Canterbury Show New president Richard Lemon is looking forward to celebrating 150 years of history. page 23
animal health Britain’s battle with TB is a sharp reminder why NZ must never give up the fight to control the disease. page 33
Rural NEWS
Oz food plan Minister meets with Australian counterpart.
page 16
to all farmers, for all farmers
november 6, 2012: Issue 526
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Fishy judgement? p e te r bu r k e peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
APPEALS BY Federated Farmers and Horticulture New Zealand to the High Court over the Horizons Regional Council One Plan may have struck another snag. Rural News has discovered, through the court papers, that the High Court judge set down to hear the appeal, Judge Stephen Kos, has declared he “is the
holder of a New Zealand Sports Fishing Licence… and an electoral member of Fish and Game New Zealand”. Fish and Game is also a party to the appeals by Feds and HortNZ and Judge Kos’s appointment has raised some eyebrows. Both HortNZ and Federated Farmers declined to comment on the revelation about Judge Kos. Both have the right to ask that Judge Kos step aside from the appeal; neither would say whether they will do this.
But a former president of Federated Farmers, Charlie Pedersen, who has significant farming interests in the Horizons region, is not happy about the Judge Kos’s appointment. “If it was me in that situation I would declare that I am member of Fish and Game and ask to be excused from the case. Being a member of Fish and Game is probably just as inappropriate as if the judge was a member of Federated Farmers. It is about perception espe-
cially when the lines are so firmly drawn between farming interests and Fish and Game.” Pedersen says Fish and Game is a political lobby group, not just an organisation that looks after the interests of fishers and hunters. “They are a political organisation and that’s fine. I know people who won’t belong to Fish and Game any more because they don’t believe in their to page 3
Pam Strachan, owner of the Saleyards Café in Feilding, with some goodies that she hopes might entice Prince Charles and Camilla when the royal couple visit the Feilding saleyards later this month. The Saleyards Café is part of the yards complex and all the food is home-made, which should appeal to Charles who is heavily into organics. “Fush n’ chups” are a popular item on the menu, but HRH could also get a salad and even take the plate away as a souvenir! See page 31 for more on the Saleyards Café.
NAIT starts to grate a n d r ew swa l low andrews@ruralnews.co.nz
WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS with NAIT are emerging as spring stock movements accelerate. Some are due to farmers and saleyards failing to meet the system’s requirements; others are down to the system itself. As calf rearers seek to on-sell animals the issues are coming to a head, prompting suggestions the system is heading for a crash. “The whole thing needs to be looked at: it’s an absolute nightmare,” NZ Farmers Livestock agent Peter Jackson told Rural News. He estimates half the calves “transacted” either haven’t been NAIT tagged, or if tagged, the movement’s not been recorded. “A lot of dairy farmers have told [calf buyers] it’s their responsibility to tag the calves. That’s not correct.” Problems aren’t limited to calves. “Some yearlings which were [NAIT] tagged last year, and have gone to someone else, have now gone back to the original vendor on the NAIT system. It’s bloody confusing and doing a lot of stock agents’ heads in, I can tell you. I’m getting four or five calls a day on this. It’s going to take a hell of a lot of sorting out.” Large-scale calf rearers Mark and Michelle Bocock, Te Awamutu, say where they bought direct and took control of the NAIT registration process, they’ve had few problems, but it’s a different story with calves
SOMETIMES, A LITTLE BIT EXTRA MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
TRACTA39939-A
It’s the same with feeding your mid-lactation cows. While grass alone is good, supplementing it with the high quality protein in TopCow Dairy feed makes it great. It helps slow post-peak production decline, prepares your herd better for next season and increases the potential for extended financial returns over its lifetime. For more information on the benefits of TopCow Dairy, talk to your Ingham rep on 0800 650 505 or visit inghamfeeds.co.nz
QUALITY THAT DELIVERS BIG
to page 3
Cyclone® Wire 2.5mm HT 2 Life 25kg Hispan 2 Life 650m Zinc alloy coating for twice the life.
Hayes™
Complies with New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4534.
Manufactured in New Zealand. Built for New Zealand conditions.
Receive a fRee
Hot dipped galvanised.
Economy Chainlink Gate 4.27m 3.66m
119 $115
$ ChaSed m of 15 CoiLS pur With a minimuLim ys ited to 150 Spinning Jenn By redemption. . While stocks last. nationally. Details in-store Limit one per customer.
2.5mm HT 2 Life Wire 650m 25kg
8950
$
4.0mm Soft Wire 253m 25kg
119
$
Gasmate portable bbq
Unigizer 1000 Solar System 6ha with 20W Solar Panel and Battery (20Ah)
929
$
save 15%
Waters & Farr FarmBoss Culvert Manufactured in New Zealand. Very strong, but lightweight.
Unigizer 2000 Solar System 12ha with 30W Solar Panel and Battery (56Ah)
1,099
$
Unigizer 3000 Solar System 18ha with 30W Solar Panel and Battery (56Ah)
1,299
135 $155
$
Receive a fRee
Speedrite™
$
Economy Barred Gate 4.27m 3.66m
375mm x 6m
Normally $251 ea
Normally $823 ea
order with your local stor other sizes available e
BUY 3 FOR
64005 $2,09865
$ By redemption. Details in-s tore. While stocks last.
order With your LoC
225mm x 6m
BUY 3 FOR When you purChaSe Speedrite™ unigizer SoLarany SyStem
hs or More oN PurChases oF 3 leNgt oss PiPe Mb Far e oF the saMe siZ aL Store
300mm x 6m
450mm x 6m
Normally $487 ea
Normally $1,378 ea
BUY 3 FOR
BUY 3 FOR
1,24185 $3,51390
$
Diameter sizing refers to internal diameter measurement.
hynds water trouGhs
Now available through Pgg wrightsoN Cyclone® Nails Flat Head Galvanised 100mm x 4mm 25kg 5kg
Cyclone® Barbed Staples Galvanised 50mm x 4mm 25kg 5kg
29 $119 $29 $119
$
RX Plastics LD Pipe
15mm $0.89/m 20mm $1.59/m 25mm $1.95/m
32mm $2.39/m 40mm $2.69/m 50mm $3.49/m
affordable quality sheds, bridGes and yards for your farm...
Pricing applies to 50m, 100m and 200m coils only.
Slice Cut also available in selected stores.
Terms and Conditions: All offers and prices are valid from 1 November 2012 to 31 December 2012 unless stated otherwise, or while stocks last. Prices include GST, unless stated otherwise and are subject to change. Some products may not be available in all stores but may be ordered on request. Prices do not include delivery, delivery costs are additional. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 3 issue 526
www.ruralnews.co.nz
NAIT niggles grow from page 1
News ������������������������������ 1-17 markets ��������������������� 18-19 world ������������������������������ 20 agribusiness ������������21-22 Hound, Edna ������������������� 24 Contacts ������������������������� 25 Opinion ����������������������� 24-26 Management ����������� 27-31 Animal Health �������� 32-36 Machinery and Products �������������������37-41 Rural Trader ���������� 42-43
Head Office Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone: 09-307 0399 Fax: 09-307 0122 Postal Address PO Box 3855, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 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 80,767 as at 30.06.2012
through saleyards. “We’re only just starting to get them coming through now [on the NAIT system] and we’ve already been on-selling some of them.” When the Bocock’s register movements of such calves off their farm, NAIT’s system emails details of all calves sold to all original owners, even though they may have only supplied a few of the batch. “So there’s a privacy issue. I don’t want everybody out there knowing how many calves we’ve sold.” Michelle believes the problem lies
with the email trigger, rather than the NAIT database itself. “We’re receiving 20 to 30 emails from NAIT every day. It’s just crazy. Our email system’s used up all its megabytes.” She’s also concerned some calves bought through saleyards appear on the NAIT system as coming direct from the vendor’s farm, not through the saleyards. That’s a biosecurity risk, she says, because in the event of a disease outbreak, the fact those animals were in contact with hundreds of others at the yards wouldn’t be immediately obvious. “I can see the advantage of a system
like this long-term because we’ve got to keep selling on the world market, but I think it will take five years before all this is sorted out.” In the meantime she’s resorted to keeping a paper record of movements, including notes on which went through as NAIT-registered and which didn’t. NAIT chief executive Russell Burnard was on leave overseas last week and unavailable for comment. NAIT was unable to provide answers to the points raised before Rural News went to press. A NAIT spokeswoman told Rural News the scheme’s in a three-year “tran-
Fish hook for One Plan from page 1
politics. So because Fish and Game is now so highly politicised, it makes it more inappropriate for the judge to hear this case.” Pedersen points to the tension between Feds and Fish and Game and says the situation is getting worse not better. He also questions Fish and
Game’s ‘environmental’ stance. “It’s based on looking after their own interests to kill animals and fish more than caring about environment. They are quite self serving if you like, unlike some other local environmental groups.” There is no indication whether Judge Kos’s declaration of interest will affect
the hearing of the appeals. A transcript of the original hearing in the Environment Court is known to be missing and confusion exists about the Environment Court judgement. Rural News has been told that, given the present state of affairs, the appeals could be heard “some time in the new year”.
WNZ wants $5 million STRONG WOOL producers are being asked to stump up at least $5m to allow Wools of New Zealand to develop supply and marketing channels, fund issue costs and repay about $1.8 million of loans. “It’s not a bricks-and-mortar offering, rather it’s about partnering with industry participants who view having a stable supply of wool and a relationship with Wools of New Zealand as a favourable commercial advantage,” says WNZ chairman Mark Shadbolt. “We have focused on building commercial relationships with customers, including wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and spinners and working
collaboratively with other players in the industry – both in New Zealand and offshore…. “As wool growers we need to align ourselves with our supply chain partners, collaborating with industry participants that ultimately will enhance the long term sustainability of our sheep industry. Conversely, if we do nothing then that is exactly what we will get.” The capital raising prospectus and investment offer was cleared by the Financial Markets Authority late last week and mailed to all strong wool growers. See www.ourwool.co.nz Meanwhile Federated Farmers
meat and fibre chair Jeanette Maxwell says a resolution of the protracted sale of Wool Services International can’t come soon enough following Australia’s Lempriere last week making a 45c/ share bid. “The priority is to get WSI’s two major shareholders out of the hands of the receivers and into the hands of a company that will grow our industry.” Maxwell says, as a Kiwi, she “would dearly love to see these assets remain in local ownership” as NZWSI is New Zealand’s largest exporter, but adds, “we need our largest exporters at the top of their game, no matter who owns them.”
Russell Burnard
sition period” and while it is still early days, from NAIT’s perspective, the scheme is off to a good start. “We are working with people across the sector to help them meet their obligations. From the beginning over 95% of cattle arriving at sale yards and 86% of cattle arriving at meat processors have been tagged with NAIT tags… “There were always going to be opportunities to streamline our systems and we are doing that… over the next 7-8 months we will deliver monthly upgrades to our system to enhance its performance.” Anyone with questions or concern should call NAIT on 0800 624 843 or email info@nait.co.nz • NAIT tweaks – page 15
TB warning BOVINE TB is now a big issue in the UK and there are lessons in this for New Zealand, Beef & Lamb NZ chair Mike Petersen says. Ten percent of all herds in the UK are reckoned infected. Petersen says we should take careful note of what’s happening there and farmers should keep up the pressure on local authorities and government to adequately fund the killing of possums. Britons are concerned the presence of TB could affect market access for their meat. TB spreading by badgers is a big worry. The pro-badger lobby is influential and opposes, by legal action, a trial culling of badgers.
The perfect couple CLAAS Forage Technology would like to introduce the perfect couple - the DISCO mower and LINER rake. The DISCO professional linkage mower with heavy duty P series cutterbar provides the ultimate in cutting edge mowing technology. The LINER rake with up to a 10m working width, 2.60m swath width and cardan suspension on rotors giving 3D ground contour is it’s perfect companion. Combined they offer the ultimate partnership in harvesting efficiency.
0
%
With this outstanding 0% finance offer call us today and invite the perfect couple around to your place.
finance*
CLAAS Harvest Centre www.claasharvestcentre.co.nz
* Finance package available to approved business applicants. 1/3 deposit, 1/3 due six months, 1/3 due 12 months. Terms, fees, charges & conditions apply. Limited stock. Applies to certain models only. Offer ends 30/11/12
Rural News // November 6, 2012
4 news Aussie farmers eager to get a slice of Fonterra
Brighter future? pe ter bu r k e
sud es h k i ssu n sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
AUSTRALIAN DAIRY farmers supplying Fonterra are eager to invest in the co-op for the first time. The 1300 members of Bonlac Supply Company – 75% of Fonterra’s Australian milk supply base – can buy units under TAF (trading among farmers). The co-op has allocated $25 million of units in the $500m Fonterra Shareholders Fund to its Australian suppliers. Bonlac chairman Tony Marwood says farmers are excited about having economic exposure to “global Fonterra they have not had before”. “Farmers are always keen to invest in their milk supply company and the products they make; TAF gives us an opportunity to do that,” he told Rural News. Marwood plans to buy units. But it’s up to other farmers to make their own decisions, he adds. BSC recently held 20 supply meetings addressed by Fonterra staff. “We have talked this through with farmers. I’m confident some
will buy units but we have made it clear they should obtain financial advice.” On a recent visit to Australia, Fonterra directors met BSC board members to discuss TAF among other things. Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden says one of the questions always raised by Australian suppliers is how they could become part of the co-op. “It’s not possible for them to own shares but TAF offers them to buy units and brings suppliers closer to Fonterra,” he said. “They want to feel part of the co-op. They can invest in units but ownership and control is out of question.” Fonterra’s TAF prospectus released on October 26 has two key components: shareholders may sell the economic rights of a portion of their shares to the Fonterra Shareholders Fund; the public may apply to buy units in FSF. Fonterra shareholders can sell economic rights of up to 25% of shares. The offer to investors of $500m of units opened Monday and closes
November 21. Oversubscriptions worth $25m will be accepted. Although there is no general public offer, investors can buy units through the broker firm offer, available only to New Zealand resident clients of NZX Firms who have received an allocation. Fonterra employees, sharemilkers and retired shareholders can also buy units under the ‘Friends of Fonterra Offer’. Van der Heyden says it’s too early to say how many farmers will sell economic rights of their shares. “TAF packs have just arrived on farms and farmers will have a good look at it before making a decision.” He says not all shareholders will need the flexibility offered by FSF right now. If economic rights offered by shareholders are less than the minimum fund size of $500m, Fonterra will issue shares to make up the shortfall. Fonterra doesn’t intend to permanently retain the resulting equity, says van der Heyden. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
ALPINE CLEARSPAN SHEDS ™
✓ Bird proof ✓ Free delivery nationwide ✓ Best value ✓ Best service ✓ Galvanized box section rafters
BUY ALPINE, BUY PEACE OF MIND Phone now for your FREE Brochure pack
0800 428 453 www.alpinebuildings.co.nz
WILSON
THERE APPEARS to be more optimism in Europe for the long-term future of New Zealand lamb than there is here at home. That’s the view of B+LNZ chairman Mike Petersen, just home from an eightday whistle-stop tour of Europe where he met the leaders of all the major farming organisations. Petersen told Rural News he was pleasantly surprised at the level of confidence among food producers. Lamb producers were buoyant about the coming season. Mike Petersen “Sales of domestic lamb have been up in the last quarter and at higher prices so that’s why the domestic farmers are feeling pretty confident,” he says. Petersen says in the past, European farmers focused on the short term, but now they are looking to long-term opportunities including their market of 500 million people. “There’s now a realisation there that beef production is falling critically low and so there are big opportunities for beef. Secondly the farming leaders told me they have never seen the retailers and the processors so interested in talking about supply in the coming season. There is a strong interest
from retailers to make sure they can secure food; so the mindset has changed there.” Petersen says the terrible summer in the UK will help lift sales of lamb and beef. The wettest summer in 114 years has resulted in a poor harvest. “They expect the cost of feed to be very high so that’s flowing through now into the chicken and pork sectors and lifting prices. This in turn is reducing the differential in pricing with other meats which is helpful to underpin the beef and lamb price in the coming season,” he says. Petersen says New Zealand now has a very good relationship with European farmers. Five years ago they were exchanging brickbats across the world but this has changed. Two years ago New Zealand ran a ‘sheepmeat forum’ in Brussels, attended by European farmers and representatives of New Zealand, Australia and South America. Such was its success they want New Zealand to run it again. “A number of key issues resonate with all of us, particularly falling consumption in some key markets, the need to increase productivity and to get better extension out on farms. The other key issue is farm succession – bringing young people into farming,” he says.
What comes around... REMEMBER THE ‘food miles’ campaign of recent years, when UK consumers were told they should source food locally because produce from the antipodes was adding to global warming problems? Now the carbon boot is on the other foot: UK farmers are outraged by reports advising Britons to eat New Zealand lamb rather than the local product to help protect the environment. A report by British scientists found New Zealand produces fewer emissions; it is more environmentally friendly to ship our lamb to Britain than for Britons to eat their own lamb. The ‘Climate Change and Food Systems’ report says New Zealand farms produce fewer emissions than British, because of the amount of fertiliser used in the UK
and the type of feed. Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills welcomed the report as “positive news” but British farmers are said to be outraged. Prepared by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the report claims Britain would be better to import New Zealand lamb produced more efficiently than on British farms. “Many countries could make big cost savings by cutting emissions,” said Bruce Campbell, who heads the CGIAR research programme on climate change, agriculture and food security. “There are good economic reasons to improve efficiency in agriculture, not just to cut greenhouse gas emissions.”
POLYETHYLENE LIQUID STORAGE TANKS
www.wilsonplastics.co.nz
The Wilson Tank range was originally designed to replace galvanised Tanks and has now expanded to include eleven tanks. Ideal for bach’s, houses, implement and bore water. They catch the water which would otherwise be down the drain.They come with leafstrainer, 20mm outlet and 50mm overflow seal.The standard colour is Mist Green other colours are available at an extra cost.
We have produced a new TS260 (260L) tank to our range. Basically a squat T450 which is ideal ALL for transportN EW ing water and also as an emergency water supply.
The height of the TT 1200 makes it ideally suited for gravity fed soaker hose.
AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL FARM OR IRRIGATION STOCKIST
PHONE
06 357 8562
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 5
Most important animal in paddock forgotten PETER BURKE
A SOCIAL scientist, Dr Neels Botha, of AgReseach, says local councils underestimate the social impact of major policy changes on peoples’ lives. Botha has made three social-impact assessments in the Lake Taupo catchment during the Variation 5 process, which has resulted in strict limits on the amount of nitrogen allowed to be leached by farms in the catchment. The resulting upheaval includes many farmers being forced to quit their farms. “The social impact
is very often forgotten,” Botha says. “What a lot of people don’t realise is that the farmer is the most important ‘animal’ in the paddock. Farmers make decisions about what happens on the farm and that will impact the environment and a lot of other things. Yet when a lot of these big policy changes are being run, the policy makers forget about the farmers.” Botha says one key lesson from his research, which he notes is applicable in other parts of the country, is that policy makers fail to understand the human cost of their policies on
people and their lives. “We’ve ignored this for too long. I also think it’s irresponsible to inflict that kind of stress on people and not to have mechanisms in place to help them deal with it prop-
erly at an emotional level. Support should be there all the time because stress goes up and down all the time. People particularly need support at the beginning of a process when they don’t know what’s
going to happen. There’s a lot of stress at this time,” he says. Another common concern of farmers is that they feel they are being talked to and not listened to. Consultation and dia-
Soft vs hard science BEFORE NEELS Botha became a social scientist he was, as he puts it, a “hard scientist” working in laboratory and field. His background was in animal science before he changed careers and went into social science. He says there’s quite a difference between the two areas of science and the scientists themselves think differently and have different views
of the world. “Hard science is about repeating experiments over and over again until it’s constant and you can control things. “In social science you can’t control much. You work with people and you can’t control anything because people keep changing their minds and they give you different feedback because they learn new things as they grow,” he says.
Neels Botha
logue are two mis-used words Botha says. “Often the traffic flow in communication is one way. What farmers told us about the
Variation 5 process was that they didn’t get a sense people listening were to them and that annoyed them.”
Pressure goes on Canty water users
Environment Canterbury last week said about half of the water users have installed appropriate water measuring and recording devices, though some installations are recent so have not yet sent use data. About 30% have recently contracted installation of a water measurement system. “After November 10 it is our intention to treat these water users as compliant while they work with Environment Canterbury or the service industry to meet the intent of the regulations,” says Judith Earl-Goulet, extension services manager at Environment Canterbury.
ENT ERY $1000 SP TRY FOR EV EQUIPMENT EN E ON E G & EID RECEIV ST WEIGHIN ON TRU-TE
Not all beets are the same SF Brigadier - New Zealand’s # 1 fodder beet a
Proven over thousands of hectares
a
Multiple years of NZ based trial data
a
Versatility of a true grazing type
a
Lowest bulb DM% = any stock class
a
Highest above ground yield
a
Exceptional utilisation
Do other varieties tick all the boxes? SF Brigadier is available from leading seed retailers
www.seedforce.co.nz
: PRIZE INCLUDES it Sp • Catered BBQ/ e th r roaSt fo to winner and up r ei th at e pl o pe 20 h it w reSidenCe SpeCial gueStS d an andrew hore . Ck o tony woodC • $500 liQuor vouCher. zon • gaSmate hori $799. at BBQ valued
oTHEr SYSTEMS aVaILaBLE
EID WEIGHING SYSTEM
$3795 ID3000 WEIGH SCALE + XRS StICk READER
XRS StICk READER
$2295
save $560*
SRS StICk READER
INCL GST
About 30% have recently contracted installation of a water measurement system.
