Coast & Country News - October 2023

The day farming fired me

I have absolutely no qualms in declaring my huge and sel ess contribution to the agricultural industry in New Zealand. It’s the stu of New Year Honours. And I did it simply by staying away from anything that involved, dirt, animals, crops, gumboots, tractors, hay bales, farm fences and gates, irrigation ditches, o al pits and viyella shirts for much of my life. No, farms and I were not meant to be. And for that, the industry should be grateful.

Early signs

e signs were there when, as a teenager on my rst RE (rural experience), I did a tight u-turn on a Massey Ferguson while tedding a eld of lucerne and got dreadfully tangled. I tore down a chain of new fencing. Taut number 8 wire makes a distinctive, expensive and quite melodic “sproing” sound when it snaps. It also makes farmers very unhappy. I also learned on that rst farm experience

not to be deceived by ash culinary names like sweetbreads. ey’re glands, and it doesn’t matter if they’re disguised in panko breadcrumbs for lunch, they’re still just glands, o al. ymus in the throat or pancreas near the stomach. e farmer called it ne dining. I left my ‘ ne dining’ in a steaming, regurgitated pool on the driveway. Some things aren’t meant to be eaten.

Lessons learnt

I was given a brand new .22 ri e to scare o some magpies that were swooping on the chooks and scaring them o laying. I set an ambush by the chookhouse and winged a maggie. To administer the coup de grace I whacked it with the butt of the ri e, hit something hard in the ground and broke the weapon in two. Add it to the bill.

I was also there when ‘farmer’ collared a ropey old hogget for some home kill. I had never witnessed the messy process of putting meat on the table. With a ‘rollie’ in one corner of his mouth and talking weather out the other corner, he calmly dispatched the sheep by severing the carotid artery and jugular vein with one swift, masterful stroke. en twisting it’s head to break the neck.

I can distinctly remember a “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” type fountain of blood just before I hit the oor and passed out.

A couple of days later the farmer took me into Ashburton and put me on the train home. He obviously thought it was worth a morning’s work just to get me o his property and out of his life. You did us both a favour Hamish.

Dairy’s economic contribution in NZ

exporters to continue growing the export value of New Zealand dairy products.

“Sense Partners estimate that New Zealand dairy exports continue to incur more than $1.5 billion of tari s and $7.8 billion of non-tari measures costs. 86.7 per cent of global dairy consumption continues to sit behind trade tari s of 10 per cent or more.

“ is underscores the importance of New Zealand continuing to invest in e orts to remove trade barriers,

A new report is highlighting the dairy sector’s contribution to the New Zealand economy, and its role as ‘shock absorber’ for regional communities in times of volatility.

e report, commissioned by DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, also shows the importance of ongoing investment in trade liberalisation and resilient infrastructure.

DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther says the report shows the long-term picture for the dairy sector is solid and it will continue to contribute signi cantly to the New Zealand economy.

“Dairy generated nearly $26 billion in export revenue for the year to April 2023, which accounts for around one in every four export dollars earnt by New Zealand.

“ e value of dairy exports grew by 45 per cent over the past ve years, which helped support the national economy through the pandemic.”

Supporting economies

DairyNZ head of economics Mark Storey says the spread of farms across the country allows dairy to support regional economies, maintaining some local spending even when milk prices drop.

“Dairy’s export earnings translate into well-paying jobs in the sector and enable the purchase of goods and services from other sectors,” explains Mark.

“ ere will inevitably be an impact from the recent fall in milk price, with farmers limiting non-essential expenditure and limiting their purchases short-term where possible. However, this analysis shows that the sector itself absorbs some of the impacts in dairy farmers’ pro ts.

“Despite lower milk prices, dairy farmers will continue to hire sta and purchase essential supplies to run their farms.”

In the year to March 2023, dairy processors spent around $19.6 billion of goods and services from both farms (purchasing milk) and other industries. Dairy farmers in turn spent $7.9 billion on goods and services in the same period.

“Around 55,000 people are employed in dairy, both on and o farms, generating around $3.6 billion annually in wages,” says Mark.

“At a community level, dairy is a signi cant employer. For instance, in Waimate, one in three jobs

are in the dairy sector and wages make up 52 per cent of total wages paid there.

“Dairy also employs more than 20 per cent of workers in both South Taranaki and Westland districts, and pays more than 40 per cent of both districts’ total wages.”

Dairy accounts for more than one in 10 jobs in a further eight districts, while paying more than comparable sectors, which ampli es the value of dairy employment to communities.

Exports

Dairy processing and farming remain New Zealand’s most internationally connected industries.

Individual dairy products including whole milk powder, skim milk powder, butter and dairy spreads, protein products and cheese are all multi-billiondollar exports.

“ e analysis highlights that New Zealand dairy exporters continue to change their market o erings in response to demand, with the proportion of whole milk powder reducing from 36.9 per cent in 2019 to 31.6 per cent in the year to April 2023, while dairy protein products having increased to 13.2 per cent of the product mix, up from 8.6 per cent in 2019,” says Kimberly.

She says the industry continues to face signi cant trade barriers and costs. Reducing them will support

mean a greater diversity of export opportunities for New Zealand dairy companies and greater ability to navigate market volatility.”

e report also found that dairy’s ability to provide a resilient contribution to New Zealand economy would be enhanced by infrastructure resilience. Exporting success requires e cient and reliable movement of milk and products from farms to factory, and to ports. Rail reliability is also a resilience priority, with rail access to

Farewell to the ‘Happy Huntsman’

After a decade as Huntsman for the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt, Charlie Halley has retired and handed over to Jamie Bragg.

Under the name of Rotorua Hunt Association, the hunt was formed in June 1928, recording a membership of 138.

e rst Master was Dr Herbert Bertram, and his 100-acre estate Glenholme, was the home of hunting in Rotorua for more than 30 years.

In 1932, the hunt extended into the Bay of Plenty as hound numbers increased thanks to hound donations from the Pakuranga and Waikato hunts. It was renamed Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt and registered with the New Zealand Hunts Association.

Current hunt master, Craig Hurst, is a local farmer/land owner.

“I’ve hunted all my life and my father has been the club president.

I felt it was my turn to do my bit and became the master in 2022,” says Craig.

e kennels have been in Dalbeth Road, Rotorua since 1960. Geographically the hunt covers a large

area from Pikowai to Katikati in the East and Reporoa to the top of the Kaimai-Mamaku Range in the West. is o ers members a huge variety of hunt country.

“As a gesture of appreciation, the Hunt o ers $9000 worth of scholarships for tertiary education or skill training to our landowners’ families or those managing Maori Trust or corporate farms we hunt on.”

Craig describes the 164 members as a “very dedicated group”, consisting of the stalwarts, an increasing number of urban members, and families.

He sums up the 10 years that Charlie Halley gave to the hunt as huntsman.

“For Charlie, hunting was all about whanau. Whether it be his own, other families or the hunt family in general, he made it fun and he

was very approachable. He was known as the “Happy Huntsman” and that is what he will be remembered for.”

Charlie Halley

Charlie grew up in the Hawke’s Bay on sheep and beef farms with his 10 siblings.

“We were riding horses by age three or four and as soon as we were able, one of my brothers and I had our own dogs and were riding o into the hills shepherding. We didn’t do much school work!” says Charlie.

He began hunting as a child and remembers the best turnout they had was seven, his mum and dad and ve of the children.

He married his wife, Dolly, and they have four daughters. ey rode with the Mahia Hunt where Dolly’s father, Lionel Stone was Master and Charlie whipped for them when required.

“Our family got into rodeoing and it was hard to compete out of Gisborne, so we moved up to a Maori Trust Farm near Rotorua.”

Charlie and his daughter Kiwa won a team roping competition in 2008 she became the rst female to win a roping title in New Zealand. e family hunted with the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt and Charlie took the huntsman position in 2013. ey relocated to the hunt property, and he drove for an agricultural contractor in the hunt o season.

“I’ve really encouraged hunt members to bring their families and the hunt has regular riders of all ages.”

Charlie has a love of hounds. In his last season in 2023, he was proud to see some of the hounds he bred coming into their own.

Harrier hound for hunting hares.

“ e Happy Huntsman”, Charlie Halley, was with the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt for a decade.

Photo: Debbie Stevens.

Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt’s new Huntsman, Jamie Bragg and hunt Master Craig Hurst.

Photo: Catherine Fry.

Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt’s hounds feature a mixture of traditional black and tan, plus some speckled colouring. Photo: Catherine Fry.

“Hounds are so di erent to other dogs. ey’re very loving towards humans, wanting to be around them, eager to please and are the gutsiest animals I know.”

He favours the black and tan hounds, with not too much white, but has added in some speckle, breeding with hounds from Waikato.

Charlie bred Ebay who did well at hound shows.

Jamie Bragg

Jamie Bragg was appointed to take over from Charlie at the end of the 2023 hunt season. Unfortunately Charlie had an accident which abruptly ended his season. Jamie stepped in early and saw the hunt through with help from Craig and Rotorua’s whips.

“I had whipped for Rotorua previously, but it was hard coming in mid-season when the hounds were bonded with another huntsman”, says Jamie.

Jamie has hunted since he was ve. His working life revolved around the racing industry, doing work such as racecourse clerking, trackwork and travelling foreman for Shaune Ritchie Racing.

He was the huntsman at Maramarua for three seasons, gaining a love and understanding of working hounds.

“My wife, Eilish and I, and our one-year-old and 12 horses have moved into Dalbeth Road, and I’ve o cially taken up the position and care of the 23 hounds and 11 pups.”

Jamie plans to increase the bitch ratio of the hound pack. He’s bringing in new bloodlines, Gamble and Lancer from Mahia, Fletcher from Maramarua and Lamu from Pakuranga.

Jamie will have the spring and summer to bond with the hounds ready for his rst season as huntsman.

CLEAN UP WITH SPRING SAVINGS

Incoming Huntsman, Jamie Bragg (centre left) and outgoing Huntsman, Charlie Halley (centre right) during the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt’s 2023 season.

Photo: Debbie Stevens.

Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt’s new Huntsman, Jamie Bragg. Photo: Catherine Fry.

Looking after farmers’ wellbeing

For many farmers, it has been a challenging year and, for some, its feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

In February, Cyclone Gabrielle caused unprecedented ooding and damage across parts of the North Island, particularly in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. is event caused

signi cant disruption to farmers, growers, and rural communities. Further north, Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty also endured record rainfall from January 26 to February 2, 2023.

MPI funding

e Ministry for Primary Industries has provided funding

to coordinate clean-up e orts for the primary sector and rural communities in these regions.

“We need to acknowledge that this has been an extraordinary and stressful time for farmers in these regions,” says ACC injury prevention workplace manager Virginia Burton-Konia.

“We recognise that further support and help is required in

these communities and the Ministry for Primary Industries is leading this work.

“We know it must feel like you have endless challenges and if you are in this space, we encourage you to get in touch for the help and support you need.”

Agriculture is New Zealand’s biggest export earner but it’s also one of our most high-risk industries.

Injury claims

In 2022, there were 22,631 farmrelated injury claims accepted which came at a cost of $96 million to help people recover. is was the highest cost over the past ve years.

at’s more than 60 farmers getting injured every day. at’s a big impact on them, their families and the rural community when they get taken out of play. In all, ACC has spent $421 million on farming related injuries in the past ve years.

