Coast & Country October 2017 by Sun Media

Winning veg

80 pages of great reading inside!

Rachel Yeats garden apprentice James Annear of Handcrafted Produce selling vegetables at the Tauranga Farmers Market. Read about the award winning market garden enterprise on pages 4-5. Photo Elaine Fisher.

Grandadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beef PAGE 6-7

Dairy PAGE 16-21

Effluent Expo PAGE 24-30

Pools & Surrounds PAGE 39-41

Maize PAGE 47-53

Kiwifruit PAGE 62-65

Avocados PAGE 66-69

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 2

Rain with scattered sunshine My sister and her husband holidayed in Alaska in September – during that country’s fall. Annoyingly she sent me emails saying how great the weather was and to prove it, photos of clear blue skies.

Brian Rogers Director/ Editor

Elaine Fisher Editor 07 928 3046

I replied that they weren’t missing anything back home. We’d had consistent weather conditions – rain with outbreaks of occasional scattered sunshine. In fact it had been like that since March. Even though the arrival of daylight saving on election weekend – September 23 – seemed to ip t e weat er switc to ﬁne , it was just for a brief spell, and anyway, conditions were o ercast because of the election night nonresult and the Peters Factor. The constant rain has become a serious issue for farmers and grow-

ers. By September, many regions had experienced as much rain as would normally fall in a year. A spell of se eral ﬁne days in a row will help dry out the soil surface, but to bring deeper soil moisture levels to close to normal will take much longer. For Bay of Plenty and Waikato farmers and growers whose land was ooded by yclones ebbie and oo , t ere as been little respite and while their plight has dropped off the media radar they are still struggling– see page 3. Preparations for the sowing of spring crops has also been impacted with many pastures too sodden to drive machinery over. That’s delayed the harvest of grass silage and the planting of maize – see page 20. Allister Holmes of FAR says the structure of some soils has collapsed because they have been under water for up to six months – see page 52.

anaging pastures, dairy ef uent and nutrient leaching in these conditions is extremely hard for farmers but technology to help address these issues is constantly evolving and some of latest developments will be on display at the f uent po on ctober – see page 28. We might not have seen the last of the rain. NIWA scientists are predicting rainfall totals for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato over the next two months are “equally likely to be in the above normal range (40 per cent chance) or near normal range (35 per cent chance)”. Temperatures are very likely to be above average (60 per cent chance) and soil moisture levels and ri er ows are about e ually likely to be above normal (40 per cent chance) or near normal (35 per cent chance). I wonder what summer will bring? Elaine Fisher

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

Flood-affected farmers still in need of support Bay of Plenty farmers have made plenty of headway in getting farms back on trac since t e se ere ooding of yclone oo and yclone ebbie in pril, but there are still farmers in need of help both professionally and emotionally, says ay of Plenty Federated Farmers president arryl Jensen. “We’ve certainly made headway in the recovery effort, but it really depends on t e circumstances on eac farm, and t e se erity of t e ooding on eac property. “Some farmers embraced the help and services offered to t em and coped well, w ile ot ers put their head in the sand and tried to cope by themsel es wit out muc luc until t ey ﬁnally put t eir and up and admitted t ey needed elp.” e ural upport rust as seen a surge of farmers accessing t e ser ice since pril , and particularly in t e past two mont s. ay of lenty ural upport rust regional leader and wellness coordinator Igor Gerritsen says in the mont s leading up to pril , t e trust ad clients accessing t e ser ice, but t at number ad risen to clients in t e period from pril to eptember . sually o er t e dry period, farmers a e ad a brea and are prepared for cal ing,” says gor. is year t e stress ust asn t let up. e continued wet weat er as made ood reco ery more difﬁcult, and by the time farmers reach calving they are already o ercoo ed.” arryl says ederated armers, onterra and ural upport rust are in it for t e long aul”, and insur-

ance companies a e been ery elpful to deal wit . nd despite early criticism by farmers for lac of go ernment ood-relief funding for t e rural sector, t ere as been more financial support since. e original , funding grant from inistry for rimary ndustries was dispersed on a first-in, first-ser ed basis, and in late eptember, a new , grant, assessed and distributed based on need, was made a ailable. ome farmers a e orrendous bills from t is reco ery to get t eir farms up and running to clean up debris and restore crops and pasture,” says arryl. ederated armers as been able to ensure t at almost all ood-affected farmers a e been able to continue li ing on t eir property, eit er in t eir omes or in temporary accommodation, as li ing offfarm was an impossibility. t was critical t at t ey were able to continue to li e w ere t ey wor , as you can t cal e cows from a distance.” ere were still a number of farmers running smaller numbers of stoc on-farm, wit t e balance of t eir erds accommodated elsew ere. “We helped to accommodate stock on alternative farms w ere er we could, as t e last t ing we wanted was for farmers to sell down capital stoc .” oing forward t ere will be to be a new normal” for a number of farmers. ere are en ironmental issues t at need to be sorted out, and infrastructure to be rebuilt,” says arryl. t will ta e some farmers at least t ree to fi e years to get bac on trac .” The Rural Support Trust provides free and confiden ial s o fo o e hel ed fa e s he he he need an in o financial ad ice on fa ad ice o co nsellin se ices. hone . Anne Boswell

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Greens the natural snack choice for young trio When Juno, 6, Gryphon, 4, and Fox, 2 hunger for a snack it’s more likely to be a tasty ale leaf, sun ower sprout or a sprig of coriander t an c ips or sweets. Because the children of market gardeners Brad arding and ac el eats are growing up surrounded by vegetables – eating them is as natural as breat ing. t s not ust t eir c ildren w o en oy w at rad and ac el grow. eir business, andcrafted roduce , as a loyal following among t ose w o attend t e wee ly armers ar et in auranga as well as indiidual clients, local retailers, and restaurants. e couple s produce as also won national acclaim. eir entry of baby carrots, radish and turnips in the 2017 Farmers ar et ew

ealand inter ood wards category irt on t e oots was ig ly commended, and t eir popular fancy salad mix received the combo runner up in irt off t e oots section. at s pretty good for t e new enture w ic as faced successes and setbac s since it began in ay last year. at s w en t e couple too o er t e lease of around alf a ectare of land at e una and began wor ing up t e former pasture land to become a mar et garden.

Cyclones’ deluge

e prepared a business plan and ensured we ad a contingency for t ings w ic mig t go wrong,” says ac el. e were pleased we ad t at buffer w en t e garden got ooded during yclone ebbie in pril t is year. e ad ust re-planted w en yclone oo it. at was really ard because we adn t anticipated two big its one after t e ot er li e t at.” continued...

d two-year-old Fox an Rachel Yeats with e th in 4, , Gryphon Brad Harding with en at Te Puna. rd ga t ke ar m family’s

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

‘Morganic’ gardening system Garden ‘staff’ – the ducks and one geese – play an important role in pest control.

Specialising in Specialising in

...continued

plants. The ducks are the pest control• Removal chipping of whole tr lers. “We move their pen to rows we • Removal / chipping/ of whole trees have harvested and they make short On site for chipping for pads stand off p • On site •chipping stand off work of any slugs and snails.” • Wood chip for sale Any plant material left over from har• Wood chip for sale vesting is piled in a compost heap in the Orchardremoval shelter removal duck pen where the birds thoroughly work • Orchard• shelter t roug it finding slugs, snails and ot er insect • Stump removal • Stump removal pests. “After that we cover it to form compost.” Brad and Rachel have erected a plastic house Woodlot marketing all tree s • Woodlot• marketing of all tree of species Strawberries are among the crops in which to grow tomatoes, and in another, grown by Handcrafted Produce. sprout a wide range of micro-greens. They also propagate all their vegetable and edible ower plants from seeds. Sharing skills The crops the couple grow include lettuce, kale, Asian greens, With a background in teaching, media and communications, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, micro-greens, pumpkins, Rachel is equally at home with her hands on the keyboard as in the soil, and manages the business to ensure the social enterprise thrives spring onions, beets, radishes, turnips, spinach and strawberries. Virtually everything on site is carried out by hand but Brad has and maintains connections to its local community. recently bought a small tractor which will enable him to shallowThe move to start their own business came from a desire to not till beds much more quickly in alignment with their low/no-till only be self-employed and produce nutrient-dense foods, but also philosophy for soil health. to teach others to do the same. An ingenious harvesting machine “We intend to use our holistically-managed market garden at is used to cut salad greens from their Te Puna as a training ground for youth at a social disadvantage in beds. Operated by a battery drill, it has our community.” ™ a blade which cuts the leaves, and soft That’s already started in a small way with some students spendbrus es w ic ic t e lea es into a ing holiday time at the gardens, but plans are to increase those catcher. It’s saved Brad hours of work opportunities in future. Currently, the farm hosts three organic Ferris® Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will give you a noticeable harvesting greens using a knife. improvement in your mowing productivity. These mowers are built to be the hardest horticulture students and hopes to extend this programme to high working and smoothest riding. Ferris mowers tackle tough terrain and finish big jobs faster. school students next year.  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL However, establishing the gardens and successfully growing and di e flo e  S65Z COMFORT From $12,999.00 RRP harvesting vegetables, plus selling them, is the focus right now. Once picked, salad vegetables are SUSPENSION MODEL e re in our first year of certification and regardless of t e status rinsed twice in baths in the garden’s proFrom $8,499.00 RRP incl. GST of the lease we want to show our customers that we’re committed to cessing shed, then put in large net bags organics and accountability. to be spun in a washing machine bowl. “We grow ‘beyond organically’ which means that all our growing From there vegetables are placed onto a met ods go abo e and beyond t e organic standards for certificalarge sie e benc wit fans fi ed abo e. tion. We place our emphasis on growing produce only for local Gently tossing the leaves under the fans market and sourcing all our inputs locally also. removes any remaining water before the “We only sell produce within the Bay of Plenty and prioritise sup- vegetables are packed into plastic bags porting local businesses. We aim to grow produce that is not just and placed in the chiller. free of toxic chemical residues but also nutrient-dense. We call what What makes Rachel and Brad’s salad we do ‘Moreganic’, and we love talking to people about it.” mix so special is the variety of plants it 2+2 YEAR LIMITED The land is leased from Alison and Drew Cowley (according contains. There’s tender young leaves of WARRANT ARRANT Y to Brad and Rachel, the best possible landlords). Neat rows of se eral colours and a ours, plus sprouts vegetables grow through weed mat, a system Brad says reduces the and petals from edible owers. t s an For your nearest dealer call: otherwise timely and costly task of weed control. “We don’t use any eye-catching mix which is very popular, www.FerrisMowers.com chemicals so the only option is weed mat, or weeding.” even in winter when salads aren’t tradiDistributed in New Zealand by Briggs & Stratton e garden as a small oc of duc s and one goose. er ob is tionally eaten,” says Rachel. to scare away the pukeko which would otherwise pull out young Elaine Fisher However, Brad attended to drainage issues and once again planted out the gardens. Financially it was also tough for the couple with a young family who had decided to take the brave step of becoming self-employed. Brad, who has completed permaculture design courses run by Dan Palmer of Very Edible Gardens, has previously managed nurseries and production gardens for Bloomz, Hydroponic Fresh, Koanga Institute and Incredible Edibles.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 6

Questioning led to biological farming methods Cliff Bayliss had been farming, “man and boy”, for around 30 years when he started to question the methods he was using. “I began to realise using chemical fertilisers wasn’t right for the soil or the animals,” says Cliff, who from the age of 10 helped with the milking on his family’s farm at Cambridge. Then some 30 years ago, and against the trend, Cliff and Maureen Bayliss moved to a method of biological farming on their 270ha farm near Raglan.

