure the

• • • •

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Allen Steel, Coolsense.

efficiency of their milk chilling led to the company developing a system which measures, monitors and reports chill capacity and efficiency and heat recovery in real time.

“The Vari-COOL’s energy meter enables it to calculate its return on investment. It calculates and reports energy savings, logging the temperature of the milk before and after snap chilling along with holding temperatures in the vat in real time.

“WAN (wide area network) connectivity enables data retrieval and self-diagnosis monitoring of tank, milk temperature and system. The system sends a warning text should a system issue occur with most able to be rectified online.”

The Coolsense system chassis is galvanised and powder coated and the condenser is polymer

For all sales enquiries

dipped, giving the system an expected life span of at

least 20 years.

Site E80

P: 06-272 8162 E: info@troughmobile.com

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

36 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Merge Maxx set for debut MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

KUHN NZ will show a new series of bar mower and an addition to its forage raking range -the Merge Maxx 950 belt merger.

In the mower line-up, the all new GMD 355 top drive bar mower, although like the well-known GMD

310 has its cutter bar driven through the top of the first disc, eliminating the need for an inner skid drive which can drag crop when the machine is used for topping.

The FC 3125 and FC 9530 triple mower conditioner remain the maker’s ‘flagship’ machines with premium features such as hydraulic ‘lift control’ suspension and the on-the-fly

hydraulic side shift, giving between 30 and 50cm of overlap front to rear.

Complementing the mower ranges, the new GF 8712 T trailed tedder has Kuhn’s new HLC (headland lift control) system that raises all rotors at least 50cm from the ground in five seconds from the tractor’s control unit.

On the swath pre-

Kuhn’s combi baler will also be on display.

sentation front, the allnew Merge Maxx 950 belt merger uses a different method of windrowing, two independent pick-ups and hydraulically driven conveying belts to achieve gentle swathing of forage in crops such as lucerne.

Also on the site will be the forage harvester that won the Agritechnica Machine of the Year 2018 award -- the FBP 3135 fixed chamber combi baler. This uses the maker’s patented film on film and net binding systems which help to achieve high silage quality at the lower costs.

The design, said to result in a guaranteed binding start under all circumstances, uses two regular 750mm film rolls rather than one large mantle film roll, saving 30% on film costs due

Merge Maxx uses conveyor belts to achieve gentle swathing of forage.

to the higher pre-stretch ratio of 70%.

Operators looking to optimise forage use can see the latest vertical twin-auger mixer wagon -the Profile 28.2 CL. A new range is available in single auger format from 4m3 to 15m3 or from 12m3 to 34m3 capacity in twin auger configuration.

The Profile 28.2 CL model on display has industry leading K-NOX mixing augers, using an alloy of chrome and fer-

rites, making it a more ‘stainless’ steel for intensive use.

Kuhn fertiliser spreaders on display will include a fully GPS and ISOBUS controlled simulator. The Axis 40.2 M-EMC represents the high-end of the Kuhn mounted spreader range, with built-in variable rate and section control function ready to unlock. The patented EMC (electronic mass flow control) automatic rate control is said to

be unlike any other on the market, weighing its output on each spreading disc every second for unrivalled accuracy.

At the other end of the spectrum, the MDS 19.1 spreader is an entry level twin-disc spreader that’s truly simple. It’s simple to setup via either a flip chart or phone application and simple to operate with a push-button start option or hydraulic open/close via the tractor outlet.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

38 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Coping better with ups and downs on farm Sam Whitelock will be at the Fieldays.

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE IMPORTANCE of

seeing regularly to your wellbeing will be the focus of Farmstrong’s site at Fieldays.

Regularly taking breaks, connecting with mates, keeping active, eating well and doing stuff you enjoy – these add up over time and help you cope better with the ups and downs of farming.

And these pay off for the business, says Farmstrong project leader Gerard Vaughan.

“Farmers who ‘lock in’ these habits tell us they not only feel better, but their performance, decision making and efficiency on the farm also improve,” he says.

This year, the Farmstrong site at E34E36 will have interactive tools to allow visitors to identify tactics that could work for them.

“Over the last four years, hundreds of farmers have shared what they do for their wellbeing, countered by

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the things in farming that make withdrawals on their wellbeing.”

The Farmstrong site will have an interactive ‘wellbeing bank account’ display where visitors can quickly identify their current ‘investments’ and ‘withdrawals’ on their wellbeing.

“In farming, we regularly make plans and put systems in place to look after our land, stock and machinery, but sometimes forget about ourselves,” says Vaughan.

“Using this interactive tool will help you quickly see what you currently have in place and whether there are other things that you could be doing.

“Life can regularly throw ‘curve balls’ our way, whether it is weather ‘bombs’, low payouts or animal and plant diseases.

Having habits in place for wellbeing can get us through tough times without our burning out or becoming unwell.”

The Farmstrong site will display basics from neuroscience that help us perform at our best each day.

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RUGBY AMBASSADOR FARMSTRONG AMBASSADOR Sam Whitelock will also be on the Fieldays site on Friday June 14 from 2pm to 4pm.

Whitelock will be signing Farmstrong merchandise and telling what he does to cope with the pressure of being a professional athlete.

“As a rugby player, and someone from a farming background, I can identify with many of the pressures farmers have to deal with every day.

“That’s why I know looking after yourself is so important,” says Whitelock.

“How we think about things, particularly when we are under the pump, can make a huge difference to the way we manage stress, solve problems and even prevent injuries,” Vaughan says.

“Knowing some of the more common thinking

traps and how to avoid these is a good skill to add to the farming toolbox.

Visitors can have a quick game of matching five common thinking traps with a farming example and a solution to it. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

HELP TO UPDATE NAIT FARMERS WHO have yet to update their NAIT

accounts will have an opportunity to do so at National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

“We’ll have a big presence this year for all the event days,” says the head of NAIT, Kevin Forward.

“Our focus is NAIT re-registration and we want farmers to come forward and get help or advice on what to do with their NAIT accounts.”

OSPRI, which manages NAIT, expects 4000 visitors to their stand and plans to double staff to meet demand.

“If you are a livestock farmer and your business depends on it, you need to update your NAIT account. This improves animal traceability and supports disease management, which is what OSPRI specialises in.”

Farmers will also have a chance to go into a prize draw to win a livestock scanner.

“This is always popular and a scanner is a great addition to the farm shed especially for doing NAIT. You can win a different brand on the day between Wednesday and Friday,” says Forward.

Visitors to the OSPRI stand will also be able to trial a new NAIT online system prototype.

“We want to build farmer engagement with NAIT and this year’s Fieldays will be special as we have organised for farmers to test run and sample the future NAIT system. This prototype is an exciting development and illustrates our ongoing focus to make the system more user friendly.”

The OSPRI team will be in the Agriculture Pavilion at site PE40-PE42 and be available to discuss TBfree management of livestock and the progress of TB eradication in your region.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 39

New site for Gallagher markd@ruralnews.co.nz

AFTER NEARLY three decades on the same Fieldays site, Gallagher is moving to a new location -- the former LIC building at site D72.

The shed has been stripped to its bones, reclad, given a mezzanine floor and soundproofed.

