Coast & Country News - January 2023

From Scotland to New Zealand: Zoe Bryson has traversed the world to set up her future in the farming industry. In this edition of Coast & Country News, Zoe shares her story of dairy farming in the United Kingdom and how a six-week Kiwi Experience bus tour turned into a six month farm assistant job in Reporoa. Read more on Pages 4 & 5. Photo: Catherine Fry.

rabbits

this year?

A new year, new goals, new expectations.

We can but hope, however, there are positive signs, and of course we go seeking positive signs wherever we think we might nd them.

If we buy into Chinese culture, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and we should be encouraged, positive.

I know, I hear you!  e word “rabbit” is a profanity, a dirty word, for farmers. But, the rabbit is known to be the luckiest of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Gamblers and stockbrokers – squeeze farmers into that mix – can expect to enjoy an extra ounce of good luck this year because the Year of the Rabbit is a rewarding one for anyone taking a risk.

And good fortune always favours the brave. I am a ckle person so I have embraced rabbits and Chinese culture for 2023. I want some of that good luck please. But we in the rural sector are still enduring a lingering

hangover from 2022 – and it’s nothing to do with excessive behaviour on New Years’ eve. at slight thumping in the back of the head is induced by climate change – read agricultural emissions and farm levies – increasing costs, supply chains, labour shortages, wages, and ad in nitum.

It’s going to take more than a Disprin, a Berocca and a lie down to clear our heads of those issues, and many others facing farmers.

I would like to gaze into my crystal ball for some wisdom and insight but it’s on charger.

So I’m going with my own instincts.

Something I imagine many readers of this paper have done over the years.

Coast & Country News will be joining farmers, growers and the everyday Joe Blogs in wondering what the Government, the economy and the Year of the Rabbit has in store.

But with just an ounce of luck we will all be in clover in 2023.

Letitia Atkinson

Govt sets out steps for sequestration strategy

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Climate Change Minister James Shaw are con rming the next steps in the Government’s partnership with the primary sector to develop a strategy for on-farm carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide with the goal of reducing global climate change.

e recognition of on-farm sequestration will be a core component of the Government’s work to reduce New Zealand’s agricultural climate emissions.

Priority

“We want a plan for reducing agricultural emissions we can all agree on. We’ve heard sequestration is a top priority for farmers and critical to making He Waka Eke Noa work,” says Ardern.

“ e Government has already committed to sequestration being recognised and compensated for from 2025.

“ e recent consultation process has highlighted how important the issue of sequestration is to farmers. is is work we already had underway, but next step will be to work closely with farmers to develop the scienti c, and policy approaches needed to best recognise sequestration that occurs on farms.

Working together

“ e best way to achieve sustainable emissions reduction is by working together. e

Government remains committed to He Waka Eke Noa and we are pleased to undertake this important work on sequestration with farmers to help deliver it.”

“What we are proposing represents a signi cant shift in the way the Emissions Trading Scheme works,” says Climate Change Minister James Shaw.

take some time, so there will also be a need to ensure transitional arrangements from 2025.

“In-line with the Primary Sector Partnership’s original proposal, the Government is committed to sequestration being recognised from 2025.”

Acting National Party spokesperson for Agriculture Todd Muller says the Government’s decision to allow full recognition of carbon sequestration is “overdue” and a victory for farmers.

“ is is a U-turn that took far too long. It should never have come to this,” says Muller.

“National has been saying all along that the idea that farmers should pay a price for 100 per cent of their emissions but receive less than 100 per cent recognition for on-farm sequestration was always nonsense.

“Sequestration is scienti cally valid and has to be part of the solution to climate change.”

Muller adds the Government’s priority from the start should have been the “widest possible recognition of on-farm capture carbon”.

“It’s great to see they have nally seen sense and are working with farmers on this.”

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e Government is con rming the next steps to develop a strategy for on-farm carbon sequestration.

“ e He Waka Eke Noa partnership, the Climate Change Commission, and the Government all agree that it needs to be done in a way that is fair, cost-e ective, and scienti cally robust.

“It means farmers will get full recognition for scienti cally proven sequestration on their farms. is should unlock a wave of research, science and innovation into forms of emissions removal that also enhance biodiversity and other important values that aren’t always achieved through exotic forestry plantations.

“Bringing new categories into the ETS may

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Taylor Rice

Dairy Trainee winner has sights set

Dairy Industry Awards Dairy Trainee of the Year 2022 for the Central Plateau picked up three regional merit awards, two national merit awards, and a was placed third overall nationally in the Dairy Trainee category.

She grew up on a 200 pedigree Holstein cow dairy farm near Glasgow, Scotland.

She completed a degree in Ag Bio Science at SRUC and also trained as an AI technician.

few months.”

e local fresh milk demand is met by the farms that split calve or autumn calve as the human population is so much smaller.

“I got stuck here when Covid hit, so my visa was extended as I was needed as an essential worker.”

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e fth generation of her family to work on the family farm, she worked with her parents, concentrating particularly on breeding and calving. In 2019, she came over to New Zealand and went on a six week Kiwi Experience bus tour to see the country before starting a six month farm assistant job with Tom and Traze Earls on a 200 hectare, 500 cow dairy farm near Reporoa.

In order to meet the conditions of her work visa, Zoe has completed ITO Level 4 Calving and Mating, Level 4 Milk Hygiene and is currently doing her Level 5 in production management.

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e 24-year-old completely “fell in love” with the fundamentals of the pasture based dairy industry and could not be more enthusiastic about it.

A complete change

“In the UK, to meet the local year-round demand for fresh milk, the cows are milked three times a day and are housed for seven to eight months of the year. It’s a very full on, high input, highly sta ed, high-cost system, but also produces high output, which is paid on litres of milk,” says Zoe.

To keep the milk production up all year, the cycle of calving and AI is continual all year round, so supply never stops.

“In New Zealand the cows are outside for the whole year, eating a grass-based diet, are dried o any time from March to June and all calve within a

She was described as having all-round practical skills ability, and being cool, calm, collected and very thorough in the judge’s notes for her DairyNZ Practical Skills Merit Award. Her outstanding general farming knowledge and genuine passion for the New Zealand dairy industry earned her the Milkbar Farming Knowledge Merit Award. is knowledge also earned her the national Federated Farmers Farming Knowledge Award, and her particular strength in animals and reproduction was noted.

Planning a future in NZ

Another of Zoe’s regional merit awards was the TH Enterprises Community and Industry Involvement Award. She was commended for her e orts to immerse herself amongst varying age groups in the community, including the Young Farmers.

“I met my partner, Connor Steens (22) at Young Farmers in 2020, at the time he was working on his parent’s farm in Ngakuru. Fast forward two years, we are now in our rst season 50/50 sharemilking on a 90ha farm also in Ngakuru.”

Major weather events website launched

of climate change means farmers are facing more severe weather events, more frequently.

Preparing for severe weather events should be incorporated into farm plans, says William.

“We are likely to have more extreme weather events and there will be more droughts and oods.

“Putting an emergency plan together, it can be as simple as just sitting down in the cold light of day and working out where the high ground is on your property.

“In some cases, it might be plainly obvious, but in other cases it might not be, and you don’t want to be thinking about that when you’re really under pressure, you want to be able to think about that well ahead of time.”

e website - farmersadverseevents.co.nz - could

farmers future-proof their disaster response.

Zoe Bryson has travelled to the other side of the world and found her niche in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Zoe Bryson and Connor Steen with their Kiwi cross herd. All Photos: Catherine Fry.

e

Trust

on farm ownership

She milks 280 cows once a day.

“We bought the 220 Kiwi cross cows that were already on the farm. I help him with relief milking and youngstock work on weekends as well as AI during mating.”

Eye opening trip

A trip back to Scotland for the young couple, and Connor’s rst experience of a high intensity dairy farm, really opened their eyes to the bene ts of the New Zealand dairy system and the career progression it o ers towards farm ownership.

“You couldn’t work up to buying a farm in the UK. You usually have to be born into it and just carry on the line,” says Zoe.

In her video for the Dairy Trainee of the Year, Zoe explained her life experience of farming in Scotland, and how much she admires the New Zealand system and thrives in it. She was awarded the national Streamliner Productions Best Video Merit Award.

“I qualify for a Covid Residency Visa, which is for people who are already on a work visa and working in certain essential industries, so I’m waiting for the outcome of that.”

Together she and Connor are hoping to reduce their debt by moving to a bigger job within the next two to three years and aim to be on a 10 year journey to farm ownership.

In order to comply with her visa requirements, Zoe can’t be self-employed and is working as farm manager for Connor’s parents, who own the neighbouring 145 hectare farm.

“We can’t plan just yet but we can certainly get ourselves in the best position to be ready to take any opportunities that are o ered to us.”

Livestock exports by sea to cease

Livestock exports by sea will be stopped by April 30, 2023.

is deadline was announced following the passing of the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill in parliament in September. Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connnor says the end of livestock by sea exports “will protect New Zealand’s reputation for worldleading animal welfare standards”.

“ e Animal Welfare Amendment Bill future-proofs our economic security amid increasing consumer scrutiny across the board on production practices,” says O’Connor.

e Government started a review of the livestock export trade in 2019 in response to concerns the trade could be a risk to New Zealand’s reputation.

“ e objective of that review was to provide New Zealanders an opportunity to re ect on how we can improve the welfare of livestock being exported.

“Our primary sector exports hit a record $53 billion last year, delivering us economic security. at result is built on our hard-earned reputation and this is something we want to protect.

“I acknowledge the valuable input from written and oral submitters during the Review and Select

Committee process, and the considerable support the Bill received from the public.

“New Zealand’s remoteness means animals are at sea for extended periods, heightening their susceptibility to heat stress and other welfare-associated risks.

“ ose involved in the trade have made improvements over recent years, but despite any regulatory measures we could put in place, the voyage times and the journey through the tropics to the northern hemisphere markets will always impose challenges.”

Catherine Fry

Dairy Industry Awards Dairy Trainee of the Year 2022 for the Central Plateau, Zoe Bryson.

Connor Stten and Zoe Bryson in the dairy shed of the Ngakuru farm where they sharemilk.

Scheme attracts new vets to rural NZ

irty-two graduate vets will begin their careers in rural New Zealand, with a nancial boost from the Government’s Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians.

Each recipient will receive funding of $55,000 over ve years to kick-start their careers and help to ease the shortage of veterinarians working with production animals in NZ regions.

“ e Voluntary Bonding Scheme incentivises vets to take up positions in our more remote regions,” says Acting Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Meka Whaitiri.

Delivering care

“Since its inception in 2009, the VBS has supported 416 graduate vets from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South, providing certainty for students and vital skills for our rural communities.

“We need these vets to provide the best care for production animals, such as cows, sheep and pigs,

e goal of understanding the deep history of carbon cycling on Earth and how – and if – we can make that work for us in the ght against climate change has secured University of Waikato researcher Dr Terry Isson a prestigious Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.

Terry’s research to date looks to piece together a picture of climate regulation on Earth over its multi-billion-year history, by investigating intricate processes within the global carbon cycle.

is involves examination of changes to Earth’s climate state across both broad time scales and also during more speci c climatic and mass extinction events. e Rutherford Fellowship means this research on the role that silicate minerals play in regulating the natural carbon cycle, can grow.

Terry aims to reconstruct the multi-billion years of history of what natural carbon capture and release looks like.

Vets are needed all over NZ to help keep animals healthy.

and working dogs that are so essential in our food and bre sector.”

e programme is delivered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Eight of this year’s recipients will be placed in Waikato, while Canterbury, Manawatū-Whanganui, Southland, Taranaki, Otago, Auckland, Bay of

Plenty and Hawke’s Bay will also bene t from an in ux of graduates.

Crucial role

“Vets are vital members of our rural communities, and many graduates who have taken up the scheme enjoy the lifestyle these locations o er.

“From Waimauku north of Auckland to Winton in the deep south, this year’s graduates will play a crucial role in helping our farmers with production and animal welfare.

