Coast & Country News - April 2024

My older brother was absolutely no use to me as a teenager. And I blame the farming industry.

Just when I needed him to take me to an anti-Vietnam war protest, loan me his car on a Saturday night to take Judith out, borrow his clothes and perhaps ick me a few discretionary dollars, he wasn’t there.

Well, he went all rural and uncaring on me.

Changes

I needed him to buy Black Watch tartan bellbottoms with a white belt. Or some skinny jeans and winkle-pickers. You know, cool stu that I could borrow, or sneak, and impress Judith.

Di erences

He joined Young Farmers, and I suspect Young Nats. Because while I had a picture of Jimi Hendrix on my wall, he had one of Sir Keith Holyoake. My older brother was a right twerp.

He got a job with a stock and station agency and kitted himself with some brown brogues, a Harris Tweed sports jacket, a whole lot of viyella shirts, cavalry. And a woven pure wool, Woolmark tie. Real Johnny Hayseed stu and stu that was absolutely useless to me.

I wouldn’t be seen dead in his gear let alone at a Saturday Bible class shindig with Judith.

How could I go to a Larry’s Rebels rock concert at the Ag Hall in a borrowed Harris Tweed jacket?

And a right-wing twerp. By 18 he had leased a couple of paddocks to graze sheep and his Morris Oxford that I needed to borrow on Saturday night to woo Judith was full of hay bales and stank of wet dogs. Lovely! No wonder Judith despaired and gave me the ick. I blame my brother.

Instead of talking girls, rock music and marijuana with me, he wanted to chat farm subsidies, milk fat content and facial eczema. He became an outan-out uninteresting person.  But 50 years later, I still love the bro to bits. We were just di erent.

Hunter Wells

Laurie Brunt – the ultimate collector

If one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, then Laurie Brunt was a rich man indeed.

Laurie, who passed away recently at the age of 83, was the ultimate collector of farm machinery and speedway memorabilia.

“It was his life…his passion,” says his widow, Linda. e Brunts ran e Yesteryear Barn at Netherton, near Paeroa, which housed the signi cant and widely varied collection.

On a 0.6ha property, the barn was literally packed to the rafters. “We ran out of room on the walls so had things like signs and old number plates up there,” says Linda.

Laurie’s interest in farm machinery stemmed from growing up on a family farm at Karaka and he later “served his time” as a mechanic at nearby Clevedon.

In the early 1960s, Laurie bought his own auto-wrecking business in Cambridge, which he claimed was the rst of its kind in the Waikato town.

He then had a stint as a taxi driver in Tauranga before shifting to Whitianga to begin a long career in waste management.

“He drove the big bin trucks and covered (at the associated transfer stations) when the guys there were away,” says Linda.

Bus accommodation

For about two years the Brunts slept in a Bedford bus. Linda laughs that she lived on every transfer station on the peninsula except Coromandel.

Laurie’s nal job in this chapter of his life was in the o ce at the ames Transfer Station.

Linda says he’s always been “collecting stu ” over the years.

It started with old tractors and then turned to speedway items.

“He’d get rid of a tractor and get a speedway car,” says Linda.

e collection was originally housed in a shed they leased at Kopu.

Laurie was involved in stockcars, later racing midgets and mini-sprints, from the age of 18.

He competed at both Western Springs and Waikaraka Park in Auckland, Forest Lake in Hamilton and the “old Baypark” at Mount Maunganui.

After retiring, Laurie turned his attention to historic stockcars, racing monthly at Meremere.

“He’d gone full circle with racing - stockcars to stockcars,” says Linda.

His eldest son drives midgets, as do a grandson and great-grandson.

On the night Laurie passed away – February 17 – in ames Hospital, great-grandson Hunter, 10, was competing in his rst quarter midget race meeting at Western Springs.”

“Four generations raced at Western Springs,” says Linda.

In later years, Laurie was a regular feature in the Paeroa Santa Parade behind the wheel of one his vintage race vehicles.

e collection at Netherton also features a stockcar bonnet signed by golf star Tiger Woods and his then caddy Steve Williams from when the pair raced in a celebrity event at Huntly in 2006.

Farm machinery at the museum includes a variety of tractors, farm implements and machinery including balers and ploughs, and even a vintage hay-stacker.

“He used to go to a lot of farm auctions and estate sales,” says Linda. “He also sold some… was a bit of a wheeler-dealer.”

It was rather tting that e Yesteryear Barn is on the site of the former Stembridge’s Garage & Transport, dating back to the 1920s.

At its peak around 1948, Netherton boasted not only a hall and school, but also a Post O ce, cheese factory, Farmers Trading Company, store, church and three road transport rms.

Stembridge’s became a rock and mineral museum in later years and was used by a rewood business before e Yesteryear Barn was established in 2004.

Linda Brunt says when they bought the property the barn was full of cubicles made out of old wooden doors, used to store rewood.

“We had to dismantle it and burn the wood.”

Opening time

And so, Laurie’s rustic museum was born. Linda says he used to say: “If you’ve got a space, you’ve got to ll it up with something.”

It started as a private collection, but Linda says people called in “wanting a look”.

e Brunts never advertised the venture and had no set times of operation.

“It was pretty much word of mouth,” says Linda.

An “Open” ag indicated just that. Laurie kept collecting items for the museum up until two years ago.

“He was always open for a bargain,” says Linda.

In later years, she says Laurie concentrated more on speedway memorabilia.

A regular at the street races in Paeroa, Laurie was never a big fan of Formula One.

“He was interested in racing on the dirt,” says Linda. “ e tar-seal was just to get you there.”

Vehicles from the museum are being kept in the family, with other items to be sold at a later date.

Re ecting on Laurie’s passion for farm and motor racing memorabilia, she always thought the collection would get “big”.

Linda only had one rule about the purchases: “Nothing in the house.”

Above: Laurie Brunt and his ‘Big Red’ stockcar.

Left: Laurie and Linda Brunt. Photos: Helen Wilson.

No farming talk at the farming club

No, this is not a joke, but a typical Piarere Young Farmers Club meeting.

e thriving Waikato club has a cosmopolitan membership, a 50/50 male/female ratio, and many non-farmers.

Club chairman Mark Whelan and vice-chair Abbey ompson laugh that the secret of success is “don’t talk farming”.

Piarere YFC has a footprint stretching from Waharoa to Putaruru, and Piarere to the Kaimai Range.

And yes, club meetings are held at a pub – the Okoroire Hotel. ere is a monthly business meeting, where items such as events and fundraising are discussed, and a Monday catch-up over a beer.

Membership

YFC caters for those aged 16-31, with the Piarere club boasting about 50 members.

“And some wouldn’t know what a cow looks like,” says Mark.

Membership spans the “agri-community”,

Increase Carbon in your soil with

with Piarere YFC including a teacher, a butcher and a racing greyhound owner.

Mark Whelan is a sales consultant for dairy herd improvement specialist CRV, while Abbey ompson is a Sustainable Dairy Associate with Farm Source.

Like-minded

Along with a strong UK in uence in the membership – Mark is originally from Ireland – the United States and South Africa are also represented at Piarere YFC.

“It brings people together,” says Abbey and Mark.

Mark joined Hamilton-based CRV in 2021 after a stint in the South Island.

“I pretty much knew no-one when I came here,” he says while speaking to Coast & Country News in Matamata. “A friend told me to come along (to Piarere Young Farmers Club).”

Mark says he immediately found that he was talking to like-minded people at the club.

He became vice-chairman in 2022 and was elected chair at the club’s annual meeting in November.

Abbey ompson is a Matamata “local”, growing up on a family farm.

She joined Young Farmers when

studying at Massey University and linked up with the Piarere club in 2021 after returning to Matamata the previous year.

Paintball was a club activity at the time, which got her “hooked”. e following year she became Piarere YFC treasurer, assuming the vice-chair role also at the October changeover.

Abbey and Mark say the club’s major annual fundraiser is covering silage stacks and picking up hay.

“It helps farmers and is the club’s main source of income.”

A non-pro t organisation, the club ploughs the money back into activities for members including tenpin bowling and of course paintball, Piarere YFC tee-shirts.

ere are also Waikato/Bay of Plenty YFC interclub events such as netball and dodgeball, along with a composite stock judging/clay bird shooting/fencing competition.

Go-karting is similarly enjoyed with neighbouring clubs.

Adding to the funds, Piarere club members pitch in with their Waikato colleagues in covering a giant silage stack annually at Gordonton.

e most high-pro le event on the calendar is the annual Young Farmer of the Year contest, which started in 1969.

An Englishman, an Irishman and a Welshman walk into a pub.

Piarere Young Farmers Club vice-chair Abbey ompson and chairman Mark Whelan. Photo: Steve Edwards.

NZ growers eye banana market

A New Zealand horticulturist is hoping to slash the carbon miles of one of the country’s most popular fruits.

New Zealand imported more than 81,000 tonnes of bananas in 2022 - which makes up about a third of all fresh produce imports, according to large pan-industry group United Fresh.

But at Kotare Subtropicals, a wholesale nursery at Maungatapere southwest of Whangārei, its orchard manager Geo Mansell hopes consumers will soon be able to buy locallygrown bananas.

He said interest in growing bananas locally had been growing over the past ve years amid land-use change and as growers sought high-value crops.

within ve years.

e nursery has around three hectares of feijoas trees, gs and now bananas - including Honduran hybrids such as Gold nger, Mona Lisa, Bonanza and High Noon, grown both outdoors and indoors.

Geo says the business is hoping to add value to the land by establishing the bananas, which were a burgeoning sector of tropical

and sub-tropical produce.

“We started the new banana plantation to provide an additional crop type so we could generate more value from our land.

“After a few seasons we realised we couldn’t make enough income o our feijoa and gs crops.”

Part of a collective of tropical growers, hundreds of kilograms of locally-grown bananas can go out to Northland supermarkets each month, when supply is good.

Geo says they hope to expand into Northland and Auckland - and to help growers in other

For the Piarere club, the path to potential national glory starts with the regional nal in Ngatea in April.

Abbey is on the organising committee for this event, while Mark is competing.

e seven regional nalists go on to the coveted national nal, hosted in Hamilton for three days in July next year. Among the past winners is current Waikato MP Tim van de Molen, who claimed the national title in 2013.

Mark and Abbey say Piarere YFC has links to ag-based organsiations such as the Rural Support Trust, DairyNZ, Dairy Women’s Network and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

e club also regularly engages speakers on a variety of topics including legal matters and industry training.

Club membership has doubled in the last 18 months, which they put down to “the fun stu ” at the heart of Piarere YFC activities.

“We keep it pretty light-hearted.”

New Zealand’s rst Young Farmers’ clubs were established in Feilding and Auckland (1927). By 1937 there were 118 clubs across the country.

areas of warmer climates, like the Bay of Plenty, establish banana plantations and shore up local supplies.

“In terms of import substitution, it’s a good way to bring New Zealand food to the table and into supermarkets, growing a crop or other crops such as papayas and pineapples and other sub-tropicals which are now viable in our climate.

“ at brings about also employment bene ts and give us a wider range of products available to the public to customers at supermarkets or through the markets.”

Many went into recess during World War Two, but by 1948 the number had reached 306. Also in the late-1940s, a partnership organisation – the Country Girls’ network - was formed.

In 1972 the two groups combined to become the Federation of Rural Youth.

A year later it became the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and in 2003 it changed again to New Zealand Young Farmers.

At present there are more than 1700 members in 63 clubs around New Zealand.

e nationwide organisation now also includes a TeenAg membership for secondary school students and an NZYF Alumni Network for former members over the age of 31.

e Alumni Network was launched in 2022 as a way for NZYF members to still stay connected with the organisation.

Network members are able to retain a link via mentoring/advising clubs if they need support; by making donations to the organisation; or sharing opportunities with current NZYF members such as internships or jobs associated with the rural sector.

“What we want out of it is to grow that enthusiasm for locally-grown and high quality produce going into the supermarkets.”

