Rural News 17 March 2015

NEWS

MACHINERY

Agricultural pilots have been warned not to overload their aircraft. PAGE 18

Fendt unveils four new tractors in its 500 Vario series. PAGE 46

RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

MARCH 17, 2015: ISSUE 580

MANAGEMENT Research underway to determine the success of a beetle to control Californian thistle.

PAGE 36

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Feds call on farmers to find ‘eco-terrorist’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

FEDERATED FARMERS is mobilising its members to help find the person threatening to contaminate infant formula with 1080 poison.

At a news conference in Wellington last week Feds national president William Rolleston said a special briefing note has been sent to all provincial presidents about the scare and a special advisory has gone to all members.

He told farmers to be vigilant and report anything suspicious and to ensure their milk supplies are secure.

Rolleston says farmers are outraged and angry that anyone could act as stupidly as threatening children’s lives in such a way, putting the whole New Zealand economy at risk.

Chief executive Graham Smith, who also fronted at the news conference, told Rural News the federation has a national network whose thousands of members may hear or have heard something that could lead to the arrest of the blackmailer.

“That’s in part why we wanted to go public, so we could encourage our members, if they knew of anything, to contact the police,” he explained. “We’re saying to our members, ‘don’t hold back’. It may be a piece of information you don’t think is relevant, but pass it on because it might be the one missing

piece of the jigsaw puzzle that enables something to happen.”

Smith says the federation’s members are angry and gobsmacked at what’s happened. Now they’ll be thinking about what they might have observed in the past few months to see whether they can join any dots.

The letter to Federated Farmers was addressed to Smith but opened by his executive assistant who passed it on to him. Smith, who has a science background, says when he read the letter he was outraged that somebody would threaten to harm children and their parents in this way.

Rolleston says the letter was then

handed to the police. Later they were told that Fonterra had received a similar letter.

Rolleston says the police asked the federation if they suspected anyone of such a threat. The federation gave the

police a list of names of people involved in the 1080 debate or who had written to them about the issue.

“Then we got in touch with Fonterra and actually went around some of their plants in December,” Rolleston added.

“That was a reassuring experience and we saw that Fonterra had put in place a lot more security than it had before – in fact it was the proverbial Fort Knox.”

– Comprehensive coverage of 1080 scare in this issue.

FAGAN'S LAST STAND David Fagan quietly bowed out of what he describes at the Wimbledon of shearing – the Golden Shears in Masterton, earlier this month. It was the last time he will compete at the event as he plans to retire from competitive shearing after the New Zealand shearing championships in Te Kuiti in a few weeks. After years on top, Fagan found the young guns just too strong this year and failed to make the final of the Golden Shears Open. But this great New Zealander has plenty of success to reflect on during his 32 years as a competitive shearer.

More on David Fagan and the 55th Golden Shears pages 6-7.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 3 ISSUE 580

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Feds back handling of threat Fed Farmers national president fronts media scrum in wake of 1080 scare.

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

NEWS ����������������������������������� 1-23 AGRIBUSINESS �������������� 26-29 MARKETS ������������������������ 24-25 HOUND, EDNA ����������������������� 30 CONTACTS ������������������������������ 30 OPINION ���������������������������� 30-34 MANAGEMENT �������������� 35-40 ANIMAL HEALTH ���������� 41-45 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS ���������������������� 46-53 RURAL TRADER ������������ 54-55

HEAD OFFICE Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone: 09-307 0399 Fax: 09-307 0122 POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Published by: Rural News Group Printed by: PMP Print CONTACTS Editorial: editor@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News online: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz ABC audited circulation 81,188 as at 30.06.2014

WILLIAM ROLLESTON says Federated Farmers is very happy with the way the threat has been handled, including the Government going public when it did.

“If you put yourself in the industry and government shoes; this was a threat targeted for the end of March and an immediate release [in November] might have caused panic.

“Not to have released it at all and let it come out would have suggested that our industry and Government couldn’t be trusted and that’s not where we want to be,” Rolleston explained.

“If you look back over the three episodes we have had – DCD, botulism and this – while it is short-term pain, I think the industry in this country is growing a reputation for being open and honest and transparent about everything that comes across the desk.”

Rolleston believes the long-term international outcome will be positive.

Federated Farmers supports the use of 1080 as a means of controlling bovine Tb, “which if it’s not controlled could have serious consequences for the dairy industry and the country”.

– More coverage of 1080 threat pp8-9, 11, 14

MIE’S REPORT CARD NOW ON THE TABLE THE MEAT Industry Excellence Group hopes its much-vaunted report on the meat sector, due for release today (March 17), will put a rocket under changes to the industry.

The report takes an “overall look” at the industry and includes costs to farmers and processors of not changing the current structure, which MIE claims is “value-destructive, unsustainable and keeping farmers poor”.

It models estimated savings and other improvements from “consolidating” the industry. A proposed rationalisation of the four largest companies

– the two co-ops Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group, and the privately owned Affco and Anzco – agreeing to a “co-ordinated and managed consolidation process” would save at least $1 billion over five years, MIE claims.

MIE’s report, funded by about $220,000 of Beef + Lamb NZ levy money and prepared by agribusiness consultants, will “comprehensively show the cost of the failings of the current industry structure”, the lobby group says.

MIE also claims its report will show that farmers “overwhelmingly” sup-

port a consolidated industry based on a “co-operative model”. The group says research commissioned for the report shows farmers will consider further spending to achieve future gains under such reforms.

The report also calls for urgent attention to over-capacity in the processing sector.

“By over-capacity we mean capacity that’s way beyond what’s needed for drought and other processing peaks.

The levels of over-capacity identified are far beyond this.

“MIE’s analysis shows that a pro-

curement model is needed to rebuild trust between farmers and processors and marketers, to enable committed supply.”

The report also details the costs to the industry of third party traders and cartage costs.

The full report, supporting analysis and other reports commissioned on the meat sector are available from tomorrow (March 18) on MIE’s website. www.meatindustryexcellence.co.nz @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

4 NEWS

Chinks showing in drought’s armour ANDREW SWALLOW

PATCHY RAIN up the South Island’s east coast early this month eased the drought’s grip in a few areas but others still have zero pasture growth.

However, with the remains of cyclone Pam promising to cross the

North Island early this week hopes of a real drought breaker were rising as Rural News went to press.

“It will all depend which way [Pam] goes and how far down it comes,” Federated Farmers North Otago president Richard Strowger said.

“It would certainly be a good start. Winter feed crops would respond and there’s still time for pasture to come back so it would make a big difference.”

Earlier rains had turned some areas green but there was still very little growth of dryland

pasture as the moisture had only gone a few millimetres deep.

For many sheep and beef farmers flushing ewes on pasture wasn’t going to be an option, and there’s a reluctance to use grain because of the cost and uncertainty about lamb values next season,

PASTURE FORECASTS AT THE end of last week Farmax’s pasture growth forecasts, available through Beef + Lamb New Zealand or Dairy NZ, were predicting nil growth for Kaikoura district and only 1-2kgDM/ha/day in Hurunui, Central Canterbury and Waimate Districts. Timaru, Mackenzie and Ashburton Districts were slightly better but still well below the “typical” ranges for the time of year, while Marlborough and Waitaki, both very dry a month ago, had scraped back into typical growth for the time of year.

he said.

On the dairy side, Strowger hadn’t heard of any complete dry-offs but there was “a bit of 16-hour milking going on to try to get condition on cows.

Everybody knows winter feed is going to be short so the aim is to dry-off cows as close to calving condition as possible.”

In general, dairy and sheep and beef farmers are coping with the stress of the situation but some sharemilkers are under extra pressure where farm owners are restricting supplement because it doesn’t pay at the low payout, he said.

“Winter and spring is when we’ll really see the stress come on people, particularly if it doesn’t

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rain and depending on what the payout does.”

Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Lynda Murchison, Waipara, said the situation late last week was “pretty much the same as it’s been for the last two months”.

Some areas had up to 15mm of rain March 6-8 but it wasn’t enough to get grass growing or make recently sown winter feed strike. “It needs to be followed up. It’s certainly not a drought breaker at this stage.”

Some farms had offloaded capital stock but most were managing and as most winter feed was autumn sown in the area a good rain soon would mean the sum-

mer’s drought wouldn’t have too severe an impact going forward, she added.

Most dairy farms in the region were doing ok thanks to alpine-origin irrigation.

In the south of South Canterbury it’s a similar situation because of irrigation from the Waitaki, but further north, where the Opuha ran out on Feb 25, even irrigated farms are feeling the pinch, said Murchison’s counterpart Ivon Hurst.

“They’re cutting down the numbers milking and going once-a-day, and they were reducing the stocking rates even before that [cut-off date].”

Winter feed crops will be up to 70% short of their potential and in a few cases have failed completely.

“But it’s not all doom and gloom. The grain farmers have had a reasonable harvest except for those who had to spring sow because it was so wet last autumn. They’ve been hammered.”

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 5 Parts of the Wairarapa getting very dry PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

“IT’S GETTING pretty dire over here.”

That’s the message from Wairarapa Federated Farmers president Jamie Falloon who says the southern part of the province remains dry despite a bit of rain a week or so ago.

Falloon says the drought, like the rain, has been patchy.

Unfortunately the recent rains hadn’t fallen in the worst hit areas.

Farmers are hoping the cyclones forming in the Pacific Ocean (March 14-15) are going to bring much needed rain.

A lot of rain is needed to raise soil moisture levels.

Soil temperatures are still high and any rain will kickstart pastures, Falloon says.

“The key message to farmers, especially dairy farmers, is not to be complacent about sorting out winter feed,” he told Rural News. “We’re not in January. The lack of run-off areas for dairy stock is very challenging and farmers need to pay close attention to feed budgets.”

Falloon says the situation is still classed as a ‘localised drought’ and he doesn’t believe this status will be upgraded in the foreseeable future. Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has been to the province to see how farmers are coping.

Falloon believes sheep and beef farmers are financially better off than during previous droughts; prices are “ok” rather than “great”.

N. question hard to answer IS IT worth applying nitrogen fertiliser to speed pasture recovery post drought?

A Beef + Lamb New Zealand field day in North Otago, earlier this month, heard it’s a hard question to answer.

“The issue is how long has it been dry and whether there’s enough nitrogen [in the ground] to get that initial response,” AgResearch’s David Stephens said.

If there is enough N in the ground, grass will grow 450kgDM/ha from 15mm of rain,

to be released from the soil. It really is quite variable. In general if you’re desperate for feed you put it on because by the time you see it’s needed it’s too late.”

If nitrogen fertiliser is applied it’s imperative to wait at least

three weeks, preferably four, for pasture to use it. Grazing sooner risks nitrate poisoning and curtailing the plant’s growth response.

– More from the field day in Management, p39-40

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

6 NEWS

Shearing legend bowing out PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

LEGENDARY SHEARER David Fagan says he wants to quit competitive shearing while he’s still capable of winning – which he did at a competition in Pahiatua a few weeks ago.

Sadly, there was no such luck at the Golden Shears held earlier this month in Masterton.

At 53, Fagan’s the oldest of the competitors and is still right on the pace, aside from the hiccup at Masterton.

For some time, people have been asking him when he might give up and it seems to him the right time is now.

“I want to go out while I can still win. I want to be remembered for how good I was, not how bad I was getting,” he told Rural News. “I’ve been competing in the open at the Golden Shears since 1983 and got second to my brother (John) in the open grade in 1984, which was pretty special.

“I think we’re the only two brothers who’ve ever won the event and that was pretty good. I’ve won 640 open championships now worldwide; the one at Pahiatua the other week was 640, which

is pretty good. I’ve competed all over the world – Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales Norway, Switzerland, Italy, France and the US.” Fagan says every country has different sheep, but you learn to adapt by looking at the sheep and deciding what comb to use. Of all the places he’s shorn sheep, Fagan rates his experience in the Dolomite Mountains – between northern Italy and Austria – as “pretty special with the scenery and all that”.

His last competitive event will be on April 11 at the NZ shearing championships at Te Kuiti.

“Te Kuiti is very special. It’s a rather more modern event, more of a competitors’ event with more prize money. But the Golden Shears is the one that has the history and mana and they go hand in hand. If you ask the young shearers which one they want they say it’s both or nothing. I have always said the Golden Shears is the Wimbledon of shearing and the New Zealand shears at Te Kuiti is the US Open.”

Today, Fagan mixes farming, competitive shearing and a consultancy role with the English shearing equip-

At 53, David Fagan is the oldest competitor on the shearing circuit, but still very competitive.

ment company Lister.

“I haven’t shorn work-wise for about 10 years. I’ve just been competing and farming. I thoroughly enjoy the job working for Lister – tinkering with the gear and making it better on the

R&D side.

“Even though I’m giving up competitive shearing, I’ll still be involved in shearing competitions on the administrative side with Shearing Sports New Zealand.”

As he heads toward retirement, in the next few weeks, Fagan says it’s hard to pick out a highlight of his career.

Probably it was winning the Golden Shears ten years in a row and then going on to win two more titles.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 7

Man behind the stand a key player PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

WHILE THE focus at the Golden Shears is the buzz and lights on the stand in front of an enthusiastic audience, back stage is where the real action is.

Stephen Siemonek is in charge of getting 3500 of the right sheep on stage at the right time, a job he’s been doing for 20 years.

He was brought up on a farm, getting involved in Golden Shears through Young Farmers, and when he got too old for young farmers he got a call to ask if he’d manage the yards.

“This means I have to make sure the right sheep are picked up from the

right properties and brought in here. Then, when they are shorn, they have to be delivered back to the right farm,” Siemonek told Rural News.

“It’s quite a challenge, but you get used to it. The sheep come from different farms – the Merinos come from Ranfurly in the South Island, the Corriedales from Taihape. The rest of the sheep come straight from local farms. Generally those are here only for an hour or so and then back to the farm.”

The only exception is long-wool sheep, about 700 of them. These come

For 20 years Stephen Siemonek has been looking after the sheep at the Golden shears.

from a property on the Wairarapa coast, trucked in and kept in a shed until they are needed at various stages of the competition. Siemonek says this saves having to truck small numbers of sheep back and forth over a long distance.

Siemonek says the yards have run smoothly during his time at the Golden Shears. He recalls only one incident, in his Young Farmer days, when he had to chase and catch sheep that got out and headed into nearby Queen Elizabeth Park.

MAORI INTEREST HIGH A FEATURE of shearing in New Zealand is the number of Maori employed in the industry.

Koro Mullins once made the final at Golden Shears, but is now equally famous for the shearing gangs he and his wife Mavis run.

These days he also runs a dairy farm.

He says about 90% of the wool handlers and Koro Mullins up to 70% of the shearers are Maori. Mullins is from a shearing family.

“I was born into the shearing industry; my mother was a cook and they called them fleecos in the 1950’s and 60’s. It was a term used for wool handlers,” he told Rural News. “I’ve virtually been brought up in shearing and wool handling. It’s been great and a big part of our lives.

“We became involved in the shearing competition because this is an opportunity for people who work out in the boondocks and the hills doing backbreaking work to display the skills we

learn out in the shearing sheds.”

Mullins says the reason so many Maori are in shearing is because it’s a ‘whanau’ type of work.

“In the old days they moved in groups and went and camped on the farm and stayed there in their tents by the river.

They shore together and it’s just evolved from there.”

Mullins says while he’s never a won a Golden Shears open, the buzz of competing in the final was very special. Just reaching that level of excellence was quite an achievement. – Peter Burke

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

8 NEWS: 1080 SCARE

NZ dairy sector goes for best practice PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA CHIEF executive Theo Spierings says other multi-nationals have dealt with issues such as the 1080 threat so they are being kept informed not only for transparency but for best practice around the globe.

Tatua chief executive Paul McGilvary, who attended an Auckland media briefing with Spierings, says these types of activities happen globally.

“There have been a number of them previously and our customers are well aware it can happen. The feedback I have had is that they want to work with us and help in any way to catch the perpetrator.”

Spierings says the threats have targeted the dairy industry as part of the investigation. He

says it did not go public because it was a criminal act against New Zealand, so it was in the hands of the Government, there was a police investigation and it took time to secure the supply chain.

One reason for going public was to ask for the public’s help to find the perpetrators because that was the “best possible outcome”.

McGilvary said it was important to understand the dairy industry had done nothing wrong and they were dealing with criminal acts. “We have to respond to that with the Government and the police. The police are running the investigation and we need to work with that and allow time for that to run; we don’t want to do anything that prejudices that.

“We need to find this person; that is the first

Tatua’s Paul McGilvary (right) and Fonterra’s Theo Spierings address media in wake of 1080 threat.

priority. We as an industry have worked very hard to lock down the supply chain. We need to find this person and lock our supply chain down to be absolutely sure the contaminant is not in it, that it can’t get into it.”

McGilvary said retailers were making strong

efforts to control products at the point of sale so they cannot be contaminated in a supermarket. Although Tatua does not make either infant formula or nutritional powders, the threat was an industry-wide issue and all companies in the industry had lifted mea-

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sures to secure the supply chain.

Spierings said the supply line was safe and secure because of such threats. They already have world class supply chains into markets. “For this we have stepped up measures to best-in-class in the world so we are abso-

lutely certain about food safety and quality for our consumers.”

McGilvary said they would maintain this level of security until they find this person. “Some of the things are good practice anyway, we are constantly evolving and improving things… and that continues.”

McGilvary says the number-one driver of every action they take is safety of children in New Zealand overseas. “We are also very conscious of the safety of our employees and the provider community as well. We are assuring mums our products are safe and we will make sure they are safe when they buy them.”

McGilvary believes supply chains are locked down. “We also believe the police will find this person. It clearly takes time for the police to

do what they have to do [including] decisions about timeframes and the best prospects for catching this person or persons. We’ve been using the time to lock down and make sure we don’t have any kind of risk to our supply chains.”

Spierings said it was far too early to focus on the financial impact; the focus was the criminal act and safety of consumers.

McGilvary says protecting people is the highest priority but they also have to keep markets open, keep doing business and maintain strong customer relationships.

“So by locking down supply chains and assuring people of the safety of the products we’re making we think that goes a long way to mitigating financial risk.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS: 1080 SCARE 9

Ag chem sector backs action AGCARM, THE industry association of companies making, distributing and selling agrichemical products, says it supports the Government’s response to the letter threatening to lace infant formula with 1080.

“Food safety is of utmost importance to our economy and industry. A deliberate contamination contravenes everything we’re trying to

achieve as an agricultural nation,” Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross says.

“Fortunately, New Zealand regulators and industry groups work closely together, allowing for a rapid and effective response to threats of this kind.”

Ross says New Zealand manufacturers maintain high levels of security.

This has increased since the threat was received.

More about 1080 ❱❱ What is it?

Sodium fluoroacetate is a poison mixed into baits and used to kill pests such as possums, rats and stoats. ❱❱ Why is it used in New Zealand?

To help control the spread of bovine tuberculosis, a disease carried by possums which can infect cattle and deer herds.

1080 poison is delivered in carrot, cereal, paste and gel baits. It is especially valuable for eradicating possums because it is the only poison available for aerial spreading over large areas of inaccessible country.

Possums, an introduced species, are the main threat to many native plants and animals. ❱❱ What effect does 1080 have on the environment?

Compound 1080 is fast acting and biodegradable. The toxin is readily dissolved and diluted by water, and is completely degraded by micro-organisms, so longterm environmental contamination is unlikely. ❱❱ Is 1080 harmful to people?

No effects on human health have been demonstrated from environmental exposure. Workers in the pest control industry are at greatest risk from unwanted exposure or poisoning, hence a lot of care is taken in the manufacture and use of 1080 baits. ❱❱ What about other animals?

Dogs scavenging poisoned carcases are at greatest risk. ❱❱ Why do people oppose it?

Opponents believe 1080 is inhumane and causes other animals, e.g. dogs, deer, birds, and fish, to suffer before dying. ❱❱ Why do people support its use?

Scientists, farmers and conservationists are mostly united in the view that for now 1080 is the best solution we have, and until such time as an effective alternative is found it must remain a key component of New Zealand’s pest eradication strategy.

The government is also monitoring and eliminating risks associated with the blackmail attempt.

“Although the threat is most likely a hoax, it is a significant act of stupidity,” says Ross.

CHINESE MEDIA NOT FOOLED PAM TIPA

THE DAY after the 1080 story broke Chinese media were reporting it for what it is, a criminal threat, says Simon Page, the China-based managing director of Biopure.

They were reporting that New Zealand agencies are taking it very seriously.

“They also echo the sentiment here, saying they hope

the culprits are quickly found are already very sensitive to infant and punished,” Page says. formula safety issues.”

He says the big picture should be “I’ve read suggestions by some here that China might be looking to play kept in mind, unhelpful conspiracy this incident up for commercial theories left behind and the focus gain. This is categorically not the should be on catching the irresponsible people behind this threat. case.

Biopure exports milk products “The last thing any government would seek to do is cause unneces- including infant formula to China, sary public concern. This is espe- selling through its own network of cially so in China where social order 25 stories called New Zealand Milk is paramount and where consumers Bar.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

10 NEWS

Lolly scramble, back door deals and political opportunism hits Northland GARETH GILLATT

NATHAN GUY, Damien O’Connor, Winston Peters, John Key and Steven Joyce have one thing in common: they’ve been to Northland in the last three weeks in what

must be the region’s fastest-ever roundup of Government ministers and leading opposition members.

VIPs from both parties are scrambling to shore up votes in a by-election sparked by the resignation

of former National Northland MP Mike Sabin, who resigned on January 30, just five months after being re-elected in the 2014 general election.

The flood of high-profile politicians started at the end of February

when the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, and Labour spokesman for Primary Industries Damien O’Connor visited the Northland Field Days on the second day of the event to support their Northern can-

didates, Mark Osborne and Willow Jean Prime, respectively.

Visitors to the field days say the visit was so brief and so hastily organised that Guy had to ask where the party’s site was and no media were on

hand to cover the visit.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters made his own flying visit on Saturday February 28, some media claiming he there made known his intention to run for the seat.

