Coast & Country News - March 2022

She was dairy trainee of the year at the Dairy Industry Awards last year and is now a dairy farm manager at Pongakawa.

Dayna Rowe talks about the unique challenges of being a female farmer. Read more on page 16-17. Photo: John Borren.

Owl Farm PG 6-7

D airy I ndustry Awards PG 13-17

King Country Focus PG 18-19

Avocados PG 22-29

Kiwifruit PG 30-33

Bale feeders, multi feeders, trailers, feed-out wagons, and manure spreaders

Your local stockists * McIntosh equipment NZ built, strong and robust

Whakatane Focus PG 38-39

Cartage & Earthworks PG 48-49

STOCK SPECIALS Krone Hay Equipment Sam Spreaders Polaris Ranger

Katikati Whakatane Gisborne

0800 77 88 99

sales@jml.co.nz

Page 2

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Storms and success In the blink of an eye, summer has officially ended and we are into autumn.

But the show goes on and so does Coast & Country News.

This month we get ready for the Dairy Industry Awards with a five page feature - pages 13-17 that looks at what the winners from last year are up to now.

It takes a bit of time and effort to enter these sorts of awards and sort out the best of the best but the benefits and the processes that go alongside it can last forever and identify leaders of the future.

Dayna Rowe on pages 16-17 is a classic example of that with a refreshing mix of honesty and endeavour.

We also have an eight-page feature on the avocado industry – pages 22 to 29. It’s been a hugely challenging season for the industry, with oversupply in the key export market of Australia, and chronic labour shortages.

The final exclamation mark on the season came in the form of a storm in mid-February that damaged trees, shook fruit onto the ground and

essentially brought an abrupt end to the export season. You can read about that on page 26.

Our regular features this month includes a look at the Law family in our Whakatane Focus on pages 38 and 39. The Laws have been farming in the area for more than 100 years and it makes for a great history lesson on how the country’s farming landscape came to be.

Our columnists highlight the topical issues that are important to their sector, including Robin Boom on page 41 who makes a compelling case for changes to the country’s carbon trading system.

Productive pastoral farms are being snapped up left right and centre at present, as investors seize the financial opportunities on offer from carbon trading and convert them into forestry.

The country needs to make decision on what the future looks like. Is a sea of radiata pine really the best use of our farmland?

Make sure you check out the pages that relate to your sector as there is some genuinely good advice and best of all – it’s all free.

Enjoy!

Dan Hutchinson

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 3

Firearms rules now on target say Feds ensured that there were exemptions from all of these transport requirements while firearms were being used for farming, hunting or pest control.

“Farmers are still captured by the transportation requirements but only when transporting firearms to places such as the gunsmith, between properties, or taking them away from their property for recreational hunting trips or similar.”

Federated Farmers national firearms spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says the original proposed

Federated Farmers has welcomed a “practical” approach taken in changes to firearms legislation.

On February 1 the Arms Amendment Regulations 2021 came into force to improve firearms safety and keep the public safe from firearms harm.

Police say this update on earlier legislation will assist those with a firearms licence to understand their compliance requirements by giving greater transparency to the licence holder’s legal obligations.

The regulations have introduced further changes to firearms transport and storage requirements, potentially affecting farmers and hunters.

Ironing out the details

Federated Farmers say they are pleased with the consultation process run by police and their willingness to work with the rural community to ensure that the regulations achieved safer firearms use.

“But it was still practical,” says Matamata Federated Farmers sharemilkers’ representative Matthew Zonderop. “The original proposal was quite impractical in places.”

For the storage of ammunition, police proposed for ammunition to be kept in its own locked storage metal/steel container.

Matthew says Federated Farmers had this expanded to include stout cupboards or storage rooms or other secure approved places.

“This was largely to allow for farmers who store

legislation went too far.

“We need to get this right because use of firearms is essential in our rural communities, both as a tool on farms and for hunting.”

Andrew says farmers are the largest commercial users of firearms in New Zealand by far, as they are integral for both pest management and animal welfare.

In a survey of Federated Farmers’ members in 2019, 92 per cent reported having firearms in their household or business.

Steve Edwards

large amounts of bulky shotgun for bird scaring or rabbit control.”

For transportation of firearms in vehicles, police proposed that the firearm had to be secured to an anchor point in the vehicle or a locked container secured/bolted to structural parts of the vehicle or in a locked compartment within the vehicle.

Matthew says Federated Farmers had pointed out how impractical this was and had made the following recommendation firearms should instead be concealed, inoperable (take the bolt out) and stored separately from any ammunition.

Exemptions for transportation

Police similarly recommended any ammunition transported in a vehicle had to be in a locked box. Federated Farmers had recommended it be stored out of sight, separately from any firearms and in a locked glove box or similar storage area only if practicable.

It was previously illegal to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle.

Matthew says Federated Farmers had submitted for this to be firearms left in locked vehicles out of sight for a period up to an hour with people in the immediate area.

“This allows people to stop at service stations, have dinner, rest breaks etc.”

In the original proposal, he says vehicles had to have immobilisers or alarms.

“Federated Farmers had pointed out the impracticality of that.”

Matthew says Federated Farmers had also

Call us today...

You’ve worked hard all your life. You deserve the absolute best.

The World’s No. 1 Selling Spa Pool Since 1980 www.spashop.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 4

Everything wants to kill your native plants!

It’s a tough world out there for young native plants.

The environment, weather events, predators and weeds all want to kill them. Sometimes it may feel like an uphill battle keeping your new plants alive.

Over the next four months we’ll be talking about the most common problems faced when undertaking a riparian planting or restoration project.

Bindweed taking over an established planting area.

Let’s get straight into the thick of it with weeds. All weeds compete for resources (light, water, and nutrients) and grow many times faster than native trees. It’s important they are eliminated before planting to minimise their impact on native plants.

Perennials and summer annual weeds pose the greatest risk to native plantings because they are not visible and have died back over winter when most restoration projects occur.

Some harder-to-control weeds may require attention up to a year prior to planting.

Tackling bindweed

Great bindweed or convolvulus (part of the convolvulacae family) is a climbing, perennial weed that is common throughout New Zealand. It has recently received more attention because it is now becoming a significant weed in riparian plantings.

What makes this weed so difficult to control is the extensive rhizome root system which can spread several metres underground.

Bindweed competes for light, smothering and strangling young plants and taking over entire riparian margins.

So, what can be done? Nonherbicide control options for bindweed may include mowing, grazing, cultivation, flooding, hand removal, light deprivation with plastic covers, mulch, or biological control.

Unfortunately, all these methods are both time consuming and impractical in riparian margins and may not actually control great bindweed effectively.

Chemical control is your best bet against this weed. In a study

by Massey University on the effects of different herbicides on great bindweed, the following was found: • No herbicide is known to control bindweed 100%.

Translocating herbicides are most effective.

• Timing of spray applications is important.

Late autumn application when sugars are being transported down into the roots is most effective.

• Follow up sprays are needed.

Knock it while it’s down!

Apply in early summer before sugar reserves are restored and the plant starts to translocate sugars to the roots.

• Application of Triclopyr/ picloram/aminopyralid (Brushkiller) and 2,4-D/ Dicamba are most effective.

When these chemicals were used in the trial, regrowth didn’t occur until 22 weeks after spraying.

What else can be done?

Plan and prepare! For a successful planting project, planning is just as important as choosing the right herbicide to use and the timing of the application. If you are planning a planting project and there is great bindweed or other pest species present, March is a great time to spray them out.

Antony and Matt, Koroneiki Developments.

Planting services for riparian zones, revegetation & land stabilisation. p. 027 536 6635 e. info@koroneiki.co.nz www.koroneiki.co.nz Trusted experts in native planting projects. FREE site visits available.

March 2022 Coast & Country News

New chair to lead rural women into the future Region 5 of Rural Women New Zealand is excited to announce that Sandra Matthews is the newly appointed board chair for RWNZ for 2022.

Hailing from Rere in the Gisborne/Tairāwhiti district, Sandra brings a wealth of energy, experience and skills with which to lead the organisation into the future.

Sandra says she is excited about her new role and is “passionate about creating vibrant community networks which enable provincial based women to feel connected and supported”.

“The role of women has changed a lot over the generations and modern women often want to be more involved but are not sure how to achieve this,” Sandra says, adding that she found herself in this situation not so long ago.

After graduating from the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator Programme, Sandra co-founded the hugely successful group - Farming Women Tairāwhiti.

Sandra Matthews

The company provides leadership and business coaching services as well as the facilitation of Collective efforts educational programmes for those involved in The idea for the group was the brainchild of five primary industries often using the template that graduates of the course, including Sandra, who had was so successful in the FWT example. the vision of empowering rural women through personal development and education.

Listening to the challenges The group, which now has more than 850 Sandra says most of her work is with the Agrimembers, was the winner of the Excellence Award Women’s Development Trust and The Icehouse in the 2021 Tairāwhiti Westpac Business Awards and takes her to rural regions throughout for the Not-for-Profit, Community and the country.

Volunteer category.

“Working around New Zealand enables me “I strongly believe creating change as an to connect with many rural communities, and individual is challenging, while as a collective, listen to their different challenges but also change is achievable,” Sandra said following their opportunities.” the presentation.

Sandra lives with husband Ian in Rere, at the Sandra also completed an Accredited Coach eastern edge of the RWNZ Region 5 – Rimanui Training Programme Professional Leadership area, on Te Kopae Station, a 536 hectare Coach Development Programme and now traditional sheep and beef farm. The land has been has her own business - SM Coaching owned by the family for more than 100 years and and Consulting. is a Century Farms Award recipient.

In addition to sitting on the boards for the Beef + Lamb NZ Farmer Council, Civil Defence Rural Coordination Group, Federated Farmers and Endometriosis New Zealand, Sandra is currently a trustee of both the Rural Communities Trust and the ANZAC TK Trust.

Sandra says her aim, as the Board Chair for RWNZ is “to draw on my extensive experience in the corporate, charitable and volunteer industries to help RWNZ build inclusive platforms through innovative strategic direction for all women living in rural New Zealand”.

Alex Eagles-Tully

March 2022 Coast & Country News

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

Getting old is weird

Firstly, none of us expect to get old and what does it mean anyway?

Well, everything suddenly points to the ground, and some bits start leaking! What was normal is no longer normal.

One day you get up and decide you don’t want to work/farm or do so much stuff anymore.

What has happened!

Testosterone fallen? Oestrogen gone? Where has my drive gone?

Then you get up in the morning, wash the sleep from your eyes, adjust your hearing aids so you can hear, put in your false teeth (if you have them) and find the right glasses. Which ones? Long or short distance, reading or dark, or a combination of everything?

When you move your knees creak, hips, ankles and shoulders smart and your feet may ache, but onwards you go, and it is weird.

How the conversations change

Suddenly you are reflecting on your childhood as those things seem crystal clear in your mind, but who you met yesterday has long left your brain!

You start sitting around a bit more and comparing notes on your PSA levels, prostate issues, slow peeing and rising blood pressure.

It’s weird because we used to talk about finance, cows, productivity, the weather and all else connected to agriculture and now other things seem more interesting and important.

Range anxiety with your electric bike, what can you drive and how the family and grandkids are, seem to pervade our thinking.

We get real busy in the morning, coffee is nonnegotiable and then after lunch we seem quite happy for some quiet time or a nap, and then it is ‘happy hour’.

Then we start to worry about where to invest our money and will it be safe. Will we have enough and what are the issues around that and how the hell can we find a banker if we need one?

They just seem to have become extinct unless you owe a heap of money, then they ring you all the

time! If you do owe money, how is that all going to look, and you start to suffer debt anxiety.

Preparing to land

You see life is a bit like a flight on a Dreamliner. You leave school, board the plane, and fasten your seatbelt.

You fly through life meeting turbulence then smooth and then eventually the motor pitch changes, and you realise you are well on your journey.

In time the pilot informs you to prepare for landing by putting your chair upright, you fold your tray table away and put your bags under the seat in front.

That is us right there! Preparing to land and wondering how the short part of the rest of our journey is going to be and will we land safely.

When you get off my imaginary Dreamliner you are done, finished, comate, gone, facing your maker or however you see it.

So, if your Dreamliner is about to land and it all seems weird, you are not on your own.

Growing old is bloody weird and not for the faint hearted. We need to keep very busy, exercise regularly, surround ourselves with positive people, eat healthy and accept the fact that getting old is very, very weird.

Disclaimer – These are the opinions of Don Fraser (an old fart). 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 decades.

You can still contact him on 021 777 675.

UNBEATEN

*

MAXSYN

4FRONT

Setting the pace for next gen pasture

Extra palatability and environmental benefits

Diploid perennial ryegrass

@BarenbrugNZ

facebook.com/BarenbrugNZ

New 2021 NFVT all New Zealand trials

*

Tetraploid perennial ryegrass

barenbrug.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 6

Ensuring there’s a reason for every calf Demonstration manager Jo Sheridan has been with Owl Farm at St Peter’s School in Cambridge for two and a half years, doing what she describes as “the perfect role for me”.

Specialising in with farmers spent 20 years working

• • • • • •

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Brought up on a dairy farm, Jo

and scientists in the dairy industry as

the 144-hectare dairy farm, milking 410 kiwi cross cows with two other team members.

Owl Farm is a well-known demonstration farm, adopting proven practices on a commercial farm to demonstrate excellence in farm performance to create a sustainable future.

“All our statistics and spending are made public, including our successes and mistakes. We use our data to make our management decisions

an extension consultant. of whole trees Removal / chipping Farm manager Tom Buckley runs On site chipping for stand off pads Wood chip for sale Orchard shelter removal Stump removal Woodlot marketing of all tree species

Owl Farm demonstration manager, Jo Sheridan with the 2021 season replacement calves.

and to share with the farming tap roots ensure it keeps growing community, we’re an open during the drier months. book,” Jo says.

“We’ve noticed a better growth As a result, more than 2000 rate for the calves, but we only people visit half the land we would in each year, use cialisintheg farm Spe including secondary school require to pasture feed them.” students interested Thescalves have reduced of whole tree ping parties ovaland/ chip • Rem from all over New Zealand exposure to parasites and facial pads and replacement calf and site overseas. chipping for stand off eczema, • On The 2021 season has seen some numbers have continued to drop sale fordemonstrated d chip • Woo new ideas being from 22 per cent of the herd, on the farm. lowering animal greenhouse • Orchard shelter removal gas emissions.

Calves raised on chicory Owl Farm is in the top six per removal • Stum “Thispseason we kept 92 cent nationally for herd genetics replacement calves on gfarm, iesto be consistently in aims spec of all treeand ketin dlot mar • Woo grazing them on seven hectares the top five percent. of chicory from late November By autumn, the calves are to the end of April.” moved onto pasture.

The goal was well-grown, This is good for the farm as healthy calves. A good source they are lighter on the new of protein and energy, chicory grass, and by eating the grass surpasses summer pasture for tops only, they set the new grass nutritional needs, and its deep up well for the main herd to

r----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,' I

.

USE CODE 'COASTCOUNTRY20' AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ALL YOUR IN-BETWEEN RUGS

I

I ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------�I ..

graze in late autumn.

“We’ve really liked having them on the farm where we can monitor them and take groups down to see them.”

Reducing heat stress

“Cows are basically giant ruminant vats and generate heat internally, so extra external heat,

...continued

Paddocks of kale for summer feed and mature shade trees.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

“Back then 34 per cent of our calves had a purpose, now 70 per cent do.”

One of the best options is using sexed semen for the best quality cows in the dairy herd. This gives the farm quality dairy replacements and any heifers excess to the farm’s needs are sold to raise the national dairy herd quality.

The use of heifer synchrony with sexed semen in the farm’s reproductive programme improves the genetic gain in the herd as well as reducing wastage into the bobby calf market.

2021 season replacement calves graze on chicory.

Photo: Catherine Fry.

continued...

and even more so high humidity, adds to their discomfort.”

The farm has been putting ongoing procedures in place to make the herd more comfortable in the hotter months.

“We’ve allowed for four kilograms of single graze brassicas a day in each cow’s diet. We grow four hectares of turnips and seven hectares of kale.

“They have a high water content and 10 per cent dry matter,

compared to 17 per cent in grass.”

The farm’s water supply is considered a precious resource, and critical for animal health. Extra troughs have been installed along the races, enabling the cows to drink on their way to and from the shed.

Owl Farm has a considerable number of mature trees, allowing shade considerations to be integrated into the grazing plan during hotter months. A planting plan for new shade and shelter trees is being implemented over the next few years.

Before Christmas the cows are moved to a 3-in-2 flexible milking system, which Jo says benefits both the cows and the team without impacting production.

“Day one is 5am and 6pm when it is cooler, and day two is 11am.

“While it may be hotter then, we use a sprinkler cooling system in the yard, and the cows only have to come in once that day.”

Purposeful lives for calves

2021 season replacement calves grazing on chicory.

“We started this in 2018, with the goal that every calf born on Owl Farm was for a reason.

Shade trees in the paddocks and wide races with extra troughs reduce heat stress.

Page 7 “We also use semen from wagyu and Angus sires. Those calves leave the farm at an average of 13 days old and are raised by rearers. Forming relationships with growers is important as it shares the risk.

“It’s not always about chasing the dollar, but about animal welfare, sustainable farming practices and supplying other industries with quality calves we produce to continue with milk production, and sexed semen is a good way forward.”

Catherine Fry

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 8

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Record season expected for kiwifruit New Zealand’s 2022 kiwifruit harvest has kicked off with the potential for it to be another recordbreaking year.

At least 190 million trays is expected to be harvested, which would overtake last year’s record of more than 177 million trays.

Precision Agriculture Specialists GPS Guidance, Autosteer and Rate Control for Planters, Sprayers & Spreaders.

•

JD Air-Seeder & No-Till Planter Hardware.

•

0275 083 789  unearthag.com

d Vote ST CHOICE

On average, each tray has about 30 pieces of kiwifruit.

Zespri’s new RubyRed variety is picked first which is then followed by the Gold and Green varieties.

The harvest usually peaks in mid-April and runs until June.

The sweet, berry-tinged Red kiwifruit will be picked for supermarket shelves in New Zealand and some overseas markets this year and it is the first year it will be sold as a commercial variety.

Zespri’s chief grower, industry and sustainability officer Carol Ward says growers and the wider industry will again be following all Government protocols and work hard to safely pick, pack and ship the bumper crop.

“As well as a continued increase in our SunGold Kiwifruit volumes this season, we’re excited for the first year of commercial volumes of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit which we know is keenly anticipated by our consumers in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and China.”

The success of the 2022 kiwifruit harvest hinges on the ability for the industry’s supply chain to operate effectively under the quickly changing Covid-19 settings.

The industry needs 24,000 people to pick and pack the crop.

Te Puke’s Clarisa Gibney harvested the first kiwifruit crop of the season, in late February which is also the first commercial crop of Zespri RubyRed. Photo: Jamie Troughton/ Dscribe Media.

Forecast surges in Covid-19 infection rates are expected to restrict the availability of New Zealanders.

The opening of borders is expected to be too late to replace the 6500 backpackers required.

New Zealand has about 2800 growers who produce kiwifruit on more than 13,000 hectares of orchards between Kerikeri in the north and Motueka in the south.

CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. Colin Bond says the industry has built experience over the past two years on operating a harvest under Covid-19 restrictions.

“The industry is working collaboratively to do everything we can to get all the fruit off the

vines – and that must be done in a way which puts our people first”.

This year marks NZKGI’s fourth year of its labour attraction campaign.

Almost all packhouses have told NZKGI that they will be paying at least the living wage of $22.75 per hour. Kiwifruit picking is expected to exceed the living wage with an average of $27 per hour paid last year.

Information on job opportunities can be found on the NZKGI website or on the Facebook page KiwifruitJobsNZ. The kiwifruit industry is an important player for communities across New Zealand, contributing $2.2bn in 2021.