“It’s important for farmers, to take a moment to think about what they are about to do and think about what could go wrong to prevent injury.”

ACC is a strategic partner of Farmstrong, alongside FMG and the Mental Health Foundation.

Farmstrong is a rural wellbeing initiative for farmers and growers to help them ‘live well to farm well’.

It encourages farmers to share their stories and to look after themselves as well as they do their pasture and livestock.

An ACC-funded study for Farmstrong shows 58 per cent of recently injured farmers linked their accident to stress associated with farm work. A quarter of them said it was a major factor.

Exhaustion, lack of sleep, the stresses of farming, being isolated from friends and family, and being unable to take a break all add to the risks that a farmer or farm worker will have su er an injury, the research shows.

New research from Massey University professor Jarrod Haar on TVNZ Breakfast showed that farmers and farm managers have a 70 per cent chance of burnout.

e report says that in comparison, chief executives have a 30 per cent risk of burnout and hospitality workers are just under 20 per cent.

“We’re proud to partner with Farmstrong and its focus on simple tools like getting enough sleep, eating right and getting some exercise,” says Virginia.

“Farmers can get better at putting in systems to look after the most important asset on the farm, themselves and those who work in the business.”

Five ways to wellbeing

• Connect - research shows that people with strong social connections are happier, healthier and live longer.

• Give - When you give your time to others, they bene t, but it makes you feel happier too.

• Take notice - paying attention to smaller things can help you feel calm and relaxed.

• Keep learning - learning new things keeps your thinking exible and open

• Be active - keeping active is a great way to feel good.

For more on Farmstrong visit: www.farmstrong.co.nz

Farmers are being urged to look after themselves as much as they do their animals.

It takes all of us to protect against pests

In New Zealand, Manaaki

Whenua Landcare Research estimates that the cost of weeds to our primary industries is more than $1.2 billion each year.

It’s a stark reminder of the need to be vigilant in the war against pest plants.

Here at Bay of Plenty Regional Council we believe that the success to preventing the arrival and spread of pest plants requires working collaboratively with landowners.

Key tool

e Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan is the key tool used by us to help manage pests. It categorises pest weeds and animals into one of four categories depending on the risk

that it poses, how widespread it is, and the practicalities of managing it. Where possible we try to stop new pests from establishing in the region and eradicating those that haven’t yet established. For pests that are unfortunately already widespread we generally work with landowners to minimise spread across property boundaries.

Teamwork

Regardless of which category a pest sits within it’s about working collaboratively.

What can you do and how can we help?

- Machine hygiene. Preventing the spread of pests starts at the farm gate. Ensure that any machinery you have coming onto or leaving the property is free from organic matter.

- Keep an eye out for new

pests on your land or in your waterways, and if you see something, look at our online pest portal at: boprc.govt.nz/ pests or get in touch. You can ask our team about getting a copy of the Bay of Plenty RPMP user guide to help ID regional pests, highlight any rules that apply, and provide advice on control techniques.

- Control pest plants early before they establish. e longer you leave it, the harder and more expensive the job becomes. E ective pest control requires a good understanding of the target species and the method being used both of which we can advise on.

- Be a good neighbour. If you have pest plants on your property, particularly ones that are spread by wind or birds, ensure you have the

right control strategy in place to prevent them jumping the fence. Certain pests have rules that require you to control pest plants within a boundary.

For more information or advice on

identifying or controlling pests, go to the pest portal on our website or get in touch with the Bay of Plenty Biosecurity team today.

Rural Women New Zealand National Conference given green light

Rural Women New Zealand will be hosting a National Conference in November this year.

“After two postponements due to Covid-19 restrictions in recent years, RWNZ Members are looking forward to meeting together in person,” says national president Gill Naylor. is year’s conference will be held in Christchurch from ursday, November 23, until Saturday, November 25.

e National Conference programme

Orchard shelter removal

Stump removal

wraps around the organisation’s Annual General Meeting and the muchanticipated NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2023.

Highlights of the programme include guest speakers Alice Ritchie and Rosemary Banks, and a performance by e Bitches’ Box of its internationally acclaimed Life’s a Bitch show.

“We are delighted to have guest speakers of the calibre of Alice and Rosemary,” says Gill.

“ e Conference theme this year is

Strengthen, Support, Connect which underpins and describes the role that RWNZ plays in our rural communities.

“ e Conference also provides an excellent opportunity for people

to come and experience a taster of what the organisation has to o er.”

Tickets for the Conference sessions, the Bitches’ Box performance on November 23 and the NZI Rural Women NZ

Business Awards on November 24 are available for sale to the general public.

To nd out more about the conference & purchase tickets, visit the Rural Women NZ website.

of Plenty for a

future

•

Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity manager Greg Corbett

Phone

totaltreeremoval.co.nz

Stepping forward for sustainability

A company working on a world rst for sustainable chemical and coal replacement manufacturing is celebrating after opening its o ces in Pāpāmoa this month.

Foresta is building the rst integrated manufacturing facility in Rotorua to produce rosins and terpenes from pine which can replace petroleum sourced chemicals.

e factory also is working on producing torre ed black pellets – which can be used “seamlessly” as a replacement for coal.

Foresta managing director Ray Mountfort says the plant, once opened, will use “proprietary technology” to extract natural pine chemicals, which are used in everyday products such as cosmetics, car tyres and soft drinks.

“ ese can directly displace the need for fossil fuel based chemicals.

“Once the pine chemicals are removed the remaining wood is manufactured into ‘black and white’ wood pellets that can be used as a substitute for coal in commercial and industrial uses, including electricity generation.”

e plant is forecast to generate approximately 210,000 tonnes of torre ed wood pellets and 50,000 tonnes of pine chemicals generating an estimated NZ$290 million in total revenue per annum.

e o ce, which is now open in Pāpāmoa, is a step closer to making this forecast a reality.

Foresta has a Letter Of Intent to supply up to 400,000 tonnes per annum of torre ed wood pellets to Tailored Energy Solutions who will use them to

enable their customers to move from coal to woodbased energy.

According to the Ray, the e ort is being undertaken to reduce the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand made by coal consumption.

“Currently, 22 million tonnes of logs are exported from New Zealand, by processing these within New Zealand, we can secure more economic value and green energy.

“Consistent supply and control over the harvesting practices are all that stands between being coal free and a sustainably managed solid energy sector. A key to a zero carbon New Zealand is stopping the export of logs because this is the biggest contributor of carbon emissions of our pine forest due to the shipping involved.  e project, which has been in the works for 20 years, is in line with the Government’s commitment to transitioning the country’s economy to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Foresta is working on a sustainable chemical and coal replacement.

Taylor Rice

Foresta managing director Ray Mountfort.

Photos: Taylor Rice.

MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Plantain study may help NZ waterway health

New research has found feeding cows the leafy herb plantain can reduce nitrogen leaching from dairy farms by up to 60 per cent and may help improve the quality of the country’s waterways.

e Dairy NZ-led plantain potency and practice programme has just announced the research results which show using ecotain, an environmental plantain from Agricom, in pasture can signi cantly reduce nitrogen entering waterways. e research has been done for the past four years at Massey University in Palmerston North and more recently at Lincoln University, putting dairy cows in pasture with varying levels of plantain and measuring the nitrogen levels going into the soil from the animals’ urine.

Method adoption

Ecotain reduces nitrogen leaching by increasing cows’ urine volume, diluting the nitrogen in urine and reducing the total amount of nitrogen excreted in urine.

It also retains nitrogen in the soil, preventing it entering waterways. e results are compared to traditional perennial ryegrass and clover paddocks.

e programme has run on 21 farms across the country and it’s hoped the method is adopted widely.

Dairy NZ chief executive Tim Mackle says the results are exciting. “We now have robust scienti c evidence that Ecotain plantain is an e ective solution to help dairy farmers further reduce farm footprint and continue playing their part in

improving water quality.”

He says a 20 per cent to 60 per cent reduction in nitrogen leaching was a material reduction and was worth ghting for.

“When you get that kind of technology come through it’s a real change.

“It’s up to us to make sure that farmers can use it and do use it at scale so we get the bene ts for them, the communities and the water.”

Mackle says it will save farmers more than $1 billion per decade by spending less on nitrogen reduction.

He says dairy accounts for almost half of the country’s nitrogen in waterways, so farmers would want to reduce that because it was the right thing to do.

Massey University Professor Emeritus Peter Kemp says this research supports work to protect the environment and improve waterways. ey had seen a 20 per cent-60 per cent decrease in nitrogen leaching by using between 25 per cent-55 per cent plantain in pasture.

“Overall you’ve got a dramatic decrease in nitrogen leaching.

“From a farmer’s point of view there’s no change in the pasture dry matter production and no change in milk production.”

e study used a drainage system under the paddocks the cows graze.

Water from the soil in each paddock is piped into a container and sampled.

e cows’ urine, dung and plasma are tested, as well as the pasture and leachate.

Some farmers already use plantain as a forage crop so this would not be a big step for many.

“Farmers have bought into the fact that they have got to decrease nitrogen leaching. Typical farmers have bought into it.

Plantain use

“ is o ers a way to do it that I think is an easy adjustment to their farming system.”

omas Read farms more than 1000 dairy cows across three farms at Dannevirke in Tararua and has been using plantain in his pasture for about seven years.

“Plantain is a tool we reached for, for simplicity and low cost and then now to see the science behind it, there’s the added bene t of doing better in regards to nitrogen leaching and overall better water quality across New Zealand.”

Nitrogen levels had decreased on his farm and he believed it was only a matter of time before others adopted the method.

e $22 million seven-year programme is funded by DairyNZ, the Ministry for Primary Industries, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Fonterra, working with six research and delivery partners.

George Heagney/Stuff

decrease in nitrogen

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Massey University professor of pasture science Peter Kemp says the use of plantain can lead to a dramatic

leaching. Photos: David Unwin/Stu .

Right: Dannevirke dairy farmer omas Read is a keen adopter of using plantain.

Why have maize planting rates flatlined?

New Zealand’s recommended maize planting rates have atlined, while in the United States these continue to increase on an annual basis.

So, why isn’t New Zealand following the US trend?

For the past 15 years, recommended planting rates for medium to long maturity maize silage hybrids in New Zealand have remained static at between 105,000 and 110,000 a hectare.

Maize grain planting rates have lifted marginally to just above 95,000/ha.

Trending data

In comparison, US Department of Agriculture data shows that maize planting rates have increased on average by 900 seeds/ha a year since the 1960s, doubling from 40,000 to 80,000/ha. Over the same timeframe, maize grain yield has continued to increase on average at a rate of about 125 kg/ha/ year. Many in the US believe that this increasing trend in plant population will continue well into the future.

e US yield increase is attributed to genetic gain, agronomic improvements and increasing plant population. Maize grain is a massive crop in the US, with 32 to 36 million ha planted each year.

Foundation for Arable Research senior maize researcher David Densley told growers at a series of winter maize workshops that maize silage and grain

seeding rates have more or less remained static since the inception of maize production in New Zealand in the early 1990s.

“Some research and commercial observations suggest that under current management practices and climatic conditions seeding rates may be about right.”

