Coast & Country News - May 2021

The regional winners for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have been announced.

Among them is 20-year-old Ruth Connolly, pictured, who is the 2021 Dairy Trainee of the Year for the Waikato – and she isn’t stopping there.

Read more about Ruth’s big plans for her farming career, and meet the other NZDIA winners from across our regions, on pages 35-39.

Photo: Catherine Fry.

Pine meets Poultry PG 4-5

Calving PG 8-9

Sheep & Beef PG 10-13

Fieldays Preview PG 25-33

Dairy Industry Awards PG 35-39

Farm Vehicles & Machinery PG 44-45

Kiwifruit PG 49-53

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Page 2

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Celebrating the best in dairy It’s a gumboots and Swazi kind of awards season, with the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and Ahuwhenua Trophy in full swing.

We catch up with the regional NZDIA winners from The Waikato, Central Plateau and Bay of Plenty on pages 35 to 39, and meet Ahuwhenua Trophy finalists on page 6. The national winners for both competitions will be announced in coming weeks.

Among the NZDIA winners is Central Plateau’s Dairy Manager of the Year Mark Rivers, who went from herding bus passengers around Europe to moving cows around the farm. Read more on page 38.

We also meet three ambitious Dairy Trainee winners who have big plans for their farming careers: meet the Waikato’s Ruth Connolly on page 35, Bay of Plenty’s Dayna Rowe on page 37 and Central Plateau’s Tayla Flight on page 39.

In our calving feature, Waikato Dairy manager of the Year Christopher Vila shows us that he’s not just a good farmer, but can also offer great calving advice and write acrostic poems – he does both on page 9.

Land chat Another awardee is Fieldays, which has been named a finalist at a globally renowned competition for its online event last year. Read more on page 25.

As always, we look at why people do what they do with their land. I assure you, the answers make more sense than James Cameron’s cow-covered vegan operation.

We learn about a new free range chicken and forestry operation on page 4, and King Country Angus Breeders on page 12.

Read about the kiwifruit season ramping up on page 3 and page 49 to 53, and about the avocado season winding down on pages 22 to 24.

Industry wisdom Throughout Coast & Country’s pages, columnists share their wisdom from their wide ranging expertise, which cover soil, avo trees and everything in between.

Don Fraser from Fraser Finance tells us how to not lose money on page 30, with tips including: be prepared to half everything in the case of a relationship break up.

“I have a degree in this stuff, and it is sure not for the faint hearted,” says Don. “The best thing is to have a deep and meaningful conversations with your partner and look after her/him better than you look after everything else.”

Finally, a dip of the hat and g’day to our new columnist, Alex Eagles-Tully, who is an area coordinator for Rural Women NZ. This month, Alex talks about the development of the organisation from the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers into what it is today. Read MacKenzie Dyer more on page 16.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

Weather burdens picking season The extent of the kiwifruit picker shortage has been difficult to gauge due to wet weather, says NZKGI chief executive Nikki Johnson.

“It’s been an odd start to the season, because we’ve had a lot of rain in the Bay of Plenty over the last six weeks,” says Nikki.

“We can’t pick in the rain, so it has disrupted the start of the season. When there are fine days, everyone is trying to pick as quickly as they can.”

NZKGI are expecting feedback about whether there’s an adequate amount still vacancies – the extent of of pickers in coming weeks, which will be known closer to says Nikki. the peak of the season.

“The thing about not “We’re a little bit nervous – having consistent days is that’s how I’d describe it.” that you don’t get a good sense of whether you have Sticky situation enough people or not.

While picking and storing wet NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated “You really need to have a fruit increases the chances of cheif executive Nikki Johnson. number of days picking in fungi growth and disease, Nikki a row to gauge that – and says that’s not the main reason that’s only really happening picking can’t occur in the rain. now. It continues to be a challenge.”

“When the fruit is wet, the stickers, which are Ideally, Gold kiwifruit needs to be picked before required for international markets, won’t stick. the end of May, and Green can be picked until the “Having to dry that volume of fruit so the end of June. packhouses can put stickers on is quite a challenge “Every day that we lose to rain is a day we can’t – that’s the main reason we don’t pick when pick up later on. So there’s going to be a lot of MacKenzie Dyer demand for people to pick fruit on every fine day.” it’s wet.”

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Inconsistent days The inconsistent picking days has the potential to contribute to an overall shortage of workers, as it can deter people from the job.

“We know inconsistency is a reason why some people choose not to do picking, as you can’t guarantee that you’re going to get the same hours as you get in the packhouses and in other roles.

“It’s a big challenge for pickers.”

Nikki says that picking operations’ hiring campaigns have worked really well but there are

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Page 4

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Better Eggs chief executive Gareth van der Heyden and shareholder Paul van der Heyden planting trees at Tokoroa’s new forest and chicken farm.

An agroforestry operation combining forestry and free range chickens has opened near Tokoroa.

The 139ha property is set to become New Zealand’s leading egg production site as it develops over the next five years to ultimately be the home of 320,000 laying hens free ranging in the forest’s 90,000 native and exotic trees with eight laying sheds.

The pine, oak, poplar and eucalyptus trees planted on the property will be milled for timber or pulp when they mature. The growing trees will sequester carbon.

The site will produce eggs under the Heyden Farms Free Range brand for egg producer and supplier Better Eggs Limited.

“Better Eggs is a New Zealand family-owned business with strong family values,” says Better Eggs

chief executive Gareth van der Heyden.

“These values are what have led us to innovate a whole new way of poultry farming in New Zealand that will enable the hens to live in a natural environment from which they originated, while producing eggs in a sustainable manner.

“They will be able to roam and scratch on the forest floor in the shade, shelter and safety provided by the trees, and the laying sheds are specially designed to give the birds natural light and ample space to roam around in.

“We are providing the birds with the highest animal welfare and hen enrichment standards.

...continued

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

“[The farm] will enable the hens to live in a natural environment from which they originated, while producing eggs in a sustainable manner.”

continued...

“We sought advice from Australia and Europe that enables us to exceed best practice in many facets.”

The farm is highly automated, which enables staff to spend more time caring for the hens, says Gareth.

Eggs are transported from the nesting boxes via conveyor belts to a robot that packs the eggs into trays and pallets, which are then collected by trucks for delivery to the existing grading and distribution facility in nearby Lichfield.

The farm will open with 20,000 hens.

When fully developed, it will employ about 15 people.

The farm was officially opened on April 15 by Member of Parliament Louise Upston.

“It is fantastic to see this significant investment in our community which will bring new jobs and opportunities to the South Waikato,” says Upston.

“With this long term investment the van der

LU

The forest and chicken farm sits on 139ha of land.

Heyden family is demonstrating their commitment to our community.”

Gareth says the land for the forest farm was purchased in early 2018 and the first shed was completed in late 2020.

The second shed is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and tree planting for shed three will get underway in September 2021. Better Eggs is the combination of three family-

owned poultry farms, Heyden Farms Limited, Henergy CageFree Limited and Rasmusen’s Poultry Farm Limited.

Henergy pioneered cage-free barn egg production in New Zealand and Rasmusen’s is a fourth-generation family farm founded in 1937. Under the banner of Better Eggs, Heyden Farms is now pioneering free range egg production with this leading forest free range project.

Chooks roam among the trees.

Representatives of each of the original families involved in the business were on hand to assist with the official opening of the new farm. This includes 89-yearold Justina van der Heyden, Gareth’s grandmother, whose brother and sister-in-law started Heyden Farms in the 1970s.

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Page 6

Meet the Ahuwhenua Trophy finalists It’s dairy’s turn for the Ahuwhenua Trophy, and the top three finalists have been announced.

The finalists – Pouarua Farms in Ngatea, Tataiwhetu Trust in Whakatane and Tunapahore B2A Incorporation in Opotiki – have showcased the best of their dairy operations at open days, and the winner will be announced at an

awards dinner on May 14.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy was inaugurated by visionary Maori leader, Sir Apirana Ngata, and the Governor General of the time, Lord Bledisloe, almost 90 years ago.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy remains the pre-eminent accolade to win in Maori farming and is recognised as the most prestigious and comprehensively judged award in New Zealand.

The entrants, finalists and eventual

winners all share and live the enduring values, goals, and vision of Sir Apirana Ngata and the competitive spirit of Lord Bledisloe.

Pouarua Farms This 2200ha platform on the Hauraki Plains in Thames valley comprises of 10 farms – nine dairy units and one drystock unit.

This is the largest single dairy platform in the Hauraki region, with 4600 cows milked across 1775ha and producing about 1.65M kgMS. Pouarua Farms are jointly owned Pouarua Farms Thames operations manager Stuart Telfer

by Ngati Maru, Ngati Paoa, Ngati and chief executive Jenna Smith. All Photos: Alphapix.

Tamatera, Ngati Tara Tokanui and Te Patukirikiri. farm training opportunities, and the community Pouarua Farms are now fully is engaged through the local schools as well as a operated by the iwi owners under a limited spend local policy which brings prosperity to the partnership arrangement. communities our people live in.

Since taking on full operational care in May 2019, significant productive and financial gains Tataiwhetu Trust have been achieved by careful execution of The Tatauwhtua Trust property is located in the management led by chief executive Jenna Smith.

Ruatoki Valley, south of Whakatane.

Staff are supported with multiple on and off They milk once a day, run 432 Kiwi cross cows and have 188 replacement stock on two supporting blocks.

In 2010 the trust received the Ballance Farm Environment Award for the creation of special places on the farm including the protection and enhancement of wetlands, landscape features and historical places.

A year later, in collaboration with Tuhoe Putaiao, the trust received the Green Ribbon Award for protecting biodiversity.

In 2014, the trust was presented with the Fonterra Gold Grade-Free Certificate in

...continued

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 7

Some of the team from Tunapahore B2A. continued...

recognition of excellence for consistent supply of the highest quality milk, and in 2015 the Tataiwhetu Trust transitioned from conventional milking to organic and is now fully certified by Assure Quality. In 2019 it received the Fonterra Organic Certificate.

Tunapahore B2A Incorporation

50/50 sharemilkers.

The current farm manager, Janet Poihipi, who has worked for a number of years on the farm under previous sharemilkers, is regarded as an absolute asset to the Incorporation.

The milking platform is 132ha with 385 cows producing 125,940 kgMS.

Originally one whole landmass located between the two coastal points of Hawai, the Maori Land Court met and decided to split the land in 1953, hence Tunapahore B2A and Tunapahore B2B. Tunapahore B2A Incorporation was incorporated in 1959 before Maori Land Court Judge, Ivor Prichard.

The B2A farm consists of 376ha located at Hawai and Torere on the famous State Highway 35 on the East Coast of the North Island.

It was operated as a dairy farm, originally with a farm manager and later, for many years, with

Tataiwhetu Trust in Whakatane.

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CALVING

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Gut happy animals The expanding range of Dynavyte naturally brewed and fermented live probiotic products is Australian-made and manufactured to improve and maintain the health, welfare and performance of horses, calves and stock in general.

Te Kauwhata horse rider and livestock breeder, Jeremy Clark, was first introduced to Dynavyte when a friend brought some back from Australia and recommended trying it on his horses.

Jeremy noticed the improvement in the animals within three weeks and realised Dynavyte could be beneficial for livestock and other animals, so he

brought the products to New Zealand.

Dynavyte New Zealand imports and distributes products containing a probiotic called Bacillus subtilis natto.

Dynavyte Livestock Microbiome Support is the flagship of the range, and is available through PGG, Farmlands and saddleries nationwide.

Jeremy says one of the main advantages of Dynavyte MBS is that it’s a prebiotic and probiotic with an anti-inflammatory and immune booster effect.

“It’s unique in that it’s not a dead, yeast-based powder but a live, spore-based liquid,” says Jeremy.

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The calf-rearing community has realised the advantages of using Dynavyte MBS, says Jeremy.

“It goes into the cows’ feed, and thus their milk for the calves. It promotes absorption in the stomach, giving better utilisation of feed and better conversion rates.

Te Kauwhata horse rider and livestock breeder, Jeremy Clark.

“Improved animal health is a saving to the farmer, with less money being spent on antibiotics and other treatments.”

Award winners share calving-time wisdom Making sure staff get a good amount of time off before calving is a priority for Hayden Goodall, who is the NZDIA Dairy Manager of the Year for the Bay of Plenty.

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Hayden makes sure both he, and the other three staff on the 700-cow Matata farm he manages, get about a week off in June so everyone is fresh for the busy season.

“We change to a shorter roster during that time, too, so everyone gets days off more frequently,” says Hayden.

“We work eight days on, two off, and every two days that you’re on, you do something different.

“Everyone works two days in the shed and two days outside – we share the jobs around to keep it interesting.”

The top three tips from Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year, Andrea and Blair Muggeridge, are: calve cows at condition score five, plenty of Causmag and regular springer checks.

CALVING

Page 9

Christopher Vila’s top calving tips The 2021 NZDIA Dairy Manager of the Year for the Waikato, Christopher Vila, shares his top tips for calving time.

calcium bullets, antibiotics etc.) should be prepared, so if ever there are sick cows, you will have something to treat them

-FARM-

with immediately.

Me: Preparing yourself and staff is one of the most important things to remember. Everyone

must be well rested and recovered from the previous season to ensure you’re all fresh.

This will help you get through the busiest time of the year.

Feed:

Preparing for calving starts before you dry off. You need to make sure that come calving time you have enough feed. Pasture build up during winter is a must.

Thus, monitoring your pasture cover and having a winter and spring rotation plan will help you cover this area.

calving. According to studies, BCS has a direct effect on fertility in the next mating season. Note, it will take 10 days post dry-off before cows start to gain, and take at least 30 days for a cow to gain a 0.5 BCS.

Farm: After dry-off is the best time to fix everything that need fixing, and to get prepared. These tasks may include mending fences, prepping your calf sheds, cleaning your dairy shed and inspecting your milking plant. Your equipment and machines should also be serviced and maintained, to ensure they’re safe to use. Come calving, you will need to spend most of your time and attention on the welfare and wellbeing of your animals.

Animals:

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It’s very important to prepare a routine suited to your farm. This helps everyone to work in unison, which will result in better time management, efficient and systematic work during calving.

