Rural News 21 April 2015

NEWS New councillor helps bond the rift between farmers and HRC. PAGE 14-15

MACHINERY Huge tractor on track to work well. PAGE 49

RURALNEWS

MANAGEMENT Wakanui wheat still tops but a couple of newer cultivars are nipping at its heels.

PAGE 36

TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

APRIL 21, 2015: ISSUE 582

www.ruralnews.co.nz

No more field days?

IT WILL IMPROVE! SUDESH KISSUN

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

BEEF + LAMB NZ and WorkSafe NZ are at odds over some aspects of quad safety.

BLNZ chairman James Parsons says he’s continually fielding calls from farmers who are fearful, confused and even angry at WorkSafe’s approach to the issue.

Last week, quad safety was on the agenda at the BLNZ board meeting in Wellington. Parsons told Rural News all its field days are now under threat because of WorkSafe’s approach.

“I can’t put my hand on heart and say that adopting the measures proposed for quad use will make farms safer. Is it right to embrace blanket bans that make farms less safe?

“Farms are not just places of work; they are homes. Is confining children, bank managers, vets and visitors to the farmhouse sensible when quads on hill

country are the only practical mode of transport? Despite having a good safety record many of our BLNZ hill country field days are now under threat.”

Parsons believes the way to improve safety on farms is via a safety culture and a common sense farm code of practice devised by farmers for farmers.

“We are absolutely supportive of farmer safety and spend a lot of time at field days promoting safe farming environments. The aspirations of WorkSafe to improve the safety record on farms is positive and we have engaged constructively with them on multiple occasions,” he adds.

The controversy has arisen again partly because WorkSafe says it will apply strict rules to the field days to be held soon on the farms of the three finalists in the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. Attendees have heard that no passengers may be carried on quads and that riders must wear helmets.

SIZE DOES MATTER Ohakune Brussel sprout grower Bruce Rollison sizes up some of his extensive crop and prepares to send it to supermarkets throughout the North Island. The different sizes of sprouts go to different niche markets and it’s how they look that attracts consumers. Rollison, new as a councillor at Horizons Regional Council, is among those helping to develop positive relations between farmers and the council. More details on pp14-15

sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

MILK PAYOUT will improve next season, but cashflow will remain tight on farms, say market analysts.

Long-dated contracts on whole milk powder and skim milk powder prices are showing signs of improvement; BNZ is sticking to its forecast of $6/kgMS for the 2015-16 season; ANZ is predicting a milk price of $5.50-$5.75/kgMS. Last week, the Global Dairy Trade price index dived 3.6%, its third consecutive drop. WMP prices are down 4.3%, compared to the previous auction, SMP prices down 7.8%.

Fonterra will announce its opening forecast for the new season late next month.

BNZ economist Doug Steel says it’s hard to predict what Fonterra will forecast. “Forecasting international dairy prices in the current market is tough; forecasting what Fonterra’s forecast will be is even tougher,” he told Rural News.

Steel expects Fonterra to base its forecasting payout on forward contracts. He points out that in last week’s auction late dated contracts pricing was encouraging.

For WMP sold in June, Fonterra got $2415/t; however for September 15 contract it got $2478/t and for October 15, $2538/t.

For SMP, Fonterra got about 6% more for contracts sold in TO PAGE 4

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 3 ISSUE 582

SHEAR LIES

www.ruralnews.co.nz

NEWS ����������������������������������� 1-23 AGRIBUSINESS �������������� 26-29 MARKETS ������������������������ 24-25 HOUND, EDNA ����������������������� 30 CONTACTS ������������������������������ 30 OPINION ���������������������������� 30-33 MANAGEMENT �������������� 34-38 ANIMAL HEALTH ���������� 40-46 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS ���������������������� 47-54 RURAL TRADER ������������ 54-55

Keith Woodford

SFF quiet on cost critique ANDREW SWALLOW

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

SILVER FERN Farms isn’t responding to analysis which suggests its sheepmeat processing costs are the highest by some distance and that it is “one of the laggards” in beef too.

Dissecting the detail in the Meat Industry Excellence-commissioned report, Professor Keith Woodford says figures provided by report authors GHD indicate SFF’s sheep processing costs it $38.26/head – $6.17 more than Alliance and $10.01 over “industry cost leader” Ovation.

“No company can be competitive if it is at a $6 per head disadvantage,” writes Woodford in his blog (http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com).

While he says it has to be asked whether the costs are accurate, he also reasons that if the figures are not accurate, why would GHD risk its reputation by presenting them?

“Given that Silver Fern Farms pro-

cesses over five million sheep per annum, it apparently puts them at a disadvantage of more than $30 million on their processing operations. That is a lot to make up through superior marketing,” says Woodford.

Nor does the problem appear to be one of throughput: looking at the three main sheep processors (combined market share 67% in 2013-14), SFF’s capacity utilisation was 49%, Alliance’s 46% and Affco’s 37%.

ANZCO and Ovation, with a combined market share of 17%, are at 51% and 53% utilisation, respectively, while the seven single-chain operators, with a combined market share of 16%, average 63%.

“So in terms of plant utilisation, small is indeed beautiful,” concludes Woodford.

In a follow-up blog on beef, Woodford finds “once again, Silver Fern Farms appears to be one of the laggards, but it is not there by itself....

“Instead, there is evidence that most of the companies have a mix of high cost and lower cost plants, with the best quartile of facilities having labour costs about 25% lower than the rest.”

Despite that and evidence SFF’s beef operating costs are similar to many other companies’, it is inevitable much of the focus will be on SFF, says Woodford. “This is the company that has been struggling the most, in part because of its sheep operations. It is also the company that is currently seeking $100 million new capital.”

SFF told Rural News it would not comment because of that ongoing and confidential capital raising process.

Woodford also recognised the sensitive timing of his commentary.

“If Silver Fern Farms cannot counter with data to show that GHD has got the numbers wrong, or that GHD is not comparing like to like, then the challenge to get investors has just increased.”

AN ADVERTISING campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has farmers and sheep shearers up in arms in Australia.

Jona Weinhofen, a member of the band I Killed the Prom Queen – is pictured with a fake maimed lamb bearing the slogan, ‘Here’s the rest of your wool coat’. The advertisement was part of an undercover video series the animal rights organisation shot at 19 shearing sheds in three different Australian states.

When the image of Weinhofen began to hit social media, it caused a lot of consternation – with even PETA supporters calling out the organisation for is false depiction of shearing.

Australia’s Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce called the attack on the wool industry “rubbish” and “a pack of lies”.

“I was talking to shearers yesterday, shearers who feel completely insulted by what is being alleged,” Joyce said. “Mr Weinhofen has turned up with a prop and said it was a sheep and completely disparaged the whole shearing industry, an industry which is our third-largest rural export, worth about $2.8 billion a year.”

PETA representative Claire Fryer defended the campaign saying “systemic abuse” is common in shearing sheds.

However, her claims were not substantiated.

“The latest PETA campaign, featuring a fake sheep and Hollywood-style injuries, is completely misleading and a desperate, self-serving publicity stunt,” the Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia said.

Meanwhile, it seems PETA’s publicity stunt may have backfired and has already had a Facebook meme created that has nearly three times as many shares as the original image. It shows PETA’s fake ‘shorn’ lamb beside a lamb that has actually been shorn and says: “Let’s make THIS go viral! THIS is the truth!”

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4 NEWS

Beef booms, lamb languishes PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

AMERICANS’ LOVE affair with hamburgers has resulted in a bumper year for New Zealand beef farmers, says Beef + Lamb NZ (BLNZ).

Strong demand in the US and NZ dollar weak-

ness against the US greenback has pushed the average per tonne value of beef and veal exports up by 28% to $7540 versus $5890 in the same period last season.

BLNZ reports that for the first six months of the 2014-15 meat export season, 212,000

tonnes of beef and veal were exported – up 12% or 22,600 tonnes on the same period last season.

Chief economist Andrew Burtt says this reflects a high, and early, cattle processing season – particularly in relation to cull cows – and strong global demand for beef.

The increase in shipments was mainly due to consistent high monthly volumes exported to the two main markets for New Zealand beef – US and China – while volumes to other main markets decreased.

Beef exports to the US increased by 33% to 122,200 tonnes,

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for New Zealand lamb, were up 3.9%, to 68,700 tonnes on the same period last season. But he adds that exports to North Asia were down 8.5%, to 47,500 tonnes, driven mainly by lower exports of carcases to China. Shipments to North America and the Middle East were up 2% and 0.9%, respectively.

Also taking a tumble was mutton exports, down by 18% to 51,000, reflecting lower production in 2014-15. This contrasts with the previous season when dry conditions and dairy expansion saw more ewes processed.

BLNZ says exports to China, the largest export market for mutton in North Asia, fell 30% to 31,600 tonnes, but exports to the European Union, South Asia and North America increased in the first six months of 2014-15.

News on the export front comes amid specula-

while exports to China increased by 21% to 21,000 tonnes in the first half of 2014-15.

“The increase in shipments came mostly from a 23% increase in processing beef, used primarily as an ingredient in ground beef products such as hamburgers. However exports of boneless cuts decreased slightly,” Burtt told Rural News.

Processing beef and boneless cuts accounted for 54% and 34%, respectively, of total beef and veal export volumes in the first six months of the 2014-15 season.

However, while beef exports boom, lamb exports languish and in fact they decreased 2.9% in the first six months of the 2014-15 season, compared with the same period last season.

Burtt says lamb exports to the European Union, the largest market region

tion on what may happen next season. Burtt says a lot will depend on what effect the recent rain has on pasture growth and how farmers in the South Island have been able to manage their way through the drought.

Overall, he says, conditions have been better in most parts of the North Island and that may lead to some hogget mating.

There is anecdotal evidence that North Island farmers have planted herb species, such as chicory and lucerne, helping them get better growth rates in their lambs and hoggets.

He says there is some suggestion farmers in many regions will think twice about dairy grazing and will instead use feed to better maintain capital stock. But the answer is still some months away; the first real indication will come after scanning results.

PAYOUT WILL IMPROVE FROM PAGE 1

September and October.

ANZ economist Con Williams believes SMP and WMP prices will improve in the coming months. Uncertainty over milk production in Europe, where quota restrictions expired on April 1, looms large, he says.

“Right now the world is well stocked with milk and there are questions around supply out of the EU. Buyers are thinking there will be more supply and those who have enough products are adopting a wait and see attitude.”

Williams says increased SMP and butter out of Europe are pushing prices down for those two products. Butter prices dropped 6.6% in last week’s auction.

Williams says the recent dives in dairy prices are not surprising. He predicts 201516 will be tougher than this season. “Farm-

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ers will be mindful of spending; they will cut back on discretionary and non-compliance spending,” he told Rural News.

Several factors are behind the spate of drops in global dairy prices.

The jury is still out on whether European farmers will produce more milk now that milk quotas have gone.

BNZ economist Doug Steel says the weak Euro is also impacting prices. Six months ago, the Euro was trading at US$1.30; it’s now down to $US1.07, making EU products more competitive on the world market.

China’s economic growth is also slowing and affecting demand for dairy products there. And international grain prices remain low. Steel says this means low input costs for farmers in the northern hemisphere, so “the economics of making milk is cheaper for these farmers”.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 5

Govt heeds lessons from Northland PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

TO HEED the lessons of the Northland by-election the Government needs to stay connected with New Zealand’s rural and remote communities, says Environment Minister Nick Smith.

But there is an opportunity to go after the Greens ‘soft vote’, he told the Blue Green conference on Great Barrier Island this month.

“By our principles of marrying good economic and environmental policies, of underpinning our policies with

good science, and of moving from a polarised conversation on environmental issues to a more collaborative approach we can appeal to New Zealand’s practical, down to earth brand of environmentalism.”

He is confident the government can pull together enough support to still “progress substantive change” in the Resource Management Act, he said.

Since the Northland by-election, securing a majority in Parliament for reform has become even more challenging, but discussions are

Nick Smith says the Government needs to stay connected to rural communities.

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“The first, key change is improving the plan making process. The current schedule 1 process is cumbersome, costly and is not serving New Zealand’s environment or economy well,” Smith said.

He is a strong enthusiast for the collaborative process used by the Land and Water Forum for water plans and is keen to see this approach for a wider range of resource management issues.

On that issue he said the Land and Water Forum had just

been reinvigorated to go to the next stage and its chief goal will be implementing the national policy statement at regional and catchment level.

Two further commitments on freshwater will be delivered this term.

The first is developing a $100 million fund to support the retirement of buffer zones around sensitive lakes and rivers.

The second is meeting a requirement for all dairy cattle be to excluded from waterways from July 1, 2017.

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Submissions closed on the bill last Friday (April 17).

The first report, Environment Aotearoa, is due to be published in July.

“The environmental information is to be framed in five six-monthly reports covering air, atmosphere and climate, freshwater, land and marine domains and a comprehensive state of the environment report summarising all five domains, produced at threeyearly intervals,” he said.

The reports are to be produced jointly by Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry for the Environment; the three-yearly report will be audited by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

continuing with confidence and supply partners, Smith says. He is confident of getting the support to make change.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

6 NEWS UNFAIR, UNJUST FEDERATED FARMERS Gisborne/Wairoa president Peter Jex-Blake has waded into the debate over quad safety.

He says banning passengers from quads effectively scuttles any onfarm field day. Jex-Blake, a farmer director of meat company Silver Fern Farms, says most farmers now accept the wearing of helmets, but baulk at being forbidden to carry passengers on quads.

“Not being able to carry passengers restricts your whole farming business – let alone field days. We all have people onfarm – be it the bank manager or the fertiliser rep – and the quad is just a mode of transport,” he told Rural News.

“WorkSafe’s answer is ‘use a ute’. Well, you just need a shower of rain on a greasy track and there is no way you can get around hill country on the east coast in a ute. So the safest mode of transport is a quad provided the operator knows what he is doing.”

Jex-Blake says the new rules are taking away the responsibility for safe practice from farmers. Education, not more rules, is the answer.

Like many farmers, Jex-Blake admits he’s rolled a quad, but he wasn’t hurt and learned from the experience.

“The main cause of accidents is careless driving and not paying attention. You are driving along working your dogs, moving your stock and not looking where you are going. It’s easy to hit a depression or drain and suddenly you are over.

“So we need to be more proactive in safe practice such as stopping the bike to do what you have to and then getting on the bike and driving off again.” . – Peter Burke

Heat goes on quad bike safety PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS AND farming organisations had better focus their energy on keeping safe on their farms, rather than getting into debates on whether children should be banned from riding as passengers on quads.

So says WorkSafe NZ’s François Barton, following two recent deaths on farm quads and suggestions that farmers are getting mixed messages about quad safety.

Rural News is aware that some senior Beef + Lamb NZ staff and elected members are at odds about some aspects of WorkSafe’ s approach, believing it fails to understand the practicalities of farming life.

Some people are worried that farm advisors, such as accountants and bank managers, can only get

Francois Barton

around a farm by riding pillion on a quad, deemed unsafe by WorkSafe.

Barton concedes there is “confusion and anxiety” about the law and what it might mean to farmers and their way of life. However, he says some farmers and farmer organisations should understand the critical risks on farm and look at ways of managing these better.

“WorkSafe’s position is that having passengers on a quad that

“WorkSafe’s position is that having passengers on a quad that wasn’t designed to carry passengers adds to its instability and increases its chance of rollover.” wasn’t designed to carry passengers adds to its instability and increases its chance of rollover,” Barton told Rural News. “WorkSafe does not see carrying passengers as a safe practice.

“Talk to any of the four or five families who lost someone in a

quad accident last year about how their life has been truly changed – tragically and forever.

“There is an opportunity and a need for leadership in the agricultural sector and WorkSafe is getting alongside Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and other organisations, helping them to help the sector.”

Barton says the $40,000 fine imposed on a Marlborough farming couple late last year for not wearing helmets on their quads has had a reaction industry-wide – some of it negative, he admits.

But there was a simple way to avoid being fined: comply with repeated requests and orders. “It is not a [big] hill to climb to use these things safely,” he adds.

Barton says the messages on quad safety have gained traction in the media – in particular about wearing helmets. But this reaction TO PAGE 12

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 7

What does it mean for farming?

GARETH GILLATT

WORKSAFE NZ’s prosecution of Work and Income New Zealand over last year’s Ashburton shootings holds worrying implications for New Zealand farmers, says the Federated Farmers board member responsible for health and safety, Katie Milne.

WorkSafe NZ in March prosecuted WINZ over the September shootings at the Ashburton Work and Income office, which killed Peggy Turuhira Noble and Susan Leigh Cleveland.

Milne says though she doesn’t know enough of the specifics of the case, it was a concern given WorkSafe’s push for safer practices on farm. “It raises a lot of questions about the level of effort farmers are going to need to be considered compliant.”

In mid 2014 it became known that WorkSafe would take more action over health and safety practices on farms.

Forty three extra inspectors were hired to raise a taskforce of 200 by the start of 2015 for a ‘safer farms’ campaign to reduce farm accidents, predicted to be 21,000 this year – 10,000 severe enough to require time off work.

WorkSafe NZ’s agricultural pro-

gramme director Al McCone says improvement. If something poses the farmers must start complying with possibility of immediate harm to any standards other industries have been individual, a prohibition notice may be reaching for some time. “In reality NZ issued.”

While workplace safety is likely to farmers should already know all this stuff and should have been working to be farmers’ immediate concern, farmers are also worried about issues that this for the last 10 years at least.”

Inspection teams have been travel- may arise if visitors are allowed on their ling to farms across the country since properties.

Milne says many February ensuring farms farmers were now conare operated in a manner sidering shutting their that meets the 1992 gates to the public, a Health and Safety Act. shame considering “Inspectors are lookthe Walking Access ing at whether the farmer Commission’s work in understands the risks negotiating a ‘middle they, their staff, their ground’ between land families, and other visowners and the public itors to the farm face,” wanting access to McCone says. remote regions.

While inspectors “What are we supmight not ask to see a risk Fed’s Katie Milne. posed to do when mitigation plan, McCone people like duck huntsays they will be looking for meeting records, feedback from ers and fishers wander onto properstaff on safety procedures and will ties without asking? Farmers are likely to end up locking the gate.” informally observe staff at work.

McCone also points to farmers’ wor“It is possible that a written warning or an improvement notice could ries about, for example, the need for a be issued if the inspector believes meat company to run a school trip to a the farmer needs to make a change or farm because the farrm owner declined

to assume liability for costs should Department of Labour (now Worksafe someone have been injured.

New Zealand) investigated the incident Concern could be for good reason: I understand no prosecution followed.” a WorkSafe Farmsafe pack includes Freak accidents can happen. The key a form for visitors to fill in, asking for question is what reasonably practicable insurance details and, from intending steps should have been taken to prehunters, confirmation that vent harm arising they hold a firearms licence. from the hazard.

The form must be signed However, neiby the visitor and the farm ther signs nor manager. verbal warnings McCone says this is a ‘best will protect from practice’ solution. He says prosecution if visfarmers operating within the itors are injured confines of the 1992 act should by something be able to cover themselves deemed to be part adequately by telling wouldof an everyday be visitors about hazards not WorkSafe NZ’s farming operation, normally arising in everyday Al McCone. adds McCone. farming.

