Coast & Country News - May 2022 by Sun Media

Paeroa dairy farmers Brendan and Tessa Hopson, pictured here with their children Ollie, 1, and Toby, 3, have found their direction, are pushing their comfort zone and supporting others in the industry with their popular social media forum. Read more on pages 40-41. Photo: Catherine Fry.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Rising to the challenge The months seem to be ticking over faster than the rate of inflation at the moment.

Not so long ago, we only had to worry about the ocean rising, now everything is going up – prices, the number of rules and regulations, Better to sound labour shortages, the alarm too blood pressure. early, than Nevertheless, we too late. have no option but to put the head down and carry on, stopping of course to read this bumper issue of Coast & Country News. There is always time to be more informed which is why we split our news and commentary into sectors. You can take it or leave it, or let us know your way of doing things. This month we examine the new rules and regulations that are threatening to put the squeeze on gun clubs around the country. These clubs are there to promote the skilled and safe use of firearms, so why on Earth would you want to add prohibitive layers of bureaucracy? Everyone wants responsible use of guns but some of these rules deserve serious scrutiny or we could end up with exactly what we don’t want – more accidents. In this issue we also go deep into the impressive

new mega-pack house built by DMS Pro Growers in Te Puke. The answer for many of the country’s issues lies in the ability to improve our productivity through the adoption of the latest technology and good design. This is a great example of that. Also in this edition we catch up with some who are bringing fresh enthusiasm to the primary sector, like pharmacist, turned organic grower Brenda Donald on pages 26-27. We have those who have earned their stripes through decades of service to the rural sector, like Bob Thomson on pages 8-9. This month’s area focus takes us to Hauraki and Paeroa farmers Brendan and Tessa Hopson pages 40-41. Amongst other initiatives to “push the comfort zone” they are also connecting the people in their sector through the use of social media platforms. On page 46 the Father of Feed Bill Webb brings us his observations and a few candid warnings that livestock farmers would well advised to listen to. All in all, it’s an interesting economic climate with a few different challenges to adapt to. Good luck and we will see you again Dan Hutchinson next month.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

Firearms rules ‘beyond stupid’ COLFO spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack says the planned regulations reach beyond the ‘safety’ objective of the Arms Act, propose rules that contradict existing law, and pile on fees and form filling duties that will decimate a small volunteer community. “Members are telling us the consultation document proposes rules that are excessive beyond stupid, especially as it cannot cite a single specific justification for any of the rules.”

Members gather for a day on the range.

Bay of Plenty shooting clubs fear many will be forced to close if proposed new police regulations governing their operations are adopted. Clubs across the region are united in objecting to the proposed new rules which they say threatens financial viability by creating extra certification costs and ongoing compliance requirements. In a joint statement supported by eight clubs, they say the changes could force smaller clubs and those unable to pass on the extra costs to its members to close their ranges and disband. In April, delegates from more than 10 Bay of Plenty shooting clubs met in Tauranga to discuss the proposed regulations. The clubs cover rifle shooting, service rifles, pistol, black powder, and clay target disciplines. Proposals include increased certification and costs for clubs and ranges, “onerous” compliance requirements and a ban on firearms safety training for under 16-year-olds and those new to shooting.

Fixing a problem that doesn’t exist

In 2020, changes were made to the Arms Act 1983 to further control and regulate firearms. New regulations to are being proposed by New Zealand Police, with submissions closing on May 4. The BOP branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association is the largest shooting club in the region with more than 600 members. Branch president Reuben Hayward says shooting clubs already provide a safe, controlled environment for users of all sporting and recreational shooting disciplines. Ranges also offer hunters a safe environment to sight-in rifles before heading into the bush. He says there is a real risk that smaller clubs and ranges will close, leaving users with fewer facilities to use their firearms and to educate shooters. “The clubs believe that the new regulations

are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist and are not aligned with the stated purpose of enhancing public safety. “There is no link NZDA Bay of Plenty between shooting Branch president clubs and criminal Reuben Hayward. firearm use. “The regulations go well beyond the requirements of the Act and the Police have clearly overstepped the mark.”

Specific issues COLFO has taken issue with include the need to supply information already given to the government via rules under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and charging fees to process this. People under 16 will be prevented from using a firearm on a range, although they can legally use one outside the range. Every member must hold a firearm licence, even a volunteer who just helps with paperwork or tea making.

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NZ Police deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming says the proposals recognise the important role shooting clubs and ranges play in promoting the responsible and safe use of firearms, by providing a safe, controlled space to use firearms for recreation. “The vast majority of clubs and ranges operate responsibly and do so on a voluntary basis. The Act now requires this approach is ensured into the future through a regulatory framework.” Established shooting clubs and ranges must apply for approval or certification by June 24, 2023. He says Police firearms staff are working with shooting club committees and range operators to help them prepare so they are ready to apply as soon as the regulations are in force. “This is likely to be at the end of 2022.” The changes are the latest in ongoing changes to the firearms regulatory regime, in response to the March 15, 2019 terrorist attack on the Christchurch masjidain. The Council of Licensed Firearm Owners COLFO has also taken aim at the proposed rules, calling them “illegitimate, unnecessary, and error-ridden”.

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Fear not and push the positive At the risk of repeating myself, fear is one of the dominant ‘feelings’ that most people have.

For myself, I am known as ‘Fearless Fraser’ because fear is something I do not have much of. Successive seminars and a lot of personal development have given me very little fear these days but that is not to say it was prevalent when I was much younger. I have since learnt to control it. After the pandemic, and not to mention the Ukraine debacle, fear has become more prevalent in our thinking and our society.

A powerful force

The current government has used fear to control us as a nation and this is not good. In our own small community there are many people, some of them living on their own, where fear has pervaded their thinking and they are scared to do anything, let alone go out their front door or meet people. Fear explains why millions of people accomplish little and enjoy nothing. Fear is a very powerful force. Fear wears down our physical vitality, it makes people sick, shortens their life and closes their mouth

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when they want to speak! On that last point, Toastmasters is a great venue to get over your fear to speak.

Positive action

We see a lot of fear in younger people. Everything is negative and they fear all sorts of things, not to mention ‘stranger danger’ and don’t say hello to people you don’t know. Parents seem to dump their own fear on their children. So, you can go on and on about fear which is well documented and known by psychologists and medical people alike. There are some very positive things you can do to get over fear. Isolate your fear, pin it down, determine exactly what you are afraid of. Then act. Remember, hesitation and inaction only enlarge and magnifies fear. Be decisive and take some action and step over your fear. Lack of selfconfidence is traced to what you are telling yourself and what

is jammed in your memory bank. Your brain is like a bank. What is it that you are depositing in your mind bank? Are you filling it with self-defeating thoughts? Are you telling yourself you are a failure, have no confidence and don’t want to speak out? Or, are you careful about what goes in and then comes out. After all it is your mind bank, and nobody else’s.

Depositing the good stuff

So, to manage your mind bank better: • Deposit only positive thoughts in it. • Withdraw only positive thoughts from it. • Insist that you only want to talk of positive things and not about the war, our poor economy or lack of performance by this government. As they say, continual talk of negative things will ‘do your head in!’ In summary, I don’t think we have ever been surrounded by so much stuff to make us fearful. It is frightening really. We need to realise it is underlying fear that is making us feel unhappy. We need to be very careful what we are telling ourselves. We need to steer our thoughts and conversations to only happy things and our fear and anxiety will start to subside. 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

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a new gas to fumigate export logs and timber. The EPA’s decision to approve EDN manufactured by Czech-based Draslovka Agricultural Solutions - is a “major win” says its director Kade McConville. “It is an excellent outcome with very favourable controls imposed by the EPA on the use of EDN which will make EDN commercially feasible in New Zealand. “The EPA’s decision to approve EDN is a significant milestone for both Draslovka as well as New Zealand. “The New Zealand timber industry can now access a safer, more sustainable and effective fumigation treatment.” Kade says wider uptake of EDN can also make a “meaningful contribution” to New Zealand’s pledge to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. “Until now there hasn’t been any effective alternative fumigation treatment to methyl bromide in New Zealand. “We now look forward to engaging with local stakeholders on the phasing in of EDN as a safer alternative to methyl bromide at key fumigation locations around the country.”

Rapid decomposition

In its recently released decision, the EPA says EDN is a new tool to kill common pests found in wood and a potential alternative to methyl bromide. EDN is already approved for use in Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, and Russia. The EPA says its role in regulating hazardous substances involves carefully balancing environmental, health, economic, and cultural factors. “The application process for EDN has been lengthy due to the complex technical considerations required for the safe use of the fumigant,” says general manager of the EPA’s Hazardous Substances group Dr Chris Hill. “The benefits of EDN are that it rapidly decomposes after use, it is ozone-friendly, and has reduced risks to human health and the environment compared with methyl bromide.” Dr Hill says a range of controls have been developed for the use of EDN. These include a maximum application rate, and that it is used in specific wind conditions, only under tarpaulins or in shipping containers. Dr Hill says EDN is only for use by professionals

in commercial settings. Although the EPA has approved the EDN application, the fumigant cannot be imported or used immediately. Dr Hill says additional WorkSafe rules to protect workers, which are approved in principle, now require ministerial sign-off and gazetting. The EPA decision-making committee will sign the approval to take effect along with the WorkSafe rules.

Draslovka Agricultural Solutions director Kade McConville is celebrating the EPA’s approval of an alternative fumigant for logs.

Approval needed from key markets

Serious machinery for serious work.

Dr Hill says the EPA decision means the Ministry for Primary Industries can progress negotiations with trading partners on acceptance of EDN, as an option to meet their import biosecurity requirements. Timber imports and exports are worth more than $6 billion to the New Zealand economy. Kade says the EPA decision means EDN is the first direct replacement to existing fumigation treatments, most commonly methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride. “Methyl bromide is a prolific ozone depletor and sulfuryl fluoride, albeit not registered for use in New Zealand, is a detrimental greenhouse gas.” In contrast with these traditional treatments, Kade says the use of EDN has a “net-zero” environmental impact and is more effective. “It is not an ozone depleting substance, is not a greenhouse gas, and does not bio-accumulate. “Most importantly, EDN is better for the health and safety of fumigation workers and the surrounding communities.” Draslovka Agricultural Solutions has been shortlisted for the Australian Financial Review’s 2022 Sustainability Leaders for its development of EDN. Kade says the next step for the introduction of EDN is regional council approvals. “We are very excited to start this new chapter in fumigation of New Zealand timber and look forward to cooperating with the authorities to Steve Edwards make it a reality.”

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Page 6

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

A fall armyworm larvae feeding on beans.

Unwanted pest found in Tauranga Biosecurity New Zealand has confirmed a single egg mass belonging to the moth pest the fall armyworm has been found in Tauranga. The moth is found around the world and is present in the Americas, Africa and Asia, and more recently has been found in Papua New Guinea and parts of Australia. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson says the fall armyworm was a “hitchhiker pest”.

Te Tiriti partners to decide next steps. “It’s important people report any findings to us and call our exotic pests and diseases line on: 0800 80 99 66 or report online: www.report.mpi.govt.nz/pest/”

A threat to horticulture

Stuart says the eggs were found on a Gypsy moth trap in the Tauranga CBD and then tested, before being destroyed. There is no evidence of an established population.

On the radar for some time

A risk analysis by Biosecurity New Zealand last year showed it was likely to arrive as an adult moth from Australia via strong winds within the next five years. “Our risk analysis found it would struggle to establish here as areas with preferred hosts do not necessarily have the correct climate to suit fall armyworm. It is a tropical species that thrives in very warm climates. “If it was required, the moth can be treated with several products, many of which are already used in New Zealand for other kinds of pests. “This moth has been on our radar for some time, and we have worked closely with our primary sector partners on keeping it out through things like importing requirements on risk goods, as well as encouraging growers to remain vigilant for signs of the pest.” Stuart says the analysis last year showed the pest was unlikely to establish, however, Biosecurity New Zealand and its industry partners are taking a cautious approach. “We’re committed to working with sector and

A fall armyworm egg mass pictured on maize.

“We do have other types of armyworm moth in New Zealand, but this particular species, which thrives in very warm climates, can pose a threat to arable crops and other horticultural species if it becomes a large population. “We’ll be investigating further with our sector and Te Tiriti partners and will provide updates when we have more information.” For more information, contact the MPI media phone: 029 894 0328 or email: BiosecurityNZ_media@mpi.govt.nz

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Page 7

Poachers caught after going bush National Park Constable Mark Bolten and Senior Constable John Tito.

Police officers recently teamed up with a local farmer to catch poachers red-handed at Raurimu in the Ruapehu District. On a recent sunny morning last month, a farmer off State Highway 4 Raurimu noticed a ute parked on the side of the road. He saw two men exit the vehicle with a firearm, jump the fence to a neighbouring property and shoot one of the wild deer grazing there. The farmer called Police and National Park Constable Mark Bolten, who was only a few minutes away in Ōwhango, was shortly on the scene. “When I arrived, the ute was still there and the farmer told me that the two men had run into the bush upon seeing me arrive in the patrol car,” Mark says. “I spoke with the driver of the ute, got his details, and asked him a few questions. “He responded with a few creative explanations as to what he was doing, and during this time I got a few more units to come and assist from Taumarunui – Senior Constables Peter Marks and John Tito.”

What goes in must come out

Mark and the team formulated a plan and let the driver go on his way to work. Mark gave his mobile number to the farmer to call him as soon as

neighbours and friends, and this will spread the word for us around prevention and reporting suspicious activity when you see it.” The maximum penalty for unlawful hunting is two years’ imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine. “It’s a really hard crime to catch people committing as by the time we drive from one rural area to the next, they’ve bolted.

“Evidence can also be an issue as a farmer might just find a carcass. “One of the things we focus on as rural staff is our prevention work, of which we do a lot. “We have instituted a phone tree here at National Park and it’s amazing the power of conversations - even the local mailman was talking about it.”

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he saw the two men who ran into the bush. When the officers left, the farmer saw the two men emerge from the bush and make their way to the road. Within seconds he called Mark who made his way back, with Peter and John, and they surrounded the men in an enclosed area of bush. “We voice appealed to the men to come out and about 10 seconds later they walked out,” Mark says. The two men, aged in their mid-20s, and the ute driver, in his early 30s, all from Taupō, were spoken with and each charged with unlawful hunting. Mark and the team also seized the firearm that was used and are working their way through the revocation process for the men’s firearms licences.

It is the season to be poaching

The men appeared in the Taumarunui District Court last month. “It’s the season for poaching with the Roar in full swing and we are getting a few more vehicles into the area. “It’s very brazen to poach in broad daylight but it also shows that it’s opportunistic. “The property owner was very happy about us catching the poachers and we were very grateful for the farmer who alerted us to the suspicious behaviour. He felt like he was part of the blue team and was more than happy to assist. “What’s great about this is that he will tell his

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Five decades of service to the beef After clocking up nearly five decades of service to the beef and lamb industry, AgFirst Farm Consultant, Bob Thomson is a well-deserving finalist in the Significant Sector Contribution category of the 2022 Beef + Lamb awards.

Raised on a Northland mixed dairy and beef farm, Bob always intended to go farming, and completed his Diploma of Agriculture in 1969. His short farming career led him into some interesting projects. In the early 1970s Bob was managing a property where dairy-beef cattle of different breeds were reared and finished in a Ruakura trial run by Dr Graeme Everitt. The same property also reared and finished Friesian bulls, when bulls were just starting to be farmed in New Zealand.

Getting research to the farmers

In 1975 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - MAF, (now the Ministry for Primary Industries MPI) advertised for extension officers. Bob joined MAF in Hastings and his role was to understand the research and get it out to the farmers. He was also able to undertake further training at Massey. “New Zealand was investing heavily into agricultural research during the 1960s and 1970s and I was privileged to be part of that.” He reflects with pride on that era and some of the many research projects that have shaped how we farm today.