“ e VBS is just one of the programmes the Government is investing in to ensure our farmers have access to high quality, professional veterinary services and help rural communities to continue to thrive.”

University of Waikato researcher

Dr Terry Isson has been awarded a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.

“ e fellowship will allow me to investigate further how the Earth’s coupled carbon-silicon cycle works – how e ective it is, how it responds to climate change and what role biology plays in returning carbon back to the atmosphere.”

One other aspect of Terry’s research looks at how silicate minerals can help absorb carbon directly from the atmosphere.

A partnership with Tauranga iwi Ngāti Pūkenga has been looking at how dunite can be used on farmland to capture carbon and reduce emissions.

“I’ll be able to look at harnessing other

natural processes for large scale carbon capture as well as scale up my research into rock weathering.”

Terry’s two-pronged approach will understand and unpack the potential of silicate minerals to help tip Earth’s climate back into balance.

e weathering of silicate minerals, like olivine, draws carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere while silicate mineral formation re-releases that carbon back into the air.

“It is time for us to radically reimagine the way we live life on this planet.

“By coupling eld studies with new geochemical models and machine learning techniques, we can better understand how silicate minerals naturally regulate our climate, and then see what we can do to enhance that process to tackle climate change.

“ is project will test the idea that we might be able to harness the power of silicate minerals to curb the escalating planetary fever and potentially take us one step closer to achieving carbon neutrality.”

Herbicide resistance has been bantered about as a serious and growing threat to New Zealand’s food production.

Recent surveys by scientists have been nding half or more of arable farms and vineyards in some regions have weeds resistant to commonly used herbicides. AgResearch scientists, who are carried out the rst systematic approach to surveying for herbicideresistant weeds in arable crops with funding from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment in

“ e issue is that as this resistance grows, so too does the costs and impacts on farmers and crop production in New Zealand.

“We rstly need to understand the full scope of the problem across New Zealand, the mechanisms involved in the resistance, how the resistance is passed through the generations of these plants, and then we need to look at strategies to address it and slow the development of the resistance.

“At present, there are limited alternatives to many of these herbicides that the weeds are evolving resistance to, and that is an area that also deserves attention and investment in the research.”

In 2019, a survey took seeds from 48 randomly selected arable farms in central Canterbury and weeds resistant to Group A and B herbicides were identi ed from a quarter of those farms.

Further surveying across arable farms in Southland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and across vineyards in Marlborough and Canterbury, found at least 50 per cent had weeds resistant to Group A and/or B herbicides, with glyphosate being a problem in vineyards.

e highest risk weeds were pasture-related grasses.

Common resistant weed species being identi ed by the researchers include ryegrass, wild oats and chickweed, as well as rst time nds of resistant sow thistle (puha), summer grass, prairie grass and lesser canary grass.

AgResearch senior scientist Dr Trevor James with resistant ryegrass.

Custodia is a registered trademark of an ADAMA Group Company.

‘Annus horribilis’ of roading resilience – Waka Kotahi

that we’ve got now in mind. “As a consequence of that, we tend to score way above anyone else in terms of deaths and serious injuries.

“Reducing that is quite a high priority for us.”

e resilience of state highways, making alternative routes t for purpose and the reason there are so many potholes are just some of the topics being talked about at the moment.

“ is is annus horribilis in terms of resilience challenges,” Waka Kotahi Waikato-Bay of Plenty relationships regional director David Speirs told Ōpōtiki District Council at its rst meeting since the elections.

“You’ll know this from your own personal experiences. Everywhere in the network has struggled with weather events.

“What those weather events have highlighted is, where we have a closure of a major network, we have very limited alternative route provision and often those alternative routes are not suitable for the vehicles travelling on them. Very large trucks, for example, or even in some cases emergency vehicles.”

Hotspots

He says alongside Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Coromandel, Taranaki, and some parts of the South Island have been identi ed by the transport agency as “hotspots” both in the context of where the weak points were, but also as critical lifelines to communities.

“State Highway 2 and State Highway 35, in your case, have already been identi ed as having signi cant issues from a geotechnical point of view, but also from a lifelines point of view, so they are critical; there is only one way in, there’s only one way out.”

He says Waka Kotahi is assessing alternative routes.

“We are looking at, whether we can be con dent that, if the state highway is closed for any reason - be it a crash, be it a washout - that the alternative routes that we are relying on are t for purpose.

“It’s going to be an enormous job, but that will identify the onelane bridge that’s not capable of carrying a milk tanker, the gravel road that will fall apart if you put 1000 cars a day instead of 50 on it for three days.”

David says he will be working with councils to help identify these areas over the next few months, but it will be a lengthy process.

He also addressed the issue of potholes on state highways, saying it’s due to less funding provided for maintenance.

“It’s no secret we’ve got some pothole issues at the moment. Much of that is driven by decisions made some years ago to take a minimalist approach to the maintenance of the network in favour of funding some large infrastructure projects.

“We are now starting to see the impact of that minimalist approach.”

He says that as a result, Waka Kotahi is now having to invest quite heavily in renewals and in maintenance of the network to get it back up to speed.

Pothole issues

David talked the council through Waka Kotahi’s investment process to help them understand where their biggest in uence as a council could be in expressing their community’s needs.

Talking about the issue of road safety, David says the Bay of Plenty-Waikato region has one of the highest death and serious injury rates in the country, partly due to how much the roading network was in use because of how spread out our communities were.

“Unfortunately, those networks were built back in the 1940s and 50s.

“ ey weren’t built with 58 tonne trucks in mind. ey weren’t built with speeds of 100kmhplus in mind.

“ ey weren’t built with the number of vehicles

State Highway 35 took a battering in July with slips and washouts cutting o access to the coast near the Motu River mouth.

Diane McCarthy, Local democracy reporter

Pete & Marcus

Te Puna contractor Russ Williams still uses a late 1960s Freeman 200 T baler that he acquired in the mid-2000s, when his late father Rex was still involved in the family business.

He pulls it behind a 1980s 90hp Massey Ferguson 390. “ ere’s still a high demand for conventional hay bales in our area and the Freeman is fast and works well, so why would I replace it?” says Russ. e story starts with another Freeman baler, a self-propelled one that Rex bought new in

1967 from A. M. Bisley and Co. in Te Puke.

e American produced machine had two Wisconsin petrol engines and they were extremely thirsty on fuel.

e “T” in the 200 T stands for twine as

When Russ joined the business, he used the selfpropelled baler and was shocked at the petrol usage.

By the mid-2000s this baler was pretty worn out but Russ knew the whereabouts of a 200 T. “We used to drive by one in Tahuna all the time and we could see it poking out of a shed.

“ en one day we saw the shed

had collapsed and it was now sitting under some macrocarpa, so I decided to act.”

Russ managed to catch the older farmer while he was milking and sparked a conversation about the baler’s future.

“ e farmer said it was good for scrap and he liked a beer or two after milking, so I whizzed to the nearest liquor store and clinched the deal with a box of beer.”

Rex Williams with his self-propelled Freeman baler bought new in the late 1960s.

Te Puna contractor Russ Williams with his late 1960s Freeman 200 T baler. Photos: Catherine Fry.

it uses twine not wire like earlier balers.

TIDY COND

Ready to work

continued...

Russ and Rex collected it with a atbed truck and brought it home to Te Puna. e initial plan was to take the badly seized 200 T apart to use as spares for the self-propelled baler. “We started but then decided to refurbish it and use it. It was so much cheaper to use it behind a tractor than to use the selfpropelled one.”

Russ has access to workshops and the knowledge for engineering and fabricating, so can do the majority of any maintenance and restoration work himself. He has since

acquired another 200 T and uses that for parts for rst 200 T and the old self-propelled one. Russ still has “dad’s favourite toy” in his shed and looks after it well. He is a member of the Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club (which his dad co-founded) and takes it for a spin on club haymaking days, even though its petrol use still makes his eyes water!

Russ has “a few older vehicles lying around” from his father, and carefully maintains these precious legacies.

Above:

Below:

Catherine Fry

e Freeman 200 T baler is still regularly used today.

Russ still uses his Freeman 200 T baler for work.

e mechanism for the twining.

MyNameisNeilWoodward. IamadirectorofZ-Contracting-wearefamilyrun business,ourteamconsistsofthree,beingmyself,my sonandmybrother.

Ourorganisationhasbeenestablishedforover18 years.Ihavebeeninvolvedin applyingcropprotection programmeswithinthehorticultalindustrysince1966.

Wespecialisewithinthekiwifruitindustry, We have theequipmenttosprayorchardswithour two Atomsprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing

Zespri’s climate change plan

Zespri has released its rst ever Climate Change Adaptation Plan – Adapting to rive in a Changing Climate.

It outlines how the kiwifruit industry intends to adapt to a changing climate in New Zealand and in its o shore growing locations.

Developed in consultation with growers and the wider kiwifruit industry, the Climate Change Adaptation Plan establishes a framework for the industry’s long-term approach to adaptation and is a response to Zespri’s Climate Change Risks and Opportunities Report which was published in 2021.

Zespri chief grower, industry and sustainability o cer Carol Ward says the plan re ects Zespri’s ongoing commitment towards transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

Responding to change

“We know the climate is changing which brings challenges and opportunities for our industry and it’s important that we look at how we can ensure the kiwifruit industry remains climate-resilient.

“Adaptation will be critical to our ability to provide our customers and consumers with great fruit from both our New Zealand and Northern Hemisphere supply in the years ahead, and to protect and enhance the value we’re returning to our growers and communities.”

Carol says Zespri is committed to taking action, both to reduce the impact the kiwifruit industry has on the climate and to prepare for the impacts climate change will inevitably have on growing kiwifruit.

“Our industry is already experiencing and responding to climate change, with growers

adjusting their growing practices in order to maintain and increase yields in light of the changing climate.

“ is can be seen in the installation by growers of hail netting, the development and maintenance of shelterbelts to help protect orchards from severe wind events and the use of irrigation to prevent vines from experiencing water stress or frost, with post-harvest facilities also adjusting the packing of fruit in light of warmer temperatures.

Strategy and investment

“We’ve also established a Climate Change Strategy and continued to invest in innovation to explore new cultivars and in research to better understand how we can best mitigate the impact of climate change.”

As well as identifying the physical climate change risks the kiwifruit industry is likely to experience from orchards through the supply chain and across the packing, transportation and distribution of fruit, Zespri’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan considers transitional risks such as market and regulatory changes including emissions pricing, environmental labelling, and changing consumer preferences.

“We know that beyond the physical impact climate change will have, we’ll also see changes at a regulatory level, along with a

heightened expectation from our customers and consumers that we are adapting our approach.”

e Climate Change Adaption Plan includes more than 40 current and future actions Zespri and the wider industry will build on over time to future-proof the growing and breeding of kiwifruit, maintain fruit quality and manage supply, and protect the industry’s nancial future.

Resilient practices

“ is includes supporting growers to adopt climate resilient practices like e cient water use, investing in climate-resilient cultivars, developing a future-focused climate research programme, recognising climate impacts in industry planning, assessing the e ects of climate change on productivity and pro tability, and lessening our exposure to carbon costs by reducing emissions.

“ ere’s a lot of work to undertake, but by co-ordinating our e orts as an industry we’ll be more e ective and e cient, putting us in the best position to thrive as the climate continues to change.”

A review of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan and progress against it will be undertaken in 2025, following the expected update to Zespri’s Climate Change Risks and Opportunities report in 2024 which is published on: www.zespri.com

Atomsprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing

Our Atoms aresetupwithradarspeedsensors,this combined with fullyautomated sprayer controllers and three nozzle ringsenhancesapplicationef ficiency and accuracy.

We also useaquadbikeforstripweedspray applications.

Weholdallcertificatesneededtomeet Globalgap compliance.

Welookatallchallengestohelpensureweprotect yourcropwithexcellence.

Zespri kiwifruit being loaded onto a ship for export.

the right to appeal a High Court decision that will increase their rates for growing the product in Tairāwhiti.