“I guess I have always been a bit of a greenie,” says Cliff. Although he does admit that, in line with most New Zealand farmers, he and Maureen used superphosphate fertilisers and 245T on their farms in the past. However, Cliff’s instincts and observational s ills told im t e soil wasn t ouris ing there was an absence of worms and he felt his livestock were not reaching their potential. e initially used ﬁs fertilisers and now consults with Gerald Lane of Kiwi Fertiliser for advice and the supply of the inputs his pasture needs. “Once we stopped using chemical

fertilisers, I started to notice a difference in our beef animals, and to my eye and taste, reckoned they were producing superior, healthier meat, but I couldn’t prove it.”

Tracey’s proof

Maureen and Cliff’s daughter Tracey, who grew up on the couple’s Brookdell Farm, was to provide that proof. fter ﬁ e years o erseas wor ing in investment banks and telecommunication companies, Tracey returned to New Zealand and a career change. She studied at Elite International School of Beauty Therapy,

gaining national and international ualiﬁcations in beauty therapy and electrolysis. She went on to open a beauty therapy clinic in Raglan in 2005 and another, called Lime Spa, in Hamilton. onsciously aware t at ealt y s in and air and outer beauty was only possible if t e inner body was healthy, Tracey took a keen interest in diet. “However, I’d not made the connection between healthy, nutrient-rich food and the soil until I saw a video about chemical fertilisers and their impact on soils,” says Tracey, now the mother of six-year-old Brooklyn, who of course loves her grandad’s beef. Tracey tackled her dad about fertilisers and was astounded to learn he hadn’t used chemical fertiliser for 30-plus years. “I grew up on the farm and enjoyed the life but really didn’t understand what was going on. When dad told me he thought his beef was more nutritious because of the way he was managing the soil, decided to ﬁnd out if we could pro e it was.”

High omega levels

Tracey had meat from Brookdell Farm tested by AssureQuality and the results showed that the meat has high levels of health-giving Omega 3s and 6s and beneficial saturated animal fats. Continuous analysis shows the beef also has higher levels of many trace elements compared to shop bought beef. “Grandad’s Beef is rich in iron and zinc and more Omega 3 and Omega 6 within the optimum ratio of 1:1. Results from the heavy metals tested in the soil also show that our levels are on average 72 per cent lower than those required for organic farming.” Brookdell is, owe er, not a certified organic farm. That led Tracey to establish Grandad’s Beef, to market and sell beef produced on the farm to supermarkets, restaurants and online to the public. “We wanted to share our great meat with other consumers and also help ensure the family farm remains financially and en ironmentally sustainable.”

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Grandad’s Beef, thanks to the quality of its meat and Tracey’s marketing skills, is proving a success, with the meat now available in a number of retail outlets and restaurants. In July this year ‘My Kitchen Rules’ judge and executive chef for Nourish Group, Gareth Stewart, who oversees 11 restaurant kitchens, visited Brookdell Farm. He wanted to see where the Grandad’s Beef, which now features on the menus of his Jervois Steak House restaurants in Auckland and Queenstown, Euro Restaurant in Auckland and Pravda in Wellington, is grown and brought with him four other top Auckland chefs. For Tracey and Cliff it was a chance to explain the biological farming methods and the aging process which contribute to the great-tasting, healthy beef. “Our meat is aged on the bone for a minimum of two weeks.” continued...

Gerald Lane of Kiwi Fertiliser and Tracey Bayliss check out the farm’s soil health.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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Beef reared by ‘grandad’ Cliff on restaurant menus

Cliff Bayliss and his daughter Tracey Bayliss of Grandad’s Beef with some of the livestock on the Raglan farm. ...continued

Gerald from Kiwi Fertiliser isn’t at all surprised that Grandad’s Beef tastes so good and is nutrient-dense. “The farm’s soils and pasture are excellent, even now, despite the exceptionally wet conditions we’ve had all year.”

Grass sugar levels

A test hole Gerard dug in mid-September revealed a reassuring number of worms, despite the heavy rain, and a brix test of grass sugar levels (not ordinarily carried out during winter s owed a reading of ﬁ e. “That’s pretty good for this time of year and considering the low sunshine hours there have been.” Gerard uses regular soil tests and analysis (through Kinsey Agricultural Services USA) to make accurate recommendations for product and quantities required for optimum soil health. Nitrogen, sulphate, phosphates, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, boron, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and cobalt levels are tested, along with pH levels and humus content. Proof that the farm is not leaching nitrogen is conﬁrmed by tests of its waterways, carried out t is year, which show pristine clear water that is not only good enough to swim in, but good enough to drink. Tracey is so impressed by what her parents have been able to achieve through careful management of the soil she wants to see others have the opportunity to make the switch.

“The process of conversion will take around three years and will begin with a range of tests of soil and livestock to set the starting point. Consultants will make recommendations and support the farmers as they transition, taking further tests along the way.” Tracey has applied for funding through the Sustainable Farming Fund to assist in setting up the body she hopes will

Brooklyn loves Grandad’s Beef. help bring about farming practices which produce healthy, nutrient-dense foods, while also helping improve water quality and enhance the environment. o ﬁnd out more about randad s Beef visit www.grandadsbeef.nz Elaine Fisher

Biological producers

“It wasn’t easy for Dad. There was very little information around, other than doing things the conventional way, and I think many other farmers may be reluctant to do anything different for fear it will mean a drop in production and income.” at s w y er ne t pro ect is to form a not-for-proﬁt biological producers body wit consultants ualiﬁed to help farmers make the transition from chemical to biological fertilisers.

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Rescue hens -Free as a Bird ree as a ird is a non-proﬁt organisation w ic as rescued, re abilitated, and re omed more t an , battery farm c ic ens in its two and a alf years of operation. actory farming is a system t at as been widely s unned by t ose w o claim its operations are in umane, including eeping animals in crowded indoor cages and illing t em well before t eir time is due. ic ens are one of t e biggest ictims of t is, wit per cent of eggs sold being from battery farms. elly elps, t e founder of ree as a ird, suffered two in uries in t at left er unable to wor full-time. owe er, s e s not t e ind of person t at can sit and do not ing all day. en s e realised ust ow big t e battery farm business is in ew ealand, s e decided to do somet ing about it, now wit t e time a ailable to dedicate erself fully. t s escalated to w at call t e monster , says elly. new couldn t stop it, but could elp.”

Hundreds a week

elly rescues ens by de eloping a relations ip wit t e battery farm operators, communicating wit t em o er time. e will get in contact wit t ese businesses and arrange to ta e c ic ens off t eir ands on t eir ill days. ome farms are ery willing to do t is, w ile some won t allow it.

AUCTION

en s e ﬁrst started in o ember , s e was rescuing c ic ens a wee . ow, s e can e pect to . at s at least c ic ens elly must rescue, clean, adopt out and deli er eac wee . t s incredible ow muc it as grown, and ow muc people are willing to elp w et er by olunteering or by adopting,” says elly.

Excellent support

elly says s e couldn t a e done t is wit out elp. er t e years s e as recei ed t e elp of o erseas olunteers under t e ers sc eme, t e epartment of orrections and pet couriers. e is also grateful for t e support from er usband, w o occasionally c ips in on bills for feed w en adoption money doesn t cut it. was close to calling it uits a w ile ago, but t e support e recei ed as been e cellent.” attery farming is p asing out, but no laws against it will be enacted until . elly realises t at s e s far from ﬁnis ed, t oug . at e sa ed is ust a drop in t e ocean. m only getting out of e ery ill, and t ey re illing at a time out of a s ed Kelly Phelps of , . nd t at s and one of ust one s ed, and one her rescues company.” hens. ic ens cost to adopt from ree as a ird. f you would li e to ﬁnd out more about elly s wor , or adopt your own c ic en isit www.faceboo .com freeasabirdrescue or call .

