Dairy News 4 August 2020

Cheesed off with cheap imports. PAGE 3

YOUNG FARMER CONTEST

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AUGUST 4, 2020 ISSUE 452

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

NEWS // 3

Cheesed off by cheap imports SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

NZ CHEESEMAKERS are banking on antiCome and work with cows. PG.08

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dumping legislation to bolster their battle against cheaper imported cheeses.

Simon Berry, managing director of Whitestone Cheese and spokesperson for New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association on EU tariffs and trade, says up to 25% of retail cheeses are imported – mostly subsidised European cheeses.

With imported cheeses often selling for around half the price of local ones New Zealand producers are struggling.

Berry says Kiwi cheese producers can’t compete with cheap European product flooding into the market and wants an anti-dumping duty to be placed on some imported speciality cheeses.

He says the association recently found out about existing anti-dumping legislation in NZ. “We are preparing to lodge a claim to MBIE to activate this legislation, without interfering with Free Trade negotiations” he told Dairy News.

The Trade (Anti dumping and countervailing duties) Act 1988 empowers the NZ Government to apply duties on dumped or subsidised goods coming into the country.

Berry says the association will be meeting this week on the issue.

European cheeses sold in NZ include Bulgarian and Danish fetas and blue vein cheeses, plus top retail seller Costello cheese made by global dairy giant Arla Foods.

Berry says there has been a gradual growth in imported EU cheese over the past three years.

With strong marketing and distribution networks, these high-volume subsidised EU cheeses are undercutting NZ cheesemakers.

He says Arla Foods lands its cheeses frozen in sea containers. They are then thawed and dated before hitting NZ supermarket shelves.

“They send it out frozen from the EU, fully

Cheaper EU cheeses are being dumped in NZ, says local cheesemakers.

subsidised, and they produce large bulk amounts of these cheeses with automated systems...so it’s landing here basically half price in containers and we see it on the shelves now.”

Berry says NZ cheesemakers need protection and he hopes the Government will come to the party and support them.

“We’re small and we’re young producers and we’re really battling when it comes to retail and competing with these guys. We need some form of protection.”

Dairy Companies Association of NZ chief executive Kimberly Crewther says the situation seems “very ironic”.

“It is very ironic that the EU is arguing to maintain its high level of protection for cheese into its own market at a time when its own cheese is being sold at apparently very competitive prices in the New Zealand market,” she told Dairy News.

“This reinforces the complete lack of justification the EU has in arguing to maintain protection against NZ products.”

She says it’s “well past time” for the EU to

move beyond statements of support for the UN sustainable development goals (SDG) to end poverty and undertake meaningful reform to address its tariff restrictions and subsidy distortions.

DCANZ hasn’t been party to any discussions to date on the issue.

Its position on matters of this nature is guided by support for the WTO rules framework and the SDG 2 implementing action of ‘correcting and preventing restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets’.

“This generally means we favour a situation where there is no implementation of tariffs by countries,” says Crewther.

“An imported product maybe more competitive in a market as a result of its producers having a comparative advantage (as is often the case for the dairy products New Zealand exports) and we do not believe that this is cause for an importing country to impose tariffs. The only exception to this is if product is being dumped or if a country’s subsidies were causing harm to other producers, in line with existing WTO rules.”

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

4 // NEWS

ALL ABOUT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD – CO-OP SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz Miraka says it s all about competition for independent dairy companies.

Miraka unhappy with rushed DIRA changes become shareholders.

For companies such as Miraka this could mean that if a Fonterra supplier moved to Miraka and then later wanted to go back to Fonterra, there is no obligation on the part of the cooperative to accept them back.

Wyeth says they wanted to have more consultation on the process and were disappointed that it was “rushed” through Parliament prior to the election. He says the issue is around competition, not specifically

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CHIEF executive

of the Taupo-based dairy company Miraka, Richard Wyeth, says the company was disappointed at the way the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act Bill (DIRA) was rushed through Parliament recently.

One key aspect of the bill is that it removes the obligation of Fonterra to accept applications for farmers to automatically

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for Miraka, but for all independent dairy companies.

Wyeth says, for Miraka, competition means open entry and exit. He says the way the new legislation is framed, there is a concern that Fonterra can exercise its dominant market position.“There is a significant amount of trust now being placed on Fonterra to do the right thing and government have said that themselves. With this new bill, the power now sits with Fonterra whereas in the past it used to sit with

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Monaghan thanked the primary production select committee and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor “for listening to the views of New Zealand dairy farmers and being open to change”.

He also thanked the Government for prioritising the DIRA legislation and giving the industry certainty before this year’s election.

“This modernised legislation creates a more level playing field for our co-op and ultimately will keep more of the value created by kiwi dairy farmers back here in New Zealand.”

O’Connor says the dairy sector has changed considerably since 2001.

“The amendments we have made to this very aged legislation ensure this regulatory regime puts the sector in the best possible position in a postCOVID world,” he says.

“We want to ensure the DIRA remains fit for purpose in a changing economic and social environment, and continues to deliver benefits for our farmers, consumers, and New Zealand’s economy as a whole.”

The Government is determined to ensure the industry moves milk up the value chain. O’Connor says the changes will enable Fonterra to invest in that higher-value end.

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the legislation.”

Wyeth says most Miraka suppliers probably weren’t aware of the legislation going through and in the meantime it won’t have any direct impact on them.

He says just before the legislation was passed, he had a meeting with Minister for Primary Industries Damien O’Connor in a last ditch attempt to get changes made to the bill.

“But this was too late and it was in effect a fait accompli because there was bipartisan support through the house, so it wasn’t going to change.

Different parties had different reasons for supporting the bill. For example, the Green Party were quite comfortable because they thought there would be no more conversions, which I can understand,” he says.

But Wyeth says, despite this, Miraka felt these views could have could have been accommodated without enacting the new law.

FONTERRA SAYS a revamped Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) creates “a more level playing field”.

Cooperative chairman John Monaghan says the changes ultimately will keep more of the value created by kiwi dairy farmers back in New Zealand.

In an email to farmer shareholders, Monaghan expressed delight at Parliament approving key changes to DIRA. The changes to the 20-year-old legislation passed unanimously through Parliament. The biggest change is the removal of open entry and exit provisions and comes into effect from June 1, 2023.

Monaghan thanked farmers who made submissions during MPI’s consultation process.

“With your support, meaningful changes were made to the legislation.”

The open entry provisions relate to a farmer’s ability to freely enter Fonterra and the co-op’s ability to refuse farmers that do not meet its standards.

Monaghan assured farmers that Fonterra will continue to pick milk from supplying farms that changed ownership.

“I reconfirmed our 2017 commitment to Federated Farmers that we will continue to accept applications to supply from all farms that are, at the time of the application, supplying Fonterra, until the remainder of the procompetition provisions in DIRA fall away.

“This means that even if ownership of a farm changes, Fonterra will accept supply from that farm as long as the supply to Fonterra is continuous and the new owner meets our normal terms and conditions of supply.”

Fonterra will amend its constitution to this effect at its annual meeting in November.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

NEWS // 5

No tears over RMA overhaul DAIRYNZ BACKS CHANGES

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

NEWS THAT the con-

troversial Resource Management Act (RMA) is to get a complete overhaul has been welcomed by many primary sector organisations.

