Landscapingforthefamilyflock
Itwasabitofunconventional animalhusbandry.
Somemighteventhinkwhacko!Becauseit hadeyesrolling,andtherewasmuchsnorting, scoffing,andpooh-poohingfromtheviyellashirt brigadelookingon.
ItinvolvedacoupleoftowniesIknow.Good people,dearpeople,fouruncallousedhands, gumbootlessandclueless,whothoughtitwould befuntorunahandkerchiefsizedlifestyleblock ontheedgeofasmallcentralNorthIslandtown.
Theygotinacoupleoftruckloadsoftopsoil andbuiltsomemounds,somelittlehillocks forthesheeptoclimbandplayon–tobring somevariety,somechallengeandexcitement totheirotherwiseshort,miserablelives.They weremercilesslymocked.Andwhenoneofthe guysexplainedtohisoldercountry-fiedbrother whattheyhaddone,hejustshudderedwith embarrassmentandhidhisfaceinhisworsted sportsjacket.
Threeflatpaddocks,eachpaddockthesame asthelast,andthenext.Boring-ifonlyforthe sheep.Anyhow,thethinkingwasthatifasheep isgoingtohavealifeofjustsixtoeightmonths beforeitbecomeslambracksandforequarters, theymayaswellbehappy,fulfillingmonths. Youknow,gambolling,frolicking,climbing,the stuffyoungsheepdo.
So,theydecidedtoconverttheirholdinginto aminiaturehillcountryrun-theysaiditwas aboutthementalwellbeing,thehappinessofthe
Whowasgoingtolookafterthesheep?“Oh,we haveanicesheepdoctormanwhocallsbyand putsmedicineontheirbacks.”That’sjustbefore anothernicemancallsby,dispatchesthem,and packstheminplasticbagsforthefreezer.
Butit’sinterestingthatassoonthegrasshad grown,thesheepwereuponthemounds competingforaspotandtakingintheelevated views.Sheeparegregarious–assoonasone climbedthemoundtherestfollowedforcompany.
Ournewagefarmersfeltjustatadsmug,felt theyhadstruckablowforCorriedalerights.
“Baaaa….!”
about the mental wellbeing, the happiness of the animal rather than the 22 kilograms of lean, semiboneless retail cuts that would be harvested at the sl h h
Sheeplovetobe uphighwhen theygetthe opportunity.
BEPRESSURE SUPERDEALS
Next gen farmers rally to supportcommunity
Anorganisationforyoungfarmersin TePukeisgainingsomuchmomentumthat itsmembersaren’tjustsupportingeachother -they’realsovolunteeringtheirtimetowork onlocalproperties.
ShaniceYoung,27,tookthepositionofTePuke YoungFamerschairwomaninNovemberandnot onlysecured$13,000infunding,buthasalsoseen membershipnumbersgrowfromjustsixtomore than30.
“Forme,mentalhealthandwellbeingisatop priority,soweorganisefunactivitieslikeminiputt andsurfing,guestspeakersaswellaseducational workshops.Itcreatesasupportnetworktolean on,”shesays.
ThedairyfarmermovedtoBayofPlentyfrom Wellingtonfouryearsagoandfoundthelocal YoungFarmerswasagreatwaytomeetpeople.
“Farmingcanbequiteisolatingbecauseit’seasy togetintothehabitofworkingandthensittingat home,”saysShanice.
“Getting‘offfarm’ishugebecauseotherwiseit canjustbeyoutalkingtoyourbossandifyou’ve
hadabaddayatwork,thatleavesnoonetochat toaboutit.”
Thegrouprecentlyralliedtohelpacoupleshift offtheirfarm.
“Theywereoverthemoonwhenwesentthe committeeovertohelpcleanup.
“They’dlivedtherefor20yearssoitwasabigjob andtheywereprettyoverwhelmed.Itwasgoodto seesmilesontheirfaces,”shesays.
Givingback
Shefindsgivingbacktooldergenerations hugelysatisfying.
“Therearetimesthey’vehelpedus,sothere’salot ofrespectforolderfarmers.Allourmembersare fulltimeworkerssowefinishourdailyjobsthen gohelpwrapsilagestacksorpickupbalesinour offtime.We’reopentoanyjobsthatwillhelp ourcommunity.”
Aschairwoman,Shaniceisextendingthe geographicalrangetotheentireregion;from EdgecumbeandWhakatāneandacrosswestof Tauranga.Shehasopenedmembershiptoall18to31-year-olds-amovethatBOPRuralSupport Trustco-ordinator,JodieCraig,isgratefulfor.
“Otheryoungfarmerorganisationshavediedout intheBayofPlentysoit’sreallyimportanttohave
thiswelcoming,non-judgemental grouptobringtogethertheyounger community,”shesays.
Reachingout
“Often,it’sthisagegroupthat’sata higherriskoffeelingisolatedbecause they’vemovedoutofhomeandaway fromtheirfriends.Shanicehasaway ofprioritisingwellnessandmakingit normaltotalkaboutit.”
JodiesaysYoungFarmersisnow activearoundtheregionandgetting noticedforwhatthey’rebringingto
thecommunity.
“They’verungumbootthrowing andarope-pullattheWhakatāne WildFoodFestivalandwerealsoat theTePukeA&PShow.Connection isthekeyaswellasthevolunteer workthey’redoing.”
BothTePukeYoungFarmersand BOPRuralSupportTrustencourage ruralpropertyownersandworkersto checkinontheirneighbours,family andfriendsandtoreachoutifthey needahandorsomeonetotalkto.
Warm Up Your Winter
In a Hot Spring Spa
Te Puke Young Far mers hard at work
Te Puke Young Far mer chair Shanice Young
AWelcomeBaycouple areonamissiontorevive sustainabletraditionsand makegardeningaccessibleto everyone–nomatterwhat sizehometheylivein.
AndreaLehmennandHone Moetarahavelivedasselfsufficientlyaspossibleformore than20yearsontheir3000sqm property.Thelifestyleisknownas “homesteading”anditsprinciples ofgrowingandpreservingfood, producingtextilesandsmall-scale farmingaregrowinginpopularity.
“Thispropertyhasallowedourchildrento explore,buildhutsandconnecttonaturearound theirhome,”saysAndrea.“Theygrewveges,saved theirownsunflowerseedsandlearnedabout lookingaftertheirowngoatsandchickens.”
Eco-friendlytraditions
Aftercompletingteachertraining,thecouple launchedworkshopsdesignedtorestoreecofriendlytraditionsandteachcraftingskillsthat aregettinglost.
“HoneandIplantogetayurtsothatwecan holdeventsathome.Ratherthantakingplant sampleswithus,ourdreamistobeabletoshow peoplewhatwe’retalkingabouton-site,”says Andrea.“Untilthen,goingtopeople’shousesis mypreferredoption.Youmeetsomanyinteresting people.It’smorethanlearningacraft,it’ssimple community-building.”
AndreagrewuponafarminSwitzerland watchingherparentsandgrandparentsgrowtheir ownvegetables.She’ssurprisedthattraditional craftsarebeingforgotten.HerandHone’s workshopsincludepreservingandfermenting, composting,Māorihealingandbushcraft,baking gluten-freesourdough,makingblanketswith crochet,andknittingsocksandhotwaterbottle covers,aswellasthebasicsingardening.
Apassionfortheland
“Itgivesourlandmorepurpose;That’sthecrux ofitall,”saysAndrea.“HoneandIhaveapassion toutiliseourlandandthere’ssomuchtolearn.
“Idon’tclaimtobeanexpert,I’mjustlearning throughtrialanderrorandthenpassingonthose lessonstoothers.”
Shesayseventhoselivinginsmallunits, townhousesorapartmentscangrowtheirown foodordotheirowncomposting.
“Makealistofthingsyoulikeeatingfreshand gofromthere,”sheadvises.“Somepeopleonly havespaceforagardenbagmadefromrecycled plasticandtheyworkphenomenallyforthings likesaffronandcelery.Everyonehasalittlespace, evenifit’satinycornerwheretheycangrow silverbeettostayhealthyorathymeplantto maketeaifyouhaveacough.
“Eveninasmalltwo-by-two-metrepatchyou canhavealotofcoolthings.”
Gettingneighboursinvolvedisalsoagreatway tomakeitwork.
AndreaLehmennand HoneMoetaradiscussing theirwork. Photos:JohnBorren.
“Noteveryonewantsacompost sotheremaybeotheroptionsfor disposingoffoodwaste,”saysAndrea.
“Peoplearealwayssohappywhen theyrealisethere’saneighbourwith achickenorthatthere’sashared compostbinnearby.It’spossibleto findoptionsthatworkratherthan everyonetryingtofigureitoutalone.”
Evolution
Andrealovesholdingworkshops atherhomeandadmitsthatatfirst glance,hergardenlooksalittle disorganised.
“Wetendtolikethingstobenice andtidy,butIhaveself-feeding goingon,somyvegepatchappears messyattimes.Lettingthingsgoto seedismyfavouritemethodbecause whenplantsgotoseed,theyattract thebeesandthat’sgreatforthe garden.It’samatterofcombining what’straditionallyworkedwell andwhat’sdoabletomakeitwork foryou.”
Soilqualityisalsosomethingthe coupletakegreatprideinpreserving.
“Wedobiodynamics,whichisa methodoffarmingthatrequires
puttingnutrientsbackintothe soiltoenhancethenatural organisms,”saysAndrea.
“Thispropertyhasbeensprayfreeformorethan40yearsandthe previousownerswereonestepaway frombeingcertifiedbiodynamic.”
Thecoupleareconstantlychanging andevolvingalongwiththeir land,andlovetoinspirelocalson theirownjourneytowardsselfsustainability.
“Todaywehaveoursixchickens inahomemadechickentractor, rotatingaroundtheorchard, fertilisingourland,”saysAndrea.
“Iwasdelightedtoseechiaseed plants,radishesandcornpopup everywhereonourhill.Mydream ofwildestdreamsistohaveafood foresteverywhere.
“Honerunssomeofhisrongoā Māoriworkshops,sharingtraditional Māorihealing,andIgetapproached bygroupsandlocalpeopletorun workshopsondemand.It’sniceand itfitswellwithourlifestyle.”
Formoreinformationwww. facebook.com/kiwihomesteaders
Andrea Lehmenn in their Welcome Bay vegetable garden
Hone Moetaraamongst thetrees.
Andrea Lehmann works on veges andherbsplantedinfeltgrowbagsthat are made of recycled plastic bottles.
Farmhandimpalescowsinbotchedmovingmethod
ARotoruafarmhandwho impaledtwocowswithtractor forksashebotchedacommon methodofhelpingthemstand aftercalvinghasadmitted AnimalWelfareActcharges.
TamarangiAnthonyMorrisdidnot tellanyonewhathehaddoneand thecowshadtobeeuthanisedafter beingfoundinjuredandindistress.
The27-year-oldhasappearedinthe RotoruaDistrictCourtandpleaded guiltytofourchargesbroughtbythe MinistryforPrimaryIndustries.
Thechargesincludedtwocountsofill-treating a cowandtwocountsoffailingtotreatacow.The e offenceshappenedonAugust11and12lastyear r Oneofthecowswasimpaledintherump, stomachandudderwhiletheotherwaswounded d inthestomach.
AsummaryoffactsreleasedtotheRotoruaDaiily PostsaidMorriswasemployedasafarmhandat TauharaFarmsLtdPartnershiponBroadlandsRRd atReporoa.
Thesummarysaiditwascommonforcowsto temporarilybeunabletostandaftercalving.
Partofthetreatmentplanwastoplacehiplifters onthecowthenusethefarmtractortoliftthe liftersandhelpthecowtostand.
Twocalvingcowswereeuthanisedaftera farmhandimpaledthemwithtractorforkswhile preparingtohelpthemstand.
Aftercalving,thecowwasnotabletostand. Morrisgotthetractorwiththehipliftersto starttreatment.
Thesummarysaidideallythiswasdonetwo tothreetimesadayforabout30minutes.If treatmentwasmanagedwell,inmostcasesthe cowwouldfullyrecover,thesummarysaid.
WhatMorrisdid
OnAugust9acowbecamerecumbentafter calvingandthehipliftingtreatmentbegan. Twodayslater,Morrisattemptedtoliftthe cow.Duetothecowlyingonherside,Morris “inappropriately”usedfeedforksonthefrontof thetractortomanoeuvrethecowtomakeiteasier tofitthehiplifters,thesummarysaid.
Butwhilemanoeuvringthecow,theprongsfrom thefeedforksimpaledthebodyofthecowand scrapedthehide.Thecowwasleftwithatleastone puncturetothestomachandscrapeswherethe prongshadbeenpushedalongsidethebody.
Morrisdidnotadministeranytreatment,call avet,orbringtheinjuriestomanagement’s attention.
ThesummarysaidMorriswenthomethat nightknowingthecowwascontinuingtosuffer significantpainanddistressfrominjuries.
ThefollowingmorningonAugust12, Morrisandanotherfarmemployeehelped acowincalving.
Again,hetriedtomanoeuvrethecowwiththe feedforksandimpaledher.