In incidents This can be done verbally, says which result in serious injury or death, McCone, and farmers can further cover or situations where farmers have themselves with farm diary notes about repeatedly failed to meet inspectors’ the call and what was discussed. requirements, they are liable for fines Duncan Cotterill associate and of up to $500,000 for a company or workplace health and safety special- $250,000 an individual. That figure ist Adam Gallagher says he recalls an is expected to increase to $600,000 incident where the axe head flew off for individuals and up to $3 million the head of an axe of one of the com- for body corporates in a new act petitors and hit a spectator at a wood likely to be tabled in December this chopping competition in 2011. “The year.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

8 NEWS

Hort chief moves on after 30 years PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

HORTICULTURE NZ’s chief executive Peter Silcock is shifting out of the primary sector after 30 years.

But he remains connected to the soil. He heads to Civil Contractors New Zealand as its chief executive from July 1 – a new industry for him.

With three decades mainly at the

helm of grower organisations, Silcock played a key role in the 2006 establishment of Horticulture NZ and developing the industry’s strategy. He will again manage consolidation: Contractors NZ and Roading NZ voted last September to amalgamate.

“It’s a completely different industry, but there are similarities,” Silcock explains to Rural News. “They are pretty down-to-earth people and that’s what I

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS PETER SILCOCK says HortNZ’s formation was a highlight of his 30 years in the industry.

But other achievements have also given him personal satisfaction, such as starting the RSE scheme Young Grower of the Year and the NZ GAP scheme.

“And the work we are doing on resource management – people appreciate it is difficult and challenging but they also support us in that. I have worked with some wonderful people, both the staff of HortNZ and the organisation that

went before. I have been part the teams that worked together.”

He also appreciates the board members and the chairmen over the years and thanks them for the opportunities they provided him.

Silcock is moving on because he wants a new challenge. “The board of HortNZ and I will part on good terms but it is the right thing for me to do for my future.”

He will always take an interest in HortNZ because “it has been a huge part of my life”. He leaves at the end of June.

have always liked about working for the growers. They like you to talk straight and they talk straight to you.”

Silcock started with NZ Vegetable Growers in 1984 soon after graduating BSc from Victoria University. He was made chief executive in 1991. In 1997 he was also contracted to New Zealand Fruit Growers Association – so he headed the two organisations. Vegfed, as it was known then, and Fruit Growers came together in 2000. That led to HortNZ’s formation.

HortNZ has 22 affiliated product groups: larger ones like kiwifruit, pipfruit and potatoes, and Vegetables NZ – small groups like asparagus and feijoas.

It deals with the big issues common to the industry such as biosecurity, people development, representation to government, resource management and natural resources. Product specific issues are left to the product groups.

In 30 years Silcock has seen horticulture grow from a $500 million industry to $3.5 billion per year. Kiwifruit has grown from $200m to more than $1 billion. Vegetables have grown in processed and fresh from $100m to $500m.

But grower numbers have almost

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HortNZ CE Peter Silcock will leave the organisation in June after 30 years in the primary sector.

halved – from 10,000 in 1984 to 5500 now.

“There is growth occurring right across the industry. The businesses have changed with vertical integration, and consolidation is still occurring,” he says.

“We’ve got fewer growers, but we are growing and exporting more than ever. The positive is the industry has proven it is internationally competitive and we’ve got a strong export base.”

On the downside since 1984, com-

pliance complexity has increased. “The industry recognises some compliance is necessary but it can get carried away.

Issues over compliance costs, access to water – that’s become challenging and one factor holding the industry back.”

Markets have changed, with Asia and the Middle East more important.

“Growers have had to become more professional to meet customer demands internationally. But also the NZ Gap and Global Gap (quality assurance programmes) have forced people to become more professional.

And people are using systems like integrated pest management and integrated fruit production. So they are thinking and recording their actions more.”

Consolidation has occurred as growers have retired or sold up; a necessary process to create scale, Silcock says.

“The industry is on the right track.

The strategy document that HortNZ and all the industry pulled together back in 2009 is still relevant. We need to focus on meeting our customer requirements, the premium end of the market – the market segment that can give us higher returns.”

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 9

Farmers no drones on UAV uptake PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS ARE among the fastest business people seeing the advantages of UAV technology, says Warren Eade of GeoSystems NZ. (UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicle, or ‘drone’).

“Farmers are dealing with large scale areas and traditional methodology such as a 4WD or motorbike searching around a farm takes a lot longer,” he told Rural News. “[Data we can collect] in the space of a one-hour flight could have taken them several weeks to collect manually.”

Eade will be one of several speakers on UAVs at the upcoming MobileTECH conference in Auckland on April 29-30. He will speak about finding the right UAV amid the hundreds of designs and thousands of

applications.

Those hundreds of UAVs fall into two categories: fixed wing or plane type versus multi rotor or helicopter type, he explains.

“Within those categories there are multiple UAVs and there is no such thing as a utopian aircraft, one that does absolutely everything.

They have their pluses and minuses in size, weight, ease of flight, civil aviation regulations, payloads, etc. You need to do some homework.”

Some bigger corporate farms may be interested in buying UAVs but most other farmers would use services provided by people in the industry.

His address will pitch to farmers and different agencies that have not yet made the plunge into UAV technology and are unsure what they need to consider, whether buying

or using UAV services.

“Size, speed, ease of launch, portability, software are the sort of factors that come into the decision-making process on which one to buy and which one to use,” he

Fixed wing and multi-rotor UAVs come in hundreds of designs with thousands of applications.

explains. “Hopefully it will shed some light on the mysteries behind the purchasing decisions.”

UAVs can cost as little as $500, or upwards of $30,000, according to MobileTECH organisers.

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There will also be case studies highlighting UAVs now used used in farming, horticulture and forestry. www.mobiletech.events

EMBRACING THE ANZAC SPIRIT FONTERRA TANKERS are sporting the Anzac poppy this month to commemorate the centenary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.

The red poppies are adorning the cabs of 350 tankers and 160 Fonterra Brands New Zealand milk trucks in recognition and support for New Zealanders who have served in war zones.

As part of the campaign, Fonterra Brands is also offering free Anchor milk to all 180 RSAs nationwide.

Fonterra global operations managing director Robert Spurway says Anzac Day is an important time for all New Zealanders, particularly those who have served in our armed forces.

“The concept itself came from two of our tanker operators who have flown in the RNZAF and we’re proud to have been able to help them bring the idea to life. It’s been well received by our teams and by many of our farmers whose families formed the backbone of our agricultural industries after returning from war,” he says.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

10 NEWS General public pig ignorant THE PORK industry recognises that little is understood about pig farming in general by many New Zealanders, particularly the requirements of caring for its animals, says its annual report.

It is taking steps to be more transparent and instil confidence in its consumers via its production systems and standards.

Projects underway include educational resources and enhancing

the NZPork website with short films about the industry and its people.

Seventy-five percent of farms had been audited for the Presentation Assessment as part of the PigCare Audit Programme by the end of the 2013-14 financial year, says chairman Ian Carter.

Most farms are scoring well and the supply chain is using this information in a proac-

tive manner. This industry-wide independent welfare assurance, plus presentation assessment, is unique in New Zealand’s livestock industries, Carter says.

“We can wholeheartedly stand behind our commitment to meeting high animal welfare standards,” says Carter.

“Sound animal welfare practices are critical for pork producers. It is vital to the industry’s

success that animals are healthy and well cared for. Demonstrating that required standards are being met or exceeded builds confidence in the industry, but is also a challenge.”

Carter says the industry faced criticism in June, but this was balanced by 70 positive stories in various media from February to June.

• Pork NZ annual report p17

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HIGH SPEED broadband is a core requirement for farmers, says Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Alex White.

Visiting New Zealand recently he told Rural News that Irish farmers tell him a complete rollout of high speed broadband to rural areas is the most important task his government faces.

Broadband is as important as – perhaps more important than – any other structural component of the farming sector because it’s critical for increasing production and productivity.

“Until recently broadband in Ireland has been patchy.

It has improved in the past year and even in the past six months and we reckon the private sector is spending [about] 2.5 million euros on broadband provision,” White says. “But this is still not going to be enough because there are parts of rural Ireland where it won’t be commercially viable for the commercial operators to go.”

White says the Irish Government will have to pay for high speed broadband in areas where it’s not commercially viable for the main operators. The commercial operators are installing high speed broadband in the cities and major towns, but [across most] of Ireland the Government is going to ‘have to take charge and put in broadband’.

“The cities and the big towns… are well served but the remote – and even not so remote – areas we will need to serve. Agriculture is one sector that will benefit.

“Also, education, health and tourism – especially agritourism – need broadband. We want to make sure people who come to Ireland have access to broadband, including students and tourists.”

White says Irish farmers want up-to-date information to drive the profitability of their businesses.

“They are happy and willing to use their mobiles or iPads to run the farm, but if the connectivity isn’t there they won’t be able to maximise the benefit of that technology. You see this issue in all parts of the world and I have been discussing that with people here in New Zealand.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 11

Pest paper a good sign ANDREW SWALLOW

MANY PESTS in New Zealand continue to be managed with poor understanding of their bionomics and impacts, warns the abstract of a paper published this month in the Journal of the Royal Society.

However, despite that conclusion the paper itself is a positive sign for the unique pest management challenges New Zealand faces, says its lead author, Professor Stephen Goldson.

“It is quite remarkable to have such a diversity of people contribute to a paper on pest management,” he told Rural News, reflecting on the ten authors from nine organisations who penned ‘New Zealand pest management: current and future challenges’.

“I expect it’s the first time so many authors have come together on a New Zealand pest management overview paper like this and it’s probably a good thing.”

Such cross-sector collaboration is the way science, government and industry must work to meet the challenge of controlling pests with fewer chemicals, says Goldson.

The paper highlights how many of our farming and forestry systems are

effectively monocultures of introduced species, making them exceptionally susceptible to severe pest outbreaks, even though the pests may have little economic impact overseas. Even ryegrass and white clover pasture, while technically not a monoculture like most apple, kiwifruit or pine plantations, is very vulnerable.

Goldson says farmers need to be aware of that heightened risk and where possible use more diverse ecosystems.

“But I’m also aware of the economic necessity of making money from farming.”

Heeding guidance to reduce the risk of pests developing resistance to controls, be they chemical or biological, is a must.

“That’s absolutely essential otherwise we will have even fewer tools in our armoury,” he points out.

Goldson says we’re not short of successes in biocontrol, but some, such as the parasitoid wasp that attacks Argentine stem weevil, are showing signs of breaking down.

“We’re seeing a return of the weevil which is extremely concerning….

It’s a common misunderstanding that there’s a galaxy of

through collaboration.

Nonetheless, he says there’s still a need to be smarter in pest management and border biosecurity because chemical pesticides are being withdrawn, awareness and opposition to pesticide residues in food is rising, and public acceptance of such controls is falling.

He refuses to be drawn on whether

often in partnership with Government, as it frees public funds for the longer-term ecosystem work which is so badly needed.

Farmers have a key role to play in being observant and seeking advice on anything that appears unusual.

“There are no stupid questions.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

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Stephen Goldson

these biocontrols out there, but there isn’t.

So we need to preserve the capacity of the biocontrols we do have by managing the whole system.”

Goldson adds that for New Zealand farming, often it is the absence of insect, weed or disease problems found elsewhere in the world that is our competitive

enough is spent on pest management and/ or biosecurity, saying that is a political decision – which farmer representatives may, or may not, wish to lobby on.

What he does say is that funding from levy bodies such as DairyNZ or Beef + Lamb NZ is very important to finance shorter-term pest control research,

advantage. However, when something does get in, it becomes our Achilles’ heel because the farmed ecosystem lacks the diversity that would normally reduce a pest’s impact.

Unsurprisingly, Goldson highlights the importance of border biosecurity, which he believes has improved in recent years

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

12 NEWS

Southern milk supply dries up SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA SAYS milk collection in the South Island in March was 7% below last season.

The co-op collected 60 million kgMS in the South Island; soil moisture remains low across most South Island dairying regions.

“Scattered rain in March was not enough to ease the irrigation restrictions many farmers are still facing and extremely dry conditions continue to affect pasture growth rates,” the co-op says in

its monthly global dairy update.

North Island collection in March reached 80 million kgMS, in line with March last season.

Fonterra says rain in March, consistent with long-term averages, supported for milk volumes.

However, dry conditions remain across most dairying regions and followup rain is needed to hold milk production in line with last season over the coming months.

In Australia, milk collection for the nine months to March 31 reached 100 million kgMS,

6% higher than the same period last season.

Milk collection in March reached 9mkgMS, 9% ahead of March last season. Most dairying regions, Tasmania in particular, received some rain, favouring pasture growth. Western Victoria produced much more than last season and Tasmania is tracking in line with last season.

Meanwhile milk production worldwide has been subdued, Fonterra says.

EU production in January was in line with the same month last year, the

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Fonterra’s milk collection in the South Island for March was 7% behind the same month in 2014.

first month since June 2013 with no growth in milk production. Ireland had the largest decrease, down 14%. Only the UK and Poland grew production in January.

US production in January increased 2% over January 2014. This increase was below market expectations and affected by reduced production in the

major dairy states California, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Argentina and Uruguay production data for January is not complete.

Production in December decreased 1% over the same month last year.

Australian production in January increased 1% over January 2014. Production decreased in Vic-

toria but increased 7% in Tasmania.

Meanwhile, New Zealand exports in January increased 3% over January 2014.

This was driven by SMP and AMF increasing 25% and cheese increasing 21%. But WMP decreased 10% to 137,000 tonnes.

Australian exports in January decreased

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EU exports in December increased 8%; US exports in January decreased 22% over January 2014.

HEAT GOES ON QUAD BIKE SAFETY FROM PAGE 6

can be likened to the response to the ban on using cellphones in cars: cellphones are not the only cause of driver distraction and, similarly, head injuries are not the only cause of death in quad crashes.

“The leading cause of quad deaths is being crushed when one rolls on top of a person. Rollover is the leading cause, but head injury is a real, tragic outcome of quad

accidents,” Barton says. “Some people think helmets will solve everything, but they don’t. However, if I was riding a quad I would want to be protecting my head from accident.”

Meanwhile, Barton praises Landcorp’s action on quad use and overall farm safety. He says its decision not to use quads in certain environments is smart and shows its commitment to safety.

“It’s interesting that WorkSafe

didn’t make that decision,” he says. “Landcorp took ownership of the problem: it thought about it, looked at the evidence, the other options and took control of the solution.

“Safety… doesn’t start and finish with following a bunch of rules and regulations. It takes ownership of the things that can kill and injure, and there are lot of options on how you can manage those,” Barton says.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

14 NEWS

One Plan working out Farmers in the Horizons Regional Council area are now working much more positively and closely with the organisation, says Bruce Rollison, a commercial vegetable grower and Horizons councillor. Peter Burke recently visited Rollison’s property to discuss his dual roles.

FARMERS AND Horizons Regional Council were for years at each other’s throats over the infamous One Plan and the council’s stance seen by some as anti-farming. But the row has died down as some staff and councillor changes – plus work

by DairyNZ, Horticulture New Zealand and Federated Farmers – have brought the council to its senses to implement One Plan, with all its imperfections, in a practical way.

Helping in that change is Bruce Rollison who with his wife Stephanie grows vegetables near Ohakune in the shadow of Mt Ruapehu. He is also

one of the new people at the table at Horizons Regional Council – a first time councillor representing the Ruapehu Ward.

Rollison says today staff, councillors and farmers work positively to find practical solutions, especially in priority catchments where there is intensive dairying and commercial growing.

“They’re meeting regularly so that the steps Horizons executive and staff are taking have practical understanding of farmers’ needs,” he told Rural News.

“That’s the key point – understanding the practicality of farming and

weighing up whether regulations do or don’t fit in a particular area. The aim is to allow the farmer to maintain and build their business and for Horizons to ensure the regulatory framework of One Plan is adhered to and that the environmental outcomes are positive.”

As a regional councillor Rollison is required by law to act in the best interests of the region – not just a particular sector. At the same time, he and other councillors bring their own expertise to the debate. Rollison says, as a grower, he listens carefully to what others have to say and

makes sure that when he speaks he takes the interests of others into consideration.

“I am not going to put up a debate that is so leftor right-field that someone could say, ‘hey Bruce that was a ridiculous statement and you are not taking into account these other issues’. You have to maintain the professionalism of upholding standards while ensuring that progress can happen.”

Rollison says even before One Plan was unveiled, many farmers were adhering to strict environmental codes and good agricultural practices. He believes this is

Bruce Rollison balances life as a grower and HRC councillor.

why there was a lot of ‘push back’ to One Plan, with farmers questioning the need for more regulations. He says the authors of One Plan should have taken more notice of this and their failure to do so helped cause the impasse between the council and farmers.

But Rollison says this is

now history and the focus is on making the plan work and trying to reduce the red tape for farmers working positively on environmental issues.

He adds that many councillors think, for example, if a dairy farmer is monitoring the environmental plan on his farm, why have three organisa-

tions call to check on him?

“So we are moving to a point where those farmers who are showing a good adherence to One Plan could be doing something of a self-audit. But if there is someone not adhering to the rules and there are issues then Horizons will continue to monitor them.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 15

Sprouting business is all about good looks CONSUMER PREFERENCES have moved from taste to looks.

That’s the view of Ohakune commercial vegetable grower Bruce Rollison, growing Brussel sprouts and parsnips for the domestic market.

Rollison and his wife Stephanie sell about two-three tonnes of these vegetables every day and he says it’s the appearance that counts.

“It’s a shame because we have shifted from taste to looks. Everything has to look good. That’s what the retail market wants,” he told Rural News.

Bruce and Stephanie are graduates of Lincoln University: Bruce did an ag commerce degree and Stephanie one in ag science. Initially, Bruce worked in the tourism sector and Stephanie as a fertiliser and agronomy rep around Ohakune.

Both come from farms: Bruce off a South Canterbury arable property and Stephanie a Hawkes

Bruce and Stephanie Rollison.

Bay sheep and beef farm. Their farming backgrounds drew them back to the land to raise their children.

Ohakune is well known for growing carrots and potatoes.

But now sheep and beef, and even dairying, as well as sprouts and parsnips, are prominent. The decision to buy this particular business came somewhat out of left field, Bruce says. It was owned by a family who decided it was time to move out of the industry.

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“We were looking at purchasing a house locally and we went past this place, which Stephanie knew well because of her job. It was let slip that it was for sale and she arrived home that night and said, ‘do we want to grow Brussel sprouts and parsnips?’ I couldn’t believe what had come out of her mouth and that was the last thing I expected. But, to cut long story short, we ended up purchasing the operation from people we knew and they were involved in the first

year of our operation which was great.”

That was 15 years ago and since then they have been planting a bigger area – 40ha each of parsnips and Brussel sprouts – and sell these to the supermarket chains Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs. Unlike some other growers they don’t have contracts, instead taking orders day by day.

“We get phone calls for product. The supermarkets chains have relationships with our wholesaler, in our case mainly Turners & Growers, and they say ‘we need this many crates of whatever’,” Rollison explains.

“That happens on a daily basis so we are out in the morning picking those vegetables. We still hand pick Brussel sprouts and the parsnips are machine lifted then handpicked.”

It’s a five-day-a-week operation, but they also pack on Sundays to get product to the supermarkets on Mondays.

Picking is done in morning and afternoon.

PICK, PACK, PROCESS PICKING IS done in the morning and afternoon, with staff in the packhouse grading the product.

The larger sprouts grow at the bottom of the vegetable and small ones near the top; often the top ones are left a few weeks longer to grow bigger.

There are three grades: larger or ‘table size’, medium and very small. The table size sprouts are usually found loose on supermarket shelves.