Last week, Environment Minister David Parker released a report by a panel headed by retired Appeal Court Judge Tony Randerson which proposes that the Act, which has been in operation for thirty years, should be scrapped and replaced by two new laws – a Natural Built Environment Act and a Strategic Planning Act. Its recommendations include a proposal for each region in the country to put forward a combined development plan, consolidating the myriad of local council plans that currently exist. At present there are about 100 policy statements and plans put up by local authorities and under the new proposal there would be just 14 combined regional and district plans.

The proposal would also see more power being given to iwi as set out in some subtle word changes. Currently plans have to ‘take into account’ the Treaty of Waitangi, whereas under the new proposal, plans have to ‘give effect’, meaning Treaty matters must be given greater weight.

Parker says a review of

A review panel has recommend that the RMA should be scrapped and replaced by two new laws.

the resource management system was long overdue.

He says the RMA has doubled in size from its original length has become too costly, takes too long, and has not adequately protected the environment.

“There are significant pressures on both the natural and built environments that need to be addressed urgently. Urban areas are struggling to keep pace with population growth and the need for affordable housing.

“Water quality is deteriorating, biodiversity is diminishing and there is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change,” he says.

Parker says the report recommends greater use of national direction by the Environment Minister and a more streamlined process for council plan-making and a more efficient resource consent process.

Federated Farmers says it’s on board with the chorus of voices across diverse sector groups saying the RMA is broken and no longer fit for pur-

pose.

Feds resource management spokesperson Karen Williams says what started off as a relatively simple, one-stopshop piece of legislation formed 30 years ago to promote sustainable development and environmental protection has been chewed over so much it is no longer recognisable. Williams, who is Feds vice president, says the RMA has become unwieldy and cripplingly expensive.

“It creates huge hurdles for development and economic wellbeing, and struggles to provide the environmental outcomes everyone wants, including addressing cumulative effects. We are a little mystified why the Government is pushing ahead as we speak with changes to the RMA when they’ve admitted a fundamental overhaul of the legislation is overdue. But we must retain the existing requirement to balance economic, cultural, social and environmental outcomes so that the legislation can deliver what

Kiwis need going forward in a very different world,” she says.

Williams says Feds would prefer the resource management legislation remain within one statute rather than be split up as proposed. She says it’s important that any new legislation sticks with its core ‘effects based’ principles.

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DAIRYNZ SAYS it’s also backing changes to the RMA to deliver reduced compliance costs for farmers, increase efficiency and improve environmental outcomes.

Chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says a comprehensive reform of the RMA is long overdue and would be a positive step not only for farmers but all New Zealanders.

“The RMA has become too unpredictable and inefficient for applicants. Farmers will be keen to see this reform deliver a process which is faster, simpler and less costly,” he says.

But unlike Federated Farmers, Mackle believes that potentially replacing the RMA with two separate pieces of legislation for environment and planning makes a lot of sense. He says it will

work such as restoration and enhancement of wetlands, are just two examples of environmental win/wins that are being

impeded by the RMA as currently written and implemented.

“We certainly hope that the process of devel-

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deliver better outcomes for farm environments, which face different issues than our urban counterparts and believes that a separate environment act would also support clear and efficient environmental rule settings.

“The proposal for each region to put forward a combined development plan has some merit. A regional view could support better decision-making on issues such as the appropriate use of land to lock up carbon and the opportunities to support land use flexibility through new irrigation,” he says.

Mackle says DairyNZ wants all political parties to reflect seriously on these recommendations and to work quickly on achieving meaningful reform in the next term of Parliament.

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6 // NEWS

Retiring MP’s $2m vote of confidence in dairying PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

FORMER MINISTER

for Primary Industries, and retiring MP, Nathan Guy says his plans to invest more than $2 million in a new innovative dairy shed is a vote of confidence in the future of the dairy industry.

Guy owns a large dairy farming operation near the Horowhenua town of Levin and is about to build a unique dairy shed that incorporates two 50 bail rotary platforms in the same building and is capable of milking 700 cows in just one hour.

The design is identical to the one built by former National MP and Taranaki dairy farmer Shane Ardern.

The new shed will replace two other milking sheds on the property, but Guy says they will keep a small 28 bail rotary which his father built in 1975. It will be used for milking mainly the heif-

Retiring National MP Nathan Guy says now is a good time to invest in dairying.

Outgoing MP Nathan Guy with children from left, Jeremy, Henry and Frankie at the site of the new double rotary milking shed.

ers on the property. He says his father had the vision to put in that shed back in the 1970’s and says his new shed is about investing for the next generation – his children. His children have

been involved in the decision making and are also excited about the future of the industry.

“The new shed will be up-spec’d in terms of technology with an automatic drafting machine

and automatic cup removers,” Guy told Dairy News.

“We will also recycle the water which will reduce our water requirements. In terms of the technology, I was advised not to install equipment

unless I was going to use it all the time and make some significant gains from it,” he says.

Guy plans to milk a total of 1500 cows, split into three herds of 500 cows, through the twin rotary shed which will look almost like two gigantic clocks running in synchronisation.

The big efficiency comes when there is a constant flow of cows going through the shed.

He says this means that staff will have to ensure that the cows are there waiting to be milked and that there are no delays in getting them to the shed.

He says if there is a stoppage in the flow of cows and a machine has to be shut down the efficiencies are lost.

When they are going through the shed, cows from different herds will likely become mixed up.

This is where the automatic drafting system kicks in. As the cows leave the shed, a machine reads

their ear tags and each animal is drafted back into its own herd again.

“By milking the herds faster, there are immediate production gains because the cows will be back on pasture quicker than they would in a normal situation. It also means that staff will spend less time in the shed putting on cups and will be able to get out and do other work on the farm,” he says.

The decision to build a multi-rotary shed system TO PAGE 7

NOW’S GOOD NATHAN GUY says now is a good time to invest in the dairy industry. He says interest rates are low and he hopes to have the new shed paid off in the next ten to fifteen years.

“We could have gone into bull beef or dairy grazing. We have had deer in the past and some of the land around us is used for horticulture, but we are dairy farmers and proud of it and have hence decided to invest in the sector,” he says.

Guy is full of praise for the efforts of Fonterra and its cooperative structure and says the organisation is now back on track. He says they performed very well during the Covid-19 crisis by being very agile with their marketing and maintaining their supply chains. He believes there is a lot of positivity in the dairy industry and notes that while there are challenges ahead, overall the outlook is good.

In a matter of weeks, Guy will bid farewell to Parliament after fifteen years in both government and opposition.

“I loved every minute of it and I got my dream job – Minister for Primary Industries. I believe that I made significant contribution to the primary sector,” he says.

For a while at least, it will be back to gumboots and overalls and stepping back into the farming business. But while Guy loves the farm, he admits he’s also looking for an opportunity to put on the business suit for some of the time and a role in a primary sector organisation.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

NEWS // 7

King Country farmer Shane Ardern’s twin rotary milking shed.

Milking 600 cows in one hour KING COUNTRY farmer Shane Ardern has never been afraid to be a bit different.

He is perhaps best remembered as the MP who drove a tractor up the front steps of Parliament in 2003 in protest at the government’s so called ‘fart tax’ After leaving Parliament he went back to his dairy farming operation in Taranaki and this year built what is said to be the fastest dairy shed in New Zealand.