STOP

Have YOU protected your property to alert you when this type of

thing happens?

Are your Cameras giving you the results you would really like to have?

Well now with the latest technology - Crystal Clear Cameras are available to everyone.

See the face of that person of interest clearly, read the number plate of that vehicle or see what they put in their pocket like never before.

Call us today, and we will see if we can help you!

Let us show you the future because it’s here NOW!

IMPORTANT

Demo Vehicle available in Auckland / Waikato & BOP Areas

Install a Gate Alert System yourself so you know when someone enters your property.

Available as 1 to 4 Gate Systems. (2 or 4 Channel Base Stations)

Prices start at $650.00 + GST for a single gate.

Call Now for a Price

For: Shopping Malls, Commercial, Residential, Farms / Rural Properties, Schools & Other Government Buildings

Make the right choice now, CALL the No.1 Company for Technology

0800 936363 Nationwide Service - (well almost!)

www.smartway.co.nz 07 824 5566 info@smartway.co.nz

Your one stop Shop for all your Technology and Security Needs: one • Security Alarms • 24/7 Monitoring p • Access Control sho • Gate Alerts • CCTV Surveillance Systems • Data & Fibre Networks • Local & Long Range Wi-Fi & Data Plus many other types of Electronic Surveillance products!

March 2022 Coast & Country News

DAIRY

Page 9

Subdividing equals money in the bank The reasons that people subdivide their farms are many and varied, but at the end of the day, there is no argument that it adds value to the property.

It provides them with options that are useful either if they stay on the farm or if they want to sell up and move on.

Put simply - the more titles that you have, the more options and value you have.

Out there in rural New Zealand, there are many more individual titles than you see. The total number isn’t obvious because many are held in a larger farm holding.

Small titles getting hard to create

Throughout history larger titles have been subdivided to accommodate emerging land uses that needed less land.

In turn, these have been adjusted or amalgamated in line with changing economic times to form the mosaic of titles that we have today.

Subdivisions are controlled by district councils in an effort to protect rural land for production and, it sometimes seems, to provide a pretty backdrop for their towns and cities.

In areas close to cities they also seek to retain land to allow for future growth of the city.

Over the years many councils have recognised the need to provide some ‘lifestyle subdivision’ in the rural areas.

This has catered for retiring farmers who need to keep an eye on the next generation, dependent family members of farmers and those who just can’t cope in the city or want to raise their family in a rural environment.

Those smaller titles are getting harder and harder to create in many districts and, where they are allowed, it is generally only on lower quality or hilly land.

The business-savvy farmers have long used these lifestyle subdivision rules to future proof their property by subdividing when the rules allowed it.

They have then held on to the titles as long as they could but, if the economy demanded, they may have sold them to recapitalise or even settled their family on them.

to subdivide in the future.

Some farmers, who border rural residential enclaves or cities, will get opportunities that are not shared by all - but most will be controlled.

So, if you are interested to find out how the changing scene may affect

Changes will affect farmers

Sometimes they have even repurchased these blocks when finances have allowed.

These surplus titles on the farm are ‘money in the bank’ to many farmers.

They allow them great flexibility when struck by a global downturn in commodity prices or when they want to build a retirement home on the farm and retain some independence from the family now taking over from them.

We are seeing a definite move from many councils to restrict lifestyle subdivision blocks and it is clearly only going to get harder and cost more

Supplied by:

Supplied Supplied by:by:

your plans for the future, 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 Coromandel, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty.

For further information call 0800 268 632 or email btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

Page 10

DAIRY

March 2022 Coast & Country News

The consequences of carbon loss

It isn’t hard to understand how those representing the best interests of this country’s pastoral farming industry have come to accept that pastoral farming is a net emitter of greenhouse gasses.

country that are continuously sequestering carbon by taking CO2 from the atmosphere and through the process of photosynthesis creating sugar, a portion of which is retained in the soil.

Overusing synthetic nitrogen

The public at large appear to have bought the narrative that it is the farming industry that is to blame for man-induced climate change removing the requirement to examine their own contribution.

The latest OECD Report on the New Zealand economy states that we will not meet our CO2 targets for 2030 and 2050, and that our carbon price is too low.

Stand up for fairness

Latest press releases indicate that even if agriculture escapes the clutches of ETS, almost certainly there will be hefty taxes levied on farmers and growers for their contribution to calculated, not measured, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

The government is wanting to see significant changes take place prior to the next election in order to campaign on their commitment to a carbon neutral environment and standing strong in the face of all of that requires fortitude.

Holding a contrarian view, even when you know that the facts are on your side can be difficult. It’s easier to say nothing than voice an opposing opinion and be treated as having a contagious disease.

However, there are times when standing up for what is fair and equitable becomes a matter of conscience, and that is a voice that doesn’t sleep.

The reality is that carbon is most rapidly sequestered under permanent grazed pasture and in that situation the levels of methane and nitrous oxide are of academic interest only.

There are many farming operations in this

Topsoil is built resulting in an effective and efficient filter for groundwater as well as a medium in which to produce nutrient dense food for people.

Sadly though, not all properties are in that situation. In a discussion with one of the leading soil scientists he stated that, “all irrigated land, without exception, is losing carbon”.

Adding water to land does not in itself cause a reduction in carbon, nor necessarily do stock grazing pasture. The factor in our view that requires careful examination is the overuse of synthetic nitrogen.

Synthetic N is a useful development tool. Continuous use to maintain high levels of pasture growth is where a problem arises if the rate of application destroys more than is being deposited in the form of old root, dung, and leaf.

Nitrate N levels in groundwater have steadily increased and we now face the situation where drinking water needs to be treated. For the folk of Canterbury, who have taken great pride in their deep fresh aquifers it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

By using clover to fix nitrogen, at least as much total pasture can be grown and there is any amount of long-term growth data from research facilities to support that claim.

Genuine sustainability

The transition process can be completed within 12 months with little if any decline in farm performance. Sound grazing management techniques, as taught from 1950 until the late 1980s are an essential component and best practises can be readily re-established.

The issue of land degradation is not new.

In 2004 Dr Graham Sparling of Landcare Research wrote that we’ve depressingly continued down the well-worn path of European and North America farmers when 30 years ago the consequences were obvious.

Over the past 25 years both the technology and practises have been developed and refined that allow intensive pastoral farming to be genuinely sustainable in all respects.

It’s now up to farming leaders and communities to embrace and implement. For more information contact Peter on: 0800 843 809.

DAIRY

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 11

Tools needed to cut costs commercialisation of animal feeds.

In addition to Dr Waldron, there will be a range of speakers at the field days talking about getting the best use from a biological system with biological additives and enhancers.

With 30 farms now on the Total Replacement Therapy Programme nationwide, we are not resting on our laurels; we are continually improving and evolving the programme to ensure we are ahead of the game.

We have called on specialists such

With the Emissions Trading Scheme and the Primary Sector Climate Change Partnership (He Waka Eke Noa) at the forefront of farmers’ minds at the moment, one thing is for sure – farmers need to have the tools to mitigate the cost of what’s to come.

(Hons) Degree at the University of Lancaster, studying biological sciences and specialising in animal physiology, biochemistry and microbiology.

She has worked The Total Replacement Therapy team has been to develop and working hard to ensure farmers are in the best place commercialise active possible to meet the changes to the way they farm. nutraceutical and We started by focusing on the reduction of fermentation-based feed nitrogen to help farmers meet the requirements of ingredients and has been the Clean Waters Accord, followed by the reduction involved in all aspects of nutrition within a variety of methane emissions, and carbon sequestration. of animal species including calves, poultry, pigs, But the ETS needs something bigger thrown at lambs and horses. it. When we’re talking about the proposed ETS levies, we’re not talking pin money.

Staying ahead of the game At 15c in every kgMS, an 800-cow farm will be Dr Waldron’s work has taken her to more than 55 out of pocket by around $52,000 year. countries worldwide, giving her broad experience We need to make sure farmers have access to of feeding practices, research requirements, every tool possible in order to reduce the cost. nutrition, diet formulation, feed raw materials and

Feed matters for methane emissions

The eight-step Total Replacement Therapy programme goes deeper than soil and fertiliser.

Balancing animal nutrition is a key part of ensuring all management aspects work together to ensure the best possible outcome – and that’s where our upcoming field days come in.

To be held in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty on April 6/7, our keynote speaker, Dr Lucy Waldron, is an expert on animal nutrition and how farmers can manipulate feed to reduce emissions.

Dr Waldron is the director of LWT Animal Nutrition Ltd. She started working in the animal feed industry in 1991 after she completed a BSc

Innovative Innovative Design Design Improves Improves Efficiency Efficiency Ezi-flo pit gates completely Ezi-flo pit gates completely clear exit ways and cannot clear exit ways and be touched by cowscannot leaving be touched bythe cows leaving milking area. the milking area.

The fully galvanised gates

are available in kitset for The fully galvanised gates speedy are available in installation kitset for speedy installation

0800 226974

2 C OW S H E D 0800 226974

Ph Jim 07-850 Mob. 0274 936 693 2 C5971 OW SH ED Ph Chris 07-849 3630 Mob. 0274 936 692 Ph JimP.O. 07-850 5971 0274Hamilton 936 693 Box 10 188,Mob. Te Rapa, www.dairybuilders.co.nz Ph Chris 07-849 3630 Mob. 0274 936 692

P.O. Box 10 188, Te Rapa, Hamilton www.dairybuilders.co.nz

ezi-flo

PITGATES

ezi-flo

PITGATES

as Dr Waldron to help us become the best in the business.

We work on the soil, and once we get the feed grown, Dr Waldron comes in and shows us how to make the most of it.

The Total Replacement Therapy team has hit the ground running in 2022, and we are committed to helping farmers adjust to the new ‘normal’, gaining as much rebate back as possible with the help of the tools we can provide them with.

• Ideal for Cattle Troughs • High Flow • Side/Bottom Mount • Detatches to Clean • Compact/Robust

• Ideal for Cattle Troughs • High Flow • Side/Bottom Mount • Detatches to Clean • Compact/Robust

Page 12

RURAL BUSINESS/FINANCE

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Vision to reality The site of a proposed rural business park in Te Puna.

Photo: John Borren.

A business park is planned for Te Puna to service the rural sector.

The site, at 297 Te Puna Station Road, is to be developed by Te Puna Industrial Limited, a partnership of local investors and ContainerCo, one of the key tenants.

Te Puna Industrial spokesperson and ContainerCo managing director Ken Harris says it is time to realise the vision of the former owners in 2004 to create a staged ‘green’ business park to service the local rural sector.

The long-term goal is to accommodate businesses such as specialised workshops, machinery outlets, and offices predominantly focused on supporting the rural sector and related exports, incorporating ContainerCo operations.

The proposal is facing opposition from the Te Puna community with some locals saying they are “stressed” about the proposition of a container facility in their backyard and are taking action.

They have named their cause Wrong Business, Wrong Place, and have formed a petition asking for the consent to be publicly notified.

“The petition is a way of saying to council ‘this will affect us’, and making sure that council knows it is a really big deal to the community,” says Wrong Business, Wrong Place spokesperson Alison Cowley.

Alison, whose property overlooks the Te Puna Station Road site, says the community is concerned about potential increased traffic and the safety of cyclists and walkers that use the roads.

In 2005, the Environment Court approved a private plan change, and moved the zoning to industrial to enable the the Te Puna Business Park.

A map of the area in Te Puna that is set for development.

Since then there has been noticeable growth in commercial, industrial and residential development in the Te Puna area.

There has also been investment in local infrastructure to better service the area including an upgrade of the Te Puna Road-State Highway 2 roundabout. Work hase also begun on Stage 1 of the new 6.8km four-lane motorway connecting SH29 Takitimu Drive through to SH2 west of Te Puna.

Ken says the business park concept was initiated 18 years ago to meet growth in sectors such as kiwifruit across Bay of Plenty.

“It’s now more important than ever as exports have increased and as has growth at the Port of Tauranga, which is now the largest in New Zealand.”

Resource consents have been sought to give effect to the Te Puna Business Park industrial zoning provisions applying to the site.

The consents were formally received by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council on Alisha Evans January 18.

NZ primary industries in survival mode

FIRST

HOUR

FREE

In more than 20 years providing specialised financial brokerage to New Zealand primary industries, Gateway Finance Broker’s managing director Bill Slater says he has never seen the level of stress

currently being faced by the country’s producers.

“We specialise in providing finance to primary industry; our goal is to work with people who need money to make money.

“And the need has never been

greater, thanks to Covid.

“The pandemic has affected every producer on multiple levels with many now in survival mode. Their needs are varied but often centre around working capital. And that’s our speciality.

“The banking space has changed with many lenders cherry picking – focusing on prime deals and declining deals they might have considered six months ago. They are being more selective and that is where the broker relationship becomes more important because we know what our lenders want to see and know how to present the deal.

“Right across New Zealand Gateway Finance is providing producers with the finance they need to stay in business.”

Gateway Finance Brokers Limited

March 2022 Coast & Country News

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - WAIKATO

Page 13

Respecting neighbours and environment Newly qualified Filipino veterinarian, Chris Vila, arrived in New Zealand in 2008 with dreams of starting his working life here.

constantly monitored, but it’s fully fenced off and well planted so none of our stock can get near it.”

Widening networks

Discouraged by the complex and expensive process to validate his qualifications to practise in New Zealand, he found work on a dairy farm.

Thirteen years later, Chris, his wife and daughter are now in their eighth season on the JA BE Turnwald Family Trust 103.8-hectare farm, milking 343 cows in Ōhaupō.

He has a strong relationship with the farm owners and family and is buying shares in the farm. His veterinary background has also proved useful over the years.

Chris is interested in a potential legacy project to resurrect a driedout lake on the farm, and values protecting four stands of historical kahikatea that still remain on the property.

From 343 cows, last season’s production was 172,000 kg/MS,

or 503 kg/MS per cow, which was above the expectation. The judges noted this extremely high animal performance and the high quality of the herd.

“In the 2022 awards, I’ve been the team leader for the Dairy Manager awards for the NZDIA. Meeting other judges and sponsors and giving advice to the entrants widens networks and to me that is what the awards are all about.”

Catherine Fry

The ‘goldfish bowl’ farm

In the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) he won the national Dairy Manager of the Year award, along with the DeLaval Livestock Management merit award.

This year he is team leader for the Dairy Manager awards.

The farm sits between a production system 3 and 4 and Chris has demonstrated a very good understanding of feed management requirements of the farm.

“We have an in-shed feeding system where each cow gets 1.5kg of blended meal mixed with four litres of whey at every milking,” Chris says.

Chris grows about five hectares of maize on the 30ha run-off in Kaipaki, and another 1.5ha on the farm. Each season they have 110 tonnes of maize silage for the drier periods such as late autumn.

“We also harvest surplus grass on the run-off and if conditions are right, from the farm, and expect 90 to 100 tonnes of grass silage.”

The ‘goldfish bowl’ farm is flanked by a long, open stretch of State Highway 3, about 50 residential and lifestyle blocks, and is close to one of the area’s local peat lakes, Lake Rotomanuka.

It’s important to Chris their farming activity

Your future herd needs the best start Proud sponsors of NZ Dairy Industry Awards 2022

Chris Vila 2021 NZ Dairy Industry Awards Farm Manager of the Year.

shows respect to the residential properties and environment.

“That lake was a nutrient hotspot and is

More people enter awards The Dairy Trainee category has received a substantial increase in the number of entries for the 2022 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

The refreshed category had 170 entries including 27 in Canterbury region and 22 in Waikato.

The Dairy Manager category received 112 entries and 82 entered Share Farmer of the Year.

NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says a total of 364 entries were received for the Awards.

“Refreshing the Dairy Trainee and Dairy Manager entry criteria and judging process was definitely the

Get more with less this calving season Spend up to

90%

B&DEL0532

less time feeding calves this season*

right move as we have seen an increase overall in entry numbers, with entrants excited about the changes.

The Waikato region received the most entries with 60, Canterbury followed with 51, while Central Plateau, Southland/Otago, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu received 38, 37, 36 and 30 entries respectively.

Judging is underway for the 11 regional categories, with winners announced at dinners throughout the country in March.

The 33 winners of those categories will then progress through to the national finals in Christchurch in May this year.

The best start comes from Calf Max Calves love the taste, smell and texture of Calf Max. Made in New Zealand with NuStart® prebiotics, vitamins and essential oils for superior rumen development, it’s always good and always gone.

sealeswinslow.co.nz | 0800 287 325

Automatic calf feeding with DeLaval Calf Feeder CF1000S Unlock up to 8% more milk from your cows at first lactation** and spend more time on other activities with up to 90% less time spent mixing, feeding and cleaning equipment.

Feed up to 4 calves at once (and up to 120 calves in total), all while automatically identifying and adapting portions to each calf’s individual feeding plan.

Pre-order yours today Talk to your DeLaval dealer today or call us on 0800 222 228. *Compared to manual feeding. **Based on research by F. Soberon, M. E. Van Amburgh, 2014

DeLaval are proud national sponsors of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards

delaval.com | 0800 222 228

Page 14

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - CENTRAL PLATEAU

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Awards provide invaluable experience Central Plateau dairy farmers Andrea and Blair Muggeridge were delighted to be placed third in the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmer of the Year award.

Both were raised on dairy farms but have also worked outside the industry.

Andrea’s parents Trevor and Harriet Hamilton own several farms under their company TH Enterprises. Andrea and Blair had the opportunity to manage a new acquisition, Golden Springs in 2012.

“Three small farms making up Golden Springs were reconfigured, changing fences, water reticulation and races to make one farm of 285

ALL NEW SERIES III TELEHANDLER LIM I STO TED CK

The new JCB Series lll has taken telehandling to a new level.

Redesigned and re-engineered from the ground up, the JCB Series lll has raised the bar - literally. f All new CommandPlus cab provides the ultimate operator experience

f Smart Hydraulics package improves cycle times and reduces fuel consumption

f JCB EcoMAX engine provides fuel-efficient matching of transmission and hydraulics

f Designed to be productive, without compromising safety or comfort f New Zealand’s #1 telehandler

BAY OF PLENTY 292 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua

Glenn Davidson 027 223 3363 Office 07 345 5599

Central Plateau farmers Blair and Andrea Muggeridge and their three children celebrate success in the 2021 Dairy Industry Awards.

hectares effective, milking 1100 cows under a pasture-based production system 4/5 model,” Blair says.

By generating stock to raise equity, they were able to buy into the farm in 2019.

The Muggeridges won the national DairyNZ Human Resources merit award at the NZDIA 2021 awards.

They have four staff, one casual and themselves working on the farm. Andrea manages calving, the accounts and liaises with the other farm managers in the TH group of farms.

“I also work off-farm testing for Irlen Syndrome in schools, but I love HR and we won the same award when we entered the NZDIA Farm Manager awards previously, so it meant a lot to win it again as Share Farmers,” Andrea says.

The judges noted their policies, procedure and structure which focuses on staff needs and room to move in their careers. Their staff retention is amazing with most coming into their fifth season.

“It’s really important to us that we have a good culture for our staff.

“Our procedures have been 10 years in the making,” Andrea says.

The couple also walked away with the 2021 Meridian Farm Environment award.

“The judges liked how we ensure there is no overlapping with our effluent applications by recording

Blair and Andrea Muggeridge at the 2021 NZDIA evening.

our run maps in our effluent log, and staff check them before doing another run,” Blair says.

The farm has a couple of waterways including the Waiotapu Stream.

These are already fenced but Blair takes water samples as the stream enters the property and as it leaves, finding very little change in levels of potential problem nutrients.

Planting shade trees is a longterm project which forms part of the Muggeridge’s desire to leave a sustainable, environmentally sound farm for their three children.