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

EBS to give away Ranfurly Banks fishing prize Eastern Bay Sprayers is celebrating its loyal clients by gi ing away a ﬁs ing trip to t e world-renowned anfurly an s wit s ipper aron argent aboard t e oastal is ing arters boat trictly is ing . ere are two spaces on board to win and t e pri e will include one day s ﬁs ing and two nig ts accommodation at ai au ay odge. aul and ona c owell, w o boug t t e establis ed and successful company astern ay prayers in ugust , say t e pri e is t eir

way of e pressing a uge t an you to our loyal clients o er t e past years”. e way it will wor is for eac mont ly in oice paid, clients will get one entry into t e draw and t is will run from ctober t roug to t e end of ecember,” says aul and ona, w o are loo ing forward to s aring t is unforgettable ﬁs ing trip wit two loyal clients. e couple boug t astern ay Sprayers in 2012 to incorporate it into t e small agricultural spraying business t ey ad built up in t e onga awa e u e area. t was a big step for us at t e time,” says aul. e ad ama ing support from our customers and staff t at we

too on at t e time, Jac urner and ruce earce, w o were an in aluable part of our success. i e years on we a e an awesome team of staff. Jac is doing an ama ing ob in t e a atane area ruce as mo ed on to well-deser ed retirement and aron c ormic as since fitted in to ta eo er ruce s boom-truc . Paul and Shona am still ands-on McDowell of Eastern spraying and we also a e Bay Sprayers with two ery good guys fulltheir children Alyssa time and gun-spraying and Caitlin gorse, blac berry and are delighted to drains etc.,” says be now living at aul. uring busy times Awakaponga. Eastern Bay Sprayers employs e tra staff as re uired, and can a e se en e icles on t e road. e a e always ad a goal to use local staff and support local business. ow we are proud to say we a e finally ac ie ed anot er goal we set fi e years ago w ic was to mo e into t e astern ay of lenty to li e,” says ona. e couple a e boug t some land wit a small orc ard in wa aponga almost fi e years to t e day of purc asing . t s an awesome area, we lo e it.” or t e rest of t e year t eir two c ildren lyssa and aitlin will stay at onga awa c ool as t ey are in ol ed in arious acti ities t ere but will mo e to local sc ools at t e start of ne t year. e family is loo ing forward to meeting people in t e new area.

et manu a test rig t e inistry for rimary ndustries is pausing t e finalisation of t e definition for manu a oney until t e end of t e year. e a e decided to ta e more time to fully consider t e alternati e definition industry proided, says director systems audit, assurance and monitoring, llan insella. e will as t e industry to pro ide all t e data and met odology t at supports t e definition t ey are proposing so it can be fully considered. t s a comple tas . e are not prepared to rus it and we ust want to ta e t e time to get it rig t.”

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 11

Mike Muller remembered as kiwifruit’s ‘Master Weaver’ Kiwifruit pioneer Mike Muller’s positive contributions to the industry’s success can be found at its every level, from growers, to post harvest operators, to the Zespri board room, to international markets and to banks and insurance companies.

Mike Muller – the ‘Master Weaver’ who helped kiwifruit growers successfully weave the best of old, proven technology with new innovations. Mike, who died in September, was admired for his ability to unravel complex issues, using his slow, methodical approach, taking one step at a time to come to the right conclusion. His ability to clarify issues and motivate growers to do ‘what is sensible’ was highlighted by Peter Lyford of Lyford Horticulture when he nominated Mike for the industry’s Hayward Medal. Rather than chase the silver bullet of so-called new technology, Mike focused on proven basics done well on orchards. “But he is also a key player in many innovation areas like best practice for Hicane spraying and iwi reen practice. ere is no one better at ﬁeld days to clarify the key messages or separate the ‘smoke from the mirrors’ as he would say. “You could say he is the ‘Master Weaver’ of old, proven technology with new promising things. A role model for all who would advise and help others.”

Essence of leadership

Fellow grower Dave Goodwin, also in the Hayward Medal nomination, says “The essence of Mike Muller leadership is: sit on a nail box to think issues through…will not be rushed until he is ready to discuss. Ability to unravel complex issues; again the slow, methodical approach taking one step at a time”. Michael Muller was born January 6, 1945, in Otahuhu, the middle child of seven for Recardus and Phylis Muller. “A strong Catholic farming family, his upbringing was the product of the time. Work before and after school, mainly household chores, sport, gardening, short back and sides on the weekends. Church on Sunday and only after the weekly Sunday roast did they get time for themselves, nearly always spent competitively running barefoot for hours,” says Mike’s son and Bay of Plenty MP, Todd Muller. Mike left school at 15 and started working as a farm hand. The very shy teenager forced himself to learn and apply skills he knew he needed. He enrolled in Dale Carnegie and won the best speaker competition in his local club. He went out farming with his eldest brother Peter and during this time met his soulmate and future wife Trish. In 1974, Trish and Mike made the decision to leave dairy farming and buy a Chinese gooseberry orchard in Te Puna, where the family has been ever since. Todd says it was a brutal arrival into an emerging industry. “Firstly, they were growing the wrong variety,

Bruno, which tasted good but had no shelf life, so they had to graft the orchard over to Hayward and worked themselves to a standstill cleaning Te Puna Tavern, pumping gas, any odd job to stop the bank from foreclosing.” During this time Mike met Roly Earp and his son Brian and a connection began which stayed strong until Brian’s untimely death a few years ago. It was Roly who suggested Mike spray his orchard to assist the Muller’s cas ow, and so began t e in ol ement wit contract spraying. Trish and Mike built the contract spraying orchard business to service more than 100 orchards, establishing a reputation as a qual-

ity contractor. They also began packing other peoples’ fruit from the mid-1970s, going the extra mile for their growers and the wider community.

Apata Coolstores

“They saw the demand for coolstorage as the Hayward crop expanded, and put everything on the line to establish Apata Coolstores Limited with trusted friends Brian Earp and Peter Mayston,” says Todd. The next change in direction in Mike’s professional life was his involvement with the establishment, with David Stevens, of the then ground-breaking KiwiGreen model. “The industry found in Dad someone who

could connect with growers and explain the commercial market rationale in a way that was inherently logical and common-sense. “He was the perfect person, partnered with Bruce Stowell and Peter Mulligan, to talk to growers about the potential of a new variety, Hort16A. He travelled the length and breadth of this country countless times re ecting wit growers on t e opportunity at their doorstep,” says Todd. Zespri chief executive Lain Jager says Mike had networks around the country and was at the forefront of many developments in an industry career that spanned 36 years. Todd says his father believed the real value in life is not what you do, but how you live.

Elaine Fisher

Page 12

RURAL DRIVER

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ll a ian s of he o la a da ha e achie ed f ll fi e s a ANCAP rating in the newest assessment round. and all ariants of t e a da e growing mar et of fi ebuilt from pril onwards. e star’ rated cars has been added rating for t e ia icanto applies to all to with the latest release of ew ealand ariants built from ay onwards. e icle safety ratings gi ing ll t ree e icles come wit a good safety-conscious buyers plenty range of safety-assist tec nologies more options to c oose from. as standard including city and interurban grades of autonomous n t e newest round of ustralasian emergency bra ing. ew ar ssessment rogramme ile blind spot-monitoring comes as nown as ratings t e a standard feature in ustralian ariants ercedes- en - lass abriolet and of t e a da - , it s not a ailable on t e popular a da - bot ac ie ed t e base ariant a da in a full fi e stars. ew ealand, but is a ailable on ig er e ia icanto was limited to four spec models. stars due to lower scores for pedestrian t s unclear w y t e feature was not and c ild occupant protection. included as standard in ew ealand, otoring er ices general manbut we would li e to see manufacturager tella toc s says t ere is a uge ers offer ew ealand dri ers t e same range of c oices for buyers loo ing for a degree of cras pre ention tec nologies safe car, but t e c allenge is finding t e as standard t at ustralian and often information. uropean dri ers recei e,” says tella. e is calling for e icle e full list of safety information to be s e icle pro ided at point of safety ratings, sale, similar to ot er e icle fuel economy safety informainformation tion and the already a ailspecifications of able. t e rated e icles anufacturare a ailable online at ers a e lifted t e ancap.co.n or rig tcar.go t.n safety game w en it comes to e icle is supported by all ustralsafety and s ould be proud to display ian motoring clubs, t e ew ealand t eir ratings at dealers ips across t e utomobile ssociation, t e ustralian country,” s e says. go ernment, t e ew ealand go erne fi e-star rating for t e ercedesment, ustralian state and territory en - lass abriolet applies to all go ernments, t e ictorian ransport two-w eel dri e and ariccident ommission, nsurants built from ctober onwards ance and t e oundation.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Gas guzzler answer to fuel crisis? Auckland Airport’s fuel crisis was pretty dire and according to Sharron Ruitermann of Bombay the stretched limousine which featured as the Country Funnies picture in last month’s Coast & Country News may have been able to help. This image of a limousine was the Country Funnies photo for September.

engaging and inspiring book ‘Little Truff and the Whales’ by Ann Russell, illustrated by Lara Frizzel, which is this month’s book prize. e first reason is t e presence of s ar s loo ing for a banquet. A human being would make a nice snack. To find out t e ot er si you ll a e to read t e boo . This latest in the Little Tuff series is endorsed by the Department of Conservation for its accurate portrayal of how whales should be rescued if they become entangled in a fis ing net. The author is well-known for her series of books featuring the Blenheim Cavalier dog called Little Truff and her adventures involving New Zealand’s land and sea creatures.

This story begins with Little Truff and her family enjoying a day on the ocean, when they see a humpback whale caught up in a net. To ensure all details in the book are correct, Ann worked closely with the Department of Conservation’s New Zealand Large Whale Disentanglement Team, and Project Jonah who assist in stranded whale rescues. The back of her book features information pages and videos showing these organisations in action and includes whale song. Thanks Return trip to out aciﬁc oo s, oast ountry “You did say a return trip?” News has a copy of ‘Little Truff and the came from Lee and Bill Newman Whales’ to give away. of Gisborne. To be in to win email For her captions; “Stretching captions (as many as you out the fuel;” “Petrol is no luxury” like) for the hen photo and “Long White with short red,” and send with your name Judy Norris of Tauranga wins and address with Country a copy of the book ‘The Chalk Funnies as the subject line Rainbow’ written by Deborah Kelly, to elaine@thesun.co.nz illustrated by Gwynneth Jones and Or put these details on published by Exisle. the back of an envelope There are seven very good and post to Country reasons why people should Caption this chicken Funnies, PO Box 240, never leap into the water to photo to be in to win Tauranga 3140 to arrive no save an entangled whale and a book prize. later than October 19. all are explained in the

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CENTRAL PLATEAU FOCUS

PAWS stores assist in pet welfare What started as one small ‘community shop’ in Putaruru has morphed into four shops in three towns and all money goes to help animal welfare. Pet Animal Welfare Shops, known as PAWS, provides funds to assist in the de-sexing of cats and dogs. Since t e ﬁrst s op was started in ctober 2009 they have raised $600,000, most of which has been used for de-sexing but also encompasses other short term veterinary needs.