Geo says strong subtropical plant sales indicated good demand for them, and local groups like the NZ Rare Fruit Growers Facebook page had gained around 20,000 members

e most critical element for a banana plantation in New Zealand was to have adequate shelter to bu er plants from the strong winds, he said. Geo worked on industry trials to test the feasibility of growing tropical and sub-tropical fruits in New Zealand before establishing the new banana plantation.

e nursery also specialises in other subtropical fruits like papaya, pineapple and jackfruit.

Monique

Steele, RNZ

Above: Geo Mansell, left, is part of a collective of tropical growers. Photos: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt

Left: Banana bunches ripening at the Kotare Subtropicals nursery in Maungatapere southwest of Whangārei.

Measuring carbon footprints

New research has con rmed the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef and lamb is among the lowest in the world.

As at 2022, New Zealand was

A comprehensive Life Cycle

Assessment study by AgResearch was commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand. International importers demand information about the carbon footprint their imported product is creating as each country considers its contribution to global warming.

e research was carried out by AgResearch lead study researcher Stewart Ledgard and senior scientist, Andre Mazzetto and life cycle assessment modeller, Shelley Falconer.

e team were nalists for the Ballance AgriNutrients Science and Research Award in the 2023 B+LNZ Awards.

“ e LCA study calculated the cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of New Zealand sheep meat to three countries and beef exported to two countries,” says Stewart Ledgard.

“Going beyond the farm gate to the meat’s nal export destination includes transport, processing, rendering bi-products (hide, blood, bone etc), storage overseas retail and cooking energy use and emissions. is gives a better picture of the Global Warming Potential of the products.”

the carbon footprint for a kilogram of NZ sheepmeat (liveweight) is 6.01 kg CO2-e per kilogram compared to the countries studied average of 14.20 kg CO2-e per kilogram sheepmeat (liveweight).

When factoring in going from cradle-to-grave, the average total carbon footprint of exported NZ sheepmeat 14.73 kg CO2-e per kilogram (includes adjustment for the amount of meat produced from a kg of liveweight).

Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the e ect of di erent GWP metrics (GWP100 and GWP*), carbon sequestration by trees on farms and di erent allocation methods at the processing stage.

e United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation is currently investigating the potential use of GWP* in understanding the climate impact of methane.

Preliminary advice is that it has some merit in an LCA, but also limitations.

However, GWP100 is the globally recognised metric for calculating carbon footprints and is the gure that New Zealand’s export markets are looking for.

Results for sheepmeat

At the farm gate, New Zealand farmers are among the most e cient sheepmeat producers in the world.

Using GWP100 methodology at the farm gate,

At the farm gate, using GWP* the carbon footprint of a kilogram of sheepmeat is 0.96 kg CO2-e per kilogram (liveweight).

When factoring in cradle-to-grave processing and sequestration by trees on-farm, the carbon footprint of NZ sheepmeat using GWP* is -0.34 kg CO2-e per kilogram sheepmeat, making it arguably carbon neutral.

Less methane is produced by sheep in New Zealand due to lessening sheep numbers and improved e ciency.

Results for beef

New Zealand beef producers are also among the most e cient in the world.

At the farm gate, using GWP100 methodology, the carbon footprint of a kilogram of NZ beef (liveweight) produced is 8.97 kg of CO2-e, compared to the countries studied average of 14.1 kg of CO2-e per kilogram beef (liveweight).

Summer crop grazing for sheep.

AgResearch lead study researcher, Stewart Ledgard shows the Life Cycle Assessment study model.

From cradle-to-grave for NZ meat

When factoring in going from cradle-to-grave, the average total carbon footprint of exported NZ beef meat is 21.94 kg CO2-e per kilogram.

At the farm gate, using GWP* the carbon footprint of a kilogram of beef is 5.63 kg CO2-e per kilogram (liveweight)

When factoring in cradle-to-grave processing and sequestration by trees on-farm, the carbon footprint of NZ beef using GWP* is 9.67 kg CO2-e per kilogram beef meat. is is signi cantly lower than the carbon footprint of beef using GWP100, as the methane derived from beef production (including dairy beef) has been stable for the last couple of decades.

If the goal is to limit warming to well below 2 degrees, then an understanding of the warming impact is needed.

Following discussions with GWP* experts, they believe that GWP* or warming models are very appropriate to use at global and national level for helping to determine required methane reductions.

needs further research,” says Stewart.

“New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers are making good progress towards being climate neutral when you take into account the signi cant areas of carbon-sequestering woody vegetation on our farms, which is o setting a substantial amount of our on-farm agricultural emissions.”

B+LNZ and MIA don’t believe GWP100 is a good measurement of the

climate impact of methane. As more focus goes on addressing methane, they want more appropriate metrics or models used, and for more of a focus to go on warming ensuring methane is asked to play an appropriate role.

Govt’s FE eradication plans

e Government is helping farmers eradicate the signi cant impact of facial eczema in pastoral animals.

“A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to reduce their reliance on zinc dosing as a preventative measure,” says Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

FE can reduce growth rates, fertility and production in livestock while signi cantly impacting animal health.

nding ways to eradicate and get rid of it on the farm, one of the obligations that we have as a new government is to work with farmers and this is the rst opportunity that we’re able to demonstrate that we’re partnering with them.

“It’s not the government doing it to them, it’s not the government telling them what to do. It’s joining with them collaboratively to nd solutions that are going to make it easier on farm to make better outcomes for animal health and animal welfare.

“...save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year”

At present there is no cure for FE, with limited management tools available.

“ e Coalition Government backs the New Zealand pastoral sector and is committed to ensuring they remain world best. is project is about making sure the sector is productive, e cient, and successful.”

McClay says the program will support multiple approaches, building on research, and bringing together many of the country’s top researchers.

“We hope eventually moved towards

“Prevention solutions such as early detection, mitigation and management options are key to the programme,” says McClay.

“Decision support tools will also be collaboratively developed with farmers and rural professionals.

“ ese solutions will be complemented by the FE breeding value for dairy cows recently announced by the Livestock Improvement Corporation.

“ is programme will provide farmers with tools so they can get on with the job, providing the safe and high quality food that New Zealand is known for.”

B+LNZ and MIA have requested that the Government starts to report on warming as well as emissions and New Zealand’s current methane targets immediately reviewed as it is believed that the current targets are asking agriculture to do more than what is being asked of CO2.

“ e use of GWP* in an LCA and at the farm level is more complicated, and

Angus cattle. Photos: Catherine Fry.

Safety maintenance

Keeping farm and orchard machinery in good repair and the orchard and farm working environment wellmaintained are among the key factors in reducing accidents and injury.

According to the organisation FarmSafe, while injuries caused by

vehicles are high on the list, so are those caused by a working environment, such as slips, trips and falls. Autumn is among the busiest times on kiwifruit orchards, while for livestock farming things are often slowing down a little. So before winter arrives is the ideal time to carry out repairs and

maintenance to machinery, equipment, races, dairies and implement sheds.

According to FarmSafe’s statistics the major causes of injury in the dairy industry are caused by animals, vehicle injuries including ATV rollovers, lifting and strains especially from lifting calves and feed. Noise and occupation overuse

lead to hearing loss.

Trees and vines are a hazard for those in the horticulture industry and not surprisingly injuries from lifting and straining are common, caused by lifting produce, building materials, loading and unloading gear and produce.

e repetitive nature of picking, pruning, harvesting, sorting/bagging and noise are also hazards. Slips, trips and falls including those from ladders and those caused by wet surfaces and uneven ground are common.

Horticulturalists are also prone in injury from vehicles and towed implements including slipping o machinery, being struck by towed implements, repetitive driving and being run over.

is is the time of the year things tend to ramp up for kiwifruit orchards.

syndromes are also an issue.

Slips, trips and falls mostly in and around dairy sheds, also result in injuries. For sheep and beef farmers, injury by animals including hits and crushes are frequent as are vehicle injuries, once again largely from ATV rollovers.

Lifting and strains from lifting implements, animals and feed and slips, trips and falls are also an issue; as is noise from machinery which can

Some receive facial and other injuries when they are struck by objects such as tree branches, wire, building material, saws and knives.

FarmSafe was born from an industry-generated initiative to improve safety in the agricultural sector and is now owned by Lincoln University and governed by representatives of the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

For more information about FarmSafe and its services go to farmsafe.co.nz

The passing of the No8 wire

Once upon a time the Kiwi farmer was the No 8 wire wizard. e folklore that just about anything could be xed with a bit of number 8 wire is based on fact… well some facts. No8 wire, also known as 4mm soft wire, can be bent double without breaking. Every farmer had it because of its use in fencing, but it was the ‘o fence’ uses found for the wire that made it famous. As a steel lashing No8 wire has held together many a farm

gate – and with a few winds has even provided the hinges. e Taranaki gate was virtually made of No8 wire.

But that was all in the days of wooden gates.

Heated, hammered and quenched, No8 wire also lent itself to a large variety of on and o farm uses, not least of which was the manufacture of barbed eeling spears.

But now the part coil of No 8 in the farm workshop is a rare site.

e season is changing and unless you’re busy autumn calving or picking kiwifruit, now is the ideal time to knock o that list of jobs on the farm that never seem to get done.

Many last-on-the-list jobs tend to be repairs. Did you notice the barn roof leaking at the end of last winter?

Or drains that needed widening or clearing that you just haven’t got to yet? Maybe there’s a few fences that need your attention or the e uent pond needs a clean-up? Getting these jobs done before winter and rain deluges and mud arrive is key.

Having your farming operation in top shape and all set-ups, equipment and machinery ready to roll when you need it can make life run a lot smoother on the land.

And with autumn’s cooler weather our environment is usually a lot more comfortable to get these tasks done. ink fence-clearing, xing

stock yards, building retaining walls or farm bridges, repairing sheds, hanging gates, laying new pipes – all easier jobs in this weather.

And how about your raceways, drains, tanker loop, and ponds? Do you need to get the grader blade out to smooth some bumps and clear some weeds and overgrown areas, or call a professional to get this work done before it turns wet and muddy? What other things do you need to maintain on-orchard or on-farm? Shelterbelts or trees? You don’t want a storm to blow through in winter and cause carnage from overgrown trees. So tidy them up now. Do you need to get on top of weeds or renovate pastures? Get onto it now before autumn rains arrive, to give new seed a good start. So pick up the hammer, chainsaw, pliers or get on the digger, bulldozer or tractor and get onto it. As one of our regular columnist’s favourite saying goes: ‘Proper planning prevents pitiful performance’.

ey are often overlooked but a good one makes a huge di erence to a farm’s business operation.

e farm workshop is not longer a dirt oored tractor shed with tools in boxes over and under the workbench along one of the walls.

A well equipped and easy to access workshop can save thousands in repairs and hours in downtime. A well stocked farm workshop is increasingly recognised as being a big advantage to a farm’s business operation.

e workshop ideally provides storage for farm tools and the hand tools to maintain them and make repairs. It is also the place for power tools, an air compressor, a welder and whatever other bench tools might be desired. e farm workshop is also the natural location for lubricants, replacement parts and manuals.

Health and Safety in Employment issues mean most farm workshops are no longer

dark caves where only one person knows where anything is.

Ideally they are at oored, well ventilated and with good lighting – and big enough to get around whatever is being worked on without bumping into things.

e workshop was often a shed bay doubling as machinery storage, but projects take up space, sometimes pushing the tractor into the weather.

Ideally the farm workshop should have its own space, and there is an economic argument for that.

A dedicated indoor repair space can save a harvest, or hours of downtime while labour twiddles its thumbs.

A welder and an angle grinder can produce repairs to steel that will hold long enough to get the job done.

Machinery can be stripped for replacement parts which can be installed on site.