Andrea is team leader for the 2022 NZDIA Share Farmer of the Year and would love to be a future judge.

“Although entering the NZDIA is a huge commitment especially if you win the regionals, entrants should be encouraged as the experience is invaluable to their careers.”

Catherine Fry

March 2022 Coast & Country News

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - CENTRAL PLATEAU

Page 15

NEW MODEL 5700D 100 & 110HP WITH DYNA 4 TRANSMISSION

Awards dinners will go ahead with attendance limited to 100 people.

With judging for the 11 regional programmes underway around the country, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Award’s attention is turning to the regional award dinners being held in March and April.

Organisers of the awards outlined their plan last month and people are advised to check: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for any developments since Coast & Country News went to print.

Celebrating success

After consultation with regional teams and national sponsors, the much-anticipated evenings are all set to continue, following government guidelines for events in Red level.

“We know these award dinners are an important part of the rural community’s calendar on many levels, which is why we will follow Government guidelines to deliver an evening where success can be recognised and celebrated,” says NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon.

“This means the dinners will have a maximum attendance of 100 people, who will be required to show vaccine passes at the venue.

“We realise capping numbers means some will miss out, and for those who can’t attend, the events will be live-streamed on the relevant regional dairy industry award Facebook page.”

Tickets will be offered directly to finalists, their supporters, entrants and sponsors. Any remaining general admission tickets will be made available online.

“Of course, in the current environment, we understand some people may be hesitant about attending the dinners, and we respect their decision if they don’t want to attend,” Robin says.

The Award programme proceeds as normal, with judging continuing in all regions.

“Our remit is to deliver the Awards programme and the benefits it brings to dairy farmers.

“We are rapt judging will continue and entrants will be able to receive feedback and benefit from benchmarking themselves against others,

as well as gaining a deeper understanding of best practice.

“The dinners are a great way to announce achievements and celebrate. Having to limit numbers and manage the allocation of tickets feels a bit like having to pick your favourite child!”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, MediaWorks and Ravensdown, along with industry partner DairyNZ. For more information, visit: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

Regional award dinners • Northland: March 16 • Auckland/Hauraki: March 18 • Waikato: March 14 • Bay of Plenty: March 11 • Central Plateau: March 10 • Taranaki: March 30 • Manawatu: April 2 • Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa: March 31 • West Coast/Top of the South: March 24 • Canterbury/North Otago: March 22 • Southland/Otago: March 26

SCAN FOR INFO

ROTORUA: 07 345 8560

Mike Rogers: 021 998 819 Jamie Gainsford: 021 905 458 Tony Johnston: 021 349 816

MORRINSVILLE: 07 889 7055

Mike Kitching: 021 735 665 Glenn Greay: 021 862 169 Todd Hewitt: 021 945 817

MATAMATA: 07 888 6292

Bruce Lynn: 027 292 6501 Paul Tuffey: 027 292 6569 Kevin Morey: 027 493 1620

Lawyers making making aLawyers difference to the aLawyers difference to the rural sector making

rural sector

a difference toOF the PROUD SPONSORS THE NZ DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS rural sector PROUD SPONSORS OF THE NZPROUD DAIRYSPONSORS INDUSTRY AWARDS OF THE www.rurallaw.co.nz NZ DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS

GRUNDFOS ®

www.rurallaw.co.nz www.rurallaw.co.nz

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - BOP

Page 16

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Paving the way for women in dairy In 2021, 23-year-old Dayna Rowe was named the Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year and won $6000 in prizes and three merit awards.

Dayna and her faithful workers take a break.

Proud sponsors of the Dairy Industry Awards 2021 We’re specialists in growing rural business.

Specialist Rural Accountants Xero and Figured experts Part of your farming team

One year later, Dayna is now managing for Grant and Ngaire Rowe on their 289.67ha Pongakawa farm, milking 1000 cows and paving the way for many women in dairy.

Growing up on the family farm in Pongakawa, Dayna spent a lot of time learning about farming and animals. She had originally begun study towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre Studies when she realised she’d rather be stomping through paddocks than treading the boards.

“I grew up on a dairy farm and it was always just something you were not offered to do if you were female or kind of ‘smart’ at high school, so in the end I went down to Wellington to study.

“During the summer I got a little job on the farm just spraying weeds before I was supposed to go back to university and during that time a guy quit his job and a full time position came up on the farm.

“I had enjoyed my time on the farm so much all summer that I decided to take it and not go back to university.

“I am now managing the farm that I was a dairy trainee on so that was a pretty big step in the right direction for me and I have had staff come on board that wanted to work for me because of what they had seen of me from the Dairy Awards which has been wicked.

Early success

Dayna says the exposure from the awards has really helped her career.

“I have done quite a bit of advertising for the farming industry and spoken on the news which has been a way to get my face out there and be recognised for something positive.

“All of a sudden you know a bunch of contract milkers from around the country and reps suddenly want to work with you and be on board with you.

“I felt like a mini celebrity after the awards. So many people have been there to help me which has been so beneficial with it being my first year managing on such a big farm, and to have so many people wanting to work with me and make my job a little bit easier has been wicked.”

In 2021, Dayna spent the year focusing on herself and the awards, however with 2022 now in full swing, Dayna is focusing energy onto her career and succeeding in the new role.

“I didn’t really know what this year was going to be like. I didn’t have any super clear goals other than knuckling down and getting this job done and doing it well.

“Production is going well, everything on the farm is going well and the boss is happy,” she says.

A woman in dairy

As a woman in the industry, Dayna has experienced hardships, but wants to be a part of a change that sees farming as a woman a more viable option.

“Being a female in the dairy industry is hard. I really encourage it, but it is hard. I think what I see of females in the industry is that it’s not so easy for us so you find that a lot of females are a bit more committed, a bit more switched on. ...continued

Call 07 573 5569 and find out more www.stemrural.co.nz

STOP FEED GOING TO WASTE

SAVE MONEY

WITH A WILCO HAY/MEAL FEEDER

Proud supporters of the Da iry Industry Awards

Strong, completely mobile and in a range of sizes to suit your farm’s needs Our unique range of wheeled and hanging feeders protect feed from bad weather and ensure your stock have feed when they need it.

Thanks again for bringing the feeder down. It went straight to use that afternoon and immediately had an impact. I am now saving and they are eating about 95% of my previous loss.

- Clive, Upper Hutt

Dairy farming has left an indelible mark on Dayna in more ways than one.

Local Knowledge | Proven Experience | Proven Results

Phillip Berry Property Brokers Country Proud sponsor of the Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards

For all your rural real estate needs call Phillip Berry

Rural Sales Consultant

M 0800 FRM SEL (376 735) E phillip.berry@pb.co.nz

Meal Feeders • Hay Feeders • PK Feeders • ATV Trailers • Motorcycle Trailers Visit our website for our full range of products. www.wilcoengineering.co.nz | 0508 4 WILCO

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 PB057504

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS - BOP

March 2022 Coast & Country News

continued...

Page 17

Dayna mingles with the herd she manages. Photo: John Borren.

“I think it showed in the dairy awards as there were a lot more females in our national final.

“I believe females that are doing farming unfortunately have to prove themselves a lot more.

“There’s definitely a lot of sexism and things that need to change still,” Dayna says.

“A lot of contractors ask for your husband or where the manager is if they see a woman on the farm, and so there is definitely a lot of improvements to be made.”

A viable lifestyle

Dayna’s next goal is to figure out how she can use technology, new ideas and new systems to make life easier.

“We’re getting Halter on our farm in the next few weeks, which is technology that assists management quite a bit with cows and animal

health and things like that which is exciting.

“I’m 23 and I don’t have a partner who runs a farm, so I have started thinking about things like: ‘how can I have a baby and run a farm? How can I be a woman and run a farm?’”

“My goal for the next few years whilst I’m young is to try and figure out how I can make farming a more sustainable layout for a woman who still wants to live a normal lifestyle, whether that is through technology or new systems.

“I’m totally delving into new territory here. People have this shocked look on their face if I say: ‘well what if I want to have a baby?’

“It’s definitely not spoken about and it’s definitely something that I’m trying to encourage people to think about a bit more, to start the conversation.”

Jordan Boyd

Start your career in farming

The FARMit team are proud to be a sponsor of the 2020 NZ Dairy Industry Awards. A great opportunity for entrants to learn and grow, along with encouraging best practice within the Dairy Farming industry.

Spaces still open, apply now!

Study the NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) (Level 3).

Gain skills for a path which is diverse and full of opportunities.

Courses start Monday, 7 March in Waipā, Taupō, Tauranga and Whakatāne.

"Best of luck to all entrants!"

Learn by doing 0800 86 46 46 toiohomai.ac.nz

Brett: 021 245 8775 Colin: 027 313 7372 Gina: 027 245 5545 Katie: 021 44 9595 *See website for more details.

P 07 307 7245 W www.farmit.net.nz Level 1, 2 Commerce Street, Whakatane 3120

KING COUNTRY FOCUS

Page 18

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Mixing sheep, cows and the environment In late January 2022, the King Country hills were a parched golden colour, and the early afternoon temperature was heading towards 30 degC. Raupuha Stud at Mahoenui hadn’t seen rain since December 17, 2021.

Stud owner Russell Proffit quickly shears an ‘escapee’ lamb from the previous day and is fielding walkietalkie messages and phone calls

amidst the background noise of cows and calves on day one of weaning.

“It’s always busy here, there’s always plenty to do,” Russell says.

Russell and his wife Mavis are fifth generation Proffit farmers, with Russell’s grandfather Clyde being the first to farm sheep and beef during 1946 in Huinga, Taranaki.

Russell’s parents, Jeff and Lyn, started breeding shorthorn beef cattle in 1972 at Huinga on

Russell Proffit discusses a fully fenced and planted gully with poplar trees planted higher up to stabilise the soil. All photos: Catherine Fry.

Raupuha Road until 1996 when they moved to Trooper’s Road near Te Kuiti “Mum and Dad moved to this property at Mahoenui in 2003. Mavis and I took over in 2008, increasing it to 1100 hectares from the original 600.”

Environmental considerations

Proud support 18km of waterways including boundaries with Proud toto support two of the area’s significant rivers - the Awakino Russell & Mavis Profitt Russell & Mavis Profitt and the Mokau.

Proud to support Russell & Mavis Areas of higher ground are prone to erosion and of Stud ofRaupuha Raupuha Stud the Proffits have a deep sense of responsibility The mainly steep and rolling land has about

Profitt of Raupuha Stud

12323 02-22

12323 02-22

12323 02-22

towards ensuring that water leaving the property does not cause issues further downstream.

Get in touch see howbanking we can support support yourtobusiness needs. your business banking needs.

“We’ve always sought to keep cattle out of the wet areas. Mud doesn’t make money!”

Talk to us today • 0800 273 916 Nowadays the majority of the waterways are eight wire, double fenced and sheep proof.

The fenced and planted steep gullies are clearly visible as vivid green channels through the dry

Get in touch to see how we can Get in your touch to seebanking how we can support business needs.

GET IT DONE RIGHT

pasture. Poplar trees planted on the less stable higher ground consolidate the soils.

“The larger gullies empty through planted sediment ponds before entering the main drains.”

Much of the planting is several years old and showcases an example of improved waterways with no erosion, and shaded, clear, cool water, where eels and aquatic life prosper.

“We’ve been working with the government, Waikato Regional Council and King Country River Care to encourage farmers to take charge of improving our environment as a community, and to apply for available funding.”

Raupuha Stud has hosted field days where experts have come along to talk to local farmers.

Mavis has been growing the natives used for planting on the farm. Seeds are collected from the plants already on the farm as they are already thriving in the farm conditions. Seedlings are started off under cover, hardened off outside and planted during May, June and July. ...continued

Trusted for decades and proven to perform, you can always rely on Boehringer Ingelheim products to keep your stock at their best.

And to help get everything else done right, we’ll throw in these DeWalt tools.

Purchase qualifying cattle drench products this season and you’ll receive either a FREE * DeWalt 18V Cordless Drill Set, Lockable Tool Box or a 35-piece Screwdriver Set.

futureproducers.co.nz

Proudly Available from your local participating Veterinary Clinic. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. Level 3, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand. ECLIPSE®, EXODUS®, GENESIS®, MATRIX® and EPRINEX® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under license. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997.

No’s A010222, A011151, A007191, A009222, A010131, A009270, A011138. © Copyright 2022 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. NZ-BOV-0095-2021. *Promo ends 30th April 2022. While stocks last. Ask in clinic for qualifying products.

March 2022 Coast & Country News

KING COUNTRY FOCUS

A fine example of a young shorthorn bull.

continued...

Russell inspects the seedlings that are grown from seeds his wife Mavis collects from their farm.

The main pests to the young plants are rabbits and turkeys which Russell controls with “a bit of shooting”.

Shorthorn cattle

The original genes from his father’s and grandfather’s shorthorn herd still run through today’s herd, but semen imported from Australia and Canada, and embryos from Australia are used to improve the genetic base.

The stud uses both AI and natural mating. Russell is looking for a moderate frame and prefers a red roan or a pure white beast but “you can’t predict what you’ll get”.

Shorthorn beef isn’t that easy to market, so most of the females are retained, and the bulls are sold to sire cross bred calves.

“We’ve got around 120 shorthorns, and we’ve added in 90 commercial Angus this season. They add a wellknown beef breed into the shorthorn mix, and I’d like to see some blue roan calves next season.”

KCRC

Sheep in the hills

the steering committee. The FE Gold group members are accredited breeders of rams with high facial eczema tolerance.

“Rams tested for facial eczema at 0.6mg/kg of sporidesmin that are introduced to a flock may make

Page 19

The variety of shorthorn calf colourings.

rapid gains in tolerance in the offspring. We’re looking for these qualities in the ram lambs we sell, and it’s our aim to improve the facial eczema tolerance throughout New Zealand.”

Russell and Mavis run the

stud with three full time staff and casual workers through the different seasons. They support the Growing Future Farmers programme by accepting two work placement students on the farm.

Catherine Fry

Jeff Proffit started breeding Perendales in 1977. Russell acknowledges them as “a good dual purpose, hill country sheep”, feeling that “if you’re going to have to shear then you may as well get decent wool from them”.

The stud runs 2500 ewes predominantly Perendales, with Romdales, SufTex, Suffolk and Beltex. The main farm business is stud rams, and they host a large ram sale every season.

“We still sell 2500 lambs a year for meat, retain around 700 to 800 ewes ourselves and sell 550 lamb rams for breeding purposes.”

For the past 22 years, the farm has been committed to the leading facial eczema genetics group - FE Gold.

The Proffits have put considerable money and time into their breeding programme to produce elite FE-tolerant rams.

Russell is the current chair of

King Country River Care Supporting resilient and thriving rural communities

Established in 2018, King Country River Care (KCRC) is an incorporated society taking a long-term view to caring for our environment, our people, and our communities.

Our actions support rural communities extending from Mokau to Kawhia and across to Benneydale.

There are roughly 350 farming businesses in the KCRC region, covering a total estimated catchment area of 2800 square kilometres.

Proudly supported by:

If you would like to know more or get involved contact us through our facebook page @kcrivercare or email kcrivercare@gmail.com

FARM VEHICLES & MACHINERY

Page 20

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Three generations of the Tauranga In 1984, Rex Williams and Kevin Pinkerton started the Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club.

The first meet up was hosted at the Bethlehem Scout Den and brought in 13 people. Rex was voted President and Kevin, secretary of the club.

Almost 39 years later, the club now has 50 plus members who all share

similar passions in restoring engines that would otherwise be scrapped.

Rex’s love for old tractors and machinery was passed down to his son Larry who is now a member of the Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club himself.

“It has always been a big part of our family as it was a big interest of my dad’s,” says Larry.

“We were all very involved and still

Rex Williams on his tractor ‘Old Rusty’.

are, and now my son is keen on the old tractors and things as well now.

“There’s three generations here,” he says.

A tractor filled past

Born and bred in Te Puna, and still based in the area, Larry grew up burning it around the family farm on old tractors.

“That was our fun in the old days, towing sledges and just racing around the paddocks on tractors.

“It was always a big part of our growing up.

“When I was younger, my dad did lots of tractor treks.

“They would do various ones to Rotorua and to Ōpōtiki but one I remember was they went to

Waitakaruru in the Firth of Thames.

“They drove over the Kaimai ranges to a tractor rally and stayed the night there. They then drove their tractors back to Morrinsville and then back home over the Kaimais.

“One of my dad’s highlights was in 1989 when they celebrated 100 years of tractors in the world.

“A group of about eight guys drove vintage tractors from Tauranga to Cambridge where they had a huge field day gathering at Mystery Creek.

“He had a sign that he put on his Fordson that said Te Puna to Cambridge in six hours. He was ...continued always quite proud of that.”

ADD A CAB FROM

$110.00 PER MONTH!

MORRINSVILLE

07 889 7055

ROTORUA

07 345 8560

MATAMATA

07 888 6292

Mike Kitching Glenn Greay Todd Hewitt

021 735 665 021 862 169 021 945 817

Mike Rogers Jamie Gainsford Tony Johnston

021 998 819 021 905 458 021 349 816

Bruce Lynn Paul Tuffey Kevin Morey

027 292 6501 027 292 6569 027 493 1620

March 2022 Coast & Country News

FARM VEHICLES & MACHINERY

Page 21

Vintage Machinery club

The Williams family’s collection of Fordsons.

Left: Club member Larry Williams drives a 106-year-old Mogul at a tractor rally.

KUBOTA’S LIFEST YLE RANGE

continued...

Keeping it in the family

Larry has now been a part of the Tauranga Vintage machinery club for about 10 years and his son has recently joined the club as well.

“We have a big collection of tractors. A couple of the ones I have restored are some of the oldest in the Bay. “We have a 1916 tractor and a 1918 tractor which are over 100 years old now.”

Larry’s standout piece is his 1916 Mogul because of its rarity. He also owns a 1918 Samson Sieve-grip, another standout in his collection.

The hard thing, Larry says about a club such as this one, is that everyone is getting older.

“It’s hard to attract young people.

“The average age years ago was mid 50’s but unfortunately now the average age is about 70 to 80 years old.

“The reason it’s hard for young people to get into it now is because the old tractors are worth quite a bit of money, but when my dad was collecting them, they were just junk.

“The two early ones in my collection have a value for about $30,000 but Dad got them for

’T

W T NO OU

30 HP Kubota 3-Cylinder Diesel Engine

COMPETITIVE FINANCE AVAIL ABLE

Cutting Height 25-127 mm, rear delivery Shaft Drive Deck & Hydraulic Deck Lift

across the BX & Z Series

BX2380 $22,500 * +GST Fitted with LA344 Loader and RCK60 Mid-mount mower 23HP Kubota diesel engine Switching between mowing lawns & front end loader work has never been easier. The BX loader can be attached without leaving the driver’s seat

Deluxe reclining high back seat, spacious operator area, cruise control and easy to reach controls *Image without mower deck. Price includes mower deck.

07 573 9107 4 Te Puke Quarry Road, Te Puke www.rrtractors.co.nz

KUBOTA.CO.NZ

4 YEAR

POWER

S

IS

M

ZD1221

Jordan Boyd

TRAIN

WARRANTY**

p

• lev

4 IN 1

• el

scoo

N DO

“For a young person to get into it they’ve got to spend a few thousand dollars just to get their hands on quite a common one. Whereas my son will inherit my collection just as I have inherited from my dad.

“I’ve restored only three or four tractors, and the rest are from my father’s era basically.

“He used to bring them home and his passion was to get them going.

“He never had a lot of money as he was only an orchardist, but he had mechanical skills.

“That was what he was proud of.

“Most of them weren’t painted up but he could always get them going.”

The Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club hosts club meetings on every third Monday at the Vintage Car Club Rooms on Cliff Street.

“New members are always welcome,” Larry says.