In what would normally be a safe National seat, there could be growing support for Peters.

Recent polls put Northland’s son slightly ahead of, or at least even with, the Northland National candidate Osborne.

One fertiliser rep refers to a shift away from National by farmers he has talked to in the last three weeks; half of his clients have said they would likely vote for Osborne and half said probably Peters. This was a major shift away from the public feeling in August 2014 when almost everybody he talked to said they would vote for the former National MP, Mike Sabin.

Both New Zealand First and the National Party have foreshadowed transport initiatives but rural voters have doubts about both plans.

While farmers in the region are concerned about transport, sources say farmers weren’t convinced the Government would follow through with funding, pointing to examples as recent as promised spending on flood damaged roads.

“Some people have asked what constitutes the Government’s definition of ‘fixed’ when it comes to some of those roads.”

Meanwhile, few believe Peters can or will achieve anything if he is successful. In fact, many view the Auckland-based lifetime politician’s decision to stand in the electorate as pure political opportunism by the NZ First leader; his party has not bothered

John Key

Damien O’Connor

Winston Peters

to stand a candidate in the Northland electorate since 2005.

As an opposition MP, Peters will have little influence on the current Government and the only thing he is likely to achieve is to bring in another NZ First list MP. But this will not benefit Northland; next on NZ First’s list is Southland hairdresser Ria Bond.

The exact nature and timing of Sabin’s resignation is another point of contention; rural voters are disappointed by the lack of information on the reasons for his resignation and by the length of time the party may have known about it.

Check out our websites www.ruralnews.co.nz www.dairynews.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS: 1080 SCARE 11

1080 threat won’t harm trade long-term director Nic Lees does not see the 1080 threat having much long-term effect on dairy exports or the New Zealand brand; “firstly because it is only a threat of contamination and secondly because the majority of New Zealand food exports get further processed or repackaged or blended so for many consumers the New Zealand

THE BLACKMAIL threat to lace baby formula with 1080 will not have longterm effects on New Zealand agricultural exports, Lincoln University experts believe.

However, they say continuously emerging food safety issues could cause concerns.

Agribusiness and food marketing programme

country of origin is not obvious,’’ he says.

“We are basically an ingredients supplier to international food manufacturers; they are our main customers. These industrial buyers have a good understanding of the New Zealand supply chain integrity and have been communicated to regarding the increased security

and testing.’’

However, Lees says wine, kiwifruit and apples are an exception to this.

And some New Zealand infant formula brands trade on the New Zealand image, but most are sold as milk powder, hence last year’s botulism scare did not greatly affect New Zealand dairy milk powder prices.

Farm management and agribusiness lecturer Bruce Greig agrees. “I don’t think this threat to poison some of New Zealand’s export and domestic products will have any long term effect on dairy exports.

“New Zealand has managed numerous biosecurity risks over the years with robust regulation and monitoring.

“The same is true of our food safety.”

If anything this threat will increase vigilance by exporters, which may increase New Zealand’s reputation for food safety,

Greig says.

“I’m not surprised this has happened. Our primary sector and export industry are vulnerable to these kinds of threats and industrial sabotage. It is one more aspect of being competitive in a global economy.”

But Dr Malik Hussain, associate director of Lincoln’s Centre for Food Research and Innovation, sounds a note of caution.

“Continuously emerging food safety issues ruin the reputation of the company and country of origin. Overseas consumers and importers will not

suspect just the product in the discussion due to a particular incident – their perception is of the entire food system in a country.

“Contaminants can get into our foods unintentional or intentional addition. One of the weakest links between a food business and consumer is the food supply chain (the distribution).”

The poison itself is seen as an invaluable pest eradication tool. Department of Ecology senior lecturer Dr James Ross says the cost of not using 1080 to kill pests would be high.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

12 NEWS

Don’t worry, eat happy (meal) KIWIS EATING chicken meals from McDonalds need not worry about overuse of antimicrobials in poultry.

According to the New Zealand Veterinary Association, vets play a key role in maintaining careful use of antimicrobials.

They were responding to

the fast food chain saying, in the US, that it would only source animals raised without antibiotics that are important to human health.

The 14,000-outlet chain has bowed to lengthy campaigns by activists concerned that the over-use of antibiot-

ics will lead to treatmentresistant superbugs.

The Washingtonbased Natural Resources Defense Council says between 6.8 million and 14.5 million kilograms of antibiotics are sold for use in livestock annually.

About 80% of the antibiotics used in the US are

given to farm animals.

In New Zealand, antibiotics used in animals are regulated by the Ministry for Primary Industries and are registered for use for the treatment of animal disease.

The NZVA says antibiotics play a vital role in keeping animals healthy

and protecting their welfare. In pets and livestock these products treat and control infections that threaten life and productivity, benefitting the animals receiving treatment and the people looking after them.

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“Access to antibiotics is restricted in New Zealand; they are only available after veterinary consultation and prescription.”

New Zealand Veterinary Association Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group chair Dr Dennis Scott says antimicrobial resistance is a key priority for the NZVA.

for treating infections.”

McDonald’s restaurants in New Zealand source their chicken from Tegel and Inghams; the produce is the same as any bought in a supermarket.

McDonald’s NZ says the use of antibiotics by the poultry industry in New Zealand is different from other markets such as the US. “To put this announcement in perspective, in New Zealand, antibiotics of

McDonald’s restaurants in New Zealand source their chicken from Tegel and Inghams; the produce is the same as any bought in a supermarket.

“We are working alongside MPI and other industry partners to develop a national strategy to address this global concern.

“We recognise that use of antimicrobial medicines for treating disease in humans and animals has seen major improvements in human and animal health, and in quality of life, for over half a century. They must continue to effectively treat bacterial infections as they are critical in guarding and supporting the health and welfare of humans and animals.

“All veterinarians have a role to play in ensuring the careful use of antimicrobials so that they will remain effective

importance to human health are already rarely used when treating livestock. Antibiotics are used only when animals are sick. The animals are assessed by a vet and only receive medication with a prescription,” a spokesman says.

The US National Chicken Council says almost all antibiotics used by farmers and chicken companies are never used by humans.

“The top priority of farmers and chicken companies is to raise healthy chickens, because healthy chickens are directly related to a safe food supply,” council vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs Ashley Peterson says.

KEENAN’S NZ DISTRIBUTOR IN THE March 3 issue of Rural News, in our Central Field Days supplement, the contact details of Keenan’s New Zealand distributor were incorrect.

JK Engineering is the Keenan New Zealand distributor.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

14 NEWS: 1080 SCARE

Smaller dairy companies confident of quality SMALL DAIRY companies are confident that existing security measures at their processing plants will keep the 1080 threat at bay.

Westland Milk chief executive Rod Quin says its products are secure “while within our manufacturing and distribution systems”.

“It is important to note that this situation has not arisen as a result of any deficiency in New Zealand’s world-class food quality systems,” Quin says. “This is a criminal threat and is being treated as such.”

The country’s second biggest dairy cooperative says there is no evi-

dence that the safety of its products has been compromised by a threat to contaminate infant and other dairy formula with 1080.

New Zealand police are investigating the letter sent to Fonterra and Federated Farmers threatening to contaminate infant formula with 1080, raising

concern the action may hurt sales of dairy products, the nation’s largest export.

Canterbury processor Synlait Milk says its food safety systems and security standards have been specifically designed to protect against such threats.

Synlait managing

director John Penno says food safety and product quality is its highest priority.

“We have full end-toend supply chain control from farm to container for all milk powder and infant formula products. This includes quality testing of raw milk and comprehensive testing of finished product before it is loaded in shipping containers for export.”

Existing security at Synlait includes a fully fenced site, electronic gates, closed circuit tele-

Westland chief Rod Quin

vision recording and swipe card access to critical areas such as its nutritional plant.

Since becoming aware of the threat, Synlait has taken extra precautions to increase security. This includes 24/7 deployment of on-site security guards,

photo-IDs for all staff and contractors and site access and staff security checks.

“Our customers are informed and we do not expect significant business interruption from this threat to the industry.”

SUPERMARKETS BOOST SECURITY SUPERMARKETS ARE also beefing up security around infant formula on sale.

Progressives, the operator of Countdown stores, is removing all formula sachets from sale and moving all infant formula tins from the main shelf to behind service counters.

The company says each infant formula purchase will be overseen by staff.

“CCTV will be on the product at all times in storage and when behind

the service counter and, we are also undertaking random sampling of infant formula product,” it says.

It also asked shoppers for support and to exercise vigilance.

“Everyone has a role to play in checking their cans of infant formula for signs of any tampering, and by keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. If you see something you’re concerned about, please let a member of our team know immediately.”

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 15

Nursery industry wants hand in biosecurity planning PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

THE NURSERY and garden industry needs to be inside the tent on biosecurity planning because of its relationships throughout the horticulture and forestry sectors, says Nursery and Garden Industry Association chief executive John Liddle.

Even biosecurity incursions, which do not directly threaten nursery and garden products, can affect the industry as seen in Auckland with the Queensland fruit fly reponse.

Liddle was in Auckland last week for meetings as part of a wider consultation process with 300 members on the potential introduction of a commodity and biosecurity levy to develop and protect the $600-700 million per annum nursery industry.

Meetings have also been held for some specific sector groups like nurseries that grow plants for forestry, and for kiwifruit, avocados and wine grapes.

In considering the biosecurity threat, Liddle told Rural News they looked at pests not now in New Zealand but which could arrive and threaten the nursery industry.

“There aren’t a lot of them. There is one called Sudden Oak Death which would be very, very seri-

ous should it arrive,” Liddle said.

“It affects forestry and a wide range of plants grown, and nurseries will be affected; it is a particularly devastating form of a disease called phytophthora. Most of the other pests or diseases we have identified would largely be controlled by existing nursery and spray systems and pest and disease systems.”

But the nursery industry is not an island, says Liddle. “We have relationships and we move plants around the countryside and we have relationships with all the other horticultural sectors from pipfruit to summerfruit and with forestry.”

The work other sectors require to lessen their own risks can affect the nursery and garden industry. Two garden centres are in the control zones for the current Queensland fruit fly response in Auckland.

“Fruit fly is not a problem for the garden industry as such, but to minimise the risk to others it does impact on us. GIA (Government Industry Agreements on Biosecurity Readiness) is as much about the nursery industry being responsible players in biosecurity in working with others as it is about our own risks.

“In Auckland a major route, SH16, runs through the control zone and con-

PLANNING FOR FUTURE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS with growers are part of the Nursery and Garden Industry Association’s ‘Towards 2025’ plan which is a package of three things, says Liddle.

“The first is an industry plan to grow and develop the industry. GIA is also part of it, so we believe we need to be an active participant in this change to the biosecurity system. In order to provide a long term and sustainable funding base for our industry body the third component of Towards 2025 is the introduction of a commodity levy and a biosecurity levy.”

They are about a third of their way through consultation this month, in 17 regional meetings.

Liddle says they are getting a reasonable level of support from members. “But not necessarily everyone agrees with us as you might expect, especially when part of that idea is that they will be them paying.”

After consultation the association will refine its proposal subject to feedback and put it to a referendum of potential levy payers in May.

trols have been put in place for trucks carrying fruit and vegetables along that route to make sure they don’t get any fruit flies as they go through those zones.”

Nursery members can ship plants from Auck-

land-Wellington or Wellington-Christchurch overnight and any movement controls could mean member businesses may be impacted.

“The industry needs to have a part in biosecurity planning because

then it can protect both our industries in those discussions rather than have others determine the impact on our members.

“We need to be inside the tent helping make those decisions rather than outside the tent.”

Keeping unwanted pests out of New Zealand is reason behind this latest agreement between Government and the nursery sector.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

16 NEWS

Small company makes big moves in China PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

A KIWI company specialising in selling milk products to China is planning a major expansion and is planning to raise $10 million to do this.

Biopure exports milk products including infant formula to China, selling through its own network of 25 stores called the New Zealand Milk Bar, in 23 cities and six provinces. It hopes to have 1000 stores by the end of 2017.

The company recently gained Chinese registration for its Infapure infant formula brand, a “game changer” says managing director Simon Page. He and his wife Jane Li opened their first stores in 2012 in Chengdu City, Sichuan province, in southwest China.

They first imported clothing from China, but after the Sanlu melamine scare Chinese contacts asked them to sell New Zealand dairy products. The new business has grown and taken on a

life of its own, Page says.

“In our stores we sell a range of our niche dairy products. Our instant whole milk powder is a top-selling product, sold in 1kg bags. We also sell skim milk powder and infant formula and we have Fonterra Anchor UHT milk which we get directly from them in China. We have also tried other specialty powders such as goat milk in 400g tins and we’ve sold Whittaker’s chocolate, getting a good response.”

Page says they have resisted the temptation to sell other New Zealand products such as wine and manuka honey, instead sticking with dairy products – what they are known for. Cheese is a possibility, he says.

While the idea of a niche specialty store like the Milk Bar may seem unusual to New Zealanders, Page says there is now a proliferation of direct import stores like theirs in China. “Foreign products are increasingly popular with the Chinese middle class.”

Simon Page and Jane Li talk with customers.

Page says of all New Zealand’s offerings, milk is what the country is most famous for so they decided to compete in that market and tap into the popularity of foreign products. “For us milk is the point of difference,” he says.

Milk Bar’s success has given Page and Li the confidence to go one step further in their expansion programme, hence the need to raise more capital, he says.

“We’re moving into a different phase now that we have certainty of product

supply; we’re working on a ‘store in store’ strategy. We have six well resourced Chinese partners and they have a huge reach into traditional channels.

“This new strategy will see us have our Milk Bar stores in large supermarkets or baby store chains but still under our banner and brand. We’ll keep the integrity of that supply chain so it’s exciting for us. But we will continue to open standalone stores which get the volume up.”

CAN WE HELP? SIMON PAGE and his wife Jane Li are widely recognised as highly successful marketers to China. It helps that Jane was born in Chengdu and raised and educated largely in New Zealand.

They have been helping Fonterra with its branded products in China and have offered to help other exporters, Page says.

“We want to help companies to sell to the consumers. Our expertise is in creating shelf space and knowing what Chinese consumers want and being able to sell the product. New Zealand has struggled over the years to get brands out there and turn them into large brands.”

He says Chengdu city is a good launching place for New Zealand exporters aiming into the China market. With 14 million people it is smaller and less expensive to operate in than Shanghai.

“It’s the gateway to the whole western part of China and a very important city. That’s why New Zealand has appointed a new consulgeneral there in the last six months.

There is also a big push by the Chinese government to develop that region.”

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 17

Jersey breeders lose shirts to dodgy former employee THE FORMER general manager of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders Association has pleaded guilty to fleecing the body of $312,000.

At the Hamilton District Court last week Jennifer Ann Taylor admitted false accounting, seven charges of theft by a person in a special relationship and 14 charges of dishonestly using a document.

Her offending included writing cheques on the association’s account for her wedding catering, home renovations and spending thousands of dollars on the organisation’s credit card. Taylor also paid dental bills and school and sporting fees.

Taylor was dismissed from her job last year.

At the time she was earning $91,000 a year and had a company car.

She had worked for the association since 1993.

According to police, the former

administration manager, promoted to general manager in 2008, was a trusted employee who had virtual autonomy in running the business.

However, in March last year, gaps in Taylor’s cover began to emerge. Her refusal to provide account information resulted in the resignation of the association’s auditors and sparked an investigation.

Police discovered Taylor had been direct crediting her personal bank account with association funds, payments she disguised as being for suppliers or other companies. It also emerged she had been depositing funds in her personal bank account using the association’s cheques, which she had signed. The cheques were required to have two signatories before being processed.

The association, which has about 500 members and a turnover of about $500,000,

initiated disciplinary proceedings against Taylor during which she admitted ‘borrowing’ $44,000.

She directed in total $204,000 of her employer’s money on 232 occasions to her own accounts and wrote

$41,700 of association cheques for personal expenses. The amount misappropriated on the credit card was at

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

18 NEWS

Warning on overloading Ag aircraft PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

AGRICULTURAL PILOTS, flying rotary and fixed wing, have again been warned not to overload their aircraft.

The chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA), Allan Beck says pilots who overload are risking their lives and may get killed or injured. Non-compliance may bring prosecution by the Civil Aviation Authority.

in the last decade there has been a huge shift to take the stress off aircraft and make it safer,” he told Rural News. “If you’re loaded right up to the maximum and you’re going up a gully and you get a sudden wind change you don’t have any reserve. You can’t get rid of the load quickly enough and you’re doomed.

“There is no question overloading has been the cause of many crashes.

Our message is, if CAA doesn’t catch you, the

Beck says CAA is conducting a campaign against overloading of agricultural aircraft and already one operator has been put out of business because of this.

He says reports suggest only a few operators are overloading their aircraft, but this is now unacceptable.

“For years overloading was the accepted norm and there is no question that in the early days overloading was the cause of many crashes. But

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grim reaper will,” he adds.

Beck says NZAAA supports what CAA is doing and its initiative in cracking down on overloading.

He believes the reason for the problem is the fragile economic state of the industry. Beck says the pressure is on operators, with the severe competition that’s out there, to cut costs to meet clients’ expectation of what they are prepared to pay.

The economics are best illustrated by the way the industry is structured today, he says.

“In 1989 there were 315 operators; today there are just 20, which is a high attrition rate. It could be because of acquisitions, mergers or people going out of business, but what-

THE FERT’S STILL GOING ON ALLAN BECK says despite the low dairy payout farmers are still putting on fertiliser. He says his company, operating in the central North Island, has had a good year with orders still flooding in.

It’s clear that dairy farmers realised the need to get their grass to grow well and the only answer is fertiliser, he says.

He has noticed a trend for sheep and beef farmers to applying lime on their properties. He is getting orders for work he hasn’t had before and its mainly for spreading lime.

ever the reality it’s a difficult industry today in which to stay economic.”

Beck says that for 40 years the industry has not charged enough for its services. Many

operators who have undercut competitors have gone out of business and delicensing hasn’t helped the temptation to overload aircraft.

“It’s so easy for a pilot,

once he has got enough time, to head out as an ag pilot and get in the system where he can work for a licensed operator, on his own, and basically take the work off the guy that taught him.

“That’s a ridiculous part of it. All they have got to do is slash the price by 10% and the farmer will say ‘wow’.”

Beck says people need to realise that the ag aviation business is very capital intensive and there are huge costs to maintain aircraft to a standard. In his view, the rates charged by companies over the last 40 years have not been enough to sustain their operations, so many people are no longer in business.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

NEWS 19 Challenges for agriculture as global warning challenges loom

Income and growth drive demand INCOME GROWTH, not population, will impact food consumption, says Thomas Hertel, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, Indiana.

He told the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society (AARES) conference that population growth in poor countries will not lead to greater demand for food.

Instead income growth in countries with developing economies will drive demand. “Population won’t be the challenge; income growth is more important.”

He also stressed there was enough food but how it was distributed was the main issue.

Preventing food loss will also be important. Hertel says per capita food loss in Europe and North

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

CHALLENGES AND opportunities exist for agriculture in limiting global warming to 2oC, says a leading New Zealand agricultural greenhouse gas researcher.

Dr Andy Reisinger, deputy director of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and a lead author of the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), spoke last month at the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society’s (AARES) conference in Rotorua.

He says the IPCC concluded recently that emissions of carbon dioxide need to be reduced to zero by 2100 to limit global warming to 2oC, a goal “accepted by most governments around the world, and an enormous challenge”.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture globally can make an important contribution to the goal of limiting warming to 2oC and would lower the global costs of achieving this goal.”

But there are difficulties for New Zealand, where almost half of total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.

Raising awareness of the global potential for livestock research to reduce emissions is challenging because for many other countries, livestock contribute only a small percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions, he notes.

“New Zealand’s domestic research programme, together with its support for the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, is trying to increase global engagement through research collaboration and position New Zealand to lead global efforts in this area.

“Key options on the global scale for reducing agricultural emissions are increasing productivity and efficiency of food production, developing new technologies to reduce emissions without compromising food production, and managing demand by reducing food waste and influencing dietary choices away from emissions-intensive food products.”

Reisinger says that emissions per unit of livestock product have declined consistently for 20 years in New Zealand, demonstrating that improvements in productivity and efficiency can make a difference. But options are limited for New Zealand to reduce absolute emissions from agriculture within current overall agricultural growth targets, hence new technologies are needed.

“Absolute emissions from agriculture in New Zealand have increased due to increased overall production, mainly from expansion of dairy farms, in response to global demand. Most of New Zealand’s livestock products are exported. Soil carbon stores are high in New Zealand, which limits the scope for offsetting emissions by increasing soil carbon.”

Market Data Every Week Check out the latest market data at www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/markets

Working in partnership:

America is 280-300kg/year: in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/ Southeast Asia it is 120-170 kg/ year.

“The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption is, in Europe and North-America, about 900kg/year and, in subSaharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, 460kg/year.

“Per capita food wasted by

consumers in Europe and NorthAmerica is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year. “ However, it is difficult to model consumer behavior. Given that 30-40% of food loss occurs in developing countries, investigating relation between food loss and nutrition outcomes is also important.”– Sudesh Kissun

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

20 NEWS

Fourth time lucky for sharemilker PERSISTENCE HAS paid off for Waikato dairy farmer Aaron Price: this month he won the 2015 Waikato Sharemilker/ Equity Farmer of the Year title on his fourth attempt.

Having been the runner-up twice, Price won top honours at the region’s awards dinner at

the Claudelands Events Centre on March 6. Price (29) won $22,000 in prizes.

By winning he has achieved his short term goal.

Now for the future: “My long term goal is to achieve farm ownership by 2021 to provide stability and security to myself

and my wife Sarah. I also want to be able to help other young people progress through dairying and enhance the natural environment with a long term vision.”

Entering the awards had helped him achieve various goals. “Since entering I have improved pasture recording and my

health and safety practices, I’ve lifted livestock targets, improved business monitoring and system analysis, and I am continuing to make improvements.”