Theinjuriesinflictedweresignificantlyworse thantheonefromthedaybefore,withthecow sufferingatleastthreepuncturewoundsaswellas scrapesfromtheprongs,thesummarysaid.
Thepuncturewoundsincludedalargerump wound,asecondwoundtothestomachanda thirdtotheudder.
Morrisagaindidnottreattheinjuriesorgethelp, insteadcontinuingwithhisfarmdutiesdespite knowingthecowswereinpain.
Laterthatmorning,anotherfarmemployee foundtheinjuriestothetwocowsandalerted management.
Thesummarysaidthefirstcowhadtobe euthanisedtoendsufferingduetoalackof responsetorecumbenttreatmentcoupledwiththe injuriescausedbyMorris.
Afarmmanagerassessingthesecondcow foundtherumpwoundwasdeepenoughtobe significantandeuthanisedthecowimmediately. Whatshouldhehavedone?
Thesummarysaidtheuseofhipliftersduring calvingseasonoccurredonalmosteverydairy farminNewZealand.Itsaiditwasataskregularly conductedbyasinglefarmemployee.
Typically,acowcouldbemanoeuvredbyhand tofitthehiplifters,thenthehiplifterswouldbe attachedtothefront-loadingsectionofthetractor sothecowcouldbelifted,thesummarysaid.
“Theuseoffeedforkstomanoeuvreacow toapplythehipliftersisnotanacceptable technique,”thesummarysaid.
ThesummarysaidMorriscouldhavemanually movedthecowbyhand,askedforhelp,or removedthefeedforksfromthetractorandfitted aloadingbucket.
Whenconfrontedbythefarmmanagerandlater interviewedbyananimalwelfareinspector,Morris admittedcausingtheinjuries.
Thechargeseachcarryamaximumpenaltyof12 months’imprisonment,a$50,000fineorboth. MorriswillbesentencedonOctober10.
Photo:NZME.
Thestoryofahousefire inJulylastyearisbeing sharedasawarningfor peopleasweheadintothe depthsofwinter.
MichelleandRoganBorrie’s responseuponreceivingnews thattheirfarmhousehadcaught firewastoaskifeveryonehad gotoutok.Andthankfully,the answerwasyes.
Investigation
Whatthenfollowedwasan investigationintothefireanda sizeableinsuranceclaim.
Intermsoftheirinsurance claim,theBorrieshadthehouse coveredandtheclaimwassettled.
ButMichellesaystherewas plentylearntalongtheway.
Thefireinvestigationfound thatthefirehadbegunasa resultoflintbuildupinthe dryer’sfilter.
Furtherinquiryfoundthatin the18monthsthetenantshad beenlivinginthehouse,thelint filterhadneverbeenemptied withthetenantsunaware itwasnecessaryforthesafe functioningofthedryer.
Michellesayscleaningthelint filteroutmightbethedifference betweenlifeanddeath.
Shesaysinsuranceistherefor physicaldamagebut“Iknowwe wouldallfinditmuchharderto sleepatnighthadalifehadbeen lostsoclosetohome”.
“Followingthewintersolstice, weknowthedaysareattheir shortest,thetemperatureslow
NotcleaningoutadryerlinttrapledtoahousefireinJuly2023.
andweatherinclement,”says FMGadviceservicesmanager AngelaTayor.
“Itishardtogetwashingdry onthelineandpeopleoften needtoresorttousingtumble dryerstogetthejobdone.”
Theinsurernotedthat unsurprisingly,housefireclaims increasesignificantlyduringthe wintermonthsandthatalready theyhadseenmorethan126 claimsrelatingtohousefiresin thefirsthalfofthisyear.
“Cloggedvents,ductsand filtersaretheprimarycauses ofdryerfires.
“So,wehaveafew recommendationsforthose usingtumbledryerstoavoid theriskofoverheatingora firestarting.”
•Cleanthelintfilterbetween eachload.Lintbuild-upcan resultinfiltersoverheating andignitingevenafterthe dryeristurnedoff.
•Don’toverloadyourdryer.
Overloadingcancause excessiveheattobuildup.
Allowforatleastaquarterof thedryertobefreesoitems canmovearoundandaerate.
•Usethecorrectsettings.Ifyou mustusethedryerforitems soiledwithfatsandoils,such asteatowels,ensureyouhot washfirstandusethelowest heatsettingonthedryer withacyclethatincludesa cooldownperiod.
Solutions
Totackletheissueof unemptiedlintfilters,FMG hasdevelopedalintbagmade offire-retardantfabricthatwill magnetontoyourtumbledryer andfitsseveralloadsoflint beforeitneedstobeemptied. Itwasavailabletoclientsat MysteryCreekFieldaysand willbeavailableatworkshops andseminarsrunin collaborationwithFireand EmergencyNewZealand.
“Itiseasytosay:‘ohIwill emptyitnexttime’,it’smuch hardertodealwiththeaftermath ofahousefire.
Allsizescomewith the501tank,12v pump&wiringloom, agriculturalspec wheelsandwicks.
PRECISEWEEDCONTROL
SelectivelywipejusttheweedsYou save yourchemical,time AND yourpasture
•Steelbraceddoublewipingwicks
•Wheelsonpivotingwings-ridescontours effortlessly
•Robusthot-dippedgalvanisedsteel construction.
excuses and helping encourage safer behaviours when it comes washing line will be back in action in no time But in the interim –
“Theselintbagsareour wayoftakingawaythe excusesandhelpingencourage saferbehaviourswhenitcomes togettingyourclothesdry. “Restassuredthedayswill keepgettinglongerandthe washinglinewillbebackinaction innotime.Butintheinterim–cleanthatlintfilter!”
It is not just tumble dryers that
Itisnotjusttumbledryersthat contributetohousefires.
Analysis of FMG’s claims over five years showed that the majority of FMG’s house fire claims are caused by
• Electrical and wiring faults
•Electricalandwiringfaults
•Kitchenfires
AnalysisofFMG’sclaimsoverfive yearsshowedthatthemajorityof FMG’shousefireclaimsarecausedby
• Chimney and fireplace accidents.
•Chimneyandfireplaceaccidents.
LilahRosenfeldtnamedBOPYoungGrower
LilahRosenfeldtisthe2024BayofPlenty YoungGrower.
Wanttoachievemaximumyieldfrom yourorchard?
AllTerrainPollination(2017)Ltduseawetpollenapplication systemforsprayingpollendirectlyontothefloweranddeveloped specificallyfortheNewZealandKiwifruitindustrytoassistgrowers inachievingmaximumresults.
Christopher:0279452993•Robyn:0273221332
The26-year-oldtrialsspecialistatZespri Internationalacceptedtheprestigiousawardinfront ofherworkcolleaguesandbestfriendof14years,at thecompetition’slargestgaladinnertodateinMount Maunganuilastmonth.
“Itwasprettyspecialtohavemy entireworkcrewtoseemeaccept theawardandmybestfriend.
“Shehasbeenmybestfriend sincewewere12andmy biggestsupport,”Lilahsays.
Theawardwaspresented byAssociateMinisterof AgricultureandStatefor TradeNicolaGrigg, Honouredwin Lilahsayswhileshedidn’t expecttowin,itmeansalot tohavebeenrecognisedasthe region’stopyounggrower.
theawardswinningfourofthe10tasks,whilethird placewenttoLeviHorton.
YoungGrowerBayofPlentyUpskilling CommitteechairpersonErinAtkinsonsaysthe YoungGrowereventsare“extremelyimportant” fortheindustry’sfuture.
FirstprizewonLilahacaronathree-monthlease fromFarmerAutoVillageand$1500,as wellaspotattheNationalYoung GroweroftheYearnationalfinals inOctober.
“Ifeelveryshocked.Ithasn’treally sunkinyet.Ifeelveryhonoured.”
Theday-longcompetitionsaweightcontestants completeninepracticalandtheoreticaltasks,finishing withaspeechcompetitionatthegaladinner.
Lilahwonthehorticentreagrichemicalsafetyaward andtheHollandBeckettSpeechCompetition.
Lilahhasbeenapartofthekiwifruitindustryfor aboutsevenyearsandwasanorchardmanagerfor threeofthoseyears.
SheiscurrentlyatrialsspecialistatZespri International,carryingoutresearchandconducting trialsonkiwifruitorchards.
Runner-upwenttoJackCanham,whodominated
Secondplacereceived$1000 andthirdplace$750.
BOPYGwinners Horticentreagrichemical safety-LilahRosenfeldt Fertconutrient management-Grace LoweryKVHbiosecurity -JackCanhamFarmlands “adayinthelifeanorchard manager”-JackCanhamNZ Avos“injectingtreestoprotect phytophthorarootrot”-BradWhitehead PowerFarmingtractor“connectinganddetaching implement”-LeviHorton Apata“graftingsoftwoodandpropagationof hardwoodspecies”-JackCanham ASBInnovationchallenge-LeviHorton MaystonPartnersorchardprofitabilityanalysis -JackCanham HollandBeckettspeechcompetition -LilahRosenfeldt UpskillingCommittee$2500scholarship -JamesHickman Thirdplace-LeviHortonRunnerup-JackCanham
2024
winner Lila Rosenfeldt
Photo: Andrew Warner Photography
Achancetomaximiseyourorchard
Peoplearebeinginvitedto jointheKiwiPollenteam foritsSpringFieldDayon Wednesday,October2.
From10amto1pmat KairangaOrchard,38Mark Road,TePuke,peoplewill havetheperfectopportunity tolearnhowtomaximisetheir orchard’sproductivityand achieveexceptionalyieldsthis kiwifruitseason.
“Discoverouradvanced
solutionsforeffective pollination,designedtoimprove drymatterandincreaseOGR, bringingyourharvesttonew heights,”saysaKiwiPollen spokesperson.
“AtKiwiPollen,ourwealth ofexpertiseandunwavering passionallowsustotruly understandthechallenges growersface.
“Enjoycomplimentaryfood andcoffeewhilechatting withourexpertsaboutour top-qualityqualitypollen,
precision-engineeredapplication gear,andreceivetailored guidancetooptimiseyour orchard’sspecificperformance.
“Wehostedthiseventforthe firsttimelastyear.Wewere thrilledtohavehadagreatturn outandpositivefeedbackabout theevent.Attendeesenjoyed gettingtogethertoseeoldfaces andmeetnewones.Ayearon, wehavedecidedtomakeitan annualeventonourcalendar.” TosecureyourspotRSVPto admin@kiwipollen.com
Kiwifruitbigreturnsthiscomingseason
Kiwifruitgrowersaare the most positive everseenatthestar r toftheseason, accordingtothehheadofthe kiwifruitgrowergrroupNew ZealandKiwifruitGrowers.
ChiefexecutiveColinBond saysit’sbeenagreatgrrowing season,andapartfrom m afew orchardsstillimpacted d by CycloneGabrielle,moost willreturntomakingmoney thisharvest.
Zesprihasjustreleasseditsforecast
p perhectarereturnsforthefruitbeing harvestednow,andtheywerewellup onlastyear, , whichformanywas unprofitaableafteranout-ofseasonffrostruinedflowersor youngfruit.
Greeengrowershavebeen toldto o expectbetween $75,0000and$91,000/ha compaaredtothepastseason of$64,,930/ha. Theforrecastpricerangefor goldgrowwerswas$145,000to $166,000,coomparedtothepast seasonof$143,5537/ha.
MyNameisNeilWoodward.
IamadirectorofZ-Contracting-wearefamilyrun business,ourteamconsistsofthree,beingmyself,my sonandmybrother.
Ourorganisationhasbeenestablishedforover18 years.Ihavebeeninvolvedinapplyingcropprotection programmeswithinthehorticultalindustrysince1966. Wespecialisewithinthekiwifruitindustry,We havetheequipmenttosprayorchardswithourtwo AtomsprayersandonerecentlypurchasedTracatom Formulatractorwhichisalsoavailableformulching andmowing.
OurAtomsaresetupwithradarspeedsensors,this combinedwithfullyautomatedsprayercontrollersand threenozzleringsenhancesapplicationefficiencyand accuracy.
Wealsouseaquadbikeforstripweedspray applications.
WeholdallcertificatesneededtomeetGlobalgap compliance.
Welookatallchallengestohelpensureweprotect yourcropwithexcellence.
Whetheryouarewell-versedin kiwifruitpollination,oracomplete newbie;haveitallplannedordo itatthelastminute;therewillbe somethinghereforyou. Allarewelcometoexplorethe products,gaininsightsfrom industryleadersandconnect
withfellowgrowersandindustry professionals. Don’tmissoutonthis opportunity,notjusttoconnect withothersandlearn,buttotruly transformandtoelevateyour orchardwithKiwiPollen.
TurnyourexcessHayward Greenflowersintoextraincome withKiwiPollen.Wepurchase yoursurplusmaleflowersto harvestforpollenandeither providepayment,creditto usewithKiwiPollenortosell backtoyouatadiscounted rate.Trustourexpertswith on-sitemonitoringandprevent pollenwaste.Talktoourteam tomaximiseyourorchard’s potentialwithKiwiPollenand togetherlet’scultivatesuccess
KiwiPollen SpringFieldDay
Allwelcometochatwithour expertsandseeourproducts.