• G

loader

RAD

b

IN

O ST

From junk to treasure

gra

CK

nothing. For the sake of going and getting them because they were just junk.

“I did spend a lot of time restoring them, but now old tractors just aren’t lying around farms anymore.”

E

•

KIOTI

FINAIALANBLCEE AV

*Terms and conditions apply. Images may show optional extras and may differ from product advertised. Contact your local Power Farming dealer for more information. ** 4 year or 2000 hour power train warranty.

Reg Hedges Tauranga / Te Puke Manager/Sales 027 230 7000

Owen Jessop Tauranga / Te Puke Sales Manager 027 337 6963

Dave Horgan Te Puna / Katikati / Waihi Sales 027 555 2308

FROM 26-60HP WITH HST OR MANUAL Andrew (Gibbo) Gibbs Paengaroa / Matata / Whakatane / Opotiki Sales 027 217 3652

Kioti NZ

1 Pyes Pa Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga | Ph 0800 487 22868

AVOCADOS

Page 22

I sit at my desk getting ready to write just after the big storm came flying through.

Big winds can do big damage in a short space of time and that’s what happened.

We had the yellow hydraladas on the orchard ready to start. They had been there for the last week which was wet and humid, just waiting to get going with our harvest.

The wind gave us a fair old

March 2022 Coast & Country News

battering. It started to blow from the nor’ east and ended up slamming down off the Kaimai ranges from the sou’ west.

The big clean-up

The trees were turned inside out.

While not a lot of branches came down it cleaned out a fair amount of leaf.

What I have noticed is not necessarily the impact of the fruit about to be harvested that we lost,

Thermo Max

Thermo Max

but rather the amount of next year’s crop that has gone.

Yes, there is fruit left, yes storms like this may shorten the market supply up and maybe we’ll see some better pricing for the remaining season however we now have to clean up.

Luckily the financial impact is not too dramatic this year as we are already well into a tough season and the returns are still low.

Putting it into perspective

Speculation is always rife after we have these big loss events. The wind was so strong in gusts that even fruit remaining on the trees could be bruised.

I have seen where this bruising has happened in previous storms and by the time we get to harvest that fruit, they appear to have self-healed with no visible damage.

The fruit on the ground looks a lot. I used to get growers to pick up a bin full just to put it in perspective of how much they have actually lost.

It looks a lot on the ground, it has a real visual impact but it can be deceiving. Get the mulcher mower out and get rid of the evidence.

As for cleaning up, consider the opportunity to make some good big pruning cuts. If there is damage to the tree from a snapped branch to such

an extent that you can’t make a tidy cut consider using a water based paint to protect the tree from rotting and weakening its inherent strength.

And then of course there is the matter of our own welfare after these big loss events. It builds tension, concern, worry and other forces come into play.

You are not alone

Take the time to do a budget. Speak early to your financier for their input, form a plan and seek the input and view of others.

These tough times apply a lot of pressure and we need to recognise that these tough years also have a wider impact on our support businesses.

They may also be struggling and as an industry we need to support all the cogs in the wheel.

We need to recognise that we are not alone in having to deal with the big impacts.

Once you have a plan make sure you put aside the ‘me time’ to support the full recovery that has to happen.

It’s not just the orchard that needs help.

Our own lives and families and supporting businesses also need the networks up and running and once again working together.

All the best. Tony

March 2022 Coast & Country News

AVOCADOS

Page 23

Making use of the good wood

Good mulch gives avocados a good start to life.

The team at Goodwood understand that utilising sustainable products and practices is key to defining the NZ Avocado industry’s place on the world stage, and they can understand why.

“As we have developed our business around the value of ‘Doing Good’, it’s become clear that future growth heavily depends on, not only our own sustainability practices, but also how we offer sustainable and environmentally friendly products to our clients – including those across the Avocado Industry,” says Goodwood’s Monique King.

The raw materials Goodwood use in their production methods are 100 per cent recycled, untreated timbers.

These wood-waste streams would otherwise end up in landfill, if not for companies like Goodwood identifying their potential for future use.

The Goodwood Horticulture Mulch and Bark Mulch are two such products. Fully recycled and manufactured to a specification that has orchardists in mind.

Horticulture Mulch contains a blend of aged

The words on the truck say it all as it heads off for another load of good wood.

woodchip which has begun the process of breaking down, as well as some quality local soil.

This delivers a heavier mulch that is perfect for supporting the growth of young plants.

Goodwood Bark Mulch is a versatile blend of pine bark, shredded pine and bark fines which offers a medium weight ground coverage, ideal for mature plantings.

“Produced locally in the Bay of Plenty, and available in bulk volumes – call our team today for a no-obligation quote for your orchard, and let’s minimise our environmental footprints together.”

Get in touch on: 0508 4 GOODWOOD (0508 446 639) or visit: www.goodwoodnz.co.nz

Your Solution for all things Irrigation Call Our Experts on 0800 130 905 www.irrigationexpress.co.nz

The perfect solution to sustainable pest control in all orchards

IRIS MULTI SPREADER IOD750J 970L Capacity twin spinner with side dresser, spreads Lime gypsum, mulch, manure, wood chip $11995 Inc GST

NOVAQUIP 3 PT DIRT SCOOP CAT 1-2 linkage 1.6m Wide Available with manual or hydrualic tipping action from $1995 Inc GST

IN STOCK NOW ! BE QUICK THESE WONT STICK AROUND FOR LONG AT THESE PRICES

100’s MORE ATTACHMENTS ONLINE

www.implementsdirect.co.nz PH 09 242 2228

Page 24

AVOCADOS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

AVOCADOS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 25

Future proofing the industry

As the avocado industry puts an extremely tough year to bed, Avoco is turning its attention to refining a five-year business plan designed to provide a stable and sustainable future for its growers.

Marketing and communications manager Steve Trickett says Avoco intends to run a series of regional, end-of-season grower meetings, Covid-19 restrictions permitting.

These meetings will review the factors influencing outcomes of the season, as well as an overview of the five-year business plan.

He says it is important to provide growers with a vision of the future after what has been a particularly challenging year.

“This includes Avoco’s growth objectives by market, our strategy and key plans being worked on to achieve those objectives.

“We also want to signal to growers what the next five years prospectively look like in terms of OGR (orchard gate

return) prospects to provide some confidence and assist with longer-term investment plans.

“We can take some key learnings from this unprecedented season to be applied to our future planning and ensure all stakeholders are informed and equipped to reassess what the picture looks like going forward.”

Avoco marketing and communications manager Steve Trickett.

While Covid gathering restrictions have hampered Avoco’s ability to host grower meetings, Steve says it is important to get grower feedback and Avoco want to ensure growers are fully briefed and informed.

Avoco represents the majority of growers and has about a 60 per cent share of the national avocado crop annually.

“It is vital that Avoco continues to play a leadership role in helping to future proof the industry,” Steve says.

“In an increasingly competitive marketplace, a continued emphasis on quality will be paramount to consistently delivering fruit that is both attractive to consumers and strong enough to withstand shipment by sea to a range of markets.

“There is much work to be done, but better results can be achieved through the collective effort of Avoco engaging with our growers, post-harvest partners and the wider industry.”

­

You can ‘Avo party’ anywhere NZ Avocado is teaming up with dinner party pop-up professionals Kitchen Takeover to unite separated friends and family around virtual dining tables during lockdown.

NZ Avocado and Kitchen Takeover want to help Kiwis connect with each other through food while they are apart, by providing the tools needed to host a virtual dinner party at home. #Avopartyanyway is a virtual dinner experience designed to be as heart-warming and fun as before lockdown began. Participants invite their friends, set up a video call, and get inspired by easy-tofollow, fun and healthy recipes.

Connecting and inspiring

NZ Avocado CEO Jen Scoular is looking forward to seeing New Zealanders come together and connect through virtual avocado dinner parties.

“Food connects and inspires people - from recipe decisions, the preparation, right through to the enjoyment of new and exciting tastes, dishes and experiences. We want New Zealanders to enjoy that connection, even while in lockdown.

“And we’re doing that using the amazingly nutritious and versatile avocado as a main ingredient in three courses” Jen says.

Avocados are a versatile, healthy and delicious ingredient readily available at supermarkets.

Amazing anytime, avocados are packed with 19 different vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and all the best nutrition to help you and your family stay healthy at home.

The way of the future

The avocado inspired three-course meal developed by Kitchen Takeover’s MasterChef Shane Yardley offers healthy, unique, fun and resourceful ways to cook during lockdown based on store cupboard staples and includes options for plant-based diets.

Stacey Jones, director and founder of Kitchen Takeover says “If you look behind the smokefilled cloches, secret pop-up locations and liquid nitrogen ice creams, Kitchen Takeover is really about connecting people through delicious plates of food. The onset of Covid has meant people

are forced apart so what better way to bring them together than around a virtual dining table with new food experiences. Dining online might just be the way of the future so why not give it a try.”

Challenges

refreshed renewed reset

avoco.co.nz

AVOCO’S NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN ACTIVATED

Avoco's five year business plan sets out the key challenges ahead and issues that need to be addressed to deliver sustainable financial returns for our growers.

Win great prizes

The #avopartyanyway virtual dinner parties can be held by Kiwis any night of the week and the virtual dinner party guide and recipes can be viewed at www.nzavocado.co.nz/avopartyanyway Kiwis have the chance to win great prizes by sharing their dinner parties and meal creations by tagging #avopartyanyway, @nzavocado and @kitchentakeover

Growing competition and reliable logistics remain significant challenges to be met.

Growth

Compliance

Significant growth on the horizon but investment required to develop emerging markets.

All-market compliance is key to providing the fl exiblity to reliably service customers.

Brands Building on our sustainability story and in-market resources will support strong brand recognition.

Focus Australasia and the Pacific Rim are very much the focus for the next fi ve years but new markets are coming into view.

AVOCADOS

Page 26

March 2022 Coast & Country News

BOP growers count cost of cyclone The strong winds that lashed the country on February 13 have caused significant damage to some kiwifruit and avocado orchards in the Bay of Plenty.

Cyclone Dovi caused flooding, downed trees and cut power to homes.

Bay of Plenty orchardist Hugh Moore says some avocado trees were completely uprooted by the wind, while others had lost branches full of fruit.

He says both new season fruit and the last of this season’s crop have been impacted.

Another orchardist in the area, Mark Hume, from Hume Pack-N-Cool, says it was a significant wind event.

“It was very forceful. It took out a lot of power; a lot of trees came down over power wires and stuff, and a lot of orchards got sort of pretty wrapped around, especially the young ones. Young gold kiwifruit orchards with poles up, all the poles have been knocked over.

‘That’s life’

“But that’s horticulture, we’ll get up and go again. It’s not good, but that’s life. If there’s less fruit hopefully the prices go up. That’ll make up for the damage,” Mark says.

Thousands of avocados were thrown from trees in the February storm.

BOP grower Angela Sutton told 1News that they have so many avocados, they just don’t know what to do with it.

“I saw big trees tossed around in the wind like they were feathers.

“Anything that is on the ground can’t be sold domestically or on the export market because of health and safety concerns. For the crop, it means we are not going to get much of a crop at all.

“It just seems such a waste for the fruit to go unused. They have had a lot put into them, a lot of expense.

“People love avocados. They are good for people.

“Why can’t we get them to them?”

Big winds, big damage Tony Bradley, from Aongatete Avocados Ltd, was sitting at his desk writing his Coast & Country News column when the storm blew through.

“Big winds can do big damage in a short space of time and that’s what happened.

“The wind gave us a fair old battering. It started to blow from the nor east and ending slamming down off the Kaimai ranges from the sou-west.

“The trees were turned inside out.”

He says the fruit for this year’s harvest is not necessarily impacted, but rather the amount of next year’s crop that has gone.

“Yes, there is fruit left, yes storms like this may shorten the market supply up and maybe we’ll see some better pricing for the remaining season, however, we now have to clean up.”

Tony says it is lucky the financial impact is not too dramatic this year, as they are already well into a tough season and the returns are still low.

“Speculation is always rife after we have these big loss events. The wind was so strong in gusts that even fruit remaining on the trees could be bruised.

“I have seen where this bruising has happened in previous storms and by the time we get to harvest that fruit they appear to have self-healed with no visible damage.”

Read more in Tony’s column on page 22.

A difficult season

New Zealand Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular says the industry had already been facing a difficult season, with softer demand in some export markets leaving growers struggling to get break even prices.

Jen says sadly the large volume of fruit that has fallen on the ground would not be salvageable, partly because of food safety but also because much of it would be bruised.

“I had one grower who thought they’d lost half of their crop which was ready to be harvested between now and April and other growers who have a lot of the new season fruit on the ground as well.

“So the wind just ripped around trees. We’ve certainly had big branches come off trees and smaller trees being ripped up, so real damage for avocado growers.”

Jen says New Zealand Avocado could provide technical advice to growers including things they could do to try and nurse wind-damaged trees back to health.

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 27

AVOCADOS

Orchard hygiene key to disease management Lucia Ramos grew up in Granada, Spain – a province known for avocado production; and later spent time in Germany, researching cereal and vegetable crops.

insight into the occurrence and development of pathogens that infect avocado crops.

Lucia is currently investigating ways to isolate disease-causing pathogens from the plant material they infect, such as avocado fruit and stems.

This will allow her to identify what pathogens Lucia is now a scientist in the Epidemiology are present, as well as characteristics such as when and Disease Management team at Plant & Food and how those pathogens infect and what weather Research, investigating the development of conditions encourage them to thrive. avocado diseases and their management.

“By increasing our knowledge of these factors, She works alongside the New Zealand avocado we can give growers a more accurate time-frame industry to implement best practices in orchards of when to intervene. If we can detect a period and to support export growth. that favours the spread and development of certain “I feel fortunate that my new home since 2017, pathogens, for example, growers could be advised New Zealand, is giving me the opportunity to to focus their sprays or hygiene practices during reconnect with this fascinating fruit crop.” these key periods, reducing unnecessary spray Hass is the main avocado variety grown in applications and workload during the year.”

New Zealand. It is a subtropical fruit grown in a temperate climate, which can bring challenges such Avocado growers are regularly informed of new as fruit rot diseases, which occur in many avocado- findings from this research through orchard visits, workshops, the NZ Avocado website and producing regions worldwide and can negatively Avoscene journal.

Plant & Food Research affect quality and consumer satisfaction.

Lucia works is researching disease and prevention in New Zealand avocado orchards.

The underlying causes of rot

“The fungi infect the fruit in the orchard, but symptoms normally appear once the fruit is collected and starts to ripen. This can make the management of rot diseases extremely challenging.”

Lucia is working with the avocado industry to analyse and identify underlying cultural, chemical and biological practices already happening in the orchard that may contribute to low incidence of diseases. She investigates the extent to which these practices influence avocado production.

“Dense canopies with dead wood, leaves or fruit enhance the growth of fungi that cause diseases.

“These fungi also survive from season to season in dead fruit or other plant material on the ground, so orchard hygiene is important.

“Copper sprays can also be used to help keep diseases at a low level.”

Working closely with the industry

Lucia is very thankful to the NZ Avocado representatives and growers for their cooperation and willingness to provide access to their orchards for research.

“Working closely with the avocado industry is key to understanding their needs and focusing on the real problems we need to solve. At the end of the day, the work we do is to support their success and the success of New Zealand.”

Lab work is another important aspect of her work on avocado diseases, as it may provide further

Avo’s join the party TV chef and award-winning restaurateur Ganesh Raj is on a mission to sample and support the very best local producers on a classic Kiwi road trip with New Zealand mayonnaise brand, Best Foods.

Ganesh travelled the country armed with a few tubs of mayo to discover and highlight regional New Zealand specialities.

The culinary journey follows Ganesh from harvesting whimsical mushrooms at Out of the Dark Mushrooms in Auckland, to barging green-lipped mussels at the crack of dawn with James Marine in the bountiful Coromandel peninsula; before heading down the verdant Bay of Plenty to experience the perfect avocado at Ridgeton Orchard in Katikati.

In the deep south, the adventure sees Ganesh reeling in Moeraki’s fresh blue cod with the team at The Fishwife, sampling piquant Barry’s Bay cheeses in Akaroa, and cooking up flavoursome South Canterbury Havoc Farm sausages.

To highlight each region, agriculture and showcase the versatility of Best Foods, Ganesh has developed a range of delectable and accessible recipes made with a Best Foods twist that people can recreate at home, including flavoursome tacos featuring the mighty avocado in a glorious mayo-guacamole.

THINGS DON'T SEEM SO IMPOSSIBLE...

WHEN YOU KNOW AN EXPERTS GOT YOUR BACK AAL is a large scale independent operator of orchard management, growing, harvesting and packing.

We supply a full range of services and equipment as well as a reliable, experienced team with exceptional customer service.

AAL is equipped to handle the jobs you can't do... right through to the jobs you just don't want to do.

If you need advice or management of your orchard, find out more by contacting our team on 07 549 1809 or visit www.aaltd.co.nz

AAU

AONGATETE AVOCADOS LTD.

Page 28

AVOCADOS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Profitable outlook for primary sector Despite significant ongoing global turmoil, New Zealand agricultural producers are positioned for another profitable year in 2022, says a report

by Rabobank.

In the bank’s annual Agribusiness Outlook 2022, titled ‘Will the Party Continue in 2022?’, Rabobank says while the outlook for another profitable run looks likely for most of New Zealand’s agricultural commodities, it is “too early to break out the champagne just yet” as

elements of 2022 will be “unpredictable”.

Bright sparks and headwinds

Report co-author, Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins says as 2022 gets underway, the year “will hold bright sparks, despite headwinds gathering strength”.

The report says 2021 had seen record farmgate pricing locally for most New Zealand-produced agricultural commodities (with the exception of wool) – fuelled, in large part, by global factors including adverse weather

conditions in a number of regions, concern about food shortages and Covid-induced supply chain chaos.

Returns had also been underpinned by a favourable Kiwi dollar.

The New Zealand agricultural sector had also performed well in navigating erratic supply chains and with trade flows holding up well despite the global pandemic, while trade relations with China had remained strong.

New Zealand remains well positioned on global agricultural markets for the year ahead, the report says, with the

New markets for avocados could help the industry join the primary sector party.

production prospects for competitors remaining crimped, as South America, the west coast of the US and parts of Europe continue to deal with inclement weather, reducing their ability to ramp up production in the face of high prices.

Constrained global production of key commodities will support firm demand and pricing for New Zealand products.

Emma says the when it comes to the New Zealand dollar, local exporters are still looking at a favourable exchange rate. The Kiwi-US cross is anticipated to trade at current levels before rising slightly to 73 cents by the year’s end.”

Risks ahead

Licensed under the REAA 2008

Covid and the Chinese economy in particular continuing to loom, while spiralling inflation and supply chain issues will provide challenges.

“How our key trading partners deal with the virus this year will be central to our export performance, compounding the already-significant challenges ahead this year for our agricultural exporters.

“In China, dwindling demographics, property price pressures and debt crackdown – in addition to specific commodity challenges like elevated Chinese dairy inventories – remain important red flags to our export return strength.”

Freight challenges and mounting inflationary pressure through the supply chain will also both continue to “cause headaches” in 2022.

Emma warns record prices in some sectors may not translate into record profitability in 2022.

“Inflationary pressures driving up input costs, in addition to reduced production – particularly for the dairy industry – will likely degrade overall business profitability.”

Labour shortages are also a “weighty” challenge for the ag sector, causing stress on businesses and taking the shine off excellent returns. Horticulture and agricultural contractors will be most impacted.

More change and uncertainty

Why roll a dice when you really don't have to? Don't take a chance with the sale of your property. Durrelle & The Green Team know the proven formula to get the best value for your crop - your livelihood! "We don't just sell horticulture - we know horticulture!"