Faced with having to replace his aging shed he travelled the world to find the answer and he found it in the US – a twin rotary shed.

Shane Ardern says the problem with most of new dairy sheds is that while they are highly spec’d, they are slow.

The twin rotary he’s had built consists of two 40 bail rotary platforms which enables him to milk his 600 cows in just

one hour. “Most of the modern sheds milk about 400 cows an hour and cost about half a million dollars more than mine.

Most of the sheds suit the builders, the milking machine fitters and engineers, but don’t suit the cows and the management of stock flow,” he says.

Ardern says for many staff spending long hours in the milking shed is not something they like and is inefficient use of labour.

Milking cows faster he says is a winwin for farmer and staff alike. He says DairyNZ should start taking a closer interest in milking shed design.

Arden’s unique model has been picked up and copied by Nathan Guy and is one that is likely to be copied by others, and could revolutionise the dairy industry in NZ. – Peter Burke

CONFIDENCE IN DAIRYING FROM PAGE 6

as opposed to building two stand-alone rotary sheds has other advantages – cost being one of them, according to Guy. “We only need one effluent pond, one power supply and one tanker track to the shed.

Also when we start calving we may only run one rotary and potentially the same at the end of the season,” Guy says.

Guy says the centralised system is designed to improve efficiency at milking time and make other productivity gains on farm. At present cows from one side of the farm have to cross over the local road at milking time, but the building of the new shed will remove the need for this. He also has plans to install solar panels.

“They probably won’t generate enough power

to run a shed of this size, but it will save us some money,” he says.

Guy is also taking the opportunity to improve the genetics of his herd and says he’s taken advantage of the good beef prices in China to get rid of poor performing cows.

“We’ve DNA tested all the 1500 cows and the next step is making sure we lift our genetic gain,” he says.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

8 // NEWS

Recruitment drive going well – DairyNZ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRYNZ SAYS some

of the people who have completed their training programme, Go Dairy, are

already working on dairy farms.

People Team Leader Jane Muir says she’s excited at what has happened in just a few weeks since the programme has been running.

Go Dairy is a $3.5 million campaign being run

by DairyNZ to try and get 1000 kiwis to fill dairy farm jobs. It is targeting NZ residents or citizens of all ages who have either lost their jobs due

to Covid-19 or think they might or are looking for a new career path.

The programme consists of a 10 hour online introductory course followed by a two week practical course with a

Go Dairy is a $3.5 million campaign being run by DairyNZ to try and get 1000 kiwis to fill dairy farm jobs.

focus on handling farm machines and also how to manage animals. The aim is to make participants ‘farm ready’ and to give them the necessary skills to apply for a farm assistant job on a dairy farm.

Muir says so far about 150 people have completed the online course

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The success of the GoDairy programme comes in the same week the Government launched the ‘Opportunity Grows Here’, a generic campaign aimed at showcasing employment opportunities right across the primary sector. A special website has been set up

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and some of these people have already got jobs on dairy farms, such is the demand for staff.

“Employers are saying they really want access to those people who have done farm-ready training.

They are showing they are open to employing people who are making a career change and clearly value the ‘fit for purpose training’ which we are offering,” she says.

Muir says some of those already with jobs on farms haven’t completed the practical part of the programme but she says this is mainly due to farmers wanting staff to help with calving. She says it’s likely they will train at some stage in the future.

She says another reason is that DairyNZ needs to get a reasonable sized group together in a given area to make it worthwhile to deliver the practical training.

Muir says one of the aims of the GoDairy programme is to show the New Zealand public that there are good jobs in the dairy industry, and given the interest to date, this has certainly been the case.

which shows the variety of jobs available and enables people to link to specific sectors that interest them.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says people can often find it hard to get information about a job, so the new website brings opportunities from across the primary sector together into the one place, making it easier for employers and for job seekers.

“Many unemployed people are talented and have skills that are readily transferrable. They just need to know that these opportunities exist – that’s what this campaign is all about. The research we did showed us that people didn’t know about the range of job options in the sector or that they might have the right skills,” he says.

O’Connor says job opportunities aren’t just in remote, labour-based roles. He says some are in our cities and include work in science, technology, business management, marketing and research. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

NEWS // 9

Irrigators unveil poll wish list A NATIONAL water strategy and water storage facilities top the wish list of the country’s 3500 irrigators.

Releasing its 2020 election manifesto last week, Irrigation NZ called for a national water strategy that it says should guide the future of water management and investment.

Irrigation NZ says it wants to be at the table to contribute to this.

It also wants a focus on water storage to ensure communities are resilient to climate change and to assist with land-use change to meet sure carbon targets.

Also on the wish list is a call for policies that support irrigation and the environment through monitoring, farm environment planning, innovation, and adaptation.

It asks that the Government partner with Irrigation NZ to assist because of its “on the ground” expertise.

There is also a call for resolution to Māori rights and interests in freshwater.

Irrigation NZ offers support to iwi, hapū, and whānau groups around access to water and efficient, effective, environmentally-sensitive irrigation

A national water strategy and water storage top the election manifesto of Irrigation NZ.

development, where appropriate and beneficial.

“Freshwater use in New Zealand involves multiple aspects and is integral to life,” says Elizabeth Soal, chief executive of Irrigation NZ.

“We want to see this precious resource better managed through the development of a water strategy for Aotearoa.

“We are already seeing a focus on freshwater across various policy

areas such as the Ministry for Primary Industry’s Fit for a Better World, Ministry for the Environment’s Essential Freshwater policy package and the Department of Internal Affairs ‘Three Waters Reform’ and establishment of

the drinking water authority, Taumata Arowai.”

Irrigation NZ believes all these issues could be aligned with a water strategy to guide and lead decision making and funding allocation at the central, regional, and local levels.

This could be led by a bi-partisan, independent water commission.

“As part of this, we would also like to progress a frank conversation with the Government and stakeholders about water storage and irrigation development which does not shy away from both the benefits and the impacts,” says Soal.

“With primary industries the backbone of this country for the foreseeable future, and access to reliable water a critical part of enabling this, we must move forward and ensure the right investment and outcomes from best practice water management.”

Irrigation NZ represents most of the country’s large irrigation schemes and has 3500 members across 800,000 hectares of New Zealand contributing $5.4b of GDP. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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10 // NEWS

Miraka’s billionth brick of milk PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

TAUPO-BASED MAORI dairy com-

pany, Miraka, celebrated a major milestone last

week – the production of the billionth pack of UHT milk.

The so-called UHT bricks are in fact 250ml Tetra Packs, which Miraka produces exclusively for the Chinese market.

Chief executive Richard Wyeth says UHT production for China began on August 20, 2014 and it has taken just under six years to produce the billionth pack.

“We had a fantas-

tic celebration to mark the occasion with special guests including the Mayor of Taupo, a representative of Terry Lee, and the Chinese Consul from Auckland coming along for the occasion,”

Miraka chief executive Richard Wyeth (fourth from left) celebrates the milestone with guests.

he says.

Wyeth says this is an outstanding result for the production team at Miraka. He says, according to Tetra Pack, the Miraka production line is the top performer in Australasia. UHT is an impor-

“Now we can monitor the herd performance day to day really easily”

tant product for Miraka accounting for 20% of their total milk supply.