A third group, about 20% of users, have not responded to ECan letters or other communications so appear not to have water measurement systems installed. “We will be focusing on this group after November 10, starting with a letter and a compliance visit, at the consent holder’s cost, to establish water measurement status, discuss options and encourage them to register with industry to get a system installed. “If people fail to act within two weeks of our visit it is likely they will receive an abatement notice – a further cost of around $750 – and if [there’s] no action within three days further enforcement action is likely.” Donkers was re-elected chairman of Irrigation NZ at its October 18 annual meeting, Oamaru. Previous chair Graeme Sutton retired from the board and was presented with honorary membership after 11 years with the organisation. During that time membership’s grown from 150 to over 3600.
$1295
INCL GST
IRRIGATION NEW Zealand’s chairman says he’s confident most Canterbury water users with takes of over 20L/second will meet the November 10 deadline for having such takes metered and logged. “I work out in the field with spray irrigators and most of them are connected [to meters and loggers],” John Donkers told Rural News. “There will be some not connected but most of those are booked in with a supplier [of meters/loggers] and ECan has said it will allow some leeway where that’s the case…. There was a bit of a capacity constraint in getting all this done by the deadline.” Donkers says the issue now is how the information gathered is interpreted by the council. He hopes it isn’t used “as a club to beat up water users” and there’s a window for users to make amends where takes are found not to be what was expected. “I think farmers and all water users have done a fantastic job meeting
this deadline. They’ve spent a lot of money doing this and the community as a whole is going to be a lot better informed on water use as a result.”
INCL GST
A n d rew Swa l low
FaST, accuraTE & ruGGED.
LEtS tALk. CALL 0800 2MEaSurE (0800 263 278) oR vISIt WWW.Tru-TEST.coM/MaDE2MEaSurE Promotion period 1 November – 19 December 2012. See www.tru-test.com/bootsnallbarbie for full terms and conditions. Prices are GST inclusive and subject to change. Saving based on purchasing products individually at Tru-Test RRP.
Rural News // November 6, 2012
6 news
A&P shows help bridge rural-urban divide a n d rew swa llow andrews@ruralnews.co.nz
NEW ZEALAND’S agricultural and pastoral shows (A&Ps) have a key role to play in bridging the growing urban-rural divide,
says Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) president Bruce Orr. Speaking to Rural News as another A&P season gets into full swing, Orr said New Zealand has “probably lost a genera-
tion” of new entrants to agriculture. Many shows are seeking to address that. “We spend a lot of time on youth. The aim is not only for A&Ps to entertain; one of the big things
is to educate.” That may be subtle, almost subliminal, through pets’ corners including farm animals, or more direct. “There’s still a misconception about farming that it’s something you do because you
can’t do anything else.” Orr says the RAS is working with several “like minded organisations” to try to fast-track the next generation into the industry. “We’re all working for a common cause.”
Pet lambs: just one of the A&P attractions. Lucas Paterson and Shadow placed third in the fiveyear-old and under section at Ashburton.
W SUPER LO ##
% 3.95
P.A.
RATE FINANCE
Part of the challenge is to give A&P shows more appeal. Some, such as Wanaka, Gisborne, Kumeu and Canterbury, never struggle for numbers, but others struggle, though they are meticulously organised with many exhibits and features. The sheer number of shows on the calendar is an issue. “There are 94 or 95 different A&Ps but who is the RAS to say those three societies should run one show instead of three?” Orr says the recent Royal Show at Waikato’s Claudelands Event Centre “went very, very well.” “The weather shone
favourably on us and that makes a world of difference. The grounds were impressive with the new $60m facility the council has built used to the full. “I’d have liked to have seen more people but with Waikato being a dairy region [the show] always clashes with mating, silage making and planting maize.” Waikato hosted the Royal Show for the past two years; in 2010 there was no Royal Show; and Christchurch hosted it for three years prior to that, breaking the traditional rotation around five venues.
Farmers to have say in review sud esh k i ssun
SHAREHOLDER CONSULTATION on Fonterra’s governance review will start early next year. The review, including looking at reducing the number of farmer-elected directors by one to make room for another independent director, is raising eyebrows among shareholders. Some farmers will table a resolution at its annual meeting next month protecting against a reduction in farmer directors. But Fonterra director Malcolm Bailey, who jointly chairs the review committee with Coromandel shareholders councillor Dirk Sieling, says its early days and he doesn’t want to pre-empt the process. Bailey points out shareholders will have the final say on any changes proposed by the committee. The changes will be constitutional so they will require 75% approval from shareholders who vote. On board composition, he says bringing in another independent director at the expense of one farmer-elected director is “not an outcome”. “We acknowledge it is broadly in the scope,” he told Rural News. Bailey says Fonterra is growing offshore and having a director with knowledge and experience of other regions will be good. Fonterra’s 13-member board is made up of nine farmer elected directors and four independents. Three Fonterra independent directors – Sir Ralph Norris, John Waller and Ralph Waters – also have business to page 11
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 7
Crack down on cowboy baby formula traders urged SUDESH K I SSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
THE GOVERNMENT’S crackdown on unlawful infant formula exports should target backyard operators, says dairy analyst Tim Morris. The $150 million in unlawful exports highlighted by MPI is almost double the $82m sales through supermarkets in 2010. Morris, head of research firm Coriolis, agrees the $150m problem isn’t caused by Chinese immigrants sending a few cans of infant formula home to their relatives. A problem of this scale requires millions of cans in hundreds of shipping containers, he says. “There are a lot of people involved all across the supply chain, including manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers. The MPI figure suggests that a third to a half of infant formula sold in supermarkets is probably being
exported and an additional five times as much is being sold through backyard operators before ever reaching retail,” he told Rural News. According to Morris, cowboy traders buying infant formula through the ‘back door’ via supermarkets or from contract packers and exporting to China present the biggest risk. Most of the exported infant formula ends up in China. Last month the MPI and Customs wrote to wholesalers, freight forwarders, supermarkets and known exporters advising that action is being taken to stop this unlawful export trade. Under New Zealand law (Animal Products Act 1999) only registered exporters can export dairy material, including products such as infant formula. If someone posts or ships infant formula from New Zealand without following the regulations for
exporting dairy products then they are operating unlawfully and outside the regulated export supply chain, says MPI. “We appreciate some people may not be aware they have been operating outside the law and we are taking steps to inform and educate during this process,” MPI manager food and beverage Glen Neal says. “Our action is to protect the confidence New Zealand’s international trading partners have in our system of standards for exports, and at the same time ensure a level playing field for all exporters of animal products in New Zealand. “MPI is talking to known exporters to give them the opportunity to either stop trading, or investigate ways to export infant formula through lawful pathways.” MPI acknowledges it has taken authorities some time to get a picture of the
unlawful trade. Morris describes the Government intervention as “a solid move – and not a day late or dollar short.
But they are now suddenly coming in quite heavy handed, threatening fines of $400,000 for companies and $75,000 for individuals. I doubt we’ll see dawn raids, kicking down doors to take away grandma. It’s the multi-million dollar cowboys they are after.” According to an AC Nielsen market information digest, in 2010, New Zealand supermarkets sold $82m of infant formula, up almost 37% on the previous year. With
New Zealand mothers encouraged to breast feed, authorities suspect some of this product is posted by consumers to relatives in China. However, the bigger worry is the source of the remaining infant formula that ends up as unlawful exports. Auckland-based GMP Pharmeceuticals buys infant-formula base powder from New Zealand dairy cooperatives. It produces about 300,000 cans of product every month for 20 customers. GMP New Zealand
@rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
WIN A LED LENSER P7 ONLINE Congratulations to John Pearce for winning last week
Stiff penalties apply THE PENALTIES for not following the infant-formula export rules are significant: exporting infant formula without registration incurs a penalty of up to $300,000 for corporations and $50,000 for individuals.
chief executive Minesh Patel welcomes the MPI crackdown. It is good for everyone, he says. “From a China consumer perspective, they get product which is fully traceable, quality assured by MPI; if there’s any issue they can contact the local person who imported it. From New Zealand’s perspective, it will streamline whole infant-formula exports, and give more confidence to MPI and all manufacturers.”
There are also big penalties for failing to comply with a risk management programme under the Animal Products Act. Fines are up to $100,000 for corporations and $25,000 for individuals.
LED Lenser’s most popular torch is guaranteed to impress you with its outstanding brightness and range. VISIT WWW.RURALNEWS.CO.NZ TO ENTER
Earn 2 Rewards points for every $1 you spend on selected agri-chemicals and seed*. Sign up when you buy selected agri-chemicals, seed or fertiliser and receive 5,000 points to get you started!**
Tropotox® Plus
Sovereign Kale
38V12 Silage CRM 88***
A great herbicide for use on establishing pastures. Tropotox Plus controls many key weeds at the seedling stage in young pasture. A clover safe product, which can be used after clovers have reached the 2 trifoliate leaf stage. Use when weeds are at seedling stage for best results.
Sovereign is a very popular kale that combines quality with a good yield potential. Sovereign has a very high top end yield potential, although average yields are around 12-14 t DM/ha, depending on management and environment. The majority of Sovereign sowings occur from late November through to mid December.
Strong early emergence, excellent roots, sound stalks and impressive drought tolerance, which together with superior staygreen adds appeal to this silage stalwart. Delivers stable, top-end yields, while maintaining comparative yield advantage in moderate to challenging environments.
*Open to existing PGG Wrightson Rewards members only. Qualifying products to be purchased between 1 September and 31 December 2012, with bonus points awarded the month following purchase. **Open to PGG Wrightson accounts that enrol in the PGG Wrightson Rewards programme between 1 September and 31 December 2012, subject to PGG Wrightson approval. Sign up bonus points awarded the month following purchase of qualifying products. For qualifying products and full terms and conditions see www.pggwrightson.co.nz. Find out more about PGG Wrightson Rewards at www.pggwrightson.co.nz/rewards or call 0800 62 62 62. ***For Pioneer product positioning information, talk to PGG Wrightson. Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchasing, which are part of the labelling and purchase documents. ®, ™, , Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
Rural News // November 6, 2012
8 news
Growers wait for further impact of Psa PAM T I PA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
IT IS too early to tell how much impact climate and environment have on the spread of Psa in kiwifruit vines, says horticultural scientist Dr Ian Warrington. However growers will make economic decisions, including whether to stay in the industry, before the science is conclusive, he told Rural News. His comments follow Zespri chairman John Loughlin saying recently growers in lower lying or cold and wet environments may have to look at changing their land use. With Psa now in Hawkes Bay and North-
land, it will be telling how well plants stand up to the disease in those climates, Warrington says. This will be combined also with knowledge from Italy and Chile. Warrington says a huge amount is still to be learned about Psa. “Like a lot of disease it has conditions where it thrives, and others where it is suppressed,” he says. “It is too early to tell whether its spread is being dramatically altered by climate or by environment or not. If it is, that will give a hint as to where the plants are best able to tolerate the disease. “They won’t be resistant to it but they will tolerate it better if [Psa’s] life
cycle is disrupted by the prevailing weather conditions. We will have to wait and see what happens in Hawke’s Bay, Nelson (currently Psa-free) and
know yet and it is up to orchard owners to decide how much risk they are prepared to take. “It does appear that vines that go through a
“It does appear that vines that go through a colder, wetter winter are more susceptible to an attack in spring and those growers may be better to quit the crop.” Northland . “It may also be that different cultivars perform differently in different regions. The New Zealand industry is very reliant on Bay Plenty and it might be we are better to diversify into other regions.” But he says we don’t
colder, wetter winter are more susceptible to an attack in spring and those growers may be better to quit the crop. It may be that the warmer, more rapid advances of spring in Northland will prove to be more favourable to the vine and less to bacteria
but that is sheer speculation and there’s no proof yet.” Warrington, who is copresident of the International Horticultural Congress, says the assessment will be international. “The Italians know the spread is more severe in some regions …. in Chile you have got the spread over a range of latitudes –whereas our climate is strongly influenced by the fact we are a set of islands so our extremes are very much dampened down by the influence of the ocean around us. “That’s not the case in Italy but their winters are more severe than ours.” A couple of seasons are not long enough to fully
FREE
DELIVERY*
L A R RU P U D N U O R 12 SPRING 20 RD
DEC 3 OCT 2ND -
ST DEA
S & THE BE
U
WHERE YO
OUNTRY! LS IN THE C
AL SUPPLIE NTIAL RUR
AY! GIVEAW
SPEND $1,499 OR MORE ON ONE INVOICE & GET A FREE CHILLY BIN!
S
IPE WATER P
GREENLINE POLYETHYLENE PIPE
ESSE COME FOR
ERS CK FEED
STO
PROMAX ROUND BALE FEEDER $1389
Various sizes FROM $1.08/m
ANKS WATER T BAILEYS TANKS Various sizes FROM $411
REDLINE POLYETHYLENE PIPE
BAILEYS CARTAGE TANKS
Various sizes FROM $1.57/m
$425
PROMAX MEAL TROUGH $562
S & VALVE FLOATS HANSEN FLOATS & VALVES FROM $54
E ENE PIP ALKATH Various sizes FROM $0.96/m
APEX ANKA $22EA 20mm Spray Gun
$90EA Rain Aid 20mm
assess. Bacterial diseases are the worst to control and it takes a long time to build knowledge. “Growers on marginal land will make deciIan Warrington sions on economic grounds well before we understand build that up.” This season in New fully the interaction of Zealand will be critical the bacteria with the host in watching the impact plants, the range of cultiin various regions of the vars and the climates.” country. The best strategy for “Then in 12 months’ growers on better land is time we will have a roundto diversify into the new table conference on Psa cultivars. with people from different “Growers will have to parts of the world commake economic decisions paring notes and trying on the best knowledge at to sort some of this stuff the time. While it would out.” be nice to have more knowledge currently, it @rural_news will take more time to facebook.com/ruralnews
APEX XCESS FULL FLOW THROUGH VALVE
ASK FOR QUOTES ON BULK ORDERS
35%
POLYPROPYLENE BALL VALVES
$35EA
OFF
NICKEL PLATED BALL VALVES
APEX VISI-BALL WATER LEVEL INDICATOR $157EA
BALL VALVES BRASS GATE VALVE
DEALS ALSO AVAILABLE AT SELECTED MICO AND MASTERTRADE BRANCHES | T: 0800 101 999 F: 0800 101 777 W: www.mico.co.nz For full address details please see our website www.mico.co.nz or phone us for your nearest store. All major credit cards plus CRT Card and Farmlands Card accepted. Special prices valid from October 2nd – 3rd December 2012. Discounts are off our normal Mico Pipelines retail price. Actual product supplied may be different to that pictured but identical in quality and price. Some promotional items are strictly while stocks last. All prices include GST unless otherwise stated. Free Mico chilly bin – while stocks last. CDNZ reserves the right to change prices or deals without prior notice. Gifts/prizes are not transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash, credit or products. * Subject to size & nature of order - see instore for details.** Receive two free Milkers Aprons when you purchase an H J Coopers dairy cylinder. *** Buy a Rheem dairy cylinder 250 or 350L and receive a Fin Nor Boat Road & Reel, valued at $150. Or buy a Rheem dairy cylinder 450 or 600L and receive a Fin Nor Boat Road & Reel, valued at $299.
New Zealand’s most experienced Agri team. Call 0800 807 711 to speak to an Agri Manager near you.
anz.co.nz/more ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited ANZ0648\TBWA
Do You Have Tank or Trough Valve Problems? Protect Your Pump
Valve Closes at Maximum level
Valve Opens at Minimum level
Reliable
Enables you to set a Minimum and Maximum water level when filling your tank with a pump ✔ Lengthen your Pumps Life with Less on/off Cycles ✔ Prevent Pump Burnout caused by Dry Tank Syndrome ✔ Combine with Rain Harvesting to take advantage of Natures Reserves ✔ High Performance & Cost Effective (1275 lpm at 12 bar) ✔ Adjustable Minimum & Maximum on/off control HAND TESTED
Leveller Valves
are rigorously hand tested using both Air and Water
Trough Valve
✔ User friendly design helps eliminate Stuck Valve Syndrome ✔ Operates consistently at High/Low pressures in Clean/Dirty water ✔ Refill your trough in less time - Rapid 188 LPM
• Available in Acetyl or Brass with multiple thread combinations • Low operating pressure reduces pumping costs & increases flow (0.2-12 bar) • Variable open/close action to prevent valve bounce and water hammer HAND TESTED
lo Valves are rigorously hand tested using both Air and Water
Reliable
Trough/Tank Valve
✔ User friendly design helps eliminate Stuck Valve Syndrome ✔ Suitable for side, bottom or top entry ✔ Refill your trough in less time, Massive 570 LPM
• Operates consistently at High/Low pressures in Clean/Dirty water • Variable open/close action to prevent valve bounce and water hammer • Low operating pressure reduces pumping costs & increases flow (0.2-12 bar) • Mini body design to enable easy installation HAND TESTED
lo Valves are rigorously hand tested using both Air and Water
Proudly Kiwi Owned and Operated Since 1958
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 11
On-line dairy seminars kick-off pa m ti pa
DAIRY WOMEN’S Network (DWN) last week launched its online training programme, with a seminar on ‘Retaining the Right People’. The group will persist in delivering the seminars despite limited access to high-speed internet ser-
vices in many rural communities. Chief executive Sarah Speight says as dairy women’s lives get busier, the network needs to stay relevant and innovate in how it delivers training. “The network was founded on using technology to empower dairying women. Our email forum
which started in 2002 was a leading innovation at the time and is still well-used. Sure, there are limitations to what we can do, but our members have said they don’t want limited access to broadband to [limit]… services.” The network’s Dairy Day one-day workshops run twice a year across the
country on topics including essential business skills and on-farm practices. Speight says a prerecorded webcast format, rather than a live webcast, minimises some problems caused by slower internet speeds. The webcast could be watched anytime online, or downloaded onto DVD or as an audio
file for watching offline. DWN worked with OneFarm to develop the webcast. OneFarm is a joint venture between Massey and Lincoln Universities supported by DairyNZ and the Government’s Primary Growth partnership. The first Dairy Days webcast is on developing
human resources skills for dairy farm employers, and is now available to members. Speight says while rural internet access and speed was still a challenge for many, rural New Zealanders expected the same access to online services as their urban neighbours.
Fonterra review from page 6
experience in Australia, a major part of Fonterra’s overseas operations. With Fonterra’s push in China and other parts of Asia, there has been talk of appointing a director with business experience in the region. Farmers, concerned with the governance review, also wants constitutional changes on the appointment of chairman. Spokesman Lachlan Mackenzie says only farmer directors should appoint the chairman. Our constitution does not state that farmer elected directors should determine who chairs the board, he says. “A consequence of this exposure is the risk we could end up with the majority of people governing Fonterra , whose main income has never been, and never will be , dependant on profitability from farming.” The joint committee is also reviewing the role of the Fonterra Shareholders Council. Bailey is not ruling out a change in the composition of the council, which has 35 elected members. Bailey says the advent of TAF (trading among farmers) means a change in the workload of both the board and the council. Under TAF, the council will relinquish its role to appoint an independent valuer, who decides the value of Fonterra shares. “Councillors will play a more advocacy role and be more active at regional levels,” he says. “So the scope is broad and we’re not ruling in or ruling out anything. The committee is receiving feedback from the councillors as part of its work.” Bailey says Fonterra is 11 years old and it’s time to review the governance model. “We’ve been talking about this for a while but the review has just got underway,” he says. A consultation document will be presented to farmers next autumn.
Another suit from the big smoke is the last thing you need.
Offer exclusive to
GREAT VALUE. NO BUTS!
Receive a
Farming’s a serious business, so you’ve probably already got a handful of advisers from the city. But when it comes to insurance, the city is the last place you’ll want to look. You need someone who understands life on the land like we do, someone who can give you the benefit of advice learnt from over 100 years. Ask around about us, or for some advice call 0800 366 466.
FRee Gasmate PoRtable bbQ*
Speedrite 36000RS Mains Energizer TM
$1950
Offer available from 1 November – 31 December 2012 or while stocks last.
That’s what works out here.
NOTHING BUT
SERIOUS POWER!
www.speedrite.com
www.speedrite.com
FMG0 G 213 3
*BBQ by redemption.
Sarah Speight
Rural News // November 6, 2012
12 news
Concerns at dilution of farmer representation sud es h k i ssu n sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
ELECTION OF farmer directors is sacrosanct to a cooperative, says former Fonterra Shareholders
Council chairman Blue Read. He says any moves to dilute farmer representation on the co-op board must have the full backing of shareholders. Read,
who is contesting the Fonterra board election, says he’s not in favour of reducing farmer directors on the board. A governance review underway is looking at the
composition of Fonterra’s board. Currently it has nine farmer-elected directors and four directors appointed by the board. The review includes looking at decreasing farmer
directors to eight and having five independents. Fonterra shareholders are questioning the timing and implications of a governance and representation review.