The very small ones go to restaurants. But there is increasing demand for the medium-small sprouts.

“We put these in pre-packed bags and that is becoming an important and larger part of our business. Five years ago we’d be lucky to sell 5% of our product that way, today it would be 40% of our market,” Rollison explains.

“People just want to pick a bag off the shelf, know it’s fresh and… walk, unless they have time to look and fill up a bag of loose product. This is the same in all product lines – not just ours. People do the same with potatoes, carrots and other vegetables.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

16 NEWS

Willingness to change key to success Much of the coverage of Doug Avery’s Resilient Farmer tour has focussed on depression in rural communities but there’s much more to his presentation, as Andrew Swallow found out in Fairlie last month.

“THE ONLY reason I’m here is because I failed.”

How often have you

heard a farming event opened with a line like that?

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Doug Avery

opportunity,” he continued, recounting how years of drought drove him to the brink but then changes to his farming system, and return of son Fraser to the farm, revitalised his outlook.

Today, Avery’s lucerne story is legend (Rural News told it in 2008) but his Resilient Farmer tour message isn’t about lucerne, it’s about willingness to change, and if things aren’t going well, to seek help.

“Farming made this country what it is but we seem to have got into a rut.”

Small, incremental changes add up over the years; the important thing is to make a start, he stresses.

For example, switching his land to lucerne has produced $37,500/ha in the past 15 years, while similar neighbouring country in traditional pasture has done only $4200/ha.

“There were only a few degrees of separation at the start but further out it becomes a huge difference.”

Now his “hot pastures” return $3000/ha, and he has 450ha of them, while traditional ryegrass “horrid pasture” returns just $280/ ha. Turnover has gone from $320,000 in 1998 to $2.2m.

Ewes scanned 203% last year and 93% of lambs went by weaning at 105 days averaging 21kg carcase weight, leaving land free to finish trading stock, or destock and “go to the beach” if drought limits growth.

Without high quality feed, sheep will never demonstrate their genetic potential, he adds, advocating a 74% legume, 26% other pasture diet. “When

you achieve that you’ll find the genetic potential of your animals.”

Avery describes life as a series of peaks and valleys.

You can’t stay on the peaks forever but as you leave one peak you should have your next peak in sight and use the valley between to your advantage. “To climb new mountains I had to learn a whole load of new stuff.”

Reacting when the crisis or opportunity hits is too late, so talking about lucerne as a solution to drought when the drought’s on is too late.

“Do the work to build resilience before the events.”

Collecting data and then crunching the numbers to analyse and assess performance, and alternatives, is vital, says Avery, who talks about three types of work on a farm: practical, paying $18-25/hour; tactical, earning $100/hour; and strategic, returning $300 to $1000/hour. It’s too easy to spend all your time on the practical with little or no time on the other two, he says.

“If you don’t do this [tactical and strategic] stuff you don’t know what you’re missing out on and I’d suggest you are exposing yourself to risk.”

Avery says farm management package Farmax “is the most important tool we use”.

Every animal is EID tagged so, for example, when drought hits he knows which are the worst performing 25% to get rid of. “It might mean you only lose 8% production… the current [drought] situation is a great opportunity to get rid of those lowest performers.”

KEY POINTS ❱❱ Three pillars: financial; environmental; social. ❱❱ Start change: small steps accumulate. ❱❱ Gather data and use it. ❱❱ Take time for tactical and strategic decisions. ❱❱ Make, use and keep connections.

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 17

Pig industry brings home bacon PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

PIG KILL for the last financial year was 12,000 less than budgeted for by NZPork, showing the continuing consolidation in the industry.

However, those staying are getting better production and are more professional in producing pig meat, NZPork chair Ian Carter told Rural News.

The total pig kill in the financial year to September 30, 2014 was 672,108 compared to 681,540 for 2012-2013. But while pig kill is down, pig production has actually increased which shows farms are becoming more productive and pigs are getting bigger. In 20132014, 47,646 tonnes were produced compared to 47,201 tonnes the previous year.

Carter says it “isn’t ideal” for an industry to be in a decline but the industry is becoming very specialised. At least 52%

of the product now is imported.

“The rest of the world is feeding more New Zealanders with pig meat than the New Zealand farmer is. It is not a trend I am overly happy about.”

Producers in New Zealand now have to have certain scale to be cost effective and meet all the regulations, he says.

“We have fewer producers, but they have also had an increase in the average weight. The cost to produce a larger animal is not significantly greater than a smaller animal,” Carter explains.

“All the overheads are in there, you can spread it over greater kilograms of meat from the farm and then there are efficiencies in the system with the handling of a slightly heavier carcase.”

New Zealand still has a very low average carcase compared to the rest of the world. Overseas the carcase is cut up similar to a cattle beast into more modern cuts

but New Zealand consumers still tend towards roasts, chops and bonein products. That is the consumer preference but attitudes are changing.

“Getting into more modern cuts is certainly the objective of the industry,” he says.

While declining numbers of pig farmers is a worry, Carter says he is more concerned about the producers they lose. “We come under a fair amount of scrutiny. I am a lot more confident because the base that is left is a lot more professional and specialised in producing pig meat for the New Zealand consumer.”

He says the industry adopts innovative practices and exceeds global standards in most areas.

They produce solely for the domestic market and “our neighbour is the consumer and the need for our neighbour to have confidence in us is critical to us”.

NZPork is looking at better cuts and consis-

NZPork chair Ian Carter says those staying in the industry are getting better.

tently improving quality, transparency of the industry’s production systems, giving consumers choices and getting consumers to have confidence in New Zealand production system.

“We are proud of where we are compared to the imported product but it is just getting that consistent messaging across.”

Sheep measle eggs can spread over a wide area and affect many farms, so make sure you dose for sheep measles at least 48 hours before taking your dog onto sheep pasture

@rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

RELATIONS THAW WITH MPI SINCE its long-standing legal action ended last year, NZPork is making better progress on negotiations with MPI over import health standards (IHS), NZPork chairman Ian Carter says.

The court case against MPI by

NZPork over the introduction of new IHS lasted for a few years but ended in 2013 when the industry lost its appeal in the Supreme Court, Carter says in his report.

Getting free of legal entanglement is allowing the industry-good body to work with

MPI on risks presented by the IHS. “Together we are investigating how to effectively gather information that will help us to understand and manage the risk.”

The product entering under the new IHS is being monitored by MPI.

For more information contact your veterinarian, phone Ovis Management on 0800 222 011 or go to www.sheepmeasles.co.nz

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Helping grow the country

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

18 NEWS

Arable farmers show how to grow feed ha at the cheesy dough stage, reached in midlate December. That EAT YOUR heart out compares to just dairy farmers: even if 4-5tDM/ha when taken your pasture is the best as greenchop at the flagin the country it won’t leaf to booting stage of come close to amassing the crop in late October the feed/day a cereal to early crop can, judging November,

by Foundation of If your Arable Research pasture is she pointed out.

(FAR) findings. the best With From flag such stellar leaf through to in the growth rates, cheesy-dough every day in grain stage, May- country the paddock sown plots of it won’t means a wheat, oats, barley come much bigger and triticale at stack come Lincoln averaged close to 310kgDM/ha/ amassing harvest, but Arnaudin day growth last the feed/ stressed spring. the 30-46% “The triticale day a drymatter was the highest cereal window yielding but crop can. for ensiling maybe not the mustn’t be best quality and missed. the wheats were right up Plant growth there with it,” pointed regulators reduced yield out FAR researcher overall but did increase Elin Arnaudin during a recent Results Round Up the percentage grain content of taller wheat meeting. cultivars, suggesting a Yields across all feed quality benefit. species were 20-23tDM/ ANDREW SWALLOW

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Wholecrop cereal silage taken at the cheesy dough stage is a high carbohydrate, low protein feed suitable for supplementing pasture which would “hopefully” be worth 25c/kgDM, said Arnaudin. Greenchopped crop has a higher protein, lower fibre and starch content.

Taking cereals as wholecrop can reduce growing costs compared to grain and means the paddock is cleared earlier for following crops.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

20 NEWS

Shear dedication pays off TONY HOPKINSON

FOR COMPETITIVE shearers, winning a class at Golden Shears is a career pinnacle. Peter McCabe, Tauranga, achieved this at the 2015 event when he won the veterans’ class.

“I have been shearing for 45 years including competing in other classes at the open so the winner’s ribbon means much to me,” McCabe told Rural News.

He also judged various classes, but not the veterans, at this year’s finals, as the organisers gave him permission to compete in that class.

The veterans’ class has a minimum entry age of 65 years. McCabe is 66, and there were 18 competitors nationwide.

McCabe’s shearing career started on the family 250ha farm

at Hoe-o-Tainui, 20km north of Morrinsville.

“I taught myself to shear at home and did my first hundred, shearing left handed before dad (45) and I (15) attended an Ivan Bowen shearing school in July 1967. Ivan convinced me I would do better shearing righthanded.”

McCabe said while it took him time to get used to it, it definitely was the right thing to do.

He then shore for 10 years with contractor Eddie Corbett, mainly in two-stand sheds working from home in Waikato.

He married in 1970 and spent four years more with two other shearers working between Whangamata and Morrinsville, until numbers grew to enough work for each in his respective area.

McCabe then worked in Waikato in 2-3 stand

Shearing veteran Peter McCabe with the winner’s ribbon he won at this year’s Golden Shears.

sheds, building a reputation for quality work.

About then he did his personal best – 408 sheep in eight hours.

He also started shearing at shows “where I did well”, competing from Whangarei to Masterton.

There was little shearing during the Waikato winters so Mccabe did five years of pre-lamb shearing working out of Milton, Otago. He also worked the off-season in a local garage, becoming a competent mechanic.

“During the heyday of the boom in goats in the mid-1980’s I also had sheds shearing up to 750 Angora x goats and won several shows shearing goats.”

For shearing goats he used a 17 tooth comb and usually a slower cutting machine so the handpiece would not get so hot. Goat shearing was a class at Golden Shears for two years and he won the event in 1989 and was runner-up in 1990.

McCabe started judging in 1985 and later became judges examiner for Waikato for Shearing Sports NZ, formerly the New Zealand Wool Board.

He has judged from Whangarei to Mossburn and Gore, and was invited to judge at the Golden Shears in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

From 1985-1995 he

worked for the New Zealand Wool Board as a shearing instructor from Whangarei to Te Kuiti McCabe first competed at Golden Shears in 1970 in the senior class (up to 330 sheep in nine hours), in 1979 competed in his first open class, and in 1980 was 16th qualifier. He has competed at Golden Shears for 18 years and gave up full time shearing in 1995.

While working full time as a mechanic, McCabe still judges at many shows and competes in veteran shearing contests.

“These are run with time handicaps for age and when shearing five sheep I have to give other competitors up to a minute start.”

Some competitors are as old as 83 – they just love shearing, McCabe says.

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LEFT, RIGHT OUT SHEARING LEFTHANDED has some special problems.

The torque of the handpiece naturally turns it for the right handed shearer, making it easier to keep the comb on the sheep and avoiding cutting the skin.

The sheep also has to be held the other way and the porthole is in the wrong place after the sheep is shorn.

Also, when shearing in a multi-stand shed, lefthanders are always put on the bottom stand.

Shearing Sports New Zealand makes allowance for ‘lefties’: stand six at Masterton has the porthole, machine and catching pen able to be realigned.

Colin King (a former MP) was a three-time Golden Shears winner who shore left-handed.

Image courtesy of Te Aroha Museum

Prosperity comes from productivity.

Productivity comes from improvement.

Now let’s talk about where improvement comes from.

In 1814 there were two cows and one bull, brought into New Zealand by Samuel Marsden. Today the dairy industry has 4.9 million cows and processes 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids per year.

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In early days, if you were milking more than three or four cows, you were a full-time farmer. Today, two people can milk 800 to 1,000 cows in a couple of hours.

Between 1979 and 2014, milk solid production increased by 1.3 billion kilograms.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

22 NEWS

‘Cut the crap’ farmer tells ORC PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

A LAST-MINUTE turnaround decision by the Otago Regional Council was the last straw for Oamaru dairy farmer Robert Borst.

The decision could put him out of business, he

says. Hence his frustration that boiled over in a dumping of cow manure outside the council’s Dunedin office.

Borst had spent four years and up to $150,000 on consultants and legal advice on negotiations with the council over consents after a special sensi-

tive zoning was imposed on his Five Forks farm.

As a goodwill gesture he had already voluntarily reduced stocking rates by 20% and nitrogen leaching by up to 25%. He has carried extra interest payments imposed by the bank because his valuation dropped 60% temporar-

ily because of uncertainty over the consents.

He had spent money on consultants, advisers and reports. He was doing his best to put together a comprehensive consent application despite being told at various stages by the council it wasn’t clear what was needed because

they hadn’t considered such as application before.

Borst had endured being told by a council head scientist who came to carry out significant water tests there was not future for dairying on the sensitive land. He felt this was predetermining his consent. He had Otago farmer Robert Borst has spent $150,000 on consultants and legal advice in his negotiations with Otago Regional Council.

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tried to cooperate with ever-changing decisions and criteria for the application.

But when he finally submitted the consent and two weeks later was told the council had changed its mind and that the consent would have to be a notified application, he had had enough.

The Borsts had been told if they could show considerable progress in N leaching, that would justify a non-notified process. They had done that at considerable cost and effort.

A notified process would cost tens of thousands more, take years and possibly put him and his wife Sylvia out of business as they continued to struggle with doubled interest rates.

That is when Borst dumped a load of manure outside the Otago Regional Council Dunedin offices out of “sheer frustration”. “We are at the end of our tether,” Borst toldRural News. “I am not proud of what we did. It wasn’t premeditated; it was just something out of sheer frustration and an accumulation of emotions.

“We don’t know where to go. We haven’t got the luxury of going through a notified process. We are under financial pressure because of the high interest rates and we’ve got to deal with the drought and the low payout.

“We deal with those things as farmers all the time – but when the whole underlying value of your property is under threat, you can only survive that for so long. And there’s no certainty that the consent would be granted at the end of it.

“It is hard to make management decisions,

not knowing if we are going to be here next year or not.”

Borst says he is a bornand-bred dairy farmer. He worked up to ownership from starting out as a farm worker. His operation (3000 cows on three dairy units) is a family farm with himself and Sylvia as partners.

“We’ve spent somewhere between $150,000$200,000 on consultants, legal advice, etc to date,” he says. “It has been a lonely battle as well because we are basically fighting on our own.”

To do a water study required for the consent will cost at least tens of thousands and take 12-18 months. “Submitting a public submission, hearings, professional support – we are probably talking about hundreds of thousands and no guarantee we would get a consent at the end of it anyway.

“We already reduced nitrogen leaching as a goodwill gesture at the start of this consultation.

We acknowledged we are in a sensitive zone and started to reduce our N footprint.

“But we can’t keep reducing stocking rate and stay economic, so it’s a balancing point. How far do you keep going? Until you have no business?”

He has been communicating with Federated Farmers Otago president Richard Strowger and national president William Rolleston throughout the process but has not had any recent feedback.

Since his dumping protest he has had support from the farming community and other businesses. He has had 60-70 text messages from farmers, businesses and strangers around New Zealand.

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

NEWS 23 Waikato University Agribusiness professor Jacqueline Rowarth says every subject at school should be taught through the lens of food production.

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Schools should teach about food production PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

TEACHING ABOUT agriculture and food should start at school, says Waikato University’s agribusiness head Jacqueline Rowarth.

In New Zealand it should be tied into every subject from economics, to history and geography.

“I am with Julian Cribb (Australian agricultural communicator) who says every subject at school should be taught through a lens of food production,” says Rowarth.

“For instance, economics: what does the country make money from?

Or history: why was there an Irish copper on any American corner?

Answer, the potato famine. Obviously geography is moving food around.

“Every single subject can be taught through a lens of food and that’s the bit we’ve been missing recently.”

Rowarth says at Waikato University agribusiness is a relatively new subject area. In 2011 there were

no agribusiness students, this year there are 42. For the first time the university also offers the subject as an elective in the first year with a further 55 students.

“Overall we have over 100 enrolments which is still small for New Zealand. But do we think it is indicative of increased interests?

Hurray, yes!”

At Waikato students can do a major or a double major in agribusiness or do papers as part of other degrees so the agribusiness students come from all faculties. It is one agricultural programme you don’t have to have done chemistry for previously, Rowarth says. Fewer and fewer students are doing sciences at school so they struggle to get into other agricultural courses.

While she thinks it is a pity science is not pushed at schools, at least through agribusiness papers students are getting some agricultural background.

“We now have accountants

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and some finance people going out into the workforce with some understanding of agribusiness so if they are going to work for KPMG, that is a good idea.”

She says Fonterra employs about 90 accountants, most of whom would have straight accounting degrees, with no understanding of agriculture.

“They can do the agribusiness major here and then they understand both.”

Rowarth says students often no longer base their choice of a tertiary education provider on the degrees they offer. Instead they look at lifestyle issues such as whether it is cheaper to live with their parents, take part-time jobs, or considerations about partners, so they look at what their local institutions have to offer.

“So increasingly having some sort of agribusiness at all the institutions would be a good idea.”

She would like to see Auckland University also offer some undergraduate agribusiness papers.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

24 MARKETS & TRENDS MARKET SNAPSHOT Meat c/kgCWT

BEEF MARKET TRENDS

North Island

South Island

Change c/kg

Change c/kg

Last Week

Last Week

Lamb - PM 16.0kg

n/c

5.03

n/c

5.06

Steer - P2 300kg

+10

5.55

n/c

4.95

Bull - M2 300kg

+10

5.60

n/c

4.70

Venison - AP 60kg

n/c

6.35

n/c

6.23

LAMB MARKET TRENDS LAMB PRICES

BEEF PRICES NI

Change

c/kgCWT

+10

P2 Steer - 300kg

P2 Cow - 230kg

+10

Local Trade - 230kg

+10

P2 Steer - 300kg

5.60

5.50

4.30

5.55

3.50

5.50

5.40

4.40

4.55

P2 Cow - 230kg

+10 +10

3.70

3.65

Local Trade - 230kg

n/c

5.00

n/c

4.40

4.65

4.95

M Cow - 200kg

5.45

4.75

n/c

M2 Bull - 300kg

$7.0

Last Year

+10

M Cow - 200kg

North Island 16.0kg M Lamb Price

2 Wks Ago

+10

M2 Bull - 300kg

SI

Last Week

4.45

3.40

4.95

4.70

3.98

$5.0 5yr Ave

$4.0 Jan

Feb

Last Year

Mar

Apr

This Year

May

Jun

South Island 16.0kg M Lamb Price $6.5

YM - 13.5kg

Mutton

SI Lamb

2.83

PH - 22.0kg

5.00

4.05

Mutton

$3.5 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

This Year

May

Jun

North Island 300kg Bull Price 5yr Ave Last Year This Year

$6.2 $5.7 $5.2

Last Year This Year

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

5yr Ave Last Year This Year

k Jan

Feb

This Year

Jan

This Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Apr

May

95CL US$/lb

Last Week

n/c

2.60

-14

NZ$/kg

2 Wks Ago

Last Year

5yr Ave

7.70

2.20

5.61

2.10

2.60

7.56

5.69

$2.70

This Year

$8.0 $7.5

Jan

Feb

Change +3%

% Returned NI

+1%

% Returned SI

$7.0

Mar

Apr

May

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

South Island 60kg Stag Price

$8.5

3 Wks Ago

2Wks Ago 72.8%

70.1%

62.2%

61.0%

Last Year

5yr Ave

76.64%

71.5%

69.5%

7.90

8.00

Last Year 5yr Ave

1.77

2.09

7.72

1.92

8.00

Last Year This Year

£1.00 Jan

Feb

Mar

+1% +1%

66.1%

Apr

May

2Wks Ago

3 Wks Ago

64.3%

63.1%

65.2%

64.4%

Jun

Last Year 5yr Ave 73.8% 71.2%

68.6% 65.1%

Procurement Indicator - North I. 80% 70%

Last Year

60%

This Year

Jan

Feb

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

May

Jun

Jul

Last Year This Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Procurement Indicator - South I.