Miraka has two production lines producing UHT milk and Wyeth says they plan to put in a third line to produce concentrated milk.

Agcarm’s new chair

Dion van Leeuwen

GAVIN KERR has been appointed president of

Agcarm, the industry association for crop protection and animal health manufacturers and distributors.

Kerr, country manager for agrichemical company Nufarm, says it’s a privilege to work in agriculture.

He says he would like to see one important change implemented well before the end of his threeyear term.

“Farmers and growers need and deserve access to the best and latest products. But New Zealand is Gavin Kerr missing out on new, more effective treatments due to delays that discourage investment in introducing these technologies.

“Delays in the regulation of field trials and research mean that our farmers and growers are missing out on cutting edge products. These delays can set back projects for two years, so undermine the viability of having domestic research and development programmes.

“In New Zealand, we require agrichemical companies to invest in trials, which can cost up to $500,000 to register a product. The delays mean that it is not economically viable to introduce some products, making it difficult to find replacements for older and less environmentally friendly products.”

New Zealand growers bear the cost through limited access to these products and lost production.

Kerr says New Zealand farmers have access to the most effective science and solutions that are sustainable and add value.

He acknowledges the challenges faced by the industry over the past few months and says that it is vital to have a united voice for animal health and crop science. “The world has changed. New Zealand agriculture has skilfully adapted to the change, but we need to ensure we continue to be nimble and progress the delivery of new and greener solutions for farmers and growers.”

This will mean that we will “not only compete on the global stage but be a leader on it”.

“We have the privilege of living and working in a wonderful and safe environment. Not many other countries have that,” he adds.

Previously vice president, Kerr replaces Pauline Calvert, who came to the end of her three-year term.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

12 // NEWS

Genetics driving change in herd ELLEN SANDS can viv-

idly recall the moment that ignited her passion for genetics and breeding Holstein Friesian dairy cattle.

She was 14 and helping family friends Vince and Sheridan Steiner with their show team at the 2014 NZ Dairy Event.

Ellen’s parents, Kevin and Lisa Sands, had asked her to have a look at a heifer being sold by Waipiri Holsteins at the event.

“We’d been buying pedigree bulls from Waipiri since 2009. They’d produced some amazing daughters, so we thought, why not buy a heifer,” said Ellen.

The yearling heifer the Sands’ had their eye on was Waipiri Destry Liza-ET VG88. Her dam (mother) was Waipiri Oman Liza-ET EX2.

“I remember feeling quite nervous during the auction, but we were the successful bidders. We paid $12,700,” said Ellen.

“We’d just felled and sold some pine trees, so Mum said it was okay.

“It was the first time we’d ever bought a pedigree Holstein Friesian heifer or cow. It was quite exciting.”

“Prior to that moment, I wasn’t interested in breeding or genetics, but

The Sands’ began using North American genetics over their herd in 2010.

Ellen Sands checks Holstein Friesian heifer calves on her family’s farm.

everything changed with that purchase,” she said.

Fast forward six years, and Ellen, 21, now plays a crucial role shaping the genetic direction of her family’s dairy herd.

The Sands milk 500 cows on 220-hectares near Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty. Three quarters of the herd are Holstein Friesians, the remainder are Ayrshires.

In 2018-19, one of their cows Kapu HGD Abe Jenessa VG86, was the top fat producing registered twoyear-old Holstein Friesian in the region.

“Jenessa was our top heifer for that season. She produced 595 kilograms of milksolids (kgMS),” she said.

The Sands’ bought Jen-

essa’s dam, Waipiri Doorman Jenisa VG87, at the Waipa Holstein Friesian Club sale in 2015.

“Jenisa holds our herd record for being the highest-producing two-yearold heifer. She did 615 kgMS in 305 days,” said Ellen.

The Sands’ milk yearround. The autumn herd starts calving in midMarch and the spring calves begin arriving in mid-July.

The milking platform is a mix of rolling to steep land. Running the large business is a true family affair.

Ellen’s dad Kevin handles milking and feeding, her mum Lisa does calf rearing and administration. Ellen takes charge

Farm facts

significantly more than a crossbred bobby calf,” she ■■ Owners; Kevin and Lisa Sands said.

■■ Location; Rotorua, Bay of Plenty The Sands’ of breeding reared 157 decisions ■■ Farm size: 220 hectares replaceand helps ■■ Cows; 500 cows (75% Holstein ment heifwith the Friesians) ers in 2019-20. calves.

Twenty-four Her ■■ Production: 177,000 kgMS 2019were sold for brother 20, plus 24,000 kgMS calf milk export in FebJack runs ■■ Stud name: Kapu Holsteins ruary. It is likely his own more will be sold agricultural prior to mating, or contracton a lease block five min- as in-calf heifers. ing business and overThe herd is milked sees silage harvesting and utes down the road. through a 48-aside her“All our calves are cropping. reared until they’re 100kg, ringbone shed.

The farm has one The Sands’ produced then we decide whether full-time staff member to sell or keep them,” she 177,000 kgMS in the 2019Hayden Sturgess and two 20 season. That figure said. backpackers. does not include the “Our rising two-year“I think what makes 24,000 kgMS taken out of old heifers are all mated our farm a little different the vat to rear 550 calves. is we rear every calf that’s to low birthweight Angus “The herd’s diet conbulls. In the autumn, our born. We haven’t prosists of grass, palm kernel, Friesian bulls are all sold duced any bobby calves and both grass and maize on a contract at weaning. for several years,” said silage,” said Kevin.

“Angus and Holstein Ellen.

“The grass and maize Friesian calves are worth Young stock are run silage are grown at the runoff. We harvested 300 tonnes of maize in the 2019-20 season.”

About one tonne per cow of a palm kernel/ molasses blend is fed in the milking shed.

The Sands’ bought the dairy farm in 2006 and started off with a herd based on LIC and CRV Ambreed genetics.

In 2010, they began using North American genetics over half the herd. The first calves hit the ground the following season.

They slowly transitioned to 100 per cent

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Semen is sourced from bulls marketed by Semex, World Wide Sires, Samen and Genetic Enterprises.

“Big-framed Holstein Friesians don’t suit the hilly country we milk on, so we try to avoid using tall statured bulls,” said Ellen.

“I look for sires that produce daughters with excellent udders, and great capacity and production. Additional consideration is given to temperament, pin setting (we prefer level to sloped) and somatic cell count (SCC),” she said.

Ellen believes the herd has desirable type. Her focus now is on lifting production.

“Dad reckoned last year’s line of heifers was the best we have reared.

They were stunning heifers,” she said.

“I’m now trying to increase the fat and protein percentages in our milk. If we can breed cows with higher components and lower volumes of milk they should live longer.”

The Sands’ favourite bulls are Ammon-Peachy Shauna sons Seagull-Bay Senate, Supersire and MVP, along with Gen-IBeq Brawler and Carse-OFern HGD Abe-ET. Abe, who sired Kapu HGD Abe Jenessa VG86, is a bull the Sands bought from Doug and Lorraine Courtman at the national bull sale in 2015.

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NEWS // 13

NZ Young Farmer contest revamp CHANGES HAVE been

announced to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest.

A four-member contest board that has run the competition has been replaced with a new contest subcommittee that reports to the NZ Young Farmers (NZYF) board.