Putaruru woman Meg Wilson is the founder and driver behind PAWS and has extensive experience in animal welfare. She was initially chair of the Putaruru SPCA and then the South Waikato SPCA for several years and w en s e left in ctober ,s e saw there was a real problem with the ‘animal explosion’. “Cats, kittens and puppies were being dumped, drowned, and discarded in cardboard boxes. These were unwanted litters of both cats and dogs considered super uous to re uirements. “I wanted to be the taxi at the top of

the cliff, rather than the ambulance at the bottom.” Meg had a surplus of goods. She contacted her friends with the idea of starting a shop to raise funds to help pay for de-sexing these unwanted animals. “Six friends and I put in $120. We found an empty shop in Putaruru and the landlord gave us a month’s free rent. We begged and borrowed racks and equipment and opened the shop within a couple of days. “It was a crazy time and within six months we had absolutely no room in the shop. We were overwhelmed with donations, people had been so generous giving us their unwanted goods and we were selling plenty out of our little shop.” en t e group accumulated in t e ban Meg approached the local vet about setting up a desexing campaign for $5000. After placing an article in t e local paper all t e appointments for t e ﬁrst campaign had been allocated – and the $5000 was gone. “This showed us quite quickly that there was a massive need for this type of help and PAWS grew. We became a charitable trust. No one was paid, all the work was done by volunteers.

More shops

“We opened a second shop, this time in Tokoroa and a third shop in Thames – there was a huge need to address the animal explosion in that town. Later we opened a second shop in Putaruru to help cope with the amount of donated goods.” All items – clothing, furniture, linen, and books – in the shops are donated. They are sorted, priced and allocated to a particular shop. The shops are all run by volunteers. “We now get a number of bequests and requests from t e family of deceased estates. ften t e family are more than happy for PAWS to help clear out the family home,” says Meg. “We often get asked to ‘take everything’ and we are

PAWS founder Meg Wilson with fellow PAWS trust member Gilbert Hawkes. Photo: Fritha Tagg. more than happy to do that. We offer to take the goods ‘out of town’ if that suits the family.”

Arrangements with vets

Meg says the need for de-sexing the animals has not diminished and PAWS now has arrangements with vets in Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and Hamilton and they work with New Lives Rescue in Cambridge and Kitty Korner in Te Kuiti, along with other animal rescue organisations. After eight years the money raised in the PAWS community shops has paid for hundreds of cats and dogs, kittens and pups to be de-sexed. PAWS does not pay for all de-se ing costs. wners must a e a ommunity er ices ard and pay for a cat and for a dog; PAWS pays the remainder. Pet owners apply at their local vets to see if there is money available or through the PAWS Pet Animal Welfare Shops Facebook page. If you would like to donate to PAWS call in to any of the PAWS shops for more information. The PAWS Facebook page includes the group’s bank account number. Just a donation of $5 a month would be very much appreciated. Fritha Tagg

Rhododendrons, azaleas and much more Rhodohill Nursery in Rotorua grows plants which suit the Rotorua/Central Plateau area but that doesn’t mean that many won’t do well in warmer areas, owner Dave Stewart says. Founded 32 years ago, Rhodohill Nursery specialises in rhododendrons and azaleas. It has both evergreen and deciduous azaleas and a wide range of rhododendrons large trees wit spectacular owers and great foliage along with the smaller bushes. “Rhododendrons are very forgiving plants,” says Dave. “They do well in our acid-free, free-draining soil and although they like steady moisture once established, they can be quite drought-tolerant.” The nursery has a good range of camellias and other ornamental plants and trees and a large range of

Japanese maples – many grown at the nursery, which steers away from plants which don’t do well in the local area. “If we haven’t got the plant you want, we can always get it for you and we do plenty of work with landscape gardeners and designers so you can bring your garden plan in and we can show you the plants and work out a competitive quote.” Rhodohill is ‘old school’ in that its owner grows a lot of stock from scratch at the nursery and garden centre on Paradise Valley Rd in Rotorua. This makes the operation very cost-effective and the nursery can pass these

savings on to customers. “Most plants cost at least 20 per cent less than the major garden centres and can be as much as 50 per cent less.” The team at Rhodohill Nursery has a wealth of plant knowledge and is always pleased to help sort out any garden problems, or suggest solutions or alternative plantings. They have three sales each year – Easter, midwinter and Labour weekend – when the nursery is open seven days. At other times of t e year it is open ﬁ e days from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. Rhodohill Nursery is at 569 Paradise Valley Rd, Rotorua.

CENTRAL PLATEAU FOCUS

Page 15

Experienced team enthusiastic about bikes Establishing a motorcycle business in Taumarunui more than 30 years ago has proved extremely successful for Russell Josiah. The business, Bike Torque, services the King Country and Ruapehu regions with anot er ofﬁce and wor s op in torohanga. It specialises in farm and motocross bi es, and increasingly side-by-side s (utility task vehicles). i e or ue aumarunui is t e aut orised agent for Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris and Kawasaki brands, selling and servicing all t eir models of bi es and s. e comprehensive service department employs six full-time mec anics to ser ice and repair all makes and models for work or play.

s a long-time u u i dealer, ussell became a highly successful retailer of the brand’s innovative and revolutionary quad s, so a mo e to side-by-side s is another market change he has been a strong part of and it has become a huge part of t e business day-to-day operations in a ery short space of time. ussell says olaris currently as t e ig est selling model in t e ew ealand and side-by-side mar et wit t e anger 570 HD, achieving almost 20 per cent more sales t an t e ne t ig est-selling model. Yamaha continues to be a strong player wit its ol erine and i ing models which are popular due to their strong reputation and t ree-year manufacturer warranty. “We recently added the Kawasaki marque

back into our The Polaris line-up w ic Ranger 570 HD, had a lot to do available from wit t eir e tenBike Torque, is the si e range of highest selling options, which ATV in New complement the Zealand. others,” says Russell. Farmers on the lookout for a new farm vehicle should take advantage of Russell’s knowledge and experience and speak to him about their requirements. All Russell’s staff members are keen on motorbikes and have thorough product knowledge. “We’re all enthusiasts,” says Russell. “I try to employ people who have the same passion that I have; it’s not just a job.”

Host a morning tea to save kiwi The ‘Great Kiwi Morning Tea’ returns on riday, ctober 27 to raise funds to support kiwi conservation projects across the country. Kiwi production is ramping up says ic elle mpey, e ecutive director of Kiwis for Kiwi, and kiwi can be saved from Kiwi can be saved e tinction by boosting numfrom extinction by bers of chicks hatched from boosting numbers of the wild and releasing them chicks hatched from into predator-free abitats. the wild and releasing “With the help of funds them into predatorraised during Save Kiwi free habitats. Month, we can stop the decline of kiwi by increasing management of breeding and predator control. “You can do your bit to help our precious kiwi. Just get toget er wit family, friends, colleagues, neig bours or complete strangers and hold a Kiwi Morning Tea and ask your guests to make a donation.” Michelle says just $100 is enough to save one kiwi by controlling predators across its habitat for an entire year. ile t e ofﬁcial reat iwi orning ea day is riday, ctober , you can old your e ent any time during Save Kiwi Month. Five things to do during Save Kiwi Month: • Hold a Great Kiwi Morning Tea • Make your patch predator free: Trap a rat – or a possum, stoat, weasel, feral cat olunteer at one of t e e isting iwi pro ects near you a e your dog iwi-a ersion trained (it’s quick and easy)

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Page 16

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Why nitrogen reference points are wrong Under the proposed Waikato Regional Council Healthy Rivers Plan Change 1, each farm will have its own Nitrogen Reference Point (referred to as NRP) based on the historical nitrogen leaching value estimated by Overseer for the 2015 or 2016 years, a measurement which has colloquially been referred to as ‘grand-parenting’.

input systems being targeted, so naturally they wanted to look after their own investments and survival, and the rural professional advocate was largely in uenced by is dairy consultant colleagues who love recommending nitrogen.

Farmers will not be able to exceed these values for their property in the future and low-leaching farmers are rightly up in arms over this proposal since it will effectively reward historical polluters and punish farmers who have been good environmental stewards. From what I understand the Combined Stakeholders Group consultation process was essentially hijacked by the dairy and rural professional representatives who advocated for grand-parenting NRPs rather than having a catchment-based or land class-based approach, which in my opinion would be a lot fairer. The dairy industry advocated grand-parenting as it could see milk production from high nitrogen

However, my opinion as a rural professional was never canvassed, although I have certainly made my disapproval of grand-parenting known after the fact. Similarly all of my dairy farmer clients who I have spoken to about this were never canvassed for their opinion by Fonterra, and by and large are incensed that NRPs are going to be used like this, as most have not been high users of artiﬁcial . s a rural professional, also ﬁnd myself wit a con ict of interest w en it comes to environmental compliance as I can see it being a gravy train for rural professionals as farmers will need to employ people like myself to do Farm Environment Plans and Nutrient Budgets. Consequently I have made the decision not to do these as my conscience tells me the proposal currently on the table with PC1 is just wrong, and I don’t want to make money from something I am in total disagreement about, so don’t want a bar if it.

Farmers incensed

Environmental stewards

One dairy farming couple who I have provided soil fertility advice for the past 27 years are Graham and Rosemary Davison who farm next to the Waipa River near Otorohanga. Because of their low input system with little artificial nitrogen being applied, their NRP according to Overseer is 17, which is very low compared to most Waikato dairy farms. The Davisons have been great environmental stewards and their property as magnificent stands of a i atea trees which they have put into the QE2 Trust, so are protected from being ever cut down. Along the river bank the Davisons, at their own initiative and cost, are in the process of planting 25,000 natives and other plants. Rosemary’s father, the late Arthur Cowan, was a well- nown figure in en ironmental circles and was

a farmer conservationist well ahead of his time, and Rosemary has taken on board her father’s values when it comes to caring for the environment. Last month when I came to take more soil tests for them they expressed concerns that with such a low NRP, when it comes to selling their farm one day in the future, prospective buyers could be put off because of suc a low ﬁgure.