Date: Wed2October2024
Time: 10am–1pm, complementaryfood andcoffeecart.
Location: KairangaOrchard, 38MarkRoad,TePuke RSVP: toadmin@kiwipollen.com
www.kiwipollen.com
Goodfieldday,goodturnout,goodfood,goodpeople,goodknowledge,andtechnology-2023fieldday.
Photo:OwenSolomon,Zespri.
Bumblebees – the super pollinators
Pollinationiscrucialfora successfulfruitcropand kiwifruitgrowersareincreasingly harnessingsuperpollinatorsbumblebees-toboost theircrops.
BiobeesLimitedisthelargestand onlyspecialisedbumblebeesupplier inNewZealand,sellingeasily managedhivesforthepollinationof commerciallygrowncrops.
Biobeesisasubsidiaryofthe NewZealandHorticentreTrust, acharitabletrustsupportingthe horticultureandviticulturesectors througheducation,training,grower welfare,disasterreliefandresearch anddevelopment.
MikeSim,whorecentlytookover themanagementofBiobees,saysthe bumblebeeisrecognisedasoneofthe mosteffectivepollinatorsbyvirtue oftheirlargefluffybodiesand‘buzz pollination’ability,wheretheyuse
their powerful flight muscles to shake the flower, releasing pollen and d faciilitatiingpolllinatiion.
“Abumblebeeiscapableof visiting245femaleKiwifruit flowersperhour(Kiwifruit Journal),soasinglebumbleis capableofvisitingupto2000 flowersoveraneighthour period”,saysMike.
“Unlikehoneybees,
bumblebeesare happy to work under hailnettingto provide exportquallitypolllinatiion.
“Bumblebeesaremore reliableinharsher,colder conditionsastheywillflyat temperatureaslowas5˚Cwhile stilldemonstratingeffective pollinationrates.Growers shouldincorporatebumblebees intotheirpollinationprogram
toprovideconsistencyduring changeableweather.
“ “Ittakkes88-110 weekkstoprodduce abumblebeehivesogetintouch withusassoonaspossible.”
Biobeeshasarangeof hivesandpackagingsuited tothespecificneedsof Kiwifruitorchards. Formoreinformation,visit theiradvertonthispage.
Sprayequipmenttomaximiseproductivity
TheCroplandskiwifruitsprayrangecomprises twolowprofilemodelsspecificallydesignedfor thekiwifruitgrower.
Backedby50yearsof spraymanufacturing experience,thekiwifruit sprayspecialistshave beenworkingwith NewZealandkiwifruit growersformanyyears.
Therangecomprises aself-propelledanda trailedmodel.
“Croplandsspray equipmentwillhelp maximiseyourtime, andproductivitywhilst achievingindustryleadingcropprotection,”says CroplandsterritorymanagerAshleyRobinson.
sprayerisrequired.
“TheFieni820fanfeaturesafront-entryairintake whichgreatlyreducestrashbuilduponthegrill, meaninggreaterefficiencythroughlessdowntime andimproved canopypenetration,” saysAshley.
“TheKiwilinerisCroplandsmostcompact2000L trailedsprayerandboastsawideraxleforexcellent stabilityandsafety.”
ThetrailedKiwilinerwasdesignedspecificallyfor sprayingkiwifruitwhereashorter,andlowerprofile
TheCroplinerRover boastsahighlyefficient Fieni820frontentry fan,whichhasbeen designedtogenerate therightamountofair forunder-canopyvines, providingexcellent coverageandreducing offtargetdrift.
Itisthelowestprofile andmostagileself-propelledsprayeronthemarket, designedtogetundercanopieswheretraditional tractorandsprayercombinationsarenotsuited.
“Beingsmallandagileitcanmanoeuvrearound tightheadlandswhereotherequipmentcanstruggle.”
FormoreinformationabouttheCroplands kiwifruitsprayrange,visittheiradvertonthispage.
TheKiwilinerinactiononanorchard.
A bee hard at work pollinatingaflower.
ThesonofanŌpōtikikiwifruitgrower andhisschoolfriendshavecomeupwitha simplebuteffectivewaytotakethehassle andmanpoweroutofreplacingorrepairing beamsorpostsonorchards.
LiamFisher,17,fromŌpōtiki,andStPaul’s CollegiateSchoolclassmatesOllieRobertson,18, andHeeraSanduSingh,17,haveinventedthe AgBeamLifter,whichtheyshowcasedatFieldays 2024fromJune12-15.
Thetrio’sKiwifruitBeamSolutionsAgBeam LifterwasselectedtoenterthePrototypecategory inthe2024FieldaysInnovationAwards.Asone offivefinalists,itputthemonastandinthe Innovationstenttalkingtoevent-goers–including growers–abouttheirproduct.
TheAgBeamLifterisdesignedtofittothe rearthree-pointlinkageonanytractorandbe drivenunderakiwifruitcanopytofitunderfallen Ag-beamsandliftthembackupontotheirposts.
ThedevicecanalsoliftAg-beamstotakethe weightoffthepostifitneedsreplacing.With backwardandforwardtiltplus360-degree turning,thedeviceiseasytomanoeuvreintight spacesonkiwifruitorchardsandsafetouse.
“There’snothingouttherelikeitonthemarket,” saysLiam,whogrewuponhisfamily’sŌpōtiki kiwifruitorchard–wheretheideasproutedfrom.
“We’vegot14canopyhectares–abouthalf green,halfgold.Myfamilyhasbeengrowing kiwifruitformorethan20years,I’dsay,”says Liam.“Sowehavesomefairlyoldorchardsandwe getAg-beamseveryyearwhichneedreplacements
Idea lifted from the orchard
orrepairs.SoIcameupwiththisideaandit’s gonefromthere.”
ToreplaceanAg-beamorpostsundercanopies, orchardistswouldtraditionallyusemanpowerto beartheweightfortheworktobedone.“When thereisseveredamageyou’dhavetogetupto10 guysintoliftanAg-beam–withthisproduct theyarenotrequired.
“OnepersoncanlifttheAg-beamusingthis deviceonthebackofthetractor,meaningstaffor contractorscandootherorchardwork.
“Soitsavesmanpower,labourandtime.”
Liamsayshand-jacksorhydraulicjackscanbe usedforreplacingAg-beams“buttheycanbe quitedangeroustouse”.
“Thisdevicereducesthesafetyrisk,”hesays.
Thetriobegantheirinventionjourneyin February,withLiamengineeringthefirststructure himself.Sincethenthey’vetrialleditonhisfamily orchardinŌpōtikiandtweakedit.
Thentheytookittoalocalengineerandsaid: “Thisiswhatwewant–canyoumakethis?”
“Wegotapriceandgottwomadeupfor Fieldays.”PerryMetalProtectioninHamilton galvanisedthetwodevicesforFieldays.“Sothat’s anoptionforcustomers.PlusR&RTractorsTe PukehavesupplieduswithoneoftheirFerrari tractors,whichweareverygratefulfor.”
“Sinceourprototypewe’vereallydeveloped.So whatwehadatFieldays,it’scomequiteaway.”
Olliesaysgrowers“gaveusideasofwhatwe coulddoinfuturewithittomakeiteasierfor themtouse,whichwasveryhelpfulandgotusto wherewearetoday”.
MerleCave
Getintouchtofindoutmore: 0278201315 kowan@eyersapiaries.co.nz
Liam Fisher, 17, from Ōpōtiki, and St Paul’s Collegiate School classmate Ollie Robertson, 18, with their Ag Beam lifter. Photo: Merle Cave
AswekickofftheNewZealand avocadoexportseason,thereisa senseofoptimismintheair.
EarlyJulymarkedthebeginningofwhat weanticipatebeingamuchbetterseason intermsofquality,exportvolume,and marketreturns.Thechallengesofthepast seasonshavenotbeenforgotten,butthey haveequippeduswithvaluablelessonsand renewedvigourtomakechangesthatwill improveoutcomesforgrowers.
Forecast
earlierthaninpreviousyears,andMexico’sshift towardstheUSmarketreducestheirpresence inAsia.Thiscreatesasmoothertransition forouravocadostoenterthismarket.
Newera
Thisseason,theindustryhasforecasta significantupliftinexportvolumes,withprojections of3.5millionclassonetrayscomparedtolastseason’s finaltotalof1.3million.
OurmarketmixincludesAsia,NorthAmerica, andAustralia.Withaboutone-thirdofourexport volumedestinedforeachoftheseregions.Early seasonshipmentswesentviaairfreighttoThailand andCanadahaveshownpromisingresults,withfruit arrivingandripeningevenlythroughthesupply chain.Therealtestwillcomewithourfirstseafreight containersarrivingthismonth.
TheAustralianmarketshowspotentialthisseasondue toreducedcompetitionfromQueenslandandWestern Australia,whereweathereventshaveimpactedcrop volumes.However,thisopportunitymaybelimited tothisseason,andthelong-termfocusforourNew ZealandavocadosremainsinAsia,withNorthAmerica alsoemergingasamarketwithgrowthopportunity.
InAsia,reducedcompetitionfromPeruandMexico providesafavourableenvironmentforNewZealand exportersthisseason.Peru’sseasonisexpectedtofinish
Initialindicationsfororchard gatereturnforfruitmarketedby DarlingGroupinexportmarketsare encouraging,withclassonefruitforecast toachieveover$15pertrayforsizes 16-24CT.Forclasstwoexportsof thesamepremiumsizes,weanticipate returnsbetween$10and$12,andclass threebetween$5and$7.Whilethese figuresareestimates,theyreflectourcautiousoptimism aswefinalisemarketplansandassessfruitquality. Despitethepromisingstarttotheseason,itis importanttotemperexpectationswithadoseof realism.Theavocadoindustryhasenteredanewera, wheretheexceptionallyhighreturnsenjoyedfiveyears agoareunlikelytobeseenagain.Marketdynamics haveshifted,andwhileopportunitiesabound, theycomewithincreasedcompetitionandvarying demandpatterns.Earlyexportpackoutshavevaried significantly,rangingfromverygoodinthe70per centplusleveltoverypoor,areminderoflastseason’s averagesittinginthe30percentrange. Withtheinevitablevariabilityinmarkets,itisvital forgrowerstofocusonthefactorstheycaninfluence suchascostsonorchard,consistentproduction,and improvementstoqualitytoinfluencetheirprofitability equation.DarlingGroupwillcontinuetopushfor positivechangeinallareasofthesupplychainby embracinginnovationandstrategicpartnerships, whilemaintainingourfocusonquality.
Helpingfightagainstfoodwaste
Helping fight against food waste
Theperfectavocadocan behardtofind.
That’stheinspirationbehind photographerAdamPopovich’s latestpiece.
“Ithinkweallknowthepain ofcuttingopenanavocadothat’s notripeoroverripe,”Popovich toldFocus.
TheAucklandphotographerhas teamedupwithWonkyBoxto captureacollectionof“cosmeticallychallenged”avocadoswiththefinal artworktobeauctionedforcharity KiwiHarvest.It’salltocelebratetheir launchofafruit-onlyboxandthe searchforthecountry’swonkiest fruit-thewinnerbeingrecently announcedasanavofromGisborne, dubbedthe“sparrow-cado”forits resemblancetothecommonbird.
Butbeyondthecomicalfunis amoreseriousmessageabout foodwaste.
WonkyBoox co-foundeer AngusSimmms andthewinning ‘sparrow-caado’ avocado.
“Foodwasteequatestoaboutfourpercentof theglobalemissionsinNewZealandandwhat’s sometimesevenmoreshockingforpeopletohear istheamountofwastethathappensatthestartof thesupplychain.
“WhatWonkyBoxisdoingreallywellis we’readdressingthatfoodlossthat’shappeningon farms,notnecessarilyinconsumers’homes orhouseholds.”
Upto40percentofproduce growninNZdoesn’tevenmake itoffthefarm-whichiswhere Wonky’srescuemissionbegins, providingahomeforwrongly sizedorsurplusproducethatcould otherwiseendupaswaste.
“Yearslikelastyear,wherewe hadthefloodsinHawke’sBay,it impactedusquitealot,”saysFresh Coproductmanagerforapplesand cherriesMarioSelak.
“WonkyBoxcametotherescue.
“Thefixedcostsarestillthesame… sostillbeingabletomakesomething offruitthatmayhavebeenlost isgreat.”
The2023KantarNewZealand FoodWasteSurveyestimatesthe valueoffoodwasteperNewZealand householdisworthabout$1500 ayear.Nationallythisequatesto $3.2billiondollarsandisacost WonkyBoxco-founderAngus Simmshopestohelpbringdown.
ServicingtheBayofPlenty Mathew021507182
Up to 40 per cent of produce grown in NZ doesn’t even make
ArtistAdamPopovichsettinguphisavocadoshot. Photos:CarsonBluck.
Fromfarmtovillageat93
AremarkableWaikatowomanin her90shasbecomea“townie”for thefirsttime.