Di erent theories

David asked those attending the workshops as to why they believed recommended seeding rates have more or less remained at despite increases overseas.

Some suggested that in the US they were starting from much lower densities and are only catching up to New Zealand seeding rates while some thought farmers are possibly deterred by the cost of the additional seed required.

Higher planting rates mean a higher yield is required just to breakeven on costs.

Factors in New Zealand that support higher populations include a maritime climate, which results in lower overnight temperatures than those experienced in the US. New Zealand’s soils are also very di erent, containing much higher organic matter and spatial distribution of nutrients.

As 80 per cent of New Zealand’s maize production is for silage, which is harvested earlier than grain, this creates a very di erent production system that generally includes winter

crop production. US maize expert Professor Fred Below, of the Crop Physiology Laboratory, University of Illinois, who visited New Zealand earlier this year as a guest of FAR, ranks plant population as fourth in importance in his “Seven Wonders” for maize yield. e main factors are weather, ranked rst, fertility, second and hybrid, third.

Orchard protection that ‘pays for itself’

Arti cial shelters, overhead canopies and orchard netting are enabling orchards to reach their potential in record time.

And this, according to Liam Kane of Max Coverage Orchard Services means “new developments pay for themselves with a decent canopy within three years”.

Liam Kane developed Max Coverage three years ago after working in the orchard protection industry for around a decade.

“Word of mouth about the quality

of our design, protection systems and back-up service has fuelled our growth so today I have an experienced team of highly skilled professionals based in the Bay of Plenty but servicing the North Island,” says Liam.

“Developing an orchard is a signi cant investment and growers are increasingly wanting peace of mind that their crops will be protected from extreme weather, wind rub, unwanted dusts and sprays, so they can reach their full potential. Our covers do that

providing an environment which is one to two degrees warmer than outside temperatures, creating an ideal environment for plants to ourish.

“We work closely with growers to understand their goals and budget, and then design and build orchard protection, which will hopefully exceed their expectations.

“We do everything from the ground up, and pride ourselves on the service we provide to our valued growers.”

Once an orchard system is installed, Max Coverage provide growers with ongoing service and support.

Check out the Max Coverage range of orchard protection systems by viewing their advert on this page.

NZKGI talking about new water quality rules

With talk of a signi cant El Niño bringing a hotter, drier summer to much of New Zealand, water will be an important topic for kiwifruit growers.

“In March this year I talked in

this blog about the requirement for regional councils across the country to update their rules and policies to align with national targets set out in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management,” says

NZKGI CEO Colin Bond. “It’s a massive task, the timeframe is tight and there are potentially major rami cations for growers.

“ e new rules are expected to address the decline in water

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

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Max Coverage Orchard Services at work on an orchard.

Collaboration for shared success

with now nearly 100 employment contracts having been signed.

“Cloud-based orchard management software is set to revolutionise the ower picking operations by e ciently managing ower yields, piece rates, and accuracy for employees, contractors and orchard owners.”

Kiwi Pollen and Hill Labs are

con dent these new systems and preparations will yield signi cant bene ts. e two local organisations enjoy exploring new avenues to support growth in the kiwifruit industry, and by thinking outside the box and working in collaboration, they are proud to be contributing to a thriving future for the industry.

Kiwi Pollen and Hill Labs have united their expertise and resources through a novel way of working together, aimed at overcoming industry challenges and optimising operations. Both organisations share a commitment to seeing the kiwifruit sector thrive, and their collaborative e orts are set to drive innovation and address industry challenges.

ree of Hill Labs’ most experienced Mount Maunganui-

quality that has occurred in some regions, and also to ensure that the amount of water taken from rivers and groundwater leaves su cient water to support ecosystem health and other important values within the region’s water bodies.”

From a practical perspective, the new policy could a ect growers in a number of ways depending on their individual activities, location, and the pressures on the waterways that they operate in.

Visit NZKGI’s website for more information.

based sta are currently on secondment at Kiwi Pollen, which is possible because the companies’ busy seasons are complementary – the harvest season for the Hill Labs team nished just as Kiwi Pollen was planning for its pollination season, says a spokesperson for the organisations.

e secondees are leveraging their experience gained in the high-volume environment of the Hill Labs Bay of Plenty operations to focus on

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understanding the Kiwi Pollen business, evaluating solutions, and streamlining operations.

“ e scope of their work encompasses optimisation, data accuracy, quality, productivity, and satisfaction for all stakeholders.

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e organisations’ commitment to seeing the kiwifruit sector thrive. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

RSE housing in BOP

e launch of a new accommodation facility for Recognised Seasonal Employer workers is being celebrated in the Bay of Plenty.

e $6 million dollar facility, named Turanga Whetu, has been worked on for about four years so far, but is nally open to house 140 migrant workers in the peak kiwifruit season near Katikati.

According to Seeka RSE programme manager Tania George, the facility has been made to suit the cultural needs of migrant workers in New Zealand.

Homely feeling

“Including communal areas where people can be together was really important to us. is place gives them a nice solid warm home to come here after their working day.

“Whether they are working the night shift in the pack houses here, or whether they are working day shifts in the packhouse and orchards, this is a nice space to come back to.

“In the paci c islands, they are used to communal living, so it is nice for the RSE workers to have their friends in the rooms with them and living in the same spot, rather than wherever we can tuck them around the countryside.”

Chief executive o cer Michael Franks says the completed facility is the country achieving their commitment of o ering a quality living standard for the RSE workers. “ ese people are leaving their communities over in the paci c islands to come and work for us. In doing so, they are committed

to coming here and working hard.

“But on the other side, we’ve got a commitment to pay them well, treat them well, and give them a nice, warm and caring place to stay.

Grand opening

“ is is us setting our commitment, and achieving it.”

Following the Kawanga Whare, a grand opening of the facility was held with Western Bay of Plenty Mayor, James Denyer, National Party MP, Sam U ndell, and candidates Tom Rutherford of National and Pare Taikato of Labour in attendance.

e grand opening concluded with performances by Samoan RSE and local Iwi representatives.

“We are very proud of the building and the construction teams have done a great job in delivering a great facility,” says Michael.

“But if you think about it, it is only a building, it’s just bits of wood and tin really, what is important to us is that it is symbolic of the relationships we want to have and the strong relationships we are building with local ManaTangata Whenua and our RSE employees.”

Chairman Fred Hutchings says the company is “founded on relationships, both with our growers, who by selecting Seeka, are choosing a partner that values a high-quality labour force with the ability to produce excellent results, and relationships with our team of inspirational people both from our home here in New Zealand and those who come to us from abroad”.

Fred also spoke on the name of the facility stating that “Turanga Whetu” refers to Star Base and living under one sky.

“ is location provides a brilliant view of the Southern Cross a constellation which connects

CutLTD

RSE workers with their home abroad and their secondary new home here in New Zealand.” Workers living at the new RSE facility will start moving in from October. Taylor Rice

Regional manager Alex Fields with chief executive Michael Franks and RSE programme manager Tania George.

e new Turanga Whetu facility was o cially opened last month.

Photos: Taylor Rice.

e inside of one of the rooms at Turanga Whetu.

Avo grower’s goal for a healthy harbour

It may take 50 years to restore the health of the Tauranga Harbour but it’s achievable believes avocado grower Lawrie Donald of Katikati, who has worked hard towards that goal.

“ ere have been incremental improvements in the time I have been shing in the Northern Tauranga harbour and any improvement is good,” says Lawrie who, while still actively involved in environmental

projects, has stepped down as chair of Project Parore.

e health of the harbour and its sh has been the end game for Lawrie through decades of working with landowners and councils to improve the quality of waterways entering the harbour.

“I’m optimistic about the future especially in the Bay of Plenty where the policies of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council have helped change attitudes and encouraged so much more native

re-vegetation. Now the rest of New Zealand is catching up.”

Lawrie, who as a child helped his father clear a swamp for grazing land and had a stint as a scrub cutter, possum hunter and deer meat shooter, went on to become an ardent and e ective advocate for the environment, with the skill of getting landowners on side.

In his time as BOPRC senior environmental eld o cer, Lawrie oversaw around 180kms of re-fencing on farms to protect waterways.

“We averaged about 10km per year, but I have no idea about how many trees were planted as part of retirement schemes as the number was increasing all the time. e BOPRC ordered about 180,000 indigenous trees a year prior to my move to Taupo in 2008. Of those about 80,000 went to farmers I or my sta were working with.

Motivation

“In the BOPRC Operational Plan, the ability to protect streams and bush has been a boon to the Western Bay of Plenty environment. is is a monetary incentive to protect parts of farms and people are the same regardless of their vocation. Money is always a great motivator.”

Lawrie was born and raised in Maramarua and attended Wesley College before taking a degree in Agricultural Science majoring in soils and geology at Massey University.

Lawrie joined the Rangitiki/ Wanganui Catchment Board working in the Taihape hill country before heading to Darwin in Australia for a year working in land conservation. He returned to New Zealand, took a job scrub cutting and married social worker Heather. “Heather wanted me to get a proper job when she was expecting our rst child, so in 1980 I joined the Hauraki Catchment Board working on the Waihou Valley Scheme.

“ is was the rst really formative job, the previous were interesting but without the structured catchment approach to river and ood management by looking at the total catchment.

“Fencing is a huge capital cost to farming and has little impact on pro t. Grants from councils and large catchment schemes like the Waihou Valley scheme have been instrumental in the protection of waterways where I have worked.

“One of the things I used to discuss with landowners was to look at their farm as a series of assets. Land Use Capability mapping of NZ was done in the 1970s and is a great tool to use.

“I used to tell farmers to invest in the best land rst. Too many were

breaking in some rough paddock out the back that soaked up money and gave little return. A little more fertiliser or a subdivision of better land with fencing was a better option.”

In 1990, Lawrie joined the BOPRC and the family moved to Katikati.

“At BOPRC I had a boss Tony Hall who was in my opinion miles ahead of the rest of the councils in NZ.

“He allowed me to develop the Coast Care programme, the Estuary Care programme and to be part of the biodiversity development team for the BOP Land Management Team. ese things gave the community a place in management of their environment and changed peoples’ mind set about looking after ‘your place’.”

Special gift

ose initiatives, and Lawrie’s special gift to get on side and relate to farmers and growers, are among the reasons for environmental improvements wherever he has worked.

“When I rst started there had to be an erosion problem that was impacting farm infrastructure for me to get an invite onto farm.

“In the 1970s only mad greenies fenced o waterways.

“Historically water was always fenced into a paddock for stock water, not out. e fencing of waterways was slow to develop for the very reason that it was a complete change of practice.

“Now most farmers know it is the right thing to do.”

Lawrie Donald.

Photo: Elaine Fisher.

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Lawrie has a knack for nding the ‘why’ to motivate landowners. “When I went to see landowners about tree planting, I made sure to sit down with both husband and wife because if the wife didn’t agree with fencing o waterways, ninety percent of the time it wouldn’t happen.

Protecting waterways

“If we got the OK, then we did the rst plantings in the paddock you could see out of the windows of the house. Once people appreciated that nice vista we could continue to plant more.”

Lawrie also tapped into a love of shing to convince Bay of Plenty landowners to retire waterways.