“For example, our scientists found solutions to facial eczema in sheep, managing it with zinc, and breeding for tolerance with rams from sire lines that were less prone to eczema. “They also quantified the effects of trace elements on animal performance and discovered that it was mostly minor, and that nutrition was of the most importance. “We started breeding animals for performance and the environment they would be living in, and performance national recording programs were introduced like Sheeplan and Beefplan.” Bob also spent time encouraging farmers to implement rotational grazing of stock as it was realised that good subdivision, good stock policy and good soil fertility were foundational to good farm production and profit.

Bob Thomson worked with MAF as an extension officer for about 10 years.

The end of the era

In 1985, all farming subsidies, along with agricultural research and development was progressively stripped out of New Zealand by finance minister Roger Douglas. Good farmers lost farms, and some even lost their lives as their dreams of farming on their own account were extinguished. “I was one of the first to leave MAF and become a private farm consultant, specialising in sheep and beef. “Instead of working with groups of farmers paid for by MAF, I found myself working one on one with farmers who were open to change and sharing their farming methods.”

Bob teamed up with a former MAF colleague Colin Page and together they worked up until 1997 when Bob established the NZ Beef Improvement Group. BIG was purchased by Richmond in 1998 and Bob found himself moving to Hastings. BIG was all about value-based payment on beef quality and Richmond saw that program as foundational to its new brand strategy. Records show that Richmond was subject to a hostile takeover by PPCS and as they say,

the rest is history. Bob enjoyed his four years at Richmond and greatly laments the loss of Richmond and the brand strategy they had embarked on. On return to Northland Bob established AgFirst Northland in 2005. He moved to the Waikato in 2015, where he contracts back to AgFirst Waikato and as one of the top New Zealand beef specialists, gets to talk with farmers all over the country. ...continued

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

and lamb industry

Page 9

Bob Thomson has been part of some of the most significant agricultural research projects in NZ. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

continued...

Consulting career

Bob has had a huge influence on the country’s beef industry. He was instrumental in establishing the first Beef Council, the New Zealand Beef Improvement Group, the Landcorp Beef Cow for Profit Programme and advocating for the game-changing Beef + Lamb Genetics Dairy Beef Progeny Test. If there is one thing Bob would like to devote the rest of his life to, it would be supporting a successful transition from killing two

million bobby calves, to rearing and finishing them profitably by 2030. “Genetics will play a huge part in turning unproductive bobby calves into profitable finishing cattle. But we need to realise that one-winter all-pasture beef systems utilise one-third less land than two-winter systems. “This means marketing lighter carcasses of young tender meat without mining the precious feed needed to get them through winter.” As far as being a Beef + Lamb award finalist is concerned, Bob

is “honoured and privileged to have been part of the team that has helped build and grow the New Zealand meat industry to what it is today”. “Many people have forgotten how far New Zealand sheep and beef farming has come, how well our farmers have done in terms of their resilience and contribution to what is good and great about this country of ours. "These are things that need to be remembered.” Catherine Fry

Future vet gets a study boost Huntly teenager Nerida Bateup is one of three New Zealand Young Farmers’ members to get a helping hand to further their education.

farmers to keep the stock healthy to produce high quality dairy and meat products. “By becoming a vet, I will be able to give back to my rural community that is the backbone of our county.” After graduating University, Nerida also Nerida, 18, grew up in the Huntly/Te wants to work in rural areas of Europe Kauwhata area on a dairy farm which and Canada to gain experience sparked her passion for agriculture of how farming and agricultural and animals. systems are run internationally. The first year Massey University Nerida and Lincoln University student has goals to complete her post graduate student Jeremy degree and become a Registered Kilgour were both awarded the Veterinary Surgeon to practice as a NZYF World Congress large and/or mixed practice vet. Charitable Trust Scholarship, “From working on the family farm each receiving $1500. I know first-hand how important Nerida Bateup. Meanwhile Lincoln University stock health and optimising student Georgia Moody is the first production is. recipient of the brand new NZYF Future “Vets are a crucial part to the New Zealand Me Scholarship, receiving $1500 for planned agriculture sector. Not only do they treat sick professional development. animals they play a huge role working with

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Home detention for polluting farmer Morrinsville farmer Kenneth McIntyre has been sentenced to five months home detention and fined $100,000 in the Hamilton District Court following his conviction on 13 charges of breaching the Resource Management Act.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

the environmental breaches, of a ban from any further waste being brought onto their property. The case arose as a result of several complaints from members of the public. As a result of a subsequent council investigation, it was alleged that large volumes of liquid waste had been “recklessly” discharged into the environment in 2018. Kenneth pleaded not guilty and elected to have the matters heard in front of a jury. The week-long trial was led by the Hamilton Crown Prosecutor. It was established that, Waste contaminant pools in a tributary stream in the month of May at a race crossing. 2018, in excess on two related charges for her role in of 1500 tonnes of dairy factory the offending. She had earlier entered liquid waste was received at the guilty pleas. Kereone farm. Judge Kirkpatrick says “the gravity of the The waste was then spread to offending in this case was high” and “the land in such a way as to flow into a culpability of Mr McIntyre for his offending tributary stream of the Piako River, is also high”. causing gross pollution. Waikato Regional Council regional The jury also heard that Kenneth compliance manager Patrick Lynch says had received $177,000 for receiving home detention for environmental offending the waste products between is very rare and “reflects both the very poor February and June 2018. Waste follows an overland flow path towards a behaviour of this one person, over many Cassandra was convicted and tributary stream of the Piako River in May 2018. years, and the frustration in that he simply discharged of any further sentence All Photos: Waikato Regional Council. has not changed his behaviour”.

The sentence imposed by Judge David Kirkpatrick last month follows a trial in June last year. It is Kenneth’s fifth prosecution by the Waikato Regional Council in a history of environmental offending that spans 12 years. The convictions relate to nine charges of discharging contaminants into the environment, three of breaching court orders that were imposed in previous prosecutions, and one charge of excavating a stream. All of the unlawful activities were at a Kereone farm, near Morrinsville. Judge Kirkpatrick made further orders against Kenneth and his partner Cassandra Kidd, who was also convicted in relation to

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1st place winners Gina Ferguson and Dale Cotton receive their award at Hamilton’s ArtsPost Galleries & Shop on April 21. took second place with her artwork Cluster Buster Bath Bomb. The artists’ statement for the winning work, It never rains but it pours, drew inspiration from the poem ‘Rain’ by Hone Tuwhare, and says that the piece relates to how “our relationship to our environment informs our past, present, and future”. Eugene says the winning artwork was both beautiful and stunning, and he had to return to the work several times to admire it.

KIWIFRUIT

Page 11

raising platforms of hydraladas, cherry pickers, elevating work platforms or dump truck beds, and chose a route where power lines are high enough to give a least 4m clearance. Lower lifting equipment before moving near lines. Do not use wires to train vines along the same path as overhead power lines. A broken wire flicking upwards can come into contact

with nearby lines with potential fatal results. The “look up” message also applies when building structures in the orchard, such as artificial shelter belts or raising canopies – when you must be at least 8.5 metres clear of electrical equipment. By law, orchardists and builders must follow these regulations that govern safety when building near overhead power lines.

A pair of doves add some spark to their relationship. Ground-based creatures should observe the four-metre rule when it comes to powerlines. Photo: Dan Hutchinson.

As the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit harvest gets into full swing, electricity lines company Powerco is urging orchard workers to look out for power lines. With extra hands coming on board to pick at the busy harvest time, it’s important for people working in orchards with power lines overhead to remember the “four-metre danger zone” safety message, Powerco general manager electricity Karen Frew says. “You don’t even need to touch a power line to be in danger. Electricity can jump to your equipment and to you. “Horticultural workers have some of the highest rates of injury and death from power lines. “That’s because orchards often have overhead

lines running through them, so there’s significant risk of you or your equipment accidentally touching lines. “To stay safe, people and equipment must stay 4 metres away from overhead lines.” The distance extends to 8.5m if building shelter belts or raising canopies. The safety message will be seen through digital advertising in the Bay of Plenty, as well as through an animated video on Powerco’s Facebook page and website. Following these rules can ensure everyone working in the orchard goes home safely. Always keep at least four metres away from overhead power lines. Don’t touch or work on any tree or vine that is touching or near power lines. Look up and know where power lines are before

Match-making service for primary industry A new programme to draw people into the primary sector has hit a major milestone – pairing up an aspiring nursery grower with an industry mentor. Primary ITO’s PiPI - Pathways into Primary Industries - is at a pilot stage where career-ready people can connect to business owners to help them launch into a career. It provides a matching service between people who want to join the sector, mentors happy

to help, and even businesses looking for people. There’s previously been a gap in doing this, says Primary ITO’s chief executive Nigel Philpott. “We started PiPI because across our 40-plus industry sectors, everyone told us that they needed skilled people and that they were prepared to train them. “The beauty of this is that there are many people out there who’d like to get into horticulture, agriculture or many other types of food, fibre and services, but haven’t known how to start.

“This will match those keen people with experts who know exactly how to go about it, and can even lead to a job.” The first person to apply and get a mentor wants to work in a plant nursery. “This person is already a general gardener so has some great skills and knowledge that they can bring to a nursery. “Finding out how to transfer those skills and build on them will be a really exciting journey for them – and there will be a business out there who’ll get a great employee.”

My Name is Neil Woodward. I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother. Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966. We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and three nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and accuracy. We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray applications. We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance. We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

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

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

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

Page 12

KIWIFRUIT

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

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

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

oil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz

KIWIFRUIT

Page 13

The kiwifruit show must go on short of workers the call goes out and growers turn up, jump on a tractor and help out. “It’s good some days – you get lots of people turn up. Sometimes you don’t. “They get paid but growers are normally consumed in their own orchard. We just call upon our growers. If growers can help out they let us know. “At the end of the day it needs to be done so we do everything we can.” She says they are learning to live with the labour shortage and are relying heavily on good relationships with local labour contractors.

NZKGI CEO Colin Bond is optimistic all fruit will be picked this year.

Kiwifruit will get picked and processed one way or another despite a dire labour shortage this season. New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated CEO Colin Bond says they entered the harvest season 6500 workers short because of closed borders. On a positive note he says the Omicron peak happened before the peak of the harvest. “If cases were still continuing to rise that would have created problems.”

Doing more with less

Borders were also open now, although many Pacific countries where RSE workers come from, were still dealing with their own issues around Covd-19. Offsetting that last month was a lot more Year 11, 12 and 13

students and tertiary students turning up to work during the April school holidays. However, they were still short of workers so to compensate it was about having a more efficient harvest. “We are 20 per cent down on capacity but we are utilising the capacity we do have available, better.” He was also aware of many growers who were helping each other out in the orchard or pack house.

Growers help each other

Hume Pack-N-Cool is dealing with the labour “crisis” by coordinating efforts between growers. Grower services manager Aimee Barker-Gilbert says they have more than 100 growers operating about 200 orchards. She says when an orchard block is due to be harvested and they are

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“We put a big focus on relationships with contractors year-round.” Colin says it is too early to say what the outcome is going to be when the season wraps up but the lack of labour is more likely to have an impact on quality rather than the fruit not getting picked.

Automation will help

He says the industry is doing what it can to build capacity and productivity and the large new pack houses with the latest technology is evidence of that. “But as much as automation is improving we are still very reliant on labour.” It is expected to be another record year for the industry with an estimated 190 million trays. Dan Hutchinson

KIWIFRUIT

Page 14

Good decision pays off In 2021, Billy Singh set a goal to pick 20,000 trays of SunGold per hectare, but he was unsure whether the existing structure on his family’s Katikati orchard would have the capacity to hold this target weight.

The risk of the structure collapsing and subsequent loss that would be incurred kept him awake at night. To protect the structure and crop, Billy contacted Mike Posa, key account manager at Ag-Steel. Together, they decided using the Ag-Triposts and Ag-Beam together would solve the problem. Billy ordered 2000 Ag-Triposts,

which were installed between the existing posts and Ag-Beam to reduce the bay size by half, relieving weight from the existing structure. One year on, Billy says he is delighted with result. “I’ve got a bigger crop this year, heading to 23,000 trays per hectare, and everything is holding very well. “I’ve had a couple of end assemblies give way, but the extra support provided by the Tri-Posts and Agbeam we installed last year has allowed the canopy to stay up. There’s been no movement in the structure at all.” Billy says it’s devastating if an orchard has a structure collapse, and with storms and stronger weather becoming more frequent as a result of climate change, he didn’t want to be in that situation. “We’re definitely very happy with our decision to go ahead and invest in Ag-Steel. Recent visitors from the packhouse were stunned with our loading and how well it is holding.” Mike says load capacity is a common concern among kiwifruit growers nationwide. “We see a lot of partially collapsed orchards, where

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Orchardist Billy Singh and Ag-Steel key account manager Mike Posa discuss the structure holding up the crop. the weight of the gold crop is “You could say our customer just too great for the existing service and product expertise is structures,” Mike says. worth its weight in gold!” “These large bays just can’t hold Billy commented that when the weight produced from a they had the 2000 Ag-Triposts SunGold crop. The best solution to install, it was a little daunting. is the approach Billy has taken; However, they found it was to add an Ag-Tripost between incredibly easy and did the work existing posts and run Ag-Beam as a team, without any need for which reduces the bay size by external contractors. half, relieving weight from the “I would have done our second existing structure. orchard at the same time if I’d “By understanding realised how easy it was. In fact, growers’ needs, we can make that’s this year’s project – it recommendations that will makes life a lot easier and is well provide the best support needed. worth the investment.”

KIWIFRUIT

Page 15

A case of brain versus back My news feeds are full of stories about labour shortages in the Bay, from truck drivers to kiwifruit workers, both picking and pack house.

So I figured I would pitch in and try and help out. I have a truck licence and a forklift licence I popped into a pack house in Te Puna. ‘Can I help out?’ ‘Yes please, we are screaming out for packers.’ ‘No problems,’ I say. ‘What shifts would you like?’ They had 8am-3.30pm, 8am-8pm, 8pm-8am and 4pm-8pm. How refreshing that management there are tapping in to the Mums’ days at home, the afterschool youngsters and, of course, those that want as many hours as they can get. I signed up for 4pm-8pm for a start.

Some quick introduction training and then in to it. The team came in all ages, sizes, ethnicities, religions. But wow, the teamwork was fabulous to watch. No need to scream out for help. If somebody saw you had a problem they immediately pitched in to help. No ifs or buts. Unfortunately I only lasted five shifts. With slight stooping, this 75-year-old’s back said ‘enough’. The 30-year-old brain said ‘hang in there, your muscles will get used to it’. The back won that argument.

Making the most of the NZ-US relationship While Covid-19 has put a dent in New Zealand’s trade with the United States, the overall relationship has broadened in value and opportunity over the past 15 years, new research by the NZUS Council shows.

The Sense Partners report The NZ-US trade relationship: Stability and diversity in a time of change provides the latest stocktake. NZUS Council executive director Jordan Small says the report highlights how valuable the US market is with annual bilateral trade crossing NZ$21 billion before Covid-19 hit.

The pandemic has also impacted the ability of businesses to form personal relationships in the US, which is important to succeeding there, Jordan says. “Putting tourism and travel temporarily to one side, our export story is incredibly positive and shows New Zealand businesses are creating new high-value opportunities in the US. Our export profile continues to feature high-quality, sustainable agricultural products, with US consumers growing their appetite for distinctly New Zealand produce like kiwifruit, mussels, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine and Mānuka honey.

A couple of my mates - very late 60s - are driving big rigs, sometimes up to 10-12 hours a day. They started as casual, fill-in types but the shortage of drivers has moved them in to full time, certainly during the kiwifruit season. I have no problem driving trucks or forklifts, am fit and healthy, but have

absolutely no desire for the 10-12 hour shifts. Seems to me that far too many employers and recruitment firms are limiting their pool of potential employees by doing these extraordinarily long shifts. I would happily help out for 4-6 hours daily, or nightly, with an occasional longer day. But bugger the 10-12 hours regular shifts.

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The opening of a new packhouse and four new cool stores in Te Puke provides reassurance to the burgeoning kiwifruit industry that kiwifruit growth can be processed. The plant room on the left houses machinery for the adjoining bin store (above right) where fruit arrives from the orchards.