Ic can highly recommend Durrelle for her in-depth knowledge of the rural region - agricultural and horticultural. Her professional attitude, honesty, integrity and negotiating skills. Durrelle turned a potentially stressful ner experience into an exciting adventure. Helen - Horticulture Property Owner

More uncertainty is also expected in 2022 as a result of regulatory frameworks in the area of environmental sustainability. Key milestones will include a decision on an emissions-pricing mechanism for agriculture and the release of the Government Emissions Budget.

“New Zealand ag has the unique opportunity to be true world leaders for solving the global methane issue in a holistic way that is good for both farming business – and therefore the New Zealand economy – and the environment.

“It will be of particular interest to see whether the government revises current policy settings that strongly incentivises the planting of pine trees over native, in order to achieve the scale and form of afforestation as recommended by the Climate Change Commission.”

Emma says now is the time to hold a broader discussion on land use, farming systems and the role of technology in agriculture and a pan-sectoral strategy is needed to link obligations for lowmethane farming systems with environmental, social and economic ideals.

March 2022 Coast & Country News

AVOCADOS

Page 29

Challenging year with a silver lining discussing our wider orchard harvest and marketing plan as we get closer to the commencement of the season.

If you’d like to speak to anyone

from the Just Avocados team, get in touch with us at: info@justavocados.co.nz Jacob Darling, Just Avocados

Avocado exports to Asia have increased dramatically this year.

Results for Just Avocados’ export ‘Pool 1’ for As we start planning for next season, we are the 2021-22 season have been announced, reviewing the crop that has currently been set.

Our collective observations are that the total with an average orchard gate return across production on an average mature orchard premium sizes of $10.10 per tray. will likely be down 15 per cent to 20 per cent

compared with this season, except for significant The season has been a challenging one with production coming on for young orchards. noticeable value decline in all markets.

Early market signs suggest a more prosperous Australia has been a continual challenge. Values season for 2022/23, and we look forward to have remained low for the duration of the season.

Although we are seeing a slight lift in the final weeks of the season, especially on small fruit, this is only a slight increase when considering the trading environment to date.

The silver lining for this season is that we have hit most of our growth aspirations and should finish the season with 370,000 trays being sent to Asia; 30,000 short of the total industry volume in the 2020-21 season.

Our challenges came both from a grower perspective and a packing and marketing perspective. We appreciate the support that Just Avocados growers have shown as we have collectively navigated our way through the season.

Looking ahead, the Just Avocados packhouse is undertaking a major refit in early 2022. This will include Darling Group acquiring a new packing machine in time for the 2022/23 season.

The new machine should see our teams further develop our harvest and processing capacity in line with market requirements. This will be key in delivering on our capacity plan which is critical when delivering the market plan.

“specialists in local market avocado marketing”

P: 027 597 4726 | E: glen@zeafruit.co.nz | www.zeafruit.co.nz

KIWIFRUIT

Page 30

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Don’t worry about the uncontrollables With 40 years’ experience in the kiwifruit industry, Sean Carnachan has some clear ideas about what it takes to last the distance.

Sean wears multiple hats in the kiwifruit industry. He is a grower based in Katikati, growing all three

varieties of kiwifruit – red, green and gold. He is also a contractor, managing orchards for growers, and runs a small post-harvest operation.

He holds several directorships in the industry and is very involved in KGI, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers.

Sean has seen plenty of ups and downs. It’s a great industry to be in,

he says, but there are always challenges.

“Generally, the things that challenge us in this industry are not of our own making.”

The big ‘outside influence’ for growers currently is labour shortages, says Sean, who currently employs around 35 staff.

“We’ve got 95 percent current employment in this country which is what I deem to be full employment. And every industry is competing for the small number of workers who are available.

“In the horticulture sector, 25 per cent of our labour has been backpackers in the past and now with Covid they are not there. We’ve got RSE staff as well, but we don’t have a full complement of those people in New Zealand at the moment either, so the market is extremely tight.

“Labour shortages mean there’s a lot of work that’s not getting done and it’s costing more and more to get it done. It definitely is a worry for growers.”

Dealing with stress

Sean has a clear philosophy for handling the uncertainty which is part and parcel of the industry.

“I always talk about two things: the controllables and the uncontrollables. All the things you can control, you need to have a plan in place to deal with them, but don’t sweat the things you can’t control.

“The classic example is when it rains, and you can’t work and you think: ‘I’m going to get further and further behind.’ Yes you are, but it doesn’t matter how much worrying you do, it won’t improve the situation.

“What you can do is discuss the work programme, prioritise what needs to be done and have a good plan in place so when the weather comes right, you have retained everybody, and you can get on with it. That’s critical.”

When it comes to the labour shortage, Sean’s key strategy is to maximise staff retention.

“You have to look after the staff you have got so you can retain them throughout the year. We employ a lot of staff for 12 months of the year, so they have a permanent job, rather than a seasonal job. We house some of them on our property and we try and be a good employer.”

Look after your wellbeing

Taking time out for regular exercise and socialising with others to achieve balance in his life are priorities. “It really helps if you can socialise with like-minded people so you don’t have to discuss your issues at work... You want to surround yourself with positive people.”

Sean’s outside interests include mountain biking and fishing but it can be as simple as walking the dog around the orchard or going to the beach.

“I also have a group of guys I get together with for a beer once a week and most of them don’t grow kiwifruit. It’s something different. We have quite a bit of accommodation here on the farm, people from different backgrounds. We manage to catch up and have a friendly natter once or twice a week over

Sean Carnachan says people need to allocate time to their health and social wellbeing.

a couple of cold beers we brew ourselves. It’s always at the end of the day and a good unwind. It’s not a drinking culture, it’s a catch-up.”

Typically, there is not much downtime in the kiwifruit industry so finding ways to share the load and take breaks is important, says Sean.

“There are not many months when we are not working seven days a week to manage the orchards.

“If we waited til there was a lull in our work programme we would have very little time off.”

Challenges within the industry

Over the years Sean has seen the kiwifruit industry face major threats. When PSA disease attacked kiwifruit vines in 2010 and crippled the industry, Sean got involved in supporting growers who were at the end of their tether and ready to walk away from their orchards. Once again it was a case of controlling what you could control.

“It was very serious. What I did was sit down with them and show them there was a pathway through this. ‘I don’t know how it’s going to end up but there is a pathway.’

“Just talking to them about their personal situation, their cashflow, and encouraging them to have a conversation with the bank who were supportive of us through that period.

“I did the same thing in 2020 when it looked like we might not be able to get our entire crop harvested because of Covid. Encouraging growers to sit down early with the bank manager and understand their financial position so they had some clarity about what they can and cannot do.

“Once you have clarity, it improves your mental wellbeing about how you can stay in business.”

Sean is a supporter of Farmstrong’s focus on proactively looking after your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your family and community.

“Now is the time to discuss these ideas and act before things get potentially even tougher. Have the conversations now. It’s well worth it. People have different levels of anxiety and stress in all jobs so it’s good to reach out. It takes an ongoing commitment to look after yourself.”

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and their families.

Check out: www.farmstrong.co.nz Mike Fitzsimons

WINDBREAK XS

KIWI-NET WINDBREAK

Premium Knitted Windbreak

Heavy Horticultural Windbreak

• Premium knitted windbreak used throughout NZ in commercial and DIY applications

• Heavy duty knitted white windbreak widely used in horticultural applications

• 140gsm, knitted HDPE with fabric eyelets

• 160gsm, knitted HDPE with fabric eyelets

• Wind porosity approximately 55%

• Wind porosity approximately 50%

• Green or Black colours available

• Wide range of widths available

• Wide range of widths available • UV stabilised for NZ conditions

• Custom sizes fabricated in our Auckland warehouse

• Custom sizes sewn in our Auckland warehouse

• UV stabilised for NZ conditions

PRO-RATA UV

YEAR PRO-RATA ARRANTY AGAINST V DEGRADATION

0800 109 093 | sales@cosio.co.nz | www.cosio.co.nz

Professional crop protection

KIWIFRUIT

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 31

Goldoni is back, bigger and brighter A new chapter has begun in the history of a long-established family brand.

In 2021 Goldoni became part of the Keestrack Group. As a European family business, with the same quality orientation as the parent group, the acquisition by Keestrack makes a perfect match for Goldoni.

The two companies merge their experience and know-how from different sectors. The shared values

and competencies create synergies.

The Goldoni brand and reputation is based on quality, innovativeness, and the user orientation of its machines. Goldini serves more than 64 countries with a 10.2 hectare production plant in Italy and more than 200 distributors.

Here in New Zealand Agtek, also a family-owned business, has represented Goldoni for almost 20 years, and is excited to see Goldoni again back in a very family-

owned business.

With decades of experience, Goldoni develops agricultural machinery suitable for orchards as well as vineyards and for miscellaneous special crops.

Here in New Zealand Goldoni is renowned for having a super-low tractor, well suited for operation under kiwifruit pergolas, with their Star 3080 and Quasar 90.

These tractors stand out at first glance with a compact structure, low center of gravity, short wheelbase and low profile bonnet. Easily the most comfortable tractors in the market to work in with set heights as low as 730mm, while still on full factory 20-inch wheel equipment.

The four-cylinder VM-Detroit direct injection turbocharged

engine guarantees optimum performance, low noise emissions and low consumptions.

This engine delivers maximum torque from an extremely low engine rate and the rear power lift provides generous lifting capacity.

First shipments of these new orange machines are due in March and orders are already being taken.

The Quasar 90 is designed low to work comfortably under the kiwifruit vines.

Some support for primary sector The Government has allocated $400,000 to support primary producers with contingency planning and response if a farmer or grower contracts Covid-19.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the funding will bolster the resources of Rural Support Trusts and other organisations, to help them respond to cases.

“This funding will help ensure there’s someone that farmers and growers can speak to and provide guidance should they or their staff be dealing with Omicron. The Rural Support Trusts are well woven into rural communities to provide wrap around support services.

“The sector has to date been resilient throughout the pandemic.

“The hard work of farmers and growers along with those involved in keeping supply chains open and exports flowing, is leading Aotearoa New Zealand’s trade-led recovery

from Covid-19.

“The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries shows revenue from food and fibre exports is predicted to hit a record $50 billion in the year to June 30.”

Contingency planning by farmers, growers and lifestyle block owners will minimise the risk of further Covid-19 related disruptions, which can occur anywhere along the supply chain.

“It’s vital all food and fibre producers have a plan. It makes it easier for other people to step in and help run your farm, or feed your livestock, at short notice,” says O’Connor.

Wage support is also available through the Leave Support Scheme for people affected during this stage of the Omicron outbreak.

“It’s paid at the same rates as the wage subsidy was previously, that being $600 per week per full-time worker and $359 per week per parttime worker.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

Our Atom combined three noz accuracy.

We also u applicatio

We hold complian

We look a your crop

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

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

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance.

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

BORN FOR KIWIFRUIT STAR 3080

75HP || 4 cylinder || 4WD || Super low seat height Best maneuverability Best priced tractor in the market

The Horticultural Specialists.

Phone: 07 573 8132 | Email: info@agtek.co.nz | www.agtek.co.nz Terms & conditions: only available while stocks last, subject to change without notice. Photo may show optional extras.

Ph E-ma

Page 32

d

KIWIFRUIT

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Gypsum delivers Gold for Kiwi Orchardists

Gypsum delivers Gold for Kiwi Orchardists

Improves soil structure by adding calcium which is needed to flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil Contains non acidic sulphur, an important nutrient in the production of green protein rich leaf material

As a fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily available calcium and sulphur Suppresses soil borne root disease such as armalleria which are often present in anaerobic soil conditions Prevents waterlogging of soil where high sodium, swelling clay and excess water result in drainage issues

Improves soil structure by adding calcium which is For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz needed to flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil

psum delivers Gold As a fertiliser CaSO -2H O is a pH neutral source of readily available calcium and sulphur Kiwi Orchardists

Contains non acidic sulphur, an important nutrient Improves soil structure by adding calcium w in the production of green protein rich leaf material needed to flocculate clays in acid and alkalin 4

2

Contains non acidic sulphur, an important nu in the production of green protein rich leaf m

Gypsum delivers Gold Suppresses soil borne root disease such as armalleria Suppresses soil borne root disease such as a which are often present inmore anaerobic soil conditions For about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation which are often present in anaerobic soil con for Kiwi Orchardists -2H2which O is a Assoila structure fertiliser CaSOcalcium Improves by adding is pH neutral 4 neededreadily to flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soilsulphur available calcium and

so

Contains non acidic sulphur, an important nutrient in the production of green protein rich leaf material

As a fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily available calcium and sulphur

Prevents waterlogging of soil where highPrevents sodium, waterlogging of soil where high so Suppresses soil borne root disease such as armalleria swelling clayinissues and excess water result in drain are often present anaerobic soil conditions swelling clay and excess water resultwhich in drainage Prevents waterlogging of soil where high sodium, swelling clay and excess water result in drainage issues

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz

oil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz

KIWIFRUIT

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 33

Border loosening is a little too late The New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Institute NZKGI says loosening of border restrictions this month might help with the harvest but it’s “highly speculative”.

From March 14 all vaccinated New Zealanders, skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wage and those accessing the working holiday visa scheme are allowed back in the country without having to go through MIQ. They will still need to self-isolate for seven days.

When it was announced last month immigration minister Kris Faafoi said the plan was a step forward in addressing skills and labour shortages and accelerating the economic recovery.

for the wider horticulture industry fruit harvest and exports this season.

“Working holiday and skilled migrants entering the country now will not help the summerfruit harvest that has almost finished. It will also have limited benefit for the wine grape and apple harvests that are about to get underway.”

Speculation

M7040 SUHD - WITH QVX26 M He says the LOADER M7040 SUHD - WITH QVX26 FRONT END M9540 DH working holiday O FRONT END LOADER Optional QVX36 Front End loader $13,139 visa holders P 68HP E-CDIS engine Powerful performance with a 95HP, 4-cylint 68HP E-CDIS engine entering New 8-speed mechanical synchro shuttle turbo charged engine D 8-speed mechanical synchro shuttle 1500kg lift capacity on the M7040SU Zealand could go Designed for heavy duty work and equippeh 1500kg lift capacity on the M7040SU a hydraulic shuttle, Creep Speed and Autohit Kubota loaders offer ample lifting height and some way towards a more productive livestock and practical operation capacity, ideal for demanding farming Kubota loaders offer ample lifting height and M7040 SUHD WITH QVX26 M9540 DH helping with the capacity, ideal for demanding livestock farming M7040 SUHDLOADER - WITH QVX26 M9540 DH MGX SERIES FRONT END kiwifruit harvest.

MGX FRONT END LOADER FROMSERIES $79,500 + GST Optional QVX36 Front End loader $13,139 FROM $79,500 + GST Optional QVX36 Front End loader $13,139 “However the 100-135HP common rail engine with Powerful performance with a 95HP, 4-cylinder 68HP E-CDIS engine massive torque turbo charged engine with a 95HP, 4-cylinder 100-135HP common rail engine with Powerful performance 68HP E-CDIS engine extent is unknown 8-speed mechanical synchro shuttle massive torque turbo charged engine 24-speed powershift transmission with auto Designed for heavy duty work and equipped with 8-speed mechanical synchro shuttle and the expectation 1500kg lift capacity on the M7040SU hydraulic shuttle, Creep andequipped Autohitchwith for 24-speed powershift transmission with auto Designed for heavy duty Speed work and Super-quiet deluxe cab 1500kg lift capacity on the M7040SU a more productive and practical operation hydraulic shuttle, Creep Speed and Autohitch for Kubota loaders offer ample lifting height and that M7040 aQVX26 large number Super-quiet deluxe cab M7040 SUHDM7040 - WITHSUHD - WITH SUHDQVX26 - M9540 WITH QVX26 DH Kubota M9540 DH M9540 DH a more productive and practical operation Bi-speed turn that speeds up front wheels f capacity,loaders ideal for demanding livestock offer ample lifting heightfarming and Colin Bond says changes to FRONT END LOADER of working holiday tight turnsturn that speeds up front wheels f MGX SERIES MGX SERIES MGX SERIES FRONT END FRONT LOADER END LOADER Bi-speed capacity, ideal for demanding livestock farming tight turns border setting maybe too late to FROM $79,500 FROM + GST $79,500 FROM $79,500 + GST + GST Optional QVX36 Front Optional End loader QVX36 Optional $13,139 Front QVX36 End loader Front $13,139 End loader $13,139 Available with narrow vineyard kit visa holders would Available with narrow vineyard kit make a difference.

5-year extend warranty 100-135HP common 100-135HP rail engine common 100-135HP with rail common engine with rail engine with Powerful performance Powerful with a performance 95HP, Powerful 4-cylinder performance with a 95HP, with 4-cylinder a 95HP, 4-cylinder 68HP E-CDIS engine 68HP E-CDIS 68HP engine E-CDIS engine quickly enter the countryturbo charged engine massive torque massive torque turbo charged turbo engine charged engine massive torque 5-year extend warranty 8-speed mechanical 8-speed synchro mechanical shuttle 8-speed synchro mechanical shuttle synchro shuttle is highly speculative.

24-speed powershift 24-speed transmission 24-speed with auto transmission powershift shift transmission with auto shift with auto shift Designed for heavyDesigned duty work forand Designed heavy equipped duty forwork heavy withand duty equipped work and with equipped with powershift

Workers needed urgently

He says re-opening the working holiday scheme will supply urgently needed workers for the tourism, hospitality, wine and horticultural sectors as well as providing some much-needed visitor spending.

NZKGI CEO Colin Bond says the announcement is important for New Zealand’s post-Covid economic recovery but it was too late

1500kg lift capacity1500kg on thelift M7040SU capacity 1500kg on lift the capacity M7040SU onhydraulic the M7040SU shuttle, Creep hydraulic Speed shuttle, hydraulic and Autohitch Creep shuttle, Speed forCreep and Autohitch Speed and forAutohitch for Super-quiet deluxeSuper-quiet cab deluxe Super-quiet cab deluxe cab a more productive aand more practical productive a operation moreand productive practicaland operation practical operation Kubota loaders offer Kubota ampleloaders lifting Kubota height offerloaders ample and lifting offer ample height lifting and height and Bi-speed turn that Bi-speed speeds upturn front Bi-speed that wheels speeds turn forup that front speeds wheels up front for wheels for capacity, ideal for demanding capacity, ideal livestock capacity, for demanding farming ideal for livestock demanding farming livestock farming tight turns tight turns tight turns

Chronic labour shortage

“The horticulture industry has been signalling the chronic labour shortage for harvest and pruning – exacerbated by Covid and closed borders – to the Government for several months.

“While we welcome any policy that helps New Zealand’s food and fibre sector to recover, this policy change is too late to make a significance difference to this season’s fruit harvest.”

Available with narrow Available vineyard with kit Available narrow with vineyard narrow kit vineyard kit

FINANCE F O R F3I 6N AMNOCNET H S * F O R 3 6 M O N T H S* across the MGX Series across the MGX Series

5-year extend warranty 5-year extend 5-year warranty extend warranty

07 573 9107 0707 573573 9107 9107 P.A. P.A. 4 Te Puke Quarry 4Road, Te 4 Te Puke Te Puke Puke Quarry Quarry Road, Road, Te Te Puke Puke www.rrtractors.co.nz www.rrtractors.co.nz www.rrtractors.co.nz

0.9% 0.9% 0.9%

FINANCE PROVIDED BY

P.A.

FINANCE PROVIDED FINANCE BY PROVIDED FINANCE PROVIDED BY BY

U D C F I N A N C EU D L ICM FI TI N ED AUNDCCE FLI N I MAINTC ED E LIMITED

GROWTH Ag-Steel’s high quality, cost-effective system, combined with our team’s customer service and product expertise, is worth its weight in gold.