Blue Read
Read, who is also chairman of New Zealand Cooperatives Association, says a governance review is fine but it must not be done in isolation. “It’s always good to see how we can improve things,” he told Rural News. But farmers have the last say. The election of farmer directors is one of the two ways of farmers exercising control in their co-op. The other is supplying milk. The right to determine who serves on their board is sacrosanct to farmers.” Shareholders Council chairman Ian Brown says the review has been on the agenda “for about a year” and should not be news to shareholders as he wrote about it a few months ago in the Fonterra shareholder magazine, and it was discussed at the Fonterra networkers conference. The review is currently at a sub-committee stage and that committee is working through various
options. “The eight and five split is just one of the options – no more, no less. The status quo is obviously an option too.” Brown says it would be premature to go into all the options being considered and the Shareholders Council hasn’t yet formulated a view on what’s an appropriate way to proceed. “I think people are being presumptious to suggest there’s another restructure coming up. This is going to take at least another year to work through.” The review concerns much more than just the right number of farmer directors on the board of Fonterra, he adds. As for there being a “hidden agenda, or whether it’s being driven by any individual, the answer is definitely no.” “This is just another work stream that should be on the agenda. It’s not designed to happen tom @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
Popular job ELEVEN CANDIDATES will contest three Fonterra board seats this year. They are Blue Read, Donna Smit, Eric Ray, Grant Cochrane, Grant Rowan, Jacqueline Rowarth, Jan Marten Kingma, Lachie Cameron, Michael Spaans and the two incumbent directors John Wilson and Nicola Shadbolt. As in previous years, the candidate assessment panel (CAP) process was available to independently assess the capabilities, experience and qualifications of director candidates to help shareholders make an informed vote. While the CAP process is open to all director candidates, it is not compulsory. The CAP process results and candidate profiles will be sent to Fonterra shareholders with the voting papers on November 26 and will also be displayed on Fencepost via www.fonterra.com. Fonterra shareholders have the opportunity to meet candidates and ask questions at directors’ election candidate meetings scheduled for December 3-7. Voting packs containing candidate profiles will be mailed to eligible shareholders on November 26. Shareholders can vote by internet, fax or post. Voting is by single transferable votes. Voting runs from November 26 to 10.30am on December 15. The results will be announced at the annual meeting on December 17.
Prevention is always better than cure Whether you’re farming beef, dairy, deer or sheep, PGG Wrightson has the technical expertise and products to take care of your animal health needs. Talk to your local team for the latest information around internal parasite control, minimising drench resistance and maximising production with products that work within your budget.
RECEIVE 22L FOR THE PRICE OF 20L
Valid 1/8/2012 – 21/12/2012 or while stocks last.
CLiK® Spray-On
Vetrazin® Liquid
Combination Plus Tape Sheep Drench
Up to 18 weeks protection against flystrike, for all classes of stock and wool type. Unparalleled protection against blowfly strike with Rain-Lock™ technology keeping the Dicyclanil molecule on the wool fibre. Treat ‘em and forget ‘em.
If it doesn’t say Vetrazin, it’s not Vetrazin. Still Broad spectrum worm and tapeworm drench. the gold standard of cyromazine blowfly strike For pre weaning and weaning treatment of protection. lambs where tapeworm are a problem.
The only water-based IGR pour-on with a nil meat withhold that prevents flystrike and controls lice.
Grocery voucher offer applies to 10L.
Grocery voucher offer applies to 20L.
Grocery voucher offer applies to 10L.
MagNuM®
Grocery voucher offer applies to 20L or 22L promo pack.
WITH SELECTED ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS* Offer valid 1 Nov 2012 to 21 Dec 2012 *Offer valid 1 November 2012 to 21 December 2012. Receive one $30 grocery voucher with selected animal health products purchased at full retail pricing only. Offer does not apply to other special offers, trade purchases or promotions unless specified. Available while stocks last. See participating products and full terms at www.pggwrightson.co.nz.
Rural News // November 6, 2012
14 news
Yield payment scheme ups benefits to producers p e te r bu r k e peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
FARMERS COULD earn up to $6 a head more for their lambs by opting to go for a yield payment system, rather than the normal cents per kilogram (CPK) system. Alliance
shareholder-farmers who from the start of the spring lamb season opt for the yield system will earn the extra dollars if their lambs meet certain criteria. Grant Pine, an Alliance livestock rep at Waipukurau, told farmers at a recent BLNZ field day
about the scheme, which runs from October to May each year. Worthwhile financial incentives accrue to farmers whose lambs meet the criteria. “For a start the lambs have to meet a certain criteria with regard to weight – namely 14.5-21.2 kgDW.
TRAVEL FOR FARMERS Plan ahead for 2013! Travel with like-minded people enjoying a superb mix of farming, scenic and cultural highlights CHINA – May: Intriguing China including vibrant Beijing & Shanghai, a range of farms and enterprises, the Great Wall, Buried Warriors and the Silk Road plus a 3 day Yangtze River cruise and a unique stay in Inner Mongolia. SOUTH AMERICA – May: Chile, Argentina and Brazil diverse farming, cultural and scenic experiences. Buenos Aires, Santiago & Rio de Janeiro, Andes Mountains, Bariloche and Iguazu Falls. AFRICA – May: The best of Southern Africa... A wonderful array of farms, safaris, sights plus scenic garden route to Cape Town and Nampo field days. Stunning Victoria Falls/Botswana extension - amazing wildlife! TURKEY – May/June: Discover the delights of Istanbul, Gallipoli, Cappadocia and a short cruise on the beautiful Mediterranean. EUROPE – May/June: A grand farming, food and wine tour! Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France. CANADA & ALASKA – June: Join our popular tour taking in Victoria, Vancouver, the Rockies, Calgary, Niagara Falls and Quebec - magnificent scenery, wonderful farms plus an optional 8 day Alaskan Cruise QUEENSLAND – June: “Winter in the Sun” Brisbane to Cairns, outback stations, farm stay, Darling Downs, Barrier Reef and more. UK & IRELAND – June/July: Enjoy the best of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – Highland Show, farms, gardens, villages, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and more. USA – June/July: Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Mid West heartland and more – farms, sights and rural hospitality second to none. SCANDINAVIA – July: Farms, fiords, and sights in Sweden, Denmark and Norway plus beautiful Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Fantastic extension to Finland and St Petersburg, Russia.
Farm To Farm Tours
FARM TO FARM NEW ZEALAND TOURS
Secondly. The lambs go through a VIA scan (an imaging system which weighs and grades the carcase) which images the three primal cuts – the leg, loin and shoulder. From that data, if they meet certain yield requirements and are within the weight range they are eligible for the yield payment.” Pine says the level of payment depends on the number of lambs in a given line which meet the criteria. If over 80% of the line meets all criteria, then each qualifying lamb brings an extra $6 per head. If fewer than 80% qualify, then each qualifying lamb brings an extra
$4.20. He believes the targets are quite achievable and farmers in Hawkes Bay and nationwide have been meeting them. Question: is one breed of sheep better than another? Pine says ‘it’s more about the type of lamb than the breed’. “If you look at carcases of the same weight, they can be different sizes with some long and lean and others shorter and
Grant Pine
meatier. All will yield differently, even though they have the same dead weight. There is no fixed rule on this when identifying the ideal breed. Data captured from the CPT trails over the last 10 years can indicate trends; however region, climate and farm type and management also play a huge part.” An interesting fact to emerge from the field days
is the difference between North and South Island yields. The North Island plant yields overall are the highest in the group. Pine says all farmers are capable of achieving the criteria and it comes down to breeding and feeding the right type of lambs and getting them to the processing plant at the right time. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
Dairy no dent to Canterbury Show
Box 239, 77-83 High Street, Rangiora PH 03 313 5855 FAX 03 313 5596 EMAIL info@farmtofarm.co.nz
For more information email or phone us
www.farmtofarm.co.nz
0800 38 38 747
DESPITE THE continued swing to dairy across Canterbury, it hasn’t dented entries to the Cantebury A&P Show, says show society president Richard Lemon. In fact, if anything, it seems to have done the opposite, engendering a fighting spirit among sheep and beef exhibitors who seem keener to promote their wares, and their sectors. “We’re up 200 in the sheep and about 150 in the cattle.” As for dairy farmers, some ped-
igree breed enthusiasts are good supporters of the show, but most producers are focussed on milk in the vat and the dollars it’s cost to put there, he says. “The only opportunity for the A&Ps to attract them to shows is to perhaps to host agribusiness seminars.” But events organised by the A&P societies at other times of the year, such as winter feed or dairy heifer contests, do attract much more
interest, he notes. Shows hosted in or close to major urban areas, like Canterbury’s, present an ideal opportunity for the dairy sector’s leading organisations to showcase the sector to the general public, he adds. How much they will be doing that at this year’s event remains to be seen. Look out for Rural News’ report, November 20. • More on Canterbury A&P Show on page 23
RAINWEAR & BUFFALO BOOT SALE! 40% OFF! WHILE STOCKS LAST!!! WATERPROOF, HIGHLY BREATHABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT RAINWEAR
$66 valued at $220
$48 valued at
$42
$80 Sold Out of size 7
$160
$80 Sold Out of size 7, 8
(Prices include GST) Sold Out of sizes 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Sold Out of size S
Please add $10 Freight per order
$80
Sold Out of size 9, 10, 11, 12
$80
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 15
NAIT undergoing a few tweaks PETER BURKE
THE HEAD of NAIT, Russell Burnard, says the tagging of animals for NAIT is no longer a problem, but recording the movement of stock is an issue that still needs to addressed. He told Rural News that while good progress is being made with NAIT, the process is not embedded in the daily management routine of farmers. “It’s about recording movements and confirm-
is about 95%, well ahead of expectations. Burnard notes some dairy farmers are struggling with the rules which require them to tag all calves before they leave the farm. The system is intended to record stock movement and though NAIT recognises this imposes another task on farmers, it is a necessary one. Burnard says saleyards and meat processors have stepped up to meet their
as we get feedback from farmers,” he says. Burnard says a lack of rural broadband has been identified as a problem for some farmers; others struggle with technology. But other options are available, such as a paperbased systems, to ensure farmers can comply with the regulations.
problems with any of the NAIT systems, but tweaks are being made as processes are reviewed. “We are looking at ways of making our systems more intuitive to farmers so we will be consistently trying to review our system over the next sixnine months and make minor enhancements
“I am pretty happy with the first three months but it’s still a work-in-progress. We are focused on the feedback and seeing what we can do within the regulatory framework. We’ve got to make it easier for all to comply.” Meanwhile, NAIT will in the next few weeks begin nationwide meet-
ings for deer farmers. NAIT becomes mandatory for deer from March 1, 2013. Eight meetings will be held, two in the North Island and six in the South Island, beginning November 14 November at Waipukarau, Hawkes Bay.
Russell Burnard
“We are looking at ways of making our systems more intuitive to farmers so we will be consistently trying to review our system over the next sixnine months and make minor enhancements as we get feedback from farmers.” – Russell Burnard ing when farmers have received an animal from somebody. We are consistently wanting to make sure that farmers are aware they must complete their movements and that there are different ways of achieving this.” Burnard says it’s important to realise that NAIT is only three months into a three-year transition and that a lot has been achieved in a short time. Tagging at saleyards
NAIT obligations, but he admits there are occasional hiccups in transferring the data back to NAIT. Many of the problems relate to claims by farmers that animals have been tagged while processors say they haven’t. These matters are being worked through, Burnard says. “We have worked closely with those meat works to enhance their processes.” There are no major
McCook gets job WILLIAM MCCOOK has been appointed chief executive of the soon-to-be-merged Animal Health Board and NAIT. He currently heads the AHB. The chairman of the new board, Jeff Grant, says the new organisation will look at a future broader than just managing the functions of NAIT and the AHB. “We recognise the opportunity to apply and extend the abilities of the two existing organisations to other programmes, which will benefit and sustain New Zealand’s primary industries,” Grant says. The merger of NAIT and the AHB is due to be completed by July next year.
1.95%
FINANCE FROM *
The instruction to our salespeople is simple – do what it takes to trade-up on a new Deutz-Fahr tractor. To help them out we’ve dropped prices and given them the best finance deals available on the very best German tractors you can get. So contact your Deutz-Fahr dealer for never-seen-before pricing on Deutz-Fahr tractors in our “it’s time to do a deal” sale.
IT’S TIME TO DO A
DEAL SALE
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER
Need a Reliable Float Valve?
• • • •
Side, Bottom, Top Mounting Adjustable Float Levels Inbuilt Check Valve 0 - 150 psi (0 - 10 Bar)
jobevalves.com/rojo
WHANGAREI PUKEKOHE MORRINSVILLE TE AWAMUTU PUTARURU TAURANGA WHAKATANE ROTORUA
Power Farming Northland The Tractor Centre Maber Motors Power Farming Te Awamutu Maber Motors Capital Tractors Jacks Machinery Truck & Tractor Services
09 438 9163 09 238 7179 07 889 5059 07 870 2411 07 882 1310 07 543 0021 07 308 7299 07 349 6528
*Based on 40% deposit. Normal lending criteria and conditions apply.
www.deutztractors.co.nz
GISBORNE HASTINGS HAWERA FEILDING MASTERTON NELSON BLENHEIM WEST COAST
Power Farming Gisborne Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Power Farming Taranaki Power Farming Manawatu James Trucks & Machinery Brian Miller Truck & Tractor Marlborough Tractor Services Power Farming West Coast
06 868 8908 06 879 9998 06 278 0240 06 323 8182 06 370 8240 03 544 5723 03 572 8787 03 768 4370
CHRISTCHURCH ASHBURTON TIMARU ALEXANDRA DUNEDIN GORE INVERCARGILL
Power Farming Canterbury Power Farming Ashburton Power Farming Timaru Peter Watt Machinery Power Farming Otago Power Farming Gore Power Farming Invercargill
03 349 5975 03 307 7153 03 687 4127 03 448 8490 03 489 3489 03 208 9395 03 215 9039
Rural News // November 6, 2012
16 news
Carter gives strong message on Oz food plan PAM T I PA
AUSTRALIA’S FIRSTEVER National Food Plan must not end up costing food businesses on both sides of the Tasman more in regulation, New Zealand Minister for Primary Industries David Carter says. He delivered that message at bilateral meetings with Australian agricultural and primary
industries ministers in Auckland late last month. “A topic of significance to us was the Australian government’s determination to deliver a national food plan,” Carter told Rural News. “Because we have a common regulatory framework for food safety, our concern was as they deliver their food plan, whether it would impose unnecessary cost through regulation on food busi-
nesses. So we raised that point quite strongly.” Australian Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig is leading the food plan initiative which has just gone through public consultation. Objectives of the plan, according to an Australian government outline, include contributing to global food security, supporting global competitiveness and productivity
and reducing barriers faced by food business to access international markets. Ludwig attended the Standing Council on Primary Industries meeting in Auckland with agriculture or primary industries ministers from Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria. South Australia and Western Australia phoned in and New South Wales is also a member.
Agrimaster Mulchers
Radical NEW KN Series
The NEW Rotor/rear roller position means GREATER VALUE and BETTER RESULTS from
Horsepower SAVING - Less recirculated product CLEANER CUT - Great finish on grass SAFER - Closed hood safer on road-sides and around sheds BETTER option choice - Three blade options. Side shift or fixed hitch. Cutting widths 1.75m - 3.2m MORE USES - Particularly suitable for around dairy sheds and lanes, road sides and general topping Available in: 2.0m $8,559.oo plus GST
2.8m $9,642.oo plus GST 3.2m $11,990.oo plus GST Contact Paul Wilkins at
Racecourse Road,Washdyke, Timaru - Phone (03)688 2031 Email: sales@pwtractors.co.nz
Carter says the bilateral talks occur twice a year and this time it was New Zealand’s turn to host it. “The agenda was mainly Australia-centric; there were not a lot of items of particular significance to New Zealand but it is still interesting to hear how the Australians are moving to solve some of their problems. “One, for example, was their desire to move to a more formulated drought response mechanism for some farmers. That is effectively what we did some years ago in 2007 when we established the adverse events framework. “So it means there’s a more regimented approach to the response by the Australian government in the event of a drought and they are attempting to lower the expectations of significant assistance by the Australian government in the event of a drought. “We also talked a lot
about biosecurity and we gave the Australian ministers a briefing on our project Taurus which was the foot and mouth exercise we ran in March this year – the simulated response – and they were interested in how that went and what we learnt out of that.” Carter says Asian trade did not come up on the agenda this time. “But they are very cognisant
of the value of creating good trade relationships with Asia they are well aware the free trade agreement we established with China has been immensely beneficial to New Zealand.” Overall he says the meetings are a “pretty important chance to build relationships particularly with me and the minister Joe Ludwig”.
Nailing councils on costs CARTER SAYS they hope to progress legislation by Christmas which will see local government more accountable for costs. “We are keen to progress the better local government reforms because I think they will be of benefit to farmers,”
he says. “We are working on that legislation, that’s now finished at select committee and we are hoping to find time to progress that before Christmas. “We are working on the financial prudence
test regulation by which we are going to measure the financial performance of councils in a far more public way. “That will be of benefit to farmers who are significant payers of rates to local authorities.”
UNLIKE MIKE, A KINGHITTER POSTDRIVER IS A CHAMPION WITH A GOOD RECORD When you need a hard hitting world ranking postdriver choose one that won’t get turned away! Working closely with contractors and farmers world-wide for over 35 years, we have revolutionised postdriving technology to produce the champion of champion postdrivers. We have models to suit all requirements and have a broad range of accessories. Why support the amateurs when you can beat the odds with the KINGHITTER.
THE HEAVYWEIGHT IN POSTDRIVERS
PHONE 0800 476 868 or visit www.kinghitter.com
Rural News // november 6, 2012
news 17
No ‘bull’ co-op man has TAF concerns SUDESH K I SSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
WHAKATANE farmer Douglas Bull makes no apologies for being a champion of dairy cooperatives. On the verge of retirement, the former industry leader remains convinced TAF (trading among farmers) is a smokescreen for eventual listing of Fonterra. Bull, 75, is leaving the industry after a 50-year stint, 20 of them devoted to governance roles. Bull was chairman of Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company (RPDC) before its merger with two other regional processors to form Bay Milk Products in the 1970s. He was a director of Bay Milk before its merger with the New Zealand Dairy Group in 1992. He then became deputy chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board. Bull stepped down in 1997 to concentrate on his farm. A Fonterra supplier, Bull’s 373ha dairy property, Lake Farm, near Kawerau is on the market. Bull milks 850 cows and hopes to produce 320,000kgMS
this year. The farm comes with 320,000 Fonterra shares, worth nearly $1.5 million. He believes the time is right to retire but stresses it has nothing to do with Fonterra’s recent decision to embrace TAF, a controversial share trading scheme among farmers. ”I’ve been thinking about retiring for a while,” he told Dairy News. “The hills have got steeper and posts heavier so the time is right to step down. It’s a great opportunity for someone else to pick it up and take the next step.” Bull voted against TAF in June. He’s concerned it disassociates shareholders from the value of milk supplied, moving it away from the co-op model. On a Nuffield scholarship visit in 1975 to the UK, Bull saw Irish dairy processor Kerry ceding farmer control. He believes Fonterra is following a similar route with TAF. “Tensions over the new structure will eventually lead to Fonterra ending up on the stock exchange,” says Bull. Fonterra’s board argues
TAF is needed to stop capital washing in and out of the co-op, giving it a sound capital structure to expand. But Bull points out Fonterra could have expanded with funding from other sources. “TAF is a smokescreen. But as a majority of suppliers have voted for it, as a shareholder I accept the result.” As a co-op leader Bull has seen the benefits of the co-op model trickle down to farmer shareholders. Co-ops face challenges but these are overcome without ceding control to outsiders, he points out. As chairman of RPDC, Bull led it through some tough times. The co-op was forced to divest noncore businesses, including a cheese cake and ice cream business. In return for loans to prop up the co-op, RPDC appointed two non-farmers – an ANZ representative and an accountant to its board. It was a first for a dairy co-op in New Zealand and the move paid off, Bull says. “These two guys made a sterling contribution to the co-op and it took us
Douglas Bull
three years to retire debts through sale of non-core assets and our payout to farmers was again right up there with the best.” In 1987, when an earthquake flattened the coop’s Edgecumbe plant, it bounced back again. Bull
of spring water daily. Pivot irrigators, K-lines and lateral irrigators cover 220ha. Last year the farm won the environmental section of Bay of Plenty Balance Farm Environment Awards. The property, marketed by Bayleys, will be auctioned on November 21. Bayleys says the property is attracting interest locally and overseas.
from the NZDG, there were just eight. On his retirement plans, Bull says he will travel and devote more time to the Rotary Club. As a Rotarian, he has undertaken rural village projects in Samoa and Fiji.