The $ 4 0 million, 5 4 0 0 sq uare metre packhouse and cool store complex was developed by Bay of Plenty kiwifruit and avocado orchard management and postharvest company DMS Progrowers, at its Te Matai Road site in Te Puke.

“I CHOOSE A JOB IN KIWIFRUIT” Loads of seasonal and fulltime roles available right now!

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The new packhouse will enable DMS to double its packing capacity at the Te Puke site. In 2 0 2 1 the company packed 14 .2 million trays of kiwifruit between its two sites, but the new, additional Te Puke packhouse will extend that to 17 million trays in 2 0 2 2 . DMS is the first post-harvest company since 2 0 19 to build a new packhouse in the Bay of Plenty, an initiative prompted by the region’s continual, record-breaking kiwifruit crop. New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry is predicted to pack 19 0 million trays in

2 0 2 2 , with ongoing annual increases in fruit volume as greenfield and G old kiwifruit conversions come into production. DMS C EO Derek Masters says the company anticipates packing volume across its Te Puna and Te Puke sites will increase to about 2 0 million trays over the next few years and this new development will cope with this anticipated growth. “In around five years we will probably develop a further packhouse and supporting cool stores at the Te Matai Road site to match the growth of the ...continued kiwifruit industry.”

DMS PROGROWERS

Page 17

coolstore development about 3 0 photos of each kiwifruit, ensuring the highest standard of q uality classing. It is not an over-statement to say the MAF Roda is the heart of the packhouse because, in contrast to packing machines generally being sized to suit a specific size building, the DMS MAF Roda’s dimensions determined the size of the packhouse. ...continued

continued...

One of DMS’s quality control teams inspecting fruit.

Derek says the new packhouse will req uire an additional 10 0 seasonal staff meaning and that, at peak, about 7 0 0 people will be involved in the processing of fruit across three shifts, 2 4 hours a day, seven days a week. “The ability of our growers to meet global demand for kiwifruit depends to a great extent on confidence that there will be sufficient processing capacity for all the fruit they produce. “Providing this reassurance to our growers was a driving motivation for the development of this facility,” Derek says.

Derek Masters overlooking the sorting tables.

“Planning for more packing capacity began nearly two years ago. Our Te Puna site was at full capacity but, fortunately, we were able to purchase a 7 .5 hectare kiwifruit orchard next to our existing Te Puke packhouse.”

The impact of Covid K nown as the Rimu Shed, the new packhouse was commissioned on April 6 , one week short of the target completion date, and under budget. Derek says this is very satisfying, especially given the uncertainties of the C ovid environment and supply chain issues for plant and materials. Eighteen months of planning preceded the commencement of construction in August 2 0 2 1 but Derek admits that, even though the risk register anticipated an exhaustive list of “things which could go wrong and throw deadlines out” it simply was not possible to plan for the impact C ovid lockdowns and shipping delays would have. The biggest concern related to the heart of the new packhouse, the M A F R o d a Pac k i n g M ac h i n e – one of the largest in New Zealand with 10 lanes singulating kiwifruit into eight grading lanes after passing through a state-of-the-art camera grader which takes

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MAF NZ in conjunction with MAF Roda specialise in design, MAF MAF NZ NZ in in conjunction conjunction with with MAF MAF Roda Roda specialise specialise in in design, design, manufacture and installation of industry leading equipment for manufacture and installation of industry leading equipment manufacture and installation of industry leading equipment for for the fresh produce market. We create partnerships with our the fresh produce market. We create partnerships with our the fresh produce market. We create partnerships with our customers customers to to ensure ensure excellence excellence in in sorting sorting and and packing packing your your fresh fresh customers to ensure excellence in sorting and packing your fresh fruit and vegetables. MAF NZ offers value add end to fruit and and vegetables. vegetables. MAF MAF NZ NZ offers offers value value add add end end to to end end fruit end packing line line solutions complete complete with auxiliary auxiliary equipment and and packing packing line solutions solutions complete with with auxiliary equipment equipment and in-house capability capability to to manage manage change change with with efficiency efficiency and and care. care. in-house in-house capability to manage change with efficiency and care.

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DMS PROGROWERS

“We knew the optimum size packing machine we needed to deliver the desired throughput and so we sized the building to house the machine. This probably contrasts with the traditional approach which is to size the machine to an existing building.” Bin store and bin tip rooms, with a combined floor area of 16 0 0 sq m, flank the entry to the packhouse. Once harvested, the fruit is delivered to the humidity and temperature controlled bin room and then to the bin tip room before it goes

into the packhouse and onto the MAF Roda packing machine for sorting and packing.

No room for delays The various components of the MAF Roda packing machine originated from Spain and France, their volume and complexity req uiring them to be packed in 3 2 , 4 0 ft containers. The containers were despatched on a number of ships which were each variously affected by the shipping delays which are crippling world trade, as a result of the global pandemic. Dakota Boxer Paki and Andres Gomez loading the packing machine.

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The MAF Roda machine is pre-programmed to Zespri q uality specifications. The camera grading identifies any imperfections in the fruit, automatically segmenting it into three classes – C lass 1 export, with C lass 2 local market and Australia, and C lass 3 local market. The machine packs, on average, 7 0 0 0 trays per hour in contrast with DMS’s three older and smaller MAF Roda machines in the original packing house at Te Puke and at Te Puna, which pack up to 5 5 0 0 trays per hour. PA I N T I N G & D E C O R AT I N G In any year the packing machines operate PA I N T I N G & D E C O R AT I N G 2 4 hours per day seven days a week, starting in May and finishing in J une. Derek says the packing machine’s analysis P A I N T I N G & D E C O R A T I NTG generates a range of metrics which provide a very T detailed insight into the reasons fruit is rejected. “This information is valuable for us as processors, and for our growers who look at the E S T: T analysis thoroughly so they can see what reject volume of their fruit goes into the various classes E S T: and, importantly, why. ...continued A Shawn Williamson Company Workmanship Guarantee

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Derek admits he had a few anxious moments over C hristmas as the deadline for all components arriving approached. “There was no Plan B. We had to have the packhouse and cool stores ready for the start of the 2 0 2 2 season. Regardless of C ovid, kiwifruit keep on growing and we had to have the packhouse up and running for the start of the season.” As it turned out, all the containers did arrive in time for the MAF Roda and DMS teams to assemble and have it operational two weeks short of the original deadline.

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The line of packers includes Janet Dixon. continued...

“We also have a q uality control team who conduct microscopic inspections of the various classes and weights of fruit as a secondary evaluation of q uality and consistency.”

provided a high level of reassurance knowing that what was needed, would be delivered on time and to specifications. Sarah specialises in project managing large and complex projects but admits the C ovid environment added another dimension simply because so many elements were out of anyone’s control. “The fact we were able to deliver the project on time and under budget is largely down to the expertise and extensive industry experience of the DMS executive team and the overall culture of the organisation from the Board to the skills and attitude of the staff who work in the packhouse and cool stores. “It goes without saying too, that we were dependant on a team of contractors who balanced the environment with the role they had

to play in achieving our deadline,” Sarah says. S t r at u m C o n s u l t an t s took care of the geotech reports and the resource and building consents. R e d c o N Z did the concept and construction design of the pack house with the role of project lead going to local Tauranga construction company i L i n e C o n s t r u c t i o n whose project manager Tony Watson has vast experience in the construction of kiwifruit buildings.

Page 19

Balwinder and Manjit grading the kiwifruit.

...continued

On time and on spec’ The protracted L evel 3 C ovid lockdown in Auckland also compromised the ability for materials to be manufactured and delivered. Steel for the portals and roofs of the packhouse and cool stores was a case in point, with global shortages, compounded by the lockdown, a potential game changer. Project manager Sarah Wombwell of B O P I n t e g r at e d Pr o j e c t S o l u t i o n s says any adverse impact was avoided thanks to close and early collaboration with J ensen Steel Fabricators who ensured the steel portal frames and wall sections were available and delivered when req uired. DMS has used J e n s e n S t e e l for a range of building projects and Sarah says track-record

Inside the plant room is where the refrigeration plant is housed to run the adjoining bin store.

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DMS PROGROWERS

Page 20 continued...

Thinking outside the box The new packhouse features a range of innovations uniq ue to DMS – one relating to carton assembly. “A tremendous number of cartons are req uired for kiwifruit packing,” Derek says. “Traditionally those cartons are assembled in a separate building and delivered, by forklift, to the packhouse. “We wanted to streamline that process and so located the carton erector machine alongside, and feeding automatically, via Dyno C onveyor Systems, to the MAF Roda packing machine. It has really streamlined the whole process and works really well. “Dyno have built us a great carton transfer system.” Once packed, the cartons are palletised and sent to the automatic strapper pallet machine which straps the pallets to Zespri specifications. The pallets then go to pre-coolers which chill the pallets to 4 or 5 degC before going to the cool stores for storage until they are called up for export orders.

New cool stores

Stacker Blake Scott loads up the finished boxes ready for strapping team.

The Rimu packhouse became operational on April 6 with Dean Flavell and Darren Padre – local iwi Tapuika representatives – conducted a blessing on April 8. “U ntil 6 April we processed early season fruit through our existing shed on the Te Matai Road site and at Te Puna,” Derek says. “H arvesting of G old kiwifruit has now started coinciding with our heightened packing capability. “Developing a high throughput packhouse called for complementary cool storage where all the fruit can be stored until it is coded out.”

DMS CEO Derek Masters with project manager Sarah Wombwell from BOP IPS, checking over some final touches. acting as the roof for a vast underground C oncept and structural engineering for stormwater system where the run-off from the the four new cool stores was undertaken by site’s roof and hard surface areas is stored. B S K C o n s u ltin g E n g in e e r s . Derek says M o o n C i v i l & D r ai n ag e scoped The location of the new cool stores is the system to store the runoff from the current adjacent to the new packhouse and they and future buildings, future-proofing the site. were expected to be fully operational in the last weeks of April ready for the peak of the The system monitors and manages the season. In the meantime early season fruit storage and eventual dispersal of stormwater was stored in DMS’s existing cool stores. into surrounding soil. The refrigeration and electrical fit-out Te Matai Road site history of the four cool stores and packhouse bin store was undertaken by O r r R e f r i g e r at i o n DMS has had a packhouse and cool stores & E l e c t r i c al in conjunction with Active on the Te Matai Road site in Te Puke for Refrigeration. about 2 0 years. U ntil 2 0 2 0 the land area was 4 .5 hectares, but the decision to expand the The cool store walls are insulated panels packing and cool stores req uired more land. from B o n d o r N Z with steel purlins and a corrugated iron roof. The cool stores were The neighbouring 7 .5 hectare orchard built by S h aw n W i l l i am s o n B u i l d i n g and belonged to the H islop family. Derek Masters said their ‘ can do’ attitude to “We purchased it and had the land rezoned to go the extra mile was a huge asset. post harvest. The orchards were subseq uently About 15 0 0 cubic meters of concrete was removed clearing the building sites for the req uired for the truck loading and unloading packhouse and cool stores,” Derek says. ...continued area outside the new packhouse – the surface

BOP IPS is extremely proud to have been an integral part of the team in delivering the newest Packhouse facility in the BOP for DMS Progrowers START TO FINISH PROJECT e CONSTRUCTION MANAGMENT BOP IPS provides a holistic approach to project and construction management, built on a solid foundation of widespread knowledge.Having over 10 years experience in building design, architectural draughting, structural engineering, fire design, and understanding of the Building Code and Council authorities, we offer a 'one stop shop' from initial concept discussions to project completion Sarah Wombwell, Director of BOP IPS, has worked with DMS for more than 5 years. We have consistently delivered a variety of successful projects, including industry leading accommodation for seasonal workers, coolstores, office conversions and packhouses. We continue to work together on providing new buildings to support the growth of DMS Progrowers in the kiwifruit industry

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Page 21

Harleen and Harmandeep Kaur preparing boxes ready for stacking. continued...

The H islop family home remains, along with the Rimu tree – which the packhouse is named after – and gardens. The home is being refurbished into the main site office and the gardens remain, adjoining the cafeteria and providing staff with a great environment for their breaks. The total site of 12 ha future-proofs DMS, but Derek admits the current processing capacity “will probably need to be replicated in around five years based on foreseeable growth of the kiwifruit industry”. Derek joined the kiwifruit industry 13 years ago. A mechanical process engineer by trade he was originally attracted to the role of chief operating

officer “because DMS had a great reputation”. “The values of its two director families evident at every layer of the organisation. “I was appointed C EO three years ago.” DMS has 17 3 permanent staff across its two pack house sites and at its Tauranga office, with seasonal workers taking this number up to about 7 0 0 for the 2 0 2 2 season.

Quality Control Manager Manpreet Kaur with Jasmyn Gray and Teegan Andrews on the Twighlight shift.

congratulate

congratulates “DMS is a very progressive company; there congratulates DMS DMS

Staff loyalty

is a lot of competition for good staff across the kiwifruit industry and I can safely say that we offer our people a great package of incentives and training to grow their skills and ...continued retain their loyalty.

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DMS PROGROWERS continued...

“Our starting hourly rate for packhouse and orchard staff is $ 2 4 per hour, and there are a range of benefits including free cooked meals at every break and regular prize draws, based on attendance, of such things as iPods, iPhones and branded clothing.”

Café-style staff room

Stainless steel hand basins are located at the entrance to the new cafeteria.

The new Rimu packhouse cafeteria challenges the concept of a traditional ‘ smoko room’, with a spacious, beautifully designed café style environment constructed by S h e d B o s s of Tauranga. Opening onto the gardens outside the refurbished homestead, the

cafeteria provides staff with a relaxing environment with coffee and tea making facilities, a free meal for every shift and access to heavily subsidised food. The Pl u m b i n g W o r k s team is now putting the finishing touches to stainless-steel hand basins located at the entrance to the new cafeteria. DMS is a food industry organisation and req uires high standards of hygiene. H andwashing is a req uirement before entry to the pack house, before entering the cafeteria and again when re-entering the pack house. A roof will shortly be installed above the hand basins to protect and

Steven Sun and Jo Robinson working in the bin tip area. shelter from the weather as staff walk to and from the cafeteria. Derek says the Plumbing Works team has looked after all the plumbing, storm water, sewerage and water system needs and have done “an amazing job”. The main stormwater reticulation and fire control water system were installed by Moon C ivil. Preparation for the new packhouse and cool store facilities began months before the buildings were commissioned. “Our people had to be ready to hit the ground running and they’ve done that. Their pride in the new environment and the role they play, is pretty evident as you move around the site.” Derek Masters admits DMS is fortunate that its regular Regular Seasonal Workers have arrived from the Pacific Islands in time for the peak of the season. “Overall, we have a great team. “They’re motivated and hard-working and are a huge asset to the company and the industry.”

From orchard to cool store The DMS laboratory, located in the original Te Matai Road site office, is the first step in a defined process which ends with fruit being stored in the cool stores ready for export overseas or supply to the local market. The first step is when each orchard sends a sample of fruit, considered ready for harvest, to the laboratory for checking such things as brix levels, seed q uantity and colour. Once approved, ‘ clearance-to-pick’ authorisation is given to the orchard to commence harvesting the fruit. Once harvested the kiwifruit is delivered and unloaded into the temperature and humidity controlled bin store room which now feeds the new Rimu shed and existing Matai shed at the entry to the Te Matai Road packhouse.

...continued

Juwana-Hazely and Azariah Jones keeping the staff room and washroom clean and tidy.

DMS PROGROWERS

Page 23

continued...

Each bin has a bin card which states which orchard it originates from, its maturity, area and the date it was picked. The fruit remains in storage before going to the bin tip room from where it is loaded onto the MAF Roda packing machine for sorting and packing. Once emptied, the bins are sanitised and restacked ready for return to the orchards.

Ready, steady, go After more than 18 months of intensive dedication and work the DMS Te Matai Road site is set up and ready for a bumper kiwifruit season. Te Matai Road site manager Dave Pharo says it’s been a long time coming. Workers enjoy the modern, café-style staff room.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for what seems like an eternity. “The new complex provides staff with an amazing environment – everything is new, brand new purpose-built pack house, brand new packing machine, carton erector and strapping machine, new cool stores and a great cafeteria.” Derek sums it up by saying the DMS team supported by fantastic leadership from project manager, Sarah Wombwell, and a great team of contractors, most of whom hail from the Bay of Plenty, have achieved a huge amount in a relatively short time. “I think there is a collective sense of pride in what we’ve created – for DMS, for our growers but, ultimately, for the New Zealand kiwifruit industry.”