Price, BAgComm from Lincoln University, is 50% sharemilking 250 cows for Clyde Whitechurch at Morrinsville. He is a 50%

shareholder in two sharemilking companies he established with business partner John Assen.

“Our partnership has allowed me a quicker entry into sharemilking and then it has enabled us to expand the operation sooner than if I was on my own. It also provides support, flexibility and

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greater economies of scale for us.”

Apart from farming, Price keeps fit and helps in the community. He completed the Tauranga half-ironman in January this year and is a volunteer firefighter for the Tahuna Fire Brigade. “It is a way I can be of value to our local community, assisting in emergency situations.”

The other big winners at the region’s awards dinner were Paul and Kate Manion, the 2015 Waikato Farm Managers of the Year, and Brett Steeghs, the Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Persistence also paid off for 2015 Waikato Farm Managers of the Year Paul and Kate Manion, who won $10,450 in prizes in their third time entering.

The couple, both aged 29, are contract milking 485 cows for “great farm owners” Jonathan and Mary Robinson, at Cambridge.

“We have found entering the awards a great way to get feedback on our farming practices, as well as to look at our own business in depth and to network.”

He has a BAgComm from Lincoln University and a post graduate Diploma in Teaching from Waikato University; she a BSc from Canterbury University. “The dairy industry provides a great lifestyle for family and work-life balance for

ourselves, and our staff,” he says.

The Manions have two young children and have goals of herd and land ownership.

Runners-up in the farm manager contest were Okoroire contract milkers Ed Auton and Rebecca Walker, who won $5800 in prizes. Morrinsville contract milker Will Rolton was third, winning $4300.

The 2015 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Brett Steeghs, has capped a successful first season in the dairy industry by winning the title and $7000 in prizes.

Steeghs (26) is assisting on a 420-cow Horahora farm owned by Harry and Yvonne Ruffell.

He previously worked in agricultural engineering and entered the awards to gain exposure in the industry and to push himself. His goals are to progress to sharemilking and farm ownership and he is currently doing PrimaryITO courses to increase his dairying knowledge and skills.

Otorohanga farm assistant Andrew Wards (19) was placed second in the trainee competition, winning $4000 in prizes, and Kawhia 2IC Benji Gillespie was third, winning $2000.

Aaron Price will host a field day on March 31; Paul and Kate Manion will host a field day on the Cambridge farm they manage on March 24.

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22 NEWS

Green light for Aussie mega meat merger SUDESH KISSUN ???@ruralnews.co.nz

THE AUSTRALIAN Government has approved the sale of the country’s largest ham and bacon producer to Brazilian meat giant JBS, despite farmer concerns.

As part of the deal, JBS, the world’s largest proces-

sor of fresh beef and pork, will allow contract processing at abattoirs newly acquired from Primo Group. JBS is paying A$1.45 billion for Primo.

JBS US is buying Primo from Affinity Equity Partners, an Asian private equity firm that bought 70% of the Australian company in 2011 for A$519

million, and from members of the founding Lederer family, who own the rest.

Australian farmers opposed the deal, fearing the takeover would lessen competition in saleyards and voicing concerns about access to Primo’s Scone abattoir in New South Wales.

But Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says conditions attached to Primo’s sale would ensure local cattle producers’ access to the Scone abattoir for contract processing.

Joyce says the Scone abattoir must remain open and retain its capacity for consignment or

custom killings accessible by third parties, otherwise the Treasurer can order the company to divest. Custom service killing refers to arrangements between the abattoir and third parties for processing.

JBS has to report to the Foreign Investment Review Board on its com-

Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

pliance every six months; the deal will be reviewed by authorities every three years.

Joyce says the conditions meet the demands of producers, farming organisations and other concerned stakeholders.

“Our farmers’ ability to get a fair price for produce is dependent upon competitive tension in the marketplace. This acquisition of Primo by JBS will diminish competition and it will be incredibly difficult for any new entrants

“The conditions meet the demands of producers, farming organisations and other concerned stakeholders.”

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“I acknowledge that there were calls for more than this, but given the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) decision, there was every chance we may have gotten less.

“With these stringent conditions in place I believe the treasurer has found an appropriate balance for all parties using his powers under the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) framework.”

However, NSW and Victoria farmers are calling for a Senate inquiry into increasing market consolidation taking place in the Australian red-meat processing sector.

NSW Farmers cattle committee chair Derek Schoen says less competition means farmers lose.

to enter the market.

“The best way to move forward is for the Government to hold a Senate inquiry into the whole issue of consolidation in the red meat processing sector to enable the issue of competition in the market to be explored properly.”

He says a recent boycott of the Barnawartha saleyard by processors is “a symptom of processors gaining too much market muscle and the issue of processors’ market power needs to be taken further”.

Hockey says the Government welcomes foreign investment in Australia and continues to ensure that investments are consistent with Australia’s national interest.

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MEAT MERGER PRIMO FOODS established in 1985 by Paul Lederer and other family members Grew rapidly to become a leading producer of ham, bacon and smallgoods under the Primo and Hans brands.

In October 2011 Affinity Equity Partners acquired 70.1% of Primo Group. Since then, Primo has built a new food manufacturing plant in Wacol, Queensland, the largest in Australia, and bought bacon and ham business Premier Beehive in New Zealand Primo’s export sales since 2011 have grown significantly JBS is the US-based subsidiary of the Brazilian company JBS SA, the world’s largest processor of fresh beef and pork.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

Beekeepers offer peace pipe to agrichemical industry PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

IF HUNDREDS of sheep or cattle were found dying at a farmgate there would be a national uproar, Federated Farmers bee industry chair John Hartnell told a recent conference.

Yet this is the sort of situation three Waikato beekeepers faced last month when thousands of their bees were killed and 300 hives wiped out through a mistake with spraying.

Beekeepers had traditionally hated the agri-chemical industry but that was starting to change, Hartnell said at the recent AgCarm conference in Auckland.

He had impressed on the beekeepers’ industry council that unless they started to talk to the agri-chemical industry and build a relationship, they would never find mutually agreeable outcomes, he told the conference.

“It was just two fists banging at each other and that is never going to work. We are slowly starting to come around and understand the need to sit and talk to you, ask some questions and find some answers.”

A bee health survey will he held this spring to find out what is happening to the bee population throughout New Zealand. “We are trying to ascertain exactly how healthy they are and exactly what might be happening to them. We are trying to put some facts around what is an emotional and sometimes an anecdotal thing,” Hartnell says. AgCarm is helping pay for the survey.

“If everything goes well the bee industry will be working with your industry and MPI to make sure the health survey happens. We want it to be held every couple of years so we have some benchmarkable data we can actually work with. This will go to government so they can

use that data as part of their policy making process.”

One of NZ’s foremost bee experts, Dr Mark Woodward, from Plant and Food, had told the local government and environment select committee three years ago that wild bee losses in this country were already at 30% a year and that’s unsustainable.

That is near the 35% tipping point where pollination is threatened and pesticides are part of the mix.

“So the more information we Fed Farmes bee industry chair John Hartnell. have about how solely focused on the plight of pesticides are affecting bees, how they are being their bees. “If bees were cattle or used out there, the more effec- sheep and that number of dead tively we can deal with that 30% animals were found at a farmgate number. Because if it goes any there would be a national uproar.

So we must [understand] how beehigher it will be a problem.”

He was in Waikato when the keepers see their bees and work bee-death incident occurred (see together to find solutions that are sidebar). The beekeepers were mutually acceptable.”

NEWS 23 SMALL MISTAKE, BIG PROBLEMS! THOUSANDS OF bees were killed last month through a simple mistake by a spraying contractor, says National Beekeepers Association chief executive Daniel Paul.

About 300 hives were moved from manuka to pasture. Bee strength was 40,000-60,000 per hive, which is very strong, and after rain the pastures were full of buttercup, clover and other plant species that bees love.

But the rain also raised concerns for dairy farmers because of the heightened risk of facial eczema.

The farmer’s helicopter contractor thought he was doing the right thing by spraying in the morning, working through until 9am. But on fine days such as these the honey bee starts working about 7.30am.

On three farms, 300 hives belonging to three beekeepers were affected, 90% of the bees dying within 24 hours. Some bees made it back to their hives but carried the residue inside where it killed the larvae.

“This is simply a mistake,” Paul says. “The time of day was wrong because the bees were flying. Had the spraying been done at dusk we would have had a 12-hour period for the product to settle. ” The chemical used was also a major factor. But the dairy farmers were totally unaware of the danger to bees and the spraying contractor thought he was doing the right thing. Education is needed to bring about change, Paul says.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

24 MARKETS & TRENDS MARKET SNAPSHOT  

BEEF MARKET TRENDS

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LAMB PRICES

BEEF PRICES NI

Change

c/kgCWT

P2 Steer - 300kg

n/c

M2 Bull - 300kg

Last Year

5.00

5.00

4.30

4.95

3.35

4.95

4.95

4.30

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4.55

P2 Cow - 230kg

n/c

3.20

Local Trade - 230kg

n/c

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P2 Steer - 300kg

M2 Bull - 300kg

n/c

M Cow - 200kg

3.80

3.20

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3.90

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Local Trade - 230kg

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2 Wks Ago

n/c

M Cow - 200kg

SI

Last Week

n/c

P2 Cow - 230kg

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4.18

4.40 3.20

3.20

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YM - 13.5kg

4.70

Mutton

SI Lamb

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PX - 19.0kg

4.20

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MX1 - 21kg

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5yr Ave

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2.22 5.77

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Export Market Demand -3

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73.9% 65.0%

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78.5% 69.1%

8.44

8.50

1.77

Last Year 5yr Ave

1.80

2.14

1.93

7.96

8.24

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Change +0% +0%

% Returned SI

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5yr Ave

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70.7%

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% Returned NI

2Wks Ago

Last Week

-6

NZ$/kg

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2Wks Ago

3 Wks Ago

59.2%

58.8%

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60.6%

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Last Year 5yr Ave 70.4%

67.1%

70.1%

63.4%

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

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Procurement Indicator

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









UK Leg £/lb

Last Week









Change







 















3.20







5.49

2.63



Procurement Indicator





2.63







5.48

4.98

  

 







5.46

4.98







 

5.44

4.98

4.98

n/c

3.40

4.98









n/c

5.46

3.00

4.98

PH - 22.0kg





n/c

5.45

5.06

3.00

2.75





5.06

n/c

YM - 13.5kg

5.05







n/c

4.98



NZ$/kg



5.43

5.05

5.41



95CL US$/lb





5.03

5.01

Slaughter

Change



5.03

5.01

n/c

Change



Last Year

n/c



Export Market Demand



2 Wks Ago

n/c

PX - 19.0kg





n/c

PM - 16.0kg

Last Week

PM - 16.0kg



      

 













 











 

  

  

NI Lamb

2.95

3.20

Change

c/kgCWT

4.03

Slaughter



 

LAMB MARKET TRENDS











Venison Prices Change NI Stag - 60kg SI Stag - 60kg

n/c

n/c

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

6.25

6.25

6.40

6.40

Last Year 5yr Ave 6.12

6.20

6.63

6.83

Beef & are reported as gross (before normal levies levies & charges are deducted).

Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett (after levies charges are deducted).

Beef & venison venisonprices prices are reported as gross (before normal & charges are deducted).

Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett&(after levies & charges are deducted).

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MARKETS & TRENDS 25 NEWS BEEF: Dry conditions in the North Island saw another run of slaughter cattle to plants last week. Operating prices have remained steady in recent weeks. In the South Island slaughter numbers are running thin.

Processors in the South are killing a number of contract cattle at present which is keeping a lid on procurement and holding operating prices steady. The national cow kill is significantly ahead of last year due to the drought induced culling and low payout. It would take a significant rain event to slow this tide now. The US market showed signs of improvement last week with imported prices rising on increased end user demand. This should act to prevent further downside to cattle operating prices in coming weeks.

LAMB: In the North Island the dry conditions have seen another round of lambs hit processors. There are also more lighter lambs being killed as store prices are so weak. With a supply gap approaching, operating prices have remained steady.

Reports suggest that April may see very low numbers of slaughter lambs available. Some plants are looking to reduce capacity in coming weeks to attempt to spread out the remaining slaughter numbers. In the South Island there are already gaps

PRICE WATCH appearing in the kill.

Operating prices have held steady, but there is likely to be some upside to these in coming weeks as a level of procurement competition sets in.

The mutton kill has skyrocketed in recent weeks as processors work their way through the backlogs from January. With the rate mutton is currently being killed, the kill is likely to be over in a couple of weeks.

What happens next on the sheep processing front will be interesting to watch. Market demand is still below average and with NZ inventories mounting there will be a trade off between marketers and those managing margins on the processing lines.

Indicators in NZ$

Change

05-Mar

Last Year

26-Feb

Coarse Xbred

-7

4.89

4.96

4.84

Fine Xbred

-20

5.37

5.57

4.97

Lamb

-10

6.41

6.51

5.11

-

-

-

-

Mid Micron











Coarse Xbred Fine Xbred Lamb

05-Mar

Last Year

26-Feb

-3

3.71

3.74

4.12

-13

4.08

4.20

4.23

-5

4.86

4.91

4.35

-

-

-

-

Mid Micron



  





Change





 

Indicators in US$/kg







DAIRY: The average GDT price index lifted 1.1% at the latest auction; a much lesser gain in comparison with the previous two auctions sharp lifts.

WMP prices, which dominate the volumes sold, fell by 1% from the previous auction. It was largely expected that prices would not continue to recover at rates seen at the previous auctions given global supply and demand fundamentals.

Previous lifts in WMP prices had been driven by concern over reducing volumes out of NZ and these concerns may have potentially been allayed by an upwards revision in

Overseas Wool Price Indicators

WOOL PRICE WATCH

 







 























 



   

 











forecast auction volumes. The results imply there is still some uncertainty in the dairy market. The signals coming out of China point to demand remaining weak from this market for the months ahead. Their domestic production continues to be much higher than expected, and

 

  











domestic demand is also weak. Production growth has slowed out of the EU in recent months, however not so in the US. Both supply and demand fundamentals are expected to become more balanced in the second half of 2015, although recovery is still expected to be modest.



With all the elements on your farm working hard for optimum productivity this autumn, getting the balance right is key. We’re here to help you plan the best mix of feed, fertiliser and animal health products to make the most of every single drop this season and the next. Give your local Technical Sales Rep a call today.

WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT

RD10124_RN0315

IN-STORE

NZFARMSOURCE.CO.NZ/AUTUMN

0800 731 266

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MARKETS & TRENDS 25 NEWS BEEF: Dry conditions in the North Island saw another run of slaughter cattle to plants last week. Operating prices have remained steady in recent weeks. In the South Island slaughter numbers are running thin.

Processors in the South are killing a number of contract cattle at present which is keeping a lid on procurement and holding operating prices steady. The national cow kill is significantly ahead of last year due to the drought induced culling and low payout. It would take a significant rain event to slow this tide now. The US market showed signs of improvement last week with imported prices rising on increased end user demand. This should act to prevent further downside to cattle operating prices in coming weeks.

LAMB: In the North Island the dry conditions have seen another round of lambs hit processors. There are also more lighter lambs being killed as store prices are so weak. With a supply gap approaching, operating prices have remained steady.

Reports suggest that April may see very low numbers of slaughter lambs available. Some plants are looking to reduce capacity in coming weeks to attempt to spread out the remaining slaughter numbers. In the South Island there are already gaps

PRICE WATCH appearing in the kill.

Operating prices have held steady, but there is likely to be some upside to these in coming weeks as a level of procurement competition sets in.

The mutton kill has skyrocketed in recent weeks as processors work their way through the backlogs from January. With the rate mutton is currently being killed, the kill is likely to be over in a couple of weeks.

What happens next on the sheep processing front will be interesting to watch. Market demand is still below average and with NZ inventories mounting there will be a trade off between marketers and those managing margins on the processing lines.

Indicators in NZ$

Change

05-Mar

Last Year

26-Feb

Coarse Xbred

-7

4.89

4.96

4.84

Fine Xbred

-20

5.37

5.57

4.97

Lamb

-10

6.41

6.51

5.11

-

-

-

-

Mid Micron











Coarse Xbred Fine Xbred Lamb

05-Mar

Last Year

26-Feb

-3

3.71

3.74

4.12

-13

4.08

4.20

4.23

-5

4.86

4.91

4.35

-

-

-

-

Mid Micron



  





Change





 

Indicators in US$/kg







DAIRY: The average GDT price index lifted 1.1% at the latest auction; a much lesser gain in comparison with the previous two auctions sharp lifts.

WMP prices, which dominate the volumes sold, fell by 1% from the previous auction. It was largely expected that prices would not continue to recover at rates seen at the previous auctions given global supply and demand fundamentals.

Previous lifts in WMP prices had been driven by concern over reducing volumes out of NZ and these concerns may have potentially been allayed by an upwards revision in

Overseas Wool Price Indicators

WOOL PRICE WATCH

 







 























 



   

 











forecast auction volumes. The results imply there is still some uncertainty in the dairy market. The signals coming out of China point to demand remaining weak from this market for the months ahead. Their domestic production continues to be much higher than expected, and

 

  











domestic demand is also weak. Production growth has slowed out of the EU in recent months, however not so in the US. Both supply and demand fundamentals are expected to become more balanced in the second half of 2015, although recovery is still expected to be modest.



With all the elements on your farm working hard for optimum productivity this autumn, getting the balance right is key. We’re here to help you plan the best mix of feed, fertiliser and animal health products to make the most of every single drop this season and the next. Give your local Technical Sales Rep a call today.

WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT

RD10124_RN0315

IN-STORE

NZFARMSOURCE.CO.NZ/AUTUMN

0800 731 266

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

26 AGRIBUSINESS

Farm software draws all the threads together – developer PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS WITH multiple farms can now see the consolidated financial position of all those farms together using a new reporting system from CRS Software, Masterton.

The new web reporting system was developed after farmers with multiple farms told the company they needed the capability to bring all this information together, says managing director Brian Eccles.

“Many farmers have trading entities and trusts that own the land. They often are moving money between the two accounts and both are important for running the farm,” Eccles told Rural News.

“All those people now must look through both lots of information separately. The bank is very interested in seeing that together, as is the farmer.”

Eccles says CRS’s focus for farm financial management is on what farm-

ers need, not what accountants need.

He says even accountants have limited ability to consolidate this information across multiple entities. Now, for farmers’ benefit, Cashmanager RURAL is a forerunner.

“People have been saying for years that there is a need to bring all this information together,” Eccles says.

He spoke recently to a South Waikato farmer with 12 dairy farms around New Zealand who has been trying to manually consolidate all this information on a regular basis. When shown the new CRS software system for consolidated reporting, “his eyes just popped out, he was delighted, it solved a real problem for him,” says Eccles. “He spent hours every month doing this; I said just press the button and it’s done. It’s going to make it so much easier for him.”

CRS was set up 30 years ago in Masterton by “visionary” Ian Campbell and now has 40 people working only on farm financial management

software for farmers.

Eccles’ background was in farming; in 1989 he was Wairarapa Farmer of the Year.

“It is all we do because normal accounting software doesn’t work well for farms,” he says.

“Whether it is a dairy CRS Software’s farm or a sheep and Brian Eccles. beef farm, the way their finances operate is quite different.”

Eccles says he has a good idea what farmers want and need. Having no background himself in either software or accounting “has been good because it has kept my focus about what farmers want and not what accountants want, and they are very different.

“I love working with farmers and understanding what they need – anything we can do to help them. This little company in Masterton with 40 people – last year about $10 billion of farm

income went through [our company’s] software. It is helping many farmers and we know if they’re using Cashmanager RURAL it helps their profitability considerably. How much we’re influencing New Zealand agriculture is anybody’s guess, but it’s quite significant.”

Their market share is “very high” and their main ‘competitor’ is the farmer who does nothing.

“He leaves it entirely to accountants to tidy up [for clients] at the end of the year…. We’ve got a strong share of the total number of farmers and particularly the farmers who are using some sort of management.”

CRS’s focus is on software that keeps looking ahead. “Farming, of course, is challenging because it keeps changing and so does the price. So there is a lot of uncertainty.

$18,607

“The more you can plan, and because plans have to change, the more you can manage uncertainty, the better. A number of our clients understand that and keep planning and keep updating their plans as they need to.

“They say ‘right, I’m going to put on fertiliser then, buy feed then and that will give me so much milk production.’… They get this model in their head and then they can try different scenarios to see if they can get a better result. That’s the type of thing we want to help them with.

“It does all their GST and gets them ready for the accountant at the end of the year, and it does some good reports, so it does all the accounting stuff easily but there’s strong emphasis on looking forward.”

In 2009 CMR was an early user of the ‘cloud’ – it hadn’t even been given that name then - and 55% of clients now use the on-line solution. “We will continue to innovate and do exciting things,” says Eccles.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

AGRIBUSINESS 27

Career switch paying dividends SWITCHING CAREERS to dairy farming paid off for the three winners of the 2015 Auckland/ Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards.

The Sharemilker/ Equity Farmers of the Year, Evan and Jan Billington, had been in the New Zealand Police and teaching until seven years ago; they also claimed five merit awards.

Farm Manager of the Year James Foote had been a professional rugby player, and the Dairy Trainee of the Year, Royce King, was a plumber and gasfitter.

“It’s interesting how people from other careers apply themselves and make rapid progress,” regional managers James Courtman and Adele Archer say. “It shows there is plenty of information and opportunities available to those keen to prosper in the dairy industry.”

The Billingtons, who won $14,330 in prizes, are 50% sharemilking 680 cows on two properties

at Ngatea for Ken and Pat Jones. Their goal is to continue sharemilking and to grow their business as opportunities present.

“We want to build our equity to a level where we can take advantage of any future business opportunities. We are realistic as to what these may be given we have entered the industry later than most, however we believe the end goal of farm ownership is achievable and we have a plan in place to achieve that.”

The couple say two key success factors are their staff and the simple grassbased system they operate.