Now a purposedesigned, modern building, the space will allow the Hamilton company to show existing products and introduce visitors to a raft of innovations.

These will include the new Electric Fence Dropper, launched at regional field days in February and well received by farmers. The unit allows users to extend the distance between fenceposts by introducing droppers, resulting in a much more cost-effective solution.

And the dropper keeps the integrity of the fence

when, for example, managing sheep through multiple wires. The dropper ensures the wires maintain the same distance across the span to prevent animals from pushing through the fence.

The company will also introduce its MBS Energizer range, giving farmers three options for powering their units. The MBS (mains, battery, solar) multi-powered fence units provide stock control in 4ha to 32ha paddocks, delivering from one to eight joule of stored energy.

The units feature a range of ‘smarts’ to help increase reliability such as better battery management, meaning the farmer can trust that stock remain under control no matter the weather conditions.

Site visitors will also get a preview of the company’s new e-Shepherd fencing due for launch later this year.

Breed the herd of the future HOW TO breed the herd of the future will be front of mind for dairy farmers attending Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

The Government’s Zero Carbon Bill calls for dairy cow numbers to be drastically reduced to meet the ten year and 30 year targets.

“Kiwi farmers are among the most progressive in the world,” says Hank Lina, general manager of international genetics firm World Wide Sires.

“They constantly achieve the seemingly impossible in all aspects of farming. The prospect of reducing cow numbers by even 10% in as many years is a scary one if they continue to milk the same cows.

“The only solution is to start today to breed a cow which will outperform today’s contemporaries so farmers can milk fewer cows and maintain or increase their production. It is possible, but they need a plan. And that plan starts now.”

Lina cites the old adage ‘if you always do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you’ve always got’.

“New Zealand’s Breeding Worth (BW) evaluation tool was introduced decades ago, its legacy evident in a national herd which averages 380kgMS cow.

“At Fieldays we will promote how farmers can move from a per cow average of 380kgMS to cows which consistently and over a long time produce 550kg plus per year.”

Lina said WWS has genetically advanced bulls selected specifically for NZ’s grazing environment.

These produce highly productive, fertile, moderate size cows with udders and feet which will last in the herd.

Site PC12

e-Shepherd is virtual fencing via a collar fitted to animals. It works via a ‘geofence’ set by a computer, ensuring the animals stay inside predetermined virtual boundaries.

Animals can be trained in three to four days using two stimuli:

firstly an audible warning when the animal nears the geofence boundary, then a safe, small electric shock if the animal keeps moving towards the preset boundary. e-Shepherd is especially cost-effective for broadacre farming, particularly large beef farms,

allowing herding animals efficiently over vast areas.

As an example of its versatility, the geofencing boundaries can be moved closer and closer to a destination yard over several weeks, making the final part of the herding much easier.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

40 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

More power, better fuel economy MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE NEW McCormick X5 series contains three models powered by a 3.6L Deutz 4-cylinder engine tuned for max outputs of 99hp (X5.35), 110hp (X5.45) and 113hp (X5.55).

More power, torque and better fuel economy are gained from this the new engine which has a simplified emissions control system -- a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). This needs no diesel particulates filter which would require more maintenance or operator intervention.

A viscous cooling fan option is said to maintain cooler temperatures and help reduce fuel consumption.

From the engine, power

is channelled to a 24F/24R speed transmission equipped with a splitter button on the gear selector that permits up or down shifts to cope with changing load on the tractor.

In addition, a new Eco Forty feature reduces engine revs once the 40km/h maximum speed has been reached, saving fuel and reducing noise during transport operations.

All wheel braking uses

internal discs in the front axle and a new power boost system lessens the pedal effort required.

A new four-speed PTO option is another fuel saving feature in the paddock, providing 540rpm or 1000rpm speeds at McCormick X5

WMS SPREADS WINGS INTO EFFLUENT

‘economy’ and standard settings.

Hydraulic output is via a 63L/min gear pump complemented by a 32L/min pump dedicated to steering and ancillary clutches, supplying the three double-acting spool valves fitted as standard.

Other standard equipment includes interchangeable ball and claw ends for the 4500kg rear linkage lift arms. Electronic control of the rear hitch is standard.

Standard equipment includes an air suspension seat, tilt/telescopic steering wheel and air conditioning in the cabin.

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WAIKATO MILKING Systems

(WMS) will use Fieldays to promote its expansion beyond milking systems into effluent and environmental plant.

The Hamilton company in 2015 bought the effluent management specialist Hi-Tech Enviro Solutions, founded in Morrinsville in 1992.

“The acquisition aligned with WMS’s expansion of its product offering,” said its chief executive Campbell Parker.

“Now is the right time to fully integrate effluent and environmental into the WMS core product offering rather than keeping it as a separate brand.

“Since we acquired Hi-Tech Enviro Solutions we’ve been working to improve the quality of product and aligning the culture of both businesses to reflect the standards WMS is known for.

“We’ve also needed to work with our dealer network to ensure seamless delivery of our entire product range.

“Farmers will now be able to discuss their effluent needs with any member of the WMS team.

“When a farmer needs an effluent system review one of our dairy effluent specialists will advise and design a system for compliance.

“WMS is a trusted brand in dairying world-wide, and adding effluent and environmental will give farmers confidence that they are getting the best advice and systems to future-proof their farm dairies.”

The WMS Fieldays site has been extended and will display all the company’s products -- milking parlors, milking automation, dairy management, milk cooling and effluent and environmental.

Vi s i t u s a t Fi e l d a y s ÂŽ . . . w e a r e l o c a t e d a t S i t e L 8 - L 1 0 .

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

42 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Seeders, mowers rakes, balers and more on display MARK DANIEL

Krone Disc mower.

markd@ruralnews.co.nz

TULLOCH FARM

Machines will display the latest Krone Big X 780 plus maize header, a Big M 450 self-propelled mower conditioner, a Comprima CF 155XC baler and a Swadro TC 640 rotary rake.

On the mower front, units WILL include the EC F 320 CV Pull and EC F 320 CV Push mowers, an Easy Cut R 280 and the ActiveMow R 280.

The BiG X 780 is powered by an 8-cylinder, 775hp Liebherr engine, offering X-Power and EcoPower for power adjustment to suit conditions and reduce fuel consumption.

The hydraulically driven intake system enables stepless length of cut, with feed rates controlled by six intake rollers. Crop is fed to a 660mm diameter chopping cylinder that can be fitted with 20, 28 or 36 blades arranged in a chevron pattern, said to centre the crop to deliver a continuous flow in all crop types.

Krone Big X780 plus maize header.

After the chopping cylinder the corn processor has new Optimaxx rollers for processing maize, using twin 250mm diameter rollers equipped with 105 and 123 teeth respectively, angled at 5% and running at a speed differential of 30% to shatter kernels and shred stalk even at longer chop lengths.

The Big M 450 self propelled mower conditioner has had major design changes -- a new cab, engine, running gear and redesigned mower units. With a working width of 9.95m, the Big M can achieve work rates of up to17ha/hour.

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The EasyCut F 320 CV mower has a working width of 3.16m and a unique headstock that allows it to be mounted as a push or pull version.