DMS CEO Derek Masters catches up with Te Matai Rd site manager Dave Pharo.

CALVING

Page 24

Calf scheme raises $40 million Dairy farmers are keeping a dream alive for Karen Chapman, who grew up on a dairy farm in the small Waikato settlement of Otaua and has only ever wanted to milk cows.

Karen has been supported by a network of dairy farmers in and around Pukekohe, many of them participants in the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme fundraising scheme, which raises animals and donates the proceeds to IHC. This year, the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme marks its 40th anniversary by celebrating all the farmers who have made lives better for people with intellectual disabilities in their communities. Over those 40 years, the scheme has raised $40 million. Karen’s dream looked pretty hopeless because her Dad Noel Chapman, a sharemilker, died while she was still a teenager and she and her Mum Olive shifted into Pukekohe. Then, in a double tragedy,

her mother died suddenly too, and Karen moved into IHC residential care. Local farmers, once they knew of her love of dairy farming, welcomed Karen into their milking sheds.

Part of the family

Karen has milked all over the northern Waikato and South Auckland districts. A long-time family friend, Glen Lee, has driven her around the farms for as long as anyone can remember. Karen says she is “a good friend to me, I have known her for a long, long time”. Glen would call farmers to see if Karen could visit. “It seemed to work best with the Goodwrights.” Karen used to milk for Syd and Jenny Goodwright. These days their son Tom farms the home farm and Karen milks for their daughter Becky Payne and her husband Mike on their farm

Karen Chapman enjoys another day in the milking shed with Mike Payne.

not far away. Another sister Hannah farms close by too with her husband Trevor Turner. All of them are donors to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme and know Karen well.

Years of experience

Syd and Jenny have been donating calves – real and virtual – to the Calf Scheme for more than 30 years, and for half of that time Jenny has worked as a canvasser for the scheme, visiting about 50 local farmers each season to encourage them to pledge calves. “I am really lucky because I have got a lot of farmers in the district like me who want to keep supporting the Calf Scheme. How lucky are we that we have had four children and 15 grandchildren who have no disabilities,” Jenny says. Karen says she used to help her Dad milk about 100 Friesian-Jersey-cross cows after school. Now she is milking

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cows on farms with bigger herds and more complex and automated rotary cow sheds. “I have been doing it for a long time now.” IHC national fundraising manager Greg Millar says the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme gives IHC an important connection to the rural sector and has evolved along with changes to the sector over 40 years, particularly as smaller farms and local relationships have given way to larger dairy units. Legendary All Black Sir Colin Meads, a Waikato beef farmer and staunch supporter of the Calf Scheme, encouraged beef and sheep farmers to get involved too. “He first threw his weight behind IHC when he stopped playing rugby, and we were privileged to have had the backing of the big man from 1974 for more than 40 years until his death in 2017,” Greg says. ...continued

in 40 years

CALVING

Page 25

continued...

More than 10,000 Dairy Farmers have supported their communities over many years through the unique fundraiser. As technology advanced on to farms, farmers began profiling their favourite cows and best milkers on Twitter and can now donate virtual animals along with the real ones. “We are incredibly grateful to the many farmers who have supported us over the years – some of them down through generations,” Greg says. “We’re also enormously thankful for the partnerships with our sponsors – PGG Wrightson who has been with us from the start and VW who provides us with Amarok vehicles and (was) matching

donations from the public, dollar for dollar, (last month).” People can still go to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme webpage to make a donation. The work done by IHC and funded by donations is critically important and can’t happen without them. This includes work with families of children with intellectual disabilities, community support provided by nearly 30 local IHC associations, our strong advocacy voice, a library providing resources to families around the country, a volunteer friendship programme, a national art competition for people with intellectual disability, and support for a national kapa haka programme.

Karen takes a break with Mike and Becky Payne at the shed of the Pukekohe dairy farm.

Nine-month-old calves reared on Calf Xtreme.

Feeding high volumes of milk to calves once-aday – in tandem with live probiotics and digestive enzymes – is revolutionising early weight gain and performance in New Zealand’s calves. Probiotic Revolution’s Chris Collier – a former farm consultant – has refined the OAD movement in this country with daily probiotic milk additive Calf Xtreme. In their first season in 2017 there were 22,000 calves on the programme, swelling to 80,000 last season. Calf Xtreme is a pure probiotic made of five strains of bacteria, five digestive enzymes and a specific strain of live active yeast. Importantly, it includes billions rather than millions - of Colony Forming Units and a shelf life of up to two years. The probiotics are micro-encapsulated allowing them to bypass the rumen and come to life in the lower GI

trac, which drives 70 per cent of a calf ’s immunity. There they out compete pathogenic bacteria and do their best work. An international study (the trial Brown et al 2005) concluded that the parenchyma - the mammary tissue relevant to milk production - was 50 per cent more developed in heifer calves fed higher amounts of milk compared to calves on a restricted diet. With Calf Xtreme, the milk spills over from the calf ’s abomasum into the rumen. “That spilled milk is stabilised by the potent levels of live yeast, that’s why they don’t get those nutritional scours. Calves at that age have a very efficient feed conversion and can be knocking back larger than expected meal/pellets within just a few weeks. “Feeding more milk on OAD just means they get to their target weaning weights earlier.”

Page 26

The wisdom From pharmacist to fashion designer, Brenda Donald has worn many hats, but it’s a passion for the land that’s prompted her most recent chapter as an organic farmer.

Brenda Donald amongst the sunflowers. All Photos: John Borren.

Previously, as the former owner of Central Parade Pharmacy, her focus on human health also aligned well with her interest in how environmental practices and natural medicines contribute to overall wellbeing. As a natural health consultant, Brenda pioneered the collaboration of pharmacy and herbal dispensaries that worked side-by-side providing choice for individual healthcare needs. On the sale of the pharmacy, Brenda bought land at Omanawa as an investment, initially leasing it out to be farmed as Six Toed Fox Organics. Since July 2021 it has undergone a rebirth under her management, as Wisewater Organic Farm.

Biodiversity

With a commitment to organic and sustainable farm practices and applying the permaculture ethos to the land, Brenda and her team hopes to create a lasting legacy in biodiversity. “In my early 20s I joined the Soil Association of New Zealand because I recognise that the health of the soil flows on through plants and animals and to the health of humans.

“I’ve always been obviously into natural medicine as well. I think we need to be more conscious of the value of the food we’re eating, and whether it’s free of pesticides.” The name Wisewater came about one morning while reflecting on how water makes up about 90 per cent of the human body. “On the farm we aim to use water wisely and responsibly. We harness as much water as possible that falls from the sky and re-direct it to irrigation. Other water from the vegetable washing and packing shed is redirected and flows into a terraced gully.” Tapping into the wisdom of reading and listening - not only to the land, with its memories, songs and stories to tell - but also to the environment and universe at large, Brenda says the word ‘wise’ references age-old principles combined with new, innovative techniques. “This enables us to learn how to work in harmony with the land. “Just as the moon influences the tides of the oceans, it also acts as a guide in the cycles of soil preparation, seed germination, growth and subsequent harvest.”

Vegetables

Vegetables are coming in at different times; new seedlings are planted while other crops are being harvested. And the range is extensive, with the land planted out with spring onions, broccoli, red and green cabbage, cauliflower, silverbeet, kale, carrots, artichokes, leeks, basil, celery, ...continued

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of organic continued...

cherry tomatoes, coriander, cucumber, curly kale, baby daikons, kohlrabi, microgreens, pumpkins, brown onions, parsley and new potatoes. Brenda, who has a stall at the Tauranga Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, doesn’t think Kiwis are quite as green as they think they are as a nation. “We have a lot of cancers. And we have a lot of autoimmune diseases, so we have to look at the way we farm, our environmental practices and how they affect us.” Biodiversity and working with nature to produce nutrient dense food that is good for us, free of pesticides and herbicides is the key focus of Wisewater. Walking around the farm, it’s interesting to see the permaculture elements at work, with companion planting, a worm farm and organic practices. “We have areas on the farm where we’ll grow different shrubs, trees and plants in amongst the vegetables that help the environment as well. There’s a lot of blending.”

crop to rest the soil and their deep, robust root system allows them to scavenge nutrients, enhance mycorrhizal fungal growth and aerate the soil. “Happy all round! The saying: ‘As above, so below’ couldn’t be truer.” The biochar is fascinating, with wood being burnt down until the point before it would turn to ash. “The biochar holds nutrients and water. “It improves soil fertility, plant productivity and helps with retention of rain water and water soluble nutrients,” says Brenda. “Honouring the land on which we live, working with teams and the community, it’s what I’m passionate about. And for businesses to start to be a little bit more aware of that as well.”

Sunflowers at Wisewater Organic Farm.

g n i t a t e g e v Re Aotearoa ale

Rows of vegetables at Wisewater Organic Farm.

Available for Public S

Teaching people to grow

Brenda Donald has a stall every Saturday at the Tauranga Farmers Market. A variety of different coloured carrots grown at Wisewater Organic Farm.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers and calendulas feature in companion planting. “Not only do sunflowers majestically entertain us above ground, they also attract numerous other beneficial insects onto the land and the bees love them. But below ground is where the magic happens. On the farm we use sunflowers as a cover

In addition to operating an organic market garden selling high-grade, nutrient rich produce at local farmers markets and vegetable boxes online, there are also workshops, farm tours and rambles to embark on. The vege boxes, available online from: www.wisewater.co.nz contain a seasonal selection fresh from the farm. Box contents for orders close off every Monday at 4pm and are delivered locally on Thursdays. Brenda’s also providing corporate gift voucher options for real estate agents to give their clients. “The other thing with Wisewater is teaching people to grow their own food. Yes, we’re growing a market garden, and we’ll supply those in the community who want it, but we’re also here to teach and to have a place where people can come and visit. For school children to see how food is grown, and for people to see how a commercial permaculture market garden works.” Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Page 28

Recovery and healing through native plants Things are growing at Te Taiope Huringanui/ Turning Point Trust – confidence, self-esteem, friendship, contentment and native plants.

The Trust, located at the Historic Village in 17th Avenue, Tauranga, was established to provide a caring, safe and nonjudgmental support service for people who have experienced mental illness or addiction.

“It’s a self-referral service, using activities and community to promote health and wellbeing Monday to Friday,” says the trust’s Kathy Palmer. Activities and services are varied and include Kaupapa

Native plants are available to the public from Turning Point Trust’s K Valley Nurseries.

Māori, horticulture, art and crafts, peer support and advocacy, career support, repurposed clothing. “And there is always a friendly ear to listen. “Working with plants outdoors has been proven to enhance recovery and healing, so we established a native plant nursery called K Valley Natives, which aims to restore people and the local environment. “The ‘K’ in K Valley Natives stands for the Kopurererua Valley in the Historic Village where we’re located.” K Valley Natives propagates,

grows and sells native plants to groups undertaking riparian and ecological restoration work and has an inventory of nearly 7000 mature native plants ready to be planted. “We are now offering the public an opportunity to access high quality, eco-sourced plants at competitive prices which start at $5.” K Valley Natives’ opening hours are 9am-3pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am-12.30pm on Friday. Anyone wanting plants, especially large numbers, are invited to contact Kathy Palmer on: 022 160 6696.

The burner built to last

Serious Incinerators are made tough in New Zealand and conform to stringent safety standards.

You can burn all year round with a Serious Incinerator. Made by Northland company Iron Tree Products, the corten weather steel incinerators are built to conform to New Zealand Fire and Emergency regulations. And they are built to last. Iron Tree Products’ Milton Brown says some Serious Incinerators have been in use for more than 15 years. With the optional spark arrestor and ash guard, the Serious Incinerator can be used as an approved incinerator even during a restricted fire season without a fire permit. There can be regional variations depending on the proximity to such things as forestry. It comes in three sizes; small 600mm diameter, medium 750mm and large 900mm. They all have a lid that safely latches

back to the chimney and a heavy duty grate. Ash is removed through the large access opening at the base. Serious Incinerators are popular with everyone, from farmers and horticulturists to lifestyle block and rural home-owners right across New Zealand. It was originally manufactured by Newman Engineering and is now made by Iron Tree Products - a family-owned business operating from a workshop in Titoki, Whangarei, which is currently being extended. “The focus is on producing products which are well engineered and manufactured so they last for decades,” Milton says Iron Tree’s product range also includes animal shelters and pens, Toyota Land Cruiser flat decks and a new pig trap is proving effective.

Page 29

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WWW.BIOROCK.CO.NZ P.O. Box 46234 BIOROCK (NZ) Limited www.goodwood.nz to groups who need hundreds Auckland 1147 0800 370 007 of them for a special conservation project – from Email: info@biorock.co.nz Phone: 021 645 199 Kaitaia to Bluff. “They are built to DOC standard and it’s a super WWW.BIOROCK.CO.NZ simple trap. People just want to check their traps and get results and make some difference.” In more recent times the factory has branched out into improving the environment of those working from home, with a range of furniture – including the Katie Desk, designed during the first lock-down.“We had the machinery so we started doing furniture.” It’s all about the environment though, and Callum says he simply wouldn’t be doing it if the business wasn’t making a difference. “It is never a chore coming to work and it’s the missus who tells me when it is time to come home.”

An estimated five per cent of Kiwis live with type 2 diabetes and this is expected to increase to seven per cent, or 430,000 people within the next 20 years. Dr Jian Guan, an Auckland University scientist and the world’s leading expert on cyclic Glycine-Proline research, says cGPMax will be tested in an open-label trial among a group of diabetic participants living with a range of metabolic syndromes. The patient trial is underway at a universityaffiliated hospital in China - using cGP derived

from New Zealand blackcurrants at a Canterbury production facility. The trial is due to be completed later this year and investigates if consumption of the natural form of cGP can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and complications from diabetes including poor eye function and nerve damage. Dr Guan has studied cGP for more than 30 years at Auckland University and says feedback from those taking non-synthetic cGP as a supplement for brain health suggests it may assist with other conditions. “cGP is a brain nutrient that normalises a hormone essential for overall body health and may play a wider role in improving circulation and creating new blood vessels than we previously understood.”

Trial provides hope for diabetics A clinical trial to test a molecule found in New Zealand blackcurrants, may offer hope for thousands of Kiwis living with diabetes.

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Now, his factory in Napier is turning out thousands of traps each month for community groups and individuals to catch predators like stoats, possums and rats. “I started with five or 10 at a time and scaled up from there. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster.” With six people employed full-time at the factory and four contractors, they are able to produce traps quickly and in a timely fashion, so community groups don’t have to find room to store hundreds of them. Demand comes in the form of people who order a few at a time through the website:

P.O. Box 46234 Auckland 1147 Email: info@biorock.co.nz

Callum MacDonald was tired of the daily grind two years ago, so he decided to improve the environment.

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Page 30

release poses multiple risks As the hunting season gets underway in earnest, OSPRI and farmers are asking hunters to think again if they are considering illegally releasing and relocating deer into new areas.

Deer hunters can spread bovine TB unintentionally by moving or releasing deer from one area to another. Over the years OSPRI has worked hard to eradicate TB in possums from large areas of New Zealand. This work can all be undone by the reintroduction of TB-infected deer with the potential of spill back of infection into the possum population. Waikato farmer Leith Chick says Sika deer from the Central North Island in particular pose a threat of infecting others if they are released

in TB-free areas. “Farmers who are getting deer released onto their land should be aware that they are exposing themselves to the risk of bringing TB to their farm. “Ultimately, this also impacts the deer hunter because if TB is found in wildlife in the region any control measures taken may interrupt any existing hunting in that area.” Relocation and releasing of deer also has an adverse impact on the environment. New populations of deer, or new species, create long-term damage to that environment and it can be irreversible. Deer browsing can damage native forests by feeding on forest plants, trees and seedlings.

