Coast & Country News - January 2020

Meet the Brown family: Kace, Hayden, Sarah, Jack and Beau. Hayden and Sarah are 50/50 sharemilkers on Bob and Jill Nichol’s 200ha Hauraki farm. The Browns recently became a new monitor farm for the P3 Trust, which stands for ProďŹ table Progressive Plains. Learn more about how this trust enhances the wellbeing of farmers, their operations, as well the local community of the Hauraki Plains on pages 4-5. Photo: Catherine Fry.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

What will 2020 bring?

Greetings, and Happy New Year to you all.

As you begin to flick through 2020’s first edition of Coast & Country News, a new 12 months await.

www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

Damien O’Connor welcomed the release of The Primary Sector Council’s new vision ‘Fit for a Better World’ for the country’s vital food and fibre sector.

The Minister said international consumers who buy our world-class product increasingly want to know the story behind their food. “They want to know And in the primary industries, there are many it’s climate friendly and sustainably produced, with things which those in all facets of the sector are high animal welfare standards and by a workforce waiting to see how they unfold – and ultimately how that’s he’s confident we’ll achieve premiums in the it will affect farmers, growers and orchardists on the marketplace from consumers seeking ground. out our food and produce.

As I write this Boris Johnson’s And so The Primary Sector Council Conservative Party has just achieved a will now develop its final report and landslide victory, being elected to the recommendations, which are expected British Parliament and commanding in March.

“The next step is taking the a majority not seen since Margaret vision and turning it into a realistic and Thatcher years. workable plan.”

The Prime Minister’s campaign So there’s a lot of work being done to promised “to get Brexit done” – so in prov provide clearer directions/pathways for what shape or form and when this will how we work on and use the land going finally evolve will be watched closely by forward. It will be interesting to see how our export sectors, especially sheep and Boris Johnson. some of these proposals and issues have beef, here in NZ. progressed by the time we reach December again.

Another big decision on the way is what the The main thing is that whatever comes from these Government’s freshwater proposals will actually proposals is clear and workable on the ground – on look like. With submissions for freshwater proposals closing on October 31, this year people are expecting farms, orchards and gardens across the country. And that while aligning our practices to such guidelines, the Government to review and analyse submissions rules, regulations and values may need investment, and further shape policies from this feedback. adapting the way we work the land is not going to According to the Ministry for the Environment send our rural communities into economic hardship the freshwater proposals garnered more than or to a place where they cannot cope or adjust to 5000 submissions, while the proposal on product these advancements in a positive way. stewardship gained more than 400, a highly And don’t forget it is election year – I wonder if this productive land proposal attracted more than 240 fact will ‘soften’ some directives, plans and proposals submissions, and hazardous substances and new from government? It’s all a case of watch this space! organisms about 45.

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Red release attracts ‘cautious excitement’ The commercial release of Zespri’s red kiwifruit is being greeted with cautious excitement by many in the industry, including Doug Brown, chairman of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc.

$100,000 per ha once vines reach full production in 2025, but Dave says that’s an indicative figure only and more financial information will be available when tender documents are released around March.

More to be learned

In trials the red has performed well both on its own “This is a new export opportunity for growers and rootstock and when grafted to existing rootstock. It the markets are really excited about a Zespri Red so hasn’t been trialled in all of the growing regions, but demand is likely to be high.

Dave says there is nothing so far to indicate it won’t “Of course, we have to temper that by do well where other kiwifruit is grown. Zespri also recognising that this is a new variety and is intends to conduct growing trials of the fruit in the not without risk.”

Northern Hemisphere.

Doug says the variety “is not a red G3” – While the variety has been closely scrutinised the highly successful Zespri gold kiwifruit during its pre-commercial release period, Dave says marketed as SunGold. there is undoubtedly more to be learned.

“Growers will need to do due diligence “I am continually impressed at the innovation before making a commitment to grow Zespri within the industry and many growers are keen to Red, but that is not to take anything away from get their hands on this red and learn what they can the opportunity this variety offers.” about it.”

NZKGI recognises the advantages of broadening There will be support for growers who take the portfolio of varieties through the release of up licences including access to the a red kiwifruit variety. Such robust science behind its diversification can support development, technical the industry gaining shelf transfer and field days. space in supermarkets.

Dave says a strength “We want to see of the New Zealand as many growers as industry is the possible have the willingness of all opportunity to grow involved to share this new variety, but their knowledge. they must go into it Zespri hopes its with their eyes open. new red kiwifruit Initially, 150ha of will attract new licence will be released consumers to the but more are likely to category as well as follow so this will not be existing consumers the last chance to grow who eat green and Zespri plans to release 150ha of Zespri Red for red,” says Doug. gold as breakfast fruit tender by New Zealand growers this year. but may enjoy red in Buzz in markets the afternoon.

Zespri’s chief grower and alliance officer Dave Apata Ltd’s managing director Stuart Weston says Courtney says the announcement in early-December Zespri Red should not pose any particular problems that Zespri would commercialise a red kiwifruit for the post-harvest sector. created an immediate buzz in the markets.

“The issue will be the time it takes to build up “Growers, consumers and our customers have been critical mass. Post-harvest has evolved to be a fastwaiting for a Zespri Red for a long time.” paced, volume-driven industry and the red is likely Zespri and Plant & Food, which bred the new to come on in bits and pieces to begin with. variety using conventional breeding techniques, “Apata has experience with handling earlier reds experienced a setback in the breeding programme and has carried out pre-commercial trials on new when the vine disease Psa-V wiped out most of the varieties for Zespri before, so new varieties are not promising red varieties in 2010. scary for us. This variety appears to store better than “So we had to start again. We have a rigorous previous reds, so storage is less of a concern.” process new varieties go through before commercial release and that takes time.”

Do your homework Zespri plans to release 150ha of Zespri Red for Harvest, which begins in mid-March, does not tender by New Zealand growers this year. That figure collide with SunGold so the red slots in well to the reflects the small amount of budwood currently season from a post-harvest point of view, says Stuart. available, says Dave.

“It’s not a major game-changer but if the red helps The cost of licences will largely be decided by growers with diversity of crops and an increase in growers. “Growers will take into account the risks wealth, that’s great.” involved with a new variety and the per ha returns Katikati horticulturalist and post-harvest operator when they decide what price to tender.”

Hugh Moore says he will “be going red at some Zespri expects returns for red to be around stage, maybe not this coming season”.

“I have seen three new varieties fail, Tomua (an early green), G9 (gold fruit) and G14 (a sweet green). Growers should be cautious and find out all they can about the new red, including where it grows best; ask plenty of questions and study the information package well before tendering for the variety.”

Hugh, who has attended field days focusing on Zespri Red, says the fruit does not store as well as Hayward and G3 and produces smaller fruit.

“I believe this will not be last the red that is offered to growers. It will be interesting to see if growers who buy licences will be able to transfer to new reds when released.”

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 4

Monitoring is key to

The Brown family: Kace, Hayden, Sarah, Jack and Beau believe being a P3 Trust monitor farm will offer invaluable information.

Photo: Catherine Fry.

“We send out 700 newsletters, but only

have 350 farms in the area, so the local During some tough years in the Hauraki community and also beyond that are Plains, dairy farming had slowed and money benefitting.” wasn’t being spent in the community.

The P3 Trust has developed several And the centralisation of rural professionals to larger towns also contributed to a loss of activity in the district.

A number of people, mainly dairy farmers, identified an opportunity to bring benefit to the plains, and the Profitable Progressive Plains or P3 Trust, as it is known, was set up in 2012.

Plains dairy farmer Conall Buchanan was involved from day one and is still on the Board of Trustees.

“The P3 Trust is a community organisation put together to enhance the wellbeing of the people and community in general of the Hauraki Plains,” says Conall.

strategies for enhancing what it can offer the community. Several field days have been run, and are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

“We try to keep the topic relevant to the district at the time. For example, a recent one was about Farm Environment Plans.,” says Conall.

Education opportunities

Twice-a-year the trust facilitates education opportunities, such as a course to assist managers and contract milkers to their first $100,000 of capital. “Having a group in an area showing a group need, helps national organisations focus on that area.”

The trust’s speaker series have been well supported and are “designed to make you think”. For example, a recent speaker was Paralympian Liam Malone.

The most well-known work of the P3 Trust is its Monitor Farms. And farms that are recognised as operating at a good level of performance are invited to participate. Heading into the fourth year, five farms are involved.

“Initially, focus farms were involved in profitability benchmarking, identifying the most important factor for profitability to be – the ability to harvest 13 tonnes or more of dry matter from grass on-farm.”

Conall says the monitor farms are spread geographically throughout the region, and are a mix of production systems, operating systems, management systems, and soil types.

These farms monitor and record certain information on a weekly basis.

“The information reported is significant to all farmers wishing to optimise profit and move from a satisfactory operation to an optimal operation.”

Reporting is honest, and includes any mistakes made and the repercussions.

The publication and sharing of the reports, plus field days on the farms assists local farmers to refine their operations and systems.

Project manager

Every three weeks, project manager Jaimee Morgan visits each farm. Jaimee took over from the initial project manager, Wayne Stachurski.

“At the end of each season we have a full season wrap-up with each farm,

...continued

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

progression of all continued...

sharing their farm working expenses for the year broken down into each area of expenditure such as animal health, wages, feed etc. It also includes other business KPIs such as monthly growth rates, total feed harvested on-farm, and milk production,” says Jaimee.

Farm owners Bob and Jill Nichol, and their 50/50 sharemilkers, Hayden Brown and Sarah Manunui, are one of the newest monitor farms. The 200ha System 2 farm consists of 120 paddocks, with a completely flat contour, just outside Komata, and almost circled by the Waihou River.

The milking herd consists of 600 crossbred cows, and carries 120 replacements through until June. The farm has three full-time staff, including Hayden.

Hayden and Sarah are excited about being a monitor farm. Sarah stepped back from farm work to be full-time mum to Beau, 4, Kace, 3, and baby Jack.

“We feel privileged to have been asked, it’s going to open the gates to so much invaluable knowledge.”

New monitor farmer, Hauraki Charitable Trust Farm’s contract milker Grant McDonald.

Photo: supplied.

Page 5

Remain on high alert for stink bugs Travelling Kiwis are being asked to remain vigilant as they go offshore, with the high detection season in New Zealand for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug running until April 30 this year.

Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says while Biosecurity NZ has strengthened its measures to stop stink bug establishing itself here – “we want to keep the risk offshore as much as possible”.

Damien says the BMSB is a sneaky pest that Biosecurity NZ staff have

caught at the border many times, hitchhiking on passengers and in imported goods. “They’re a damaging economic pest and a significant household nuisance.”

Last year the Government increased the number of BMSB risk countries from 16 to 33 and upped its mandatory pre-arrival treatment requirements for targeted vehicles, machinery and parts. Biosecurity NZ is also working more closely with its Australian counterparts to identify risk offshore and co-ordinate actions.

Grow

“Bob and Jill are delighted from a business perspective, we will grow so much,” says Sarah.

The couple are unfazed by the weekly sheet they fill in. There are set headings and columns, and also room for general reports at the bottom. “We already keep cowshed records using our Fonterra App, this is just more in-depth,” says Hayden.

After a paddock is grazed, it is walked and cover is measured using a rising plate meter, so the number Hayden Brown surveying Bob and Jill Nichol’s 200ha farm where of kilograms of dry matter used can he is a 50/50 sharemilker. Photo: Catherine Fry. be calculated.

For the first time, the farm will not be planting this well, and we are looking forward to sharing this crops, and instead will be cutting more grass silage and our other results with the 1200 subscribers to the to supplement in summer, along with 200 tonnes of bought in palm kernel. “We’ve heard of others doing results DairyNZ compile,” says Hayden.

He describes the monitor farms results as a “discussion group without having to go along”. It would be fair to say that the trust has contributed to the support system, community spirit, and rural mental health in the Hauraki Plains. It’s definitely good to talk.

Catherine Fry

Past monitor farmer Brad van Hellemond, past project manager of eight years Wayne Stachurski, and past monitor farmer Brendon Firth.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Educating their way to organic For Ngakuru organic market gardeners, Jordyn and Simon Barbour, their approach to taking on the organic farming challenge has always been through education and information.

They’ve taken their time to explore making their organic farming dreams come true, and supported each other every step of the way.

Jordyn, 29, grew up on a lifestyle block in Coatesville, and Simon’s family were dairy farmers in Tirau, and later in Ngakuru. The couple met in their first year studying agricultural science at Lincoln.

Simon, 29, took a dairy farming job near Lincoln after his degree, waiting for Jordyn to finish her degree as she had taken a year out to do a course in organic horticulture at the Biological Husbandry Unit. The couple married while at Lincoln, and their first child

The Grow Together Farm family: Emma, Simon, Jordyn and Romy Barbour. All photos: Catherine Fry. Emma was born. use of pesticides, but also synthetic fertilisers that are They returned to Ngakuru in 2014 to be near family contaminated with heavy metals like cadmium,” says for the birth of their second child Romy.

Simon.

“In our hearts though, we both were passionate “At Lincoln we were asked ‘how are we going to feed about organic farming and wanted to learn more about the world’. Instead we should have been asked ‘How organic dairy farming,” says Jordyn. are we going to feed the world...with quality food, in a “We spent a year working on an organic dairy farm, sustainable manner’” says Jordyn. and were considering working with my father to convert the family farm to organic status, when we had The journey a quantum moment,” says Simon.

Of course the next step for the couple was education It came to them one day that organic market and knowledge. “Simon went to a Six Figure Farming gardening was what they wanted to do. workshop with gurus Jean-Martin Fortier and Curtis They loved the organic dairy production system, but Stone, and came back totally inspired and buzzing,” didn’t like that the beautiful milk became powder and says Jordyn. was shipped around the world. The answer for the The couple returned to Lincoln and Simon studied couple was to start by feeding the local community the same organic horticulture course that Jordyn had using organic principles. previously completed.

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market gardening continued...

“We lived off savings and a student allowance, and sold veggies at the Farmers Market, from the plot you get allocated on the course,” says Jordyn.

In June 2017 they returned to Ngakuru, and gratefully accepted a milking job, a house and a year’s grace on the lease of some land, on Simon’s family farm.

Initial testing of the area they wanted to use revealed high levels of DDT and it wasn’t suitable for organic conversion.

“Further testing identified the perfect spot where DDT levels were well within the strict parameters acceptable to go organic,” says Simon.

The process to organic certification of the soil was started early on, with the addition of certified organic compost, organic fertilisers and trace elements, and seaweed and fish fertiliser.

“Jenny Lux, the certification manager for OrganicFarmNZ in the Bay of Plenty, has been our mentor for becoming certified.”

Emma Barbour in the garden.

Establishing the garden

Simon spent the next year milking twice-a-day, setting up the garden, and scouring TradeMe for second hand tools and materials. Jordyn worked as much as she could around her small children.