A High Court judgement was released towards the end of last year allowing e Bushmere Trust — who are representing all golden kiwifruit growers in the region — to take their case to the Court of Appeal.

In the judgement, Justice Palmer acknowledged the issue at hand was signi cant to the SunGold kiwifruit industry, and potentially more widely to the horticultural industry as well.

Timeline

“At that scale, the amount of money involved is not necessarily insigni cant, so the interests at stake are su ciently important to outweigh the cost and delay of a further appeal.”

e rating saga began in December 2020 when Gisborne District Council deemed that licences to grow the golden variety should account for an increase in value to the land, justifying a rates rise. Backed by the Valuer-General, the council believed the golden variety should be treated di erently from other kiwifruit because of the higher price it fetches on the market.

But on February 1, 2022, the Land Valuation Tribunal ruled in favour of local grower Tim

from $1.65 million to $4.1 million.

On August 22, a High Court decision was released overturning that ruling after the council argued the tribunal’s decision was a double standard because it required the value of all plant variety licences to be deducted from the value of properties without deducting the value of the vines.

Implications

e growers maintained SunGold licences were neither land nor an improvement to the land, and therefore should not contribute to the capital value of the land.

According to court ndings, 49 local growers could be a ected by the decision.

e outcome also has implications for those growing the variety outside of the region.

Growers can obtain a SunGold licence by bidding at Zespri’s annual private tender process, buying an orchard that grows the variety, or buying a licence from an existing grower separate of land.

Tairāwhiti was the rst region to adjust land valuation for growers of the golden variety based on the value of the growing licence.

Changes to Gisborne’s valuation methods were the result of Valuer-General recommendations in August 2020.

Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy Reporter

Tietjen of e Bushmere Trust, who was objecting to the capital value of his small orchard increasing

Growers of the golden variety of kiwifruit in Tairāwhiti are objecting to the district council increasing their rates based o the value of the licences to grow the fruit.

Adding value to commodity products

e idea of adding value to what are called commodity products has always been popular.

Infant dairy formula is worth more than basic milk powder, customers pay extra for chilled meat instead of frozen, and sawn timber fetches a higher return than a log.

But there is always a cost in adding the value.  Often that includes getting customers interested in a new product or buying it from this country, says Forest Owners Association communications manager Don Carson.

“ e just nalised Forest and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan is based on that extra spend being worthwhile in the long term.”

While the market is good for a pine log producer

exporting to China, Don says the expression ‘eggs in one basket’ comes readily to mind.

He says a healthy export industry is one with a range of products, species’ sources and markets.

“Just what the mix in the transformation will look like is still uncertain.

“Undoubtedly there will be a concentration of new industry and employment in particular regions, where there is a ready supply of nearby timber and the capacity to deliver the nished products to export markets.

“Obviously the greater Bay of Plenty Region will a major source.

“But so to, do the visionaries predict very small scale niche processing, as well already see with mobile sawmills as a rst stage.

“As countries opt into protecting their remaining forests and reducing their carbon footprints, the worldwide potential for our timber exports grows, especially for medium and high rise.”

Don says India is an obvious case in point.

He says it’s due to soon become the world’s third largest economy, advancing past the UK and Germany.

“It was our second biggest log market, while few other exports from New Zealand ever went there.

“Not that New Zealand exporters are ever likely to provide the most expensive forest product in existence.

“ at title is reserved for agarwood.

“It’s a fragrance and perfume base known as oud. e world trade in agarwood is worth more than all of New Zealand’s timber exports.”

Forestry scholarship programme invests in young Kiwis

Career opportunities in the forestry and wood processing sector continue to attract talented young New Zealanders.

“ e forestry and wood processing sector is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing industries and o ers great careers for people of all ages and abilities,” says Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service forestry engagement and advice director Alex Wilson.

“Forestry involves much more than growing and harvesting plantation forests.

“It also employs skilled professionals that care for the forest environment, plan

New floors for dairy farms

Peter Landsdaal anticipates a whole new industry is going to be needed to supply Waikato dairy farmers with wood chips for calf bedding and cow stand-off and loafing pads.

And at the same time, dairy companies want the same wood chip, or wood pellets, for their milk powder driers.

Peter likes wood chip in his calf shed for his Jersey calves. The chip is natural, locally available, keeps the calves dry, and makes a great fertiliser afterwards when the calves move off to life on the pasture.

He trucks in up to 200 cubic metres of chip each year to make his precious new-born calves comfortable.

The sawmill, of course, saves the best logs for timber.

www.woodourlowcarbonfuture.nz

and manage forests, manage people and resources, work with modern technology, and operate multi-million-dollar machines and equipment.

“Our industry is ever-evolving and for modern forestry to thrive, we need to grow capability and diversity in the workforce by investing in and employing more people from a diverse range of backgrounds with a broad range of skills.

“ e scholarship programme, now heading into in its fth year, provides another pathway into the industry and widens access to tertiary study for Kiwis interested in professional forestry

degree programmes.”

To date, 30 students throughout New Zealand have received scholarships since 2018, with the rst students expected to complete their quali cations at the end of this year.

“We are very excited to see our rst cohort of students graduate this year and look forward to welcoming them to the workforce.

“By taking up careers in forestry and wood-processing, these students will be an important part of a future forestry workforce that deliver for the climate, nature, people and economic outcomes.”

PETER LANSDAAL

Dairy Farmer | Waharoa

Forest Owners Association communications manager Don Carson.

e global avocado community will experience New Zealand’s unique avocado growing systems and supply-chain processes rst hand at on-orchard eld days as part of the World Avocado Congress NZ in April.

“ e World Avocado Congress enables us to collectively view and critique our industry; learn about the opportunities and challenges and the current and future supply and demand of avocados,” says Jen Scoular, CEO of NZ Avocado and President of the World Avocado Congress Committee.

“ ose wanting to improve their avocado business need to be part of the global conversation taking place at the congress.

“Field days are always a highlight for congress attendees.

“ ey are the perfect opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s leadership in avocado growing, sustainable environmental practice, ethical worker treatment and beautiful, lush orchards.”

A eld of topics

Field days will include New Zealand’s top growers - achieving yields of more than 50 tonnes a hectare, new intensive planting from green eld dairy farms, and packhouse visits.

Topics will include sustainable income through multiple crops, avocado propagation and diversity of horticulture, New Zealand agritech, through the

supply chain, and collaboration with our scienti c partners.

New Zealand has nearly 5000ha of avocado orchards and contributes two per cent of global avocado production.

It is the world’s ninth largest avocado exporter.

“We encourage our avocado visitors to book eld day tickets on the World Avocado Congress website to select one of the fantastic trips we have on o er.”

ere will be four eld day options on Saturday, April 1, and two options on Sunday, April 2. Locations will include orchards across Auckland, Northland and the Bay of Plenty regions in New Zealand.

Spanish interpretation will be provided, if required on these eld days.

“As part of the World Avocado Congress eld days, we are proudly partnering with social enterprise Eat My Lunch to supply lunches,” says Jen.

“For every lunch eaten on the eld days, a child is provided with a school lunch. Eat My Lunch cares for our future through supporting children in more than 87 schools throughout New Zealand. Supporting Eat My Lunch aligns with the theme of the congress Respectful: respect for people, respect for environment and respect for our future.”

Sustainable food

Eat My Lunch operates a ‘buy one, give one’ model and have provided more than 1.8 million lunches to Kiwi kids to date, says Eat My Lunch business development lead Leo Carleton.

“Eat My Lunch values the support of the World Avocado Congress. It’s great to be involved with an international event which advocates sustainable food options, promotes Kiwi produce and helps achieve our mission of

ensuring that no child at school goes hungry, starting with kids right here in our own backyard.”

As part of the World Avocado Congress NZ 2023, topics will include the future of food, sustainability, climate change, food trends, food security, water and carbon lifecycles for avocado production, research and practical on-orchard application of research to achieve high-yield, agritech innovation, global supply chains,

grower returns, and the ongoing challenges of food supply, to name a few. With the global avocado market worth approximately $8billion (USD) in 2020, and expected to grow to $17billion (USD) by 2025, the World Avocado Congress has become the most prestigious global event to celebrate the avocado sector. For more information and to register for the World Avocado Congress visit the website: www.wacnz2023.com

New machine boosts efficiency

MYSOIL CLASSIFICATIONTM

e new system has enabled the company to drastically increase their throughput and labour e ciency.

e new machine, sourced from France, is a MAF RODA Pomone 2 lane sizer. Just Avocados have been running the machine since the beginning of the 2022-23 avocado season.

Purpose built and dedicated

Just Avocados business manager Jonathan Baker says the system is unique to Just Avocados as many other setups in the Bay of Plenty are designed for kiwifruit rst and foremost and are then altered to suit the avocado season.

“Our machine is purpose built and dedicated for avocados all year round.

“We are the only pack house with a water bath in the bin tip area which is like a presoak that helps to loosen any debris on the avocados before they pass through the water blaster.”

e introduction of a camera grading system (Global scan 7) has increased e ciency versus the previous hand grading and guarantees consistency of grading.

e new machine was estimated to give Just Avocados up to a 65 per cent increase

in e ciency, Jonathan says the machine has exceeded this with throughput increasing by 73 per cent.

“With the addition of more drops we can also now pack class 3 at the same time as Class 1 and 2 and avoid retipping.

“Labour e ciency has also improved but it is possible to make further gains.”

Positive reactions

While the technology has removed a signi cant portion of human interaction in the handling and sorting process Jonathan says sta levels have remained the same.

“With training, we have been able to redeploy our sta within the shed to t the new process.

“We do still require a few manual graders but have increased the number of tray prep and packers. We have also increased our full-time quality and production team to ensure we are resilient and have a wider range of skills in house.

“ e new line has also assisted in the packing process being more composed and systematic and as a result has helped alleviate sta issues around fatigue.

Grower reaction to the upgraded facility has been positive.

“Although the class 1 percentage packouts have been lower this season than what most growers were hoping for, seeing the line and operation running has given con dence to them that we are trying to maximise their returns.”

Major site developments were also undertaken to accommodate a redesigned work ow.

“A new inwards yarding area had to be constructed, o ces were relocated, additional building expansion was completed, and signi cant electrical and plumbing services were installed.”

Work is ongoing, with new additional o ce space being located on site and loading bays still under development which will eventually include the ability to load export product directly into containers through a dedicated temperaturecontrolled loading dock. Just Avocados’ re tted packhouse will be on display during the World Avocado Congress in April.

Darling Group is the major New Zealand sponsor of this international event which promises to be an exciting way to engage with the latest information on the science, marketing, and growing of avocados while being in a fun environment surrounded by passionate members of the global avocado industry.

Specially priced registrations are still available for growers – head to www.wacnz2023.com and register with your PIN.

Midge Munro, Darling

Darling Group’s Just Avocados packhouse in Katikati has undergone signi cant change and physical transformation in the past eight months with the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art avocado handling and sorting machine.

Avocados ascend to the camera grading system after passing through the unique water bath and upgraded water blaster in Just Avocados’ new MAF RODA fruit handling machine.

Young horticulturist “blown away”

Regan Judd is stepping into 2023 with the title of Young Horticulturist of the Year.

He won the coveted title towards the end of last year.

Regan says he’s “blown away” about winning, given he was up against “such a strong group of people”.

Regan represents the Young Grower of the Year, Horticulture NZ Fruit & Vegetable Sectors and works as an orchard sector manager with T&G Global in the Hawke’s Bay.

e 26-year-old was up against six other nalists representing di erent sectors within the horticulture industry.

Armed with knowledge

Regan has been with T&G Global - a grower, distributor, marketer, and exporter of fresh produce - for veand-a-half years, ever since moving to Napier following his Massey University studies.

He left university armed with a Bachelor of Agriscience majoring in horticulture.

e competition’s second place getter is also from the Hawke’s Bay.