The push version has an A-frame that incorporates two substantial coil springs that draw the mower toward the tractor for exceptional suspension. The push design creates a compact machine, reduces weight and is gentle on the surface of the paddock.

In the pulled version, the suspension springs are integrated into the mower’s suspension system.

The tension of the two springs is controlled by a single crank and is easy to adjust.

With mechanical weed control gaining ground in New Zealand among row crop farmers and maize and fodder beet growers, TFM will feature an Einbock Chopstar inter-row cultivator equipped with the advanced Row-Guard camera-based steering system.

The Chopstar uses a hydraulically folding frame that in turn carries mounted spring or vibro tines placed at 20-30cm row spacings. The Row Guard system uses cameras to look down several rows and then automatically side shift the cultivator hydraulically, overcoming the limitations of GPS-RTK, even at 2cm accuracy.

A Hawkes Bay squash grower reports that by replacing manual labour

with the Chopstar and Row-Guard system he recovered the cost of the machine in just 13 days use.

From the Monosem camp, the NG Plus ME (Monoshox with electric drive) planter is said to be low maintenance, versatile and efficient in the field. It achieves faster working speeds with its Monoshox suspension system, the ISOBUS system and section control allow ease of use, and automatic shut-off takes the worry out of doubleplanting.

For the first time at Fieldays, TFM will showcase the Strebel strip tillage system. With a combined planter and front tank the system achieves lower input costs, less soil erosion and better environmental outcomes. The unit has a working width of 3m, a cultivator working to 20-25cm depth and a rotary tiller working at 10-15cm.

Two configurations offer a choice of models with four tines and 75cm spacing or six tines at 50cm spacing. The layout of the machine uses a subsoiler with rotary hoe blades on either side of the subsoiler leg. The design breaks up the sub-surface pan and in turn brings soil up to the rotary hoe and creates a fine seedbed, delivering a planting area for the intended rows without disturbing the soil between them.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 43

Jean du Bru’s roller drill POWER FARMING at Fieldays will show the latest from the Jean du Bru cultivation camp -- a new roller drill fitted with an APV seeder unit.

The MegaPack RS roller drills are available in 5.3 or 6.3m working widths with a heavy duty 150 x 150mm drawbar attached to a 100 x 100mm frame supporting the roller assemblies.

Roller gangs are centrally pivoted to achieve good contour following, and a clever C-spring damping system will

prove useful in uneven or stony ground.

With a Cambridge and cracker ring setup, mounted on 70mm diameter shafts featuring greaseable bushes, the machines weigh up to 4.9 tonnes depending on model. Up front, the levelling bar, adjusted manually or hydraulically, helps shatter clods and creates a levelling effect.

When folding the machine for work or transport the hydraulic wings are synchronised to fold at the same

time, improving stability on slopes and locking into the transport position.

An APV seeder unit with 16 outlets is integrated into the overall

design. This is mounted on a factory installed platform at the rear of the machine, easily and safely accessed via a ladder with a handrail.

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FLAT ROLLER PUTS AWAY STONES, KILLS GRUBS FLAT ROLLING pasture, particularly in spring, is

an effective method of pushing stones below the ground surface, so preventing damage to mowers, rakes and harvesters used subsequently.

The process is also good for repairing pugged areas, consolidating peat land and killing grass grubs.

The Aitchison transfer roller moves away from the traditional trailed design, being linkage mounted and using a weight transfer system via a hydraulic top link assembly.

In practice, the weight of the carrying tractor is transferred to the roller, so increasing pressure over a small footprint, with the additional benefit of reducing tractor tyre wheelings. The pressure is easily adjusted from the tractor seat, and the machine is said to be suitable for wet and dry pasture situations.

Robustly made and using a 600mm diameter smooth roller, the TR275 and TR 300 models come in working widths of 9’ 2” and 10’ respectively, with transport widths of 3.0 and 3.3m.

Filled with water to increase the tare weight the units weigh 1920 and 2120kg respectively, can typically operate between 2 and 15km/h and require a tractor of 80-140hp depending on terrain.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

44 // AGRIBUSINESS

New council rules tough on farmers NIGEL MALTHUS

NEW ENVIRONMENTAL management

rules for the Canterbury Regional Council’s Waimakariri Zone will be tough for farmers, says the chairman of the Waimakariri zone committee, Dave Ashby.

“It’s going to be challenging for every farmer, and it’s going to cost money,” he said.

The committee presented its zone implementation programme addendum (ZIPA), to ECan in December. It includes 93 water manage-

ment recommendations which will be reflected in the sub-regional change to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, now being developed to go out for formal public consultation in late June.

Ashby calls it “probably one of the clearest and toughest of any ZIPA produced by any of the zone committees”.

“It is focussed on the environment, biodiversity and cultural aspirations, with little wriggle room for more intensive agricultural development within the zone.”

Ashby, a dairy farmer in the zone and an envi-

ronmental consultant certified to audit Farm Environment Plans, said the committee’s role is to develop recommendations which reflect the views of the community.

“It’s very tough for farmers but it recognises what the community wants and it’s not the end of the world.”

The zone covers a swath of Canterbury north from the Waimakariri River including the Ashley and other rivers and the towns of Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Oxford.

Ashby said the zone differs from others because of the large

TREE PLANTING IN MANAGING the environment, farmers must ‘walk the walk in order to talk the talk’.

So says dairy farmer Dave Ashby, now investing heavily in environmental improvements on his own 400-cow farm.

That includes taking part in the Easterbrook community planting scheme aimed at transforming a 1.8km stretch of the Easterbrook stream. This rises from a spring

on his farm and forms part of his boundary.

Ashby and a dozen other farmers and lifestyle block holders are helping to pay for this with ECan. It is expected to cost $150,000 to $200,000.

The heavily sedimented stream is being dug out and bunded and will be fenced off to prevent stock access. The banks will be planted in natives in late winter or spring.

amount of heavy soil at the eastern end with a lot of freshwater springs and creeks, plus saltwater estuaries. Its sizeable urban and peri-urban populations add to water quality issues.

The ZIPA divides the zone into a nitrate priority area, where nitrate levels are the main concern, and a runoff priority area where phosphorus, sediment and EColi are the main issues.

It recommends that all farmers in the zone reach baseline good management practice (GMP) by 2025.

Within the nitrate priority area it calls for a further 15% nitrate reduction by dairy farms and 5% by others by 2030.

The nitrate area includes the Silverstream catchment, which Ashby describes as “the canary in the coal mine”. To reaching GMP would require cuts of 15-40% across much of the area but the Silverstream catchment needs a reduction of 66%, he said.

Meanwhile, Ashby

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Work has begun on Dave Ashby’s Fernside dairy farm.

said several initiatives are underway including biodiversity projects, a threeyear infiltration trial on the Silverstream (a possible precursor to a managed aquifer recharge

scheme) and a trial sedimentation trap on the Cam River.

“Our ZIPA talks are hot on ongoing monitoring and measuring -- getting a whole lot of data

about where things are going.

“There’s been a lot of modelling but we need to know what is actually happening with nitrates, phosphates and EColi.”