Bull, who moved from north Auckland to Bay of Plenty to join the dairy industry also plans to stay in Whakatane which has been his home for 50 years. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
The beet specialists
Farm production boosted WHEN DOUG Bull and his late wife Teresa bought the farm in 1971, it was producing 30,000kgMS equivalent. Last year production topped 306,000kgMS and is forecast to reach 320,000kgMS this season. Cows are milked in a 60-bail rotary shed. After experiencing two straight dry seasons, Bull invested in an irrigation system two years ago. The farm has consent to draw 12,000m2
supported the merger of dairy co-ops. It allows farmers and the co-ops to leverage economies of scale. When Bull became chairman of RPDC, there were 50 dairy co-ops dotted over the country. When he stepped down
for experienced advice, talk to Seed Force Proven beet varieties for any situation and advice on anything beet freephone 0508 SEED FORCE (0508 7333 36) or visit our website
www.seedforce.co.nz
CROPLANDS LINKAGE SPRAYERS DEPOSIT NOW. 1 3 IN 12 MONTHS. 1 3 IN 24 MONTHS.
0
%
FINANCE OFFER*
3 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM All come with AR70 pump, UCM 4-way controller, hose reel, 30m of 10mm hose fitted with a Turbo 400 gun, and quality Cropmaster boom. 700 litre with 8 metre boom
1000 litre with 8 metre boom
1000 litre with 10 metre boom
$6,029.90
$7,954.90
$8,326.50
+$500 BONUS DOLLARS
+$750 BONUS DOLLARS
+$1000 BONUS DOLLARS
Freecall 0800 106 898 Freefax 0800 117 711 Email sales@croplands.com.au www.croplands.com.au
North Island, Upper North Island, Lower South Island
Greg Small 0276 879 010 Vic Barlow 0274 752 322 Rob Marshall 0272 486 822
Upgrade your sprayer with BONUS DOLLARS to spend on foam marker, controllers and accessories to setup your sprayer the way you need it. *1/3 deposit, 1/3 payment in 12 months, final 1/3 payment in the 24th month at 0% finance rate along with a ‘Bonus Dollars’ value attached to each sprayer to be used as a free upgrade at time of purchase. ‘Bonus Dollars’ are not redeemable for cash or other goods. Finance only available through Croplands Credit at participating dealers. Offer is subject to Croplands credit lending criteria. Supply subject to availability. Offer valid 22 October – 30 November on the three models shown only. See your local Croplands Territory Manager for full terms and conditions. All prices are exclusive of GST.
ALGO/CLE1814
13
Rural News // November 6, 2012
Lamb Market Trends
90%
80%
70%
This Year
Last Year
Beef Market Trends
ANZ0672 - Agri RN 70x544.indd 1
Rural News // november 6, 2012
Beef Capacity increasing at processing plants In the next couple of weeks, many processors would have increased their capacity with most plants up and running or with extra shifts in place. Whether plants will be able to fill up is the big question. The number of bulls being slaughtered is starting to pick up, along with competition and prices are struggling to find their feet with a variance of $4.30-4.45/kg last week. Local trade prices have a weaker undertone with prices $4.30/kg on average, while 300kg cwt export prime is close to matching this. In the South Island, backlogs are apparent in the local trade market with reports of a 1 to 3 week lag time for kill depending on who you talk to. A shortage of feed and uneasy schedules are the triggers with more farmers deciding to offload as the weeks progress. 300kg cwt bulls are only averaging $3.95/kg on limited numbers with similar weighted steers going for $4.10-4.20/kg. US imported beef prices track above last year US imported beef prices gained some ground a few weeks ago, with prices jumping more than US5c/lb in one week. The volume of beef being traded in this market is light, so the slight lift in end user demand experienced was likely to be noticeable. Prices have since levelled off and many traders believe they will hold into November as NZ cattle slaughter picks up along with the seasonal lift in US cow slaughter late October. Traders may not be too far wrong, as this would mean US imported beef prices will continue to follow an uncanny pattern to last year, but at a US10/lb to US20c/lb premium. The outlook for 2013 remains positive on the back of limited grinding beef supplies and it’s thought that US imported beef prices could reach new highs in the first half of next year.
Lamb
Lamb kill comparable to five year average levels The North Island lamb kill for the week ending Oct 20 was up 9% to 173,000 lambs, which is comparable to the five year average levels. The kill is predominantly made up of old season lambs, with new season lambs slow to come out. Farmers have been busy drafting off their hogget’s before they cut their teeth to avoid their value being slashed by being graded as mutton. Meat processors are being extremely strict on teeth this year with all mouthed to accommodate quota compliance without exception. Hogget prices have stalled on $5.61/kg (net) while new season lamb prices are approximately $6.00/kg (gross). In the South Island, a 16kg cwt hogget eased to $5.61/kg (net) last week as processors attempt to claw back some margins. As in the North Island, new season lamb prices are around $6.00/kg (gross). Handful of new season store lambs Farmers wait in anticipation to see where store prices for new season lambs will begin. Some saleyards around the North Island have had a handful of new season lambs, but not large enough numbers to get a good gauge on the market. As at the start of last week, around the $70/hd mark was common in the paddock for a medium lamb around 25kg lwt. This may have changed after a large sale that was anticipated at Stortford Lodge last Wednesday.
Dairy
Euro
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
UK Pound
Aug
US Dollar
Dairy production at or near peak levels New Zealand and Australian milk production is at or near its seasonal peak with manufacturers going flat tack with all plants at or near full capacity. Most of the sales activity is centred around current customers ongoing needs, with little available to fulfil enquiries from new potential customers. It’s hoped peak milk production will be maintained at these levels for an extended period of time to provide additional stocks for spot buyer interest. International dairy product prices in the Oceania region have been steady to slightly stronger over the past month.
30/10/12 4:45 PM
Rural News // November 6, 2012
20 world
Meat price lift ALAN HARMAN
EUROPEAN BEEF and pork prices this year have reached levels not seen since the disease outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in late 2000 and foot-and-mouth disease in early 2000. Agricultural banker Rabobank says the situation will continue next year. It says its research suggests supplies of cattle and hogs will remain tight in the European Union and globally until at least 2013 and this low production will lead to rising prices. EU meat industry margins have been pressured in recent years due to its inability to fully pass on the rising pork and beef prices. With feed costs nearing 2008 records the bank says the main question is what EU beef and pork production and resulting prices will be in 2013 and 2014. The January-September 2012 EU
as smaller producers of piglets are expected to cease production due to the EU sow stall ban. In addition, expansion at remaining producers will be hampered by the high feed costs and an export demand that will remain strong. Similarly, EU beef export demand surged since the end of 2010 after low global beef availability and the opening of the Turkish market for EU beef. The unexpected strong price upswing resulted Pork prices have in record beef prices, reached new above €4.0 (NZ$6.22) a levels not seen kg cwe since May 2012. since before “Tight supplies are the BSE and foot-and-mouth almost solely responscare in 2000. sible for the ongoing strong price levels in herd between 2006 and 2011, in turn 2012,” Rabobank says. “Together caused by low profitability in recent with an international supply capacyears due to high feed costs and ity that is expected to be further prespiglet prices up an average of 25% sured, EU beef supply will remain tight into at least 2014.” compared to year-earlier prices. Rabobank predicts a further 2% @rural_news decline in pork production in 2014 facebook.com/ruralnews pork price averaged €1.67 (NZ$2.60) a kg carcass weight equivalent (cwe) – €0.20 (41 NZ cents) above the 20042011 average. This resulted from the decline of 2.5 million head in the sow
Confused about ryegrass and persistency?
lolium boucheanum = hybrid ryegrass lolium perenne = perennial ryegrass check your seed certification tags on the bag to ensure you have a true perennial, if you haven’t got a tag then ask for it
www.seedforce.co.nz
Australian farmers question water buy back plan A CONTROVERSIAL plan by the Australian Federal Government to buy back water is causing alarm among farmers. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) wants the Government to rule out any future water buybacks in the MurrayDarling Basin. The Gillard government has pledged A$1.77 billion for water infrastructure to pump an extra 450 billion litres into the ailing Murray Darling basin to boost the health of the river system. Much of the water to be returned to the environment will be found through buybacks of irrigators’ water rights. But irrigators say this will destroy rural communities, particularly in southern NSW and northern Victoria. NFF chief executive Matt Linnegar says while it supports the Government’s push for better infrastructure, it disagrees with diverting more water from rural communities. “What this means is that if the states cannot meet their commitments under the existing agreement on infrastructure, the government will revert to buybacks to remove water from agricultural production,” he says. “We are today seeking a commitment from the government that some of the A$1.77 billion will be used on infrastructure within the already committed 2750GL to ensure no further water buybacks are necessary – and to rule out any future water buybacks. “We have been calling for balance in the Basin Plan from the very begin-
ning – balance that equally weighs the needs of the environment with the needs of the basin’s communities. “The Prime Minister recently recognised farmers as ‘frontline caretakers of our greatest assets,’ including water. Yet today, one of these great assets is being diverted away from rural communities in a move that will place a ceiling on the ability to expand food and fibre production.” Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Government is committed to reform for the Murray-Darling Basin that restores rivers to health, supports strong regional communities and ensures sustainable food production. “That’s why we will invest primarily in on-farm efficiency works that generate water savings for the environment and other projects as agreed by states,” she says. In October 2010, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority released a draft plan to secure the long-term ecological health of the Murray–Darling Basin. The plan includes cutting existing water allocations and increasing environmental flows. The Murray-Darling Basin covers 1 million square kilometres or about oneseventh of the total area of Australia. It contains 40% of all farms, which produce wool, cotton, wheat, sheep, cattle, dairy produce, rice, oil-seed, wine, fruit and vegetables for domestic and overseas markets. The basin produces one third of Australia’s food supply and supports one third of Australia’s total gross value of agricultural production.
DEMAND
BLUE NUT
FITTINGS FOR POLYTHENE PIPE
better by design Designed For Superior Strength The nut teeth bite into the pipe for better grip, this combined with the nuts internal taper which secures the pipe onto the barbs results in superior holding strength.
Non Threaded Design With no threads on the nut or the body of the fitting the problem of threads binding up with sand and dirt (particularly sandy and peaty soils) is eliminated. DISTRIBUTED BY:
Different Design, Better Performance
LEADING WITH KNOWLEDGE
Rural News // november 6, 2012
agribusiness 21
Growing future farming leaders PAM T I PA
THE WHANGAREI A&P Society wants to grow potential leaders in its plans for a residential agricultural training farm in Northland, says chairman Murray Jagger. It will be modeled on the highly successful sheep and beef training farms at Smedley Station in Hawke’s Bay and Waipaoa in Poverty Bay. Like them it will carry sheep and beef, and also have dairy training. “It is a live-in training module where the students learn life skills, they learn how to cook, look after themselves and social aspects as well as doing the training on farm.” The two-year residential programme will be targeted to the 17-21 age group and it will be fee paying. “We are trying to identify the ideal model and how it will fund itself,” says Jagger. “We are not targeting or finding a place for unemployed people; it’s not about finding a work stream. There will be an application process – we are only talking about 5-10 students at a time so it is not big numbers – it is not about volume of training it is about the quality of training we get out the other end. We want to identify and develop young potential leaders.” Buying a property, leas-
ing or having one gifted is being looked at. Several suggestions for land or ideas have already come forward from the public. “The first thing is to work out how it will fund itself and what’s the right property. Property is quite critical … it could be anywhere in the north.” Multiple funding mechanisms will be required which could include relinquishing some of the A&P Society’s investment property, but funding from other sources will also be needed. “We are looking at various options – it might be that someone says ‘that’s a great idea, I am prepared to lease my farm’ – and we will coordinate the running of it. “The whole thing is a concept at this stage. We are a pastoral organisation and we want to get back to grassroots and believe training young people is a good way to do it.” Chief executive Malcolm McKerrow says trainees would complete a two year programme resulting in the NZQA level 4 National Certificate in Agriculture. The trainees will leave the programme with practical hands-on skills that would produce well-rounded, agricultural staff – including stock work, pasture management and planning, with life skills such as cooking and cleaning added as
an extra bonus. Anyone interested in the training farm project can contact the society on (09) 438 3109 or email the chief executive
Malcolm McKerrow on mckerrow@wap.org.nz Whangarei A&P Society chairman Murray Jagger says the training farm would identify and grow agricultural leaders.
⅓⅓ ⅓ NZ WWW.SUZUKI.CO. SUZUKI 0800 NZ || WWW.SUZUKI.CO. SUZUKI 0800 0800 SUZUKI | WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ
(now) (now)
) 12months months) ((inin12
((inin24 ) 24months months)
Now available on the KingQuad 500XP and 750XP!
RURAL PROPERTY FINANCE
➠
0% INTE INTEREST REST
Get the best possible de al for your farm finance.
Take home home aa new new Suzuki KingQuad deposit 1/3deposit for1/3 todayfor Steertoday PowerSteer home 750Power or 750 Take 500 or KingQuad 500 Take (or use your your old old bike bike as as aa trade tradein), in),pay pay aaathird third in 12 months, and the third thirdin nalthird final thefifinal andthe months,and 12months, in12 use thirdin (or use pay in), trade (or in in months with interest.LT-A500XP LT-A50 0XP$15,995rrp $15,995rrp LT-A750XP $16,995rrp. $16,995rrp. 0%0%interest. LT-A750XP$16,995rrp. $15,995rrp–––LT-A750XP 2424 in 24 LT-A500XP interest. with months in
LT-A500XP $5,460 deposit LT-A750XP $5,793 deposit
Talk to your Suzuki dealer today! today! Suzuki dealer your Suzuki to your Talk to Talk
WE ARE INDEPENDENT – WE ARE NOT LIMITED TO ANY ON E BANK OR FUNDER See www.rural-finance
.co.nz
e.co.nz phone Stu on 021 800 228
promotus 4624 4624 promotus 4624 promotus
email stu@rural-financ
your ask Off rmal lending lending criteria apply, Suzuki for full localSuzuki details yourlocal and cost ask please Normal ask your please local Suzuki costplease andcost while or detailsand fulldetails 2012 forfull apply,for November 2012 30 November criteriaapply, until 30 valid until lendingcriteria ervalid Offer Normal last.No stockslast. while stocks or while 2012 or November 30 until valid er Off dealer. 12 months months and in 12 other promotion. and the 1/3 in the fi any other final nal with any deposit. 1/3 1/3 deposit. $375, 1/3 conjunctionwith inconjunction fee $375, availablein notavailable ernot Documentation fee Offer dealer.Off promotion. Documentation other any with conjunction in available not er Off dealer. 1/3 payment in 24 months. LT-A500XP quantities). colour (limited Red. LT-A750XP Yellow colour or Red, Green colour Red. LT-A750XP LT-A500XP colour months. LT-A500XP 24 months. Green or Yellow (limited quantities). in 24 Red, Green payment in colour Red, 1/3 payment LT-A750XP colour 1/3
Rural News // November 6, 2012
22 agribusiness
Local investment in agriculture helps all NZ WHILE I hear all the talk regarding foreign investment in New Zealand farming, I would like to focus on farming investment for locals. New Zealanders should be encouraged to invest in Kiwi farming; its relatively easy and it can be done with a few thousand dollars; so it’s an investment for everyone from farm hands to farm owners and even townies. Certain shares on the New Zealand Stock Exchange are referred to as ‘agrishares’; these are companies that earn most if not all their income from farming in this coun-
try. It is not hard to see the public distaste for banks these days and there are major issues with trust and banking processes; the fact that the bulk of the banks’ profits go offshore adds to an already heated topic. Interest rates are so low, great for mortgage holders, bad for cash deposits. Therefore agrishares should be seriously looked at as an investment, with most paying a decent dividend in the process, creating another way to keep money in New Zealand. If New Zealanders are so worried about our banking profits going offshore
then maybe we should look at other asset classes than property or just cash in bank. The changing face of farm ownership takes in a wide sector of business areas these days. Corporate farming is growing which brings farmers in contact with the urban world, an uneasy relationship at best in the past.
However corporate farming allows people from city areas to become involved in farming through investment and this brings economic benefits to both sides. Agrishare companies cover most forms of farming so the money generated will go back into farming and especially vital areas such as research and development (R&D). While companies will always look for new ways of doing things it is important not to forget our own businesses and what we’re doing, not always looking at someone else or looking to do things the same
LA ST SA DA NO LE Y VE E S M ND !
SPRING CLEAN UP SALE TORNADO RANGE
Robust UDOR ceramic plunger pump with brass head. 10 models from 1800 to 5000 psi. Genuine Honda engine with 2 yr warranty.
ALBERTI HOT CLEANERS
SAVE O UP T $800
UDOR ceramic plunger pump. Heavy-duty 4 pole electric motor. 230 & 400-volt models. Diesel hot water heater.
UDOR High quality Italian diaphragm pumps. From 17L/min to E 240L/min. PHON T O H 290 psi to R FO S 580 psi PRICE
R
S 16
ELECTROBLAST RANGE
in New Zealand farming is the proposed Trading Amongst Farmers (TAF) scheme. This will allow local investors to have the opportunity to buy investment units in certain parts of Fonterra. It works well here as Fonterra holds the clear majority of the company and a new financial product is created whereby individual Kiwi investors are able to own a part of the process, investing their money back into New Zealand by investing in and supporting New Zealand farming. This is what creates jobs in New Zealand and will keep jobs in New Zealand.
as someone else. These are the influences that drive change and innovation. Innovation in farming technology drives investment and trade; looking at such growth in this area it is exciting to see these changes. When locals invest in agrishares the important money needed for R&D comes from within the country. R&D does require extra government funding and this is often sought via the international financial markets which of course adds to our already expanding international debt. Another good example of domestic investment
In addition to this there are also exchange traded funds (ETFs). These are investment funds that hold a number of shares. An ETF can be put together for a specific industry i.e. an ETF that has all agrishares in it. From there the individual investor can buy units in the fund similar to buying units in the proposed TAF scheme. Shares within these funds can be tailored to the individual’s needs. Your financial advisor will have information on these. Agrishares are a little simpler; they can be purchased through any sharebroker but as always you should seek the guidance of a trusted financial advisor before entering into any financial market investment. • Francis Wolfgram has 15 years experience in financial markets, primarily in London and Sydney.
Canterbury A&P Show Sponsors
Two 230 volt and four 400 volt models with UDOR ceramic plunger pump & low rpm 4 pole (1440 rpm) motor for extended service life.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS/FUNDERS
SAVE UP TO $500
GRAND CHAMPION SPONSORS
HURRICANE PTO WATERBLASTER/SPRAYER CHAMPION SPONSORS 250 or 600 litre tank, 540 rpm gearbox. New UDOR 3000 psi 35L/min pump. Blast, spray and drain clean!
AES SPRAYPACK 250 & 600 250 and 600 litre tanks, galvanised frame. HD quick release, PTO shaft, 53L/min spray pump. 6 metre boom, 25m hose & hand gun.
BE
“Agrishares should be seriously looked at as an investment, with most paying a decent dividend in the process, creating another way to keep money in New Zealand. “
3 FOR THE PRICE OF 1!
SPRAY BOOMS
(03) 3799 799
RED RIBBON SPONSORS Accessman, Acrow Scaffolding, ACTO Agriculture, Air Rescue and Community Services, Angus New Zealand, BNZ Partners, Campaign for Wool, Ecolab, Electrolux, Ellesmere Transport, Essential Nutrition, Fahey Fence Hire, Frews Transport, Hawkesbury Road Clothing, Interislander, Matua Valley Wines, National Trade Academy, NZ AgBiz, NZ Sheepbreeders’ Association, Silver Fern Farms, Swanndri NZ Ltd, Synlait Milk Ltd, Taylor Contracting, Tectra, Waimak Corporate Water.
BLUE RIBBON SPONSORS 4.5 6 & 8m metre spray booms, horizontal fold, stainless steel lines and non-drip low drift nozzles.
SAVE $$$
HOSE REELS 100m SPRAY HOSE 10, 12mm
Contact AES direct or your local AES dealer FREEPHONE 0508 78 78 78 46 Sir William Ave, East Tamaki, Auckland www.aesblasters.co.nz
AgriSea NZ Ltd, Allflex New Zealand Ltd, Canterbury ATV’s Ltd, Clarke McKenzie Ltd, CRT Real Estate, Davie Lovell-Smith Ltd, Elders Primary Wool, Gordon Gilbert, Honda Country, ICS Manufacturing, Jeremy Lochead, Kate Hamilton, Kelvyn & Jill Scott, Lamb & Hayward, Mainland Minerals, North Canterbury Federated Farmers, NZ Corriedale Breed Society, NZ Export Growers Orchid Association, NZ Merino Company, Otago Ultrasound Livestock Scanning, Pullin Shearing Ltd, Reefton Engineering, Robertson Farm Machinery, Semex NZ Ltd, West Acre Farm Ltd, Weston Stockfeeds, World-Wide Sires, Yaldhurst Wools.
ORANGE RIBBON SPONSORS
Aakland Chemicals, Absolute Storage Christchurch, AgRural Ltd, Apparel & Merchandising Solutions, Ashe Memorial Fund, BJ & CS Logan, Caithness Sport Horse Stud, Canterbury Appaloosa Club, Canterbury Saddlery, Charles Wiffen Wines, Colin King, Connemara Pony Society of NZ Inc, CRT, David Reid Machinery, Dawn & Murray Hartnell, EmbryoCo NZ, Faskine Farms, Fiber Fresh Feeds Ltd, Five Star Beef, FMG, Glenmark Shearing, Greg Watson Showing Canes and Whips, H Dawson Woolbuyers, Helen Spencer-Bower, JB & M Philp Shearing Contractors, KD Vallance Ltd, K & D Webster Shearing, Lake Crichton Waterski Park, Mazline Partsworld, Mohair Pacific, Mohair Producers Canterbury Inc, Moores Riding Wear, Moriarty Shearing Ltd, Murray Downs Murray Grey Stud, NC James, Nesbit Shearing, NRM NZ Ltd, NZ Horse & Pony Magazine, NZ Riding Pony Society, Price Shearing Ltd, Proshear, Read Industrial Services, Ribbons & Rosettes NZ Ltd, Rotherham Hotel, Rural Livestock Ltd, Saddlery Barn, Saddlery Warehouse, Samen NZ, SGS Wool Testing Services, Stephanie Bullock, Striding Edge Horse Shoeing Ltd, Sub 5 Private Security, Talbot Silver, The Flatmates Art Company, The Gums Partnership, Totalspan, Veehof Dairy Services, Xcell Breeding Services, Zilco.