Sam Bain is a vineyard manager employed by Villa Maria Estates. In third place is Cantabrian Courtney Chamberlain, who is assistant manager of Hadstock Farm and represents the Young Florist/ Flower Grower sector.

e seven competing Young Horticulturist Competition sectors are: Young Amenity Horticulturist (New Zealand Recreation Association); Young Achiever (New Zealand Plant Producers incorporated); Young Florist/Flower Grower (FLONZI Florists and Flower Growers NZ Incorporated); Young Landscaper of the Year (Registered Master Landscapers New

Zealand); Young Viticulturist of the Year (NZ Winegrowers); and Young Grower of the Year (Horticulture New Zealand Fruit & Vegetable Sectors).

e seven competitors were selected as nalists after competition placings within their own industries.

Challenge

e competition, which is now in its 17th year is renowned for its rigor. Finalists are judged across several challenges including practical skills, industry expertise, leadership ability, business knowledge and communication.

Young Horticulturist chairperson Hamish Gates says the Young Horticulturist of the Year event o ers an opportunity like no other for

emerging leaders to challenge

emerging leaders to challenge themselves and re ne their skills.

“ e con dence nalists gain within our event sets them up to take on bigger challenges in their daily lives. We strive for one thing – to seed the future now,” he says.

Competition

During the nals competitors were involved in leadership interviews, were asked to present their views on sustainability,

tackled an innovation project, prepared and presented a speech, and were challenged on various practical skills.

Regan’s rst prize includes a $7500 Travel, Accommodation and Professional Development Package. Growing fruit that reaches all corners of the globe thrills Regan.

anks to his prize money he’ll get to go and check that fruit out – on one continent anyway.

He plans to travel to Europe once he’s got through the New Zealand harvest.

“I know how we do apples in New Zealand, but I’m keen to observe the European techniques,” he says.

Regan encourages other young people to strive to compete in the Young Horticulturist Competition.

“It’s a great opportunity.”

Photo: Sarah Weber Photography.

Regan Judd. Photo: Sarah Weber Photography.

Growing vegetables in NZ

A project led by LeaderBrand Produce, Countdown and Plant & Food Research is the rst industry-wide collaboration to investigate the impacts of regenerative farming practices in vegetable farming, particularly in relation to productivity, pro tability, people and environment.

e project is being run out of LeaderBrand’s vegetable production operation in Gisborne, with a demonstration site being established to trial regenerative practices and evaluate the impacts of using compost and cover crops across varied crop rotations.

e trial site will run next to a control site operating under current management practices, so that the impacts of the regenerative practices can be compared over time.

e project is also focussed on the role of perennial plantings in facilitating ecosystem restoration, and will engage with sta , community, and iwi to create practices that work with, and for the wider community.

Farming practices

LeaderBrand farming general manager Gordon McPhail says the strong research focus of this project will help to create tools that will allow vegetable growers to make informed decisions about implementing regenerative farming practices of their own.

“Ultimately, we want this project to deliver a framework for how LeaderBrand and other farmers can produce food more sustainably, now and for future generations.

“We’ve already been working hard in this space and this joint project will allow us to build on some of our previous and current projects.

“Having evidence-based solutions for integrated pest management, nutrient budgeting, soil management and crop rotation is a game changer.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to share and

engage with our team, iwi, local communities, and customers on sustainable and regenerative practices.” Much of New Zealand’s existing research on regenerative agriculture has been focused on pastoral land use so this project will provide an invaluable evidence base for our horticulture sector.

Sustainable production

“ is is an exciting programme to be working collaboratively on with Countdown and LeaderBrand,” says Plant & Food Research science sustainable production manager Dr Paul Johnstone.

“It provides a great opportunity to test regenerative practices based on scienti c evidence that could be successfully adopted at a commercial scale to improve production and environmental outcomes linked to vegetable growing.”

LeaderBrand agronomists and Plant & Food Research scientists are currently reviewing prior experience and published literature on options for cover crops.

ey’re also evaluating the likely bene ts and risks in ecosystem restoration ahead of eld trials in Gisborne later in the project.

e project has started with an assessment of nutrient release characteristics from compost applied at various rates on di erent soil types, at Plant & Food Research’s Hawke’s Bay Research Centre.

is is an important rst step to understanding alternative sources of crop nutrition and how they might complement or o set conventional fertilisers.

Countdown’s produce general manager Ryan McMullin says the retailer is proud to be supporting the innovative project which will push the boundaries of conventional vegetable growing and support one of their key produce supplier’s work on how they can farm for the future.

“To ensure we have a sustainable, resilient, and secure food supply, it important to make sure we’re doing everything we can to protect our land.”

LeaderBrand farming general manager Gordon McPhail.

A Countdown produce manager in a LeaderBrand eld.

Will Vietnamese lime imports impact Kiwi growers?

According to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, cheaper limes may be on the way for summer following a trade deal signed with Vietnam in November this year.

is then asks the question –will Kiwi growers be impacted by these new imports?

Citrus New Zealand executive manager Peter Ensor says the new imports are “great news for the consumer, and not bad news for the industry”.

Timing

He says although both Vietnamese and New Zealand limes are in “the summer season” the Vietnamese limes will come in earlier, and the Kiwi limes will come in on the tail end of the hot weather.

e New Zealand harvest period is between February and July according to Peter, and Vietnam’s harvest season is between July and January.

“It’s counter seasonal.

“If anything, the new Vietnamese imports will compete with other imports in our o season, rather than New Zealand limes.”

Peter says there are currently ve countries which are able to send limes to New Zealand.

ese countries are the United States, Australia, New Caledonia, Samoa and Vanuatu, of which the

United States and Australia supply the most.

“So right now, November and December is the peak import time, and there are no New Zealand limes on the market.”

Outcomes

e best outcome of this scenario in Peter’s view is the increase in sales in the lime category as a result of the increased variety in imports.

“ is would be great news for New Zealand growers.”

On the question of whether limes will be cheaper as the Prime Minister suggested in November, Peter says it is “too soon to tell”.

Although the Vietnam grown limes won’t compete directly with those grown in New Zealand, Peter says

there may be early Kiwi limes which are stocked at the same time as late limes from the Vietnamese harvest season.

Display

“Due to a law change in New Zealand, the country of origin must be displayed on or in association with the fruit. is means buyers can have the freedom of choice if they wish to purchase limes grown in New Zealand.

“Everybody in New Zealand should purchase New Zealand product where they can, but if there is a period where it is not available in our country, then imports are a win for New Zealand consumers.” Taylor Rice

Peter Ensor is the Citrus New Zealand executive manager.

ere is only one place to be on February 18 and that is at the Tauranga A&P Show!

Held for 139 years, the Show is, according to Show Secretary Karen Mitchell, is part of the fabric of “life in the Bay”.

“It has only been cancelled in extraordinary circumstances – like World War II and, last year, with Covid.” Karen says the 2023 Show will be bigger and better than ever before.

“We have a fantastic range of exhibitions and ‘things to do’ – Free entry and free parking at the ‘home of the show’ Tauranga Racecourse, Cameron Road, Tauranga.”

e Show opens to the public on Saturday, February 18, at 10am.

Karen says one of the biggest drawcards is the equestrian competitions with more than 200 classes.

“Our Show has a rm place on the event card of riders from

all over the BOP, Waikato and Auckland regions.

“Auckland band ‘Tasman A to Z’ will be playing popular music throughout the show, there will be a Fun Dog ring for small, medium and large dogs where they will be assessed for such things as best manners, best dressed and through an obstacle course.

“ e Pet Corner is always popular with the littlies –and we will also have a Dress your Pet Lamb event and Most Impressive Rooster Competitions for children.

Showcasing rural life FIRST HOUR FREE

“Gumboot throwing, a variety of trade sites, Clydesdale rides, Vintage Machinery display and sideshows round out the day.”

Relief: salad range prices set to stabalise

Put your crockpot away and start grabbing your iceberg lettuce, as prices across the leafy green and salad range are set to stabilise.

Grower LeaderBrand says customers are set to see some price relief as the weather becomes more stable and their planting programmes are starting to produce a more consistent supply.

“ e El Nina weather pattern has been causing us all sorts of disruptions and issues with a lot of rain and hail. Spinach, baby and whole leaf salad doesn’t fare well in the rain, so our supply has been impacted greatly over the past couple of months,” says chief executive Richard Burke.

“We’re starting to get warmer days, less rain; perfect weather for leafy greens to grow.

“Now things are starting to stabilise with our planting schedule, we have plenty of broccoli, iceberg lettuce, and spinach. We’ve got lots of

supply, so you’ll start to see some great prices across the fresh produce aisles.

“Growers are still facing plenty of challenges with the complex weather patterns, shortages in labour and ongoing increases in costs, but we’re working really hard to help feed Kiwis’ good quality and tasty produce at a good price.

“We know what Kiwis’ are struggling with the increase in costs across the board. Whilst prices aren’t going to be as low as last year or the year before, we are working closely with our retail partners to make sure there are reductions to the cost of fresh produce,” says Richard.

“We know how important it is for the health of the country to continue to eat fresh vegetables, that’s what’s driving us to be better every day.”

Carmel Ireland from the 5+ A Day Charitable Trust says that to maintain a healthy diet 5+ A Day recommends eating ve servings of vegetables.

Sheep racing is one event at the Tauranga A&P Show.

North Island farmer Jim Mather takes great pride in “growing fantastic animals” on his farm near Foxton.

But he was still surprised to nd a ham from one of his pigs had won the highly coveted Supreme Award in the 2022 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards.

Auckland’s Westmere Butchery won New Zealand’s best ham award for their bone-in leg ham, but a journey back along the supply chain to discover the provenance of the champion ham, leads to Jim Mather’s family farm.

Quality pork

“We know it’s fantastic pork - because our pigs want for nothing,” says Jim.

“But you don’t usually get a lot of validation for your product as a farmer.

“We really appreciate that the winner made a point of making sure we knew it was one of ourswe’re absolutely delighted.”

Jim employs ve full time sta and says they are critical to the comfort and welfare of the pigs and the quality of the pork.

“ ey are so hard-working and dedicated to the welfare of the animals, we have a great team who are very skilled and experienced at what they do.

“Winning the Supreme Award is a real feather in their caps.”

NZPork’s chief executive Brent Kleiss is quick to celebrate the local nature of this success story.

“Given the challenging few years

“Given the challenging few years most primary industries have been experiencing, we think Kiwis will agree there’s no better time to support local farmers– and what a fantastic example of local this is.

“It was produced with care in Foxton, processed by Cabernet Foods in Carterton and crafted into a truly delicious ham by an award-winning butchery in Auckland.”

Team e ort

Auckland’s Westmere Butchery – no stranger to awards having taken out many awards at the Great New Zealand Sausage Competition over the years – is delighted with the result and attributed their success to the perfect recipe of ingredients.

“It takes a team e ort to create an award winning ham, and one of the most important members of the team is the farmer who is producing the raw ingredients,” says owner Dave Rossiter.

“From the care they take with their animals, to the quality of the end product that arrives in our shop – we are proud to support the New Zealand pig industry and showcase their product.”

Jim Mather.

Westmere Butchery’s Glenn McKeendry and Dave Rossiter won the Supreme Ham award.

Touring the South Island in 2023

Keen adventurers have the choice of ve tours being o ered by NZ Adventures for the 2023-24 season.

e High Country Heritage tour is a six day adventure down the eastern alpine foothills of the South Island from Blenheim to Cardrona, with overnights along the way in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama and Cromwell.

“One of our original trips and one we o er four times each season,” says Connie from NZ Adventures.

“One of these tours, usually in March, is o ered as seven days.”

Next on the list is the West Coast Explorer. O ered twice each season, the popular tour has overnights in Murchison, Westport and Reefton and Greymouth.

Connie says the tour is di erent because of the beech forest and because of the very marked sudden change from the tussock browns of Canterbury to the deep green of the west, evident even on the rst day of the tour. NZ Adventures most popular tour is 46 South. is is ve nights right across the

south of the island, loosely following the imaginary line from the Catlins through to the diversity of the mountains, gorges and plains of the Central Southland and out into the little known Western Southland.