OUT OF REACH THE WAIMAKARIRI zone committee’s draft ZIPA is unachievable for many farmers in its current form, says a newly formed farmers group.

The Waimakariri Next Generation Farmers Trust is a response to the pending changes.

Formed by seven local farm owners and managers, the trust attracted nearly 60 people to its first public meeting on May 3. It aims to consult farmers to make a case for changes to the ZIPA, and will be making a submission when public consultation begins later this year.

Chair Scott Evans, an Oxford dairy farmer, says the group was formed to unite the rural community in their goal of protecting the environment for future generations.

“A key objective of the trust is to work alongside industry and local authorities in the development of environmental policy.

“Farmers have a lot of local knowledge and we want to ensure this grassroots perspective is not overlooked. We need practical, achievable changes that positively impact the environment and incorporate farmer-driven solutions.

“We all have the same aim and that is to ensure the environment is protected now and into the future.”

Evans said the overall philosophy of the ZIPA is good but some detail had been lacking. For example, Plan Change 5, in force in Canterbury since February, does not define good management practice (GMP).

“How can we get to GMP by 2025

when we don’t actually know what GMP looks like? So we need a clear definition of that.”

Evans said many farms in the zone are new, with good modern infrastructure, but many smaller and older farms need to spend a lot of money to get them up to GMP. “We need to make sure that if we broad-brush a rule there’s a ‘valve’ in there to take account of the people who can’t make it, or won’t make it. I feel they could be quite a large Dave Ashby proportion.”

Evans said farmers having trouble meeting GMP could apply for a separate resource consent. He said ECan may expect that to apply to only about 10%, but he thinks it could be more like 40%.

“I don’t think it’ll be an easy channel for farmers to navigate.”

Many farmers had already been “going above and beyond” to protect their natural environment.

“Farmers are some of our best environmentalists. [They invest in] riparian management, farm environment plans, stock exclusion, irrigation management, wetland restoration and new technologies.”

Environmental spending by dairy farmers in the Canterbury/Marlborough region was $170,000 per farm from 2010 to 2015. – Nigel Malthus

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

AGRIBUSINESS // 45

Toyota’s ‘lean’ lessons for Kiwi farmer SIMON EDWARDS

WHAT COULD the tachinbo, kaizen and ishikawa techniques of a Toyota assembly plant offer to a Kiwi dairy farm?

Plenty, says Jana Hocken, in fact enough to fill a book.

Hocken is the author of a new book called The Lean Dairy Farm (400 pages).

She wrote the book after running workshops with 100 farmers in New Zealand two years ago.

Now she runs Lean workshops for Dairy Australia in Tasmania, with the prospect of also rolling it out to Victoria and Western Australia.

She had been a “city girl through and through” when she and husband Mat returned to New Zealand in 2013 to run the Hocken family’s 1000head dairy farm in the Manawatu.

“Farming was new to me but I was soon seeing the same kinds of things I’d seen in other industries overseas – a lot of wasted movements, the same problems cropping up again and again but not being solved.”

She knew the Lean thinking and methodolo-

IRISH LOVE IT FARMERS IN Ireland “absolutely love Lean,” says Jana Hocken.

“I often get asked whether this is just for big farming operations but Ireland demonstrates that’s not so. The farmers there often have herds of 50-100. Many are husband and wife businesses but they see what Lean can do for them.”

In a way, Lean principles are even more relevant for smaller operators, she says.

“A big battle onfarm is long days. When you realise that so much of the frustrating stuff that happens could be avoided in the first place, with better processes and so on, we can get that better work/life balance.”

gies she’d introduced to companies and organisations in Europe, US and Australasia – in banking, IT, manufacturing, health care and even a navy.

She knew they could work onfarm.

Her book outlines, with humour and real life examples drawn from the family farm, how Lean can reduce costs, save time and boost quality, and cut stress, frustration and work hours.

Lean is a way of shedding the unnecessary, by continuous improvement and relentless systematic elimination of waste time and resources.

Hocken first studied industrial engineering at university – optimisation techniques, time effi-

ciency studies, etc. Then in Melbourne she joined Toyota’s graduate programme.

“The Toyota production system is Lean, it’s where the Lean concepts come from.”

By restocking ‘shelves’ based on customer demand, Japanese engineer Taiichi Ohno developed the Toyota production system (TPS), propelling the company to No 1 internationally.

The authors of a 1990 book about Toyota, The Machine that Changed the World, described TPS as “lean production”, a management approach adopted by almost every industry sector.

“As soon as you start at Toyota you become

integrated into this way of thinking,” Hocken says.

From Australia she went to Belgium to become a TPS specialist focusing on engines and transmissions, helping suppliers as large as Bosch to get their systems into Lean mode.

She became a Lean consultant to other industries but then met Mat, a fourth-generation Kiwi farmer who had been in international policy work overseas.

Fast forward to

Jana Hocken

Manawatu on a winter night.

Hocken wakes at 1am and Mat still isn’t home.

She eventually finds him in a shed trying to help a cow to calve.

“He asked me to go

find the calving pulley that was somewhere near the platform at the other shed -- at 2am, in the rain and wind, six months pregnant, in my dressing gown.

“I remember thinking

‘This is ridiculous. Why isn’t there a standard place for this thing so it can easily be found when you need it’?”

• Simon Edwards is a communications advisor for Federated Farmers.

95% WASTE ON FARMS JANA HOCKEN’S book has lots of examples of dairy operation pitfalls and staff frustrations as she introduces Lean techniques such as visual management, red tagging, value stream mapping and error proofing.

Hocken says as much as 95% of what happens on farms is wasted effort. Waste is anything that doesn’t add value from the customers’ point of view.

Reasons may include overcomplicated or inefficient processes, team members’ misunderstanding of farm status and plans, spoiled inventory and non-standardisation.

Hocken says Lean is basically common sense.

“So why aren’t we all doing it? The beauty of Lean methodology is it’s simple, practical stuff that pretty much anyone can do.

“It’s used successfully by hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide but you need to know how to go about putting it in place and sustaining it.”

She believes many businesses think they can best add to the bottom line by introducing flash new technology.

“Of course it can help, but if new technology and equipment is just dumped on top of poor processes, the owners often end up wondering why they’re not getting the results they anticipated.”

Particularly tricky is achieving the “cultural element” – getting staff on board with different ways of doing things and making that stick long-term.

The book is a manual for farmers to open up conversations with their staff.

“That’s a weakness in farming,” Hocken says. “A lot of other businesses focus on work culture and they might have an entire HR department.

“People get into farming to be outdoors, to get away from people and their problems. But dealing with people is becoming more and more part of our business and it’s vital to engage people around you and get the best out of them.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

46 // MANAGEMENT

NAIT focus for ‘moving day’ DAIRY FARMERS Michael and Susie Woodward will on June 1 (‘moving day’) take ownership of a farm – their first.

The Canterbury couple have achieved a lifetime ambition in transitioning from 50/50 sharemilkers to owning a 170ha farm at Otorohanga, South Waikato. The move has required lots of planning and getting a new NAIT number.

During their 14-year progress from farm assistants to farm owners they have moved only twice. Both times the farms were 10 minutes drive away.