The subcommittee will consist of two sitting NZYF board members, a principal sponsor representative and three appointed members with staggered three year terms.

NZYF board chair AshLeigh Campbell says the changes will bring contest into closer alignment with the NZYF board, organisation and strategy.

Campbell announced a

Ash-Leigh Campbell

full review of the contest governance at the 2019 annual meeting.

“Since then, a full independent ‘operational and governance’ review

has been completed by Sam Robinson and we have adopted a number of those recommendations,” she says.

“We want to ensure

there is an adequate structure in place to support all of our amazing volunteers, enable high volunteer engagement and create clear lines of accountability and responsibility for the contest.

“I believe this new model will not only do that, but will also ensure there are still effective leadership pathways within contest and the NZYF organisation and closer align the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest, culture and strategy for all NZYF members.”

Campbell says the changes are beneficial to ensure the NZYF contest is in the best position to keep moving forward as the flagship competition.

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JUDGE NAMED FOR ON-FARM COMP WAIKATO CONTRACT milker

Corey Ferguson has been named as the judge for the New Zealand Agricultural Show’s on-farm competition in November.

Ferguson is a well-known face within Ferdon Genetics’ exceptional Jersey operation at Otorohanga. He contract milks 235 cows on an 80ha farm in Te Awamutu.

He will be the third generation to officiate at Christchurch Show.

Ferguson has worked in Australia preparing cattle and in Semex’s Hall of Fame at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada. His long-term goals include returning to Ferdon.

“I love seeing good cows, no matter what breed they are,” Ferguson said.

“A good cow is a good cow, regardless of her colour.”

The on-farm concept has been successfully run in the Waikato twice. Canterbury will welcome Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Milking Shorthorn, and Brown Swiss entries this year. Geographically, the competition will encompass exhibitors from the greater Canterbury region, who will get their cattle show-ready at home on their properties.

Ferguson will visit the farms involved, with the exhibitors will

parade their cattle as they would at the show but without the rest of the competition standing sideby-side.

Placings will be decided by pointing the cattle within their breed and age-groups. A junior, intermediate and senior champion will be awarded in every breed.

And, a supreme champion of all breeds will be announced at the competition’s completion.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

14 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Temper the RMA celebrations

MILKING IT...

Mixed messaging GREENPEACE PROTESTORS were at a fertiliser plant in Taranaki last week protesting against excessive use of Nitrogen fertiliser in farming.

But it was the hot chocolate drinks they were served that garnered more attention on twitter sphere.

National leader Judith Collins pointed out that no one told them that hot chocolate had milk in it.

Greenpeace then put out a photo of soy milk used to make the hot chocolate. Turns out the soy milk products are made in Aussie where farmers use fertiliser to grow their soya bean plants.

Top effort

Avo milk

A RECYCLING expert is looking to put milk bottle tops to better use and wants Taranaki children to help spread the word.

Raymond Buckland of Egmont Refuse and Recycling in Hawera, has started a special collection for the lids, which often end up in landfill because they are too small to be baled with other plastics.

He’s already given small bins for collecting the tops to several schools around South Taranaki.

“The secret is going into schools,” he said. “The kids will boss their parents around. They’ll be flying in once the kids take charge.”

The tops will be shredded into plastic granules at his Hawera site then sold to a firm in New Zealand that makes them into pipes and rubbish bags.

YOU’VE HEARD of soy milk and almond milk……now’s time to meet Avocado milk.

Created for the first time by a Kiwi chef experimenting with making mayonnaise, it is now being mass produced in a Hawke’s Bay factory.

Avocadomilk is now being exported to the US. Nomura, a Japaneseborn chef and TV personality, said she was trying to make mayonnaise by blending avocado with milk when she accidentally created the product Avocadomilk is now sold in 100 stores in the US and over 200 worldwide.

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:

PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Rural News Group Ovato Print Editorial: sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz davef@ruralnews.co.nz www.ruralnews.co.nz subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz

ABC audited circulation 26,510 as at 31/3/2019

ISSN 1175-463X

No hidden cameras A COURT has ruled that hidden camera footage showing cows being beaten with a steel pipe is unlawful partially on the grounds it would encourage undercover filming in the future A Northland contract milker caught on hidden camera beating cows with a steel pipe has had five charges against him dropped after a judge ruled the footage was obtained unlawfully.

Michael Ian Luke appeared in the Whangarei District Court facing one representative charge under the Animal Welfare Act related to failing to handle dairy cows in a way that minimised the likelihood of unnecessary pain or distress.

The maximum penalty for the charge is 12 months’ imprisonment, and/or $50,000. He received a fine of $3000 plus $130 in court costs.

Judge Deidre Orchard ruled that allowing the hidden camera footage captured by animal advocacy group Farmwatch could encourage deliberate flouting of the law.

RIGHTLY THERE was widespread joy last week in the rural sector about the impending demise of the RMA, an act which was essentially the brainchild of the once National Minister for the Environment the now Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton.

In the end it was Labour’s Geoffrey Palmer who actually shepherded the act through Parliament. At the time it was hailed as revolutionary, but over the years it started to look like a beach bach that had been constantly added on to and in the end looked ugly and unsightly.

Today few people are uncritical of the RMA. So now we are to get a new one – or is it two? And in three years time will everyone – farmers, the Greens, Iwi, politicians, developers – be dancing in the streets singing the praises of whatever new legislation is passed? Perhaps the answer is ‘pass’.

Three key pillars of the existing RMA are social, cultural and economic wellbeing balanced with environmental outcomes and they are supposed to be equal. But sceptics would suggest that a Labour/Greens coalition would be strong on the environment and less so on the economic.

What is unclear is the detail and there is no guarantee that any new act or acts will be for better or worse. Maybe consents will be easier to obtain in some instances, but will environmental bottom lines be stricter? Will the voice of rural New Zealand get a fair roll of the dice or will the anti-farming lobby win the day? Can rural land use really be separated from urban, given the encroachment into rural areas?

It will be for the incoming government to consider the report and decide whether to implement it in full or not.

However, expect the RMA to feature high in the election campaign that’s about to start.

The Government has said that the rural sector holds the key to the economic recovery of New Zealand, but will any new incarnation of the RMA make that any easier?

The chances are that any new act or acts will be simpler, and that will be positive. The idea of a fewer number of local authority plans, similar to that of the Auckland Unitary Plan, makes sense.

Maybe even a reform of local government which, like the RMA has remained static for thirty plus years would be good.

But until the new act(s) are revealed it is too early to start popping the champagne corks.

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Dairy News is published by Rural News Group Limited. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Limited.

AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard............................................. Ph 021-963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz WAIKATO SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ted Darley ...................................................... Ph 021-832 505 ted@ruralnews.co.nz WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Mackay ................................................... Ph 021-453 914 ronm@ruralnews.co.nz SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland .........................................Ph 021-221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

OPINION // 15

Farmers missing out on newer technology MARK ROSS

THE GOVERNMENT

launched a bold plan to boost primary sector export earnings by $44 billion over the next decade, while protecting the environment and growing jobs. The plan, launched last month, involves a 10-year roadmap to unlock greater value for a sector vital to New Zealand’s economic recovery.

As the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor pointed out, there is huge potential in the roadmap, but it can only be achieved through a close government partnership with industry and Maori.