“ e trip nishes with a twist taking

participants to Cromwell.”

Big Sky is six days in the back country predominately in Central Otago.

e tour starts in Fairlie and the rst night on the trail is in Omarama.

From there, it’s all central with overnights in Cromwell and Cardrona, and then three

nights based in Alexandra.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Trax of Gold. is is a six day celebration of the pastoral and mining heritage of the South Canterbury and Otago regions.

For further information, please see NZ Adventure’s ad on this page.

Planning underway for Katikati Centenary A&P Show

Planning is well underway for the centenary celebrations for Katikati A&P Show which will be held on February 5, 2023.

“ e rst show was actually held 110 years ago in 1913 but the ‘non assembly’ laws of World War II and, more recently, Covid pandemic lockdowns means that the February show will be our 99th,” says Katikati A&P Association president Louellen Davies. Louellen and her committee are well into planning an event which regularly draws

large crowds from the Bay of Plenty region.

“Being a quali er show for the country’s premier equestrian event, the Horse of the Year, the Katikati A&P annually attracts strong competition in the pony and horse rings. Other events include sheep racing, sideshows, food vendors, vintage farm machinery and more.

“ e show is more than ‘just an event’ – it is, and has always been, a celebration of our community and the organising committee is appealing to the wider Katikati community to look back through family history to uncover – and share – any photographs or memories from years gone by.

“Images and memories from past events will be a focal point of our centenary celebrations.” If you have any photographs or stories of past involvement in the show, please contact Louellen Davies on: 07 549 0067.

Cows on display at the Katikati A&P Show in previous years. Photo: Merle Cave.

Central Otago Scene.

Fieldays 2022 has o cially closed the gates on its 54th event.

Postponed from its usual June spot to run four days from Wednesday, November 30, visitors revelled in the mostly sunnier weather, swapping gumboots for jandals. About 75,000 people across the four days enjoyed the large-scale event where there was something for everyone.

“We expected a reduced attendance, due to the timing, lower con dence levels in the economy and supply chain issues still evident for many,” says New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation.

“ ese impacts are ampli ed by lower sta ng levels, and ever present Covid, which unfortunately despite the postponement decision to ease this concern hasn’t gone away.

“We are living in very challenging times, and I think our event may have re ected these challenges.

“From our early discussions with our exhibitors it appears as though many have seen genuine sales, along with positive discussions and have enjoyed the much focused interactions with the visitors, which may not have transpired with the traditional larger scale event.”

A wet start

Opening day of the event was plagued by torrential downpours, making both visitors and exhibitors wonder if they were in fact, back in June.

With weather clearing for the remainder of the event, many visitors and exhibitors alike took advantage of the ner weather to stop chat and connect with clients, friends, and family as they would at a regular June event.

“Early indications show that we had a large new audience attend the event, which is great. We know many people do not come every year and for some returning after a break of some ve years, they were surprised to be able to interact with such a vast, and sometimes new exhibitor group as well,” says Peter.

Travelling all the way from Winton, dairy farmers Leanne and Jason Erb used the event as an excuse to get o the farm for the rst time in six months.

“Timing wasn’t ideal because we have silage and cropping, but we made it work.

“We needed to be there,” says Leanne.

“We were able to have more in depth and productive conversations than previously.”

Coromandel regular Ian Boyack, who had travelled from Cooks Beach, enjoyed not having to arrive in fog and leave in the dark.

“I managed to catch up friends that I hadn’t seen for a while and enjoyed the calibre of exhibitors and innovation. It’ really evolved from when I rst came more than 25 years ago.”

First-timers to Fieldays Bronwyn Struthers and Peter Burston travelled down from Auckland to attend the summer event.

“We have never been to Fieldays before, so this was a great rst experience for us,” says Bronwyn.

“With the weather being lovely, we jumped in the car rst thing this morning and headed to the Base to park and caught the bus in.”

Society programme manager Steve Chappell says it has been great to see the calibre of entries this year, and the level of enquiry for the 2023 Innovations Awards is really strong.

– that is a wrap!

“It’s fair to say innovation is our DNA, and Fieldays Innovation Awards is a true re ection of that, particularly for the primary sector,” says Steve.

Alongside the ever-popular Innovations Hub and Awards, Fieldays and a sector advisory group launched Fieldays Forestry Hub with an o cial opening by Minister O’Connor on the Wednesday.

A new hub

Four years in the making, the new Hub proved to be a great success, with 35 exhibitors showcasing everything from fencing clips to arti cial intelligence disease predictors.

“We worked with the sector advisory and exhibitors to make sure this hub was telling the story of this important industry to Aotearoa, it’s not about carbon farming, but the journey and innovation within the sector,” says chief executive Peter Nation.

“Popular exhibits within the hub were showcasing best practice waterway planting and end product laminate beams which have an earthquake resistance greater than reinforced concrete making it popular for builds in high-risk areas like the capital or low-lying areas that may be subject to liquefaction which can undermine the integrity of our concrete constructions. “

Hub spokesperson Alex Wilson says the multibillion-dollar forestry sector is a major employer in New Zealand, employing more than 35,000 people in both year-round and seasonal jobs.

“We’d also like to open people’s minds up to the possibilities of trees – anything that’s a fossil fuel today can be made from a tree in the future. We’ll have bioplastic vine clips, leather shoes tanned with pine bark tannin, biofuel insights and a showcase of how drone technology is a game changer,” Alex says.

With the event returning to its traditional winter dates in 2023 from June 14– 17, planning is already underway for both exhibitors and the Fieldays team.

Circle the date in the calendar for the quintessential kiwi event where gumboots and bush shirts will again reign supreme and be out in full force.

“A big thank you to those who came out and supported this one-o summer event, we look forward to seeing you back at Mystery Creek in June.”

Fieldays was held in summer in 2022, as opposed to the traditional winter time.

Built to be rugged

With a durable design, the TML Rugged is built to withstand harsh conditions no matter where you are. Designed to help with a range of tasks around the farm, TML Rugged can be used in tractors as well as open-cab vehicles such as quad-bikes or side-by-sides.

Whether you are spreading, spraying or moving k-lines, the TML Rugged allows you to track where you've been. Then, once jobs are completed, they can be reported on using TracMap Online.

Fertiliser applications made easy

manager, Jack Martin, says TracMap GPS guidance was initially embraced by ground-spreading and spraying contractors, but in recent years there has been a growth in farmers using the product to help with reporting requirements.

“Individual farmers who are now faced with the new environmental regulatory framework realise there has to be a better way to record and report fertiliser and spray application. “ e reporting process can be daunting, time-consuming and

frustrating but TracMap’s system helps save farmers who spread their own fertiliser time, money and stress.

“All the information is collected by the unit in the cab as the fertiliser is applied on each paddock and is then wirelessly uploaded to TracMap’s cloud-based software, TracMap Online, for proof of placement requirements.

“Farmer feedback con rms the system pays for itself in a year based on savings in time and under or over application.”

Compliance with New Zealand’s nitrogen fertiliser cap and reporting requirements are easy, thanks to an innovative solution developed by a Southland farmer.

TracMap is a job management solution with GPS guidance and proof of placement allowing the user to plan jobs, accurately apply product and have proof of application all in one seamless solution.

Since installing their rst GPS guidance systems in trucks in October 2006, TracMap has quickly grown to be the largest agricultural GPS provider in the country.

TracMap’s Upper North Island

Embracing a unique system

Australians know a good thing when they see it – Phar Lap, pavlova to mention a few – with farmers across ‘the ditch’ quick to embrace a unique dairy e uent system designed, developed and patented by a Kiwi dairy farmer.

Coast & Country News caught up with Lindsay as he prepared to board a plane for Australia hours after the end of the 2022 Fieldays in Hamilton.

“We have had four great days promoting the bene ts of the Clean Green System over conventional e uent systems at Fieldays.

“Attendance was noticeably down, compared to previous Fieldays, but this allowed people to spend more time discussing their systems and issues.”

In contrast to traditional systems, the Clean Green capture pit is long and narrow with a parallel timber weeping wall in the centre enabling more solids to be extracted with the bulk of NPK captured in the organic humus.

“Solids are dried faster so they can be dispersed to pasture. Liquid e uent is either irrigated onto pasture or returned to storage tanks for external yard wash.

e Clean Green E uent System was designed by third generation Southland dairy farmer Lindsay Lewis more than 15 years ago demand, since then, is has been fuelled by word-of-mouth in both countries.

“ e system enables farmers to achieve environmental standards a decade or more before they become mandatory ie 0.25mm application rates which enable zero nitrate leaching, ponding or overland runo .

“ e Low-Rate Low-Depth distribution system means e uent can be dispersed on a daily basis, all nutrients staying in the root base with minimal storage.”

Upper North Island area manager Jack Martin and lower North Island area manager Marty Orange at the TracMap stand at Fieldays 2022. Photo: Merle Cave.

e Clean Green E uent Company and Lindsay Lewis at Fieldays 2022. Photo: Merle Cave.

AgriSea all about the long game

A long-time vendor which had one of its best Fieldays in 22 years says using the event for more than just sales is the key to success.

In response to some vendors expressing disappointment in visitor numbers – about 75,000 people walked through the gates across the four days compared to 132,776 in 2021 and 128,747 in 2019 – AgriSea says success cannot be judged just by visitors through the gate.

e winner of the Hi Tech Maori Company of the Year award was busy networking, team building, sharing insights as invited guests on various Fieldays panels and promoting its new animal health product, Fortress.

“We had a really busy time and a lot of fun,” says AgriSea chief innovation o cer Tane Bradley.

“It was one of our most successful Fieldays in 22 years and for us it’s about the long game.

“We use Fieldays as a great opportunity to network, to spend time with universities and other research partners and to catch up with suppliersand all of these great people were in the space.

“We also had some solid enquiry from massive farms and our sales reps loved it.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be a typical Mystery Creek sales time because of the season but we were really excited to introduce our new prowduct Fortress and to catch up as a team.”

Tane says the agribusiness that specialises in seaweed for animal and soil health said the time of year for Fieldays was tting for AgriSea’s new

product launch, given that it’s going into summer and Fortress is an animal health product that assists animals stress levels due to heat.

AgriSea had the Minister of Agriculture Damian O’Connor o ciate at the ribbon cutting for its seaweed growing trial – a bioremedial trial using algae to clean up river water – and which was launched inside the innovation hub with live images of the trial site on the Hauraki Plains near Kopu.

Minister O’Connor says those at the forefront of innovation need “commitment and courage” to invest capital into environmentally positive solutions.

He praises AgriSea for its bioremediation trial and focus on a circular economy using seaweed sustainably for soil health.

“ ere’s nothing wrong with nutrients, we pour nutrients on the paddock to grow grass and make food, but some of them end up in the wrong place,” says O’Connor.

“ e wrong nutrients in the wrong place is something we’re all trying to address.”

AgriSea invited the team from Our Land Our Water, who are partners in a $2.7 million project Rere ki Uta Rere ki Tai, to promote a shift nationwide towards regenerative agriculture with healthy soils at the centre of farming.

AgriSea Fortress+ Dairy is a new animal nutrition supplement that is scientifically proven to reduce oxidative stress.

AgriSea supporters celebrating after the grand opening alongside a drop of Southward Seaweed Gin.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Clare Bradley (AgriSea), Marie Magnusson (UoW) and Taylor Moore (AgriSea) at the Innovation stand at Fieldays.

Prodeck - king of decks

A company dating back to the early 1900s is extending the life and usefulness of one of New Zealand’s greatest workhorses – the ute!

Pro-Deck, a subsidiary of Vertec, manufactures, supplies and ts a wide range of options to customise the vehicle to a speci c set of needs.

“We extend the usefulness of the vehicle by replacing a standard well-side or at-deck with a range of options from tool boxes, cranes, tipping units, stock crates to racks, water tanks and more,” says Pro-Deck managing director Jason Whitley.