Farmers moving farm or livestock can no longer take their NAIT number with them. But depending on their circumstances they may be able to take over the NAIT number at their new location.

Otherwise they must register a new NAIT number for the farm they are going to and, if it’s in a TBfree movement control area all animals must be TB tested prior to movement.

The Woodwards expect to transfer 400 Kiwicross cows and some Angora goats to their new ‘self-contained’ farm which has space to graze young stock.

Michael and Susie Woodward take ownership of their first farm on June 1.

MOVING A HERD IF A herd is being moved to a new property the NAIT number cannot move with the herd. You will need to register a new NAIT number at the property you are moving to and record a movement for the stock that have moved.

If you use an accredited information provider, you will need to advise them of your new NAIT number to keep your records up to date.

The TBfree herd number can stay with the herd to retain the TB status and testing history for your animals. You will need to contact OSPRI to update your TBfree herd records.

All animals moving from a TB movement control area must be premovement tested no more than 60 days before moving.

“We reckon it is going to take 10 stock trucks, aside from the farm machinery and furniture movers too.

It’s an ideal set-up as we can register the main farm and drystock area as one NAIT location,” says Susie.

While Michael has acted as a NAIT delegate for several other farms, Susie is the registered PICA (person in charge of animals) and responsible for ensuring all livestock are tagged and registered in NAIT within seven days

of the tags being applied.

“I used to do it manually with a Minda printout but after getting a [scanning] wand the advantage is you can scan the animals there and then and upload the tag files after.

“I’m all for actioning things immediately, so that long after tagging you don’t forget to register them in NAIT or record and confirm their movements once they’ve moved off-farm.”

She says making NAIT part of their

daily farm routine helps prevent livestock management issues spiralling into something bigger. Using Protrack in the dairy shed, Susie can run reports of what animals are missing at milking and advise staff of missing animals or tags.

“I call it ‘house cleaning’. I do this often and it helps to be diligent, especially since the M. bovis outbreak. We have an established biosecurity farm plan based on boundaries and keeping herds separate, but I consider regular record-keeping of stock also important for minimising disease risks.”

While NAIT tag retention can be an issue, Susie and the farm staff are always prepared.

“If you’re drenching or weighing livestock it’s handy to have spare NAIT tags with you.

“I usually use my iPhone and take a picture of the new tag I have just applied and then match it against the original tag number listed online.”

Farmers can update the tag numbers of lost tags by going into their NAIT account and selecting the ‘replace tag’ function. This ensures the animals’ history is retained and supports lifetime traceability.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

MANAGEMENT // 47

Making small herd farming a team effort LOUISE HANLON

KEITH AND Tracey Crawford began their dairy careers with big dreams of farm ownership, then still a highly achievable goal for a determined young couple.

“Keith went dairy farming when he left school” says Tracey Crawford. “I left school and worked as a microbiolo-

gist at the dairy company.

“When we got married in 1986 we decided to go on the path of 29%, 39%, 50:50. We were pretty fortunate that we got to do all those stepping stones to set us up 50:50.”

They worked their way up through the industry, and finally bought a 90ha farm near Opunake, Taranaki, in 2006, where they now milk 190 cows.

This property was

meant to be another step on the path to owning a larger farm, but in the intervening years their focus has shifted to making the most out of their current farm, in tandem with off-farm investments and maximising the opportunities for spending time with family and friends off-farm.

Putting the systems in place to simplify and streamline processes is

another focus for the couple.

“Keith broke his back in 2011 in a trail bike accident and he had three months off work,” says Tracey.

“We realised that you need a shed that runs with one person. If you are a husband-and-wife team and something goes wrong you are very vulnerable. I always say it is great to have a one-man

POSITIVE VIBE OFF-FARM KEITH AND Tracey Crawford are happy with their choice to stay smaller herd farming.

“With a small farm we have still been able to support our children,” says Tracey Crawford.

“Maybe through lending them a bit of money to buy their first house. That’s been awesome.

“Bigger farms have their place in the community too, but I still think a small farm has a lot to offer. Sometimes when you talk to staff on a large farm they are only doing one type of farming. They might be doing a lot of tractor driving, or just milking,

whereas the smaller farmers are doing everything.

“Other smaller farmers have told us that they’ve had workers come who don’t know how to fence, or how to manage grass, because in the big job they have come from they have just been working in the cowshed.

“With smaller farms the overall learning of farming practices is huge. You are doing all the financials, grass management, maintenance, milkings, your cows. We have that love, you know who’s your good cows and you’re testing all the time.”

Making the most of their advisory team of accountant, bank manager and farm adviser is a critical part of making their system work.

“We have meetings with our advisers and discuss our plans for the future, they make sure it is all recorded, and then we have regular meetings to check we are on track or to discuss anything that has cropped up.”

Crawford also believes that getting off the farm to learn new information and network is an important part of running a successful farm business.

Keith and Tracey Crawford.

shed and Keith says it is really great to have a onewoman shed.

“That is also why we DNA profiled our herd.

When we were farming by ourselves we wondered how we would cope if one of us couldn’t be there and we needed to get someone in to help us with the spring. With the herd profiled it doesn’t matter who steps in, all the heifer calves can come straight into the calf shed, we will know who’s calved and the calf’s DNA will tell us later who they belong to. It’s insurance for us and it means it doesn’t have to be a hassle for anyone.”

Time off farm is important to the couple.

“Our goal is to keep things simple,” says Crawford. “We are in our second season of having a permanent staff member

and we have every second weekend off, apart from the four months when we do calving and mating.

We know we are going to have that time on the farm and do things right.

“We can get a relief milker in for the weekends our worker is off.

And as the farm is easy to run Keith doesn’t do nights, which means he can do other farm work and not be tied to the shed twice a day.

“We have always had good relief milkers. Different every year, but as we have the system set up, instructions on the wall, people can walk in and run the farm and we know it is going to work.

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with kids.

“If you don’t get out and do something every day, and have things in place to enjoy your family and friends, you will be old and they will all be gone. All our adult children still holiday with us.

We are lucky.

“We have a compulsory holiday in January at the beach, with our children and grandchildren, and in March we have a caravan holiday with our friends. We fish and swim, run and bike, sit and reflect, and relax and talk about the year. Once we decided we were staying smaller herd we were able to purchase a 1966 Chevy Impala and a 1978 caravan and start to do a lot more caravanning and cycling around New Zealand.”

• Louise Hanlon is an executive member of Smaller Milking and Supply Herd.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

48 // MANAGEMENT

Farms wanted for progeny testing Farmers Chris and Aleisha McCormack with CRV Ambreed’s Janine Broekhuizen.

DAIRY FARMERS are being sought for a progeny testing to develop the next generation of elite dairy sires.

Newly appointed CRV Ambreed progeny test (PT) programme man-

ager Janine Broekhuizen says this is a chance for farmers to develop and enhance their herd by gaining early access to the next generation of top genetics.

The programme has

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“The elite bulls selected ultimately ensure our industry remains competitive, productive and profitable generation upon generation,” she says.

“It’s important herds participating in our programme are from right across New Zealand.

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as not breeding worth driven. He says he “wants a nice whole cow”.