The couple have planted 3m wide biodiversity strips of perennials between the garden plots. The aim is to have plants flowering year-round undisturbed, attracting and supporting an ecosystem of good insects and birds.

“If we do get an infestation of a parasite pest, there is already an established population of good predators to tackle them,” says Simon.

Simon admits they went a “bit overboard” with their first season, planting more than 40 species of vegetable, but they “learned heaps” about what works in their soil.

As well as exploring organic and environmentally friendly methods of disease and pest control, they also are working on minimum tillage.

Simon and Jordyn Barbour with some of their winter onion supply.

“By disturbing the soil as little as possible, and keeping an established system, the beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil are able to thrive keeping the soil healthy, which leads to healthy plants,” says Simon.

The future

Alongside honing their growing skills and advertising skills, Jordyn and Simon are striving to meet their original goal – affordable organic produce.

They attend Kuirau Park Market in Rotorua, and supply a few restaurants and the Brown Owl Organic food hub. “We’re working on the content of our veggie boxes, aiming to provide a good variety of veggies the entire growing season,” says Simon.

One day they hope to use their established garden to educate and train others who also have a passion for producing delicious, organic vegetables.

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Loneliness real for many I was inspired to write about loneliness after reading in the NZ Herald recently that living alone was less than ideal for most.

Being socially connected and around people improved their health by an amazing 75 per cent. That then got me thinking about farmers having a lonely life and mental health issues and suicides.

When you google loneliness and isolation, the often-asked questions are: What does loneliness and isolation mean?

Can you really die of loneliness? So, loneliness is real.

Farmers get up early and often spend much of the day working on their own, particularly if they are ‘sole traders’ or farmers that largely do most of the work on their own. How does days of working in isolation affect their mental health and ability to communicate?

Put on top of that an empty marriage relationship, and it gets real quiet.

You’re out on-farm working with a myriad of decisions and jobs to do to find the failing relationship and communication style is going round and round in your head.

Able to talk

Once you’re able to verbalise your concerns the stress in your head vanishes or diminishes. I guess that’s where it is essential that men, particularly, are able to talk to their partner or have a supportive men’s network which is less common in the rural sector.

Many farmers unconsciously choose to be farmers because they are introverts. Introverts shy away from public contact and prefer to be on their own.

Does that then become their downfall when it all gets quieter and quieter and they are unable to communicate their concerns and feelings?

Generally, women are happier on their own than men. Men seem to be more needy, and look around to replace a relationship break-up as soon as they can.

Men hate being lonely.

It is an insidious feeling of hopelessness, isolation and emptiness for anyone. It can be very frightening and make you feel very panicky. If you take that a step further could it just be a prerequisite to anxiety, depression and maybe suicide?

Coffee group

A good friend of mine was great fun, but always stressed and difficult. He often sprouted: ‘You don’t go out for coffee, that’s a waste of time’. Well, one day he sat with us at a local coffee shop and met all and sundry and suddenly two hours had vanished, and he realised he was not lonely and was having fun. He went home and started his own bloke’s coffee group.

They meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday for as long as it takes.

Now they call themselves the ROMEOs – short for Retired Old Men Eating Out. Do they talk about prostate, relationships, cars, politics and feeling lonely?

You bet they do. Is he better? He sure is.

In summary, loneliness is an insidious feeling, it can bring on all sorts of issues that may include anxiety, depression and even suicide. The remedy would include ‘stepping over’ those feelings and finding someone to talk to. It might even include a coffee group. Not being so lonely will definitely improve your health.

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FEED MANAGEMENT/HAY & SILAGE

Take some time out then get organised As I write this column in earlyDecember things are starting to dry out. We only had about 30ml of rain in Tauranga for the month of November and 60ml at Paengaroa.

It seems to be on the drier side here, especially when compared to the South Island, which just had a massive deluge and flooding on both sides, and the North Island’s West Coast.

December’s forecast for us is set to be below-normal December rainfall. In terms of temperatures, the forecast says

monthly temperatures are going to end up above-average.

By the time you’re reading this column, it will be early-January. At the moment, we don’t know what the summer is going to look like but it does sound like things are trending towards the being on the drier side on the east of the north and south islands, and wetter on the west.

At this point everyone needs to ensure they’ve had follow-up sprays done on their turnips and winter crops, fodder beet and suchlike. Make sure this work is continued into the New Year to get the results wanted. Weeds

compete with plants for moisture and nutrients and can soon take over the crop, not allowing the full potential and desired outcome.

I also recommend farmers take a good break away from the farm at some point during summer. If you had to stay on-farm through the Christmas period, book in some time off this month or in February. It’s important to get away and recharge the old batteries, because when you’re in the thick of operating a business it can be stressful. Stepping away from the farm and having some time out will refresh you and ease the stress factors.

We’re doing our bit

There have been articles recently about the environmental work on farms, going into detail about things like planting wetlands, fencing off waterways, retiring steeper areas of land and planting trees. The Government and councils are encouraging this and I think it is vital to point out that many farmers are already doing this sort of work of their own accord – some have been doing so for more than 20 years now. The Kaituna Wetlands Scheme, here in the Bay of Plenty, is undertaking planting projects and so is the Waitoa Rd Care Group, just to name a couple. Many communities are also participating in these sort of things. So much of this work is already happening without the Government and councils having to come in with a heavy-handed approach.

Generally, people are looking at Nitrogen usage and doing their own trials. We’re looking at how much we can drop it back by while still getting a good amount of grass growth. A lot of this work is going on, and I don’t think farmers get much credit for the

fact they are doing this. Often, they are just viewed as high-Nitrogen users and polluters, suggesting that they are not looking after the land. The truth is most farmers are out there doing something off their own bat without being told they have to do it.

The sheep and beef guys are doing well, and for dairy Fonterra’s milk payout has gone up to $7.30kgMS. That’s very good news. Hopefully this is sustainable and then farms can spend some more money on this environmental work. Planting more trees, fencing off waterways and those sort of things all cost, and the money has to come from somewhere, as well as covering some debt repayment.

Harvesting schedules

Farmers also need to be organised with their feed requirements and harvesting schedules. Maize harvest starts around mid-February. At the time of writing, we still have a little bit of maize silage left. If you need any, please feel free to get in touch.

With a good payout, it makes a lot of sense to spend a little bit of money on good quality feed to increase production and to extend a herd’s lactation.

Feeding cows well on maize silage will also put herds in good order for the winter time – it is often said ‘the condition cows dry off in is the condition they calve in’. So if the cows are good condition at dry-off they will be set up for a good calving. It is also likely that there has been extra production, the round has slowed down and the herd is in good condition for next season. It’s all about setting yourself up for the future. Don’t sit and let this opportunity go by – take advantage of it!

FEED MANAGEMENT/HAY & SILAGE

Page 11

Detecting velvetleaf has gone to the dogs ‘Rusty’ the velvetleaf detector dog, with his owner and trainer John Taylor, will be back in the Waikato region later this month scouring farmers’ paddocks for the invasive pest plant before maize crops get too high.

“For example, they’ve had a harvester that’s gone to their property from an infected property and we’ve done some tracing, or they’ve received silage from somebody who has velvetleaf in their maize.

“And Rusty can detect it far better than what we can at this stage,” says Heidi.

Currently, the border collie is the only dog in New Zealand that is deployed to detect velvetleaf – and John says he’ll retire Rusty from the job when he turns 10 soon – but he

Wind dependent

John says how Rusty goes about detecting velvetleaf depends on the wind. “I work the wind and the day – it just depends what the weather is like.”

John, a retired electrician, says he came to train Rusty to detect velvetleaf after hearing about the pest plant

to check any suspect maize silage and crops.

Farmers are also encouraged to report suspected sightings of

velvetleaf to WRC’s biosecurity pest plants team on 0800 BIOSEC (0800 246 732).

Find out more information

at: www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/ services/regional-services/plantand-animal-pests/plant-pests/ velvetleaf

Merle Foster

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hopes Rusty. to train his other dog ‘Wink’ to take up the position.

John says Wink is currently trained to detect other weeds. Asked if it was difficult to train a dog to detect the pest plant, John says ‘No’.

“The first day I spent twoand-a-half hours training Rusty and he was detecting it. So we just refined it, by doing a lot of work with the Ministry for Primary Industries.”

Seedling stage

16 metre reach 16 metre reach 16 metre reach Shelter belt trim

16 metre reach

John Taylor with ‘Rusty’ greeting farmers at 2019’s NZ Effluent & Environment Expo at Mystery Creek.

According to Waikato Regional Council, velvetleaf is considered one of the world’s worst cropping weeds and has spread to properties in the region via unclean machinery, and infested maize crops, maize silage and maize grain.

Heidi Pene, a biosecurity pest plant officer contracted to WRC, says since John trained up Rusty a few years ago the duo has been coming north from their Invercargill home to the Waikato a couple of times each year – plus other areas of New Zealand – to detect velvetleaf on farms.

“Rusty has been trained to detect velvetleaf in fodder beet, and in maize crops and pasture.

“At this time of year – from December to January – we are taking Rusty to maize crops around the Waikato, where maize is just starting to emerge so he can detect the pest plant at the seedling stage,” says Heidi.

“This gives farmers the opportunity to do a post-emergent spray with the right herbicides if they need to before the maize gets too big.

“So when maize becomes full-grown velvetleaf tends to get really large as well and you have got no chemical option to rid of it – it involves walking rows and physically pulling the plants out.

“So getting on it early is the big key to management.”

The other thing John and Rusty do is go to properties that don’t where know whether they’ve got velvetleaf or not – but they might be at risk.

on the radio. “I had a dog that I was training to be a LandSAR Search and Rescue dog. I resigned from that as it didn’t work out. But at that point the velvetleaf incursion was coming into my region – and I thought: ‘I wonder if a dog can find it?’.”

Be vigilant

Heidi says John and Rusty visit about four to five farms per day, depending on how big the blocks are to walk. “If it’s a really stinking hot day and it’s a lot of walking, they may only get around three.

“So usually they are here in the Waikato for a week at a time – so they do about 10 to 15 farms in a visit.”

Heidi says feedback from farmers who have ‘employed’ John and Rusty so far is that they do appreciate it.

“We do give them the option – it’s not something they have to do. We usually ring them and ask would they like a detector dog to come check whether they’ve got velvetleaf seedlings emerging yet and some will ring us wanting to know if it is time for them to spray.

“Usually, they are very receptive and interested and fascinated with Rusty and what he can detect – compared to what we can with our eyes.”

Heidi says to keep velvetleaf from spreading further in the Waikato, she advises landowners and farm contractors to be vigilant about ensuring machinery is clean when entering and leaving a property, and

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Page 12

RURAL HOMES & BUILDINGS

Sheds show early NZ farm life

The shed featuring early NZ farm tools.

High in the hills of the Karangahake Gorge, a family of three generations who run a farm park on 100 acres now offer an even richer glimpse of Kiwi rural life from inside three sheds they've returned to their former glory.

Bullswool Heritage Farm, off Rahu Rd, has been opening the gates to visitors since 2004. But more recently, it’s opened the doors to a shearing shed, a mechanised early New Zealand milking shed and a tool shed on the farm, which have been lovingly restored to their original working conditions.

Farm park owner Sue Austen says when her parents Jan and Keith purchased the property in the 1980s, they discovered a dairy shed that was completely mothballed.

“It’s my understanding the Bradford family, who owned the property prior, converted from dairy to sheep in the late 1960s.

“The farm back was originally a small dairy farm, which had a fourbail shed,” says Sue. “What we found when we came here was a decommissioned milking shed. The owners had taken away the milking plant – but everything else remained. From the cream cans to buckets to

Copper shines in the vintage set-up. feed stock, to the cups – every little doo daddy was still sitting there intact – just covered in dust and debris.

Nearly 50 years later, even old sleeves from the cups were still there.

“We had rather taken it for granted and used the shed for storage. But a couple of times over the years dairy farmers had seen inside it, and would get quite excited to see an original shed that was just like the ones they’d known as children.

Static display

“Once we opened the farm park we always thought it would be a nice to restore it and share it with visitors.

But it was quite a job – and it needed quite a bit of love to get it ready for the public to view.”

At the start of 2018 Sue’s husband Tony Howse took on the challenge – to refurbish not only the milking shed but also the nearby shearing shed and tool shed.

During two years he used his know-how to work on each project, and all three sheds were opened to the farm park visitors earlier this year.

The early mechanised milking shed is now a static display showing people how it used to operate in what is today’s most important primary industry in NZ. Sue says today’s set-up is not operational – it doesn’t have a working engine anymore. “A sign explains how an engine powered by a belt at the back of the room

RURAL HOMES & BUILDINGS

The shed even has cream cans and hay bales to set the scene. would drive a mechanism to create the vacuum needed to operate the cups. “The milk would have come from the suction cups, up pipes to the little glass receiving jar then funnel back to the copper collection unit,” says Sue. The plan is to eventually reinstate the milking plant so it is functional, with an engine firing at the push of a button. The tool shed houses an extensive display of the tools used to cultivate, build, grow and develop rural NZ to what it is today. From handsaws to hammers to shovels to lanterns, Sue says this shed is very popular with visitors. “About three-quarters of the equipment has come from off this farm, and the rest has been bought.”

And nearby the shearing shed has been refurbished but is still a working sheep shed that now doubles as

Some of the milking shed equipment on display.

a museum. Inside is a two-stand shearing set-up with an old Donalds wool press, sheep pens and a table for throwing and checking fleeces.

Charlie Bradford

While not knowing much of the farm’s early history, Sue understands a man named Charlie Bradford owned the property in the 1960s when it was a dairy farm and was later converted to sheep.

“The story goes that when he was a young man he went to the Te Aroha races and put all his week’s pay on a horse. The horse came in and he bought the farm with his winnings.”

Today the farm park attracts 10,000 visitors annually.

“We get a huge variety of people who visit, from all nations and backgrounds. But quite a big proportion

Helping people make sound property decisions Assisting clients throughout the Waikato to make sound property decisions, which will not only benefit them now but also in the longer term, is the ethos of Fergusson Lockwood & Associates Ltd. Established in in the Waikato since the 1970s, Fergusson Lockwood has experienced name changes as the business has evolved and grown, says the firm’s sole director Russell Fergusson.

“Our principal office is in Hamilton and we cover Hamilton, Te Aroha, Morrinsville, Matamata, Raglan and the Greater Waikato areas.”

Russell says Fergusson Lockwood currently employs a number of valuers with experience in residential, commercial and industrial, rural sectors, rental assessments, insurance and compensation, including farm consultancy.

“As one of the leading Waikato property valuation firms, we assist clients to make sound property decisions which will not only benefit them now, but also in the longer term.

“Clients may be facing the challenges of arranging financing, trying to determine the value of their property and/or land for sale or purchase, and we are able to assist in this. “We also value buildings for insurance or rental and we actively manage farm

properties for national and international clients.”