MEDIA PARTNERS
Rural News // november 6, 2012
canterbury a&p show 23
Rookie president looks forward to 150th show GA RE T H G I LLAT T
FIRST-TIME Canterbury A&P president Richard Lemon is looking forward to celebrating 150 years of history by the Canterbury A&P Show hosting one of the biggest events ever with a royal visit, plus more cows, sheep exhibitors and attendants than ever before. Lemon says enthusiasm for the show has hit an all-time high with 200 more sheep and 150 more cattle entered in the stud competition bringing the total number of animals for the November 14-16 event to 1200 sheep and 550 cattle. “People want to be part of it, competitors want to be part of it,” says Lemon, who expects a lot of public to come and see the show which last year attracted 100,000 people over three days. 150 years of showing in Canterbury is a big achievement and I think a lot of people want to get involved in this momentous event.” Two big visitor names are Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla who will go to the show on Friday, November 16 as part of a tour to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee. “It is a thrill to have
them; it is a drawcard for the public, especially to have them on a public holiday,” says Lemon. He says the organisers of the royal tour have been accommodating in security and organisational requests when working with the show organisers. “There are certain arrangements needed so they can get around the show and see what they want to see but the people who arranged it are pretty accommodating,” says Lemon. The committee is pulling out all the stops with the event offering a book, a bottle of commemorative whisky, a tie, a scarf and glasses as momentos. While the event might be celebrating its 150th birthday, Lemon says it, and many other A&P shows like it, have been moving with the times, offering online registration for competitions and exhibitors. That isn’t the only thing that has updated and Lemon says judging for the stock breeding shows has taken on a whole new level of care and attention with laboratory tests involved in judging. “Farmers are more tech savvy and stud competitions are judged on more
COMPETITION WINNER Rural News & Canterbury A & P Show are please to announce Bob Pringle as the winner of the WIN A STIHL MS 251 CHAINSAW COMPETITION valued at $995
CONGRATULATIONS!
than looks these days,” says Lemon “We look at things like production records and other technical data; it has really kept pace with modern farming practices.” The Canterbury A&P show, and A&P shows in general offer New Zealand’s urban population a glimpse into the rural lifestyle, something Lemon says is increasingly important. “The opportunity we have is to bring country to town and give townsfolk the experience of rural animals.” With the association giving away concession tickets to 10,000-12,000 school children from around the region Lemon says it is a chance for the
Richard Lemon
kids to see things that they wouldn’t always be privy to.”We have set up sheep maternity wards and those type of things and that’s something a kid from the city would never normally see.” Some of those things
SHEEP CONVEYORS
OUR NOVEMBER ONLY END OF YEAR
SPECIAL
Sheep Conveyor & lead up is
$16,900
+ GST
$21,O00
+ GST
Trailer Mounted is
include a performance by the country’s up-and-coming stock agents in New Zealand’s first-ever competition for them. According to Lemon the show is a complete package with everybody playing their part to make
a show worth visiting. “The show encompasses too many events to single out any event. At least 200 judges and stewards and 500 volunteers help run a show like ours. The work behind scenes is what makes this a great event.” Lemon’s involvement with A&P societies started in 1976 when he joined the Ashburton A&P association. He first joined the Canterbury A&P association in 1990 and was chairman of committees until 2010. The whole family gets involved in the show and Lemon says his wife Barbara adjudicates some events at the show. “It’s very much a family event.” The Canterbury A&P show isn’t the only thing
clean | safe | secure Diesel Tanks
• Unique lead up race helps loading by 15% • Power draw 3-5 amps • No belt slippage • Resistant to pour on’s and other dosages • Fully sealed bearings and electrical system • Full length foot stop/start bar on each side • Variable speed and variable width adjustment to handle ewes, lambs etc
TRAILERS
Optimum clean fuel Easy and safe to fill and dispense Fully Compliant Minimise fuel theft Bunded
• Low profile 13 inch or standard 14 inch wheel give a deck height of 60 or 72cm • Comes complete with spare wheel and jockey wheel • Hydraulic disc or electric braked front axle • LED lights • Now hot dip galvanised
Phone Stuart 0274 387 528 or workshop 06 370 1329 124 Lincoln Road, Masterton Email: daytech@wise.net.nz Leaders in farm machinery design
the family does together. The Lemons operate a 480ha sheep, beef, cropping and dairy property as a family business and have done so since Lemon’s grandfather bought it in 1884. About 200ha is dedicated to the operation’s dairy unit, a move Lemon says his son, James, was behind. “The economy and returns in dairy, even with a lower payout, is better than sheep, beef and arable.” It’s a completely self-sufficient system so that all supplementary grass silage, grain and maize for the 200ha dairy platform is grown on the wider property, including a 160ha lease block.
Come and see us at the Canterbury A&P Show Also manufacturers of Waste Oil Recovery Containers, SCR Stations for Adblue and Transportable Tanks Visit our website for a full list of products and features
Smart Fuel Storage
0800 473 226 www.sebco.co.nz
Proudly made in Ashburton, New Zealand
Rural News // November 6, 2012
24 opinion editorial
edna
The problem is perception THE DECISION by Justice Kos of the High Court to declare he’s a member of Fish and Game is appropriate and necessary. However, what’s not so clear is whether, if he were to do that, he should still hear the appeal on One Plan, given that Fish and Game is a party to that appeal and is opposing HortNZ and Federated Farmers. Certainly his decision to hear the case has raised some eyebrows around the farming sector. Former Fed Farmers president Charlie Pedersen has made his feelings known and others clearly feel the same, but they feel constrained from saying so for fear of upsetting the court. One wonders what might have be happening if the judge appointed to this case was a dairy farmer or, worse still, a member of Federated Farmers. Fish and Game and the Greens would be quickly on the case, demanding the individual step down – and they would be within their rights to do so. Doubtless Justice Kos loves fishing and to pursue this he needs a licence from Fish and Game. The trouble is Fish and Game is no longer an organisation that just issues fishing licenses. It’s a hard-nosed, vocal, political lobby group that coined the term ‘dirty dairying’ and it is disliked – perhaps hated – by many farmers. Like it or not, Justice Kos is in the Fish and Game tent. He may be the best qualified judge to hear this appeal and a person of honesty and integrity who feels he can set aside whatever links he has to Fish and Game. But let’s look at a ‘for instance’. Arguably South African Craig Joubert is the best rugby referee in the world. But imagine the outcry if he was appointed to an All Blacks - South Africa Rugby World Cup final. We all know the risk of going neutral is to get a Wayne Barnes – but that’s the price of perception. Justice Kos may well be better to step aside from this case rather than be asked to.
“Kicked the tractor when I heard we’d lost the Trans-Tasman shearing test! Yes, I think ACC will regard that as a work-related incident!”
the hound Childish petulance!
Harden up!
YOUR OLD mate was a bit shocked to see financial advisor Gareth Morgan embark recently on a childish name-calling rant against Federated Farmers. In a typical Morgan commentary piece – long on bluster but short on facts – about the One Plan Environment Court decision, he took Feds to tasks for their opposition and plans to appeal the ruling. Feds replied and called Morgan out on a couple of his claims. But instead of taking it on the chin, the so-called philanthropist reacted poorly and called the Feds among other things ‘hillbillies’ and ‘retards’.
Save
THE HOUND notes the proposed merger between rural supply companies South Island CRT and North Island Farmlands is hitting a bit of resistance among shareholders. It’s even become a major factor in the upcoming director elections for Farmlands, with critics standing for the board against the merger, while incumbents defend it. One current Farmlands director standing for re-election used his column in what looks like a weekly, rural real estate publication to claim how diligent he has been and whinging about critics of the merger.
Puppet and the master
Possum bad, badger good
Waste of time and money
YOUR OLD mate has some sympathy for incoming Fonterra chairman John Wilson – ‘Little Johnny’ – who’s already copping flak before he’s even taken over the top job! It all comes down to the perception that Wilson got the role because he’s outgoing chair Henry van der Heyden’s puppet. Unfair or not, this view gained further legs when it was recently announced that van der Heyden would stay on as a Fonterra director for an ‘undisclosed period’ when he stands down as chair.
THE HOUND reckons New Zealand cattle farmers must be glad they live in God’s-own and not the UK when it comes to battling bovine TB. While NZ farmers have had to contend with protests from the anti-1080 crowd with their conspiracy theories, at least there are few animal-activist types here wanting to protect our major TB carrier – possums. Unfortunately for UK farmers the main TB carrier there is the much more loveable badger, which has seen an eclectic group of animal activists defer plans to cull badgers for another year.
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Minister David Carter needs to work fast in his other key portfolio of reining in local government. According to reports, Hastings District Council recently hosted a forum to discuss the possibility of the district becoming free from genetic modification. A do-gooding group going by the name of Pure Hawke’s Bay is pushing for a GM-free region. However, Feds William Rolleston questions whether the council would test crops coming into the region, as well as the cost it would have on rates.
Fuel up on super deals around the country with a simple swipe of your RD1 SuperCard, anywhere, anytime! For more information see your local RD1 store, visit WWW.RD1.COM/rd1supercard or call 0800 731 266.
4c/litre
up to
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
*
*Terms and conditions apply, see WWW.RD1.COM/rd1supercard for more details.
on fuel!
Customer Support Centre
0800 731 266
Email customer.service@RD1.com
WWW.RD1.COM
Rural News // november 6, 2012
opinion 25
Ag sector challenged to add value ACHIEVING ADDEDVALUE for primary products is proving an extraordinary challenge and so should be worthy of being chosen as one of the National Science Challenges, the new programme announced last month by Minister of Science and Innovation, Steven Joyce. National Science Challenges are envisaged as a set of over-arching projects that will focus New Zealand’s scientific effort on some of the major issues and opportunities facing the country. Cows, soil, water quality and greenhouse gas production are likely to be high on the agenda, but achieving better returns for farmers’ products that would enable new technologies that assist with minimising environmental impacts to be adopted, should be number one. With a current payout for most dairy companies at slightly above $6.00, and the DairyNZ calculation that a kg of milk solids takes $5.90 to produce, there is clearly little money over for investment in farms. Environmental compliance then means borrowing more money, or cutting back on inputs which reduces milk solids production and
income. Either way, the sustainability of the farm business is compromised. The alternative of adding value to the product is more attractive and was the focus of the Business of Margin Food Conference held in Auckland in October. Despite the importance of the topics, there were only 24 people present on the first day. Rod Oram, business analyst and primary sector transformation champion, was clear that in order to transform the New Zealand economy we need to push the value of food in a ‘high science’ way. He suggested we have a long-running structural crisis in combination with a lack of political will and a lack of public support. Although the structural failure in terms of achieving greater value from primary products is corporate, Oram was direct in his statements that government support is required for the
science. ANZ’s ‘Green Pastures’ study released last month reported that New Zealand could capture an additional $0.5- 1.3 trillion in agricultural exports between now and 2050, but will have to overcome “a broad range of barriers including capital constraints, skill shortages, landuse conflicts and inefficient water markets, unfocused R&D and extension ser-
have to “get the approach to foreign investment right, safeguarding national interests with-
keynote speaker at the Business of High Margin Foods conference and chairman of Prolife Foods and many years working for Watties) disagrees. He favours “less national dictum and letting private enterprise experience and learning prevail”. It might be that competitiveness in the industry was a factor in the lack of attendance at the con-
ference, and that altruism, as shown by attendees such as David Irvine, is required. In order to overcome competition, and move the ‘high science in food’ forwards, it must become a National Science Challenge. All of New Zea-
land will have a chance to suggest ideas for consideration: for the agricultural sector, what is more important and more challenging than adding value to primary products? • Jacqueline Rowarth is Professor of Agribusiness, The University of Waikato
CAMBRIDGE FARM ROLLERS
NEW 10ft Roller with Extension Drawbar & Screw Jack $6700 Vee Ring Roller Seeder Drill with Vee bottom seed box, hydraulic clutch, ext. drawbar, ...................... $18,500 Special rollers made to order, • All prices ex-Factory, Excl GST • Spare parts, Rings and Bearings. Competitive freight rates to the North Island 26"dia rings ................... $85.00 24"dia rings ................... $80.00 Ph: 0800-838 963 AUSTINS FOUNDRY LTD 131 King Street, Timaru www.austinsfoundry.co.nz
Need a Detachable Valve?
• High Flow • Compact • Detach to access valve seal Adding value for primary products should be chosen as one of Steven Joyce’s National Science Challenges.
vices, rising supply chain costs, and market access limitations”. These points are not new, but the calculation that between now and 2050 New Zealand needs $210 billion in additional capital, with another $130 billion to support farm turnover “as ageing farmers make way for the next generation” might raise a few eyebrows. ANZ points out that New Zealand will
jobevalves.com/Megaflow
out discouraging offshore investment”. Attracting investment without antagonising public sentiment is difficult. Previous reports have covered similar ground, and though the Green Pastures study endorsed the move towards a ‘National Food Plan’ that has been mentioned this year (e.g., Riddet Call to Arms, and the KPMG Agribusiness Agenda), David Irvine,
Fairs fair on executive salaries I AM not against chief executive officers being well rewarded, especially for outstanding service and financial progress. However, surely if the chief executive is involved in big losses for the company his rewards should reflect these losses. Fonterra’s retired chief executive was in change of our company when we ventured into China, resulting in the San Lu financial debacle which cost Fonterra something like $200 million.
Was there any corresponding reduction in the bonus payout for him resulting from these losses? If so, this was certainly not conveyed to us, the shareholders. Fair is fair. If a chief executive is to be rewarded for financial gains or efficiencies by such a large sum, namely $8 million, he should take some responsibility for those financial losses. This represents about $800 for each shareholder. I am sure some could do with it this year.
RURAL NEWS HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 3855, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 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
Speaking of salaries, I feel that a good question to ask our muchheralded chairman elect John Wilson, at voter’s meetings, is how much he is paid as a director of Turners and Growers and how he will allot his time if elected? I think our co-op has enough of the one-foot-in-each-camp type on our board of directors at the moment. Fergus J. O’Connor (Fonterra shareholder) Richmond
TECHNICAL EDITOR: Andrew Swallow ................... Ph 03 688 2080 PRODUCTION: Dave Ferguson ........................Ph 09 913 9633 Becky Williams ........................Ph 09 913 9634 REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ....................... Ph 09 913 9627 Pamela Tipa ............................ Ph 09 913 9630 Peter Burke .............................Ph 06 362 6319 Vivienne Haldane .................... Ph 06 858 5161 SUB-EDITOR: Neil Keating ............................Ph 09 913 9628 WEBSITE PRODUCER: James Anderson .................... Ph 09 913 9621
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER: Ted Darley .......... Ph 07 854 6292/021 832 505 ted@ruralnews.co.nz
WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Mark Macfarlane .Ph 04 234 6239/021 453 914 markm@ruralnews.co.nz
AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard ....Ph 09 913 9637/021 963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz
SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland Ph 03 337 3828/021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz
TAURANGA SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Tony Hopkinson .. Ph 07 579 1010/021 949 226 hoppy1@clear.net.nz
ABC audited circulation 80,767 as at 30.06.2012
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 // November 6, 2012
26 opinion K-Line Effluent TM
For efficient effluent disposal
Why co-ops are good IN MARCH this year, the United Nations ‘Year of the Co-operatives’ was launched in the hall at Parliament Building in Wellington. Blue Reid, speaking to the assembly, pointed out the importance of cooperative and mutual organisations in the world. Half the people in the world are involved with some form of cooperative structure – 22% of New Zealand’s GDP and 28% of world agriculture is co-operatively based. With the huge number of farming papers arriving in our letterboxes it is disappointing not to have had more in-depth articles and opinions on the co-op and mutual structures. There are many people who could contribute to the discussion: Alan Robb of Canterbury University; Laurie Dooley of Monash University,
Melbourne; – Ian Robb ex-chairman of Westland Co-op and recipient of an award from Monash University; and Eddie Glass of Methven, a farmer and initiator of New Zealand’s only co-op electricity company in Ashburton – to name just a few. Like all businesses, co-operatives have failures and success. Paradoxically success for co-ops and mutuals can be dangerous, especially when directors do not fully understand and appreciate the value of the cooperative philosophy. There are many subtle ways directors can be persuaded to put their companies at risk, only to find they have lost control. The great Australian AMP established in 1849 by courageous people trying to get affordable premiums for their insurance is an example. AMP
was to become one of the Australia’s most successful companies but in 1998 directors decided to demutualise and the member’s premium advantage was gone. AMP is now almost half owned by the HSBC Goldman Sachs and Citibank. If the delisting of supply from shareholding in TAF went wrong for Fonterra, future generations could be looking for the remnants of Fonterra in Nestle or Kraft. Cooperative and mutual businesses are not just for destitute people, but are efficiently seen by honest directors and involved shareholders who know the value of their co-operative structures are the most efficient of organisations. John D O’Connor RD2 Westport (abridged)
It’s not printing money, just making more of it!
K-Line™ Std Naan 5022
K-Line™ Mid Senninger 5023
K-Line™ Max70 Senninger 7025
K-Line™ Max80 Senninger 8025
CONTRARY TO the view of Francis Wolfgram (‘US printing money may benefit NZ’, Oct 2, p25), quantitative easing (QE) in the US has absolutely nothing to do with “printing money”. Printed banknotes represent about 2% of the money supply in that country and there simply wouldn’t be enough paper money to do part of it. There is also little likelihood of any significant increase in lending of bank money as a result, or any noticeable increase in the quantity of notes in circulation. QE will give the banks more base money as
reserves. This is never lent into circulation, but – as Wolfgram correctly says – is used for interbank transactions. The banks already have plenty of reserves. What governs their lending is – as pointed out by a Royal Commission – their ability to gain willing borrowers. QE may have some side effect in reducing interest rates, but in the US they are already so low that this would have little effect. It may con some businessmen into being more confident to borrow because they feel something is being done. These
LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY Get upto date news at www.ruralnews.co.nz
GET SOCIAL Keep up with the latest stories from Rural News by following us on:
facebook.com/ruralnews
are the ones most likely to go bankrupt as the recession deepens. Only one move would turn around the present trend: find
some way to bail out the people rather than financial institutions. John G Rawson R D 8 Whangarei
ag twits Rural News’ irreverent and hypothetical look at what’s happening in the farming world Top Bleats view all steffanbrowninggreenmp: The Greens believe racing to higher and higher dairy production leaves farmers exposed and that more of a focus on lower production, fewer cows, anti-GE and no mining would be far better for the country and economy #planetgreen henryfonterra: Well done @jwilsonfonterra on my selection… I mean, your election as the new chair of Fonterra. I’ll be staying around on the board for a while to keep an eye on things. #heretohelp jwilsonfonterra: Thanks @henryfonterra, your support (nudge nudge, wink wink) has been tremendous. Also a great idea of yours for me to ask you to stay on the board and you to let me know when you think it’s time to go. #yourhumbleservant rnormangreens: As an Australian I believe the dividend and interest payments the big four Australian banks pay offshore is a disgrace and highlights the urgent need for greater local ownership of our banks, but not our MPs. #hypocrisy garethmorgannz: As a wise and knowledgeable commentator on everything, I reckon farmers should reject those ‘environmental retards’ @FedFarmers who oppose One Plan and form a new lobby group #makemetheleader FedFarmers: Hey @garethmorgannz we may be ‘retards,’ but at least we’re not too scared to have our organisation’s performance compared to others such as you are with your Kiwisaver scheme! #wimp
twitter.com/Rural_News
garethmorgannz: Hey @FedFarmers you say that again and I’ll sue your arse. Your stance and reaction is insulting to me; lift your game you hillbillies. #oversensitive
ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rss
damienoconnormp: Not wanting to scare the horses, but @ANZ’s decision to send National Bank’s black stallion to the knackers’ yard won’t remove the stench of horse manure many farmers have been left with courtesy of interest rate swap agreements #nonewloansforme
www.rxplastics.co.nz www.ruralnews.co.nz
Rural News // november 6, 2012
management 27
Gibberrelins’ place as a pasture management tool A N D REW SWA LLOW
TRIALS BY Lincoln University are shedding new light on the role of giberellic acid, or ‘gibb’, as a pasture management tool, and not just for dairy. The products provide a surge of growth shortly after application which, if managed well, can be used to boost production. Facing a shortage of pasture in spring, Lincoln animal science lecturer Racheal Bryant says apply nitrogen and gibb together. “You can do that twice without risk, provided you do it with nitrogen,” she stressed to a recent Lincoln University Dairy Farm focus day. “Gibb is no substitute for nitrogen fertiliser. It uses a lot of reserves from
hesitant to use the plant’s roots gibb’,” Bryant and requires told Rural News. nitrogen for phoWhether that tosynthesis so effect could be you need that N used as a tool there to catch to set weeds up the carbon and for a herbicide replenish those Racheal Bryant knockdown, root reserves.” Bryant couldn’t comment. The products work on Users of gibb prodall pasture plants, not just ucts need to take care ryegrass. “You get a lot with platemeter readings, of broadleaf response as particularly in the fortwell.” night post application as That’s good news for clover, helping sustain it in the hormone increases cell size, extending leaf a pasture where a straight nitrogen application would favour the ryegrass. Unfortunately, there’s a downside: if any broadleaved weeds are present, they get a boost too. Perennials such as docks seem to respond particularly strongly. “If you’ve got a lot of docks I’d be very
sheaths as well as leaves. Consequently, swards are taller for the same amount of drymatter and visual assessments or standard platemeter calibrations tend to “over-predict what you’ve got there,” warns Bryant. At current prices, urea fertiliser giving an 8kgDM/ha response per kg of nutrient works out at 22-27c/kg of extra drymatter grown, she told the Lincoln Focus Day. Gibb, at $1.30-1.50/g of product works out at about 5c/kg of
drymatter grown. “It’s an additive effect [of gibb plus nitrogen] so there’s not a lot of extra cost…. It is a worthwhile
tool to use and does help with your clover growth as well.” Sheep pastures, with more tillers, in theory
should respond at least as well as dairy, though Bryant says she’s not in a position to comment on that.