90%

Procurement Indicator - South I. 85% 75% 65% 55% 45%

Last Year This Year

Jan

80%

$6.5

Jul

50%

This Year

$7.0

2 Wks Ago

£1.50

Change

Last Year

$7.5

Jun

Demand Indicator - UK Leg Price

% Returned SI

60%

$8.0

May

£2.50

% Returned NI

70%

5yr Ave

May

Last Week 1.80

-10

NZ$/kg

80%

$6.0

+3

Jun

Procurement Indicator - North I.

90%

$6.5

Apr

Export Market Demand

Procurement Indicator

Procurement Indicator 5yr Ave Last Year This Year

Mar

£2.00

Demand Indicator - US 95CL Beef Last Year

Jun

North Island 60kg Stag Price

$8.5

Feb

UK Leg £/lb

$1.70 Mar

Feb

Change

$4.0

Feb

Jun

Last Year

$2.20

Jan

May

k

$4.5

$3.5

Apr

400k

5yr Ave

Last Year

$5.0

Mar

South Island Weekly Lamb Kill

100k

$3.20

5yr Ave

3.15

200k

South Island 300kg Steer Price

$5.5

5.41

2.73

300k

$4.2 Jan

2.73

100k

Jun

South Island Weekly Cattle Kill

35k 30k 25k 20k 15k 10k 5k k

Change

$3.7

5.40

5.06

200k

5yr Ave

Export Market Demand

$4.7

5.38

5.06

North Island Weekly Lamb Kill

400k

500k

Last Year

5.36

5.06

5.06

n/c

3.50

5.06

5.06

n/c

5.61

3.15

5.06

n/c

5.60

5.06

Slaughter

$5.5

5yr Ave

5.58

5.56

5.05

5.06

n/c

MX1 - 21kg

5.03

5.01

3.15

n/c

PX - 19.0kg

2.88

5.03 5.06

n/c

YM - 13.5kg

Last Year

5.05

n/c

MX1 - 21kg

2 Wks Ago

300k

Jan

$4.5

n/c

PH - 22.0kg

Last Week 5.01

n/c

PX - 19.0kg

3.55

3.60

n/c

PM - 16.0kg

PM - 16.0kg

North Island Weekly Cattle Kill

60k 50k 40k 30k 20k 10k k

NI Lamb

3.88

4.70

Slaughter

$6.0

Change

c/kgCWT

Feb

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

May

Jun

Jul

70%

$6.0 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Last Year This Year

60% 50% Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Beef & venison prices are reported as gross (before normal levies & charges are deducted). Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett (after levies & charges are deducted).

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

n/c n/c

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

6.23

6.23

6.35

6.35

Last Year 5yr Ave 6.15 6.20

6.68 6.90

Beef & venison prices are reported as gross (before normal levies & charges are deducted). Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett (after levies & charges are deducted).

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MARKETS & TRENDS 25 NEWS

PRICE WATCH

BEEF: Despite the short processing weeks surrounding Easter, operating prices for beef have continued to climb higher. Underpinning the increased prices in the North Island has been firming procurement pressure as slaughter rates continue to seasonally ease. North Island beef prices have been enjoying 10c/kg increases week on week with prices for most classes of cattle sitting well over $1/kg higher than this time last year. It is a similar situation in the South Island with processors looking to fill slaughter space at plants.

Procurement pressure is again pushing prices higher. There is strong competition between processors for cows, despite the South Island cow kill remaining well above normal for this time of the year. Cow prices have shown the biggest lifts with prices up by 35c/kg in the last month. Overseas demand for beef remains mixed but the revival in US market prices in the last month has been welcomed. This is expected to continue to support the strong prices being paid at the farm gate for manufacturing beef.

LAMB: Export lamb prices in the North and South Island remain unchanged. Average farm gate prices in the North Island have held at just over $5.00/kg since late February,

whilst South Island prices have lifted marginally in recent weeks, but still remain only just over $5/kg. Export demand for chilled lamb was always going to be tough through March, following the end of the Easter Trade and it clearly showed in export results last month. After performing well through February, New Zealand chilled lamb exports retreated to below 20% of the total March lamb exports, far below historical averages for this time of the year.

This significantly reduced Average Export Values and partly explains why farm gate operating prices have remained stubbornly low. A stronger NZD and increased Australian supplies are also weighing heavily on trading conditions. However with lamb slaughter rates forecast to drop through winter, there is every chance prices will start to show some upside as key markets react to the tighter supplies.

DAIRY: Market conditions are being described as “bearish”.

Milk production estimates have been revised upwards in both New Zealand and Australia. These additional volumes have negatively impacted dairy product prices. The first GDT event for April clearly showed the markets reaction to the increased supplies with prices plummeting

Overseas Wool Price Indicators

WOOL PRICE WATCH Indicators in NZ$

Change

09-Apr

Last Year

01-Apr

Coarse Xbred

+3

4.93

4.90

4.84

Fine Xbred

+1

5.63

5.62

5.07

Lamb

n/c

6.43

6.43

4.99

-

-

-

-

Mid Micron

Wool Indicator Trends

700

CXI

650

Indicators in US$/kg Coarse Xbred Fine Xbred Lamb Mid Micron

LI

09-Apr

+8

3.72

3.65

4.18

+7

4.25

4.18

4.38

+7

4.86

4.79

4.31

-

-

-

-

500 450

600

400

550

350

500

300

450 Apr

Jun

Aug

Oct

Dec

250 Apr

Feb

Jun

Aug

FXI

Oct

LI

Dec

Feb

Coarse Xbred Indictor in US$

Coarse Xbred Indicator

600

CXI

500 450

500

400

400

Last Year This Year

350 Last Year This Year

300 250

300 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

nearly 11%. This was the biggest fall in over four years.

Reports suggest many buyers have already secured their requirements for the second quarter of 2015, which has taken some of the buyer urgency out of the market. Also impacting the market has been the removal of production

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

26 AGRIBUSINESS

Three keys to success of kiwifruit vote – chair PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

KEYS TO the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project’s success came down to three things, says its independent chairman, Neil Richardson.

These were consultation, the industry designing its own strategy, and industry people believing the working group got it right, he told Rural News.

The KISP project, as it is known, received well over 90% grower support for key proposals. These included retaining the single desk structure for Zespri and a regulatory change ensuring ownership was retained by active growers.

Richardson says you can never consult enough. Some people may say the strategy group didn’t consult enough but it had over 650 individual submissions, ran over 100 meetings, had innumerable other meetings with individuals and held three

consultation rounds.

“The second thing was this was about the industry designing its own strategy for the future; it wasn’t someone else doing it for the industry or putting it on the industry.

“The people on the project were either voted on or Neil Richardson says the KISP project received appointed by their respective over 90% grower support organisations so the representa- for its key proposals. tion and the nature of the project was that of an industry looking to its the thinking by the group itself, I think future rather than having government we about got it right.

“Through those three things, the or any other party do it for it.”

The third key to success was people way we ran the process, who was “genuinely felt that we got it about involved and the quality of thinking, right,” says Richardson, who led the 18 decisionmaking and referendum quesmonths consultation before formulat- tions, we got the high turnout and that ing the recommendations for voting. high turnout produced a very good “There were lots of compromises, chal- result.”

Richardson believes the voter turnlenges, difficulties to face as reflected in the voting cap. Throughout the con- out has only been exceeded on two sultation process, through the use of occasions. One was the Fonterra set-up good advice and through the quality of phase after a controversial and long

process and secondly when the current kiwifruit industry was established in 1999.

“In terms of voter turnout we have achieved far in excess of anything other than those two situations and the typical turnout (for agricultural referendums) has been about 40% so we are far, far in excess of that.

“The other thing of note is, typically you might get 75-80% support for resolutions; all ours were in the 90s and as high as 97%.”

Richardson is confident of Government support for the regulatory changes required.

“The Government has seen a very robust process with a great deal of independence in the decisionmaking,” he says. “These are industry representatives but they went there to represent the industry, not just their own positions, so they left conflicts at

the door. I think the Government saw a very good process; they saw a very clear strong industry turnout and they got a very clear message through the voting.”

Regulatory changes, changes to the Zespri and to New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc constitutions will take 12-18 months.

“I think we’ve established a platform. Underpinning all this were the questions of the sovereignty of the industry, making its own decisions on behalf of shareholders, and who owns and who controls the industry.

“There is a very clear view that this is a global business, and it operates in a global market, but it is proudly, unreservedly and unashamedly going to be owned by New Zealand growers.

“That will mean not only the growing aspects, but right through the intellectual property all of those things happening offshore the benefits will come back to New Zealand.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

AGRIBUSINESS 27

Aussie dairy farmers see red over energy white paper Noel Campbell chairman Australian Dairy Industry Council.

AUSTRALIAN DAIRY farmers are unhappy with a new energy white paper unveiled this month by the Federal Government.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) says the proposal fails to deliver for Australia’s important rural industries and communities.

ADF President Noel Campbell said the white paper provides no direct response to critical issues of reliable and efficient energy supplies in regional areas; instead it will add substantial cost to regional customers in an attempt to charge consumers the actual cost of energy use.

“The priorities suggested by the Government in the white paper disregard the dairy industry’s high power needs for milking equipment, milk storage and cooling, and milk processing procedures,” says Campbell.

“The introduction of cost-reflective tariffs would distinctly disadvantage dairy farmers and manufacturers located in areas where supply costs are higher and they are unable to alter patterns of energy use to take advantage of cheaper tariffs offered at nonpeak times of day.”

The ADF points out proposals to increase investment in the energy sector do not include any new solutions to provide regional consumers with the same reliable supply access enjoyed in urban regions.

“The Government needs to carefully consider all initiatives to ensure there is no damage to long-term competitiveness of Australian agricultural commodities including dairy,” says Campbell.

ADF wants a viable incentive scheme for dairy farmers

and manufacturers to increase their use of energy efficient technologies. Dairy has begun using renewable, efficient technologies on farm and in manufacturing, but this is costly and to continue to build the industry’s long-term sustainability Government attention and action is required.

Campbell says to enable the Australian dairy industry to grow, prosper and become more sustainable, the Government must act to encourage downward pressure on electricity prices, increased uptake of energy efficient technologies, and improve the reliability of supply.

Releasing the energy white paper, Industry and Science Minister Ian Macfarlane said the Government was delivering on an election commitment to give industry and consumers certainty in energy policy.

“The measures in the energy white paper will deliver stable energy policy and efficient transparent markets that give consumers information to make choices about their energy use and industry the confidence to invest,” says Macfarlane.

The National Energy Productivity Plan will deliver up to 40% improvement in energy productivity, reducing household and business energy costs, encouraging economic growth, and helping to reduce emissions.

The productivity target will be developed as part of Australia’s post 2020 emissions reduction target, due to be presented to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this year.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

28 AGRIBUSINESS

East Coast farmers take up support offers SARAH CHARTERIS

WHILE FARMERS are “traditionally a private and self sufficient breed”

it is important they seek help early when the uncontrollable bites.

That’s the advice of Gisborne farmer David

Scott, the Coast/Gisborne/Wairoa coordinator for the East Coast Rural Support Trust since 2003.

The trust was the first

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in New Zealand, set up in 1991, and has four parttime coordinators covering Cape Palliser to East Cape. It is part of a nationwide network that can assist rural individuals, families and communities who experience an adverse event – climatic, financial or personal – to more effectively meet and overcome these challenges.

Scott says the free, independent and strictly confidential service is well used during a declared adverse event, but has fewer requests during normal ‘peace-time’. He says it is important for farmers to understand how their trust coordinator can assist any time they feel circumstances are getting beyond their control.

“Some of the ways the trust works include developing, analysing and creating options and actions for people to take, working with financiers to resolve financial and debt problems including restructuring, negotiating with creditors, animal welfare issues, and liaising with and making referrals to other professional

Coast/Gisborne/Waiora co-ordinator for the Rural Support Trust, David Scott.

advisers and local support groups.

“The trust’s role is that of a facilitator to assist and guide in an impartial, informal and compassionate manner,” Scott says.

He stresses the importance of seeking advice early. “The earlier the request for help comes, the better the chance the situation can be salvaged; often during a financial crisis we are called in too late.

“More often than not the request for help comes from the partner who is involved daily in and observing the change of the behaviour of the farmer and the lack of essential income required to keep the business viable. Farmers have traditionally always managed to sort things out them-

selves, however when the non-controllable bites – such as climate, exchange rates, rising cost of goods, market force sale prices – often plans come unstuck big time.”

As the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay regions reflect on another long, dry and hot summer, Scott is pleased to see more farming families being proactive with their planning.

“The big winner for us right now is the huge amount of drought strategies taken on board by a lot of our sheep and beef farming families.

“There are many more adverse weather events [like droughts] due to climate change and often a farm and family have barely recovered from one event when the next is

upon them.

“We have brochures [that give advice] and for eight years have preached the key elements at many community woolshed meetings. Federated Farmers has also been giving out the same messages.”

New technologies that challenge traditional farming methods are another big stress.

“For example, the Farmax programme, based on the amount of dry matter/feed covers versus the carrying capacity of a farm.

“Sale of stock and destocking are based on the computer result and not so much on the ‘eye and mind’ of the farmer. This technology challenges and threatens the farmers’ years of experience.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

AGRIBUSINESS 29

NZ underperforming in branding – Irish expert PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND is underperforming in branding its food products, says an academic who visited recently.

Dr Damien McLoughlin, a professor of marketing at University College Dublin, says like many major food producing countries New Zealand is focused on production.

But successful brands such as Coca Cola, Apple and Guinness have organised themselves around the consumer.

But he says he is shocked that no single organisation in New Zealand is responsible for branding food products.

The standout brand is Zespri, he says. Kiwifruit does an extraordinary job of delivering a premium product at a premium price – which is what branding is all about.

“NZ Inc is not doing enough to support its producers to actually reposition New Zealand strengths,” McLoughlin told Rural News.

“When I came on my

first visit here 18 months ago, I noticed all the planes were black – presumably a reference to the All Blacks. When I went through the airport there are all these signs about the Lord of the Rings and I thought it was cut. “But, when I came again, it was still there and I’m asking, ‘is that the only thing this great country has to say about itself’?”

McLoughlin says New Zealand, like Ireland, is one of few countries where there is no pollution and the water and the air are clean. This proposition and image is hugely attractive to world consumers and needs to part of our brand proposition.

For a country to have a strong brand it needs an organisation dedicated solely to this, he says.

By developing a strong national brand a country moves away from a ‘commodity culture’ because its brands are driven by consumer insights.

He points to a successful initiative in Ireland called ‘Origen Green’, a national branding scheme conceived by the Irish

Food Board. The aim is to get farmers, producers and processors to sign up to meeting strict objectives which focus on Ireland’s clean, green image.

“The Irish Food

Board… targets influential people – the big buyers of Irish food products and major retail chains and food brands around the world. It has been extremely clever and

hasn’t been hugely expensive, but the money has been wisely spent.”

McLoughlin believes New Zealand has the potential to do something similar.

QUARRY QUERIES RUNNING A quarry safely is explained in a new publication from MinEx, the national Health & Safety Council for the New Zealand minerals industry.

The handout tells of obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Health and Safety in Employment (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2013.

MinEx says many businesses – some of them farms -- are doing work that can be called ‘quarry operations’ as defined in the December 16, 2013 amendment to the act.

Work covered by these regulations are subject to codes, guidelines and regulations companies must know about and follow.

The industries in question are earthmoving (whether via contractors or a company’s own equipment), road construction and farming.

The three main issues quarry operators need to know about are: The person in charge of each quarry site must hold a Certificate of Competency issued by the board of examiners.

Your operation falls under certain sections of the 2013 regulations referred to above.

WorkSafe guidelines and approved codes of practice, most importantly the WorkSafe good practice guideline ‘Health and Safety at Surface Mines, Alluvial Mines and Quarries’ expected to be issued in June. www.minex.org.nz

Working in partnership:

Dr Damien McLoughlin

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

30 OPINION EDITORIAL

EDNA

The quadundrum HARDLY A week goes by without another report of a quad accident on a farm. And those are only the reported ones; never mind those in which the riders escape serious injury and nothing is ever said or done.

WorkSafe New Zealand has been setting standards for onfarm quad use and has run programmes to educate people – especially farmers – on the subject.

However, some of its standards, such as no passengers – especially children – are being openly questioned by farmer organisations, notably Beef + Lamb NZ (BLNZ). It insists WorkSafe doesn’t understand what life is like down on the farm and that quads in the right hands are safe.

There’s the nub of BLNZ’s argument: a quad in the right hands is safe. And maybe that is correct: experience does count, but sometimes it doesn’t.

Taking the bank manager or an investor out on the quad to see the farm is seemingly deemed necessary. Little mention is made about the availability or use of side-by-side farm vehicles.

Many of us on field days have seen quads used for farm tours and have witnessed, firsthand, poor safety practices and unnecessary risks. Good luck, rather than good management, averted accidents on those outings.

The move to outlaw passengers on quads conjures up visions of the ‘nanny state’ and Wellington bureaucrats running the ‘country’, as well as the city. There is little doubt that banning passengers from quads will put an end to BLNZ field days as we know them. So will an end to carrying passengers on the backs of the utes.

Is a way of life about to end, and will the horse also be deemed too dangerous?

On a less-dismal note, take a look over the fence at Landcorp Farming, going hard at safety programme on its farms. Landcorp has set a standard that should become the benchmark for all farms in the country, and its managers and staff are in full support.

OK, it doesn’t have to run field days. But if it’s good enough for Landcorp, why can’t BLNZ follow suit? Or is there a special case here that needs to be addressed?

SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?

GOT SOMETHING on your mind about the latest issues affecting our farming industry? Put your pen to paper or your fingers to your keyboard, and let our readers know what you think. Note: Letters may be edited.

Contact us by either post or email.

Don’t forget to put your name and address. post to: Letter to the Editor PO Box 331100 Takapuna , Auckland 0740. or Email: editor@ruralnews.co.nz

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

THE HOUND Glammy whammy THE HOUND reckons there must be a whole lot of red (which is appropriate) faces at the red meat promotion agency Beef + Lamb NZ after its major SNAFU in this year’s Golden Lamb Awards (The Glammies). The 2015 Glammies competition was recently declared a ‘no-contest’ because of a mistake by the testing facility in analysing the data to ascertain the top 20 finalists. BLNZ says it was made aware of this issue by the testing facility after all the media hoo-ha it had raised about the awards and after doling out the winner medals at this year’s Wanaka Show. Your old mate thinks people should spare a thought for this year’s ‘winner’ Hamish Buchanan who, after holding the title for a week, then had it snatched off him. Not a good look for BLNZ.

Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound?

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

Something in the water?