Impacting land values

Prospective buyers will not be able to increase this, and yet most dairy farms in the catchment are double theirs, averaging 30-40 kgN/ha. I was recently told of one farm nearby which also borders the Waipa River with a NRP of over 70. A huge difference to the a isons ﬁgure of . I began advising the Davisons on soil fertility back in 1990 as they were not happy with what their local fertiliser rep was offering, and have embraced my balanced approach to soil fertility, focussing on healthy soil, healthy grass and healthy stock and not being reliant on artiﬁcial nitrogen. Graham has said to me more than once he wouldn’t know where to turn if I was not around, but now it would appear that looking after their soils, not overstocking their farm, not piling on nitrogen nor buying in truckloads of PKE or bulk maize could work against them in the future. Their farming operation has been highly sustainable and environmentally friendly, producing 1300 kgMS/ha on a pasture based System 2 farm with in-shed feeding. It ticks all the boxes of good stewardship, but now with NRPs and grand-parenting, good historical stewardship could actually devalue their farm. Robin Boom CPAg, Member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists, phone 027 444 8764.

Stands of kahikatea trees on Graham and Rosemary Davison’s Otorohanga farm are protected under the QE2 Trust.

DAIRY

Page 17

Cover girl Ayrshire now in pampered retirement Rosie is a pretty special Ayrshire cow. Not only was she an award-winning calf, but she also went on to become a valuable part of the Leech family milking herd. Now, at 17 years old, Rosie lives in pampered retirement on the Leech farm at Tirau. Rosie made the cover of the February 2001 issue of Coast & Country News with Daphine Leech when the pair won reserve champion leading, ﬁrst for

Rose and Dephine Leech featured on the cover of the February 2001 issue of Coast & Country News, which Daphine framed as a present for her grandfather Straun.

care and attention, second for Best Dairy Type and fourth for all breeds heifer calf awards in the calf club section of the Katikati A&P Show. Straun Leech was so proud of his granddaughter’s success that he kept a copy of the newspaper. “Several years ago I discovered my grandad had the original copy – the whole paper,” says Daphine. “He had kept it all those years so as a birthday present for him I got it framed. He loved it. Sadly, in ay last year, e passed away after a long ﬁg t wit cancer. The framed paper now proudly hangs in my home and I always think of him when I see it,” says Daphine, who is now a dairy farmer. “Grandad is the reason my family and I have such a big love for Ayrshire cows. Grandad actually pulled Rosie into the world. Her mother was having trouble calving, so grandad was helping her. That was his last season helping like that because he got diagnosed with

Daphine Leech and Rosie, the Ayrshire which was her award-winning calf club heifer in 2001.

cancer in 2001. “Rosie is no longer milking due to arthritis in both her hips but lives the life of luxury in retirement on the farm in Tirau, with a whole paddock to herself and special feeds from me.” Straun Leech lived in one of the two houses on the farm in Tirau which he owned. “My father Graeme had taken over sharemilking on the farm, but for years

Grandad would still hose the yard every morning and collect the mail every day.” The love of Aryshires and farming Straun instilled in Daphine is the reason she took up dairying as a career. “I'm currently working on a dairy farm down Totman Rod, 1.5km from Dad’s farm. This is my third season working there on Howard Farm Ltd for the best chilled boss ever, Bryce Howard.” Elaine Fisher

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DAIRY

Page 18

Organic management helps family achieve century Converting to organic farming has proved sustainable not only for the environment but also for the Vosper family of Matamata. It’s among the reasons three generations of the family are still farming the land close to 100 years since brothers Cleave and Fred Vosper drove a herd of Jerseys north from Taranaki to

settle at Matamata. Cleave is the great-grandfather of John Vosper, who along with wife Liz Mackay and son Michael Vosper, run the farm known as Cleavedale, which supplies organic milk to Fonterra and also sells its milk under the brand name Jersey Girl Organics. Cleave is the grandfather of brothers Ron and Maurice who along with their wives, Marcia and Beth, still live on the farm known as Cleavedale. John has admiration for Cleave and Fred who made the long trek on horseback to bring the herd of Jerseys to Matamata. It was Cleave’s son Jack who took over the farm, followed by his sons Ron and Maurice. Today Michael represents t e ﬁft generation of Vospers on the land.

A2 milk

The farm, close to the urban boundary, is 80 hectares, with a 40-hectare support block at the foot of the Kaimai Ranges. All of the 240 cows in the herd have names and produce ‘A2’ milk which lacks a form of beta-casein proteins called A1. A2 Liz Vosper of Jersey Girl Organics with loyal beta-casein is easier to customers Deborah Workman and son Tiare, digest and is believed 8, at the Tauranga Farmers Market. to cause less milk

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allergies.“Many of our customers say our milk is the only cows’ milk they can drink.” The farm began the conversion to organic production in 2003 and John says belonging to the Organic Dairy and Pastoral Group proved invaluable. “The group has members who are certified t roug different agencies and who use a range of different organic inputs so it was great to be able to talk to the farmers and find out w at did and didn t wor for them.” It was falling dairy prices which triggered the change in management but Jo n says t e benefits of farming organically go beyond financial. e firmly belie es it is better for the cows, the soil, waterways, and the wider environment, plus the health of those working the land. “I used to hate applying weed sprays because I always got headaches afterwards.”

Resurgent soil life

e also ta es pleasure in t e resurgence of life in the soil, including an increase in worm numbers. That soil biology has been augmented with the introduction of beetles from Dung Beetle Innovations. “We recently released dung beetles and I’m hoping the population will increase over time.”

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DAIRY

Page 19

Benefits of system more than financial John thinks funding to subsidise the cost of the beetles would encourage more farmers to introduce them, helping address issues of nutrients and pathogens getting into waterways.

Mitigation measures

Soil health is important to John for more than personal reasons. His ‘day job’ is as sustainable agriculture advisor for the Waikato Regional Council which includes helping farmers manage their land in ways which reduce nutrient and sediment leaching into surface and ground water. “Some of the measures to mitigate issues require re-thinking farm design, including not building races alongside drains or having stream crossings with no barriers to run off. It can also mean

understanding in which paddocks ephemeral streams might appear in heavy rain, and electric fencing the water course out, or if possible keeping stock off that area for a time.” However, John acknowledges that reducing leaching and sediment getting into waterways has been extremely challenging in 2017, with exceptionally high rainfall from late summer and autumn, right through winter into spring. Building soils which have increased capacity to cope with wet conditions is another management tool and John says while faming organically is one way of doing that, it’s not the only way. A growing number of farmers are using what’s termed as ‘biological’ farming techniques which are a mix of organic and conventional

farming practices, involving careful monitoring of crops, soils and inputs with a view to producing high-quality foods in a sustainable manner. John says, in effect, it’s almost a return to the way in which his family once farmed. “We grow maize on our farm but of course can’t apply weed sprays so we grow it very much like my uncle in the Okoriore used to do decades ago.” This involves ploughing the paddock – usually one used for ef uent irrigation, lea ing it fallow for three weeks to reduce pressure from pest such as slugs and cut worms, and then planting seed a

little later in the season to ensure rapid growth. “We harvest about 19 tonne to the hectare which is not as much as conventional crops but we are happy with that yield.”

Diverse pasture

After harvest the maize paddocks are re-planted with a mix of pasture species including clovers, plantain and chicory, giving the cows a varied diet and providing diversity to support soil life. o increase t e ﬁnancial sustainability of Cleavedale, the Vosper family has installed a small organic milk treatment

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John Vosper of Jersey Girl Organics with some of the herd.

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and bottling factory next to the farm’s 20-bail rotary dairy. The milk is pasteurised, but not homogenised. As well as supplying a number of outlets with Jersey Girl Organic milk, John and Liz sell the milk at farmers markets in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge and Tauranga. o find out more about t e rganic Dairy and Pastoral Group and its upcoming field days go to organicpastoral.co.nz o find out more about Jersey irl Organics go to jerseygirlorganics.co.nz

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PK / SILAGE BUNKERS

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Page 20

DAIRY

Big wet delays maize planting – again By the end of September we would normally be planting maize – but not this year. Like farmers and cropping companies throughout the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, we’ve been unable to get machinery on paddocks because unrelenting rain has saturated the soil and there a e not been enoug ﬁne days to get grass dry enough to make silage. So, as we did last season, we are revising which varieties we plant and it looks like we’ll be putting in the shorter maturing ones which actually did better than I expected this season. These varieties are designed for cooler areas such as around Rotorua and further south but when planted in areas with warmer temperatures, like the Bay, their yields are quite good. However, these maize varieties produce a lot less on average per hectare than long-maturing varieties which can be uite signiﬁcant across large plantings – and will no doubt mean less maize silage available this coming season.

Soil temperatures

We are luckier than a few contractors and farmers in the Waikato who have some of last year’s maize still standing, and probably rotting, in paddocks. The rain really hasn’t stopped since March and sunshine hours

have been so few that soil temperatures are not coming up as would be expected, so grass growth has been affected. For farmers at the busiest time of the year, constant wet, cold conditions are draining on energy and positivity. It’s not easy getting up to mud, hard work and rain every day. It affects staff morale and the health of cows too. Cows are using much of what they eat just to keep warm instead of producing milk and getting into calf, which is why milk production is down. That means another hit for farmers. Fonterra’s forecast is up, but milk volumes have dropped.

Direct drill seeds

Managing pastures in these conditions isn’t easy as paddocks are damaged by stock. One solution, when the paddocks are dry enough to get machinery on, is to direct drill with chicory or sorghum into the worst of them which will provide feed through the summer, especially if it does eventually turn dry. More permanent pasture can be planted in autumn.

We all need the weather to turn ﬁne. en it does there’s going to be a lot happening and this is when good communications between farmers and contractors will be essential to ensure there’s plenty of warning about what’s planned and when it needs to

happen. As always, farmers need to be thinking ahead regarding their requirements for feed and placing orders. We have plenty of standing grass which we’d normally make into silage, but can’t get it cut because of the wet conditions.

Weird weather

This year has certainly produced some weird weather but I guess we have to count ourselves lucky that we haven’t been hit by super hurricanes as they have in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. There is a feed shortage so get your orders in early. Demand is high and you don’t want to miss out when you need it most – in the summer when protein levels are traditionally high and you are restricted as to how much PKE you can feed before you breach Fonterra milk taint levels. So be sure to order early as we still have some good quality grass silage bales and maize silage available.