Russell says the market has certainly been through an interesting journey in the last 10 years.

“As a result of the recession and subsequent recovery from that, property has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The market has now come out the other side and most of our clients now have a higher level of confidence. “At Fergusson Lockwood, we value our clients and colleagues tremendously and over the years have developed very strong relationships. We have instances where a client will introduce themselves and say that we did work for ‘Dad’ who said to call us.”

But Russell says one of the most enjoyable aspects of the business is meeting with lending partners and clients on their properties, listening to and understanding their business and property objectives, seeing what their property investment is actually achieving for them and being part of their preferred professional network team.

“We’re an ambitious company and over the years have adapted and grown to keep up with demand and the changing business environment. We look forward to the future.”

YOUR WAIKATO PROPERTY SPECIALISTS Talk to us today and speak with one of the most experienced professional teams in the business. After 30 years locally and nationwide we have what it takes to get the job done.

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Page 13

This working sheep shed now doubles as a museum.

of our visitors are retired Kiwi farmers, who enjoy the opportunity to share their love of rural life with their city-

dwelling grandchildren.” All three sheds are part of the farm park entry price.

See: www.bullswoolfarm.co.nz Merle Foster

Page 14

RURAL HOMES & BUILDINGS

RURAL HOMES & BUILDINGS

Page 15

2+2 YEAR LIMITED

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The purpose-built incubation facility has the capability to nearly double the number of eggs incubated annually in the North Island.

A new state-of-the-art kiwi hatching facility, now located within the world-class Wairakei Golf Course, north of Taupo, will dramatically ramp up kiwi numbers in the fight to save the national icon from extinction.

The Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow, which was opened last month, is the only incubation facility in New Zealand inside a predator-free area.

The purpose-built incubation facility can hatch and brood around 150 kiwi chicks every year once operating at capacity, and will nearly double the number of eggs incubated annually in the North Island.

As part of Kiwis for kiwi’s strategy, the facility has been specifically designed to incubate kiwi eggs and hold the young chicks until around three to four weeks old before being released to kohanga kiwi, predatorfree sites.

These are usually fenced areas or islands, which provide a nursery for the permanent population. The chicks will grow, find a partner, breed and in the future, when the site nears capacity, their offspring, once weighing 1kg, will be removed and released to safe places in the wild.

Kiwis for kiwi executive director Michelle Impey says the Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow will help maximise the work of Operation Nest Egg, which involves lifting eggs from monitored kiwi in the wild, incubating in captivity and rearing the chick in a predator-free site until it is deemed “stoat safe” before being returned to the wild.

“We are using a proven formula that works to deliver on the national strategy to turn the kiwi population’s two per cent decline into a two per cent increase.

Launch pad

“By providing a launch pad to scale up production, it will allow us to do in five-10 years what would have taken 50 years or more. This unique facility will be the conduit to achieving our goal of taking kiwi from endangered to everywhere,” says Michelle.

The dedicated kiwi incubation, hatching and brooding facility has been built to best practice standards and will be staffed by kiwi husbandry experts.

Claire Travers, who previously led the team at The National Kiwi Hatchery for 18 years and is known as the ‘Godmother’ of kiwi egg incubation, will work here alongside Claire a number of specialist kiwi husbandry experts from around NZ. Kiwis for kiwi previous chair and now patron Sir Rob Fenwick says NZ is today precariously balanced on a knife edge with its kiwi population.

“Kiwi are facing the point of no return if support is not ramped up. Fortunately, thanks to many organisations and communities that are giving their time, energy and funds to provide safe habitat, there is hope.

“Providing facilities that can seriously increase the production of kiwi chicks is the key to increasing numbers and genetic diversity, both of which are critical to avoid extinction.

“As Predator Free 2050 efforts ramp up, there will be even more predator controlled and protected areas waiting for new kiwi populations to be introduced.

This gives us a real shot at turning around the two per cent decline,” says Rob. Eggs delivered to the facility will initially be sourced from the Tongariro/Taranaki/Whanganui regions and once old enough, will be released to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, the kohanga site for Western brown kiwi. As work scales up, eggs will gradually arrive from the Eastern North Island and possibly Coromandel.

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY KEEP YOUR SPOUTING CLEAR

Build and fit-out

The Crombie Lockwood Burrow has been made possible through ongoing support from insurance brokers, Crombie Lockwood. Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary owner Gary Lane, a long-term supporter of Kiwis for kiwi, has provided the site for the Kiwi Burrow and underwritten the cost of the build. Non-profit KiwiSaver provider, Simplicity, is funding the fit-out which includes incubators, brooder boxes and all of the supporting equipment required from electronic scales to bowls for feeding the chicks.

Kiwis for kiwi is the country’s national charity dedicated to protecting kiwi. Working in partnership with DOC, they raise and distribute funds to kiwi conservation projects across NZ with a vision is to take kiwi from endangered to everywhere. Find out more at: www.kiwisforkiwi.org

0800 333 101 info@guttersolutionz.co.nz

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ENVIRO FRIENDLY FARMING

Page 16

The ‘best’ sustainable pasture tool With the pressure on New Zealand’s agricultural sector to make progress in how they manage environmental impacts from their operations – from water quality to soil sustainability – Dung Beetle Innovations’ Dr Shaun Forgie says the solution is right under their feet.

“We really need to get people to wake up and realise that dung beetles offer the best and most-likely self-sustainable tool on pasture to resolve all these problems

we have,” says Shaun. “And the season to order dung beetles and start a 12-month package to work towards complete saturation on your property is now.”

Shaun says large grazing animals have been introduced to NZ without the agents that have evolved in their places of origin to process their dung.

“And with NZ farmland usage being intensified, un-off, and contaminants with it, is steadily degrading our waterways, while the residual mess is infecting our animals and impoverishing

our pastures.” But dung beetles’ rapid removal and processing of dung can help, says Shaun. The beetles improve soil health and reduce runoff via their tunneling increasing aeration of soil, allowing water, fertiliser inputs, urine, and nutrients in dung to better penetrate and greatly increase grass root growth and biological activity.

Reduced run-off

for a farm that has on average 300 cows or 2000 sheep is to provide a Four-Seasons package. Farmers receive a colony of four different species, which get put onto paddocks when they become available and together manage dung produced by animals for 12 months.

“For the typical farm, you get complete saturation of poo produced by your animal stocking rate from year 10 onwards.”

Exponential increase “This leads to reduced run-off of rainfall and But Shaun says farmers start seeing better retention of dung and urine in things happen in the soil from year soil and, in turn, sees reduced fi e. “We see establishment microbial contamination from year two-three in most in run-off, less leachate places and by year fi e you pollution and reduced start seeing the gains – so eutrophication.” a dozen beetles in each Dung burial also cow pat – even that is a increases the amount of good reduction of dung. pasture available, and “From year fi e reduces reinfection of onwards the exponential livestock by beetles directly increase in these beetles is or indirectly killing eggs and extraordinary – colonies build young larvae of parasitic worms. up and up and up each season Shaun says the rapid until you get complete and manipulation and burial of fresh An image Robert Atkinson took of sustained saturation of poo.” manure and improved infiltration Onthophagus binodis, which marks Shaun says the key is buying of urine into deeper soils will the first ecovery of this species on the right amount of dung also likely reduce production of his farm. Rob found this species two beetles proportionate to animal methane and nitrous oxide, and is therefore likely to decrease emission weeks after Coast & Country News’ numbers. “And you get them cheaper the more you get.” of associated greenhouse gases. article on his dung beetle interest And while farmers tend to “While adequate quantification was published in November 2019. invest in fencing and planting, of the influence of dung beetle Shaun believes dung beetles activity on nitrogen emissions offer the best opportunity remains to be done, some studies to solve farm environment show dung beetle activity during issues right at the source. “The feeding and nesting will stimulate only low cost preventative, aerobic conditions, altering the sustainable solution on-pasture microorganism fauna in dung pats – before you even get to fencing and brood balls, thereby reducing or plantings – is dung beetles. methane production.

“We need to think Commercialised in 2014, Dung catchment-level releases and Beetle Innovations grew out of a the Government needs to get four-year government and enduseronboard if it is serious about backed project where the EPA achieving its water quality approved the import of 11 species improvement targets.” of dung beetle to NZ. “Today we Shaun also states dung beetles have eight species on our books are estimated to contribute $1 which emerge at different times of the year. But the general high-buyer Bubas bison’s impact on total dung billion to the West Australian economy per annum. “That’s burial of large wet runny manure bunch of beetles we tend to supply a significant economic gain to farmers happens from December – the holes go down 60-90cm and this country could also benefit through to April. Then our winter are back-filled with la ge sausages species start from April-May.” of surface dung, each with two dung from if the Government got on-board.”

Dung Beetle Innovations’ model beetle eggs.

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ENVIRO FRIENDLY FARMING

Page 17

How Ross created his ‘Rolls Royce’ fertiliser Ross Garrick got his pilot’s licence at age 16 and always wanted to be a top-dressing pilot.

“Later I thought I was doing something good for the land by fertilising it and participating in a career I loved. But I soon discovered the products we were putting on the land weren’t good as what we thought.”

From there his dislike of chemical fertilisers grew. But it wasn’t until he began growing Sandersonia flowers with his wife Marijon at Pyes Pa near Tauranga in the 1980s that he decided to go down the natural path.

“What you had to do to grow these flowers back then was ridiculous. They wanted you to sterilise your soil with methyl bromide. You had to wear a suit and respirator to spray this stuff. I thought: ‘No way in hell are we going to do that to our land’.”

So Ross started experimenting with products to feed to worms to get the ultimate vermicast. This was achieved after two years of testing. “After two years we’d struck the ideal diet for the worms – tiger and red.”

Today Ross’ Pyes Pa-based Bio Liquid Development operation is a bulk suppler of organic vermisolution that caters for a variety of commercial operations throughout the Central North Island – whether conventional or organic.

“Our liquid vermicast fertiliser is 100 per cent organic and suitable for lawns, flowers, fruit trees, vegetables, crops, milking goats, dairy cows and other livestock.

“BLD strives to meet the needs of our clients,” says Ross, who tailors a vermisolution programme to each

deposited as the purest fetiliser/soil conditioner.

“The microbiolife in vermisolution is massive – it literally puts tens of millions of colony-forming beneficial bacteria, fungi, amoeba, ciliates and protozoa into the soil.

“Therefore it has a natural inoculant, which passes to the crop or pasture in the soil, helping to break up hard pans. It boosts soil fertility and nutrient cycling. It creates better moisture retention of soil in dry conditions and better drainage due to improved soil aeration. And there’s no issue with runoff.

“It also helps unlock nutrients and the top soil is enhanced, thus reducing erosion by building humus. Plus it puts healthy protein into pasture.”

BLD’s vermisolution contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, boron,

Bio Liquid Development owner Ross Garrick checking his vermisolution. individual landowner’s needs – and more importantly the needs of the soil – formed from soil test results.

Ross says vermisolution puts life back into soil while fertilising plants, crops and pastures growing in it.

“This creates pasture with greater protein; kiwifruit with increased dry matter canopy and fruit yield; avocados with greater flavour, flower stem strength and colour; and better health outcomes for dairy goats and cows.

“Te Araroa bull breeder Leonard Walker says his bulls now eat one mouthful of high-protein grass, whereas before they needed to eat 20 to get the same result.

“Kiwifruit grower Steve Smyth says he’s now achieving 18,000 trays/ha after, like so many others, he was hit hard with Psa.” Ross says vermicast solution is simply the most excellent fertiliser produced by nature. “What passes through a worm is

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Ross says he feeds his worms a strict diet – which gains constant results from regular testing

by Hill Laboratories and Soil Food Webb.

“BLD’s vermisolution is certified organic by BioGro NZ – everything I feed the worms must be certified organic.

Ross even has one customer that call his product the ‘Rolls Royce of fertiliser’. “The nature of our product makes a capital investment out of a maintenance cost.”

To boost profitability while reducing your fertiliser costs by utilising soil biology, contact BLD today. See their advert on this page. The product is also sold at Palmers Bethlehem.

Merle Foster

Page 18

KIWIFRUIT

New trimmer tackles orchards efficiently A new shelter trimmer, which is designed to work more efficiently and better access those hard-to reach-trees in a safer manner, is now being used on orchards by the team at Petersen Shelter Trimming The business has been operating in the Western Bay of Plenty for the last 25 years with Murray Petersen and wife Janet beginning with one shelter trimmer – a Case David Brown 1490 – back in 1994.

“With only a hand full of jobs it took many years to build up a client base, and now the business has plenty of work for two trimmers working full-time,” says Mike Petersen, who with brother Graeme now own and run the business.

With more than 40 years’ experience between them and mulcher operator Cos Townsend, they have the expertise to tackle all your shelter trimming and mulching requirements.

And with the new 2019 Case IH Puma 150 CVT trimmer with a 16080Palfinger Crane with a 19m reach – they can offer a smoother, safer and more efficient service to their customers.

pedal.” The new machine is a far cry compared to what his father Murray started with – a Case David Brown 1490 with no air conditioning and with the hydraulic valving inside the cab made for a very hot environment. Also, back then the crane was operated by eight levers but today is operated with two electric over hydraulic proportional joysticks.

Murray worked extremely hard to pick up new clientele by being a fast and safe operator, gaining a reputation as an exceptional shelter trimming expert.

He gradually built up his business and then his sons got involved, and have since bought the business.

“We are thankful to Dad, who passed his work ethic and pride of workmanship on to us,” says Graeme.

Murray and Janet want to thank all clients for their business over the years and wish Graeme and Mike all the best. The boys look forward to continuing and strengthening their existing and future client base.

Find them on Facebook at ‘Petersen Sheltertrimming’ or on instagram @ petersensheltertrimming

Minimum downtime

Murray Petersen’s “The new machine means Case David Brown minimum downtime from 1490 at work back breakdowns – and has been in the day. designed with safety at the forefront,” says Graeme.

“It has been completely built to our specifications the tractor was supplied by Whyteline Paeroa. We’ve been using Whyteline for eight years and have purchased five Case IH tractors and 4 Isuzu utes through them.

They provide us with a complete package from sales to parts and their service is outstanding.”

The new Case’s 16080Palfinger Crane was supplied

by Goughs NZ. The tractor also has an all-new subframe, tilt base, hydraulic bonnet, mudguards, arbour shield glass, cab with Certified ROPS (Roll Over Protective Structure) OPPS (operator protection), and FOPS (Falling objects protection), and crane end – all designed and built by Fraser Engineering NZ Ltd in Tauranga.

“The new hydraulic system was designed and supplied by Windust Hydraulics in Hamilton, and the new cutterhead was designed and built by Hutchins Engineering at Waihi.”

Dad’s first tractor

Mike says the new machine is very smooth and comfortable to operate. “Having the CVT transmission makes trimming more efficient, being able to control and adjust ground speed with the foot

The new 2019 Case IH Puma 150 CVT trimmer has a 16080Palfinger Crane with a 19m reach to get to those hard-to reach-trees in a safer manner.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

Our Atom combined three noz accuracy.