ORDER TODAY |

agsteel.co.nz

U DFINANCE C F I N A PROVIDED N C E L I M IBY TED UDC FINANCE LIMITED

KUBOTA.CO.NZ

FINANCE F I N A N C FEI N A N C E F O R 3 6 M O FNO TR H S3*6 FMOORN3T6H M S *O N T H S * across the MGX across Series the across MGX the Series MGX Series

BUILT FOR

0.9% 0.9%

P.A. P.A.

KUBOTA.CO.NZ KUBOTA.CO.NZ

Page 34

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Like us on Facebook

Septi-CureTM is:      

Cambridge flower farmers Renee and Ben Courtman have juggled their careers and small children while working on establishing a productive flower farm which they both now work on.

Cost Effective Easy To use Improves Soakage Reduces Solids and Scums Eliminates Nasty Odours Reduces Costly Pump-outs

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure for over five years.

He says this allows them to have an odour free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure works, keeping their tank in very good condition. *Results may vary

Before*

After*

Breakthrough Product Developed for your Also Available at: Septic Tank

0800 109 202

www.ecoworld.co.nz

“We only use half an acre in total as flower farming is very intensive,” Ben says.

The farm has a small greenhouse, a 13 metre by 4 metre polytunnel, and since December 2021, a 72 square metre shed for processing, packing, drying flowers, and starting plants under lights.

Ben grew up on a dairy farm and has a strong farming background with most of his family still on farms.

He has been working in surveying and Renee is a small animal vet.

“Gardening never really interested me until we were living in Dunedin and we used to go to the local farmer’s market,” says Renee. “I looked forward to buying Cambridge Flower fresh flowers each week farmers Renee and Ben and the concept of growing Courtman. them appealed to me.”

The couple were given a tour of the Dunedin flower grower’s operation and felt that was something Renee could do.

“We had our daughter, Cooper, in 2018 and Renee wanted to be at home and with her,” says Ben.

Succession planting

The outside beds are all at different stages of flower growth to meet seasonal demands. Biennials such as foxgloves, teasel and lunaria, are overwintered to bloom the following season. Hardy annuals can also be overwintered, but may need to be covered when frosty.

Early spring flowers such as tulips and anemones are planted in autumn, replacing

Starting from scratch

The Courtmans moved to Renee’s parents’ lifestyle block in Cambridge, buying into one of the property’s two titles and building their own home. Ben worked with a Hamilton surveying company, and Renee worked as a vet locum, with their son, River, due in September 2020.

“It was a pretty intense time as we were also setting up15x3col and planning our flower farm ready for (11.18cm) the spring,” Renee says.

“We had seedlings started in the greenhouse using propagators, heat mats and grow lights.”

Ben took parental leave after River’s birth and looked after the two children while Renee prepared for the summer flower season.

“We went in pretty naively. I did lots of reading and listening to podcasts. I also follow Floret, the guru of flower growing.”

The land was tilled for the first season, and soil testing implied a requirement for a small amount of lime. Initially they grew on the land located near their house, but have doubled their growing space on the farm.

Renee in the seed raising greenhouse.

All Photos: Catherine Fry.

the summer flowering dahlias, which are dug up and stored for winter.

Annuals must be sown each year and planted out, with successive plantings on standby to replace them throughout the season.

Ben helped design and install the irrigation system, which pumps water from the farm bore.

Drip lines run throughout the flower beds and ...continued are used in summer and autumn.

Page 35

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Colourful Zinnias.

Serious machinery for serious work.

Bees on the farm. continued...

After the initial tilling to get started, Renee and Ben have been striving to use no till methods, preferring to use a broadfork to aerate the soil while maintaining soil structure and microbial populations. Organic fertilisers from Environmental Fertilisers have been applied alongside organic compost.

“We really don’t want to use chemicals and are both interested in regenerative farming methods,” Renee says.

Keeping it natural

Renee has been researching Korean natural farming techniques as this is something they wish to implement in the future. Using plant biology with the Korean penchant for fermentation, mineral-rich brews can be made and applied to flower crops.

Plant pinchings are high in growth hormones and can be fermented then applied to later successions of the plant they originated from. In this farming method, the outputs from the farm are used as inputs to put back in, creating a closed on-farm

The peak of the 2021/22 growing season.

Ben has driven the implementation of the irrigation system.

loop which aligns with the couple’s farming goals.

Worm castings and worm tea are used as valuable natural inputs.

The property has mature orchards where nettles grow freely, and Renee has grown comfrey.

“Nettles in particular are a really good foliar feed, and I make teas which provide essential trace elements and minerals.”

A variety of cover crops are being introduced this year to target specific diseases that affect specific flower plants. Companion planting can be effective but involves a lot of trial and error.

“I have a giant stack of books to read, and we are both really passionate about regenerative methods and having a safe, non-toxic environment for our children,” Renee says.

Ben’s six months parental leave extended into 12 months, and he has remained at home looking after the children while Renee works part-time as a vet and on the flower farm.

Ben does a considerable amount of handy man work on the property and has been setting up beehives. He helps with the farmer’s markets at the weekend and becomes more involved in the business as it expands.

Catherine Fry

0800 022 044 Tree Chipping • Stump Grinding • Land Clearing Mulching • Waste Processing • Orchard Removal

Page 36

March 2022 Coast & Country News

commentary in the hills NZ Adventures came up with the route for the five day Roll on Waitaki trip mainly to cater for customers who wanted a more in-depth look at the farming businesses in the region.

It is centred on the Waitaki River valley and began as a trip for a discussion group of Southland farmers over a few days in May 2019.

The trip is now established in the NZ Adventures lineup and is taking place on May 2-6 this year.

Starting in Fairlie, the tour explores the hill country and takes a spectacular route over the Hunter Hills into the Hakataramea Valley and on to the first overnight in Oamaru.

On Day 2 the tour goes to the Oamaru Stone quarry and Limeworks at Weston and then on up the Waitaki to a large farm property near Kurow.

Another spectacular drive on station tracks overlooks the Waitaki and Aviemore hydro lakes. Overnight is then for two nights in Omarama.

Day 3 includes a trip right round Lake Benmore starting with a visit to a large scale and very high performing dairy farm close to Omarama.

On Day 4 the tour heads north-east into the Mackenzie Basin and a visit to a high country station. The drive gives perspective to how much land is out there in the back country and with the farmers on the tour there’s the opportunity to learn about the rewards and challenges of farming in this environment. The station visit will also surprise with an amazing singing performance. Overnight is in Fairlie.

On the last day the tour ventures back into the Mackenzie Basin and hear from

passionate farmers who will show you around some truly big country.

You’ll then drive down to Ashwick Flat and have lunch with the landowners on a vastly different and much more mountainous and isolated station tucked away in a headwaters valley.

The tour will drive down that valley and the tour finishes in Geraldine.

Most NZ Adventures tours feature farming as a key aspect but the Waitaki tour takes this to another level with the farmers travelling in the convoy on at least three occasions and taking up the commentary.

Lunch and morning teas are in the woolsheds and homesteads and the opportunity to engage with positive and enthusiastic landowners sets the Roll on Waitaki up as quite different.

The huge high country landscapes of the Waitaki River valley is complemented by the commentary of the farmers that work the land.

Common causes of livestock poisoning Sporadically and during most years, vets are called to investigate sudden illnesses and unexpected deaths in otherwise healthy animals.

intoxication as the cause of the symptoms.

While not exhaustive below are some of the main plants and metal While they can occur at any time of year, summer contaminants that are known to be lethal is not uncommon as feed supplies shrink and to livestock. hunger may lead to fewer discerning diets!

Oleander: Often Often where no obvious sign of infection found in gardens as an or trauma has occurred, we need to look at ornamental shrub, just a few leaves thrown over the fence into a paddock can be lethal to stock.

Yew: All parts of this tree are poisonous; prevent stock from grazing near trees or clippings.

Acorns: Most poisonous when green; young stock are more susceptible to toxicity.

Foxglove: Although very bitter in taste and therefore not very palatable, ingestion can cause heart failure due to cardiac glycosides. Other plants like lilies can also have these toxins.

Rhododendron: Leaves are toxic to sheep and cattle. Watch out for the pet lamb nibbling leaves in the garden!

Avocado: All parts are toxic; goats and horses appear to be most

sensitive to the toxin and lactating animals can develop a sterile mastitis.

Tutu: Known for killing a circus elephant! This toxic native plant is found mainly in bush blocks.

Keep stock away from areas where it is known to grow or border onto.

Other plants like bracken fern, ragwort, hemlock and various members of the nightshade family can also cause illness and death in livestock.

Lead: Lead poisoning of stock has been known to be caused by old car batteries and from animals licking and chewing at lead paint.

Arsenic: Stock have died after eating the ash left after burning tanalised wood. Old sheep dip also contains arsenic.

If you have any questions about possible toxins on your farm, please contact your local vet. Vets can investigate any suspicious cases and help to prevent poisonings from occurring.

Page 37

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Maintaining cartilage In theory osteoarthritis is one of the simplest diseases. For years we thought that cartilage in our joints just wore away over time.

We now know that OA is a complex disease where the processes that reduce cartilage are affected by genetics, past joint trauma and nutrition - especially levels of important antioxidants.

Cartilage is very different from other tissue types.

It has no nerve or blood supply and it appears as lifeless tissue.

Cartilage is actually dynamic tissue.

It is a matrix of proteins (collagen and elastin), chondroitin sulphate, water and living cells called chondrocytes.

The cause of pain

Research shows that the health of chondrocytes is central to the development of OA. Each chondrocyte looks after a small patch of cartilage repairing damage by secreting new cartilage matrix where needed.

The problem is when chondrocytes are damaged or die. This means that cell can no longer maintain cartilage. Eventually the cartilage thins leading to a (painful) bone on bone scenario.

One of the most annoying and painful arthritic joints are small hand joints.

While nutritional therapy can really help, these are among the slowest joints to respond. It seems counter-intuitive, but big weight-bearing joints especially knees tend to respond faster.

New enhanced formula

Two-pronged approach

I have been helping someone with OA in their base thumb joint at the wrist. Within three months the pain had reduced, and now after a year, the discomfort is really minor, and only when under heavy use.

I use a two-pronged approach to supporting cartilage.

Firstly we add compounds, especially chondroitin, that can support and repair cartilage.

Secondly we add curcumin from turmeric and Omega 3 fish oil to reduce inflammation.

Often the inflammation causes more pain and mobility loss than the actual cartilage damage.

Thirdly we add the antioxidants that protect chondrocyte cells from further damage.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@abundant.co.nz Join his all new newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz

Abundant Health

Native Plants to Revegetate Aotearoa Available for public sale

Eco-sourced from Whirinaki Forest and other regions

Advice on plant species selection

Costings per sq. metre and quotes for bulk orders

Available throughout Aotearoa

For full information go to www.minginuinursery.co.nz

Contact Matt now 027 204 4458 . 07 366 3314 matt@minginuinursery.co.nz

WHAKATANE FOCUS

Page 38

March 2022 Coast & Country News

From the swamp Caring for the land and the community has always been important to the Law family.

Alan and Wendy Law are farming at Thornton in Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Their two sons Brandon and Cameron share-milk on the two dairy farms in Eastern BOP and they continue the family tradition of good farming and being involved in industry and community affairs.

Currently 800 cows are milked on Oriini and Wyndlea and there is a further 100ha of runoffs that support the dairy farms.

Wendy has worked in the dairy industry all her career in technical and quality assurance roles and currently at Fonterra.

Most of the Law land is flood plains of the Rangitaiki Plains. Fertile and low lying, and prone to flooding with the odd major earthquake thrown in.

The family is two years into the Total Replacement Therapy biological farming programme as it seeks to ensure sustainability well into the future.

The programme is led by Forward Farming consultant David Law who is Alan’s younger brother.

Four objectives ticked off so far include a 75 per cent reduction in synthetic nitrogen, Alan Law at work on the farm.

“We have had our challenges as does every farming generation,” Alan says.

A century in the family

Ninety-two hectares of the Wyndlea Farm has been in the family for 103 years. It was developed out of swamp land and has only ever been farmed by the Law family.

“We have a deep sense of pride and connection to the land and how we care for it.”

paddock Wilfred Law cultivates a rse with a team of ho s.

the establishment of deep-rooting grasses, increased worm numbers and improved soil condition.

The next phase is more detailed measuring of what’s happening with carbon sequestration in soils, impact on both water quality and emissions.

Beyond the gate

2 1 7 -2 0 2 0 1

Ga rde ols n Po wer To

2 1 7 -2 0 2 0 1

Ga rde ols n Po wer To 2 1 7 -2 0 2 0 1 Ga rde ols n Po wer To

MAKE NO MISTAKE MAKE NO MISTAKE MAKE NO MISTAKE IT’S A IT’S A IT’S A

With STIHL tools you don’t just have 90 years of German innovation and

engineering in your also have90 theyears knowledge and experience of our With STIHL tools youhands, don’tyou just have of German innovation and local experts to hands, get the job done right, for years to come. Plus,and we’ve been voted of our engineering in your you also have the knowledge experience STIHL tools don’tGarden just have 90 years German innovation NewWith Zealand’s Mostyou Trusted Power Toolofbrand for the 5th yearand running. engineering in your hands, you right, also have knowledge andPlus, experience of been our voted local experts to get the job done forthe years to come. we’ve local experts to get the job done right,Power for yearsTool to come.

Plus, beenyear votedrunning.

New Zealand’s Most Trusted Garden brand forwe’ve the 5th New Zealand’s Most Trusted Garden Power Tool brand for the 5th year running.

SHOP ONLINE www.stihlshop.co.nz

HOME DELIVERY AND CLICK & COLLECT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

SHOP ONLINE www.stihlshop.co.nz HOME HOME DELIVERY DELIVERY AND CLICK & COLLECT OPTIONS AVAILABLE SHOP ONLINE www.stihlshop.co.nz AND CLICK & COLLECT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

LOVE YOUR LAND

It is not just about the farm though and Alan says a key tradition of the family over the generations is involvement Alan Law loads up the tru ck with beyond the farm gate in bales of silage. industry and community.

Alan’s involvement includes Young Farmers Club, Federated Farmers, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Rotary Club, river drainage and water committees, Rural Support Trust and the BOP Education Trust.

“We have a team approach to farming with high standards across the board.”

Wendy does all the business administration and recording, she rears calves and does relief milking.

Walk the talk

Alan’s younger brother Mark – a retired farmer helps out with seasonal farm work, maintenance, calf rearing and some trucking.

Alan’s father Malcolm was a successful farmer in his own right.

“He achieved a lot for a boy from town who lost his father at the age of 12. His motto was ‘You need to walk the talk in life.’ It’s a quality very much part of family today.”

By the time Malcolm passed away in 2008 he had established 200ha of dairy farm, milking 500 cows.

His last big achievement was the construction of a new, 54-bale rotary dairy.

Malcolm was also involved in Federated Farmers, at all levels of the organisation and was awarded a life membership of the BOP Province. He was involved for 25 years in mediation between farm owners and share-milkers.

“He loved giving back to the industry he loved.”

In 1996 he was awarded an MBE for services to farming and the community He was involved in the BOP Electricity Board, chair of the Electricity Consumers Trust, director of Horizon Energy. He was a justice of the peace and a director for Valuation NZ. He was also involved with the NZ National Party at branch, electorate, divisional levels and the national executive. ...continued

March 2022 Coast & Country News

WHAKATANE FOCUS

to the boardroom continued...

Edward did sheep shearing in the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay. He was also very involved in local affairs Humble beginnings including the local racing club, Horowhenua The Law family arrived in New Zealand in Mounted Rifles, school committee, chairman 1856 on the sailing ship Emma Colvin, docking of directors for the new Shannon Co-op Dairy at Nelson.

Company and he was an elder of the church.

“My great grandfather Joseph took a mere He was also well-known for breeding and three years to purchase his first land – 50 acres at judging shorthorn dairy cows.

Tuamarina. It was virgin swamp land which had In 1919 Edward and two sons to be drained and developed.

– both returned “Joseph had brought his pit saws soldiers to cut timber with him - took from England.” up 200 Local hectares of affairs were virgin swamp a big part land on the of life for Rangitaiki Joseph too Plains, and he took which is still a keen interest farmed by the in schools, family. Some district affairs, of this land health sector and Alan’s family the church. currently farm at The Law fa Th ornton. m i ly has d yards fo Hard work on r Edward’s first viable fa well over a cen e the hard Alan’s grandfather tu rmland home on ‘The out of b ry to create Edward Law og and b Swamp’ was a tent ush.

1864-1939 - was the later by a followed la second son of Joseph. two-room bach.

He began farming on his own account at the “Today that would be called poverty.

How things age of 19, near Levin. have changed.”

Nine years later he sold and purchased a bush Edward was also a foundation shareholder in the farm in Shannon, which was also swamp land.

Whakatane Freezing Works which later failed.

Besides bush felling and breaking in land “Malcolm led a busy life always helping people and being involved.”

“I have a great deal of pride in what our family has achieved over the generations to help build New Zealand to what it is today.”

Page 39

The Law family, in cluding Al Cameron and Bran an, Wendy, don.

FORESTRY

Page 40

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Process dragging on for fumigant Registration of an “ozonefriendly” forestry fumigant has still to be finalised after five years of evaluation.

Last November the Decision Making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority reconvened the hearing into an application by Czech based company Draslovka for registration of ethanedinitrile.

The applicant, seeking to replace toxic fumigant methyl bromide with EDN, and seven parties were heard.

A direction and minute were

issued in December to outline the legal matters arising from the reconvened hearing.

The applicant and submitters were asked to respond to the legal submissions, with four responses received by the January 17 deadline.

In a statement to Coast & Country News, the DMC says it is currently evaluating whether it has enough information to close the hearing and progress to making a decision.

Alternative is urgent

Draslovka group director Kade McConville says the application for registration of EDN was first

submitted to the EPA in July 2017.

“The New Zealand forest industry is now in a situation where its use of methyl bromide has been severely curtailed and the need for a replacement to support the export of New Zealand logs and timber is now urgent.”

He says Draslovka considers it has provided the DMC with a robust data package founded on sound science.

Using that information, Kade says WorkSafe has developed a Safe Work Instrument for the use of EDN as a fumigant on logs and timber under tarpaulins (sheets) and in shipping containers.

“The decision sets a roadmap to full recapture of methyl bromide, and several controls began immediately, covering ventilation, notification, and reporting,” says Dr Chris Hill, general manager of the EPA’s Hazardous Substances group.

In general terms, Dr Hill says New rules recapture means using technology In a separate action, on to remove the methyl bromide gas New Year’s Day the EPA Builder from the fumigated enclosure, so Liquid BioChar/Humus introduced that after use it cannot be released /Cal-Phos additional controls around the use into the air.

Increase soil humus and biological of methyl– bromide in From January 1, stepped increases activity from $15/ha Kade McConville New Zealand. started applying to the recapture of Soil BothForce India and China methyl bromide from containers Biological Phosphate require methyl bromideFertiliser to and covered log stacks. be used, as a biosecurity tool to kill pests, on logs “This phased approach allows the EPA to ensure Re-Charge/Nano-Cal/Multi-Cal they receive from New Zealand. that requirements are being met by industry at Calcium-Carbon Fertilisers Last August, the EPA outlined what it calls a each stage,” Dr Hill says.

Stock Primer –suite Mineralised comprehensive of new rules, or controls, for Carbon Drench the substance.

Getting ahead of the curve Build immunity, suppress There will also be larger buffer zones to prevent pathogens; e.g. Rotovirus & E.Coli people from being in the vicinity while the gas is for as little as 4¢ per cow per day being used.

As well, local councils and affected parties, Humates/Humic Acid/Fulvic Acid including neighbouring marae and other Increased water retention community facilities, must be notified before & nutrient release. fumigation takes place.