LallaLoeffeniscomingtogripswithlifein theRadiusMatamataCountryLodgeVillage afteralifetimeontheland.
Now93,Lallacameintotownonlyeight monthsagofromafarmatWaltonbetween MatamataandMorrinsville.
HerjourneybeganinŌpōtikiintheBay ofPlentywhenshewasborn,prematurely, onthedayoftheNapierearthquake— February3,1931.
Growingup
Lallagrewuponherparents’dairyfarm— 100cowson150acres(60ha)—between ŌpōtikiandWhakatāne.
Sheattendedaone-room/one-teacherprimary school16kmoutofŌhopebut,withthe nearestsecondaryschoolatWhakatāne,the travelissuemeanthersecondaryeducationwas undertakenviacorrespondence.
WithUniversityEntranceaccredited,Lalla headedtoTeachers’TrainingCollegeat ArdmorenearAuckland.
Shespentfiveyearsteachingatprimarylevel backintheBayofPlenty—Ōpōtiki,Waotahe ValleyandWhakatāne.
Lallasayswithalaughthatshewasnot suitedtoteaching.“Itwasdifficulttokeeplaw andorder.”
Anewspaperadvertisementforareceptionist atanoptometristinWhakatānecaughthereye andsheworkedthereforfiveyears.
AtthattimeLallametherfuturehusband,an orchardistwhohadrelocatedfromHollandto NewZealand.
Withorchardjobsscarce,theyworkedona dairyfarmatEdgecumbewhereherhusband’s cousinwasthesharemilker.Theymilked300 cows,whichlaterincreasedto400.
Challenges
Amassivefloodintheirfirstyear,however, hadtheherddividedbetweenotherfarmsand theLoeffensshiftedtoadairyunitatAwakeri 13kmwestofWhakatāne.
Afterthreeyearstheremilking150cows, theytooksharemilkingjobsatWaimananear Tāneatua,andŌpōtiki.
ItwasatŌpōtikithattheLoeffensfarmed— 100cowson95acres(38ha)—for25years. Twelveacres(5ha)wasusedforkiwifruit, whichtheyretainedafterthedairyblockwas soldoff.Thiswaslateralsosoldandthemove madetoTaranaki,markingareturntofulltime
dairyfarmingatEltham.Herhusbanddied duringthefirstyeartheywereonthefarm, andLallamovedtoasmallerdairyunitinthe Waikato,atHarperRd,Walton. Theirsonwastosharemilkontheproperty, butdiedinatragicraftingaccident. Employingsharemilkers,sheremainedon theWaltonfarmfor34yearsuntilthemove toMatamata.
Communityvibes
Atage92,pooreyesightmeantLallacould notrenewherdriver’slicenceand,withno immediatefamilyatWalton,“pressurefrom friends”sawhertakeupresidenceatRadius MatamataCountryLodgeVillage. Althoughithasbeenamatterofonlymonths, Lallasayssheisquitehappyinthevillage. “It’scomfortable.”
Shedoes,however,miss“walkingdownthe race”onthefarmandtheviewoftheKaimai RangefromWalton. Ontheplusside,thereisacommunityfeel tothevillage.Avantakesresidentsonaweekly triptothesupermarket,plusanotherexcursion intotownforanyshopping,bankingand businessactivitiesrequired.
EveryMondaythereisamysterytripfor residents,withrecentdestinationsincludingTe Aroha,Manawaru,TīrauandPutāruru.
Morningandafternoontea,plussome lunches,arealsoregularlyheldinthesocial centreofthevillage—theBeehive.
Lallasaysitisratherironicthatthevillageis onthesamepropertyastheformerMatamata MaternityHospital.
Thelatteropenedin1924andwasconverted toanagedcarefacility,RadiusMatamata CountryLodge,in1990.Acentenaryfunction
washeldinApril.
LallaLoeffenhasalwayshadagreatfondness forwritingandformedtheMatamataWriters’ Group30yearsago.
Shehadbeeninvolvedinasimilargroup whenlivinginElthamandanotherin Cambridgeduringthefirstcoupleofyearsshe wasonthefarmatWalton.
Lallastillwritesasmallweeklycolumnwith herThoughtsontheBibleforacommunity newspaperinMatamata.
Sheputsherpenchantforwritingdownto earliergenerationsofthefamilyfromItalywho hadaloveforliteratureandart.
Livingaloneinthevillage,Lallasaysshe generallykeepsgoodhealth,whichprobably stemsfrommanyyearsinthegreatoutdoors ofNewZealand.
Shetriedsmokingonce,whenateacher,but founditwas“notforme”afteronecigarette.
InearlieryearsLallaenjoyedtheoddglass ofwine,butnowit’sstrictlyorangejuiceat villagefunctions.
Prideofplaceinherloungeisawonderful photographofherfamily,whonowextendto sixgrandchildrenandeightgreat-grandchildren, atthebeachintheBayofPlenty.
LallaLoeffenremainsacountrygirlatheart.
LallaLoeffenonherweddingdaywithlate husbandHankatWhakatanein1960.
Lalla Loeffen outside her villa in Matamata
Exploringseelf-shedding and
HighlandStation,located 15kmsouthofRotorua,isthe epitomeofaNewZealand hill-countryfarm.
Shapedbyseismicactivityandwith well-managedvolcanicsoils,the 1240hapropertyhasbeendeveloped andfarmedbytheFordfamilysince 1931.Overtheyearsithasbeen
usedfordairyandbeefcows,deer,grazingheifers, steers,bullsandsheep.
ayear.Thatwasn’tsustainable,”saysJohn.
“Wewerealsoworkingaroundshearing gangavailability,andweaninglambsearlyto accommodatebringingtheewesinforshearing.”
JohnandCatherineFordhaveownedand managedthefarmsince1995whentheybought outfamilymembers.Theysimplifiedtheoperation toanintensivesheep,yearlingbullandafewsteers system.Theirstockpoliciesmatchpasturegrowth andnosilageorhayismadeorfed.
Around25percentofthepropertyisnative bush,whichhasbeencarefullyprotectedfornearly 100years.Theremainderisrye/cloverpasture maintainedwithaconsistentfertiliserpolicyand soiltesting.Thecouplewereawardedthe2015 NationalBallanceFarmEnvironmentAward andtheGordonStephensonTrophy,thefirst timeaNorthIslandfarmingbusinesshadwon it.Theawardrecognisedtheirappropriatefarm management,minimisingerosion,managementof nutrientrun-off,environmentalsustainability,topclassstockandbusinessperformance.
Theycurrentlyrun900yearlingdairybulls,130 summerAngussteers,3300ewes,1600hoggets, and100ramsontheproperty.
Woolmarketdecline
“By2017/2018itwasclearfromourfiguresthat woolpricesweredroppingoffsharply.Wewere paying$90,000ayeartoshear,dagandcrutchthe sheepandsellingthewoolfor$25,000to$30,000
Johnhasbeenpartofafarmdiscussiongroup since1998andtherehadbeenmuchtalkabout usingself-sheddingsheep,inparticularWiltshire, whichwerereadilyavailableinNewZealandat thetime.
“Wehadbeenbreedingforhighfertilityratesin ourflocksince1995,firstusingEastFriesian,and FinnishLandrace,andthenKelsogenetics,that hadraisedourscanningrateto200percent.
“Whilethiswasadvantageousforlamb numbers,thosebreedsarelesshardyandwethen wentbacktoamodernmorerobustRomney withbetterfacialeczematolerance.”
Thenin2019,adecisionwasmadetobringin pure-bredWiltshireramsandbreeduntilthey hadapure-bredWiltshireeweflockratherthan replaceewesthatalreadyhaddesirabletraits.
Fiveyearsin
By2024,halftheewesarehalf-bredWiltshire andtheotherhalfarethree-quarter-bred Wiltshire.Amongthe2024springlambsthere willbeseven-eighths-bredWiltshirelambswhich shouldallshed.
“Wearestillshearingthehalf-bredewesonce ayearandaroundhalfofthethree-quarter-bred requireshearing,butthisismuchlessthanthe Romneysbeingshorntwiceayear.Inadditionthe Wiltshireshaveveryfewdagsandseemtohavea degreeofwormtolerance.
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HighlandStationowner,JohnFordwithmixedage,halfbredewesbehindhim.
hairysheepoptions
ComparedtoRomneys,Wiltshireshavea similarwoolmicronmeasurementandlike Romneystheirwoolistoocoarseto besuitableforclothing.John saystheyaregettingaround $1.50to$2.50akilogram fortheirwool.With regardtomeat,theyare alsosimilar,producing slightlybettercarcass weightperkiloof liveweightthanthe Romney.
“Surplusstock issoldatthe endofMarchto lambfinisherswho takethemfrom30 kilogrammestofinish at50kilogrammeslive weight.Ineedtobeatour winternumbersbyearlyApril.”
Theramsareplacedatoneramto 30hoggetsandoneto80ewes,withthegoal tospreadlambingsotheeweslambduringthe lastweekofAugustandthehoggetsattheendof September,minimisingstormrisks.
andwillreviewthingsinafewyears.
Consideringhairysheep
Johnsayseveninthepastfiveyears,talkamong sheepfarmershasturnedtowardsusinghairysheep breedsandmovingawayfromwoolcompletely.
“It’sworthnotingthataroundtheworldthereare hundredsofbreedsofsheepmanyofthemhairy ratherthanwoolly,andtheyalsooftenhavegreater parasiteresistance.”
Johnisn’tinahurrytolookatthatoptionbuthe iskeepinganeyeontheresearchbeingcarriedout
“Semenandembryosarebeingimportedinto NewZealandfromAustralianWhite sheepandExlanasheepandearly resultsareinteresting.”
AtWairereRamsnear Masterton,DerekDaniell hasbeenbreedingthe no-wool,aptlynamed Nudies.WithhalfbredNudiesknownas Streakers,andthreequarter-bredNudies calledBrazilians,effort isbeingputintofinding theperfectno-wool sheepforNewZealand conditionsandwithtraits requiredbyourfarmerssuch asfacialeczematolerance.
“Farmingisappliedscience,not justputtinganimalsinapaddockand feedingthem!”
Highland Station 2IC,DDaniel Hodson,ccounting sheep
A AndreRomaandSheldonRomadrenching2024hoggets. Photos:JohnFord.
Third year for ‘Time Out Tour’
Thirdyearfor‘TimeOutTour’
The tour visits rural communities around New Zealand, with TV presenter turned farmer Matt Chisholm as the speaker, sharing his own mental health story with rawness,
Thetourvisitsruralcommunitiesaround NewZealand,withTVpresenterturned farmerMattChisholmasthespeaker,sharing hisownmentalhealthstorywithrawness, honestyandemotion.
“IrealisedthatI’mfortunatetobeina positionwherepeoplelistentomeand Icanrelatetothem.SinceIhavebeen farming,Ihavealsohadinsightinto whatissuestheruralcommunitiesface.”
“I realised that I’m fortunate to be in a position where people listen to me and I can relate to them. Since I have been farming, I have also had insight into what issues the rural communities face.”
Mentalwellbeing
“Matt’sloveforthecountry,coupledwith apassionforhelpingothersbeproactive abouttheirwellbeing,madehimagreat fitastheinauguralAmbassadorforthe RuralSupportTrust,”saystrustgeneral managerMariaShanks.
“Matt’s love for the country, coupled with a passion for helping others be proactive about their wellbeing, made him a great fit as the inaugural Ambassador for the Rural Support Trust,” says tr l
Toothers,Matthaditall.AjetsettinglifeasaTVpresenterand journalistcoveringallthe bigstoriesintheglitzy worldofmediaand livingthedream.
To others, Matt had it all. A jetsetting life as a TV presenter and journalist covering all the big stories in the glitzy world of media and living the dream.
Sleep
“Bysharinghisstoryandthetools andtechniquesthathavehelpedhim hehelpsruralcommunitiesnormalise theconversationaroundmental wellbeingandbuildtheconnections andnetworksneededtolookafter ourselvesandeachother.”
“By sharing his stor y and th tools and techniques that have helped him he helps rural communities normalise the conversation around mental wellbeing and build the connections and networks needed to look after
Afterbeinginvolvedwiththe documentariesLikeaManand ManEnoughandwritinghis bookImposter,Mattwasasked tospeakataRuralSupportTrust fundraiserinNewPlymouth.
After being involved with the documentaries Like a Man and Man Enough and writing his book Imposter, Matt was asked to speak at a Rural Support Trust fundraiser in New Plymouth.
actually stood up in front of a crowd and spoken about my stor y a d ’
“ThatwasthefirsttimeI’d actuallystoodupinfrontofacrowd andspokenaboutmystoryanditwasn’t easy,”hesays.
“That couldn’t have been further from the truth. I was tired, irritable, burnt out and depressed.” He sought help and pulled himself back, including leaving the world of television b hind and moving with his family to a S h Island sheep and beef farm.
“Thatcouldn’thave beenfurtherfrom thetruth.Iwastired, irritable,burntout anddepressed.” Hesoughthelpand pulledhimselfback, includingleavingthe worldoftelevision behindandmoving withhisfamilytoa SouthIslandsheepand beeffarm.