“We provide this level of customisation to a range of vehicles from small double cab utes to 6m at deck trucks. Everything is made in New Zealand from quality galvanised steel which is tough and will last the distance. If you need to replace the vehicle, we can remount the deck onto the new vehicle.”

Jason says each t-out combines

elements of Pro-Deck’s standard range with “the required level of customisation to meet the speci c needs of the client”.

“We have added compressor and hand cleaner for road crews, water tanks and water blasters for house washing businesses, small cranes for apiaries, extended decks and head-boards for trades, even recycle cages on electric LDV’s for waste collection.

“ e tipping decks are popular across multiple sectors, as they add another dimension in usefulness.

“ e tipping Pro-Deck is powered by an electric pump operated through a switch from the cab.”

Need to optimise the usefulness of your ute?

ere is no better company to talk to, than Pro-Deck.

While declining pasture quality is a fact of nature over the summer months, it doesn’t need to go hand-in-hand with dropping production or poor liveweight gains.

e changes in pasture composition to higher in bre can have a negative impact on dry matter intake.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Increasing forage digestibility is as easy as it comes, says a SealesWinslow spokesperson.

“As bre increases within the pasture, the rumen microbes need more energy to break through the bourous pasture for it to be digested.

“When the pasture is in this state, the energy levels have already started dropping o and there is a compounding e ect of less energy

per kg of dry matter and additionally, more energy needed to graze.

“Essentially, slowing liveweight gains or a reduction in milk production. Little and often energy boosts from quality sugars act as the much-needed driver for the microbes to maximise digestion.”

SealesWinslow dehydrated molasses supplements, Forage Max and Lamber Max, is just the solution.

e small but frequent intakes not only deliver the sugar needed to enhance microbe production but also added protein and minerals to better balance the diet.

e sugar not only enhances rumen microbe population but increases the amount of pasture that can be digested, keeping liveweight gains on track or milk in the vat.

For more information, contact your local SealesWinslow.

The answer is in pasture

One of the country’s most experienced crop scientists, Nathan Balasingham, is urging farmers to use pastoral farming as a solution to climate change.

e founder of Zest Biotech and inventor of the Zest family of products, Nathan says scienti c studies con rm that minimising methane emissions immediately slows warming of the atmosphere and buys time to develop solutions to keep temperatures from surpassing the 1.5 °C temperature limit.

“At the recent UN conference, COP27, more than 150 countries, including our major markets and competitors, pledged to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.

“Achieving that is possible by improving pasture and ruminant e ciency which will result in increased productivity/pro t and reduced

waste/liabilities. Ruminants are only 25 per cent e cient at converting pasture sugars and protein to milk and meat. As a result, 75 per cent of pasture is wasted as urea and methane. A small (7.5 per cent) increase in e ciency from 25 per cent to 32.5 per cent can deliver a large 30 per cent increase in milk and meat productivity (pro t) and a 30 per cent reduction in urea and methane waste.”

Nathan says achieving these types of e ciency and methane reduction is relatively easy to achieve through the Zest family of products.

“Biozest, for example, increases pasture quality, resilience and productivity while increasing livestock e ciency and productivity.

“It’s a win-win for the farmer, and the environment and is an opportunity pastoral farmers should seize.” Learn more about the Zest family of products in ad on this page.

Good volume of visitors to Flexi Tanks

E uent and water storage were top-of-mind for visitors to Flexi Tank’s stand at the latest Fieldays in Hamilton.

General manager Andre Meier says the timing of the deferred event (from June to November) meant there were less farmers in attendance, but more horticulturalists and lifestyle block owners.

“ e ‘novelty’ and cost e ectiveness of Flexi Tanks meant our stand had a good volume of visitors over the four days of the event.”

Flex Tank’s enclosed, self-supporting bladders, made of rip stop fabric, stores anywhere from 20,000 to 2 million litres of dairy e uent or water.

e bladders can be installed and operational within one hour of arrival on farm.

“Being enclosed means they are

extraordinarily safe, with little or no ‘aroma’ and only require a stock fence as opposed to the security fencing and recovery systems required for ponds.

“An exciting new product was also launched at Fieldays. Pioneer Water Tanks are colour-coded corrugated water tanks, with a 20 year warranty, capable of storing up to 500,000 litres of water. ey are the market leader in Australia and are now available in NZ.

“ e NZ building standard now requires new rural homes to store 45,000 litres, each, of re ghting and drinking water. Traditionally that would mean multiple plastic or concrete tanks but now, people can install one, colour-coded Pioneer Water Tank, which will store 90,000 litres of water.

“ e tanks combine beauty with functionality. If Fieldays is anything to go by, will be in big demand.”

Biozest’s messaging at their stand at Fieldays 2022.

Photo: Merle Cave.

e Flexi Tanks NZ team India Pennings, Jacky van der Poel, Anton Meier and William Warrender with their new product at Fieldays 2022. Photo: Merle Cave.

Researching probiotics

International research has con rmed that feeding probiotics, pre and post calving, has a material positive impact on the incidence of clinical mastitis.

e news has been welcomed by agricultural scientist and founder of Probiotic Revolution founder Chris Collier.

“We started in 2017 focusing on calves and feed conversion in cows but soon saw some dramatic results with control of mastitis,” says Chris.

Example

“One client, for example, who feeds our products pre and post calving has not used antibiotics in the herd for three years – if he has any cases he simply treats them with a stronger dose of probiotics for ve days.

“ at level of impact is con rmed by the international trial which studied cows which had a previous history of mastitis one season and, if left untreated, repeated that incidence in the following season.

“However, feeding the probiotic mix in the

second year signi cantly reduced the incidence of mastitis and also reduced cell counts.

“From 51-75 days after calving, cell counts were 1 million for untreated cows – and 10,000 for treated cows!

signi cantly lower cell counts

in their rst lactation.”

Probiotic Revolution products are best given to springers on a daily basis in the water trough, but needs to be fed to cows via in-shed feeding systems or a mixer wagon.

Unique soil temperature and moisture probe key to optimum nitrogen uptake

A New Zealand consultant, working with Daniel Blair and Rahat Asan from the University of Waikato, has led the development of a soil unique hand-held moisture and temperature probe.

e probe helps identify the best time to apply nitrogen for optimum response in pasture and crops.

Bryan McLeod has more than 45 years’ experience working with agricultural farmers in various countries, helping farmers and Ag companies improving their understanding of soils.

Moving to commercial

“Traditionally, many farmers often apply nitrogen at a time when soil biology is not in a condition to respond optimally to its application. For example; cold winter soils, which increases N losses to the environment. So, working together, the portable hand held, soil temperature and moisture probe

was developed, with the purpose of helping identify the optimum time for N applications,” says Bryan.

e Smart Farmer Probe is currently in the concept phase but will move into commercial production in the New Year.

An extra tool

“ ere is a range of permanent and handheld soil temperature and moisture probes on the market, but generally the handheld probes take the average soil moisture temperature over the depth of their probes whereas the Smart Farmer Soil probe takes two moisture and temperature measurements at two di erent depths giving the farmer the required insight to optimise application rates, their N response, minimise costs and minimise nitrate leaching.”

e spot check hand help probe, gives a farmer an extra tool especially on farms without a permanent irrigation system.

Probiotic Revolution founder Chris Collier.

Designed and (to be) built here in New Zealand, using local and global components, it will provide the optimum in safety and comfort for cow and farmer.

Stuart Rogers, a professional hoof trimmer in the Waikato, has astutely studied, scrutinised and incorporated what is needed to improve the e ciency and e ectiveness of each function of hoof care – coupling that with some of his own very unique designs.

“All too often farmers, with a lame

cow, ‘make do’ with the tools at hand, and often with limited success.

“Now, with the cow secured, safe, calm and relaxed, the farmer will

“We unveiled the concept-design at Fieldays 2022, and have attracted a lot of positive interest,” says Stuart.

e crush will go into production at end of this year, with the rst units available in March-April 2023.

e Hoo t crush is designed to be retro tted into the farm’s vet-race and secured to the concrete.

Mobile and electric versions are currently in the design stage and will be wheeled out at a later date.

For more info on the Hoo t crush, check out their advert on this page.

Kerry Desmond and Stuart Rogers at Waikato Hoof Trimming’s Hoof It

Hometouch Electrical and Automation has been in the electrical industry for more than 10 years in Auckland, but providing services across the greater Auckland area.

Hometouch director Charlene Zhang, says the company is a Vector approved livening agent, including hybrid power meters with solar panels.

“We only work with the top tier solar panel and inverter suppliers and install professionally by EWRBregistered electrical workers.

“Solar energy is a cost-e ective and future-proof way to power your home, providing even more bene t beyond the monetary saving. Solar power is a clean and sustainable energy source to power your home. It reduces the reliance on grid electricity,

which helps to improve the energy resilience of your home and saves on the electricity bill

in the long run.

“ is can be particularly helpful for lifestyle living and farms. Most rural zones do not have underground water pipes and rely on electricity for pumps to supply drinking water from tanks or wells to both people and livestock.

“In addition, solar power can be an excellent investment for improvement.

“While solar panels are helping you saving on the price of electricity, it also improves the value of your house.

“Sales of homes equipped with solar panels con rm that it is a feature which buyers are attracted to both from a renewable energy perspective and/or the potential to live o -grid.”

Find out what Hometouch by seeing their ad on this page.

Growing demand for custom-made chillers

Kiwi designed purpose-built chillers drew a lot of tra c at the Fieldays in Hamilton.

Hands-on owners of Oneshot Chillers, Andrew and Dianna Boustridge, say they were busy elding enquiry from a range of people – orists, farmers, hunters and more.

“We formed Oneshot Chillers a few years ago in response to demand for our custom-designed chillers, freezer rooms and mobile chiller units,” says Andrew.

“We don’t ‘just sell a product’ – we design and build chillers to meet the speci c requirements of our clients; each chiller is unique, built of quality materials and designed to last a lifetime.”

A refrigeration engineer and electrician by trade, Andrew says the expertise and a nity of his team, with those requiring chillers, matches the unique nature of their products.

“Dianna and I and the team are involved in every aspect of the build – from design to nished product, we look after the installation and provide ongoing service and support.”

Clients include private hunters, farmers, taxidermists, orchards, tanneries, hospitality venues, cafes and food handling enterprises –“basically anyone who needs highest quality

chilling to preserve and extend the quality of their product”.

“Each of those sectors has speci c needs –hunters and farmers for example want to chill and age their meat while orists need a facility which will lengthen the life of their owers.”

And because they provide chillers to the hospitality and café sector, Oneshot Chillers also supply temporary chilling facilities “to get businesses through short-term outage”.

e Hometouch Electrical stand, with James Zhang, at Fieldays 2022.

Photo: Merle Cave.

Oneshot Chillers’ Ant and Wayne at their Fieldays stand. Photo: Merle Cave.

Here’s hoping for a better year than last

If you think it’s been a wet winter and spring, you’re right.

At the yards, rain for December was 16ml compared to 152ml last year – but YTD paints the picture with 1808ml to date this year, and 1207ml last year – an increase of 50 per cent!

Similarly, at the farm we recoded 78ml for December compared to 250ml for the same time last year; YTD 3150ml this year and 1981ml last year – again a 50 per cent

increase and (at the time of writing) we still have 20 days to go till the end of December.

Soil temperatures

Soil temperatures at the yard for the year averaged 18.6 degrees compared to 22.5 for the same time last year so 2022 is de nitely cooler.

At the farm soil temperature in the second week in December was 15.5 compared to 28 for the same time last year.