Biological PSA“We’ve been pleased to see ports getting ahead of New Biological Controls for managementthe curve on these regulations,” says Dr Hill.

Cricket, Cicada, Argentine options. ReamsThis includes the Port of Tauranga which has Stem Weevil, Clover Flea – Soil Testing, Home all added into solid and liquid required recapture technology to be used on all log Garden Fertiliser. fertiliser programmes. stack fumigations since the start of the year.

A total ban on methyl bromide fumigation aboard ships takes effect from the start of 2023.

Dr Hill says the decision provides a clear and structured pathway for industry to reduce the amount of methyl bromide emitted.

“The decision recognises the benefits associated with methyl bromide use, while also protecting human health and the environment.”

Solid and Liquid Fertilisers

Solid and Liquid Fertilisers Liquid BioChar/Humus Builder /Cal-Phos Increase soil humus and biological activity – from $15/ha Soil Force Biological Phosphate Fertiliser Re-Charge/Nano-Cal/Multi-Cal Calcium-Carbon Fertilisers

Biological Fertilisers

Stock Primer – Mineralised Carbon Drench Build immunity, suppress pathogens; e.g. Rotovirus & E.Coli for as little as 4¢ per cow per day

Humates/Humic Acid/Fulvic Acid Increased water retention & nutrient release.

New Biological Controls for Cricket, Cicada, Argentine Stem Weevil, Clover Flea – all added into solid and liquid fertiliser programmes.

Biological PSA management options. Reams Soil Testing, Home Garden Fertiliser.

Solid and Liquid Fertilisers Liquid BioChar/Humus Builder /Cal-Phos Increase soil humus and biological activity – from $15/ha Soil Force Biological Phosphate Fertiliser Re-Charge/Nano-Cal/Multi-Cal Calcium-Carbon Fertilisers Stock Primer – Mineralised Carbon Drench Build immunity, suppress pathogens; e.g. Rotovirus & E.Coli for as little as 4¢ per cow per day Humates/Humic Acid/Fulvic Acid Increased water retention & nutrient release.

New Biological Controls for Cricket, Cicada, Argentine Stem Weevil, Clover Flea – all added into solid and liquid fertiliser programmes.

and o@ef.net.nz

1 Railway St, Paeroa, PO Box 204, Paeroa 3640, New Zealand

Biological PSA management options. Reams Soil Testing, Home Garden Fertiliser.

Telephone: 0800 867Paeroa, 6737, Fax: 07 867 6068, Email:204, info@ef.net.nz 1 Railway St, PO Box Paeroa 3640, New Zealand www.ef.net.nz Telephone: 0800 867 6737, Fax: 07 867 6068, Email: info@ef.net.nz

www.ef.net.nz

FERTILISER

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Farm grab for carbon credits There has been recent publicity about the sale of Huiarua Station on the East Coast - sold to go into trees for carbon farming.

It’s an iconic 5000ha property inland of Tolaga Bay, which even has its own historic school.

There were good offers by livestock farmers but the pockets of overseas investors who understand the artificially created opportunity of carbon farming were the deepest.

Plant land into pinus radiata, leave them to absorb CO2 out of the atmosphere for 30 years. Once all the carbon credits have been acquired, just walk away.

It’s easy money with no long-term responsibility.

The profits to be made from carbon farming are better than returns from drystock farming, even though beef and lamb prices are currently as good as they have ever been. Carbon farming is even better than marginal dairy farms at a $9/kg MS payout.

Huiarua Station has huge tracts of cropping and easy rolling country and for this land to be lost forever, when there will be no net benefit for the local community, would be a tragic loss.

When it comes to global climate change, there will be no gain worldwide, as the meat and wool not grown on Huiarua Station will be grown in some other country, where the carbon footprint is likely to be considerably higher.

Missing out every time

The next generation of sheep and beef farmers are being competed out by carbon farming enterprises.

I know of one young farmer looking to buy his first farm, but can only afford $10,000 a hectare but when carbon foresters are paying $15,000 a hectare he is missing out every time.

For retiring sheep and beef farmers, it’s an economic bonanza, but it is often at the chagrin of their neighbours who don’t want to be farming surrounded by pine trees.

Five farms north of Waingaro along SH22 in the west Waikato have been sold into trees recently and I am aware

of five sizeable sheep and beef farms in the King Country region which have also been sold to go into trees.

One of these owners was close to tears, telling me all of his family’s blood, sweat and tears which had gone into fencing, subdivision, weed control and fertiliser and lovingly tended to create a clean, productive farm was now all being lost.

He had no children interested in continuing farming and he was struggling more and more in the physical demands of farming. He sold on the open market and a carbon farming enterprise had the deepest pockets.

The new owner, a consortium of private companies and individual city dwellers, were only interested in harvesting CO2 with pine trees, and had no personal interest in the land itself.

They would not live there and probably wouldn’t even visit the property or be part of the local community.

Artificial market

The only reason carbon farming is so financially attractive is because we have artificially created a carbon market, and yet there is no net productive value in doing so.

Overseas investors have seen the value in gaming this carbon racket, our local Emissions Trading Scheme.

Pinus radiata is the go-to tree due to its rapid growth in a wide variety of conditions. It gets close to maximum carbon sequestration in 30 years, therefore maximum payment.

Native trees take up to 300 years to reach their carbon potential.

Pine trees are a monoculture and do not encourage biological diversity in terms of bird, insect, flora and microbial communities.

There is a much greater fire risk than pasture, and if a fire destroys the trees at say year 25, it is unlikely the owners will pay back all the carbon credits which will have literally gone up in smoke.

There is also the risk of carbon companies eventually walking away from any rates obligations once all of the income has been gained over three decades, putting more burden on local communities to foot the future rates bills.

Recently I was asked to look at a property which 50 years ago was part of a dairy farm, but had been planted into pines which matured and were harvested off it.

The new owner was trying to establish pasture and had spent a lot of money on fertiliser and seed, but the improved pasture species only lasted a short time and quickly reverted back to poorer browntop, sweet vernal and danthonia grasses.

Soil tests showed very low pH and phosphorus levels across the block, so capital lime and phosphate applications were required.

Aluminium toxicity is a common problem on former pine tree areas, as pines rapidly sour the soil, and their needles leave other phyto-toxins in the soil, inhibiting other plant species from becoming established.

The overall cost of fertiliser and seed was in the vicinity of $3000/ha.

These costs will be lumbered on future generations, should this carbon farming debacle be rightly shelved once politicians have woken up to the folly of the ETS. Robin Boom is a member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists.

Page 41

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Page 42

FERTILISER

March 2022 Coast & Country News

The link between soil and human gut microbes There is no doubt that human gut microbes play a major role in determining the health of their host.

Hippocrates (460-370 BC) stated “All diseases begin in the gut”.

A very small sample out of a huge list of these diseases is colic, bloating, flatulence, vomiting, diarrhoea, dyslexia, asthma, allergies, autism, eczema, constipation, depression, arthritis, ADHD, schizophrenia, heart disease, tooth decay, cancer and bowel diseases.

The father of modern psychiatry French psychiatrist Phillipe Pinel (1745–1828) correctly stated in 1807: “The primary seat of insanity

generally is in the region of the stomach and intestines.”

In a healthy adult, there are 1.5-2kg of microbes jostling for order. What order they achieve depends partly on individual diets, and partly on food growers’ and processors’ actions.

Protecting the troops

We rely on up to 100 trillion microbes. A well-functioning gut holds the key to our health. Just as a tree with sick roots will not thrive, nor will our bodies or minds thrive without a well-functioning digestive system.

Livestock are no different.

Soil microbes influence the health and defence mechanisms of plants. Guts and roots have large surface areas, with microvilli and folds or root hairs in some parts.

Both roots and guts are structured, non-homogenous habitats with pH, nutrient, water, and oxygen differential levels or gradients.

Gradients favour colonisation by distinct bacteria that are more successful in some root or gut regions. The more diverse and balanced the gut and root zones are, the better health the hosts will enjoy.

Bacillus subtilis, also known as the soil bacteria was first used in the 1940’s to protect troops from dysentery and typhoid.

It is resistant to stomach acid and most antibiotics. It has strong immunestimulating properties and is particularly effective with allergies and autoimmune disorders. Its enzymes are anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It is not a resident of humans, but is transitional, doing a lot of good as it passes through.

It is also the microbe that can clean up the effluent pond. Probiotics containing Bacillus subtilis are the most effective.

Mineral deficiency Dr Linus Pauling (1901-1994), winner of two Nobel Prizes, stated: “In my opinion, one can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency.”

It is logical then, that plant and stock health problems and ensuing chemical intervention are caused by poor fertiliser practices.

Fruit and vegetables that do not store lack fertiliser integrity; run-out pastures; effluent pond problems and failures are directly related to incomplete or poor fertiliser practices.

In recent times there have been outbreaks of pests and diseases; insect

infestations, Psa, facial eczema and M. bovis to name a few.

These are symptoms that the soil microbes and plant roots are not being fed a balanced diet. When the soil is balanced, these problems do not happen.

The problems are self-inflicted.

Fertilisers and food can stimulate microbes, so why are the wrong microbes being stimulated in the majority of cases?

Glyphosate, an antibiotic, is used to prepare feed for animals and humans.

Among many other negatives, glyphosate reduces manganese in the rhizosphere by disrupting microbes.

Lactobacillus levels are low in the human gut in association with autism; this creates a vacuum that allows pathogens to overgrow causing ill-health. Lactobacilli normally have high intracellular levels of manganese which enables them to control some bacterial species.

Autistic children have 60 per cent less manganese than they need.

Be productive

Reproductive capacity of animals is reduced as uteruses atrophy through lack of manganese.

Sperm count is reduced.

Glyphosate has decreased brain levels of vitamin B12 in elderly, autistic and schizophrenic people.

Subjects with both autism and schizophrenia have three-fold lower levels of vitamin B12 in the brain.

B12 deficiency causes dementia.

Nutrition of Lucerne through one glyphosate spray the previous season, reduced boron 18 per cent, calcium 17 per cent, copper 20 per cent iron, 49 per cent, magnesium 26 per cent, manganese 31 per cent, nitrogen 13 per cent, phosphorus 15 per cent, potassium 46 per cent, sulphur 52 per cent and zinc 18 per cent. Those people suffering other diseases are similarly affected, as the gut microbiome is unable to properly process minerals.

Imagine how much more productive everything would be with correct fertilising and fewer chemicals?

a Req uest p m le ! f re e s a

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Page 43

Shared philosophies lead to merger On February 8, 2022, Fertco purchased Te Awamutu based fertiliser company TerraCare from the Macky family.

“We’re aiming to learn from TerraCare’s IP so we can improve the offerings for both sets of customers”.

TerraCare’s clients will still be able to get customised fertiliser recommendations based on soil and herbage tests as this has always been the Fertco way too.

They will still be able to purchase the same types of products that minimise environmental impacts, since these have also been a focus for Fertco which stocks the largest range of organic products in New Zealand.

In many cases, TerraCare’s customers will still be dealing with the same field representatives who have joined the Fertco sales team.

What will be different and part of the new era though, is the nutrient budgeting

Fertco, a Bay of Plenty company based near the Port of Tauranga, services the BOP, Waikato, and King Country regions.

TerraCare, with a factory in Te Awamutu, has a customer base in the Waikato, King Country, Manawatu, and lower North Island.

So when Fertco was looking to extend its customer base into new areas, and TerraCare was seeking a buyer, the purchase seemed like the obvious solution for both companies, says Fertco CEO Warwick Voyce Warwick Voyce.

“Fertco and TerraCare have always shared similar philosophies in regard to looking after clients and the environment, and Fertco aims to add TerraCare’s branded products to its already comprehensive range.

“The purchase is akin to an amalgamation of the two companies, rather than one being taken over by the other.”

Warwick says they are very excited Neil McDonald, Fertco regional manager in the to be welcoming a new era for Fertco Te Awamutu store. and TerraCare.

RETRACTING YSTEMS ertiliser dry for easy access cladding options cut waste

z nz

FERTILISER

and compliance services that Fertco intends to offer all of its customers.

“Our team are very pleased to offer Fertco’s products and services to a greater audience of farmers and growers.

“We have long been asked to have

a distribution option in the Waikato and we know this move will improve our service to current customers and encourages others to enquire as to how Fertco can help farmers have a better fertiliser experience.”

EFFLUENT & ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

Page 44

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Mapping the future of riparian planting The survival of riparian plants is coming under the microscope thanks to research commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment.

Environmental science and engineering specialists, Pattle Delamore Partners PDP and data science specialists Lynker Analytics have been selected to develop a new

approach to assessing the survival of plants within riparian areas.

Riparian areas are the strips of land beside drains, streams, rivers, and lakes. They include areas on-farm where the soils are wettest, such as wetlands, springs or seeps and gullies.

Riparian planting is commonly used for water filtration, erosion prevention, moderation of water flow, shading waterways, habitat for

ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT NON ELECTRIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT

MONOBLOCK-3-1000 Cer ed AS/NZS1546.1 2008 & EN 12566-3+A2 Certified AS/NZS1546.1 2008 & AS/NZS 1547:2012

WWW.BIOROCK.CO.NZ

indigenous species, and keeping livestock out of waterways.

Recently riparian planting has received a major boost through the Ministry’s Mahi mō te Taiao | Jobs for Nature programme.

long-lasting growth and weather condition tolerance.

“An important goal of the project is to determine the ratio of woody vegetation, herbaceous vegetation, sedges and grasses in these environments,” says Marinus Boon, remote sensing and wetland ecologist at PDP.

Remote sensing

This programme manages funding across multiple government agencies and runs until 2024, as part of the Covid19 recovery package.

The PDP/Lynker team are assessing the suitability of a range of remote sensing methods to monitor riparian ecosystems.

These include satellite, airborne and unmanned aerial systems.

Lynker Analytics managing director Matt Lythe says, for each sensor, the team will develop “deep learning” techniques to identify and map the extent of plants within riparian systems.

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning and uses artificial neural networks to learn complex and intricate patterns in large data sets.

Crucial work

Upper banks are often planted in taller, woody vegetation like trees, shrubs, tī kōuka/ cabbage trees, and ponga/tree ferns.

Steeper, lower banks tend to be planted in flood-tolerant herbaceous vegetation like sedges, harakeke/flaxes, and tussocks.

For riparian plantings, farmers use mostly native plants with a mix of non-native plants for

Pricey sting in the curly pig tale Rotorua’s Kleadmak Farms has been fined $27,000 and imposed an enforcement order for grazing pigs in the bed of a tributary of the Ngongotahā catchment.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council prosecuted Kleadmak Farms in October 2020 for grazing the pigs in native bush, causing “significant disturbance and habitat destruction” near Umurua

Futureproof your Farm Effluent Management • • • • • •

Unmatched reliability of your effluent system Maximised Profitability No Nonsense Equipment Advice Lower Operating costs Performance exceeding your expectations Easy to Manage

STATIONARYS IRRIGATOR

LLING TRAVGEATORS I IRR

HYDRANTS

PTO PUMPS

EFFLUENT PIPE

FFLUENT VERTICAL MEPS PU

Experience the Numedic difference

POND MIXERS

EFFLUENT HORIZONTAML PS PU

For more information: FP: 0800 686 334 | P: +64 7 347 9974 E: info@numedic.co.nz W: www.numedic.co.nz

“We’d also like to spot any unintended plants such as invasive blackberry plants or gorse and broom.”

The team will conduct a field survey of several pilot sites to test the system before providing advice to the Ministry on how to roll out the riparian planting monitoring system on a regional or national level.

Moana Everson from the Ministry for the Environment says the project is scheduled for completion in June this year.

She says the project will be crucial in helping to establish the Mahi mō te Taiao | Jobs for Nature Environmental Impact Evaluation programme of work.

Stream, plus discharges of pig effluent and mobilised sediment.

Kleadmak Farms pleaded guilty and agreed to an enforcement order involving the removal of all pigs, with none to ever graze on the land again.

Judge J A Smith also ordered stock exclusion zones to be agreed with the council, and those zones to be adequately fenced off by March 31, 2022.

These stock exclusion zones are to be ...continued

March 2022 Coast & Country News

EFFLUENT & ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

Page 45

Making it easy to make a plan An innovative project aims to increase access to ecological information for pastoral farmers wanting to protect and enhance native biodiversity on their farms.

Farming with Native Biodiversity is designed to provide cost-effective advice to help pastoral farmers prepare farm environment plans.

The project is led by the NZ Landcare Trust, a national trust that works with catchment groups and is supported by the Living Water Partnership of Fonterra and the Department of Conservation.

Biodiversity assessment research undertaken on Fonterra farms

more, with additional costs for biodiversity monitoring. That equates to $125 million across 25,000 pastoral farms in New Zealand.

“This project trials a more costeffective way of providing expert advice to the sector, and will work with 60 sheep and beef, and dairy farms to develop biodiversity plans and implement biodiversity management, and share the results with 600 more farms.”

Ecologists will identify what shows the biggest barriers for farmers taking action are limited access to advice and ecological expertise and the cost of preparing farm environmental plans.

Trish Kirkland-Smith, head of Environmental Partnerships - Fonterra and a member of

biodiversity is present, record it and use the information for biodiversity plans.

A process will be developed to create science and goal-based biodiversity plans for individual farms, and groups of farms, alongside broader farmer goals.

The project will create case studies, including photographs and advice from farmers, on at least 20 farms, covering different eco-zones and farming types.

the Living Water Steering Committee, says there is widespread interest in protecting and restoring native biodiversity on farms, but expert advice is hard to come by and costly.

She says farm environment plans can cost $5-10,000, or

Sentence will lead to long term benefits continued...

protected via a covenant which will help protect the area from similar offences in the future.

Council compliance manager Alex Miller says the judge’s conviction highlights the importance of appropriate farming practices and stock exclusion.

“This is a really solid outcome for this matter.

It puts in place some measures to directly address the offending and ensure a better environmental outcome through the enforcement order.

“We expect active pasture management, such as ensuring stock don’t get into waterways,

maintaining fencing, monitoring flow-paths and minimising nutrient loss to avoid negative impacts on Lake Rotorua and the wider catchment.

Judge Smith says the sentencing outcomes will lead to long term benefits beyond this prosecution itself.

“There is a clear and certain way forward in respect of this site and that the predations of the pigs in the stream area will not continue into the future. Furthermore, there will be broader riparian protection on this property into the future.”

Anton Meier | | W Mßexitanksnz.com 021 289 5999 | P 07 829 5940 | E anton@ßexitanksnz.com | W ßexitanksnz.com E anton@ßexitanksnz.com

Anton Meier | M Anton 021 289 5999 | | MP 021 07 829 | W ßexitanksnz.com Meier 2895940 5999 | | EPanton@ßexitanksnz.com 07 829 5940 | E anton@ßexitanksnz.com | W ßexitanksnz.com

NATION WIDE

PASTURE RENOVATION

Page 46

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Heat moves maize harvest forward The 156mm of rain in late January and early February rain was certainly good to see after a dry six weeks prior, where only 30mm fell.

A IN &

SEED DRESSI

Storm damage

We have had strong winds too which caused some damage to the maize crops. It is certainly going to dry some of them down prematurely.

There was quite a lot of damage over the Kaimai’s, in Tirau and Putaruru. There is that wind tunnel there. I heard a guy lost eight hectares, it got flattened and one of my clients lost quite a bit from one of his paddocks as well.

CRID G E

GR

In that six weeks damage was done and despite the good rain that fell since, you don’t have to dig far down to see it’s not very moist.

It has been very humid recently which means eczema spores have skyrocketed so we are starting to put zinc in troughs and treat accordingly. In Galatea counts have been more than 600,000.

NG

SEEDS

QUA LITY PASTURE SEED

Get prepared because maize might be arriving earlier this year with the of the hot sunny days we have had.