Hehasgratefullyimmersed himselfinrurallife.
H h gratefully immersed himself in rural life.
Hereceivedastandingovationandwas inundatedbypeoplewantingtotellhim theirownstory.
He received a standing ovat d s inundated by people wanting to tell him
RuralSupport TrustTimeout Tourspeaker,Matt Chisholm.
“OnthetourIstillfind itdifficulttobeawayfrom homeandImissfamily thingslikecoachingmysons’ footballteams.
“On the tour I still find it difficult to be away from home and I miss family things like coaching my sons’
“It’sreallyhardspending timeonmyown,butitalso givesmetimetothink.”
Mattdescribessleepas“the bestdrugIhaveevertaken”, andratesthatalongwithexerciseandsocial connectionasthethreemostimportantthingsto findtimefor.
“Evenifit’shard,sometimesyou’vegottodo whatyoudon’twanttodotogetoutofthathole. “IfIcanbethereasonsomeonereachesoutfor help,thenthat’sreallycool.”
Photo:CatherineFry
Ihavebeenworkingwith someonewhohashad problemswithhisknees. Hehaddamagedoneknee sometimeago.
Inmorerecenttimeshis ‘good’kneehadstartedto deterioratefromosteoarthritis. Eventuallyhis‘good’knee becameworsethantheknee damagedinanaccident.
Duringamonthlyreviewhe toldmetheresultswereexcellent. Hehasmuchlesspainandis moremobile.Hehascomefrom apositionwhereworkingwas becomingincreasinglydifficultto nowbeingmoreconfidentabout thefuture.
Thereareseverallessonswecan learnfromthis.Thefirstisthat ourbodieshaveanextraordinary abilitytoheal.However,this healingisdependentonthe
smoothoperation ofourhealing systems.Inmany caseshealingis restrictedbecause thebodysystem thatisdesignedto healthedamage issomehowfaulty orhasjuststopped functioning.The outcomeofthisis alwaysdisease. Inthiscasewe madeseveralchanges.Thefirst istotryandidentifyfoodsthat eithercauseinflammationorin somewayrestricthealing.Two ofthemostimportantgroups ofnutrientsarefats,because theygoverntheinflammatory pathwaysandantioxidants becausetheyprotectourcells fromdamage.
NZAdventuresoffersawiderangeoftours acrosstheSouthIslandofNewZealand.
“Thetracksweuseareeasilyenoughcoveredby competentdriversinsuitablefour-wheeldrive vehiclesandallterraintyresingoodcondition.
“Nootherspecialpreparationofthevehicleis required,”saysRobbieandConnieCricket.
Accommodationprovidedishotel/motelandfor themostparteveningmealsandbreakfastsarein restaurantsonsite.Lunchesareeitherstationcatered orpicnic.
Oneofthemostpopularandlongestestablished toursistheHighCountryHeritageinasix-and seven-dayformat.
ThesetoursarerunasasixdayinNovember, February,andApril.Thesix-daytourhasovernights inHanmerSprings,Methven,Fairlie,Omarama, CromwellandfinishesattheiconicCardronaHotel.
AsevendayinMarchwithovernightsinHanmer Springs,Methven,Geraldine,Twizel,Omarama, CromwellandCardrona,saysRobbieandConnie.
“TheHighCountryHeritageineitherformat isessentiallythejourneydowntheeasternalpine foothillsfromBlenheimtoCardronathatNZ Adventurespioneeredinthelate1990sandremains sopopularstilltoday.
Bothtoursincludeawiderangeofhigh-country stationsandconservationestatetracks.”
Therearecurrentlyvacanciesforfourpeopleon thesevendaytourinMarchandthesixdaytourin November2025.
HighlightsofthetourswouldincludeMolesworth Stationontheafternoonofdayoneandthevast hillcountryofNorthCanterburythroughmostof daytwo.
Thetouralsoofferstheopportunitytodrivevery highontotwoofthemountainrangesthatareso muchapartofthisregionknownforitshistoryof goldandpastoralismandforbeingasfarfromthesea asitspossibletogetinNewZealand.
TheHighCountryHeritageisagreatintroduction
Wecanalso cheatabit,but inagoodway.I seeeffectiveJoint healthsupplements astheultimate cheat.Wecantarget specificcompounds thathaveadirect therapeutic functioninsore joints.Indoingso canoftenreverse thediscomfort andreductionin mobilitybyaddingtherapeutic levelsofchondroitinsulphate togreatlyimpactthehealthand stabilityofcartilage.Adding water-solubleCurcumin (fromturmeric)wecanreduce inflammationandswellinginthe jointcapsule.Nexteditionwe continuethisdiscussionandlook atthesecondlessonwecanlearn.
NZ’shighcountryheritagetours
totheSouthIslandandtotheNZAdventures rangeoftours. Formoreinformation,visitNZAdventureTours advertonthispage.
JohnArts(B.Soc.Sci,DipTch,Adv. Dip.Nut.Med)isanutritional medicinepractitionerandfounderof AbundantHealthLtd.Forquestionsor advicecontactJohnon0800423559 oremailjohn@abundant.co.nz.Join hisnewsletteratwww.abundant.co.nz
John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz
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Dunstan Range - evidence of frost heave andtheravaggesof f wind.
Furthervelvetleaffindsstillarisk Further velvetleaf finds still a risk
Velvetleaf(Abutilontheophrasti) seemstohavefallenoffmany farmers’radars.
That’spartlyduetoalotofhard workgettingvelvetleafundercontrol, resultinginveryfewnewincursions recently,saysNorthIslandvelvetleaf co-ordinatorSallyLinton(fundedby regionalcouncilsandFAR).
Velvetleafseedsstayviablefor 50yearsanditonlytakesone inadvertenterrorforaseedtoturn uponanewproperty.Oneplantcan drop30,000seeds,soifplantsaren’t foundfasttheycanmultiplyquickly.
Theinitialvelvetleafincursionwas morethan15yearsago,associated withmaizegrowinginAucklandand Waikato,andinvolvedabout
80properties.
WithfindsontwonewWaikato propertiesinAprilthisyear,growers areadvisedtotreattheirfarmgateas aborder.Sallyunderstandsthatone ofthenewfindswillbereturnedto pasturetominimiserisk,meaning alossof30hectaresofmaizeto theindustry.
Trackingweeds
“Asyet,thereisnoclearsource propertyidentifiedforthesetwo casesandbecausevelvetleafisan annualweed,wewillhavetowait untilspringbeforecontinuingour tracingefforts.”
Tracinghashistoricallyidentified machineryandinfestedmaize silageasthemostcommonreasons
for spread Continued vigilance by farmers and growersisneeded,aswellasrigorousmachinery hygieneprotocolsinthecroppingsector.
FARbiosecurity officerAshMills inspectingfall armywormlarvae damage.
oremailusenquiry@pastoralimprovements.co.nz
Waikatofourth-generationfarmers,sharemilkers DavidandSarahRawnsley,areopentotrying newwaysofoperating.Theyareoneoffour Waikatofarmsinvolvedinafour-yearFARmaize establishmenttrialusingno-tillandstriptill cultivation.
InJunefallarmywormresearchreceivedaboost fromMPI’sSustainableFoodandFibreFutures. Anewproject,ledbyFARandsupportedby VegetablesNZ,coversarangeoftopics,including identifyingeconomicthresholdsforchemical controlinmaizesilage,maizegrainand sweetcorn;andinvestigatingopportunitiesfor integratedpestmanagement.
Therighttool
TheRawnsleys’farmandleasedrun-offhave heavymarineclay,consideredthemostchallenging ofthesoiltypeswhenusingno-tilltechniques. Theymovedawayfrommaizesilagebecauseof pastureburnpatchesoccurringafterfeedingout.
Afterconsecutivedrysummersandstruggling chicorycropsnecessitatedbuying-inmaize,the Rawnsleysreturnedtogrowing4.8haofmaize silageontherun-offinthe2020-21season,when thetrialstarted.
FARseniorenvironmentresearcherDirkWallace saysthekeyisselectingtherighttoolforthe job.WorkingwithDavidhasallowedthemto understandwhichtoolsworkovermultipleseasons
FAWimpact
Projectleader,FARbiosecurityofficerAshMills, saystheeconomicthresholdworkisimportant, astheimpactofFAWfeedingdamagevaries betweencroptypes.
CurrentcontroloptionsforFAWinNew Zealandarelimitedtooneinsecticide(Sparta, activeingredientspinetoram)andarangeof beneficialinsects,withtheCotesiaparasitoid waspbeingthemostactive,althoughthiscanfall preytoinsecticidesusedelsewhere.Geneticwork overseasalreadyindicatesSpartaresistanceislikely presentinNZpopulations.
“Wewanttounderstandhowmuchimpact CotesiaspishavingonFAW.”
on heavier soil
Photo:FAR.
Thingsaregettingbetter
FeedCo planting maize in the Bay
of Plenty
Ifyouarerefixingyourloan, considerrefixingforsixmonths. Talkingaboutreducedprices.Itis greattoseethereductioninfertiliser costs.Thiswillsavefarmersand growersagoodamount. Maizesilagepricesmaycome backalittlegivethisandthelarge amountsproducedlastyear.
thingwillhappenhere.
We may officially still be in winter,butthedaysaregetting longer,thereisthenewnessthat c comes with calves and lambs, andsoonthesmellofspring willbeintheair.
Addtothistheexpectationofsome interestratecuts,andstabilisedinput pricesandIamstarting tofeelawholelotbetter aboutthings.
Wehavenewproduct availabletoyouallinthe formofcalfmealfromour locallygrownmaizegrain. Wehave20percent and16percentwhichis availablebaggedorbulk.
Wearealreadytakingordersfor maizesilage,butbeforethatwehave bulkandbaledgrasssilageavailable soon.Wealsohaveshedstoredbarley strawandmeadowhayavailableif yourequireatopup.
In Australiathespread of FallArmywormhas been rapid. NewZealandand Australianresearchersshare notes,workingtogetherto manageFAW. FARbiosecurityofficer Ash MillssaysNew Zealand’scoolerclimate has resultedinsignificantly lowerpopulationstodate.
“So whileAustralian data is worr ying, it doesn’t necessarily mean the same
“TheAustraliansituation simplyshowsusthatwe shouldprepareforafuture seasonwherealargermore damagingpopulationcould createissuesinmaizeand spilloverintoothercrops growninaffectedregions ” InJune,fallarmyworm researchinNZreceived aboostfromMPI’s SustainableFoodandFibre Futures Anew project will cover a range of topics FAW in Australia
Pricesstartfrom$820/ tonne.Ithasbeenagreat wintersofarformost farmers.Whilethere hasbeenareasonable amountofraininJulywithwell over100mlsuptillJuly20,ithas beenmanageable.Longdryperiods havemeantgoodpastureutilisation makingitrelativelyeasyforthose, suchasus,takingondairycowsfor wintergrazing.However,theperiods ofnicefineweatherhavealsomeant decentfrostsleadingtoanaverage groundtemperatureof8.6degrees comparedto9.1degreeslastyear.
Whatisquiteinterestingisthat lowlyingareasarestillverywetwith highwatertables.Theeffectsofthe bigraineventslastyeararestillbeing
felt now as it hasn’t properly dried out. Isthis La Nina goingto bring moreraintoo?Givenspring is almost uponusitmeansthatitistimetoget r ready to plant spring crops,aand most importantlyyourmaize.Paddocks forplantingshouldalreadyhavebeen chosen.Paddockpreparationandthe plantingitselfhasamassiveimpact onmaizeyields. Soilconditionsand temperaturemustbe right,andtheplanting hastobewellexecuted orelseyouwillnotreach thefullyieldpotential. Fromaneconomic perspectiveitwasgreat toseeinflationinJuly comeinat3.3percent andbelowtheReserve BankofNewZealand expectationsof3.6per cent.TobehonestIam surprisedinflationis notlowerthanthat.Thepainthat isbeingfeltacrosstheeconomyis massiverightnowandexactlywhat theRBNZengineered.OverJune andJuly,wehaveseenwholesale interestratesfall50bps.Itisnow alsostartingtoflowthroughinto homeloansandruralinterestrates. Thereisagoodchanceofacut thismonth.Ifyoutakeahistorical perspectiveinterestratestypically godownfasterthantheygoup.So giventherapidriseinratesthislast cyclewemayseethemgodown super-fasttoo.
IrrigationNZsupportsthechanges totheDamSafety regulations announcedearlierthisyear.
Cabinethasagreedtoamend thedefinitionofaclassifiabledam undertheRegulations,toincrease thesizethresholdofdamstofour ormoremetresinheightand 20,000ormorecubicmetresof storedwater,orotherfluid.
Thepracticalapproachtaken byMinisterPenkandtheteam attheMinistryforBusiness, Innovation,andEmployment (MBIE),iswelcomeandwill meanabout2000smallfarm damswillnotbeunintentionally caughtupinthenewregulations, saysIrrigationNZchiefexecutive Vanessa Winning
Policychangeswelcomed
“Wehavebeenworkingwith MBIEonguidancematerialand supportandwillcontinuetoroll thisout.Thischangemeansthat damsthatareexemptfroma currentbuildingconsentarenow alsoexemptfromthedamsafety regulations,whichiswhatwehad beenaskingfor.