Maize and silage

A lot of farmers and contractors haven’t nished their maize or silage, particularly on low land, with quite a lot of land still uncultivated - and this will ow onto, and e ect, next year’s production. Overall late plantings put you at risk of rust, army caterpillar and lower yields in your crops because you cannot plant longer maturing varieties as they won’t be ready in time.

e grass has nally started to grow and there are some lush paddocks in the Hauraki Plains and Waikato regions with a lot of silage being made. But that’s the exception. I’ve heard stories of Whakatane farmers having to pull their rst maize plantings out and replant because the ground was saturated and the rst crop didn’t thrive. ere are two species of caterpillar we need to watch out for. First is the Fall Army Worm which, compared to

the army caterpillar, has spots. e Foundation for Arable Research reports there have been ve sightings in Northland, Auckland and Waikato and are urging farmers to report any sightings to MPI on: 0800 80 99 66.

Army caterpillars tend to thrive in long grass areas and silage but they also like brassica; infestations are easy to spot with leaves stripped.

Check out the FAR website and, while you’re there, learn about the research they’re doing funded by seed growers.

Economy

Building consents and house sales are down and interest rates are on the rise. Mention of the word ‘recession’ is more common but, to balance that, there’s a resurgence in appreciation for the importance and value the farming sector brings to the economy.

Lamb is down from $9.60 per kg in October to $7.95 now.

Killing schedules at the Works are still behind so it will pay to look ahead and book in any stock which need to go o the farm – particularly if it’s a dry summer.

Holiday season

Notwithstanding all the challenges we are facing onfarm, it’s vital that you take time over the holidays to get o the farm and recharge with family and friends. Last year was tough, so here’s hoping 2023 is better.

How to keep life-saving medicines working

New Zealand Food Safety is urging animal owners to do their part in the battle against antimicrobial resistance – and towards keeping life-saving medicines working.

“ e World Health Organisation has named antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity,” says deputy directorgeneral Vincent Arbuckle.

“World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, recognised that this serious issue will need a global e ort to manage.

“So, it’s vital that we work together to help to reduce and limit the spread of AMR - and pet owners and livestock farmers have a speci c role to play.”

AMR occurs when microbes, or germs, develop resistance to medicines, such as antibiotics.

Antimicrobial medicines are critical to human, animal and plant health, as well as the

environment, but they lose e ectiveness over time if they are not properly handled and disposed of.

“Because resistant germs can pass between animals, humans and plants, and into the environment, poorly-managed antimicrobial medicines in animals can, over the long term, increase AMR in humans – and vice-versa.

“We’re working alongside our colleagues at the Ministry of Health to tackle AMR in New Zealand. We want to raise awareness of the practical things people can do to ensure these lifesaving medicines remain e ective.” is year, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ministry of Health have chosen a national theme of safe handling and disposal of antimicrobial medicines - both in humans and animals.

“If everyone ensured the safe handling and disposal of antibiotics in their care, we could make a big di erence in preventing the spread of AMR in humans, animals, plants and the environment.”

Here’s what you, as a livestock farmer, can do: •Closely follow the instructions outlined by your veterinarian. Make sure you give the correct dose, at the right time of day, and for the prescribed duration. •Wash your hands after dosing. •Make sure your animal completes

Subdivide to combat rising interest rates

Do you want to continue to pay more and more to your bank, increasing their pro ts while lowering your equity or lifestyle?

In a climate of rising interest rates, it makes sense to step back and question how important it is to hold onto a large section or even all of the farm.

Subdividing to sell o part of your property and carving a decent chunk o the bank mortgage is an option to consider in times like these.

Councils are being forced to modify their Subdivision Rules to enable the intensi cation of urban areas.

is will provide an opportunity for some. e changes are being led by Central Government in response to the housing shortage and the spiralling cost of housing land. So, unless you need that extra space around your house or bach, why not consider selling it for someone else to build on. You could lower your mortgage costs at the same time.

ere is still a genuine case, and steady demand, for lifestyle blocks that can often be established on less productive farmland. Many councils will allow this rural subdivision in moderation.

e rural subdivision rules are continually changing, with the latest policy aimed at keeping these subdivisions o highly productive soils.

So the hilly areas, not suitable for mechanical farming methods, will be winners here as the

subdivision rules evolve. Opportunities still exist for many at this point though.

Subdivision gives you choices. Once an additional title is created through subdivision, you have the choice to either hold or sell.

So, subdividing can be an insurance policy as much as an immediate way to reduce debt. Even starting the process with obtaining Resource Consent will lift the value of your property and give you some choice in the future.

In addition, you are then well on your way to creating that independent title that you can sell should the economic conditions worsen.

I’ve seen many farmers build the exibility of multiple titles into their farm management and retirement plans.

e subdivision process takes time to complete. However, an initial assessment can readily be made against the local council rules to establish the feasibility.

Once the process is started, the potential gain in value will be clear to all.

So, if you can see the pressure coming on through ever-increasing mortgage interest rates, or you just want to maximise the value of your property, you might like to check out the potential to subdivide and sell a portion of your land.

Please feel free to give us a call to discuss your situation with a subdivision specialist.

the prescribed course. If, for some reason you are unable to complete the course, you should let your veterinarian know so they can help you.

•Never keep antibiotics for future use because each infection and animal needs unique treatment.

•Dispose of the empty containers appropriately.

Advice that applies to livestock farmers or pet owners.

Pretty as a ‘Pix’-ture

A Holstein Friesian cow who has got her hoofs on just about every title she has competed for in her two seasons on the show circuit, has left yet another event well decorated.

Charbelle Tatoo Pix VG87 S3F, owned by Charbelle Holsteins of Gordonton, won the title of Supreme Holstein Friesian at the 2022 Holstein Friesian NZ North Island Championship, hosted by the Waikato A&P Show on October 28-29.

Pix placed rst in the threeyear-old cow in milk class, and won the Champion

Intermediate Holstein Friesian, Holstein Friesian Best Udder, All Breeds Best Udder, and Supreme All Breeds Champion titles.

Pix is no stranger to decorations, having won the title of 2022 HFNZ Semex On-Farm Competition Champion 2-yearold, and Champion Junior Cow in the 2022 HFNZ DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition.

She also won Intermediate Holstein Champion, Intermediate Holstein Best Udder and North Island Intermediate Champion, Intermediate All Breeds Champion and Intermediate All Breeds Best Udder at the 2022 NZ Dairy Event.

Charbelle Holsteins’ Annabelle Scherer says she and her family – husband Stephen, children and parents Dyanne and Wayne Osborne – are still in shock at the result.

“Getting that result was beyond our wildest expectations and we are so very proud of her,” Annabelle says.

“We hoped she would place well on the back of her other achievements, but nothing is ever certain.

“We made sure we did the correct show preparation with her, and she calved in safely; our family is so proud of her.”

Pix’s sister Charbelle Cadillac Paislee-ET won the Holstein

Pix’s

Sustainable finance framework

As part of Fonterra’s commitment to sustainability and implementation of its strategy, the Co-operative has released its Sustainable Finance Framework.

is Framework aligns Fonterra’s funding strategy with its sustainability ambitions and re ects the evolving preferences of lenders and debt investors in this area.

Fonterra’s Framework outlines how the Co-operative intends to issue and manage any sustainable debt, which could include Green Bonds and Sustainability-Linked Bonds and Loans.

It has been developed with Joint Sustainability Co-ordinators HSBC and Westpac NZ and has been independently veri ed by ISS Corporate Solutions con rming

alignment with globally agreed sustainable nance principles.

“ is new Framework is a step on our sustainable nancing journey – aligning with our broader sustainability ambitions,” says capital markets director Simon Till.

“Over the next decade we intend to signi cantly increase our investment in sustainability-related activities and assets throughout our supply chain to both mitigate environmental risks and continue to di erentiate our New Zealand milk. By FY30 we intend to invest around NZ$1 billion in reducing carbon emissions and improving water e ciency and treatment at our manufacturing sites. In doing so, we will be taking signi cant steps towards our aspiration to be Net Zero by 2050 and we plan to align our funding with this approach.”

Charbelle Tatoo Pix.

Friesian Junior Calf Class and came second in the All Breeds Junior Calf Class.

dam is Charbelle MWB Prancer EX, winner of the 2022 NZDE 4-year-old Holstein Friesian

and Best Udder titles; 2022 HFNZ Semex On-Farm Competition –four-year-old Reserve Champion and 2022 HFNZ DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition – Intermediate Cow runner-up.

Replacing nitrogen naturally

I’ve often heard the comment, “there’s plenty of clover in my pasture but I still require nitrogen for growth”.

ere’s two issues at play here.

Firstly, clover xes nitrogen in response to declining plant available levels in the soil.

Work at Ruakura Research Station showed that less N was xed by clover as increasing amounts of synthetic N were applied.

Clover may be present but is it xing? Only examination of the roots will provide that information.

A healthy plant at this time of the year will have strings of plump nodules which when cracked open with a ngernail contain a sticky red substance, a clear indication of nitrogen being xed.

Healthy structure

A healthy well-structured soil with a 25 per cent by weight clover content is capable of providing enough nitrogen for 18,000 to 20,000kg of DM per hectare in a twelvemonth period.

And where carbon is being steadily sequestered, any excess nitrogen will be stored and not lost to groundwater.

It’s under intensive grazed pasture, without reliance on synthetic nitrogen, that carbon is most readily sequestered and should therefore be encouraged in sensitive water catchment areas, not excluded.

Landcare Research work has shown that irrigated pasture throughout the country is losing carbon. In our view it’s not water that is the reason for that loss.

When dry-land pastures are rst irrigated new species are sown along with an application of synthetic N.

With large amounts of carbon resulting from years of sympathetic farming, the extra growth from synthetic nitrogen is impressive.

Once not enough

Applied nitrogen burns soil carbon, however a single application has little impact. It’s regular applications of nitrogen that results in the steady depletion of soil organic matter.

Secondly, removing any nutrient, nitrogen is a nutrient, from an existing programme without replacing it energetically will result in less growth.

Unless other tests are speci cally requested, a soil test measures only what is plant available nutrient, usually somewhere between one- ve per cent of the total soil held nutrient.

It is, however, valuable information and particularly so when part of a comprehensive testing programme over time.

To make sense of a single test result, it is essential to have information on both the physical state of the soil and historical fertiliser inputs.

Soil moisture and temperature in uence how quickly nutrient from dung, urine, and decaying root becomes available. With soils ideally 25 per cent air and 25 per cent moisture the amount of crumb in the soil is therefore a key component.

e excellent Visual Soil Assessment process provides not only information on this aspect of soil health but also a clear indication of carbon loss or gain, and with the proposed taxation of carbon loss knowing what is taking place is essential.

e incorporation of CalciZest in a nutrient programme is a way to minimise any lag e ect

when reducing and eventually eliminating synthetic nitrogen.

CalciZest is a product developed and made by Functional Fertiliser and successfully used by famers throughout the country for more than 25 years.

It is a mix of soft carbons inoculated with a wide range of soil friendly fungi and bacteria and calcium in the form of lime.

Lime creates the environment which favours bene cial microbes, and earthworms, creating more crumb in the soil and increased nitrogen xation by clover.

Higher calcium input is essential for disease and pest resistant clover capable of xing all the nitrogen required for maximum pasture growth.

e best tucker

Clover also is the best tucker for rapidly growing animals and all lactating animals.

It’s higher in energy and more digestible resulting in extra total feed being eaten each day.

Because CalciZest is quick acting, early summer is an excellent time to apply.

It’s available throughout the country and spread by conventional ground spread equipment.

For more information, call Peter on: 0800 843 809.

Magni cent mixed pasture.

Back on the market

Sechura RPR has been unavailable for a short period due to di culties at the mine itself and with shipping.

New Zealand is o the beaten track at the best of times. Some will be arriving around December 20, 2022.

Some years ago, a survey of soil samples showed that 90 per cent of arable, orchard and dairy land had ample (or more) phosphate, while 86 per cent of hill country did not have enough.

Soil solution

Professor Ian Cornforth of Lincoln University commented: “ e gradual dissolution of reactive phosphate rock fertilisers supplies plants with available phosphate at a rate roughly equal to the rate at which pasture plants absorb phosphate into their roots, so the concentration of phosphate in the soil solution remains reasonably constant.