“I’d ask if they liked shing and if they said yes, I’d say; “why are you stu ng up your closest shing grounds?” and then talk about the impact of sediment on the harbour. If you can nd a way for people to see cause and e ect, it makes improving the environment personal.”

In 2008, Lawrie joined the Waikato Regional Council and moved to Taupo. His initial role

as land management changed to manging the Waikato River from the mountains to Lake Karapiro.

“Council had a policy of fencing o land along the big river but had not done the small streams and wetlands. I employed students to map all the wetlands in the Lake Taupo catchment and recommend they also be fenced o .”

When Lawrie retired, he and Heather returned to Katikati.

It isn’t just the opinions of landowners that Lawrie has in uenced. He’s also been instrumental in directing the focus of community groups towards addressing cause and e ect, including the Uretara Estuary Managers which now operates under the ‘brand name’ of Project Parore.

“Initially the group was concerned about the increase in mangroves in the estuary, which was caused by too much sediment owing into the harbour. I saw that as an opportunity to give them a di erent focus and expand their concerns to look at what was happening to the streams

in the catchment area,” says Lawrie, who in 2018 became chairperson of UEM.

“ e name Project Parore came from discussions I had many years ago with landowner the late Derry Seddon. As usual I was simplifying things and said that perhaps the issue of sea lettuce in the Tauranga Harbour was because we had put too much sediment into it and that had ruined the spawning and habitat of the parore sh which are herbivores. When we were looking for the trade name UEM ‘Project Parore’ seemed to t.” Looking back to all that he has achieved, Lawrie says it’s been about; “lots of collaboration with people I consider friends”.

“I am just another cog in the machinery to make positive changes for our environment.

“Most people want to look after what they have. Farmers, over the years have had the message that more and more production is best. But often it’s not for their health or the health of the land.”

Lawrie is optimistic about NZers’ chances of improving the environment but acknowledges at the local level much of the work is done by “retired old farts and there is no pay”.

“New retired old farts are coming along behind us.” Now retired from Project Parore, Lawrie is working on a Predator Free Katikati project to create a pest-free peninsula at Sharp Rd. Doing good for the environment is not always easy, but the mantra by which he lives; “it’s only a bad day if you haven’t learnt something new” helps Lawrie get through.

“ ere is so much to know. e more you know, the more you realise how little you do know.”

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Lawrie Donald on his avocado orchard.

Photo: Merle Cave.

A permanent solution to restored access to a rural community in Te Puke is at least 18 months away, but there is still relief in the community as a temporary bridge is currently in place.

Around 30 properties on No 4. Road were a ected when their bridge over Raparapahoe Stream washed away in severe weather on January 29.

For six weeks, the community had limited access through a private road but it wasn’t suitable for heavy vehicles. e Western Bay of Plenty District Council worked quickly to install a portable, prefabricated truss Bailey bridge opening it in March, in time for the kiwifruit harvest.

It’s estimated there is around 200 hectares of kiwifruit across the a ected properties.

Now the council is working on a permanent solution, with four proposed options presented to councillors by senior transportation engineer Calum McLean at a project and monitoring meeting in August.

Option 1 would see a new 30m bridge placed just east of the former and temporary bridge at an estimated cost of $2.75 million.

Option 2 is a new bridge placed 40m upstream of the former bridge costing $3.5 million. It would be a similar length to option 1, but have a seven percent slope because of the di erence in ground height on the road either side of the river.

e third option is a 60m long bridge 70m upstream of the old bridge, being double the size it would need a centre pier in the river valley and cost of $6.75 million. It would have a 15 per cent slope, which Calum says would be steeper than any of the roads in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Option 4 is to install the bridge in the same place as the former bridge, but would mean the Bailey bridge would have to be removed and road closed leaving the residents with only private access for more than six months. is would cost $2.65m.

All four options are for a single lane bridge because that is what was there before. Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency will fund between 50 and 70 per cent of the replacement bridge.

If this were to be upgraded to a two way bridge the extra cost would need to be ratepayer funded or funded through the National Land Transport Fund and require a business case to be sent to Waka Kotahi, Calum’s report to council says.

Engineering consultant WSP carried out the options assessment and recommended option 1 or option 4.

is is because the geology of the ground around the current bridge is known, the alignment for the bridge would be at, turning circles and bridge access for heavy vehicles would remain the same.

Also, iwi are keen to keep the bridge close to the original position to limit the disturbance to the stream and having a shorter bridge means no central pier is needed, according to WSP’s report to council.

Calum told Local Democracy Reporting the council is” committed” to rebuilding a permanent bridge on No.4 Road in Te Puke.

“It’s important we take time to hear the community’s feedback and understand what they want before we commence design of the new bridge.

“We are making plans to meet with the community and hear their feedback on the proposed designs and

intend to do this by late October.

“Once we have heard their feedback on the proposed designs, information will be brought back to council before Christmas to make a decision, after having considered what our community tells us.   “A timeline of works will follow these important steps in the process, and construction is expected to take place in the next 18 months.”

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

e temporary Bailey bridge opened in March. Photo: WBOPDC.

graphic showing options

bridge. Image: WBOPDC. e old bridge was washed out in January. Photo: John Borren.

Motoring app proving a hit

Motoring app Bonnet is proving to be a hit with road users who are now accessing essential information for more than 50,000 cars.

O ering a quick and simple way for drivers to keep up with vehicle needs, Bonnet has quickly grown a reputation as a reliable mobile app helping Kiwis to be safer on the roads.

Since launching in March, more than 25,000 users have joined the platform to keep on top of servicing requirements, creating peace of mind for motorists around New Zealand.

Free app

e free-to-download app is revolutionising the way drivers keep on top of ensuring their registration, WOFs, COFs and road user charges up to date while making booking in a car for a service easier than ever with more than 440 service centres on the app nationwide.

Users simply enter their number plates into the app and are presented with everything they need in one convenient place.

Reminders

Timely reminders have never been more accessible with data being pulled directly from Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Founder Steph Kennard says the phenomenal response has proven the app is a vital tool to help Kiwis.

“Although many think it’s as easy as checking their windscreens, statistics show that’s just simply not the case,” she says.

Two out of three people fail to get their

registration done on time, with many simply forgetting about it or are unaware it needs to be renewed.

“Bonnet provides a foolproof way to check by just lifting a nger.”

e mum-of-one came up with the idea six years ago, and has poured everything into creating the innovative platform that its users can rely on.

ere’s big plans ahead with new announcements ahead, including a web portal that is currently in development. Bonnet is on track to see more than 200,000 vehicles managed on the platform by the end of the year.

Bonnet founder Steph Kennard.

Pete & Marcus

Restoring history to its former glory

It’s always exciting to walk into the shed of a vintage machinery owner.

On this occasion it was pretty special to nd a really old and rare piece of machinery that was

manufactured in New Zealand and used here.

Noel and Anne Blackwell own a lifestyle block up in the hills of Kaharoa, Rotorua. His private collection contains interesting pieces and their history. e original plan

of writing about one of the tractors went straight out of the window when a fully restored 1886 Andrews and Beaven Canterbury No 4 cha cutter was spotted in a dark corner. Cha is nely cut straw from crops like wheat, oats and barley and is used to feed horses, cows and other animals as it contains bre and minerals. is model of cha cutter was developed by Andrews and Beaven in their Christchurch factory from the 1885. ey were world leaders in this genre and exported all over the world. ey originated and fully worked out a complete revolution in this class of machinery. e machines were portable and not only cut, but also cleaned and pressed the cha into bags at the rate of two tonnes per hour.

Di erent sizes were available to suit farmers right up to mass producers of animal feed. ey sped up cha production to a level way above what manual labourers could achieve and

were driven by steam engines. is particular cha cutter was part of the Tauranga museum for years but was outside and deteriorated. It was o ered to the Rotorua Tractor and Machinery Club but sat in a paddock for a few more years.

In 2018 it was suggested that it was scrapped but luckily Noel put his hand up and decided to take it home and restore it. It was nished in January 2021 after many hours of dedicated work.

Noel Blackwell with his restored 1886 Andrews and Beaven Canterbury No.4 cha cutter.

Photos: Catherine Fry.

e chute was reconstructed using tongue and groove timber from the old Ngakuru scout hall.

Colin Amrein CONTRACTING

All the original iron parts are working smoothly.

“It was a mess. All the timber had either rotted or was full of borer and all the iron parts were rusted solid and unmovable,” says Noel.

He was surprised that Andrews and Beaven machinery records was easily found on Google, and when he typed in the serial number, he was able to nd out all about it and see photos of how they looked.

“ is model (No.4) was the rst to have

the patented automatic self-bagger.”

Noel knew that the machine was an important part of New Zealand’s agricultural history and wanted to restore it authentically.

“I have all sorts of wood lying around my property and workshop. Australian hardwood power poles were used to recreate the main chassis. Tongue and groove timber from the old Ngakuru scout hall was used to make the chute.”

Seatbelts – a guide for workers

Wearing a seatbelt reduces the chances of you being injured in a vehicle or mobile plant accident.

is is the advice from WorkSafe.

“We recommend workers wear seatbelts when using vehicles or mobile plant for work,” says a WorkSafe spokesperson.

“Not wearing a seatbelt has led to many workplace injuries and deaths involving vehicles and mobile plant, on and o the road, even at slow speeds.”

WorkSafe recommends businesses make sure their workers wear seatbelts at all times when using vehicles or mobile plant (including when you are a passenger).

“As a worker, you have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to follow all reasonable health and safety instructions of the business (your employer).

“ is includes having to wear a seatbelt every time you use vehicles or mobile plant for work.”

When should seatbelts be worn?

You should wear a seatbelt whenever you use vehicles or mobile plant for work, and there is a seatbelt available. For example: on public roads, private roads, and o -road terrain, outdoors and indoors at work sites/yards/ construction sites/depots/ warehouses/farms, when travelling to or from a job, every journey no matter how short and when you are a passenger.

is gem from days gone by is now fully restored to its former glory.

e vertical supports needed to be worked into a curve, so some macrocarpa Noel had was used as it is easier to work with.

“I spent hours patiently using rust remover and cans of CRC until all the iron came apart and I was able to clean each piece and get it all working again.

“I was able to use everything.”

Noel fashioned new pulleys from a big belt out of a round baler by trimming

them down and using proper joiners.

Black and white photos don’t show original colours but Andrews and Beaven records describe the colour and the wood is painted in a pale blue.

e photos show the calligraphy for the branding, and this was replicated by a local signage company. e cutter runs perfectly, and Noel powers it using the pulley system on the back of his 1958 Farmall Super Cub.

Demonstrations are always a big hit when Noel takes the cha cutter to a show.

Upcoming Sika Show

The Sika Show is New Zealand’s & Australasia’s largest Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show plus annual Hunting Competition that has been running for some 29 years, with this year being the 30th Anniversary of the Event!

Originating in Taupo in 1993 at the Spa Hotel, it has since grown exponentially over the years and is now held at Mystery Creek in Hamilton to accommodate the large capacity it requires.

Last year saw more than 165 exhibitors and just under 10,000 attendee’s, with this coming years event set to be much bigger again with extended floor space and the extremely positive feedback from the last event spreading like wild fire, says a post on the Sika Show website.

The show is also big supporters of the Sika Foundation.