“We’ve been able to mould a positive team and have involved them in our seasonal plans for the business from the beginning. By providing competitive salaries, a flexible roster, ongoing training and some fun along the way, we’ve been able to retain key staff, which is a strength for us.”

After 10 years of semi-

professional rugby in New Zealand and overseas, Foote has turned his attention to dairy farming with success.

King (26) is 2IC milking 530 cows for an equity partnership, Springfield Farming, at Paeroa.

Having grown up on a dairy farm, Royce gained his Plumbing and Gas

Changing careers has led to success for farmers Evan and Jan Billington and their team.

Fitting Certificate and worked as a plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer for five years before entering dairying nearly three years ago.

Evan and Jan Billington will host a field day on April 1, while Foote, will host a field day on March 25 on the Miranda farm he manages.

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AUSSIE FARM OUTLOOK BRIGHTENS AUSTRALIAN FARMERS are hearing that good times are coming: a top economic researcher predicts farm production will increase 5.3% to about A$54.4 billion next financial year.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) says the gross value of livestock production is expected to rise about 5.6% to A$25.9 billion in 2015–16, after a forecast increase of 5.9% in 2014–15.

The value of crop production is seen rising 5.1% in 2015–16 to A$28.5 billion, after falling 9.6% in 2013–14.

ABARES executive director Karen Schneider told the organisation’s annual Outlook conference in Canberra that the rise in the value of farm production is likely to continue in the medium term.

“In 2019–20, the gross value of Australian farm production is projected to be around A$55.3 billion in 2014-15 dollars, around 9% higher than the five year average to 2013-14,” Schneider says.

A modest rise in Australian farm commodity export earnings is forecast in 2015–16, with total exports of about A$40.5 billion compared with a forecast A$40.3 billion in 2014–15.

Export earners forecast to rise in 2015-16 include wheat (up by 12%), sugar (11%), canola (10%), dairy products (8%) and beef and veal (2%).

Schneider says these increases are expected to be largely offset by forecast falls in export earnings for mutton (39%), cotton (35%), barley (11%) and lamb (8%). “By 2019–20, the value of farm exports is projected to be around A$41.2 billion in 2014–15 dollars, also 9% higher than the average over the five years to 2013–14.” – Alan Harman

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

AGRIBUSINESS 29

Is rural contracting not sexy enough?

RURAL CONTRACTORS New Zealand is questioning why the Government has made changes to immigration rules to help Queenstown employers recruit much needed staff, but continues to ignore similar requests from the rural contracting sector.

RCNZ president Steve Levet says while he agrees with the recent move made by Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse for a new streamlined visa process – from now until June 2015, to allow employers in Queenstown to be temporarily exempt from providing evidence of an attempt to recruit within New Zealand – a similar scheme is also badly needed in the rural contracting sector.

“There is no doubt the tourism sector is an important and valuable part of New Zealand’s economy and the Government is right to make provisions for that sector,” he says.

“However, we need similar provisions for the rural contracting sector as there is a gap between rural contractors’ needs for trained and experienced agricultural machinery operators, and unemployed New Zealanders who can do this work.”

Levet believes the rules on employing temporary, skilled people from overseas prepared to work for 6-8 months each year

need to be simplified as do the regulations restricting people who have previously worked here in past seasons coming back to New Zealand to work.

“Contracting is a seasonal business and one that uses sophisticated machinery that requires technical skill to operate productively,” he adds.

“Part of this shortfall is met by bringing in skilled operators from overseas.”

Levet says despite many attempts by RCNZ to advocate similar ideas for the rural contracting sector – such as the recent tourism initiative – the Government and bureaucrats still fail to acknowledge or understand the issue.

“A dire shortage of suitable agricultural machinery operators means rural contractors rely on employing skilled people from overseas on a temporary basis each season and have done so for many years,” he explains.

“Unfortunately, many of the applicants Work and Income NZ (WINZ) tries to fill these vacancies with do not have the right skill-set and/or attitude to be successful.

“We are talking about operating highly technical and very expensive machinery. It is unrealistic, unsafe and impractical to expect unemployed people to walk off the street and successfully take up these positions.

AUSSIES TARGET MERINO MEAT AUSTRALIA’S MERINO industry is being urged to explore opportunities for Merino meat similar to those Silver Fern Farms and Merino New Zealand are developing.

“Sheepmeat eating quality is not hugely affected by breed,” Sheep CRC Meat Programme Leader and Murdoch University (WA) Professor David Pethick told a MerinoLink conference in Wagga Wagga, earlier this month.

“The eating quality of Merino lambs can be comparable to other breeds, but they do require more stringent preslaughter management than the other breeds in Australia.

“Good meat colour can be achieved from Merinos providing they have adequate nutrition and minimal stress prior to slaughter.”

Sheep CRC said the conference included “insights into… new opportunities to supply high quality Merino and yearling lamb to consumers.” – Andrew Swallow

“The seasonal nature of rural contracting means workers with the right skills are only needed for a few months each year and we need a similar exemp-

tion and streamlined immigration process.”

Levet says RCNZ will continue to work on the Government and officials and lobby for changes

to the rules on engaging overseas seasonal workers sector – such as those now enjoyed by the tourism – for the benefit of the rural contracting sector.

Rural Contractors NZ Steve Levet says his sector could do with similar concessions recently granted to tourism operators.

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RURAL NEWS // FEBRUARY 17, 2015

30 OPINION EDITORIAL

EDNA

That’s it!

ENOUGH IS enough! That’s our message to the nutter or nutters responsible for the latest food safety scare to hit the dairy industry.

Whoever sent those anonymous letters containing white powder laced with high concentrations of 1080 to Federated Farmers and Fonterra three months ago is an eco-terrorist; this person or persons must be hunted down and face the full force of the law.

The perpetrator is bound to fail; there is no place in the society for such zealots. If you have a problem with 1080, take your gripe to the courts; stop threatening our country’s reputation.

This attempted sabotage affects not only dairy farmers, who work tirelessly to ensure safe, high quality raw milk leaves their farms every day for the processing plants. It has also affected processors striving to maintain premium quality – the entrepreneurs competing with global traders to ensure consumers feed New Zealand infant formula to their babies.

This 1080 scare has instilled fear and anxiety in parents and grandparents. Is this what the nutter/ nutters wanted to achieve?

Let’s look at 1080. The authorities consider it safe to use, but there are conservationists and hunters who would like to see this pesticide banned. Fortunately most conservationists and hunters take a balanced view; one or two may choose to spend days and nights squatting in a kauri tree to prevent its destruction, but we doubt any would condone putting poison in baby milk powder.

New Zealand sells $440 million of infant formula to international markets each year, representing 3% of our total dairy exports. At times like these we say thank God for our stringent checks and balances on food safety.

The international markets buying our infant formula were given a heads up before authorities went public with the threat last week, and so far it’s business as usual in most markets. These markets – crucially the lucrative Chinese market— have faith in our food safety systems; rigorous workplace practices are ensuring the integrity of our products.

However, some countries, like Sri Lanka, have used such cases to slap bans on our milk products.

Such countries are intent on gaining a competitive advantage over our milk products.

Also, other infant formula producers worldwide will be keeping a close eye on developments. While no commercial infant formula producers will condone such a hoax, some will end up benefiting from this latest case.

The Government, Fonterra, the dairy industry and retailers are banking on our food safety credentials to see us through. We’re confident that after a possible knee-jerk reaction parents’ confidence will bounce back too.

RURAL NEWS HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 PUBLISHER: Brian Hight .............................................. Ph 09 307 0399 GENERAL MANAGER: Adam Fricker ........................................... Ph 09 913 9632 CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson .......................................Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz

“I’m sending one to whoever threatened to poison our baby food!”

THE HOUND Big sook YOUR OLD mate’s comments last issue about the rampant anti-Ruataniwha dam stance of blogger Cameron ‘Whaleoil’ Slater had the overly sensitive ‘major player in political views and news’ stir up his cesspool of sycophantic acolytes to cry like babies on his behalf. It appears the selfproclaimed ‘fearless’ Whale – fond of name-calling and hurling vitriolic abuse at others – can’t handle the jandal when it comes to himself. Meanwhile, a tiny handful of his supposed ‘millions’ of keyboard warriors took time out from their weird, creepy adulation of Slater’s sweaty rantings to go into bat for him with classy retorts like: ‘socialist’, ‘lefty’ or the extremely classy ‘You should close your paper before you start kiddy fiddling as well’.

Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound?

Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz

Strange lot!

Meanwhile, it appears some readers of Slaters blog were upset at being labelled ‘nutjobs’ and ‘loosers’ (sic). Perhaps not all the blog’s readers are nutjobs or losers. However, many appear to be not only mentally unsound, but illiterate and ill-tempered as well. In the meantime, the Hound has sniffed out some interesting connections between Whaleoil, his mate Simon Lusk, a current MP (and former political nemesis of Slater), anti-dam agitators and a faction of regional councillors all from the Hawkes Bay. This would explain the blog’s vehement antidam stance. As they say in politics “follow the money”. Watch this space.

Numbers game

Bad attitude

THE HOUND understands the recent crowing by Massey and Lincoln universities about the ‘huge growth’ in ag student numbers this year needs to be put into perspective. Your old mate is delighted to note the rise in numbers of young people wanting to further their studies in the ag field, because the wider sector needs well-educated new blood for the nation’s economy to keep on expanding. However, a closer inspection of the actual numbers shows that while there has been a rise in the number entering ag courses in the last couple of years, they are still below the peak numbers of only a few years ago. This old mate hopes these numbers keep growing, but urges the Massey and Lincoln publicity mongers to lay off the ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’ tactics.

YOUR CANINE crusader will be interested to see whether anything new comes out of the much-hyped MIE report due to be publicly released today. The Hound understands MIE’s ‘our way or the highway’ attitude of pushing for meat sector reforms has turned off most of the meat companies, as well as many of the bureaucrats and politicians who they will need onside to get anything changed. This old mutt has observed how the MIE team have been quick to ‘diss’ anyone who dares not to agree with their worldview or questions their ideas, and he wonders if they will remain cantankerous and thinskinned, as this has not helped their cause one iota.

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ABC audited circulation 81,188 as at 30.06.2014

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Rural News is published by Rural News Group Ltd. 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 staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Ltd.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

OPINION 31

Beware when importing overseas experts and their advice!

NEW ZEALAND suffers from ‘overseas expert syndrome’: people from any other country, especially those armed with a PowerPoint presentation, know best.

The likelihood of this being true in anything to do with primary production is slim because New Zealand is unlike any other country.

The combination of climate, relatively disease and predator-free status, and young soils, has enabled a productive grass-based pastoral system that poses unique challenges in management.

Employment laws, regulations designed to protect the environment and lack of Government subsidies to reduce risk and assist with making changes, add to the difficulties for overseas experts in making informed judgement.

In short – the advice given by the overseas experts can be wide of any useful mark.

The same warnings apply to bringing in policies and regulations from overseas without understanding why they were formulated for the country of origin.

This year, for instance, dairy farmers are being warned that new legislation for cooling standards for milk will be in place by 2018. Fonterra food safety technical advisor Tim Johnstone has explained that the changes will bring New Zealand into line with other countries and enable auditing for quality, but he has also said that New Zealand produces higher quality milk.

The new standards “might allow access into emerging markets that might otherwise not be achieved”, but farmers are wondering about the cost.

It isn’t just the ‘$15,000 to $24,000 for a 300 cow farm for the new refrigeration system that should be considered, it is also whether the whole vat should be replaced and how the rural power infrastructure will cope. A new transformer puts $30,000 on top of the vat and

young stock is under discussion. In Europe, kids are reared for six weeks and then sent for slaughter.

In Europe the farmers receive subsidies from

chiller bill – and nobody has said that New Zealand milk quality is lower than in other countries.

Another change this year is the removal of the induction tool that was used to enable cows to be milked in synchrony with grass growth. The veterinary expert from Europe involved in the decision to remove this tool could not possibly have realised what doing so would mean. This year many farmers are finding that they have a minimum of 12% empty rate (4-5% higher than last year) because they took the bulls out of the herd early to avoid the problem of late calving animals.

As more New Zealand farmers head towards higher input systems, increased difficulties with conception will mean more wastage. This is not the case in the northern hemisphere system which involves year-round milking and considerable supplementary feeding. Cows can have 14-15 months between calves, but in the US they are in the milking herd for only 2-3 years. In New Zealand the in-herd time is 5-6 years, but this will now change.

In addition, more replacement stock will be required to prevent the quality of the herd decreasing. Already farmers are commenting that they have culled on ‘empties and late calvers’ and can’t afford to cull on age, mastitis and feet problems. This will become a welfare issue in itself – a problem never envisaged by the overseas experts used to dealing with housed animals.

New industries also have the problem of establishing guidelines and protocols. For dairy goats, the problem of unwanted

their governments to allow them to do this. At six weeks the carcases can be checked for diseases, but these diseases don’t occur in New Zealand – and neither do subsidies.

And in this debate, the animal welfare issues appear to be missed.

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preferred option.

Overseas experts probably aren’t giving their advice in an attempt to put New Zealand farmers at a disadvantage in comparison with other

producers, but this is the effect. Whose role is it to challenge what is being imposed?

• Jacqueline Rowarth is professor of agribusiness at the University of Waikato.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

32 OPINION

Housing cows not the only way to increase dairy production WAYNE MCNEE

THE RECENT visit by Professor Aalt Dijkhuizen, president of Topsector Agri and Food in the Netherlands, raised some interesting points about how New Zealand dairy farmers can learn from their Dutch counterparts.

But there was a flaw in his argument: profitability and efficiency did not seem to feature highly.

The two go hand in hand here. Profit is the ultimate goal for New Zealand dairy farmers, regardless of the system or technology utilised. The best way to make a profit is by breeding animals that will efficiently and repeatedly convert feed into quality, high-value milk.

The New Zealand cow is renowned for her ability to efficiently produce milk solids, get in-calf each year and keep doing so for an average of five lactations. For the majority, this is on pasture, to the envy of many farmers around the world.

The claim that Dutch cows pro-

duce twice the volume of milk of New Zealand dairy cows may be true, but it would be folly not to question how much feed the animals require to achieve those levels of production, and at what cost to the farmer? Also, how fertile are they, and how long will they last in a herd? Therefore, how efficient are they, really?

What works in the Netherlands, or any overseas model for that matter, won’t necessarily work here.

Housing cows in barns is not the only way to increase production. New Zealand dairy farmers have proven the success of this over the last 20 years: average production of milk solids has increased from 278kg to 371kg. Sixty per cent of that increase is a result of genetic improvement.

In 2002, New Zealand and Dutch Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were compared in an independent study, fed pasture and mixed ration. On pasture, production for the two animals was similar: Dutch cows produced more

on a mixed ration, but on both feed types the New Zealand cow was found to have significantly better efficiency in kilograms of milk solids produced per kilogram of liveweight. This proved that the smaller, New Zealand cow, produced milk solids Wayne McNee at lower cost to the business, making her more efficient and therefore, more profitable.

More recent trials in New Zealand also confirmed positive environmental benefits: high genetic merit cows had significantly higher milk yields with more nitrogen incorporated into milk (and less into urine).

On many farms, the crossbred cow, through the benefits of hybrid vigour, delivers additional efficiency.

New Zealand’s dairy industry is at the cutting-edge of technology, be it information systems, biological

systems or automated hardware systems.

A number of New Zealand farmers have introduced housing barns into their system where they consider it is profitable for them to do so, and the New Zealand cow has been proven to perform under a high feeding environment which is still predominantly grassbased.

This is all balanced with the fundamental principles of herd improvement, i.e. good culling decisions, selecting the best sires to mate their herd, breeding high quality herd replacements, and a focus on reproductive performance to reduce wastage and provide more options to improve herd quality.

A growing number of farmers are also choosing to reduce stocking rates, milking fewer cows, but with higher

genetic merit. This allows them to concentrate on feeding more to their best cows to get the most return on that investment. In other words, doing more with less, as Mr Dijkhuizen suggests.

In contrast, the introduction of housing for cows can often lead to an increase in stock levels to deliver an acceptable return on the capital investment, which consequently increases the environmental impact and can lead to higher feed requirements and the possibility of a year-round system.

Similar to Mr Dijkhuizen, I am not arguing that the Netherlands dairy system should be disregarded by farmers.

There is no one-size-fits-all for farming in New Zealand, but one thing is certain – profitability is king and efficiency is the best way to improve profit. It also helps reduce the impact on the environment.

• Wayne McNee is chief executive of LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation).

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

34 OPINION

Anti-dairying rhetoric is out-dated farming’s impact is now moved on – that they an everyday part of a are not anti-dairying, but rather they are antiFARMERS DON’T want dairy farmer’s business. dairying that is harming weaker environmental We know there are a few the environment. But the ratbags out there – every policies. question remains, why Ten years ago we industry has them – but is the focus on dairying, were fair game for the while some regional as opposed to any other ‘dirty dairying’ remarks councils try to clean activity that harms the

by Fish & Game, today up the tail-end of our environment? not so much. Bryce industry they overlook Environmental Johnson recently said their cousins in their compliance reducing 9:00own his organisation has 0065 BSF Pulsar 187x280 RN.ai 1and16/12/14 AM backyards.

CHRIS LEWIS

Chris Lewis

Many New Zealand towns have serious waste water compliance issues often resulting in significant breaches of their effluent discharge consents. The frustration and concern grows out of serious inconsistencies in how a regional council will respond and it appears to depend on

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who the consent holder is.

Farmers have spent hundreds of millions on cleaning-up and improving systems; a lot of this is overdue, we know that, but are urban people ready to spend the same amount and watch their rates double?

Interpretation of the Resource Management Act was left to the country’s 87 regional and district councils.

The causes and effects are very different in each region and district, so council staff rule on each situation as they go, resulting in a lack of consistency across the country and in how individual councils handle situations. Once again the minister agrees: “The core problem is that we have different rules for thousands of different types of activities across 164 regional and district plans, requiring too many consents per year.”

You could relate this to Auckland properties, where the cost of compliance has risen in some areas but not in others; it all appears to be ad hoc.

To better enable farmers to achieve good environmental outcomes we need better rules, less red tape and a more constructive, less process-focused approach by bureaucrats.

Farmers are willing to spend money, and they’re spending it, but a bit more certainty would give them even more confidence and result in

more buy-in by primary producers.

Even the minister concedes that the prevailing system is making it hard for us all to excel. Why do we make it so?

The average person simply wants fair rules for all. Accusatory finger pointing that seeks to deflect responsibility is not helpful. Ultimately all New Zealand loses out if farming is singled out as a problem child, and officialdom persists in turning a blind eye to commensurate urban compliance issues. We need an even-handed evidence-based approach to environmental regulation that is inclusive of all New Zealand, not a blameand-shame crackdown on an industry perceived as an easy target.

Our environment cannot tell the difference between perpetrators of harm, but our wallets feel the difference.

We need to find ways to reduce environmental policy red tape and improve the business friendliness of bureaucratic procedures.

The dairy industry has come ahead leaps and bounds in environmental performance and does not deserve to be pilloried as in recent years.

Not all farmers are bad, and the hundreds of millions invested by them is not to be sniffed at.

• Chris Lewis is Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president.

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WE SHOULD thank Francois Barton for hoisting himself on his own petard*.

After stating his opinion (Rural News, Mar 3) he talks of the common sense and responsibility all parents have for their children’s upbringing and safety. He then endorses the role of farmers as best placed to manage those risks on the land.

In effect, he negates his bureaucratic existence and extinguishes the WorkSafe legislation and consequent costs.

Garrick Batten Brightwater * petard: derived from the Latin - to break wind

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MANAGEMENT 35

Kikyu performs as well as ryegrass PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

A KIKUYU pasture system can show similar results in production and profit to ryegrass if managed well, a Northland Agricultural Research Farm (NARF) six-year study indicates.

Full results of the study, now winding up, will be given at a final field day in late May or early June.

Kikuyu is rife in Northland and the study has been aimed at finding out whether farmers should try to get rid of it and establish conventional pasture, or learn to manage it.

The study by the Northland Dairy Development Trust and DairyNZ has been comparing ryegrass and kikuyu systems to look at practical and profitable options.

Karla Frost has been managing the 84ha NARF farm for 18 months. It milks 250 cows split into two herds with a stocking rate of three cows/ha.

Frost says in the first four years of the trial three dairy farmlets were compared: a ryegrass based farmlet, a kikuyu mulch farmlet and a kikuyu farmlet without mulching.

Results of the study to 2012 showed the ryegrass and the kikuyu farmlets combined, and the kikuyu farmlet, to be more profitable overall than the ryegrass-alone system.

However in 2012-13 they combined both the kikuyu systems and turned it into a kikuyu best-managed

system. For the first time the ryegrass system was found to be more profitable.

“We put this down to the management team deciding to grow turnips on the ryegrass farmlet which meant it provided the farm with the necessary food source to get through the dry months when the kikuyu farmlet had to rely on supplements. Also because of the dry weather the kikuyu did not get a chance to grow until late April.”

The 2013-14 results showed similar production and profit between both herds. That year they grew turnips on both farmlets and, due to the drought, fed a lot of supplement so it probably didn’t give a fair representation of the actual difference between the pasture based systems, she says.

This season to date they have seen very similar production and profit.

They have used a lot less supplements than for previous systems. They have had some good rain and the kikuyu grass is growing. “So it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out and it should give a good representation to finish the kikuyu based pasture trial at NARF,” says Frost.

Overall results are showing there is little difference in production and profit if each system is managed right, however the kikuyu remains more sensitive to management and is still dependent on the Italian ryegrass

also being drilled during autumn.

Northland Dairy Development Trust member Peter Flood says the NARF farm itself is owned by all Fonterra dairy farms and is a great system for farm system type trials. They surveyed farmers and the big issue that surfaced is how to reduce the reliance on imported feed; for instance what would happen if they could not buy palm kernel.

For the next study, the proposal is to split the herd and farm into three.

