Coast & Country News - December 2020

Meet butcher Luke Andrews. His family have created Wholly Cow Butchery, which sells meat from stock grown on their nearby Cambridge farm and operates with a philosophy of using all parts of the animal and taking responsibility for the wastage. “We’re open to new ideas and learning, and see nature as the teacher here.” Read about their journey into farming and the butchery business on pages 6-7. Photo: Catherine Fry.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

The year we will never forget!

Every December, most newspaper editorials talk about what a year it has been.

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But 2020 certainly tops them all! Writing this, I’m trying hard to remember what life was like before I learned the word ‘Covid-19’.

I also think about when we sat around the bonfi e last New Year’s Eve – as always, reflecting on the ear we’d had and wondering what the new one would bring. Never would I have thought or dreamed our beautiful country would become cut off from the entire world – or that the world would become cut off from us.

That we would have to sacrifice time away from our loved ones among other freedoms that we before took for granted. But here we are – thankfully in a country that has eliminated the virus and is trying its best to keep it out, while our industries navigate the post-Covid world like vessels fighting a sloshing, unrelenting, stormy sea.

While the primary industries carried on as an essential service in our pandemic response, they have not come away from Covid-19 unaffected.

Sectors are facing supply chain and freight issues, challenges accessing much-needed overseas labour or getting staff through approved MIQ facilities, among a raft of other difficulties.

But we are in a better position than other industries. This edition, KPMG’s Ian Proudfoot talks

Gypsum delivers Gold for Kiwi Orchardists

about how we could build biosecurity into the way we move forward from the pandemic, using it as an opportunity to capitalise on consumers’ heightened commitment to quality food. See page 3.

Also on the biosecurity front, KVH chair Dave Tanner warns the incursion of the vine disease Psa-V in 2010 won’t be the last crisis the New Zealand kiwifruit industry faces and the sector must continue to be vigilant on page 5.

We tell the journey of Wholly Cow Butchery in Cambridge, the family behind it and how they wanted to farm responsibly and sell the food they produced themselves.

See pages 6-7.

Columnist David Law takes a look at his team’s 12 months of work on the Total Replacement Therapy programme on page 14.

Mount Pack & Cool shares it plans to charge ahead with new investment in increased packing and storage capacity at its 6.5ha site at the Tauriko Business Estate on page 19.

And in the avocado world, we talk seasonal pest control on page 29, and moisture management during summer on page 30. Plus, don’t forget to enjoy our Country Life+Style liftout.

We wish all of our readers and advertisers a Happy Christmas – and more than ever before, we hope everyone enjoys some family time and a chance to unwind and step back from life’s everyday pressures.

We all deserve it after this year!

Merle Cave

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How NZ pivots in post-Covid world is key The world is learning to adapt to Covid-19 – it’s not going nowhere – and New Zealand is at a very important ‘survive or thrive’ juncture on how it moves forward.

the design of those solutions and give people the information and confidence so they will continue to use these new tools.”

But Ian says a real benefit for New Zealand is that health and safety has become an integral attribute that’s moved from the back of the pack to the front for consumers. “Ultimately, as I look forward from lockdown, we now have people telling the safety and healthstory that comes with New Zealand’s products.

“It is important to leverage this given what we have invested in this lockdown,” says Ian. “What we are experiencing is going to be a landmark event in history. It will be something our grandkids read about in the history books. And it will dominate our lives for the next four-five years. I can’t see it being any less than that with what’s going around the world.

This is how KPMG’s head of agri-business Ian Proudfoot described New Zealand’s current position to delegates at last month’s Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital’s annual symposium – aptly named ‘Covid-19: impact, learnings and new thinking for biosecurity; strengthening our biosecurity team of five million’.

“The world is learning to adapt to Covid-19. This is something that’s going nowhere and we’ve got to come to terms with the fact it will change everything we do moving forward; and as a consequence we have to redesign, rethink, and pivot from what Climate change we’ve traditionally done,” “But, for me, what has says Ian. not changed is the true “The good thing era-defining event for though, is people are more which we will be judged. connected to food than “That is how we respond they’ve ever been since to the challenge we’ve got WWII. The reality is the with our climate.” fact that people around He says that topic, which the world, and here in has dropped off front New Zealand, have queued pages of media around the to get into supermarkets world, will soon return. has brought us all to “And from our understand how important perspective, how we our food system is. The consider nature with what positioning of our food A key question Ian Proudfoot askes is how do you we do, how we consider system as essential, has make New Zealand’s biosecurity system a valuable Te Taiao, the balance of provided the industry with all natural living things, front-of-pack attribute that can pay for itself? a platform on which it can is going to be critical in How do you monetarise biosecurity? build and move forward.” how we build our future forward. So what does all this mean for biosecurity?

Adapting to Covid-19 “We’ve got a very challenging food system, but a Ian says the world is starting to adapt to Covid-19 big plus is the population now understands what the “possibly faster than we are adapting to it here”. Ian impact of an unknown disease incursion can be. says New Zealamd is playing a finite game believing we “And that’s significant; therefore I believe there is can eliminate this virus. [But] the rest of the world is strong desire not to have another incursion across the playing a game that is infinite and the playing fields are border and another event of such national significance. going to continue to evolve and change.

“So we now have the ability to leverage the army of “We need to be responding to how those goal posts five million and connect them to the importance of move and shift… thinking about how we avoid biosecurity moving forward.” becoming irrelevant to those customers we currently But Ian cautions that with New Zealand now cannot get face-to-face time with.” eliminating a virus twice – both Mycoplasma bovis He also believes, as border closures wear on, it will get and Covid-19 – the risk is we find the only publically harder to keep connections with overseas relationships acceptable answer when we have these issues is that have been strong in the past. “Particularly as elimination. “The practicality is that is not likely to people around the world start to restart their lives and be the case – in some cases we are going to have to they’re not sitting at home ready to have a Zoom call at learn to live with disease faster. Therefore I think it is 7am or 10pm.” important we do not automatically take the approach Ian also suspects New Zealand’s overseas markets are of elimination in each case. As that could cost us a lot getting much more challenging. of money down the track.”

“I can tell you that with absolute certainty [there’s] As New Zealand re-opens its border, Ian says we companies today that haven’t made a profit because need to think very carefully about what that border the food system around the world is broken. experience looks like for those first travelers back to “And that is going to bite into 2021. If we get New Zealand. “It’s not going to be how it was. anywhere close to growing export revenues I would be “People coming here are going to be making amazed; kiwifruit is probably the only bright light. incredibly conscious decisions to travel to New “It’s all going to get harder.”

Zealand. The fact we’ve stopped [closed the border] Ian says digital platforms have become the front door gives us a chance to take a really fresh look at how we to businesses “and for food businesses in particular it’s bring high-value travelers back into New Zealand – to now core to what we do”. “We need to think about make sure they respect and enhance the biosecurity

but also that we create a system that enables us to create a whole new way of integrating biosecurity into New Zealanders coming in and out of the country as well.”

But the challenge is biosecurity costs money; it’s expensive. “For me, the challenge is how do you make biosecurity, in particular New Zealand’s biosecurity system, a valuable front-ofpack attribute that can pay for itself?

“How do you monetarise biosecurity?

“At the moment I think we’ve sort of seen it as a cost of doing business. But we do it a lot better than others, pretty well anybody else in the world, and if we can’t monetarise it, if we can’t make

it the same as grass-fed or carbon-zero, then who is going to pay for it? I see a challenge there down the track.”

New Zealand is also starting to have the conversation about regenerative farming. “That’s a new pathway for us and requires us to think differently about how we approach these issues.

“We need to think carefully now about the role biosecurity plays in supporting our interpretation of regenerative farming systems. Because if we can get that right, Te Taiao becomes uniquely New Zealand – and we can truly take to the world a different story than is being told by everyone else.”

Merle Cave

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Hard work recognised Representatives from the kiwifruit industry have been awarded in recognition of their outstanding contributions towards protecting New Zealand from pests and diseases.

At the annual New Zealand Biosecurity Awards in Wellington on November 16, Linda Peacock was awarded the Minister’s Biosecurity Award for services to the kiwifruit industry, and Kiwifruit Vine Health accepted the New Zealand Biosecurity Special Award for outstanding commitment to biosecurity on behalf of the kiwifruit industry.

In awarding Linda, who is a long-standing industry liaison and technical specialist at KVH, Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor said she has worked tirelessly with growers and technical teams from across the regions for more than 30 years, taking science-based lessons and turning them into easily understood, practical solutions to help kiwifruit growers.

“Highly regarded across industry, Linda has been an incredible mentor who always puts the needs of growers first, with passion and empathy. She’s also an active contributor to regional biosecurity networks KiwiNet and Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital, and a member of the Psa research steering group and the Zespri crop protection steering group.”

The Minister says Linda’s leadership, expertise and unwavering commitment to guarding against unwanted pests and diseases “has been an asset to the industry and our communities across Aotearoa”.

Exceptional leadership

In presenting the Special Award to KVH, the Minister said the New Zealand kiwifruit industry has demonstrated exceptional

leadership in the face of biosecurity incursions, driving research and managing the impacts, while also ensuring the welfare of our growers.

“The industry, alongside the Ministry for Primary Industries, laid the foundations for a new era of biosecurity partnership, with the first signing of the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response Deed – a commitment to working together on preparing for pests and disease and on managing them if an incursion occurs.

“The resilience demonstrated by this industry during earlier responses has carried through to today; it continues to pride itself on driving a collaborative approach to biosecurity and is an early adopter of new and innovative ways to managing this on behalf of its growers and the wider New Zealand food and fibre sectors.”

Recognition for the industry

KVH chairman Dr David Tanner says the awards recognise the pivotal role people from within the kiwifruit industry, and KVH, have had in managing Psa since the initial outbreak of the disease and in developing robust biosecurity processes and resources to boost the industry’s biosecurity integrity.

“KVH was formed 10 years ago as the industry reeled from the discovery of Psa. “Over the decade since, KVH – including Linda – has worked alongside industry and Government to help growers recover and prosper. The team is dedicated to its role in helping protect the livelihoods of New Zealand kiwifruit growers from all pests and diseases, through monitoring, education, technology, and partnerships with Government and biosecurity agencies.”

KVH chief executive Stu Hutchings says the awards celebrate the partnership

Biosecurity Award recipient Linda Peacock, of Kiwifruit Vine Health. approach which had ensured the industry was better placed for any future biosecurity event. “There is no doubt that by working in partnership, we can achieve better biosecurity outcomes. The entire industry has embraced a collaborative approach for many years and it was an honour to accept this award on behalf of all our growers and those across the kiwifruit industry who support our work and come together as one committed team.

“We’ve worked hard in the biosecurity space to ensure a resilient and united voice for the kiwifruit industry, and it’s great that our efforts – and those of the people who have worked with us over the years - have been recognised with this award.”

Biosecurity New Zealand head Penny Nelson says this mahi is fundamental to keeping our biosecurity system strong “and every day the award winners are putting in the hard yards to ensure we continue to have a world-leading biosecurity system”.

The full list of New Zealand Biosecurity Award winners is available at: thisisus.nz

Grant for Psa research A new research project that may help futureproof the kiwifruit industry has received a Fast Start Marsden grant.

The project, led by Dr Jay Jayaraman at Plant & Food Research and titled: ‘How do new pathogen incursions evolve during host infection’, will investigate the plant pathogen Psa (Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae), to understand how it evolves during infection of the kiwifruit plant.

Psa caused severe damage in New Zealand’s kiwifruit crops after its discovery 10 years ago in 2010.

While the industry recovered, thanks to a new cultivar with improved disease tolerance, exploring alternative ways to manage the disease in future is still essential – particularly given the possibility that Psa could adapt to the new cultivar.

“A deep understanding of the interaction between the kiwifruit plant and the pathogen Psa could enable future targeted natural breeding to produce a Psaresistant commercial cultivar, eliminating the need for chemical controls,” says Jay. Using next generation DNA sequencing, this research project will investigate the mechanisms behind the evolution of the Psa pathogen and deliver insights into the influence of host selection and how pathogens evolve during pandemics.

It will look at Psa on a range of kiwifruit cultivars ranging from susceptible to resistant.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

SunGold became the pathway to recovery The incursion of the vine disease Psa-V in 2010 won’t be the last crisis the New Zealand kiwifruit industry faces and the sector must continue to be vigilant, according to David Tanner.

This is what the Kiwifruit Vine Health chairman told guests at a November 5 event to mark 10 years since the arrival of the disease, which rocked the industry to its core.

Tackling Psa-V was a “wild ride and at times I would have gladly traded out of it but I was pleased to play a part in the bigger scheme of things and to be of use to the industry,” says David, talking to 120 guests gathered at Zespri’s Mount Maunganui headquarters.

The event, hosted by KVH, was not intended as a celebration but an opportunity to recollect, reflect, and reconnect with those who were at the core of the response and have shaped the recovery in the last 10 years. When Psa-V was identified on a Te Puke orchard on November 5, 2010, David was Zespri’s general manager of science and innovation. His role changed overnight to help lead the response to Psa-V.

Pastoral care focus

The discovery of the disease, which had severely affected kiwifruit orchards in Italy, saw the kiwifruit industry and partners work tirelessly to rebuild, re-graft vines to the new variety G3 and ensure the industry recovered and prospered. This included a strong focus on pastoral care for those affected by the impact of the disease on their orchards.

All that and more was reflected upon during the commemoration event attended by growers, past and present representatives of KVH, Zespri, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc, personnel from the Ministry for Primary Industries – formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – plus the post-harvest sector, and industry partners. Also in attendance were sponsors for both the event and a commemorative Psa-V anniversary publication to be released next year.

Peter Ombler, former chair of KVH and president of NZKGI in 2010, said the kiwifruit industry will face other crises. “I don’t know what the next crisis will be or what shape it will take – but when it comes the same degree of leadership which got us through Psa will be needed.”

He made an appeal to people in the industry today to take the opportunity to lead, helping the sector be better prepared for whatever adversities may come.

“You don’t know what you have in you. I didn’t know what was in me. I was a quietly spoken kiwifruit grower with few leadership tools in my toolbox and was amazed at what I could do. If you are wondering about what is in you, stand up and find out. This is a special industry with a special structure, which needs looking after; needs to be fed and needs passion behind it.”

Peter Ombler, former chair of Kiwifruit Vine Health and president of NZKGI in 2010, called for new leaders to step up.

Barry, who went on to become CEO for KVH. Barry also read a statement from the 2010 Minister for Biosecurity David Carter, congratulating the industry on where it is today. “I am proud of the small part I played in seeing such an immediate response [to Psa-v].”