The foundation has more than 6000 hours of

Stay Safe in the outdoorS

volunteer time annually from passionate hunters with a conservation based mindset going towards various conservation projects, management hunting, hut and track maintenance throughout the Kaimanawa Forest Park and trap servicing in the Oamaru, Kaipo, Cascade and Hinemaiaia River catchments with 45km’s of trap line currently in place to protect Whio - Blue Duck and their breeding habitat.

More than 4500kgs of pure organic hunterdonated venison mince supplied to food banks in Turangi, Taupo, Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu to date.

People wanting to attend the show will be able to take advantage of the free parking within close proximity to the event, with a separate mobility parking area right next to the entry door.

The Sika Show is on October 28 and 29, and is open Saturday, October 28, from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, October 29, 9am to 4pm at the Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton.

A regular attendee to the Sika Show

Since 2008, I’ve been a regular attendee at the Sika Show.

Initially, I attended as an exhibitor, but more recently, I’ve attended as an ACT Party List MP.

The Sika Show holds a unique place in our community as a gathering point for firearms and hunting enthusiasts. In 2023, ACT will once again be part of this event, where we will showcase our firearms policy consultation document launched in August.

The need for this document stems from the knee-jerk response of Labour and New Zealand First following the tragic events in Christchurch on March 15, 2019.

Their rushed legislative changes scapegoated law-abiding licensed firearms while promising increased safety for New Zealanders from firearms crimes.

However, the harsh reality is that firearms crime has

increased in New Zealand. Shockingly, half of New Zealand’s yearly average of fatal shootings occurred in just 17 days between July 20 and August 6, 2023.

All this despite a splurge of $340 million of taxpayer money on two rounds of firearms and ammunition ‘buy-backs’, the establishment of a Police controlled ‘independent’ Firearms Safety Authority, and a new firearms registry which is a potential shopping list for the gangs.

I eagerly anticipate attending this year’s Sika Show, where I look forward to discussing with the community about how ACT’s firearms policy will enhance safety, prevent misuse, and reduce bureaucracy and waste. If you plan to join us at the Sika Show, be sure to keep an eye out for the ACT bus and visit our team to share your thoughts on our fresh firearms policy proposals.

Nicole McKee

ACT List MP Nicole McKee.

The Country Heritage Tour in 2024

NZ Adventures six day High Country Heritage Tour is a journey down the eastern alpine foothills from Blenheim to Cardrona.

e tour includes a wide range of high country stations and conservation estate tracks along a 1250 km route.

ere are overnight stays in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama and Cromwell before reaching the nal night at the iconic Cardrona Hotel near Wanaka. Hotel Accommodation is provided and evening meals and breakfasts are in restaurants with lunches on station or picnic

to enjoy up in the hills.

e tracks are easily covered by competent drivers in suitable four wheel drive vehicles, which need to have low range transmission and all terrain tyres in good condition.

Highlights of the tour include Molesworth station on the afternoon of day one and the vast hill country of North Canterbury through most of day two.

Day three sees the tour head west towards the high alps and the massive vistas of the inland valleys. Day four takes the tour across high plains and the gravel river valleys of the Mackenzie country along with

some hill country tracks with views back to Mt. Cook. Day ve and six see the tour drive over into Central Otago, with an opportunity to drive very high onto two of the mountain ranges that are so much part of the region – known for its history of gold and pastoralism and for being as far from the sea as it is possible to get in New Zealand.

e High Country Heritage is a great introduction to the South Island and to the NZ Adventures range of tours.

e sheer size of the island, along with the friendliness of the people along the way, are the most often voiced comments of tour participants.

Where has the Chondroitin gone?

A quick review of NZ made joint supplements found none with the recommended levels of Chondroitin Sulphate.

I did nd two quality US made supplements for sale in NZ that do meet this standard, as does my joint supplement.

e International research and recommendation of CS for osteoarthritis (OA) is not in dispute.

It has been available on prescription in Europe at doses of 800mg+ (daily) for over a decade. ere are numerous overseas companies that manufacture supplements that have therapeutic levels of CS.

Supplements

is begs the question as to why not in NZ?

What could be the reason NZ companies exclude therapeutic amounts of CS? A quick check on the most extensive online supplement store found that most NZ made joint supplements, including the biggest selling products, had on average of only 200mg of CS when research recommends 800mg.

Typically these are marketed as a ‘1 a day’ products that are mostly glucosamine with little or no chondroitin. e only reason I can conclude is the cost of chondroitin. I have just purchased a new batch of high grade avian-sourced CS and the cost is about nine times that of glucosamine.

Benefits

I have no doubt that most of the bene ts people get from my joint supplement are from the chondroitin. Scientists have identi ed about 30 therapeutic bene ts of chondroitin has on the chemistry and function of joints and the joint capsule. Whilst some of these are complex, the bene ts are mostly to improve the function of cartilage-secreting chondrocyte cells and by regulating destructive enzymes and joint capsule in ammation.

e bottom line is usually less pain and more mobility. By way of example, I have been helping someone with osteoarthritis in his feet which restricted his ability to exercise. He noticed improvements after two months and now has signi cant improvements.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz Join his newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz

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Competent drivers in suitable four wheel drive vehicles navigate the tracks with ease.

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THE ALL NEW

e donkey derives from the African wild ass and is adapted for living in harsh, hot conditions with sparse dry vegetation.

Domesticated in Africa some 5000 to 7000 years ago it is still used today in underdeveloped countries as transport and a beast of burden. In the developed world the donkey is regarded as a pet.

Lack of knowledge on caring for a donkey has unfortunately led to many being neglected or mistreated and abused. Luckily, in New Zealand, there is a network of people like Pauline Sainsbury, who runs a donkey rehoming centre in the Mamakus, near Rotorua.

“Donkeys come into our care for many reasons and not always because they have uncaring owners. A bereavement, marriage breakup or owners too elderly to look after them can lead to a donkey needing to be relinquished,” says Pauline.

A donkey can live until it is 40 years old, so if someone in their 40s or 50s gets one, their donkey could outlive them.

“However many need rehoming due to behavioural issues or ill-health caused by mistreatment or poor diet.”

Rescuing donkeys

Pauline grew up on a drystock farm in Tirohia and is a “horse person”. She bought 10 acres in the Mamakus and had horses there. Her daughter, Carly, worked as a trekking guide until the company closed down in the early 2000s, leaving some donkeys homeless.

“She said I’d take them as I had land! I quite liked donkeys, but I knew nothing about caring for them and I already had ve horses on my land.”

Pauline contacted the Donkey and Mule Protection Trust whose rep managed to nd a home for them.

“Once my horse numbers were down a bit, I said I wouldn’t mind taking a couple of donkeys in myself.”

Her rst rescue was Milo, a neglected jack (male), who had been passed on with a property each time it was sold. Pauline describes him as “gelded but wild as hell, who’d been living in a back eld alone with no company, care or stimulation.”

Four handsome jacks: Neddy, Mintie, Weatherby and Monty. Photos: Catherine Fry.

Left: Pauline with Chester and Nibby.

His hooves were a mess, his halter had grown into his face, and it took several strong men to load him onto the oat.

“I slowly gained his trust, fed him correctly and was able to harness break him with the help of my good friend Massey. He pulled a cart and loved competing doing obstacle courses.”

Milo passed in 2017, aged 24 after a happy 16 years with Pauline. She had also rescued many other donkeys by then and has a reputation for taking on the di cult ones with the help of Carly, who lives next door.

Donkey problems

“ e donkey is a desert animal and needs plenty of roughage from dry food. If allowed to eat just rich green pasture, they become overweight and can develop laminitis.”

ey can also su er from overgrown teeth which cut into their mouth, and overgrown hooves which cause pain and discomfort. ey need regular farrier visits and yearly dentals.

“Jacks can also be an issue as once they reach three years old, entire ones can become very unpredictable and aggressive. Jacks need to be gelded and handled.”

Donkeys fare to a certain level with other livestock, but they need to be kept with another donkey to be happy. Even in a herd situation, they pair up and form deep bonds with their partner.

“ ey are very curious, intelligent animals which also form deep bonds with their owners, seeking interaction and enjoying a groom or cuddle.”

ey need to be busy and have a purpose. Once they are settled and quiet, they are playful and love human interaction such as walks, cart pulling and giving children rides.

Due to their desert origins, donkey coats aren’t waterproof and once wet, they can get cold and

e donkeys are very a ectionate with Pauline.

Right: Two of Pauline’s own young donkeys, Sparky and Trigger.

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develop respiratory ailments or pneumonia.

“ ey need a good shelter and at the rst sign of rain you can see them all herding in there.”

Funding and support

Pauline has rehomed more than 300 donkeys since 2005, with only four “bounce backs”.

She has four donkeys of her own and 12 permanent sponsored donkeys.

“I couldn’t do what I have done without the nancial backing and support of the Donkey and Mule Protection Trust NZ. My permanents are not suitable for rehoming due to health or behavioural issues, but I am able to give them a good life until they die.

“People sponsor them through the Trust to ensure they are fed well, and vet care is covered.” e Trust also handles the adoptions. Properties are inspected and suitable matches have a trial period before formal adoption. ere is a network of volunteers throughout the country supporting the Trust with its work.

Pauline welcomes visitors to come mingle with her resident donkeys. She can be contacted through the Donkey and Mule Protection Trust’s website - www.donkeymuletrust.org.nz

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A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi -Cure for over five years. He says this allows them to have an odour free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure works, keeping their tank in very good condition. *Results may vary

Raising as meat birds

After being brought up on a dairy farm, dairy farming himself and negotiating dairy grazing contracts for many years, Paul Knudsen took on a new challenge in 2011 and turned his hand to the niche business of duck farming near Matamata.

“ e 34 hectare property had an existing duck business growing meat birds and 70 dairy cows, milked once a day through a 12ASHB shed.

“I stopped milking in 2018 and switched to grazing dairy heifers,” says Paul.

Duck farming cycle

e farm has three growing sheds set up to continually accommodate six age groups. ere are 5500 birds in each group on a 42 day cycle.

“ e industry code of practice is not to exceed 18 kilogrammes per square metre, which equals six fully grown ducks.

“I operate well under those numbers.”

ere are a constant 33,000 Pekin ducks on the farm and Paul and farm manager Dave run things between them.

“Every week we take a delivery of one-day old ducklings, send the six week old ducks o for processing and are paid weekly on live weight gain.”

e new one-day old arrivals are unloaded into the smaller brood room heated to 32 degrees Celsius. e temperature is slowly reduced over

ve days until being turned o , so at 10 days the ducklings can be moved to one of the larger sheds.

From one day old the new arrivals are fed high protein starter crumble and transitioned onto grower feed at 10 days old.

“We have three 15 tonne silos for the grower feed and two three tonne silos for the crumble.

“We use in-shed auto feeding systems to distribute 32 tonnes of feed a week.”

Hygiene and care

It’s a high priority to keep the ducks clean and safe and anyone entering the sheds uses a disinfectant footbath.

Miscanthus, a sustainable source of bedding for the ducks. Photos: Catherine Fry.

e ducks seem to favour the miscanthus bedding on the right of the shed.

“ e sheds are rodent proof and there are bait stations around all the external perimeters. Wild birds pose a health risk as they can carry diseases such as salmonella, and netting mesh on the openings prevents them coming in.