System one would be the

Northland Agricultural Research Farm’s Karla Frost.

existing system of 20-30% of imported food, system two would be no imported food and filling the gaps

with cropping with less than 20% of the farm in the crop, and the third system is no imported

food with a lower stocking rate, Flood says.

The first is the existing system. With the second model the challenge will be to build a profitable but robust system with no imported food. Proposed crops include maize, turnips, herbs, chicory and plantain and there may be others. Modelling is being done through Farmax.

The key one will be stocking rate.

The new learning will be managing feed supply risk, testing and developing specialist crop management, measuring the impact of reduced use of

imported feed and measuring environmental impacts. After three years they will have good answers and answer the question “can we farm without PK?” They have DairyNZ support, have also applied to the Sustainable Farming Fund and are looking for other sponsors. Trust chairperson Penny Smart says the trust hopes to extend its research out on to other farms. The trust was formed in 2005 and the main purpose is to initiate, manage and extend research for the Northland dairy industry.

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36 MANAGEMENT

Beetle landing blows on prickly problem Research is underway to see how successful a tiny beetle has been in helping to control the scourge of 94% of sheep and beef farms – Californian thistle. Peter Burke reports.

THE GREEN thistle beetle (Cassida rubiginosa) was released in 2007 to help control Californian thistle. While anecdotally there is strong evidence it is succeeding, a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project run by AgResearch for Beef + Lamb New Zealand is now gathering more detailed data to accurately assess the beetle’s work.

Recently BLNZ held a field day on a farm near Taihape to explain the nature of this biocontrol agent and to discuss ways to control Californian thistle.

Dr Graeme Bourdôt of AgResearch says the Californian thistle, during its seasonal peak, covers 12% and 6% of grazed land on sheep and sheep/beef farms, respectively, resulting in an annual national revenue loss of $233m.

This loss increases to $685m/year when dairy and deer farms are included.

Bourdot says though the thistle produces seeds these are not a major cause of the plant spreading unless they fall on recently cultivated land; it’s the roots that are the real problem.

“In pasture, the Californian this-

tle spreads almost solely through the creeping root system which regenerates every year. This is determined by how much foliage it produces in a year.

“The more a farmer can reduce the amount of foliage the less overwintering root is produced and the fewer shoots come up the following year. So a farmer on flat land where he can mow and defoliate a couple of times a year can cause the cali thistle population to become pretty much extinct over a three year period.”

Dr Mike Cripps, also from AgResearch, has been involved in the project since 2007 when he helped collect the green thistle beetles in France and Switzerland as part of his PhD studies.

The actual process began in the early 2000’s when Landcare Research applied for and later obtained permission from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to bring the tiny beetle into New Zealand.

Cripps says it’s been one of the most successful biological control agents to

deal with Californian thistle in New Zealand.

“In the winter the adult beetle lives in hedgerows or forest margins and emerges in springtime around October and starts laying eggs. It lays its eggs on the underside of the leaf of the thistle and the larvae hatch and start feeding on the leaf. It pupates around January so there is just one generation per year but it’s important to note that both the larvae and the beetle attack the Californian thistle.”

Cripps says the beetle mainly attacks Californian thistle but has also been known to feed on other species such as the winged thistle. He says it hasn’t been hard to get colonies of the beetle established but he concedes that getting sufficient numbers to build up can be a challenge and this depends on environmental conditions. Pastures that are heavily grazed can cause a reduction in the number of green thistle beetles.

The other problem can be mowing Californian thistles, which is a common way of dealing the problem.

AgResearch’s Dr Mike Cripps.

“Potentially you could do both if you timed the mowing operations correctly – such as late summer or early autumn when the beetles have stopped feeding.”

Cripps says at least 50 and ideally 100 beetles are needed to establish an effective colony to deal with Californian thistle. One aim of the SFF project is to better understand how defoliation by the beetle relates to thistle population decline. Once they have this infor-

mation he and his fellow scientists will be better able to help farmers. These trials are taking place in North Canterbury which is close to his base at Lincoln.

Cripps is positive and excited about the project, but he acknowledges that bio-control agents such as the green thistle beetle will never eradicate a pest and are probably better suited to remote hill country locations, hence the trial on sheep and beef farms.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MANAGEMENT 37

Mowing an option?

WHILE THE SFF project relates to biological control using the green thistle beetle, Graeme Bourdôt acknowledges that only a limited number of farmers have access to it and other methods have to be used to control this invasive weed.

On some farms mowing the thistle is an effective option but when and how often is critical to success.

He says the best time for a first mowing is when the thistle is at its most vigorous between November and January.

Bourdot says that a mowing in December followed by a second in either January, February, March or April, and repeated each year, should cause the thistle population to go into decline. He says the best results are achieved when it’s raining and that farmers can see a video about this method

Graeme Bourdot.

of control at the PestWeb website.

“We know from field experiments what farmers have done throughout the country – that if they mow Californian thistle in the rain they get 30% better control of the thistle than if they mow in the dry.

Mowing in the dry is also effective. But we know if you mow in the rain you get

better control. One farmer told me he’s been mowing or breaking down his thistle by towing a gate behind a tractor and macerating them during wet weather.

He told me he has got the rust fungus in that paddock and he has got very good control.”

Bourdôt says he thinks by running the gate over the thistles in autumn,

when the spores of the rust fungus that cause the lethal systemic disease in the thistle are present in large numbers, the disease was spread to thistle shoots throughout the paddock. So we have the combined effect of defoliation by the gate on root production and the facilitation of disease caused by a naturally occurring pathogen of the thistle.

THE PLACE OF BIOCONTROL AGENTS FORMER AGRESEARCH scientist Tom Fraser, who ran the recent field day, says there is a lot of potential for biological control, but it can be very slow. The only exception to this has been the parasitoid introduced to control clover root weevil; this began working well within a couple of years.

“But in most cases biological control is slow. Farmers are reasonably impatient people and they like to see things happen tomorrow. We have to accept that most biological control is slow, but the beauty is once it’s there it’s free and it will do its thing for a long time.”

Biological control suits sheep and beef hill country farms, Fraser says. It’s too difficult to use a tractor and too expensive for a helicopter so there is a definite need for biological control.

While chemical sprays are an option, most farmers would prefer the other options.

“The other thing about biological control is that you won’t eradicate the pest or the weed. The word is control, Fraser told Rural News.

“You have to have the weed (or

Californian thistle is a major problem on New Zealand farms.

other pest) there as the host for the bio-control agent to live on. If you got rid of all the cali thistle then the beetle would die as well.”

Fraser says many pests in New Zealand have natural predators in their countries of origin that could be exploited as bio-control agents.

“A lot of the weeds and pests that have come into New Zealand have done well because they have escaped from their natural predators.” Biological control aims at reuniting the pest with its natural enemies.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

38 MANAGEMENT

Farmers on notice over dairy water quality SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

ONE IN five Fonterra suppliers is on notice to improve the quality of their milking shed water.

The co-op says it is working with 2100 farmer suppliers who are on ‘temporary water exclusion’; on these farms mandatory management plans ensure raw water does not contact milk.

Milking shed water is assessed by Fonterra for E. coli, colour and clarity/sediment; farms with non-compliant water are

moved into temporary water exclusion status.

Fonterra’s general manager milk supply technical and assurance, Dianne Schumacher, told Rural News the co-op is working with farmers on this issue, “assisting with the development and implementation of solutions to help our farmers move off temporary water exclusion”. The solutions include water treatment and filtration options.

Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard is surprised at the high number of farm-

ers on temporary water exclusion, but comments that not many farmers think about draining and cleaning-out water tanks.

“Farmers need to think about this more.”

Hoggard’s farm was last year put into temporary water exclusion; after cleaning out the milking shed water tank his farm got an all-clear.

On his Manawatu farm, water is pumped from bore holes to the tank and then piped to the milking shed. On some farms water is piped directly to the shed from

bore holes or rivers. Hoggard insists clean water for rinsing and washdown is essential for producing high quality milk.

Schumacher says Fonterra’s proactive efforts to maintain high milk quality are “in keeping with the direction of Ministry for Primary Industries standards in this area, [and] while temporary water exclusion does not pose additional risk to milk quality it does involve additional testing.”

Fonterra is not requiring all affected farmers to move out of temporary

Leon Spurell, Farm Medix.

water exclusion by the end of this season but the co-op says the number of its suppliers operating on temporary water exclusion has fallen by 36% this season.

The co-op refused to say whether it would stop collecting milk from farms on temporary water exclusion.

“Fonterra will continue to work with these farmers but some may not be able to move from temporary water exclusion. In such situations they will be managed in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements,” Schumacher says.

On the cost involved in achieving water-compliant status, Schumacher says this will vary widely according to the individual farmer’s situation.

Farm Medix, a supplier of water quality plant for

dairy farms, sells a water disinfection system called Farm Chlor which dispenses and doses chlorine and monitors chlorine levels.

Director Natasha Maguire knows Fonterra wants farmers to measure chlorine to avoid residue issues in milk.

But she points out that throwing a pool chlorine tablet into a water tank would be “a crude way” to address water quality issues onfarm; this is not an approved chemical and would put the milk supply chain at risk, she says.

“We need to consider the supply and integrity of a water system. The water can be contaminated at source or during storage. With tablets, once you throw a tablet in you cannot see when it has gone. Our system tests the levels of chlorine in the

water.

“Chlorine will be dispensed into water and you will be able to control the concentration; you don’t want very strong chlorine for the first week and none in the weeks after, which is [what happens if you throw] a tablet into the tank.”

She believes not all farmers are taking the temporary water exclusion issue seriously. “We think a lot of farmers don’t realise water exclusion was only supposed to be temporary; you’re actually supposed to do something about it. The writing is on the wall that Fonterra is going to be stricter about this.”

Fonterra farmers on temporary water exclusion are paying $100/ month from their milk cheques for extra water tests.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MANAGEMENT 39

Sheep and beef can match dairy grazing Award winning North Otago farmers Blair and Jane Smith hosted a Beef + Lamb New Zealand Farming for Profit field day earlier this month where development and dealing with the dry were key themes. Andrew Swallow reports.

WINTERING DAIRY cows may be a useful pasture development tool but once the bulk of the regrassing’s done, sheep and beef can at least match the returns, say award winning North Otago farmers Blair and Jane Smith.

They farm near Five Forks, inland of Oamaru, and if their name sounds familiar it’s probably because they won the Ballance Farm Environment Awards national title in 2012, though it may also be through the Newhaven Perendale stud flock.

Newhaven is the name of the home farm, 230ha of rolling country with 193ha effective, while up the road they have Blairgowrie, a 1072ha hill block running from 450m to 650m above sea-level.

“It’s the jewel in the crown for this business as far as I’m concerned,” Blair told a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand field day on the farms.

They bought Blairgowrie seven years ago. Today

119ha of the pasture is less than six years old, 49ha is in forage crop en route to improved pasture, and a further 30-50ha is “pending” development.

Extensive fencing and shelter plantings of pine, flax, and in due course natives, have been made, and ponds and dams enhanced.

About 80% of Newhaven has also been regrassed in the past seven years.

“We’ve used cows, 300 dairy cows, to do our development down here while we’ve been doing the development up on the hill.”

The cows made use of brassica, typically grown for two years in succession, before paddocks were put back into perennial pasture, mostly ryegrass.

“But going forward we might phase [dairy cows] out as we can make as much or more on the beef and lamb side. That’s a positive so far as we’re concerned.”

Smith told Rural News the edge over dairy cows wasn’t down to stud stock returns, just commercial beef and lamb.

On the hill block a new partnership with local Angus stud Fossil Creek

will see 240 Angus cows replace 240 commercial beef cows, back from 370 cows and a lot fewer sheep pre-development.

Later in the field day Agresearch’s David TO PAGE 40

Blair Smith

The proven answer to Iodine deficiency

IRRIGATION CLARIFICATION THE SMITHS have committed to buy 60 shares in North Otago Irrigation Company’s stage two development; planning to stretch them to water up to 80ha at Newhaven.

“In a year like this the area we use it on will be back a bit,” Blair told Rural News.

Budgeting on watering 72ha in a typical year, at $4200/share – that’s $3500/ha up front.

Adding $2500ha on infrastructure and K-Line and assuming 100% borrowing gives an interest cost of $470/ha/year.

Annual water charges of $760/share add $635/ ha, and onfarm running costs $200/ha, taking total irrigation cost to $1305/ha/year. Assuming an extra 6.5tDM/ha/year can be grown that equates to 20c/kgDM. “We’re all at that stage in this area where we’ve really got to make that pay,” Jane stressed to the field day. “In our case, for the small bit of irrigation we’re taking on, the rest of the property has to step up as well.”

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

40 MANAGEMENT

Programme paying dividends FROM PAGE 39

Stephens provided further evidence ewes can deliver better returns from winter feed than dairy cows. Assuming ewes’ body condition score (BCS) is 3.5 or lower to start with research shows loss of one BCS cuts lambing 10%, and weaning weight of lambs 3kg.

Higher ewe losses are also likely, but even leaving those out a 10% better lambing means 10 more lambs to sell per 100 ewes with

every lamb 3kg heavier.

Based on 150 store lambs instead of 140, and sold at $2/kg at 25kg instead of 22kg, that’s $1340 extra income per 100 ewes, or $13.40/ewe income for maintaining that body condition score.

Typically one BCS equates to 7kg liveweight and every kg of liveweight lost replaces about 3kg of feed, so an extra 21kgDM of feed at 10MJME/kgDM is all that’s needed to maintain BCS and pro-

duce a $0.63/kgDM return, he calculated.

“I’m surprised this one turned out as low as that. Usually it’s between 70 cents and $1/kgDM. That’s certainly better value than feeding dairy cows.”

Heavier lambs at weaning also mean more summer feed available for other purposes and fewer ewe deaths allows harder culling (more cull ewe revenue) and/or fewer replacements. “So this is very

much the smallest value applied.”

Stephens stressed that feeding ewes is a simple supply and demand equation. “If you don’t feed it to the ewe she will take it off her back.”

Larger ewes will need more feed and if a 75kg ewe is fed as if she’s 55kg, “she will get there eventually,” he warned.

“Planning your feed is important. You will end up with the sheep you feed for.”

Graham Kerr

Patience needed with dry pastures DON’T BE tempted to give stock a “pick” at parched pastures as soon as they green-up after rain.

“What’s the best way to kill ryegrass pasture?” Agriseeds’ Graham Kerr asked the BLNZ field day (see main story). “After a really long dry spell wait for it to green up and then have a pick off it,” he said, answering his own question.

At that point stock remove all new growth before the plant has had a chance to replenish its reserves – the reserves which it has just drained to put out a new leaf after drought. Let it grow until there are three new leaves on each tiller, and reserves will be replenished and normal grazing can resume, he explained.

“Coming out of the dry you’re going to be short of winter and spring feed so some of these short-term options are going to be a huge part of your plan.”

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Kerr recommended categorising pastures in preparation for the end of the drought: category one, those in good condition that will recover rapidly; category two, those that are doubtful; category three, those that are “poked” and need renewing.

Category one pastures would be the most important post drought as they’d be the fastest to grow out of it, so need looking after. “These are the ones that are going to set you up for winter.”

A wait and see approach could be taken with category two, but some category three paddocks should be sown with forage cereal, annual ryegrass, or possibly leafy turnip to provide a fast feed crop.

“Coming out of the dry you’re going to be short of winter and spring feed so some of these short-term options are going to be a huge part of your plan.”

Assuming the previous pasture wouldn’t recover, direct drilling into such paddocks would work well.

If the old sward revived, its established root system would put it at an advantage to the seedlings and direct drilling without cultivation or spray could be a waste of time, he warned. If the decision is to sow, research shows it can be an advantage not to wait for rain. “The ones we sowed in the dry produced a lot more feed.”

Doing some paddocks with longer-term options such as an Italian or hybrid ryegrass, or even permanent pasture, should be considered to avoid having to reseed everything again in the spring, and leaving a proportion of the reseeding until after rain spreads risk and can allow for better weed control.

When sowing longer-term pastures Kerr says go through a checklist (see panel) ensuring every “link of the chain” is in place to ensure success.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 41

Vets must look at product stewardship McDONALDS BANS ANTIBIOTICS

PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

VETERINARIANS WORKING in agriculture have some major issues on product stewardship looming, says Mark Hosking, managing director of Franklin Vets.

“There is a need for increased food but there’s also antimicrobial resistance; there’s a lot of resistance in our ecto and endo parasiticides,” Hosking told the AgCarm conference in Auckland.

“From a sustainability point of view we need to look at how we put those products out in the market and how they are placed there. And is the appropriate stewardship going along with that?”

The industry has to lift the game in this area, says Hoskings, who formerly worked as a dairy veterinarian in Waikato before taking over the Franklin practice.

“There are some very good examples of stewardship of products but there are also other examples, especially when people come into the market and they don’t have a lot of background.

THE NEW Zealand Veterinarian Association (NZVA) has also highlighted product stewardship after McDonald’s announcement it will only source animals not raised with antibiotics important to human health.

The association says it is a strong advocate for the prudent use of these medicines and vets have a stewardship role to play. Antimicrobial usage should always be part of an integrated disease control programme, not a replacement for one and should include attention to hygiene, disinfection procedures, biosecurity measures, changes in stocking rates and vaccination in companion and farm animals, it says.

Dr Dennis Scott, chair of the New Zealand Veterinary Association anti-microbial resistance working

“We have seen instances of anthelmintics coming to the market and the advice is not right and out of date. It is adding confusion to the market.”

The profession also needs to have input into the regulations and how products coming to the market were controlled, Hosking says. “I know there is a balance of getting the novel products to market but there’s a bal-

group, says: “Antimicrobial resistance is a key priority for the NZVA and we are working alongside MPI and other industry partners to develop a national strategy to address this global concern.

“We recognise that use of antimicrobial medicines for treating disease in humans and animals has seen major improvements in human and animal health, and in quality of life, for half a century,” Scott says.

“They must continue to effectively treat bacterial infections as they are critical in guarding and supporting the health and welfare of humans and animals.

“All veterinarians have a role to play in ensuring the careful use of antimicrobials so that they will remain effective for treating infections.”

ance of protecting those products that we have.”

While he is in favour of free market competition, he questions whether competition should be the main basis of regulation in this product area where sustainability issues are paramount.

“Is it driving the right market conditions? I would argue that having cheaper penicillin in the marketplace is not actu-

ally the right driver for us. One, it is just going to increase the amount of antibiotics being used and, two, I would argue that

Mark Hosking

having cheaper penicillin available for lame cows will result in an increase in lame cows in New Zealand.

Farmers have many preventative options for reducing disease in their

herds, Hosking says. “If the treatment side of things is so cheap that will become the default position. Farmers will choose treatment before they start investing in preventative measures.

“It is important for us to be looking at this. We need the R&D companies to provide us with the products and the tools we need for the future.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

42 ANIMAL HEALTH Farmer Gary Jefferies and his top Huntaway Rose.

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SUMMERTIME BRINGS its own demands on hard-working King Country dogs that work the hills and valleys for their bosses, day in and day out.

All the more reason to pay attention to their health needs, says animal health company Zoetis New Zealand, citing a timely reminder by a King Country vet: canine employees need attention and care to ensure they can keep up with the season’s demands.

Anna Martyn of Atkinson and Associates Veterinary Services, Piopio, sees many farm dogs with various stages of arthritis and joint issues slowing them down, and often causing a lot of pain.

“These dogs are often keen to work, though they can be close to death’s door and still want to be out there, until the pain they are experiencing becomes too great.”

Usually that pain extends from previous injuries, or inherited genetic conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia, especially in Huntaways.

Martyn’s advice to farmers with dogs suffering such genetic conditions is to avoid breeding from them if possible.

However, for those dogs already suffering such a condition she is keen to raise farmers’ awareness over the busy season of the difficulty and pain that can accompany joint stiffness and to consider ways to ease both.

A 2008 Massey University study of disease and injury in working dogs across 44 farms in the Lower North Island found 17% suffered joint and leg issues including stiffness and arthritis.

In semi-retired dogs the problems with joints soared to 25%.

“Joint pain is by no means an ‘old dog’ problem. I diagnose it across dogs of all ages, and see how it can drastically cut short their working life,” she says.

Recently she has been able to help extend that working life, using the anti-inflammatory drug Trocoxil chewable tablets, administered monthly (cost $60/month) following an initial loading dose, reducing the risk of forgetting treatment and ensuring continuous pain relief.

Mahoenui farmer Gary Jeffries took Martyn’s advice to try Trocoxil on his top Huntaway Rose after she started to slow down and show signs

of pain as a result of hip dysplasia.

“It must have been a recessive gene; neither of her parents had it,” he says. “But it started to limit her movement, with her favouring her back left leg and definitely limiting what she could do on the farm.”

A year into the treatment Jefferies says he has found Rose responding well to the programme. She has regained her movement and ability to perform a hard day’s work, either backing sheep or holding her own while moving bulls on the hilly property.

“She is keen to work again; she’s still tough on the bulls and she doesn’t back off. It’s great she is back on the job, I really need her here.

“Trocoxil has eased the pain, given her movement back and the cost would not buy me a week’s casual labour. It’s money well spent on such a good dog.”

Martyn’s advice to farmers with dogs displaying joint pain is to not only consider a treatment, but to also try to reduce the amount of ground dogs have to cover when possible, by using a trailer or carrying them on a quad between jobs.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 43

Beefing up magnesium via feed A NEW magnesium-rich feed blend will help beef farmers defeat hypomagnesaemia (magnesium deficiency) and milk fever (calcium deficiency), says the supplier, BEC Feed Solutions.

country manager, says awareness is growing about the need for adequate magnesium in beef breeding cows leading up to calving and for the month postcalving. The product

“Often, the first sign of magnesium deficiency is death, meaning loss of capital stock”.

Difficult to detect and treat, hypomagnesaemia can be a major cause of cow death and complications at calving, with losses of up to 20% reported on properties prone to the problem, the company says.

“Often, the first sign of magnesium deficiency is death, meaning loss of capital stock… loss of calf, and loss of breeding potential in the herd.”