NZDIA Dairy Manager of the Year for the Waikato, Christopher Vila.

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History 45 years in the making Cherilyn Watson is the new president of the World Holstein Friesian Federation Council, making her the first woman to hold the role in the federation’s 45-year history.

She says she’s honoured to accept the role and is looking forward to leading the Federation through an ever-changing world – from the global pandemic to the environmental challenges facing all dairy farmers.

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“New Zealand farmers are facing similar issues to dairy farmers around the world, from managing our social licence to operate, to addressing environmental challenges,” says Cherilyn.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Council and continuing to both facilitate discussion and help address those challenges.”

Holstein Friesian NZ president, Hennie Verwaayen, says Cherilyn’s appointment is recognition of how far the breed society has come and is proof that New Zealand was producing some of the best leaders in the field.

“For a little country at the bottom of the world I think Cherilyn’s appointment shows we can and are footing it with the best in the dairy industry.”

jointly developed by New Zealand’s independent, not-for-profit dairy cattle breed societies lead by Holstein Friesian NZ. She is also on the Industry Genetics Steering Group looking at access to data and genotypes across the New Zealand dairy industry.

She sits on the Breed Association Working Group of ICAR, an international committee setting standards for animal recording, and is secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Breeds Federation. Cherilyn also serves on the TOP Advisory Committee which steers the development and implementation of TOP traits in New Zealand.

Challenges ahead

Cherilyn says one of the biggest challenges currently facing the Cherilyn has been Holstein Friesian World Holstein Friesian New Zealand dairy industry is the NZ’s general manager for 17 years, development of genomics and the Federation Council and the Oceania representative president Cherilyn Watson. ownership of genomic information on the World Holstein Friesian for the national herd.

Federation Council since 2016.

“Overseas the development of genomic testing She was instrumental in securing funding and has already led to more structured breeding is leading the development of a new $1 million decisions about the type of cows farmers both project, backed the Ministry for Primary Industries, want and need to breed. In New Zealand to develop an information system to shape the we haven’t quite got there yet because there genetics powering New Zealand’s dairy sector. is currently no one industry good source of The Breed Society and Traits other than genomic data.” Cherilyn takes over from Jos Production (TOP) solution to Dairy Industry Buiting, from the Netherlands, who will remain as Good Animal Database (DIGAD) is being a Federation Council member.

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Page 11

Industry responds to live exports ban The Government’s decision to ban live exports is “surprising”, says Federated Farmers animal welfare spokesperson Wayne Langford.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced the ban last month, stating that the export of livestock by sea will cease following a transition period of up to two years.

Live exports are worth around $250 million in export receipts.

“The fact is, once animals leave New Zealand by sea we have very limited ability to ensure their wellbeing before they reach their destination,” says O’Connor.

“That is an unacceptable risk to New Zealand’s reputation. We must stay ahead of the curve in a world where animal welfare is under increasing scrutiny.

“I acknowledge the economic benefit some farmers get from the trade, but I also note that support of it is not universal within the sector.

“I’ve asked MPI to provide further advice on improvements to animal welfare during the phase out.”

feed is available for unplanned delays during the voyage.

Contracts and positives “There is a contractual relationship with the companies receiving livestock from New Zealand at the export destination to have minimum standards in place, and these are monitored for 30 days after Left: Federated Farmers animal welfare spokesperson Wayne Langford.

arrival of the animals,” says Wayne.

“But it is true that after then, New Zealand has no control over the future welfare of those animals.

“The one encouraging aspect of the Government’s announcement is the transition period of up to two years to enable those farmers with commitments in place to honour those commitments, and consider their options once live exports are off the table.”

Beef + Lamb NZ did not wish to respond for comment.

Spotlight on welfare Wayne reiterates that farmers care deeply about animal welfare.

“The Government has seen fit to bring in this ban, but Federated Farmers has no information about any breaches of the high standards relating to livestock exports.

“Those farmers who support livestock exports would point out our trade in this sector operates to some of the highest animal welfare standards anywhere – standards that were further bolstered after last year’s Heron Report.”

The Heron Report was carried out after the tragic loss of the Gulf Livestock in September 2020.

It led to requirements including focused maritime inspection of livestock carrier ships entering New Zealand and restricting stocking density on vessels to 90 per cent of former limits.

It also resulted in increased requirements for voyage reporting, including daily veterinary reports during voyages and increased minimum fodder requirements that ensure at least 20 per cent of

Funding welcomed The announcement of Government funding for decarbonisation will support the red meat sector’s ambition to be climate neutral by 2050, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

Meat processing companies are among the recipients of funding from the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

“We are pleased with today’s announcement by the Government, which aligns with our sector’s goal of transitioning away from coal,” says MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.

“Some meat processors, especially in the South Island where there is no natural gas supply, use coal to heat plant boilers for hot water.

“Converting from coal to alternative fuels for processing is challenging and expensive. It does require new technologies such as heat pumps and biomass/firewood being installed into existing plants and this financial support is valuable.”

Sirma says the meat processing and export industry is New Zealand’s largest manufacturing industry, the country’s second largest goods exporter and generates almost $10 billion in export revenue every year.

“We employ approximately 25,000 people and we are the largest employer in many of the regional towns we operate in, so any transition needs to be fair and just to ensure these thousands of jobs and livelihoods are not jeopardised.”

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SHEEP & BEEF

Page 12

Back to the Land: Despite having no previous farming experience, Alex and Judy Bromham bought a dairy support farm in the Kopaki area of the King Country in 2015.

Five years on they are fully embracing the concept of regenerative farming for their land.

After Alex retired from serving in the New Zealand Defence Force in 2015, the couple set out to find the perfect drystock property, searching country wide and considering 200 properties.

“We didn’t want a big debt and we needed to be able to manage the farm as a couple,” says Judy.

Judy’s father, a retired registered valuer specialising in rural properties, advised

them throughout.

The 72.8ha Kopaki property, with its rolling to steep contour, had 7ha of river flats, 12ha of bush, a nice house and plenty of scope for improving the farm.

“We knew we had found heaven on earth the minute we saw it,” says Alex.

They named the property Heartwood Farm, after the Mapara stream which runs through the land – mapara means

Heartwood Farm’s Angus herd. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

THE CONVENIENCE OF TWO TREATMENTS IN ONE INJECTION

‘heartwood’ in Maori.

The couple worked their way into farming slowly, taking advice and being very open to learning.

“We committed to a dairy grazing contract until 2018 and used the income and cash flow for improving the fencing and stock yards,” says Alex.

The Bromhams decided to transition the farming system to a sheep and beef breeding operation with a focus on quality Angus cattle and sheep.

They now have 60 Angus in their herd.

After receiving advice, they bought Romney ewes, over which they use Perendale rams.

“We run the sheep as one mob mainly on the steeper ground, and following the cattle,” says Judy.

Working with nature “The first time we heard of regenerative farming was in May 2017, when we attended a talk by Dr Christine Jones in Piopio, and lightbulbs just went on for us.

“Being new to farming, we had no traditional farming education. We had so many questions as to why things were done in the way they were, and her answers just made sense.”

At Heartwood Farm, their farm policies reflect their eagerness to apply regenerative principles and to look after the soil on the farm.

“The natural world is holistic and the importance of soil biology in the system is commonly overlooked,” says Alex.

The couple enlisted the help of a regenerative agriculture advisor, who encouraged them to subdivide their paddocks with temporary electric fencing.

“This doubled the number of paddocks to 60 and, having combined our cattle into one mob, we can now significantly increase the time between grazing for each paddock. ...continued

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Deep root ecosystems develop from diverse pasture mixes.

SHEEP & BEEF

Page 13

A regenerative farming journey lupins, sunflowers, brassicas, peas, beans, and mustard alongside more traditional species.

“This also helps with weed suppression as soil is not bare, and the plants puts down deeper roots.”

Taller grass shades the soil from drying out, and deeper roots hold the soil together. A natural soil ecosystem

forms, rich in organic matter.

Alex and Judy are looking forward to their next soil tests and hope to see an increase in organic matter over time from the changes they are making.

Their next challenge is not using supplementary feed over winter.

Catherine Fry

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continued...

Judy and Alex Bromham with their Angus herd.

“We aim to get the animals to eat a third of the pasture, leave a third to enable it regrow quickly, and trample a third which feeds the soil.

“This management practice helps pasture to recover quicker and grow deeper roots.”

Tests and improvements Deferred grazing is used to maintain pasture quality from mid-spring onwards. It involves dropping some paddocks out of the rotation to optimise grazing pressure on the remaining paddocks, so pasture quality is maintained.

“When paddocks are rested for a few months there is a succession of plants going to seed and this means better growth the following spring,” says Alex. This year direct drilling was used to sow a set-up crop with 24 species to increase diversity. The animals enjoy plants such as

A rested paddock ready to go back into the rotation.

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COUNTRY LIVING

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A significant research study (Wildi et al, 2011) confirmed the benefits of high dose Chondroitin sulphate (CS) for joints affected by osteoarthritis.

This week we dig a little further.

I have no doubt that the correct dose of high grade CS is the most important natural compound to help joints affected by osteoarthritis.

As an example I have been helping a man with osteoarthritis in both knees.

The pain levels had become quite debilitating.

We started with a booster dose of 1600mg of high grade chondroitin with the same amount of glucosamine and 400mg of high potency curcumin (from turmeric).

After three months, the pain level had significantly reduced and is now mobile again.

More recent research from the British Medical Journal (May 2017) compared high grade Chondroitin with common anti-inflammatory medication and found that 800mg of CS was beneficial.

“This compelling benefit-risk

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profile, in light of the known clinical risks associated with chronic usage of NSAIDS and paracetamol, underscores the potential importance of pharmaceutical-grade [chondroitin sulfate] in the management of knee [osteoarthritis], especially in the older population requiring longterm treatment,” write the researchers.

The question is how can it help? What does it do to arthritic joints? Researchers have found that CS has multiple benefits.

Firstly it helps regulate inflammatory processes within the joint capsule.

Secondly and more importantly it helps specialised cells that reside in cartilage called chondrocytes.

CS improves the ability of chondrocytes to secrete and repair cartilage. This comes as no surprise as CS is an important component of cartilage.

I have worked with so many people with osteoarthritis that I am genuinely surprised if we cannot get an improvement within three months.

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COUNTRY LIVING

Page 15

Are you feeling adventurous?

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Join NZ Adventures on the Eastern Explorer 4x4 Tour in 2022.

This tour starts in Geraldine and the team are privileged to begin the tour by travelling through Four Peaks Station, a high country station that offers a walking, tramping, hiking and/or

mountain biking experience as part of its business.

This tour takes in the very diverse and little known area of the eastern foothills of South Canterbury and inland Otago.

Included are the Hunter Hills, Hawkdun and St. Marys ranges along with the Strath Taieri region

and the Lammermoor and Lammerlaw ranges and the rough ridge.

Regions rich in New Zealands’ early European History with the gold at Lawrence and the vast pastoral runs. Modern industrial mining features at Macraes Flat alongside over a hundred years of mining history.

Guide to thriving How do you get the most out of your life as a busy woman in agriculture?

That is the question that a new e-book, for farming women, by farming women, hopes to answer.

The free e-book, called 12 Tips to help you Thrive, offers practical advice from female farmers across the country, including Matamata farmer Tracey Brown.

“It’s very hard to get women who are caring and nurturing and prioritising everyone else’s needs above their own – the household, the kids, the farm, the farming team, the stock – to suddenly put themselves at the top of the list,” says author Loshni Manikam.

“I wanted something easy, practical and real, because there’s already a lot of information out there on wellbeing. These are honest stories that resonate with farming women.”

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Matamata farmer Tracey Brown.

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Page 16

COUNTRY LIVING

A column for rural women Rural Women New Zealand may be nearly 100-years-old but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her.

The organisation is not ashamed to admit to the odd image makeover over the years, with a lift and a tuck here and there to keep up with the changing face of women in rural New Zealand.

You probably know the charitable trust better as the WDFF – Women’s Division of Federated Farmers – which began life in 1925 at a tea party for the wives of delegates of the Farmers’ Union.

Many of the pioneering members were women who had taken on the roles of managing farms and other businesses as their husbands, fathers and brothers went away to fight in World War I. With the return of the men, life did not necessarily

RWNZ leader for Rimanui, Mary McTavish.

return to the old ways for these women, now armed with the knowledge that they were capable of more than just managing the homestead and raising the children.

The newly hatched rural organisation was the perfect outlet for many to use their new-found abilities to support the needs of their rural sisters, which RWNZ members continue to do today.

Meet Mary Take Mary McTavish, the newly appointed RWNZ leader for Rimanui, as an example.

Mary became a member 44 years ago, almost as soon as she stepped onto New Zealand soil as a newlywed in 1977 to go market gardening with her husband. She still remembers how her transition to a new country was made so much easier through the understanding and friendships offered “by the wonderful women in the WDFF”.

“The kindness shown to me by those lovely ladies has remained with me and motivates me to uphold the organisation’s creed to ‘not forget to be kind’,” says Mary.

As well as sharemilking and owning kiwifruit orchards over the years, Mary became chair of the Bay of Plenty Fruit Packers Association.

But these days she devotes much of her free time to what is now RWNZ. “The name may have changed but the core values of the organisation have remained the same,” explains Mary. “Health, housing, education, environment, employment and safety are still major issues for rural women.

“In fact, the needs of those living in rural regions often seem to come second place to urban residents in today’s world.”

For all rural women The rebrand from WDFF to Rural Women NZ in 1999 was designed to recognise the changing face of rural New Zealand, from almost exclusively agriculture, to include women involved in all rural businesses and lifestyle blockers.

Claire Williamson is one of these new generation women living and working in a rural location that the organisation wanted to include with the rebranding. She has just been elected as a RWNZ Board Member from the North Island.

Claire has found herself constantly alternating between gumboots and heels as she lives on a lifestyle block while having worked her way up from advisor to director with My Mortgage and starting up her own company making pure New Zealand wool coats.

Claire’s involvement with RWNZ sees the continuation of a family legacy as both of her grandmothers were early members.

“Women still face juggling the care of family and household management with volunteer community roles as my grandmothers did but, more often than not today, have to factor in paid employment as well,” says Claire.