We also u applicatio

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Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and three nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and accuracy.

We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray applications.

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance.

We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

Ph E-ma

KIWIFRUIT

Page 19

PLANT AND CROP PROTECTION

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Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reviewing its Floodway and Drainage Bylaw 2008, a regulation that safeguards flood protection and drainage scheme assets from damage or misuse.

PROVEN landowners QUALITYto carry out works while for a bylaw authority. ‘Work’ could PERFORMANCE include constructing or demolishing minimising any impact on the flood VALUE a structure; undertaking earthworks; protection assets.

Cosio Industries Ltd, P.O.Box 15014, New Lynn, 0640, Auckland planting or removing trees, hedges or To find out if the Floodway Email and : sales@cosio.co.nz COSIO 27-33 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland COSIO INDUSTRIES shrubs; installing a culvert or crossing in http://www.cosio.co Drainage Bylaw appliesWebsite to your: property, Ph 09 820 0272 Fax 09 820 0274 a scheme drain; intensive development of email: riversanddrains@boprc.govt.nz farm land – for example, for horticulture. with ‘Does the FAD Bylaw apply to my Council may issue bylaw authorities, property’ and provide your full name, often with specific conditions, to allow contact details and property address.

The bylaw applies to drains, pumping stations, defences against water – including stopbanks, floodwalls and stoplogs – river edge protection works and floodways owned or under the management of council.

People developing orchards near flood protection and land drainage Project manager Toni Briggs says assets will need to contact BOPRC and apply for a bylaw authority. these assets have been constructed interested. Formal consultation is the bylaw applicable areas for over the years to protect people, scheduled for March-April 2020, earthworks in relation to defences property and livelihoods from river with a hearing likely in May/June against water; strengthening clauses flooding and problems associated INDUSTRIES before an updated bylaw is adopted related to safeguarding erosion with a lack of land drainage. by council in late-June 2020. protection assets.

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Bylaw applies to land adjoining provisions and processes; and no boprc.govt.nz/drainagebylaw the region’s flood protection and longer charging a standard fee for drainage scheme assets. This means BOPRC currently looks after bylaw authority applications. the bylaw and its requirements more than $350 million worth “We want to have feedback on the could be of interest to many rural of flood protection assets. These change proposals to help shape the and urban landowners, hapu and include floodgates, pump stations, bylaw.STORAGE All details of the proposed iwi, farmers and orchardists, grazing stopbanks and floodwalls which are IRRIGATION AND WATER N and a copy of the current part of a flood protection system LTRA-PRO lease-holders, Shade cloth fabriclocal authorities, FIRESTONE EPDM changes, pond liners. river users, commercial bylaw, are available at: www.boprc.

LTRA-PRO contractors, Windbreak fabric designed to help manage river flows For horticultural irrigation, LTRA-PRO organisations Hail netting and the wider general govt.nz/drainagebylaw,” says Toni. and collectively work to minimise water storage, effluent LTRA-PRO Pea and bean mesh storage liners. public.”

Informal discussions with flood risks. Council also manages LTRA-PRO Woven weed mat 20 year Firestone Warranty stakeholders have begun, and flood protection systems in five LTRA-PRO Frost protection fabric See us at the open days were held in Opotiki, major rivers and drainage schemes. changes on approved installations.

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These assets include drains, canals, stopbanks, flood walls, pumping stations, floodgates, river edge plantings and rock work which contribute to a system designed to help manage river flows and collectively work to minimise flood risk.

The Bylaw applies to land nearby assets on Council managed river and drainage schemes across the region, including the Kaituna Catchment Control Scheme; Rangitāiki Drainage Scheme; The and Professionals Rangitāiki-Tarawera, Whakatāne-Tauranga Choice and Waioeka-Otara River Schemes. Interested parties include landowners, and hapū, -farmers orchardists, Why worry every iwi summer saveand winter rainlocal authorities, contractors, consultants and FIRESTONE commercial EPDM is the recognised water storage organisations. liner used by growers worldwide to provide long life

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FARM VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Covering all compressed air needs nationwide If your compressed air system needs a service, you’re looking for a replacement – or if you need a new standby diesel generator, get in touch with Onsite Compressed Air Ltd.

The Mount Maunganui-based business is your one-stop shop for all your compressed air, portable and stand-by diesel generator and onsite gas generation needs – and covers New Zealand nationwide.

Business owner Jason Anderson says Onsite Compressed Air Ltd specialise in sales, service and maintenance of all makes and models of rotary screw, reciprocating and vane compressors, new/ retro factory fit-outs, installations and total aftersales servicing and support of all your compressed air requirements and diesel generators.

“Our technicians can do everything from a basic service to upgrades, installations, repairs, leak test and air analysis to power saving solutions.”

In conjunction with its sister company, Onsite Compressed Air Ltd covers from Northland through to Auckland, all of the Bay of Plenty, from the Coromandel, Thames, Whitianga, Whangamata, Waihi, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke through to Rotorua, Whakatane, Kawerau, Edgecumbe, Opotiki, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Napier and Hastings.

“We are a privately-owned family business and part of a nationwide, global network of partners for Kaeser compressors of Germany and Deutz Power Solutions,”

Onsite Compressed Air Ltd is part of a global network of partners for Kaeser compressors of Germany. says Jason.

“We are committed to only selling the highest quality air and power products and focused on delivering outstanding local service support with guaranteed efficiency and satisfaction.”

With around 50 years of combined industry experience, Onsite Compressed Air’s highly skilled sales and service team have the skills to cater to the needs of clients across a broad range of industries – from dairy and agricultural, horticulture, transport, marine, construction, residential, industrial to food manufacturing, and petroleum. Onsite Compressed Air also has a range of air compressors for short or long term hire. To contact, see their advert on this page.

FARM VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Page 21

Rare German tractors at Otorohanga Since retiring, third-generation Otorohanga dairy farmer Neville Davison has collected 24 tractors, 10 classic cars, and an impressive curation of antique collectibles and memorabilia, including beautiful quilts and painted china by his late wife, Janice.

The 78-year-old self-taught mechanic, handyman and restorer is fondly known as ‘Pop the Fix-it Man’ by his 11 grandchildren. “I’d worked with tractors and machinery all my life, so it seemed a natural progression to collect and restore them,” says Neville.

He favours Mercedes Benz vehicles, and one of his rarer favourites is a 1972 Mercedes Benz MB TRAC 700. This 70hp model was imported from Germany from new and only had two owners right up until Neville bought it in the late-2000s.

Features include 4WD, front and rear attraction hydraulics, two-speed front and rear PTO, Tales of ‘Pet’ Tractors a 15-speed gear box, and three tonne & Machinery alike hydraulic lifting capacity. “It was ahead of its time and expensive, and only two of this model were imported into NZ,” says Neville.

A diff lock, independent hydraulic braking system, fully enclosed cab with heater, and a dicky seat, were certainly not what Kiwi farmers were used to.

Neville stripped the tractor down and repaired, restored or replaced parts, and repainted it in the original orange and white colour scheme.

Unusually, the MB TRAC has four wheels the same size, and is based on the WW2 Mercedes Unimog army vehicles. Unimogs are still produced today as off-road vehicles, so Neville was able to buy brand new

tractor

make everything that I needed to restore it, from within NZ.” A repaint back to the original Man green was important, as someone had painted it Fordson Blue.

It now fondly has the nickname ‘Big Bull Frog’ painted on the bonnet.

Neville describes these cherished examples of German tractor technology as ‘Sunday drive tractors’.

10-speed gearbox, and a 2 tonne selfsupporting jack.

Neville bought it from a collection in Tirau in the late-2000s. It is believed it was used on the roads in the Bay of Plenty for towing rollers, as it has no hydraulics. It was in running condition, but Neville restored it to the order it is in today.

“This time I was able to source or

Catherine Fry

Neville Davison with his 1972 Mercedes Benz MB TRAC 700. replacement parts.

Neville’s other favourite tractor is a German-made 1952 Man 40hp 4WD diesel. “It was a prestigious machine to own, and usually owned by rural or road contractors, and beyond the budget of farmers.” The Man was a general tractor, with a two-speed PTO, diff lock, rare

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EDUCATION

Page 22

Changing rural people’s lives with literacy For those who have struggled with low literacy all of their adult lives, the free tuition available through the Rural Youth and Adult Trust seems little short of miraculous, says RYALT executive trustee Jo Poland.

“The burden of fear and shame disappears, and is replaced by pride and delight. People tell us that the help they got gave them more self-belief, and that improving their literacy has changed everything for them.

“We change confidence and selfrespect as much, if not more than, literacy,” says Jo. “When things like reading books to young children, sitting a

driver’s licence, filling in forms, or understanding technical manuals move from the impossible to being achievable, a personal transformation is well underway.”

Reading assessment

RYALT was established by Jo and some friends in 2011 when they identified rural young people and adults would benefit from access to quality literacy services.

The trust has grown from its modest beginnings in Jo’s kitchen to a nationwide organisation with four part-time employees, and a team of 70-odd volunteers.

Today they have an office in Port Waikato but provide their service to people of rural communities

throughout New Zealand.

The process starts with a reading assessment so the service can be tailored to suit the individual’s skill level. Asking for help is difficult because of the stigma around not being able to read or write, says Jo, but with one in 10 Kiwis experiencing literacy problems it is a common problem.

“In lots of ways, children bring adults to literacy,” says Jo. “A lot of people join our service in their A student working thirties as they’re looking to set on a writing task a good example for their kids.

They want to get promotions at at the RYALT 2018 youth camp. work and set their kids up with a better life.”

One-to-one tuition

Volunteer literacy coaches normally provide tuition on a one-to-one basis for 30 minutes a day, from three-five days a week.Coaches work with students on a series of activities like reading the local newspaper, spelling and writing.

Work is mostly done by phone and mail, says Jo, or where computer access is available; and where people are comfortable with the technology, coaches also use online video tools.

Most students are involved with the programme for around six months, though the time varies from person to person, says Jo.

The trust delivers hundreds of hours of literacy support to around 120 clients each year. More volunteers are always needed and full training is given, says Jo, who has a background in education and adult literacy.

One of the success stories of RYALT is the literacy camps they run for teens.

“We’re applying for grants now to secure the funding needed to run them in 2020 and beyond.”

To volunteer at RYALT or find out more about literacy services, see: www.adultliteracy.ac.nz or phone 0800-891-339.

Josephine Reader

RYALT executive trustee Jo Poland with a student.

A literacy learning exercise at the 2018 youth camp.

Attendees of the 2018 youth literacy camp at the Port Waikato School Camp.

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DAIRY

Page 23

The simple solution is often better The media tells us that a regenerative farming movement is sweeping the country.

However, in early-December, two articles were published about regenerative farming that had me questioning if the powers-that-be had missed the point again.

The over-arching focus of government and scientists seems to be on fixing the problem of nitrogen loss at great cost to farmers, rather than finding a solution to the underlying issue.

In addition to an opinion column that pondered whether the “restoring powers of regenerative agriculture is mostly based on examples from overseas”, another published article detailed new AgResearch work that provided scenarios in which farms could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen losses to waterways.

It required stocking rate to be dropped by at least five per cent, nitrogen use to decline significantly and greater use of bought-in feed. The latter in itself is concerning; it is always cheaper to grow the feed that you need, and we are focused on growing grass, not buying it in.

The article stated farmers could still increase profit using these scenarios, although some farm consultants were convinced that future profitability would be heavily reliant on farmers getting a value-add premium of 26 per cent for producing in a carbon-neutral manner.

DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Bruce Thorrold was quoted saying it is a challenging target to move 12,000 farmers in the time available.

It is a challenging target, if you are focusing on fixing the problem with an overly-dramatic solution that has a huge economic impact on farmers.

the banks, and they need to implement a system that won’t put them further into debt.

Tools needed

Farmers need leadership – but more importantly they need the tools to implement change. We don’t need another money-gobbling bureaucratic body; farmers can do it on their own, with the guidance of someone who understands soil and biology, and who can manage their transition.

It’s a fallacy to think you can’t grow more grass with less synthetic nitrogen; we’ve proved it time and time again.

Our team has worked tirelessly to closely analyse what makes a farm produce its own nitrogen, sequester carbon, and reduce methane and leaching.

The ‘regenerative farming’ phrase is at risk of being like a ‘highway surfie’: someone who drives around with a surfboard on their racks but has no idea how to surf. We take a team approach, using scientists across the world to finetune our system.

We know what we’re doing; we’re surfing the wave. If you want to learn, we can teach you.

Dairy farmer Alan Law, pictured with his brother David Law, is excited about the trial showing simple transition without extra cost or loss of production.

Radical changes at huge cost

There are farmers out there who have taken a “bulldozer” to their farming system, and instead of making a few management changes they are making radical changes at a huge cost to their back pocket, their animal health and production.

There’s no need to undertake such a dramatic system overhaul.

We are focused on a solution that is simple, easy to implement and opposes the saying: ‘You’ve got to be in the black to be green’.

We can slide farmers into a biological transformation without a cost in extra systems, and without loss in production and grass growth.

The reason I went out to prove this theory – first on my farm, and now using a system I’ve streamlined to get results faster – is because there is the belief that you will lose production, grass growth and money – or have to rely on a premium – to survive.

It’s unwise to use a premium as a carrot to change their system – they need to be able to do it comfortably under the current payout.

A lot of farmers have their backs against the wall with

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Page 24

First soil carbon study

Scientists are to begin a longterm nationwide study that will assess, for the first time, whether soil carbon stocks on New Zealand agricultural land are increasing or decreasing.

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NZ Greenhouse Gas Research Centre director Dr Harry Clark.

The data generated will help New Zealand more accurately meet its greenhouse gas emission reporting obligations under international climate change agreements and indicate to the primary sector where it should focus its efforts if it wants to maintain and/ or increase soil carbon stocks, according to the NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

NZAGRC director Dr Harry Clark says soil carbon is critical for soil health and function as it influences soil structure, nutrient cycling and water retention. It’s also an important factor in climate change.

“Globally, there’s more carbon stored below ground in soils than above ground in plants and in the atmosphere combined.

“For this reason, practices that remove even a small percentage of carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere and lock it up as carbon in the soil could have a very beneficial effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

“Conversely, practices that deplete soil carbon and release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere add to greenhouse gas emissions from other sources.”

Benchmark stocks

The NZAGRC has allocated funding for the first phase of the study, which will benchmark soil carbon stocks at representative sampling locations on agricultural land throughout the country.

Subsequent phases will benchmark at additional locations and monitor how stocks are changing over time.

Harry says monitoring change over time is key from a climate change perspective. “We want to know whether soil carbon stocks are rising and potentially reducing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide or falling and adding to those concentrations.

“This study will provide that information in much more detail than we’ve ever had before and provide greater insight into the conditions and practices that lead to increases or decreases in soil carbon stocks.