Within 48 hours of the identification of the disease, Zespri, on behalf of the industry, pledged $25m to fund the response which, under Minister Carter, was matched by the Government. In effect, the kiwifruit industry was the first primary sector to be part of what became the Government Industry Agreements, now known as GIAs, for biosecurity, he said.

Lain Jager, who was CEO of Zespri in 2010, said the impact of Psa-V on growers was unforgettable.

“Watching growers whose livelihoods were evaporating in front of them; watching the disappearance of their futures; many were 60 years old; this was their retirement.

“That will live with me forever.”

Lain paid tribute to Zespri director and later first chairman of KVH, Peter McBride, who, now chairman of Fonterra, was unable to attend the evening.

“Peter was amazingly technically involved but he also took a lot of political heat and, with others, fronted the banks. It was Peter who looked at G3 (SunGold kiwifruit) and said: ‘I think this is the one’.

“And G3 became the Psa-V recovery pathway – his personal leadership is a huge part of the legacy Peter left the industry.”

wider industry good.”

John Burke, who was KVH’s first general manager, says the darkest day among many dark days was October 26, 2011, at a meeting at the ASB Centre at Mount Maunganui. “Growers were down in the dumps; their faces were grey.

“We were dealing with the recovery pathway and not too sure how it would play out. There were so many unknowns. Hort16a was stuffed and 85 per cent of the vines Barry O’Neil, who in 2010 was director were gone or infected. We had 450 infections at that stage and were general of biosecurity with the then really concerned.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, “We had forgotten to evaluate spoke at the Psa-V event.

Bruno rootstock to find out how tolerant it was. If growers had to “It was an emotional time for those remove rootstock and start all over growers. I’d like to pay tribute to again the cost would be horrendous and growers who, even though the subsidy banks would walk.” Fortunately, Bruno was not in place, said: ‘yes’ to vine did prove tolerant, enabling regrafting removal. They knew the consequence to G3 (SunGold) which became the of not reacting quickly and I give full pathway to recovery. credit to them for what they did for the Elaine Fisher

Wider industry good

Shane Max, who is global production manager with Zespri, was among those working with growers faced with removing their gold Hort16A vines in 2010.

Minister proud of role

Barry O’Neil, who in 2010 was director general of biosecurity with MAF, praised the kiwifruit industry for the way it handled Psa-V. Unfortunate as it was that the disease came to New Zealand, it had brought the industry together to become even more organised, successful and more prepared for future risks, says

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A whole-cow philosophy and a In 2007, roading contractor Tom Andrews and his wife Carrie, a founding member of the Jet Collective in Raglan, sold up their 40 acre block in Raglan and moved with their four children to a 200 hectare farm in Whitehall, outside Cambridge.

Carrie describes the farm as “interesting”, with steep to rolling contour, beautifully planted and backing onto bush. “There was no real plan other than we wanted to farm responsibly and sell the food we produced ourselves,” says Carrie.

Wholly Cow butcher Luke Andrews Tom was brought up on a in the Cambridge butchery. lifestyle block and Carrie on a drystock farm, but apart from built their own fully consented microrunning their 40 acres, neither abattoir on the farm. had farmed before – let alone been Around five cattle and two-to-five involved in butchering. lambs are slaughtered weekly, with Initially the outlet for their meat animal welfare and reduced stress levels was the Waikato Farmer’s Markets, at the forefront of the process. Animals but as the farm grew they needed are brought in separately, shot and to sell more than two days a week. processed, with a washdown between They bought an existing animals. “For us it’s just closed that Carrie Andrews creates a range Cambridge butchery business in loop, using the whole animal and taking products using by-products 2014 and quickly re-branded with responsibility for the wastage. of the slaughtering process. their intriguing name Wholly “We had control of what happened to All photos: Catherine Fry. Cow. After a family brainstorming every part of the animal and at the time session, eldest son Reuben had come up with the we had no idea what spin-offs would develop.” name. “Our aim was that if we were going to kill an animal, then all of it should be used.”

A family affair When Ruakura abattoir closed in 2018, the animals The Andrews children, Olivia, 24, Reuben, 22, had to go to Auckland for slaughter and the processed Luke, 20, and Grace, 17, have all been involved with meat was sent back to the Waikato. the circle of life that is Wholly Cow – whether it be The Andrews’ grasped the opportunity to complete farming, working at the markets, graphic design, in their goal of being responsible for the whole beast and the shops or butchering. They are also talented and

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connection to the land Left: Wholly Cow butcher Neil Thompson.

Right: Butchers Paul Cook and Luke Andrews, with apprentice Dallas Prince.

Below: Scented beef tallow soaps made by Carrie Andrews look almost good enough to eat.

Wholly Cow founders, Tom and Carrie Andrews beside their micro-abattoir on family farm in Whitehall. All photos: Catherine Fry.

continued...

entrepreneurial in their own rights. Luke became a qualified butcher at 18 and works with their three full-time and two parttime butchers, working between the abattoir and the Cambridge shop.

Tom spends the majority of his time at the farm or abattoir and delivering meat to the Cambridge shop.

Carrie works in all areas as needed – on-farm, in the shop, admin, and coming up with ideas for making products from wastage after butchering During New Zealand’s first Covid-19 lockdown, the Andrews’ did contactless home deliveries of meat, and the Hamilton shop was not re-opened.

The farm is run sustainably, not overstocked and all animals are grass-fed. Supplements of silage have decreased since they became

independent. “We run around 150 Boer goats, up to 400 cows and around 200 sheep at any one time but we buy in 1000 lambs over a year,” says Tom. Their farm size restricts running large breeding herds, so the Andrews’ have partnered with closed Angus studs at Waiotane Farm in Hicks Bay and Huruiki Farm at Matapouri. “Twicea-year we bring in purebred Angus at around 16 months of age and grow them to around 24 months.”

During summer, additional meat is brought in from high quality suppliers approved by the Andrews’. Freedom Farm pork and Waitoa chicken are sold in the shop.

The farm has a surprisingly odourless, hot composting system which is loaded with sawdust and horse manure from local horse racing stables, and all the inedible waste from the abattoir that hasn’t got a use is added to this. During a 12-month cycle, the beds are turned and once-a-year the compost will be spread on the farm. Abattoir waste water is spread monthly.

Always creative, Carrie has developed a range of simple soaps and skin creams from the beef tallow.

Her products are, as expected, beautiful to look at, packaged sustainably and contain natural ingredients.

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz Catherine Fry

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Have we learnt the lessons from Psa? Ten years ago, the kiwifruit industry found out that it had a bacterium called Psa-V that rapidly killed kiwifruit vines.

But for the collective efforts of the

industry, Government and Plant & Food Research, this crisis could have been the end of the kiwifruit industry.

There were a number of lessons to be learnt but as with all learning, the question remains: have we really learnt these lessons?

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The first lesson was how important it is to control what crosses our borders and into New Zealand, to protect the primary sector and, as we know with Covid-19, people as well. The only effective control is to close the border, but as a trading nation that is not practical.

So, what we need to do is make our border as tight as possible. Achieving that has fallen to a partnership between government and industry, where decisions and costs are shared should there be an incursion, but the responsibility for the border remains with the Government. This partnership is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Queensland fruit fly is an example of a pest that gets into New Zealand every few years. And, each time we have had an incursion, government and industry have worked to eradicate it. The animal sector has been battling Mycoplasma bovis at some enormous cost and it would seem from the reports that M. bovis will be eradicated. That is the gold standard.

Most pests and pathogens cannot be eradicated once here. They stay, and growers and farmers have to learn to live with them and somehow control them. Psa is one of those pathogens. It is here to stay and costs thousands of dollars per hectare to control so that we can have a successful kiwifruit industry.

Increase protections

We, therefore, need to be constantly working to increase protections, at our border and pre-border.

This protection is an endless task to which we can never apply too much effort. It is also a very expensive task but not as expensive as having to fight a pest or pathogen that arrives in New Zealand and settles.

Be prepared

The second Psa lesson was, be prepared for any likely Specialising in incursion. Being prepared is difficult when there are so

ORIGINAL

Research

The third lesson goes to research into how to control pests and pathogens and the breeding of new disease resistant plant varieties.

The kiwifruit industry had and still has one of the world’s best kiwifruit breeding programmes. Out of that programme – and just in time – came some new gold varieties that were more resistant to Psa. But we always need to research new control methods, be they biopesticides or biological control agents. This research requires considerable funding and direction from the Government, supporting the industry.

Whole community

The fourth lesson was looking after the growing community – the whole community – so that it was able to manage and come out of the crisis. This is as important – if not more important – than the first three lessons. In New Zealand, we have an excellent network called the Rural Support Trust, which – supplemented by industry resources – can provide the welfare and mental health support the growing community critically needs.

In times of crisis, people step up and lead, and the Psa crisis was no exception. Across the industry, people took on leadership roles that saw the industry recover. The programmes that were put in place held the industry together and, along with new plant varieties and management techniques, have enabled the industry to recover and come back stronger than before. Through marvellous leadership, good planning and hard work, the kiwifruit industry survived.

There will be more threats in the future, and today other sectors are facing incursions and learning how to manage and deal with invading pests and pathogens.

What we must not forget are the Psa lessons.

We must not cut back on preparation and funding.

Covid-19 is teaching us that the world is a very uncertain place when it comes to human disease.

It is no different with animals and plants. Constant vigilance is required.

border. What is being done is preparation for • Zealand’s Removal / chipping of whole trees the most likely and devastating pests and pathogens.

In the case of Psa, this was not the case.

The concern remains; are we doing enough to be • prepared On site chipping for stand off pads for the next major incursion? This is where • Wood chip for sale • Orchard shelter removal • Stump removal • Woodlot marketing of all tree species many possible pests and pathogens knocking at New

THE

the Government and industry partnership becomes very important.

Spec

• Rem • On s • Woo • Orc • Stum • Woo

KIWIFRUIT

Page 9

Economic benefits of Farm Environment Plans natural recycling process.” To further reduce run-off and leaching, grassed areas 10 metres wide flank both sides of the stream.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has donated plants and neighbours in the catchment have now begun planting the stream banks too.

When it comes to preparing a FEP, Phillipa advises starting with a map of the orchard or farm and identifying critical source areas for water, sediment and nutrient runoff. “Even if there is no permanent waterway on the property,

with the usually high rainfall in the Bay of Plenty there will always be leaching and runoff.”

Project Parore has government funding to support water quality improvements within the Northern Tauranga Harbour catchment.

If growers in the catchment would like to get involved, they can contact Christina Robinson by emailing: christina.robinson@zespri.com or Braden Rowson by emailing: braden.rowson@boprc.govt.nz Elaine Fisher

To help reduce run-off and leaching, grassed areas 10m wide flank both sides of the stream on Stephen Kenna and Phillipa Wright’s KWKiwi Orchard.

Orchard management practices that enhance the natural environment can bring economic benefit, ensure growers meet new legal requirements and also the demands of international consumers, say Phillipa Wright and Stephen Kenna of KWKiwi Orchard.

“It’s vital that consumers have confidence in how we grow our fruit. Our underlying philosophy is we want to be good custodians of the land, the environment and implement sustainable management practices.”

The couple have been doing just that since the 1980s and now, as part of the work of the Project Parore catchment group to improve water quality in the northern Tauranga Harbour region, are preparing a Farm Environment Plan for their Ongare Point kiwifruit orchards.

While the plan will formally record the years of work that has gone into enhancing the Ongare Point orchard’s environment, having a FEP is also in line with the Government’s Essential Freshwater Strategy and Zespri’s new standards.

Managing water runoff

The orchard near Katikati is challenging when it comes to managing water run-off and nutrient leaching. The 10 hectares includes flat land close to the road, very steep southern-facing blocks leading to a stream in the middle, and steep north-facing blocks on the other side.

“This is one of the steepest kiwifruit orchards around, which means we have to think about how we manage it properly,” says Phillipa.

Stephen’s family bought the bare land in 1980 and over time developed it into an orchard. Stephen and Phillipa took over in 1989. After growing a variety of fruits including Hayward, Hort16A and Tomua kiwifruit, persimmons, nashi and tamarillos, today it produces SunGold kiwifruit.

One of their management decisions was to allow the grass sward under the vines to grow long, and as a

result they haven’t applied fungicides or weed sprays for 25 years. “The effect of long grass is to reduce fungal loading, sclerotinia in particular,” says Stephen.

“If ‘weed’ plants are not causing an economic problem in the canopy or health and safety issues for people, you are better off to leave the sward to grow.

“A bare weed sprayed strip has reduced soil biology but is also affecting some of the most important soils in the orchard, as it is directly under the feeder root zone for the vines. If it is not compacted by tractors, mowers and sprayers that area has the highest water infiltration effect.”

Soil biology

Phillipa is of the belief that having good soil biology and micro-organisms has the potential to improve the taste and flavour of their fruit. “That makes sense if you look at the grape analogy where different soils produce different flavours.” More than that, the longer sward – which does get cut occasionally – TRACTORS slows runoff MATAMATA & MACHINERY of both water and nutrients.

Around 25 years ago, Stephen and Phillipa began planting a mix of native plants along the banks of the ‘drain’ which runs through their property to the Tauranga Harbour. “It arises as a spring near the start of Ongare Point Rd and we refer to it as the Ongare Point waterway,” says Phillipa.

The canopy of trees on both sides of the waterway has increased birdlife, served to protect the stream banks, reduce water and nutrient run-off and also lower the water temperature, enhancing life in the MATAMATA TRACTORS & MACHINERY stream. “We have measured the temperature coming in and going out and there’s a one-degree drop.

“Cooler water has more oxygen than warmer, benefiting stream life including native koura [freshwater crayfish],” says Stephen.

Natural recycling process

The plants also help mitigate runoff and protect the soil. “Plants, especially those with large root systems will sequester carbon, improve the soil structure and hold back runoff of sediment and fertiliser. It is a more

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 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.

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.

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

To contact us: Phone: 021 907 621 E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz 113 Broadway, Matamata

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

To contact us: Phone: 021 907 621 E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz

KIWIFRUIT

Page 10

1818 TAIRUA-WHITIANGA ROAD

Whitianga

1818tairua-whitianga.co.nz

SUBSTANTIAL AVOCADO & KIWIFRUIT PRODUCTION BLOCK This substantial 37ha (more or less) production block has genuine scale and diversity through a combination of 5 ca/ha mature Hass avocados trees, 11.05 ca/ha of Gold 3 and 3.5 ca/ha Green kiwifruit plantings.

Located only 20 minutes from Whitianga or the quaint white sands of Hahei, Cathedral Cove, Cooks or Hot Water Beach, and all the splendours Coromandel has to offer.

This premium north facing, easy to manage, flat contour horticulture land with high quality Waihi ash soil is well sheltered with high annual rainfall.