“I am passionate about helping rural communities to thrive. I see RWNZ as a way to support these communities by the traditional means of fundraising, knitting for Plunket and tea and scones for volunteers fighting rural fires but also by educating rural women through webinars and helping young rural businesses to thrive through online support groups.”

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 17

NZ-made manufacturing Their main product line is the Serious Incinerators range, which the team are developing further as they go to include more accessories and to improve emissions, says Milton.

Built to last and conforming with the With a strong belief in New Zealand now redundant NZS 5202:1979 manufacturing, the family owned and Standard, Serious Incinerators are operated business offers a range of “Being in business extremely popular with farmers, Kiwi-made products from tiny house trailers to agricultural gives us a platform to horticulturists and lifestyle block holders nationwide. equipment, orchard and invest in people and Iron Tree Products offers packhouse equipment and more. manufacturing services to suit “We currently have four give them opportunities customer requirements; from staff and have just signed up to grow and develop design to finish should you one of them to an engineering need it. apprenticeship,” says Iron Tree their skillsets.”

“In-house expertise covers general Products’ Milton Brown. engineering and carpentry, and for “Being in business gives us a platform to anything outside our particular expertise invest in people and give them opportunities to we can most likely still help through our grow and develop their skillsets, which is exciting contacts,” says Milton. for us and for them.”

Homegrown right here in New Zealand, Iron Tree Products are makers of quality New Zealand products.

Peter Brown, Alex Scott and Milton Brown.

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Page 18

Be aware of Acorn poisoning Do you have any oak trees on your property?

If so it’s good to be aware that most animals are susceptible to Quercus poisoning, although cattle and sheep are affected most often.

Most species of oak (Quercus spp) found in New Zealand and elsewhere in the world are considered toxic.

Clinical signs occur three to seven days after consumption of large quantities of young oak leaves in the spring or green acorns in the fall.

Fallen trees associated with a recent storm are often reported with outbreaks.

Feed restriction before exposure plays a crucial role enhancing susceptibility. Mortality as high as

70 per cent may be seen.

Malformed calves and abortions have been reported in dams consuming acorns during the second trimester of pregnancy.

The toxic principle, which appears to be pyrogallol, gallotannins, polyhydroxyphenolic compounds, or their metabolites produced by microbial hydrolysis in the rumen, binds and precipitates proteins, which results in GI and renal dysfunction.

Signs and symptoms Signs include anorexia, depression, emaciation, brisket edema, dehydration, rumen stasis, tenesmus, smell of ammonia on the breath, serous ocular or nasal discharge, polydipsia, polyuria, hematuria, icterus, and constipation followed by mucoid to hemorrhagic diarrhea.

Renal insufficiency, which is evident four to six days after exposure, may be characterised by increased BUN and creatinine, proteinuria, glucosuria, hyperbilirubinuria, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and urine with a low specific gravity.

Pale swollen kidneys characterised by

coagulative necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubular cells, perirenal edema, subcutaneous edema, ascites, and hydrothorax are common necropsy findings. Edema and subserosal petechial or ecchymotic hemorrhage of intestinal mucosa and ulceration of the esophagus and rumen may be seen. Evidence of hepatotoxicity characterised by increased liver enzymes may also be present.

Diagnosis is based on clinical findings, necropsy, history, and histopathologic examination of the kidney (i.e: nephrosis).

Other common diseases that resemble oak poisoning include pigweed (Amaranthus spp) poisoning, aminoglycoside antibiotic poisoning, oxalate poisoning, and ochratoxicosis.

Antidotes and precautions Consumption of a pelleted ration supplement (1 kg/head/day) containing 10-15 per cent calcium hydroxide plus access to more palatable feeds may be used as a preventive measure if exposure to acorns or oak leaves cannot be avoided.

Calcium hydroxide, activated charcoal, ruminatorics, and purgatives (such as

mineral oil [1 L/500 kg], sodium sulfate [1 kg/400 kg], or magnesium sulfate [450 g/400 kg]) may be effective antidotes if administered early in the course of disease.

Polyethylene glycol (1 g/kg/day) administered in the feed or water will bind tannins and reduce tissue damage.

Fluid therapy to correct dehydration and acidosis and transplantation of ruminal microflora may be beneficial.

Clinical recovery usually occurs within 60 days but is rare if renal dysfunction is severe.

Improved range management to limit grazing in immature oak stands will prevent development of the syndrome.

While typical at this time of year with oak leaf fall, other diseases may also result in animals to become sick suddenly. If you suspect that your animals may be suffering from one of these toxicities, please contact your local vet clinic for advice.

Subdividing can have environmental benefits Whilst there is plenty of planting going on out there on the farm right now to protect the quality of our country’s waterways, there is an awful lot more to do!

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But where does the money come from to accomplish this.

A quick Google search brings up the Government’s ‘One Billion Trees’ Project, Trees that Count, The Sustainable Management Fund, The Sustainable Farming Fund, and several locally based biodiversity funds.

Beyond this are the regional and district councils, who will often enter into partnership with landowners to achieve the goal of erosion control and water quality enhancement.

If you don’t qualify for any of these subsidies, or you just want to do your own thing, you may be able to

finance your dreams by undertaking a subdivision.

Many of our clients are doing just that, and doing very nicely out of it thank you.

Many councils in our region, including Western Bay, Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Waipa, Hauraki, South Waikato, MatamataPiako, Whakatane and Opotiki District Plans all now allow subdivision in return for protection of ecological features.

The retirement and revegetation of marginal land alongside waterways required to achieve the subdivision improves water quality, creating a genuine win/win for the farmer and community. ...continued

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Carrots aren’t the only orange-coloured food that is beneficial for eye health.

A recent study by the Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation has found that orange capsicums contain the richest source of the orange pigment zeaxanthin, which is vital for central vision used to read, drive and see pictures and faces.

This is different to the eye-benefitting orange pigment in carrots, called beta-carotene, which benefits night vision.

Associate professor Tim O’Hare, who conducted the study, says zeaxanthin accumulates in the macula at the back of the eyes.

It protects against blue light, which damages the light receptors in the retina responsible for highresolution central vision and colour perception.

The more zeaxanthin in your macula, the more blue light is naturally screened from hitting the back of the eye, says Tim.

It’s in the colour Zeaxanthin deficiency leaves eyes susceptible to age-related macular degeneration. Tim stresses that food is essential to achieve this protection.

“Our bodies can’t make zeaxanthin, which means we rely exclusively on dietary sources or on artificial supplements.”

While zeaxanthin can be found in other foods such as paprika, corn and saffron, Tim says the

The more orange pigment in your pepper, the more beneficial it is for eye health.

Photo: MacKenzie Dyer

levels tend to be quite low.

The study found that one orange capsicum, which is typically 450g, contains zeaxanthin levels equivalent to 30 supplement tablets, with 2mg of zeaxanthin the daily recommended dose.

“Each zeaxanthin tablet is roughly equivalent to 10g of orange capsicum flesh – that’s how rich the capsicums are in this pigment,” says Tim. “In most cases, it’s the zeaxanthin itself that gives orange capsicums their vivid orange colour.

“The more intensely coloured the product, the more nutrient they contain.”

An unpopular capsicum The less ripe green and yellow capsicums, and the ripest red capsicum, contain no zeaxanthin.

Countdown New Zealand say orange capsicums make up less than 10 per cent of capsicum sales throughout their New Zealand supermarkets.

“In our stores red capsicums make up more than half our capsicum sales,” says a Countdown New Zealand spokesperson.

“In our experience Kiwis are really interested in looking after their health so we’d expect that many customers will look at this particular study with interest.”

continued...

The financial gains through subdivision are significant and, in addition to covering the compliance costs of the subdivision, will additionally provide much needed capital for farm improvements or a retirement nest egg – perhaps both.

Farmers have always seen themselves as custodians of the land and are often seen enhancing their farms gradually as the profit dictates, but a good capital injection through subdivision has the effect of fast tracking this work hugely.

Some of the most popular features to support subdivision are regenerating native bush, wetland ecosystems, cultural sites and bush covered stream and riverbanks.

Unfortunately, the rules differ from district to district with some councils being more generous than others, so every opportunity has to be assessed individually.

In general, the more ecologically important a feature type is, the less area needed to justify a subdivision, e.g: half a hectare of dune land of wetland, 500 metres of stream edge well planted, one hectare of floodplain forest or 10 hectares of lowland forest may be required.

With many rural councils moving to restrict subdivision of lifestyle blocks based on overall farm size, this is the only way available now for many to create truly ‘rural’ lifestyle lots for sale or retirement.

So, if your land has a feature similar to those mentioned in this article and you want to subdivide your property, I am happy to discuss the prospects with you. Please feel free to give me a call and discuss your situation.

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

Page 19

Page 20

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Multimillion-dollar freshwater wetland opens A new multimillion-dollar public wetland has opened in Drury to improve water quality and support endangered native wildlife.

The 35,000sqm freshwater wetland is one of the largest constructed wetlands in the country.

The constructed wetland at the 361ha Drury South Crossing subdivision,

Drury’s new man-made wetland. the country’s largest industrial and residential as a dam in both directions – holding the wetland development, is designed to improve water quality water in during normal operation but overtopping in the area and provide a habitat for endangered into the wetland in very large flood events to native eels, fish and birds and, form part of an provide additional flood capacity in the floodplain. extensive new public recreation area.

“The tuna design was chosen for both its cultural Located in one of Auckland’s deepest flood significance to mana whenua as well as for plains, the wetland is designed to hold floodwater functional purposes,” says Peter. volumes of up to 58,900m3 – the equivalent capacity of 23.5 Olympic size swimming pools.

The wetland is designed in the shape of a tuna (eel), a culturally significant motif that provides the stormwater management system with a mechanism to reduce the speed of water entering the catchment area through a network of high volume intake pipes at up to 16m3 of water per second.

Tikanga Maori design

Illustrations of the wetland’s eel-inspired design.

Dam design experts on the project worked with Ted “The complexity of the S-shaped design with Ngataki and Maaka Potini, local Maori artists, to its winding curves and varying elevations is incorporate Tikanga Maori and the concept of a necessary to control the high velocity of the water tuna/eel into the Wetland design. entering the forebays through 2-2.5m pipes, The tuna was selected as having particular reducing it to a slow meandering stream and significance to iwi as they are indigenous to the fi ltering the water to allow the natural removal of area and were once prevalent and a key part of sediment and pollutants before it passes through traditional diet and trade. a green outfall into the Hingaia Stream and into Tonkin Taylor project manager Peter Norfolk the Manukau Harbour.” says the new wetland is uniquely designed to act ...continued

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS to capturing sediment from stormwater runoff however modern subdivisions tend to have less lawn which increases the need to capture runoff from surrounding roads and housing,” says Stephen.

“While filtering stormwater and runoff is a key aspect of protecting

Drury’s new wetland required almost 400,000 tonnes of earth to be excavated. continued...

Peter says the wetland has taken two years to complete and required the excavation of more than 396,000 tonnes of earth.

Drury South Crossing He says the creation of the wetland with chief executive this degree of complex Stephen Hughes. geometry would not have been possible within this timeframe without advancements in 3D modelling technology and integrated guidance systems for excavators.

“Bringing this design to life in a relatively short

space of time required the latest in sophisticated 3D modelling and construction techniques, which are used to guide the excavators via GPS.”

Environment conscious Drury South Crossing chief executive Stephen Hughes says a number of environmental considerations have been integrated into the new subdivision. These include removing pollutants such as zinc – the most common of all heavy metal contaminants in urban rivers and streams, from roofing materials used on site.

“In the past, residential lawns and grass around houses would have helped contribute

Page 21 our waterways, we have gone a step further by preventing unpainted roofing materials made with zinc from being used at the subdivision.

“The creation of this new wetland and public recreational area is designed to set a new standard for residential and industrial developments.”

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Leadership programme returns The HortNZ Leadership Programme is back for 2021 and programme director Sue Pickering of Develop Ltd says she’s excited to get the ball rolling.

Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme 2021

Are you a potential leader in the horticulture industry?

Want to know more? www.hortnz.co.nz/leadership Sue Pickering 021 938 825 sue.p@developme.nz Deadline 20 June 2021

The programme is for “It’s three phases emerging potential – residential at or current leaders Lincoln for phase in the fruit and one, participants vegetable industry. will work a little on “We’ve got 26 their own projects in places available this phase two and phase year and there are three sees them go to 20 scholarships that Wellington.” people can apply for,” Sue says the says Sue. programme is a “We’ve had more great way to build than 275 graduates relationships in the and it’s just going from industry and learn strength to strength.” plenty of useful Participants will information.

Southern Cross Horticulture’s Megan Fox and primarily, but not “The really great Sutherland Produce’s Josh Webster at work with exclusively, be growers thing about this is Sue Pickering in Wellington. Photo: Jamie Troughton. or their employees or it’s in the context of those from organisations closely associated horticulture and you’re getting people from all over with growing.

New Zealand with real commonality within that “There are no qualification requirements either. industry, with a range of differences as well.”

“We get a lot of different types of people who are Applications are open now and close on June 20. putting their hand up to lead.”

For more information, see the ad on this page.

Tackling phytopthora root rot Ensuring tree health heading into winter is vital for those trees already battling with phytophthora root rot (PRR).

I recommend monitoring your tree health by using the Ciba–Geigy scale and being proactive in managing PRR using a holistic approach of chemical and cultural management tools.

Current crop load, nutrient deficiencies, environmental stresses, and the massive demand on reserves for flower development and fruit maturing can cause a tree to be more susceptible to diseases and could be the trigger for noticeable decline during winter as the roots battle against the high pressure of Phytophthora in the coming wet months.

Control should not only be chemical, which provides transitory protection, but cultural as well which will create healthier roots more resistant to PRR and more importantly a soil environment where PRR is suppressed. Autumn is the time to act.

Increasing organic matter with the addition of mulches and composts will support higher

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.

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Autumn is the time to get phytophthora root rot under control using both chemical and cultural controls.

numbers of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes.

You can also drench the soil with products that will activate and stimulate these populations of beneficial soil microbes.

Soils containing higher percentages of microorganisms will enhance the biological suppression of the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi (Pc).