“ e shed’s awning sides remain open daily for ventilation as the growing sheds are not temperature or humidity controlled due to their low stocking rate compared to chickens.”

Paul provides fresh water pumped to the sheds from an underground spring system on the farm.

e ducklings drink from auto ll bell feeders, but the older ducks have auto ll water troughs.

“Ducks drink a lot of water and use it to clean themselves. We test our water supply for contaminants regularly.”

e ducks are not medicated or given hormones.

Shed hygiene is paramount to duck health and growth. e ducks are raised on wood shavings and all sheds get a top up daily.

e brood rooms are cleaned out before the next batch of day old ducklings arrive and sprayed with sanitiser.

“At nine week intervals, we clean out that shed completely, spray it with sanitiser and sprinkle hydrated lime around the edges which acts as a steriliser before laying new shavings.”

e used shavings (duck litter) are picked up by two neighbours for use as fertilizer on their farms.

Shaving issues

Duck and poultry farms use large amounts of wood shavings from wood processing. With the building industry slowing down and the mills directing their shavings to make wood pellets or burn it themselves to meet their sustainability goals, the farming industry is nding it harder to source shavings.

“We expect shortages around calving and lambing times, but this season has been particularly di cult as we require 100 cubic metres each week.”

Paul remembered watching a rural TV program around some years ago that was discussing the merits of miscanthus use on turkey farms in the United States.

A member of the grass family, poaceae, miscanthus is grown from a sterile rhizome and will never seed or spread.

is grown from a sterile

“I started Googling, found Miscanthus New Zealand and approached them. I was able to locate a supplier and brought in some bales.”

Paul hired a harvester and hand fed the bales through, ending up with a more manageable straw like product.

“I trialled it by using shavings down one side of the sheds and miscanthus on the other.

sheds

“It’s interesting because the ducks actually prefer the miscanthus.”

His initial feedback is that miscanthus is much drier, absorbs ammonia really well, but is harder to spread in the sheds.

e farm is one of ve contracted to Quackaduck in Cambridge, who also manage their own egg production farm and hatching facility that supplies the growers.

Quackaduck business manager, Matthew Houston, explains that the there is an established local market for duck products, along with an export business into the Paci c, Middle East, Philippines, and Japan.

“ e business model is simple, with good cash ow as ducks leave the farms weekly and is relatively easy for someone with livestock experience.”

Paul Knudsen

Specialises in RURAL& LIFESTYLE real estate throughout Matamata and the surrounding areas.

Paul Knudsen

Paul Knudsen

Paul Knudsen

Specialises in RURAL& LIFESTYLE real estate throughout Matamata and the surrounding areas.

Specialises in RURAL& LIFESTYLE real estate throughout Matamata and the surrounding areas.

Specialises in RURAL& LIFESTYLE real estate throughout Matamata and the surrounding areas.

years

•Extensive local knowledge

• Over 25 years experience in the rural sector

•Over 25 years experience in the rural sector

•Results driven and client focused

• Extensive local knowledge

•Over 25 years experience in the rural sector

•Extensive local knowledge

•Results driven and client focused

• Results driven and client focused

•Extensive local knowledge

For a honest, reliable and conidential chat about your real estate needs going into spring, give Paul a call to see how he can help you achieve your goals.

For a honest, reliable and confidential chat about your real estate needs going into spring, give Paul a call to see how he can help you achieve your goals.

•Results driven and client focused

For a honest, reliable and conidential chat about your real estate needs going into spring, give Paul a call to see how he can help you achieve your goals.

PAUL KNUDSEN

Rural & Lifestyle Sales Consultant 027 476 5523 | paul.knudsen@pggwrightson.co.nz

For a honest, and conidential chat about your real estate needs going into spring, give Paul a call to see how he can help you achieve your goals. PAUL KNUDSEN

Paul hired a harvester to cut bales of miscanthus into more manageable size for the duck bedding.

Duck farmer, dairy grazer and real estate salesperson, Paul Knudsen.

One day old new arrivals.

Helping to improve water quality

New scienti c data highlights the success of dairy farmer and wider sector e orts to improve surface water quality across ve New Zealand catchments.

As part of an Our Land and Water study to analyse historical data, DairyNZ’s water quality science team, in collaboration with AgResearch and Lincoln University,

has revisited dairy farms in the Waiokura (South Taranaki), Toenepi (Waikato), Waikakahi (Canterbury), Bog Burn (Southland) and Inchbonnie (West Coast) catchments to assess whether on-farm actions have helped improve water quality over time.

e ve catchments are dairy farming areas that were part of the 2001-2010 Best Practice Dairy Catchments project, which

monitored water quality and environmental work on-farm. Monitoring of water quality and changes to farm practices continued from 2011-2020, as part of national long-term data collection.

Study results

Researchers found that, over the 20-year monitoring period, including post-extension, 70 per cent of in-stream water quality trend directions were improving or showed no change.

e median levels of most contaminants in water have also decreased, due to farmers implementing good management practices such as improved e uent management and stock exclusion.

e study found in-stream concentrations of phosphorus and suspended sediment decreased the most in response to on-farm work.

Overall, the research shows the implementation of GMPs on-farm does improve water quality.

DairyNZ general manager sustainable dairy Dr David Burger says the analysis shows the good outcomes achieved by improving management practices on dairy farms.

“ e mitigation options dairy

farmers can take to reduce footprint are widely known, but analysis of the positive impacts of these over time is less available. So it’s good to see this dataset showing extension e orts to help farmers improve their management practices have led to water quality improvement.”  Research lead and Our Land and Water National Science Challenge chief scientist Professor Rich McDowell says the ndings are positive but also show continued action is needed in key catchments to maintain the momentum.

Improving trends

“ e data shows that, over the 20-year period, many trends were improving or showed no change. However, we know nitrogen levels increased in many catchments due to development on other dairy farms over the same period.

“ is means there is still more to do in some areas to lower nitrogen and E.coli concentrations. In some catchments, more than good management practice may be required, such as land-use change, to meet water quality expectations.”

DairyNZ continues to work with farmers to develop on-farm

practices, provide a scienti c evidence base to help inform practical and fair regulations and demonstrate the positive results of the actions farmers are taking to improve the health of waterways.

Environment plans

Farm environment plans identify actions to improve water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase biodiversity, and are tailored to individual farms. Currently, more than 70 per cent of New Zealand dairy farms have farm environment plans and 45 per cent have greenhouse gas farm plans. By 2025 all farms will have both plans.   “ e dairy sector is committed to sustainable dairying and farming within environmental limits.

“ rough the Dairy Tomorrow Strategy and other work, DairyNZ, dairy companies, sector partners and research organisations are reinforcing the value of GMPs and supporting farmers as they continue to improve their systems to achieve environmental outcomes.”  e full research ndings have been published in the Science of the Total Environment journal.

Dr David Burger.

NATION WIDE

Simple solution for utilising dairy effluent

e Clean Green E uent Systems’ patented weeping wall separates out the liquids and stores the solids.

e ltered liquid can now be used to automatically green wash external yards, reducing the fresh water consumption to around 25 litres per cow.

e Clean Green E uent System has a unique distribution system that was designed for all soil types, says a company spokesperson.

“As it is a super low rate, low depth application system (0.25mm or 1\4 mm) it can be applied to any soil type without the risk of leaching or run o . is totally automatic system removes the risk of over application when soil conditions are not suitable for standard systems.

“Farm dairy e uent can be applied in its aerobic form virtually all year round and therefore storage

requirements are minimal. e Clean Green E uent System utilises as few as two 33,000 litre water tanks for total storage. is exceeds the requirement of the Dairy NZ pond calculator.” Ag research testing has indicated that the low rate low depth application system will cause no environmental ill e ects, even in winter.

Pond water is normally anaerobic and not plant acceptable until aerated and converted back to aerobic.

“ e Clean Green System distributes e uent generated on a daily basis and therefore the e uent is applied in an aerobic form and can be utilised by the plant immediately.

“ e patented distribution and green wash system is fully automated and only requires about three hours work per month to maintain this problem free, low running cost system.”

Prosecution over piggery discharges

Waikato Regional Council has initiated a prosecution against a piggery farm near Te Aroha following an investigation into the discharge of e uent into a stream. e prosecution has been taken under the Resource Management Act and comes as a result of an active investigation by the council into alleged ongoing, uncontrolled and unauthorised discharges to both land and water over the past six months. It’s alleged the e uent entered the Patuwhao Stream which ows to the

Waihou River, resulting in the council urging downstream landowners with surface water takes to exercise caution until the risk passed.

An interim Enforcement Order from the Environment Court, issued by Judge Melinda Dickey on Friday, August 4, remains in place.

It requires the piggery company to cease discharging a contaminant onto land in circumstances which may result in it entering water.

Regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch says sta had been carrying out regular inspections of the site.

Clean Green E uent Systems’ patented weeping wall.

In 2008, Indonesian born Mohammad (Jay) Ari n saw a job advert for dairy workers in New Zealand, which was to change the course of his life.

He describes himself as “one of the lucky ones”, when he and four others were selected from 120 applicants and granted New Zealand work visas and a job with Wairarapa Moana Farms in Mangakino.

Fifteen years on, still working for Wairarapa Moana Farms, Jay won the

Central Plateau New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards 2023 Dairy Manager of the Year and couldn’t be happier.

A big change

Jay had been farming in East Java, Indonesia, and worked on a traditional dairy farm. e 20 cows were housed in a barn and hand milked. ere were ve sta , and it was very labour and input intensive.

“I was a bit apprehensive at rst. I would be milking 300 cows in New Zealand and there was only the manager and me on the

per fect blend The

farm. I didn’t know how it would be possible.”

e cow shed was old by New Zealand standards and has since been de-commissioned, but Jay was very impressed with the machine driven milking system.

“I learned so much in that rst year and completed a Primary ITO Milk Quality quali cation.”

For the rst four years, Jay’s wife and son remained in East Java with Jay sending money home and going to visit. His second son was born there in 2011, and in 2012 he was able to bring his family over to New Zealand.

Opportunities to progress

Maori Trust enterprise, Wairarapa Moana Farms have their primary base for their farming operations at Mangakino, in the South Waikato. ey manage 12 dairy farms, two dairy support farms and 6000 hectares of forestry. is multi farm set up allows internal career progression for their farm workers. Jay has worked on several of the farms, taking on more responsibility each time. He completed his Level 5 Production Management quali cation in 2015. e 42-year-old is proud of his achievements in the Wairarapa Moana Awards during his career, which include Dairy Unit of the Year, Nga Tangata (Developing People), Financial, Values and Farm

e Wairarapa Moana Farms are surrounded by stunning New Zealand scenery. Photos: Catherine Fry.

Preparing for calving.

Pride, and winner of Whakamaru biggest bull calf competition for three consecutive years.

Jay has been manager on his current 289 hectare farm since 2016, with four sta working for him.

It’s the same farm that he started on, except it now has a modern 54-bale rotary milking shed.

e shed has auto cup removers, auto drafting, a snap chiller and in shed feeding. Jay uses drafting collars on his herd and nds the information that he gathers a great help to his farming operation.