“I like cows that are lovely to milk with easy temperament and a great udder conformation,” he says. “Being part of the PT programme has provided this and is giving us good genetic gain.”

McCormacks are visited annually by an inspector as part of the PT programme. “There’s always something new to learn from the day,” says

“I like cows that are lovely to milk with easy temperament and a great udder conformation.” particularly with crossbreed cows, or being in Northland and Canterbury would be a bonus,” says Broekhuizen.

She joined CRV Ambreed following stints at DairyNZ, Tatua and AgResearch. She has a biochemistry degree and has always been interested in genetics.

Most of all she enjoys getting out in the field and talking to farmers.

“Especially I enjoy meeting with our existing farmers in the PT programme, hearing what they are enjoying and benefiting from and learning of anything we at can do to make the PT programme even better.

“My personal goal is to ensure each PT programme farm gains value from their involvement, so much that farmers want to tell their neighbours about it.”

One participating couple, Aleisha and Chris McCormack, began sharemilking in Edgecumbe five years ago with 220 Friesian-crossbreed herd.

In 2014, they joined the programme and now milk the progeny test daughters.

Chris describes his breeding preference

Chris.

A PT programme requires herd testing four times a year, and their cows must score traits such as adaptability to milking and shed temperament.

Says Broekhuizen, “It’s rewarding for our team to work with farmers like Chris and Aleisha who are passionate about their cows and know exactly the type of animal they want to breed.

“I see my role as leading our team to ensure the PT programme provides value to participating farmers, to help them achieve their herd and business goals and ensure the next generation of dairy bulls are robustly proven and ready for the market.”

She says she’s looking for farmers who share the same values as CRV Ambreed and are diligent about their herd recording “Our ultimate goal as a company is to breed healthy and efficient cows that farmers love to milk.

And we do that by focusing on developing genetic solutions, such as LowN and facial eczema tolerance.

• Visit www.crv4all.co.nz or phone 0800 262 733.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

MANAGEMENT // 49

Pain management tops vet agenda VETS’ GREATER understanding of

livestock’s ability to sense pain has more of them integrating pain relief into some treatments, as regulations also start to tighten on treatment standards.

On October 1 this year, it will be a legal requirement that all cattle being disbudded or dehorned will need appropriate and effective local anaesthetic authorised by a veterinarian. The New Zealand Veterinary Guidelines also recommend the use of an appropriate long-acting pain killer at the time of disbudding and dehorning.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health NZ technical veterinarian James Laidlaw says the new rules for de-budding reflect a shifting attitude towards the understanding and application of pain relief, as well as moves to improve welfare in farm animals.

“Our understanding and recognition of animals’ ability to sense pain has shifted considerably in the past decade. But results from various global surveys indicate there is still quite a wide range of opinions from vets and farmers about where they perceive different operations and conditions sit on the pain scale.”

Globally, surveys of vets and farmers over the last 10-15 years have highlighted the difficulty of interpreting pain in cattle. This is mostly due to the fact these animals have evolved to hide displays of pain.

“Vets and farmers have been well aligned in their assessments, but the surveys have highlighted wide ranges of individual interpretations of how painful various procedures and conditions are in cattle.”

Historically, a lack of standardised guides to assessing pain in cattle and benchmarking of how painful conditions and procedures are has made interpreting pain and approaching pain relief difficult.

Meantime farmers are facing increasing demands from consumers for higher welfare standards in farm animals and higher public expectations of farm animal welfare. These and the provision of pain relief are driving the industry to be more conscious about addressing pain in farm animals.

“This is something we need to be considering if we wish to market the highest quality product and to maintain our ‘clean, green image’ locally and globally.”

BIAH NZ technical veterinarian, James Laidlaw.

Mastitis ranks as a significant pain causing condition in dairy cows. Work by one of the country’s leading animal researchers indicates offering antiinflammatory pain relief medication

and antibiotic mastitis treatments, even for moderate cases, can improve an animal’s response rate and productivity.

Dr Scott McDougall’s 2009 and 2016

studies on mammary health and fertility found using a non-steroidal pain reliever like Metacam20 when treating even mild cases of mastitis resulted in lowered somatic cell counts.

There was also a 42% lower likelihood cows would be culled for mastitis, when compared with placebo treated cows. Researchers found administering Metacam20 with antibiotic mastitis treatment improved the probability the cow would conceive to artificial insemination on her first service, and also increased the probability she would be pregnant by 120 days post-calving by 29%.

A further unexpected finding was cows treated with Metacam20 and antibiotic mastitis treatments had a 32% higher chance of bacteriological cure than cows treated with antibiotic and a placebo.

“So even putting aside the welfare issues of delivering anti-inflammatory pain relief medications, there are proven production benefits that make addressing the pain element that accompanies mastitis well worthwhile,” says Laidlaw. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

50 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Selenium is an essential trace element required in fertility.

Organic product to tackle selenium deficiency in soils CHRIS BALEMI & BRECHT BRUNEEL

Fieldays Special

NEW ZEALAND soils are low in selenium, an essential trace element for ruminants and required for growth, fertility and the prevention of mastitis and calf scours. However, selenium deficiency is prevalent in soils NZ-wide.

This presents an issue every farm manager would benefit from understanding better. A new generation of organic selenium supplementation (called Excential Selenium 4000) will be introduced into NZ this year. It’s an important development because it will greatly improve on previous options for selenium supplementation on the farm.

It’s important to understand the relevance and impact of selenium deficiency.

Why is selenium important?

Specific enzymes (selenoproteins) require the incorporation of selenium to ensure their activity in the animal.

These enzymes reduce the presence of oxide radicals (produced during normal metabolic activity and elevated during stressful periods) that cause cell damage and subsequent

malfunction of tissues. Protection against these harmful byproducts is especially important in high energydemanding cells such as heart, muscle and mammary gland cells.

Unfortunately, there is often a selenium deficiency in animals due to limited uptake from the diet. These deficiencies can be large in ruminants grazing on pastures grown on selenium-deficient soils, such as here in NZ. Resulting challenges may include suboptimal milk production and fertility, mastitis and premature, weak calves.

In places with severe selenium deficiency, calves have poor growth rates and difficulties standing, and sudden deaths can occur. To prevent this, it is important to provide additional selenium via the diet and assess regularly the selenium status of the herd by analysing blood and milk.

A nutritional solution Selenium can be added to the diet in either inorganic or organic forms.

The advantage of using organic selenium over inorganic sources (e.g. sodium selenite or selenate) is its ability to be incorporated directly into animal proteins. This incorporated selenium (in the form of LSel-

enomethionine) acts as a storage depot of selenium inside the animal.

LSelenomethionine is the only selenium compound that can be directly, without conversion, built into animal structural proteins (i.e. muscle and liver). This ensures optimal selenium supply even during stressful periods (e.g. calving, lactation, heat) when selenium intake is required most by the animal.

L-Selenomethionine has traditionally been supplied to a cow’s diet via addition of selenised yeast. However, the yeast approach is limited. Normally, around 63% of the total selenium in a selenised yeast is present as L-Selenomethionine but there is a huge variation between products and batches (it can be as low as 18%). The remaining selenium absorbed by the yeast cells is present in forms that are no more active than much cheaper inorganic selenium.