BEC Feed Solutions and animal feed maker and blender James & Son (NZ) Pty Ltd have jointly developed Optimiser MAG – BEEF, a magnesiumrich concentrated feed blend containing BEC’s Bolifor MAG33 product, specifically for beef breeding cow operations.

Trina Parker, BEC

traditionally, beef breeding farmers have not supplemented their stock pre-calving because they have had “no effective means of delivery to the herd”.

“The only real options until now have been magnesium oxide, which is often a feed deterrent, or magnesium salts via

Trinn Parker County manager for BEC Feed Solutions NZ.

water, which is not often achievable at the back of a farm water supply.”

James & Son’s commercial manager, Darren Edwards, says ease of delivery has been central in the company’s development of Optimiser MAG – BEEF. The product is designed to be deliv-

ered to paddocks in bulk sling bags. Depending on herd size, cows can be fed directly, or feed can be administered over a few days via a feed trough.

Optimiser MAG – BEEF will be launched at the Central District Fieldays this week. www.becfeedsolutions. co.nz.

is said to be meeting a known demand.

“On the back of our success with the Bolifor range in dairying, we’ve had numerous requests from beef farmers for a low-risk feed blend incorporating high levels of Magnesium,” Parker says.

“Our Bolifor MAG33 is extremely palatable; a concentrated mineral blend such as this will be readily accepted by a herd.”

Optimiser MAG – BEEF comprises vegetable and grain by-products, Bolifor MAG33, sweeteners and extra flavours. It is delivered as 500g/day doses. The product is supplied nationwide in 250kg and 500kg bags.

Parker says that,

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EATING BEEF in the Indian state of Maharashtra now gives diners something extra to chew on – arrest, jail and a fine.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has ratified the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill passed in 1995, that calls for anyone selling or eating beef to be jailed for five years and fined 10,000 rupees (NZ$214).

The state banned cow slaughter in 1976 and The Times of India reports the new law expands the ban to include calves and bulls.

Now, only the consumption of water buffalo meat is allowed.

Hindus oppose the slaughter of cows on religious grounds.

“Our dream of a ban on cow slaughter becomes reality now,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet.

Maharashtra in western India has a population of 110 million and is the third largest state by area. The state capital of Mumbai has a population of 18 million and is the country’s financial capital.

Beef traders say the consumption ban will costs thousands of jobs in a country that is the second biggest exporter of beef after Brazil.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

44 ANIMAL HEALTH

Herb pastures allow for early weaning A study by Massey University agricultural scientists and funded by Beef + Lamb New Zealand has shown that weaning lambs early on herb pasture mixtures can have huge financial benefits for farmers. Peter Burke reports on their findings.

FOR SEVERAL years scientists at Massey University have promoted the idea of using herb pasture mixes such as chicory, plantain and red and white clover. Their

research has been picked up by many commercial farmers who are already reaping the benefit of the herb mixes. But the latest study, by Dr Rene CornerThomas, has gone a stage

further and looked at weaning twin lambs born on ryegrass/white clover pastures at eight weeks and then putting them on herb mix pastures.

The result is that lambs

weaned a month earlier have the same weaning weights as lambs grazing ryegrass/white clover pastures and weaned at the normal time.

The purpose of the

trial, says Corner-Thomas, is to see whether by weaning a month earlier than normal there are benefits to both the ewe and her lambs. Free of feeding her lambs the ewe

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puts on condition quickly and is better set up for the next breeding season.

“What we are [asking] is, can we eliminate the liveweight gain reduction that you traditionally get when you wean early, by giving lambs higher quality feed?

“What we are doing is weaning them a month early and having them at the same point as you would if you weaned them at the normal time. So you are not really accelerating their growth, but you are keeping them up to speed and in many cases heavier than their counterparts

including lucerne, they need to look at how much area they are prepared to allocate to these new species.

Kenyon adds that herb mixes have limitations over winter. He says depending on the type of farming operation it would be reasonable to plant 10-15% of the farm in herb mixes. Finishers may plant more as they will have less stock on their farms in winter.

But Kenyon says there is no point in just planting a small area where it wouldn’t be possible to rotationally graze stock.

“There has been work done with lambing ewe hoggets on herbages and this has shown that their lambs are heavier than those reared on ryegrass and clover.”

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that are not weaned early and had been left on ryegrass white clover pastures with their mothers.”

Professor Paul Kenyon, the head of the Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Science, who’s overseeing the trial, points out that a ewe’s peak milk production occurs just three weeks after lambing.

After that the ewe’s milk production is declining.

“By weeks six to eight the lamb is a ruminant and in many respects the ewe and the lamb are competing for the same feed. There has been plenty of previous work in New Zealand and overseas about weaning lambs early onto concentrates which is never going to work here because of the cost.

There has been work done with lambing ewe hoggets on herbages and this has shown that their lambs are heavier than those reared on ryegrass and clover.”

As more farmers use alternative herbages,

He says farmers have to have enough land to get their rotation going, but then not have too great an area so that it won’t affect their winter grazing.

“Farms will always be limited in how much space they can have for these alternative herbages because they have limitations in winter. We thought that maybe by weaning early you could put a lot of lambs on the herb mix and remove them from the ryegrass white clover pastures which start to lose quality in late spring and early summer,” he told Rural News.

“These herbs however are of high quality in that period. We know that the ewe and lamb are competing for feed from about eight weeks which is ok when you have a lot of good quality feed. But on most farms in that period the volume and quality of feed is starting to decline.”

TO PAGE 44

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 45

PRE & POST TUPPING

Does weaning early benefit both ewe and lamb?

FROM PAGE 45

These trials have taken place on Massey research farms in Manawatu and Kenyon admits the results may not be applicable to all regions. He says they have done some work with lucerne at their research farm in Wairarapa and the results are good. They have also looked at work by commercial farmers with herb mixes, some very successful.

Massey is hoping to do more trial work in a few months, using herb mixes on one of its own hill country farms and on a property near Port Waikato.

Good management of the herb mixes is crucial, Kenyon says.

“Herb mixes are a bit like lucerne: if you manage them properly they can be a mediumlong term option for three-five years. But they won’t last if you overgraze them in winter

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Ewes and lambs grazing on herb-mix pasture.

and if you graze too low repeatedly, for example below 7cm.

“As with lucerne there are periods in the year when you need a gap of three-four weeks between

grazing. All the alternative herbs have limitations. If you farm to the benefit of the plant then you will get the animal performance, whereas with ryegrass you farm to the benefit of the

animal and ryegrass just survives. But with herbs you have to flip it the other way.”

Kenyon says the trials were done following suggestions from farmers,

who also had a hand in designing the project.

He reckons the results are promising and show real gains can be made by early weaning in conjunction with herb pastures.

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SINGLES MAKE BIG GAINS WHILE MUCH of the focus in the early weaning trials has been on twins, there are even bigger gains to be made for single lambs born on herb mixes. In another Beef + Lamb New Zealand funded study, single-bearing ewes were lambed either on ryegrass pastures or the herb mix.

Professor Kenyon says this has got farmers truly excited as the data gets published.

The trial has shown that 40% of single lambs born on the herb mix were weaned weighing 42kg, the equivalent of a 19kg carcase.

“If they can get rid of a whole lot of single lambs at weaning – say 40% at 42kg or up to 80% if you slaughter

at 36kg, which many people do – then that frees up a whole lot of land for growing other lambs such as twins and triplets. On any farm you’re going to have 15-20% single, and if you can get rid of them early while the price is high and put their mothers onto a maintenance diet, then you have less demand on your farm.”

Kenyon says again the secret is the high quality herbage pasture which quickly puts liveweight on the animal.

And quickly producing a 42kg ewe lamb means that animal is already up to weight for hogget mating, another benefit.

Overall the results of the trials show immediate benefits to

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

46 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Fendt unveils four new tractors A NEW class of tractor in the compact, standard market segment is now seen in four Fendt models in the 500 Vario series, the company says.

The series embodies many technical features previously limited to the top tractor class.

“Versatile innovations and equipment options give the 500 Vario competitive advantages in the 125-165hp range, including engine performance and

fuel saving SCR technology. The VisioPlus cab and Variotronic are also found in this new range.”

The 500 Vario series, with the 512, 513, 514 and 516 models, covers the range from 125165hp. The new tractors are powered by a 4.04L, 4-cylinder-Deutz engine with 4 valves per cylinder and common rail injection.

The 500 Vario series also relies on the fuel-saving SCR technology, says

Fendt. “This technology, familiar from the 700, 800 and 900 Vario high-power tractor series, has already proven its fuel economy in neutral PowerMix tests on the 800 and 900’s.

With 240g/kWh, the 936 Vario achieved the previously unattained best result in the DLG PowerMix test.”

Fendt says the engines in the 500 Vario’s combine exceptionally low fuel consumption with

notable performance, while the stepless speed adjustment provides potential for savings in time and money.

“With the Tractor Management System (TMS), the tractor is always working at an economic optimum. Operators only need to enter the desired speed; then the activated TMS controls the engine and transmission – which results in maximum efficiency. “

Fendt has released four new models in its 500 Vario series.

The VisioPlus cab, familiar from the 700 Vario tractor series, offers maximum comfort and exceptional visibility.

“The windscreen curves up into the roof and provides a full view ideal for loader work.

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More room and nearly 6m2 of glazing provides a spacious working environment.”

All functions are optimally placed in the new Varioterminal and the right armrest, which moves along with the driver seat. The controls are logically placed and well thought-out.

As part of the Varioterminal, the automatic steering system, camera function, documentation system and ISOBUS implement control have found their way into this class.

Thanks to the VarioGuide automatic steering system, “longer working periods are a breeze, whether day or night,” Fendt claims.

“The 500 Vario offers the ideal automated functions for pass-to-pass work. The hydraulics allows a wide range of applications for implements designed for this power class. The right armrest is the central operating element.

Even during turning manoeuvres, there is no need to switch between controls in the 500 Vario, because operators can comfortably rest their arm

on the right armrest and control the tractor and implement with the multifunction joystick and the Varioterminal.”

The company adds that an average of 6% less overlapping, as well as savings in fuel and operating materials— such as seeds and fertiliser, are possible with VarioGuide. In addition, with the VarioDoc documentation system, all relevant data can be logged with the lowest effort possible and in the shortest time, and then documented in the field record and analysed.

The Fendt 500 Vario offers up to five electro-hydraulic doubleacting valves at the rear plus two separate in the front, power beyond, and ISOBUS connection. Overall, the 500 Vario has 22 connections, located at the front and rear, enabling flexible and trouble-free connection of implements.

The tractors are said to be fast, flexible and manoeuvrable in transport work. A top speed of 50km/h at a reduced engine speed enables swift and economical on-road driving. www.fendt.com.au

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 47

Palmerston promises perfect plots ANDREW SWALLOW

LUCK OF the draw won’t come into it when the 32 competitors in this year’s New Zealand Ploughing Championships put steel to soil next month, says the host farmer.

Plots for the New Zealand Ploughing Association’s 60th national championship will, as is the tradition, be drawn on the Friday before the competition begins on stubble on Saturday.

“The draw’s fairly important to the contestants,” acknowledges Noel Sheat, whose family property Harpsdale Farm, Palmerston, is hosting the event.

“But there’ll be no ‘luck in the draw’ here. It’s a very even paddock. Even I couldn’t say which end would plough the best.”

And Sheat should know. He started competition ploughing in 1965 and while he doesn’t compete these days, he won the nationals once, was runnerup three times, and ploughed at World Championships in Germany, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Canada.

And all his life he has farmed the 400ha mixed crop and stock farm which straddles the Shag River. The house and

yards are to the east of the river, but the competition site is on flats to the west.

The soil is deep and free-draining.

“In the middle of last winter when it was so wet everywhere else we could have ploughed those two paddocks,” notes Sheat’s son Ronald, who with grandson Craig now runs the farm.

He jokes he’s “grounds convenor” for the event which besides conventional and reversible (see panel) championships includes vintage and horse ploughing contests.

“He’s also a reserve judge, but he doesn’t know that yet,” retorts Noel.

A host of other attractions are scheduled for the 40ha site over the weekend so while the ploughmen are focussed on their furrows spectators can enjoy displays of classic cars, motor homes, arts and crafts, tractor dancing, and vintage army equipment from HQ 44 South Vintage Military Collectors Club.

“They want to do a battle re-enactment,” says Noel.

“Just so long as they don’t blow up the [farm] bridge,” adds Ronald.

The tractor ‘dancing’ involves a fleet of H- or M-series tractors – “the ones with the wheels close together at the

This soil ploughs well wet or dry, says championship host farmer Noel Sheat.

front so they can turn very tightly” – from West Otago Vintage Club putting their machines through some compli-

cated, co-ordinated manoeuvres.

“It’s square dancing with tractors.”

A working vintage machinery dis-

play and rally will also be held.

The entertainment for the public is scheduled for the Saturday (stubble) and Sunday (grass) championship days, but the ploughmen will be on site Tuesday and Wednesday for official practice before embarking on a tour of the region on Thursday and the drawing of plots and a mayoral welcome on Friday.

“There will be a few speeches made regarding the fact it’s the 60th contest.”

The organisers are hoping to have Jim Brooker, Kirwee, there celebrate the occasion with them.

“He’s the only contestant from that first one left and he actually won it.”

Brooker qualified for the world championships with that win, becoming the first New Zealand representative in world ploughing. Sheat notes how things have changed since then.

“When he went overseas it was just him, and International Harvester provided him with a tractor and a plough when he got there. Nowadays we send two ploughmen (the conventional and reversible class winners), coaches, a manager and a board member. The ploughmen often send their ploughs and tractors too.”

– More page 51

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

48 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Minimal cost in pasture renovation AN OVERSEEDER range now sold in New Zealand

by CB Norwood Distributors Ltd has features ideal for rejuvenating pasture at minimal cost, the company says.

Inquiries from Wairarapa farmers and contractors wanting pasture renovation gear led to CB Norwood taking on the

Vredo brand.

“Overseeders available in New Zealand to date have been more suitable for the arable market, with the closest coulter spacing of 125mm suitable for cropping but limited for pasture renovation,” says agriculture equipment operations manager Paul Collins.

Vredo’s double discs, spaced at 75mm, handle all soil types and conditions, dropping the seed into a vee shaped slot, with each disc’s individual spring controlling the depth of seed placement. Fluted following rollers which float independently of the discs then close the slot to ensure good soil-to-seed

Vredo’s double discs handle all soil types and conditions.

contact and subsequent dense and healthy sward rejuvenation.

“Whilst impressive germination rates of up to 96% have been confirmed by German trials, the Vredo system is not limited to pasture renovation and all small seeds can be sown, into existing pastures or sprayed pastures and cropping applications,” says Collins.

The range includes models from 2.5m to 5.8m working width, with gravity feed and air delivery.

C B Norwood sees three likely common scenarios.

“For farmers on reasonably flat land, the gravity feed Agri series” single unit of either 2.5m or 2.9m working width would be ideal.

Agri Air air-delivery models are more suitable for farmers on undulating terrain. For contractors,

the Agri Twin, with air delivery and cover to 5.8m would fit the bill well,” says Collins.

Vredo is a Dutch company which started in 1947 in agricultural contracting.

The founder, Ben de Vree, modified and improved his own machinery, giving birth to a manufacturing business. Its first Vredo overseeder was launched in 1976 as a means of producing a healthy pasture sward from a tired one, at minimal cost.

Having been an agricultural contractor, de Vree realised the importance of quality and reliability, both hallmarks of the Vredo overseeders, CB Norwood says.

Vredo also makes turf renovation machines with 35mm row spacing suitable for sports grounds and similar applications.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 49

Broadband supplier signs on with rural retailer PGG WRIGHTSON trade account holders can now pay for broadband via their PGG monthly trade account. This is one effect of a deal between PGG and internet service provider Wireless Nation.

The account holders are also offered specials on their rural broadband and VoIP phone plans.

Wireless Nation’s rural internet service are marketed by PGG Wrightson retail stores and onfarm technical representatives. “[We’ve extended] our agreement with PGG Wrightson to provide all their trade account holders with access to our high-speed rural broadband solutions,” says technical director Tom Linn. “A fast and reliable internet connection is becoming critical for many farmers and Wireless Nation provides a cost-effective solution no matter where they are in New Zealand.

“We are seeing increasing demand from farmers requiring fast, reliable internet to run their business,” says Shannon Galloway, GM marketing, PGG Wrightson. “Wireless Nation is an innovative company that delivers

a great customer experience.”

Wireless Nation says it is determined to bridge the digital divide and provide broadband to even the most far-flung parts of New Zealand. It offers RBI (fixed wireless), satellite broadband and VoIP (phone services over the internet).

The company says its satellite network uses the latest technology and the Optus Satellite, which has “hot” signal strength over

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Zealand is an exporting nation so they are combining disciplines such as marketing, engineering, agriculture and international business.

“While many students have an ambition to take over the family farm they know they need to gain a tertiary qualification. The primary industries sector has an extensive range of opportunities to offer young graduates. I look forward to seeing where they take the sector in the future.”

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Wireless Nation quotes a PGG Wrightson customer, Terence Galuszka, of Wainuioru, as saying “The satellite connection is good and latency is low which has enabled our business to use certain desktop applications we haven’t been able to before.

“The PGG Wrightson deal has helped with the extra data bundle and the carryover data is a life saver.”

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BALLANCE FERTILISERS THE FUTURE WITH SCHOLARSHIPS BALLANCE AGRI-NUTRIENTS is paying $60,000 towards tertiary studies by seven students aiming for careers in primary industries.

The scholarships bring the number awarded by the co-op since 2002 to 71. Warwick Catto, science strategy manager at Ballance AgriNutrients, the applicants “all demonstrated a true passion for New Zealand’s primary industries sector and see many career opportunities in it”.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

50 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Skid loaders are ‘farmer-friendly’ bring “unparalleled MANITOU AUSTRALIA performance to the is launching its Gehl R jobsite,” says Manitou. series radial-lift skid When equipped with loaders ‘down under’, and they are expected to be popular with These machines farmers. are rated largeThe line-up is all new, the company frame and bring says. The models “unparalleled R190, R220 and R260 offer a better performance to operator station with the jobsite”. an integrated digital display, improved optional counterweights, visibility, pressurised cabs, Tier IV engines and the rated operating a high-powered hydraulic capacities range from 957kg on the R190 to system.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 51

Case IH celebrates a good year WITH THE record dairy payout boosting confidence, last year saw the highest number of tractor sales nationally in a decade.

Waikato easily held its traditional position as the largest regional market in the country, with well over 600 tractors above 40hp delivered to farmers and contractors.

Capitalising on the favourable conditions and buoyant sentiment, Case IH finished the year as the new leading tractor brand in Waikato, with 150 machines sold to customers via its retail outlets in Cambridge, Otorohanga, Paeroa and Huntly.

Operations manager for Case IH, Tim Fanning, was delighted with the achievement.

“It’s a great feeling to get to number one, especially here in Waikato where it’s fiercely competitive.

“It’s a credit to the local Case IH dealers who represent us; they truly understand the customer is king and build their business on superior service. We know we have the best products, but without the best

back-up and support you can’t be market leader”.

Fanning also acknowledged the customers who have made Case IH Waikato’s favourite tractor brand.

“We thank all our customers for their loyalty and support which has enabled us to reach yet another milestone”.

To commemorate the occasion, Case IH hosted 160 of its dealer staff at a recent function in Hamilton where awards were presented to dealer principals Andrew Giltrap (Giltrap Agrizone), John Whyte (Whyteline Ltd) and Phillip Gill (Roger Gill Agriculture).

“We’re here to recognise a great accomplishment, but our challenge now is to ensure we stay at number one” commented Andrew Giltrap.

A highlight of the evening was a message from Case IH global brand president Andreas Klauser, acknowledging the effort and determination of all those in attendance.

Despite the drop in dairy prices, 2015 is

expected to be another solid year for tractor sales as the longer term outlook keeps confidence levels high.

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PLOUGHING WITH a reversible may be easier in the paddock because you can just blast up and down with no need to work in lands, but when it comes to competition ploughing, “it’s murder, definitely much harder than conventional,” says Sheat.

“It’s a bit like going out to the field and working with two different ploughs but you have to make it all look the same.”

Some 95% of new ploughs sold globally are now reversible so competition ploughing as a sport “had to go along with it,” and include a reversible class, he adds.

While conventional ploughmen have 100m x 20m parallel plots to work, reversible exponents turn over a wedge 16m wide at one end, and 24m wide at the other, so there is a series of butts to deal with. At the finish no land should be left unploughed or reploughed and only one wheel mark left along the length of the plot.

“It’s a big learning curve for the contestants who go reversible,” says Sheat.

Both reversible and conventional competitors have 20 minutes for the opening furrow or split, then an hour break while these key elements are judged, before ploughing resumes for a maximum of 2 hours 40 minutes to finish the plot.

See www.worldploughing.org for the full rules.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

52 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

New deal will put more weedkiller on NZ store shelves – claim SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS WILL see more Roundup products on rural store shelves as a result of a new agency deal, says PGG Wrightson subsidiary Agritrade.

This company now distributes Roundup in New Zealand, handling local sales, logistics and management for the Australian distributor Sinochem.

Sinochem began distributing Roundup in Australia two years ago, shipping products to

New Zealand on receipt of orders, with resellers required to pay when they placed orders.

Now Agritrade will carry stock and supply stores within three days of receiving orders, and retailers need not pay until the product is sold, eliminating inventory costs.

Sinochem Australia and New Zealand managing director Richard Jagger was in Auckland last week for the launch, saying the agency deal will benefit “both sides”.

DEAL ROUNDUP Australian distributor of Roundup Sinochem appoints Agritrade as New Zealand distribution agency.

Deal gives certainty of supply as products will no longer be shipped from Australia on receipt of resellers’ orders Resellers will not have to pay when placing orders.

“Farmers will benefit by getting the products on time,” he told Rural News.