Growers support FAR research and extension Cropping farmers have overwhelmingly voted in support of continued investment in research and extension for their industry in the Foundation for Arable Research’s sixth referendum. Electionz.com Ltd was contracted to administer the referendum which has given arable, maize and cereal silage growers the opportunity to have their say on whether or not they wish to continue investing in industry-good research through FAR. The FAR referendum covers three separate levy orders, and the support for each of them has increased since the 2011 referendum. Results were: arable crops, 90 per cent support; maize, 78 per cent support and cereal silage, 66 per cent support. FAR chief executive Nick Pyke says these results are a fantastic endorsement of the hard work and commitment of growers, FAR staff and industry colleagues. “We work hard to ensure research investment matches growers’ current and future requirements. Through feedback from our regional Arable Research Groups and Research and Development Advisory Committee, we identify areas of importance, and then address them through research strategies and applied programmes. “In recent years FAR has increased investment in research around a range of environmental issues which impact on farmers’ ability to use their land effectively.

DAIRY

Page 21

How pastoral farming can be the answer The assertion by some farmers that a loss of s ort-term income ustiﬁes continued land and water degradation is wrong on two counts.

Lush pasture on a farm near Thornton in the Bay of Plenty belonging to a Functional Fertiliser client. The increase in nitrates and phosphorus in our groundwater is a result of the over-application of bag nitrogen, partly compounded by the resultant loss of soil carbon. e loss of soil carbon means less ﬁltering ability and nutrient storage capacity, and for water in drier times to be rapidly us ed t roug t e topsoil, rat er t an being held for use by plants. This means a steady reduction in annual pasture production and, although bag N is an effective development tool, the current reliance on it for the maintenance of permanent grazed pastures (the backbone of our farming systems), means a continued ongoing reduction in low-cost production.

There are a number of other well-documented production benefits to a system founded on legume production, but ignored and largely forgotten in t e stoc ing-rate-firstdriven systems of the past 25 years. Under astute management, carbon can be rapidly se uestered. n fact, potentially, intensive pastoral farming is t e uic est and most efficient way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing oxygen to be released while the carbon is stored, and ground water purified.

Side header

The importance of this process is reinforced by the statement made by Dr Graham Sparling in the 2004 Norman Taylor Lecture: “The soil biological process is the only process whereby we can get reactive nitrogen from the soil and water back into benign nitrogen gas. But at present we seem to be headed in the opposite direction, adding ever more nitrogen and phosphorus to our soils”. As award-winning journalist Philippa Stevenson wrote at the time: “Only 0.1 per cent of 5 million researchers

worldwide ma e t e scientific community’s international highly-cited list. Dr Sparling is one”. The initial change re uired for ew ealand’s pastoral farming to again be regarded internationally as ‘the best in the business’, is primarily one of focus. The way forward is to put soil fertility systems in place that genuinely build top soil, and then stock and manage appropriately. There are a selection of properties nationwide that can be used as examples, which scientists, researchers and farmers can gain information from, once the determination to make the necessary fundamental change ‘kicks in’. Shifting to a genuinely sustainable system can be seamless, with an increase in pasture production available in the first mont s. t does in ol e ta ing on board some new information and adjusting a few management practices. However, those that have already made t e switc find t e new processes surprisingly simple and intuitive, with the results both satisfying and rewarding. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

Farms uneconomic

This results in less income or higher costs for land owners, reducing the amount of genuine cash surplus at the end of the season. It’s only a matter of time, possibly wit in t e ne t ﬁ e years, before some currently well-regarded intensive farming enterprises become uneconomic. It’s also wrong because continuing to apply an average of 160kgN/ha to our best land isn’t necessary. There is available technology to replace it, which recent testing indicates a steady building of soil carbon, reducing nutrient lost to groundwater, and increasing pasture and total farm production. The replacement is simple stuff which has been developed in this country using knowledge gained from wor by t e former epartment for cientiﬁc Research, the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Landcare Research, from as far back as the 1940s when the physical soil structures, nutrient content and living organisms were examined and recorded in detail.

Sustainable production

arming systems, using clo ers to ﬁ t e re uired nitrogen, for the sustainable production of over 18,000kgDM/ha have been in place for much longer than systems based on fertiliser N.

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Page 22

Change of direction will not be that easy At last there is a change on the horizon. One of our major fertiliser companies has stepped up to the plate to offer a helping hand to save our rivers and streams from future pollution. Of course this would be like putting the handbrake on a fully-laden logging truck on a downward slope, in my opinion. I applaud the CEO for joining the team. Although there is an utterance from this committed team to stop the pollution, the answers of how to do it will need to be found. The current science is failing the environmental futures test and the majority of New Zealand farmers.

Good bacteria that eat pond crust and sludge?

Although farmers are the focus of the attacks from environmentalists on water pollution, the fault also lies with the NPK fertiliser companies which provide a specialist service and sell the fertiliser to 95 per cent of our farmers who are following their advice. There is an acceptance that superphosphate and urea grow grass. This is so entrenched in farmers’ minds that a lot of fertiliser applied is carried on the back of superphosphate. If you need K and S a likely brew could be potassic sulphur super.

Super 10

If you needed Mg a likely product would be serpentine super, or if your budget is tight, Super 10 would do the job. A modern change lately is the use of DAP which is a brilliant product to deliver soluble p osp ate w ic is particularly efﬁcient for cropping. Research has proven that it will not lift

phosphate reserves in the soil unless applied at heavy applications. Where soil phosphate levels are already adequate, (30+ Olsen P), to use superphosphate as a carrier is wasting farmers’ money and the excess is polluting our rivers and streams.

phosphate at pH5.8. So to increase your current phosphate levels just move your pH from 5.8 to 6.3. Your soil phosphates will actually increase without applying any phosphate.

Cost effective

There are two points to this picture I have painted. 1) Superphosphate, DAP and urea are all water-soluble. If these products are applied in excess and they are water-soluble where do you think they will end up? 2) To stop the cause of the pollution, not only will these water-soluble products need to be stopped but the NPK-trained specialists will need reprogramming. To change the direction of such an entrenched system wont be easy. For real science with integrity which will save money and grow more grass, ring me.

A soil nutrient which is being used up with every tanker load of milk leaving the farm is calcium. Research has shown that an average dairy farm would need 300kg lime per hectare per year to keep up with what is leaving the farm as milk. Lime would therefore be a much more cost-effective carrier for elements which are essential like potassium, magnesium, sulphur and trace elements. Another fallacy is the acceptance that pH should be 5.8-6.0. scientiﬁc table s owing t e a ailability of nutrients at differing pH levels illustrates that phosphate is twice as available at pH6.3 compared to the availability of

Two points

David Law, Forward Farming, phone 027 490 9896.

The immediate cause of your pond crust is pathogenic bacteria in the effluent. These bacteria separate the effluent fibres and the send them to the surface to form the crust. How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally. Not only do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent nutrients into organic forms that are easily used by plants. In other words, they liquefy your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser.

NEW eco-friendly sanitiser Most farmers use Chlorine to clean their sheds. Problem is, Chlorine also kills the Slurry Bugs. But now, there’s a new Chlorinefree sanitiser that kills pathogens 2.46x better than Chlorine but leaves these good Slurry Bugs alone! It’s called DX50. To fix your pond without expensive machinery, go to www.forwardfarming.co.nz to read more or call David Law on 027 490 9896. SEE US AT THE EFFLUENT EXPO HALL B, Site 19

Innovation in irrigation Farms and businesses with new products, technologies, or practices that exemplify innovation in irrigation are being encouraged to enter IrrigationNZ’s ‘Innovation in Irrigation Award’, sponsored by Southern Wide Real Estate. The highly prestigious award promotes innovation in irrigation and has a $2,500 cash prize. Entries for the award close at the end of October. re ious finalists and winners a e benefited from t e e posure and profiling t at follows and we want more innovative individuals and businesses to experience these opportunities” says Chris Coughlan, business manager at IrrigationNZ. “The brief for the ‘Innovation in Irrigation Award’ is very broad with a focus on recognising innovation in the irrigation sector. “The awards will recognise ordinary people and businesses doing new and extraordinary things. “This could range from innovative practice or behaviour, a new product or technology or innovative community thinking around irrigation.” Key dates and award information can be found at www.irrigationnz.co.nz/conference-2018.

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EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

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Climate change seminars upskill professionals Many farmers are starting to lower emissions from their land and livestock, and rural professionals have an important part to play in providing consistent advice on how to go about it says Kara Lok, DairyNZ’s senior adviser leading climate change. Her comments follow a series of climate change workshops held throughout New Zealand which attracted 420 participants. The nine greenhouse gas workshops were run as part of the Dairy Action for Climate Change and targeted rural professionals around New Zealand who wanted to hear about the science of climate change, mitigation options available to farmers, and how they can help their farmer clients reduce emissions. “Addressing on-farm emissions – methane, which is formed when ruminant animals burp, and nitrous oxide, formed when nitrogen escapes into the atmosphere – is one of the most challenging issues facing the dairy and food producing sectors, globally and in New Zealand,” says Kara. “Many farmers are already doing things on-farm

that lower greenhouse gas emissions such as planting trees, and better soil management to reduce nitrogen leaching. “Then there are the other science-based endeavours that are well underway, like the research to breed cows that produce fewer methane emissions, and the possibility of a methane inhibiting vaccine in the future. “Feedback from participants has been great. While they understand there is no silver bullet, they now know what options farmers can adopt right now. I hope this translates to the message getting out to farmers about what emissions reduction options they can implement. “While our dairy sector is one of the most emissions efﬁcient producers in t e world, we now more action is required to address our emissions over the longer term. Rural professionals can make a difference by providing the leadership to ensure knowledge transfers to the farming community.” DairyNZ will be running climate change workshops for farmers in early 2018. ew ealand as a uni ue emissions proﬁle for a developed country, with 49 per cent of emissions from agriculture compared to 11 per cent average in other developed countries. • The Dairy Action for Climate Change has been developed by DairyNZ in partnership with Fonterra

Greenhouse gas workshops run as part of the Dairy Action for Climate Change were well attended.