Our animal medicine and crop protection members are essential to the roadmap’s success. Not only do they support the agriculture export industry, they also ensure environmental sustainability and a diverse range of positive animal health outcomes. Examples include prevention of pain and suffering, control of diseases, and preservation of our endemic species.

To ensure the continued availability of safe and environmentally friendly products, billions of dollars are spent internationally by companies researching innovative products. These products are cleaner, softer, and more precise in their actions. This benefits not only farmers and growers but our environment and health as well.

To maintain New Zealand’s world-leading farming practices, it is essential to keep innovating to replace older chemistry. Trialling new

products and offering farmers solutions for resistance management and greener options for managing pests and diseases is necessary.

Unfortunately, our regulatory environment is preventing the acceleration of innovative products due to a significantly more stringent approval process. Crop protection companies and trial providers face greater difficulty in developing new products. This blocks the introduction of new and softer disease management tools to the New Zealand market, constraining the ability of farmers and growers to access new products.

The market potential of a crop or livestock to offer a return on investment to justify trials is becoming increasingly difficult, despite existing trial programmes being a low risk activity.

This makes efforts to find replacements for older and more hazardous compounds even more difficult, particularly for minor species.

Every season of trials being lost is slowing access to new actives and label claims that are used globally.

Researchers have cancelled over 50 trails and missed two seasons of trial work due to our ineffective regulation. Agcarm is working with officials to develop sensible solutions. In the meantime, farmers and growers are missing out on products that will increase their productivity and be safer to use, including organic and greener alternatives.

If New Zealand wants to achieve the government goal of doubling our agriculture sector export

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earnings, while protecting the environment and growing jobs, it must encourage innovation and the registration of new, safer and greener products. We will then all benefit from healthy crops,

healthy animals and a healthy country.

• Mark Ross is chief executive of Agcarm, the industry association for companies which manufacture and distribute crop protection and animal health products.

NAIT ready for calving?

Help build lifetime animal traceability Make sure you can tick off the following: Selling calves: All my calves are NAIT tagged correctly I have registered the calves in my NAIT account – after tagging them first I have recorded a movement in NAIT for the calves I sold – within 48 hours of them leaving. Note: This is not required when selling to a saleyard.

I’ve filled out an ASD form and have a Declaration to Livestock Transporter (DLT) form ready – if required

Buying calves: I’ve checked the calves I bought are tagged and NAIT registered I received an Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form from the seller I have recorded a movement in NAIT for the calves I bought – within 48 hours of them arriving I’ve updated the calves’ production type to beef – if brought in from a dairy farm.

Bobby calves moved direct to slaughter are exempt from all NAIT requirements. Check with your meat processor about their requirements for accepting bobby calves.

Failure to comply with NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Need help? Call OSPRI on 0800 482 463 NAIT is an OSPRI programme

info@ospri.co.nz | ospri.co.nz

All the latest stories and more at www.dairynews.co.nz J1505 NAIT Checklist for Calving_Ad_FA3.indd 1

9/07/2020 2:51:18 PM

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

16 //  AGRIBUSINESS

Milking cluster milks runner-up award replaced in less than a minute – around three times faster than a traditional liner.

The modularised cluster is smaller, lighter and more durable, with replacement intervals doubled from 2500 to 5000 milkings before the completely recyclable cartridges are replaced.

The unique clovershaped design of the cartridge means fewer slips, with comparative farm trials showing an increase of up to 9.3%

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

DELAVAL COMES

away with the runner up prize in this year’s Fieldays Online innovation competition with a new milking cluster that eliminates the need for conventional liner changes at. The company had two entries in the competition.

The Evanza is the first cluster in the world to use a cartridge instead of a traditional liner for milking attachment, featuring a simple clip and turn function that allows all four cartridges to be

increased milk flow, 5% higher yields and milking times reduced by 30 minutes.

The cluster contains a newly designed claw with redesigned TopFlow technology and an easy, quick-connection between claw and teat-cup. It can be used on any conventional milking system including rotaries, parallel, herringbone and tandem installations.

De Laval’s other new

development sees the first milking system with builtin heat detection being launched in Oceania.

The DeLaval VMS V310, the latest addition to the VMS robotic milking product line, automatically confirms pregnant cows during routine milking, using technology called RePro to provide an accurate insight into the reproductive status of every cow in the herd. The technology allows farmers to save both the time and cost of managing reproduction and unwanted open days by accurately identifying heat, pregnancy and miscarriages.

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Virtual biosecurity refresher training CUTTING EDGE technology designed

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A pioneering virtual reality shipping container packed with simulated biosecurity risk scenarios is helping preserve New Zealand’s ecosystem and way of living.

Independent Verification Services (IVS) in Hamilton has launched a new virtual reality (VR) simulation built by Hamilton software specialist CompanyX. The Ministry of Primary Industries has approved the technology to be used in biosecurity refresher training.

The project was led by Company-X augmented and virtual reality specialist Lance Bauerfeind, with project manager Dilan Prasad and augmented and virtual reality generalist Wonkee Kim. Using virtual reality to assess frontline staff dealing with imported goods was a New Zealand first, said IVS chief executive Peter Webb. “It’s the first training course that is not undertaken in a classroom, using a written examination-style assessment.

Instead, it offers an online course with a virtual reality assessment that lets trainees demonstrate their practical knowledge and skills.�

The technology provides trainees with a realistic environment to properly assess their abilities to detect and respond to biosecurity threats such as foreign insects and vegetation.

A wireless virtual reality headset

allows the person to walk around the simulated container externally and internally, in the same way that they would in the real world. “The virtual reality tool is the closest and more realistic assessment of skills,� Webb said. “It replicates reallife situations that may be encountered on the job. “We randomise all the different things that can happen, like poisonous spiders,� Bauerfeind said. “We can trick head movements so we know where they are looking.� “We chose to work with the team at Company-X due to their experience and capability. The fact that they are based here in the Waikato, was also a bonus,� Webb said.

The project, Webb said, was the first step in what could be a transformational journey for the biosecurity industry in New Zealand. It uses virtual reality to train staff dealing with biosecurity contamination immediately post-border in the most realistic way. “This technology has the potential to be used to educate all New Zealanders to identify and respond to biosecurity risks,� he said. “IVS believes virtual reality could be instrumental to achieving a biosecurity team of 4.7 million, where all New Zealanders are aware of the importance of biosecurity and involved in pest and disease management, as set out in the Government’s Biosecurity 2025 strategy.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

MANAGEMENT // 17

Glow worms to cows THOMAS LUNDMAN’S work focus

has gone from tracking tiny critters in pitch black caves to looking after considerably larger animals in paddocks near Whakatane.

For the last five years he’s been guiding tourists around Te Anau’s glow-worm caves. Now he’s helping to milk 550 cows on Chris Mexted’s dairy farm at Awakaponga, Bay of Plenty.

The 23-year-old is the first recipient of the Farm-Starter Kit, a national initiative by Federated Farmers and the Ministry of Social Development to help people made jobless by Covid-19 disruption to get into work in agriculture.

The new workers get a comprehensive all-weather clothing kit supplied

by New Zealand firm Kaiwaka, and the employer gets a Federated Farmers employment contract, recognised as industry best.

Thomas’s partner is from the Whakatane area and when they moved north he says it was always the plan for him to find another job in tourism, or get onto a farm. “Then the whole Covid thing happened and it made the decision really easy.”