“They can get what they need, when they need it without unnecessary costs.”

Agritrade, a wholesaler, sells and services

nationwide, dealing with farm supply companies and veterinarians. Its new business growth manager Nick Berry says “Having the distribution rights will mean more effective sales and service for our resellers. They will have sup-

plies 48-72 hours after placing the order…. Both initiatives improve on the previous method and will be welcomed by our resellers.”

Roundup is made by US-listed chemical giant Monsanto. The products for New Zealand will come directly from Monsanto’s plant in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Three different formulations in different pack sizes will be available in New Zealand.

Jagger says customers “will benefit from Sinochem International and

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emember when washing machines and refrigerators lasted a generation? And tyres lasted for years too? Things were made to last back then. Now it seems things are made to wear out.

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One tyre company, continuing to construct quality aftermarket tyres that last, is Cooper Tires.

Drivers choosing quality American made Cooper Tires are finding they are getting a lot more mileage and better value for money than

original tyres. This is because Cooper Tires make tyres that last without compromising on high quality tyre components.

Cooper Tires are only sold through appointed local tyre professionals, so they know your conditions and can advise the right tyre for the job.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 53

Northland basks in glow of good weather THREE FINE, clear days led to healthy enquiries and sales at the 2015 Northland Field Days on February 26 and 28, say the organisers and exhibitors.

Unlike most other regions, the Kaipara and Whangarei regions had good rainfall in November-December and good soil moisture levels in December, placing farmers well for strong production as the season advances. This contrasts starkly with the previous three years when most of Northland was gripped by severe drought.

Field days visitor numbers rallied as a result, despite poor Fonterra payout predictions. Many farmers came to the event with specific goals in mind.

Well over 20,000 visitors and a record 550 exhibitors enjoyed three days of deal making, or at least lining up deals, says Northland Field Days President, Lew Duggan.

“People often came up to me and told me how good this year was.”

Sales were good for cattle handling equipment maker Farmquip, its lower North Island territory manager Brendon Carr calling the field days “the best so far”. He puts this down to the strong beef schedule giving his key customers, drystock farmers, the money they need to order gear they have put off buying.

The weather and season both played ball to see visitors at this year’s Northland field days enjoy themsleves.

WORKHORSES FOR A NEW GENERATION

Three fine, clear days led to healthy enquiries and sales at the 2015 Northland Field Days on February 26 and 28, say the organisers and exhibitors.

“We tripled sales on the previous years and got lots of very good inquiries,” Carr says.

At least 20,000 people visited over the three days, Saturday being the busiest. “They knew what they wanted the previous times they spoke to us, so this year it just happened.”

Isuzu, the winner of the best new site award, did well, says Stephen Moore, dealer principal of Moore Cars, the Whangarei dealership for Isuzu and Kia. He sold a truck just as the event closed and saw his staff making sales on all three days.

“The feeling was generally positive and visitors were more comfortable about spending money and making a decision on the day in contrast to previous years.

“Even though the payout was down the production was way up on last year. I talked to one guy who was well ahead of the previous season.”

Lew Duggan says the sun had taken a toll of organisers and exhibitors but they were excited about such a positive event.

“It was thrilling and we’re looking forward to 2016. We have huge plans to make the event and the grounds even better than this year.” www.northlandfielddays.co.nz

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RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

MARCH 17, 2015: ISSUE 580

South Island Field Days

www.ruralnews.co.nz

March 25-27 Kirwee

New site attracts 500-plus exhibitors ANDREW SWALLOW

FOR THE first time in its 64-year history the South Island Agricultural Field Days will have over 500 exhibitors when the gates open next Wednesday, March 25, for the three day event.

“We’ve ended up at just a tick over 500,” chairman of the organising committee, Alastair Robinson told Rural News last week after a working bee on the new Kirwee site.

Robinson isn’t sure if any particular sector has driven the increase from 300 at the last SIAFD at Lincoln but

the biennial event’s stayed true to its roots and refused applications from exhibitors without a specific agricultural angle, he stresses.

“We’re still quite fussy about that and we’ve turned a good few away.”

But there has been “a lot of new interest” from those who do have something to offer farmers and the 40ha site will be close to capacity.

Machinery demonstrations will also be stepping up a gear with nearly 9ha of the site set aside for mowing, raking, baling through to tillage and seeding displays.

“We used to have only a third of that area available at Lincoln and in the past we only had grass to demonstrate on, and fodder beet at the last event. Now we have oats as well which means there’ll be cereal stubble for the drills and tillage machines to work on too.”

SIAFD didn’t take over the new site until November 1 so the oats will be harvested as silage and/or baleage. Robinson says there were enquiries for maize demonstration sites too but time didn’t permit establishing them this time.

For the first time in its history the SIAFD will have over 500 exhibits.

See us at site 337

MEAL FEEDING MINERAL BIN

“Next time (2017) we’ll have a lot more flexibility with what we can sow for demonstrations,” he promises.

The November 1 occupancy date created a tight timeframe to get the site ready but Robinson says the committee were adding the finishing touches at one of the final working bees last weekend.

“We have a great committee and everybody has worked

hard to make it happen.

It’s been a mission with the amount of work we’ve had to do this time but we’ve got there.”

The previous weekend 6m entrance gates had been swung, railings erected around the entrances, a lot of the sites marked out and some of the powerlines put up.

“We have an electrician on the committee so we do as much of the electrics as we can ourselves.”

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“What the drought has done is create a good demonstration of the power of water because the half circle under the pivot looks a picture,” he adds.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

2 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

New beginnings on favoured site ALASTAIR ROBINSON

THE SOUTH Island Agricultural Field Days is fortunate enough to be entering a stage of ‘new beginnings’ with the purchase of our own block of land at Kirwee.

Over the three days of this year’s event there should be plenty of areas of interest for everybody, whatever part of the agricultural industry you

are involved in.

With too many supporters of the field days for me to list, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the purchase and setting up of this new block, as well as running the event.

There is an amazing amount of generosity out there and I would like, on behalf of the

committee, to thank everyone who has helped us along the way.

With so much more voluntary work required from the committee than in previous field days, due to the moving from the old site and setting up this new site, it has been a massive effort by the committee. I would like to thank them all for their help and support to get us this far.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2015 South Island Agricultural Field Days, being the first one held on our new Kirwee site.

Alastair Robinson is chair of the 2015 organising committee.

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THE MARCH 25-27 South Island Agricultural Field Days will be the first Alastair Robinson has chaired but there’s nothing unusual in that, he says.

“The chairmen usually do two year stints so there’s often a new chair for each event.”

He’s been at the helm since August 2013 and has overseen the move to SIAFD’s own site at Kirwee, and all the extra work that’s entailed, as opposed to the old leased site at Lincoln.

“It was just luck of the draw that it came up when it was my turn to be chair,” he says, having been on the 20-strong committee that runs the event for 10 years.

With an 800-cow family dairy farm to run, including milking 650 through winter, Robinson (40) admits to having been “a bit stretched this year” with his SIAFD and farming commitments in what’s been a tricky season to say the least.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 3

Tractor shoot-out among leading attractions block at Kirwee is a better GETTING IN and out shape than the former site of the 2015 South Island in Lincoln and should be Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) should be quicker easier for exhibitors to and easier than in past years, the organisers say.

This is the event’s first time on its large new site in Courtenay Road, Kirwee, after 32 years at its previous location near Lincoln University.

The field days will open at 8am each day and will close Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will open the field days on at 5pm, and all Wednesday March 25. routes into the event will be work with. Entry into the signposted for easy trafevent will also be easier fic flow. and more logical. The preSIAFD offers farmers vious site was a triangle, the opportunity to view which meant exhibitors the latest in agricultural in the far corners were developments in practical sometimes overlooked by working conditions and visitors. static displays.

The main attraction The event usually attracts about 25,000 visi- of the field days is the machinery demonstrators over the three days, tions. They will include although the organising the Tractor Shootcommittee is hoping the Out, a competition that larger site and new locainvolves tractors from tion will result in even 120hp to 150hp performmore visitors. ing a series of tests and The new rectangle practical tasks, such as hooking up equipment. Judges from New Zealand and Australia will evaluate their performance along with other factors, including cab comfort and layout.

A new fencing demonJustice Minister and local MP Amy Adams will attend events on stration is also Thursday March 26. expected to be a

EASY TO FIND TRAFFIC COMING from the south will turn into Telegraph Road before Burnham and then into Courtenay Road. Traffic coming from Christchurch and Darfield will head towards Kirwee and follow the signs to the site on Courtenay Road.

There are two vehicle entry-exit points into the event site. The site has been designed to minimise walking from the carpark to each of the four entrance gates. There is no separate exhibitors’ carpark, and no vehicles will be allowed on site during the event.

big attraction. The Battle of the Bangers is an inaugural promotional and demonstration event for New Zealand-made postdrivers. It is the first of

its kind anywhere in the world.

The ability to see leading manufacturers’ postdriver models working together

should make for a grand spectacle in the fencing demonstration area, say the organisers.

Rural News Group will sponsor a $250 prize for

the best large site, while the SIAFD committee will provide another $250 prize for the best small site.

A $1000 prize will be

awarded for the bestrun demonstration and commentary, while the Agri-Innovation awards are expected to attract a high calibre of entries.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

4 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

More visitors and exhibitors expected in 2015 SET-UP FOR the South Island Agricultural Field Days is well underway, with an increase in exhibitor and visitors numbers expected at the event’s

new site in Kirwee.

The field days have been held near Christchurch every second year since 1951.

Organising committee

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chairman Alastair Robinson says the new rectangle block at Kirwee is a better shape than the former site in Lincoln and should be easier for exhibitors to work with. Entry into the event will also be easier and more logical.

The previous site was a triangle, which meant exhibitors in the far corners were sometimes overlooked by visitors.

SIAFD usually attracts about 25,000 visitors over the three days, although the committee is hoping the larger site and new location will result in even more coming through.

“We have registered 450 exhibitors, which is over 150 more than our previous event. We’re hopeful that we’ll have more people through the gate than previously but time will tell,” Robinson says.

“There’s been heaps of positive feedback from exhibitors and they’re all looking forward to the new site. They’re happy with the layout we’ve chosen.”

A feature of this year’s field days is a half-circle centre-pivot irrigator, which will operate at the front of the site. The irrigator is up and running

to ensure a good crop of grass for harvest equipment demonstrations.

SIAFD organising committee member Daniel Schat says crops for demonstrations have been drilled and sites allocated.

“We have more room and the shape is a lot more conducive to filling up the space. The half-circle centre-pivot irrigator is located at the front, close to the big demonstrating exhibitors.”

The increase in exhibitor numbers this year shows the community is continuing to support the field days and wants to be a part of it. “It’s only a $15 entry fee so it’s minimal,” Schat adds.

“South Island Field Days are all about checking out that bit of equipment you’re interested in buying and seeing it working.”

About 100 pieces of machinery, including tractors, headers, mowers and seed drills, are put through their paces throughout the event.

Schat says the field days couldn’t be possible without the huge number of volunteers who help with setting up, running the event on the day, and clean-up afterwards.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 5

4x4

FARM

DEAL 1/3 DEPOSIT

Sporty side x side now in NZ NEW PLAYERS in the NZ off-road market, CFMoto, have launched their feature packed, sports side by side vehicle, the Z8S. The 800cc sports side by side (SSV) is part of a growing range of offroad vehicles offered by the global powersports manufacturer who have been producing feature packed, value for money vehicles for 20 years.

CFMoto New Zealand general manager, Dale Schmidtchen believes the Z8S will be well received by Kiwi’s given its competitive retail price of $12,490 ex GST. “When you compare the cost of a Japanese 500 ATV which sells for close to $14,999, with a CFMoto

Z8S side by side for $12,490 ex GST including a two year warranty, it’s a no brainer – the safety and versatility of a SSV should win every time,” Schmidtchen says.

The new Z8S will complement CFMoto’s Z8 EX model already offered in New Zealand for $15,065 ex GST ride away.

“The main point of difference between the Z8EX and the Z8S is the narrower wheel track which make it more trailer friendly,”

Schmidtchen says.

“The Z8S also offers $2,600 worth of accessories such as alloy wheels, tow pack, roof kit, independent front and rear suspension and selectable 2WD-4WD

0%

INTEREST

modes.

“We hope Kiwi’s will respond well to the value for money this model offers and expect it will be a good seller for us in 2015.”

KEY VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS ❱❱ V-Twin, 8 valves, 4 stroke 799.6cc ❱❱ Liquid cooled with EFI ❱❱ Engine braking ❱❱ 62hp engine ❱❱ Selectable 2WD/4WD modes ❱❱ L-H-N-range with lockable diff ❱❱ New graphics, wheels, seat insert design ❱❱ Standard with alloy wheels and tow hitch ❱❱ Standard with roof kit ❱❱ Optional screen and winch available

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IN 12 MONTHS

LT-F300FL4 $9,995

Cridge seeds is situated in Canterbury. We specialise in high quality, locally grown seed ready for sowing alone or in mixes to suit your pastures. We grow, clean and sell our own seed but are more than competitive in sourcing and supplying proprietary and common seed to suit all farming requirements.

Purity and Germination tests available on request.

Please contact us for autumn sowing suggestions

Ph 03-324 3951 • 0800 4 SEEDS (473 337) • 027-432 3834 www.cridgeseeds.co.nz

LT-A500XL4 $13,995

DEPOSIT $3,467.67

DEPOSIT $4,801.00

LT-F/A400FL4 $12,695

LT-A500XPL4 $15,995

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LT-A750XPL4/L5 $16,995

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WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ Your old bike could be your deposit. Offers available until 31 March 2015 or while stocks last. Available at regional Fieldays or participating Suzuki dealers. Not available in conjunction with any other promotion. Prices include GST. Payments include $395 documentation fee, $13 PPSR and $5 transaction fee. Normal lending and credit criteria apply.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

6 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS Simple and cost effective A NEW pelletised mineral supplement is reportedly helping farmers seeking to improve efficiency in in-shed mineral supplementation, says its developer.

Vitalise, a pelletised calcium and magnesium supplement developed by CP Lime Solutions, beats dusting, the company says, by providing a more accurate and reliable dose and minimising wastage.

The pellets are made without grain, so the mineral concentration is high and cost is minimised.

The company is also producing custom runs for users wanting DCP or

trace elements included.

Among users of the product are Josh and

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See us at the Sou th Island Field Day s 25-27 March 20 15 Kirwee

REPOROA - spring 2014

TIMARU – spring 2014

Doris Stainton, milking 920 cows on 243ha of irrigated flats at Culverden. They run a pasture-based system with supplementary in-shed feeding. They had been supplementing magnesium through the water supply and dusting pastures with mag oxide in the spring.

“Dusting is a bit hit and miss, and it takes time and is hard on equipment,” Josh Stainton says.

Because they are feeding grain in-shed there is the opportunity to dispense minerals with the feed ration. Initially they experimented with feeding neat mag oxide in-shed through a mineral dispenser but the dust caused problems and it was not very palatable. Cows would avoid eating it and the residual max oxide would “set like concrete”.

Now, using the pellets, the Staintons find they provide both calcium

(fine lime) and mag oxide in a form that is practical to feed, says CP Lime Solutions.

“Once the cows are on the pellets we have no milk fever issues,” Stainton says.

He says that for their system the costs are comparable to dispensing mag chloride and dusting, but the results are more reliable and a lot of time is saved.

Avoiding cows going down with milk fever has considerable benefits, the company says. Not only is there the time and cost of treating, but also the lost production and potential flow on effect on mating. It is also important to remember the unseen cost of subclinical milk fever (and subsequent loss of DM intake and production) which can be avoided with reliable magnesium and calcium supplementation.

Tel. 03 314 3500 www.optimise.net.nz

0800 MOLASSES

INDEPENDENT IMPORTER - DIRECT TO FARM

South Island Field Daysdays 25-27 site MarchC115 2015 VisitVisit ususatatSouth Island Field Jamie Stephens Waikato - BOP 021 838 261

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sales@wintonstockfeed.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 7 2-WHEEL

FARM

DEAL $500

Remote fence and water control on show GA R E T H G I L LAT T

PERMANENT ELECTRIC fence power and wireless water level monitoring will be prominent on the Gallagher site at the South Island Field Days.

National sales manager Peter Nation says the company’s high-powered M10,000i fence energiser, and its innovative wireless water level monitoring system, point the way forward in these technologies.

Due for retail release in March, the M10,000i has a stored energy capacity of 100 joules and a potential output of 10,000V. It can power 405ha of multi-wire fencing.

Part of the Gallagher i Series range of energisers, the M10,000i combines “brute force with incredible intelligence, delivering advanced monitoring capabilities to give farmers peace of mind their animals are where they should be,” the company says.

“A good energiser is like an invisible asset protector – making sure valuable animals, pastures and crops are safe and secure,” says Nation.

Like other i series energisers, the M10,000i has

a controller unit that monitors energiser performance and highlights faults in a fencing system. The controller can be located up to 50m from the main energiser.

The waterproof controller displays the energiser’s voltage and current readings and can be used to turn the energiser on or off, set alarm levels and fine-tune operating output voltage.

Up to six fence monitors can be installed onfarm and linked back to the central energiser controller to fully monitor a fence system – saving time and giving confidence a fence is working effectively.

“Having six fence monitors spread around a farm is a bit like having six staff members out there looking after six different zones, all the time,” says Nation. “The beauty of the i series energiser is that everything is monitored for you, so staff can focus on other jobs. It’s a huge

labour saver, especially for larger farms with bigger fencing systems.”

The M10,000i can be supplied with an optional remote that enables the farmer to quickly locate faults within a monitored zone, turn the energiser on or off remotely, and test a fence once a repair is completed.

An optional SMS controller adds a cellphone dimension: if a fence problem is detected it will notify the farmer immediately via mobile phone.

Meanwhile, Gallagher’s wireless water level monitoring system notifies of water leaks.

Launched last year, this system gives farmers a close watch on water

usage without the high costs of flow monitoring.

It measures water pressure in the water vessel, transmitting that data to a wall-mounted or desktop display unit as far away as 4km. Power is by solar.

Up to nine tanks can be monitored by one display unit. The display has a 2.8inch colour touchscreen and shows, e.g. abnormal water loss caused by broken pipes or overflowing troughs, number of days of water remaining, and 30-day historical levels of monitored tanks.

The system can also alert farmers if the level in one or more tanks begins to decrease rapidly.

Tel. 0800 731 500 www.gallagher.co.nz

CASH BACK on a Suzuki farmbike

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$5,495 INCLUDING GST WITH $500 CASHBACK APPLIED

WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ Offers available until 31 March 2015 or while stocks last. Available at regional Fieldays or participating Suzuki dealers. Prices and cash back amount shown are inclusive of GST. Cash back paid by dealer at time of sale. Offer not available in conjunction with any other promotions.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

8 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

Unbreakable handles no myth!

TALK ON farms about Beattie ‘unbreakable’ gate handles is changing from disbelief to amazement, the company says.

“Tested your unbreakable gate handle, acciden-

tally had one go under the tractor and silage wagon, it came out looking like new. You’re not false advertising after all,” one dairy farmer reportedly said.

The handles’ features include a 10-year guarantee, which covers loss of colour or brittleness.

There are two different internal options, one with a replaceable internal

spring and hook (BG44), the second with the same unbreakable handle and a specially designed onepiece hook for use with electric bungi rope with no need for an inter-

nal spring (BG44S).

Meanwhile, a third option with a compression spring is currently being designed and tested.

The company says demand for the handles is building nicely, helped by a larger number of retailers stocking the handles making it easier for farmers to get them locally.

Also in the Unbreakables range are fence reel bobbins, which can be used to replace other

Meet the team with the knowledge in forage at the South Island Field Days.

brands of 1:1 ratio (nongeared) broken bobbins.

These carry the same 10-year guarantee as the handles.

Tel. 03-319 5467 www.beattieinsulators. co.nz

LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY Get upto date news at www.ruralnews.co.nz

FENCING PRODUCTS TO SEE!

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When it comes to forage equipment, don’t buy blind!

The benefits of having gear that is compatible with your farming operation, are endless.

With over 50 years experience selling equipment to New Zealand farmers the team at Webbline understand agricultural harvesting more than most.

Modern farming methods demand the most modern technology available to ensure the job gets done under pressure. To get the right equipment for your operation, ‘forage knowledge’ is key. Webbline’s commitment is to advise and supply the right equipment, backed up by highly trained technicians with premium parts and service.

– space your wire off the post – attaches directly to Taragate Doubler Dtm or Tarapin Insulator – simply the best outrigger on market today

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SITE 752-756

TARAVATOR – market leader heavy duty activator – four point fixing, works horizontally or vertically – wide strong easy latching point – stainless steel contact point – won’t short out!

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 9

Electronic alternative to manuals GARETH GILLATT

FARM SOFTWARE developed by Manawatu firm AgRecord offers farmers an electronic alternative to huge, mind-numbing paper health and safety manuals.

And the firm’s Cloud Farmer has propelled it into a place in the NZTE 2015 New Zealand Agribusiness Investment Showcase, says managing director Gretchen Bunny.

Since launching Cloud Farmer at the 2014 Central District Field Days (CDFD), the company has further developed the modular farm recording system.

Its advisor BCC (Building Clever Companies), Palmerston North, nominated AgRecord for the NZTE New Zealand Agribusiness Investment Showcase, Bunny says.

BCC suggested that outside investors’ money would likely help AgRecord grow faster and accelerate its expansion into overseas markets.

“We want to consolidate and hone our business model here in New Zealand before we jump too fast into overseas markets.”

Getting ready for the showcase has already had a huge impact on the business, accelerating its growth. “Things that would have normally sat on the ‘to do’ list for a year we’ve had to get done in six weeks.”

However, the company is still confirming the system’s mobile platform – crucial to the business but complex to work through. We’re getting conflicting advice on whether we should build a native app or just optimise the website and go through the device’s browser.”

And while the company is leaning towards a native app there are complications about the operating system they need to build it for.