There is a consented bore, reservoir pond, large load out area and loads of support buildings - multiple sheds, smoko room, office and a 193sqm (approx.) family home, perfect for an orchard manager.

Dedicated orchard staff/team who are keen to stay on.

The orchard has direct access to Waiwawa River, which provides water to the reservoir and a great fishing and swimming spot or to launch the boat.

The lifestyle here promises so much; a quality orchard experience on a substantial scale, combined with great country living on a riverside site just minutes to so many great Coromandel beaches.

For further information or to inspect this exceptional horticulture property, contact Durrelle Green (The Green Team) - Orchard and Rural Specialist, today.

Durrelle Green Orchard and Rural Specialist 027 949 3725 | durrelle.green@eves.co.nz HMH Ltd, EVES Katikati & Waihi, Licensed under the REAA 2008

KIWIFRUIT

Page 11

Advance your career An exciting new programme is available for people working in horticulture to advance their careers and take on management roles.

benefit by having experienced technical specialists with the skills to optimise workplace efficiency and lift the competitive edge of their organisations.

Work and study The New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Students are expected to remain employed during Production is a Level 6 NZQA-accredited the university-level programme, with course content course available online and nationwide through M7040 SUHD - WITH QVX26 delivered online to fit around their work.

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5-year extend warranty 5-year extend 5-year warranty extend warranty F O R F3I 6N AMNOCNET H S * students who gain their qualification “We’re thrilled to be supporting F O R 3 6 M O N T H S* across the MGX Series while remaining in their place of work. working professionals fulfil their passion for across the MGX Series FINANCE PROVIDED BY It partners with the Primary ITO to deliver horticulture by equipping them with the skills they’ll 07 573 9107 0707 573573 9107 9107 U DFINANCE C F I N A PROVIDED N C E L I M IBY TED P.A. P.A. P.A. 4 Te Puke Quarry 4 Road, Te 4 Te Puke Te Puke Puke Quarry Quarry Road, Road, Te Te Puke Puke courses for the Horticultural Apprenticeship need to operate at a more senior level.”

UDC FINANCE LIMITED www.rrtractors.co.nz www.rrtractors.co.nz www.rrtractors.co.nz programme and provide tuition for the NZ KUBOTA.CO.NZ KUBOTA.CO.NZ KUBOTA.CO.NZ FINANCE F I N A N C FEI N A N C E Certificate in Horticulture and Horticultural Business savvy F O R 3 6 M O FNO TR H S3*6 FMOORN3T6H M S *O N T H S * Production (Levels 3-4).

Horticulture is New Zealand’s fourth largest export across the MGX across Series the across MGX the Series MGX Series The He Turanga Mo Te Mahi programme supports industry and is worth $7 billion to the economy.

16-19 year olds who aren’t engaged in education FINANCE PROVIDED FINANCE BY PROVIDED FINANCE PROVIDED BY BY About 60 per cent of New Zealand’s total U D C F I N A N C EU D L ICM FI TI N ED AUN DCCE FLI N I MAINTC ED E LIMITED or employment. From this, 90 per cent of students horticultural production is exported to more than continue studying, or are offered employment in 124 countries. Kiwifruit alone accounts for close to horticulture. The Vakameasina programme is delivered $2 billion in export earnings. Participants in Fruition to seasonal workers from Pacific countries during their Horticulture’s Level 6 programme will focus on the stay in New Zealand and teaches literacy, numeracy, specialist requirements for ‘process improvement’ health and the Road Code. for meeting domestic and international market Sandy says the Level 6 programme demonstrates requirements. The industry’s demand for innovative Fruition’s commitment to upskilling people who solutions means the course will also develop students’ have a love for horticulture, wherever they are on ability to assess the merit of products or technologies so they can be introduced to a horticultural workplace. their journey.

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TRAVEL/HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS

Page 12

Kiwi signal ‘must-drives’ this summer The lower South Island is on the top of Kiwi’s domestic travel to-do list as we accept international boarder restrictions and look forward to a summer at home.

A survey conducted by Budget New Zealand found four of the top five road trips on Kiwi’s to-do lists were in the lower South Island, with nearly three quarters, or 74 per cent, of responses including the roadie from Wanaka to Westport in their top five, indicating people are eager to experience the rugged West Coast.

Queenstown to Milford Sound via Te Anau grabbed 67 per cent, the stint from Christchurch to

Queenstown got 65 per cent, and the mighty Southern Scenic Route 66 per cent.

The Southern Scenic Route is a tourist highway linking Queenstown, Fiordland, Te Anau and the iconic Milford Road to Dunedin via Riverton, Invercargill and The Caitlins.

Covering 610km, the route covers plenty of natural and cultural attractions, including deserted beaches, lush rainforest, pristine lakes, and stunning mountain vistas.

The only North Island road trip ranking in the top five is the must-do Cape Reinga roadie, garnering 62 per cent. This drive takes you to the top of the country, with white

sandy beaches on the way.

The survey also found both locals and visitors love touristy activities with nearly 30 per cent of New Zealanders citing Fox and

Franz Josef Glaciers as an activity that they’ve never gotten around to, followed by whale watching at 17 per cent.

Budget NZ’s Lee Marshall says it is encouraging to see Kiwis are taking up the opportunity to travel domestically. “It’s been a tough time for the travel industry, so it’s great to see that Kiwis are happily hitting the road to explore our backyard while overseas travel is limited.

“We know a lot of Kiwis have had to cancel travel plans this year but are instead visiting parts of our country they’ve never seen before and supporting local tourism and hospitality operators – which is great.”

DOC offers more online booking for campsites and huts The Department of Conservation has opened an additional 43 campsites and eight huts for online bookings in time for the upcoming summer holidays.

“Visitors are now able to book, pay and manage their reservation for a broader range of campsites and huts through the DOC website,” says DOC’s strategy and insights manager Tim Bamford.

“Providing individuals, groups and families confidence their accommodation is sorted and secured before arrival will enable more Kiwis to take advantage of their conservation accommodation facilities and provide a fairer system for all.”

DOC manages a huge network of accommodation in conservation areas across New Zealand, with most operated on a firstcome first-served basis.

However, some huts and many campsites can now be booked in advance online. This helps DOC manage popular facilities and encourages greater use of the facilities by a wide range of people, particularly families.

“Another advantage of the booking service is, in advance of their trip we can provide customers with safety information, track updates and if the reservation is affected by bad weather, other natural events or any cancelations due to potential Covid-19 alert level changes,” says Tim. “Our bookings and track counter data shows New Zealanders’ desire to get out into our great outdoors has been, and continues to be, strong, with significant peaks on weekends and holidays in many places. “[So] We’d encourage people to plan ahead and book early – particularly for the

Christmas period and long weekends.

“Despite border restrictions, we’re seeing many DOC facilities remain busy this year and bookings are currently up nine per cent for our Great Walks, compared with the same time last year, even with reduced seasons on the popular Milford and Routeburn tracks.

"It’s extremely pleasing to see so many Kiwis enjoying their conservation areas. For those trying new activities and visiting new corners of stunning Aotearoa, it’s even more vital you plan and prepare for your trip, check the DOC website, pop into the local visitor centre, know the weather and track conditions before you set off, tell someone your plans and pack all you need.”

To start booking and create an account, see: bookings.doc.govt.nz

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DAIRY

The importance of growing clover There are differences between farms. Size and contour vary, as does the type and number of animals grazed.

However, whether dryland or irrigated, there is one constant – the necessity of nitrogen for pasture growth.

The air we breathe is 78 per cent nitrogen, so there is no shortage.

A limitless resource can be taken for granted, particularly when there is no cost, as we tend to value only stuff we have to pay for.

An abundance of plant-available nitrogen is essential for profitable farming and many pastoral farmers have opted to buy it on a regular, even monthly, basis while others seldom if ever do.

Those not purchasing nitrogen ensure they have enough to meet their requirements by appreciating that clover fixes nitrogen, and manage and fertilise their pastures accordingly.

That knowledge and those skills have been passed down since long before the time when urea became readily Spot the four-leafed available. That started clover plant. in the late 1980s and therefore its widespread adoption is relatively recent.

The amount of nitrogen that can be applied is 190kgN/ha/year, which is 40kg less than the average on intensive dairy farms. Some farmers will already be figuring out how to lower their inputs, while others are trying to decide if they can cut it out completely in contemplation of a steadily sinking lid.

Many of the farmers using clover, and clover alone, to supply their nitrogen requirements are not ‘organic’, and are growing more pasture annually than their neighbours, and have been for at least the last 20 years.

Clover and bloat are often linked in people’s minds, with good reason. However, that doesn’t have to be the case.

Bloat is often related to feed rich in potassium relative to sodium, and extra fertiliser potassium is not recommended unless soil and leaf tests show pasture growth is limited by a lack of potassium.

Extra calcium in the form of lime provides the calcium necessary to grow large-leafed long-stemmed clover that animals thrive best on. And because clovers naturally contain little sodium, having salt available will further reduce the likelihood of bloat.

Functional Fertiliser developed the product CalciZest 20 years ago, which contains lime, soft carbon and a wide range of selected beneficial fungi and bacteria.

CalciZest is often applied at this time of the year at 300-400kg/ ha through conventional groundspread equipment, or by aircraft, to ensure optimum clover growth during summer and autumn.

For information on grazing management, call Peter on 0800 843 809.

Higher feed value

One of the other reasons for potentially superior farm performance is the higher feed value of clover relative to grasses particularly from November to May. The calcium content of clover is often two per cent and as high as 2.5 per cent when fully mature. Grasses typically contain no more than 0.6 per cent – which is one-third to one-quarter of a healthy clover plant.

Farmers dependent on fattening lambs appreciate the fact that lambs fatten most rapidly on a cloverdominant pasture.

Calcium is a requirement for bone growth and clover contains calcium that is immediately available for frame growth due to its digestibility, particularly during late-spring and summer; the period when young animals grow most rapidly.

The time that an animal spends grazing is distinctly hereditary. Even when presented with extra highquality pasture the grazing time does not greatly increase and therefore total intake is highest when feed is most digestible.

Energy is an important factor, and at almost any time during the year animal performance lifts with more energy in the diet.

Soluble sugars

Clover nearly always contains more soluble sugars as measured by a refractometer, a hand-held easily operated device that provides valuable, real-time data.

Soluble sugar levels are lowest overnight and first thing in the morning.

As sunlight increases, the energy (brix level) of pasture lifts peaking usually in early afternoon.

GRUNDFOS ®

Page 13

DAIRY

Page 14

Total Replacement Therapy – 12 months on Twelve months ago, we launched a project that we felt had enormous potential to not only improve the future of farming in New Zealand but mitigate some of the critical issues facing the industry today.

We called it Total Replacement Therapy. The project’s over-arching purpose is to help farmers: help them tackle the issues that are facing the future of farming in New Zealand, particularly mitigating water pollution, with our key focus reducing synthetic nitrogen use.

Reducing synthetic nitrogen is a crucial component of most of the regenerative farming methods that have surfaced over recent years, as New Zealand and overseas countries race after regenerative ideas like greyhounds after a rabbit.

Consider your goals

These methods of farming are heavily based on Gabe Brown’s teachings in the United States and it is certainly one valid road you can go down to get to where you want to go.

However, before you jump in boots and all it is worth considering exactly what it is you are trying to achieve in the first place. Different methods may get you to the same end, but the journey is going to be very different.

Total Replacement Therapy targets dairy farmers in particular, although it certainly works for any landbased operations.

Our demonstration farm at Whakatane has been the centre point of the programme. Between the commencement of the trial in October 2019 and autumn 2020, we focused on gathering data; and from April 2020 onward, we promoted what we had Authorised Dealers Authorised Dealers

• Dairy Shed installations and upgrades • Service and parts for all types of milking machines • Drench pumps, teat spray systems, hoses and supplies • Machine Testing • Effluent and Irrigation Supplies • Pumps & Water fittings – Galvanised, PVC and Alkathene • Rubberware • Stainless Steel manufacture and repair • Trenching

achieved through social media, newspaper articles, a field day in July and two further discussion groups on-farm.

Remarkable changes

One year on, the changes we have seen on the demonstration farm are unmistakable.

Alan Law entered the trial using 180 units of synthetic nitrogen and reduced that to 70 units of N by the end of last season. This season, he is on track to reduce N to our target of 30 units. With the soil balanced, synthetic nitrogen greatly reduced and the planting of a variety of pasture species, Alan was ready to move on to the next part of the process – fine-tuning his grazing and feed management systems.

Alan’s herd is now on a 30-day grazing rotation and we are seeing some remarkable changes in his pasture.

He is grazing his ryegrass to the fifth leaf stage and witnessing a longer rootzone, which absorbs more nutrients.

Alan is letting the pasture grow to 3200kgDM, strategically dropping out paddocks that are longer and cutting them for silage instead of using topping as a grazing management tool.

All these aspects coming together result in a system that is better for the farm, the environment, the grass, the cows and the farmer. Best of all, it has all been done with no downtime, and no loss of profit or production.

Something that has become apparent along the way has been the importance of following the process in the

right order: if you try to change the management system before you change the soil, you won’t see the results you are looking for.

The soil on Alan’s farm only required a small amount of adjusting before it was balanced, but of the 20 farms currently on the TRT programme, there are some that are requiring more soil balancing before they can move forward in the eight-step process.

The good news is that the farms in the earlier stages of the programme are getting the same results we saw on the demonstration farm: easy reduction of synthetic N, extra grass growth and rapid recovery of pasture when coming out of winter or a dry spell.

Consistent and repeatable

Over the next 12 months, we plan to build on what we have already achieved. A major focus is to ensure the results farmers are seeing continue to be consistent and repeatable – so if an entire catchment wanted to undertake Total Replacement Therapy, we can be confident they will get the same result.

With our new government, there is already increased urgency to achieve their clean water reforms.

As a result, farmers will need a proven, step-by-step method to adjust to the new expectations, which is mainly to reduce chemical fertilisers - particularly chemical, water soluble fertilisers – and synthetic nitrogen.

For help to achieve these expectations, visit: totalreplacementtherapy.com

DAIRY

Page 15

Zero antibiotic use for mastitis

Probiotic Revolution’s founder Chris Collier “It was well established that the has devised a programme that will help dairy ongoing use of BioRumen DFM, a direct fed microbial was helping to farmers stop using antibiotics for mastitis. reduce Somatic Cell Counts, but

John McCarty, who milks 330 cows at Kaponga, has adopted the Probiotic Revolution programme.

farmers still had to deal with clinical cases and use dry cow therapy.”

Chris started by using a potent dose of probiotics, SuperStart Lead feed, to springers. This stimulates cows’ appetite prior to calving and helps negate sub-clinical ketosis – which is correlated to calving mastitis.