Broadly, for grazed pastures on flat land in NZ, current evidence suggests soil carbon content has not changed in the last two to three decades, except for drained peat soils where carbon continues to be lost, says Harry.

“There is some evidence that hill country grassland soils gained soil carbon between about 1980 and 2010, but it isn’t clear how widely spread these gains are and whether they’re ongoing. The study will give us a much clearer picture of what’s happening across the country.”

Soil carbon levels vary significantly over time and from place to place, even within a single paddock.

Weather, climate, soil types, land use and farmmanagement practices are all important influences.

Current data suggest carbon stocks are already generally high under NZ pastoral soils, compared to soils in many other countries, for several reasons.

High starting point

GRUNDFOS ®

These include NZ having a temperate climate resulting in continuous inputs of carbon into our soils. The chemical and physical properties our soils meaning they generally have a large capacity to protect carbon from being released back into the atmosphere. And our soils have generally been well managed with little continuous intensive tillage and cropping, a practice that’s decreased soil carbon in many other countries.

“From this high starting point, it’s considerably harder to add to NZ’s soil carbon stocks than it is in many other parts of the world, where more challenging environmental conditions and/or long-term intensive cropping have resulted in a low baseline of soil carbon levels,” says Harry.

Study lead, Dr Paul Mudge of Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, says in total 500 sites will be sampled covering short rotation cropland, perennial horticulture, dairy, flat-rolling drystock and hillcountry drystock. About 100 monitoring sites will be established within each land-use type, and strict site-selection, sampling, analysis, storage and datamanagement protocols will be followed to ensure results are robust and comparable.

DAIRY

Page 25

When less N leads to more growth I recently read a report on the experience of a large dairy operation, where there was a 20 per cent reduction in pasture production Year 1 when changing from a conventional N driven soil fertility programme to a certified organic programme.

In time a permanent reduction of 10 per cent in growth is anticipated, and it’s probably the expectation of those contemplating reducing or eliminating fertiliser nitrogen, and yet there are alternatives.

Removing any input from a fertiliser programme and not replacing it energetically will result in less growth, guaranteed.

So, when fertiliser N is removed from a programme it must be replaced by nitrogen from another source if a reduction in growth is to be avoided.

Worm activity

Within the top 200mm of the soil under grazed pasture there is usually somewhere between 5000kg-15,000kg of nitrogen held in soil organic matter.

That’s many years of reserve and although it must be replaced, in the short term some of it may be utilised by improving physical soil structures and speeding the rate at which nutrient is naturally cycling.

Initially that can be achieved by lifting plant-available calcium. Worm activity increases markedly after lime is applied

and the analysis of worm cast shows they contain significantly more nitrogen than surrounding soil.

Soil rapidly becomes more friable, encouraging plant roots to delve deeper and access nutrient from below their normal feeding depth.

Increased calcium encourages clover growth and ultimately this is where the bulk of the nitrogen for plant growth will come from.

The speed at which this happens is surprisingly rapid. Lime applied in late-spring/early-summer can have a marked effect on nitrogen availability, and clover growth, by autumn –given reasonable summer moisture.

Clover-rich pasture provides a wide range of benefits. It’s markedly higher in calcium, protein, and energy; the key components of rapidly growing animals and high-producing dairy cows. It’s also more digestible, which means animals eat more in their naturally allotted daily grazing time. It can be left longer between grazings and therefore be more mature when grazed with no loss in palatability or digestibility.

And the incidence of bloat caused by clover, when driven by calcium, is far less than when driven by potassium.

Management

Management is the other key component to lessening the impact of reducing fertiliser nitrogen dependence. Winter-applied nitrogen brings forward spring growth, therefore slightly later lambing and calving dates

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Topics • Where we’ve been and looking forwards • Regulation and policy—what does this mean for farming and how do we assess our landscapes and manage appropriately?

• What does a carbon constrained world mean for Onetai?

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will bring peak demand closer to the time of most rapid growth.

Summer growth will be stronger than previously experienced because clover is strongest when soil temperatures are at or above 20 degrees Celsius.

Live weight gains and milk production improves with more clover in the sward, as does animal temperament.

Pastures to which N is regularly applied nearly always contains excess nitrate at the expense of full protein. Nitrates put extra pressure on both kidneys and liver and animals become irritable.

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PITGATES

FORESTRY

Page 26

Modified reassessment of methyl bromide Public hearings on the modified reassessment of methyl bromide will happen some this year, according to the Environmental Protection Authority, after being delayed in December so additional monitoring could be undertaken and the resulting data taken into account.

Back in late-November the EPA announced plans were being made to increase methyl bromide monitoring

following a theoretical modelling report about how the log fumigant disperses into the environment after use.

Additional monitoring

According to the EPA, this additional monitoring would be over and above the routine monitoring that industry is required to carry out every time methyl bromide fumigation occurs.

The mathematical modelling of operations at the Port of Tauranga was commissioned by the EPA as part of a modified reassessment underway to

review the rules around methyl bromide use.

Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction Inc – the group known as STIMBR – has applied for a reassessment of the approval for methyl bromide and the EPA is processing this application as a modified reassessment.

Specific aspects

This means the reassessment will only consider specific aspects of the approval, such as required controls. Approval to import or manufacture methyl bromide cannot be revoked in this type of reassessment.

The EPA says this modified reassessment is a statutory process where an independent decisionmaking committee considers evidence in relation to the way methyl bromide is used. Additional monitoring, to be carried out by WorkSafe, will feed into the process.

EPA’s Hazardous Substances Group acting general

manager Gayle Holmes says New Zealanders are concerned about methyl bromide use “so it’s important that we get accurate data on which to base our decisions”.

“Our mathematical modelling report conflicts with that put forward by industry as part of the current reassessment process, and others undertaken when methyl bromide was last reassessed in 2010.

“It is also at odds with routine monitoring data which industry is required to undertake whenever methyl bromide is used at ports around NZ.” “Computer-based modelling is a tool that uses an array of mathematical assumptions which can differ from the actual measurements of air quality. Because the reports all reflect different outcomes, the EPA commissioned an independent peer review to further test the hypothesis of its own report. It confirms that more detailed data is necessary.”

Labatory analysis

To gain more data, WorkSafe began monitoring air dispersal patterns following timber fumigations at the Port of Tauranga from late-November.

WorkSafe head of health and technical service Catherine Epps said back then that the tests were highly sensitive and required laboratory analysis. “It will take some weeks to build an accurate picture on which to better understand the accuracy of computer modelling.”

Data from the tests will fill the gap between what the modelling reflects and what can be detected in the air; it will track the chemical’s dispersal patterns and concentration levels. This additional data will then be considered by the EPA Decision-making Committee, which is responsible for deciding if changes are needed to the rules around methyl bromide use.

The mathematical modelling report, subsequent peer review and all other related information being put forward as evidence to inform the modified reassessment of methyl bromide, is publicly available on the EPA’s website.

FORESTRY

Page 27

The time to plant trees is now Most of us have a part of the farm that whenever we drive past we think: ‘I really should do something more productive with that area’.

“Then life gets busy and we put it to the back of our mind again,” says forest management company PF Olsen’s director of sales and marketing Scott Downs.

But now is absolutely the right time to do something with that area – and that something is most likely to plant trees, says Scott.

“The long-term cycle of tree rotations means the best time to plant trees is as soon as you can. We don’t want to miss PF Olsen is a professional forest management company that out on a market opportunity in 28 years’ can guide landowners through tree planting. time because we delayed planting trees trees that produce clear timber when sawn. “Clearby a few years. sawn timber from NZ is actively sought-after by “The current One Billion Tree planting grants of large European manufacturers due to its low density $1500 per hectare for exotic species and $4000/ and stability. ha for native tree species are unlikely to be available “These manufacturers subject the timber indefinitely. So, the real decision is which species to to treatment such as thermal modification plant in which location?”

(Thermowood) furfurylation (Kebony) and Scott says the tried and true exotic tree species in acetylation (Accoya). This make the timber more NZ is radiata pine. “We know how it grows in NZ stable and rot resistant. and more importantly, our major markets for forest “The lower density of radiata leads to higher produce understand radiata. chemical impregnation, reducing chemical usage by “With many countries having significant tree 20 per cent, as well as better reaction to thermal and planting programmes, one consideration is how to pressure processes.” And with of Carbon Averaging, differentiate the timber from your trees?”

Scott says growers should now be able to safely “Radiata pine has relatively low density and claim and sell more of the NZ Units generated from stiffness, so is often less suitable for structural uses. carbon sequestration of trees.

A way to turn this weakness into a strength and “This provides an additional revenue stream that differentiate your timber is to prune your trees. assists with covering pruning and thinning costs.

Scott says in NZ we’re very good at growing large

“Carbon Averaging also means if you have a longer rotation – ideal for growing bigger trees with more clear timber – you’ll also increase your carbon average, meaning you have more safe carbon to sell. You will also support your local sawmilling industry that produces clear boards from the pruned logs.”

If growers use the 1BT grant for planting radiata, the trees are not eligible to enter the NZ ETS for

the first six years. Scott says parts of Kiwi farms that are less accessible are probably more suited to a longer rotation species for carbon revenue.

“There will also be areas that are more suited to native tree species.

“Every site has different opportunities and risks, so your best option is to discuss your situation with NZ’s professional forest management company of choice – PF Olsen.” See their advert on this page.

CALLING ALL CALLING ALL LAND OWNERS CALLING ALL CALLING ALL

Auckland port move decision to be made by June The Government is entering a short work programme to enable a decision to be made on the Ports of Auckland’s future in the first half of 2020, says Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones. “I’m pleased my Cabinet colleagues have recognised the merit of this report and have agreed move forward with this work,” says Shane, when the final report of the Governmentappointed Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy working group was publicly-released last month.

To maintain momentum, Ministers have instructed the Ministry of Transport to undertake further work on funding and financing options, governance and commercial considerations, land use planning, legislative and regulatory considerations and additional transport and logistics analysis. “I expect this analysis to consider environmental effects, including on NZ’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, and consideration of government infrastructure investments in roads

and rail.” He says fellow Ministers have requested officials work with the new Infrastructure Commission “to ensure we’re taking a holistic view of our logistics network and the major infrastructure needs of NZ”. “Shifting Auckland’s Port will be a huge undertaking and, if done right, will have benefits for all of NZ, not just Auckland and Northland. Nobody is keen on spending too much longer developing lengthy reports but this is a once-in-a-generation project and widespread

Have your say on proposed changes Te Uru Rakau has extended the deadline for submissions on the regulations for the Emissions Trading Scheme to 5pm on January 15, 2020.

According to the Government’s principal forestry advisor, it extended the submission period from December 20 to January 15 to help reduce pressure on people at this very busy time of year.

Between 2015 and 2019 the Government reviewed the ETS and consulted with New Zealanders on potential improvements.

There are two sets of proposed improvements in the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill 2019, which was introduced to Parliament on October 17, 2019. Proposals to help reduce complexity and barriers to forest owners being part of the ETS – led by Te Uru

Rakau. And proposals to strengthen the ETS so it’s a credible and wellfunctioning scheme to help NZ meet its climate change targets – led by the Ministry for the Environment.

The major forestry improvements in the Bill include: the introduction of averaging accounting; the introduction of permanent post-1989 forests; allowing foresters using averaging accounting to offset their liabilities by planting an equivalent forest elsewhere; foresters using averaging accounting and permanent post-1989 foresters won’t have to pay back NZUs after adverse events like storms or fire; and a number of technical and operational improvements. The Climate Change (Forestry Sector) Regulations 2008 will be amended to determine the operational detail of changes. Find out more at: www.teururakau.govt.nz

buy-in is important, as is the need to make the best decisions for the longterm prosperity of our supply chain.”

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Page 28

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Matamata dairy goat farm moves earth Converting a dairy grazing farm into a cut-and-carry goat milking farm has been an ongoing process for David and Caren McDonald of Morgan Rd Matamata.

They bought 34ha 12 years ago and have been adding to it by purchasing neighbouring parcels of land and also leasing land from a neighbour. As a result today the

farm is 57ha, with a 23ha lease.

Contract milkers Manie and Jolandie Senekal carry about 900 goats on the property.

While Artificial Insemination is used to bring in new genetics to his herd, David prefers to use billies. “It is easier to manage and is successful. So we do a bit of both. A goat does not have to breed every year to milk. We don’t breed from all does, we choose those we want to breed from and are looking at breeding from them alternate years.”

Not mowable

David McDonald enjoys spending time with the goats.

The farm had plenty of flat and mowable land but also plenty of land that wasn’t mowable. Beef stock is carried on the steeper land but the goal has always been to make more of it available to mow.

To this end there has been an annual, monthlong earthmoving programme. This year’s project was particularly big with an additional hectare made mowable, and improved mowability achieved on three more hectares, plus a new effluent dam dug. To date 6.5ha of unmowable land has now been made mowable and 12ha has been made easier to mow.

“We’ve had some areas of the farm that were only mowable in perfect conditions, meaning that we often made silage out of them when

All photos: Bridget Jochems.

it was dry enough to mow them, rather than mowing them regularly for fresh cut grass.

“Lessening the contour has meant that this land is now mowable year-round. We have also dug a new dam this year to store runoff from the shed cleanings and compost.

“It was a natural valley that we have dug the bottom out of and created a wall. We’ve had to have two diggers in here at a time, as the distance we needed to move clay from the bottom of the dam to the dam wall was about 40m. We are just waiting for it to dry out and harden and then we will put a liner in,” says David.

There are advantages to hill country land being a cut-and-carry goat milking farm; one is effluent is able to be gravity-fed to irrigators on the flat. Also converting a cattle farm into a goat milking farm means there is no goat worm burden in the soil. “We try to run a circular operation, the effluent scraped out of the sheds is made into compost. We find it is best to compost it first as this is more easily absorbed into the soil.

Contractors spread compost twice-yearly.” ...continued

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

to continually improve

Land which has recently had the contour improved for mowing. continued...

David and his wife had varied professions, but still wanted to go farming. “We liked where we lived and so we had to find land within a 10km radius of our home. When we bought this farm, I had a friend who was a milking goat farmer and another who was starting to convert a farm to goat milking, so we had a support network.

The Dairy Goat Co-operative was helpful and supportive also.”

The land will continue to be improved for cutting and carrying. “We choose not to do too much at once for a number of reasons – partly because a month of time is all our earthmoving contractors, Luxford Earthworks Ltd, can allow for us each year. They have plenty of clients they need to keep happy and also because while it is improving our land for milking goat purposes, it is also takes it out of action for some time. First with the earthworks and then with the following re-grassing programme.

“There will always be land that is going to be too steep to mow and is better-suited to cattle but ideally this would be whole paddocks rather than steep sidlings in what would otherwise be mowable land.”

Bridget Jochems

There are some areas that will always be grazed by beef cattle.