YOUR OLD mate wonders if there’s something in the water that’s caused the recent raft of departures – some sudden – of many top executives in the agri sector. Since new year we’ve noted the hurried exit of Brent Isler as chief executive of Farmlands, Wools of NZ chief executive Ross Townshend exiting stage left, the announcement that Peter Silcock from Hort NZ is leaving the role he has held with the industry good body for the past 10 years, and the strange and weird situation at Fonterra with last month’s sudden resignation of Pascal De Petrini, the managing director of its Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) business unit, and a member of Fonterra’s management team.

Bad timing

Nice touch!

YOUR CANINE crusader reckons fertiliser company Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ new chief executive David Wynne may need to improve his timing. Wynne recently told 160 people, at the recent Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards dinner, in New Plymouth, that the entire rural community had a collective responsibility to look after the environment. Unfortunately Wynne said this right after his company had been fined $60,000 for a discharge of sulphur dioxide into the air in May last year. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council prosecuted the company for breaching the Resource Management Act. What’s that they say about practising what you preach?

A MATE of yours truly says he has recently noticed how the Fonterra tankers, seen driving up and down the country, are displaying a large ANZAC poppy on their grills. The Hound’s pal reckons this is a nice touch, but suggests the ‘Lest we forget’ lyric, dedicated to the brave young men and women who died fighting for our country, may, for Fonterra suppliers, be equally a reminder of last season’s whopper $8.40 payout vs this year’s paltry $4.70.

Lest we forget, indeed!

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NATIONAL SALES MANAGER: Ted Darley .......... Ph 07 854 6292/021 832 505 ted@ruralnews.co.nz

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REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ....................... Ph 09 913 9627 Pamela Tipa ............................ Ph 09 913 9630 Peter Burke .............................Ph 06 362 6319 Andrew Swallow ................... Ph 03 688 2080 Tony Hopkinson ......................Ph 07 579 1010

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

MACHINERY EDITOR: Mark Daniel .............................Ph 021-906 723 or 07-824 1190 SUB-EDITOR: Neil Keating ............................Ph 09 913 9628

ABC audited circulation 81,137 as at 30.09.2014

WEBSITE PRODUCER: Emily Gordon .......................... Ph 09 913 9621

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 // APRIL 21, 2015

OPINION 31

NZ has a ‘rock star’ lifestyle – thanks to farming AT THE beginning of April, the Social Progress Index was released ranking New Zealand 5th of 133 countries, accounting for 94% of the global population.

The index is, according to authors Michael Porter and Scott Stern, “a robust and holistic framework for national social and environmental performance that can be used by leaders in government, business and civil society to benchmark success and accelerate progress”. It is the first comprehensive framework for measuring social progress that is independent of, but complementary to, GDP. And New Zealand is an over-achiever, doing far better in social and environmental performance than its economic peers.

This result reflects the success of the primary sector in everything it has done to boost the economy. In the mid1980s, for instance, dairy exports were worth about NZ$1.5 billion and per capita income of a New Zealander was about 40% of that of an American.

In today’s money, that NZ$1.5 billion is just over $4 billion, which wouldn’t support New Zealanders in the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed.

Last year dairy exports were worth at least $15 billion – almost four times as much as in the in the mid1980s – and per capita income was almost 66% of America’s.

New money coming into the country has supported employment, which has increased the tax take. The taxes have enabled the Government to pay down the national debt while supporting increased education participation, plus infrastructure development and health – and everything else that goes with a developed country (despite

reliance on primary production).

The Social Progress Index recognises what has been done, and also notes that to be an overperformer is a significant achievement “given that it is harder for richer countries to over-perform”.

New Zealand’s worst ranking (34th) is in ecosystem sustainability, encompassing greenhouse gas emissions, water withdrawals as a percentage of resources, and biodiversity and habitat. It is the water aspect that has caused the red flag.

The World Resources Institute has given New Zealand a baseline average water stress score of 1.4, ranging from 2 (medium to high stress) in Auckland to 1.3 in industrial use and 1.1 in agriculture (both in the medium range). Red flags alert to poor performance in comparison with economic peers, but examination of countries with similar GDP to NZ indicates most have been ranked with greater water stress than New Zealand.

Comparable figures from the UK, for instance, are 2.6, with agriculture and domestic at 2.7 and industry at 2.5.

New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are so small, contributing less than 0.2% of the world’s GHG, that they aren’t considered in the Social Progress Index. For New Zealand, however, they are a constant source of concern.

Emissions from the agricultural sector accounted for 48% of New Zealand’s total in 2013 and energy had dropped to 39% (industry and waste accounted for 6% each).

Between 1990 and 2013, emissions from agriculture increased 14%, and emissions from the energy sector increased by 32%.

Energy includes power and transport, and the increase in use reflects

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an increase in population and lifestyle expectations… which brings us back to economic growth.

Biodiversity and habitat is the third part of the ‘ecosystem score’. The worst result is in criti-

cal habitat protection, though terrestrial protection scores well overall, reflecting onfarm QEII covenants, as well as the large part of New Zealand under the Department of Conservation estate.

Without the primary sector, New Zealand could not afford to support society in the way it does – through infrastructure, welfare and education.

The Social Progress Index confirms New Zealand is

a great country. Farmers, take a pat on the back for your contribution; New Zealand wouldn’t rank so highly without you.

• Jacqueline Rowarth is professor of agribusiness, The University of Waikato.

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

32 OPINION Are we asking right questions ANDREW HOGGARD

MANY FONTERRA shareholders were disappointed with the interim results the co-op announced last month.

Many feel they are not seeing a return on their investment.

I think we might be asking the wrong question. It shouldn’t be where’s the return on our investment, but rather where do we see the value of being part of a co-op.

At the moment the milk price we are paid is based on the Global Dairy Trade result. It is averaged across the season, less manufacturing costs, to put it simplistically. All the other companies

should be achieving this anyway, with their products.

We know that only a portion of what Fonterra sells goes on GDT. The rest is sold through direct links to customers. I have heard many times that a bag of milk powder sold direct to a customer usually fetches more than a similar bag sold on GDT. Let’s say Fonterra announced the dividend had increased to 60 cents. What would have happened? We would all be in a slightly better mood probably, and the value of the shares would probably have gone up to $10 or thereabouts.

Would that have solved Fonterra’s problems or made them worse? All you

Fonterra shareholders now talking about leaving Fonterra -- would you now be saying you would stay put? Why? Surely the dynamic encouraging you to leave is even stronger now.

You still receive a similar milk price, but by cashing in your shares you get a whole heap more equity you can invest elsewhere.

So by performing, Fonterra could actually create more of a problem for itself.

That brings us to the crux of the matter – the milk price. Everyone will be there or thereabouts.

The dividend return as a percentage will generally remain static. So a farmer with a short term issue – be it expansion, or

repaying debt, or a new farm purchase – will look at the books, see all those Fonterra shares sitting there and see a solution.

How can Fonterra make that farmer look at those books and see the long benefit of being part of a co-op, for the long term benefit of our industry and farmers in having a strong, dominant co-op in the New Zealand marketplace? Because experience overseas and in New Zealand shows that the dominant co-op will always set the price, and when you lose that dominant co-op expect poor returns to follow.

• Andrew Hoggard is Federated Farmers dairy chair.

RURAL RANTS & RAVES Rural rants and raves is an opportunity for readers to tell us what they love about life in rural New Zealand – and what needs to change.

RAVE: I am mightily impressed by the recent MIE report into the meat industry’s woes. This looks to me to provide a longterm, sustainable future for the red meat sector. A Fonterra-type model is just what the meat industry needs; look how well the dairy industry is doing this year.

– John, Ohakune RANT: Quite frankly, I’ve read more believable fairy tales than the drivel dished up by MIE in its ‘report’ on the meat industry.

How did they come up with their numbers? By throwing darts at a dart board and multiplying it by 15,000,000?

– Murray, North Canterbury RAVE: I’d like to put on the record my appreciation for how well Fonterra is doing this year. It is remarkable that the company has managed to surpass the $4/kg mark in its payout for this year – in spite of turbulent times in world markets and increasing supplies from overseas competitors. Well done and thank you Fonterra. – John, Te Awamutu RANT: What the hell is Fonterra doing? This season’s forecast payout has gone down faster than Gerry Brownlee eating a pie. At this rate, I will never be able to afford to live off my dairy farm income and have to struggle along on my paltry university salary. – Jacqueline, Hamilton RAVE: We are so lucky in this industry to have

a Minister for Primary Industries who is forward thinking, energetic, smart and a credit to our sector. I think the minister is a wonderful human being and should get a lot more accolades from the farming community. – Nathan, Levin RANT: What a joke Nathan Guy is as our ‘supposed’ Minister for Primary Industries. He is an embarrassment and has done nothing to lift meat prices and quell the high dollar, and is overseeing a collapse in dairy prices. He should resign immediately. – Damien, West Coast RAVE: I recently had the pleasure of listening to the country’s premier radio broadcaster during my lunchhour. It was a delight to discover that he is an expert in farming, politics, golf, world travel and mooching freebies out of all and sundry.

He also has an amazing array of ‘mates’ – politicians, All Blacks, 1970s washed up athletes – yet none are as clever, goodlooking, knowledgeable or modest as him. - Jamie, Dunedin RANT: I am constantly disappointed by the lack of media and general public appreciation and adulation for the greatest politician New Zealand has ever known. Do they not realise that the Rt Hon. Winston Peters has the solution to NZ’s high dollar, falling commodity prices, out-of-control immigration and soaring Auckland house prices? What is the matter with you New Zealand?

– Winston, St Mary’s Bay, Auckland • NB: This is a satirical column. None of the claims made are the actual views of any real person dead or alive.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

OPINION 33

Vietnamese and Brazilians visit NZ to learn from Kiwi-co-ops IAN MACTINOSH

DELEGATION FROM Vietnam and Brazil have visited New Zealand this month to study co-ops and how they contribute to the world’s most cooperative economy.* Cooperative Business NZ, which represents the

vation within our co-ops, and plenty of historical data showing we are here for the long term. That’s why other countries come to New Zealand to hear how we’ve overcome challenges and continue to succeed internationally.

The eight delegates from Hanoi, Vietnam,

ness NZ’s Newmarket office, hearing about the member organisations’ roles and functions and getting an overview of the NZ co-op sector.

Scarcely had the Vietnamese left for Australia

when a Brazilian delegation arrived from Australia. These 17 visitors represented the Co-operative Organization of Parana State and SESCOOP (Co-operative Learning System).

They visited Zespri and Eastpac in Tauranga on April 20, then next day travelled to Waikato to meet with Fonterra and LIC. On April 22 the Brazilians got an overview of

the NZ co-op sector from Cooperative Business NZ then heard from Co-op Money NZ about our credit unions.

• Ian Macintosh is chief executive of Cooperative Business New Zealand.

* A 2014 United Nations study showed New Zealand is the world’s most co-operative economy per capita.

The survey of the social and economic impact of co-ops ranked NZ first of 145 countries.

Cooperative Business NZ chief executive Ian MacIntosh.

interests of this country’s co-ops and mutuals, helped co-ordinate the study tours.

One of the best features of the co-operative business model is that everywhere in the world co-op members are happy to share their experiences with fellow co-op people.

We have some of the best co-operative business models, plus inno-

were in NZ from April 15-17, arriving in Wellington. They first visited the Ministry for Primary Industries to learn how central government encourages co-ops through legislation and policies. Then came meetings at Fonterra, Auckland, with senior executives.

The visitors spent April 17 at Cooperative Busi-

EPA BOSS QUITS THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Authority’s (EPA) chief executive, Rob Forlong, has announced his resignation.

Forlong has headed the EPA since it started nearly four years ago; before that he was chief executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) for six years.

Chairman Kerry Prendergast says Forlong made a big contribution to the EPA, and the board and staff are grateful for his leadership.

“Rob has led the organisation through the crucial set-up period since the EPA’s creation in 2011. He’s managed the merging of three groups of staff into one organisation, driven the necessary culture changes and implemented the EPA’s responsibilities for managing the environmental impact of activity in NZ’s exclusive economic zone.

“He’s done all this while ensuring the EPA has continued to follow robust and transparent processes, and that the organisation doesn’t ‘drop the ball’ in any of its work.”

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

34 MANAGEMENT

Four tonnes a first for ryegrass The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) held its autumn result round up meetings earlier this month. Andrew Swallow relays a few of the headline messages.

FOR THE first time in FAR trials ryegrass seed yields have topped 4t/ha.

The stellar result was announced among a smorgasbord of agronomy messages presented

by the levy-funded cropping body at a series of grower meetings earlier this month.

“This is the first time we’ve ever achieved 4000kg/ha,” FAR’s Rich-

ard Chynoweth told an Autumn Results RoundUp meeting in Timaru.

“We’re pretty rapt with that.”

The breakthrough came in plant growth reg-

ulator trials on a Bealeylike coded cultivar at an irrigated site east of Ashburton using 2L/ha of yetto-be-approved product Payback (paclobutrazol) with trinexapac-ethyl (TE

– as in Moddus) and Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) at growth stage 31.

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“It did not produce the highest margin,” noted Chynoweth. However, he later told Rural News he knows there are companies keen to get it registered for use in ryegrass which could see the price come down. “It’s long gone off patent.”

Yields from a South Canterbury trial are still to be finalised but they look equally promising, Chynoweth added.

Like the other growth regulators, Payback is a gibberellin-blocker, but appears to be taken up through roots rather than leaves. Consequently sprays must penetrate crop canopy to the soil to be effective, explained Chynoweth.

The soil uptake also seems to make the product effective for longer, so late growth stage 33 (GS33) pgrs are less likely to be needed.

Chynoweth stressed that because the product’s not registered for use in grass seed crops, at pres-

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ent the result is more of scientific interest than for commercial application at this stage but it seems that could change.

Of the other sequences of pgrs a three spray programme of 0.8L/ha TE + 2L/ha CCC at GS31 and GS32 followed by 0.8L/ha TE at GS33 was the next highest yielding, both where plots were topped and closed (November 4) and where there was no topping, coming in at 3758kg/ha and 3737kg/ha respectively.

Statistically those yields were significantly better than all other treatments in the non-topped plots, despite the trial’s least significant difference of 351kg. However, in the topped plots a three-spray programme of 0.8L/ha TE and a two spray sequence of 1.4L/ha TE at GS31 and 1.0L/ha TE at GS32 were statistically on par at 3574kg/ha and 3488kg/ha respectively. The Payback treatment wasn’t used in the topped plots.

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PRESENTING THE ryegrass pgr work (see main story) Chynoweth suggested measuring crop height as an assay of pgr efficacy and likely yield.

“The idea is we could use stem length as a potential yield indicator.”

Data from many trials shows a strong negative correlation between crop height and yield with a ‘sweetspot’ for ryegrass at about 60cm, he explained.

“It might be a damn sight easier than estimating lodging out in the field to see if you got it right.”

For Italian ryegrass the target would be about 65cm and cocksfoots and fescues 75cm, he suggested.

But as one drought-struck dryland grower wryly pointed out, crops can be too short. “My turf grasses were 25cm this year and they definitely didn’t achieve 4t/ha!”

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MANAGEMENT 35

Now is the time to decide on hogget breeding PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

APRIL IS the month when farmers need to make the final decision about hogget breeding for the year.

If managed appropriately hogget breeding can not only increase the number of lambs weaned on a farm in a given year, but also increase lifetime performance. However, if poorly planned and managed there can be negative effects, not only in the year the hogget is bred but also throughout her lifetime.

According to Professor Paul Kenyon, from the International Sheep Centre at Massey University, “there are a few simple rules farmers need to follow if hogget breeding is to be successful”.

The first rule is, a hogget needs to be a minimum of 40kg liveweight at breeding (for a flock with a mature ewe breed-

ing weight of 65kg). This is an individual minimum, not a flock average, which is often assumed by farmers. Using body condition scoring, hoggets should be BCS 2.5 minimum, Kenyon says.

BCS is likely a better indicator of reproductive maturity, and thus suitability for breeding as a hogget, than live weight. “Farmers should be weighing their ewe hoggets regularly prior to breeding to get an understanding of how they are tracking so that changes in their nutrition can be made, if they are falling behind liveweight target.”

Another rule to help ensure better lambing from hoggets is exposing them to vasectomised rams (teasers) in mid-late March. This can increase the numbers of ewe hoggets bred early in the breeding period. It also has the flow-on effect of resulting in more lambs being born early in the

lambing period, which should result in older and thus heavier lambs at a given weaning date.

“The important rule for teasing is, introduce the teasers to the hoggets 17 days -- and 17 days’ only -- prior to the first day of breeding,” Kenyon explains. “The optimum teaser-to-hogget ratio is 1:70, though a response of 1:200 has been reported.

Teasers should not be used as a short-term fix when hoggets are well below the 40kg minimum at breeding.”

Hoggets need to gain about 20kg total weight during pregnancy (including the weight of the placenta, fetus and associated fluids). This requires an average daily gain of 130g/day during both the breeding period and throughout pregnancy. This ensures the hogget grows as does the fetus(es).

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Professor Paul Kenyon.

has been to maintain liveweight in early pregnancy and then to feed them well in late pregnancy, to ensure nutritional requirements of the pregnancy are met.

This approach will not work with hoggets and will result in poor lamb-

ing success and below optimum liveweight twotooths.

“Just feeding hoggets well in late pregnancy will result in most of the nutrition being partitioned towards fetal growth and the young hogget herself will not grow,” Kenyon

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In the meantime, the International Sheep Research Centre team at Massey University, with funding from Beef and Lamb NZ and the C Alma Baker trust, is continuing to work on strategies to improve the performance of hoggets.

Dr Anne Ridler is leading a team examining the perennial issue of lost pregnancies in ewe hoggets. And Dr Rene Corner-Thomas is examining nutritional strategies in lactation, using alternative herbages to improve the liveweight of the hogget at weaning and the weight of her lambs.

adds. “This is likely to result in more birthing difficulties (as she would not have grown out) and she will be lighter than planned at weaning.”

Therefore farmers need to be planning how they are going to feed their ewe hoggets appropriately throughout pregnancy.

“April is the time for farmers to look at their present pasture covers and to consider their likely pasture growth rates when deciding how many hoggets they should breed,” Kenyon explains.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

36 MANAGEMENT

Is Wakanui’s reign starting to wane?

ANDREW SWALLOW

WHILE FEED wheat variety Wakanui still tops the tables for four year adjusted mean yield in Canterbury, a couple of newer cultivars are nip-

ping at its heels.

“Wakanui’s still there after seven years now but some varieties are starting to equal it,” FAR’s Rob Criagie told the Timaru meeting.

Torch and Starfire

(previously coded as KWW46) are on par with it off FAR’s four irrigated sites in Canterbury with Gator and Conqueror also in the running of the three dryland trials.

Craigie said a point

to note with Torch is a change to its leaf rust resistance rating, which has gone from resistant to moderately susceptible.

“We think there’s a new strain of leaf rust around that can affect Torch.”

Torch is up there on yield but leaf rust ratings have changed, FAR’s Rob Craigie told growers.

For biscuit wheat growers Empress and Inferno are the leaders leaving long-standing reference cultivar Claire for dust. “Claire’s not really in the race anymore yield wise.”

Craigie highlighted Inferno’s performance off dryland, where it matches Empress, but irrigated it trails by 3%.

Moving up the quality scale into gristing milling wheat, Hanson is “about 5% ahead of Raffles, so that’s quite a handy yield advantage and it’s quite resistant to disease.”

In the medium grade millers, Discovery is “yielding particularly well” though it is in only its second year of CPT, and its high yield does appear to be diluting protein content.