DAIRY RECRUIT: Tourism turned farm worker Thomas Lundman, with Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty Territory Manager Ashleigh Frandi.

Thomas grew up on a dairy farm in the deep south until the age of 12 and had taken agriculture as a subject at high school. But tourism was big in Te Anau and he took that path when entering the workforce.

“In the glow worm caves my shift went through to midnight. Now I’ve

got the early morning starts on the dairy farm, so it’s been a pretty big sleep cycle switch.”

He’s rapt with the Kaiwaka kit and rates his new boss Chris, and co-worker Patrick, as “pretty damn good”.

“There is lots to learn but I’ve got some good teachers.”

Thomas says he intends getting to the other side of next summer and then will look at taking up a Federated Farmers dairy apprenticeship.

Chris Mexted says he needed extra help on the farm and heard on the radio that the Government was keen to fill agriculture workforce gaps with Kiwis

laid off during the pandemic lockdown. The Feds/MSD Farmer Start programme was just what he needed for Thomas.

“The (clothing) kit is awesome, both in the amount of stuff the worker gets and its quality. It’s got everything they need, certainly in their first year.”

The Federated Farmers employment contract is “very well thought out and easy. Both parties know exactly what they’re in for.”

Chris says Thomas is working out well.

“You wouldn’t think it because they’re such different industries, but there’s lots of skills from tourism that he brings to the table. And he’s intelligent and wants to be here.”

Since the launch about a month ago, 27 Farm-Starter Kits (one arable, three sheep & beef and the rest dairy) have been sent to workers new to farms, and many more are in the pipeline.

The programme is exclusive to Federated Farmers members, but an employer can join Federated Farmers and receive the $1,800 kit and contract at no charge.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

18 // MANAGEMENT

Keeping track of new-born calves MANAWATU FARM manager Paul Mercer is well into calving on the 147ha 370-cow farm he manages.

He expects 400 calves this season and will be keeping detailed records of new-born calves using modern and traditional methods.

Mercer is not the person in charge of animals (PICA) but as farm manager, he’s a PICA delegate. The farm deals with just one NAIT location.

He says when calves are born they use brass tags in the first few days as an identifier to match them to their mothers. They are then tagged with Allflex birth tags.

“We have several ways of capturing the calf’s details.

“The staff on farm use WhatsApp to capture info when a calf is born and this can be readily shared in real-time, so everyone knows what is happening.

On wet days, we still use the old-style calving notebook.”

Mercer says as soon as they tag calves with birth tags, the tag number and all the relevant details are recorded using the MINDA live app on his cellphone and this information synchs through into NAIT. “I’ll usually get an email notification from the NAIT system about two hours after they’ve been recorded in MINDA - confirming the calf ’s registration is now in the NAIT system.

“If one of the animals loses a tag in the field, we’ll retag with a replacement NAIT tag and take a picture of the new tag using a cellphone.

“This way, we can record the new tag number and match it to the missing tag in NAIT.” Calves sold mainly go to saleyards and some are reared and contracted for Wagyu beef.

Mercer urges farmers to “just get on and do it” when it comes to NAIT. “If you are calving, register the

Manawatu farm manager Paul Mercer is keeping detailed records of newborn calves using both modern and traditional methods.

calves’ tag numbers in MINDA or NAIT and declare the month, year of birth and the NAIT location number [birthplace].

“Remember too, if you’re finishing calves for beef, to change the animal production type from dairy. You can do

this now using the MINDA Live app.”

He says it’s essential to be able to trace animals back to their original source.

“If we have a biosecurity incursion or we’re managing a livestock disease outbreak like Mycoplasma bovis, NAIT

helps us work out where the animals have been, and the other animals they have come into contact with, and what we need to do to prevent the spread.

Lifetime animal traceability protects our business and builds New Zealand’s biosecurity capability.”

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

ANIMAL HEALTH // 19

Difficult but the right call SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRYNZ CHIEF exec-

utive Dr Tim Mackle says the joint decision three years ago to eradicate Mycoplamsa bovis was a difficult call.

However, Mackle says the 10-year eradication plan, while difficult, was the best option for farmers and the economy.

He made the comments to mark three years since the bacterial disease was first detected in New Zealand. The discovery shocked the industry and triggered one of New Zealand’s largest ever biosecurity responses.

“The past three years have presented enormous challenges, and it has been a difficult, uncertain and disruptive time for farmers and their families,

especially those directly affected,” says Mackle.

“The process has not always been smooth and at times mistakes have been made. We have had to continually change, adapt and improve, often being guided by direct feedback from affected farmers.”

No other country has attempted to eradicate M.bovis. New Zealand has made significant progress with the number of infected properties dropping to three. To date, 250 properties have been infected.

Mackle says the M. bovis programme is on track, and the industry is confident of achieving eradication.

His message to farmers is to remain vigilant and there’s still work to be done.

“It is important to

Tim Mackle

note that there is still work to be done, and we expect to find some more infected herds.

There will be farms with bulk tank milk screening [that could] detect results during spring, and there will be other farms which might have been exposed to trace cattle.

“All of these farms will require testing to make sure we’ve found every

infected herd. We are aiming to move fully to the long-term surveillance programme to prove the disease is gone within the next 12 months.”

Farmers are urged to rigorously maintain NAIT records.

“We have seen impressive improvements and it remains an essential tool to finish the eradication process. It’s vital that farmers tag every animal, register it in NAIT immediately, and record every movement between NAIT locations,” he says.

Biosecurity and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor thanked programme partners DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ. “They were part of the bold decision to attempt to eradicate this disease and have been part of our efforts since the very beginning,” he says.

PROUD FARMERS AGRICULTURE MINISTER Damien O’Connor says farmers should be proud of the M.bovis eradication programme.

“We’ve shown, again, that we’re able to do what others countries have not in terms of disease eradication efforts,” he says.

“That’s something our farming community should be really proud of.

“Allowing the disease to spread would have caused lost productivity in our vital cattle sectors and affected the economy. Had we left M.bovis to run rampant, I’m not sure

It was estimated that allowing the disease to spread could cause $1.3 billion in economic losses in the first ten years alone, along with substantial animal welfare issues, and serious ongoing challenges for farmers having to manage the disease

our dairy and beef sectors would have been able to weather the economic storm of Covid-19 and the challenges of drought conditions as well as they have.

“The eradication effort has not been without substantial challenges, and the impact on affected farmers can’t be under-estimated.

Farmers deserve a lot of credit for their efforts. We are continuing to improve processes and work hard to support their wellbeing and recovery, including getting their compensation claims paid as quickly as possible.”

within their herds.

O’Connor says one key measure of success of the 10-year eradication plan, the estimated dissemination rate (EDR), shows strongly that the country has M.bovis firmly in its sights.

“If the EDR is greater

than one, then the disease is growing. If it’s below one, we’re shrinking the disease. The EDR is now at 0.4, which is down from over two at the start of the outbreak, so we are looking harder to find fewer infected animals,” says O’Connor.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

20 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Make biosecurity a top priority during calving FARMERS AND calf

rearers are being urged to make biosecurity a top priority during calving this spring.