As woody mulch decomposes, it also allows antagonistic soil fungi such as Trichoderma spp. to build up. These fungi protect plants by killing pathogens like Pc and also induce resistance against plant pathogens, impart abiotic stress tolerance, improve plant growth and vigor as well as improve nutrient uptake.

Should you be using chemical control, remember to time your application. Best results are achieved when applied after the summer flush has hardened off and Autumn root flush is active. Do not do any phosphonate application during dry weather or when the trees are water stressed.

Wait for good soil moisture levels or irrigate well before application to get better uptake as treatments are always more effective when applied during periods of active sap flow.

If any trees earmarked for phosphonate application are going to be pruned, wait three to four weeks after application to commence pruning to allow the chemical to be drawn up by the leaves and translocated down to the roots.

If choosing the injecting method, injection sites should be spread evenly around the tree, as the chemical does not move laterally around the tree and only moves to the leaves directly above the injection site then down to the roots below them.

Foliar spray application can be used instead of injecting if the trees have sufficient canopy to take up the spray application.

Consider monitoring your root phosphite concentrations by taking root samples. 25-40ppm is considered the threshold of effectiveness but aim for 40ppm for better persistence.

If you need an assistance in this area, please contact the team at Just Avocados or Avoworks.

AVOCADOS

Page 23

Winter is really cold and avos don’t grow Yep, I know winter is a bit of a gloomy subject but we need to face up.

It happens every year and we get through it.

It may be colder and wet but it’s also a great time to get organised.

While there is less travelling and it’s harder to escape off to the tropics,

we are spending more time home, which has given us the opportunity to be better organised for the spring.

May, June and July is just a tad too early to head to the ski slopes. So it’s time to knuckle down, hitch up the horses and get into some winter work.

This year we at AAL are changing things up a bit. We have started our winter pruning programme and it’s in full swing.

As per usual, our AAL team are hunting around 25-35 per cent of foliage to be pruned off. We target growth vigour, sunlight and fruit quality.

programme and we are planning more detail and earlier faster work.

It may mean less time relaxing in front of the winter fire, but it means we can keep a steady pace.

Thanking the team I don’t often speak about the detail of AAL, but I’d like to say thanks to my

brilliant capable team.

We work as a team and it’s our interactions and discussions that have lead us to make some subtle but important developments.

I am tremendously proud of how we operate, the standards we maintain and the success we have driven to our orchard owners.

Getting ahead There are many pruning styles around.

Hard and fast, slow and tempered, or something in between.

Either way, don’t leave your rush late, don’t take too little and protect last year’s growth to give you next year’s flower.

If in doubt, seek input from knowledgeable people. A number of packhouses have a range of consultants and specialists.

In our AAL operation we have more than six staff with bachelor degrees working to help growers achieve more. This is quite an achievement for our small business.

May growers will be aware of starting spring early. However, something to also keep in mind is to not let the winter blues hide what’s really happening.

This year we are feeding our trees all the way through winter.

We will fertilise during 11 months, missing some of the drier summer periods.

The fert brews will change to more readily available nitrogen in the cooler months. We are chasing later autumn energy stores and vigour and in winter a slower but steady growth – we want to keep our fruit growing.

It may not be noticeable but we are getting good crop returns. We are changing our picking

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AVOCADOS

Page 24

Tap into industry leading expertise Avocado growers are being urged to lean on Avoco’s technical advisers for support ahead of a season that is likely to require careful management both on-orchard and in increasingly competitive offshore markets.

With Australian growers shaping up to produce a bumper domestic crop, Avoco is expecting less room in the market for large New Zealand volumes, especially in the first half of the season.

In this environment, Asian markets serve a critically important function by providing a valuable supply channel for growers whose fruit must be harvested between September and December.

Avoco markets New Zealand fruit in Asia under the AVANZA brand. Last season, Asia was a difficult region to service due to widespread disruption to shipping and logistics caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Only seven per cent of Avoco’s total export volume was shipped to Asia but that figure is scheduled to be much higher in 2021-22.

Harvesting for export among Avoco growers will begin in the Far North and Northland in late July or early August. In the Bay of Plenty, fruit typically matures a few weeks later. Avoco’s technical team is now focussed on making sure all growers have the information they need to make the 2021-22 season a success from a quality standpoint.

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Marketing and communications Avoco’s technical advisers regularly visit growers in their orchards manager Steve Trickett says and work with them closely to get the best out of their trees.

Avoco is looking forward to “Customers in Australia and Asia are keen to shipping greater volumes to Asia next season and receive our fruit. But it is important to note that demonstrating how New Zealand fruit has the we are facing more fruit from other competitive quality to command premium values. origins in these markets, underscoring the “Over the past two seasons, we’ve invested a importance of presenting customers with the lot of time and effort into refining our systems highest quality New Zealand fruit possible,” right through the supply chain and developing a says Steve. “We also want growers to be mindful formula for improving fruit quality performance, of their orchard inputs and spray programmes both in Australia and Asia,” says Steve. throughout the season so their fruit can be picked “The impact that Covid-19 had on shipping for all markets. This gives us the greatest possible meant that our season was cut short prematurely flexibility to serve as many markets as possible.” across most seafreight AVANZA markets last year.

“However, the quality of our fruit that did reach Asia was much improved on what was delivered in New expertise Avoco’s team has been bolstered this month by the previous two seasons, indicating that our the arrival of Richard Kok, who joins Avoco as the new Quality Business Plan for Asia is making company’s new technical manager. He is based in a difference.” the Bay of Plenty after moving to New Zealand While there is always the possibility of further shipping disruption, Steve says Avoco has the scale from South Africa.

For nine years, Richard has worked at Westfalia and expertise to move increased volumes of fruit Marketing Africa as part of the multinational to markets in Asia as long as they can be reliably Westfalia Fruit Group that supplies fresh and serviced without sacrificing fruit age. processed produce, including avocados, to “After our experience last season, we have international markets. contingency plans in place should further Steve says Richard’s appointment demonstrates disruption occur. But with consumption growing Avoco’s commitment to ensuring growers benefit in markets such as Thailand, we have all our from the latest advice and technical know-how. fingers crossed for a season that gives AVANZA Avoco encourage growers to make the most of the opportunity to showcase quality fruit which also possesses a unique flavour and texture profile.” these expertise by getting in touch.

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FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 25

Fieldays nominated for global award “Being named as a finalist in the Eventex Awards is a testament to the hard work the team put in to bring Fieldays Online to life in only 108 days – a world-first for an agricultural event of its kind,” says Peter.

100 day project “The virtual event was a huge undertaking, and we are really proud that we upheld our commitment to the primary sector and the rural community through delivering an interactive, virtual Fieldays experience. Also, as the nation was in lockdown with our international borders closed, we were able to keep New Zealand’s

brand alive across the world through the virtual event.”

It was created in partnership with Satellite Media, a digital innovation agency based in Auckland. TradeMe also supported the event, connecting various Fieldays exhibitors with e-commerce capabilities.

Covid-safe event Fieldays Online was created out of necessity due to Covid19 restrictions that meant the physical event held at Mystery Creek couldn’t go ahead.

Fieldays exhibitors were onboarded to the online platform, allowing them to promote their products and services,

sell products, offer deals, and generate content, promotions, and activations. Visitors could also access live content through Fieldays TV which hosted cooking demonstrations, topical panel discussions, the Fieldays Innovation Awards, and guest speakers.

Fieldays Online attracted 90,455 total digital visitors, with attendees from more than 75 different countries, while nearly 300 exhibitors hosted digital sites. “Fieldays Online is now a part of our digital roadmap moving forward,” says Peter.

“We are excited to deliver it as an extension of our four-day event this June.”

The Fieldays Online live studio.

Fieldays is a finalist in the 11th Global Eventex Awards for their 2020 virtual event – Fieldays Online.

The Eventex Awards is one of the most distinguished accolades for key players in the events industry, and celebrates creativity, innovation and effectiveness in the event business worldwide.

Fieldays is shortlisted for the Virtual Expo Award alongside German optics company, ZIESS, for their Neuro Week 2020 event, and the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency for their online exhibition, 360 Design Budapest.

National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation is excited that the team’s efforts are being recognised on a global scale.

Physical Fieldays here to stay Fieldays are reminding the public that the physical event has every intention of going ahead, after hearing concerns it would remain exclusively online.

“Even though we’re keeping the digital format developed last year due to Covid-19, the Mystery Creek event Kiwis know and love is back, too,” says Fieldays major events manager Lee Picken.

“An online Fieldays could never replace the physical event.

“We’re looking

forward to returning to Mystery Creek for a jam-packed four days, starting on June 16.”

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Page 26

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Your one-stop-shop Dobsons is your one-stop-shop for electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning services.

The experienced team includes fully qualified refrigeration engineers and dual traded electricians.

“We offer a full range of electrical and refrigeration solutions including: all commercial and domestic electrical services, commercial refrigeration, coolstore installation and maintenance, airconditioning and heat pumps, irrigation and water pumps, dairy shed wiring and vat refrigeration,” says director, Brian Tucker.

“Accustomed to working on multiple

projects with tight deadlines, we know how important timelines are and our team work together to ensure that your job is completed efficiently and effectively.”

The team can do the design, build, service and maintenance of commercial kiwifruit cool stores.

They also specialise in glycol refrigeration and ice banks, design and installation, as well as vat refrigeration, meat chillers, walk-in coolrooms and heat recovery (taking energy from vat systems to heat hot water cylinders) for energy-saving purposes.

“We can do service checks and efficiency checks on existing refrigeration systems,” says Brian, “and

provide full refrigeration and electrical services for farming glycol systems for large cool stores.”

When it comes to dairy farming, Dobsons can help with water pumps, installing and repairing irrigation systems, repairing generators, new maintenance and alterations on cowsheds and thermal imaging on switchboards, and offer 24-hour breakdown service.

“The team can also quote, supply and install a range of different heat pump brands and install HVAC systems and underfloor heating.”

No matter your electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning needs, the team at Dobsons can help.

Dobsons directors Brian and Amanda Tucker.

Rural market steady Farm sales are up compared to the three months leading up to Covid-19, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

The data, released on April 23, shows there have been 113 more farm sales for the three months ended March 2021 than for the same period last year, which is an increase of 40.8 per cent.

Ten of the 13 regions recorded an increase in the number of farm

sales for the three months ended March 2021 compared to the three months ended March 2020, with the most notable being Waikato, which increased by 37 sales.

Horticulture farm sales rose by 98.8 per cent.

Grazing farms accounted for the largest number of sales with a 30 per cent share of all sales over the three months to March 2021.

Finishing farms accounted for 25 per cent, dairy accounted for 22 per cent and horticulture accounted for 11 per cent of all sales.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 27

Arty ingenuity with no.8 wire three was extremely tough but also an immense honour. I’m in awe of all the works submitted this year – I feel truly inspired.”

Virginia says the annual open call to artists across Aotearoa continues to provide a unique platform to reinvent an everyday farming product and turn it into a compelling work of art.

The works represented a crosssection of artistic styles and inspirations that range from climate change and the Covid19 pandemic to rural tales and farming life.

NZNFS chief executive, Peter Nation, said it was difficult to choose a winner for the President’s Choice Award due

to the high calibre of the finalists’ work.

“The No.8 Wire National Art Award has proven to be as inspiring, thought-provoking and delightful as the first exhibition back in 1997.

“All of the artworks on display are stunning.”

Epsom Girls Grammar School Gina Ferguson with her winning art piece, Wear ‘n’ tear.

Fieldays competitions aren’t all about farm labour.

The Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award sees artists turn no.8 wire into something stunning, with thousands of dollars in cash up for grabs.

Auckland artist Gina Ferguson took out the top prize this year with her work Wear ‘n’ tear, at a ceremony last month.

The $7000 prize was awarded for the winning work’s “stunning visual

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impact and inventive use of gorse, soap and wire,” says judge Virginia King. The renowned sculptor says the imagination, skill and creativity put into the winning creation is incredible.

“Wear ‘n’ tear resonated with me on so many levels – the artist’s thought-provoking concept and creative transformation of No.8 wire left me with a sense of intrigue,” she says. “The task of whittling the competition entries down to my top

Wristbands to make Fieldays easy Scanable wristbands are set to make this year’s Fieldays a breeze, where entering competitions and paying for items can be completed with a flick of the wrist.

Upon entering the gates at Mystery Creek, attendees can resister their details on the wristband from the Fieldays ticket on their phone.

Fieldays major events manager Lee Picken says the wristbands are a fun and convenient addition to the Fieldays experience.

“The best part about it is that if you’re looking at multiple products, you can scan your wristband to request information about that product. Then, you can go home and compare all of the information about the products you’ve seen, without having to

take all of that information away physically.

“This is great from a sustainability point of view, as it reduces a significant amount of paper.”

To make the wristband registration process easier, Lee recommends purchasing your Fieldays ticket online.

“Registering the wristband with a digital ticket is really easy – the people at the gate only have to scan your phone and the wristband to register your details onto it.

“If you buy a physical ticket you will still get a wristband, but you will have to go onto the website and register your details for the band once you’re inside the gate.

“Because of this extra step, I recommend jumping online to buy your ticket.”

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Page 28

New loaders a win for practicality and comfort The new series comprises of six models with Improved functionality awaits those who lift capacities from 3.2 to 5.6 tonnes and a try JCB’s third-generation of its industry- maximum reach of six to nine metres.

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JCB’s third generation Loadall telescopic handler.

Command Plus cab is a highlight of the new series, says JCB product manager, Steve Gorman.

“A wide door opening and adjustable push-away steering column with working position memory makes it easy for operators to enter and exit the cab,” says Steve.

“The lack of bare metal inside the cab means it’s 50 per cent quieter than the previous design. The elimination of the front crossmember from the roof has increased the glazed area by 14 per cent, allowing operators to view raised booms and implements more easily.

“The large front wiper and two roof-mounted wipers sweep 92 per cent of the curved windscreen glass. The larger, tablet-like digital instrument display is attached to the windscreen glass.

“The cabin’s improved airflow, demisting and defrosting functions allow the loaders to be put to use first thing on a winter morning.”