“In contrast, phosphate fertilisers that dissolve rapidly produce a very high concentration of phosphate in the soil solution immediately after they have been applied. is encourages a reaction between the fertiliser phosphate and some soil constituents that decreases the availability of the phosphate to plants.”

Sinclair et al., (1997) “It was experimentally

shown that yields on plots fertilised for six years with RPR (Perrott et al. 1993) were higher than predicted from the Olsen P tests values for those plots. It was found that on average after 6 years annual RPR application, Olsen values needed multiplying by 1.69 if an Olsen P response curve, generated using SSP, was to be used to predict yield.”

“If an Olsen P was 20; it needed to be multiplied by 1.69 which would equate to an Olsen P of 33.8. e reason for the under prediction of yield on RPR fertilised plots is that plant roots can access P that that will be released from the undissolved RPR residue, but this P is not extracted in the high pH 8.5 Olsen extract.”

Not all RPRs are equal ere is only one true Sechura RPR. For your own sake take a sample of any RPR you have bought and have it independently analysed. Some operators ne-grind their products before submitting that sample for analysis. at can in ate results.

In addition to being a superior form of P for the soil and plants, stock health also improves. An example with sheep is that only 25 per cent of hoggets needed dagging when run on land fertilised with Sechura RPR, while 75 per cent of hoggets needed dagging when superphosphate was used. is di erence can be further widened by on-farm management practices. On properties using our soil fertility program, animal drenches are not usual or regular and veterinary intervention is rare. Diseases such as facial eczema are almost totally absent. is is a huge bene t.

To ensure an even playing eld, the amount of fertiliser added was adjusted so each plot had the same amount of P (45 units) and sulphur (30 units) applied. In order from best to least dry matter, the results were Sechura RPR with Sulphur 90, 9,907 kg, Superphosphate 9884 kg, Replenish 9744 kg, Triple Plus 9,704 kg, DCP18/S90, 9306, Triple Super/S90, 8879, Algerian RPR/S90, 8759, Granular Egyptian RPR/S90, 8233, Control 7365.

e analysis of Sechura RPR varies as is normal with any mined product.

A typical assay is: -

Phosphorus per cent 12-13

Potassium per cent 0.45

Sulphate per cent 2.0

Magnesium per cent 0.65

Calcium per cent 25-27

Sodium per cent 1.80

Boron ppm 5-100

Manganese ppm 70-1530

Copper ppm 20-40

Iron* ppm 4700-7550

Zinc 80-220 ppm

Liming value 70

Cadmium is very low and citric solubility is around 44-46 per cent.

*Most hill country we test is short of iron.

Robin Boom in 2020 near Taumarunui.

Stricter hydrogen rules wanted

Some hapū of Ngāruahine are heading to the Appeal Court with Greenpeace to seek tighter controls on a plan to make hydrogen from wind-powered electricity in South Taranaki.

Hiringa Energy wants to build four 206-metre tall wind turbines at Kāpuni, powering a plant to make hydrogen, which would be used as an ingredient to make urea at the adjacent Ballance fertiliser factory.

Hiringa says it will shift the hydrogen use over ve years to power heavy vehicles instead, replacing diesel with a carbon emission-free alternative.

But the hapū and Greenpeace say there’s nothing in the resource consent to stop Hiringa using the hydrogen to make nitrogen fertiliser for decades.

Hiringa Energy did not respond to requests for comment before deadline.

Fast-tracked

e consent was fast-tracked –without a public hearing – under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act.

Greenpeace’s Steve Abel says the High Court should have decided that the Covid recovery Consenting Panel breached the Act, by not enforcing the shift to heavy transport fuel.

“ e Consenting Panel rightly identi ed that transition to 100 percent fuel use within ve years was a critical reason for its decision to grant the consent, yet the conditions of the consent don’t require that transition to ever occur.

“ is e ectively allows Hiringa and Ballance to keep using hydrogen for manufacturing polluting synthetic nitrogen fertiliser for decades, and never actually transition to using it for transport fuel.”

Kanihi Umutahi me ētehi atu hapū secretary Allen Web says the lack of certainty on the transition to hydrogen fuel undermined the consent, and disrespected Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

“Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser including urea is one of many

pollutants currently a ecting our rivers, waterways, and potable water.

“For decades, our people have fought to exert their kaitiakitanga and tikanga to safeguard our maunga, awa, whenua and moana so that the next generation don’t have to. When does it stop?”

Varied opinions

John Hooker, of Ōkahu-Inuawai me ētehiātu, says his hapū already opposed the amount of urea fertiliser used on farms.

“We support Greenpeace appealing the case because we object to the ability to perpetually create urea, where our marae has a deep well poisoned by aquifer nitrates.”

Opinions have varied amongst the six hapū of Ngāruahine: Ngāti Manuhiakai and Ngāti Tū, which hold mana whenua closest to the project, gave conditional support.

It’s understood Ngāti Tū is now considering joining the Appeal Court action.

A cultural impact assessment by the iwi organisation Te Korowai o Ngāruahine initially gave conditional support, so long as the windmills were removed at the end of their useful life – a maximum of 35 years.

e four giant wind turbines would be the tallest structures in Taranaki, built in what Ngāruahine considers a highly-valued cultural landscape, impacting on their

relationship with Taranaki Maunga.

e consenting panel agrees that any future replacement wind turbines must be built on the coastal side of SH45, far from Taranaki Maunga, on a site chosen in collaboration with hapū.

But initial objections grew over time, and a new Te Korowai board

found the consenting panel had not failed to consider the cultural landscape of Ngāruahine.

“ e panel had acknowledged the e ort Hiringa had gone to in order to ensure it had consulted iwi and hapū with an interest in the project.”

Hiringa Energy’s chief executive Andrew Clennett said then that the company wanted to strengthen those relationships as Taranaki transitions from a fossil fuel economy.

“We recognise the project will have an impact on the landscape and the concerns of the appellants.”

“Our goal is to work constructively with Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust, the hapū and the community to minimise that impact as far as possible.”

unsuccessfully tried to overturn the consent in the High Court earlier this year.

Craig Ashworth

Greenpeace laid out a huge banner next to Ballance’s Kāpuni plant in July as it campaigned against synthetic nitrogen fertiliser including urea.

classified listings

January

Daily Government Gardens Guided Tours, 11am, Rotorua, free. Ph/txt Julie 027 2424 132.

Every Tues-Sun Seasonal Forest Highlights Tour, 11.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, $37 See tinyurl. com/3fp7zpse

Jan 6-7

Pauanui Antique Fair, 10am-4pm, Pauanui Sports and Recreation Club, $5. See tinyurl. com/yssu3k4j

Jan 7

Waihi Beach Summer Fair, 10am-4pm, Wilson Park, $5. See tinyurl.com/2p92nrc9

Twilight Concert, Eagles Tribute, 6pm, Haiku Park, Katikati, $25. See tinyurl. com/435y7rax

Jan 8

Old Coach Road

Historic Heritage Walk, 10am-3pm, meet at Horopito, koha. See tinyurl.com/ mpjzzshr

Jan 9

Te Mātāpuna Wetland Walk, 9am-2pm, meet at Licorice Café Motuoapa (Lake Taupo), koha. www.tongariro.org.nz/ mahi-aroha Stem in the Community with Nasa Astronaut Dr Kate Rubins, 12.30-1.30pm, Taupō Library, free but booking essential. See taurangastemfestival. co.nz for the Rotorua and Tauranga dates and times also

Jan 11

Maunga Clean-up Whakapapa, 10am1pm, free. See tinyurl. com/4n42e4ks

Jan 13

Te Porere Redoubt Cultural Visit, 9.45-11.45am, near Whakapapa, koha. See tinyurl. com/5crpxrfb

Jan 14

Avocado Food & Wine Festival, 12noon6pm, Uretara Domain, Katikati. See katikatiavofest. co.nz

Whangaehu Lahar Volcanic Floods, 8.30am-3.30pm, koha. See tinyurl. com/25nkke7c

Jan 15

e-waste Collection Day, 9-11am, Cambridge High School. Ph/txt Harriet 027 500 1126

Jan 19

Waipāhīhī Botanical Gardens Hīkoi, 10am-noon, Taupō, koha. See tinyurl. com/2hw9knx6

Jan 20-22

Festival of Church Music, St Andrew’s Church, Cambridge. Ph/txt Merv 021 135 9904. See tinyurl.com/4em7nv7v

Jan 21

Waihi Dahlia Show, 12.30pm3pm, Waihi Memorial

Hall, Seddon St. Ph Jennifer 07 863 7563.

Jan 23

Okupata Caves Tour, 9.30am-12.30pm, or 1-4pm, meeting place Mangatepopo area, $22. Morning trip see tinyurl.com/ mr44fh9k; afternoon trip see tinyurl. com/4wv29wny

Jan 23-24

Wairakei Sanctuary Tour, 2-4.30pm, meet Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary Pro Shop, koha. See tongariro.org. nz/our-events

Jan 25

Maunga Clean-up Turoa, 10am-12.30pm, free. See tinyurl. com/2arx2yrv

Jan 26

Kids Gone Fishin’, 10am-noon, Whakatanē Wharf, free. Ph/txt Richard 0273 257 792.

Jan 28

Dance Carnival, 10am-12noon, central Whakatanē, free. See artswhakatane.co.nz/ summerarts

Thank you for all you do for our

Life is bloody tough for farmers right now.

While our export prices have been solid, the costs imposed on the home front have been shocking. Continually growing farm input costs such as fuel, feed, labour and fertiliser are squeezing margins and causing immeasurable stress.

Bearing the brunt

is Government has lost control of the local economy and is reverting to type –Labour thinks there’s not an issue that can’t be solved without more taxpayer money and more regulations.

Farmers have borne the brunt – and you’ve had enough. ere are very few

bureaucrats and Government Ministers who have any idea of the internal family stress that sits around the kitchen tables of our 23,000 farmers.

Acknowledgement

During Covid you were begrudgingly acknowledged by the Government for keeping the country a oat. Since then, what has been the thanks?

e Government deviation from the industry partnership proposed HWEN, winter grazing rules that are unworkable, and more clipboard warriors wanting to nd parts of your farm to classify as wetlands to further reduce your productive base. But it’s the sheer scale of

Jan 28

Home Composting Workshop, 1.30pm, Turangi & Taupō, free. Repeated monthly until June. See tinyurl.com/ zsvdvub

Country Rock Twilight Concert, 6pm, Haiku Park, Katikati, $25. See tinyurl. com/435y7rax

Jan 29

Farming like Grandad & Country Fair, 10am-4.30pm, near Kawerau, $10. See waterwheel.nz

February

Daily Government Gardens Guided Tours, 11am, Rotorua, free. Ph/txt Julie 027 2424 132.

Every Tues-Sun Seasonal Forest Highlights Tour, 11.30am, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, $37 See tinyurl. com/3fp7zpse

Feb 6

Tauranga Moana Waitangi Day Festival, 10am4pm, Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga, free. See tinyurl.com/ mr3s2ztr

nation

the regulations, the pace of change and their lack of day-to-day practicality that is really impacting farmers.

I have had a number of farmer meetings since being given the National Party Acting Agriculture spokesperson role, and the frustration and anger in the regions is palpable.

Now that anger is owing over the wider country as the looming recession starts to bite. We have to reset.

It genuinely impacts me when I see the struggles, both regulatory and mental, that our farmers are enduring.

We need to celebrate our food and bre sector and engage with farmers on the basis of trust not enmity.

I wish you all an enjoyable new year and thank you for all you do for our nation.

Grandchildren and friends of the Butlers in Whakatane, helping with the preliminary training of their young stag Spike, ready to assist Santa over Christmas.

Maia, one, helping her mum and dad change liners at the in Galatea.

Finn Muncaster, three, feeding his calf Lucy on the farm in Whakatane.

Bree, nine, playing with her calf Crystal on the farm in Matamata.

Archie, three, on the goat farm with mum in Te Waotu.