“One farmer with up to 30 per cent heifer mastitis reduced this to two per cent,” says Chris.

“It’s also successfully used by adding it to springers’ water troughs, which opens up widespread use to most dairy farmers.”

Clinical cases are then treated with a five-day treatment – ImmunoMax. Best results have been obtained

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when it is combined with the ongoing use of BioRumen, says Chris.

“We are convinced that cows on BioRumen, as well as ImmunoMax, will have an advantage over ImmunoMax alone. Immune function takes time to be bolstered.

“With the improved base immunity Ezi-flo pit gates completely Ezi-flo pit gates completely clear exit ways and cannot of a herd on BioRumen, the extra clear exit ways and be touched by cowscannot leaving be touched bythe cows leaving milking area. boost from ImmunoMax will have a the milking area. greater and longer-lasting effect.”

The fully galvanised gates The final key to being antibiotic-free are available in kitset for The fully galvanised gates is to use ImmunoMax at drying-off. speedy are available in installation kitset for “Again the best results were when speedy installation it is used with the other treatments 0800 226974 advocated by Probiotic Revolution,” 2 C OW S H E D says Chris.

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Cattle showing to ignite dairy careers A quiet residential street in the Waikato town of Pirongia is home to two teenagers who are both eager to become dairy farmers.

been such an amazing mentor. I look forward to spending time on the farm.”

Wendy is on the board of Holstein Friesian NZ and involved in advancing genetics in the sector.

This has provided Jay Seebeck, Jay and Brad with 15, and Brad opportunities Seager, 17, live to help prepare next door to each and lead dairy other and swap cattle at A&P sale catalogues Shows. They’ve featuring dairy gained skills in cattle. “It’s quite animal husbandry, handy being able showmanship to walk out the and nutrition; door and pass the and even started catalogues over acquiring their Jay Seebeck with Crozier the fence once I’ve own dairy cattle.

Meridian Santiago. read them,” says “I bought my last Jay. He’s a Year 11 calf club calf off student at Te Awamutu College.

Wendy and David. I paid for grazing He spends school holidays and when she was young,” says Jay. weekends working on the Te Awamutu The cow, Westell Aftershock Seatle, dairy farm of David and Wendy Harker. last year had a heifer he named Crozier The couple milk 405 mainly Holstein Meridian Santiago. A photo of Jay and Friesian cows on 252 hectares and own Santiago clipped and showring-ready the stud Westell Holsteins. “I get to help was runner-up in the senior section of feed, shift and milk cows, and collect the recent national competition run by newborn calves. That is a busy time of Holstein Friesian NZ. the season on-farm,” says Jay. Brad Seager and his heifer Westell He met Wendy a decade ago when he Alcove Lacey placed first. Wendy and took one of the couple’s heifers to his David gave Jay another calf this year and school’s calf club day. It helped cement he owns a cow at Tim Barclay’s dairy his career goal. “My grandparents are farm. He purchased another calf with farmers. They used to operate a dairy fellow teen breeder and classmate Boyd farm and that’s where I discovered my Ferguson last year. “That’s four-and-alove for dairy cows,” says Jay. half dairy cattle. I’m keen to continue “I’ve been so fortunate that Wendy has building my numbers,” says Jay.

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Use BioRumen DFM (Direct Fed Microbial) to milkers.

Improved feed conversion Noticeably better fibre digestion Reduced acidosis Improves cows base immunity - results of using probiotic treatments for mastitis is then improved

A powerful probiotic for easier calving and reducing calving mastitis.

“We used to get up to 30% heifer mastitis. Now we are unlucky if we get 2-4%.” - Stewart, Pahiatua

5 Continue to use other proven management practices to prevent mastitis and boost herd immunity: Supplement with minerals, including minerals that are vital to the immune system such as Selenium and Zinc Ensure milking machines are running efficiently Teat spraying milkers Cull clinical cases that don’t respond to treatment Continue traditional treatments for highest cell count cows at drying off

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3 Treat clinical mastitis with ImmunoMax - 5 days “Last season I treated 25 cows. One had to be treated twice so we culled her.” - John, Kaponga

4 Use ImmunoMax on medium - high SCC cows for 5 days at drying off.

- Helps to populate the udder with mastitis inhibiting bacteria.

“We trough treated 77 cows at drying-off and this spring the herds SCC was around 125,000 so I am going to use it again this season.”

John, Kaponga

FEED MANAGEMENT

Page 16

Better weather and time for a break for farmers followed up later on with a cut of hay. Or, they may need to just top the paddocks to keep the pasture quality up.

We had some welcome rain over the last couple of weeks.

The land was starting to get quite dry, so the downpours certainly helped freshen things up and get the grass growing again.

Carbon emissions

Forecasters are reasonably confident that we’ll have a La Nina pattern in December and January, predicting normal to slightly above normal rainfall for that period.

A couple of cyclones may be coming out of the tropics later in summer, which usually gives farmers relief by bringing rainfall in the dryer months.

So it may be a reasonable growing season compared to last year’s very dry conditions.

But while the summer forecast is positive, we don’t know what autumn is going to bring.

Maize and turnip crops

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We’re side dressing nitrogen on maize and turnip crops at the moment, six weeks on from sowing and planting. We’re undertaking a follow up postemergence weed spray on those crops at the same time.

With a bit of moisture, the nitrogen will give the maize a bit of a kick along and keep the crop growing nicely until it’s time to harvest.

Turnip crops probably need an additional one or two weed sprays with insecticide in it to keep the leaf miner, white butterflies and army caterpillars at bay.

Farmers are still making quite a bit of silage at the moment. That lot of rain was helpful to farms on high country, giving them the opportunity to cut some silage after many were short of feed.

Depending on what summer does, this will be

At the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards, they talked about planting around wetlands to improve water quality on-farm.

But I think it pays to keep in mind that the positive effects of doing this go further than water quality, planting counteracts carbon emissions, provides shade for cattle and helps beautify the farm, too. If some wetlands are a bit boggy and messy they can be fenced off and planted with some flaxes and native trees.

The market is demanding to know the amount of carbon emissions created from the products they import. So going forward, we’ve got to make sure they’re well aware of what our carbon footprint is.

We’re pretty good here in New Zealand, because we are mostly all-grass farmers and don’t rely a lot on supplementary feeds compared to other countries, that rely heavily on imported farm feed to feed their animals in hard times.

So while we have to be aware of keeping our green image, we’re off to a pretty good start.

Take a break

After months of calving and feeding out, this is the time for farmers and their families to take a welldeserved break off the farm.

Everyone needs time to recharge their batteries to maintain good mental health going into the year ahead.

It’s also a good time to reflect on the year of 2020.

Covid-19 has thrown all sorts of curve balls, but we can count ourselves very lucky that we live in New Zealand. So Merry Christmas and a happy New Year – and here’s to a prosperous 2021.

Feed that meets the standards FeedSafeNZ is a quality assurance accreditation programme operated by the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association.

FeedSafeNZ provides a set of production standards for the manufacture of animal feed.

The NZFMA is encouraging all farmers to look for the FeedSafeNZ mark to guarantee that the feed they buy is certified to contain what is says it does.

When farmers buy FeedSafe, they can be assured that they are buying the best quality feed and safeguarding the industry too, given it is one that is almost wholly reliant on manufactured stock feed.

To achieve FeedSafeNZ

accreditation, feed manufacturers are required to undergo annual site audits, which are conducted by the independent third-party auditor, AsureQuality.

The FeedSafeNZ programme is not new, having been introduced in 2015, but NZFMA executive director Michael Brooks says “it has never been more important to have independent, audited standards on our locally manufactured animal feed”.

Only FeedSafeNZ accredited sites are permitted to use the FeedSafeNZ logo on their packaging and other materials. You can find a full list of all accredited animal feed producers or check the brand Quality assured feed is the best option you buy, by visiting: for the health of the flock. nzfma.org.nz/feedsafe-nz

FEED MANAGEMENT

Page 17

Cows getting their greens Mark Speake in one of his maize paddocks. Photo: Steve Edwards.

A Waikato farmer has created a ‘salad bowl’ for his cows’ dining pleasure.

Mark Speake, who runs 96ha with a 245 Friesiancross herd near Cambridge, plants a variety of crops to help counter the challenges of his peat property.

Maize and rape are the main ingredients in a recipe developed by Mark, who owns the farm with wife Fiona, with some chicory mixed in with the regular pasture. Mark has been on the property – previously owned by his father – for 20 years, graduating from sharemilker to owner.

After experimenting with turnips and sorghum, he turned to maize for energy, and rape for protein.

“It provides good summer growth,” says Mark.

“The cows love the different flavours and mix.”

Planting for both is undertaken in October, with 6ha hectares in maize and 4ha in rape. With its long root system, Mark says chicory provides a good mix on peat soil with his red and white clover. This combination is used in eight paddocks, with chicory seed added to regular fertiliser application “every now and then” to keep up balance. “With peat you have to play to its strengths and weaknesses,” says Mark. “It’s a balancing act. You hope for the best and plan for the worst.”

With one staff member, Mark has also put on a tonne of lime a year for the last nine years to lift the pH level of the soil. The maize is silorated and fed directly onto pasture, with the rape strip-grazed, both usually starting in February. Mark says the crop/pasture cycle

is rotated around the property every two years.

Paddocks for cropping are identified in September, then sprayed, cultivated and planted.

Hay is also brought in as a winter supplement from a nearby run-off at Maungatautari, while the cows’ mixed diet is completed with a palm kernel extract feeder in the 25-aside herringbone. Mark says cows get 1kg each at their morning milking in spring, going up to about 4kg in summer and winter.

For the five years he’s recorded farm statistics, including pasture growth, crop rotation and milk production, while getting regular soil tests, Mark estimates his herd is producing at least 10 per cent more milk than they would be on normal peat pasture.

He annually reviews “what went well and what didn’t”.

Steve Edwards

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Post-harvest facility prepares for Stage 4 expansion Bay of Plenty confidence in the kiwifruit industry’s export growth is fuelling Mount Pack & Cool’s plans to charge ahead with new investment in innovation and increased packing and storage capacity at its 6.5ha site at the Tauriko Business Estate.

In January, the privately-owned company will start work on its fourth stage of development which, when complete, will make it the largest individual postharvest site in New Zealand, with the capacity to handle 24 million trays of Class 1 kiwifruit by 2022.

General manager Brendon Lee says Mount Pack & Cool’s rapid growth reflected the industry’s and Zespri’s positive market outlook and was also a sign of growers’ confidence in the company’s ability to deliver strong returns year after year.

Futureproofed

“Growers can see we have an amazing facility and our results speak for themselves.

“As growers are also increasing production volumes on orchards, they’re looking to partner with us because they can see we’ve futureproofed for growth and greater capacity, which is critical for them at harvest time.”

The state-of-the-art facility has been operating at Tauriko since May 2018 and now has three seasons under its belt, packing kiwifruit for growers across the Bay of Plenty.

It opened with a 25,000m2 custom-designed bin curing room and packhouse, 10 coolstores and eight Controlled Atmosphere coolstores. In May this year, work was completed on an additional 10 coolstores and six pre-coolers as part of the facility’s Stage 3

Green kiwifruit and eight million trays of Gold.

This year about one-third of the volume packed will be from orchards which Mount Pack & Cool’s sister company, GroPlus, manages year-round.

The remaining two-thirds will be from growers who manage their own orchards and sign up annually to have Mount Pack & Cool pack their crop.

Some Green kiwifruit orchards are being converted to Gold fruit and, while Zespri continues to release 700ha of SunGold licences each year, Brendon expects the company to handle even more gold fruit in future.

Packhouse for Gold fruit

For this reason, its Stage 4 plans include the commissioning of a packhouse purpose-built for Gold kiwifruit.

Temperature and humidity will be carefully controlled inside the packhouse to preserve the fruit quality as it moves through the facility and out of controlled atmosphere environments.

Next year Mount Pack & Cool expects to employ about 500 seasonal staff, in addition to 100 permanent staff.

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

Above: Mount Pack & Cool general manager Brendon Lee. Left: Mount Pack & Cool stages of development at its Tauriko site.

Stage 4 plans include the commissioning of a packhouse purpose-built for Gold kiwifruit. development. The 10,000m2 building and load-out canopy increased Mount Pack & Cool’s coolstore capacity by a further 2.3 million trays.

Stage 4 will feature another technically advanced packhouse and bin curing room, 17 CA stores and four additional coolstores.

Brendon says the company had experienced significant growth in three years, having gone from harvesting six million trays in 2018 to 12 million trays in 2020.

Next year Mount Pack & Cool expects to handle at least 15 million trays, including seven million

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EDUCATION/TUITION

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But, after a year driving almost three hours to work in New Plymouth, she was ready to work at home with husband, Tim, on his parent’s 1200ha sheep farm at Tokirima, west of Taumarunui.

This is the first farm Monique has lived on – let alone worked on – so there was an intimidating amount to learn.

Determined to be an active part of running the farm, she took an Agri-Women’s Development Trust pilot course. Eight years and three kids later, she’s graduated from three AWDT programmes.

“I went into the course looking to gain more knowledge, but what I didn’t expect is the amount of confidence it has given me,” says Monique.

“Now, I happily contribute to meetings with the accountant, and can ask questions without feeling silly.

“It’s a great feeling.”

This year Monique completed the AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business course, which teaches business planning. It was good timing –

Monique and Tim purchased the farm just a few months ago.

“The course basically broke everything down and made it understandable for someone who isn’t from a farm. It took away the scariness of trying to read the accounts and things like that.”

AWDT’s offer several programmes nationwide, including a Future Focus course to help sheep and beef farmers cope with changes in the sector. Each course runs several full-day workshops during two-four months.

AWDT’s industry partnerships with organisations including Red Meat Profit Partnership, make courses free of charge, or heavily subsidised.

“A wide range of people took the UYBC course, from people looking to diversify their land, to school teachers who just wanted to understand the farm so they could discuss it with their husbands at the dinner table.

“I thought walking into a room full of women could be quite intimidating, but we were all in the same boat. It was such a welcoming environment – I never felt judged.”

Due to good timing, courses were relatively undisrupted by Covid-19 and now have a distance learning option.

Monique says the biggest supporter of her ag education is her husband. “Tim has been incredible.

“He’s a really hands-on Dad and takes the kids on the farm with him when I need to study.

“He always encourages me when it comes to my career and finding what I’m passionate about.

“He grew up on the farm, but still sees the value in the knowledge I’m gaining.”

Monique isn’t done yet, either.

She’s just started a bachelor of business, majoring in agri-business via distance learning at the Southern Institute of Technology.

“ADWT gave me the confidence to take it even further. I’m excited to see what the future will bring.”