“It’sencouragingtowitnessthe Government’sresponsiveness tofeedbackregardingthe disproportionatecompliancecosts verseassociatedrisks.”
Vanessasays,giventhereare asmallnumberofqualified damsafetyengineers,andthe backlogoflargedamsawaiting assessment,thisapproachensures prioritisationforstructuresin need of review
SERVICE REPAIR
ServicingofallEffluent& Irrigationequipment. Fullsysteminstallations. NZsupplierofDODA products,wealsocarrya comprehensiverangeofDairy Effluentparts&equipment designedtoprovidearobust andtroublefreeoperation, complementingour Servicingbusiness.
WaikatoDairyEffluentServices ownersPaulandBrendaSmith.
Thedemandfordairyeffluentspecialist knowledgeandexpertisehasneverbeen higher,accordingtoPaulandBrenda Smith,ownersofWaikatoDairy EffluentServices.
BasedinMorrinsville,butservicingthegreater Waikato,thebusinesswasestablishedinAugust 2019servicingeffluentequipment.
Paulwasformerlytheworkshopandproduction managerforHiTechEnviroSolutions,when WaikatoMilkingSystemsboughtthebusiness Paulmovedintoaconsultingroletohelpthe dealernetworkwitheffluentqueries.
Whenhestartedhisservicingbusiness,he continuedthisconsultingroleforWMSbefore purchasingtheeffluentbusinessfromthem November2023.
“InNovember,wemovedourservicingbusiness fromoursmallworkshopto11AndersonStreet Morrinsvilleandbecamethenewownersof
Dair y effluent specialists
theHiTechEnviroSolutions/WMSEffluent& Environmentalbusiness,”saysBrenda.
“Wearethesolesupplier/importerofDoda productsinNewZealandandhaveahostof parts,includinghydrants,effluentparts, Dodapumpsandstirrers,complementingour servicingbusiness.
“Ourworkshopservicesallmakesand modelsofeffluentpumps,stirrers,and irrigators,includingallon-farmaccredited effluentsystemsandinstallations.
“Paulhasmorethan20years’experienceinthe industryspecialisinginDodaandthe CobraIrrigator.”
Paulsaysit’sbeenexcitingexpandingtheir businesstoprovidefarmerswithaccesstothe higheststandardsofknowledge,expertiseand servicebackedupwithanextensiverangeof effluentparts.
TheNZdealernetworkalsohasdirectaccessto Paul’sknowledgeoftheDodabrand.
Irrigationhappensin threebasicsteps:geta permit/consent;collect anddistributewater; applythewater. Awaterpermitisalegal contractwhichallowsan irrigatortotakewater.The wateristhencollectedand distributedtothelandvia irrigationsystems.
Thelaststepisirrigating theland.Thisstageneeds alotofplanning,sothe waterisusedsustainably. Differenttechnologies andirrigatortypesare useddependingonthe landscapeandcropto beirrigated.
F Farmers committing towaterquality
In2019,agroupoflikemindedfarmersandiwiin theMangatangiMaramarua Catchmentinitiallymetto helpeachotherunderstand theimplicationontheir farmingoperationsofthe numerousregulationsbeing proposedundertheWaikato HealthyRiversPlanChange1.
“Weareawarethatthereare waterqualityissuesinourareaand thattheyvaryfromfarmtofarm,” saysthechairmanofthegroup andbeeffarmer,WillMurphy.
“Thereisnotaonesizefitsall approachandweallwantedto understandhowourownfarms affectedthecatchmentand actuallybecomeauthorities onwhatwashappeningin ourownarea,”sayscommittee memberandorganicbeeffarmer HamishBrowne.
“Weallfarmdifferently,but whatwealldoonamicrolevel, canbeexpandedtoamacrolevel, collectivelybenefitingthewhole area,”sayscommitteememberand beeffarmerAlisonRatcliffe.
Visionandgoals
Themomentumofthe groupgrewandinMay2021, MangatangiandMaramarua CatchmentIncorporatedwas formallyformedwithavision andgoals.By2024theyhave18 representativesontheircommittee. Theirvisionistoprotectand enhancetheMangatangiand Maramaruaenvironmentby involvingthewholecommunity.
“Withsuchadiversepopulation base,MMChasworkedfrom theonsettobeallinclusive, forgingstrongtieswiththewhole community,”sayscommittee memberandorganicbeeffarmer RobynBudd.
“Eventhoughwearevery closetotheFirthofThames, oursurfacewateractuallyflows westintotheWaikatoRiver, whichenterstheTasmanSea atPortWaikato.Weareoneof sevencatchmentsflowinginto theWhangamarinowetland(an internationalRamsarsite)andone of74catchmentsflowingintothe WaikatoRiver,”saysWill.
Environmentalgoals
The19,500hectarecatchment isthemostnorthernonethat flowsintotheWaikatoRiver andapproximately70percentis farmland,andtheremaining30 percentisforest,mainlyinthe HunuaRanges.
“Asacatchmentgroup,welike tothinkofthecatchmentasone bigfarm,witheveryonetaking responsibilityfortheirownland,” saysRobyn.
“Asagroupwearegathering informationtoshowthehealthof ourlocalwaterways.Wefeelwe arebestplacedtoinvestigateand solveourproblems,”saysWill.
“Datacollectionshowstrends andwesharetheinformation, soeveryonebecomespartofthe solution,”sayscommitteemember andsheepandbeeffarmer TerryWithers. MMChasthreeprimary interconnectedobjectives. 1.Tofacilitatepositivechange
inrespectofimprovingthe water,biodiversity,soil,air, stewardship,kaitiakitanga (guardianship)andstandards thatthecommunityhasset.
2.Tofacilitateandpromote“on farmgoodpractice”using sustainablelandmanagement principles.
3.Toprovideaplatformfor sharinginformationand supportwiththecommunity, engagingwithother stakeholders,receivingfeedback andbeingacollectivevoicefor itsmembers.
ToachieveMMC’svision andobjectives,theyhave identifiedsevenstrategicthemes: Communityinvolvement,water quality,biodiversity,farmer/ communitywellbeing,climate change,iwiinvolvementand agencyinteraction.
“TheMinistryforPrimary Industryisourmainfunder,and weareverygratefulforfunding andsupportfromaroundadozen companies,trusts,entitiesand localcouncils.Fundingallows ustosetupregularwatertesting andpayforexpertstooverseeand analyseanytesting,”saysRobyn.
WaikatoRegionalCouncil havecollected20yearsofdata frommonthlytestingnearthe catchment’sexitandthathas identifiedtrends.
Collectingdata
MMChassetup12testingsites overthecatchmentandcarries outquarterlytestingateach one,ensuringthatconditions areconsistent.Initiallytestingis forthefourmaincontaminants,
nitrogen,phosphorus,E.coliand sediment,alongwithtemperatureand streamhabitathealth.
“We’realsoworkingwithawater ecologisttocarryoutEnvironmental DNA(eDNA)testingineightsites,” saysRobyn.
TheeDNAtestingoffersawindow intothepresenceofallorganisms (floraandfauna)presentinthelocal environment.Itpicksupthesmallest DNAfragments.
Thegroupisalsoconducting catchment-widepestandweedsurveys andbiodiversitysurveys.These,along withthewaterqualitytesting,allbuild
apictureofthecatchment.Doing thisconsistentlyoveraperiodofyears providesdatathatinformswhatis requiredtomaintainandenhance waterqualityandbiodiversity. AcrucialpartofMMCiscommunity involvement.Thecatchmentincludes thelocalfarms,lifestyleblocks,two schools,twoplaycentres,twofire stations,communityhallsandthe MangatangiMarae. Regularcommunityeventsare heldtoeducatechildrenasyoung aspre-schoolers.Thecommunityis encouragedtoengagewiththegroup andreceivethesupport.
MembersoftheMangatangi-MaramaruaCatchmentGroupcommittee.WillMurphy(chairman), AlisonRatcliffe,HamishBrowne,RobynBuddandTerryWithers. Photo:CatherineFry.
AnalysingNZ’sagriculturalphosphorusbudget
Aninterestinfarm sustainabilityandsustainable fertilisermanagement wasthekeydriverbehind MasseyUniversitystudent TheanédeKlerk’sdecision tofocusherMaster’sdegree onNewZealand’sagricultural phosphorusbudget.
Theanéisoneofthreestudents thattheFertiliserAssociationof NewZealandiscurrentlysupporting aspartoftheircommitment todevelopingNewZealand’s agriculturalresearchcapabilityon nutrientmanagement.
Theané’sinterestinagriculture waskick-startedwhenshestarted secondaryschool.
“Iwasintroducedtoagriculture andhorticulturalsciencewhen
IattendedMountAlbertGrammar, withtheschool’seight-acremodel farmprovidingup-closelearning opportunities.Iwasinitiallydrawn tofarmandanimalmanagementand enjoyedhelpingthefarmmanager withdailyfarmtasks,”saysTheané. Howitstarted
EnrollinginMassey University,TheanétookSoil FertilityandFertilisersand IntegratedFarmandEnvironmental Managementpaperswhichsolidified herinterestinfarmsustainabilityand sustainablefertilisermanagement andleadtoherdecisiontoconduct hercurrentresearch.
“Understandingtheinteractions ofnutrientswiththesoil,andthe plant/animalrequirementsforthese nutrientsiskeytomanagingfertiliser applicationinawaythatwill increaseproductionwhilestillbeing
economicalandsustainable.”
livestockorcroppingsystems.
theirmainwaterwaysandwe hopetoapplysomethingsimilar, andslightlybroadertoNew Zealand’sagriculturalland.”
Phosphorus’sabilityto accumulateinthesoilprofile affectshowmuchfertiliseris requiredtomaintainatarget soiltestlevel.Asproduction hasincreasedandagricultural systemshaveintensified,the leveloffertiliserapplicationhas increased,anditislikelythat thesoilphosphorusbalancehas changedtoo.
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Theané’sresearchwillprovide dataonthecurrentphosphorus fertiliserusageintheagricultural industryandwilldevelopa currentsoilphosphorusnutrient budgettounderstandhowthe currentusageisinfluencingthe soilPstatus.Thebudgetwill helpidentifytheaccumulation ordepletionofPfromour agriculturalsoilsandhelp informbestpracticePfertiliser recommendationsforthe widerindustry.
Soilresearch
Use one capful daily into the pooled colostrum to assist calves with inconsistencies in the milk that can cause nutritional scours.
Useonecapfuldailyintothe pooledcolostrumtoassist calveswithinconsistenciesin themilkthatcancause nutritionalscours.
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“Thisresearchwillanalyse thesoilphosphorusacross industries,whichmeansthe currentdemands,currentsoilP budgetandfuturedemandscan beappliedacrosstheagricultural sectorratherthanjustto
“Sustainablefertiliseruse relatestothewholeindustry,not justdairyorwheatcropping, andsoitisimportanttobe abletocreatedatathatisuseful toall.Thisresearchfollowson fromMikeHedley’sworkin 2011,wherehelookedatthe Pdemandofthedairy,sheep andbeefindustries,andcreated aforecastedfutureuse.We aimtousesimilarcasestudy methodstolookatthecurrentP demand/useofagricultureacross NewZealand,includingawider rangeofagriculturalsystems, andrelatingthattopotential futuredemandanddeveloping anationalagriculturalsoil phosphorusbudget.
“Therehasbeensomeworkin theUKtodevelopanutrient budgetfornutrientsentering
Theané’spriority
Byproducingamoreup-todatesoilphosphorusbudget, thenationalrecommendations forapplicationrateandoptimal soilnutrientlevelscanbe alteredaccordinglytoconsider thepossiblechangeinsoil phosphorusincomparisonto whentherecommendations werefirstdeveloped.
Theané’spriorityisto understandwhatthecurrent phosphorusfertiliserdemandis fromtheagriculturalindustry, asPfertiliserapplicationmakes upasignificantproportionof phosphorusappliedtofarms. Thiswillprovideinsighttothe likelysoilPstatusandthelikely accumulationordepletionof phosphorusinoursoils.
Used for cows and calves coming into the shed to assist with calming and settling.
Usedforcowsandcalves comingintotheshedtoassist withcalmingandsettling.
farmservices.nz
2 Depot Street, TIRAU. 2DepotStreet,TIRAU. info@farmservices nz info@farmservices.nz @homeopathicfarmservices Like us on instagram and facebook Likeusoninstagramandfacebook
Farmersfaceanuphillbattlepayingforfertiliser. Photo:WarrenBuckland.
Soilteststhatgobeyondchemistry
Whatever you’re growing, testing the soil to make sure it’s up to tests for micronutrients like
thejobisasoundstrategy.
Inaddition,asoiltestmeans savingmoneybyonly applyingfertiliserthatis genuinelyneeded.
Butwhatexactly shouldwebetestingfor?