How they work GIBBERELLIN HORMONES used in products such as ProGibb make plants prioritise nutrient allocation away from roots, into shoots, says Bryant. In early spring, it’s a similar effect to increasing day length, breaking dormancy of over-wintered tillers and stimulating growth earlier than would otherwise be seen. The same response isn’t seen on newly sown swards as tillers haven’t been vernalised, she explains. Post application farmers need to manage pasture to ensure tiller production is encouraged by grazing to a low residual and applying nitrogen. “From what we’ve looked at so far it doesn’t seem to detract from output in
the long-term.” Trials are underway to verify that. Early spring responses in trials to date, ranging 180-240kgDM/ha produced over nitrogen-only treatments, have been swamped by season-long production of about 20tDM/ha and the influence of other seasonal variables on that. “We’d need about a 1t/ha difference in dry matter to say there’s a seasonal increase.” Suggestions the products simply shift growth forward, but don’t increase overall output, may prove correct, she acknowledges. “But the value of that shift is pretty important. By using gibb we can bring spring forward that little bit.”
Why use a
Spike when you can use a
KNIFE! ONE PASS TO SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY! Cultivate directly into hard ground with an ALPEGO ROTOPICK Knife powered cultivator
IDEAL FOR PUGGED GROUND! • Unique central drive for less power requirement • Automatic levelling bar which will leave your field smooth • Specially designed knifes which “slice” your soil not “tear”! • Made from high tensile Swedish Steel • 2 year machine warranty RING today to arrange a free on farm demonstration. Proudly Imported and Distributed by
NATIONWIDE SALES AND SERVICE NETWORK KAITAIA: (09) 408 0670 MORRINSVILLE: (07) 889 7055 STRATFORD: (06) 765 8643 MASTERTON: (06) 377 3009 GREYMOUTH: (03) 768 5116 TIMARU: (03) 687 4005 INVERCARGILL: (03) 211 0013 ORIGINAlpegoSpikeKnifeRNHalfPgAd.indd 1
DARGAVILLE: (09) 439 6544 WHANGAREI: (09) 438 1319 ROTORUA: (07) 345 8560 GISBORNE: (06) 863 2612 HAWERA: (06) 278 5119 WAIPUKURAU: (06) 858 6041 NELSON: (03) 543 8041 BLENHEIM: (03) 579 1111 AMBERLEY: (03) 314 9055 LEESTON: (03) 324 3791 OAMARU: (03) 437 1111 MOSGIEL: (03) 489 8199 ALL OTHER AREAS: ORIGIN AGROUP LTD: 07 823 7582
PAEROA: (07) 862 9064 NEW PLYMOUTH: (06) 758 2274 FOXTON: (06) 363 7193 KAIKOURA: (03) 319 7119 ASHBURTON: (03) 307 8027 GORE: (03) 208 9370
25/09/12 6:23 PM
Rural News // November 6, 2012
28 management
Carrot grower sold on liquid mix andrew swallow
A FEW trial strips with a liquid nutrient mix three years ago convinced Southbridge, Canterbury carrot grower Nigel Greenwood it was worth applying to all his crop. “Now I daren’t not use it,” he says, having seen a marked improvement in crop output and condition from incorporating Clovertone into his spray programme. In the extreme, yields improved from 100t/ha to 170t/ha in that first trial season, and on average he reckons there was a 30% increase, he told Rural News. “There was definitely less disease in the tops of the treated areas compared to the conventional too,” he adds. Having seen that, he’s gone away from using a profilactic, preventative fungicide programme on his crops, and hasn’t used any fungicide for the past two seasons. “Healthy crops don’t get disease, that’s my theory. If there was a problem, I’d fix it, but I’ve found I haven’t needed to.” Fungicides haven’t been the only saving: he’s cut his solid fertiliser bill by $600/ha.
“It doesn’t replace solid fertiliser but it reduces your dependence on it. I usually put on four applications through the growing season starting October or early November… then at four week intervals, or if we see the crop struggling we might narrow that down a bit.” Foliar nutrient applications are also “a safe bet” compared to post-emergent solids, he believes. “Carrots are quite sensitive, they burn easily with fertiliser.” Applied at 15L/ha each pass with the Clovertone costs about $70/ha, so he says he’s spending circa $300/ha/year on it. Even without the fertiliser saving, at a 30% yield response, packing quality output of 120t/ha, and a price of close to $1000/t, “the maths is pretty easy,” he says. Typically Greenwood’s crop is at about the six leaf stage when it gets its first dose of Clovertone, but by then it’s already done a lot of growing below ground, putting down a tap root to considerable depth. Applications visibly stimulate growth, he says. Molybdenum and boron are probably key components, and the brew stimulates soil biological activity, but exactly how it works,
Greenwood admits he’s not sure. Nonetheless he’s confident it does, and that it’s not a nitrogen response. “Carrots don’t like nitrogen, that’s why I usually put them in following wheat.” His base fertiliser programme up to this year was 250kg/ha of potash as potassium sulphate, 200kg/ha of phosphate as super, 20kg/ha of boron and some calcium. However, concern about the acidity of superphosphate has prompted him to try Viafos’s guano-based fertiliser, among other things, this spring. “We’re doing six trials across a 4ha block with different fertiliser mixes, but they’ll all get the Clovertone and humates.” Sowing starts in July for the Christmas market. “But that’s really pushing the envelope and we probably only get 40% of the yield. We sow the main crop from late September through to Christchurch Show.” At getting on for $20,000/ha to grow and market, they’re a high risk enterprise. Seed, at $2500 per million seeds and 1.5 million seeds/ha, is a major cost. His seed rate is about twice that to page 30
Nigel Greenwood with some of his earlier sown crop.
The best form of defence is Attack ! Diamondback moth White butterfly Aphids Leaf miner Nysius Springtails Now registered for fodde r beet
Knock out all major fodder brassica pests with Attack.* ®
With Attack you can now wipe out all 6 major pests with one formulation, so it makes economic sense to protect your crop. At a cost of just 4-8 cents per kg dry matter, what have you got to lose...except a lot of valuable feed. *Trial NUNZ0958 ®Attack is a registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Pty Ltd.
Feed your stock, not your pests.
Looking for an Irrigation or Effluent solution? Irripod Irrigation & Effluent System, A Low Application, Cost Effective Pod System • Easy to install, move and manage • Suitable for flat and rolling ground • Customisable to suit your requirements • Low pressure system (2-4 bar) eliminates pooling and run off • Live stock friendly • Tough long life components
Complies with Farm Dairy Effluent Code of Practice
High Visibility White Irrigation Pod
High Visibility Lilac Effluent Pod
Barry Wallace
Mobile: 021 963 125 barry.wallace@irripod.com
FREE DVD
I N F O
Easily moved by ATV or other farm vehicle
P A C K
Get it from www.irripod.com
Rural News // November 6, 2012
30 management
Environment moves prompt product plug WHAT IS it, and why now? Clovertone is both the name of a product, and the Waikato company marketing it. The main product is “the result of extensive research conducted
over the past 12 years, to improve clover vigour and persistence,” says the firm’s web-site. “Clovertone contains plant extracts and nutrients that strengthen the clover plant and roots, and
increase its resistance to pests and diseases such as nematodes and the clover root weevil.” But as the main story illustrates, growers of other crops are finding roles for it. Company
founder Chris Roberts says there are now “about 740 clients” on the firm’s database, growing anything from potatoes to kiwifruit. “They’re not all using the same thing though. I
make things people ask me to make.” Roberts believes products such as Clovertone have a role in meeting changing market and environmental demands, and he recently put out a
ELE-00488-RN
WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF MUM, IT’S ALL DOWN TO YOU. AND US.
Chris Roberts
media statement to that effect. “By reducing high fertiliser usage and the resulting leaching from soils, it is possible to grow better crops,” it stated. “Recent publicity about opposition to the Horizon Regional Council’s decision to restrict use of fertiliser inputs is good news for our company.” Roberts last week told Rural News: “not one council responded.” So how does it work? He confirms Greenwood’s suggestion boron is a key ingredient of the standard Clovertone mix. “It’s a widely misunderstood element in New Zealand agriculture. The best way to apply it is little and often… It’s no good as a solid fertiliser.” He has disclosed other ingredients to interested parties such as Zespri, with the exception of two plant extracts which Roberts says are his intellectual property. “The plant with the highest source of one of them is actually grown here in New Zealand.” Contrary to speculation, there’s no seaweed, salt water, or synthetic plant growth hormones in the products, he adds.
“There’s also no P or K in it.” Asked if he has independent trial data to support farmers’ anecdotal success with the products, he admits he doesn’t. Why? “Because they cost money. And why do I need to?” he retorts, pointing out the anecdotal on-farm success the products have. Suggest he should for the benefit of New Zealand Inc, and to silence critics who label products peddled without data from recognised institutions as ‘muck-and-magic’ mixes, and his sense of frustration becomes evident. “The problem we’ve got in New Zealand is that nobody is totally independent, one way or another.” A recent offer to supply one of the firm’s products for testing alongside others in a clover root weevil control trial was turned down, he says. “They wouldn’t say why.” Meanwhile mainstream players attract multi-million dollar government grants to research products they’ve been selling for decades. “How do I get some of that money?” Roberts asks.
High seed rates from page 28
The perfect choice for growing lambs, ALLIANCE® is the smart triple combination drench with tapeworm control.
Start your lambs’ clostridial vaccination programme with MULTINE®, NZ’s first choice 5-in-1 vaccine.
ALLIANCE and MULTINE protect against the diseases and parasites that threaten your lambs after weaning. So aim for more prime lambs this season – act now to protect your investment. Ask for COOPERS at your animal health retailer. www.coopersonline.co.nz ACVM Registration No’s: A10249, A934 and A935. ®Registered trademarks. Schering-Plough Animal Health Limited. Phone: 0800 800 543. WEAN-325-2012 CAUTION: Do not use ALLIANCE in lambs under 20kg.
used by growers targeting juice markets because he needs to prevent roots getting too big for the supermarket trade. “We’re aiming for a 32mm plant spacing.” That’s in a double row, with eight double rows across a 1.7m unformed bed. Harvesting is by top lifter. Marketing is through wholesaler MG Marketing which supplies supermarkets. Variable yields and shifting demand, not to mention the Christchurch earthquake, means his area has fluctuated from 12ha when he started growing the crop in 2004, to just 2.5ha last year. “We’re back to 4ha this year.” Those that don’t make the grade for supermarkets go for horses, or down the throats of beef cattle finished on farm. “Forty beef cattle will go through a tonne of carrots in less than an hour. Nothing’s wasted.” Cattle carcases weigh 3-4% better when they’ve been finished on the outgrades, he reckons.
Rural News // november 6, 2012
management 31
Real food for real people peter bu r k e
AT THE Saleyards Café, Feilding, you’ll find patrons tucking into cheese scones covered in jam, ‘fush a’ chups’ and serious boys’ breakfasts with all the trimmings – liberally covered with tomato sauce. For the most part the coffee is instant (is there any other?) and there’s none of that poncey food that’s become the norm in the supposedly ‘sophisticated’ city eateries. This is true blue heartland food and there is genuine service with a smile. Pam Strachan runs the Café which is so close to the yards she can almost pat the hoggets as she preps the mouthwatering fare. She and her husband own a sheep and beef farm at nearby Apiti, but her background is catering. By chance she heard through a stock agent the café might be on the market a year or so ago. “I was really looking for a part time job… I told my husband [about the café] and he said ‘oh that would be lovely’ so I came in for lunch one day, looked at the place and it sort of evolved from there. I never thought I would buy
Breakfast or lunch?
a business!” Buying the Saleyards Café was not simply a case of fronting with dollars. The previous owner had been there about 30 years and was only willing to sell to someone who ‘wouldn’t change the place’ and preserve its uniqueness. For example, how many cafés in Ponsonby have a hand basin inside the main room? Come to that, do Aucklanders wash their hands before they eat? Only kidding! Strachan kept her word and what change there has been, is incremental and only when backed by her customers. “I haven’t changed the menu much, just tweaked it slightly. It’s the same things but up-spec’d a little. I offered salads and some of the boys weren’t that sure, but now they are and they’re having salads with things like pannis,
fresh sandwiches even a fruit bowl.” Soup was seen as ‘new’ but everything she’s tried has worked. “Generally they drink tea and they help themselves to that. They also the help themselves to instant coffee.” A big step was the introduction of ‘posh’ coffee. “People were saying you must get yourself a coffee machine and so I have got a little coffee machine and am starting to [offer] that as well. We call it ‘posh’ coffee on the till receipt in the same way we have ‘fush n’ chups. That all comes through on the till tape as well so everything is quite humorous.” A sense of humour is critical to run the place, as is not worrying about being politically correct, she adds. Laughing and jokes are still legal here.
“You have to take the micky out of people and be prepared to have it taken out of you. I say to the girls ‘we are all a bit crazy’, so we are very relaxed, otherwise you just couldn’t cope,” she says. Main sale days are Monday and Friday. The ‘guys’ come in for breakfast, lunch or just a snack. The atmosphere is relaxed but the service is slick. “People come in and understand it’s different… they say ‘oh this has got a cool feeling’. Nothing is perfect - nothing matches. People go away with salads on plates across the road and I just say ‘don’t worry - just bring the plate back when you can’. When we run out of plates they bring a whole lot over from out of their staff room or I just go to the secondhand place and buy
Grabbing a bite and a cuppa: customers at the Salesyards Café.
whole lot more. I’m not into flash things: I want it to be quirky, different and create a great atmosphere.” You don’t have to take your boots off at the door. She regards a bit of extra cleaning as part of the job. Her routine sees her arrive about 7.30am to bake muffins or scones
groups from other businesses are quite common. Who knows, when Prince Charles and Camilla are in Feilding next week maybe they’ll drop in for instant coffee, ‘fush n’ chips’ and a chat: sure to be more filling and fun than a standard civic reception of bubbly and sausage rolls!
and prep whatever else is on the menu. It’s all homemade – nothing is bought in. While the Café has appeal to truckies, livestock buyers, yardies, auctioneers and other saleyards clientele, it also seems to appeal to Feilding’s townsfolk. Pam says morning tea ‘shouts’ by
Power Harrow & Mower rentals witH webbline why buy when you can have the flexibility of our 2 – 5 year rental package: How does it work? Go to www.webbline.co.nz
Feraboli “low Power” Harrows “More rotors = less Power required”
lease from as
* How? go 60 per month
little as $3
t.
ine to find ou
to www.webbl
Importer and distributor of Zimmatic Pivots & Laterals. Full variety of options offered. Superior product design feature and strength. Computer Irrigation Design. Full Installation complete with Back-up Service & Parts.
Have a siP - lease a siP - Get ahead with a siP! Mowers, rakes, tedders. 2 season warranty
New Zealand’s Leading Boom Irrigator BRIGGS ROTO RAINER & LINEAR – Eight Models
lease from as
little as $320
ww.webbline
? go to w r month* How
pe
to find out.
Model PW100
LOW PRESSURE GUN
10 Robinson Street, Ashburton
Ph 03 307 9049 - Fax 03 307 9047 Email: rainer@ashburton.co.nz Website: www.rainer.co.nz
*Lease details go to www.webbline.co.nz All Prices Exclude GST. Normal Lending Criteria Applies
Waikato Nelson Southland Freephone 0800 932 254
www.webbline.co.nz
DOWNING13893
Rural News // November 6, 2012
32 animal health
Helping your dogs work longer Anna H olland
Energy savers: Taking time to warm-down. Going through, not over
CONSERVE YOUR dog’s energy for when you really need it: they are not robots but living creatures that do get tired. The following tips will help you get
more from them. Don’t shut a gate then ask your dog to jump it; all you have to do is let him through before closing it. This saves his energy and doesn’t risk a tired dog accidentally breaking a leg.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE NONE OF OUR HARD WORK IS WASTED
To get better lamb numbers, focus on the factors you can easily control – the diseases that can cause major losses like toxoplasma, campylobacter, and salmonella.
Energy savers: Hitching a ride.
Vaccination helps you to both protect your ewes and increase the number of lambs born.
ELE-00562-RN
A sheep performance vaccine plan for your farm will ensure you get the most benefit and most peace of mind. Talk to your vet now about a sheep performance vaccination plan for your farm. AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ® Registered trademark. MSD Animal Health Phone: 0800 800 543. SPV-414-2012.
I’ve seen people standing, doing nothing, and getting their dogs to jump all around the yards from one place to the next; position your dog in the most useful place and do a bit more running around with a rattle or plastic bag yourself, after-all, when you are mustering you are probably sitting on your butt while the dog does all the work, yet again. Yes, it is a good idea to let your dogs run beside the bike when the workload is low – it keeps them fit – but when there is a lot on, either put them in a trailer or let them ride on the back. If you have a phobia of dogs breathing down your neck, get over it! Don’t drive too fast for your dogs: the poor things get left behind. They try their hardest to keep up, and when they finally arrive they’re immediately sent off at a run to work stock. In the old days, dogs jogged slowly beside a horse, so slow down. ‘Have a drink’. My dogs all know what this means and when we pass a dam or trough I will stop and tell them to have one. Think for a moment about the hard work they do. They have to re-hydrate – it is not rocket science – they are equivalent to a marathon runner. I have seen people muster stock to the yards, close the gate and immediately tie up their tired hot thirsty dogs, often in the sun. Give dogs a few minutes to drink and cool off in a trough then find a shady spot to leave them. Not only is it humane but your dogs will work better and longer for more years if you look after them. Too many dogs are found dead in the kennel
SECURE LAMB NUMBERS. SECURE YOUR GAINS.
from twisted bowels. I think many of these are due to very thirsty dogs having a big drink after they are put away, and being fed immediately. Horse owners wouldn’t dream of letting a thirsty horse drink its fill for fear of colic – we stagger the amount we let them have. Dogs must have clean fresh water in their kennels to replenish the fluids lost throughout the day. Let your dog have a small drink 5 minutes before you put it away so that it doesn’t gulp too much all at once. Go back and feed it later after it has relaxed – that small effort may save a valuable life. Rumour has it that some bloodlines may be more susceptible to twisted bowels than others. In my last article in Rural News (October 2) I wrote about Exceed, a supplement for working dogs. I have three trained dogs: a seven-year-old Heading bitch, a sevenyear-old Huntaway and a rising two-year-old Huntaway. They recently did the docking mustering of 3000 ewes on quite steep Taihape hills. I honestly don’t think they would have coped without Exceed. I started feeding it daily two weeks prior to docking, and morning and night when the work was on. The energy of the two older dogs surprised me; in particular, Chloe my Heading bitch. All were ‘dog tired’ at the end of each day but the overnight recovery was incredible. • Anna Holland is teaching people dog training. For more information www. annaholland.co.nz or Ph 06) 388 1318 or annaholland@xtra.co.nz
Rural News // november 6, 2012
animal health 33
SECURE YOUR LAMB NUMBERS. SECURE YOUR GAINS.
ELE-00544-RN
How to plan for a successful season.
EVERY FARMER KNOWS THEY HAVE TO VACCINATE AGAINST TOXO. BUT ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHY?