Learning environmental farm planning

Primary ITO has launched new training in response to dairy farmers and their sta needing to know how to implement and monitor a farm environment plan.

e Farm Environment Planning Level 4 Microcredential (a smaller sized piece of targeted learning) includes things like greenhouses gas emissions,

natural resources, waste management, biodiversity, chemical use and e uent management.

Primary ITO sector manager for dairy, Marianne Awburn,

Epsom Girls Grammar School

EPSOM HOUSE - Boarding Positions 2025

• Access to a state school with a tradition of academic excellence for young women from outside the Auckland area.

• A wide range of courses and co-curricular activities in sports, culture, arts and leadership.

• We encourage self-esteem and confidence with strong links between home and school.

• Full board with weekend leave for young women from Year 9 to Year 13 with caring and supportive staff in a safe living environment.

• We currently have spaces for entry in Year 9, 2025. Applications for these spaces are open now.

• Applications for Years 10-13 close on 9th August 2024.

For further information please contact:

Epsom House Boarding Administrator - Celeste Cotter Phone (09) 970 6808 Email: ccotter@eggs.school.nz

www.eggs.school.nz

says farmers are well aware of the demands and impact farming can have on the environment.

e micro-credential packages up what farm sta need to know – the why, what and how – so they can con dently support the implementation and monitoring of the farm environment plan.

She says there’s huge willingness among farmers to take care of the environment but sta need the right knowledge to help make that happen.

“We’re removing the fear of the unknown, so sta can talk about and read a farm environment plan and understand what they’ll have

to do with it. Farmers have a huge responsibility and it’s important that we back them up with training so the whole farm team grows in con dence, understands how to capture opportunities and tackle the challenges.” She says the micro-credential’s focus on implementing and monitoring a plan, as opposed to creating it, means most sta members can be involved.

“We’ve found that farmers really value being able to share those decisions with their sta so they can report things that they might see and not otherwise recognise as an issue.”

For more information, see their advert on this page.

Farming is one of the backbone industries in New Zealand.

Good position amid challenges

As most in the avocado industry know, the last two years have been tough.

Like many businesses in horticulture, our New Zealand avocado supply group, Just Avocados, has taken a harder approach towards streamlining operations, reducing cost, and in some cases carrying out restructuring.

None of that is nice and some of it is hard; however, the business remains well set up and in a stable position with an excellent team ready to get into the 2024-25 season.

Orchard gate return results for our growers for the 2023-24 season were announced in March and nal payments are being made by the end of this month. Overall, we are happy with the result although I am aware that it doesn’t make orchard pro tability a reality, but we have delivered an orchard gate return that is at the top end of the export sector.

Challenges

Given the challenges we faced last season - weakness in the Australian market and the ongoing risk in that space going forward, it is good to see that our investment and focus in Asia and our exibility to push for new markets is delivering an optimised outcome for Just Avocados growers. A speci c challenge for our industry in the 2023-24 season was the large Western Australian volume of over 11 million trays. is rea rmed Darling Group’s strategy to develop Asia and drove the need to review new market

opportunities outside of Australia. e latter action resulted in our wellconsidered decision not to supply this market and instead we created the opportunity to be the rst exporters to supply Canada with New Zealand avocados.

Adaptation

e 2023-24 season again showed that Darling Group can pivot within our existing business model to adapt to the changing environment.

minimised quality variables and maximised the quality of fruit heading to our international customers. On such a short volume year the cost of multiple pack sites, packaging, container transport, and other associated costs would have impacted our return.

As we start to review what’s around the corner

Combining Darling Group’s New Zealand avocado business with its o shore trading activities means we are in the international markets all year on several product categories, not just as an exporter for the New Zealand avocado window. Our consistent customer interface allows us to easily identify the best start and end period for Just Avocados’ supply and quickly engage on opportunities (such as Canada) when they are available.

Another challenge in 2023 was a short New Zealand crop which challenges harvest, transport, and packing capacity optimisation. Just Avocados’ strategy to transport all harvested fruit to one location for packing proved a solid platform for a reduction in costs. A single site managing quality, volume, and logistics and a single dispatch system allowed us to maintain packing and packaging charges at similar rates to previous years. It also

•

•

for the 2024–25 avocado crop, it’s great to see that our industry looks to have a far better crop on the way both in terms of volume and quality which will support our resilience in-market. Our strategy this coming export season is to supply Asia (Hong Kong, China, and Korea), North America, and potentially Australia.

Darling Group will run one pool and will look to push having 80 per cent of crop o

before owering (November). is in theory will allow us to maximise our opportunity to service long destination customers without exposing ourselves to quality issues.

Overall, Just Avocados’ focus will be similar to last season with value-based market selection, a cost-focused logistics and packing process, a well thought through technical programme, and good communication.

•

•

•

•

In 2023, Darling Group were the rst exporters to supply Canada with New Zealand avocados.

Glen Dunseath.

From corporate world to avocados

Five years ago, Tim Rosamond had never even heard of the avocado capital of New Zealand.

Now, he’s not only growing around 250 Haas trees on a 3.8Ha property south of Katikati, but he’s also the rst to open his orchard for tours.

“Most people wouldn’t do this much in 10 years, and we’ve gone and done it in two,” laughs Tim.

After 35 years in the high-stress world of IT, he and partner

Michele Ricou, knew it was time for a move out of Wellington.

“It was a lot of responsibility with long days, sleepless nights with the phone going at any time of the day,” says Tim. “It does take a mental toll and I realised that I didn’t need it in my life any longer.”

Avocados were the perfect opportunity to match the couple’s passion for healthy eating, being outdoors and making a di erence to the well-being of people. ey’d been warned, though, that they’d need an ‘o orchard’ income.

“Michele still works in her service management role for a large corporate that promoted remote working after Covid and that gave us the con dence to push ahead with our crazy plan,” says Tim. “All of a sudden, though, you’re relying heavily on something that you’re growing for an income and nature can just come along and wipe it out.”

“ at’s where the ideas around diversifying come in,” says Michele. A friend’s comment at the pub sparked action. She’d attended a barbecue at their house, where

Tim unexpectedly gave an o -the-cu 45-minute orchard tour.

“People who’ve lived locally for many years came away saying: ‘wow, we just learned so much from Tim’,” says Michele. “I think that’s what gave our friend the faith that Tim could host a tour, because he’d done one without even realising.”

written them better myself.”

e tours include a guided walk, a demonstration of work on the orchard, picking fruit and tasting of avocado ice cream and Tim’s guacamole.

In fact, it’s Tim’s guac that’s raved about most in the feedback.

“I tell people it has to be made with Tim’s Avocados. at’s the secret ingredient that makes it so good,” says Tim.

“She works at Katch Katikati,” says Tim. “And told us they have visitors wanting to see an orchard because we’re branding ourselves as the avocado capital of New Zealand. However, there was no one o ering tours,” says Tim. e couple started thinking about hosting tours last June, the website was up around two months later and by the end of October, they were taking bookings. Brochures and emails aimed at tourists and local rest homes secured the rst groups.

“When we got our rst Google review it was so exciting,” says Tim.

“ ree months in and we’re up to 12 reviews. ey’re all ve-star and they’re all amazing. I honestly couldn’t have

“If we could nd a way to package it that will be our next thing” says Michele. “We’re experimenting with vacuum packs at the moment.

“We also now have Bed and Breakfast accommodation that we just started three weeks ago.”

“We’ve got this asset with the orchard, so we think about how else we can get income from it,” says Tim. “Five years ago, if someone told me I’d be an orchardist in Katikati, doing tourism and providing accommodation, I wouldn’t have been able to think of anything more left eld.”

Tim Rosamond hosting an avocado tour on his orchard. Photo: Katch Katikati.

A little goes a long way

What we do now impacts what happens in the future.

So naturally, what we can do on our orchards now, will impact the next few years on the orchard.

“We recommend to set a budget for the season so you can gure out what can you spend and then prioritise how that budget is best spent,” says a spokesperson for the organisation.

“As we are in autumn, injecting and pruning are hot topics with high priority; injecting for tree health and pruning or orchard management.”

Becoming an avocado grower

e New Zealand avocado industry is vibrant and growing with a vision and strategy in place to quadruple sales to $280m and triple productivity by 2023.

e industry is pursuing exciting opportunities in both export and the New Zealand markets, supported by innovation and collaboration with stakeholders and with new partnerships with the Crown and Crown Research Institutes.

New Zealand currently produces just two per cent of the global supply but is the ninth largest international avocado exporter. ere are more than 4000 hectares of avocado trees planted in New Zealand, primarily in the Bay of Plenty and Northland. Global and local demand for the super food is sky rocketing.

originate from Central America, so growing avocados in New Zealand’s wetter, cooler and windier climate poses all sort of challenges.

We recommend you think hard about a number of things BEFORE you invest in avocados.

For information about the New Zealand avocado industry, see the Starting out guide online.

If you do not have a website login and would like to view this, contact: info@nzavocado.co.nz

You’ll need to provide proof you live in NZ and explain why you’d like access.

Orchard management is a hot topic at this time of the year.

As the love and passion for avocados growers gets harder through hard times. Like growing avocados, there is no particular right answer; however, doing nothing is not the answer and therefore doing something is better than nothing.

As grower representatives, DMS are frequently asked “what should we do now?”

How much can you stretch that budget; how much can you do yourself?

stretch that budget; further. Get friends in or the pruning clean

“As I mentioned in my last article ‘Together we Achieve’, working together will help the dollars go further. Get friends in to help with injecting or the pruning clean up, spreading fertilizer all helps to stretch that budget further. Talk to your consultant to make sure you are not over fertilising and of course, are getting the best bang for your dollar. ere are plenty of fertilizer suppliers out there all with very good products competing for your business.

“Here at DMS we are always happy to talk, so if you want a chat about budgets, orchard management operations or if you just need a friendly person to talk to then we are here to listen. Remember “A little goes a long away!”

Avocado production does have very irregular swings in volume and this needs to be accounted for when planning your orchard however growers are reaching higher returns than ever before. Coupled with an amazing lifestyle growing avocados is undoubtedly a very exciting prospect.

Growing avocados in New Zealand is an exciting venture but it is not an easy venture. Avocados

The proven low pressure method for effective phytophthora control in avocado trees. The AvoJect® are high quality syringes with a small tip to minimise tree damage.

E:

Winning farmers committed to

e major winners in the 2024 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards are proof that poor decisions of the past can be overcome to carve out a successful career in milking cows.

Logan and Sian Dawson were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year category at the Waikato Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at Claudelands Event Centre in March.

e other big winners were Matthew Macdonald, who became the 2024 Waikato Dairy Manager of the

Year, and Kirwyn Ellis, the 2024 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Logan, 36, has come a long way from the young man who made a poor decision while pig-hunting and is now a dairy farmer who has elevated animal welfare to the forefront of his business.

Personal growth

He declared the historic charges when entering the Awards and believes it bene ts everyone to value the animals that farmers have the privilege of caring for.

“Just over a decade ago, when I was in my early 20s, I found myself on the receiving end of animal cruelty charges and immediately took full responsibility for my actions,” he says.

“I am so sorry and have used the experience as an opportunity for personal growth and I lead our team to diligently display best animal welfare practices.”

As a husband and father of ve, Logan

says he is acutely aware of how important it is to not only surround his family with genuine wholesome people, but to be that person for those around them as well.

“I wanted my kids to nd something positive about me when Googling and I’ve spent the past decade trying to be the best role model I can be for them and my team.”

”My desire is to be the best example to my legacy that I can be.

“Taking part in the awards will hopefully rede ne me or at least balance out the past and prove that you can turn your life around.

“I have been able to start breeding a herd of my own, something I’m very passionate about, and have worked my way up to an equity partnership sharemilking job that is incredibly ful lling.”

Logan and Sian are equity partners and 50/50 share milkers for Jim and Sue van der Poel on their 333ha, 1350cow farm. ey won $19,960 in prizes and three merit awards.

e couple believe the Awards programme

has pushed them out of their comfort zone, but they enjoyed the challenge and have grown a lot through the process.