The introduction of Excential Selenium 4000 into the market will provide a better option to optimally supply animals with L-Selenomethionine.

• Chris Balemi is managing director of Agvance Nutrition and Brecht Bruneel is international technical manager at Orffa.

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STRESSFUL PERIODS, for example, transition, birth and weaning, during a dairy cow’s life are plentiful and they are always correlated with an increased oxidative stress.

The period three weeks prior to calving and three weeks post calving presents a big challenge to cows as they transition from late gestation to early lactation. The increased metabolic

activity and energy demand that marks this period is linked to a high increase in oxidative stress. To combat this stress the animal needs high amounts of selenium.

Literature shows that supplementation of organic selenium to Se-adequate cows during late gestation improves antioxidant function in early lactation.

This leads to effective reduc-

tion in oxidative stress.

Storable selenium (L-Selenomethionine) can have a big positive impact during stressful periods.

Positive effects for organic selenium are also seen on the immunity (e.g. neutrophils).

This will be beneficial in improving the mammary gland health and lowering the somatic cell count.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

ANIMAL HEALTH // 51

Zeolite trials show ‘stunning results’ NIGEL MALTHUS

A TRIAL giving synthetic zeolite to transition cows to prevent milk fever has shown “stunning” results, says DairyNZ principal scientist Dr David Chapman.

Zeolites are used in European barn farming but how they might work on pastures under New Zealand conditions is unknown, Chapman

performance.

“We’re now scaling up across several thousand animals under commercial conditions in several herds to see if synthetic zeolite precalving can improve uterine health and reproductive performance,” said Phyn.

Zeolites are aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial absorbents.

In cows they work as calcium binders, limiting

“Basically, zero percent of the animals treated with zeolite showed signs of even subclinical hypocalcaemia (milk fever).” told the recent Future Perspectives Dairy NZ Farmers’ Forum in Timaru.

However, a DairyNZ trial has now shown proof of effectiveness, he said.

“Basically zero percent of the animals treated with zeolite showed signs of even sub-clinical hypocalcaemia (milk fever). But an untreated group were at about 38% signs of hypocalcaemia.

That’s a stunning result.”

Chapman was outlining different snapshots of current research by way of brief videos.

The leader of the trial, senior scientist Dr Clair Phyn, told the forum by video that feeding synthetic zeolite to transition cows in the lead-up to calving was a way to improve calcium levels following calving.

It has been shown under European systems that it is highly effective in reducing risk of milk fever.

“We’ve now shown under NZ under grazing conditions that feeding cows synthetic zeolite for two-three weeks before they calve improves their calcium levels in blood at calving. This means they have a lower risk of clinical and sub-clinical milk fever.”

They had also seen promising effects on reproductive

the amount of calcium available from pre-calving feed. This forces the cow to adjust by drawing on its own calcium reserves, effectively activating its natural defences against hypocalcaemia.

Chapman said the zeolite work is part of a large programme called Lifetime Productivity, to understand the factors affecting the performance of the national herd.

Notably this includes preventing cows exiting the herd early, supporting their health and welfare and giving them a life with few problems, minimal costs and best possible production.

The zeolite study is seen to justify scaling up into a larger study this spring in 2000 cows in four or five herds.

Chapman said half would be treated with zeolite and half managed as normal without it.

“That’s going to give interesting information on reproduction, transition cow health and the production of those cows in early lactation and beyond.”

Apart from naturally occurring mined zeolite used in various products, zeolite is not yet available in NZ, but Chapman said it is marketed in Australia by a company working with 60 farms.

The company is interested in moving into NZ but

will probably wait for the results of the large-scale study.

Chapman said the Lifetime Productivity programme could raise

productivity and profit by $500 million. That would be $12-$15 per cow per year “if we can get our heads around some of these problems”.

David Chapman, DairyNZ.

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Ref. Milk solids/cow/lactation. McPherson, W.B., Gogolewski, R.P., Slaeck, B., Familton, A.S., Gross, S.J., Maciel, A.E., Ryanh, W.G. 2001. Effect of peri-parturient eprinomectin treatment of dairy cows on milk production. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 49(3): 106-110. Murphy, A. 1998. The effect of treatment with moxidectin, a long-acting endectocide, on milk production in lactating dairy cows. In: Fort Dodge Satellite Symposium, XXII World Buiatrics Congress, Hannover, pp. 1-4.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

52 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Fushion 3+ adds more tech features MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

DOMINANT IN the

New Zealand baler/ wrapper combi market, the McHale Fusion Series distributed by Power Farming Wholesale has been popular with contractors and largescale farmers for many years.

The 2019 series 3+ Film on Film machines are improved in sevetral ways that should ensure the Fusion brands continues to dominate.

Up front, above the grass pick-up, a newly designed cradle helps transition heavy rolls of net wrap or film from the

ground to the application mechanism.

In operation, the cradle is pulled out from its horizontal stowage position then pivots to a vertical position.

Once the roll is loaded the cradle is lifted back to the horizontal position with the aid of a gas strut then pushed in to install the roll.

The 2019 series 3+ Film on Film machines are also fitted with a moisture meter and bale weighing system.

The moisture meter uses two probes in the bale chamber to measure conductivity, then continuously displays a live bale moisture feed on the machine’s control moni-

tor. The system can also show average moisture content for individual jobs, paddocks or customers.

The bale weighing system displays individual bale weights following the bale’s weighing as it passes across pressure transducers housed in the rear tip-off arm.

As with the moisture meter system, readings can be displayed for average bale weights at the job/field and customer level.

For proof of production, machines are fitted with printers to deliver a report of the completed job.

This can be configured to carry data on bale

quantity, wrapped or not wrapped, indication if film has been used, chopped

or un-chopped, average bale weight, average moisture content and time

taken to complete the job.

The system also allows the addition of notes to

highlight, say, weather condition or crop varieties.

GET THE DIET RIGHT DESIGNED TO handle,

Weigh cells fitted between the tub and chassis accurately monitor weight of ingredients.

chop, mix and feed all types of baled and loose feedstuffs, the Kongskilde VM series diet mixers come in 6.5m3 to 45m3 sizes made from S500 and S650 steel to last longer.

They are available in one, two or three rotor versions and can be specified to discharge to either side.

Thorough mixing

is achieved with large conical auger rotors.

Shredding and mixing efficiency is further enhanced by two adjustable shear-bars fitted at the base of each rotor.

Weigh cells fitted between the tub and chassis accurately monitor the weight of ingredients added, which is displayed in the loading tractor via the Feed

A conveyor discharges mixed ration to the ground inside barns.

Manager wireless remote monitor for clear and easy viewing. A second remote wireless monitor is also available.

Discharge of the mixed ration is either directly onto the ground via a short elevator, into troughs or over feed barri-

FEED SYSTEMS SINCE 1962

ers up to about one metre high, depending on wheel equipment.

Alternatively, a cross conveyor can take the ration from the front of the machine and discharge it either onto the ground or to a separate elevator.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 53

Automatic teat spray gets 97% accuracy AN INTELLIGENT new Auto Mix + Spray unit from GEA’s FIL division sets a gold standard in teat spraying, says the company.