Brits’ TB blight a reminder to all says Petersen BRITAIN’S BATTLE with TB is a graphic reminder why New Zealand must never give up the fight to control the cattle and deer disease, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman Mike Petersen. “Once you let it go it can take off very, very quickly,” he told sheep and
beef farmers on BLNZ’s latest ‘Scene and Herd’ dial-in conference. Petersen was speaking from the UK where the disease is “a major, major issue,” he said. “They’ve almost lost control of it in a number of areas. Something like 10-11% of herds are infected.” Besides the terrible toll on producers who have
livestock condemned, Petersen says there’s a growing fear it could start to affect UK meat exports. “There’s a concern some markets may seize on TB as a way to say ‘we don’t trust your ability to control a disease outbreak’ and they may look at trade controls.” The UK’s TB problem is widely blamed on badgers,
Letter to farmers IN A letter to members of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales last week, NFU president Peter Kendall said, with regard to the badger cull: “we have really been up against it in terms of timing.” “There was need to avoid any overlap with the Olympics and Paralympics, which set the start date back right from the start. We were then subject to further delay as a result of the legal challenges by the Badger Trust. On top of this we all know as farmers how awful the weather has been this summer and autumn. “In addition to the timing issue we have very recently seen a significant increase in the estimates of badger numbers that we would be required to cull. This led us to conclude that if we proceeded under these circumstances we ran a very high risk of falling short of the new higher numbers needed to demonstrate that the policy worked. Failure to demonstrate that the policy worked would have stopped it dead in
its tracks with no prospect of future rollout. “Therefore, along with the directors of the companies we have taken the decision not to proceed at this stage and to delay activity until as early as possible next year…. “Our opponents will try to claim that we will never be able to deliver this policy. They are wrong. Some will claim we will not be able to meet the costs; this is not correct and we have never made that argument. Others will say we have pulled out because of intimidation. Again, this is absolutely not the case and I am immensely proud of the way farmers, and particularly those in the pilot areas, have demonstrated their resolution and solidarity…. “We will regroup; this is a delay in implementing the policy and not a change of policy. You have my commitment that we will carry on with all the work that is needed to make sure we are in a position to deliver the pilot areas as early as possible next year.”
a native and protected species. After years of debate, a National Farmers Union plan to conduct a cull this autumn was sanctioned by Government late last year, sparking threats of a court injunction to stop it from the Badger Trust. The cull was last month (October) postponed to next year, but Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for the UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says the delay is due to logistical problems in light of larger-than-anticipated badger numbers. The NFU had informed Defra that new population estimates in the pilot cull areas meant it could not be confident the cull would kill enough badgers for the policy to be effective. UK veterinary associations welcomed the news that the cull would still go ahead, albeit delayed, and that there had been no u-turn in policy. “Although vets and farmers in the bovine TB endemic areas will be frustrated by the delay in implementing the pilot badger culls, we are relieved Defra has firmly stated there has been no change in Government to page 35
Toxoplasma occurs everywhere in New Zealand. Because of its hidden nature, farmers may not be aware it exists on their farm. Ewe hoggets and two-tooths are at most risk, and if they contract Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, they are at risk of aborting or giving birth to weak non-viable lambs. Toxovax helps protect breeding ewes against the ill effects of Toxoplasmosis. Toxovax is given to maiden ewes 4 weeks before mating, and because it’s a live vaccine that must be used within 10 days of manufacture - it’s made to order for your farm. Ask your vet for more information.
AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ®Registered trademark. MSD Animal Health. Phone 0800 800 543. SPV-415-2012
A N D REW SWA LLOW
Vaccinating for toxo is one of those ‘must-do’s’ on the farm – and there is a very good reason why.
PLAN FOR SUCCESS:
ORDER YOUR TOXOVAX® NOW! Order from your vet at least 8 weeks before you intend to introduce the ram. One shot gives lifetime immunity. Up to 8% higher lambing percentages (3% national average).
AVOID ABORTION STORMS AND LOSSES WITH ONE-DOSE LIFETIME PROTECTION.
Purchase selected Merial Ancare products this holiday season and receive a quality 100% NZ Pork Kiwi Ham. Offer ONly AvAilABle BefOre CHristMAs frOM quAlifyiNg veteriNAry CliNiCs ANd wHile stOCKs lAst.
Choose either a Kiwi ½ COB Ham 4.5-5.5kg or Kiwi Banquet Ham 2.8-3.5kg* Promotion starts 1 November and finishes 22 December 2012.
QUALIFYING PRODUCTS: ARREST® 2x 20L or 1x 50L, ARREST® HI MINERAL 2x 20L or 1x 50L, 1x ECLIPSE® 2.5L, 5L or 10L, 1x EPRINEX® 2.5L, 5L or 20L, 1x EXODUS® SE 20L, 1x EXODUS® POUR-ON 5L or 20L, 1x FIRST® DRENCH HI-MINERAL 20L, 1x GENESIS® HI-MINERAL 20L or 50L, 2x GENESIS® INJ B12 PLUS SE 500mL, 2x GENESIS® INJECTION 500mL, 1x GENESIS® POUR-ON 2.5L, 5L or 10L, 1x GENESIS® TAPE HI-MINERAL 20L, 1x GENESIS® ULTRA ORAL HI-MINERAL 20L, 1x GENESIS® ULTRA POUR ON 2.5L or 5L, 1x IVOMEC® LIQUID 20L, 2x IVOMEC® PLUS 500mL, 1x IVOMEC® PLUS HERD PACK, 1x MATRIX® C 10L or 20L, 1x MATRIX® MINI DOSE 10L or 20L, 1x MATRIX® 20L, 1x MATRIX® HI-MINERAL 20L or 50L, 1x MATRIX® TAPE HI-MINERAL 10L or 20L, 1x SWITCH® 20L, 1x SWITCH® HI-MINERAL 20L or 50L, 2x ECLIPSE® E INJECTION 500mL, 1x ECLIPSE® E HERD PACK, 1x IVER MATRIX® TAPE 10L or 20L, 1x SWITCH® C 10L or 20L, 2x EXODUS® LAI 500mL, TRIMOX® 10L or 20L. *Some clinics may not have both types of ham available. Merial is a Sanofi company. MERIAL NZ. LEVEL 3, MERIAL BUILDING, OSTERLEY WAY, MANUKAU, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. THE ABOVE PRODUCTS ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MERIAL LTD. REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE ACVM ACT 1997 NO’S: A6416, A6417, A9270, A7191, A10018, A6859, A7189, A9888, A7456, A7584, A7353, A7212, A7879, A9822, A9222, A7191, A4204, A6481, A9544, A9390, A9418, A9970, A10120, A9964, A10131, A10132, A10222, A10640, A10274, A7218, A10399. SEE WWW.NZFSA.GOVT.NZ/ACVM/ FOR REGISTRATION CONDITIONS | NZ-12-MAL-142.
MAL-Amas Ham 2012 390x265mm.indd 1
23/10/12 12:35 PM
Rural News // november 6, 2012
animal health 35
AHB reports show good progress
William McCook
from many areas known to contain TB-infected wildlife, particularly possums which are the main culprits in transmitting the disease to cattle and deer herds.” McCook says increased use of por-
table electronic devices to capture data on the presence, or absence, of TB in wildlife, along with improved methods of targeting possum control in areas where it is most needed will continue to drive efficiencies in the national programme. “We continue to work alongside our strategy partners DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the deer industry, Federated Farmers and both central and local government. “When you see what is happening elsewhere in the world, it is important to ensure we have a highly effective TB control programme which is delivering on its promises and protecting premium export market access for dairy, beef and deer products and the $14 billion per year they contribute to the economy.” Both AHB reports are available on www.tbfree.org.nz
‘Some years’ before turn in UK TB tide from page 33
policy,” said British Veterinary Association president Peter Jones. “The science has not changed. Scientists agree that culling badgers does reduce the levels of infection in cattle herds, and we know that no country has dealt with bovine TB without tackling the disease in wildlife. “It is vital that the delivery of a badger cull is both effective and humane. If the pilots cannot be delivered effectively this year then is it responsible to postpone
until next year. In the meantime, we strongly welcome the stricter cattle control measures… announced.” Those new Peter Jones control measures extend the area where annual testing of cattle is mandatory across 10 more British counties, and they tighten movement restrictions. Andrew Praill, president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association
(BCVA), says it is important to remember that the pilot culls are based on the available science, and warns it will likely be “some years” before there’s “significant evidence” of a reduction in TB in cattle resulting. “We must get the process in place now so it can be rolled out across the endemic areas. We are already working very
hard to tackle the disease through cattle controls but alongside these activities we must also tackle the disease in wildlife.” TB Free England says 34,000 cattle were culled due to TB in the UK in 2011. That compares to 25,000 in 2010. The cost to the taxpayer in 2010 was £91m ($180m). No figure is given for the cost to farmers but following an outbreak herds must be tested by vets every 60 days and movement restrictions are imposed. For more see www. tbfreeengland.co.uk
2COMPOUNDS FLYSTRIKE
POWERFUL
12
UP TO
WEEKS
ANIMAL HEALTH Board’s 15-year strategy is to cut the TB-risk area in New Zealand by 2.5mha, a quarter of the current footprint. “In late 2011 we reached our infected herd target some 18 months ahead of schedule and this leaves us well-placed to begin a concerted effort to banish TB from wildlife – and ultimately from New Zealand,” says AHB chief executive William McCook. AHB’s annual report and research reports, released last month, detail the continuing significant progress being made in controlling and eradicating bovine TB with support from government and industry partners, he says. “Having succeeded in reducing infected herd numbers by 96 per cent since 1994, we are supremely well-placed to eradicate the disease
PROTECTION RAPID KILL OF
MAGGOTS + LICE With a lethal combination of two powerful active ingredients, spinosad and cyromazine, Cyrex Liquid provides dual protection from flystrike in one application. Cyrex delivers rapid kill of maggots, continued protection against flystrike for up to 12 weeks, plus fast-kill lice control at the same time. With two of the safest lice and fly compounds
BSE testing not needed ALAN HARMAN
THE EUROPEAN Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says testing of healthy livestock for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is now unnecessary in eight European Union countries including the United Kingdom, because the incidence of the disease is extremely low. It’s announcement comes 26 years after the first cases of BSE were recorded in the UK, in 1986. The UK’s annual case toll soared to 37,280 by 1992, its peak, but was back to just seven last year when 409,609 healthy slaughter cattle older than six years were tested.
The number of detected BSE cases across the EU has fallen from 2,157 in 2001 to just 27 cases last year. Using a mathematic model developed by the UK’s Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the EFSA recommends that in the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain the testing of at-risk animals will be enough of a safeguard. At-risk animals include those showing clinical signs of BSE before slaughter, livestock undergoing emergency slaughter, fallen stock more than 48 months old and animals that vets believe
available, Cyrex is deadly on parasites but easy on animals and operator. Cyrex dipwash has no smell and is gentle on could develop the disease. It says the current BSE monitoring regime in the EU enables the detection of one BSE case in 7,177,596 adult cattle with a confidence level of 95%. If the monitoring regime excluded testing healthy slaughter cattle, it would still detect one BSE case in 5,355,627 adult cattle with a confidence level of 95%. “Therefore, no healthy slaughtered animals need to be tested in order to meet a design prevalence of one detectable case in 100,000 adult cattle, since testing of atrisk animals is sufficient to meet the proposed design prevalence,” it says.
wounds. Available in 5L and 10L packs plus a convenient 250ml Flystrike Dressing pack. For more details on this revolutionary new treatment, talk to your animal health stockist now, call us on 0800 ELANCO (352626), or view our website www.elanco.co.nz.
Fly, Maggot and Lice Eliminator Spinosad is the same active ingredient found in Extinosad® Liquid. Cyromazine is the same active found in Vetrazin®. The 5L pack of Cyrex makes 2500 litres of dipwash; 10L makes 5000 litres and 250ml bottle makes 125 litres of dressing fluid. Extinosad and Cyrex are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company Ltd. Vetrazin is a registered trademark of Novartis. Cyrex is registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A09917.
Rural News // November 6, 2012
36 animal health
New call to ban neonicotnoids alan har m an
HOT ON the heals of research showing neonicotinoids as unlikely to cause bee colony collapse disorder (Rural News, October 2), UK organic group the Soil Association is pointing to another study and calling for a ban on their use.
In New Zealand neonicotinoids are formulated in about two dozen products for use across pasture, cereals, maize, brassicas, potatoes, pumpkin and squash. The UK association cites a University of London field study which found neonicotinoid and pyrethroid
insecticides affected bumblebee foraging behaviour and increased mortality leading to a detrimental impact on colony success. Researchers Richard Gill, Oscar Ramos-Rodriguez and Nigel Raine say the behavior of bees and the success of their colonies are significantly affected when exposed to
this combination of pesticides at levels normally seen in the field. “The novelty of this study is that we show how the sub-lethal effects of pesticide exposure affects individual bee behavior with serious knock-on consequences for the performance of the colony as a whole,” says Gill.
Bees exposed to imidacloprid were less effective when foraging, particularly collecting pollen. This meant treated colonies had less food available, and could not raise as many new workers. On average, the percentage of workers leaving the colony and then getting lost was 55% higher
in those receiving imidacloprid than those that
were not exposed to pesticides.
BBQ lunch events target productivity ANIMAL HEALTH specialist Coopers will be on the road later this month with a dozen “Partners in Productivity” events scheduled around the country. Kicking off November 13 at Barge Showgrounds, Whangerei, each event will run 11-1pm and after a brief welcome, will feature eight quick-fire briefings, one from each of the partners involved. “We’ll divide everybody into groups which should be small and manageable and facilitate a good discussion,” says Coopers’ brand manager Shelley Reynolds who is coordinating the programme. “After ten minutes we’ll ring a bell and everyone will move on to the next ‘station’. It sounds structured but there’ll be a barbecue to finish so there will be plenty of opportunity to talk casually with any of the partners then.” Predictably Coopers’ session will focus on “smart drenching”, while event partner MSD Animal Health will tackle vaccines. Gallagher will demonstrate the power of EID-linked weighing; Stihl, how to get the most out of your chainsaw, safely; Silver Fern Farms/ Farm IQ, developments in measurements and monitoring that can boost productivity; Honda, its latest ATV; Federated Farmers, adverse events work; Skellerup, new boots. “There will be two pairs of their new boots to give away at each event,” notes Reynolds. Dates and locations on the wrap cover for this issue of Rural News, or from Coopers on 0800 800543.
TAKING CATTLE HANDLING
TO A NEW LEVEL Whatever your farm requirements, the new iDraft range has a model to suit. From the manual lever operation, to the air control or full auto system, you can be sure the iDraft will make your livestock work easier and more efficient. The fully auto iDraft model features an intelligent touch sensitive control screen and a 10 function hand held radio remote control so the operator can control all functions of the crush and the draft gates from a distance.
MANUAL LEVER CONTROL
AIR LEVER CONTROL
e upg- ra- d this
DESIGN
FULLY AUTO CONTROL
Key features:
• • • • • •
lice, fleas, mites?
Upgradeable design – manual lever control to full auto draft control Control panel with storage cupboard & tray Integrated Scale mount Internal loadbar cable routing for protection Vet or Vetless model eRail integrated EID reader
CONTROL THEM WITH
PESTENE INSECT POWDER FOWLS•HORSES•CALVES•GOATS•DOGS•CATS•SHEDS Contains the naturally occurring plant extract Rotenone derived from the roots of the Lonchocarpus plant found in South America.
www.tepari.com
To find out more about iDraft System and the full range of quality farm equipment from Te Pari, call us or go online. Phone 0800 492 738 or email sales@tepari.com
TEP1037
AV A ILABLE IN THE ORIGINAL 500GM PACK AND NOW. . . . . .
THE NEW CONVENIENT 250MG PACK. AVAILABLE FROM VETS, STOCK AGENTS & SADDLERS Manufactured by Greyhorse Vet (NZ) Ltd Ph: 03 339 0345 Fax: 03 338 7645
Rural News // november 6, 2012
machinery & products 37 TracMap - Accurate spreading and spraying Made Easy. 30cm Accuracy Now Available
Stock feeder allows greater feed control GA RE T H G I LLAT T
INNOVATIVE grain feeders from feeder specialist company Advantage Feeders could make waste, grain over-consumption and differing consumption rate a thing of the past , says inventor and company director Gerard Roney. The 120 and 250 sheep/goat (25-50 cattle) galvanised steel grain feeders have been a hit on both sides of the Tasman, he says, largely due to such features as their advanced feed system and newly added creep panel which lets the farmer control precisely how much
grain/pellets an animal eats. Feed falls into a groove which an animal must lick to gain access. As an animal can only create a limited amount of saliva, and that saliva is needed to access the food, it will lick for only 5-10 minutes before going back to grazing. Two sliding panels control the amount of feed made available to stock. The steplessly variable settings allow for varying stockfood intakes. Roney developed the product while in university in 2006. He was raising 1000 ewes and found that he couldn’t get rations low enough, costing him a great deal
of money and time. Developing a prototype took six months and the results are a feeder which has been sold throughout New Zealand and Australia and has been launched in the UK this year. “New Zealand sheep and beef farmers are surprised how little the stock can be fed through them. They also comment that the stock seem to do much better when they get a small supplement on a regular basis. There’s nothing like this on the New Zealand market.” The feeder even allows for creep feeding – the process of feeding lambs and ewes at the same time.
The panel is mounted in the space above the troughs. When closed, only lambs are able to access the feed. When open,normal feeding of ewes and lambs can resume. Trials have also been done with in-lamb ewes in New Zealand, says Roney, with good results. “One customer used these feeders with their triplet and quad ewe flocks and saw lambing rates go from 180% to 280%.” Roney says interest has been good throughout New Zealand with the grain feeders being most popular in Canterbury. Tel. 09 431 7276 www.advantagefeeders.co.nz
Fertiliser Spreading Screen View
TracMap provides a complete agricultural GPS guidance solution for New Zealand Farmers. Designed and manufactured in New Zealand, our award winning units are proven to make operating vehicles and managing staff on the farm easier and more profitable.
TracMap Provides: • 15 - 20% Savings on fertiliser and spray • Increased efficiency of pod irrigation • Reduced errors on farm • Country wide back-up and support • More effective staff management • Developed for NZ conditions • Easy to use
GPS MADE EASY Phone: +64 3 489 2952
www.tracmap.co.nz
Rural News // November 6, 2012
38 machinery & products
Pod irrigators gentle as falling rain PIPELINE SPRINKLER (pod) irrigators from Irripod Irrigation, mimic natural rainfall, are unobtrusive to livestock and because of the low sprinkler height are not subject to wind drift, the maker says. Keenly priced, Irripod are said to be “reliable, cost effective and have the flexibility to irrigate a wide variety of landscapes and do the job equally well in all situations.” Irripod Irrigation is a sister company to Hansen Products, well respected for its irrigation fittings and valves. Irripod equally suits pasture and forage crops the maker says. The pods are placed evenly along the pipeline and the lines are attached to water supply hydrants in the paddock. They are
moved about the paddock simply by attaching the pipeline to an ATV or farm vehicle and dragging them to their new location where they typically irrigate for 12-24 hours. “The low pressure, slow absorption system mimics natural rainfall allowing for efficient water absorption with less runoff. The low sprinkler height also produces less wind drift, resulting in well controlled effective water distribution.” Notably, the company points out that this gear requires no specialist skilled staff to operate it.“And being a system that’s easy to move means it can adapt to virtually any type of landscape — flat or rolling. This
allows the pods to be placed where other systems often can’t be used, making full use of the landscape and with simple, systematic movements provides good coverage and even irrigation across the whole terrain.” In-paddock markers help to achieve this coverage and evenness. Irripod systems can be reliably scaled up from small operations to large (i.e. several hundred hectare) farms, and because they are pod-based, adding more coverage is easy and suits most budgets, allowing systems to grow as required. “For specifically irrigat-
ing dairy effluent, the company offers bright lilac pods – easy to see in paddocks. System use and maintenance is the same as for water systems. Maintenance typically only occurs at one pod so the whole system isn’t affected. Individual pods are easy to change or repair.” The pods are made from high-impact UV-resistant polyethylene and have corrosion proof durable fastenings. Each pod also has a wire retainer to ensure the sprinkler component is protected. A DVD is downloadable from the website. www.irripod.com @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
650 sheep/hour AT LEAST 650 sheep per hour are handled by Hecton Products’ three-way Autodraft, actuated by ‘magic eye’. The Autodraft clamps sheep for weighing: the back gates close with the clamp and there is a 2-second delay on opening, allowing the sheep to clear the scales as the whole platform weighs. The scales come with remote override for all other sheep handling needs, e.g. drenching, tagging, mouthing, etc. The back gate operates the same with remote closes on clamp and a two-second delay on opening. The speed of the back gate can be altered if requied. The Autodraft comes with an Iconix FX41 Indicator and can be adapted to EID reading. The unit is mobile, suiting hauling around a farm or short road trips. Construction is steel frame, alloy floor and sides with conveyor grip. Tel. 03 215 8558 www.hecton.co.nz MS1377
Check out our free classifieds listings at www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/classifieds
? G IN D A E R P S T U O B A S U IO R E S TER SYSTEM ALL NEW AND IMPROVED OPTIONAL COMPU
pread s n a r T r o o l Twin F • 2 floors give greater accuracy on bends and corners • Option of spreading half bout width • More floor torque for the toughest jobs
eader r p S p o r C Row • Stainless steel bin • 700mm wide conveyor • 3 speed gearbox • Optional load cells and Twin floor • Optional electronic auto steer
PO Box 6 Hinds, Mid Canterbury • Phone 03 303 7228 • www.robfarm.co.nz For your catalogue of all our products please contact
Don 027 433 2212 or Danny 027 443 4777
read p s n a r T g n Steeri • Steering drawbar allows spreader to follow in the exact path of the tractor to eliminate any corner cutting • Perfect for crop growers
Rural News // november 6, 2012
machinery & products 39 New technology gives better fuel protection A WATER-SEPARATING filter added as standard to Sebco diesel stations “lifts the bar once again in above-ground diesel storage,” says the company. The 5-micron clear captor – using new technology – “works perfectly with the pumping equipment offered with the tanks,” says Sebco principal Ed Harrison. “There has been a need for clean fuel supply to vehicles over the last few years, due to the onset of the common rail diesel engine. Our customers are purchasing Sebco diesel stations because they offer a high level of cleanliness compared to old-style above-ground steel tanks that develop condensates
and then can rust. “Sebco minimises these problems. We had been fit-
observe the performance in the field in relation to UV and stress cracking.