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Page 24

EFFLUENT EXPO

Ponds in sensitive areas , cubic metre ef uent pond currently being constructed by ondco ad acent to a protected wetland at utaruru, will be s owcased at t e f uent po at t e laudelands ent entre in amilton on uesday, October 17. amis orbes of ondco says t e client c ose ondco to construct t e pond because of t e materials t e company uses and its record for being able to wor in en ironmentally sensiti e areas. e pond not only bac s on to a protected wetland, it is also surrounded by nati e bus , so consent conditions were toug .” e pond as been constructed using t e best a ailable geosynt etic products on t e mar et and utilising ondco s award

ondco’s ef

winning entroid ef uent pond design, says amis . ontinuing wet conditions t roug out most of t is year a e made t e constructing of ef uent ponds difﬁcult, but amis say, t e wet also illustrates w y dairy farmers need storage ponds. ey can t irrigate w en t e pasture is too wet and must be able to retain ef uent until t ey can.” ondco not only constructs ef uent ponds, but also as t e e uipment to elp ma e t em safer for t ose li ing and wor ing around t em. ur ponds are designed so t at w ate er side of t e pond a fall may occur, t ere is always a rope close at and. ur afety scape ystem is made of per cent marine grade materials, and for most ponds only four corner posts are re uired.” ll ropes are mac ine-spliced and

ond safe

manufactured in from blended polypropylene and polyet ylene resins. e materials are stabili ed to meet e treme conditions and mm ropes a e a brea ing load of g, wit mm ropes a e a brea ing load of g. e system includes mm ig buoyancy oats, also manufactured in from marine grade stabili ed , and seam-welded for ma imum performance. gg oats at about e ery two meters eep t e w ole system isible and on t e surface, and large corner buoys stabili e t e entire system. e also offer single pull out corner ropes, life rings and danger warning signs.” ondco also pro ides and installs liners for erd barns.

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EFFLUENT EXPO

Page 25

State-of-the-art effluent system for research farm When setting up a research farm, some of t e ey re uirements to consider for t e ef uent system are e ibility, control and monitoring of the delivery, says Reid & Harrison chief executive Keith Cooke.

“For the Southern Dairy Hub’s newly completed ef uent system, Reid & Harrison worked in closely with Tag IT and Waterforce Southland,” he says. Reid & Harrison supplied the system which features the Yardmaster Self-priming Multistage Pump that delivers the green water to the four zones, including a supply of greenwash to a backing gate. With Tag IT, the Yardmaster Supersmart HALO system controls and monitors the ef uent, mil and water systems on the farm as well as monitoring weather. e ef uent system controls multiple functions and features, monitoring pond and sump levels as well as GPS locations of the irrigator.

s t e local ardmaster ertiﬁed Dealer, Waterforce Southland oversaw the implementation of the project as well as providing ongoing support when and if needed. Keith says the concept of this system is being able to alter t e pump ow or zone being used from any smart device. e system pro ides e ibility to respond to the needs of the farm by being able to ad ust t e ow and deli ery to multiple applications. We were conscious that this being a research farm, the ability to control and monitor the system would be critical for the work being conducted there.” The result is a state-of-the-art

ef uent system ﬁt for a tec nologybased research farm. The Southern Dairy Hub, described as a cutting-edge research and demonstration farm, is near Invercargill. Southland and South Otago farmers and businesses have invested $1.25 million in the hub through the Southern Dairy Development Trust, and principal shareholders DairyNZ and AgResearch have invested $5 million each. Conversion of the 349-hectare property began in November last year and the hub is now in operation and research underway.

The Yardmaster Supersmart HALO system controls and monitors he ef en il and a e s s e s on he o he n ai esea ch fa as ell as oni o in ea he .

Taking worry out of effluent management Hi-Tech Enviro Solutions is one of t e oldest accredited dairy ef uent management designers, manufacturers and suppliers in New Zealand. Business development manager Rob Johnson says Hi-Tech’s highly-skilled and experienced team has a deep appreciation of ef uent regulatory re uirements built up over more than 24 years working with farmers across the country. e literally ta e t e worry out of ef uent management, leaving farmers to get on with what they do best – producing the best milk in the world.

“We provide a total service – from on-farm advice to design, manufacture, installation and servicing of innovative technologies and systems which either upgrade or e tend e isting e uipment t roug to complete turnkey solutions. We also import and assemble, supply and service world-leading dairy ef uent products. “Our closeness to farmers and environmental agencies enables us to design and build uality uni ue dairy ef uent systems w ic are inno ati e, durable, reliable and which meet or exceed compliance and safety standards – and which give the farmer peace of mind.”

e o oa fa e a io nold i h i e a ison of i ech n i o ol ions eside a io’s ne ef en ond hich is a of he ef en ana e en s s e desi ned i ech n i o ol ions.

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Page 26

EFFLUENT EXPO

THE PROSUMP: EFFLUENT STORAGE THAT LASTS FOR GENERATIONS

BULLETPROOF CONCRETE: WON’T RUST, WON’T RIP, WON’T LEAK COME AND VISIT US AT THE EFFLUENT EXPO! Come and have a chat with us to learn what you need to do to help ensure your farm is worry-free for future generations.

Tuesday 17th October, 9am - 3.30pm Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton

CALL US ON 0800 PRESCO 7 7 3 7 2 6

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EFFLUENT EXPO

Ponds individually designed Presco Environmental Infrastructure’s concrete ef uent storage pond, t e rosump, w ic as a minimum build-life guarantee of years, will be on s ow at t e f uent po at t e laudelands centre in Hamilton on October 17. resco s contracts manager li er restidge says resco specialises in sustainable ef uent management systems and t e rosump is t e ags ip product. ery rosump is indi idually designed and built to suit eac farm. e go out on-farm and meet wit t e farmers to discuss t eir current operations and t eir dreams for t e future, w ic is at t e forefront of our minds during t e planning process. e will t en go and c ec out t e particular farm s soil properties, topograp y and rainfall and our specialists

esco’s

calculate t e ultimate storage le el for t at farm, balancing regulations wit future plans, but also w at s best economically.” e company ta es a olistic iew of t e farm s ef uent systems and loo at all t e different ways it could be impro ed, suc as different si e pipes, different pumps or installing stormwater di ersion. resco staff can ad ise t e farmer as to t e best way to deal wit ef uent and, alongside t e rosump, also supplies builds ot er supporting ef uent infrastructure including sand traps, transfer sumps, solids storage bun ers and weeping wall systems. resco s rosumps are manufactured using mm t ic , , triple-reinforced concrete for e tra strengt and to wit stand t e corrosion of t e ef uent. e ponds can be installed completely inground, completely abo e-ground or anyw ere in between depending on t e lay of t e land and site conditions.

rosumps a e t e lowest t roug -life cost of any ef uent storage option currently on t e mar et,” says li er. e ponds are not only built for long-term durability, t ey also pro ide many s ort-term benefits and cost sa ings. e oor of t e rosump is dis ed w ic , along wit t e up to . m ig ertical walls, ugely decreases t e rain catc ment area and footprint on t e land, contributes to less solids build-up and ma es stirring more efficient. rosumps are designed for ew ealand s roug weat er conditions, including wit standing eart ua es and ground mo ement. ac pond is designed by a certified engineer. rosumps do not rely on a liner waterproofing is in t e concrete and t e uni ue t ree-stage sealing process. isit t e ef uent e po in amilton to see a model of t e rosump and tal to t e resco team.

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Page 27

Pond Death Most farmers use Chlorine to clean their sheds. Problem is, Chlorine also kills the good bacteria (Slurry Bugs) in your pond that eat the crust and sludge. Now there’s a new Chlorine-free, eco-friendly sanitiser that kills pathogens 2.46x better than Chlorine but leaves the good guys alone! It’s called DX50. To find out more about Slurry Bugs and DX50, call David Law today. SEE US AT THE EFFLUENT EXPO HALL B, Site 19

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EFFLUENT EXPO

Big turnout expected Nearly 40 exhibitors – with more expected – have been conﬁrmed for t e latest f uent po being run by Waikato Regional Council, with support from airy .

And, going on previous years, undreds of farmers will attend t e e ent on ctober , from am to . pm, at t e laudelands onference and Exhibition Centre in Brooklyn d, amilton. The expo – now in its sixth year – aims to build upon the success of pre ious e ents by pro iding an opportunity for farmers to engage wit a range of industry professionals around ef uent management and infrastructure. The council sees ‘doing it once and doing it right’ as a great guiding philosophy when it comes to upgrading farm ef uent management systems and t e e po will elp farmers do ust t at. Taking a holistic approach to farm ef uent management is promoted and the expo provides a one- stop-s op for water, ef uent

storage and ef uent application ad ice. e e ent aims to elp farmers to increase t eir ef uent nowledge and have well-managed, ﬁt-for-purpose ef uent systems on t eir farms,” says council sustainable agriculture advisor Hamish mit . nformation will be a ailable on a range of systems w ic will elp ensure full compliance wit relevant rules and good management practices in t e region.”

Positive effort

Farming services team leader Stuart Stone says there’s a lot of ery positi e farmer effort going in on meeting ef uent management rules, although compliance data for t e last financial year shows there are still some gains re uired. e farming ser ices team strongly appreciate t e efforts indi idual farmers are ma ing to lift t eir game on t e compliance front, w et er it s a ing t e rig t infrastructure in place or sufficiently trained staff to ensure infrastructure is wor ing as it s ould. ut our figures s ow t e dairy sector in the Waikato still as some way to go o erall.

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“The data, in particular, reinforces t e need for farmers to ensure t ey a e ade uate ef uent storage to comply 365 days a year and this will continue to be a focus for our one-on-one wor wit farmers.

Relevant seminars

“However, the sector is making progress and the team will continue working closely with farming groups and indi idual farmers.” e e po is free of c arge to members of t e public and, besides osting stands from individual organisations, the expo will feature a number of rele ant seminars t roug out t e day. Seminar subjects include: • Waikato Regional Council monitoring etting ef uent storage olumes sorted tracting alue out of farm dairy ef uent. People will be able to visit the cafe onsite to purc ase food and drin s. lenty of par ing will be a ailable on site ia gate . ore information on t e expo is available at www.wai atoregion.go t.n

EFFLUENT EXPO

Vibrations separate out effluent solids he aine

i a sc een offe s an ad an a es fo fa e s incl din i s ca aci ocess la e ol es of a ef en .