It provides farmers with an accurately mixed solution applied ‘fresh’ at every milking -- critical in maintaining teat condition, says FIL national manager Colin May. “Accurately mixing and using teat spray to combat seasonal differences is crucial,” he says.

“Farmers might be using the best products, but teat spray solutions can vary depending on who does the mixing, and what they understand is required to combat seasonal differences.

“Most teat sprays suggest a mix ration of maybe

1:6 or 1:9. That can be confusing, and adding extra emollient adds yet more complexity.”

The Auto Mix + Spray unit achieves 97% accuracy, removing human error and guesswork from manual mixing, FIL says.

The company can help farmers tailor a teat care plan, including GEA FIL auto mix and spray unit. recommended mix rates to tal conditions change or meet seasonal changes.

Those rates can be loaded a deterioration in teat and locked into the unit’s condition is detected the unit’s settings can be memory for daily use until a change of ration is altered in single % ratios between 5% and 20% to required. counter changing patterns When environmen-

THE NEW 4 CYLINDER

of teat condition.

Being pressurised, the system can be retrofitted into a wet-it or wand system, an ambic system or on-platform spraying systems like iPUD or it can be installed as a standalone unit in the dairy shed.

In each situation, the teat spray is taken directly from the drum to the application point. In line with best practice, teat spray is mixed and applied ‘fresh’ every milking, ensuring that there is no deterioration of stored pre-mixed product, particularly on farms where water quality is poor.

NORWOOD QUITS LEMKEN BRAND NORWOOD HAS quit importing

Lemken farm machinery as of April 1.

It had distributed the brand here for at least 20 years, the company said.

“The decision... formed part of a wider customer strategy aimed at ensuring Norwood will continue to be best placed to meet the needs of agricultural customers,” says Tim Myers, chief executive.

“That includes our ability to build and maintain brand expertise to support our products, and to ensure we have the commercial and operational support from those brands to deliver on our customer commitment.

“With the range of products available from many suppliers continuing to expand, and with many products becoming ever more technologically advanced, building and maintaining product expertise has become a critical business challenge for all modern agricultural dealerships.

“Unfortunately, and despite the

strong relationship Norwood has enjoyed with Lemken, we... felt our ability to offer best-in-class support and service would be compromised by recent changes Lemken made to their supply model in the Australian and New Zealand market.

“We respect their decision and wish them all the very best.”

Myers says releasing the Lemken brand will enable Norwood to consolidate its brand offering. A New Holland plough range will be introduced later in 2019.

Norwood will continue retail sales of existing Lemken stock, and stock sold or to be sold will have the full 12-month manufacturer warranty support.

It will offer parts, service, warranty and technical support for all Lemken products sold or still to be sold.

Any Norwood sold machine remains under the manufacturer warranty period.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 28, 2019

54 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Airpro joins seeding drill lineup MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

POWER FARMING

has added the Aitchison Airpro AP 30-24T to its drill lineup.

Based on key features of the successful 6m machine, the drill retains the layout and drilling units from the Seedmatic range but has a new air-transport system and e-drive metering control.

It has a 24-row layout with 5-inch row spacing and a 550mm frame stagger to allow the passage of trash or debris.

Up front a mechanically adjustable drawbar allows the machine to be pulled level irrespective of tractor drawbar height, with a hydraulic option if required.

As with the Seedmatic range, a front gang of individually sprung

12-inch disc openers give a lead in for the seeding tines. The layout allows the unit to cope with turf or trash and leave a clean, neat slot for seed-

for accurate depth control, and oversize transport wheels allow for quick headland turns or moves between jobs.

Drill hoppers use a

The layout allows the unit to cope with turf or trash and leave a clean, neat slot for seeding. ing, using hydraulic depth control adjustable on the move.

Seeding tines, with double-coil springs for positive penetration in difficult conditions, carry an inverted-T point that creates a tilth and a trench into which the seed and fertiliser is placed.

Tines carry seed and fertiliser tubes mounted on the same bracket to ensure accurate placement in the trench.

Depth gauge wheels use threaded adjustment

split configuration allowing a central access platform for safe, easy loading. The platform is accessed via steps at one end and has a drop-down ramp to access trailers or ute beds at the other. An optional Hiab hydraulic crane can also be specified for easy loading of big bags.

Air flow is produced by a hydraulically driven fan, easily adjusted for volume and able to ‘feather’ air flow to ensure small or light seeds are not blown from the seed-

ing trench. At the rear of the machine, a rear roller system consolidates across the full working width.

The Aitchison drill

controller allows control of three seed boxes and calibration of all metering devices using the integral AutoCal function.

The system can also

memorise calibration settings for multiple seed types, allows on-the-move seed rate variation and can store job data, including customer, farm, field,

seed type, area covered and quantity used -- all downloadable to a USB drive. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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age, the Great Plains inline sub-soiler, marketed by Norwood, shatters yieldrobbing compaction layers created by horizontal tillage tools such as ploughs and discs.

With a working depth of 300 to 400mm, the autumn tillage tool resets the soil profile and maintains uniform soil density with minimal topsoil disturbance.

Its high-tensile frame has 9.5mm walled tubing for added strength and durability. Units are available in 700mm (6 shank) or 750mm (5 shank) spacings.

At the business end, a no-till, winged

point 250mm wide is used ahead of a 19mm thick no-till shank. The no-till point minimises surface disturbance and the wings create lift and maximise shatter at the sub-surface levels.

Rearwards of the shanks, 25mm) solid rods carry 410mm diameter berm conditioners to help provide a level surface, enabling single-pass seedbed preparation.

Overload protection against subsurface obstacles like large stone rocks or timber is ensured by auto-reset shanks with a trip force of 1360kgs.

Depth control is set by large diameter depth wheels with screw jacks for easy adjustment.

THE BENEFITS OF 100% NATURAL GYPSUM

Gypsum application is a standard practice worldwide for addressing the build up of sodium in soils, including soils receiving waste waters.

Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

How Does Gypsum Work?

It is useful in the transition period in dairy cows 2 – 4 weeks pre & post calving, and can be used as an anionic salt to counteract the effects that high potassium & sodium concentrations have on increasing hypocalcemia.

Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulphate. Calcium from gypsum replaces sodium in the soil. The sulphate allows the sodium to be effectively leached out of the soil. The soil then has more ability to flocculate and form stable aggregates to improve drainage and soil quality.

Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime and is more suitable for the digestive system during this period.

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests throughout New Zealand shows sulphur deficiency is wide spread.

Although often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur due to the sulphate radical (SO4‑‑).

• Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4‑‑), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils

Gypsum in water savings • Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application

Na+ Na+ Ca++ leached + + Soil Cation Exchange  Soil Cation Exchange Na2SO4 CaSO4

Gypsum in soil conditioning • Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration

Gypsum in amendment • Displaces sodium binding clay soils • Reduces high soil aluminium levels • Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit gypsum.co.nz 00527 - Gyspum - DairyNews June 02.indd 1

20/06/18 6:21 PM

STAND OUT.

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