More information about AWDT courses is at: awdt.org.nz/programmes MacKenzie Dyer

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FERTILISER

Page 21

Is our food still thy medicine?

“Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.” Hippocrates coined the phrase almost 2500 years ago. Today, this phrase raises questions.

Many nutrients are essential for life, and an adequate amount of nutrients in the diet is necessary for providing energy, building and maintaining body organs, and for various metabolic processes. People depend on nutrients in their diet because the human body is not able to produce many of these nutrients – or it cannot produce them in adequate amounts. Nutrients are essential to the human diet.

Omitting the nutrient from the diet leads to a nutritional deficiency and a decline in health.

its thiamine. Of the seven key nutrients measured, only niacin levels have increased.

The report went on to examine data, from the United States Department of Agriculture involving vegetable quality, which showed during the 20th Century the average mineral content of such vegetables as cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes declined by 87.5 per cent.

Composition changes

In 2004 a report in the ‘Journal of the American College of Nutrition’ examined 43 crops for composition

Green revolution

Since the birth of agriculture, farmers have typically measured their farming success by the weight of their crops, not the quality. Many methods can increase crop yields through means like chemical weed and pest control, irrigation, fertilisation and plant breeding.

Significantly, increased yields of wheat, rice, and maize, resulted in the ‘Green Revolution’ of the 1960-1970s.

Unfortunately, it was noticed that increased yields involved reduced quality and concentrations of some nutrients.

During recent years a growing number of reports have appeared which conclude that today’s foods are not as nutritious as those from the past. A report in the ‘Journal of Complimentary Medicine’ in 2001 states US and UK Government statistics show a decline in trace minerals of up to 76 per cent in fruit and vegetables during the period 1940 to 1991. In 2003, News Canada reported that today’s fruit and vegetables contain far fewer nutrients than 50 years ago.

The study found that the average potato has lost 100 per cent of its vitamin A (eyesight), 57 per cent of its vitamin C (immune system) and iron (blood), 28 per cent of its calcium (bones, teeth), 50 per cent of its riboflavin and 18 per cent of

changes from 1950 to 1999.

The conclusion was that there were significant declines for six nutrients.

The declines were observed in protein (six per cent), calcium, phosphorous, iron, riboflavin (38 per cent) and ascorbic acid. The UK publication ‘Food Magazine’ published an analysis of food quality changes in the UK during the period 1940-2002. The analysis was based on the food composition tables published on a regular basis

by McCance and Widdowson. In an analysis of milk, it was concluded that the iron content had fallen 62 per cent, magnesium, 21 per cent and the copper content had disappeared.

With magnesium, levels fell in from four per cent to 70 per cent in almost all foods. The calcium and iron were reduced dramatically in every instance.

For example, the iron content of a beef rump steak fell 55 per cent.

Many studies worldwide have concluded that a large percentage of people are lacking in many nutrients.

Perhaps the largest analysis is presented in the US national and state statistics.

It is clear that a large percentage of the US population is deficient in a wide

variety of nutrients. For example, across the entire US population, 68 per cent failed to meet the recommendation for magnesium, 91.4 per cent for fibre consumption, 85.9 per cent for vitamin E intake, and 48.3 per cent for the vitamin C requirement.

FERTILISER

Page 22

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Targeted aerial fert applications In a recent discussion with a Hawke’s Bay drystock farmer, who had suffered terrible stock losses from the drought earlier this year, he mentioned to me that for his steep hill country farm it was no longer worth fertilising.

He believed his farm was more challenged by moisture rather than nutrients, and when the rain and climate were conducive to growing grass, it would grow anyway. He also emphasised the fact that if he came to sell his farm, it would probably go into trees for carbon sequestration as with current and pending environmental legislation, livestock farming on his property would be uneconomic.

can be applied to specific parts of a farm targeting known deficiencies, rather than the typical ‘one size fits all’ approach of blanketing the whole farm in one fertiliser mix at one rate.

This may be acceptable if the whole farm is showing similar fertility trends, but where there are big differences paying a little more for application costs targeting certain fertiliser nutrients where they are needed can be a worthwhile exercise.

Trials

A useful tool

On some of his northerly faces, most of the ryegrass and clovers had died out, except for patches of subterranean clover and low fertility grasses and weeds were all there was left to fertilise. Whereas on his southerly faces, some better pasture species had

Miles Pope : 0274 935 659

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survived. I suggested on these better areas he would still get good economic responses to fertiliser nutrients, and he could get the plane to target these parts of his farm.

In a phosphate trial on my own property in Taumarunui I recorded a 30 per cent increase in pasture production from a capital application of 500kg/ha of superphosphate, which was highly economic even in the first year, let alone the long-term benefits from improved fertility.

I also observed from a four-year lime trial, much greater drought resilience from raising the soil pH from 5.0 to 6.0, almost doubling annual dry matter production for this droughtprone area.

Most planes these days have variable rate application technology using Tracmap or similar programs, so if parts of the farm are less fertile these can be uploaded onto the computer system so that fertiliser can be applied heavier to those areas.

Also for those parts of a farm that are stocked higher and working harder, maintenance fertiliser on such areas is higher so could benefit from higher application rates.

Another benefit from the likes of Tracmap, is different fertiliser blends

With some private fertiliser importers selling very competitively-priced highanalysis fertilisers like triple super, MAP, DAP and feed grade dicalcium phosphate, some farmers are now using helicopters to apply these. If a nitrogen boost is required at a particular time of year, then DAP and MAP can be an attractive option.

Research by Dr Greg Lambert a number of years ago showed for some hill country pastures, the nitrogen response was just as good on infertile pasture species as it was on improved pastures, so nitrogencontaining fertilisers can be a useful tool for feed budgeting purposes.

One detrimental side of using nitrogen on hill country pastures is it increases the rate of acidification, so extra lime needs to be applied and that can be very costly when flown from a plane or helicopter compared to ground-spreading. A reason for the very good nitrogen responses on poorer hill country pastures was attributed to a lack of nitrogen from poor clover performance and the resulting carbon to nitrogen imbalance in the thatch layer at the soil surface.

So for the Hawke’s Bay farmer whose pastures had suffered a huge setback from the drought, nitrogen-based fertilisers may be his best option going forward either going into winter or coming out of it.

Robin Boom, CPAg, member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists. Phone: 027 444 8764.

FERTILISER

Page 23

New short courses to fill demand for agriculture experts As freshwater plans for farms become government-mandated, Massey University has created more agriculture short courses in order to meet the demand for training in this area.

On September 3, the Government introduced new rules under the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management – one of these changes was the requirement for almost all farms in New Zealand to have a freshwater plan.

Massey’s professor of dairy production systems Danny Donagh says these short courses move away from the traditional “hours and hours of online lectures” and will instead focus on flexibilit , new technologies and case studies.

“With many of these people already working jobs, it’s not feasible to have long, full-time courses. These short courses will help upskill and train people to feel confident in deli ering these plans.”

Building on an array of established short courses such as Sustainable

Dr Lucy Burkitt, who is leading the creation of this course, says that the teaching will introduce students to the concepts and components of a freshwater Farm Environment Plan.

“We’ll be using an online environment and digital resources to guide students through the development of a desktop Farm Environment Plan.”

More detail, including enrolments, can be found at: massey.ac.nz/~fl c/courses.html

New courses are being designed to address the demand for skilled expertise to helps farmers needing to create Farm Environment Plans.

Nutrient Management, the school has created two new courses; Introduction to New Zealand Farm Systems, and Intermediate Farm Environment Planning, with a third course, Advanced Farm Environment Planning, due to be developed in 2021.

“There was a real concern in the industry that there was a lack of people who were qualified t develop plans like this – so we set out to design courses to fill this ga .”

The group received funding to support the development of the courses from the New Zealand Fertiliser Association,

and were assisted by a reference group comprising industry and government.

Introduction to New Zealand Farm Systems is a newly-created, six-week course for those who are new to the industry and want to understand implications of their decisions further down the line.

“It’s really important to understand the farmer’s goals and values so you can actually work well with them to produce a successful plan,” says Danny.

Intermediate Farm Environmental Planning builds on important concepts for freshwater plans.

FAR celebrates 25 years in action The Foundation of Arable Research is celebrating 25 years of operation this year in its latest edition of ‘From the Ground Up’. In an excerpt, it says since FAR was formed in 1995, the average seed yield of New Zealand ryegrass crops has more than doubled... from under 1000 kg/ha to more than 2000 kg/ha.

However, research alone has no impact. Successful

extension is needed to deliver meaningful benefits.

To learn more about how far FAR has come in 25 years, see: www.far.org.nz/assets/files/blog files//8a479030-4059-5941-98e5-7ac2913a5b80.pd (Source: ‘From the Ground Up, Issue 103 Spring 2020).

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

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CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Robert recognised for huge flood protection work Hauraki farmer Robert Hicks knows more than a thing or two about flood and drainage management.

That’s why Waikato Regional Council is sad to see him ‘retire’ after 42 years from his services as a community representative on various committees and forums relating to the Waihou-Piako land drainage and flood protection scheme.

Last month, during the Waihou-Piako Flood Protection Advisory Subcommittee meeting, the council paid tribute to Robert for his outstanding contribution, commitment, knowledge and expertise.

Robert started out in 1978 as a member of the Western Drainage committee for Hauraki Plains County and finished as chair for the Waihou Piako Catchment Committee this year.

WRC river and catchment management committee chair Cr Stu Husband told Robert he had served unswervingly for more than four decades and “we are forever in his debt”.

“Your dedication has ensured the flood and drainage schemes remain in great condition, protecting thousands of hectares and people across the Hauraki Plains.

“These schemes also protect significant local, regional and national infrastructure, and your role in

P ROFESSIONAL H ARVESTING S YSTEMS

this cannot be underestimated.

“Your kind, generous nature has also enabled strong, enduring relationships to be established across a range of stakeholder and landowners. You have rightly gained huge respect and mana.”

Robert, who has farmed on the Hauraki Plains for about “60 odd years and never been flooded”, says without flood protection schemes or drainage no one would be farming or living on the Hauraki Plains.

“Most of the Piako flood scheme was built to protect the Hauraki Plains from the sea, and Robert without any protection Hicks. the water would return again and it’d be swamp again pretty quickly in the lower parts of the plains.

“I will miss being involved, especially the chance to influence outcomes for the better; also the contact with river staff and landowners.

“But it’s time for a younger person to take my place, and I’ve had a great time for the last 42 years.”

Robert says the highlights are many. They include overseeing the building of four new pump stations in northern Pouarua area, new stopbanks in Waitakaruru and Miranda areas, the review of Hauraki District Council’s land drainage classification, and the review of the Piako River classification finalised in 1997 with major changes being implemented.

“And of course, finally having the privilege of being elected chair of the Waihou-Piako Catchment Zone Committee, which I chaired for a number of terms.

“What impressed me the most was how well the Waihou-Piako catchment had been run over the years before I became chair, and this was no doubt due to the great culture and long serving staff – a number of who had served over 40 to 50 years.

“This, along with elected members’ sound decision making, contributed to it being the best and interesting river catchment to be involved in.”

Robert also thanks his wife Kathy for looking after the farm in the early days when he was often away.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 25

A day in the life of a rural postie I was lucky enough to spend a day with owner Ross Brown.

He and wife Kay have owned their business – delivering mail on RD4 Waipukurau – for 20 years.

They travel 250km daily –half on seal and half on metal – that is an average of 68,000km annually, or 1.6 million kilometres in the two decades they’ve been delivering mail.

There are about 120 mailboxes, some nice plastic and many old wooden boxes with slide bolts to hold them shut.

Their current vehicle is a new Ford Escape but Ross does enjoy a day in their old Skoda Yeti, which has done 320,000km and is still in great order. The only maintenance it has received is a new radiator at 300,000km, brake pads regularly and new ball joints.

Tyres are standard but slightly wider, which last only 25,000km – so that’s nearly three sets of tyres a year. Ross fills the vehicle with diesel every second day. Their contract is with NZ Post, and is a very happy one.

The Yeti

Our Yeti day started at 6.30am when we travelled to the depot in Waipukurau. We sorted their mail with the other mail run people. Yes, it goes to RD8.

The parcels are scanned into the Yeti with the back seats removed. We get the mail, load in the farming papers, along with the Dominion and Hawke’s Bay Today papers, boxes of wine, wool packs, ear tags, prescription glasses from Specsavers, boxes of clothes and stuff bought on the internet and there is barely room for Ross and I. We drive past the vet shop to see if there is any drench to pick up, past the medical centre for prescriptions and it is still only about 8am.

We then head to Ross’ cheeky barista for his regular coffee, and we are off! Ross wastes no time in his small, roomy and highly efficient SUV. It is amazing frankly and very fit for purpose. He drives quickly and relentlessly, but very safely.

Papers go into mailboxes; boxes and wool packs and drench to the woolshed; and personal stuff goes to

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people’s back doors with a very cheery ‘hello’.

Ross is an ex-detective and has a razor-sharp mind. He remembers everybody, who their family are and how much land they own or have bought or sold – he would make a great rural land agent!

Next stop, we pick up meals on wheels from a farmer’s wife; and four stops on, we pull up at the home of a 94-yearold lonely farmer, checks that he is up and about and deliver his lunch for the day.

Daily cuppa

And on we go, whizzing around the rural areas.

Next stop is Charlie’s where the jug is boiling, and a daily cuppa tea is served. The conversation quickly turns to rural banking, price of beef and the weather, and we are off again. Out to the coastal community of Porangahau where we stop for a lunch of wraps stuffed with last night’s sausage, tomato, cheese with sauce; some fruit and a drink of water eaten on a seat overlooking the sea. Then we are off again zipping through the farming areas with stories about the farmers and stations out here and their owners.

Accidents

Ross has had two in 20 years and neither of them were his fault. One where a farmer charged out of his gate to get the mail. Ross was parked at the mailbox; the farmer did not look and he drove straight into him. The second was when a farmer and his wife came around a shingle bend in the middle of the road and Ross took to the undergrowth to avoid a head-on.

So, it is back to the depot to drop the inwards mail,

a quick check and we are done by 3.30pm. A quiet day he tells me! My footnote from this amazing day is that these rural mail drivers are unsung heroes who provide a remarkable service to the rural sector and connect the rural farmers to society. Thanks Ross,

for an insight into your daily life and the wisdom that you share to the RD4 Waipukurau rural community.

Disclaimer – these are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should be not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought. Don Fraser is principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the farming industry.

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COUNTRY LIVING

Feeding Turangi using tikanga Maori Believing things happen for a reason certainly fits in with Lisa sherwood’s story – walking through a Steiner playgroup spring festival and being handed a pamphlet about permaculture changed her life.