The call was made last month by Mycoplasma bovis programme partners Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), DairyNZ, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

M. bovis programme director Stuart Anderson said that the effort to eradicate M. bovis is making excellent progress, but poor biosecurity practices at calving could result in a long tail of infections, drawing out the eradication process.

“There is very little M. bovis infection left in the national herd,” he says.

Currently, there are just six active confirmed properties, and only two

“Achieving lifetime traceability for our national herd starts at calving.” of those have infected cattle still on the farm.

However, Anderson warns that if there are just one or two farms that haven’t been found yet, they can inadvertently spread the infection around the entire country.

“Just one untagged or unregistered calf could

CUTS – POWE R AFFO

U CAN YO

spread infection to an entire herd, so it’s critical all farmers correctly tag calves, register them in NAIT, and record all movements this spring.

RD TH

“Achieving lifetime traceability for our national herd starts at calving. Accurate NAIT records allow us to quickly track down any calves which have left an infected herd, and to identify all of their close contacts and get them tested to make sure the

infection hasn’t spread.”

Raw waste milk also creates a high biosecurity risk – and DairyNZ’s advice is that farmers should not be feeding waste milk to calves.

Waste milk can be a source for many diseases and other issues in calves as their systems develop.

DairyNZ says with an increased focus on the responsible use of antibiotics, questions are being asked about waste milk’s value as a feed source for calves, and the risks this practice might pose to the wider environment.

Waste (or ‘red’) milk is the milk produced by lac-

tating cows when they’re sick and receiving antimicrobial treatment for diseases such as mastitis. It also applies to the milk produced in the withholding period, which can be three to four days after treatment.

MPI advises that if farmers are supplying raw milk to calf rearing operations, the milk should be treated (either pasteurised or treated with citric acid), before the milk leaves your farm.

“You also should keep accurate and up-to-date records about what farms you have provided milk to,” it says.

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KEEPING DISEASES AWAY FOLLOWING THESE measures will help protect against many diseases including M. bovis.

Tag every calf (and put the tag in well) that is born on your farm (bobby calves going direct to slaughter are exempt from NAIT requirements, but require a specific tag).

Register that calf into the NAIT system against your NAIT number before it is moved off your farm.

Record that movement off-farm in the system within 48 hours.

Keep groups of calves separate for 48 hours before mixing them while you observe them for disease.

Keep calf rearing facilities and equipment clean, and limit how many people access calf rearing areas.

Get people accessing calf rearing areas to clean their boots and personal protection equipment (PPE), and any other equipment, and clean them again when they leave.

Remove sick calves to a dedicated sick pen.

Only buy NAIT-tagged calves with accurate and up-to-date records, and record their arrival on to your farm.

If you sell or give away milk for feeding calves, keep a record of who the milk went to.

Keep accurate records of all of your financial transactions, including calf sales, just in case you have to make an insurance or biosecurity compensation claim in the future.

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DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 4, 2020

TRACTORS & MACHINERY  // 21

MF balers usher in changes MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE NEW Massey Fer-

guson 4100 Series variable chamber round balers now arriving at dealerships in New Zealand have changed their look from 2019 models, thanks to new side covers that match the Massey Ferguson 3100 Series fixed chamber balers.

Beneath those covers the RB 4160V and RB 4180V take their design from the well proven Lely-Welger RP160V, as AGCO acquired the Lely brand in recent years.

Featuring the patented HydroFlex rotor floor and Constant Pressure System (CPS), the MF4100 is said to provide high throughput and density, while also offering reliability in a range of conditions

from wet silage, to cereal hay and even header tailings.

Minor changes for the 2020-built units include the moveable pickup rake being fitted as standard across all models to even out lumpy swaths and provide up to 5% additional capacity.

The reservoir for the autolube system has doubled in capacity to 8 litres, aimed at reducing maintenance time.

The RB 4160V and RB 4180V share a common platform and produce bales

0.9m to 1.6m or 1.8m in diameter respectively. The standard camless pick-up is 2.25m wide, incorporating five tine

bars at 64mm spacing and a reinforced crop press roller, positioned close to the rotor to improve crop flow and reduce the risk of blockage.

The camless design gives higher working speeds, quiet operation, and low maintenance.

Chopper versions of the MF RB round balers can be equipped with 13, 17 or 25 extra-long knives

to allow a thorough and consistent chopping effect. Indent specification Xtracut 17 and 25 machines feature two sets of hydraulically operated knife banks, allowing the operator to engage one, both or neither from the cab.

Bale formation falls to four seamless, doubleply belts that maintain excellent grip and positive rotation of the bale, while withstanding the high loads imposed when forming heavy silage bales,

thanks to their stretchresistant core layers.

A small bale start-off section within the chamber uses two additional rollers for better bale core formation, while also reducing pressure on the intake area, distributing pressure evenly among all key components and a general reduction in power demand.

The CPS combines spring and hydraulic action to exert constant pressure on the bale as it grows.

To secure the bale, the Varionet net wrapping system handles all net widths and provides excellent side-toside bale coverage, with 2020 Xtra models offering the choice of a 500/55-20 tyre option in flotation or V-pattern for reduced compaction and higher ground clearance.

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22 // TRACTORS & MACHINERY

Kioti PX – a great fit MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

JOSH AND Sarah Gour-

ley don’t believe in standing still. Only in their mid-twenties, they operate a 50ha lease block at Te Puna, running 60 beef cows and take the calves to 6-12 months before they get moved on, while also contract milking at a 200ha property nearby.

Looking at replacing an older tractor and wanting bang for their bucks, research saw them making a trail to their local Kioti dealer, Power Farming BOP, located at Barkes Corner, Tauranga, then shaking on a deal for a bright orange PX 1153PC. Josh says, “When we started looking at tractors, we thought our modest budget would land us

an 80 or 90hp ROPS machine, but we ended up pleasantly surprised when, for a little more, we ended up with a 115hp cabbed tractor.”

The Kioti PX1153 is fitted with a Perkins, 4.4 litre 4-cylinder that in turn is mated via a wet clutch to Kioti’s own 32F/32R transmission featuring power shuttle, four main speeds, four ranges and two, “on-the-move” powershift steps.

The Gourleys comment on the spacious cabin that offers excellent forward and reverse visibility, making it ideal for their work that centres on loading baleage and delivering it to the cows via a rear mounted feeder.

The front-end loader, controlled by a handy joystick in the panel to the

Sarah, baby Jane and Josh Gourley

driver’s right, offers selflevelling, making working with heavy square bales easy. It came standard with a 4-in-1 bucket.

This raised eyebrows at first, but quickly became very useful for grabbing rubbish like baleage wrap, and for things like just

picking up a few posts to go fencing.

Summing up the nuggety Kioti, Josh says that, although competitively

priced, the Kioti comes standard with features that are extra on most utility tractors, or only found on much bigger

machines.

These include a declutch button, the integrated loader joystick, a cool-box and the big, airconditioned cabin. Add to that electronic linkage, 75l/min hydraulic flow and 440/540 radial tyres and it all adds up.

“We didn’t set out to buy a 115hp tractor, but now it’s here, it has enough power so we don’t have to push it as hard as we would with a smaller tractor. We see it as future-proofing our operation, which we hope over the next few years, will see us move towards sharemilking and farm ownership. It gives us peace of mind, particularly as it comes with a four-year driveline warranty as standard, so we think it was a very shrewd buy.”

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