The immune system (Part 2) Abundant Health

Let’s say a virus has penetrated your nonspecific immune defenses (see last edition) and starts to infect cells. Sitting, waiting for such an attack, is your specific immune system that is able to create a devastating attack against the virus.

However, this part of your immune system has a significant shortcoming. Initially, it does not recognise the attacker and needs to be trained to identify and attack the virus. Antibodies are proteins made by the immune B cells that bind to an invader marking it for destruction by T cells. Natural immunity is based on the immune system’s ability (activated B cells) to produce antibodies that will both fight a current infection and a return of the same pathogen. Artificial immunity is from vaccines that trigger B cells to make antibodies to provoke a rapid T cell response against a first infection against a virus. This means your immune system

is already primed, waiting for exposure and can launch a much faster, more aggressive response against the virus. Last edition we saw that our non-specific immunity is greatly influenced by nutrients. The same is true for our specific immunity. Vitamin D acts like a master commander of your immune defenses. Dr Anthony Fauci, who leads the US health Covid response recommends supplementing with 4000IU of vitamin D daily to help immune responses. It is also important to make sure you have optimal levels of antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals especially selenium and zinc. These help prevent damage from both the infection and the immune responses. Many of these are antioxidants which protect the immune system and also help prevent unwanted inflammation. Minerals such as selenium and zinc are very important. 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

Page 31

Beautiful Lake Benmore is one of the highlights of the High Country Heritage tour.

NZ Adventures offers a wide range of tours across the South Island of New Zealand. One of the most popular and established tours is the High Country Heritage Tour in its six-day format. The High Country Heritage is a journey down the eastern alpine foothills from Blenheim to Cardrona that NZ Adventures pioneered in the late 1990s. The tour includes a wide range of high country stations and conservation estate tracks along a 1250km route. There are overnight stays in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama and Cromwell before reaching the final night at the iconic Cardrona Hotel near Wanaka. Hotel accommodation is provided and most evening meals and breakfasts are in restaurants on site. Lunches are a mix of station-catered or picnics and in St Bathans, lunch is at the Vulcan Hotel. Farm lunches allow for a chance to interact with the farmers and learn something of their lives and agri-businesses in generally isolated but beautiful locations. The tracks are easily covered by competent drivers in suitable four-wheel-drive vehicles, which need to have low range transmission and all terrain tyres in good condition. No other special preparation of the vehicle is required. Highlights of the tour include Molesworth Station on the afternoon of day one and the vast hill country of North Canterbury through most of day two. Day three sees the tour head west towards the

The High Country Heritage tour gives people a chance to get right up in the mountains.

high alps and the massive vistas of the inland valleys. Day four takes the tour across high plains and the gravel river valleys of the Mackenzie Country along with some hill country tracks with views back to Mt Cook. Days five and six see the tour drive over into Central Otago with an opportunity to drive very high onto two of the mountain ranges that are so much part of this region - known

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for its history of gold and pastoralism and for being as far from the sea as it’s possible to get in New Zealand. The High Country Heritage is a great introduction to the South Island and to the NZ Adventures range of tours. The sheer size of the island, along with the friendliness of the people along the way are the most oftenvoiced comments of tour participants.

TRADE MARKET

Page 32

Calling all inventors Only nine months after showing their product prototype to the world at Fieldays 2021, Springarm products are now available to purchase in stores.

The flexible trough arm lowers the risk of failure in a farm’s water system, saving farmers water, time, money, and stress. Co-founder of Springarm Marianne Awburn says an exclusive partnership with Farmlands means that farmers can go and buy the arms the same day they realise they Springarm is a Fieldays success story and now it is being sold in stores. need one. Pictured is Ric Awburn (front left), wife Marianne on the right and Paul Possen and Amber Western at the back. Simplicity Springarm won Stage, and Growth and Scale. Innovation Award win, the 2021 Prototype Innovation The total prize package is Springarm partnered Award at the Fieldays more than $60,000 worth of with Metalform to scale Innovation Awards. The judges cash, services, and products manufacturing so they could for the awards observed that with tailored opportunities to meet soaring market demand. despite there being a strong progress innovations in each field of high-tech entries, Awards open for 2022 award category. Springarm was a simple, but Fieldays Innovation Awards Marianne says they will be effective solution. is now accepting applications entering the Early-Stage Award “We were also impressed for the 2022 intake from category for the 2022 Fieldays by the thought put into the individuals and organisations Innovation Awards and are product’s design and the clear looking to solve the world’s food very much looking forward to and immediate commercial and fibre challenges. connecting with the public again opportunity provided to The awards represent the in the Fieldays Innovation Hub. its inventors.” Apply at: innovation lifecycle across three www.fieldays.co.nz/innovation categories: Prototype, EarlyShortly after their Fieldays

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Bridging the divide

Page 33

Farmers benefit from weather collaboration Farmers will now be able to access sitespecific weather forecasts and data from their smartphones in a new partnership between global farm-management company CropX, and MetService.

MetService will provide weather data for CropX to share via its cloud based platform direct to an app on the farmer’s phone. The data will be backed by science, based on modelling and through local observations from specific weather stations in farming hubs.

“This partnership means that as well as farmers having access to the data our soil monitors provide, they will have further and fuller information on the weather in order to make good water and nutrient management decisions to ensure the best outcomes for the pasture in the growing cycle, with minimal water and fertiliser inputs,” says managing director of CropX New Zealand Eitan Dan. The agreement will see CropX using MetService weather data on its farm-management platform, with MetService now a licensed reseller of CropX’s technology. “No business could be more at the mercy of weather than farming,” says Eitan.

The Health Hub at Fieldays attracted 33,000 people last year.

Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing healthcare, infrastructure, and services essential to their overall wellness. Dr Garry Nixon, head of rural section of the Department of General Practice and Rural Health at Otago University and a doctor in Central Otago, is well-versed in the key rural health concerns. “Distance is a barrier and rural people don’t get the same access to specialist care. Providing good and accessible healthcare in rural areas means doing things differently to the way they are done in town – not simply providing scaled down versions of urban healthcare.”

Rural training needed

Another major issue is the severe shortage of doctors and other health professionals in rural areas. “The international evidence tells us that if we want health professionals to work in rural areas, we need to train them there. “This needs a targeted central government initiative to work with the universities to create a rural clinical school or equivalent solution.” He says improved access to services and health outcomes for rural Māori is an important priority. “Rural Māori have poorer health outcomes than both urban Māori and rural non-Māori.” To determine the extent of urbanrural health inequities, Dr Nixon and his research team have developed a ‘Geographic Classification for Health’ (GCH). This tool classifies residential

addresses as either urban or rural from a health perspective. “The GCH will provide more accurate measures of the health of rural New Zealanders. “We are already starting to see this in the data. For example, the GCH is demonstrating higher mortality rates for a number of conditions in rural areas, something that is not evident using older and generic urban-rural classifications.”

Fieldays health hub

Another service bridging the urbanrural divide in healthcare is the Fieldays Health and Wellbeing Hub. Fieldays attendees can receive a wealth of free check-ups, tests, and advice, from skin cancer spot checks, blood glucose tests, blood pressure tests, and atrial fibrillation checks, to smear tests, hearing checks, hepatitis C tests, and confidential mental health support. Communications manager at Mobile Health Andrew Panckhurst says more than 30 health and wellness partners will be part of the Health and Wellbeing Hub for Fieldays 2022. “We will continue to have a strong emphasis on mental health and wellbeing, along with promoting melanoma skin checks for early detection.” New partners will be joining the Hub at Fieldays 2022, including Dementia Waikato and Alzheimers New Zealand. Organisations that provide a health and wellness service and want to help bridge the urban-rural healthcare divide, are encouraged to register their interest for Fieldays 2022.

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FORESTRY

The right tree in the right place The increasing frequency and severity of flooding events across the country is highlighting the importance of erosion control initiatives.

Te Uru Rākau– New Zealand Forest Service grants and partnerships director Alex Wilson says a loss of productive land through erosion has a

significant impact on the environment, economy and local communities. “While we can’t prevent storms and floods happening, we can help mitigate against the impacts on people and livelihoods from slips and erosion, in particular by planting trees.”

particularly in the township of Tokomaru Bay, which has been cut in half by damage to a bridge on the main highway. “Tairāwhiti has a significant proportion of highly erodible land – three times higher than in other regions across New Zealand.”

Reducing sediment

Help is at hand

Erosion and its effects In recognition of the severe in hill country areas alone erosion problems in the are estimated to cost New Tairawhiti district the Erosion Zealand’s economy $250 Control Funding Programme Planting trees in erosion prone catchments can benefit the local million to $350 million a year. was established in 1992. area and downstream, in the event of flooding. “Taking steps to reducing “Since that time, ECFP Photo: Dan Hutchinson. erosion in the upper areas of a has partnered with Gisborne catchment is much more cost District Council to assist soil loss on private land - through actively effective than putting in floodlandowners in the planting or retirement partnering with councils. control structures in the lower areas and of more than 45,000ha of the most “Establishing partnerships between cleaning up after a flood. erodible land features in Gisborne. farmers, councils and Te Uru Rākau “Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Evidence of Hill Country Erosion – New Zealand Forest Service are Service works to protect farmland from Programme initiatives leading to more fundamental to the programme’s success.” storm damage by supporting farmers to sustainable land management can be Since 2007, more than $200 million plant trees to stabilise land, re-establish found in a series of case studies around has been invested in erosion control vegetation, or retire their most New Zealand, including in Hawke’s Bay, through the programme. This includes vulnerable areas. Manawatū-Whanganui, Nelson, Waikato, funding from central government, “Not only does this work retain and Greater Wellington. councils, and farmers. productive soils on farms, it also reduces Alex says the case studies clearly “We encourage farmers to work with sediment entering waterways and potential demonstrate how HCEP is funding the local councils through these voluntary downstream damage. It is particularly right tree in the right place for erosion important to build on-farm resilience now programmes - plan how to best protect the vulnerable parts of your property and control, helping to prevent erosion in the face of a changing climate.” in hilly country, which means less get support to take action.” The Sustainable Land Management sedimentation flowing downstream Gisborne-Tairāwhiti is the latest Hill Country Erosion Programme is the Government’s primary means of reducing region to suffer significant storm damage, – and better water quality.

The ‘true gentleman’

The pastoral and forest industries are mourning the passing of Rob McLagan, on March 26.

Rob served as chief executive of both Federated Farmers and the Forest Owners Association. Rob was CEO of Federated Farmers between 1979 and 1993. He then went on to become CEO of the Forest Owners Association for eight years between 1997 and his retirement in 2005. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says there is no question about Rob’s commitment to the Federation and all farmers. “His tenure was long and through the troubled times of the 1980s reforms. He is remembered with the utmost respect,” Andrew says. Association CEO, David Rhodes, says Rob McLagan was widely respected for his advocacy and style. “Rob placed a heavy emphasis on building and maintaining relationships and thus always had an open door ready for him when he wanted to talk.” “In all his dealings with a wide range of folks from landowners to officials and government he invariably elicited the same description – a true gentleman.”

AVOCADOS

Page 35

Unknowns abound for new season Looking to the new season ahead, the crossover challenge is a reality. Unless something significant changes, we will have a period where both old season and new season fruit is in the market. The early market is still something of an unknown for several reasons: For starters, after a tough export season there is little discussion from exporters about prospects for the 2022/23 season. Growers have been impacted by

Zeafruit CEO Glen Dunseath is predicting a significant volume of fruit to be on the early market.

Here are some insights into the local market for avocados, across both the current and upcoming seasons.

time to right itself. It leaves us in a difficult position, as we have chosen to price our lines going forward at a level that is viable to harvest.

With a couple of months to run in the current season, storms have impacted late supply and product is tight for most marketers – yet despite that, values are not lifting. After an initial post-Christmas lift, pricing has taken a hit due to export fruit not shipping and entering the local market instead. In some cases pricing has dropped by 50 per cent which will take some

Cross over challenges

Asking growers to pick for $3 to $6 tray OGR for the late season market doesn’t win you a lot of friends so we have set minimum payment values of $8 a tray OGR, which is our target for premium sizes. We believe we will over achieve on this as the export surplus will either run out or age out over the coming weeks.

Avocado market research Marketresearch.biz has introduced a new title called Global Avocados Market: Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 2022-2031.

In a statement the company says it aims to examine and put forth in-depth and accurate data on the global Avocados market. The report provides a study with an in-depth overview, describing the Product/Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status (2022-2031). “The report is curated after deep research and analysis by specialists. “It consists of an organised and methodical explanation of current market trends to help the users to entail in-depth market analysis. “The report encompasses a comprehensive assessment of different strategies like mergers and acquisitions, product developments, and research and developments adopted by eminent market leaders to stay at

the forefront in the international market.” The global market report contains detailed information on emerging trends, market drivers, growth opportunities, and constraints that can hamper industry market dynamics. Investigate Avocados provides information on market segments in greater detail, including product categories, applications, and competitor analysis. Current market challenges in the Avocados sector have been analysed and key strategic market activities are discussed, including product developments, procurement, and partnerships. “The avocados market has identified the need for acquisitions, business growth, executive measures, industrial strategy, and various laws in honesty after extensive research on international currency and losses.” “The Avocados research report is geographically classified according to regional market growth and development.”

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limited returns and in some cases will not want to wait for extended pool payment time frames. Tree health on orchards that have been pushed late will be impacted.

Time will tell

Other unknowns include uncertainty over how accurate the industry forecasting is and also how exporters are changing - or not changing - strategies to deal with offshore customer changes and opportunities.

These factors may force growers to look at early market options should clearances allow. I foresee a significant volume of fruit available for the early market. Certainty of sale and return is a driver for many suppliers and those growers who targeted the early market last year received better or equal returns than many exporters achieved in the longer window. Time will tell. Zeafruit CEO Glen Dunseath

AVOCADOS

Page 36

Looking out for each other It’s tough times at present. We’re seeing increased costs on most fronts and combined with lower returns it is tough times out there in the avocado business world. Interestingly, the other day I read some articles about pastoral care within our horticulture industry. It raised some questions for me. What I observed is that some sectors are doing this well while others are well behind.

It’s not only about the care and welfare of our workers, staff and family but it’s also about our own welfare, good health and state of mind.

Better support needed

It’s about looking out for our peers and understanding we may have different pressures, different issues and different priorities. It also includes our own welfare. Is our industry considering this?

Are they active in the welfare and pastoral care of those in our industry - its members - or are they reliant on supporting services and pan-alliances? Is there a greater opportunity to work together with other industries and establish better support systems?

Where’s the money going

I come at this topic as we in the avocado industry are having one of worst financial years since about 2012. If you were in the industry then, it was similar uneconomic returns that we experienced. I well-remember the challenges we faced. Some channel players had to pack up and leave the industry. It gave rise to the debate of our supply to exporters and a need to consolidate. I’m in no way suggesting that solution but it does raise the age-old debate about where all the money is going.

Inflation on the rise

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I also feel we will be seeing a significant lift in the cost of growing. Inflation this year is still being talked up. Fuel, labour - if you can get it, and fertiliser costs are all well up. I ordered some steel and it has risen 57 per cent in the last year. Can we sustain these prices within the current operating model? What it may make us do is challenge how we are doing the work. For example, the industry body is working on nutrient budgeting for a sustainable position. This will be a very effective tool for us as growers and enable us to better target our nutrient budgets and costs.

Take an interest in others

Similar, is the harvesting cost which is one of the most expensive costs on the orchard. Maybe it too needs some hard challenging around how and when we do this. Snap picking can increase picking speed by 30

per cent making the cost to pick a tray of fruit less when compared to clipped fruit. The downside is the increase in rots and downgraded fruit. At $10 per tray return that may not be a lot of dollars lost but it might save money on picking so it’s worth a thought! So back to my original observation. Pastoral care is a topic that may affect all of us. Take time to check on your neighbours, consider that others may have wider issues and complexities that add work or simplify their lives. But importantly give your grower colleagues the benefit of a bit of your interest in their welfare. It might be over a cuppa, a beer, or even just a chat over the fence. And remember a chat with others sometimes helps ourselves too.

AVOCADOS

Page 37

Less than a year from now, the world’s leading avocado growers and specialists will descend upon New Zealand for the 10th World Avocado Congress.