All models are equipped with the 4.4l JCB EcoMax engine that

delivers 109hp or 125hp, while high specification models are fitted with a 4.8l version delivering 145 hp.

A range of transmissions are available, including the 40 km/h four-speed JCB Powershift manual transmission, 40 km/h TorqueLock4 transmission with direct-drive torque converter lock-up in top gear and the 40 km/h six-speed JCB Autoshift transmission.

For more information, see the JCB Agriculture advert on this page.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 29

High quality fertiliser Annually-applied alternatives such as prilled lime are quite expensive and apply no phosphate.

Dicalcic super has only 4 per cent phosphate. So I saw the need for a product that enables farmers to apply their maintenance phosphate and lime in one application that

When Dr Bert Quin from QuinFert saw a gap in the fertiliser market, he decided to fill it himself.

He has plenty of experience in the industry, a multi-disciplinary PhD under his belt, and a passion for helping Kiwi farmers.

“With no significant independent importation and scientific promotion of RPR, farmers who wanted to keep using RPR have found it increasingly difficult to access real, low-cadmium RPR at a reasonable cost,” says Bert.

RPR is a slow-release phosphate fertiliser which is suitable for maintaining high pasture production with minimal phosphate run-off and leaching.

“I got back into fertiliser and RPR importing because I was very disappointed with how the supply of RPR to farmers was being reduced. They were being told it was difficult to get, and I knew that wasn’t the case, so I decided to demonstrate that.”

And demonstrate it he did. With a range of highquality fertilisers available, Bert has worked hard to keep RPR available throughout New Zealand at very cost-effective prices.

The RPR from Algeria, which QuinFert imports, is internationally recognised by all expert scientific authorities as being one of the very best RPR’s in the world, says Bert. It already contains some dolomite naturally, the reason why the inadequate Fertmark test, used nowhere else in the world, underestimates it.

He says QuinFert high-lime RPR is a fantastic choice for farmers wanting a cost-effective option to meet their maintenance lime, phosphate (and sulphur if required) in one hit.

“The concern for farmers is the cost of applying heavy applications of conventional lime, and the zig-zag effects of soil pH.

did not require an extremely high application rates. Additional sulphur can easily be added as S90 to meet the requirements of individual farms. Farmer interest is already very high.”

For more information, see the below advertisement.

Dr Bert Quin receiving Honorary Life Membership of the NZ Soil Science Society 2020.

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Page 30

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

How to not lose money Ruminations of an old fart.

Before I forget, I thought I would pen out a story on what I learned during 50 years of valuation, finance and mediation for farmers.

If you find yourself heading down the wrong road, the faster you can turn around the better.

Contract milking springs to mind.

By the time contract milkers meet all

the costs expected of them they often make less than a decent management position with a decent salary package.

Why keep going back to that mode when it does not seem to work that well in many cases?

Changing mode Insufficient critical mass on too small a business to be profitable.

Small farms of all descriptions fit

here. You need sufficient income size and critical mass to get a profit after all outgoings.

If you are going financially backwards every year and battling, maybe it is time to change your business mode.

Excessive personal drawing A farm might post a profit after all outgoings and taxation of say $70,000 – but what if you are spending $100,000? Your debt will be increasing at $30,000 per annum and your banker is going to be knocking on your door.

You may be half deaf and not listening anyway, but if your banker, advisors and accountant are saying no, listen! They know better than you.

Iron disease Many farmers suffer from always wanting new tractors and gear.

And yes, you need a certain amount, but the smell of a new tractor cab is like a drug to many and they just have to have.

I can relate to that, but expensive HP and lots of them can suck a business dry of working capital.

Avoid expensive projects that are either unnecessary, loss makers or too expensive, such as new houses, cowsheds, land development projects, and so on.

It may seem a good idea at the time, but the additional debt costs and cost overruns that have to be met from revenue, fit in here.

Many businesses have failed because money is being siphoned off for the ventures such as beach houses and helping family, so watch out there.

Relationship breakups Like it or lump it, if a relationship breakup happens you are going to divide your net worth in half.

Assets minus liabilities, in half.

There is just no way around it.

Yes, you may think you can borrow her/his half to pay her/him out, but will the business stand the extra debt costs? Often not.

I have a degree in this stuff, and it is sure not for the faint hearted.

The best thing is to have a deep and meaningful conversations with your partner and look after her/him better than you look after everything else.

Only spend what you have To wrap up, don’t spend more than you earn – end of story.

As an old fart with a lot of experience, my recommendation is to have a think about avoiding losing money.

Making money is one thing, but hanging onto it is another.

Sadly, we get very little economic education at school, so it is a learned lesson.

Disclaimer: These are the opinions of Don Fraser.

Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought.

Don Fraser is the retired Principal of Fraser Farm Finance and was a consultant to the farming industry for many years. Contact him on 021 777 675.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

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Ag-Steel horticulture products offer an alternative to timber. green to gold and establish support structures that 1985 – the year of Live Aid, the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior and the year when bear the weight of the golden variety.

“We designed Ag-Steel’s range of products to Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd specifically meet the demands of New Zealand’s went Back to the Future! kiwifruit growing industry,” says Mike.

“We wanted systems that were easy and efficient But closer to home, 1985 was an auspicious year to install while still providing growers with the for Peter Green and family, with the establishment peace of mind their crops were supported and of Industrial Tube Manufacturing. protected. We’ve achieved that with Ag-Beam, Thirty five years on there’s been no looking Ag-Tri-posts, Ag-Wire and Ag-Brace.” back for the steel tube manufacturer. Rather, the Mike and his team also offer technical advice for company has paved the wave for innovation in a growers considering expanding their structures or range of industries, not least kiwifruit. preparing for the growth and weight that comes Ag-Steel by Industrial Tube offers a suite of with grafting golden onto green. horticultural products that enable kiwifruit “By understanding growers’ requirements, we can growers to plan for future crop-laden vines. advise on the structural allocation that will provide Ag-Steel’s key account manager Mike Posa says the best support needed,” says Mike.

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Page 32

Feed for peak performance Do you know if your feed is FeedSafe accredited?

Find out at the NZFMA Fieldays stand NZFMA Fieldays stand number AG 7C

Much has been written and talked about when it comes to the benefits of supplementary feed for ruminant animals.

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Using quality animal feed to supplement grass fed herds enhances overall performance and wellbeing but it also plays a valuable role pre-calving and in early lactation.

NZ Feed Manufacturers Association board member and Nutrinza managing director Warren Morrit says there are many benefits from feeding grain-based supplements, as maintaining a cow’s body condition can have a positive impact on both production and fertility.

“Feeding grain for three weeks prior to calving lengthens the rumen papillae and that increases the absorption surface area in the rumen, so there’s a more efficient absorption of nutrients in the diet when the cow calves and starts lactation,” says Warren.

He says feeding grain supplements keeps up the energy intake of the cow in the last seven days of gestation and this helps avoid the onset of ketosis by maintaining higher energy intake.

“The period after calving is also a time when farmers should consider supplementary feed as a way to utilise lower substitution rates so the cow

can increase total dry matter intake, produce more milk and lose less body condition.”

Warren says there’s clear evidence that feeding grain-based supplements helps reduce weight loss, which is more energy efficient than incurring weight loss that must rebuild in later lactation.

Finding regular, cost effective and reliable feeds can be a challenge. That’s why the quality accreditation programme for animal feed was introduced by the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association in 2015.

The FeedSafe NZ programme tests the ingredients and processes used by feed manufacturers with audits conducted annually

by AsureQuality. It includes an on-site audit of ingredients, plant, storage and operations and also tests that any additives are what they claim to be.

“We encourage farmers to consider the benefits of feeding supplements and to feed safe by only purchasing from an accredited FeedSafe NZ manufacturer,” says NZFMA director Michael Brooks.

“This is essential for the both the protection and the well-being of your animals and ensures the feed you buy is made to the highest possible standard.”

Visit the NZFMA stand at Fieldays or the Fieldays website for more information.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 33

Making effluent managemet easy The Rainer Irrigation Vibra Screen.

It took the team at Rainer Irrigation more than three years of development to achieve what they set out to achieve – an awardwinning product with the performance to simplify dairy farmers’ lives.

Reiner Irrigation chief executive Lucas Cawte.

The Rainer Irrigation team were getting frustrated with having to repair existing products that were not reliable, and the costs per season for clients to repair and maintain these products was very high.

“We have managed to create a costeffective system that works with low maintenance and operation costs,” says Lucas.

“The screened liquid had to be less than 1mm to allow problem-free

dispersal via the smallest irrigation valves and nozzles on a pivot.

“Maintenance for the screen is minimal, and involves a simple hose down of the screen bed once a fortnight. Clients can automate this cleaning procedure with an optional automated wash bar, further reducing labour input.”

Rainer will be showcasing the Vibra Screen at the upcoming Mystery Creek Fieldays in Hamilton next month, along with their many other products and services.

The result is the Rainer Effluent Vibra screen – a pre-treatment system for dairy shed effluent. The level of separation makes re-use of green water for yard wash possible, and dispersal through existing irrigation infrastructure, whether it be sprinklers, centre pivots, VRI or Roto-Rainers, is easy says

Normal duck shooting season welcomed Game bird hunters around the country are looking forward to a normal duck shooting season this year.

Duck shooting is a longstanding NZ tradition. Photos: Richard Cosgrove.

The tradition is allowed to begin on May 1, as usual, after Covid-19 delayed last year’s season by three weeks.

Licence purchases in the Auckland/ Waikato region are on par with previous years, says Auckland Waikato Fish & Game southern Keen game bird hunters can start gamebird shooting on May 1. manager, “All of the information hunters David Klee. need is in the rule book they What has changed, though, get when they purchase their are some of the rules and license,” says David. regulations around duck “I encourage everyone to have shooting season, to help protect a quick read of it, stay safe, and people, duck populations and the environment. have a great season.”

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Timber production set for expansion It is hoped a new wood processing plant in Rotorua will go some way towards helping New Zealand’s current timber shortage.

Timber has been in short supply after Carter Holt Harvey cut supply to some of its regular customers, including ITM, Bunnings and Mitre

10 in late March, due to production issues and heavy demand.

The move has seen other mills redirect export timber into the local market to help alleviate the shortage and the problem is not expected to last long.

However, longer term, a new cross laminated timber factory in Rotorua will increase supply in New Zealand

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by five per cent.

Red Stag group CEO Marty Verry says that is the equivalent of about 2000 dwelling units, or most of the estimated shortfall in current timber supply.

Meeting the shortfall Cross laminated timber is a new ‘mass timber’ construction product being adopted rapidly worldwide. It is made by gluing successive layers of timber laid crossways over the layer below.

The engineered timber panels are then precision cut by CNC machines in factory and can be quickly assembled on site.

In Red Stag’s case the CLT panels can exceed 16 meters by four meters in size, making for fast construction.

Costing $50 million, the CLT factory is located by the Southern Hemisphere’s largest sawmill, Red Stag, in Rotorua. It will employ 40 people initially, rising to double that over time, and is part-funded by a $15 million loan from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Red Stag Timber supplies about 25 per cent of New Zealand’s needs, and is pulling back uncommitted supply from export markets and squeezing out more hours and capacity to help keep its ITM, PlaceMakers, Mitre10 and independent clients.

“We plan to bring forward further expansion of both the mill and CLT factory on the back of Carter Holt Harvey’s decision to stop supply to key production capacity and previous cyclical merchant chains,” says Marty. shortages, the organisation doesn’t expect the timber shortage to be prolonged. Efforts are being No surprises made to supply the demand, and in some cases The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation mills are diverting export timber back into the says the decision by Carter Holt Harvey to New Zealand market. discontinue supply to some merchants came as “However, sawmills’ ability to ramp up no surprise. production quickly has been constrained in regions NZTIF say all New Zealand sawmills have been by a lack of availability and rising costs of logs and under pressure to supply a booming domestic labour,” says NZTIF. timber market.

That, in turn, has been disputed by the Forest However, based on available timber milling Owners Association.

Association president Phil Taylor, pointed to the two biggest wood processors in New Zealand, both publicly stating that the shortage is mostly caused by a Covid emergence building boom.

“Carter Holt Harvey issued a statement stating the shortage was short term and industry wide caused by a huge timber appetite as well as difficulties with upgrading capacity at its Kawerau mill.”

Marty says there is a worldwide building boom and New Zealand was no exception. He’s says it’s good to have the wisdom of hindsight but no one was going to pick Covid happening and its “construction aftermath”.

Phil says the volume of the New Zealand timber market has been remarkably stable for at least the past two decades.

“On top of that you can’t expect processors to have capacity on stand-by for extra sales at a level which hasn’t happened in the past 20 years.”

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - WAIKATO

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Excellence in Agriculture

Dairy Trainee of the Year for the Waikato, Ruth Connolly. Photo: Catherine Fry.

She may only be 20-years-old, but Ruth Connolly has big plans for her dairy farming career.

Ruth works full time on an Ohaupo dairy farm.

In just three years’ time she plans to begin her diploma in Agribusiness through Primary ITO, have enough money saved to buy a herd, and to become a 50/50 sharemilker.

Amongst all of that, she also entered this years’ New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, and won the Dairy Trainee of the Year for the Waikato.

Ruth will now represent the region at the national awards in the Dairy Trainee category – a role she describes as both an honour, and “terrifying”.

“Going into the awards, confidence was my biggest weakness, which I really wanted to work on,” says Ruth.

“Throughout the process I’ve learnt a lot about myself and have done things I never thought possible.

“Just having the confidence to get up at the awards dinner and receive the award and is an amazing achievement for me.”

As well as the top award, Ruth also took out three Waikato NZDIA merit awards.

Ruth grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Otorohanga. Her twin sister, Leah Connolly, was the Waikato NZDIA Dairy Trainee of the Year

runner up last year.

“My sister, as well as my employers, encouraged me to enter. They all knew how much I’d gain from it,” says Ruth.

Ruth has been working for contract milkers Mark Nesbit and Annemiek Absalom on Rukuhia Holdings, a 796 cow, 259.6ha Ohaupo farm owned by the Glenn Family since her last year of school. She started as a relief milker, but it wasn’t long until the role became full time.

“It’s a very effective farm system,” says Ruth.