Page 29

AVOCADO

Page 30

Growers’ approach to harvest has to change Just Avocados is on track to finishing up export packing this month, despite traditional high values in Australia post-Christmas – a strategy the packer and exporter says is all about the long-term sustainability of the avocado industry.

“The approach to hold fruit late to take advantage of late retail premium in Australia doesn’t make financial sense when you consider the reduction in pack-out, the quality issues associated with late-season maturity, and the loss of return crop potential,” says Darling Group general manager of group sales and marketing, Jacob Darling.

He believes the industry needs a consistent supply of avocados year-on-year and one tool growers have to promote return crop is harvesting the majority of the crop prior to flowering Just Avocados’ technical manager Erica Faber is a strong advocate for this approach, saying that hanging fruit late starves the tree of what it needs to produce subsequent season’s crop.

“The tree only has so many resources to go Just Avocados has identified that early harvest is one tool growers around and when holding have to promote return crop. the majority of the crop late, the fruit becomes the dominant metabolic sink around, and it’s a difficult pitch for us to discourage and where most of the resources move to. “Inadequate chasing the high prices in Australia after Christmas. carbohydrate reserves to the flowers and fruitlets results But we see the benefits in per hectare OGR for in either poorer fruit set or higher fruitlet drop. growers who are harvesting earlier and who have a decent volume and good pack-out.”

Irregular bearing intensifie Just Avocados is analysing the profitability of Erica says if there is not enough resource, a large orchards they have identified as having the right majority of the flowers end up being determinate – formula for the future. which means not only will the fruit be exposed to sunburn and sizing affected but there will be no spring Case studies flush emerging – which is next year’s flowering wood “We are developing case studies around those “As this cycle perpetuates, where resources get orchards that have a sustainable model. exhausted one year and then built up again when there “The key factors are scale, consistency, maximum is little crop only to overflower the next year, irregular pack-out and applying best practice with regards to bearing becomes intensified and harder to manage,” genetics, pruning and nutrition.” says Erica.

Jacob says he’d like ‘early harvest’ to be added to the Australian retail and Asia provide the market list of ‘best practice’. opportunities for New Zealand avocados harvested “There needs to be a change in growers’ approach prior to Christmas – however, Jacob says Asia has been to harvest and an understanding of its link to better challenging for the industry from a value perspective. production – or we will continue to have the same “It’s a difficult concept for growers to get their head outcome of inconsistent cropping.”

New 20ha orchard for the Far North Far North iwi Te Runanga o NgaiTakoto has began planting a new 20ha avocado orchard, Rakau Ora, in Kaitaia.

The p oject is the result of four years’ extensive planning in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and key businesses in the sector.

“The o chard is a means to achieve our aspiration of using our Treaty settlement assets to build a strong economic base for our

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people,” says NgaiTakoto chief executive Rangitane Marsden.

MPI’s Māori agribusiness director Andrew McConnell says his team has partnered with NgaiTakoto as the iwi has progressed along the stages of the whenua development pathway.

“It is great to see the shelter up and plants in the ground.

"We are delighted the iwi is entering this high-value food sector.

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“They had all the right ingredients to make good use of what we could offer th ough the Maori Agribusiness Pathway to Increased Productivity Programme. We’ve connected them with the right expertise.”

Rangitane says they plan to expand this current platform with an additional 40ha over the next two years, and with a total potential to extend the orchard to 200ha over a planned 10 years.

AVOCADO

Consumers versus the trade barriers

Waitrose supermarkets in the United Kingdom have announced they will only sell UK farmed lamb as it is important to ‘invest in British agriculture’.

Waitrose is now phasing out New Zealand lamb, which was stocked during the UK’s winter months when UK lamb was not available.

Tor Harris, Waitrose’s head of corporate social responsibility, health and agriculture, is quoted in The Telegraph as saying: “Waitrose has a long history of supporting and sourcing from local producers. The decision to commit to 100 per cent British lamb all year is a continuation of that commitment and means that we can extend opportunity to our existing British lamb farmers while also potentially bringing new local producers into our supply chain as we continue to invest in British agriculture”.

Two-way deal

Waitrose’s move has been welcomed by the National Farmers’ Union, noting that it will provide a welcome boost for the UK sheep sector at a time when the UK’s future trading relationship is uncertain. But that is exactly the point. Trade is a two-way deal and Brexit is a trade crisis for the UK. If one party closes down that two-way trade, there is often a ripple effect and more trade options get closed down.

As the UK enters into a brave new world without the European Union, the UK will need to develop new, two-way trading relationships. But if their supermarkets close down imports from around

the world, the world will respond. We support offering consumers locally grown produce but we also support giving consumers choice, and not dictating to them what they can buy. For a number of years, we campaigned for country of origin labelling to become mandatory in New Zealand. This will finally be introduced in NZ in 2020, after yet another round of consultation.

This will mean consumers will be able to identify where produce was grown and make a choice about if they buy it.

Technological developments will take this labelling development further, so consumers will be able to access information about how the produce was grown and who grew it.

Fully-informed consumers

The goal is fully-informed consumers making knowledgeable purchase choices.

But this outcome will be taken away from consumers if supermarkets decide to make the choice for them and not provide a choice. We cannot support that.

The Waitrose decision is shortsighted for at least two reasons.

First, it will not promote trade at a time when the UK needs new trading arrangements; and second, it denies UK consumers choice.

In today’s world, we strive to bring the best possible produce to market and we want consumers to make informed choices on what they buy. The Waitrose decision runs against this and is likely to have the opposite effect on the UK’s economic prosperity. Waitrose should be embracing diversity and free trade and giving the UK consumer choice.

Page 31

Two more countries export to China Two more avocado-producing nations have gained certified entry to the Chinese market, with one producer beginning exporting avocados to the world’s most populous country last month. Colombia sent its first-ever avocado exports to China in December, after the Latin American country gained entrance into the Chinese market in July 2019, according to the freshfruitportal.com It’s been reported the Colombia’s

Ministry of Agriculture has said the country sees “the market in China as a very attractive destination” for its fruit.

According to freshfruitportal.com, Colombia has also recently entered the Japanese market and is now looking to expand to South Korea.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is set to send its avocados to China as well, with the country announcing it has finally gained entrance into the Chinese market.

AVOCADO

Page 32

The key to fertilising in this weather Okay, we’re back from Christmas and are waiting, waiting, waiting for the next rain to arrive.

We’ve hopefully had a great time putting our feet up on the sun-lounger and taking the time with our families and friends to reflect on our last year.

The good times – getting our harvest underway – and the tough times – including a windy spring – and all those times in between that we remember why we grow avocados. Because we love avocados – it’s our thing!

Yep, were into the new season and now we’ll be seeing those fruitlets and pinheads in December turning themselves in little avocados. Growth is fast and furious and we want to keep them growing.

They are busy with cell division and laying down dry-matter into the cells of the fruit. It is important to keep the tree growing and to keep the fruit growing. A good feeding and nutrient-balanced

Colin Amrein CONTRACTING Ltd

programme will help achieve this. Wait for rains to wash the last fertiliser in before you put the next lot on. We often miss a round of fertiliser now, as we don’t tend to have enough rain to wash the older fertiliser in. Also, don’t apply and leave nitrogen fertiliser on the ground because you will lose most of the nitrogen to volatilisation, where the nitrogen reacts and evaporates into the air.

This can also apply with foliar feeding in high temperatures. If you are irrigating, water in the evening and overnight. Remember not too often – but give a good soaking.

Other than this it’s pest monitoring time, checking for leaf-roller thrips and six spotted mite. This latter pest has increased in numbers in the Bay of Plenty, and is now a difficult pest to control well. We’ve found using higher water volume spray mixes, chemical rotation and early-morning spraying gives us the best results.

Fruit grower competition coming up Those wanting to see who wins 2020’s Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower title, tickets to the gala dinner on February 12 are on sale. And before then, the competition day takes place on Saturday, February 8, at Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show, where contestants take part in a series of activities designed to challenge and upskill in areas they might not get exposed to in their day-to-day roles.

The competition is for those aged under-30, who’ve been employed fulltime in the fruit industry for at least three years. Competitors also take part

in a speech competition at the gala dinner before winners are announced.

NZKGI CEO Nikki Johnson says the gala dinner has proven to be a very entertaining evening but also a superb insight into the talent the industry has.

“It’s great to have competitions such as BOP Young Fruit Grower, not only to showcase the industry’s talented future leaders but also support the development and growth of skilled personnel in the horticulture industry.”

Get tickets at: www.bopyoungfruitgrower.co.nz

AVOCADO

Page 33

Staying safe on the water this summer The Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard is experiencing another busy summer season on the water, thanks to ongoing support from Avoco and the grower community.

A more secure funding base for the coastguard has led to an increase in the number of people volunteering during summer.

There is now a team of 47 volunteers, who provide rostered support to the coastguard unit, significantly boosting the ranks of the dedica ed maritime radio team.

designed Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards.

The vessel was launched at the end of 2016, giving the coastguard the capability to cover two completely different areas.

Its larger vessel, Gallagher Rescue, oversees the Bowentown Bar, one of the most notorious bars in New Zealand, while Avoco Rescue is used to protect the channels and shallow areas of the Northern Tauranga Harbour.

Avoco’s marketing and communications manager Steve Trickett says the sponsorship is an effective way for Avoco to give back to its community.

“We know many of our growers are fishing and boating enthusiasts and enjoy being on the water.

“We also know that the population at Waihi Beach swells during summer, putting extra pressure on the coastguard service. The addition of Avoco Rescue means volunteers can cover a wider offshore area more effectively, and that’s great news for everyone.”

On December 26, the Coastguard supported the Old4New lifejacket campaign at Bowentown Boating and Sports Fishing Club. Between 8am and 12pm, people traded in their old, worn lifejackets for discounted new ones.

In March, the unit is also benefitting from Th Fox – Fishing and Golf Festival, a three-day charity event at Waihi Beach hosted by New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox and other sports personalities.

TM

"Passionate about Avocado's"

Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard operations manager Jim Pooley with Avoco director and Coastguard volunteer Alistair Young (front right) with fellow Coastguard volunteers aboard Avoco Rescue.

They communicate with boaties, respond to distress calls and log their trip reports. Volunteers also play an active role in supporting community events at Waihi Beach where the coastguard is asked to provide a boat for event safety.

Maritime Radio Channel 16 is manned 24-7, with local support available to boaties between 6am and 8pm, via Channel 7.

Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard operations manager Jim Pooley says having extra volunteers to call on is the direct result of the coastguard unit’s healthy funding base, in large part due to sponsorship from Avoco and Gallagher.

“For many years we were operating hand-to-mouth, but longer-term sponsorship is enabling us to focus more on the activities that really matter to boaties, which takes pressure off volunteers having to constantly fundraise.”

Avoco teamed up with the coastguard unit in 2016, and this year renewed its sponsorship at $25,000 for three years.

The money goes towards coastguard’s yearly operational costs of $110,000 as well as the running costs of its rescue vessel named Avoco Rescue, a 5.8m Naiad-

Australian consumers have lifted their consumption of avocados to 3.8kg per person each year, according to industry body Avocados Australia. And production of avocados across the Tasman has also increased.

Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas says avocado production in Australia has climbed to 85,546 tonnes in 2018/2019, compared to 77,032t in 2017/2018. “This 11 per cent increase is another record for Australian avocado production. We’re forecasting production will increase strongly in the next few years, to at least 115,000t a year by 2025, so there will be even more great Australian avocados in the years to come.”

John says as production levels increase, there will also be more avocados on offer for export markets.

“In both production and exports, Australia is currently a small player in the world avocado market,” says John. “Our recently-released 2018/2019 Facts at a Glance shows we exported just 3,195t, or 3.7 per cent of our domestic production, mostly to Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.”

But John says as more trees mature and production increases, there will be a need to both expand Australia’s current export markets and open up new opportunities with a further production increase expected in 2019/2020.

- On Orchard Technical advice - Direct to Retail Marketing Specialists - Flexible Harvesting and Packing Options - Food safety C e r t i fi c a t i o n s e r v i c e s

JIM TARAWA

DAVID ALDERTON

AVOCADO PROCUREMENT MANAGER BOP

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+64 27 274 7076 jtawara@freshmax.co.nz

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Page 34

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Subdivision planning in 2020 How often have you said to yourself: ‘I wish I had started this earlier?’

We commonly hear our clients use this phrase. Many landowners ‘make the most of their land’ by starting subdivision early with a sound plan.

Many have created multiple titles and held on to them for several years, giving themselves flexibility in tough times This message came to the top of my

mind when I was recently called on to give advice to a landowner. It wasn’t the typical flat or rolling Waikato landscape, rather broken land with significant streams, bush and wetland areas.

Huge potential

Not productive land at all, but desirable for people wanting to enjoy a great lifestyle close to nature.

I believe this block will provide a

profitable retiremen scheme for our client while providing an enjoyable lifestyle living for many.

I could see huge potential in this block, if developed carefully over a period of time. To reap the full potential this could be a 10-year project or more.

We must deal with some tricky council rules along the way and, while we can get a couple of new sections now, further potential depends on environmental enhancement, including fencing and planting, which will take time. Hence, we need to get on with it right away.

Free up capital

Subdivision can be a great way to free up some capital by either disposing of some land or creating additional freehold blocks to bolster capital value

and keep the ratios in line for the bank.

To do this effectively we must work with the landowner to get the concept right from the start. This includes making the new titles the right size and shape for the market, positioning them for good access and future house sites and retaining as much productive land in the farm as possible, all while ticking all the boxes for council.

Long-term view

Taking a long-term view is very important when subdividing a rural block, as the rules are constantly changing. For example, during my 40 years in the business I’ve seen the rules change in one district from being able to subdivide a 4ha rural block into two or more, through to now requiring a minimum area of 40ha per block.

This means you must now have 80ha before you can subdivide.

Mostly only areas very close to the main cities go the other way – but that’s a conversion from rural land use to urban and another story altogether.For these reasons, I see it as essential to look closely at the overall farm when planning any rural subdivision.

Options

My advice is to consider your options and plan for the future now. Otherwise, if your circumstances change and you want a smaller farm, some flexibility with your titles or the bank comes knocking, you may well be forced to sell up and move.

Please feel free to give me a call and discuss your situation and we’ll see how we can ‘help you make the most of your land’.

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. For more information call him on 0800 268 632 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

The threat of facial eczema outbreaks Clinical cases of facial eczema are now on the horizon here in the Bay of Plenty.

Freephone:

0800 562 382

www.jobevalves.com

With the onset of summer, and sporadic bouts of rain or humid weather, the challenge will rise. Livestock owners are encouraged to monitoring spore counts closely as part of facial eczema prevention on their properties.

Signs to look for include a reduction in growth or drop in milk production in grazing livestock; animals that are restless, seeking shade and stock that rub their faces/lick their udders; and exposed unpigmented or thin skin that reddens, thickens and peels.