Among the premium millers “Conquest is

fading away yield-wise,” added Craigie.

“Reliance and Duchess are yielding substantially more.”

Among the autumnsown barleys Sannette remains the standout, though three coded cultivars from the same stable as Sannette, but with only one or two years results, are now on a par. “They’re all four-five percent ahead of the rest.”

FAR’S autumn cultivar evaluation booklets with detailed disease and yield data for all varieties in the CPT trials will be available later this month, Craigie said.

SUNSHINE DRIVES STELLAR YIELDS INTRODUCING THE South Canterbury and North Otago results roundup meeting, FAR’s Rob Craigie showed how solar radiation for the region was well above normal for the summer.

“We did see some really high yields this season and I think that’s probably the reason,” he said.

Low rainfall and consequently low disease pressure, notably septoria, also played a part, though the lack of rain saw dryland wheat trials average 8.9t/ha compared to a four-year mean of 10.1t/ha. In contrast irrigated wheat plots beat the four-year mean by 0.8t/ha, averaging 13.4t/ha.

The region saw world records for barley yield and oilseed rape broken, the former at Timaru (Rural News, Mar 3) and the latter just north of Oamaru (Rural News, Feb 3). Both were irrigated.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MANAGEMENT 37

Homing in on oilseed options The headline message from a 10-treatment herbicide trial targeting hairgrass in oilseed rape at St Andrews was to get FAR CULTIVAR and herbicide trials with the first spray on in May. At that timing resurgent crop oilseed rape promise to all treatments gave over 90% control but help growers hone their agronomy on the when application was delayed to July the best control was 55% and the worst only resurgent crop.

A much tighter range of yields in cul- 3%. “There were massive populations [of tivar trials shows selections are closing hairgrass] in some areas.”

Defoliation as a in on types that suit means of plant growth New Zealand, FAR’s Jen regulation and feed Linton told farmers at Defoliation as a provision continthe Timaru meeting. means of plant ues to be investigated At Waimate there in oilseed rape with was no significant dif- growth regulation this year’s results ference between the six and feed provision from trials at Cherthybrids and one convensey showing no sigtional cultivar, DK Cab- continues to be nificant difference in ernet, in the trial which investigated in yield between plots averaged 5.04t/ha. Caboilseed rape. defoliated by cutting ernet top yielded at hard at the green bud 5.19t/ha. stage, given a light It was the same story at Fairlie with the conventional topping the mow at yellow bud, or treated chemically 5.52-6.07t/ha yield range and a site mean of with plant growth regulators (pgrs) Cyco5.8t/ha. “It shows we are picking and choos- cel, Folicur or Moddus.

“There was no significant difference but ing the right varieties to grow,” Linton said.

Overall yields were about 2t/ha higher it’s pretty exciting that we could grow 5.5t/ than the previous year when high winds ha at the arable site,” said Linton.

On this occasion the feed potential of caused severe seed loss prior to harvest.

This year the short cultivar DK Exs- defoliations was limited. “We only took torm was the lowest yielding at both sites half a tonne off. In the past we have taken but Linton said if the plots had been hit by two-and-a-half tonnes [per hectare] off but high winds again, “as the name suggests at the arable site it’s been hard to get the [Exstorm] would have been the best one.” crop that bulky.”

ANDREW SWALLOW

FAR’s Jen Linton demonstrates pgr effects on oilseed rape trials at the arable site, Chertsey, late last year. No significant difference was recorded.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

38 MANAGEMENT

Farmers have a stake in forestry industry GRAHAM WEST

FARMERS WITH woodlots have a vested interest in a successful forestry sector.

When they come to sell logs over the next four-five years they will

contribute much to a growers’ levy. Small growers represent a new breed of forest investors and will be motivated by needs different from those of the forestry corporates when it comes to harvest time

and deciding whether to reinvest in forestry.

To ensure you get maximum benefit from your woodlot, it is essential to have an input into how this levy is used and to voice your issues well before harvest date.

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Small and medium forest owners (<1000ha) manage about 25% of the 1.7m ha plantation forest area in New Zealand.

The exact area of small forests is not precisely known as the owners are hard to survey and generally not active in the wood sector politics.

However, this is changing because of the boom in new land planting in the early 1990s and the associated ‘wall of wood’ from that period.

Many small forests are now maturing and small growers are likely to become substantial levy payers, influencing the timing and quality of these new forests.

The NZ Farm Forestry Association and MPI have attempted to survey these growers, to characterise them, understand their intentions and seek better collaboration.

The number of small growers is estimated at about 14,000 and they are likely to represent 60% of the wall of wood.

Owners and growers range from individuals to small investment companies or trusts set up for superannuation purposes, etc. Some owners are joint venture partners with land owners and do not live at the woodlot location.

Many owners have less than 40ha and these can be found scattered throughout New Zealand.

Small growers have a lot of flexibility about the time to harvest and can attempt to sell only at optimal times. However, prior preparation is essential for the process to run smoothly and efficiently. This includes engaging consultants and preparing roads well in advance of the day you require a cash return. Usually threefour months are needed and harvesting is best arranged for summer or autumn. Collaborating with other woodlot growers in your district could also save costs and allow harvest dates to be planned to share contractors and markets.

A small woodlot

owner might expect to pay a forest levy of $5000-$6000 when their logs are delivered to a mill or port. This estimate is based on a 2011 survey of 728 land owners with forests of 20-100ha; this survey found the median forest plantation area was 37ha (almost 10% of the median farm size of 400ha) and the forest levy is currently set at $0.27 per m3. The levy collects about $6.8 million annually and will run until the end of 2019.

Many new forest owners will evaluate their return on investment after the first crop. Their decision whether to reinvest or not will depend on the experience they have with the current crop, the sector performance and the value they get from the levy.

Factors that will make re-investment more attractive include the outcomes of research, greater productivity, lower harvesting and roading costs for the second crop, and better log prices from emerging value adding industries.

Governments and regional councils have a role in providing improved rural roading, more wood processing options and better port facilities.

While much has been invested in rationalising the milk and meat sectors, a resilient wood sector can play an important role for farmers by providing an environmental counter-balance to the continual pressure to increase productivity coupled with a flexible harvest date and income diversification.

• Graham West is a principal technologist at Scion, Rotorua. The opinions expressed are the author’s.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

40 ANIMAL HEALTH

Tick eradication not Theileria silver bullet GARETH GILLATT

ENSURING young stock are sourced from areas caught up in the outbreak of Theile-

riosis is still the best defence for farmers’ in areas where the disease is prevalent, says Bay Of Islands vet Garth Riddle.

The disease is caused

by the ikeda strain of the Theileria orientalis parasite and is implicated in anemia, poor production and cattle deaths in young stock

and older cows.

It has spread from Northland all over the northern half of the North Island in just two years, with confirmed

cases discovered as far south as Canterbury.

Riddle discussed the results of a Beef + Lamb NZ-funded tick control trial with 50 farmers at

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Small Ruminant Research (2013).

your treatment is, it’s a field day in Kaeo late not going to stop all the March, revealing that tick treatment is unable ticks.” to prevent infection and In fact, Riddle and anaemia. some Northland farmers at the event wondered A trial was carried out whether the immune on Jeff and Helen Linssystem’s reaction to sen’s drystock farm northwest of Kaeo last the Theileria parasite season using 100 weaner was a bigger problem than the parasite itself. bull calves bought from Another of the clinan area free of the disic’s clients had lost ease. Stock were split into two groups of 50 8-10% of his young bull herds. Researchstock over three years ers applied a flumethrin despite having them in pour-on to half of the top condition and he had animals in each herd.

Animals were treated for ticks before they left the yards and again three An unfed adult Theilera tick. weeks later, which was at a higher frequency reached the point of sellthan recommended, with ing his breeding cows. doses at the top end of “These were topthe recommended dose condition calves; we rate. put their stats into a The researchers benchmarking program were trying to establish and it came back saying it whether farmers was impossible for stock importing stock from to grow that fast.” uninfected regions While Riddle is could protect them by considering trying using aggressively treating antihistamines and them for ticks, using steroids to treat stock with the An fully fed adult Theilera tick. condition, he expects more results to come out of a much wider study being done by a group made up of veterinary associations, Beef + Lamb NZ a method currently and DairyNZ, and led suggested as best

by Massey University practice -- but not animal breeding and actually tested – as a genetics lecturer means of preventing Rebecca Hickson. animals from Expect more results to come out of study, contracting Theileria.

Stock liveweight gains Riddle says.

“They’ve collected and animal losses among information from studies both the treated and all around the country untreated stock were so and are doing the hard similar that the results work needed to compile were statistically insigthat information. The nificant, says Riddle.

“The threshold of tick really exciting solutions bites required to pass will come out of that on Theileria was less study.” than they thought. It @rural_news doesn’t matter how good facebook.com/ruralnews

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 41

Sheep sex – not an Australian joke ALAN HARMAN

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCHERS say the reason ewes produce many more lambs of one sex in one year than in others is traceable back to their diet in the leadup to joining.

Charles Sturt University PhD researcher Catherine Gulliver investigated how shortterm feeding of diets high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can affect reproduction in sheep.

Her research saw nearly 300 first-cross ewes split into two groups and fed a special diet for six weeks before and three weeks after mating.

“The first group was fed a diet based on oat

grain and some cottonseed meal that was high in omega-6,” Gulliver says.

“The second group’s diet was based on pea silage, similar to a diet expected when ewes graze pasture, and it was high in omega3.”

At lambing time, Gulliver found a 15% increase in the number of female lambs from sheep fed the high omega-6 grain diet compared with those fed the high omega-3 silage diet. “Of the lambs from the sheep fed a high omega-6 diet, 58% were female and 42% were male,” she says.

That compares with 44% female and 56% male lambs from the sheep fed the high omega-3 diet.

“For example, prime Despite differences in plasma and red blood cells, lamb producers typically the sex ratio between the shorter time to oestrus prefer male off-spring due and lambing and a higher two groups, there were no differences proportion of “If you can skew the sex in the total female lambs than number of ewes fed the high ratio to your preferred lambs born. omega-3 silage diet. gender to target specific Gulliver “More research believes the is needed to production systems you research determine whether could increase profit for a the effect on sex shows there is potential ratio was presmall input.” to alter the conception or postsex ratio of conception and the to their faster growth rates offspring by manipulating and muscle accumulation, maternal nutrition around while flocks using the time of conception Offer exclusive to maternal sires may prefer – and thereby increase female offspring to be kept profits. as replacements for the “If you can skew the breeding flock.” sex ratio to your preferred Ewes fed the high gender to target specific omega-6 oats diet production systems you had higher omega-6 could increase profit for a concentrations in their small input,” she says.

Gender imbalance in the lamb crop may be up to the ewes’ diet.

PHOTO: CSIRO

exact duration of feeding required,” Gulliver says.

NSW Department of Primary Industries livestock researcher Edward Clayton says there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that in times of drought sheep get more females. “It could be that in drought [the ewes] are being fed more grain and it just so happens it coincides with that joining

period,” he says.

Meantime, Clayton is working on a project to lift the amount of omega-3 in red meat. He says most people get their omega-3 from fish oil, but the research will also look into whether grass-fed sheep, lamb or beef has high enough omega-3 levels to make a claim as a “good source” of omega-3.

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Record animal movements.

The reasons why go way beyond the rules.

Yes, you have to. But spare a moment to think about why.

When your stock is traceable, NAIT can help swiftly contain a disease and find the source. It’s a big reassurance for your farm and business.

All movements count. Record what animals go where in NAIT and you’ll do more than just play by the rules.

Check the rules at nait.co.nz/movements

An OSPRI programme

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

42 ANIMAL HEALTH ONLINE APP FOR HERD CONTROL HERD IMPROVEMENT company CRV Ambreed is running free workshops on how to make the most of its online herd recording app.

CRV Insight helps farmers improve their herd recording and data management by making herd information more accessible ‘in the paddock’.

CRV Ambreed information product manager Henk Huurnink says CRV Insight is easy to use, convenience and makes data management easier.

But many farmers are not yet using the app to its full capability, he says, hence the company’s invitation to workshops in 15 locations.

The workshops will cover CRV Insight features, customising and viewing reports, making data entry easy, and using CRV Insight on smartphones.

Huurnink says CRV Insight Mobile especially suits smartphones, no surprise considering a recent DairyNZ report that 60% of farmers now use smartphones and want technical information while away from their offices. “[It enables clients to] manage their herd at a touch of a button and makes recording and accessing information easier. Our team is continuously innovating to in products and services farmers need to get on with their job with as much ease and efficiency as possible.”

Tel. 0800 262 733 www.crv4all.co.nz

Act now to reduce FE HOT, MUGGY conditions this year were a pointed reminder to dairy farmers to breed animals more tolerant of facial eczema (FE) and more resistant to the disease long-term, says CRV Ambreed.

The company’s genetic development strategist Phil Beatson says R&D in the past four years by its staff and AgResearch allow identification of FE-tolerant bulls.

Sires now entering CRV Ambreed’s progeny test programme are challenged for FE tolerance, and targeted genetics are available to help farmers beat the disease longterm.

Beatson says the firm’s genetics for dairy cattle will typically breed offspring that are 25% less reactive to a FE challenge

Phil Beatson, CRV Ambreed

than an average bull.

“It isn’t an overnight fix though. A dose of facial eczema tolerant genetics this season will help minimise the loss of milk production

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in the progeny in years to come,” Beatson said.

“Farmers need to consider the genetic option to combat facial eczema, and they need to get on the bus now and stay on

that bus.”

Cattle in many parts of the North Island and upper South Island were hit by FE this year. Higher humidity increased the number of

toxic spores in pastures and resulted in a spike in the number of FE cases.

Clinical cases of FE are easy to spot; skin loss and lethargy are clear signs. In extreme cases FE may cause an animal’s skin to fall off and even kill it. But invisible subclinical symptoms cost the dairy industry more through the loss of milk production.

FE tolerance is a heritable trait and the right breeding programme can reduce the severity of the disease CRV Ambreed says.

Sheep farmers have shown the dairy industry how the disease can be addressed long-term: sheep today are up to six times more tolerant to a FE than sheep were 30 years ago. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 43

Workshops show how to get aboard NAIT FARMERS ARE offered hands-on training in how to use OSPRI’s National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) programme.

The workshops will suit beef, deer and lifestyle farmers, giving two hours of hands-on, interactive tuition using NAIT’s online system.

OSPRI acting chief executive Stu Hutchings says the workshops aim to help new users of the NAIT system and those needing a refresher.

Feedback from farmers on the workshops is good, he says.

“The NAIT programme is critical to biosecurity and market access. To be effective, we need all cattle and deer tagged and registered with NAIT, [and current] data on their location and movements,” says Hutchings.

Farmers need only a computer and internet access to complete all NAIT actions. The workshops show how to register animals,

Just Released

record the sending and receiving of stock, and update animal details in NAIT’s online system.

“Accurate NAIT data can be used to contain animal diseases, provide food safety assurance to international and domestic markets and add value to farming businesses,” Hutchings says.

“Being able to trace animal movements on and off farm is… containing bovine tuberculosis herd infections and identifying the source of the disease.”

The workshops offer farmers a forum for asking questions before July 1, 2015, when all cattle must be tagged and registered in the NAIT database, including animals born before NAIT became mandatory in 2012.

Workshop attendees will get instructions to keep at home, so they can continue to meet their NAIT requirements.

“As long as their NAIT information is up to

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date, farmers can use the system to keep track of stock they’ve received or sent away. For example, an increasing number of absentee owners are using NAIT to remotely monitor stock going onto

their farm,” Hutchings says.

Forty-two workshops will run nationwide.

Each is limited to 20 people.

Tel 0800 624 843 www.nait.co.nz/events

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

44 ANIMAL HEALTH Cattle Internal Parasites Treatment 2015 Concen-

Ingredient

Formulated

through

Ingredient

tration

Dose Rate

Dose Rate

Withdrawal Meat

Milk

Safety

Parasite

Margin

Maturity

BAYMEC INJECTION

Bayer NZ Ltd

Farmlands

Abamectin

10g/L

0.2mg/kg

1mL/50kg live-weight 49 days

49 days

3x dose rate

EON POUR-ON

Bayer NZ Ltd

ATS, Farmlands, PGG Wrightson, Farm Source

Eprinomectin

5g/L

500µg/kg

1mL/10kg bwt

Nil

Nil

5x dose rate

IPLUS INJECTION

Bayer NZ Ltd

Farmlands

14 days

1mL/20kg bwt

42 days

42 days

3-5x dose rate 3x dose rate

SATURN POUR-ON

Bayer NZ Ltd

ATS, PGG Wrightson, Farm Source Farmlands

1mL/20kg bwt

42 days

42 days

3x dose rate

BOMATAK.C MINERALISED

Bayer NZ Ltd

All sellers

0.2mg/kg 2mg/kg 0.5mg/kg 10mg/kg 0.5mg/kg 10mg/kg 4.5mg/kg

28 days

Bayer NZ Ltd

10g/L 100g/L 10g/L 200g/L 10g/L 200g/L 90.6g/L

1mL/50kg bwt

OUTLAW POUR-ON

Ivermectin Clorsulon Abamectin Levamisole Abamectin Levamisole Oxfendazole

1mL/20kg bwt

10 days

72 hours

EDGE INJECTION

Bayer NZ Ltd

All sellers

Doramectin, Levamisole

4mg/mL doramectin, 200mg/mL levamisole phosphate

0.2mg doramectin and 10mg levamisole phosphate/kg bwt

1mL/20kg bwt

21 days

21 days

2-3 times dose rate 2x

ALLIANCE

COOPERS

All outlets

Oxfendazole Levamisole, Abamectin

10 days

35 days

3x dose rate

COOPERS

All outlets

1mL/10kg bwt

10 days

35 days

3 x dose rate

SCANDA

COOPERS

All outlets

1mL/10kg bwt

10 days

144 hours

3 x dose rate

SCANDA SELENISED

COOPERS

All outlets

1mL/10kg bwt

10 days

144 hours

3 x dose rate

PARAMECTIN INJECTION

Jurox NZ Ltd

All outlets

Levamisole Abamectin Oxfendazole Levamisole Oxfendazole Levamisole Abamectin

4.53mg/kg 8mg/kg, 0.2mg/kg 8mg/kg 0.2mg/kg 4.53mg/kg 8mg/kg 4.53mg/kg 8mg/kg 0.2mg/kg

1ml/10kg bwt

CONVERGE

45.3g/L 80g/L, 2gL 80g/L 2g/L 45.3g/L 80g/L 45.3g/L 80g/L 10mg/mL

1mL/50kg

49

49

3X

PARAMECTIN POUR ON

Jurox NZ Ltd

All outlets

Abamectin

10mg/mL

0.5mg/kg

1mL/20kg

35

NIL

3X

ECLIPSE POUR-ON

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Abamectin Levamisole

10mg/mL 200mg/mL

0.5mg/kg 10mg/kg

1mL/20kg bwt

35 days

35 days

3 x dose rate

GENESIS ULTRA POUR-ON

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

91 days

3 x dose rate

Veterinary outlets

1mL/10kg bwt

14 days

35 days

3 x dose rate

OXFEN C PLUS

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

1mL/20kg bwt

10 days

35 days

3 x dose rate

OXFEN C HI MINERAL

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

0.5mg/kg 30mg/kg 10mg/kg 7.5mg/kg 4.5mg/kg 7.5mg/kg 4.5mg/kgmg/kg

91 days

Merial Ancare

5mg/mL 300mg/mL 100g/L 75g/L 90.6g/L 150g/L 90.6g/L

1mL/10kg bwt

ARREST C

Abamectin Triclabendazole Albendazole Levamisole Oxfendazole Levamisole Oxfendazole