Logan is a third generation farmer who grew up on the family dairy farm and has been farming since leaving high school.

“I’ve worked my way up from farm assistant to herd manager, 2IC, then lower-order sharemilking which led to larger scale contract milking that’s allowed us to grow into our current equity partner sharemilking role.”

Logan has achieved NZ Certi cate in Agriculture Levels 2, 3 and 4, NZ Certi cate in Production Management Level 5 and NZ Certi cate in Agribusiness Management Level 5.

Sian, 36, had a very di erent upbringing, raised as a city girl in Sydney. “I’ve been a photographer for the past 10 years and am kept very busy raising our ve children.”

e couple enjoy the variety of physical and mental work that farming gives them and the connection with their animals and the land.

Waikato Dairy Trainee Kirwyn Ellis, left, Waikato Share Farmers of the Year Sian and Logan Dawson, and Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year Matthew Macdonald.

Farmers

Sian and Logan Dawson.

feeding the world

“We get to feed the world and live a honest and wholesome life at the same time.”

e couple look forward to watching technology advancing and new ideas being tested to increase e ciency as well as reduce environmental impact.

“We see ourselves as a part of that leading edge, whether doing trial work or implementing better practices and helping farmers toward a sustainable future.”

One of the biggest challenges the couple have faced was the 2016 pay out.

“It changed the way we now structure our business, the way we operate with minimizing expenses, personal drawings and revolutionised our risk assessment and decision-making process.”

ey are proud they have achieved a large-scale sharemilking equity partnership and hitting 130 per cent of liveweight in production last year.

e Dawsons identify the strong relationship with their equity partner as a strength of their business along with pro table and proven farm systems.

“Farming is certainly challenging at times but every di culty is an opportunity for growth.”

Dairy Manager of the Year

e winner of the 2024 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year category is Matthew Macdonald. He won $9,215 in prizes and three merit awards.

He is farm manager for David and Jenny Macdonald on their 74ha Hamilton farm, milking 255 cows.

Born and raised on the family farm, Matthew had a passion for farming since a young age however a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in his rst year at secondary school changed his career pathway into the dairy industry.

“I required a stem cell transplant and radiation meaning leaving school to milk cows wasn’t an option due to ongoing fatigue and recovery.”

Instead he chose to complete a Bachelor of Agriscience majoring in Agriculture at Massey University, and was awarded the DairyNZ scholarship for the full three years of study. He worked on DairyNZ dairy farms after graduating before accepting the opportunity to head home to manage the family farm.

Matthew says he enjoys working outdoors and with animals and enjoys the science behind managing pasture and getting milk in the vat.

Working alongside knowledgeable people in their eld of expertise and learning o them is something he also relishes.

“Being part of the backbone of New Zealand and providing food and bre to the work is an awesome job to be in.”

Matthew sees a bright future for the NZ dairy industry with the advancement of technology changing so fast.

“ e challenge will be making technology a ordable and keeping past and future farmers upskilled so they can utilise new technology e ciently and e ectively. Personally, overcoming cancer and being able to meet the physical demands of farming has been Matthew’s biggest achievement.

“On-farm, a drought then too much rain then a cyclone during my rst season made feed management very challenging.”

e 25-year-old believes working within a pro tdriven business is a strength as is it being a third generation family run farm. “ e work I do and the responsibilities I have are family centric.

He also began beekeeping a few years ago and now has 30 hives, selling honey locally under the Farmermac Honey brand.

“Being involved in the awards has helped me formulate my own philosophy of farming and justify the reason why I operate the way I do.”

Bad news for pasture pests!

DIPLOID

IT’S HERE! THE NEW RGT18 ENDOPHYTE

Now available with Hustle perennial ryegrass, the new RGT18 endophyte means better pest protection without compromising animal performance.

ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL SEED RETAILER.

www.ragt.nz

Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year

Matthew Macdonald.

Learning and improvement a successful recipe

A passion for the New Zealand dairy industry, combined with a complementary skill set and desire to continue to learn and improve, is a winning recipe for a Rerewhakaaitu couple.

NZ Farmers

Paul and Sarah Koopal were announced the winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year category at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Rydges Rotorua in March. e other big winners were Ben Purua,

the 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards

Working with Farmers for Farmers

Michael Conwell Your Local Agent

M: 027 226 1611

E: michael.conwell@nzfll.co.nz

who was named the 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year, and Jessie Pope, the 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Development and networking

Paul and Sarah believe the awards are an excellent personal development and networking experience and encourage their sta team members to enter.

“We wanted to lead by example and enter as it’s a great opportunity to analyse each area of our business to make improvements and we have loved the process!”

Paul, 46, grew up on the family farm and worked for a farm equipment company as area manager. He returned to the family farm where they have been working for the past 13 seasons, with Sarah, 36, still working full-time o -farm in a rural banking role.

ey are contract milkers for Anne and Stewart Koopal on their 204ha, 544-cow farm and won $17,295 and four merit awards.

Dairy Manager of the Year

e winner of the 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year competition, Ben Purua from Tirau, who is working on Jack and Tiz Scheres’ and Chap and Ashleigh Zwiers’ 187ha property, milking 540 cows.

Ben was third placegetter in the same category in 2023 and was a nalist in the 2021 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Awards. He won $8,105 and one merit award.

Dairy Trainee of the Year

e 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Jessie Pope who is farm assistant for the region’s Share Farmer winners, Paul and Sarah Koopal.

Previously a vet nurse in a rural clinic working primarily with small animals, this is Jessie’s second full-time season in the dairy industry.

“I saw the programme as a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet like-minded people within the industry.”

“I love meeting people in the industry that have a passion for farming like me,” he says. “I enjoy the challenge and the programme has pushed me to keep improving my farming knowledge and skills.”

e 30-year-old grew up on a sheep, beef and dairy farm and is excited about the advances in technology and all the information available to farmers, especially in terms of animal health.

“I hope to be able to work with this technology one day with my own cows, to be able to give them the best support to perform at their peak.”

Central Plateau winners: Dairy Trainee of the Year Jessie Pope, left, Share Farmers of the Year Sarah and Paul Koopal, and Dairy Manager of the Year Ben Purua.

Livestock proudly supporting

PRECISION SLURRY

GRUNDFOS

BOP award winners enjoying the journey

e major winners in the 2024 Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards, Sophia Clark and Aaron Mills, say they love their cows and are enjoying their journey in the dairy industry.

e couple were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year category at the Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Awakeri Events Centre in March.

e other big winners were George King who was named the 2024 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year, and Luke Feisst, the 2024 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Sophia and Aaron cite their family and creating a future for their children as motivators. “Our vision is ‘enjoying the journey’ which means enjoying our cows and enjoying what we do.”

Encouragement

e couple are 50/50 sharemilking for Bernie Hermann on his 160ha, 540cow Te Puke farm. ey won $13,775 in prizes and four merit awards.

Sophia and Aaron say entering the awards previously gave them an opportunity to benchmark their business, not become complacent about costs and encouraged them to do a deep dive into their farm as a whole.

“We see the future of dairying as very exciting with farm ownership on the horizon for us,” they say. “We’re proud to be 35-year-olds in control of a multi-million dollar asset and that we have built equity from nothing.”

e couple would like to see some older farm owners change their mindset to help retain young people in the industry.

“We’ve been given so much mentorship and assistance into our rst herd from a large-scale business, and we will be forever grateful.”

“I wish I could show young students studying business that dairy is a viable option and sharemilking is a viable framework for building an asset,” says

Sophia, who holds a Bachelor of Agri Commerce from Lincoln University.

Future farming goals include debt repayment, farm ownership and continuing to enjoy farming.

Dairy Manager of the Year

e winner of the 2024 Bay of Plenty

Dairy Manager of the Year category is George King, who won $8225 and two merit awards.

e 26-year-old is farm manager for Mike and Kaye Watkins on their 161ha Whakatane farm, milking 500 cows.

George grew up on rented dairy farms in the UK where his parents operated a New Zealand-style pasturebased system, and holds a Diploma in Agriculture specialising in livestock production. A working holiday in New Zealand saw him working on a 1000-cow farm near Balclutha, then returning to the UK to a manager role on a 600-cow farm.

“When I was working in New Zealand in 2019, I saw the industry pathway which has been carved by many before me and knew that this is where I needed to be,”

George explains.

Love saw him return to the UK to support his partner Hannah to complete her study, and he searched for career opportunities in the UK that were similar to the New Zealand pathway.

“ at search only con rmed that

we needed to move to New Zealand; so we reached out to employers who took a leap of faith and gave us jobs from the other side of the world.

“It was a challenge to get here for the start of the season, but we overcame this with the Accredited Employers Work Visa and now we are here – with residency approved!”

George is proud of the livestock he has reared and was pleased with the liveweight gain and return on investment.

“I’m also really proud to have achieved a new farm record with an empty rate of 8 per cent and six week in-calf rate of 72 per cent.

George sees himself as being part of a successful, diversi ed and e cient business producing milk from grass.

“I’m excited about new technologies in the dairy industry and understandings that can improve business e ciencies and sustainability.”

Future farming goals include progressing to sharemilking and onto farm ownership.

“I’d like to be known as a reputable employer with sustainable practices, and eventually host UK overseas experiences.”

Dairy Trainee of the Year

Luke Feisst is the 2024 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year. e rst-time entrant wanted to build his connections and benchmark his abilities while gauging his trajectory within the industry.

e 26-year-old is assistant manager on Doug Paul’s 114ha, 350-cow property at Te Puke. “I also enjoy the social aspects and networking it allowed.”

Luke entered the industry as a farm assistant in 2021 and chose farming as his career path due to work events at the time.

BOP Dairy Trainee of the Year Luke Feisst, left, Share Farmers of the Year Sophia Clark and Aaron Mills (absent), and Dairy Manager of the Year George King.

Several years ago, Australian Jemma Ostenfeld was a beauty therapist living and working in the Gold Coast suburbs.

Fast forward and she’s happily living in a cabin in Rotorua, immersed in growing and saving heritage vegetable varieties for seed collection and saving, and seedling production.

After four years travelling around New Zealand, she fell in love with

the country and realised her passion was producing fresh, organic food, and seedlings for home gardeners.

“I really wanted to learn the art of regenerative agriculture and sought out market gardeners to expand my knowledge,” says Jemma.

Gaining experience

Jemma has spent time at some of New Zealand’s iconic, organic market gardens, such as Roebuck

Farm in Taranaki, and Lux Organics in Rotorua.

“I also spent time at Kōanga Institute and Setha’s seeds in Hawke’s Bay, which are the only two commercial seed savers in New Zealand.

“Here I learnt how to grow plants for their seeds, and the importance of their preservation.

“After Cyclone Gabrielle both struggled to get their seeds out and it made me realise how fragile seed security is in New Zealand.

“Caches of seed need to be kept in other regions. So I am dedicating my time to be another person growing and saving these precious heritage seeds in another area.”

Jemma was o ered the use of some land in Hamurana, Rotorua, by Janine Cotter of Brown Owl Organics, who has been her biggest supporter.

e Eastern Field (English for her surname Ostenfeld) started on her property with a two by two metre green house.

Jemma produced seedlings to support the local community in growing high-quality, nutritious vegetables in their backyards. When Jemma needed to expand, she found another likeminded land owner in Rotorua through what she describes as the “very strong organic growing community in the area”.

Increasing production

With about two-thirds of an acre of land and a 54 square metre greenhouse, Jemma

was able to expand her production seven times in one year with the support of her family and the community.

Jemma lives simply, concentrating on her growing and networking with like-minded people. She uses Setha’s Seeds as her rst choice as they share similar values.

Heritage refers to varieties over 100 years old that have been passed on from generation to generation in a particular bioregion. Plants grow best in the place they originated from, as they adapt to the local climatic conditions, pests, and diseases.