Earlysoiltests
Soilscientistshavebeen abletotestsoilnutrient levelsinlaboratories sincethe1840s.Early workinNZfocusedon testingplantnutrients likephosphorus,potassium,and sulphur,andonachievingthecorrect balanceofelementsinthesoil.
andseleniumare addedifadeficiencyissuspected. Theseteststellushow muchnutrientisstoredin thesoil,andhowmuch isimmediatelyavailable totheplant.Thegoalis usuallytodeterminethe typesandquantitiesof fertiliserneededtoachieve thegrowthwewant.
Later,experimentsandfieldtrials showedthatplantsweren’talwaysableto takeuptheelementsintheformsthat werebeingtested,andthatdifferentsoils aroundNZbehavedunexpectedlywhen fertiliserswereapplied.
Insum,earlysoiltestswereallabout measuringsoilchemistry.
Soilteststoday
Today,chemistryisstillthemainstay ofstandardsoiltests.Suchtests generallymeasuresoilacidity(pH), theabilityofthesoiltoholdonto certainelements(CEC),andthelevels ofplant-availablenutrientssuchas phosphatesandsulphates.Sometimes,
However,thesoilismore thanjustchemistry.Ithas physicalandbiological propertiesthataffectits capacitytogrowhealthypasture andcrops.Whatismore,thesesame propertiesarebeingtoutedfortheir abilitytomitigateenvironmentalissues suchasnutrientlossestowaterways andtheatmosphere.
So,measuringthephysicalstatus andbiologyofoursoilsalongwiththe chemistryisgoodpractice.Fortunately, wehavetestsunderpinnedbyextensive fieldandlaboratorymeasurements whichallowustodojustthat.
Testsforsoilbiology
Testsforsoilbiologygenerally includemeasuringtheabundanceand diversityofmicroorganismsinthesoil sampled.Identifyingparticularspecies ofmicrobesisnowpossiblethanksto DNA-basedtechniques.
Thesemeasurementsindicatesoilhealthina numberofways.Forexample,awell-functioningsoil willhaveabalanceofbacteria,actinomycetes,fungi, andyeast.Suchabalanceensuresorganicmatteris effectivelytransformedintoplant-availablenutrients, avoidingreleaseofharmfulgasestotheatmosphere frominefficientbreakdownofresiduesandremains.
Thetestscanalsoguidemanagementpractices. Forinstance,ahighnumberofanaerobicbacteria insoilsampleswillindicatepoordrainageandsoil compactionarelikelyproblems.
These measurements indicate soil health in a number of ways. For example, a well-functioning soil will have a balance of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and yeast. Such a balance ensures organic matter is eff l transformed into plant-available nutrients, avoiding release of harmful gases to the atmosphere from inefficient breakdown of residues and remains. Th s can also guide management practices F nce, a high number of anaerobic bacteria in soil samples will indicate poor drainage and soil compaction are likely problems. And measuring the number of N-fixing bacteria in soil samples can indicate the need ( not) for nitrogen fertiliser.
TheVSAisamethoddevelopedbyGraham ShepherdforNZconditions.Soilpropertiessuchas texture(typesofmineralparticles),structure(clods andsoilaggregates),andporosity(spacesbetween soilaggregates)aremeasuredtoassesssoilaeration anddrainageandsuchlike.
Theresultscaninformusofmicrobialactivity andplanthealthsincebothrequirewellaeratedand drainedsoilstothrive.
Likewise,assessingthesoilforcolourandsmell helpsindicatesoilandplantcondition.
AndmeasuringthenumberofN-fixing bacteriainsoilsamplescanindicatetheneed (ornot)fornitrogenfertiliser.
Forexample,adarkbrownsoilwithasweetearthy smellindicatesorganicmatterisbeingefficiently brokendown,soplantnutrientsareavailableand environmentallossesarelesslikely.
Soilphysicalproperties
Soil physical properties
Thephysicalpropertiesrelevanttoahealthy soilcanactuallybemeasuredinalab.But thesetestsareoftenexpensive.Analternative istogetaVisualSoilAssessment(VSA) conductedbyyourlocalNutrientAdvisorwhen
The physical properties relevant to a healthy soil can actually be measured in a lab. But these tests are often expensive. An alternative i get a Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) conducted by your local Nutrient Advisor when
Goingbeyondchemistry
So,giventhatsoiltestsarethebestwaytoensure yoursoilwillperform,don’tjusttestthechemistry. Getyourlocalnutrientadvisortorequestsoil biologytests.Andhavethemconductavisualsoil
likecopper,cobalt,
copper, cobalt,
added if a deficiency is suspected.
“Lastautumn Istoppedusing antibiotics formastitisand dosed25cowsthathada cellcountover 900,000 and followedupwithRumicellin theherd.
ByMay,those25cowswere under 250,000!!
Bymid-Octobermastitiscasesare downfromover20%to5% witha 90%cureratefromanextradose ofBovineBoostprobiotics”
QELPOTM
batting mastitis th probiotics
WaikatodairyfarmersBradPayneandClaire BrodieareequitypartnersinPayneFarmsLtd whichutilisesthe205hectarehomefarmand a40hectaresupportblockallowingthefarm torunallits700cows(springpeak)athome.
Thepeatbasedfarmexperiencesissueswith mastitisaftercalvingandduringearlylactation throughtoNovember.
Bradsaysthe2022/2023seasonwas particularlytaxingwith250cows succumbingtomastitisand requiringantibiotics.Somewere treateduptofivetimesinthe seasonforreoccurrenceinthe samequarter.
“Unabletomilkthecows onantibiotics,itaffectedmilk production.Thelogisticsof recordingandmanagingthe withholdingperiodsofalarge numberofcowsisalsonoteasy.”
withholdingperiodwithprobiotics,sotheywere milkedafterthemainherd.”
Theaveragecellcountinthenextmonthlytest was250,000,andBrad“wassold”.
Forthe2023/2024season,Bradaddedpowdered RumicellprobiotictothedriedfeedfromApril 2023,withcalvingdueonMay1.
Pleasingoutcome
ThespringermobwasgivenSuperstart LeadFeedprobioticsintheirwater troughsbeforecalving,andthen frominshedfeedwiththemain herdaftercalving.
AneighbourshowedBradan articleonusingprobioticswith dairyherds.
ProbioticRevolutionfounderand ownerChrisCollierhasalifelong interestinagriscience.
“Thewholeconceptjustmadesenseto me,andIcontactedChrisCollieratProbiotic Revolutiontolookatusingtheproducts.”
Anewapproach
Followingadvice,Bradseparatedamixedage andmixedbreed,non-clinicalmobof25,all withrecentindividualsomaticcellcountsofover 900,000andstartedprobiotictreatment.
“WegavethemtheirBovineBoostoralprobiotic drenchesforfivedays.There’snomilking
“Thatseasonwehad57 casesofmastitisintheherd. “Weseparatedthemoff, gavethemtheirfivedayoral drenchprobiotictreatment andmilkedasnormal.” Someneededfurther treatments,buttherewasvery littlesamequarterrecurrence. ByJulyinthe2024/2025 season,around300calveshad beenbornandtheherdhad experiencedninemastitiscases,alltreated withprobiotics.
Bradisverypleasedwiththeoutcomeofusing probioticswithinhisherdandislookingatusing CalfXtremeprobioticsfornextseason’scalves. Farmerevaluationshaveshownthatusing appropriateprobioticssetsupacalf’srumen, increasingcapacitytoeatmeal,grassandhayas itweans,andsubsequentincreaseinheifer milkproduction.
Yourfutureherdneedsallthehelpitcangettogo fromgoodtogreat.CalfMaxwithitshighstarch contentisjustwhatacalfneedstoenergiserumen microbesanddeveloptherumentoensuregood nutrientsingrasscanbeutilised. SomaxoutwhereitcountswithCalfMax.
Waikato dair y far mer Brad Payne has introduced probiotic supplements into his herd management
Photo: Catherine Fry
“The whole concept just made sense to
season, around 300 calves had been born and the herd had
Photo:Supplied.
CatherineFry
How history providesuseful perspective
Thefactthatpermanent grazedpasturesgrew significantlymoretotalfeed overa12-monthperiod priortothewidespreaduse ofnitrogenis,formost,an uncomfortableone.
Itislargelydismissedbyfarmers andadvisors;however,itremains afactandthosethatareprepared toatleastconsideritapossibility placethemselvesinaposition tooutperformtheirpeersand prosperfinanciallyasaresult.
Farmingisacompetitive industrywiththoseinthetop fivepercentenjoyingfinancial benefitsnotavailabletothethose battlingtobreakeven,andthat’s notanewsituation.
Weprotectourselvesfromselfexaminationbybelievingthat anythingnewisbetterthanwhat hasgonepreviouslyhowever lurkinginthedepthsofour consciousnessisalittledoubt, andthat’sessential.
Economy
Economieshavestrengthened andsocietiesprosperedoverthe past50yearsasnewtechnologies havebeenadopted,butgrowthis seldomlinear.
Therearealwaysbumps, bruises,andstubbedtoesalong thewaywiththoselearningfrom
thepainnowwell placedtoenjoya prosperousfuture.
Evenamodest increaseinannual pastureproduction, fromsay11tonne DM/hato12tonne isworthwhile whenachievedatno extracost.
Withanincrease involumecomesan increaseinquality withhigherenergy levels,lessnitrate, bettermineraluptakeresultingin improvedanimalperformance.
Reducingcostsprovidesa doublewhammy.Lesstime spentwithpoorperforming animalsprovidestimeforextra observation,acriticalcomponent ofsuperiorperformance.
Schedulingtimetomonitor pasturegrowthisalwaysvaluable, it’snotjustdatacollection that’simportant,it’showitis interpretedthatiskey.
Thereislittlethatcanbedone toliftpastureperformance betweennowandthecritical secondhalfofSeptember.That’s alreadybeendeterminedby pasturemanagement,andsoil fertilityinputsinautumn.
However,aliftinpasturegrown fromNovemberonwardscanbe promotedbytailoringaspring
nutrientapplication thatfavours clovergrowth.
Thepriorityis providingextra plantavailable calciumasclovers containthree-four timesmorecalcium thangrasses.
Syntheticnitrogen stripscalcium fromthesoilso withholdingnitrogen isessential.
It’salsoimportant becausecloversfixnitrogenin responsetosteadilydeclining plantavailablelevels.
Cloverstimulation
Soiltemperaturesabove20 degreesretardgrassgrowth, however,thosesameconditions stimulateclover.
Theyharvestmoresunlight, creatingenergyrichfeedensuring higherlevelsofproductionand morerapidweightgain.
Acloverdensematreduces thelossofmoistureduring prolongedperiodsofhotweather andshouldconditionsbekind, highqualitynutritionallydense haycanbeharvested.
CalciZestfromFunctional Fertiliserwasformulatedto stimulateclovergrowth.It’sa solidproductcontainingsoft
carbons,calciumm, andawiderangge of selectedmicrobes It’stypicallyappplied at400kg/hathrrough conventionalgrround spreadequipmeent andhelpsensurre, alongwithsounnd grazingmanagement, aliftinbothsummer andearlyautummn pasturegrowth.
Cloverinapaddock.
Calls formoretechnologymangers
TheNewZealanddairyindustry needsmoretechnology g managers asmuchastheyneedstaffonthe groundwhocanmilkcows,saysa leadingWaikatodairyfarmingfamily.
Morrinsvillefarmerandformer FieldaysNewZealandchairLloyd Downingsaystechnology g being introducedtoNZdairyfarming canrevolutioniseefficiency,butthe industryneedstechexperts,notjust morestaffthatcanmilkcows.
“Technologicalinnovationacross dairyfarminghasmovedhugely inmyfamily’sthreegenerationsof farming.Wenowhaveaccesstodata
generatingtoolsandautomationthat createsefficiencyinallareasofdairy farming,buttheindustryneedsmore staffproficientintechtoreallydrive itforward,”saysLLoyd.
“Industrybodiesandtraining organisationsneedtobethinking abouthowweupskillourfuture generationoffarmleaders,sothe industrycanreallycapitaliseonthe technology g available,”saysLloyd.
Onhisownfarm,managedby hissonJustin,theyhavemovedto SenseHubDairycollars,andthey creditthetechnology g inpartwith halvingtheirempty rate.
Startingfromscratch
AtiamuridairyfarmersPaul andLesleyGreynevergave uptheirdreamofowning theirownfarm-andin 2020,thatdreamcametrue.
“Ourkidsareallgrownupso itwasn’tamatterofbuyinga farmtostayfarming,itwasa matteroffindingafarmwe liked,”Paulsays.
ThatidealfarmwasSue Pembridge’s77hafarm inAtiamuri.
Thecouplesharemilkedin Mangakinobeforesellingtheir largeherdin2015.Theysettled inTokoroaforashortstintof townielifewhiletheysearched fortheiridealfarm.
Fiveyearslaterthemilkprice recoveredandtherewasan opportunitytobuySue’sfarm. There-establishmentofthe Grey’sherdbeganin2020.
Theypurchasedaherdof200 HolsteinFriesiancows,with afewcrossbreds.Overfour seasonstheyhaveaveraged 91,000kgMSperyear,around 460-470kgMSpercow.This seasontheyareontrackfora record-breakingtotalof 95,000-97,000kgMS.