“The first herd comes to the feed pad on Batt-Latch in the morning.

From there, one person takes that herd up to the yard and feeds out for the second herd, while the other person brings the second herd to the feedpad.

“We are both finished at the same time and are ready to milk – it functions really well.”

Before getting the job with Mark and Annemiek, Ruth considered a career in nursing.

“With 100 per cent conviction, I know I’m in the right place.

“I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge that is definitely fulfilled by farming. I always want to learn more, which is part of the reason I enjoyed the DIA process so much.”

While the national leg awaits her, Ruth says she can’t recommend the regional awards enough.

“It may sound cliche, but you have

everything to gain, and nothing to lose.”

Other Waikato winners include Share Farmers of the Year Reuben and Deb Connolly from Otorohanga, and Manager of the Year Christopher Vila from Ohaupo.

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For the Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers, the farm is much more than just a piece of land.

Out at Galatea, near Murupara, Aran and Sharleen Sealey farm the land, nurture the environment and raise a family.

Their connection to the land has seen the couple win the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Aran and Sharleen balance the business of farming at Galatea with raising Industry Awards Share their children Jayda 10, Ashlyn, 8, and Haven, 5.

Farmer of the Year category. They won $9,550 and four merit awards. before entering this year but found it valuable to They are 50 per cent equity partners with Eric and step back and look at what they are doing.

Margaret Smeith, who are Sharleen’s parents. They “When you are on the business side of it you milk 420 cows on the 160ha Galatea property. are always looking at areas for improvement but when you are going through the competition you First-time entrants see that you’re doing so much really well, which I “Farming is an ideal place to raise our family and found really cool,” says Sharleen. work alongside our family. We’re able to utilise our War-time farmer skills and hobbies to benefit the farm business,” Sharleen’s grandfather bought the farm in 1951 says Sharleen.

They didn’t know much about the awards process after returning from World War II and it has been a dairy farm since then.

It looks out over the Whirinaki River, which is a place the family is deeply connected to and fiercely protective of.

“We see it as our family’s job to look after it. Our kids are in that river swimming every day in the summertime,” says Sharleen.

Aran entered the dairy industry in 2009 after completing a course through Te Awamutu College, managing for Eric until 2013 when he and Sharleen progressed to contract milking on the farm.

They will continue to build their herd, with farm ownership being the ultimate goal.

“We’d like to own the farm we are raising our family on as third-generation owners,” says Aran.

He says Sharleen’s grandfather is their inspiration during hard times.

“We think about what he did for our country at war and what he did for his community.”

Aran holds a Certificate in Dairy Farming Level 4 while Sharleen is studying towards a Diploma in Agribusiness Management.

Challenges the couple have faced and overcome include learning about employer responsibilities and the juggle of work and family.

Work and life balance is hugely important to the couple.

The Sealeys believe that being able to work alongside family strengthens the business unit because they share the same goals.

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Double wins for BOP farmers

2021 BOP winners from left, DTOTY Dayna Rowe, SFOTY Sharleen and Aran Sealey and DMOTY Hayden Goodall.

This isn’t the first time Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Award winners Hayden Goodall and Dayna Rowe have found competition success.

Hayden is the 2021 Dairy Manager of the Year for the BOP after taking out the Trainee category in 2017, and Dayna is Dairy Trainee of the Year after being named the category’s runner-up last year.

Hayden, who manages a 215ha, 700 cow farm in Matata, says the Awards helped him to communicate, develop his self-esteem and increase his farming knowledge.

“On a relational level, the Awards helped me make connections and network with other farms throughout the country and develop close connections with farmers and rural professionals in my own region,” says Hayden.

Prior to entering the dairy industry seven years ago, Hayden was in a labouring job and wanted to pursue a career to create a

brighter future for his family.

“I had no prior background in farming and began as a farm assistant in 2014 and progressed to 2IC over the next four years.

“We left this farm to manage a 500cow property, and have found our way back to where it all started to manage this awesome property.”

Runner-up to winner Dayna grew up on her family’s farm in Pongakawa, naturally spending a lot of time learning about farming and animals. She began studying towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre Studies when she realised she’d rather be stomping through paddocks than treading the boards.

She is currently herd manager for Grant and Ngaire Rowe on their 289.67ha Pongakawa farm, milking 1000 cows. Dayna says she’s excited for the future generation of dairy farmers in New Zealand.

“We grew up being involved in conversations where we had to think deeper regarding our environment and sustainability. I think we are extremely capable of facilitating conversations between the right parties to create a more cohesive plan for sustainable dairying.

“I plan to continue to be open minded about what we can achieve and to help to encourage people to be comfortable with these conversations and to be part of the solution.”

Into the future They may have won two DIA titles each already, but Hayden and Dayna aren’t done yet.

Hayden’s goals include contract milking next season, and eventually, he wants to own a run-off and become a sharemilker.

Dayna wants to get to a point where her parents can completely retire from the farm and pass it over to her.

“I’d say that’s my dad’s goal too!”

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DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - CENTRAL PLATEAU

Page 38

Driving his career forward He’s gone from herding bus passengers around Europe to moving cows around the farm.

Mark Rivers has handled that transition so well he is this year’s winner

of the 2021 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year competition.

Mark is a former Contiki bus driver in Europe and New Zealand who entered the Awards to gain some perspective on the next step for his

Mark Rivers is thoroughly enjoying his return to farming, pictured here managing the farm at Atiamuri. family and identify areas to improve.

Alongside water irrigation over 90ha, Mark credits Mark grew up on a dairy farm and was always the farm’s herd home as a strength of the business. helping out from a young age. “I attended Taratahi “It allows us to house cows overnight during the Agricultural Training Centre in 2000 and then winter months and limit damage to pastures as well began work on a 300-cow farm which grew to 500as efficiently use our supplements. cows the next season,” says Mark.

“We also calve in the herd homes which is easier Then, he headed overseas to drive buses around on the cows and calves, not to mention the staff.”

Europe – an experience that helped him gain a deeper Mark is excited about the technological understanding of people and how the world works. advancements that enable farmers to make realThat different perspective helped him land a job as time decisions, leading to a more cost-effective and manager for Brett and Karen Sterritt’s 98ha 400environmentally-friendly farming operation. cow Atiamuri property.

Mark enjoys spending time with his family and He lives there with his partner Monique and their plays two or three games a year for the local children Bodhi, 3, and Thea, 1. cricket club.

“I want my children to grow up in the country “My family drives me during the harder times and as I did.”

I genuinely enjoy getting up to the challenges of Returning to the dairy industry after time away farming. I know the hard times are going to make did present its challenges. me better equipped to make decisions in the future.”

“Different systems had developed and I came back He says Brett and Karen have been “awesome to a system 4/5 farm which was different to the employers” who pushed him to aim for the farm’s system 1/2 style of farming I grew up with.” goal of being in the top five per cent.

“I’m pretty proud that in my first season of He is now turning his attention to the next stage managing I helped improve the six-week in-calf rate of his career and has taken up a contract milking from 69 per cent to 77 per cent.” role in Lichfield near Tokoroa.

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Page 39

Loving farm life in Central Plateau this will help her achieve bigger ambitions.

“Every time I achieve a goal it gets me closer to where I want to be.

“That’s what drives me every day.”

A couple who are passionate about their cows and achieving their goals have won the 2021 Central Plateau Share Farmer of the Year title.

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ee, Andrea and Blair avy duty, trouble fr? he a d ee N Muggeridge are equity your farm effluent pump for partners on a 285ha Reporoa property, called Golden Springs, milking icient · Robust, reliable, eff 1080 cows. · Cost effective range of applications Both Blair and Andrea · Suitable for a wide before? No problem. grew up on dairy farms. · Had a different brandset up y an it “We wanted the same life Brackets to su for our kids as we had,” says Andrea. “We love the freedom farming brings, 2021 Central-Plateau winners from left, DTOTY Tayla Flight, SFOTY Andrea and the animals, the building of Blair Muggeridge and DMOTY Mark Rivers. relationships with our team and the overall running of a business.” I’m happy. I love animals and get to woman is the calf rearer and ‘looks after the books’.

Experience the Numedic difference “This can be quite frustrating.” hang out with 220 cows and my dog Farm for Family Next season, Tayla will move to a 450-cow every single day. If they’re happy, I’m The couple wish they could change managers position which will become a contract happy,” says Tayla. public perception of farmers, milking role the following season, if all goes to plan.

“I excelled academically at school P: 0800 686 334 | +64 7 347 9974 especially around the subject of Tayla says she has always been a goal setter and and was always expected to go to E: info@numedic.co.nz W: www.numedic.co.nz polluting waterways. sets small goals for herself constantly, knowing that university. I didn’t always know I The couple have faced challenges wanted to be a dairy farmer, but I along the way including love that you are rewarded depending reconfiguring Golden Springs farm on how hard you work and you can in their first year and learning how progress at the pace you’re willing or to build a team that follows the feel comfortable to. same culture.

“You don’t have to study for years The Muggeridges are proud of to prove yourself. You prove yourself achieving equity partnership and when the cows come into the shed ƚ E &ĂƌŵĞƌƐ >ŝǀĞƐƚŽĐŬ >ƚĚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ happy and healthy and milk is going their successful business with working with farmers for farmers. into the vat.” excellent overall production, and The number of women taking are excited about the future of the We are 100% NZ owned and operated, and have a long-standing and leading roles in the dairy industry dairy industry. established history in the livestock market. We are proud of our clients makes Tayla feel excited about “We would like our farm to be a multi-generation business which will the future of the New Zealand successes, and are proud to support the Dairy Industry Awards. dairy industry. enable us to support our children in “Ash-Leigh Campbell and Tracey their future business endeavours.”

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Trainee with a vision in dairy, but also so forward-thinking The 2021 Central Plateau Dairy environmentally. Fitting in with Trainee of the Year, Tayla Flight, is a women like this would be an honour. second-time entrant who manages a “I’d like to change the mindset of farm in Atiamuri. some farmers who look at a dairy “I’ve always wanted a job where farming couple and assume the

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Page 40

With 1km of stream winding through Total Replacement Therapy’s newest focus farm, the team has been presented with an opportunity to not only measure the reduction of synthetic nitrogen on farm, but the wider environmental benefits as well.

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Scylla Farm is 180ha. It was purchased 18 months ago as a family farm and is managed

by Mohi Beckham. The farm is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation from a chemical to a biological system.

An experienced dairy farmer, Mohi first read about regenerative farming in the mid-2000s.

He felt it was the best way to farm but wasn’t sure where to start.

When he saw the beautiful spring-fed stream running through Scylla Farm, it reinforced to Mohi that regenerative farming was the only pathway to protect the farm and surrounding land for future generations.

Mohi found most regenerative companies gave the farm team the big picture but couldn’t tell them how they were going to get there. And most regenerative programmes had a two-three-year down A 1km-wide stream running through Scylla Farm. time before the farm would see some real changes.

The Total Replacement Therapy team has its own interpretation of what is traditionally known as ‘regenerative farming’, with our adaptation suited to synthetic nitrogen, at a something, they will New Zealand dairy farming’s grazed pasture systems. lower cost – he was thrilled go away and find out; to discover that Total there is a real human Here to stay Replacement Therapy had factor there. They are Although we are all after the same result, we each a clear, eight-step open to ideas have a different process of getting there. programme to follow, rapid and never disrespect Our method is not a trend or a flash in the pan; results, and a guarantee other companies.” it’s here to stay. to stay within his existing As Scylla Farm is So, when Mohi heard about Alan Law’s fertiliser budget. located in a catchment, Whakatane dairy farm – 18 months into an “We did a lot of the Total Replacement incredible journey to grow more grass with less homework before choosing Therapy team met with a system, and while we’ve Regional Council in only just started, we can April to plan a schedule Authorised see that it won’t take long of testing that meets Dealers to work our way through the eight national standards. We want to ensure steps,” says Mohi.

Total Replacement Therapy ticks all “So far, I’ve really enjoyed working the boxes and meets nationally set with the Total Replacement Therapy environmental standards. team. There is a lot of support there Another example that is extended to us regularly to We’ve seen the on-farm results ensure everything is going to plan.

– reduced nitrogen, more clover, “If they don’t know the answer to healthier soil and lush pasture – but now it’s time to give another farm some of the focus as we reach toward a goal of testing and success from an environmental point of view.

At our Whakatane demonstration, farm owner Alan Law continues to see amazing results both in the paddock and on the farm balance sheet, and we will continue to report on him as more exciting milestones are reached.

The eight-step method we’ve pioneered is succeeding, transparent, and with a clear process and end goal – something Mohi found elusive when looking for regenerative information.

We are not saying Total Replacement Therapy is the be-all and end-all, we are simply showing farmers that there is a method out there consistently delivering both on-farm results, and measurable environmental successes.

DAIRY

What should be bothering you most, methane, nitrous oxide, nitratenitrogen levels in ground water, carbon sequestration, or the politics of it all?

Making sense of any complex situation requires a clear vision of the big picture.

With that in place the detail can be slotted in, and a comprehensive plan that deals to both the short and longer-term situation formulated.

Implementation of the plan follows, and with a clear understanding of the fundamentals a positive outcome is guaranteed.

The first fundamental to have firmly in place is that pastoral farming is not by nature environmentally harmful. It can be, but not necessarily.

Pastoral farming is the quickest and most effective means of taking carbon from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and storing it safely in the soil.

It is how civilizations without modern fertilisers were able to restore cropped soils to a productive and worthwhile state.

Battling bureaucracy Animals are essential to the restoration process. By digesting plant matter, depositing dung and urine which are readily incorporated into the topsoil, formation of humus is enhanced and

nutrients cycle more quickly.

Rapidly cycling nutrients promote higher fertility plants which produce greater quantities of high-quality feed allowing an increased number of high-performing animals to be sustained.

Carbon in the form of humus is the filter that ensures detrimental levels of nitratenitrogen and phosphorus do not enter groundwater.

With increased soil carbon, the soil becomes an enriched sponge reducing damage from excess rainfall, and long periods of dry weather.

Grazing animals do not manufacture methane, a carbon gas, and nitrous oxide in ever increasing quantities. Both are simply cycled sustainably at non-harmful levels.