With the very people who handed her that pamphlet, Brian Innes and Joanne Pearsall, Lisa went on to revitalise her ancestral land owned by Turangitukua, a hapu of Tuwharetoa.

Thanks to 10 years of permaculture practice underlined with kaupapa Maori, the land has become a community-serving

organic food forest called Awhi Farm.

“Learning about permaculture has been an absolute blessing,” says Lisa.

“It didn’t just teach me how to effectively grow food, it helped me connect with people and my culture.”

Growing Awhi Farm

Before becoming Awhi Farm, the 4.5ha land was left growing regenerative blackberry, broom and gorse for 30 years. Now, it is home to 100 fruit trees, several hot houses and an extensive garden.

Everything grown at Awhi Farm is organic.

“Everything we take from the land, we put back into it through our eight compost lots,” says Lisa. As well as food, Awhi Farm is also home to baby native trees.

Feeding Turangi

Lisa Isherwood preparing kai.

This year has been a fruitful one for Awhi Farm, and the timing couldn’t be more ideal – the food was ripe for picking when Turangi needed it most.

“Covid-19 has presented more and more issues for people, especially for small towns like Turangi,” says Lisa. “There is already a serious equality imbalance.

“The holiday houses are left empty, while the people who live here struggle.

“During the March-April lockdown, our fruit trees were full and our hot houses overfl wing, so we had trailers’ worth of food.” It was their best year yet for peaches – they harvested 2000 during lockdown.

“Every week of lockdown we gave away 100 paper bags packed stuffed with fruits, herbs and veggies to people in our community; that’s 400 bags total. It was epic.”

Sharing kai and knowledge

Lisa says the experience was transformative for her and highlighted the potential to foodscape Turangi – where every household grows different foods, and neighbours share what they need.

“My crew and I have just done 200 fruit tree cuttings for the community. It has been an absolute joy.”

It’s an extension of what Awhi Farm has already started with a kura kaupapa, a school teaching Maori values, in Taupo.

“We transfer what we do here to there.

“At Awhi Farm we have 100 fruit trees, and at the school we have 75. We are constantly adding value to wherever we can.”

Lisa has worked as the kura kaupapa’s sustainability consultant for fi e years, teaching the kids to plant, harvest and cook their own food at school.

Last term, the kura self-funded a pilot of the Government’s Healthy School Lunches programme, and it has the green light to continue. “It has been a fantastic opportunity and the kids love it.

“There’s enough food in our garden already to feed our 105 students delicious lunches and snacks for nine weeks, so we are excited and ready to go.” ...continued

Seed winners announced Six readers of Coast & Country News will now be growing some of the new Yummy UFO vegetables released by Yates, following a competition in our October edition as part of National Gardening Week.

The Yummy UFO seed packets – Alien Scallopini Zucchini, Pop Star Strawberry Popcorn, Dinosaur Gourds Prehistoric Monster Mix, Behemoth Giant Pumpkins, Magical Creatures Fairy Flower Mix and Little Ted Fluffy Sunfl wers – are on sale and aimed at encouraging youngsters to dig into the hobby of gardening.

The competition winners are: Raewyn Collins of Taupiri; Hunter McMillanWells of Henderson; Brian Keindel of Whakatane; Caitlin Turner of Kihikihi; Finley Mora of Otorohanga; and Luke McCowatt of Rotorua.

Happy gardening!

COUNTRY LIVING

All of Awhi Farm’s food is cooked on the fi e in a clay oven.

Page 27

A lunch at Awhi Farm.

continued...

Awhi Farm has also been a home to many over the last 10 years, from travellers to people wanting to help out.

Currently, 10 people, including Lisa and some of her whanau, live on the farm spread between a house, a selfsustaining caravan and a room that was used as an Airbnb pre-Covid.

“The Airbnb is how we make our money, but we are fully selfsufficient he e.”

When it comes to powering Awhi

Farm, Lisa says they use “all of the good stuff ”.

“We use solar power for lighting, to charge our phones and to shower – we get a shower when it’s sunny, otherwise its freezing cold. We can cook abundantly on the fi e using our two self-made clay ovens.”

Turning her hapu’s land into a food forest has been a full circle experience for Lisa. “All of my grandparents, great-grandparents, and even the

generation before them were avid gardeners. My father grew up poor, but he remembers the huge size of the cabbages and how much food there was. I always grew food while raising my kids and I knew that it felt right. But it wasn’t until I learned about permaculture that I realised my true passion:

practising and teaching others about living sustainably, like the generations before us.”

Particularly, Lisa says her great-grandmother, Taurina Te Arai, would have loved to see the land feeding the community once again.

“She would be so proud.”

MacKenzie Dyer

Shop local this Christmas Kirsty Hill has lived on her beef, sheep and deer farm in Hawke’s Bay for 25 years, so when it comes to designing accessories for the farm, she knows exactly what works.

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Through her business called the BagEm Collection, Kirsty sells high quality, handmade farm products including calf covers, saddle blankets, dog collars and pet beds.

“We have 13 work and pet dogs, so we know that pet beds need to be made from durable materials,” says Kirsty.

“Our pet beds are made from canvas, wool and polar fleece. ustomers can also request a custom made bed, allowing them to choose the materials and bed sizes that work for them; whether it’s a bed for at home, in the car in or at the kennels.”

The BagEm Collection sells products for off the farm too, from homewares like baby swings and peg bags, to fishing gear including sea anchors, lu e storage bags and reel covers.

“Our fishing essentials a e really popular heading into summer, as people prepare to head out on the water.”

All BagEm products are designed and sewn in the Hawke’s Bay either

by Kirsty, her daughter Amanda, or their team of sewers, making it a great destination for shopping local this Christmas.

“We’ve been operating out of our little factory in our Hawke’s Bay home for 10 years.

“It’s a fun business to be involved with, as we get to create practical, high quality products for our lovely, like minded customers.”

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AVOCADOS

Page 28

203 H OT WAT E R B E AC H R OA D W H E N UA K I T E

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Massive kiwifruit property portfolio for sale This well structured G3 & Hayward production orchard is situated at 203 Hot Water Beach Road, Whenuakite. An address conducive to holiday makers and horticulturists with a great growing climate in close proximity to Hot Water Beach, Hahei and Cooks Beach - some of Coromandel’s most stunning beach destinations. Split into two separate titles, there’s opportunity to add an additional dwelling to one of the titles. This property has been in the same ownership for over 40 years.

This orchard offers 34 hectares total land size (approx.) with 11.24 canopy hectares of G3 and 3.17 canopy hectares of Hayward kiwifruit. In addition, there is approximately 10 hectares of grazing.

This is an extremely tidy orchard, well set up with great assembly structures and all agbeam pergola. Currently the orchard is leased.

The orchard has multiple consented water sources. There are 3 reservoir ponds, two working reservoirs for frost protection and irrigation with a combined capacity of 3.9 million litres and a 16 million litre winter storage reservoir. Support buildings include multiple sheds, stockyards, large harvest loadout area and a very tidy four bedroom family home, perfect for an orchard manager or owner.

This combination of a large scale kiwifruit orchard combined with such an idyllic location so close to so many Coromandel beaches is rare to find.

Contact Durrelle today for more information or to view this stunning holding.

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AVOCADOS

Page 29

Seasonal pest control for avocados a priority back quickly; be prepared to repeat.

“The with-holding period for all markets is 14 days.”

With a focus on fruit quality, Avoco’s technical team is very familiar with the challenges facing growers on their orchards throughout the changing seasons.

As a result of weather conditions this year, many growers are having to deal with an unusually early presence of greenhouse thrip, as well as the normal appearance of leafroller brought on by the warm, humid spring conditions.

Six-spotted mite pressure has also been heavy in avocado orchards during the last six months.

Many growers have largely brought this under control by winter/early-spring miticide applications.

However, some orchardists are still struggling with the leaf drop that comes with prior infestations.

Avoco technical consultant Jerome Hardy says growers simply don’t get the ‘longevity of control’ they used to enjoy from the annual application of etoxazole such as products Paramite and Eromite.

“We urge growers to keep watching their numbers closely. It is now common to see spring, summer and autumn surges in mite numbers, but there are options for tackling these.”

Spray decisions must be informed by pest-monitoring results, Avogreen principles, harvest considerations, phytotoxicity risk and any risk to bees, says Jerome.

Leafroller and thrip

As growers put flowering behind them and the growing season starts, Avoco’s technical team recommends a range of products to combat leafroller and thrip.

“Spinetoram, though expensive, gives effective control of both leafroller and thrip when used at the 40ml rate,” says Jerome. “It also means you can save other thrip control options for the summer onwards, when it’s less disruptive to the harvest.”

The with-holding period for Spinetoram, for all markets, is 14 days. If there are doubts about bees still foraging in an orchard, growers can safely apply the product in the evening as it is safe for bees once dry.

Where dealing with significant thrip numbers, growers are advised to apply a follow-up spray 14 to 20 days later, and consider including any Cryptomeria shelter.

Methoxyfenozide (Prodigy, Genoxy) provides excellent, long-lived leafroller control and is the product of choice if growers have leafroller present.

Most growers will use methoxyfenozide at least once during the growing season. Though reasonably widely compatible, it’s not advised to use it with oil.

The with-holding period for all markets is 14 days.

Emamectin benzoate (Proclaim, Vitis), is not as effective as methoxyfenozide but is useful if growers need leafroller control just prior to harvest.

This is because the withholding period for all markets is only three days.

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Using a complex mix of chemicals can result in leaf damage (phytotoxicity). Growers should also use professional, experienced spray contractors or seek good advice before applying sprays themselves.

“Thiacloprid (Calypso, Topstar, Alpasso) is still the stalwart of summer thrip control once your first fruit has been picked.

“It combines well with Abamectin but if applied, growers must be aware of the market with-holding periods which range from 14 to 35 days,” says Jerome.

Six-spotted mite

When combatting six-spotted mite, Milbermectin (MitEMec) is an expensive but useful part of any grower’s control strategy, as it is effective on eggs (ovicidal). However, Jerome says it should only be applied between mid-November and March as the effectiveness is heavily dependent on soft flush and good coverage.

“Use with a high quality, non-ionic surfactant.

“The withholding period for all markets is 14 days.”

Abamectin (Avid, Verdex, Invert) should also be an essential part of any grower’s mite control strategy, says Jerome. “It’s inexpensive, provides quick knock-down of mites and also offers reasonable leafroller control.

“It’s also translaminar, so control will be extended if used on soft flush, and it combines well with other sprays, especially Thiacloprid.

“If weather/soil moisture status allows, growers can use it with 0.5 per cent oil,” says Jerome.

“Note that it’s not ovicidal so numbers will bounce

s t o d l n o e G

Farmers petition A petition has been launched calling on the new government to offer advice and support to farmers wanting to diversify towards plant-based agriculture.

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According to petition spokesperson Claire Insley, many farmers may feel trapped in their current circumstances and cannot see a way towards diversification and making a transition towards growing plants. And so the petition, addressed to the Ministry for Primary Industries, calls for government think tanks and grants towards increasing our horticultural industry.

“We are lucky to have a wealth of knowledge in the horticultural sector and exports are rising every year, last year topping $8 billion,” says Claire.

“Arable land is an underused resource in New Zealand, with just one-tenth of it in horticultural production. We are not currently on track to meet our international climate commitments and with 49 per cent of our carbon emissions due to the agricultural sector, this is the part that must change and will yield the biggest and quickest results.

“With less than 10 years for the world to act on climate change, we cannot let this opportunity pass us by. We have to reduce our methane emissions as soon as possible.”

To find out more about the petition, see: our.actionstation.org.nz/p/diversify

For more advice on summer pest control, please contact Avoco’s technical team at: technical@avoco.co.nz

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AVOCADOS

Page 30

Moisture management critical in summer It has become really evident this season the impact a dry spring, summer, and autumn has on our crops.

The high amount of small sized fruit seen in the current avocado harvest is just one of the impacts of a lack of soil

moisture through our critical fruit set period – from October to February.

Even though New Zealand has quite a high rainfall, it does tend to be drier during fruit set. Having a wellmanaged irrigation system is therefore an important consideration for those wanting to maximise their production.

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Drought stress not only impacts fruit size but also production volumes due to higher fruitlet drop.

It also has a negative impact on the strength of spring flush – which is important for providing resources to the rapidly sizing fruit, protection from sun exposure, and is next year’s fruiting wood.

Not pushing enough spring flush will therefore result in lower subsequent yields.

Trees under stress

If you are relying heavily on a solid fertiliser programme and have low soil moisture, the tree can’t take up the nutrients it needs to support fruit set, spring flush, and the building of reserves to support the tree through winter. As your tree’s reserves become depleted through winter, leaf health suffers. By the time flowering and fruit set comes around again your tree is already under stress and flowering, fruit set and spring flush are impacted.

Once the tree’s reserves start to be impacted you are getting into a cycle that could take a few seasons to correct.

If you are thinking of installing irrigation, you should use an irrigation engineer or advisor to set up the plan based on an accurate understanding of water constraints, different irrigation zones required, what the end goal is for the size and density of your trees, as well as any plans for future plantings. It’s best to start with where you want to end in terms of your irrigation system. It can be difficult to cut and paste onto an existing system.

How much water?

As a rough guide for planning water requirements; newly planted trees normally require 30 to 50 litres of water per week depending on the microclimate of your orchard. As the trees grow so will their water

requirements and your system needs to be built for this growth. For high density trees, where the canopy is kept small, each tree will use about 175 litres a week. For a larger canopy, with bigger spacings or more mature trees, you are looking at 240 to 400 litres a week depending on canopy size and crop load.

An irrigation system is only as good as the set-up, monitoring of the soil moisture levels, scheduling of adequate irrigation and of course maintenance of the system. Ensure you have a tensiometer or moisture probe correctly installed in each irrigation zone and use professionals to guide you to get the best out of your investment.

If you need help with moisture management on your orchard, please contact Just Avocados at: www.justavocados.co.nz or Avoworks at: www.avoworks.co.nz

New Hort NZ role to promote careers Horticulture New Zealand has created a role at the organisation to help develop and promote careers in the horticulture industry.

Emma Boase has been appointed people capability manager at HortNZ – and will be supporting and coordinating the established nationwide network of career progression managers.

“It’s a big role, but I can’t wait to get started working with the industry so that more people can discover the vast range of rewarding careers in horticulture,” says Emma.

Emma Boase.

WE’RE INVESTING IN YOUR GROWTH At Just Avocados, we believe it takes a fresh approach to yield the best results.

That’s why we are focused on optimising orchard health through an innovative model that grows stronger orchards for healthier returns.

If you’re looking to partner with a high-performance team, who are goal oriented and future focused, talk to us today.