“Within the past one hundred years, 94 per cent of the traditional seed varieties have been lost world-wide, due to the hybridisation of many crops that are bred to suit the conditions of international trade at the expense of nutrition and avour. “As farmers became more reliable on hybrid seeds, the heritage varieties were left un-maintained and lost.”

Surrounded by plants that have “gone to seed” which Jemma will be able to collect.

Jemma is trialling di erent eco-friendly “pots” to reduce her plastic consumption.

Jemma provides consultations and coaching, visiting and assessing people’s sites and helping then achieve their edible garden goals.

She o ers Community Supported Agriculture packages locally.

Growing methods

“For me to keep genetic diversity, I need to grow up to 200 plants of a single variety, so insects and wind can transfer the genetics from plant to plant.”

In an urban lifestyle type setting, insects and wind can transfer pollen to plants over a wide distance which will interfere with the heritage genetics.

“At the moment I can only grow and save seeds from self-pollinating plants if I want to keep them true to type genetically.”

Jemma’s current land is certi ed in conversion with OrganicFarmNZ all her inputs are organic and documented.

She adds a slow release fertiliser into the seed mix and uses liquid sh o al fertiliser blended with humate, seaweed, and biology throughout seedling growth.

Inoculating the seed mix with mycorrhizal fungi creates a symbiotic relationship with plants that helps them access nutrients and water.

A pumice oor and seedlings high up on wooden tables in the greenhouse, and occasional use of organic slug bait mitigates slug damage.

Jemma uses insect mesh to prevent white butter y and leaf miner accessing the seedlings.

e future

Seeds are harvested once they reach their maturity on the plant.

“For dry fruits the seeds naturally dry on the plant and are harvested, cleaned, and dried further before stored.

Healthy

“For eshy fruits, the seeds are extracted from a ripe fruit and fermented to remove their germination inhibitor casing, cleaned, dried and then stored.”

Storing seeds in an airtight container in a freezer ensures that the seeds remain viable for up to six years depending on the variety.

Jemma would love to expand her business “in the middle of nowhere”, ideally in the Eastern Bay of Plenty where the growing season is longer.

“I need about two acres to achieve my goal of developing a seed garden. Being more remote means that I can grow more species that aren’t at risk of cross-pollination from neighbouring gardens.”

A lettuce that has bolted means seeds soon for Jemma.

Photos: Catherine Fry.

Beans nearing the optimum time to collect the seeds.

bean seedlings.

Lucy Donaldson rst came onto our radar when she started her Instagram page, @gardentales. A mum of three small children she shared her quest to become self-su cient on their Raglan lifestyle block.

She posted photos, growing tips, shared recipes and had a popular sourdough bread recipe. e garden and food forest are still producing plenty of food for the family, but Lucy has less time to spend out there.

Since Covid-19, her time has been focused on a new venture.

Going gluten-free

“When I had my third baby, he was really colicky and unsettled so I decided to try and become dairy and gluten free myself to see if it helped,” says Lucy. During her quest for gluten-free products, Lucy couldn’t nd a gluten-free bread that she liked.

“ e texture, taste and use of preservatives didn’t appeal to me.”

Undeterred, Lucy bought some gluten-free our and baked hundreds of loaves which rather perturbed her husband Elliot. She laughs when she looks back at the experience saying, “I was a little bit obsessed!”

Her perseverance paid o and she nally developed a gluten-free sourdough that had a good consistency and taste that could be eaten without toasting it rst.

“I have always enjoyed Volare’s bread and one day I picked up the phone and called one of the owners, Ed Hemming and discussed why Volare didn’t do a gluten-free bread.” It turned out that Ed and co-owner Ryan Simmons had always wanted to produce a gluten-free option but hadn’t had the time to invest in researching and experimenting themselves. Lucy took one of her loaves to a meeting with Ed and Ryan and the rest is history.

A new venture

“During our meeting we decided we would look into starting a business together making gluten free bread. After I had a bit of a panic as I hadn’t thought the logistics through - I had a six month old baby and two toddlers at the time!”

Ed and Ryan were still interested in a joint venture and “Lucy’s” was born.

hands on in the production side. ere are two packers and a marketing person, with Ed and Ryan there as consultants.

Every loaf is handmade, and batches are kept small. No preservatives are used so Lucy concentrates on customers that can be reached within 24 hours of baking using perishable postal services.

In this instance, the timing of the Covid-19 lockdown was actually fortuitous. By the time life was back in some semblance of order, Lucy’s baby was two, and her other two were at kindy and school. It also gave Lucy time to keep experimenting with her recipes.

“Lucy’s is a separate business to Volare and needed a separate building to process glutenfree products with no cross contamination. “We use a building close to Volare’s factory.” e team prepared and painted the premises, and it was equipped with new machinery. No gluten has ever come over the threshold. ey started production in April 2022. “We started o with three bake days and distribute through the Volare stores as they are already set up. ey became our main wholesale client and were a good platform for feedback.”

Lucy’s now bakes ve days a week and makes around 1200 loaves a week. ey have three bakers plus Lucy who is still very much

“We produce a traditional sourdough, a seeded loaf, a fruit loaf and our most popular, a white sliced loaf, which really does o er coeliacs the ability to enjoy a sandwich.”

In the rst year of production, Lucy’s won two gold, and one silver medal at the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer awards.

Touring the countryside in 4x4s

Whether you picnic amongst scenery o the beaten track or enjoy lunches on stations with the runholders – the views will be the same.

“Unrivalled,” say owner-operators of NZ Adventures 4x4 Tours, Robbie and Connie Crickett, who operate back country tours throughout the South Island. e only mandatory stipulation is vehicles on an NZ Adventures 4X4 Tour have all terrain-type tyres in good condition and a ‘low range’ transmission tted.

“Every vehicle is supplied with a radio so a commentary is available and two-

way communication is enabled.” All accommodation is in motels and meals are in restaurants.

e High Country Heritage Tour is run as either a six or seven day tour. Starting in Blenheim and traveling through iconic Molesworth Station. “Highlights are travelling over the hills from Wairau Valley into Awatere Valley, Orari Gorge and the huge stations of the Mackenzie Basin and Lake Benmore.”

Further south travelers enjoy the Oteake Conservation Park, quaint St. Bathans “and the Dunstan and Pisa Ranges will not disappoint”.

e High Country Heritage Tour is run as a six day in November, March and April and as a

seven day tour in March.

e six day tour has overnights in Hanmer, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama, Cromwell and the nal night at the beautiful historic Cardrona Hotel.

e seven day tour has overnights in Hanmer, Methven, Geraldine, Twizel, Omarama, Cromwell and the nal night at the beautiful historic Cardrona Hotel.

“We nish slightly earlier on day three when we stay at Geraldine.”

NZ Adventures Big Sky, 46 South, Trax of Gold and West Coast Tour are currently fully booked for 2025, but there are still spaces on the High Country Heritage six and seven day Tours. For more information, visit their advert on this page.

New Zealand o ers a vast array of scenery for people to enjoy.

Baker Lydia Henderson, director Lucy Donaldson, and baker Jade Foster at Lucy’s bakery. Photo: Catherine Fry.

Magnesium and hypertension studies

e Women’s Health Study is one of the most in uential medical studies.

is followed nearly 30,000 Female Health professionals who are over 45. It is still going now after 30 years. One of the many observations was the relationship between magnesium and hypertension (high blood pressure). e study showed that magnesium intake was inversely related to hypertension; that those with low magnesium had much higher chances of developing hypertension.

Indeed, it seems as if magnesium can help many conditions including cramp, heart rhythm, mood, sleeping any many more. is should not surprise because of the special role of magnesium in governing muscles and nerves. Calcium is the mineral that causes muscles to work and nerves to carry impulses. Magnesium helps return muscles and nerves to a resting state.

hypertension?

Our blood vessels have a special type of muscle called smooth muscle. Just as magnesium de ciency can cause cramp or tightness in our skeletal muscles, so low magnesium causes smooth

magnesium is a powerful calcium channel blocker (many hypertension medications are calcium channel blockers). is allows the smooth muscle in blood vessels to relax thus allowing for enhanced blood ow.

muscle to lose its natural suppleness. is can impede blood ow and forces the heart to pump harder to circulate blood.

How does magnesium help

e main mechanism is that

e challenge is to get the right forms of magnesium in the right doses. My preference is to use three di erent forms of magnesium: Natural marine magnesium from sea water, well proven magnesium citrate and probably the most e ective, magnesium glycinate. We then need to get the right doses. is is where one-a-day supplements can be di cult as you cannot modify the dose. My magnesium has a dosage range of one to four capsules so can be customised to a person’s needs.

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

Unlocking new home ownership opportunities

In today’s market, owning a home feels increasingly elusive for many Kiwis.

Addressing this, Advantage Designer Homes and Westpac are joining forces to innovate the path to homeownership, particularly in the growing sector of transportable homes across New Zealand. is collaboration combines ADH’s expertise in crafting exible, a ordable, and eco-friendly transportable homes with Westpac’s comprehensive nancial services, o ering a streamlined route to owning a home, says a spokesperson for ADH.

“ is partnership is about more than just housing; it’s reimagining homeownership in our ever-changing landscape.

“ADH’s transportable homes bring to the table unmatched versatility and sustainability, aligning with the needs of today’s homeowners.

“However, the standout achievement has been collaborating with Westpac to tailor nancing solutions that cater speci cally to transportable homes.

“Conventional lending models fall short in accommodating the

unique aspects of these homes, prompting a need for innovative nancing approaches.

“ rough Westpac’s commitment to exibility and innovation, prospective homeowners now have access to customised

loan products, making the dream of owning a transportable home more attainable.

“ is initiative not only simpli es the nancing journey but also supports broader sustainability and community

development objectives.

“As ADH leads the way in transportable home construction, its partnership with Westpac underscores a shared vision of making homeownership accessible and sustainable.”

Introducing Modular Spaces: Where Dreams Take Shape

Five orchardists fined over illegal water take

Over the past two kiwifruit seasons, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council has prosecuted ve orchardists for illegally taking more than 100 million litres of water.

All pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the unlawful takes at their orchard.

Regulatory compliance manager Matt Harrex says resource consents

provide important protection to our natural environment and across all of these prosecutions the orchardists have ignored this requirement.

Education

“Clamping down on Illegal water takes has been a signi cant focus for Regional Council for the past 10 years.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working with industry to educate growers that anything above the daily permitted water take requires resource consent.

“For the most part growers are doing the right thing with more than 1000 resource consents for water takes granted over the last decade. Depending on variables such as soil, rainfall and eld capacity, at least 40m³ of water may be required each day to irrigate one hectare of kiwifruit canopy in the heat of summer.

“ is is more than the permitted daily take of 35m3 per day, and orchards are generally a lot bigger than one hectare, so it’s always disappointing to come across those that are aware of the need to apply for resource consent but have made a conscious decision to take the water anyway.”

Pressure

In the Woodlands Orchards sentencing decision, Judge Kirkpatrick says the increasing demand for water in the Bay of Plenty is placing pressure on streams, rivers, springs and groundwater.

“Over-abstraction of groundwater can degrade groundwater quality and reduce water levels in aquifer systems and associated surface waterbodies,” says Judge Kirkpatrick.  A summary of recent prosecutions we’ve taken in relation to illegal water takes for use at an orchard, and the nes they have been issued, are listed

below. Fines are set by the district court judge.

• February 2, 2024, Bay of Plenty Regional Council v Maniatutu Heights Limited. Total ne of $33,500 for taking almost eight million litres more than would have been allowed as a permitted activity.

• November 29, 2023, Bay of Plenty Regional Council v Woodland Orchards Limited. Total ne of $42,000 for taking more then 24 million litres more than would have been allowed as a permitted activity.

• November 29, 2023, Bay of Plenty Regional Council v Peter Stewart Holdings Limited. Total

ne of $42,000 for taking more than 25 million litres more than would have been allowed as a permitted activity.

• December 13, 2023, Bay of Plenty Regional Council v David Grant THOMAS. Total ne of $42,000 for taking approximately 26 million litres more than would have been allowed as a permitted activity.