“Our users access our service with Apple tablets and

AgRecord’s Gretchen Bunny.

Android phones so we have to build for both of those.”

The company has added other modules, reaching out to rural professionals who support farmers, e.g. vets, stock agents and bank managers.

It now offers modules to record climate information, workplace hazards and payroll information – timely given the Government’s emphasis on health and safety and the need for timesheets on farms.

WorkSafe will soon enforce tough new labour laws including farm health and safety

TYRES FOR PEOPLE GOING PLACES Whether it’s on or off the farm, Maxxis’ durability and unique on-road and off-road capabilities set them apart among mud tyres. For total assurance wherever you go, choose Maxxis.

manuals which must map all workplace hazards.

Most farmers will want to comply with the law, Bunny comments, but the high cost of health and safety plans makes it tough, especially given the changing environment on farms. That’s where

Cloud Farmer clicks in.

“Hazards change onfarm daily so you’d need a big paper manual – not practical.

[Alternatively the company’s software] can serve exactly the same purpose as a cumbersome health and safety process manual.”

Mobile functionality is high up the company’s list. “Farmers are allergic to being in the office, they want to be out there growing grass and looking after stock. We need to build a mobile app to help them manage the whole farm better while doing the part of farming they enjoy most.”

Tel. 06 211 4298 www.agrecord.co.nz

VETMARKER

®

TAILING IS QUICK AND EFFICIENT WITH THE AWARD WINNING VETMARKER Winner of National Fieldays Break thru Prototype and Sheepvention Australia Animal Handling Equipment

Come and see us for Field Day Only Specials

THE BENEFITS ARE: • Height adjustable • Weigh lambs • Straight rollers help • Less stress on lamb prevent legs • Easy to load getting stuck • Automatically sprays • Self locking on for fly strike on yard rail release • 2 Year Warranty • Lambs are released onto their feet • Vaccination

• Drenching

• Earmarking and tagging

• Fly strike application and Tail removal

• Castration

Also available, is a Vetmarker for weighing lambs at tailing.

Site 416-418

www.vetmarker.co.nz

FREEPHONE 0800 DOCKER 0800 362 537

A new milk sourcing company backed by Fonterra

Visit us at site C271 at the South Island Field Days

March 25-27 Give us a call

See us at Kirwee

Site 239-240

Phone: 0800 629 947 Email: info@maxxistyres.co.nz

www.maxxistyres.co.nz

0800 224 660 Drop us a line

moreinfo@mymilk.co.nz For more information

www.mymilk.co.nz Spaces are limited. Only available to South Island farms not currently supplying Fonterra.

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

10 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS Entrance

N Battle of the Bangers NZFC South Island Doubles Fencing Compitition

20 19

5

6

4 3

8 9

1 F5

16

14

11 10 9

851 850

10 F7

F4

F2

F3

F1

742 741 740 739 738 737 736 735 734 733 732 731 730 729 692 691 690 689 688 687 686 685 684 683 682 681 680 679

813 812 811 810 809 808 807 806 805 804 803 802 801 800

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577 576 575 574 573 572 571 570 569 568 567 566 565 564

563 562 561 560 559 558 557 556 555 554 553 552 551 550

542 541 540 539 538 537 536 535 534 533 532 531 530 529

Demo Area 3

Farmlands

642 641 640 639 638 637 636 635 634 633 632 631 630 629

527 526 525 524 523 522 521 520 519 518 517 516

Covered sites

13 12

863 862 861 860 859 858 857 856 855 854 853

827 826 825 824 823 822 821 820 819 818 817 816 815 814

18 17

GateGate C

7 Wiremark Marque

2

F6

877 876 875 874 873 872 871 870 869 868 867 866 865 864

492 491 490 489 488 487 486 485 484 483 482 481 480 479

Catering

514

Office

476 475 474 473 472 471

513 512 511 510 509 508 507 506 505 504 503 502 501 500 463 462 461 460 459 458 457 456 455 454 453 452 451 450

442 441 440 439 438 437 436 435 434 433 432 431 430 429

427 426 425

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392 391 390 389 388 387 386 385 384 383 382 381 380 379

377 376 375 374 373 372 371 370 369 368 367 366 365 364

363 362 361 360 359 358 357 356 355 354 353 352 351 350

Demo Area 2

8 7 6

342 341 340 339 338 337 336 335 334 333 332 331 330 329

327 326 325 324 323 322 321 320 319 318 317 316 315 314

313 312 311 310 309 308 307 306 305 304 303 302 301 300

292 291 290 289 288 287 286 285 284 283 282 281 280

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177 176 175 174 173 172 171 170 169 168 167 166 165 164

163 162 161 160 159 158 157 156 155 154 153 152 151 150

5 4

Courtenay Road

Top Tractor Shoot Out

Gate D

To Kirwee

North Car Park

PGGW

3 2 1

142 141 140 139 138 137 136 135 134 133 132 131 130 129

127 126 125 124 123 122 121 120 119 118 117 116 115 114

Gate B

South Car Park

113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 101 100

Gate A

Loading Bank

Site Designed and Mapped by

www.agconsulting.co.nz

Demo Area 1

Vintage Tractor Area

To Dunsandel

COMPANY Advantage Feeders Advantage Plastics Arctic Cat NZ Austin’s Foundry Limited Bayer Animal Health Beattie Insulators Blue Wing Honda BRP Canam Buckton CB Norwood Distrubtors Ltd CLAAS Harvest Centre Cooper Tires Coopers CP Lime Solutions Limited Electrodip Ltd Fairbrother Industries Ltd Farm To Farm Tours Limited FlexiTunnel FMG Fuel Storage Systems Ltd Gallagher Giltrap Engineering Ltd Hansen Longveld Ltd Lyndon Harrows Lyntec Holdings Ltd Maxxis 4WD Tyres Mojo Motorcycles MyMilk Ltd NZ National Fieldays P L Berry & Associates Permbrand PGG Wrightson Polaris New Zealand Power Farming Power Farming Ashburton PPP Industries Ltd Primary ITO Rainer Irrigation Ltd

Vehicle Demo

SITE NUMBER 718 720 873 218 Farmlands Village 876 268-269 390 604-605 600-603 & 550-553 300-306 & 250-256 575 Farmlands Village 854 131 709 C250 814 Farmlands Village 660 Farmlands Village 202-204 Farmlands Village 524 & Farmlands Village 557-558 285 239-240 336 C271-272 523 C273 337 PGGWrightson Lane 632 &582 650-653 & 700-703 137 288 679 379-381

First Aid Cash Point Food Sites Toilets

Entrance

262-263 & 312-313 C209 200-201 Farmlands Village 535-537 654-655 & 704-705

Robertson Manufacturing Ltd Rurtec Seed Force Skellerup Suzuki New Zealand Tulloch Farm Machines

Call in and see us at 73 Preston Street, Invercargill Ph: 03 215 8558 | Email: hecton@xtra.co.nz Visit our website www.hecton.co.nz for a full list of products

325 Veehof Dairy Services Ltd 752-756 Webbline Agriculture Ltd C115-116 Winton Stock Feed C205 WorkSafe New Zealand 564 Yamaha Motors NZ Ltd 129 & Farmlands Villange Zoetis

DRY CORNERS?

SHEEP HANDLING SYSTEMS & TRAILERS

COME AND SEE RAINER IRRIGATIONS SOLUTION WEIGH CRATE

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LOADING RAMP

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• DESIGNED AND MADE IN NZ • LOW OPERATING PRESSURE • 1/4, 1/2 AND FULL CIRCLE • LOW RUNNING COSTS

Field Days Site 379381

Cnr Robinson & McNally Streets Phone : 03 307 9049 Email : rainer@ashburton.co.nz www.rainer.co.nz

If anyone can make it rain, Rainer can!

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 11

New baler to make its debut A BALER the world hasn’t seen before and which many contractors have only dreamed of: that’s Webbline’s claim for the new Goweil G1, launched here late last year.

Sales manager, Glen Malcolm says the G1 embodies much technology from the Goweil LT Master maize bale press the company has made for 10 years.

“Goweil has thought outside the square and produced a baler… unique in many ways, including heavy construction.

“Tipping the scales at just on 5580kg, it’s not hard to see why this baler has been built with the serious contractor in mind.”

The G1 runs a camless pendulum, 6-row pickup.

This allows the pickup to pivot up to 150mm which provides unparalleled round contouring and clean lifting of the crop, Malcolm says.

“The G1 pickup has plastic stripper bands instead of traditional steel. The crop is then fed into the baler via an eight star mega rotor which, unlike any other baler, turns backwards, feeding the crop over the top of the rotor instead of underneath. This facilitates direct passage

into the chamber, with the option to fine chop down to 35mm with a 30 blade cutting system.”

In case of a blockage, the G1 is equipped with auto flow control which automatically releases without the operator’s intervention.

“With 65mm roller shafts and a 100mm shaft on the main rotor, along with full auto greasing and double raced bearings, this baler is set for long service life.”

Film binding is a standard feature on the G1, a system Goweil perfected on its LT Master maize baler over several years. As an option, the G1 can run the world’s first double film binding unit, which allows two layers of film to be applied to the bale at once, greatly reducing application time.

“Or if the operator is alternating between baleage and hay or straw, they can have a roll of film and a roll of net in the machine, with the option to run one or the other at the touch of a button.”

The G1 has an option to run lift rams on the drawbar, similar to those on a loader wagon. These can also be set up with an accumulator to provide a suspension to facilitate smoother ride when

travelling between jobs.

Webbline has been demonstrating the G1 Kombi and the straight baler since early December. “We have our

first firm orders for next season, with enquiries coming in almost every day,” Malcolm says.

Tel. 0800 932 254. www.webbline.co.nz

G1 baler: the machine “contractors dream of,” says Webbline.

AN OFFER YOU WON’T GET STUCK WITH. VIKING $19,999 EXCL. GST

*

GRIZZLY 550 EPS $13,299 EXCL. GST

G1 Kombi seen working in Southland.

With no repayments for 12 months, no deposit and a finance rate of only 3%, there’s no better time to get your hands on one of our ATV or ROV utilities and protect your cashflow. They’re loaded with Yamaha’s legendary components including ultramatic transmission, marine-grade electronics, independent suspension, on-command 2WD/4WD, locking differentials, and a 3-year factory warranty.

Contact your local authorised Yamaha dealer for more information and to book a test drive today. *No deposit, no repayments for up to 12 months on all new Grizzly and Viking utilities. Repayment based on three annual instalments in arrears at an annual percentage rate of 3% over 36 month term. Subject to approved commercial applicants, terms and conditions apply. No dealer origination fees, $325.00 YMF Application fee and $10 PPSR fee applicable. Finance is provided by Yamaha Motor Finance New Zealand Ltd. Prices, availability and specifications are subject to change. Grizzly shown with genuine accessories. Offer available 26 Feb, 2015 to 30 April, 2015.

www.yamaha-motor.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

12 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

Spotlight on innovation THE GROWING popularity of South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) has led to higherthan-ever interest in the AgriInnovation Awards, say the organisers.

Committee member Daniel Schat says the larger number of entries in the awards reflects the growth of the event. About 450 exhibitors will take part in the field

days – up from about 300 last year.

“This growth has also led to increased interest in the AgriInnovation Awards, which is a sign our economy is still pushing forward,” Schat says.

Entry in the awards gives entrants a chance to demonstrate their inventions and technological innovations. Past entries have ranged from a small component

that fits on motorbikes to major pieces of farm machinery.

There are three categories within the awards competition.

One is New Zealand-made farm machinery. The entrants in this category include Canterbury engineering firm Robertson Manufacturing with its Little Ripper two-bale feeder.

Within the farm aids and farm

inventions category, Fertigation Systems is entering a fertigation pump, Richard Miles Engineering a milk transfer trailer and Te Pari Products an electronic drench gun.

Within the imported farm machinery category, Mountpanther NZ is entering a Slurryquip effluent umbilical system and Kelly Engineering a 6.0m harrow.

Full range of harrows available with over 50 types, styles, combinations and weights to choose from.

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SEE US AT SOUTH ISLAND AG FIELD DAYS SITE 557-8

WWW.LYNDONHARROWS.CO.NZ

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SOLUTIONS FOR COSTLY WATER COMPLIANCE ISSUES

We liked the idea of gas and saw the economics of Dairy Hot Water, while Iron Out saves me money and time in maintenance and my water quality is markedly improved compared to my old sand filter. After talking to the guys at Longveld and finding out how easy, and cost effective everything was, it was a no brainer.

Carl and Ally Steiner

Milking 900 Jersey/Friesian cross cows

Visit Longveld at field days to hear about immediate and future savings.

Find out how Longveld has helped farmers like Carl and Ally Steiner to improve profits and productivity by making the switch to gas in their dairy shed with Dairy Hot Water, and by installing Iron Out, the low maintenance, non-chemical, system that drastically reduces iron levels in your farm’s water supply.

The long and the short of it is a small talk with Longveld can save your farming business big bucks.

Come talk to the guys from Longveld in the Farmlands Village at the South Island Field Days from 25-27 March.

0800 566 483

To be unveiled at the Field Days.

WHAT A LITTLE RIPPER ROBERTSON MANUFACTURING plans a field days launch of its latest innovation – the Little Ripper twobale feeder.

Principal Don Robertson says this innovative feeder has been specifically designed for: Greater stability on hills when feeding out bales, to reduce risk of injuries Reducing risk to operators when removing the wrap from the bale Self-loading to suit all bale types A wide range of farms, from the lifestyle block feeding 10 cows up to a commercial farm running 20000 sheep Loading and feeding all bales under complete control Flawless feeding with Roberson’s S shape elevator Feeding out up to 30 tonnes per hour.

Robertson Manufacturing was established in 1977, when Don Robertson developed a small workshop in Hinds to cater for local farmers’ requirements.

Focusing on quality, efficiency and reliability, success was immediate – back in 1981— when the company became the first South Island manufacturer to specialise in feedout wagons.

Over the years, the company has seen steady growth across New Zealand, as well as export development into Australia, South Africa and South America.

Robertson says a key part of this success has been the company’s commitment to R&D, with three staff fully focused on innovation and building the foundations for the years ahead.

Tel. 03 3037228

www.longveld.com

www.robfarm.co.nz

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 13

These boots are made for working boots have uppers made of heavy gauge buffalo leather and scuff resistant toe guards for protection against increased wear, plus shock absorbing polyurethane midsoles for support and comfort.

Steel shanks strengthen and stiffen the boots, and their removable innersoles have an anti-microbial layer to reduce odour, and ventilation zones to reduce foot fatigue.

Introducing the leather designs was the

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result of farmer requests, Davis says.

“If we didn’t listen to farmers, the Red Band work boot would have never eventuated in the first place. It was farmers who first asked us to go beyond gumboots. www.skellerup.co.nz

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the foot will withstand 200kg of tread pressure and will not bend out of shape like a steel foot.

The blade-type design of the foot prevents the standard from rotating when erected, and its

profile reduces the risk of standards becoming tangled and entrapped during handling and storage. An extended insulated section also provides extra strength and better handling.

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about pigtail standards was entanglement during transport and storage,” Johns says. “Farmers were also frustrated about pigtail heads wearing through, resulting in shorting.”

Johns says feedback from farmers who have trialled the new post has been “fantastic”.

“We’ve run tests in Taranaki, Waikato and Southland, and farmers love them. Most said they wouldn’t go back to the old standards and one farmer said his staff members argue over who gets to use the new ring top posts.”

Gallagher has also redesigned the foot section for more strength and usability. Made from over-moulded glass-fibre for increased durability,

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Come and see us at the South Island Field Days for our Field Days Specials

198

A NEW ring top post turns the concept of the traditional pigtail standard on its “curly little head,” says maker Gallagher.

The design deals with the nuisance of tangled pigtail posts, making it easier to store, carry and erect temporary electric fences.

Product manager Graham Johns says a key feature is its distinctive ring-shaped head. Made from heavy-duty glassfibre nylon, the heads suffer no electrical shorts.

And they are light and strong.

The company talked to many farmers and did a lot of R&D. “We talked to farmers about what they liked and didn’t like about portable fencing and a common complaint

Bunded

ce

heat, oil and acid. And the safety versions of the laceup and slip-on Red Bands have greater protection underfoot, thanks to a new penetration resistant midsole.

Davis says the key features remain unchanged.

“These boots were designed to handle some of the toughest working conditions on the planet, with features like triple stitching, tough high grade leather, double sided elastic in the slipon models and super strong laces in the lace-up models.”

All Red Band work

in

A NEW version of Skellerup’s Red Band leather lace-ups and slip-ons, available in both safety and non-safety models, hits the shelves this month.

National manager Perry Davis says the boots’ new fit, protective features and a rubber sole have come at the request of farmers.

“All Red Band work boots are now upsized to fit extra wide feet…. whether they want laceup, slip-on, safety or nonsafety models.”

The new anti-slip rubber outsole resists

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

14 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

WiFi cow management is smart IMPROVEMENTS TO Samen NZ’s CowManager SensOor system during the 12 months since its launch here are said to make it better suited to the Kiwi style of farming, says the company.

The improvements

include greater signal strength from the SensOor tags and solar powered routers for use on larger farms and in difficult terrain.

“These improvements ensure a trouble free and accurate system for large

and small herds,” the company says.

The SensOor is attached to the cow’s ear, gathering data 24/7 via a designated farmwide WiFi system. This includes measurements of body temperature,

movements and behaviour traits.

“When these measurements are collected for individual animals and the herd, or for designated groups within the herd, a huge amount of valuable information becomes available.

“This system comes into its own in the way the information is processed and delivered back to the farmer, through individual modules covering fertility, health and/or nutrition.”

Samen NZ says each module provides the data in a way that is relevant to that management function.

“The fertility system… provides information on the optimal time for insemination, and gives accurate insight into a cow’s cycle profile, giving all the information required to make a pregnancy.”

The health module provides early and reliable detection of cow ailments, saving money.

“Early detection of discomfort or disease results in fewer health issues, reduced veterinary costs, lower production losses and a resulting decrease in labour and extra care.”

The CowManager health module can warn of possible ailments such as mastitis, metritis, E-Coli and uterine infections. Because the sensor picks up on combinations of cow behaviour and variations in temperature this data

Samen NZ says its CowManager sysem has been improved for NZ conditions.

can be used to report on recovery of sick animals.

A third module, nutrition, looks into the eating behaviour of individual cows, assigned groups of cows or a whole herd. This allows assessment of the correct ration for a herd, and monitors cows through the transition period.

Samen NZ says the system’s advantages over other management recording systems mostly derive from the delivery of information and individual animal alerts as they arise.

“The smartphone application provides an effective and visual report on the urgency of fertility and health reports direct to the phone as and when needed. Some other systems rely on an animal having to pass through a scanning system, so the data may already be 12 hours old or more by the time it is noticed.

“Users of the CowManager SensOor system report a closer interaction with their herds and animals

within their herds. This response comes from a better understanding of what is happening and the ability to manage the needs of a herd in a proactive rather than reactive way.”

Longer term benefits come from the database of information on individual animals and a whole herd and the way they respond to different management practices at key times throughout the year, allowing farmers to manage via programmes based on real data.

Tel. 0800 220 232

RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS 15

Good grass crop will help with demonstrations A GOOD crop of grass will enable machinery demonstrators to give of their best, thanks

to a half-circle centrepivot irrigator supplied, installed and maintained

by Think Water Leeston.

The company, which will have a strong presence at the field days, has committed to looking

SIAFD organising committee chair Alastair Robinson (left) thanks Think Water Leeston’s Sam Broomhall for donating a centre pivot to irrigate the new site.

after the machine for 20 years.

SIAFD organising committee chairman Alastair Robinson says the committee is delighted with the centre pivot irrigator.

It will irrigate about 8ha of the site.

Think Water Leeston project engineer Sam Broomhall says installing the half-circle centrepivot irrigator allows the company to showcase its technology.

The family-owned water services business has been marketing pumping and irrigation equipment and solutions in the Canterbury region for 25 years.

“Supplying the centrepivot irrigator… fits right in with what we do with irrigation and pumping,” Broomhall says. “It will showcase the latest technology and we’ll be able to upgrade it as time goes by.”

Broomhall says there are a lot of centre-pivot

irrigators in Canterbury and they are the ‘gold standard’ of irrigation.

“It’s the most efficient and cost-effective way to irrigate your land.

We think we have a few design advantages over other brands in construction and stability.

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Broomhall believes there will be strong interest in the irrigator at the field days, particularly due to the Central Plains Water Scheme coming into the area.

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RURAL NEWS // MARCH 17, 2015

16 SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

Mahindra expands tractor range GARETH GILLATT

INDIAN FARM machinery maker Mahindra will show its expanded tractor range, including new offerings at both ends of the power spectrum, says national sales manager Russell Burling.

The company will launch its 20-24hp eMax tractors and the mForce 100hp, its first large

machine in New Zealand.

At 100hp the mForce 100P will meet the “known largest demand in the New Zealand market – for 90-120 hp tractors,” Burling says.

“They’re used by everyone… sheep and beef farmers, and dairy farmers; we’ve been were looking forward to getting a model in.”

With power coming

from a 100hp 4-cyl Perkins 4400cc turbo diesel engine, this model has plenty of power, managed by a 32x32 power shuttle transmission including eight creeper gears.

The loader can lift 1870kg and the rear 3-point hitch can carry a maximum of 3110kg.

The designers have kept simple the layout of the large, double-door

cab, but haven’t skimped on features farmers want, offering hydraulic controls for the three point linkage on the left and right of the tractor.

Burling says the three year, 2000 hour warranty should be an attractive offer.

And while the new eMax series (22-25hp) might appear to be the

polar opposite to the larger tractor, they offer more than one might imagine.

The full chassis rail, Tier IV eco-friendly engine, and highly engineered drawbar and 3-point linkage means users are essentially getting the strength of a full-sized

availabwleide nation

tractor inside a compact.

“It’s definitely stronger and better,” Burling says.

Tel. 0800 282 726

www.mahindra.co.nz