Visit thetruthaboutOGR.co.nz

Kyra Fielden

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Grower Services (Bay of Plenty and Gisborne)

Grower Services (Northland and South Auckland)

027 257 5028 kyra@justavocados.co.nz

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@justavocados info@justavocados.co.nz www.justavocados.co.nz 027 472 9490

“I find it incredibly rewarding to empower people to make the connection between the fruit and vegetables on their plate and where they were grown and the industry they come from.

“Once people make the link between providing people with fresh, healthy food and a career in horticulture, they start thinking about working in the horticulture industry differently.

“Being able to relate the food that you interact with every day to a dynamic and innovative industry is really cool.”

Emma says the horticulture industry has already been working on creating innovative ways to meet seasonal labour needs, while making sure that long-term attraction campaigns get people into lasting permanent careers.

“A big issue that the industry is working to address is perception. We need young people and their parents to be more aware of the diverse range of careers out there in the industry and show them that they can have a bright future in horticulture.”

Emma has considerable experience in promoting careers in horticulture, having worked on various research and engagement programmes in her previous role as a capability research and engagement coordinator for NZ Apples & Pears. Emma also has experience developing graduate placement programmes while working as a horticulture engagement coordinator for Massey University and HortNZ.

AVOCADOS

Taking some time out We are almost there.

It’s getting closer and closer by the day ‘til the Christmas season arrives and all the joyful celebrations of reflecting on the year gone and the New Year ahead. The time to welcome in 2021.

This is a short note to wish you all a happy Christmas and to remind all of us to take the time to relax, to enjoy the company of family friends and others. And importantly to put your feet up from the orchard work. There is not of work to be done right at this time.

It’s hot, sunny and hopefully not dry.

The trees and the fruit are growing. If you haven’t already, check your crop loading and plan to prune fruit off early. This will help the remaining crop loading grow to a better size.

Fertiliser and nutrients should programmes should be on track as most of this work will have been done in previous months.

Take the time to reflect on what you did well and

note where you could do a bit better and put it in your next year’s plan. There is always planning to be done but at this time of the year it’s all pretty relaxed.

Also while reflecting on the season and year gone, enjoy the good moments on the orchard.

Take the time to put your feet up under the avocado tree. Enjoy the early afternoon in the coolness of the orchard.

Do just enough to keep it all ticking over and get ready for the autumn. It’s important to recharge those batteries for the next year ahead and have a happy festive season.

New herbicide rules come into force New controls around the use of paraquat – a broad spectrum contact herbicide used in the horticultural and agricultural sectors – come into force this month.

Following a reassessment of the rules around paraquat use by the Environmental ProtectionAgency, the new rules must be followed from December 11 at the latest, and labels must be updated before December 11, 2021. The new controls are as follows: Amaximum rate of 600g of paraquat per hectare per calendar year; you can split the annual application quota as long as you do not exceed the single application rate.

The spray droplet size must be coarse grade. This manes spray droplet size must be at least coarse grade for ground-based or aerial applications, as defined in

the ASABE droplet size classification scheme.

And the introduction of new downwind buffer zones.

These buffer zones have been imposed to protect aquatic environments and non-target plants. However, no buffer zone applies to ground-based application if it is done using non-motorised handheld equipment.

Plus, users must dispose of banned paraquat products. Uniquat 250, Parable 250, Gramoxone Inteon and Preeglone Inteon must be disposed of

by December 11, 2020, in accordance with the requirements of the EPA Disposal Notice.

As for labelling of the product with new user rules, manufacturers have another 12 months to change the label. This means there will be a period until December 2021 when the new controls must be followed but they may not be on the label.

For more information, see: epa.govt.nz/news-andalerts/alerts/rules-for-paraquat-use

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Page 31

Page 32

FORESTRY

Opportunities for EBOP’s timber scene In light of recent announcements from timber processors based in Kawerau and the implications of Covid-19 being felt around the world, the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s economic development agency, Toi EDA, has highlighted what this might mean for one of the region’s biggest industries.

Norske Skogg, the multinational owners of the newsprint pulp and paper mill in Kawerau, recently announced a strategic review of their production options for its Kawerau operations. The company reiterated it was a process that would look at all the options before any decisions were made.

Maori forest owners

Toi EDA general manager of strategy Karl Gradon says it was a significant announcement with implications across the EBOP but it also shone a spotlight on a huge opportunity for the region and Maori forest owners.

“I don’t think the announcement was a particular surprise to anyone who is across the international wood-processing scene.

“Covid-19 has been the spark, but this is a consequence of some big changes happening across the globe.

“Changes in Europe and China particularly will impact Aotearoa in the medium and long-term and we are fortunate to have Maori forest and landowners that will take long-term views on this opportunity.

“As an economic development agency, we see the region sitting on a goldmine and we are at a key moment in time to make a few

changes to the way we do things Some changes are already underway. and then really lead the charge Central government recently into this new space. announced plans for a $50 “Collaboration across million fund to research the entire value chain is alternatives for single-use going to be important plastics. Karl says this for us all. could provide the perfect “Kawerau has one opportunity for local of the world’s largest processing facilities to see plantation forests what changes, to plant literally on its doorstep, or processes, would be with the land owned needed to take advantage

by Maori entities. It has of the massive international an affordable and green move to compostable and Karl Gradon. geothermal energy resource recyclable packaging. under its feet and it has a rail “We are also getting our heads link and a container terminal being around the value our forests play in New built right now. We are perfectly placed to Zealand’s commitments to climate change take advantage of these natural and mantargets – their value as a carbon sink in made assets and keep the region humming. addition to their value for the fibres.

“Covid-19 has forced many industries into some serious long-term thinking, which Inflection point provides us with an opportunity to rethink “This marks an inflection point – a way not just what we produce, but how we to rethink the how we create value from produce it. the trees growing around us. Kawerau is “Toi EDA is passionate about turning the well placed to lead this as it has some of the current environment to our advantage and best engineers in the country located in an coming our stronger on the other side. We are amazing strategic location, with clean energy here to support businesses to do just that.” in abundance,” says Karl.

New cradle containers to change log transportation Royal Wolf and KiwiRail have joined forces to develop a bespoke logging container that significantly improves efficiencies and capacity when transporting logs to the Port of Tauranga for export.

The 484 logging cradle cassette containers, built

by Royal Wolf ’s Intermodal Business Unit, are specially designed as a replacement for KiwiRail’s old log wagons which were designed to only carry logs.

The new cradle containers.

The new 20-foot cassette containers can be loaded and secured onto different types of railway wagons to increase compatibility and capacity across KiwiRail’s network. “We’re problem-solvers,” says Royal Wolf ’s general manager intermodal Michael Horne.

“We modify containers to meet a company’s specific logistics and transport needs. KiwiRail’s logging cassettes are a perfect example of us tailoring a container solution to help increase efficiencies and capability for a client.”

Royal Wolf worked closely with KiwiRail to develop a prototype container, followed by the manufacture of a batch of containers and then the final product.

Each week KiwiRail operate 800 freight services carrying goods around the country.

As well as creating bespoke intermodal and freight solutions, Royal Wolf ’s standard Intermodal and Freight range includes 20, 25, 40 and 48-foot Curtainside and hard-sided containers, and a selection of side door containers which allow easy side access to goods.

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz MacKenzie Dyer

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Bovine Theileria

There continue to be new cases of Theileriosis on farms in the upper North Island.

Most are either young calves or previously-unaffected adult cows with a history of grazing off-farm where infected tick populations are high. The disease typically manifests itself at times of high stress, such as early lactation when the cows are transitioning into peak milk production.

The disease is caused by the parasite Theileria orientalis and is spread by infected ticks when they feed on animals’ blood.

The disease affects both beef and dairy cattle and it can infect cattle of any age. Cows during the calving period and potentially young cattle – aged two-three months – are most at risk of disease. Fortunately, there are no human health risks associated with this disease.

Most cattle will show no obvious signs of disease but some cattle

within the herd with Theileria can progress to severe anaemia and potentially death if left untreated.

Theileria can enter a property via infected ticks on animals (including all wildlife) or Theileria-infected cattle, which then infect the local resident tick population.

Signs of disease associated with anaemia include the following: Cows are lethargic and lag behind the main mob. Cows which don’t respond as expected to treatment for conditions such as milk fever.

Cows off their food and appear hollow-sided in the abdomen.

Pale or yellow vulval mucous membranes and/or whites of eyes. There is a decrease in milk production, and a potential for poor reproductive performance.

There may be poor health and low performance in your young stock. There may be deaths especially close to calving or early lactation.

Disease outbreaks can be triggered

by stress, particularly around calving time, or even when there is underlying disease and/or certain nutritional deficiencies.

For example, gastrointestinal parasites, BVD virus, facial eczema challenge, trace element deficiencies.

Control of ticks is strongly advised – particularly if moving cattle from one property to another.

This applies especially if moving from a more Northern property or there is a known history of ticks with signs associated with anaemia in the past.

This can be achieved by treating all cattle with products containing the active ingredient flumethrin before leaving the property or on arrival before mixing with other cattle.

Successful treatment of cattle infected with Theileria depends on the incidence and severity.

Feel free to contact your local vet clinic for further information

So, you would like to subdivide?

It may be harder than you think, and you will need help.

I’ve written recently about the increased demand for lifestyle blocks in the wake of Covid-19.

Many people are calling us for an idea of how they can take advantage of the current demand.

You may have seen a neighbour subdivide the farm or create a lifestyle block in the past. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can do the same.

Councils review their rules from time to time, and the process of subdividing rural land generally becomes harder as time moves on. So, a little more research is needed, rather than a chat down at ‘the local’ with your neighbour who subdivided 10 years ago.

All land parcels are covered by a zoning classification under the local council’s District Plan. Knowing the zoning of your property is key to understanding if it is possible to create more titles from your current landholding. Rural zonings can include such descriptions as rural, coastal, rural production, lifestyle, rural residential, or low density residential. Each of these zones have their own set of rules for land use and subdivision. Often a quick call to your local council planning department can help identify the zone, if you can’t readily find your property on their website planning maps. Because the rules are so different in each zone this will give you an initial ‘heads up’ as to whether there is any possibility or not.

More aspects

But don’t stop there! If, due to the size and zoning of your property or its environmental attributes, there is some possibility for subdivision there are many more aspects to consider. There is bound to be a minimum size

for any new section created – as well a minimum size for the remainder of the farm.

The new section must have a suitable house site that is safe from possible slipping or inundation in a storm.

It also must be able to cater for the potential storm and wastewater disposal and have a safe ‘point of access’ from the road. These items will initially be considered in an overview by an experienced local subdivision specialist, but council will eventually require detailed analysis and certification from licensed surveyors and professional engineers within the company.

And it doesn’t end there! The history of the land will have to be exhaustibly investigated as part of an assessment of environmental effects, which is required for any application to subdivide land. This assessment is required to assure council that no environmental damage or dangers will be created by the subdivision and subsequent building activity. This process also protects you as the subdividing owner because, in providing a section to the market, you are giving an undertaking to the purchaser it can be built on risk-free.

If you have any desire to subdivide to produce lifestyle blocks, which are currently in demand around the region, please feel free to contact me for a chat.

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. For further information, call 027 499 3778 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

and/or advice if you have any concerns about your cattle.

Read this story in full at: www.coastandcountrynews. co.nz

Page 33

Page 34

FARM VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

John’s journey

John Brown with his nearly-finished, largest National Gas engine.

All Photos: Merle Cave.

As you walk down John Brown’s driveway, his love of vintage engines quickly becomes evident.

Old parts lay under cover to one side. Walls of his mechanics workshop are lined with towering shelves heaving with New

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Zealand’s industrial history. And his special pieces take pride of place in a new ‘Man Cave’ nearby. His hobby of collecting old stationary engines began more than 30 years ago. In 1971 John and wife Sue moved to their home off State Highway 2 south of Katikati while he was working in the electrical industry.

From here his interest in old engines cranked up. “I was doing electrical work like hydrogeneration and working on paper machines and I became interested in mechanics because it’s a world away from electrical.”

Once he became a beekeeper – John and Sue founded the family business Katikati Honey in 1974 – he was visiting farms all over the place. “In those days engines were really easy to find lying around in grass in paddocks, under hedges, or in the ground, if they hadn’t gone to the scrapman. In some cases I found stuff from other collectors that I liked, deceased estates etc.”

Once acquired, the engines were either restored by John, stashed away for a rainy day project or kept for parts for other projects “or for others who need them”.

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The first engine he acquired is surrounded in mystery. “It’s an unknown engine. Nobody knows where it comes from. It’s a small marine/ boat two-port, three-port reversible two-stroke engine.

“It was on the back of a scrapman’s truck and I pulled it off ; sometime in the mid-1960s.”

His second engine is a 9hp Fairbanks Morse – now he doesn’t bother

counting how many he has. John’s oldest engine is a 1907 National Gas Engine Co Ltd. “I’ve got seven National engines and this is the smallest.”

Restoration

Back in the day John says these engines would have powered the shearing of sheep, running of cowsheds, pumped water – “everything you use an electric motor for now when you flick a switch”.

Most acquisitions have required restoration. “I make many components I need for the engines. I make a lot of castings because you just can’t get them anymore this stuff is so obsolete.

“I also have a stack of wheels for underneath engines. So 99.9 per cent of the time I repair the engines myself in my full workshop.”

Does he refer to old manuals to help him? “Yes and no,” says John. “A lot of this stuff doesn’t have manuals anymore.”

But he has one engine he hasn’t laid a finger on – an American-made Iowa Over Size engine. “This is in original condition and it came like this, which is very rare. It came from Gisborne; the old guy I got it from said his father was using it to cut firewood. That was 50 years beforehand and it was lying in his shed since.”

Large National project

John Brown’s first engine is a small marine/boat two-port, three-port reversible two-stroke engine.

Hard working engineering.

Usually new acquisitions need restoration or have something missing. “The Iowa Over Size even came with a crank handle.

“It was the first time I’d seen one. At shows people love it – just like it is.”

John also owns some very rare New Zealand-made engines.

“I have an Andersons No 90. They only made 10,500 of these.

“I have another Anderson engine – a twin-cylinder 6hp – and they only made 65 of them.”

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Page 35

collecting vintage engines A comparison of what the National Gas engine, imported by JAS J Niven & Co, looked like when John found it.

weight 5.5ton, fly wheel 6’6” – the largest of seven Nationals he has.

He’s owned this industrial engine for 35 years – for most of that time it’s been “sleeping” but he’s spent the last 10 years “on and off ” restoring it from top to bottom. He acquired it in very bad shape. All the bronzing had been stolen, it had castings missing; it had holes in it. “I’ve had to replace about 120kg of bronzing and crankshafts.”