Not all affected animals will show signs. For one clinical case there are likely to be 10 animals with subclinical liver damage. These animals will have reduced production – growth or milk. Chronic wasting or death can occur from a badly damaged liver, especially under times of stress.

The fungus Pithomyces chartarum produces spores containing the toxin sporidesmin when grass minimum temperatures are above 12 degrees Celsius for two or three nights and humidity is high.

This combination can last from December-January right through to May. Animals need to be treated two weeks prior to the rise in spore counts to have adequate protection. Avoid hard grazing and topping pasture during these times.

Where showers occur through autumn, spore counts could stay high with mild temperatures. All farms should be on high alert, monitoring spore counts closely and carrying out their own on-farm assessment of the risk.

Oral Zinc oxide prevention, preferably through slow release boluses, offers best performance. In-line Zinc sulphate water systems is the other main prevention alternative for stock.

There is no specific treatment for facial eczema and any therapy considered should be symptomatic and palliative. Antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, vitamins and zinc-based creams for skin lesions are commonly given.

For more information on facial eczema in your area, contact your local vet clinic for advice and treatment options.

COUNTRY LIVING

Rob’s rose accolades bloom Western Bay of Plenty rose breeder Rob Somerfield has done it again – winning the top awards at the Pacific Rose Bowl Festival and National Rose Trial Grounds – helping to cement his position as one of this country’s best rose breeders.

In December the national trials, where roses are assessed for two years, awarded its top prize – the Gold Star of the South Pacific – to ‘Grandma’s Rose’, named by Rob’s children for their grandmother Valerie Somerfield.

Rob’s roses have won 10 Gold Stars, dominating the Palmerston North competition for the last six years. Other recent Somerfield winners include ‘Ladies Night’ – to be released this year – and ‘Love Bug’, ‘Quintessential’ and ‘Christchurch Remembers’.

Rob’s roses are also a firm favourite with visitors to Rogers Rose Garden in Hamilton with public vote determining the Pacific Rose Bowl prizes. This year Rob’s plants won seven of nine awards including, once again, Rose of the Year with Everlasting Hope’, following ‘Looking Good’, ‘Love Heart’ and ‘Wild Cherry’ in previous years.

At Te Puna, Rob raises about 15,000 new-cross seedlings every year. About 550 are selected for 10 years of field

trials with the number reduced annually until twothree plants are chosen for release. He breeds primarily for plant health with attributes such as plant size, number of blooms, and speed of repeat flowering following that. “Colour is such a subjective thing. I reckon if you get the plant right, customers can decide if they like the flower. And although I haven’t been Wife Linda Somerfield, mum Valerie, dad breeding for fragrance it’s Richard, Rob Somerfield, daughters Amanda been popping up, which is and Kate, and Kate’s partner David Wright. great.” Rob’s been “tinkering” with roses since 1983, turning “I’ve just focused on what I want to do professional in 1998 on the back of and that seems to have worked. It’s not in ‘Blackberry Nip’ which that year won my nature to be opinionated – but with the Silver Star award at the National roses I am. I’m very fussy about what my Rose Trial grounds – the highest award name goes on.”

Sandra Simpson for an amateur breeder.

The green-tinged flowers of ‘Green with Envy’, due for release next spring, are something he’s been working on for decades – and he hopes is unusual enough it may be released internationally. “I’ve sent about 40 varieties of my roses to [famous rose business] Meilland International in France and they’ve selected five to put into trials in Europe so hopefully one day something will stand out.

“Everyone has a different opinion of what makes a good rose,” says Rob.

Smallest spark can cause a wildfire Fires can and do start from the smallest spark – especially in rural and semi-rural areas during the summer – warns Fire and Emergency New Zealand. “In the past few years, we’ve increasingly seen how, if unchecked, wildfires can go on to devastate people, land and wildlife.”

As a result, FENZ is encouraging people to go its new-and-improved website to find out how to protect themselves and their land against potential wildfires “If you’re considering lighting a fire outdoors, this website will tell you how to do it safely, whether you need a permit, and direct you to our fire permit site to apply.”

The website also offers advice on other sparkgenerating activities like

ploughing, mowing and grinding for those planning to work on the land.

And of particular importance as we head into summer, is the timely advice to rural and semi-rural people on how to protect their homes before the fire season begins, by clearing anything that could burn away from the house, and creating safety zones to act as a barrier against fire. See: www.checkitsalright.n

Page 35 ‘Everlasting Hope’ by Rob Somerfield was the Rose of the Year in the 2019 Pacific Rose Bowl Festival. All photos: Sandra Simpson.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 36

Learn the secrets of 35 great botanists O U NT R

FU

N NIE

S

C

And his new book ‘The Secrets of Great Botanists’ welcomes readers into the lives of 35 botanists from our past and present, driven by an insatiable desire to learn and discover, whose study of plants revolutionised the scientific world and increased our understanding of the importance plants have on our survival.

Matthew trained at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has presented TV gardening programmes and is a regular on UK radio. He’s authored and contributed to several books and magazines, and is also a highly regarded lecturer.

In this book, which is illustrated with beautiful period botanical watercolours and vibrant photographs, he gives readers an inspiring and practical

guide that delves into the qualities that brought these botanists success and shows what ordinary gardeners can learn from their legacies.

Thanks to Exisle Publishing, Coast & Country News has a copy of ‘The Secrets of Great Botanists’ to give away. To be in to win, email captions for the photo above with your name and address to: merle@sunmedia. co.nz Or post these details on an envelope to: Country Funnies, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive by January 16.

Winner of November’s Country Funnies is Shane of Avison of Putaruru for his caption: ‘Did ewe phone, Baaabara?’.

He wins a copy of ‘Ella and Mrs Gooseberry’ by authors Vikki Conley and Penelope Pratley.

Y

Matthew Biggs has travelled widely and is fascinated by global gardening.

Caption this photograph to win a copy of ‘The Secrets of Great Botanists’.

Tour the spectacular South Island via 4WD Self-drive 4WD tours are the ideal way to enjoy the spectacular scenery and hospitality of landowners in the South Island’s high country, according to Robbie and Connie Crickett.

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The owner-operators of NZ Adventures 4WD tours offer five different tours of five, six and seve days in length, during the upcoming season that runs from November 2020 right to the end of April 2021.

“For all NZ Adventures 4WD tours, the only mandatory stipulation is that vehicles have very good condition all-terrain-type tyres and a low range transmission fitted,” says Connie Accommodation during tours is in motels, dining is at restaurants, while some lunches are with runholders and the balance are picnics.

“Each vehicle is equipped with a quality radio so Robbie can provide a knowledgeable commentary as the trips proceed.”

Connie says their most popular tour is the High Country Heritage, which is run in December, February and April as a six-day tour, and in March as a seven-day option.

“The five-day West Coast Explorer is run in November and April; the Eastern Explorer takes place in the later part of January travelling from Geraldine to Alexandra in five days.

“The Big Sky Country is a six-day tour exploring mostly Central Otago – and is our most challenging tour.

“And the 46 South is a five-day tour loosely based along the 46th parallel – an imaginary line that crosses Southland.”

For an information pack, see NZ Adventures’ advert on this page for contact details.

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NZ Adventures 4WD tours show the real variety of scenery, terrain and views the South Island is famous for.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 37

Show all about families having rural fun From wrestling to equestrian events, woodchopping to pony rides, an avocado expo to children’s entertainment and 80-plus trade stalls – Katikati’s A&P Show on February 2, 2020, promises to be bigger than ever.

“If you’re looking for an enjoyable day out with the family, we provide this in abundance on Katikati show day,” says Katikati A&P society president Louellen Davies But what will remain small is entry fees. “We’ve retained our gate fee at $5 and we’re permitting free entry to all children aged under 12.

“Although putting this up has been suggested, our Katikati show felt this would make the event prohibitive for some families – and families enjoying a day of country fun are what we are all about.”

Louellen says a big drawcard this year is dog-handler Chelsea

“Plus ‘Hamish the Clydesdale’ with owner Bruce Polley will be pulling a sledge, offering rides.”

The lollie scramble in the pony ring is at 12.15pm, trade stalls will show their wares and services, and food vendors will offer a great selection of cuisines.

“The Avocado expo will encompass everything within this industry, and so much more – so don’t miss the avocado ice cream, colouring competitions and racing cars.” And while the show will

Marriner and her ‘Wonder Dogs’.

The home industries and photography competitions will be in the A&P hall, and adults can enjoy a beer under the domain’s iconic oak tree while watching woodchopping demonstrations.

“We have a climbing wall, a wave rider, the striker, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, merrygo-round and inflatables

ENTRANCE FEE

Isla Cave enjoys her first pony ride at last year’s show.

Hand-made bedsteads for every décor Bespoke, hand-crafted cast bedsteads made with love using genuine materials and traditional techniques for lasting quality is what K&G Furniture offers customers.

Bracken Amies’ family started the business venture three years ago. “We learnt how to make the beds then moved the equipment to Westport, and set up the foundry in a shearing shed.”

Formally Keruse and Gardiner, then NZ Cast Iron Brass Beds, the company has been making the furniture for the last 80 years in NZ, says Bracken.

“This means some moulds and patterns are very old.

Each Furniture-maker has added styles so there is now an incredible range.”

And while some styles have changed, and the most popular bed is different every year, “our way of crafting has stayed same throughout the years,” says Bracken.

“The bedsteads are designed and crafted using traditional foundry techniques, so each is produced as an original.

“This casting method provides exceptionally strong joints that will last for generations. All beds are made in NZ of high quality raw materials.

“The brass and copper rods and hand-spun finials added to some styles are made locally to

not host its cattle sections this year – due to Mycoplasma bovis – Louellen says the equestrian events will satisfy those wanting a dose of rural competition, with show hunter jumping, side-saddle, flat clases – and Katikati is participating in The Mid Northern District Council’s Accumulator competition.

Katikati A&P Show is February 2, from 9am-3.30pm at Uretara Domain.

Tickets cost adults $5, under-12s gain free entry. Gates open 9am.

The detail of the Wentworth Old Bronze. original patterns. These offer amazing longevity and lightweight manoeuvrability.”

Bracken says her family used to collect and restore used bedsteads. “We now appreciate the craftsmanship behind them, and in this age of throw-away products it is awesome to be creating something long-lasting.”

K&G Furniture has bed styles for every house décor – from the simple Florence, named after the famous nurse with its old hospital look to the Fancy Nicole bed with grand Victorian-style four poster canopy and curtains.

FIRST

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FERTILISER

Page 38

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Making sense of inconsistencies I have often been asked over the years by farmers to help resolve and interpret soil test data taken by different fertiliser company representatives.

Sometimes the laboratory results come back with glaring differences from historical data, and explaining such differences is not always straight-forward. Soil and herbage tests are the best guides we can use to assess which nutrients are affecting production, and where a farmer should target their fertiliser spend. Soil testing is a ‘ball park’ science, meaning the levels found will be in the approximate ball park of reality. But the data produced by the lab should not be considered absolutely accurate because there are many variables that can influence the results.

Sampling technique

Normally the laboratory procedure should be fairly repeatable, if the testing procedures are followed by the book by the lab technicians, but this may not always be the case. A much greater cause for variation

is the sampling technique.

Sampling depth is a major contender for variation.

Here in New Zealand, the standard soil testing depth on pasture is 75mm and for crops it is 150mm, whereas in Europe and North America both pasture and crops are 150mm. In Australia, and South American countries like Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, the standard depth on pasture is 100mm, and I too prefer this 100mm depth which I think more accurately represents the root zone from which pasture plants extract most of their nutrients. On volcanic soils in particular, testing at greater depths will dilute phosphorus which mostly sits in the top 10mm, so consequently I aim for lower P levels when I have taken the samples.

Testing deeper

Testing deeper can also give lower pH readings and exacerbate aluminium toxicity, which may not show up in 75mm samples, and is an important consideration for applying lime.

Another cause of inconsistency is the sampling lines taken and the different paddock histories. To avoid recent urine contamination which will elevate potassium, I like to use as indicator paddocks, those which have been spelled from cattle grazing for at least a couple of weeks if possible, and avoid any paddocks which have not been recently cropped or turned over. On steeper hill country, avoiding sheep tracks which receive more dung and urine as well as stock camp areas is important.

Conversely it is not good to sample extremely steep sidelings, but to try and find average sloping microsites for pushing the probe into the soil.

Herbage testing

For herbage testing, it is important to avoid stalks and stem tissue, or weed species, as these can give spurious results. Taking herbage tests out of paddocks where stock are grazing can result in sampling pasture which the animals don’t like, so again can throw spurious results; so I again prefer to sample paddocks which have had at least

two weeks of no grazing.

When it comes to interpreting results, this can become confusing as different advisors will emphasise different elements, and even graphical interpretations by laboratories can vary widely from lab to lab, particularly in herbage test data. With herbage testing there are also wild seasonal variations for critical elements such as molybdenum and boron, and even the major elements can vary significantly at various stages of growth.

Having been at the coalface of interpreting soil and herbage tests for more than 30 years I think I have got all of my levels pretty well perfect, but there will be other advisors with similar legacies who will disagree with me on some elements. When it comes to deciding which company can provide the best value for the nutrients required, and the form of those nutrients which will work best, there can be further pitfalls. Many times I have been able to save farmers tens of thousands of dollars on the quotes they’ve been given by a particular fertiliser company, by getting those same nutrients in the same form from a different supplier.

Being independent

Being independent with a broad knowledge of soil chemistry and plant and animal nutrition, means clients don’t waste their hard-earned money on snake oils or expensive sources of essential elements that can be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

We may not be able to control the weather yet, but we can alter the soil chemistry with fertiliser inputs to improve productivity by considering all 16 essential elements plants require, and do this in a holistic way which builds soil fertility and soil organic matter through sequestering CO2, the molecule of life, from the atmosphere. Correcting soil deficiencies cost effectively is a critical part of a sustainable future.

Robin Boom, CPAg, member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists.

Phone: 027 444 8764.

FERTILISER

The complexities of Nitrogen To get free nitrogen from the air where there are 74,000 tonnes above every hectare, the soil must have correct calcium and magnesium; available phosphate and iron; cobalt and molybdenum.

But it is more complicated than that. Besides other nutrients being involved, microbes rule the roost. Many farm practices are counter-productive when it comes to supporting soil biology.

Bacteria and fungi produce organic acids. These acids react with insoluble carbohydrates, phosphates and silicates, making them at least partly soluble. The reactions release calcium from carbonates and phosphates from aluminium or iron complexes where they are relatively useless.

The microorganisms need energy.

This energy may come from already available P and K. The amount of energy available and N fixation is correlated with bacterial numbers and the amount of plant growth.

Liming

Liming can reduce Al and Mn toxicity and increase plant availability of N, P and Mo. Plant growth can be increased by more than 50 per cent when lime and N are applied together. This is not just a pH response but is supplying bacteria with calcium. Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas will not grow when P is withheld. It only takes a tiny amount to reverse that. Plant uptake of N, P, K, Cu, Mn and Zn were all greatly enhanced by mycorrhizal fungi (VAM).