The notion that damaging levels of methane and nitrous oxide are created by grazing animals is a fallacy supporting only the position taken by those opposed to livestock. They cycle them in harmony with nature.

And beware of the term mitigation.

Inherent in that is the belief that the overall outcome is negative, and recommended actions only reduce the severity of the damage taking place.

Any business that is not

environmentally sustainable has no long-term future, and if mitigation is the best that can be done, then the elimination of pastoral farming communities should start immediately.

The acceptance that pastoral farming is environmentally negative and can only exist when offset by the planting of trees or simply ‘cutting’ animal numbers, opens up the farming community to the control of bureaucrats, and there is no viable future for an industry run by elected officials.

There is however a growing number of pastoral properties already producing at exceptional levels and are environmentally positive in all respects.

Because the fundamentals of these enterprises are sound, they also deliver a healthy financial surplus each year.

Seeing results A DairyNZ field day was held at a long-term client’s intensive dairy property recently. Farm performance was compared to local dairy farms.

The client’s herd breeding worth was -20 with low reliability, however the cows have for many seasons produced more

Page 41

than their liveweight in milksolids.

Farm Working Expenses measured in $/kgMS were considerably lower resulting in an Operating Profit $2,307/ha higher than the benchmark properties over the last two seasons.

When compared to independently sourced data for the 2011/12 season the profit for the District Average properties has declined while that of our client’s property has increased.

Less than 20kgN/ha annually is applied and our thesis is that this non-reliance on synthetic nitrogen, in conjunction with astute daily management, is fundamental to the uncommonly healthy state of the enterprise.

The use of Functional Fertiliser products and programmes over the last twenty years has resulted in measures that show carbon is actively sequestered and a steady increase in pasture and profit generated. For more information call Peter on: 0800 843 809.

Page 42

DAIRY

DAIRY

Quite a few of the farmers I’ve spoken to say production is up as much as 40 per cent for March because we’ve had the extra rainfall in La Nina.

From January 1 to near the end of April, we had had 134mm of rain and this year we had 343mm – a difference of 209mm. So farmers are have had a good March and April.

The ones who have silage and other supplementary feed will be able to milk right through to June because they’ve got quite a bit of grass ahead of them that’s growing well.

They’ll be able to get good condition on the cows which is always a good thing.

With that, as well as the good pay out, it seems the stars have – finally – aligned.

Getting a good advance next season will be certainly beneficial for confidence in the industry going forward.

The La Nina phase we are in is predicted to swing back into a neutral phase, which means winter should be reasonably mild – but of course there are no guarantees.

Environment chat In discussions about environmental issues, palm kernel keeps cropping up.

It is hard on the environment and on the countries that supply it. And yet, in New Zealand

we are selling milk and produce that uses palm kernel under our clean green image, which is a bit of a contradiction.

That’s my comment, from a business who doesn’t want to sell it – but I can see why farmers want a bargain on cheaper feed that offers results.

We will no longer be able to grow maize in the Rotorua/ Lakes area, as part of new water regulations that have been introduced.

You can apply for consent, however we were not approved due to the nitrogen fertiliser used on the crop, which they don’t want polluting their catchments.

It’s a sign of the times, so farmers need to make sure they are up to date with the changes, and try to keep ahead of them.

Caring for the pasture Winter crops are also a touchy subject at the moment. Have standoff areas set up ready to go where the cows can get off in the wet to avoid pugging, damage and sediment ending up in the waterways. It’s not just about the damage to the farm, it’s about animal welfare, too.

Moisture and humidity is good for growing grass, but it’s also good for growing bugs and critters, so it pays to keep an eye on them.

Keep touching up on the nitrogen on your new grass after each grazing because until clovers are established, natural nitrogen isn’t being produced. Keep on top of the weeds, too

Page 43

– it’s all about taking care of your investment. It will pay dividends down the track.

We have good quality milking silage available, and hay and straw in the shed.

Page 44

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Roy Johnson with his 1940s Cletrac ADH.

When farm consultant Roy Johnson retired from dairy farming after 22 years, he found he really missed the ‘toys’ he’d been able to drive as a farmer.

“I’ve always loved machinery, and Otorohanga has a very strong vintage machinery club, so I joined and started collecting around 2014,” says Roy. Two of his favourite machines are a pair of crawlers he bought in 2018. The orange Cletrac (Cleveland Tractor Company) is circa 1940s and the yellow Oliver is circa 1950s, when Cletrac was bought out by Oliver.

They are pretty much identical machines, with the same dimensions, but some minor differences. They both are ADH models meaning they are Model A, diesel, and wider tracks for hills.

They are 30hp, four cylinder engines and have a vertical exhaust, which Roy renovated with stainless steel milk line.

All Photos: Catherine Fry.

“They would have been imported from the States and used for bush and scrub, clearing on the post war settlement blocks during the 1950s.

“They were perfect as they had no tyres to get a puncture, didn’t get stuck in mud, and could handle sharp inclines.”

Roy gains much enjoyment from taking a machine apart and putting it back together.

“It’s very satisfying getting something running that you know hasn’t run for 30 years.”

The Oliver has an alternator but the Cletrac hasn’t. The old owner used to start it by running it down a hill.

Roy has made some modifications and charges the battery in the shed so he can start it.

Roy was lucky to get a trailer of spare parts and even the original manuals with them, both of which were invaluable for his restorations.

Amongst other things, the Oliver had a new fuel filter, new seats, a temperature gauge from Amazon USA, and some new stickers....continued

FARM VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Page 45

pair of crawlers Right: Worn tracks on the Cletrac.

THE GENUINE CHOICE

continued...

Yellow 1950s Oliver ADH and orange 1940s Cletrac ADH.

The Cletrac needed a new injector pump, and is a lot more worn mechanically and structurally.

Weighing in at three tonnes each, Roy describes his crawlers as “collector’s items now”, and they are used lightly during Otorohanga Vintage Machinery Club events and meets.

“Replacing parts such as the tracks would be prohibitively expensive, so I do look after them.”

As recognition for his labour of love, the crawlers won the Best Restoration Award 2020 at the Otorohanga Club, and this is voted for

by club members.

“People love an old machine that has been done up to look new!”

Catherine Fry

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Finding the best approach • AgLime • LimeMag • Hatuma DiCalcic • Agriblends • Organics • Fertiliser

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Most farms in New Zealand have adopted a chemical approach to soil fertility.

This has evolved because the farmers own shares in fertiliser cooperatives. For some reason, the farmers think the co-ops are the best option when it comes to fertiliser.

But the wheels are rapidly falling off this theory as climate change accelerates, soil and water degradation increases, and regulations are strengthened. The ‘use the cheapest one’ and ‘put more on’ mantras are not related to reality.

Enter the regeneration

movement. Most of the adherents have boarded this train as they have noticed the co-op model was not working.

Most of them have abandoned fertiliser almost entirely and are relying on diverse species of plants to restore fertility.

The lure of free natural inputs is hard to resist. I note most of them use carcinogenic chemical herbicides to get their diverse pastures started, as a ‘lesser of two evils’ (the other evil being cultivation, but cultivation does not cause cancer). However, diversity is paramount for any enterprise involving the soil.

Politicised fertiliser The academics at universities collectively push the chemical model as it was expedient. Each university ended up with a financial sponsor.

A private-public partnership that still exists today. Long term consequences were not considered.

Most of us have come from a background of applying fertiliser under these very ‘political’ rules.

The reality for soil, plant, animal, human and farmer bank-balance health is not at all rosy.

Most farmers show little inclination to change anything and that is to their personal detriment.

Kiwi Fertiliser has never used fixed NPK recipes but recommends what the soil needs based on the PAL soil tests. We work with the base saturation of the soil, ensuring that calcium and magnesium are optimal as well as using more benign NPK products that do not disrupt

soil microbes as many NPK products do.

The sciences of chemistry, physical soil structure, and biology are all and always considered in recommendations.

Plants and microbes form special relationships with each other.

Genetic potential of plants cannot be reached if biology and diversity are compromised.

Not only does the underground workforce struggle, but so does the above ground flora and fauna.

This is expressed via pests and diseases that are favoured by adverse conditions, instead of the balanced environment that should exist on every farm and orchard.

Keep it in the ground Kiwi Fertiliser aims to build carbon in the soil, not the atmosphere. We use mitigating substances such as humates and biochar to buffer microbes from any unintended consequences.

Nitrogen stimulates microbes.

Bacteria are a 5:1 C:N ratio.

For each 1 part of N consumed, they need five parts of C to balance the diet. If it is not supplied, they will take it from organic matter.

OM will decrease and water infiltration rates and holding capacity is impacted with serious consequences. We have other ways of replacing N, such as using Terragen Great Land microbes that are an effective way of stimulating plant growth and quality. When nitrogen is correctly employed, it will be measured in the leaf and soil tests, not in the waterways.

FERTILISER

Page 47

Climate change conundrums In late January the Climate Change Commission released its 800 page report to the government on what New Zealand should do to meet its obligations to the signed UN Paris Agreement in 2016, from which public submissions on the report closed on March 28.

I wrote a 6500 word submission from a science perspective challenging the alarmist metanarrative from the IPCC and mainstream media which feeds into the minds of the gullible creating fear and initiating protests in Wellington and other cities on April 9 on the inaction of governments in addressing climate change issues. I doubt whether my submission will make an iota of difference, but below is a small section from it.

last century, the alarmist narrative of AGW theory could be seen as skating on a lot thinner ice.

Humans had no influence in this dramatic warming which was a natural cycle, and has allowed us as a species to thrive and develop as we have for the past ten thousand years.

Just 20,000 years ago at the peak of the last Ice Age called the Late Glacial Maximum, the Earth was at its coldest point for the previous 250 million

Robin’s submission There have been statements made such as ‘the science is settled’ as far as the anthropogenic global warming (AGW) theory goes, yet real science should be able to withstand the challenges of falsification and not be pressured by political agendas and expediency.

There is no question that CO2 levels in the atmosphere have risen from the pre-industrial level of 280 ppm, to close to 400 ppm today, and that global temperatures have risen almost one degree since 1850.

However 1850 was also the end of what is called the ‘Little Ice Age’ which was a cooling period which began 500 years previously, and was the coldest period on Earth for the previous 10,000 years, so to compare today’s temperature to that of 1850 is to stack the deck.

If we were to compare today’s temperature with 1000 years ago in the Medieval Warming Period ago or 2000 years ago during the Roman Warming Period or 3500 years ago in the Minoan Warming Period, the narrative changes considerably, and there is no alarm.

There is also no question that sea levels rose about 0.3 metres through ice and glacial melt during the 20th century and continues to do so, but when this figure is compared not with what levels were like 150-200 years ago, at the end of the Little Ice Age when glacial ice actually grew and did not melt; but compared with 20,000 years ago when for approximately 12,000 years sea levels rose 120 metres, one metre per century on average, which is three times more than the

years. Although twenty thousand years seems like a long time, it is less than one ten thousandth of 250,000,000 years, so just a blink of an eye in terms of the planet’s history.

On average the planet has been six degrees warmer than today for the past 250,000,000 years, and there were no polar ice caps to speak of. Fifty million years ago, when mammals were starting to appear, the planet was 16 degrees warmer than today, so claims that life will disappear from global warming are wrong. It was only three million years ago that the planet started having polar ice caps through a series of ice ages and interglacial periods which occurred every 40,000 – 100,000 years, known as the Milankovitch Cycle, believed to be caused by the relation of the elliptical orbit of the Earth around the sun and its axial tilt.

Discussing history It can be argued that we are still coming out of the last ice age, which when at its peak, cities like Chicago would have been under a kilometre of ice, and Montreal under three kilometres of ice. Twelve thousand years ago Britain was still covered in glaciers and our own Southern Alps was one massive ice sheet. Ice Ages would appear to have a much bigger impact on life on Earth than

warming, and it can be argued that increased CO2 levels is a good thing to help stop the planet going into another deep freeze, which will be far more catastrophic for life on our planet.

One of the concerns of a warming planet is that there could be a feed-back effect as the ice tundras of northern Russia thaw out, and the trapped methane in these will evaporate into the atmosphere, accelerating the speed of global warming.

Frozen mammoth bodies have been found in the Siberian ice, proof that 40,000 years ago this was a much warmer grassland landscape grazed by these large mammals.

The vilification of

higher CO2 levels may be misguided, and as an agronomist I see there could be positive spin-offs from having more CO2.

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Page 48

FERTILISER

Fertiliser Association note gaps in government report A recently released soil fertility report may be painting an inaccurate picture of New Zealand’s soil, says the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand.

The report, called Our Land 2021, is

by Stats NZ and the Ministry for the Environment.

“One of the areas highlighted in the report is soil quality, and in particular, soil fertility as measured by the ‘Olsen P’ soil test,” says Fertiliser Association of New Zealand chief executive Dr Vera Power.

“However, the report’s analysis is based on a limited data set.”

The Fertiliser Association encourage their

shareholders to regularly test their soils to inform their nutrient use. The Association has compiled Olsen P results from this data.

“The analysis covers approximately 100,000 soil samples each year over an eight-year period, making it probably the most substantive analysis of soil quality data ever undertaken in New Zealand,” says Vera.

“Our data set shows that many drystock farms are operating at the low end of the target range for Olsen P levels, with most dairy farms operating within the target range for productive soils. Dairy farms on ash soils tend to be at the top end of the range reflecting their historical high phosphorus demand.

“Our analysis suggests a slightly different picture than presented in the MfE report.”

Based on the Fertiliser Association data, the national median Olsen P value for dairy farms across all soil types is below 35, well within the target range. This is based on more than 270,000 records over five years. This contrasts with a higher median figure for dairy farms of

67 mentioned in the MfE report.

Inaccurately estimating soil fertility levels across the country presents real risks and potential costs, says Vera.

“We look forward to working with the Ministry and Stats NZ on how we can share this information so that it can be represented in future reports.

“The larger data set, based on data from certified laboratories, is likely to give a more realistic view of soil fertility levels across New Zealand,” Read the Stats NZ and MfE report, here: www.environment.govt.nz/publications/ our-land-2021/ Read the Fertiliser Association data, here: www.fertiliser.org.nz/Site/about/soil-healthfertility/nz-soil-olsen-p-levels.aspx

An all-round, easy to apply, natural fertiliser Equi-Lise is made up of 100 per cent natural ingredients.

declines, often causing ‘sour’ grazing.