1mL/20kg bwt

10 days

5 days

5 x dose rate

IVERMATRIX CALF

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Ivermectin, Levamisole, 2g/L, 80g/L, Oxfendazole 45.4g/L

14 days

35 days

3x

GENESIS POUR-ON

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Abamectin

10mg/mL

0.2mg/kg, 8mg/kg, 1m/10kg 4.5mg/kg 0.5mg/kg 1mL/20kg bwt

35 days

Nil

3 x dose rate

GENESIS INJECTION

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Abamectin

10mg/mL

0.2mg/kg

1mL/50kg bwt

49 days

49 days

3 x dose rate

IVOMEC PLUS INJECTION FOR CATTLE IVOMEC INJECTION FOR CATTLE AND PIGS EPRINEX POUR-ON

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

0.2mg/kg 2.0mg/kg 0.2mg/kg

28 days

14 days

Veterinary outlets

1% 10% 1.0% w/v

1mL/50kg bwt

Merial Ancare

Ivermectin Clorsulon Ivermectin

1mL/50kg bwt

28 days

35 days

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Eprinomectin

0.5% w/v

500mcg

1mL/10kg bwt

Nil

EXODUS POUR-ON

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Moxidectin

0.5% w/v

500mcg

1mL/10kg bwt

Nil cattle 7 days deer Nil

Nil

20 x dose rate 20 x dose rate 5-10 x dose rate 10 x dose rate

MATRIX C

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

Abamectin, Levamisole Oxfendazole

35 days

3x

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

1mL/20kg bodyweight 14 days

35 days

3x

ECLIPSE E INJECTION

Merial Ancare

Veterinary outlets

1mL/35kg bodyweight 21 days

35 days

3x

NOROMECTIN INJECTION

Norbrook NZ Ltd

1mL/50kg bwt

49 days

NOROMECTIN POUR-ON

Norbrook NZ Ltd

Ivermectin

0.5% w/v

0.5mg/kg

1mL/10kg bwt

21 days

Not allowed (note 1) 11 milkings

PARAFEND LV

Norbrook NZ Ltd

Oxfendazole

90.6g/L

4.53mg/kg

1mL/20kg bwt

10 days

72 hours

20 x dose rate 10 x dose rate 5 x dose rate

COMBO LOW DOSE

Ravensdown

Vets, Agmax, some OTC Vets, Agmax, some OTC Vets, Agmax, some OTC Ravensdown

Abamectin/ Levamisole Eprinomectin/ Levamisole Ivermectin

0.2mg/kg 8mg/kg, 4.5mg/kg 0.2g/kg 8mg/kg 0.2mg/kg 6.37mg/kg 0.2mg/kg

1mL/20kg bodyweight 14 days

SWITCH C HI-MINERAL

4g/L 160g/L, 90.8g/L 4g/L 160g/L 7g/L 223g/L 1.0% w/v

35 days

3x dose rate

Ravensdown

4.53 mg/kg & 8 mg/kg 0.5 mg/kg

10 days

Ravensdown

45.3 g/L & 80 g/L 10 g/L

1mL/10kg live-weight

ABAMECTIN POUR-ON

Oxfendazole & Levamisole Abamectin

1mL/20kg live-weight 35 days

NIL

3x dose rate

ABAMECTIN INJECTION

Ravensdown

Ravensdown

Abamectin

10 g/L

0.2 mg/kg

1mL50kg live-weight

49 days

49 days

3x dose rate

CYDECTIN INJECTION FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP CYDECTIN POUR-ON FOR CATTLE AND DEER CYDECTIN PLUS FLUKE POUR ON FOR CATTLE DECTOMAX INJECTABLE

Zoetis

OTC/Vet

Moxidectin

1% w/v

0.2mg/kg

1mL/50kg

cattle 35 days

35 days

5 x dose rate

Zoetis

OTC/Vet

Moxidectin

0.5% w/v

0.5mg/kg

1mL/10kg

Nil

Nil

10 x dose rate

Zoetis

OTC/Vet

0.5mg/kg 20mg/kg 0.2mg/kg

84 days

84 days

5 x dose rate

Veterinary outlets

0.5% w/v 20% w/v 1% w/v

1mL/10kg

Zoetis

Moxidectin, Triclabendazole Doramectin

1mL/50kg bwt

35 days

35 days

DECTOMAX POUR-ON

Zoetis

Veterinary outlets

Doramectin

0.5% w/v

0.5mg/kg

1mL/10kg bwt

35 days

VALBAZEN MINERALISED CATTLE

Zoetis

All outlets

Albendazole

150g/L

7.5mg/kg

1mL per 20kg bwt 1mL per 15kg* bwt

7 days

®

CLINT GRAHAM // HAWKES BAY

JIM COOPER // WINTON

mature ND immature mature HHH immature mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ND immature mature ND immature mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature immature

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

mature HHH immature HHH mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ★★★ immature ★★★ mature ND immature

HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH

HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH ★★★ ★★★ HHH ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature mature immature

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

25 x dose rate

mature immature mature immature mature immature

Nil

25 x dose rate

mature immature

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

48 hours

10x dose rate

mature immature

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★

★★★ ★★★

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★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH 45 ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

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HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH

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★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Contains eprinomectin. Nil milk, meat and bobby calf withholding period. Suitable for beef and dairy cattle. Also for the treatment and control of sucking lice. ★★★ Also for the control of sucking lice, Chorioptes spp. and Psoroptes spp. mites and biting lice. Persistent activity – up to 14 days Ostertagia ostertagi, up to 7 days Cooperia spp, up to 21days Dictyocaulus viviparus.

Outlaw Pour-on is also highly effective in the treatment and control of mature and immature strains of Cooperia spp resistant to the endectocides (including eprinomectin and doramectin). Levamisole is also very active against benzimidazole-resistant strains. Also for the treatment and control of sucking lice in cattle.

Saturn Pour-on is also highly effective in the treatment and control of mature and immature strains of Cooperia spp resistant to the endectocides (including eprinomectin and doramectin). Levamisole is also very active against benzimidazole-resistant strains. Also for the treatment and control of sucking lice in cattle.

Contains selenium, copper, cobalt, zinc and iodine. Ovicidal.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

This survey will give a ready and easy-to-follow reference to the efficacy and spectrum of the many cattle anthelmintics available. It is compiled from information supplied by animal health companies. While the information has been verified by our animal health advisor, Rural News cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies.

EDGE is also effective against strains of Trichostrongylus axei and small intestinal Trichostrongylus spp. and Cooperia spp. that are resistant to members of the avermectin/milbemycin family of anthelmintics.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH

ALLIANCE is a triple combination oral drench for cattle and sheep. ALLIANCE contains: 25mg Cobalt and 5mg Selenium per 5mL dose.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

CONVERGE is a dual combination oral drench for cattle and sheep. CONVERGE contains: 25mg Colbalt and 5mg Selenium per 5mL.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

SCANDA is a dual combination oral drench for cattle and sheep.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

SCANDA SELENISED is a dual combination oral drench for cattle and sheep. SCANDA SELENISED contains: Colbalt 0.4mg/mL and Selenium 1mg/mL.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Controls sucking lice. Must be administered subcutaneously. Do not treat calves under 16 weeks of age.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Paramectin Pour On is Rain fast. Also controls sucking and biting lice.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Eclipse Pour-on is also highly effective in the treatment and control of mature and immature strains of Cooperia spp resistant to the endectocides (including eprinomectin and doramectin). Levamisole is also very active against benzimidazole-resistant strains. Also controls sucking-biting lice.

ND

★★★ ★★★

ND

★★★ ★★★

ND

ND

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

ND

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ Also controls sucking-biting lice. ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Effective against mature and immature strains of Cooperia resistant to the endectocides. Ovicidal. Contains Selenium.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

"Ovicidal". Each 10ml contains 20mg of selenium and 97mg of copper. Also in plain form. Can be used in deer.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

ND

Also for the control of internal and external parasites in deer. Also for the treatment and control of biting and sucking lice. Extended activity 14 days Cooperia, Ostertagia. Rainfast.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Controls sucking lice. Has extended activity for 28 days against Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia L4, Haemonchus spp and 21 days against Oesophagostomum and Ostertagia spp and 14 days against Cooperia. Must be administered subcutaneously. Also available with B12. Contains 2mg/ml Vitamin B12. No sting formulation. ★★★ Also for the simultaneous control of sucking lice, psoroptes sp mites and aids in control of biting lice and chorioptes mites. Label claim for persistent activity – product continues to control certain worms for 7-21 days after treatment.

(Lungworm and hookworm 21 days, Ostertagia 14 days, Cooperia spp. Up to at least 7 days.) NZ studies show product is effective (>95%) against adults.

Simultaneous control of external parasites including sucking lice and aids in control of biting lice. Label claim for persistent activity product continues to control certain worms for 7-21 days after treatment. (Lungworm and hookworm 21 days; Ostertagia 14 days, Cooperia spp. up to at least 7 days.)

Weatherproof including rainfast. Bobby calves from treated cows have no withholding period. Controls roundworms and lungworm. Approved for use in all ages and classes of deer at same dose volume and rate as for cattle. For control of sucking and biting lice and manage mites (sarcoptes and chorioptes). Has label claim for increased milk production.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Low sting formula, persistent activity Ostertagia 14 days, Cooperia 7 days, Dictyocaulus Oesophagostomum 21 days. Also for use in pigs.

★★★ ★★★

Also controls sucking, biting and mange mites.

Ovicidal.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Also contains selenium, copper, cobalt, iodine and zinc.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Also controls biting and sucking lice.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Persistent activity: Oesophagostomum 7 days, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus 14 days, Lungworm 21 days. Also controls sucking lice.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Persistent activity against reinfection of Ostertagia ostertagi and lungworm for 28 days.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★

★★★ Treats and controls biting and sucking lice and mange mites. ★★★ Rainfast. Persistent activity against reinfection of Ostertagia ostertagi for 35 days, Haemonchus spp and Trichostrongylus spp for 28 days, lungworm, Oesphagostomum and Bunostomum for 42 days.

★★★ ★★★

Also registered for use in sheep and pigs. Persistent activity up to 28 days Ostertagia, Dictyocaulus. Up to 21 Days Cooperia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum. Up to 15 days Bunostomum.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★

Treats and controls biting and sucking lice and mange mites.

Rainfast. Persistent activity against reinfection of Ostertagia ostertagi for 35 days, Haemonchus spp and Trichostrongylus spp for 28 days, lungworm, Oesophagostomum and Bunostomum for 42 days.

Rainfast. Not adversely affected if applied when the hide is wet or if rain falls shortly after treatment. Also controls sucking and biting lice, mange mites. Persistent activity against re-infection up to 28 days for Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus axei and Dictyocaulus and up to 21 days against Cooperia, Oesophagostomum and Bunostomum.

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ Contains 6.8g/L Copper, 1.5g/L Selenium. *1mL per 15kg for Liver fluke. Ovicidal to worm and fluke eggs of cattle. ★★★

BILL BELL // ASHBURTON

ALI MCKAY // WAIPU

CHRIS LEWIS // WAIKATO

PROUDLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL VETERINARY CLINIC. Merial is a Sanofi company. MERIAL NZ. LEVEL 3, MERIAL BUILDING, OSTERLEY WAY, MANUKAU, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND | WWW.MERIAL.CO.NZ | ECLIPSE® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF MERIAL. REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE ACVM ACT 1997 | NO’S. A10640 & A9270 | COPYRIGHT 2014 MERIAL NZ LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NZ-14-ECL-057.

15/04/14 8:59 AM

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

46 ANIMAL HEALTH

Animal welfare law workshops for dairy WORKSHOPS STARTING this month will help dairy farmers understand animal welfare laws and work out their options for keeping on the right side of new rules.

DairyNZ ‘Welfare Matters’ twohour workshops kick off in Hawera on April 29, then go to Stratford and Waihi on April 30. Four-hour sessions on stock welfare will also begin in Southland, one on April 28 in Winton, another on April 30 in Gore.

DairyNZ’s animal welfare team leader Chris Leach says the workshops easily help farmers get up to speed on animal welfare – “what the rules are, what farmers can do to comply and practical instruction to train staff on their farms.

“We had a change to the animal

welfare code last year and other proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act are going through Parliament now, expected to come into force later this year. These latest changes are likely to give the Ministry for Primary Industries greater powers to issue infringement notices and fines.”

All the workshops are designed for decision-makers – those who will be held responsible if a farm isn’t compliant.

“Often people slip up because they are not aware of changes to industry standards or they misinterpret what they need to do,” Leach says.

The workshops will tell how to manage tails, euthanase calves, ensure cattle are fit for transport, and how to train farm employees in good

welfare practices.

“The workshops will be delivered by local veterinarians and will help farmers minimise risks to their business. Farmers will learn how to instil first-class animal welfare culture in their farm team.”

Dairy Women’s Network is joining DairyNZ to take the longer four hour ‘stock welfare’ workshops. These sessions will run in Ruawai, Northland, and in parts of Waikato, the West Coast, Canterbury and Southland during May. “These stock welfare workshops will run from 10am to 2.30pm and will cover a bit more such as practical skills training.”

To register: www.dairynz.co.nz/welfare-workshops

2015 EWE HOGGET EVENT

FAST T ARGETED

LICE KILL YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN POUR.ON DIP OR

ALL ARE welcome to come along and support excellence in farming and acknowledge winners at the 2015 New Zealand Ewe Hogget awards dinner, to be held in Christchurch in early June.

On the night, breed winners’ efforts will be acknowledged and the overall winner announced.

This competition is now in its 19th year. Regional judging has begun in the North Island and the

national judges will then judge the South Island finalists.

Once completed, the breed section winners will be announced.

There will be a presentation dinner at 5pm on Tuesday

June 2 at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch Also during the evening, the breed winners will be interviewed, and a panorama of photographs screened of their farm and stock.

Entry will be by ticket only, at $65 (incl GST) per person.

Tel 03 3589 412 or email greg@nzsheep. co.nz

Expo Pour-On and Extinosad Dip deliver dead fast and targeted lice control on all breeds of sheep.

They share a unique active ingredient called spinosad that is chemically different to any other product and provides a deadly alternative to SP and IGR products to which resistance has been identified.

With an excellent safety profile, Expo and Extinosad make sure that the only good lice are dead lice.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 47

World tractor sales stagnate While we might think the New Zealand new tractor market – with sales approaching 4000 units – is large, it pales into insignificance compared to the rest of the world.

But despite the big numbers it isn’t all rosy. Machinery editor Mark Daniel reports.

THE WORLD tractor market for 2014 is estimated to be about 2.1 million units, which showed a slight decline and high regional variation.

The big volume markets continue to be China and India where about 50% of the units sold worldwide are registered. Note that a great number of these tractors have very low horsepower, and indeed price, compared to the major players such as US, Brazil, Russia and the intensively farmed areas of Europe.

The EU, with its intensive farming, represents about 25% of global industry turnover at about Euro 8.2 billion.

But the EU only has about 8% of global tractor sales, with an average tractor

value of Euro 43,000 – double the world average Individual markets show contrasting pictures.

The Americas (USA, Canada and Brazil) delivered at least 235,000 tractors, about 50% being ‘lifestyle’ type units no bigger than 40hp. Though the global financial crisis becalmed sales in 20092011, a clear recovery has been seen in the last two years with sales in the US exceeding 100,000 units in 2014.The key indicator was a drop in 100hp+ tractors to 32,200 units (-34%).

In Canada, the overall market was flat – about 28,000 units and a cautious outlook for 2015 despite a bumper harvest but poor crop prices.

In Brazil sales fell from 60,000 tractors in 2013 to 55,000 in 2014, about one

third in the 100hp+ sector.

The market remains heavily subsidised via a loan scheme (FINAME).

Pundits are picking the market will decline by 5% in 2015.

In Europe, 2014 showed an overall decline of about 8%. However, different EU countries showed very different results.

France had 22% fewer sales (33,000). Germany, down 5%, led in the Euro zone with 34,600 tractors sold at an average size of 155hp. One in every five tractors sold in Germany was over 200hp.

The Italian machinery associations report, “the lowest figure in the postwar mechanisation of Italy has been reached in 2014”, with 18,178 tractors sold (4% down on the previous year). Much of

this downward trend was in the high horsepower market which, compared with Germany still only represents 4% of the total.

The UK bucked the downward trend by staying flat at 13,500 units.

Factories in Europe are predicting 2015 will see a continued downward trend of about 10%, caused by low commodity prices, adverse weather and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

In Russia, a substantial market, sales fell about 6% to 37,500 units. Sales of mid-range tractors dropped sharply, but sales of sub-30hp tractors rose by nearly 40%.

In the powerhouse of Asia, Japan sales dropped by 15% to just 21,000 units. However China held its own – 524,000

Year 2013 Year 2014 % Change

sales of ‘real’ tractors to the professional farming sector. India says it remains the ‘world leader’ in tractor sales – 593,000 units, an impressive number but note it includes pedestrian tillers, single wheel units and many machines smaller than 30hp.

– NZ sales ok. Page 50

Canada

27,542

28,144

+2

United States

201,851

208,274

+3

Brazil

65,089

55,537

-15

European Union

184,335

169,500

-8

France

42,656

33,127

-22

Germany

36,248

34,611

-5

Italy

19,018

18,178

-4

UK

13,490

13,526

0

Russian Fed

40,158

37,500

-7

Japan

24,721

20,944

-15

China

524,500

524,600

0

India

619,159

592,942

-4

World

2,200,000 2,130,000 -3

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Importing Folding Rollers for 15 years

MORE CHOICE IN EURO SERIES MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

DEUTZ-FAHR TRACTOR distributor Power Farming has recently introduced three new models to the 6 series range.

These are designated CS, with three models -- 166, 193 and 210hp.

The 6160, 6190 and 6210 CS tractors have an ergonomically designed control lever that brings all main

functions into one location and does away with the traditional gear lever on the right side of the cabin.

The Comfort Shift lever is the key interface to a transmission developed by specialist ZF and offering 40 forward and reverse speeds via six main speeds, four powershifts and a creep gear set.

The main speeds are shifted electro-hydraulically in less than 0.5

second, while the four powershifts have proportional valves to ensure a smooth change under load at all times.

The CS models in standard specification have speed matching, auto powershift (APS) and achieve 40km/h at lower engine revs; they should prove popular with users wanting optimum tractor performance. www.powerfarming.co.nz

Grant Reith Winslow, 361 State Highway 1, Ashburton Phone: 03 308 7910 Email: nztractors@xtra.co.nz

Hybrid Mud/AT tyre guaranteed to last

F

armers use their 4WD’s for everything: road, gravel, sand and mud. You name the condition and farmers will put their work horse through it. Just as important as choosing the right 4WD for the job is getting the correct tyre for the conditions. The choices farmers have when buying 4WD tyres has grown over the last few years, with so many brands coming into the market. What brand do I choose? Then you need to choose a pattern: high performance, highway, all terrain or mud tyre.

With so many choices if you make the wrong choice, your 4WD could be under performing for the next 2-5 years. When choosing a 4WD tyre farmers would normally pick between

damage and punctures in the harshest of terrain. The Cooper S/TMAXX comes with a massive 14.7mm of tread and a minimum mileage guarantee of 50,000kms.