“We have 1055 cows separated into two milking mobs. ey are a mixture of Kiwi Cross and Friesian and they are an A2 herd.”

All the calves are DNA tested for the A2 gene and the A2s are kept as replacements.

A good experience

Jay’s family love New Zealand life with one son at university and the younger one at secondary school. ey were all set to get their permanent residency just before Covid-19 brought everything to a halt, but it is nearly completed. His current operations manager at Wairarapa Moana, Diego Gomez, won the Taranaki Dairy Manager award at the 2021 NZ Dairy Industry Awards.

“Diego gave me the con dence to enter, although I had no idea what to expect.

“ e whole awards process, having to pull apart why I do everything and questioning it was a very helpful process and helped me grow.”

Jay is looking forward to the next stage of his career.

Dairy Manager Jay Ari n runs a 54-bale, rotary milking shed.

Jay Ari n, NZDIA Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year, 2023.

Why sunshine is everything, almost

In an ever-changing world it’s comforting to know that some things remain the same.

September nervousness has been a constant for as long as I’ve been involved in pastoral farming.

Animal demand increases with lambs and calves hitting the ground and the steadily lifting requirements

of their mothers.

Available feed supplies dwindle by the day. Here in the South, soil temperatures at the time of writing are still well below 10 degrees Celsius, the temperature at which large amounts of nutrient, including nitrogen, ood the soil driving spring growth. is will have taken place by the time this article is published, however, there are still some important issues between now

and Christmas to think about.

e application of synthetic nitrogen in July and August does increase September growth, however, at the expense of growth in November and December.

You can’t have something for nothing, and increased nitrogen stimulated early season growth always comes at the expense of later season growth. is has in large

part driven the ‘grab what you can before Christmas’ mentality, resulting in shortened intervals between grazings and a sense of chasing one’s own tail.

Nitrogen driven feed in September and October is high in crude protein, more correctly nitrates. Excess intake by grazing animals results in rapid weight loss, calcium/magnesium and trace element de ciencies as animals excrete feed prior to full digestion. is ratchets up the pressure on operators who often feel they are at best limiting damage.

en there’s rising milk urea levels with excess urea in urine leached through wet soils resulting in higher than desirable nitrate-N losses to ese issues are often regarded as the price paid for high production, yet there are farmers whose spring production is signi cantly higher overall than mainstream.

By using Functional Fertiliser products and implementing longer interval grazing management, costs are reduced and pro tability is such that the decision is how the surplus is best spent.

e amount of energy supplied by sunshine is almost everything in spring. Still, bright sunny days result in the rapid lifting of soluble sugars in plants with more nitrate converted

Sunshine plays an important role for plants during this time of the year.

to full protein.

Protein to fat ratio in milk lifts, lactating animals lose less weight, animals graze rather than browse and there’s genuine pleasure in spending time in the paddock with animals.

Even without synthetic nitrogen applications there’s an excess of nitrogen available which requires managing. e best option is longer covers allowing the natural process of photosynthesis to fully take place.

To achieve this, grazing intervals are best maintained so that 3500kgDM/ ha is available for lactating cows, which may mean an optimum interval of around twenty- ve days.

As a rule of thumb, a genuine 30 days between grazings by Christmas results in one grazing in January, one in February, and a portion of the property grazed prior to autumn rain arriving, a normally easily manged situation.

Clover growth has and will always remain the key to pasture growth from mid-November until midMarch, a 120-day period during which time 50 per cent of the annual total pasture is often grown. Understanding the soil fertility inputs and management techniques necessary to maximise growth over that time can make the di erence between pro t and loss. For more information talk to Peter on: 0800 843 809.

Bill Webb – the end of a 48 year era

e weather picture has changed with drier conditions which has been good for farmers during calving and is the rst signs of the El Nino weather system which will a ect New Zealand.

Some farmers have reported more frosts than previous years with Ruapehu’s heavy covering of snow which is e ectively a freezer, in the middle of the North Island, a ecting the temperature when winds blow from the south.

Feed and banks

Feed is a topic foremost in farmers’ minds right now with many struggling to feed stock and hoping for more sunshine hours to promote growth.

Everyone is tight.

Some cows appear to be light and struggling to achieve optimum body condition score for mating imposing a real predicament for many farmers – borrow to buy in supplements or try to ride it out.

It’s a predicament which is exacerbated by banks. Too often, we hear of banks raising interest rates and telling farmers to cut back on feed costs. It is an approach which beggars belief on the back of banks recently announcing record pro ts and causes one to ask who they are there to serve – their shareholders or their customers.

It used to be that banks worked with you as a business partner, but now it seems they work with little or no appreciation for the fundamentals which underpin the agricultural industry, the economy and, for that matter, their pro ts. ey just don’t seem to give a S#!T anymore!

ey talk about price gouging when it comes to businesses

charging excessively and trying to take advantage of a situation but the banks are interest gouging which is not helping this economy to recover from a recession at all.

Advice to farmers

My advice to any farmers who nd themselves faced with the predicament of taking on more debt but needing to buy in feed, listen to your hearts and past experience.

Now is one of the most crucial times on farm – midway between calving and mating –and stock health has to come rst so you need to talk to your bank in the hope that they will recognise that they are a business partner and will agree to negotiate interest rates which allow you to operate to the farm’s potential.

e potential for El Nino to deliver an extremely dry summer, potentially drought conditions on the east coast, adds another level of urgency to factor into your feed budget – and is a consideration banks should take into account.

Crops

Cultivation and planting of crops should be well underway by the end of September. On the farm we took advantage of early planting to get better yields with spraying-out in the third week of September and planting at the end of the month. If you are planning to buy in feed, my advice is to get those orders in early so you have the reassurance of good quality feed when you need it.

Wool industry

e New Zealand wool industry is recognised around the world for producing a product without equal and one would expect the biggest supporters of the industry would be our own Government Ministries, but not so. e Ministry of Education recently announced that it would import petrol-based oor coverings for schools in preference to investing in a natural, NZ home grown bre which has the qualities needed for our environmental and health standards.

at’s it from me

I have enjoyed doing these editorials and sharing my opinions with the Coast &

Country News readers. As we have sold our farm and business of 48 years, we wish Andre Lietze and Rick Henderson, the new owners, all the best in their new adventures.

It’s been great dealing with my past and present clients and wish you all the best for the coming season. Good luck with the weather and your banks!

Got to go, the boat motor is running, but not the tractor’s.

Rainfall statistics for September at the yard at Paengaroa are as follows:

Rain Sept 1 2023 to date = 73mls

Rain Sept 2022 = 217.5 mls

Rain Jan 1 2023 to date = 1188 mls

Rain Jan to Sept 2022 = 1410mls

Avg Soil Temp for 2nd week of Sept 2023 = 12.75C

Avg Soil Temp for 2nd week of Sept 2022 = 10.12C

Farming costs have continued to rise throughout the year.

Election set to influence subdivision rules

Every three years, we go through this period of uncertainty.

Given the length of time that it takes to draft and introduce new legislation, it seems a no-brainer that the opportunity for change should perhaps happen less often than the current three years.

In the subdivision and resource management space there is guaranteed to be change with a new government. National say that

YOUR

they will repeal the three new acts set to replace the existing Resource Management Act.

New acts

e alternative is that the three new acts will gradually be implemented in coming years as central and regional government rewrite the rules. is layered approach enables central government to write the overarching rules that a ect all areas, and the Regional Councils to control

zoning and development, rather than local councils - as is the case at present.

Regardless of what the powers say, I believe that the act of subdividing land to create new sections for families to build on will never get any easier. We have been through legislation change many times in recent decades and have always seen the process become more complex and expensive. So, we are sticking by our advice to our clients. If you have any plans to subdivide, there is no better time to start, to avoid disappointment.

e process

e subdivision process takes time, as there are many aspects to be designed and reported on to your local council.  However, when wellmanaged, all of the issues can be worked through without stress with an experienced subdivision project manager at your side. Depending on the issues and availability of experts, contractors and local council sta , the subdivision process can take a year or two to navigate

This autumn I dosed 25 spring calving cows that had a cell count over 900,000 and followed up with

in the herd.

By May, those 25 cows were under 250,000!!

Control Somatic cell counts

Effective help with nil milk withhold

Surveying Services says now is the time to subdivide. through. is time requirement is well worth considering when preparing to meet the market demand. ere will always be some demand for sections, but history shows us that the easiest sales and best prices are obtained in a period of falling or stable interest rates. Interest rates have stabilised in recent months and we are already seeing section prices rming.  is forms the base for a rising market over the next year or two,

and that is what experienced developers are eyeing up as they work through the process of obtaining consents for future subdivisions right now.  Another advantage that they see here is the availability of the team to undertake the work without pressure and at a good price. What a contrast to the Covid years of 2020 and 2021. If you have any plans to subdivide in the future, it would be a good time to contact your local subdivision specialist to advise you on the best way of managing the process.

Producing outstanding mastitis results

A potent dose of probiotics is resulting in apparent cure rates for mastitis that are as good as or better than what is expected from antibiotics.

Chris Collier of Probiotic Revolution sites one 350 cow farm that four years ago treated 25 mastitis cows with the just a probiotic treatment – Bovine Boost. He says 24 of them came right and only one was culled.

Exactly the same numbers were treated the following year with the same results. at’s a 96 per cent apparent cure rate, says Chris. ey have now gone four seasons without using antibiotics during the season or at drying-o .

Chris is blown away with the high cure rate and has never heard of such good results with any other type of treatment, including antibiotics, unless all of the mastitis were S. Uberis at calving.

Chris Collier contemplates outstanding Mastitis cure rates.

“Results have varied,” says Chris. “But there are two main things we emphasize to get the best results –make sure the herd’s immune system is ticking over with the product we use to maximize feed conversion, and ensure vital minerals are at optimal levels.

“ ere are a number of minerals needed for this but Selenium and Zinc are known to be particularly important for immune function, and if these levels are poor our cure rates fall o .

“Prevention is better than cure.”

Chris is pleased with the results from using SuperStart Lead Feed to springers, most often as a trough treatment, to signi cantly reduce calving mastitis, and then use Rumicell during lactation to improve feed e ciency and hold cell counts down.

“Even in late lactation we have taken steps to pull cell counts down by 100,000.”

Advantages of having a correctly balanced soil

Balancing the soil fertility correctly can only be achieved if your consultant has the correct information to work with.

We, at Kiwi Fertiliser, must go o -shore to get this speci c information by way of soil audits, and then convert the calculations of kgs/ha of fertilisers to be applied as correct products, not just elements. Once that has been done, the bene ts for soil, microbes, plants, animals, pro ts, and humans start to ow thick and fast. I may refer to dairying, but the principles are the same for orchards and other enterprises.

Soil needs

e soil needs calcium and magnesium to ensure correct structure. Most soil that has 50 per cent of the volume as pore spaces, half for water and half for air, ensures water in ltration and drainage characteristics are optimal, and that they are also optimal for drought conditions.

What suits clay or loam, will not suit sand. Each one is di erent, and sand will need more water retention than clay. When correct, the physical structure enhances the environment for the microbes. On a dairy farm, the pond is a great indicator of the health

of the farm and the animals. A clear pond that does not require cleaning indicates the soil, microbes, plants, and animals are all healthy. A pond that crusts with undigested feed that builds on the surface indicates the opposite. Diseases are far more prevalent. is is because disease organisms are largely acid-loving and anaerobic in nature. ose organisms in the soil will be replicated in the animal.