“Darling Group has been secured as the Kiwi Gold Partner, highlighting the importance of this global congress to their international business. “Avoco and Radford’s Software are our first Tui Silver Sponsors and Seeka is our first Kereru Bronze Sponsor. Jen Scoular, CEO of New “We also welcome event Zealand Avocado and president partners Plant & Food Research of the World Avocado Congress our science partner, Auckland Committee, says the World Unlimited and Tourism Avocado Congress represents New Zealand. an extraordinary opportunity “We are excited to announce that for avocado industries and Mission Produce is our first global horticulture sectors from around foundation partner and we warmly the globe to come together. welcome them. “With this very strong support Showcasing NZ avo’s base, we are confident in Taking place in Auckland delivering an exceptional event in from April 2-6, 2023, the 2023. We are certainly open for World Avocado Congress will conversations for further sponsors demonstrate New Zealand and partnerships. growing practises, food safety “After the global pandemic, and quality systems, and the we are delighted to welcome New Zealand Avocado ethical treatment of growers avocado visitors to New Zealand CEO Jen Scoular. and communities that live in to showcase our industry and our avocado growing regions. beautiful country. We are also working closely with “It also provides the opportunity to access Australian Avocados to better enable congressIRIS MULTI SPREADER IOD750J NOVAQUIP 3 PT DIRT SCOOP innovation, global knowledge and science to goers to add a trip to Australia after the congress.” IRIS MULTI SPREADER IOD750J NOVAQUIP 3 PT support the growth of the sector,” Jen says. C A T 1 - 2 link ageDIRT 1 .6 m W SCOOP ide A v aila9 7 0 L C apacity tw in spinner w ith side C A T b le1 - w 2 ith linkmanu ageal 1 or.6 h m W alic ide tipping A v ailaNew Zealand produces two per cent of global 9 7 0 L C apacity tw spreads in spinner w gypsu ith side ydru Top line-up of speakers dresser, L ime m, IRIS MULTI SPREADER IOD750J NOVAQUIP 3 PT DIRT SCOOP avocado production and is the world’s ninth largest b le w 1 - ith2 link manu or h Inc ydru alic tipping The World Avocado Congress will take place at IRISmu f rom $1995 MULTI SPREADER dresser, spreads L twime 3age PTal lch , manu re,in spinner w gypsu ood IOD750J ch m, C A T action 1 DIRT .6 m W SCOOP ideGST A v ailaw ipith $11995 side NOVAQUIP avocado exporter. the Aotea Centre in Auckland and will include a 99 77 00 LL CC apacity action f rom $1995 Inc GST C A T 1 2 link age 1 .6 m W ide A v ailaapacity tw in spinner w ith side Inc GST mu lch dresser, , manu re, w oodL ime ch ipgypsu $11995 b le w ith manu al or h ydru alic tipping spreads m, New Zealand is one of three countries to put three day academic programme with international b le w ith manu al or h ydru alic tipping dresser, spreads L ood imechgypsu m, action f rom $1995 Inc GST forward a bid to win the hosting rights for the mu lch , manu re, w NOW $11995 Inc of GST keynote speakers, regional field days and “plenty IN STOCK ! BEipQUICK THESE WONT STICK AROUND FORInc LONGGST AT THESE PRICES action f rom $1995 mu lch , manu re, w ood ch ip $11995 2023 event and was up against Mexico, the largest opportunity to mix business with pleasure”. Inc GST IncSTOCK GST NOW avocado exporter in the world, and Kenya, the IN ! BE QUICK THESE WONT STICK AROUND FOR LONG AT THESE PRICES Tickets will be available in June 2022 on the 100’s MORE ATTACHMENTS ONLINE IN STOCK NOW ! BE QUICK THESE WONT STICK AROUND FOR LONG AT THESE PRICES sixth largest exporter of avocados globally. World Avocado Congress website. IN STOCK NOW ! BE QUICK THESE WONT STICK AROUND FOR LONG AT THESE PRICES Held every four years, previous congresses The 2023 congress is expected to attract 100’s MORE ONLINE 100’s MOREATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ONLINE have been hosted in Colombia, Peru, Australia thousands of delegates, including some of the 100’s MORE ATTACHMENTS ONLINE and Chile. brightest minds in avocados including growers, PH 09 242 2228 “To help us showcase New Zealand avocados on researchers, marketers, retailers, tech innovators a world stage, we are pleased to announce some of and investors. PH09 09 242 242 2228 PH 2228 our initial sponsors and partners for the congress, For more information about the 2023 World PH 09 242 2228 Avocado Congress visit: www.wacnz2023.com and very much appreciate their support.”

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Improving relationships Fruit and vegetable growers who supply the domestic market have welcomed the Commerce Commission’s recommendations following its investigation into supermarkets. “The industry is pleased to see the Commerce Commission is recommending actions that would improve the relationship between growers and grocery retailers,” says HortNZ chief executive Nadine Tunley. “These actions include a compulsory supplier code of conduct, the prohibition of unfair contracts and a disputes resolution scheme. If implemented, these recommendations would help reverse the imbalance of power that the commission identified in its investigation. “The improved relationship along with greater transparency should ensure that growers get a better return on their investment, so they will continue to invest in fruit and vegetable growing so New Zealanders can eat healthy, locally produced food. “The greater transparency should also enable consumers to understand better the price they pay for New Zealand-grown fruit and vegetables.” Nadine says grower returns have not increased for at least 10 years but retail prices and costs – including labour, freight and compliance – have steadily increased [see Farm share of retail prices, NZIER report, August 2019]. In addition, Covid-19 has brought about further, more recent, steep cost increases.

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Page 38

Tearing up the turf It all started in 2015 when Ken Pearson was measuring horses at Claudelands Showground in Hamilton and could hear what sounded like V8 engines in the background.

After some investigation he found that it was lawn mower racing. “I told my son Mark and we went to a meeting and spent all day there. “The rest is history.” The pair’s first attempt at building a racing mower themselves was a broken Golf ride-on, with an 18 horsepower Boxer engine, which they proceeded to blow up. “We learnt a lot from that and just kept going.”

Ride-on lawnmowers are parked on the property ready to be raided for parts.

Racing every weekend

Lawn mower racing in New Zealand is governed by the New Zealand Lawn Mower Racing

Association and machines must follow the rules. There are three classes of machine and mowers are no more than one metre wide. All engine modifications follow the rules for their class. Ken and Mark belong to the Matamata Mower Racing Club, and there are other clubs in Eketāhuna, BoP/Waikato and Taranaki, offering a real enthusiast the opportunity to race almost every weekend. “You can drive as fast as the 400 metre track and conditions allow. “‘Hushpuppy’ our green ‘No 25’ machine has a 16 horsepower V Twin engine and has been clocked at 74 kmph. We reckon ‘Scamp’, our grey ‘No 26’ machine with its 44 cubic inch Briggs and Stratton engine could be capable of more than that - but no track is long enough to try it!” To build a new racing mower,

...continued

Lined up and ready to race.

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FARM VEHICLES & MACHINERY

Page 39

Three beautifully built and finished racing lawn mowers belonging to Ken and Mark Pearson. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

continued...

Ken and Mark pull their chosen mower apart and start from the chassis up, building to the allowed racing specs. They have several ride-ons around the property in various states of being dismantled, and their own track for test driving. “We’ve both learnt many new skills along the way.”

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This home built mower sounds like a V8 when the engine’s running.

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WAIKATO/HAURAKI FOCUS

Page 40

Toby Hopson, 3, Brendan Hopson, 32, Tessa Hopson, 32, Ollie Hopson, 1, Mitchell Young, 24, Jaxon Young, 1, and Sam Henson, 23. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

blend is bought in to feed on the feed pad. Brendan and one other full-time staff member run the farm with Tessa doing the calving and bookwork and raising the couple’s two young boys, Toby, 3, and Ollie, 1. “When we move to the 50/50 sharemilking role, we’ll be milking 650 kiwi-cross cows through a In June 2022, they will be moving into a 50/50 50-bale rotary shed. We’ll have 215-hectares and sharemilking role on the farm of Tessa’s parents, run another system three farm as that’s what we Stuart and Kaaren Davey. know and have experience with,” says Brendan. Both Brendan and Tessa were raised on dairy Tessa grew up on the farm they are moving to, farms, but Brendan did a building apprenticeship and her grandfather cleared the peat and swamp and Tessa studied Tourism Management before and broke in the land. When her parents’ longthey turned to farming. Their current 108 hectare equity partnership farm term sharemilker moved on, Tessa and Brendan took the opportunity presented to them. peak milks 315 cows and is a production system 3 farm. They grow maize, turnips and make grass Trying new things silage from surplus grass. PK, DDG and tapioca Until this season, the R1 calves had been leaving on December 1 to be grazed off farm, taking away a certain extent of control over their growth. This season, the Hopsons grew five hectares of chicory on the farm to graze 86 calves, supplemented with PK and grass silage. “We did have to take them off at some points as the severe drought we have had this season meant the chicory couldn’t keep up, so we’ve learnt from that,” Brendan says. Despite that, the calves have still gained good Liz Voorend Liz Voorend weight over the summer, reaching 27kg over Liz Voorend Liz target weights. 027P 755 6501 | E| Voorend 027 755 6501 Efarmsafety@wfss.co.nz farmsafety@wfss.co.nz ...continued P 027 755 6501 | E farmsafety@wfss.co.nz workablefarmsafety.co.nz P 027 755 6501 | E farmsafety@wfss.co.nz workablefarmsafety.co.nz workablefarmsafety.co.nz

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Page 41

The Hopsons will have four families living on the new farm, with all the staff aged under 30, and all having children under six. “We’ve participated in an Ignite leadership course with Rural Coach as we don’t just want to tell our staff what to do, but coach them and understand different learning styles. We’ll be having a team coaching session on farm,” Brendan says.

Quality over quantity They will be trying a 6/2 roster to keep staff refreshed and keen, with a good family and worklife balance. “We’ll be using auto cup removers, teat spraying Paeroa dairy farmers Brendan and Tessa Hopson, with and drafting in the new shed, freeing up a labour assistant farm manager Mitchell Young in the middle. unit for other work during the day. continued... Looking ahead, the Hopsons are hoping to match Using modern Gallagher supplied about dairy farming and are their current 400kg milk solids per cow in their first weighing scales on a regular basis has wholeheartedly behind the industry. year on the new farm, rising to 450kg after that. been a game changer for them. They have previously entered the “We’ve added a new herd with similar “Being able to weigh your stock New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, characteristics to our current herd and are looking frequently gives you data to use winning the 2020 Auckland/Hauraki for quality over quantity with an aim to being in to make informed decisions and Share Farmer of the Year Award, and the top 5 to 10 per cent for BW and PW in LIC’s improvements in your business’s are currently on the committee. Animal Evaluation System,” Brendan says. performance and adjust feed as “It’s a good way to push you out required,” Tessa says. of your comfort zone and find your “We’ve kept 60 hectares of our direction and we support our staff to current farm as a support block for have a crack at it,” Tessa says. In the 2022 NZDIA awards, their the new farm to keep young stock assistant farm manager Mitchell Young nearby,” Brendan says. 24, was a finalist in his category, and Pushing the comfort zone took home the Auckland/Hauraki DIA Emerging Talent Award. In 2022 as the drought progressed, The couple run their own Facebook they tried three milkings over two days, bringing the cows in at 5.30am page - Farming with the Hopsons. As well as day-to-day life on and 5.30pm on day one and 10am their farm, they also promote on day two. products that have impressed “It will definitely be an option them, and support their suppliers for the future with the 650 cows and contractors. as we can split them to get the best “We’ve seen the dairy industry get efficiency over the summer and avoid the heat of the day which is better for a bad rap in the past and we want to Dairy farmer Brendan Hopson show what a wonderful and positive stock and staff. with assistant farm manager Mitchell Young. industry it is,” Tessa says. The young couple are passionate

Future farmers Ollie Hopson, 1, Toby Hopson, 3, and Jaxon Young, 1.

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WAIKATO/HAURAKI FOCUS

Farmers embrace a Ron McLean and David Law make a presentation on Total Replacement Therapy.

Complying with climate change regulations without compromising production or profitability was the subject of two farmer field days held in the Waikato and Edgecumbe in early April. If participant numbers are any indication, farmers are keen to learn and adopt strategies which will enable them to comply with climate change regulations while improving the health of their pasture, animals and bank balances. The field days, held by Kiwi Fertiliser and Forward Farming, showcased the results farmers are achieving by adopting a ground-breaking approach which enables a farm to produce its own nitrogen, sequester carbon and reduce methane and leaching.

Unprecedented pasture growth

Known as Total Replacement Therapy, the system was developed by Forward Farming Biological Consultancy in conjunction with Kiwi Fertiliser and Terragen Biotech Ltd. Speaking at the field days, Forward Farming managing director David Law says the “early

Spray Solutions’ Kelvin Heath applys liquid.

years of TRT involved farm trials where biological products were tested by farmers in place of ‘conventional’ chemical fertilisers including Urea”. The program totally replaces a chemical fertiliser system with a biological fertiliser system. “One of those trial farms, in the Bay of Plenty, cut the use of synthetic nitrogen from 180 units/N/ha/ to 70 units/N/ha in the transition year without any loss of production. In year two synthetic nitrogen dropped to 25 units per hectare. Over two years synthetic nitrogen reduced by 86 per cent. “That reduction occurred during a drought and contributed to unprecedented pasture growth and clover cover which increased from 10 per cent to 70 per cent. Clover fixes nitrogen naturally so synthetic nitrogen can be reduced without sacrificing pasture production. “This improvement in pasture quality enabled the herd to maintain consistent production through one of the area’s toughest droughts.” And it wasn’t just “a oncer”. “Milk production and farm profit has since remained constant,” David says. “On this, and around 30 other farms, we have proven we can turn a farm around in 18 months, reducing the spend on chemical

...continued

WAIKATO/HAURAKI FOCUS

Page 43

ground-breaking fertiliser program David answers questions during the lunch break with Kim and incoming sharemilker Richard. continued...

fertilisers and synthetic nitrogen, increasing the quality and quantity of pasture and improving animal health and production.

Building soil balance

activators and feeders. Increasing the diversity of the pasture is at the heart of Step 7 - the aim being to add different pasture species to encourage and sustain biology to create a more sustainable balanced growing feed source throughout the season. Step 8 calls for the development of a strategic seasonal pasture management plan. David says the diverse pasture sward that results from Step 7 means that farmers can have a longer rotation length without compromising quality and production. “Strategic pasture management also protects the soil from the effects of overgrazing and helps mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

Mohi Beckham shows off his 30 species Reboot Crop.

Keynote Speaker Dr Lucy Waldron.

every farm is a bio-circle. Each area flows in and out of other key areas. What is in the soil goes into the grass; what is in the grass goes into the cow; what is in the cow goes into the effluent pond and what is in the pond goes into the soil. “And the circle continues. “That bio balance translates to grass which is more nutrient rich encouraging better feeding and greater cow health

and production. The soil is also more resilient with roots which go down one metre reducing leaching and improving drainage and water holding capacity during dry periods.” “TRT enables farmers to achieve the Government limits on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers for the same or less than they are currently spending with better cow health, production and soil health.”