• November 10, 2023, Bay of Plenty Regional Council v Terahu Orchard Limited. Total ne of $35,000 for taking approximately 18 million litres more than would have been allowed as a permitted activity.

A water storage pond.

Celebrating 40 years in business

Kiwifruit company Hume Pack-N- Cool is too busy facing the future to look back at its major milestone this month.

e Katikati-based rm is one of New Zealand’s longestrunning post-harvest operations. It will let its 40th anniversary slip by with minimal fuss in late March, while sta and family get on with looking after growers and their fruit.

“We’ll certainly celebrate properly later this year, when the fruit’s packed, but right now, we have a job to do,” says chief executive Simon Bowker. “We absolutely can’t take that long family history or community loyalty for granted. Our growers need us to get their fruit into the market in premium condition.

“And they need us to continue to evolve and innovate. So that’s what we’re doing.”

e beginning

e company was launched in March 1984 by farmer and community leader, the late Dave Hume.

Dave was a respected member of the community who served as a Western Bay District Councillor for more than 20 years, and chaired Katikati Community Board. He was a widely respected member of the community and a ectionately called the mayor of Katikati.

ose who knew him best recount stories of a man who was passionate about the area.

“He did everything for everyone else,” says son, Gavin Hume. “He would drag us along as kids to help. I remember one time there was stormwater running down the road and going into shops. e council and roading o cials weren’t doing anything about it. Dad got us to help lift a railway iron to create a curb right outside the store. It did the job.

“It diverted water and must’ve

sat there for about 15 years before it got xed properly.”

Gavin remembers his father rallying locals to gather funds, land and manpower to construct the public pool in 1973.

“He was the driver behind that, for sure. He was very community spirited,” he says.

“At the time I was just a kid getting roped in to work but I’m proud of the great things he achieved.”

e growth

In 1978, Dave helped a friend plant Chinese gooseberries. ey were the rst vines in the region.

Recognising the future potential, Dave called home his son, Mark, to assist in planting their own vines. Within years, kiwifruit orchards were dotted around the Western Bay but back then, they were a social, family a air with small packhouses. With the dairy industry struggling, the Government o ered low interest Rural Bank loans to encourage orchard growth.

“We planted 20 hectares and then more over time,” says Mark. “Initially, they didn’t sell, and then, of course, it took o and we realised we needed a coolstore not just for ourselves but for all the local growers.”

By 1984, the family had built

MyNameisNeilWoodward.

a 100,000-tray coolstore on Beach Road with sons Jim, Mark, Owen, and Gavin each taking on di erent parts of the business. eir o ce was a caravan on site. With innovation at the core of its philosophy, Hume Pack-N-Cool was one of the rst post-harvest facilities to form a grower pool.

e present

Today, Hume Pack-n-Cool employs 75 permanent sta and up to 500 seasonal workers, including a third generation of the Hume family with several of Dave’s 25 grandchildren working in the business. Mark Hume is now chairman.

“We’ve always been leaders in terms of technology with the introduction of robots,” he says.

“Now it’s time to start handing over to the next generation. We want to be inspirational with fresh ideas that keep it exciting for our sta and growers.”

Simon agrees the biggest changes over the past ten years have been the rapid development of technology, rapid conversion of green to gold kiwifruit and expansion of sta ng.

“ e industry is going through growing pains,” he says. “ e rapid adoption or conversion to gold has resulted in a delayed bow wave of fruit that coincided with Covid and the labour

MyNameisNeilWoodward

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

Ourorganisationhasbeenestablishedforover18 years.Ihavebeeninvolvedin applyingcropprotection programmeswithinthehorticultalindustrysince1966.

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

shortages. is resulted in lessthan-ideal fruit quality outcomes in 2021/2022 backed up by signi cant environmental challenges in 2023.

“ at means in 2024 we’re having to take a massive leap to catch up to where we should or need to be based on the expected growth curve.”

All seven of Dave and Irene Hume’s children have had a hand in Hume Pack-n-Cool’s continued success and all hope to gather to celebrate the

rm’s 40th anniversary later this year along with sta and locals.

“We couldn’t operate in a tightknit community like Katikati for 40 years without support from the people who live here,” says Simon. “Really, the Hume story is the story of the kiwifruit industry. We’ve grown from a edgling operation to a major player in an industry that’s integral to the prosperity and wellbeing of this region.”

OUR DISPLAY CENTRE IS OPEN FROM MON TO FRI (8AM - 4PM), AND SAT (9AM - 12PM)

OUR DISPLAY CENTRE IS OPEN FROM MON TO FRI (8AM - 4PM), AND SAT (9AM - 12PM)

Versatile Tauranga P 07 578 8898

Versatile Tauranga

E tauranga@versatile.co.nz

P 07 578 8898

0800 VERSATILE versatile.co.nz

E tauranga@versatile.co.nz

*Prices are GST inclusive. Terms and conditions apply.

0800 VERSATILE versatile.co.nz

*Prices are GST inclusive. Terms and conditions apply.

HC VER3509

HC VER3509

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

We also useaquadbikeforstripweedspray applications.

Weholdallcertificatesneededtomeet Globalgap compliance.

Welookatallchallengestohelpensureweprotect yourcropwithexcellence.

216PongakawaBushRoad

TePuke

Tocontactus:

Phone:021907621

E-mail:zcl@zanadu.co.nz

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

Ourorganisationhasbeenestablishedforover18 years.Ihavebeeninvolvedin applyingcropprotection programmeswithinthehorticultalindustrysince1966. Wespecialisewithinthekiwifruitindustry, We have theequipmenttosprayorchardswithour two Atomsprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing

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

We also useaquadbikeforstripweedspray applications.

Weholdallcertificatesneededtomeet Globalgap compliance.

Welookatallchallengestohelpensureweprotect yourcropwithexcellence.

216PongakawaBushRoad

TePuke

Tocontactus: Phone:021907621

E-mail:zcl@zanadu.co.nz

Mark, left, and Simon Hume look through 40 years of photos. Photo: John Borren.

Zespri battles counterfeit packaging

Zespri is cracking down on illegal activity in China with companies there using counterfeit Zespri packaging

Chinese growers have been illegally planting SunGold or G3, which Zespri owns the rights to, since 2016 when a grower took clippings to China and now counterfeit packaging has been found.

Enforcement

Zespri says it has been working with the Shanghai Public Security Bureau to take enforcement action against a small number of people involved in extensive counterfeit operations.

“Information gathered through Zespri’s investigations allowed local police to successfully conduct a number of raids against those sellers,” says a Zespri spokesperson.

Zespri is cracking down on illegal counterfeiting activity in China. Photo:

prosecute the crimes.

“Zespri is pleased to see the action to protect the interests of New Zealand growers and Zespri’s customers, we acknowledge the strong support of local authorities and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future,” says the spokesperson.

Plantings

In 2020, the High Court ordered Zespri be paid nearly $12 million in damages but liquidator reports for Smiling Face Limited show it only had cash assets of $920.

Now Zespri has led a petition in a Chinese court to recognise and enforce the judgement of the New Zealand Court of Appeal.

“During these raids, it was also discovered that the counterfeiting operation also a ected fellow fruit marketer Dole, and Zespri customer GoodFarmer, which have since joined the enforcement action.”

China’s Public Prosecutor’s O ce told Zespri it will

When it comes to the illegal Sun Gold plantings in China Zespri has led further legal action against Smiling Face Limited, its director Haoyu Gao and his wife Xia Xue. e pair took Sun Gold clippings to China in 2016 and since then the amount of kiwifruit being grown there has been increasing.

“ is is in order to recover remaining damages from the $12 million awarded to Zespri after Haoyu Gao and his associates were found guilty of fraudulently o ering to license Zespri varieties to parties in China and facilitated the planting of these varieties on Chinese orchards.”

Zespri

Kiwifruit charter sets sail for China

Zespri’s rst charter shipment of the 2024 New Zealand kiwifruit season is on its way to Shanghai after departing the Port of Tauranga.

e vessel Kowhai – which was named by Zespri in 2020 – is carrying 700,000 trays, or around 2500 tonnes of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, as well as 15 containers of Zespri RubyRed for customers in China.

Both the Kowhai and the season’s second charter the Solent Star are expected to reach Shanghai at the end of March.

It is the rst of 63 charter vessels Zespri expects to use this season to ship around half of the expected 193 million trays, or almost 695,000 tonnes, of Green, SunGold and RubyRed Kiwifruit to more than 50 countries.

at’s up from the 51 charter vessels used last season.

e bene ts of charter ships is they carry more fruit and provide more certainty by sailing straight to market without calling on other ports en route.

is season’s charter programme using refrigerated reefer vessels with fruit stored in holds in the body of the ship will include three services to Northern Europe, 14 to the Mediterranean, four to North America’s West Coast and 42 to Asia, with the remaining volume to be shipped using container services.

Zespri chief operating o cer Jason Te Brake says after a positive growing season, the sight of

the rst charter setting sail for 2024 is always an exciting moment for the industry.

“Every season we look forward to our shipping programme getting underway and delivering our Zespri kiwifruit to our markets around the world and that’s especially true with such a big crop expected this year.

“We’ve put a lot of focus on our season planning and how we manage this season’s increase in crop volume in a way that will allow the industry to deliver consistently good quality fruit to our customers and consumers throughout the season.

“A key part of this is starting our season strongly and getting a good source of fruit to our customers so that we can capitalise on early sales opportunities and the strong consumer demand for our fruit, with our shipping programme and our longstanding partners playing a critical role.

“ e weather hasn’t entirely played ball and we’re a bit behind schedule but are con dent we can deliver the season well.

“With the rst charter shipment now on its way, there’s a lot of excitement about the season ahead and we look forward to seeing both charter and container ships continue to set sail from the Port of Tauranga to our more than 50 markets including Europe, China, Japan and others over the coming weeks and months.”

Jason says Zespri is continuing to monitor the global shipping environment and remains con dent in its ability to deliver this season’s crop, through its charter and container services programme.

Kiwifruit harvest progresses

is year’s harvest continues to progress, with Zespri rst kiwifruit shipment already on its way to Asia.

“For many growers this season will be an opportunity to help recover from the last few years of meagre pro tability,” says NZKGI’s CEO Colin Bond. “Industry planning is prepared for this year’s signi cant volume forecast, and e orts will be focused on moving the supply to markets in the best possible condition.   “While both Zespri and post-harvest have an important role to play to determine the industry’s success, growers need to be sure that the fruit is coming o their orchards with the highest possible quality.

“As I have alluded to in the past, getting onto your orchards to look at the fruit as well as the people working with it is critical. Be clear on your expectations, including the way that the fruit is picked, to keep them in optimal condition.

“ is is the best way for you to create value in the short term.

“While you are supporting your business on the orchard, we will continue to monitor stakeholder performance, policy and strategic decisions to ensure the best outcomes for your business in the long term.

“Keep talking to NZKGI through your representatives. We need to know what matters to you and how we can support you best.”

Growers

e rst shipment leaving the Port of Tauranga in March. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

Plugging the knowledge gap

AgResearch scientists want to plug a major knowledge gap on diseases in pasture, and address biosecurity threats, by reaching out to farmers.

e pathogens (germs) that cause diseases in pasture plants such as Crown rust and clover rot can have signi cant costs for farmers and the New Zealand economy, and in a

the concern is that

AgResearch science team leader Kwasi Adusei-Fosu says there is a real

gap in awareness and understanding about current diseases and the impact they are having on pastures, as well as potential future impacts.

“By building our knowledge around pasture diseases, we are also helping raise the awareness and preparedness for threats to New Zealand’s biosecurity, including the risk of new disease-causing organisms that could invade New Zealand.”

e last time New Zealand’s formal research on this topic was reviewed was in 1996, and before then in 1965.

Calving season is a time of anticipation and possibilities for farmers.