Pests and diseases

Pests and diseases have followed the increased use of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, nitrogen, and chemical fertilisers. is does not mean you cannot use chemicals. Where a supply of say, nitrogen is even,

High cost and low profitability

Following a challenging 12-month period, Ravensdown has announced a net pro t before tax of $429,000 to May 31, 2023. A tax bene t takes the co-operative’s 2023 net pro t after tax from continuing operations to $2.9 million.

Reported revenue of $977 million includes insurance proceeds for ood damage and a re at the co-operative’s Napier plant and is on par with last year’s reported revenue of $922 million.

Ravensdown CEO Garry Diack observed the high price environment for product has meant that although customers’ annual spend remained constant, they bought substantially less volume, with tonnage sold contracting by 27 per cent from 1.2 million tonnes last year to 895,000 tonnes this year.

“It is a challenging period for traditional farming practice and our policy has been to deliver competitive

pricing throughout the year, e ectively absorbing fertiliser prices in recent times through reduced margin.

“Having distributed value in this way, we nished the year below forecast income and are not in a position to pay a year-end rebate.

“We have also undertaken speci c initiatives to reduce operating expenditure through a review of the organisation’s capital expenditure and overhead costs.”

Despite the di cult operating environment, the fertiliser company has maintained a strong focus on working capital, with tighter inventory management and reduced supply chain volatility resulting in a positive $119m cash turnaround from the previous nancial year. Stock impairment at year end is $4.2m. Chair Bruce Wills says their ongoing focus on balance sheet strength within this high cost and low pro tability environment.

balance is maintained, but when too much is applied in one dose, there will be surplus nitrate and amino acids in the plants that will attract pests, and diseases. is is not the best feed for the animals either, ending up as undigested feed in the pond. Getting the health of the plants right will eliminate animal health and breeding problems and extend animals’ productive longevity. is includes worm and facial eczema problems, as the pastures will become self-medicating. Vet bills and therapeutics will plummet.

e right balance

A healthy balance can be achieved by feeding the soil microbes (mostly animals), as the biology will solubilise the minerals

for uptake by the plants. Just feeding plants short-circuits the system, preventing the biology from ourishing. Plants in turn exude soluble solids into the soil to feed those microbes. A greater proportion of the fertilisers applied are then utilised by the plants. If essential animal nutrients are added such as selenium and cobalt, they will be processed by the microbes, taken up by the plants, and then ingested by stock. If the microbes are missing, as they so often are, the minerals will not be re ected in subsequent blood tests.

Animal ill-health, conception rates and other problems all diminish.

Nitrogen application

At Kiwi Fertiliser, we operate Total Replacement erapy. It requires the soil to be balanced correctly to work. ere are no shortcuts, we must start by balancing the major elements in the soil, the minor ones follow when the microbial populations have begun to recover. en nitrogen applications are decreased. Each farm is di erent. Certain minerals and biology need to be present and in proportion for nitrogen to be synthesised naturally. e result is a better physical and nancial environment at all levels of farming or orcharding.

Reducing maize costs with soil nitrogen

Agronomic tools and practices are available for maize growers facing the headwinds of increasing costs of production, extreme weather events and environmental considerations, Foundation for Arable Research senior maize researcher David Densley says.

While nitrogen fertiliser prices have eased from the peaks of the past two years, these are still a signi cant contributor to the cost of maize production, says David, who led a series of FAR winter maize workshops throughout the North Island and in Canterbury.

Costs

For the 2023/24 maize production season, the projected total fertiliser cost is forecast to reduce by almost $390/ha compared to last season. Fertiliser costs are projected to fall to 43 per cent of the total

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cost of production, compared with 51 per cent in 2022/23, using information from the Pioneer Maize for Silage catalogue. Nitrogen is expected to make up 40 per cent of the total fertiliser budget in the 2023-24 season down from 47 per cent the previous year.

While production costs for maize silage have increased on average by $51/ha a year over the last 26 years, since the 2019-2020 season this rise has jumped to $270/ha/annum.

Total maize silage growing costs are predicted to be about $3438/ha, slightly down on last year. Farmers can save money in nitrogen (N) costs as well as make environmental gains by making better use of plant available N naturally present in the soil, David says.

Application

Rather than applying a standard amount of nitrogen fertiliser, growers are encouraged to measure how much N is in the soil (using a MinN test), as well as what might become available during the growing season (Potentially Available N) and take this into account when determining crop N fertiliser requirements. As well as reducing the risk of N leaching, N fertiliser is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions from a maize crop which government plans to tax.

“A lot of people are soil testing, but most people aren’t using this information to determine their N fertiliser application rates.

“Our research suggests that even after longterm maize production there can be a signi cant amount of mineral N in the soil available to the maize plant.

“Measuring mineral N ahead of side dressing provides the opportunity to reduce input costs without compromising yield.” As soil mineral N levels are variable across a eld, consideration should be given to where samples are collected, he says. e amount of N which becomes available during the growing season can be signi cant, so it is also worth measuring for Potentially Mineralisable N.

In terms of agricultural emissions, benchmarking of 20 maize systems showed average annual GHG were 2 tonne CO2e/ha for grain. Silage is higher at 3.5t CO2e because of the in uence livestock

Foundation for Arable Research senior maize researcher David Densley.

Healthy horses require healthy food

the soil but also promotes healthier plant growth, reducing the risk of pastures becoming overly “wired”. In conclusion, as spring approaches, horse owners should consider the delicate interplay between healthy pastures and soil nutrition. Striking the right balance is key to ensuring

your horses have access to the best possible grazing environment. With Equi-lise and proper pasture management, you can put the spring back in your horse’s step without worrying about the “zing.” Your horses will thank you for it, and your pastures will thrive.

Healthier soil makes healthier horses

Spring is a time of renewal, but for horse owners, it often brings concerns about pasture management.

e lush spring growth can be a double-edged sword, potentially impacting the health of both your horses and the pastures they graze on. In this article, we’ll explore how to navigate these challenges and ensure a thriving environment for your equine companions.

e ‘hot’ pasture issue

As the temperatures rise and the seasons change, pastures come to life. Soil biology awakens, and manure deposits become active. However, this newfound vigour can be a cause for concern. It’s not uncommon for pastures to become too “hot” due to an excess of free nitrogen, which can lead to health issues in both horses and their human caretakers.

Excess nitrogen can cause horses to develop undesirable attitudes. To address this, it’s crucial to strike a balance in pasture.

Health

e health of your pastures starts with the soil. Just as variety is the spice of life above ground, it’s equally vital for life below ground. Many pastures accumulate manure deposits during the winter months, potentially leading to soil imbalances. A winter diet primarily composed of horse urine and manure can signi cantly impact soil biology if

the appropriate mineral balance is not maintained. When soil temperatures reach 7-8 degrees Celsius, the nutrient cycling process begins. is natural phenomenon mineralises organic deposits from the previous season, making them available for the upcoming spring growth.

However, a lack of green cover for photosynthesis can hinder this process, limiting the availability of nutrients. When sunlight energy isn’t e ciently converted into soil microbe food, only a small fraction of organic manure is utilised by plants as organic nitrogen. e rest must be mineralised by soil bacteria, and any excess may be lost.

Striking the equilibrium

To achieve a harmonious balance between soil biology and plant growth, some horse owners turn to products like Equi-lise.

Equi-lise o ers a natural source of nely ground minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, and selenium. ese minerals support soil health and enhance the utilisation of natural farming by-products. What sets Equi-lise apart is its ability to release nutrients at a pace that aligns with soil life, preventing nutrient leaching. is not only supports

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Balancing pasture health and soil nutrition can be tricky.

curriculum vitae

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Oct 7

Crop Swap, 9.3010.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337

Oct 7

Plant Sale, 10am-3pm, Hamilton Gardens.

Oct 7-8

Coromandel Open Studios, self-drive tour. Repeated next weekend. See coromandelartstour. co.nz

Oct 8

E-waste Collection, 8.30am-1pm, Cambridge Lions Market. See urbanminers.nz

Plant Sale, 10am-1pm, Te Puna Quarry Park (near Tauranga), cash only.

Steam Day, 10am4pm, Settlers & Steam Museum, 43 Robinson Ave, Rotorua, $10, under 16 free. Ph 07 345 9525

Oct 14-15

for sale

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

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

Maungatautari, Waikato, $45 (includes morning tea). Monthly to Dec. See takapoto.co.nz

Oct 19-29

Tauranga Arts Festival. See taurangafestival.co.nz

Oct 21-23

Raglan Arts Open Studio Weekend, 10am-5pm, selfdrive Raglan area. See raglanartsweekend.nz

Oct 22

Tauranga Zinefest, 10am-3pm, e Cargo Shed, Dice Cresc. Tauranga, free. See tinyurl.com/zammj99u

Spring Migration Day, 10am speaker, Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, free. High tide 1.30pm. See shorebirds.org.nz

Oct 26

Waikato Horticultural

Blending farm and garden

MaryAnne and Rod Calver moved from their kiwifruit orchard to their farm on Lindemann Road 31 years ago so that they would have more room for their horses, and to also farm livestock.

Both MaryAnne and Rod have had a lifelong association with horses and they had met a few years previously on the hunt eld.

Sadly, their horses are now buried on a special place down the farm and now their riding is all done on an electric tandem on which they have ridden most of New Zealand’s cycle trails including the Timber Trail and the Kopiko (East Cape to Cape Egmont).

When MaryAnne rst came to Aberfeldy, the property had no garden and so she was able create an ever expanding park incorporating many trees and shrubs.

Rod is pleased that the garden expansion has ceased but six years ago, another 2.5 hectares of riparian planting all along their section of the Tahawai stream had been done in mainly natives but it does incorporate some large English trees that were planted 30 years ago, and also some redwoods at the seaward end. e farm has very high fertility, which has meant the tree growth alongside the stream has been amazing.

MaryAnne with her da odils.

Now, there are no sheep on the property and they are two years into a Speckle Park breeding programme and all the cattle on the property are either Speckle Park or Angus.

Aberfeldy History

MaryAnne will admit that

MaryAnne will admit that initially she planted too many trees and, for at least 15 years, the garden is visited annually by Brett Soutar of “Short Back and Sides” to remove trees and use their arbor skills to control the growth of the trees and shrubs.

e farm was run as a small sheep and cattle property and,

Aberfeldy has connections going back to the founding of the Katikati Settlement by George Vessey Stewart in the 1870s.

One of the seven big houses built in the Katikati area by Major General Stoddard was sold to Mrs Mary Gledstanes in 1879. She was the sister of George Vessey Stewart.

Rod has several newspaper clippings about this house which was called Larkspur.

In 1881, Mrs Gledstanes held a ball at her house and chronicled is a description of all the ladies

MaryAnne with some of her magnolias.

Packed

It’s spring time on the Chickenfarm! and Lambs hanging out together, Te Ranga.

Alexandra, helping feed the lambs in Hawke’s Bay.

Catherine and Ben, six, helping with the lambs also.

Sophia Child, four, at her Nana’s farm in ames.