TRT involves an eight-step program starting with Every farm is a bio-circle “TRT is a new approach but it’s one an assessment and soil audit of the farm. which resonates because it recognises “The first step is an on-farm audit and soil test what we all intrinsically know – that which enables the development of a production plan which compares previous production and profitability against projected outcomes. NZ DISTRIBUTOR “The Perry Lab soil audit and the Albrecht/ Kinsey system of soil fertility is an integral part of the program providing the farmer with a tailored Pond crust is caused by pathogenic bacteria in the guide to build soil balance essential for clover effluent that separate the effluent fibres and send them growth and beneficial biological development.” to the surface. David says the addition of a liquid biological conditioner, Terrragen Great Land, in Step 3, How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what NZ DISTRIBUTOR Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally. changes the soil microbiome and enhances root Not only do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent development improving the plant’s ability to nutrients into organic forms that are easily used by plants. In other words, withstand stress. Pond crust is caused by pathogenic bacteria in the they liquefy your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser. “Step 4 involves the reduction – but not effluent that separate the effluent fibres and send them Using Chlorine will kill these good bugs! We to the surface. elimination – of synthetic fertilisers. have the solution! DX50 is an eco-friendly “In the first year of adopting the program, our How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what sanitiser that kills pathogens 2.46x farmers reduce around 60 per cent of syntheticchlorine-free Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally. better than chlorine but leaves the good Slurry do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent nitrogen applications and experience an increase in NotAonly Bugs alone. chlorine-free Alkali nutrients into organic formsand thatAcid are easily used by plants. In other words, pasture growth. completethey theliquefy cleaning system. your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser. “Enhancing animal health is the focus of Step Using Chlorine will kill these good bugs! We 5, involving administering trace element and have the solution! DX50 isOur an eco-friendly environmental initiative to reduce biological enhancers to animals to enhance their Total chlorine-free sanitiser that kills pathogens water pollution2.46x is by implementing an Replacement immunity to stress and disease. better than chlorine but leaves good Slurry 8-stepthe method leading farmers from a Therapy “This has been proven to improve conception Total Bugs alone. A chlorine-freechemical Alkali andfertiliser Acid system using synthetic Replacement complete the cleaning system. rates, lower somatic cell counts, improve milknitrogen applications, to a quick and profitable clover-based biological Therapy Total quality and lower animal health costs.” system that enhances feedReplacement quality, animal health and effluent. Six monthly soil monitoring continues in Step Therapy Our environmental initiative to reduce NEED TO KNOWwater MORE? 6 with tailored applications of solid biologicalpollution is by implementing an Go to www.forwardfarming.co.nz and www.totalreplacementtherapy.com 8-step method leading farmers from a friendly fertiliser and liquid biological additives, to read more or call David Law on 027 490 9896.

chemical fertiliser system using synthetic nitrogen applications, to a quick and profitable clover-based biological system that enhances feed quality, animal health and effluent.

NEED TO KNOW MORE? Go to www.forwardfarming.co.nz and www.totalreplacementtherapy.com to read more or call David Law on 027 490 9896.

Alan Law’s cows enjoy a balanced feed.

Page 44

SHEEP & BEEF

Keeping cool with Oneshot When Andrew and Dianna of Oneshot Chillers talk about keeping cool, they’re not pushing the benefits of a hand-held fan while the weather’s hot.

They’re talking super-cool, like around 2 degC or even minus 18 degrees – ideal temperatures to cool store or freeze product safely, whether it’s an animal or an apple. Efficient refrigeration and freezing depend on a consistent and reliable internal temperature. Choosing a way to deliver that reliability and cost-effectiveness is simple too, and Andrew and Dianna are happy to share their expertise. Andrew has qualifications as a refrigeration engineer, backed up by his experience as an electrician. He understands how fridges tick and can design a chiller or freezer system tailor-made to meet specific requirements. The team can then source, install, service, maintain and repair it. Oneshot chillers and freezer rooms can be built from scratch to suit a client’s purpose or existing units can be modified or repaired to fulfil any requirement. From commercial to industrial to domestic, Oneshot Chillers is perfect to protect the quality and longevity of animals being readied for consumption or tanning, for general foodstuffs and

The team at Oneshot Chillers prepares for another day of keeping it cool.

liquids, or for horticultural produce. Oneshot Chillers also supplies ideal temporary cool accommodation for big game animals intended for taxidermy and trophy mounting. Oneshot Chillers can be mobile or permanent and 100 per cent Health and Safety compliant. They are available to private hunters, farmers, taxidermists, orchardists, tanneries, hospitality venues, cafes and are suitable for all food handling enterprises.

‘Make a plan’ says Beef + Lamb Beef + Lamb New Zealand North Island general manager Corina Jordan says completing a plan will help farmers identify any risks early so they can take action to manage them.

“The Forage Cropping module in B+LNZ’s Farm Plan is a valuable tool to help farmers work through their crop management plans and ensure they get the best result for their stock, the environment and their bottom line.” Corina says while the outcome of the Government’s review of the winter forage crop grazing regulations has yet to be announced, farmers are still encouraged to follow best practice management irrespective of the outcomes. Leaving Critical Source Areas ungrazed, keeping breaks long and narrow, feeding the paddock from the top of the slope and ensuring there is a minimum five-metre buffer between forage crops

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and waterways will significantly help to reduce soil and nutrient run-off and waterway contamination. Catch-crops such as oats, sown as soon as possible after winter forage crops have been grazed, are also a useful tool to transform any nutrients left in the wake of winter grazing into valuable dry matter. Corina says winter forage crops continue to be in the spotlight from both an environmental and animal welfare point of view. “Farmers need to ensure they are going into winter with a plan B in case of extended periods of bad weather.” Stock needs to have access to shelter, loafing areas where they can lie down comfortably and access to feed and clean water. Anecdotal evidence from regional councils suggests farmers have made significant improvements to their wintering practices in recent years, but it is important to keep the momentum going, says Corina.

DAIRY

Page 45

Why it’s OK to say no to urea During the 1990s when dairy payouts were escalating and there was an abundance of flat land suitable for conversion - primarily in Canterbury the key to ramping up pasture production was the application of urea.

The sign to the wider community that the operation was serious and sizeable was the erection of a urea silo. Although not necessarily intended as a status symbol, the silo along with new utes and 120hp tractors sent an undeniable signal to the wider community that serious farming had now arrived. Synthetic nitrogen is an exceptionally effective development tool when used in conjunction with new grass species, particularly true annual grasses and winter growing hybrids. Because of the immediate increase in growth, it is assumed that a continuation of regular nitrogen inputs will provide an ongoing lift in total growth. That doesn’t occur and a ceiling is soon reached. When heavier rates are applied to achieve the same boost there’s a steady downward spiral. This will not be immediately obvious and any reduction in annual growth can be attributed to unfavourable climatic conditions that occurred during the season, with climate change a convenient scapegoat.

New Zealand Farming by Peter During contains a significant amount of nitrogen fertiliser research, and shows that pastoral soils here may contain between 5,000 – 14,000kg N/ha in the top 15cm. Of that approximately 450kg is taken up by herbage and after accounting for that returned via uneaten herbage, dung and urine, 240kgN/ ha is required to be fixed by clover to balance the uptake. Clover in a well-managed sward can fix far more than that, provided astute grazing management, as taught in the 1970s and 80s is employed, and those skills are readily obtained.

More pasture

There are farmers today growing and producing well in excess of district average with no reliance on synthetic nitrogen that may provide the blueprint for those wishing to reduce costs significantly and develop their operations independent of mainstream doctrine.

Clover is the key to avoiding reliance on synthetic nitrogen.

More than 20 years ago, Functional Fertiliser developed the two products CalciZest and DoloZest containing soft carbons inoculated with a wide Ezi-flo pit gates completely range of selected beneficial fungi and Ezi-flo pit gates completely clear exit ways and cannot clear exit ways bacteria that improve physical soil be touched byand cowscannot leaving be touched bythe cows leaving milking area. structures and rapidly increase the the milking area. rate of nutrient cycling. The fully galvanised gates are available in kitset for The fully galvanised gates When used as the base of total speedy are available in installation kitset for nutrient programmes, the reliance speedy installation on synthetic nitrogen can be rapidly phased out with more total pasture 0800 226974 2 C OW S H E D grown at a lower cost. 0800 226974 Over time, urea silos on properties Ph Jim 07-850 Mob. 0274 936 693 2 C5971 OW SH ED Chris 07-849 3630 Mob. 0274 936 692 may well come to signify inefficiency Ph JimPh ezi-flo 07-850 5971 Mob. 0274 936 693 P.O. Box 10 188, Te Rapa, Hamilton PITGATES rather than rapid development. www.dairybuilders.co.nz Ph Chris 07-849 3630 Mob. 0274 936 692 ezi-flo For more information contact Peter P.O. Box 10 188, Te Rapa, Hamilton PITGATES www.dairybuilders.co.nz on: 0800 843 809.

The long downward grind

Synthetic nitrogen works by creating a rapid rise in bacterial activity in the soil. As they multiply a food source is required to maintain their activity and carbon is consumed releasing nitrogen for plant growth. Should more carbon be consumed than sequestered from primarily dung and old root, a reduction in moisture and nutrient holding capacity occurs and a degree of resilience is lost. When all climatic conditions are favourable growth can still reach expectations however the drop off with a change in soil temperatures or moisture becomes increasingly rapid. It may take several decades for a significant loss in total soil carbon however it is the labile, or mobile, fraction that is most rapidly depleted and that fraction is largely responsible for the speed at which nutrient is cycled. To compensate, larger and more frequent amounts of water-soluble nutrient is often applied with potentially a short-term gain, but the long downward grind continues. Nitrogen is an essential growth element and if not applied in the synthetic form it must come from another source and in permanent grazed pastures that is from clovers. The 1984 edition of Fertiliser and Soils in

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DAIRY

Page 46

Red alert over winter feed This coming year is going to be very interesting for farmers with high costs and supply issues impacting winter feed.

We have had enough problems with Covid-19 affecting the cost and reliability of shipping and now the Russia-Ukraine conflict is starting to rear its head when it comes to the availability of feed. Costs are up almost across the board and by a lot in some cases.

Fertiliser is up 200 per cent, chemicals are up 50 per cent, sea freight is up 500 per cent, electricity is up 21 per cent, winter grazing is up 37 per cent and cultivation and harvest costs are up 19 per cent Man alive, everything is going up so grazing costs will have to go up to meet the input costs. I am trying to source all my product now but it is hard to get hold of. Glyphosate is up 75 per cent.

Anonymous bugs have attacked this paddock so be on the lookout, as there are new pests around.

There could be a shortage of wheat and barley because the farmers in Ukraine are unable to plant so there is a big demand from other countries to fill their deficits as prices will rise. Cheap imported feeds are not happening and if it is, it is expensive, and then you can add in the freight costs with PKE over $500 per tonne, plus freight.

Grow your own maize

Farmers need to look into growing their own maize on-farm or at their run-offs to keep overall costs down, otherwise feed costs will spiral out of control. Start planning now is all I can say. There is also a shortage of straw because there was un-seasonally wet weather in the South Island where most of it is grown. There is going to be big issues with feed this winter. It’s a big red flag, so be careful, it might not be there when you want it and it will be very expensive so plan well ahead. On the positive side, Fonterra is already predicting a record pay out. The latest 2021/22 average farm gate milk price forecast is $9.60/ kgMS (Fonterra, February 24, 2022). The forecast has been driven up by the high cost of feed in the US and Europe.

Rainfall

Tauranga hasn’t had much rain in April. At the time of writing this column - April 18 - we’ve had only 40.5mm compared to 171.5mm for April last year. Te Puke is similar with only a fraction (17.5mm) of last April’s rain tally of 140.5mm. Let’s hope that we get some more rain later in April and May. Soil temperatures are steadily decreasing across The Bay. Looking around our new grass, anything that missed the early rain is struggling. It is really patchy and we are going around now and stitching up the paddocks as we go. Also, something has had a real go at it with a

70 per cent loss in one paddock. There is some real damage there so check your new grass regularly. There is a new army caterpillar with eggs or larvae found in Tauranga that attacks maize (See page 6 for story). Talking about maize, it was very dry when harvested. The hot days and wind dried it out. Having said that we had pretty good yields and a lot of effort and monitoring went into it. Check new grass for weeds and bugs – do a lot of monitoring, especially with the new army caterpillar coming in. Follow up with a nitrogen spray after the first graze.

New rule

Regional councils are trying to bring in a rule that you can’t cultivate anything on a slope of more than 10 degrees for winter crops. It is to do with run-off mainly. You have got to put in a management plan which is quite a job. It could drive the price up because there is less winter grazing available. I’m not saying we should be able to cultivate all the hill paddocks but it’s about being sensible. Farmers need to watch out for pugging because they are bringing in rules from other areas that are not necessarily a problem here.

Feed stocks

We still have a bit of hay left but not much straw and we are still tracking down baleage as we have run out of our own silage. So, get your orders in now and it’s a good idea to order your grass silage for next spring as it is the cheapest direct from our paddock into your stack or as bales. There are limited amounts available of high energy spring silage. Bringing it in from other areas will push up transport costs considerably.

DAIRY

Page 47

More dairy workers allowed into NZ assistants who can apply.” Workers on a class exception visa need to be paid at least $28 per hour. The recent changes announced by the Government will increase the number of international workers allowed into New Zealand under the 2022 dairy class exception visa from 300 to 800. This is in addition to the 2021 dairy class exception visa which

allowed 200 international workers to enter the country. Employers must apply to DairyNZ for nomination and have a class exception visa granted by Immigration New Zealand. A limited number of dairy workers may be eligible to enter New Zealand under other criteria – for more details, see: www.dairynz.co.nz/border

Sustained advocacy from the dairy sector has helped secure 500 more international workers to help on dairy farms.

in the right direction to reduce the pressure on farm teams. “We will continue to advocate for more to be allowed into New Zealand, to help address the significant staff shortage.” However, DairyNZ says the Government’s The dairy sector is estimated to have a shortage border class exceptions still fall short of the sector’s of 4000 workers. Record low unemployment, 4000 worker shortage. combined with a prolonged border DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim closure, have contributed to the Mackle says DairyNZ has been “We will continue shortage of workers. working hard to make sure the DairyNZ has also launched a Government understands the huge to advocate for more ‘Join Us’ campaign that aims to pressure farmers are under, due to to be allowed into connect dairy farmers and New workforce shortages. and to invite Kiwis to He says DairyNZ is relieved New Zealand, to help Zealanders join a dairy job. See: the Government is allowing an address the significant www.godairy.co.nz for more. extra 500 international dairy “We continue to encourage workers into the country through a staff shortage.” Kiwis to join our sector and farmers border class exception. It means 800 have been taking a range of steps to international staff will be able to enter make dairy farming more attractive to New Zealand to work on dairy farms. staff, however in such a tight labour market the A step in the right direction contribution international staff make to keep The organisation has been pushing for 1500 farms running is critical,” Dr Mackle says. international dairy workers to be brought into A simpler process the country in time for the 2022 dairy season “From here, we strongly encourage farmers who on June 1. want international workers on board for calving to “We made it clear to Government that the 300 apply through the border exception process. dairy border class exception workers previously “It’s now simpler for farmers to use the class approved was nowhere near enough to meet the exception process, so we hope to see farmers take demands on-farm and reduce the current high up the opportunity. levels of farmer stress. “People no longer need to stay in MIQ or isolate. “The Government’s decision to increase the “There is also no limit on the number of farm number of international workers by 500 is a step

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Feed the soil not the plant NZ DISTRIBUTOR

Pond crust is caused by pathogenic bacteria in the effluent that separate the effluent fibres and send them to the surface.

How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what NZ DISTRIBUTOR Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally. Not only do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent nutrients into organic forms that are easily used by plants. In other words, Pond crust is caused by pathogenic bacteria in the they liquefy your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser.

effluent that separate the effluent fibres and send them

Using Chlorine will kill these good bugs! We to the surface. have the solution! DX50 is an eco-friendly How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what chlorine-free sanitiser that kills pathogens 2.46x Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally. better than chlorine but leaves the good Slurry Not only do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent Bugs alone. A chlorine-free Alkali nutrients into organic formsand thatAcid are easily used by plants. In other words, completethey theliquefy cleaning system. your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser. Using Chlorine will kill these good bugs! We have the solution! DX50 isOur an eco-friendly environmental initiative to reduce Total chlorine-free sanitiser that kills pathogens water pollution2.46x is by implementing an Replacement better than chlorine but leaves the good Slurry 8-step method leading farmers from a Therapy Total Bugs alone. A chlorine-freechemical Alkali andfertiliser Acid system using synthetic Replacement complete the cleaning system.

We recently held Kiwi Fertiliser Total Replacement Therapy field days in Waikato on April 6 and Edgecumbe on April 7.