Each sunrise brings new life and renewed optimism as farmers watch their newborn bandy-legged investments take their rst breath, and draw their rst drink. e focus is keeping them all healthy.

Prevention is best

•

•

•

Milk Fever is a pro t-killing metabolic disorder commonly a ecting dairy cows shortly before or after calving, often resulting in heavy vet bills and even livestock death. Prevention is accepted as the best approach to tackle this productivity challenge, says a spokesperson

from Redback Global.

“Magnesium supplementation is an important tool to help aid the prevention of metabolic issues in cows. It is essential for the e cient absorption and resorption of calcium and has the largest e ect on decreasing the incidence of milk fever.

“Supplementing with magnesium for two to three weeks pre-calving will reduce the risk of milk fever but it does not build up a store of magnesium, and continued supplementation will be required during early lactation.

“Adding magnesium to the water supply can be problematic so most farmers use repeated direct pasture applications to achieve a cow’s recommended

daily intake of magnesium.

“ e Walco Allspread 0.70

ATV Mag Spreader is specially designed for spreading Causmag or Magnesium Oxide and signi cantly reduces Milk Fever risk for farmers by delivering consistently even application rates.

Fast and e ective

“Built to last, it is easily operated from an ATV or quad bike and is a fast and e ective way to spread magnesium on pastures to protect stock from Milk Fever.

“Manufactured in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Walco spreaders are available through their dealer network throughout New Zealand and exported to several other countries.”

A famer using a Walco Allspread 0.70 ATV Mag Spreader.

The balancing act of soil acidity in NZ

Like many things in life, soil acidity is all about balance.

In this case, it’s about the equilibrium between the hydrogen ions (H+) in the soil solution, and those attached to soil particles.

If the balance is disturbed, and there are more H+ ions in the soil than attached to the soil particles, soil acidity occurs. is creates a problem for plants, because in acidic soils, nutrients may become either unavailable, or toxic.

Soil acidity and pH

Soil acidity is expressed as pH. First described in 1909 by Danish biochemist Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen, the ‘p’ stands for potenz ‘power, or potency’ in German, while the H is the chemical symbol for hydrogen. So pH represents the ‘potency of hydrogen’ in a solution, or more accurately, the concentration of H+ ions in the soil.

We talk about pH using a scale of 0-14, where 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acid, and greater than 7 is alkaline.

Soils are typically between pH3 and pH9, but optimum levels for healthy growth in most plants is 5.8-6.0, so they prefer soil that is slightly acid.

Causes of acidity

A lesser known fact is that under normal conditions, soils become

acidic over time. is is due to natural processes like weathering, and the subsequent leaching of the weathered materials. However, other processes can increase acidity. Plant growth and microbial activity both lower pH. In plants, the roots exchange H+ ions for nutrients from the soil solution, thus increasing the H+ concentration in the soil.

phosphates.

Microbes transform compounds into nitrates and sulphates, just two of the many processes which result in adding H+ ions to the soil solution.

Soil is also acidi ed when nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions are leached from the soil. When this happens, the nutrient balance is disturbed, and the soil becomes more acid.

Another acidi cation process involves aluminium. Some rocks and soils carry large amounts of aluminium ions (Al3+).

When the aluminium reacts with water during a process known as hydrolysis, signi cant quantities of H+ ions are released into the soil, making it more acid. Some fertilisers can increase soil acidity. For example, Superphosphate is known to create a very acid environment around the root zone of plants, a ecting plant uptake of

Nitrogen fertilisers containing ammonium cause acidity when microbes break them down.

Elemental Sulphur is another fertiliser known to increase acidity, but this is helpful for growers of acid-loving crops like blueberries.

Why is this a problem

One major problem with soil acidity is that it causes many nutrients to become unavailable to plants. Phosphates for

plant growth and development, become increasingly inaccessible once pH drops below 6.

On the other hand, micronutrients such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc become more available to plants because they are highly soluble in acid soils. However, this creates a problem, since plants only need tiny amounts of the micronutrients. e increased quantities can become toxic.

Another element that increases availability when acidity escalates is aluminium. Once the pH dips below 5.4, the level of Al3+ ions in the soil solution rises, and plant roots su er deformity. Yet another issue with soil

reduction in rhizobial formation of nitrogenase. is harms clover’s ability to x nitrogen.

Solutions

e traditional way of managing acidic soils is to apply lime. Lime is a source of calcium carbonate, and it’s the carbonate which reacts with the acid in the soil to increase the pH and reduce acidity – it’s not the calcium.

While Ag Lime has been the default choice for many years, there are new options available. Fertco’s KingPhos, for example, is a dicalcic phosphate fertiliser, developed to simultaneously

•

•

•

•

Landowners feel ‘bullied’ over stopbank path

The council says it held a meeting to consult with landowners and orchardists in July 2023.

However, dairy farmer Alan Law - whose property the path will traverse - questions whether any landowners have been consulted before funding was applied for.

“They said: ‘no, we’ve spoken to Edgecumbe people and we’ve consulted with iwi’. It doesn’t feel as though the council have any empathy with the landowners or their concerns.

“It feels like they’re using bullying tactics.”

Alan says while cycle tracks are a great idea, there are a range of issues with the plan.

Development Council strategy and transformation general manager

Steven Perdia says extensive work has been done with community groups around a walkway, from Te Teko to Thornton.

This included the Edgecumbe Development and Improvement Team, who managed the development of the grass walking track between the Edgecumbe Squash Club and the skatepark, in 2012.

“This has been an aspirational project for the Edgecumbe community since the first community hui was held in 2011 to identify community goals and

aspirations,” says Steven. But kiwifruit growers neighbouring the proposed walkway fear it’ll affect their orchards.

Mark Ruiter, who owns one of six orchards that will be affected by the walkway, says there are strict rules around spraying, which, if not followed, means Zespri will not accept their fruit.

Sensitive area

“The walkway would make the stopbank a sensitive area, which means I couldn’t spray HiCane within 50 metres of it.

“Other general sprays the limit would be 30 metres.”

Wayne Checkley, whose lounge windows are about four metres from the stopbank, says livestock grazing the river’s edge, to keep weeds under control, is also a concern.

“I’ve got six fences they would have to cross here.”

Alan says an alternative route around his property is being considered, but he has heard it will put the cost of the project outside the $900,000 the council has secured from the Department of Internal Affairs Better Off Funding package.

He’s worried any remaining costs will fall to ratepayers.

Other concerns included being held liable for any harm or injury to people using the path from farm

machinery, livestock or spraying, and biosecurity risks from dogs being walked.

Work on stage 1, upgrading the existing track from the Edgecumbe Squash and Tennis Club Reserve to the Edgecumbe Skatepark, was expected to happen by May.

“Currently, this trail is unsuitable for bikes, prams and mobility scooters and is in a fairly unkempt state,” says Steven.

Stages and options

“Stages 2 and 3 (passing through West Bank Road properties) are very much in the research phase at this stage, as some of the riverbank is public land and some is private.

“Another option is [a] road reserve, and this is being considered too. We have started individual property meetings to collate issues at a property level.”

Council wants to work on solutions with the property owners, and draw on experience from other districts where similar issues were raised, such as Hawke’s Bay, says Steven.

“All ideas are still in discussion as we go through the details of the orchard owners’ concerns.”

Stage 4 is from Thornton Bridge to Thornton Beach, where the stopbank is still undergoing strengthening work by Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Property owners affected by the planned Edgecumbe to Thornton cycle path in Bay of Plenty say they fear it’ll affect their livelihoods.

Diane McCarthy, Local democracy reporter

West Bank Road landowners, Cameron Law, Margaret and Phil Leaming, Mark Ruiter and Wayne Checkley, whose home can be seen in the background, feel livelihood could be under threat from the proposed cycleway.

The fourth and final stage of the Edgecumbe to Thornton cycleway is on the stopbank currently still undergoing flood mitigation work by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Photos: Troy Baker.

Whakatāne District Council secured government funding to build the path along the Rangitaiki River stopbank in December 2022.

Pete & Marcus

It’s a day for tech-savvy youngsters to learn about rural living and for older people to reminisce.

Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair is an intergenerational highlight on the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s community calendar.

“If you know where you came from, you know where you’re going,” says Stephanie Bull from the Waterwheel Historic Trust.

di erent attractions. e day will begin with a parade of participants led by a Scottish pipe band and then visitors can spend the day getting up close to the farming equipment that spans generations or even learning a new skill like knitting and crochet or watching axe man demonstrations at Te Teko Racecourse.

“We think it’s important for kids to know how hard it was for people to develop farms in their grandparents’ era.”

On display

Machinery, vehicles farm animals and even old-fashioned games will be on show as well as food trucks and craft stalls. ere’s plenty to keep kids busy with a competition for scarecrow dressing, pumpkin lantern making and sand art saucers.

“We have tractors that are well over one hundred years old and new tractors to compare as well as vintage cars,” says Stephanie. “Clydesdale horses, sheep shearing, a produce competition and children’s games like egg and spoon races, hopscotch and the wagon rides are always popular.”

Organisers say even those who’ve attended previous years will nd

“We used the venue for the rst time last year and it worked well,” says Stephanie. “ ere’s a big shed, shade trees and visitors can sit in the stands to take a break and see the whole event.”

Attraction

e Waterwheel project began in 1990 by people in the Eastern Bay of Plenty who were keen to preserve the vanishing industrial history of New Zealand. It launched the Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair in 2017.

“We attract a wide range of people from around the region,” says Stephanie. “It’s growing every year so we’re expecting well over two thousand people to come along.”

Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair is at Te Teko Racecourse 10aam-4pm April 20 – Adults $10, kids free.

Debbie Griffiths

Tractors lined up. Photo: Pam Carter.

Wagon rides with Clive Tozer. Photo: Pam Carter.

Te Aroha’s AgPlus exclusive dealer

Te Aroha’s AgPlus Ltd is the exclusive dealer in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions for one of the world’s most acclaimed agricultural forage, feeding and e uent machinery brands – Strautmann.

Stan and Fiona Knight have owned and operated AgPlus since 2015 and Stan admits they are delighted to be granted the exclusive rights to selling and servicing a brand preferred by agricultural contractors and farmers alike.

“Strautmann embodies German made precision in a wide range of feed mixers, forage wagons, dump trailers and spreaders, which perform and last. We stock a range of products backed up by a comprehensive parts catalogue and service centre. “We also do indent orders so a machine can be factory built with specs to suit the needs of your operation or budget.”

Stan Knight says AgPlus has a dedicated Strautmann eld service truck set up “so we can service machines in the eld without the need to bring them into the service centre. e ability to provide this level of service, in the eld, is often the di erence between getting a crop in, or not.

“Selling a product is, for us, the start of a partnership which means we are there on site, backing up the machinery you have purchased from us with the parts and service you need to get the job done.”

For more information, visit AgPlus’ advert on this page.

e team at AgPlus in Te Aroha.

As the milking season draws to a close, it’s a good time to start considering milk vat and refrigeration maintenance.

Addressing potential issues early prevents costly breakdowns and keeps your plant running smoothly.

Lawrence Kerr from DTS suggests a proactive approach.

“Before farmers shut down for the season, I recommended they give the outlet and three-way milk entry tap on their milk vat a good soak in alkaline and hot water. is helps remove any residue or build-up.”

“Once you’ve reassembled the outlet and three-way tap onto the milk vat, run an acid wash. is ensures thorough hygiene and prevents lingering contaminants.

“Check the vat door wing nut and thrust washer. If they are tight or worn, consider replacing them. Starting the season with a new door rubber ensures a secure seal.”

Lawrence recommends running equipment during the oseason. “Once a week, it’s a good idea to put some water in the vat and turn on the agitator. is helps to stop the agitator and fan motor bearings from seizing.