Paul’spassionforbreeding pedigreeHolsteinFriesians startedwhenhisfathertook alikingtothebreedand establishedtheMaranuistud inthe1970s.
PaulinitiallyjoinedHFNZas anassociatememberin1977 andhevividlyrecallshisfirst pedigreecowthathebought, LonglandsAtlasKaren,bred byPhilJones.
Whentheyboughtthe Atiamurifarm,Paulconsidered tryingsomethingnewand lookedintopurchasingaJersey herd.Buthisdeeploveof
Taxbreakslikethisarefewandfarbetween. OnJuly1,newlegislationforthe Bright-lineTestcameintoforceand couldsaveyoumoney.
InvestorsandMumandDadpropertyowners aresettopotentiallysavetensofthousandswhen sellingorsubdividingaresidentialproperty.The BrightlineTestwasfirstintroducedtostopproperty speculationandtosimplifymanyofthecomplex andsubjectiverulesaroundpropertytaxes.
Aftermanychanges,thetesthadexpanded wellbeyonditsoriginalintention,hadatenyearholdingperiod,andbecamea‘catch-all’,no questionsasked,capitalgainstax.OnJuly1,new Bright-lineTestruleswereapplied,simplifying manyofthepreviousrulesandreducingthe holdingperiodbacktotwoyears.
Subdividingandsellingpartofaninvestment propertyorholidayhomeissomethingthatcould potentiallyhavebeencaughtandtaxedheavily underthislegislation.Assumingthatyouarenota propertydeveloper,propertypurchasedbeforeJuly 1,2022,isnowoutsidetheBright-lineTestrules, andonlyatwo-yearholdingtimeframeappliesto anypropertypurchasedonorafterthatdate.This meansthatyourproperty,whichmayhavebeen previouslycaughtunderthe10-yearrules,cannow
HolsteinFriesianstookhold andtheypurchasedaHolstein Friesianherd.
Althoughthefarmisprimarily apasture-basedsystem,the Greyshaveafeedpad,feeding about150tonnesofpalm kerneland150tonnesof maizeaswellasabitofDried DistillerGrains.
“TheHolsteinFriesiancow doestakemoretofeedthan otherbreeds,butshewillgoa lotfurther,”Paulsays.
PaulandLesleydoabout sevenweeksofAItokickoff mating.Paulisafirmbeliever thattheextraweekisworth itwhenyouconsiderthe pricepaidfora10-day CIDRprogramme.
“Westartcalvingaround July15andstillhaveAIcalves comingthroughtilltheend ofSeptember,butthatdoesn’t botherme,”hesays.
besubdividedwithout beingcaughtand subjecttotheBrightlineTesttaxes.
Propertyvaluesmay havesettledsomewhat overrecentmonths.
However,many landownershavelocked insignificantcapital gainsoverthepastfiveorsoyearsandmaywant tobankthatgainnow.Atthesametime,there havebeeninitiativesfromtheGovernment toencourageincreaseddensityinsomeurban areas.Thisaddstothevalueofresidentiallandand providesdevelopmentopportunitiesformany. So,ifyouhaveapropertywithsparelandthat couldpotentiallyprovideanadditionalbuilding site,itisagoodtimetoinvestigateapossible subdivision.Oftenagoodindicatorofyour subdivisionpotentialisseeingothersubdivisions orintensifiedbuildinginyourstreetorlocalityon asimilar-sizedsectiontoyours. Differentcouncilshavevaryingrulesonminimum sizesfornewsections,soalookattheirwebsiteand aquickmeasure-up,ifyouarethemathematical type,cangiveyouagoodstartingpoint.
NOTE:Thisarticledoesnotconstitutetaxadviceandyoushould alwaysseekspecifictaxadvicefromyouraccountantorlawyer.
FARMFACTS
Owners: Paul&LesleyGrey
Location: Atiamuri,BayofPlenty
Farmsize: 77hectares
Cows: 200(95percent registeredHolsteinFriesians)
Production: 91,000kgMS
Studname: Maranui
“I find this way I use less CIDRs, and I never have trouble selling the extra heifer calves becausethey’reHolsteinFriesian.”
Forthefirstseasononthe Atiamurifarm,Paulwentwith LICforsemen.
“Ineededsomethingsimple forthefirstseasononthisfarm withmylimitedcontacts,”he says.Sincethentheyhaveslowly transitionedtoCRV,withthe mostrecentmatingentirelyto CRVsemen.
“Backwhenwehadourbigger herd,wedidnominatewith CRV,butIamexcitedtoget moreadventurousandbroaden ourhorizons,”Paulsays.“Thisis anadvantageofhavingasmaller herd;Icanbemoreprecise,and lessaboutnumbers.”
Udders,temperamentand fertilityarethetraitsPaulsays theymateforintheirherd.
“Fertilityisespecially important,”hesays.
“It’sheart-breakingwhenyou can’tgetagoodcowincalf.
“Whilewearebuildingup thisherd,mypriorityisto focusonimprovingtheudders throughouttheherd.AndI
always make sure I’m picking the bulls with the better fertility trait I also consider good feet, legs,andstature;Ialsodon’t wantthemtoobig.”
AsthisisonlytheGreys’ secondseasonwiththeirown stockcomingthrough,itis toosoontotellwhichsiresare performingwell.
“Myinitialfocuswassimply togetcowsincalf,butIlook forwardtofine-tuningmy selectionsforreplacementsover thecomingseasons,”Paulsays.
RaisedaroundHolstein Friesians,Paullovedtheirlooks butovertheyearshehascometo appreciatemoreaboutthebreed.
“WhenIwas14,Iprobably didn’tunderstandthebenefits ofaHolsteinFriesian-theyjust lookedabiggerandbettercow,” hesays.
“ButthereasonIhavestuck withHolsteinFriesiansisbecause fornotmuchmoremoneywhen youbuyaherd,you’vegota cowthathasabetterresidual valuewhenhermilkingseasonis finished;you’vegotmoreoptions forcalves;andatouragewe don’tneedtomilkasmanyto
produce what we do ”
Although Paul has been milking cows since he was 13, he is not preparedtoslowdown–yet.
“Westartedoffwitha timeframeoffiveyears,”hesays.
“Wearenowfourseasonsin withonemoreseasontogo.
“Thepersonalgoalwouldbeto getthesecowsupto600kgMS percow-thatwouldbean achievementI’dbeproudofbutonethatcouldtakeafew moreyears.
“We’dhavetobuildsomething withabitmoreengineroom witharound550-600kg liveweight,whichcan’tbe achievedwiththestandardLIC orCRVgenetics.”
BothPaulandLesleyfeelthe workthey’veputintothefarm andtheirherdisjuststarting tocometofruition.
Paulisincrediblyenthusiastic aboutwhathedoesandlovesto milkcows.
“I’dpersonallyliketomilk cows’tilI’m69,”hesays.
“Iworkonthetheorythat retirementsoundsallgoodand dandy,butit’sactuallypretty damnboring,too.”
���es�gned��ltra�on��stemsfortheRemo�al ofIronandManganeseandOtherRuralProblems •Resultsguaranteed •Fullyautomated •NZdesignedsystemstailoredtosuityourwaterissue •Latestinelectronictechnology,wirelessalertsystems •ServicingtheWaikato,BayofPlenty,Taranaki&Gisborne
Atiamuri dair y far mers Paul and Lesley Grey
Stopbankprojectfinished
Constructionona1.25kmsectionof RangitāikiRiverstopbanknexttoThornton BeachRoadisnowcomplete.
Thisupgradeispart ofToiMoanaBayof PlentyRegionalCouncil’s ongoingeffortstomaintain flooddefences(suchas stopbanksandfloodwalls) aroundtheregion.
Theprogrammeofworks includesregularmonitoring andreviewingofflood protectionassetstoensure theyarefitforpurpose.
Theupgradeworks includeddeconstructing andrebuildingthestopbank usingasuitablesoil,raisingitsheight,culvertupgrades andinstallingdrainage.
EngineeringmanagerMarkTownsendsaysthe upgradedstopbankwillhelpreducetheimpactsof floodingonneighbouringcommunitiesandroadusers.
“Floodprotectionprovidesa‘firstlineofdefence’, whichiswhytheRegionalCouncilcontinuallyinvests inregularinspectionandimprovementofflood defencesacrosstherohe.”
Marksaysthisstretchofstopbankformspart
Waterflflowsinto Edgecumbethrougha breachintheRangitaiki Riverstopbankson April6,2017.
ofawidernetwork ofupgradedflood protectionalongthe RangitāikiRiver.
“Thenetwork includestheRangitāiki Spillwayworks,whicharecurrentlyunderway, recentlycompletedRangitāikiFloodwayand FloodwallsinEdgecumbe.
“Thankyoutothecommunityfortheirpatience aswecompletedthisupgrade,particularlythe landownersonThorntonBeachRoad.”
Thecompletedstopbankhasbeencoveredwitha gravellayertofuture-prooftheinfrastructure.
Thisensuresthestopbankcansupportpotentialnew developments,makingtheareamoreadaptableand durablefordifferentrecreationalandtransportationuses.
Photo:WhakataneBeacon.
Resident volunteerpictur cleaning up the hugeamountofwastecreatedbyfloodinginEdgecumbein2017.
Photo:Alan Gibson.
ThelowerRangitaikiRiverstopbanks.
Beach Road is now complete.
includes regular monitoring of a wider network of upgraded flood protection along the breach in the Rangitaiki Residents and volunteer pictured at work huge amount of waste created by
Awell-travelledtractorcalledWombat
A we l l - t r a ve l l e d
In2014,twoFergusonTEF tractorsembarkedonaneightweekjourneyfromWalesto NewZealandonacontainer ship,andarenowsecurely storedinaCambridgegarage.
Theirowner,PeterRogers,is slowlyworkingtorestoreboth tractorstotheirformerglory.
“I’vebeenlivinginNewZealand since2001withmywife,Elen.
“Whenmyfather,Edgar,passed awayin2014,I broughtoverhisTEF, affectionatelynamed Wombatbythefamily, alongwithaMidland IndustriesLtdloader andanotherproject TEFhehadbeen storingforme,”says Peter.Hedescribes thepreparationfor thelongvoyageas “quiteamission”.The vehiclesrequiredsteam cleaningandacoating ofredoxidepaintto preventrustduringtheseajourney. Theyhadtobecarefullywrapped, andonceinthecontainer,alloilwas drainedfromtheirengines.
“IusedWombattoclearupmy father’sproperty,butwhenitwas timetoleave,hewouldn’tstart.
“Itwasalmostasifhe wasprotestingatleaving Carmarthenshire.”
Wombatisa1954,four-cylinder, 26hpFergusonTEFgeneralfarm tractorwithfourforwardandone reversegear.It’soneofthefirstdiesel Fergusonsproduced.
“EdgarhadownedWombat since1987andwasstillusedfor
weekendtasksand vintageshows.”
Peterhasnamedhis own1951modelTEF Edgar,inhonourof hisfather.
Raisedonadairy farmuntilhewas8, Peterdevelopedakeen interestintractors fromayoungage, withhisfirstword being“tractor”.
Herecallsreceivingfarmtoysevery Christmas,dismantlingthem,and thenstrugglingtoreassemblethem, oftenresultingintears.
AsPeterapproachedtheendof secondaryschool,acareerinartand designseemedlikely.
However,betweenfinishingschool andstartinghiscourse,hebegan restoringtheTEFwithhisfatherand discoveredhispassionforit.
“Istartedmyartcourse,butafter ninemonths,Iswitchedtoadiesel mechanicapprenticeship,andI’ve neverlookedback.”
Petercontinuestoworkasadiesel mechanicandiswellequippedto restorehisbelovedTEFs.Heplans tometiculouslyrestoreEdgarto “showroomcondition”andrestore Wombatto“goodworkingorder”.
Wombatisbeingusedinhisexisting stateatWaikatoVintageTractorand MachineryClubIncmeets.
“Ihaveatwo-furrowFerguson ploughthatcanbeattachedfor ploughingcompetitionsanda Fergusonsicklebarmower.OnceI’ve restoredit,IcanalsoattachtheMIL loaderandusethat.”
CatherineFry
Peterandhisdaughter Islawithhergrandfather’s FergusonTEF,‘Wombat’.
TEFwassprayedwith redoxidepainttoprevent rustingwhileatsea.
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L: Edgar Rogers R: Peter Rogers with ‘Wombat’inWales. Photo:Supplied.
Above:RRear of the TEF with provisionforattachments. Left:The1954Ferguson
Photos:CatherineFry.
Photo:CatherineFry.
KUBOTA.CO.NZ
MasonMilne,13 months,outonthe farmmeetingthe newborncalves inPutaruru.
Tia out for a ride on Tama overlooking Kinloch in Taupo.
Bohdi, 8, and her Cal Club calf Silvah in the Waikato.
Madilyn, , havingablast at Fieldays on thedigger with Poppa.
Isla Kelly,1, so excited for the first calf tobe bornin Reporoa.