Now, all that’s left to do is set up the valves and get it freed up to turn over. “It is so close!” exclaims John. So what’s his favourite type of engine? “Open-crank engines because you can see all the guts of them going up and down,” says John, who no longer brings anything new home. “Unless someone gives it to me or I really like it, I don’t it bring it home now as I’ve got enough here.”

interested in joining Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club, to get in touch. See: facebook.com/ taurangavintagemachineryclub/

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“I’m not into tractors,” says John. “I only have three.

“Two are used for work and one doesn’t go.” He encourages those

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Plus he owns some odd engines too. A Western Electric Direct Current Generator came out of a telephone exchange – “probably one of the first automatic exchanges in Auckland”. He’s even got the associated stand-up system that shows how many amps and currents it produces. “These generators were used to power up big batteries that would sit in big rooms in the telephone exchange centres, to run the system.”

Two years ago John finally set up his own ‘Man Cave’ for storing finished pieces. Inside is a nearly-finished National Gas engine imported by JAS J Niven & Company.

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In September, the Government decided to allow 210 agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operators into New Zealand to help with the cropping and harvest season, which began in October, after the industry pleaded for help saying the number of skilled contractors required could not be met domestically.

Now Federated Farmers says it is deeply concerned Rural Contractors New Zealand is stating that a lack of spaces in MIQ facilities is thwarting the Government-sanctioned flow of a limited number of foreign skilled agricultural machinery operators into the country.

Serious gaps in the agricultural contracting workforce have consequences such as animal feed shortages and risks to getting arable crops in next summer, says Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis. “After favourable rain in many parts of the North Island recently, there’s a big emphasis on making grass silage to help cope if predicted droughts take hold. There’s so much work out there and not nearly enough operators.”

Chris says farmers applauded the Government for its decision to allow in 210 of these operators, most of them from Ireland and the UK “even though twice

that number were need to meet seasonal demand”.

“We’re really dismayed to learn [by early-November] only 58 have arrived to be either in MIQ or working, with 16 more with flights booked and holding MIQ vouchers. But another 61 still overseas cannot confirm places in MIQ facilities, and won’t arrive until midFebruary – if then.” Last month Federated Farmers reported some South Island farmers were getting silage/ baleage cut in wet conditions out of desperation and fear that if they didn’t make use of contractors when they were available, there would be no-one available later on.

Others were working extremely long hours and pushing the boundaries of safe operation.

Federated Farmers dairy chair Wayne Langford says these a r n l g e ul sorts of decisions ultimately ASK ABOUTprofitability, some of which is seen affected on-farm immediately and the rest later in the season when poorer quality feed is fed to animals.

A N Farmers Federated Colin Hurst says t i o arable chaircontracting C E the o p silage/baleage traditionally workforce moved on to harvesting grain from mid-January.

Operator delays or shortages could have a big impact. “Farming is often all about the weather; timeliness is important and you seize your chances when the weather plays ball. Workforce gaps will just have a domino effect all over the place.”

Chris acknowledged the Government has all sorts of competing demands to balance, not least finding security and health staff to run MIQ facilities.

“We can only ask that the authorities do their utmost to expand MIQ space and allocate vouchers according to the best interests of our wider economy.”

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Council calls to target woolly nightshade woolly nightshade within 200 meters of their boundaries to minimise the risk of it spreading to their neighbours.

“So, a small lifestyle block may have to assault every bit of woolly nightshade on their property, but owners of larger land just have to target their boundaries.”

The campaign may be new, but Greg says woolly nightshade has been recognised as a pest in the Council’s pest management plan since the 1990s.

“Despite a lot of work being done by Council, community groups and landowners, woolly nightshade is still an issue.

“By calling to landowners directly, we are hoping to raise

woolly nightshade’s profile and encourage people to take any opportunity to control it.

“When we engage with landowners, we often see success.”

Thanks to BOPRC, Coast & Country News has one ‘woolly nightshade treatment kit’ to give away. To be in to win, email your name and address to: merle@sunmedia.co.nz with an answer to this question: What

A full grown woolly nightshade plant with recognisable purple flowers.

Bay of Plenty landowners are being asked to do their bit to stop the spread of woolly nightshade in the region.

The campaign, run by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, can give landowners advice on how to use a ‘woolly nightshade treatment kit’ and demonstrations on the best ways to control it.

BOPRC’s biosecurity manager Greg Corbett says the invasive weed has taken hold of underdeveloped land in the last few years, particularly in coastal Bay Of Plenty.

“Woolly nightshade is a problem because it can form quite dense canopies that suppress other plants from growing through,” says Greg.

“It’s easily spread by birds and it sets

seed at quite a young age – within six months of germinating it can be setting seed and spreading.

“It’s an aggressive plant, making it difficult to control.”

Woolly nightshade can be identified by dense clusters of purple flowers that grow year-round, followed by bunches of round berries that ripen from green to dull yellow.

The entire plant is covered in dusty hairs and the leaves have a strong kerosene-like smell, especially when rubbed or crushed.

This is the first time BOPRC have done a deliberate campaign targeting the weed. “We are tying it in with our new regional pest management plan, which will hopefully become operable this month following public submissions. Following this, landowners will be required to control

colour flowers does woolly nightshade have year-round?

Or post these details to: Woolly Nightshade Giveaway, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive by December 30. The winner will be contacted thereafter.

A woolly nightshade treatment kit includes gloves, Cut’n’Paste weedkiller gel and a blade.

220 REPOROA ROAD, REPOROA WWW.REPTEC.CO.NZ 07 333 8170

Dairy Shed Alterations & Repairs Hydraulic Specialists All Machinery Servicing & Repairs General Welding & Onsite Welding Custom Design & Manufactured Products On Farm Health & Safety Products

Backing Gate Repairs, Servicing & Parts Gearbox & Motor Suppliers Oil & Additive Suppliers Effluent & Irrigation Servicing & Part Suppliers Engineering Suppliers PTO & Drive Shaft Repairs & Parts

'AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS FOR ALL YOUR PRACTICAL ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS'

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 38

classified listings * your listing *

DO YOU HAVE somethingto sell or looking to buy or promote your business? List it here for only $23 for up to 20 words. Email debbie@thesun. co.nz or call 07 578 0030.

curriculum vitae

CV’s THAT STAND OUT. A C.V. For You can provide

you with a personal and professional touch.

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

professional services

For cost effective promotion of your business phone Sophie today!

P: 07 928 3042 sophie@sunmedia.co.nz

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

Listings are free if the event is under $50.

Dec 5 Understanding Soils 4, 9.30am-2.30pm, Whakamarama, near Tauranga. See: tinyurl. com/y6vm379z Crop Swap, 10am-11am, 14 Jocelyn St, Katikati.

Veges, fruit, seeds, baking, books, eggs, etc all welcome.

Ph 07 549 4522.

Dec 5-6 Iwitahi Native Orchid Reserve Working Bee (between Taupo and Napier), accommodation available. See: www. orchidcouncil.org.nz Plant Sales, Hamilton Gardens. See: https:// hamiltongardens.co.nz/ events/

Dec 6 Rotorua & Waikato Botanical Societies Field Trip, McLaren Falls Park (near Tauranga).

Easy-moderate grade. Ph Graeme 07 570 3123.

Hahei Open Studios, 11am-4pm, Hahei, Coromandel, free. See: tinyurl.com/y4kks2mo

Dec 8 Waste Free Parenting Workshop, The Historic

Village, Seventeenth Ave West, Tauranga.

From 6.30pm-8.30pm.

See: www.eventfinda. co.nz/2020/waste-freeparenting-workshop3/ tauranga

Dec 9 Waste Free Living Workshop, The Orchard Church, 20 MacLoughlin Drive, Te Puke. From 6.30pm-8.30pm. See: https://www.eventfinda. co.nz/2020/waste-freeliving-workshop/te-puke Transformation From Roots Up, undertaking conservation activities within the park, Hillcrest Stadium, 138 Wairere Drive, Hamilton, From 10am-12 noon. Also on Dec 16. Phone Gerard: 07 838 6501 or email: gerard.kelly@hcc.govt.nz

Dec 10 Puketoki Reserve Wander Dogs walk, 43 Leyland Road, Whakamarama, near Tauranga. Starts 10am.

See: www.westernbay. govt.nz

Dec 11 Friends of Waiwhakareke Potting Working Bee, 284 Airport Rd, Hamilton. From 9am-12 noon.

Dec 12 Te Kauwhata A&P Show, Te Kauwhata Memorial Domain, Mahi Rd, Te Kauwhata, North Waikato. From 9am2pm. All ages, free admission.

Play with Clay open community session, Waikato Society of

Potters, 2 Seddon road, Hamilton. From 10am1pm. See: http://www. waikatopotters.co.nz/

Dec 16 Grow On Seedlings Club for Kids, 3pm4pm, Katikati.

Ph 07 549 4522.

Dec 29 Taupo Rodeo, corner Broadlands & Centennial Drive, Taupo. From 8am4pm. See: https://www. eventfinda.co.nz/2020/ taupo-rodeo/taupo

Jan 9 Avocado Food & Wine Festival, 11am5pm, Katikati, $25 earlybird or $30 at the gate. See: tinyurl.com/ y2uc7rtd

An eggcellent bird-themed exhibition Taupo residents have until December 14 to view a bird-themed exhibition at Taupo Museum.

Following Re-Cycle 2017, the award-winning Dog Show exhibition in 2018 and last year’s CATalogue exhibitions, the museum is now hosting its latest installment – called ReTweet.

Like birds of a feather, this exhibition features artworks, sculptures and accessories made from recycled or re-purposed materials.

Exhibitions officer Kerence Stephen says many of the same artists who created works for Re-Cycle, the Dog Show and CATalogue exhibitions have taken on the bird challenge, making the

recycled theme exhibitions.

“These exhibitions inevitably attract a diverse collection of artwork because the artists enjoy the theme of recycling and, in this case, birds,” says Kerence.

“So artists can create whatever takes their fancy, as long as it has a feathery theme.”

People who flock to the museum during the exhibition can expect to see birds created from all sorts of recycled materials, from cutlery, bike parts, bread tags, beach glass and even some taxidermied creations.

The exhibition is held in the main gallery until December 14. Entry is free for children and residents with proof of address, and the museum is open 10am-4.30pm daily.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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DEUTZ-FAHR AGROFARM

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Page 39

nd oper

DEUTZ-FAHR 6G SERIES 135-205HP, 6 CYLINDER

100-115HP, 4 CYLINDER

• Deutz TCD Tier 3A engine, no AdBlue required • Stop and Go function maximises control and minimises clutch usage • 6 speed Powershift ZF transmission gearbox gives a smoother ride • Carraro axle with all new front suspension ensures a great driving experience • Cabin suspension standard on all models • Option of 125 litre CCLS hydraulic pump • Demonstrators available throughout New Zealand

80,990

$

Deutz Fahr NZ

TF 42.7-100EE

Phone 0800 801 888 | deutztractors.co.nz | powerfarming.co.nz

TRACTOR LOADER COMBOS FROM

129,990

$

high performance, reduced fuel consumption and guaranteed cost savings

** Terms and conditions apply. Go to deutztractors.co.nz/trydeutz for detailed terms and conditions.

12 | 13

+GST

TRACTOR LOADER COMBOS FROM ONLY

+GST

• Agrofarm tractors are equipped with 4-cylinder SDF Series 1000 engines • Combines compact dimensions with low centre of gravity for improved safety • Uses a five-speed, four range gearbox with a Hi-Lo gear, for an impressive 40 speeds in both directions • Extremely reliable and durable four wheel braking ensures an outstanding level of safety • Equipped with a 56 L/min gear pump feeding an open centre circuit

The TF 42.7-100EE has been developed as a high performance, telehandler, powered by a 100hp stage III Kubota engine.

Latest generation Merlo cab, with a high level of comfort. Offering an air suspension seat, air conditioning, and high visibility.

SAFE ON ANY TERRAIN • High performance, and heavy duty • Lift capacity of 4,200kg, with a boom reach of seven metres • Single lever joystick: boom 3rd service, forward reverse Boost your productivity withfunctions, features • Hydrostatic transmission with continuous variation on from that are practical, effective and safe 0 to 40 km/h e • Two speed range 0-40 Km/h HST l f b i ina ex • Full range of merlo- approved attachments available ask Merlo high-performance axles manoeuvrable by design

fl

AXLES

ALL WHEEL STEERING

lS

Call us now for a good price on our Ex-Demo units

Merlo designs and produces the majority of the components used on its

Axles are integral part of every project and are designed and a v a i l a b ltelehandlers. dimensioned to work in perfect harmony with the other main groups.

e

+GST

FRONT WHEEL STEERING

payments

dea

144,900

$

abo

SEASONutAL

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TF 42.7 FROM

The optimal steering capacity and three steering modes allow for superb manoeuvrability and ease of use in all Axles: designed as an integral part of the product for maximum performance. terrain conditions Merlo axles: fully integrated in the product for higher functionality and superior The machines in the Compact series are fitted with two different types of axle: the P25.6 is equipped with an axle with planetary final drives that ensures a low centre of gravity, while the P28.8 and P32.6 are fitted with a portal axle affording greater ground clearance for improved handling and versatility.

Both axles are fitted with dry disc brakes, automatic parking brake and differential lock (opt).

quality.

P 25.6: planetary final drives, allow for a low centre of gravity. P 28.8 and P 32.6: portal axle, ground clearance of 385 mm. More versatile. Three steering modes: front wheel, all wheel and crab, for enhanced CRAB STEERING

Power Farming NZ

manoeuvrability, efficiency and productivity.

Permanently engaged four-wheel drive: maximum traction in all conditions. All wheel braking: servo assisted braking on all four wheels for maximum safety. Parking brake: activated automatically when the engine is shut off or from the in-cab control when required.

Differential locks (opt) for improved traction over difficult terrain.

PUKEKOHE

FA9640CC

0800 570 571

MORRINSVILLE

07 889 5059

TE AWAMUTU

07 870 2411

TAURANGA

07 543 0021

ROTORUA

07 349 6528

Terms and conditions apply. While stocks last. Normal lending criteria applies. Offer ends 31.10.20. Contact your local dealership for more information. ** Go to deutztractors.co.nz/trydeutz for detailed terms and conditions.

Three steering modes and an excellent turning circle ensure the machine is highly manoeuvrable and easy to handle, whatever the terrain.

GISBORNE

06 868 8908

Page 40

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Freya Simm, 5, en two-wheeler w joys a spin on the Burt-William ith her aunt Aneta s on the farm at Matata.

ving cuddles Perry Williams, 8, ha os on mo e th with one of their farm in Tirau.

Declan rides cow number 21 ride the horses during cal , as the family is too busy to ving, so make do with the cows.

whose favourite Harry Whitehead, 2, ooting thing is rabbit sh with his Dad.