“Adjusting soil pH and supplying necessary calcium and magnesium sweetens pastures and improves soil and pasture health.

These are lime, elemental sulphur, magnesium “Equi-Lise can be applied carbonate, guano phosphate and all year round. We suggest selenium. Sulphate sulphur is the applying before it rains plant available form of sulphur. because the pellets will However, due to the very mobile start to break down as soon nature of sulphate sulphur, it can as they come into contact leach very easily. with moisture and should The elemental sulphur that is start working within six to used in Equi-Lise will convert to 12 weeks, depending on sulphate sulphur to be available to soil type.” the plant when required, meaning Emma says the nutrients less will be at risk of leaching, says in Equi-Lise are micronised Emma Stackhouse, who is the NZ to an average of 70 field representative for CP Lime micron, increasing their solutions who make the product in New Zealand.

Equi-lise can be applied at any time of year. effectiveness, so smaller volumes can be applied.

“Magnesium carbonate and The ultra-fine particles are pelletised for ease of guano phosphate are soft, natural forms of magnesium transport and application. and phosphorous,” says Emma.

“Low volumes and the pellet form means that “Guano is also a slow release phosphate that will be available for a longer period of time. The combination Equi-Lise is easy to apply yourself by hand, by push of the nutrients in Equi-Lise increases soil pH, or tow-behind spreaders, as well as by conventional improves availability of key nutrients, enhances spreaders and aerial application.” nutrient cycling and soil biological activity.”

Equi-Lise is available in 25kg, 500kg and 1000kg Emma says that over time, pastures can become bags or bulk. For more information, see the depleted in calcium and magnesium and as a result pH advertisement below.

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Maori in horticulture Looking to the future of Maori in horticulture, it is important to reflect on where we have come from.

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Prior to colonisation, Maori had a diet of seafood, birds, fern roots and cultivated imported crops. These crops, such as kumara, taro, bottle gourd and yam were brought to Aotearoa from around the Pacific.

Maori were forced to adapt their growing and storing of these tropical crops to the cooler climate.

The stone fields at Ihumatao are an example of these modifications, using rock to build boundary walls, terraces, windbreaks and drainage systems.

The addition of gravel to soil was also common to create a warmer environment for growing vegetables.

Today we see multiple examples of Maori innovation in horticulture.

With a long list of the top performers within the kiwifruit industry, Maori Trusts across New Zealand are realising the potential of land use in horticulture.

As a result, many Marae and iwi are adding a horticultural strategy to their plans, strategy that is beneficial for their people – all else is secondary.

That strategic vision ensures Maori nurture and grow their investment to protect their people, their land and the environment.

The horticulture industry is thriving – it is New Zealand’s third largest export.

By 2027, an extra 7000 seasonal workers (in comparison to 2017) will be required.

This has created the need for an educated, highly skilled, tech-savvy workforce with management and people skills.

Fruition Horticulture believes achieving learner success is central to New Zealand’s social, cultural and economic success.

Horticultural consultant and tutor/kaiako, Sandy Scarrow, assessing soil quality during a property assessment.

Systemic changes to New Zealand’s education frameworks are laying the foundation for higher levels of participation and achievement for Maori learners. Currently, only half of Maori students who gain NCEA 3 also gain UE compared to 81 per cent for non-Maori/non-Pasifika students.

If our education system collectively fosters Maori learner aspirations and identifies best practice, Maori high achievement will become the expected norm.

The industry recognised the need to diversify its approach to attract Maori to the very real opportunities available for a future in horticulture.

Programs such as the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund and Fees Free are available to financial support learners into a career in the industry. For those already in the industry and looking to upskill or advance, there is the Fruition Diploma in Horticulture Production (Process Improvement) Level 6.

By being creative about introducing and highlighting different aspects of the horticulture industry we will be able to expose opportunities that learners, specifically Maori, had never considered or even been aware of.

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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.

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Page 51

Ten new Landini 2-Series tractors parked up at Seeka headquarters.

Pick of the crop BOP Tractors were very proud to deliver 10 new orchard tractors to Seeka recently.

The Landini 2-Series were the selected tractor for its strength and capabilities and small stature to best suit Seeka’s use. These strong little tractors will be used to pull bin trailers thanks to the Landini 2-Series 45hp four-wheel drive capabilities, making this job a breeze for the drivers.

The new tractors were a part of Seeka’s upgrade, replacing the many two-wheel drive tractors being used previously, which under their health and safety guidelines were no longer deemed a safe code of practice.

“The Landini 2-Series’ compact size should not be mistaken for it being a little tractor, in all aspects it’s simply an ag tractor in a specialist compact dimension,” says BOP Tractors general manager Gayne Carroll.

“These have a 16 x 16 shuttle transmission with four-wheel braking and an unbraked tow capacity of 1500kgs, to comfortably meet the safety requirements set by Seeka.”

Being fitted on large 360 wide 20” wheel

equipment allows for excellent traction, especially on steep inclines, and with the seating lowered still gives a very low seat height of just 730mm.

The job will not just stop at pulling bin trailers, because of the Landini Series-2 capabilities and versatility, after picking season, these tractors can then be utilised for other orchard maintenance work, like mowing or spraying, and can even be fitted with a front-end loader if required.

Part of the installation for this number of tractors with Seeka was a very successful and important health and safety presentation day where BOP Tractors representative, James Schofield, went over the daily checks they should be doing along with all the safe driving and operation of the tractor with the Seeka operators, a very successful morning with a big turnout,” says Gayne.

BOP Tractors is pleased to have an association with Seeka throughout the Bay of Plenty, where Landini has become a leading player in the kiwifruit sector.

For more information on this or any of the Landini product, visit: www.landini.co.nz

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KIWIFRUIT

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Page 53

Kiwifruit season off to a good start With the kiwifruit season firing up, EastPack chief executive Hamish Simson says growers needn’t be worried about not having enough packers to get the job done.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and money thinking about what we’re going to do on a short labour market,” says Hamish.

With less RSE workers allowed in the country due to Covid restrictions, Hamish says EastPack has put plenty of time and money into advertising to make packing more attractive to locals.

“The first principal is to make a lot of noise.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into our recruitment drive. We have sites from Katikati, Te Puke, Edgecumbe and all the way down to Opotiki, and have concentrated our efforts in these areas with signage, billboards, flyers, we’re even on the back of buses! We wanted people to see EastPack everywhere.”

And it helps that past and present employees have been making noise of their own, he says.

“We spent a few years building up a really good employment brand, because particularly with social media, it’s all word-of-mouth.

“To an extent your employment and your desirability as a place to work is built on the back

of people’s experiences. We really pride ourselves on people having fun while they work with us, and that positive experience spins off pretty well in terms of social media.”

But EastPack has a backup plan should there be a labour shortage. “We have a lot of ‘Plan B’s.

“A big one for us is we’ve converted a little over three million trays of controlled atmosphere suitable for Gold, because Gold has always been problematic to store in controlled atmosphere.

“We’re also rolling out a lot of automation.

“Our biggest grader is on a lot of automated packing and palletising. It still needs a lot of people to run it, but it needs a lot less people.”

Looking to invest in the kiwifruit industry?

For those looking to get into kiwifruit investment but don’t know where to start, or don’t have the funds to do it alone, Origin Capital Partners is here to help.

With an experienced team and a good risk-management strategy, Origin Capital Partners is a perfect option for those ready to get a slice of the kiwifruit action.

“It’s very difficult for people to invest in kiwifruit, particularly Sungold, as the capital requirements are substantial.

“As an example, the average purchase price for the orchards that we’ve bought is more than $10 million,” says Origin Capital Partners’ Dominic Jones.

“We’ve raised $70 million, largely from private investors, some husband-and-wife investors put in anywhere from $100,000 to a few million dollars each.”

For those interested in investment but concerned

about the risks, Dominic says having investment in multiple properties brings down some of these risks significantly.

“You get exposure to multiple properties, not just one,” he says.

“If you think of the risks involved in horticulture – hail, frosts – if you have a number of assets your risk is lowered.

“For example, if it’s a bad growing year in Te Puke, it might be a good growing year in Gisborne or Katikati.

“We offer the opportunity to put in a small amount of money for exposure to a large amount of assets.

“This is a rare chance for people to have exposure to the sector in a fund run by a manager with substantial experience in the industry.”

Origin Capital Partners are still open for investment and the next fundraising cycle will close end of April-early May. For more information, see the below advertisement.

ORIGIN CAPITAL FUND IS READY TO INVEST

WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU IF YOU ARE: ¶¶¼º¿¸ ·ÆÃŹ¶Ã º¿Ç¶Äž¶¿Å º¿ Ź¶ ¼ºÈº·ÃƺŠĶ´ÅÀà OR ½ÀÀ¼º¿¸ ÅÀ Ķ½½ ÊÀÆà Àô¹²Ãµ OR ½ÀÀ¼º¿¸ ÅÀ Ķ½½ ¶ÄÁú Ĺ²Ã¶Ä FLEXIBLE AND PRIVATE SALE STRUCTURE – YOU CAN: ¶Å²º¿ ²¿ ÀÈ¿¶ÃĹºÁ ÄŲ¼¶ À· Ź¶ Àô¹²Ãµ AND/OR ö´¶ºÇ¶ ÁúÀúÅÊ Ãº¸¹ÅÄ ÅÀ º¿Ç¶ÄŠIJ½¶ ÁÃÀ´¶¶µÄ º¿ÅÀ Ź¶ Æ¿µ Contact Dominic Jones - 029 1237732, or dj@ocpartners.co.nz - if you want to learn more

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 54

classified listings curriculum vitae

for sale

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

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

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

* your listing * DO YOU HAVE something to 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.

professional services

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

May 5 Organ Concert,

12.10pm, St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Hamilton Rd, Cambridge, koha. See tinyurl.com/4xmzebau

May 6 Talk by Maioha and

Eugene Kara, father and daughter sculptors, Te Runanga Tea House, Government Gardens, Rotorua, $15.

See https: //tinyurl. com/4mrwr88p

May 6-9 International Plant

Propagators Society Conference, Hamilton.

See nz.ipps.org

May 8 Spotlight on Trees

Guided Tour, 10.30am-noon, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Waikato, $38 (adult), $17 (child). See tinyurl. com/t88fafy6

May 15

Worm Composting Workshop, 1-3pm,

Community Centre, Waihi Beach, small fee.

WBOPDC residents only. See tinyurl.com/ ewsggbdz Rotorua Botanical Society, Utuhina Walkway (urban), Rotorua. Ph/txt Chris 027 498 5513

May 16

Matamata Festival of Music, from 9.30am,

Matamata Intermediate School, $5. See tinyurl. com/3szh4kbf Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre AGM, 11am, followed by guest speaker, Miranda. See shorebirds.org.nz

May 20 Behind the Scenes at

Hamilton Gardens, 9am-10am, $30 (includes morning tea). See tinyurl. com/2pm63vm4

May 27

Taupo and Turangi. See tinyurl.com/zsvdvub Papamoa Hills Night Walk, from 5pm, Papamoa Hills Regional Park, $32/walker. See tinyurl.com/4x94nxk7

June 2 Organ Concert,

12.10pm, St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Hamilton Rd, Cambridge, koha. See tinyurl.com/2vhhba

Organic Edibles:

June 4

Waikato Horticultural Society, 7.30pm, Wintec classroom, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens, $5 non-members. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

Arbor Day Planting,

May 29

June 5

Free Home Composting

Crop Swap, 10am-11am,

Workshops, 1.30pm,

14 Jocelyn St, Katikati.

10am-3pm, Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, Hamilton. Ph Gerard 021 286 2066.

Veges, fruit, seeds, baking, books, eggs, etc all welcome. Ph 07 549 4522.

Plant Sales, Hamilton Gardens.

June 5-6 NZ Bird Conference,

War Memorial Civic Centre, Thames. See www. birdsnz.org.nz

June 13 Rotorua Botanical Society,

Whakarewarewa wetlands including 5 Mile Gate, meet 8am, Rotorua. Ph/txt Jacqui 021 1259 273.

Hamilton Bonsai Group AGM & Garage Sale, 2-5pm, St Francis Church Hall, Hillcrest, Hamilton. hamiltonbonsai.co.nz

For cost effective promotion of your business phone Nadia today!

P: 07 557 0505 nadia@thesun.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 55

Make life easier on your piece of land

Kioti NZ

KIOTI PX1153

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Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends 31/5/2021 or while stocks last. Images may show optional extras and may differ from product advertised. . ** 4 year or 2000 hour power train warranty. † finance terms are 1/3 deposit, 1/3 in first year, 1/3 in second year. GST in month three, with 0% interest, and is for PX1153 loader combo only.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS Photos with a name, age and contact details to be emailed as attachments (high resolution) to kathy@thesun.co.nz Subject Line: “Country Camera”

Nixie, 4 months, trial driving an old tractor on a lavender farm in Hamilton.

Like us on Facebook

^ĞƉƟ-CureTM is: x x x x x x

ŽƐƚ īĞĐƟǀĞ Easy To use /ŵƉƌŽǀĞƐ ^ŽĂŬĂŐĞ Reduces Solids and Scums Eliminates Nasty Odours Reduces Costly Pump-outs

Karlee Wong, Bombay hills.

Zoe Burt, 2, is ready to ride her friendly calf Dusty in Taupo.

ƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ŝŶ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƵƐŝŶŐ ^ĞƉƟ- ƵƌĞ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ĮǀĞ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ He says this allows them to have an odour ĨƌĞĞ ƐĞƉƟĐ ƚĂŶŬ ǁŝƚŚ ůŽǁ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ costs. He also says that his service person ŝƐ ĂŵĂnjĞĚ Ăƚ ŚŽǁ ǁĞůů ^ĞƉƟ-Cure works, ŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚĂŶŬ ŝŶ ǀĞƌLJ ŐŽŽĚ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ͘ ΎZĞƐƵůƚƐ ŵĂLJ ǀĂƌLJ

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GABLE & CIRCULAR BUILDINGS.