“Listen for noisy bearings in

Milk vat maintenance tips

Farmer confidence continues upward surge

New Zealand farmer sentiment continues to surge higher, rising strongly for the second consecutive quarter, the rst Rabobank Rural Con dence Survey of 2024 has found. While farmer con dence does remain low overall – with more farmers expecting the performance of the broader agri economy to worsen in the coming year than those expecting it to improve – it is now markedly higher than in September last year when it slumped to its lowest reading in the survey’s 20-year history.

e latest survey - completed last

month - found farmer con dence in the agri economy was up to a net reading of -16 per cent from -47 per cent previously. e survey found 38 per cent of farmers were expecting conditions in the broader agricultural economy to worsen over the next 12 months (down from 58 per cent last quarter) with 22 per cent expecting conditions to improve (from 11 per cent previously). e remaining 39 per cent expected conditions to stay the same (29 per cent previously).

CEO Todd Charteris says it’s pleasing to see farmer con dence moving in the right direction.

the stirrer motor. Noisy bearings signal it might be time to have the vat serviced or replaced.

“For refrigeration, remove cobwebs and dirt from the condenser. You can either brush it out or use a hose but avoid using full blast to prevent damage to the ns.”

If in doubt, consider getting a refrigeration service from DTS. Regular maintenance ensures that refrigeration units operate e ciently and have a longer lifespan.

Lawrence Kerr has some top tips on vat and refrigeration maintenance.

New vets get support for going rural

Eastern Bay of Plenty livestock farmers are bene tting from a government scheme that supports graduate vets.

Opotiki veterinarian Kate Mackersey is one of 33 recipients of the government’s Voluntary Bonding Scheme for veterinarians. Each gets $55,000 of funding across ve years, in return for working across rural New Zealand.

“ ere’s a shortage of vets in rural areas,” she says.

“ e programme is designed to attract and support graduates going into rural practice by providing funding to people who take it up.”

For Kate, though, it wasn’t a tough decision.

“My family runs a sheep and beef station in the Bay of Plenty and I remember watching the vet when he was called to help at calving time, so I always knew I wanted to work in this area. e scheme helped to cement my decision,” she says. “Graduates go into the workforce with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt. We’ve studied at vet school for ve years to qualify and that’s expensive. e worst case I’ve heard of is a graduate with a $50,000 student loan to pay back.”

e 28-year-old says the scheme e ectively removes some of that stress so she can focus on her job. Kate graduated in the class of 2023 and has been part of the Opotiki Veterinary Health Centre team for a year.

“It’s full on but I’m pretty lucky go to some neat parts of Bay of Plenty,” she says. “We cover right up the coast up to East Cape and inland through to Matawai. It’s beautiful scenery as we’re driving around. We work with a huge variety.

“I might be called out to see dairy cows in the morning and then back to the clinic to treat someone’s chook. You get the big and the small.”

Since its inception in 2009, the Voluntary Bonding Scheme has supported 449 graduate vets.

“ e scheme was set up to help ease the shortage of veterinarians working with production animals and working dogs in our regions,” says Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. “Vets are a vital part of the community, and this scheme helps attract some of the brightest and best new graduates to our regions.”

For Kate, the nancial support along with her on-the-job training is proving an invaluable foundation for her career.

“I really do love working with farmers, in particular, because they’re passionate about their roles as guardians of animals and land. I have learnt so much from them. ey are full of knowledge and experience and more than willing to share this with a young vet.

“Being a new graduate veterinarian is hard, so being part of small rural community has been great.

“You really get to know people and feel well supported.”

Farmers and growers are spoilt for choice when it comes to fertiliser products.

Most rely on the advice of their local farmer co-op representative.

Many ask around and run with the latest avour of the month and our experience from more than 30 years in the industry is that spreader drivers have a signi cant in uence on what gets applied.

Fertiliser is usually the second largest expense, after mortgage repayments, and deserves special attention.

e large farmer owned co-ops are unashamedly superphosphate manufacturers and their other two ‘bread and butter’ products are muriate of potash and urea.

magnesium.

as well as other lactating animals, have an inbuilt sense of what is required.

Having a bin(s) of dolomite and lime our available to stock at all times is an excellent start to understanding the change that takes place around calving time.

In situations where this has been implemented good observers talk

about a sudden shift in demand for lime our after calving. Shifting from a daily drenching/ in-line dispenser regime to a free access one should be done over a period of time ensuring an uninterrupted supply of dry dolomite and lime our. For a delivered price, phone 0800 436 566 or call Peter on 027 495 0041.

Where they have less expertise is in highly e ective products that historically haven’t met the lowest cost per kilogram of nutrient models.

Delivered benefits

Magnesium is the one close to our hearts and dolomite has been the only magnesium product we’ve recommended and has always delivered the bene ts promised.

Although most soils contain su cient magnesium to meet plant requirements animals can often bene t from extra.

Dairy cows close to calving require higher than normal magnesium intake to avoid debilitating, costly, and frustrating metabolic disorders.

Even when there are few animals that require individual attention there is nearly always a production response from dolomite applied in autumn.

Consultants and fertiliser industry folk have always agreed that dolomite delivers outstanding animal health bene ts however have dismissed its widespread use because of its higher cost per kg of magnesium.

at is now not the case.

Dolomite particularly in the Canterbury region provides magnesium at a signi cantly lower price than magnesium oxide products. A single application in autumn

provides excellent protection, for animals fully fed on the pasture to which it has been applied, throughout winter and spring.

e requirement for extra magnesium via in-line dispensers is markedly reduced and often eventually eliminated.

Unlike more soluble products dolomite does not leach releasing magnesium for plant uptake steadily over a twelve-month period.

Good levels

Levels in pasture plants to which dolomite has been applied are typically between 0.22 per cent and O.25 per cent, su cient to meet daily requirements.

Emeritus Professor of Soil Science

Tom Walker wrote in his article, Dolomite a rst class source of magnesium, “…If my diet were de cient… I would rather correct it by daily increments…”

Adding magnesium products to water systems via in-line dispensers may result in water becoming su ciently bitter, forcing animals drink from puddles and other untreated sources.

e late Vaughan Jones developed the rst in-line dispenser to provide low levels of copper, selenium, and cobalt, to animals on mineral de cient peat land in the Waikato.

He never envisaged that they would be used to dispense a cocktail of minerals at high rates.

Animals perform best when there is a constant supply of clean fresh drinking water and water troughs require cleaning regularly to ensure performance is maximised.

Magnesium de ciencies in spring are seldom, if ever, solely a lack of magnesium.

Calcium is always involved as prior to calving extra magnesium is necessary to help release calcium from the frame of the animal.

After calving the demand is primarily calcium, and dairy cows,

e speed of change in seasons never ceases to surprise me with the days closing insunrise later and sunset earlier.

However, like many readers, I am a fan of cooler and less humid nights.

e average soil temperature in the rst week in March was 18.8 degrees, a substantial drop from the 21.5 degrees in the rst week of February.

March to date we have had 30mm of rain.

While the predicted drought did not eventuate in the BOP and Waikato, we only had half the rain in the last six months compared to the same period last year (464mm versus 959mm).

Autumn work

On farm the maize silage harvest season is all but over, and annual grass will mostly be drilled. It is now the time of the year to be spraying for weeds in paddocks that will be planted in crop in the spring. It is also time to begin planning the drying o of cows. Given the abundance of grass and good quality maize, the generally good condition of cows, and reasonable payout, most farms should be able to keep milking well into May.

Maize silage is a great source of feed to extend lactation. When feeding out from maize stacks, remember how important it is to manage the face of the stack, keeping it nice and clean to limit spoilage. Despite the reasonable dairy payout (in e ect a much higher one than projected at the start of the season) a lot of nancial pain is being felt. Largely it has to do with the point in the economic cycle, where interest rates remain elevated. e pain is not just being felt in the country but also in the towns with the cost of living crisis. For those of you feeling the heat I

also feel your pain, but I keep reminding myself that this too will pass. Better times are around the corner. Wholesale interest rates spiked in February following some ‘out there’ comments from our largest bank.

ese comments have since been retracted and we have seen the rates drop again.

With the repeated news of companies cutting sta I can only think that there will be some more reprieve with retail interest rates soon.

Time o

My FeedCo colleague has recently taken the opportunity o ered by Rural Support Trust with Sur ng for Farmers here in Pukehina. e programme is run throughout the country with a big contingent of volunteers.

We want to publicly con rm our thanks and appreciation to the Rural Support Trust for all they do for the rural community.

It is important to plan some time o the farm. For me, this is the time of year when I start getting excited as I begin my countdown to the opening of the duck shooting season in the rst weekend in May. It’s a bit like what Christmas Day is to a kid! is year we are excited to o er kibble maize supplied and delivered at prices not seen for many years. Kibble maize is hard to beat as a source of energy through the spring.

It is natural and home grown, so get in touch if you are interested.

Risk and benefits

e biggest risk is not doing it when the council rules allow you to.

Like everything these days, it is getting harder by the day.  e government is continually bringing in new policies and local councils are always reviewing their rules. It’s not often that they turn in your favour when you want to make some money or progress your retirement plans.

Regulation

e next risk lies in not following the legislative process to the letter. Subdivision is a very regulated business. So, it pays to get an experienced and local subdivision specialist on the job from the outset.

ey will be able to give you a balanced opinion of the likely success right from the outset, and take a holistic approach to the process throughout.

e bene ts of subdivision might not need much explanation these days –reducing the mortgage being the key one for most landowners!

At the same time, you will ultimately be reducing your outgoings.  For example, a di cult-to-access or relatively

unproductive piece of land on the edge of your farm, or a large section that you have to maintain might be better in someone else’s hands. e increase in land value is generally at least two or three times the investment, so nancially it can be well worth it.

Getting the size of the new section (and the remaining land) right is a key to success.  is is where you would bring in the services of an experienced real estate agent. Also, they might eventually nd you a buyer. Whilst it is important to have an idea of what the market might demand, you should not enter into any agreement to sell before obtaining resource consent from your local council.

Your specialist project manager will work up a plan, engage the appropriate experts for reporting and obtain the Resource Consent.  is consent will outline all the conditions, including construction and connection to services required prior to obtaining a new title.

Once you have the Resource

Consent you can start talking to prospective purchasers, but you should never commit to a settlement date.

Completing these conditions can sometimes throw up unexpected challenges.  Dealing with contractors, electricity suppliers and the like often leads to unavoidable delays.

Your project manager will use their experience to manage this process but good things can take time.

Advice

Occasionally there can be a de ciency in your existing title which also takes time to resolve. For these reasons, please never commit to a date for title and always seek legal advice before making any commitment.

So if the rules allow subdivision now, you could do with the extra cash in the bank, and you are not averse to having new neighbours, subdivision may be an option. Call us today and let us guide you through making the most of your land.

European Young Breeders School team members are continuing to shine as some of the New Zealand Dairy Industry’s brightest young leaders.

Back on home soil, Annie Gill, Brad Seager, and Holly Powell have been named as nalists for the 2024 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in their respective categories and regions.

Annie, Brad, and Holly, alongside Zoe Botha and Kate Cummings proudly represented New Zealand at the 2023 European Young Breeders School, held in Battice, Belgium,

from August 30 – September 3, 2023. e European Breeder school is the international reference point for training and show preparation. Last year hosted 152 passionate young breeders from 16 countries, and this was the rst time New Zealand sent a team. e team proved to be competitive on the world stage and certainly did New Zealand proud. By attending this trip, these young breeders have gained an in depth international agricultural perspective which has only further cemented the passion that these young breeders have.

Rural client talking with Surveying Services surveyor, Archie.

River Parkes, nine, from the Lower Kaimai's holding his one-day-old duckling.

Isla Kelly, eight months, loves Nana and Grandad’s cows in Reporoa.

Hollie Harris, nine, and two-year-old steer Yoda, an ex calf club calf, in Edgecumbe.

Ashlin Coulter, 12, and her brother Jack Coulter, nine, enjoying adventures on the farm with their farm friends in Tuakau.

Milena, seven, and Helaina, one, in Matamata.