There was a reasonable turnout at each event, despite Covid-19 isolation and uncertainty. One key principle of biological farming that came up repeatedly was the nitrogen cycle, and how we can harness that to reduce synthetic nitrogen, increase grass growth and maintain profit. The atmosphere is made up of 78 per cent nitrogen, so it begs the questions: can we utilise this nitrogen to feed the plant somehow? If so, can we harness all we need, making synthetic nitrogen redundant? And if the answer is yes, how can we do that?

Harnessing natural nitrogen

In a chemical system, the synthetic nitrogen feeds the plant only; it grows as nitrogen applications, to a Total quick and profitable clover-based biological Therapy a direct result of the product application. system that enhances feedReplacement quality, animal health and effluent. Therapy Our environmental initiative to reduce However, the way the nitrogen cycle NEED TO KNOWwater MORE? pollution is by implementing an works is that it harnesses nitrogen from Go to www.forwardfarming.co.nz and www.totalreplacementtherapy.com 8-step method leading farmers from a the atmosphere and delivers it to the soil, to read more or call David Law on 027fertiliser 490 9896. chemical system using syntheticfeeding the plant through the roots. nitrogen applications, to a quick and profitable clover-based biological We have worked hard to help farmers system that enhances feed quality, animal health and effluent. understand that real growth comes NEED TO KNOW MORE? from a soil-feeding system, rather than Go to www.forwardfarming.co.nz and www.totalreplacementtherapy.com a plant-feeding system; this is one of to read more or call David Law on 027 490 9896. the cornerstones of the Albrecht/Kinsey system we follow. The danger of feeding the plant is that it can’t store what it doesn’t need; plants take up what they need, and no more. When

Prolific clover growth provides ample nitrogen.

we add synthetic nitrogen in excess, we are creating the overuse of nitrogen and the excess leaches into waterways. This is also the case for phosphorus. The phosphorus most commonly used in New Zealand is soluble, and if the plant does not need all that is applied, the excess can leach into streams and groundwater. It is also worth noting that the plant will not bother to put down extensive roots if it is getting plenty of synthetic nitrogen and other soluble nutrients – who doesn’t love breakfast in bed? Both of our field day farms have balanced soils, one-metre-long roots and established biology. Long roots also reduce the likelihood of grass pull. We also caution against taking shortcuts. We speak to many farmers who have added biology to their paddocks to find it only works for a month or two or it doesn’t work at all.

Supplied by:

Supplied Supplied by:by:

We tell them to stop spending money on biology until the soil is balanced. By balancing the soil, we are building a house for the biology to live in. Adding biology without first balancing the soil is like buying a goldfish without having a goldfish bowl and water – the fish won’t survive.

Going one step further

Our next step is to look at farmers who have dramatically reduced their synthetic nitrogen use like our demonstration farmers at Whakatane Alan and Wendy Law - who have reduced their synthetic nitrogen by 86 per cent to 25 units N/ha – and consider whether they would like to go one step further and remove synthetic nitrogen from their system altogether. Read the full version of this column at: www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

DAIRY

Page 49

Lifestyle sections moving further out It is rather ironic that as the price of fuel increases, people seeking a rural spot to bring up their families are being forced further and further out from the main centres.

With minimal opportunities existing around Tauranga and Hamilton now, the void is being filled by the likes of Hauraki, Matamata-Piako and South Waikato District Councils. In these districts lie opportunities for the subdivision of a small piece of paradise where you can grow your vegetables, run some beefies or graze a horse, have a menagerie of pets and generally let the kids run amok. Hauraki District has a lifestyle zone running along the hills on each side of the plains and also covering the hilly countryside surrounding Waihi. In this zone, it is not uncommon to see several lifestyle blocks cut off a complying 40ha block. In an area that is within easy reach of Auckland and other major cities, there appears to be a good market for these blocks. To the south in Matamata-Piako District, where you can be midway between Hamilton and Tauranga, they have generous subdivision rules allowing lifestyle blocks to be subdivided from many older titles.

general farm subdivision, allowing properties with ‘general quality’ land to subdivide down to a 20ha size, whereas ‘high-quality’ land has a 40ha minimum area requirement. Even further south but close enough to the services of Cambridge and Tauranga, South Waikato District Council allows lifestyle blocks as small as a quarter of a hectare to be cut off many rural properties.

In addition to these size restrictions there are a host of other rules affecting subdivision so, if you are wanting to plan your future with some certainty, you must talk to a subdivision specialist. We are happy to give you the time

to discuss the full potential of your land so feel free to give us a call and discuss your situation.

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

Plan well ahead

The Rural Subdivision Rules here allow one new section to be subdivided from a property over four hectares in size, with farms over 30 hectares having a possibility to subdivide into three lots. Councils regularly review their rules, so you can’t count on all or any of these rules remaining in the long term. You must plan well ahead if you are to maximise the potential of your land.

Rules vary between districts

A rule that is commonly used in this district provides farmers with the ability to apply to cut off either a one or two-hectare ‘lifestyle’ block from the farm, depending on the quality of their land and the title date. The remaining area of the farm must remain over a certain size dictated by the overall land quality. They have also taken a ‘land quality’ approach to

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CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

One storm after another Work gets underway on clearing up debris from Nuhiti Bridge in Gisborne as a result of heavy rain in March.

Contractors, Gisborne District Council workers, Central Government agencies, communities, neighbours and strangers have all joined forces to move into clean-up mode on the back of a prolonged weather event late in March followed by Cyclone Fili last month. Even before the remnants of tropical cyclone Fili many areas were already in recovery mode, like Tokomaru Bay where many had only just finished cleaning up from the last one. “It calls for a big effort from everyone,” says council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann. “We will be doing an assessment of needs, prioritising what needs to be done when and then ensuring there are the resources to get that work done.” Woody debris on beaches across the region will be closely looked at too. “If it appears there have been breaches of the Resource Management Act, Council will carry out further investigations,” Nedine says. The damage from the cyclone was still being assessed but she says the clean-up from the March event is huge because of how widespread it is. “Anecdotally people have compared it to Cyclone

Bola but it affected different areas within our region and people differently, so it’s hard to measure.” She says it is too early to estimate the cost of the clean-up but whatever that is will be met by the government and council. “Clean-up efforts like this require people power and machinery, some of which we may need to bring in from out of town, but we are still assessing just what is needed.” The priority continues to be to reconnect the region, to ensure people can move around, visit whānau and have access to groceries and medicines. Nedine says up to $500,000 Enhanced Taskforce Green funding will be made available to help with the clean-up. This $500,000 will help employ people for the clean-up, complementing the $175k Mayoral Relief Fund already contributed by the Government. “As a council we are working closely with Central Government and regional agencies to ensure our hard-hit coastal communities get the assistance they need.” Farmers and growers can self-register for clean-up help by contacting: 0800 834 434 TFG HELP, and anyone interested in being employed for this work can register by email: eastcoastjobsteam@msd.govt.nz

FERTILISER

Flying high is still a ‘buzz’ Glenn Haora had his first ride in a topdressing plane at seven years old and was “completely hooked”.

Today he is a pilot for Farmers Air Ltd and area manager for the new Waikato and Bay of Plenty base. Farmers Air is the oldest and largest independent operator in NZ providing topdressing services since 1977. Previously known as Airfarm the company was recently purchased from John and Janet Spence of Matamata. Glenn wants to continue the personalised service John and Janet have provided their customers over the many years and look forward to being involved in the rural community. “I started my flying training at high school and left school at 16 to take up a ground crew position for a company in Northland, and obtain my pilot’s licence.” His career has seen him train as a spray pilot and work in Australia until the drought literally dried up the work. Glenn has spent the last 11 years in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty areas, doing what he loves.

Page 51

Glenn Haora.

airstrip and the pilot arrives just after first light to make the most of calm morning conditions. “When conditions are favourable, we work long hours. “We can take off and land up to 100 times in a day, landing every four minutes where the ground crew will have another load ready to fill the aircraft hopper. “Loading can be as quick as 12 seconds.”

Farmers Air pilot and area manager Waikato/BoP, Glenn Haora flies the company’s purpose-built Falco XL aircraft. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

An aircraft built for the job

Glenn flies a Falco XL aircraft - the result of a major modification project Farmers Air undertook of its Hamilton-built Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft. “The Falco is a purpose-built, dedicated topdressing aircraft designed for NZ conditions and is the most cost effective way of aerial sowing a tonne of fertiliser.” It is built for pilot comfort and reduction of fatigue, and maximum safety and efficiency. Modifications include hydraulic hopper doors that actuate with the press of a button, or the doors can be coupled to the on board computer and TracMap GPS systems. This Long days in the air “I probably average about 600 flying hours a year but computer controlled or variable rate application results most of that is in the spring and autumn when demand in accurate product release on each farmer’s digitally mapped land. for topdressing is at its peak.” “Environmental legislation and compliance is The timing for farmers to apply their fertiliser is becoming a major component of our clients’ operations. important. Ninety per cent of their work is applying “As a crucial part of the primary sector, we take these super phosphate and lime product and the rest is made requirements very seriously and want to be part of their up of timing critical nitrogen applications. solution to fulfil their obligations and care for our land Prior to the job starting the farmer orders their and waterways.” fertiliser and has it carted to the airstrip and stored in Glenn still gets a buzz out of an early start and seeing the bin, ready to go. the sun rise over the horizon as he flies to a job. The conditions have to be just right for topdressing The highlight for him is being part of the farmer’s to go ahead. It is weather dependent with wind being operational team, developing their land to gain the main factor that affects product placement and operation from farm airstrips which are often situated on maximum efficiency to produce the world’s best protein in a very sustainable way, ensuring future ridges which are more exposed to the wind. When these conditions are right the ground crew drive generations will continue to feed the world. Catherine Fry the loader to the farm airstrip or a shared community

AERIAL TOPDRESSING

WAIKATO BASE MANAGER GLENN HAORA

M: 027 927 3726 E: glenn@farmersair.co.nz

www.farmersair.co.nz Ground crew fill the aircraft hopper.

FERTILISER

Page 52

Symptoms of a broken chain The primary means of control of any pest or It’s a win-win situation. There are no disease must be the good health of the soil losers other than pests and diseases. Insect life far outweighs the the plants or animals you are growing. collective weight

The chain of progression is healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy animals, and healthy humans. Insects and diseases are symptoms of a broken chain. They are not the causes.

Imbalance leads to attack

4547

Gra nul ar Sea wee d Fer tili ser

A balanced soil must have its chemistry, physical conditions and biology properly aligned. As an example, plants grown in a soil with poor structure owing to imbalanced nutrients will be susceptible to attack from insects above, as well as nematodes and other harmful biology, below. Much of the latter will be unseen but the plants will not perform to potential. Kiwi Fertiliser specialises in balancing soils correctly, so therapeutics are rendered unnecessary over time.

of mammals. Insects account for 80 per cent of animal life forms. Fortunately, most are beneficial with less than one per cent being harmful. However, world-wide expenditure on pesticides is about $50 billion. We end up consuming the residues. No insecticides are good for us. Public opinion has helped frame anti-pesticide regulations, but regulations are mostly skewed towards commercial interests. There are several integrated pest management strategies. But the reality is, if you need to take direct action against insects, you are growing insect food. Technically, insect food is not fit for human consumption. The gut systems of insects and humans are hugely different. If growers or farmers increase soluble solid levels (Brix readings) in plants, insects consuming such plants will die as the high Brix sugars will ferment in the gut and kill the insect from alcohol poisoning.

Research has shown that plants emit infrared signals. If the signals are healthy ones, the insects ignore them. If the signals are affected by stress brought on by bad weather, other factors, or poor soil conditions, the insect antenna will home in on those signals. In other words, the plant is calling for the insect to dine on it and to “take it out of circulation”. As the plant moves further from ideal health, the signals become more pronounced and that attracts more insect attack. Sometimes these factors are temporary, and the plant recovers when conditions improve. In nature, most nitrogen is in the ammonium form. This is held in place in healthy soils with adequate humus levels.

Getting to a good place

In agricultural soils where the carbon is lacking, often taken out by nitrate nitrogen - cheapest product syndrome - the soils leak ammonia, amplifying the infrared signals emanating from the plants. Insects (and other biology such as harmful nematodes) tell us what is healthy and what is not. The soil fertility balancing we practice at Kiwi Fertiliser, leads to much fewer insect pests and other disease problems. Farmers and growers are quick to notice the differences. Sometimes initial soil balancing is expensive, sometimes it is not, but that all depends on the starting point. Once there, fertiliser inputs, plant and animal health expenditure all decrease. Profitability increases. The mindset also changes as life is not a battle against nature, evoking thoughts of “what do I have to kill today?”

DMS PROGROWERS

Page 23

continued...

DMS CEO Derek Masters catches up with Te Matai Rd site manager Dave Pharo.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 54

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Bring on the grand final The road to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is underway, with all regional finals now finished and competitors selected.

Farming knowledge and skills will be put to the test again in July.

sponsors went above and beyond to make the events the best they could be, some working with extremely minimal boots on the ground as isolation rules kicked in. “Competitors, spectators and event attendees were also fantastic at adhering to the protections put in place and we can’t thank them all enough for coming out to support us. “After every event I say this, but the contest series truly would not be possible without our amazing volunteers and the hard hours, blood, sweat and tears they put into organising each event. “Our convenors, committees and those who raise their hands on the day are the life and blood to FMG Young Farmer of the Year, and to say thank you and we appreciate you won’t ever be enough to recognise their work.” The road to Grand Final is now underway for all 98 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest Series competitors.

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Ten Basic Fertiliser Facts Yo

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Ten Basic Fertiliser Facts You Must Know and Adop

Bert Quin DrDrBert Quin

Fact 1. Fact 2. Once you have Olsen P levels that are more than a third of the P retention (ASC), app environment. Fact 3. If you want to build up your soil P in an environmentally-protective way, simply app in a sustained fashion for plants. Fact 4. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. RPR-based fertilisers are even cheap

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strips can be harvested in summer to be fed out, to improve Fact 8. In a nutshell, for maintenance of P levels any genuine situations or low rainfall, use a blend of RPR and high-analys Fact 9. For N, rather than granular urea, use prilled urea, sp cut in half with big savings. Fact 10. annual amount you are using now. Easy to mix with your pr For more info, email Bert Quin on bert.quin@quinfert.co.nz, o

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For the first time in several years, all seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finalists are based on farms. Waikato - Bay of Plenty’s Chris Poole, Tasman’s Jonny Brown, Otago-Southland’s Alex Field and Taranaki Manawatu’s David Reesby are all dairy farmers. Meanwhile, Northern’s Tim Dangen, East Coast’s Mark Wallace and Aorangi’s Tom Adkins are based on sheep and beef farms. Held across three days in Whangarei from the July 7-9, Grand Final will be action packed with hundreds of people expected to be in attendance. The Grand Final also coincides with Bert Quin DrDrBert Quin the New Zealand Young Farmers AGM, Norwood National Awards and NZYF Tournament Series finals. Dr Bert Quin

She says they went further than just implementing Government guidelines to keep people safe. “We reconfigured the event layout with different entry and exit points for spectators and competitors across all three levels of contest, made masks mandatory, had competitors wear gloves and put multiple iuQttrre eBBrDrD niunQ other mechanisms in place to protect hosts and competitors moving through modules. “Our conveners, volunteer teams and

Farmers through and through

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Seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand finalists, 14 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year teams and 21 AgriKidsNZ teams are heading to Whangarei to battle it out for the top awards in July. Wanting to celebrate the regional final season loudly and proudly, New Zealand Young Farmers CEO Lynda Coppersmith has called it an absolute success. “To have travelled across the country during the omicron outbreak, held seven great regional finals with minimum disruptions and selected all our incredible competitors – all with no outbreaks at our events – is a testament to our exceptional teams and volunteers who put this contest together and their dedication and resilience.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Quinn with his pony Harry enjoying a well-earned cool down splash after a ride at Kariotahi.

One of our gals found a great way to cool off on a hot day on the farm in Te Awamutu.

Ivy ,6, and Fred, 8, check out their new friend in Bushmere, Gisborne.

Holly, 2, visits her grandparents’ cowshed in Matata to see where milk really comes from!

It’s sweet corn time! Zavier, 2, in Putaruru.

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