This is even more evident for N when plants are subject to water stress.

Leaching of N is reduced by VAM.

Protozoa can increase N uptake in plants by 75 per cent or more.

VAM has taken a hiding from unbuffered fertilisers, chemicals in general and cultivation.

Many plants reject the VAM if they are too well supplied with soluble P. In the absence of host plants some can survive to fruition with the assistance of certain bacteria. They do better with iodine, Mn and Co. Some require vanadium or chromium. Others, along with certain bacteria, reduce fungal diseases such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia to name a few. Some fungi dine on and destroy insect larvae. VAM can be the difference between a poor crop or a good one.

VAM can obtain up to four times more N for plants if allowed to.

They respond to the plant’s needs.

Similar results relate to Ca, Mg and K, particularly if P is low.

Free radicals

Certain soil conditions create free radicals that cause stress in plants.

This includes application of N in wet soil conditions. Plants may produce antioxidant enzymes as a defence.

Such enzymes are more likely to occur in the presence of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and selenium. Some trace elements are not recognised as essential for plants.

They are essential for animals and these microbes are critical for plant health. Feed the soil; let the soil feed the plant. Think holistically.

More than 50 per cent of applied N can be lost to the atmosphere and to ground water, causing long term effects. Up to 90 per cent of applied P can be precipitated by soil Al and Fe complexes. The way to minimise such losses and to enhance plant growth

and health is through microbiology. Biology may need to be added along with food sources.

Kiwi Fertiliser can supply advice and products that enhance the chemicalphysical-biological interactions improving nitrogen uptake without reducing productivity. Let us show you how. Thanks to Full Circle Nutrition.

References available.

Page 39

Page 40

4WDS & ATVS

The new model 2020 Avatar 66hp diesel at home in Welcome Bay, Tauranga.

Built for Kiwi farms

Avatar UTVs have been developed and designed to specifically cater to the needs of New Zealand’s working farmer – and their newly-released 2020 model is no different, says brand owner Hamish Gilbert.

“When you look at many of the traditional brand products they are just a larger unit of the ATV product that the company made.

Hamish says origin markets overseas principally use UTVs as a recreational vehicle – but in NZ they’re used in a heavier load and work environment.

“The conditions these machines are expected to work in – from wet, muddy, rough ground to steep hills – presents challenges in design, durability and strength.”

Hamish says Kiwi farmers are headed more towards using a vehicle that sits somewhere between an ATV and small 4X4 tractor or pick-up truck.

“For this reason Avatar builds use vehicle parts to capitalise on the extra power and size of components.

“Avatar’s diesel engine is a Renault, designed and used in small cars and mini trucks; our five-speed manual transmission is used in 1.5ton mini truck and 12-seater mini bus; the brakes use a 14mm thick disc compared to 6mm on most other brands; the calipers come from Suzuki Wagon R on the front and Audi/VW electric on the rear. This gives an

8mm thick regular brake pad compared to 3mm on our competition and a positive electric handbrake.”

Hamish says Avatar has also produced a galvanised chassis and suspension in the fight against rust “Today it’s still the only standard machine with a fully galvanised structure.”

Avatar now has its own tyre design too, “which basically uses a tractor tread pattern and comes standard in six-ply but with options up to 12ply while providing a 30mm deep lug”.

The Avatar 2020 model has some new improvements as well.

“It has the same heavy differential used front and rear, wet spline half shafts into differentials, and addition of multi-lip seals outside of the wheel bearings for added protection.

“It has Izuzu D Max pickup truck A arm ball joints on upper and lower front A arms, hydraulic power steering via a central-mounted two-way hydraulic cylinder, suspension springs 30mm longer with a slightly softer ride, the option of a hydraulic tip on rear deck, and standard 27 by 11 by 14 six-ply deep lug tyres front and rear.

“The first of these machines has been delivered to Whakatane and a second to Welcome Bay, Tauranga, – both sold off the one hillside demo in early-December. Further units are being prepared for pre-order sales,” says Hamish.

See Avatar’s advert on this page.

4WDS & ATVS

Page 41

Farming relics and family fun at Kawerau The Bay of Plenty has a rich farming history, often with generations of families working the same land.

But it isn’t only farming families who will enjoy the annual Farming Like Grandad event on January 26 – anyone who is interested in New Zealand life in days gone by will be delighted by the pieces on display.

In its fourth year, the Farming Like Grandad event, presented by the Waterwheel Historic Trust, is a ‘live’ day showcasing the way our ancestors lived and farmed.

Haymaking

The cornerstone of the Farming Like Grandad event is the display of vintage farm machinery and vehicles from the Waterwheel Collection – including tractors, milking machines and cars – with some running on the day.

And Clydesdale horses will be giving demonstrations of ploughing and mowing.

Waterwheel Historic Trust co-chair Stephanie Johnson Bull says this year will see a strong focus on haymaking, with demonstrations running throughout the day, plus butter making and shearing demonstrations. “There will also be several competitions on the day, from vegetable growing to sawing, fla weaving and best hat of the day.

“For the more adventurous, a Cowboy Challenge will have contestants being judged on their horse-riding skills throughout an obstacle course; and a Tractor

Pull, where teams-of-four can show their strength and teamwork by gunning their engines and pulling a sledge tractor the farthest and the fastest.”

But Stephanie says Farming Like Grandad is not all machinery and competitions – there is a number of traditional craft demonstrations and displays including spinning and weaving, flax weaving, knitting, an sewing on an old Singer sewing machine. “There are plenty of family-friendly activities including an animal corner, hands-on fun and games for kids and adults, wagon rides and music. There are food stalls a-plenty – or visitors are welcome to bring a picnic. And if you dress up in your best vintage summer hat and join the parade, you will be in to win a prize.”

Market square

This year the market square will feature local businesses showcasing their products and services.

“There is something for everyone,” says Stephanie. “It’s a great family day out so put it in your calendar now!”

Farming Like Grandad is on Sunday, January 26, from 10am-4.30pm, located on SH30, near Kawerau, opposite Military Rd. Adult entry is $10 and children gain free entry, and there is plenty of free carparking on-site.

To enter any of the competitions mentioned, to become a market stallholder, or for more information please email Stephanie at: wendoverhq@gmail.com Anne Boswell

49,900+GST

An array of vintage farm machinery will be on show at Farming Like Grandad.

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• 5 speed manual transmission • Front diff-lock • Solid rear axle • Heavy duty carry racks

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Bike price shown excludes GST. Available while stocks last at participating Honda dealers.

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4/12/19 1:52 PM

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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classifi d listings curriculum vitae

CV’s THAT STAND OUT. Don’t let your C.V. get lost amongst all the others. Get the WOW factor. A C.V. For You can provide you with a personal and professional touch.

From scratch or update existing ones. Check out samples on www. facebook.com/acvforyou or Ph/text on 021 27 27 912.

for sale

PULLETS HY-LINE BROWN, great layers. Phone 07 824 1762 www.eurekapoultryfarm.weebly.com

house sitters

HOUSE SITTING WANTED, active retired couple. Farm or lifestyle blocks or similar. Ph Brian or Julie 027 206 1605

trades & services

National News online.... including business, sport, politics & more!

Major International & Regional News updates

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LIST YOUR RURAL EVENT HERE! email your listing to: merle@sunmedia.co.nz with ‘Rural Event’ in the subject line.

January 11-12

Organic Market Gardening

Workshop, Pakaraka Permaculture (near Thames), $350.

See: tinyurl.com/yxh9wzdc

January 1-12

Picturesque Gardens,

Waikato Museum exhibition supporting the newest garden at Hamilton Gardens, free.

January 17

January 25

January 17-18

shop, 1.30pm, Community Gardens Taupo or Awhi Farm Turangi, free. See: tinyurl. com/y6ffz834

Waihi Dahlia Show, Memorial Hall, Waihi, noon3.30pm. Ph Jennifer: 07 863 7563.

Lily Show, noon-4pm, Hamilton Gardens, $2 See: hamiltongardens.co.nz

January 18

Katikati Avocado Food

& Wine Festival, Uretara Domain, Katikati. See: www. katikatiavofest.co.nz

January 20

Pick Your Own Lavender,

9am-5pm, 398 Marshmeadow Rd, Hamilton, $10/jar of flowers

NT ME AT

PEPP ER

BER TR TIM E

Crop Swap, 10am-11am, 14 Jocelyn St, Katikati. Veges, fruit, seeds, baking, books, eggs, etc. Ph 07 549 4522.

January 26

February 2

4.30pm, near Kawerau, $10.

See: tinyurl.com/rae3qlh Koanga Institute Tour, 1pm4pm, Wairoa area, $25. See: tinyurl.com/w8xbvnd

9am, at Showgrounds, Uretara Domain, Major St, Katikati.

Farming like Grandad, 10am-

January 26-Feb 7 Permaculture Design Course, Koanga Institute, near Wairoa, $2400. See: tinyurl.com/uacghmb

Katikati A&P Show, starts

February 3 Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show, starts 9am at Showgrounds Rd, Paengaroa.

Surrealist Garden Opening, 3.30pm, Hamilton Gardens, free.

February 8

Herbal Wellness Remedies,

10am-2.30pm, Papamoa Hills (near Tauranga), $85 (includes lunch). See: craftygatherer.co.nz Pests & Diseases 1, 9.30am2.30pm, Whakamarama (near Tauranga), $68. Also February 11. See: tinyurl.com/ y2p76cfe Worm Composting Workshop, 1-3pm, Memorial Hall, Te Puke, $34.50. Western Bay residents only. See: tinyurl.com/u4a4v52

February 8-9

National Dahlia Show, North Island, Hamilton Gardens.

Ph Jennifer: 07 863 7563.

Te Puke show schedule jam-packed A mechanical bull ride, a fun dog ring contest – and Te Puke’s Strongest Man and Woman Competitions – are all new attractions to Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show this year, on February 8.

Show secretary Kim Cawte says the 114th show’s new drawcards will offer more fun to what is already a jam-packed event. “Te Puke is one of the shows that continues to grow, so bring your family and friends along to enjoy this great day.”

Kym says the new mechanical bull ride is a gold coin donation, while the new fun dog ring is $10 to enter. “Awards for the dog ring include best presented, tricks, obedience, fancy dress, obstacle course winner and judge’s choice. All dogs and puppies must be on a lead, registered and vaccinated.”

And those keen to enter Te Puke’s Strongest Man & Woman Competition need to contact Chris Latham on 0212695032 or email: aucklandstrongmanseries@gmail.com Western Bay Museum will have ‘Daisy’ the cow, rope making and butter churning.

The Young Fruitgrower of the Year Competition has practical and theory contests from 9am-3pm. “Later in the day contestants will compete in a tug of war against the Te Puke Young Farmers Club.”

S

Home Composting Work-

February 1

and birds to view and purchase, plus horse and pony rides for the public.

Home Industries displays and the Hargreaves Children’s competition, plus Miss and Master contest for boys and girls will be run.

Shearing classes will include junior, to intermediate, senior, veteran and open with very attractive rewards. “The ‘Women’s Invitation’ class will feature again, which is now a major attraction,” says Kym. The horse/pony fun ring at 1pm is for all Te Puke’s Fire Brigade will be hosting horses and ponies and all rider age-groups. demonstrations at the 2020 show.

“This is a fun ring where the aim is to involve Stupid Robot Fighting as many local riders as entertainment is back and possible.” businesses are encouraged to get Te Puke Pony Club involved. Lawn mower racing will run a novice ring and a truck and tractor pulling earlier in the day. Horse competition will return. The of the Year Qualifying mini club, trike club and classic classes include Park car club will have vehicles on Hack, Saddle Hunter, display. Sheep racing will offer Working Hunter and three races throughout the day. The huge crowd-pleaser, sheep “Te Puke Young Farmers racing, is back again this year. Hunter Jumper rings.

Other sections include Club will host the Ladies Harness and Led Horse. And with a bar onsite, Gumboot Throwing, a new Men’s Gumboot live music, trade sites, food stalls and Eftpos at Throwing competition, a horse shoe throwing the gates, people can enjoy a long day at the competition, and a tug of war site.” show. Gate entry is: Under-fives free, childre Rotorua & BOP Hunt Club will parade $2, persons aged 13-plus $10, a family pass horses and hounds in the main horse ring at (two adults/four children) $25.

12.10pm. The Pet Corner will have animals

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 43

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6/12/19 2:36 PM

Page 44

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Speed shear back for 20th year For the 20th time, Te Puna is welcoming people from near and far to come and enjoy its Speed Shear event, which this year is raising funds to get a local teenage girl her own assistance dog.

“This was the fastest time for the open shearer title last year, which was achieved by Jack Fagan,” says organiser Maree Morton.

“Last year’s fastest senior shearer was Mike Vanveen at 21.36 seconds – so these are the times to beat,” says Maree, who says many city folk love coming to watch sheep shearing up-close.

The 20th Te Puna Speed Shear competition is on “We also have retired shearers who travel to catch January 11 outside the Top up with old friends and Shot Bar, on Minden Rd, we have people who come starting 5.30pm. every year – and they’re the Here people can watch first ones to arrive and the some of New Zealand’s last ones to leave.” best shearers vie to win The fastest open shearer various titles for shearing wins $2000 and the fastest a sheep in the least senior shearer receives amount of time – all while $1000, plus there’s prizes supporting local girl Bella. for Veterans and Best Local shearer John Local Shearer. And the ‘Worzel’ Dalziel, who usual Stihl Chainsaw helped to create the event, Raffle will be doing the is proud Te Puna has one rounds. of the longest-running For the third year speed shear events in the the event is raising country. funds to support a “Not only that, it is still local youngster. This a great event to enter – we year proceeds will offer great prizes – and in go to Bella. She has recent years it has started to Sensory Processing support one deserving local Disorder, an extremely Matt Smith gets some practice in at the rare chromosome disorder community member with Morton’s farm ahead of a previous Speed epilepsy, congenital heart proceeds,” says ‘Worzel’.

Shear at Te Puna.

Initially staged at the local and kidney problems, is rugby club for two years – the non-verbal and mostly in a event now has a permanent site outside Worzel and wheelchair or walker.

Gary Sobye’s Top Shot Bar. “It’s just grown and Her family has waited five years to get an assistance grown to become an event not only on the shearer’s dog – and Bella has finally been matched with calendar but also spectators,” says Worzel.

‘Anna’. The cost of this is $20,000.

On the night, top New Zealand shearers each Te Puna Speed Shear is on Saturday, January 11 at shear three lambs. With heats and finals, they battle 5.30pm at Top Shot Bar, 15D Minden Rd, Te Puna. on-stage against the clock, with the fastest time to Entry is via gold coin. Or support Bella at: https:// beat being 16.49 seconds. givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/bella-and-anna