Choosing the right tyre is essential for performance, safety and value. Without the right tyres for your vehicle and driving style your 4WD could be under performing and costing you more than just money.

an All Terrain tyre, which would be good on road, gravel and some offroad, but would lack enough traction in the muddy paddock.

and have lower mileage. Cooper has solved the age old problem, by introducing the S/TMAXX a hybrid mud/all-terrain tyre.

Or, you could choose a mud tyre which would be great off-road, but noisy on-road, slippery in the wet

The Cooper S/TMAXX has all the characteristics of a mud tyre: 4 rib design, with open shoulder blocks

and sidebiters for off-road traction, while wider tread blocks provide a larger foot print and internal siping improves wet-road performance.

The S/TMAXX comes with Cooper’s patented Armour-Tek3 casing which gives the tyre 2.5 times more tear resistant meaning much less tyre

To find your nearest Cooper Retailer, call 0800 MILEAGE (645-324) or visit coopertires.co.nz for a free info pack. Cooper tyres are only available at selected Cooper Tires Retailers.

MITT347 M 4 1 47

THE ONLY UTE WITH A 10-YEAR WARRANTY All-new Mitsubishi Triton is built to be durable and dependable.

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And that unbeatable warranty. To take a test drive visit mmnz.co.nz or call 0800 54 53 52 now.

Model pictured and specifications are for GLS Manual 4WD with optional accessories shown.

For full Diamond Advantage Warranty terms and conditions please visit mmnz.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 49

Huge tractor on track to work well SOUTH CANTERBURY arable farmer Warren Darling has taken delivery of a new Canadian-built 460hp Versatile DeltaTrack tractor, one of the bigger machines sold in the South Island in recent times.

This is one of the few machines designed as a dedicated track machine instead of simply having a track assembly added to an existing platform.

Versatile tractors have traditionally been at the top end of the power spectrum and are designed specifically for the massive broadacre cropping operations found primarily in parts of Australia, North America and Europe. Although the brand is not yet well known in New Zealand, it is internationally recognised by large-scale arable farmers.

The 460DT is powered by a Cummins QSX 15L engine that meets Tier-4 emission standards and offers unbeatable power and torque without the requirement for additives (no AdBlue is required), coupled to a CAT TA-22 16-speed powershift

transmission which offers smooth shifting with industrial strength durability.

Darling does a three crop rotation of wheat, barley and oil seed rape on his third-generation 450ha property Poplar Grove, just south of Timaru, where he recently harvested a world record 13.8 tonnes/ha of barley. He describes the 460DT as a “huge lugging machine” and he’s impressed with its performance and economy.

“It’s a big tractor, but it’s pretty simple and it does everything we need for our heavy cultivation,” he says. “It’s very cheap to run – we only use 20L of fuel per hectare for our cultivation including drilling, and 30 minutes/ha of time, so we’re not doing big hours on the machine. But we need that big horsepower to pull the cultivation gear we’re using.”

In a one-pass operation, the Versatile is pulling a Great Plains Simba SL500 cultivator with discs incorporating residues, sub-soiling legs and a consolidation roller, fol-

lowed by a Great Plains Simba Centurion drill.

Darling says despite its size, the 460DT gives a lot smoother ride than the previous four-track machine he’s had.

“It’s a pretty comfortable machine – with one of the biggest cabs on the market – and the ride is very smooth. But despite it being big it’s very manoeuvrable and is easy to operate, and it’s got all the basic things you need for a big lugging tractor.

“When you’re in it you think it’s a great big machine, but in fact you still have headlands the same as a normal wheeled tractor. It’s so manoeuvrable that you don’t have to make big headlands or alter your cultivation techniques in any way – just carry on the same.”

In fact, with its 33 degree articulation angle, the 460DT has an extremely good turnaround radius.

Darling reckons the track system is particularly impressive and takes any jarring out of rough country.

A major part of that smoothness comes from

The appearance of the Versatile 460DT DeltaTrack machine at the South Island field days drew a lot of interest. The tractor is seen here with new owner Warren Darling (right) and his son Andrew, the future operator of this 460hp machine.

the track system’s double axis bogie with two-way oscillation which provides better weight transfer and reduces shock loading, thereby cutting back vibration and stress on the frame.

The DeltaTrack has two saddle tanks with a total capacity of around 1800L. These are located below the cab on each

side with a crossover tube, so regardless of the fuel level the weight from left to right remains the same.

And unlike its competitors the 460DT’s tanks don’t affect the front-torear weight ratio.

This is the first Versatile DeltaTrack in New Zealand, but Darling isn’t worried by the current lack of numbers.

There are already quite a number of wheeled Versatile tractors in this country and Power Farming has sold at least 30 of the DeltaTrack machines in Australia, where their size and power make them ideal for the large broadacre cropping operations found there.

“Under Power Farming and the backup they’re

got locally in Timaru and nationwide, I’ve got no concerns about servicing or parts,” he says. “We’ve got good backup with Ross Dawbin at Power Farming in Timaru, and if anything is required we know that you can get it out of Australia pretty quickly.”

Power Farming ’s national tractor manager, Brett Maber, expects there will be more demand for these huge machines in New Zealand, with the increasing development of minimum tillage gear and the search for greater efficiencies through one pass machinery, all of which demands greater power.

While the 460DT is the biggest tractor Power Farming has sold in New Zealand, it’s not the biggest the Australasian-wide firm has handled.

TO PAGE 51

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

50 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

A year to remember for NZ tractor sales MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

TRACTOR SALES in New Zealand last year hit a ten-year high and Waikato played its part.

With last year’s record dairy payout underpinning rural confidence, it’s no surprise 2014 was a record for new tractor deliveries nationwide.

With around 4000 units sold, dealers and importers were smiling and lots of farmers got rid of their old clunkers.

The mighty Waikato, dairy dependent, held top position with at least 600 registrations of over40hp units delivered to farmers and contractors.

Case IH New Zealand recently celebrated near Hamilton its achievement of being the leading tractor brand in Waikato – at

least 150 units sold by dealers in Cambridge, Otorohanga, Paeroa and Huntly.

Awards were presented to the dealer principals, and sales, parts and service teams were recognised

for their tremendous efforts.

Case IH operations manager for NZ, Tim Fanning, says it’s a great feeling to get first position in a market where the competition is fierce.

“We know we have great products, but without the help of great people at our dealerships, and the best backup, you can’t be a market leader,” he told Rural News.

Fanning also thanked the farmers and contractors who supported the brand and its dealerships, “for their support in helping us reach this milestone”.

Asked how 2015 was shaping up, he noted, “this looks like it will be another solid year for tractor sales, as the long term outlook keeps confidence high”.

Tel. 0800 CASEIH www.caseih.co.nz

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Robertson’s Engineering new bale feeder boasts higher stability.

You ‘Little Ripper’!

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH ITS paint still wet, Robertson Manufacturing’s Little Ripper bale feeder was launched at the South Island field days last month, winning the runner-up prize for New Zealand-made farm machinery.

While popular, bale feeders have had to contend with greater bale weights – sometimes 750kg or more – as baler manufacturers have striven to increase bale densities.

This heavy loading of machines has resulted in cases of instability in lessthan-ideal conditions.

To address this problem the Little Ripper has two key components within its design.

First is the S-type discharge elevator,

which transfers loads back through the centre of the machine, rather than using a traditional layout where the elevator is just an extension of the bale handling cradle. This greatly improves stability.

Second is the re-think of the bale transfer system that takes the bale off the ground, transports it and ultimately places it on the discharge table. By using a conventional layout of two bale spikes to lift the bale, and adding a lateral grab mechanism, the bale is held securely in place during the transport phase and, when required, the bale is gently placed on the unload cradle.

Unlike other systems, which effectively throw the bale into the unload position, this is particularly useful for any misshapen bales that can be prone to trying to climb off the elevator. www.robfarm.co.nz

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 51

Huge 460 HP tractor hits the ground FROM PAGE 49

“On the New Zealand tractor scene, the 460 is at the very top end in terms of horsepower,” he says, “but in fact this same chassis now goes up to 620 horsepower, and we’ve sold quite a few of those in Australia.”

He says Power Farming has two further

demonstration machines currently being evaluated

by New Zealand farmers but he believes the market for such massive power is limited in New Zealand because of our type of farming and smaller properties.

Maber says Versatile has an international reputation for building

NZ-MADE DUALS SUIT LOCAL CONDITIONS TRACTORS ARE hitting the paddocks as the cultivation season looms.

If the going is tough underfoot or paddocks are on hill slopes and rugged terrain, dual wheels might be best to combine extra flotation, traction and stability to get you to places safely and with minimal soil damage.

Adding duals to a tractor significantly reduces the ground pressure due to a larger footprint.

The result is less ground compaction and reduced damage to crop and pasture yields. With added rubber on the ground, increased tractor width and extra lugs to ‘bite’ into the earth, the point at which the tractor will over-balance is increased – improving operating safety and stability.

Adding an extra set of lugs also assists in reducing lateral slippage. Certain ground conditions or the use of big cultivators can demand more traction. The extra lugs provided by duals ensure the tractor power is more effectively transmitted to the ground.

Snaplok dual wheel systems, by TRS Tyre & Wheel, have proven effective in increasing productivity on New Zealand farms for many years. Their quick release clamp is ideal for farmers wanting the convenience of removing and fitting duals regularly.

An alternative option is Cobra duals, designed for the farmer who doesn’t need to take his duals off or put them on frequently.

“Farmers can be confident when selecting Snaplok dual wheel systems that they benefit from over 25 years of successful operation in New Zealand conditions,” says TRS marketing manager Andrew Gillam.

“Our dual wheels systems are designed and manufactured in NZ, for NZ conditions and New Zealand’s farmers.” www.trstyreandwheel.co.nz

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

tractors with big, strong engines and bulletproof transmissions and componentry.

“In recent years the company has spent tens of millions of dollars on research and development and on improved engineering, and they’re now producing a new

The 460 HP fourtrack versatile 460DT is one of the larger tractors sold in the South Island recently.

and why they just go and go, and do thousands and thousands of hours of work.”

For more information contact Ross Nesdale, national marketing manager, Power Farming, DDI 07 902 2226.

generation of tractors with sophistication and style, but still with real rugged durability and toughness.

“It’s that rugged toughness, that North American robustness, bang for your buck and the mentality of being bullet proof – that’s why they’re so darned good

www.powerfarming. co.nz

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

52 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Machinery co-op turns 10 and still going strong MARK DANIEL

ORIGIN AGROUP, NZ’s

only farm machinery buying co-op, recently celebrated its 10th

PRODUCTION ORIENTATED FARMERS...

Are you suffering from:

• Surface ponding of pastures?

• Hay & silage being tramped into pasture and wasted?

Pugged paddocks can reduce pasture growth up to 60% DON’T PUT GOOD FERTILISER ON COMPACTED SOIL WHICH CAN’T ABSORB IT If your soil can’t support 15cm root growth and good worm population check for compaction.

You could need aeration.

In dollar terms, what would 20% production increase mean to your yearly turnover?

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anniversary, so it was timely for Rural News to catch up with managing director Dave Donnelly at the recent Central Districts Field Days (CDFD).

Donnelly reports a record sales year for 2014 and is cautiously optimistic for 2015, given the long term optimism particularly for the dairy sector.

Origin represents leading brands from Europe such as Pottinger, Alpego and Hatzenbichler, and while the show turned up nothing too new, there appeared to be improvements or upgrades to current models.

The Hatzenbichler has sold well over the years as a low cost means of establishing small seed crops. Customer prompting has seen Origin has introduce an in-cab control box to monitor fan speeds, belt slippage and tank levels. This should help eliminate ‘bald spots’ that make the heart sink after emergence.

CDFD was also a good

opportunity to focus on a pre-ripper that might be a help after the drought has left ground to be worked up in tougher than normal conditions The Alpego Delta 300 pre-ripper has a heavyduty toolbar that fits in front of a rotary hoe and carries four robust legs with replaceable points and wings.

The staggered formation of the legs reduces draught requirements and the aim is to set the depth about 75mm below that of the rotary hoe’s blades.

The outcome is a general loosening of the soil to aid crop establishment, but more importantly it eliminates the smearing effect normally associated with rotary hoes and blade wear is 30% lower.

Amongst the Pottinger range of grassland equipment was the Top 762C twin rotor rake, with an adjustable working width of 6.9-7.6m.

Improvements for the 2015 season centred on the mounting of the tine arms, which are subject

Origin Agroup’s Dave Donnelly at the recent CDFD.

to huge loads as these machines are pushed hard to stay in front of today’s high output self-propelled foragers and balers. If damaged, a two-bolt fixing system ensures the damaged tine arm can be removed and exchanged quickly, cutting downtime in the paddock.

At the front of the machine Origin was

showing the Multi-Tast jockey wheel system, which runs ahead of the raking rotor to control adaption over undulating territory and ensuring there is no soil contamination from the tines bottoming out.

Pottinger’s well known high volume jumbo loader wagons now come with a 5-year warranty on the

transmission, including the input gearbox, rotor drive gearbox and the rotor itself.

The warranty is conditional on an annual pre-inspection by a Pottinger authorised dealer, surely a small price to play for such peace of mind.

Tel. 07 823 7582 www.originagroup.co.nz

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 53

Massey range gets a big lift AGCO took the opportunity at the recent South Island field days to make a foray into the telehandler market with its new 9407S. Mark Daniel reports.

WITH A lift capacity of 3.5 tonnes to a maximum height of 4.0m, and powered by a Perkins 4-cyl 130hp engine, the machine certainly appears to have all the right credentials.

Centred on a shorter, wider chassis with a wheelbase of 2.87m and shod with 24 inch diameter tyres, this telehandler offers tight turning for operation in confined spaces. The industry norm of two- wheel, four wheel and crab or offset steering takes care of pointing the machine in the right direction.

The engine is located along the offside of the machine, parallel to the main boom. This provides

access to items requiring routine maintenance, with the main items such as hydrostatic and hydraulic pumps mounted at the front of the engine bay.

The all-important cooling pack is also mounted forwards and features a flip-up design for cleaning, and when coupled with the reversible fan this should ensure cool running on hot days From the engine the drive is transmitted via a hydrostatic pump to the gearbox with two mechanical ranges and two hydraulic splits to ensure a range of speeds to suit all applications. Creep speeds allow slow speed

with high throttle settings to achieve fast cycle times.

Maximum speed is a true 40km/h. Forward/reverse control is via a shuttle lever mounted under the

left side of the steering wheel.

The grunt of the machine, the boom, has a 1.75m pivot point and is powered by a closed-centre load sensing hydraulic pump offering a peak flow of 160L/minute, which should ensure fast cycle times.

NO REPAYMENTS UNTIL

The newly designed cabin front and rear curved screens has the former carrying on up over the roof space and the latter curving around the right rear of the machine. Both give unprecedented views, particularly to the right rear quarter that can be a blind

spot on some competitive brands.

At 900mm wide, the cab should suit all sizes of operator and with standard features such as air conditioning, air suspension seat and a noise level of 75 dbA long days should be a breeze.

For operator informa-

tion and boom control a dashboard is located in the front right of the cab, so easing the view down through the boom to the toolbar; a fully proportional joystick is located ahead of the right hand armrest. www.masseyferguson. com.au

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Check out our websites

“We understand there’s always a degree of uncertainty in farming: the weather, the economy, the dairy pay-out.

We don’t believe this uncertainty should hinder your productivity, so we’re making it as easy as possible for you to buy a new tractor.

We are offering to deliver a new Deutz-Fahr tractor to your property tomorrow, without you having to make any repayments at all till February next year. That’s no interest, no repayments. No worries at all.

Let us take care of the finance for you while you get on with the farming. Talk to your local Power Farming dealer about how we can help you with the best finance deals in the industry”

www.ruralnews.co.nz www.dairynews.co.nz

* 0% interest on finance until Feb 2016. Terms & conditions apply. Minimum of 10% deposit required (or trade). Total GST to be paid in month 3. Consult your Power Farming dealer for specific terms & conditions.

RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

54 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS / RURAL TRADER

D40 still has the chops D40s (for example, the ST 4WD double cab is down from $52,790 to $35,990).

So will such buyers be getting a truck that remains competitive in a ute market much more crowded than it was in 2005?

Rural News spent a week with a 2WD D40 to have one last look. It still looks great, there’s no denying – proof that strong and simple design stands up over time.

The 2.5L turbo diesel engine in the 4WD was the most powerful engine in its class in 2005, and until the ST-X 550 V6 Navara is dropped in June (Nissan is discontinuing the fantastic Renaultsourced V6) Nissan still has the bragging rights. However, the 2.5L engine’s 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque have been eclipsed recently by other

ADAM FRICKER

THE 2005 launch of the Nissan Navara D40 really tested its mettle, the media drive event hammering the trucks through West Coast bush on rough old mining trails, river beds then through Rainbow and Molesworth Stations.

Its abilities on and off road impressed and, thanks in large part to its tough looks and generous size, it went on to be a sales success for Nissan NZ, selling 11,676 units between November 2005 and March 2015, second only to the Toyota Hilux in the ute segment for most of that time.

The D40 is in its ‘run-out’ phase now – the new Navara is due here in June – so that tally will no doubt increase as buyers take advantage of sharp deals on

The Nissan Navara D40... still good value as the run out begins.

brands.

It is more than enough though, even in 2WD guise where you get 120kW and 403Nm. Carrying capacity of 943kg (2WD) and 873kg (4WD) and towing capacity of two tonnes (2WD) and three tonnes

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(4WD) are still competitive, the tray and double cab were always generous, and Rural News saw respectable fuel efficiency of about 9.0L/100km. On paper then, the old D40 can still cut it.

On the road, it is comfortable and handles well, although a side-by-side

comparison with a new Ranger or Amarok (or the new Navara) would reveal slower steering and a bit more shudder and shake over rough bits of road or track. Given the age difference between the D40 and those trucks though, the difference is not huge; the D40 really did advance the ute category in 2005.

And equipment levels, at least in the ST-X we drove, include most of the kit a buyer in 2015 would expect. Nissan has upgraded the truck a couple of times since 2005.

Nissan is doing the usual juggling act of running out the current model to make room for the new. Finance terms of 1.9% for 48 months and hefty discounts off normal retail pricing make the outgoing D40 Navara a great buy.

GET SOCIAL WITH RURALNEWS Keep up with the latest stories from by following us at facebook.com/ruralnews

twitter.com/Rural_News

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Choose Performance That Lasts Or post your inquiries to; M. Evans, 39J Cape Horn Road, Hillsborough, Auckland 1041 . and don’t forget to include your return address.

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Working Lights Halogen headlights are easily angled from the operator’s seat and throw plenty of light for after hours mowing.

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RURAL NEWS // APRIL 21, 2015

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NO ONE BEATS OUR PRICE

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Ph/Fax 07 347 2292

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EPOXY SCREED FOR ERODED FLOORS

0800 542 542

NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call...

0800 436 566

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For details contact: JULIE BEECH Ph 09-307 0399 • julieb@ruralnews.co.nz •

P 06 835 6863 - www.craigcojetters.com

www.burgessmatting.co.nz

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CRAIGCO SENSOR JET

• Lightweight, easy to install • Made from polyethylene

McKee Plastics Mahinui Street, Feilding Ph 06 323 4181 Fax 06 323 4183

sales@mckeeplastics.co.nz | www.mckeeplastics.co.nz

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Phone

0800 625 826

for your nearest stockist

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