“Our customers are purchasing Sebco diesel stations because they offer a high level of cleanliness.” ting a standard diesel filter to our tanks but became aware of this new technology which gives an even higher level of protection. This filter has a 5-micron cleaning ability and water separating properties.” Harrison says the company keeps careful track of the long-term performance of tanks and the implications for diesel storage. “We’re tracking a number of tanks through their complete lifespan to
“We’ve just completed full invasive testing on two units that had been used for five years in the field. The results from the first round of testing are terrific. There was no water, sediment or dirt build-up whatsoever. Also the specialised resin we are using is working well above the standard requirements for housing diesel fuel.”
Sebco’s Ed Harrison.
Tel. 027 3082800 www.sebco.co.nz
FINANCE AVAILABLE
Time for a home built dip? DIY INSTALLATION is a strong possibility for the handyman buying an Australianmade Sterns brand vinyl-lined swimming pool, says New Zealand distributor Pool Land, Christchurch. “These quality pools can be supplied in a variety of models and sizes and are easily installed by a home handyman. And they are built to last.” All models can be installed in or above ground. The South Seas model is a chlorine-compatible and braced, with slim-line top capping ideal for in ground installation. South Seas pools are available in either a standard depth of 1.2m or a deep-end option of 1.2-1.8m, making them the ideal pool for a growing family. The company’s Bahamas braceless range of pools with Sterns capping (nonslip, 170mm wide, top-resin, with rounded edges for added safety) is suitable for use with chlorine or as a salt pool. The braceless design minimises exca-
vation if installing in ground, and gives a smoother look when installed above ground. Another benefit of the braceless model is that if installed above ground it may not require fencing as the pool wall complies with fencing height regulations thus enabling the pool frame itself to act as a fence. The Bahamas model is available in a standard depth of 1.37m or a deep end of 1.37-1.9m. Pool packages are available in sizes ranging from 6.1m x 3.8m to 11.5m x 4.5m. Round models are also available. All pool packages include a Waterco sand filter, 1HP pump, large skimmer box, eyeball return and maintenance kit. Pool Land also supplies swimming pool accessories such as heat pumps, covers, cover rollers, automatic cleaners, automatic tablet feeders and salt chlorinators. Pools can be delivered nationwide.
*
R
MBE TH NOVE 6TH - 12
TRIMAX P3 178DR
TRIMAX P3 178DR
“New ProCutS3 178DR with a cutting width of 1.74m. Well suited to tough commercial environments and fruit orchards.”
“This new ProCutS3 mower is incredibly versatile. Rollers fitted front and rear enable this mower to follow ground contours.”
13744
Price $7,500
13378
Price $7,500
ock “Aged st sands u o th save RRP” off
ock “Aged st sands u save thoRRP” off
MASSEY FERGUSON 5435
JOHN DEERE 6300
“This is a tidy ex-vineyard, cab tractor with 2WD and 75hp.”
“Need 100hp? Take a look at this 4WD, cab tractor.
22078
Price $30,000
21794
Price $18,000
Tel. 03 365 6414 pool-land@xtra.co.nz
PHONE or EMAIL to book an on-farm Demonstration now.
CELLI P140 305 12967
TOP RETURN ON CAPITAL INVESTED
Ex-Demo!
“Do you want a new 3 metre Celli Rotospike that has only been on demo?”
Was $25,500 Now $24,000 AUTO HEAD YOKE • One-man operation • Auto reset, ready to catch again. • Easily adjustable width. • Walk through, opens full width of bail. • Left or right handed. • Neck rope, to restrain head further. • Hot dipped galvanized. • Quiet. • Safe, for man and beast. • Easily installed in a race or existing crate. • No power or hydraulics. • Simple to use. • Calves through to bulls
Farmer and Designer:Wayne & Lynley Coffey, NZ Phone: 0800227228 wayne@combiclamp.co.nz SI Rep:- Stuart Oliver Phone: 03 3180771 youtube/combiclamp
www.combiclamp.co.nz
COMBI CLAMP SHEEP HANDLER • No power • No air • No Noise • Hands free operation • Good Flow • Complete control • Portable • Weigh, dag, draft, feet, vaccinate - all in one pass
CELLI Tiger 190 305 21169
“Need a 3 metre Celli Rotospike to open the ground up after plugging?”
Price $22,000
SPECIAL PRICE
See us at the Canterbury A&P Show
site F23
*TERMS & CONDITIONS: Conditions apply. Finance to approved applicants only.
Rural News // November 6, 2012
40 machinery & products
Silage block cutter – fast and cuts costs A NEW silage cutter, the German-made BvL Topstar block cutter, is fast and runs minimal risk of spoiling the stack face, says distributor Webbline. The company says though traditional shear
grabs cut relatively cleanly, their design often makes them too slow and unable to pick up enough silage in each load to suit largescale farmers who need to handle several tonnes daily.
“As a result, many farmers have gone back to using standard silage grabs which are relatively fast to load out with and are easy to use,” says sales manager Glen Malcolm. “But the down side is these silage
grabs loosen the stack face every time you get a load, letting air in and heating the silage, which burns up sugars and reduces quality and digestibility. “The biggest concern is the potential for harm-
ful toxins and bacteria to develop in the silage as a result. We all know the negative result of feeding milking cows silage that’s starting to spoil, even if it is only a small percentage of the stack.”
Nitrogen compliance, Why fear it? Tow and Fert
use
technology!
Measured, precise fertiliser application Protect the groundwater Enhance the soil Feed the foliage Improve your bottom line
As seen on TV
contact Metalform today for a demo or discussion!
The Topstar has a counter-rotating knife which cuts on three sides, Malcolm says. “The operator simply drives the forks of the Topstar into the silage stack and presses the third service button on the loader. The top part of the machine then cuts vertically down to the forks, using a scissor action. “Once cut, that whole block of silage is simply lifted out and can be tipped into the feed-out wagon. The cube shape means even the smallermodel Topstar is still capable of taking well over a tonne of silage in a single
cut. “Not only does this mean fewer backwardand-forward movements for the loader operator, but the way the Topstar works requires no levering with the loader to get the silage out. It’s simply cut and lifted out like a block of Lego.” The other major advantage of the Topstar versus the traditional shear grab is that the action of the counter rotating knives effectively seals the stack as it cuts. No loose silage is left lying around to spoil. Tel. 0800 932 254 www.webbline.co.nz
Losses minimised A BIGGER version of the BvL Topstar – called Megastar – suits farmers using telehandlers or wheel loaders, Webbline says. This can cut at least two tonnes of silage in a single block. Sharemilker James Hartshorne, of Tapanui, is said to have been “blown away” by the results seen during a demonstration at his farm. His 130hp Massey Ferguson was cutting and lifting 1.4 tonnes of silage each time, allowing him to fill his 16m3 silage wagon “in no time”. “The stack face was so tight,” Hartshorne said. “When I came back the next afternoon the part of the stack face that had been removed with the silage grab was warm and the area where we used the Topstar was stone cold. “To go one step further, we did a quick calculation of potential losses on our silage stack face using the current silage grab system. The results were quite frightening.” The stack face was 24m2 (8m wide x 3m high). Calculate 100mm of aerobic penetration = 2.4m3 (potential losses). Assume a compaction rate of 200kg/m3 = 480kg @ 50 cents (value of silage after ensiling losses) = $240 potential losses. Says Hartshorne, “Depending on temperature and days between feeding this loss will [occur] every time we disturb the face; [assuming] 100 feeding days from our silage stack this equates to potential losses totaling $24 000. This is before we calculate the negative effect of feeding a percentage of spoiled silage to our milking herd.” Webbline’s website shows a demonstration of the Topstar.
STOP RATS NESTING IN HOMES, BUILDINGS, MACHINERY
• Pest Free puts 50Hz pulse along power cables • Rats and mice stress, dehydrate, exit • No harm to humans, pets, computers, etc. • Models to suit buildings/plant 200sq.m to 1000sq.m • NSW-made, patented, science proven • Used in ten countries • Two-year warranty • 100% 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
0508 747 040 www.towandfarm.com
Pest Free Domestic for homes, garages, etc to 200sq,m – $159.90 incl. GST + post.
Pest Free PRO for large homes, small offices & factories, etc to 400sq.m – STOP RATS with Pest Free $399.90 incl. GST Buy with confidence from authorised rural sales agent N + J Keating, and post. 70 Rimu Street, New Lynn, Auckland 0600. Tel. 09 833 1931 Pest Free Commercial (cell 021 230 1863); email keating@orcon.net.nz for dairy TWO WAYS TO ORDER/PAY: sheds, 1) POST: cheque to N. Keating telling us the product(s) you want, grain mills, plus your name, address and telephone number. 2) INTERNET: direct credit ASB 12 3039 0893559 00 factories, (your surname as reference) PLUS telephone or email us, etc – $1800 saying which product(s) you want. incl. GST + post.
Rural News // november 6, 2012
motoring 41
More room and a quieter ride adam fric k er
MOST DRIVERS never think about how thick the glass on their vehicle is. However, the engineers designing the interior of Mitsubishi’s 2013 Outlander have given it plenty of attention. In their pursuit of quietness and refinement they have done something relatively simple, putting more glass between the people in the car and the noise outside. It’s not huge – the tempered glass side windows have been thickened to 4mm - but it adds to the decibel and vibration protection that’s been created
elsewhere through clever positioning of soundproofing materials, by ensuring engine mount systems better absorb engine oscillation, and a host of other innovations from improved suspension insulation to more windcheating door mirror design. In technical terms it’s all about minimising noise, vibration and harshness, but for whoever’s in the car it’s about being in a calm, relaxing environment with minimum distractions. The company says current owners investigating
preferred setting, without debate.” Outwardly the new Outlander has the same dimensions as before. Nonetheless the designers have freed up more room inside, and when you fold
the 2013 models for themselves will
www.mmnz.co.nz
Need a Differential Valve?
find there’s been a quiet revolution: “Everywhere you look there’s a refined silver- or wood-accented finish with premium
quality materials; a new padded, soft-touch feel; leather seats with power controls and heating for driver and front passenger; comfortable, full size third
Tie your bike down WANT TO avoid having your prize quad or bike fly off your ute during a big swerve or stop? Better tie it down well, says Macs Equipment, seller of US-made ratchet quad bike and motorcycle tie-down kits. Though four-point systems are required in most states in the USA, New Zealand law requires only that loads are “secured during transport”: the Land Transport Act 1998 states “A person operating a motor vehicle on a road, and any person loading that vehicle, must ensure any load carried in or on the vehicle, or in or on a vehicle being towed by the vehicle driven by the operator, is secured and contained in such a manner that it cannot fall or escape from the vehicle.” The issue here is, what is secure? especially in the event of a collision or emer-
down the rear seats you discover a bigger 1.7mlong floor, with easy access from the power tailgate. The new Outlander is due soon in Mitsubishi showrooms.
gency stop, asks Macs Equipment. The company knows of bikes flying off a transporting vehicle during ‘evasive action’, when tie-downs have broken. They spell near misses for the driver in the cab and for oncoming traffic. “Consistent themes in variable load security are time taken and complacency about current tie-down restraint methods,” the company says. Macs Equipment offer two options: Macs USA motorcycle kit complete with four ratchets , four soft loops and kit bag; or Macs USA quad kit with four nets for each wheel and a kitbag. As a Rural News exclusive offer, make a purchase or contact us online in November for a quad kit on special at $183+GST.
row seats, 120mm wider overall and split 50/50 to maximise flexibility; dual zone air conditioning so driver and front passenger can each choose their
• Fully Adjustable Water Levels • Keep Pump operation to a minimum jobevalves.com/topaz-differential
Fuel economy THE NEW 2013 Outlander range promises fuel economy gains compared to previous models. Take its new Smart-MIVEC engines. Mitsubishi says e 2.4L installed in the three 4WD models (LS, XLS and VRX) consumes 19% less petrol than the engine it’s replacing. (Emissions are down 19% too). While the engine designers can take some of the credit other factors are at play: the new model’s windcheating design brings its drag coefficient down 7% so less fuel’s needed to push it through the air; the Outlander’s CVT transmission has been further refined for better gear selection timing; various tweaks have taken 100kg off the Outlander’s weight. Owners of the new 2WD LS will share these fuel efficiency benefits too, plus 13% better fuel use from their 2L Smart-MIVEC engine. Buyers of the VR and VRX models can now choose Mitsubishi’s latest 2.2L Clean Diesel with exceptional low-down torque.
www.macsequipment.co.nz
Serious about Fencing!
More electric fence options, it just gets easier!
Multi Wire Tread-In Posts * Unique angled clip prevents unintentional tape detachment * Unique foot wedge design provides superior holding performance * Heavy duty, UV resistant polymer
Contact your local rural supplies merchant or phone 0800 266 258
ROUND BALEAGE TIPPER Transports and stands wrapped round bales on end for storage
IT’S QUICK, IT’S CONVENIENT, IT’S EFFICIENT Mowers | Tedders | Rakes
TH Tedder range 4.5m to 13m
H NOW AVAILABLE AS A SINGLE OR DUAL UNIT H
MS1269
• Thick layers of plastic on bale ends provide superior protection against ground moisture and weather while stored. • No flat sided bales (simplifies feeding out). • Less storage area required. • Suitable for medium HP tractors. • 3PL mounted (no front axle stress). • Bale tipped in one easy movement. • No need to reposition bale before tipping. • Simply trip and flip.
CONTACT US FOR YOUR LOCAL DEALER Superb contour following, failsafe drivetrain protection and an unrivalled ability to condition your crop for optimum hay or silage preservation. To find out more about how the Fella range can help you make the most of your grass please phone 0800 667 9663 to find your local dealer or ask any Fella that uses one.
Maitland - RD5 - Gore Phone/Fax 03-207 1837 or 027-628 5695 www.james-engineering.co.nz
Rural News // November 6, 2012
42 rural trader The ultimate in paint protection
DAIRYCOAT
• Faster, easier wash up! • Non toxic, Hygenically approved • Long lasting finish • Withstands pressure hosing • Resists deterioration from daily use • Can be applied to walls and floors Made in NZ – 10 year guaranteed
SPECIAL ACRYLIC
FENCE RAIL BLACK Amazing cover
59
$ FREE DELIVERY LITRE www.enviropaints.co.nz 0800 50 ENVIRO (0800 50 368476) 14 Riverbank Rd, Otaki
PER 10
WE’RE ONLINE
The Met Shop
Phone: 04 384 7683 • Fax: 04 384 7689 Email: info@metshop.co.nz 5 Swan Lane (off Cuba Street) PO Box 9254, Wellington 6141 www.metshop.co.nz
Apple Cider Vinegar
FLY AND LICE PROBLEM?
- High Quality Proven livestock supplement blends Buy Direct 200L from $340 + GST delivered
LK0042303©
Weatherstations, unusual gifts and science support for over 40 years...
Dairy-Mate Direct 0508 324 796
• The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 NEW • Quality construction and options M ODEL • Get the contractors choice • Direct from the manufacturer • Efficient application and unequalled cost savings
Phone 07 573 8512 • www.electrodip.com
FLYSTRIKE AND LICE ❖
Fantastic Penetration
❖
NO ONE BEATS OUR PRICE • Make a big job quick and easy • Retire the shower and plunge dip • Quicker and much more effective than a hand wand! • Deep penetration, total body coverage, 2.5 litres/sheep • No re-cycling – always fresh clean dip prolonging residual effect of your dipping product
PPP Super Jetter Manufacturing Jetters since 1980. 1000’s sold in NZ & overseas.
Freephone 0800 901 902 email: sales@pppindustries.co.nz or www.pppindustries.co.nz
Nove Decemb mber / er Spec
ial
Rural News // november 6, 2012
DOLOMITE
Poultry EquiPmEnt PERFORMANCE STOCKFEED PERFORMANCE STOCKFEED
Morrinsville Ph: 0800 287 325 Ashburton Ph: 0800 007 766
Feeding and watering equipment. Plus many other products. Backyard to commercial operations. Free catalogue 0800 901 902 or
NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call... 0800 436 566
60 Litre & 100 Litre Teat Sprayer S/Steel pressure tanks
Get upto date news at www.ruralnews.co.nz
❤
email: sales@pppindustries.co.nz
LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY
Quality
COUNTRY & CITY
contacts (N.Z. LIMITED)
W_RuralNews_30x34_0212.indd 1 2/02/12 5:23 PM
Join our successful & confidential service
FOOTWEAR LTD
For all single, separated, divorced and widowed people. Over half our members find ‘someone special’ or their lifelong partner.
FARM BOOTS KIWI MADE FOR 3 GENERATIONS
For Information Pack, contact... Country & City Contacts 0800 287 437 or
Visit www.lastrite.co.nz for more quality products
YARDMATE SOFT TOE This is designed for heavy
duty uses and is perfect for fencers, high country farmers and hunters walking through tough, rugged, country. With an upper constructed from thick full grain leather, a leather insole and mid-sole, which is stitched and screwed to a cleated rubber repairable sole. A tough heel counter for better ankle support and a full bellows tongue for greater water tightness, this boot will handle the tough environment. Yardmate also available in Steel toe. Sizes 4-15 including half sizes.
Ph: 03-387 0794 or see our website www.countrycontacts.co.nz
Contact us for more information
GLOBAL STAINLESS
Phone 06 272 8544 globalstainless@clear.net.nz
• $45.00 delivery cost in New Zealand • Also high pressure s/steel water cylinders
CRAIGCO SENSOR JET DEAL TO FLY AND LICE
TUSSOCK SOFT TOE TRIPLE/SINGLE HOB NAIL, REVERSE KIP This boot is designed for
• Cost Effective • Complete Package
heavy duty use on high country farms and over alpine terrain. This boot will handle tough environments. With an upper constructed from reverse kip leather, a tough heel counter for better ankle support and a full bellows tongue for greater water tightness. A leather insole and triple bend leather runners, with a stitched and screwed construction and heel and toe plates. Triple or single Hob nails. Tricounis available with tungsten tipped teeth. Tussock made to order only. Sizes 4-15 including half sizes.
Advantage Plastics Rangiora call: 0800 668 534 or (03) 313 5750
• Unbeatable pricing • Performance Guaranteed
P 06 835 6863 - www.craigcojetters.com
48 JOHN STREET, WHANGAREI 0800 4 BOOTS (26687) or 09 438 8907
ALL PRODUCTS HAVE 3YR WARRANTY
Rubber Safety Matting • ATV Carrier Mats • Exit/Entry Areas • Calf Trailers • Horse Floats & Trucks • Weigh Platforms • Bale Mats • Comfort Mats for Wet & Dry Areas • Utility Deck Matting
FARM 4X4 Multi-Terrain Vehicle
MORE RANGE NEW AC MOTOR • Range up to 70km • Top speed 45kmh • Hi/low ratio • Quiet motion • Plug-in recharge • Low Maintenance Cost Demo from authorised dealers
$6,590
PLUS GST
NEW
SCARTT TT
IMPROVED MODEL!
Zero Turn Mowers
SAMPLE PHOTO WITH EXTRA’S
• 22HP 42” / 27HP 48” • USA MADE / LOW NZ PRICE • FULL RANGE AVAILABLE
525
FROM
Phone: 0800 80 8570 www.burgessmatting.co.nz
“It’s p r good m etty ate!”
$10,990 +gst
0800 38 44 50
061213C1825
www.scartt.co.nz 09 912 2555
Culvert Pipes New Zealand’s CHEAPEST Culvert Pipes! FREE joiners supplied on request.
ONE STOP WATER SHOP 300mm x 6 metre ................................ $410 400mm x 6 metre ................................ $515 500mm x 6 metre ................................ $690 600mm x 6 metre ................................ $925 800mm x 6 metre .............................. $1399 1000mm x 6 metre ............................ $2175 1200mm x 6 metre ............................ $3475 ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.
• Lightweight, easy to install • Made from polyethylene
McKee Plastics, Mahinui Street, Feilding Phone 06 323 4181 Fax 06 323 4183 McKee Plastics, 231 Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton. Ph 07 847 7788 sales@mckeeplastics.co.nz www.mckeeplastics.co.nz
BEST VALUED UTV IN NZ Phone
0800 625 826
for your nearest stockist
Joiners supplied FREE with culvert pipes
WIN
G I B with Dow ason this scoe pply. nditions a Terms &
MINIMISE WEEDS. MAXIMISE RESULTS. WIN BIG.
Confidence in a drum Purchase T-Max from Dow and reap some seriously big rewards, including a chance to win an FJ Cruiser, a BBQ, an iPad 3 or one of our other fantastic prizes. Check out the prize pool and how to enter at www.dowpromo.co.nz