We got going with our harvest in late February so people need to be aware of big machinery on both main and side roads.

Farmers need to be prepared with their stack sites. They need to be dead flat. You can tip a tractor trailer on a bit of a slope, you certainly can’t tip a big truck and trailer unit on any sort of an incline, let alone back them up any sort of hill or slight slope.

You also need good turning areas, good access, free draining sites, that are nowhere near waterways or drains.

Make sure it is stacked well. Cover it well with good cover, have the tyres touching and make sure its sealed around the base with dirt, lime, sand or whatever you can get hold of to keep the air out.

Keep it well fenced to keep stock off and set your bait stations. ...continued

Happy accident leads to natural weed killer In 2013 Charlie Goulter and his wife Trish were growing concerned about the impact of glyphosate-based herbicides on the soil life of their four hectare block in Upper Moutere.

GILTRAP IS BACK AT PIAKO ROTORUA!

LINKAGE & TRAILED MODELS

3 YEAR WARRANTY

DURABLE | RELIABLE | EFFECTIVE MORRINSVILLE 07 889 7055

ROTORUA 07 345 8560

Mike Kitching 021 735 665 Glenn Greay 021 862 169 Todd Hewitt 021 945 817

Mike Rogers 021 998 819 Jamie Gainsford 021 905 458 Tony Johnston 021 349 816

MATAMATA 07 888 6292 Bruce Lynn 027 292 6501 Paul Tuffey 027 292 6569 Kevin Morey 027 493 1620

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.PIAKO.CO.NZ

Because of this, the Goulters have had a great response from operators who are concerned about the potential toxicity of other herbicides – especially when spraying around children and animals.

Their client base ranges from domestic users, market gardeners and tree nurseries, to a growing Charlie, who comes from a long line of number of schools.

New Zealand farmers, discussed the idea of WeedX’s combination of acetic and citric a natural weed control product with his acid is fast acting, yet it allows the soil uncle Timmy Goulter, a vinegar and pH to rebalance within 24 hours. wine maker of 44 years.

It kills annual and perennial This prompted Timmy to weeds by contact but does not remember the spilled barrel. harm mature tree bark. It is “He noticed that the vinegar fully biodegradable in soil and really took out the weeds,” aquatic areas and is excellent Trish says. for spraying on vegetable beds Research quickly confirmed prior to planting. that the Goulters were And where oil-based onto something. herbicides can leave a lingering “We found that vinegar’s been and unpleasant odour, the smell used for all kinds of things – from WeedX dissipates quickly. weeds, cleaning, health,” Trish says.

The product is effective on “Our forebears have been using broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, it for centuries. We’re really excited Natural, vinegar-based small gorse, small broom, scarlet to educate people about the WeedX has proved safe natural way.” around animals and children. pimpernel, mosses, clover and grass, - particularly border edges.

An extensive period of research Though repeat spraying is necessary for larger and development followed. The Goulters worked and more resistant weeds, the Goulters believe this with local scientist John Lloyd to formulate a is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that natural and effective weed treatment. comes with a natural product.

After four years of hard work and testing they “We want to help people do right by their land, gained EPA approval for WeedX, the first product their animals and their kids.” of its kind to be marketed in New Zealand.

Goulter’s Vinegar Products is currently working Their focus throughout this journey was on on a way to make WeedX systemic, for the developing a product that would be safe for ultimate natural, targeted weed control. people, animals and the environment.

PASTURE RENOVATION

March 2022 Coast & Country News

continued...

have ponds that need emptying.

You can put in more effluent per square metre in a worked paddock than you can a pasture paddock so it’s a good opportunity to get rid of your effluent and put it to good use. Work it in while it’s dry and give the grass a good start with the moisture and the high nitrogen.

Then top it up with nitrogen six weeks after sowing, spray the weeds, give it a light graze and put the fertiliser on.

Rats love getting into those tyres, making nests and helping themselves to a free feed. If you have a Pukeko problem, you can put shade cloth over the tyres and put more tyres on top. The ‘Pooks’ can do a lot of damage in a short time and are often worse than rats.

Give grass a good start

Select the paddocks you are going to renovate. It should all be well underway now so grass can get established early.

Don’t just go and sow a paddock because it is not doing any good.

There is a reason for it – fertility or a pH problem or a drainage problem. Sort out those issues first.

Put lime on it, or effluent if you

Keep condition on

Be mindful of black beetle.

Once you spray and kill their habitat they will be out there looking for anything new they can get their little mitts on. They

will attack new grass so make sure you get it Superstrike coated. Follow up with weed spray and fertiliser.

It’s certainly a good time to get the most out of the high dairy payout by feeding the cows on a bit longer. Be mindful not to strip the condition off the cows or strip the grass off the farm because both will end up in a disaster leading into winter and spring.

Make sure you have got plenty of supplement to cover the extra time you intend to keep milking on.

Putting condition on cows in the middle of winter is hard work.

We have still got quality milking silage, hay and barley straw. It is in short supply so get in early.

Treat your animals to the best of summer What’s gorgeous, nutritious, made in Bay of Plenty, happy in the sun and guaranteed to tempt the fussiest eater?

Morrow red clover, that’s what.

If you haven’t yet treated your animals to this energy-rich palate pleaser, get some in the ground this autumn, and get ready for multiple noshups next season.

Yes, that’s right - I said ‘multiple’. Morrow’s different from traditional red clovers. You can graze it more often.

Survival of the fittest

Picture an exposed, dryland Bay of Plenty dairy farm, grazed rotationally, and intensively. That’s where Morrow’s parents came from.

They not only survived, but thrived, in an environment where red clover would normally be expected to give up the ghost pretty quickly.

Come summer, when grass struggled in the heat, they flourished, and so did the cows.

You are what you eat

We all have our favourite foods. Some of them are even good for us! Grazing animals have the best of both worlds – their forage of choice is a nutritional powerhouse.

You’ve probably seen your animals go through a pasture and deliberately pick out the clover. That’s

because legumes taste lip-smackingly good to cows, sheep, cattle and deer, even when hot weather tends to put them off eating other things.

Combine this with the highest energy level of any pasture species, and you can see how Morrow helps keep animal growth and production humming during late spring and summer.

Water diviner

Unlike white clover, red clover is tap-rooted, so it can dig down for soil moisture.

In today’s climate, that’s a plus for pasture resilience.

With Morrow in the mix, you have a bit more flexibility when things start to dry out, because it can hang on longer than species with shallower roots.

Another bonus? It loves warm weather, staying green and leafy when the thermometer usually sends ryegrass to have a lie-down.

Make it work

Like all red clovers Morrow will persist best on freedraining soils under a longer summer grazing round.

Sow six kilograms of coated seed per hectare. Red clover has a bigger seed than white clover, and the plants themselves don’t spread the same way, so you need a higher seeding rate.

What next? Contact your seed rep today.

Paul Hames, Barenbrug area manager

UNBEATEN

*

MAXSYN

4FRONT

Setting the pace for next gen pasture

Extra palatability and environmental benefits

Diploid perennial ryegrass

@BarenbrugNZ

facebook.com/BarenbrugNZ

New 2021 NFVT all New Zealand trials

*

Tetraploid perennial ryegrass

barenbrug.co.nz

Page 47

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Page 48

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Industry crying out for drivers Truck drivers are already in short supply up and down the country and the situation is only expected to get worse as Covid cases peak.

The trucking industry is calling for all hands to the pump as New Zealand faces an indefinite length of time in the red “traffic light” setting which will strain the supply chain, says Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett.

“We know there are New Zealanders out there with a Class 2, 4 or 5 licence, suitable for a heavy vehicle, who are not currently working as truck drivers and we are asking them to consider making themselves available to drive a truck in the weeks and months ahead as we face the wave of Omicron.

“Looking across the Tasman to Australia and further afield to the United States and United Kingdom, we know that Omicron can decimate the driver workforce, through both

drivers getting the virus and/or having to isolate because they have been exposed to it.

“We are already seeing the anticipation of this disruption to the supply chain ironically, start the disruption prematurely with people panic buying goods and stockpiling.

“Thinking ahead, we are appealing to people who have a licence and relevant experience to let us know, so we can link you with transport companies in your area to try and fill some of the gaps if and when the supply chain flow becomes critical.

“We are an industry that was short of drivers, pre Covid-19, and that has only intensified as our border has been closed for years and labour pressures have increased.

“It is estimated that one in four transport companies have vehicles parked up due to driver shortage. Omicron is likely to

compound that issue.

“We might only be talking about a shift or two, but every licence holder who is willing and able to lend a hand, will help keep New Zealand’s supply chain running. It’s vital that food and medical supplies continue to move at this time.

“Someone putting their hand up for a shift could help ensure the deliveries keep rolling.”

Nich says Transporting New Zealand will be working with the Government to ensure anyone on Jobseeker who meets the appropriate licence requirements can be made aware they may be needed.

Any drivers willing to work through this time can register their interest to Transporting New Zealand via email at: admin@transporting.nz They will be subject to the normal screening and there are no guarantees of work.

Truck show delayed by uncertainty The New Zealand Trucking Association has made the tough decision to postpone the 2022 TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show next year from March to November.

The event will now take place from November 25-26.

Organisers says that due to the uncertain times it was felt March was too risky to hold an event of that size, with snap lockdowns and level changes likely to still pose a threat.

“These extra months give us some breathing

ADDLINE TRANSPORT LTD

room and will ensure we can deliver the event that has been promised,” a spokesperson says.

“It also gives our Australian exhibitors a chance to make the trip as they are very eager to attend.

“Thank you to all our exhibitors and show sponsors so far for the support and understanding.”

The later date means there is now plenty of time to sign up, for those who have not already.

Email: rebecca.dinmore@trucking.nz for more details or download the new show book at: www.nztruckingassn.co.nz

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Quarry shortage The quarry industry says it will work with Government agencies to remedy policies which a NZ Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga study says makes it harder to access the aggregate needed to meet growing demand.

Making it hard to quarry will slow down infrastrucure projects and push up building costs. Photo: Dan Hutchinson.

Aggregate and Quarry Association CEO Wayne Scott says Te Waihanga’s Infrastructure Resources Study identifies all the policy roadblocks which have seen no new quarries developed in Auckland in seven years despite huge population growth which demands aggregate for infrastructure and affordable housing.

“This study suggests because about a third of its aggregate comes in from other regions, Auckland’s building costs may be up to one per cent higher than they need to be, let alone the congestion and carbon emissions unnecessarily created.”

Putting the brakes on

Page 49

Wayne says the study identifies that Wellington and other regions are also impacted by the lack of new quarries and challenges in getting resource consent renewals and extensions for existing quarries.

“Te Waihanga rightly observes Transmission Gully has caused scarcity of supply in Wellington because there was no planning for aggregate supply and no new quarries were developed to feed this mega-project, while ensuring local demand was met.”

The study says a number of government policies are making it harder for industry to increase aggregate production.

One example is the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, which has threatened aggregate supply by putting the brakes on several potential quarry extensions and developments where areas of wet pasture, now classified as natural wetlands, exist.

Te Waihanga recommends the Ministry for the Environment work with the AQA, local authorities and other stakeholders to develop a national direction for quarrying to secure critical resources and remove any unjustified variations in how resource consents are assessed and/or conditions applied.

Wayne says the AQA is already working with MfE and welcomes the Te Waihanga recommendation that they jointly develop a best practice quarry consent application template.

“This is a critical interim step to ensure timely

approval of resource consents for quarry extensions or renewals essential for the supply of aggregates into infrastructure, climate change mitigation, affordable housing, and natural disaster repairs.

“If we want roading and building projects around the country to continue, the roadblocks to supply have to be quickly removed or we will see prices go sky high.”

Resource scans needed

The study says Statistics New Zealand estimates that input costs for infrastructure projects for materials including aggregate and concrete can be about 30 per cent of the total and as high as 70 per cent.

Wayne Scott says the AQA also backs the recommendation for mandatory annual reporting by all aggregate quarries rather than the current voluntary reporting.

“At present with some unreported production, we estimate that New Zealanders use around 50 million tonnes a year or a 10-tonne truckload each, on average.

“If all production was known it’d help councils and Government agencies involved in infrastructure as well as the industry.”

He says one of the most important recommendations of the Te Waihanga report was that local authorities should each do resource scans as part of their longterm planning process “As the study identifies, the AQA did some work with GNS and the Opotiki council which helped provide alternative, less costly supplies of rock and aggregate to make the district’s new harbour development viable.

“If councils around the country began identifying their hard-rock resources – and roped them off to support future growth – a lot of the tensions with residential development encroachment could be avoided.”

Wayne hopes the recommendations in the study can be implemented at speed because the alternative is increasingly short supplies of aggregate, rapidly rising prices, and increased carbon emissions impacting on every New Zealander.

Dan Hutchinson

021 215 8704

flashexcavations.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 50

classified listings curriculum vitae

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

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

for sale

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

* 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 office@ 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.

March 5 Crop Swap,

9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337.

Mar 5-6 & 12-13 Mercury Bay Artists

Open Studios, 10am-4pm, eastern Coromandel area, free. See mercurybay-artescape. com

March 8

Free Climate Action

Workshop for Educators, 9am-4pm,

Go Eco, Frankton, Hamilton. Registration essential. See tinyurl. com/bdff477v

March 9

Free Climate Action

Workshop for Educators, 9am-4pm, The Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga. Registration essential. See tinyurl. com/36fm43dx

March 18-27

March 26

April 2

March 26

9.30am -10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati.

Ph 07 549 2337.

Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupo, free. See tinyurl.com/ yygxfnju Earth Hour, 8.30pm

(wherever you happen to be).

March 27

Hard-medium grade. Limited numbers, booking essential. Ph/txt Paul 027 650 7264.

the theme for this year’s Neighbours Day Aotearoa. See neighboursday.org.nz

March 24

7.30pm, a Waikato Horticultural Society talk, Gate 2, Hamilton Gardens. Vaccine

Rotorua. Registration essential. See tinyurl. com/yefb8wsn

Home Composting

Mt Tarawera Tramp, free.

Kai Connections is

Avocados & AGM,

pass required, $5. Ph Carmel 07 855 3404.

March 2022 Coast & Country News

March 30

Free Climate Action

Workshop for Educators, 9am-4pm, The Arts Village,

Crop Swap,

April 3

Pukerimu Ecological

Area Tramp, east of Tokoroa, high-vis gear essential. Medium grade. Ph/txt Paul 027 650 7264.

April 6

Predator Free Hamilton, 10-11am,

188 Commerce St, Hamilton, free but koha appreciated.

Learn to build a rat trap! See tinyurl.com/ yckmnuup

April 8-9

BOP Orchid Show,

Memorial Hall, Te Puke, $3 entry.

Ph 573 9710.

April 7-10

Flavours of Plenty

Festival, Bay of Plenty. See flavoursofplentyfestival. com

April 9-24

Echo Walking Festival,

Coromandel-WaikatoWestern Bay of Plenty.

See echowalkfest.org.nz

April 10

Mt Eliza Cheese Rolling

Competition, 1-4pm, 266 Hot Springs Road, Katikati, $30.

Online event helps catchment groups The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Catchment Group e-Forum series is in full swing this month and next.

The eForum series pulls in experts around the country in an online forum where catchment members can learn about legal advice, rural storytelling and maintaining momentum as a group.

Following on from last year’s success, the online forum gives catchment group members or anyone with an interest the opportunity to hear from experts and ask questions.

Tom Orchiston, B+LNZ’s environment capability manager – South Island says the virtual sessions are a fantastic opportunity for catchment leaders, coordinators and members to learn something new from experts and feed this back to their groups in order to keep progressing towards their goals.

“We asked farmers and catchment groups to tell us what they wanted to

STOP RUST NOW!

learn about most in a social media poll which led to the three topics chosen for this series.” The first forum was in February and the next two are coming up this month.

March 15, 12-1pm: Telling your story with Sally Rae and Rowena Duncum.

This session is about how to tell your catchment story to the wider public and will include advice from experienced panelists Rowena Duncum (The Country) and Sally Rae (Otago Daily Times) on how to get the best from different media sources and how best to engage with the media and your audience.

April 12, 12-1pm: Maintaining momentum.

Join the panel of catchment group

As long as CORROSION is present on any metal, it cannot rust or corrode!

CORROSIONX is dielectric to 39.000 Volt and completely shuts down electrolysis, oxidization and rust.

Superlong lifespan, unlimited shelf life.

Outperforming pretty much any other lubricant.

A light spray of CORROSIONX on exposed Aircons, Heat Pumps, Fridges, Switches, Outboards, Generators and Engines twice a year will keep them looking like new – even in salty environments.

Full NATO and US Military specs. Aviation approved.

• Penetrates, lubricates and protects against all further corrosion for a long time • Will crawl into even the most inaccessible places

• Will not harm any rubber, monofilament or neoprene • Drives out moisture and seals the metal • Safe on all electrics and electronics

• Can be applied over wet and corroded surfaces

• Non-flammable and is fine to weld over

• NZ MPI approved to same tox class as Lanolin

For more product info and videos see: www.corrosionx.co.nz

leaders to discuss how to keep momentum within a group.

They will provide some background as to how their groups have evolved, what has and hasn’t worked for them and the elements that help a group set a good vision.

The Catchment Group e-Forum series is a part of B+LNZ’s Catchment Community programme designed to support farmers in taking a leadership role to establish or run catchment groups.

For more information, visit B+LNZ’s Catchment Community programme webpage: www.beeflambnz.com/ your-levies-work/community-catchmentgroup-programme

March 2022 Coast & Country News

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

WE

Page 51

FARMERS AGROFARM LOADER COMBO 85-115HP, 4 CYLINDER CABIN OR ROPS LOADER COMBO

deutz nz

• 4-cylinder SDF Series 1000 engine • Five-speed, four range gearbox with a Hi-Lo splitter and power shuttle • True four wheel braking • Compact dimensions with low centre of gravity • 56 L/min dedicated hydraulic pump

2.95% 36 MONTHS FINANCE

ROPS FROM

1639

$

Terms and conditions apply. Contact your local Power Farming dealer for more information. Offer ends 28/3/2022 or while stocks last. Images may show optional extras and may

differ from product advertised. * Subject to normal lending criteria and finance approval. Through Power Farming Finance a division of De Lage Landen Limited. Finance based on monthly payments over a 36 month term with a 30% deposit and GST payment in the third month and applies to the Agrofarm range only.

PER MONTH*

IN STOCK NOW

ASK ABOUT A MASCHIO THAT SUITS YOU.

maschio nz

MULCHERS FOR GRASS, STUBBLE AND PRUNINGS • • • • • • •

High rotor speeds / low vibration 15-200 horsepower, 1m-6.2m working widths Models suitable for grass, straw, stubble and prunings Long life bearings The Tigre model can mulch prunings up to 12cm in diameter Toothed transmission drive belts Counter blades for producing finer mulching of coarse materials

Power Farming NZ PUKEKOHE

0800 570 571

MORRINSVILLE

07 889 5059

TE AWAMUTU

07 870 2411

TAURANGA

07 543 0021

ROTORUA

07 349 6528

GISBORNE

06 868 8908

Page 52

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

March 2022 Coast & Country News

Todd, 4, and Erin Be feed their pet goat and lam aver, 2, b in Te Awamutu.

Finn, 2, from Whakatane, getting his pup Guy ready for the Dog Trials.

Savannah (Savvy) Elliott with her calf Lashes in Ramarama.

Kaylee and her second best friend Shadow, after her brother.

Kaden climbs with hi yard’s in Ngongotah s cat splash on the a Valley, Rotorua.

FARM BUILDING SPECIALISTS.

CONTACT US

07 889 6314 or 021 775 310 info@oneillengineering.co.nz www.oneillengineering.co.nz 73 Thames St, Morrinsville

c1902kwO’neill

GABLE & CIRCULAR BUILDINGS.