A vibrating screen designed and developed by the team at Rainer Irrigation is providing the answer to one of dairy farmers’ headaches – the separation of ef uent solids and li uid. e ainer f uent ibra screen, w ic will be on display at t e f uent po, laudelands ent entre in amilton on ctober , is a pre-treatment system for dairy s ed ef uent t at separates t e solids from ef uent and was down water. ar ymonds, ser ice manager for ainer rrigation, says t e screen can process ef uent down to a si e of one millimetre of compressible solids. is is done by utilising a stainless steel ibrating screen, a met od pro en reliable in many ot er industries for decades. “The system processes dairy shed wash-down water at a rate of up to litres per second, signiﬁcantly more t an many ot er systems. ts solid robust construction combined wit minimal mo ing parts pro ides a simple and reliable ef uent system wit

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low running costs. e ibra creen can be retroﬁtted to suit e isting on-farm infrastructure, elping reduce initial capital costs,” says ar . e ainer f uent ibra screen offers many ad antages for farmers, including its capacity to process large olumes of raw ef uent. ecause of its design and construction, t e system is low maintenance wit minimal mo ing parts. e recycled water it produces is able to be used for yard was -down and t e li uid ef uent is centre pi ot in ection-compatible. e system is also cost-efﬁcient. Mark says separated solids can be easily spread on pasture wit in a s ort time and once t e li uid is separated, it can be stored and used in e isting irrigation systems. e ibra creen stirrer mi es raw ef uent in a sump or saucer, t en a ea y duty pump deli ers raw ef uent onto t e ibrating screen. is allows li uid to pass t roug for storage in a tan or pond, and from t ere, distribution to irrigation or was down. olids collect and de ydrate by falling off t e screen to a drainage pad, ma ing it easy to collect t em for spreading onto pasture.

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Page 29

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EFFLUENT EXPO

New regional leaders for network e ast ai ato airy omen s Network group welcomes two new regional leaders to the team and both are farming in alton. Astra-Lee Burrows farms with her partner on a 380-cow farm and Jodie Goudswaard sharemilks 530 cows with her partner. ey are bot e cited to be oining ac el Scimgeour and Suzie McIntyre to bring new events and training opportunities to dairy women in t e ast ai ato. e ast ai ato group co ers t e rural areas surrounding Matamata, Morrinsville and e ro a and t eir aim is to support and inspire women in the business of dairying.

e group s ﬁrst e ent of t e season is a ameness or s op w ic Jodie is osting on t eir farm on utc inson d on ursday, October 5. “It will be very practical and hands-on with participants able to get in there and have a go at hoof trimming themselves,” says Jodie. resented by osie eyne e from Animal Health, the workshop will start at 11am and include some theory followed by a practical session, and ﬁnis off wit a barbecue lunch. e wor s op is open to anyone and free to attend so farm staff and partners can all come, but please register so there is enough food for t e lunc . o register isit airy omen s etwor www.dwn.co.n

Astra-Lee Burrows is a new regional leader for the East ai a o ai o en’s e o .

Jodie Goudswaard, new regional leader for the East Waikato Dairy Women’s Network, with her h s and a l and child en lise o i and inn.

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Qubik has a large resource of people and equipment so farmers can mil wit conﬁdence, says yle sborne ubi s ef uent design consultant. Qubik has recently completed a new shed install and ef uent system for a farm in e awa. e farm as a large silage bun er and feed pad. f uent enters double weeping walls then passes into a lined pond. rom t ere, ef uent is pumped by a 15kw Read and Harrison self-primer pump to a travelling cannon irrigator. al to t e e perts from ubi at t e f u-

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Qubik has recently completed this new shed install and ef en s s e fo a fa in e a a.

FERTILISER

Page 31

Technological disruption posses threat to agriculture A new agrifood sector report has found that New Zealand farmers have been quick to adopt smart farming techniques, but few are preparing for major technological disruption. The report, funded through Microsoft’s Academic Programmes initiative and prepared by researchers from the Massey Business School, examined the impact of cloud computing and other potentially disruptive technologies on the sector. Researchers interviewed both technologists and members of the agrifood industry and found there was a gap between how the two groups perceive the future. “In the agricultural industry people are making really pragmatic business decisions to invest heavily in technology,” says lead researcher Professor tep en elly, but t ey firmly belie e that tomorrow will be like today, just with more technology added. “Meanwhile the technologists are predicting change at an unprecedented rate, causing major disruption to business practices and models.” tep en says t e significance of t e findings s ould not be underestimated as there could be major implications for the sector.

Global corporates

What the agrifood sector is currently doing is brilliant. They are agile, very accepting of new technology and

continually looking for better ways of doing things. But most aren’t visualising what the industry will look like in 10 years’ time.” He says New Zealand should prepare for the arrival of large, global corporates t at can produce so efficiently t at cost structures could be halved in a relatively short period of time. “If that happened, most New Zealand businesses would not be able to compete using their current business models. “There are only a few ways to compete: follow a corporate model but you need a lot of capital find a niche, which is getting increasingly difficult or ta e a collaborati e networ approach. “Collaboration would allow smaller firms to get t e benefits of associating wit larger pillar firms t at are better resourced and integrated into global networks.”

New Zealand public.” icrosoft c ief tec nology ofﬁcer Russell Craig says the research adds

to the collective understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the agrifood sector.

Environmental outcomes

While technological developments will lead to impro ements in efﬁciency and production, the report also recognises the potential for technology to improve environmental sustainability and better manage biosecurity risks. “Better monitoring and control systems are seen as key to reducing negative environmental impacts and closing biosecurity gaps. “Cloud computing and the collection and sharing of more and more data means the industry can work together to improve practices in this space, and they know that’s important for their relationship with consumers and the

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Hassle-free fert bags for ease of delivery Providing farmers with granular, solid fertiliser in hassle-free bags avoids the mess and the dust normally associated with handling fertiliser says Keith Jackson, general manager of Landco Fertiliser.

ers can return the bags or we will collect them at no separate charge.” Landco Fertiliser also offers clients one great price for fertiliser delivered on-farm. That price includes delivery within 70km of Pukekohe and a minimum tonnage may apply. Landco Fertiliser, the ag-division of long“We supply our fertiliser in 500, 1000 and 1200 standing business Hortigro Ltd, specialises multi-use bulk bags which have a bottom unloading chute, making it easy to start and stop delivery. Farm- in providing modern generation fertilisers and service excellence to the region surrounding Pukekohe. Keith says it is “a modern fertiliser company” putting customers ﬁrst. e a e sincere beliefs and philosophies about soil health which start with a comprehensive soil analysis and recommendation. We don’t believe in incomplete soil tests; guessing what nutrients are required; selling products if they aren’t required; or putting excess on, as it simply gets wasted,” says Keith. Landco Fertiliser has a great range of quality fertilisers that make spreading easy, and

from an environmental perspective, the company’s G-Phos Guano Phosphate seems to offer

t e beneﬁts t at pro ide less arm to the environment.

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the innovation pipeline and customer and market development. Marc has extensive global experience having lived and worked in both emerging and established markets, including Thailand, China, Japan, Europe and the US. Marc is an experienced global finance e ecuti e Marc Rivers takes up the role He has a Bachelor of Arts in International with strong strategic of on e a’s chief financial Studies and an Internaleadership capability. office in a ch . tional Masters of Business He is known for his Administration, Finance and German commitment to leading and developing from the University of South Carolina, his people, with a track record of buildColumbia USA. ing diverse and inclusive teams. “Marc will be a great addition to the He is currently the CFO at Roche Fonterra management team. His track Pharmaceuticals Division in Switzerland, with oversight of NZ$51 billion record of global financial leaders ip in sales, including 14 manufacturing and his personal alignment to our sites around the world. His division of Fonterra values will be a real asset to Roche is responsible for product distrius,” says Fonterra chief executive, bution for 140 countries, focusing on Theo Spierings.

Farmers cast votes this month in DairyNZ elections DairyNZ levy paying dairy farmers vote this month for their preferred candidates – with six farmers in the running for two board of director positions.

Farmers are also voting on several resolutions, including one proposed rule change to reduce directors’ terms to three years (from four years currently). Postal and

internet voting closes 12 noon Tuesday, October 24. Results will be announced at the DairyNZ Annual General Meeting in Rotorua on October 25.

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Time to reward producers for top quantity milk Fonterra will be using a tiered payment system for milk next season. It is about time incentives for quality milk were paid, just like they were pre-Fonterra. Unfortunately, the top tier for the highest uality mil only re ects t e seasonal standard pay-out. The other three levels are at a lower le el to re ect poorer quality milk. It’s taken Fonterra 16 years to start showing an inkling of leadership, but they introduce disincentives, not incentives for quality. How about showing some initiative and rewarding quality? After all, quality milk is required to manufacture certain products. It would have been bolder to ban PKE as the goat industry has, but since Farm Source, a Fonterra owned subsidiary is the largest importer of PKE, the bob-each-way approach has prevailed. We are a trading nation and should not compete at the bottom end of the market with commodities. We need to produce high-quality goods that command a premium. It is well-known that PKE in particular alters the structure of the fat in the milk. That precludes butter and cheese making. PKE also negatively affects the cows’ health. In short, it shortens cows’ lives. A European study declared the NZ Dairy Goat Co-op to be the best producer in the world of quality infant formula.

Futile action

Chasing production can be a futile action. It has a high probability to increase costs. Finding out what in uences proﬁt is a far better course of action. nce you have the answers to that equation, production follows. Farms should be returning six to 12 per cent return on total investment. At Kiwi Fertiliser, we consistently promote actions that improve quality. It all starts in the soil. Without a balanced soil, quality just cannot happen. But who has been paying for quality? Fortunately, when quality is targeted, quantity follows along with superior stock health, fertility, reduced vet bills and reduced chemical application to pastures and crops. Those on our programme for a few years are not bothered by facial eczema, even when the neighbours are. They are not bothered by pests, and they are not bot ered by mineral deﬁciencies or diseases, or low conception rates. The bottom line is improved and farming becomes a pleasure, not a struggle. It is working with nature at its best.

Top of game

We have been told that Miraka has two lists; one for farms with the best production, and the other for the lowest somatic cell count of the milk produced. Kiwi Fertiliser services six farms that supply Miraka. All six farms are on both lists. The moral of the story is clear. If you want to produce top quality milk,

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(or meat, fruit, grain or vegetables) pick up the phone and call Kiwi Fertiliser. We are only too happy to help you to get to the top of your game. Grandad’s Beef is a Kiwi Fertiliser client. They have been farming for 36 years and only use natural fertilisers. Grandad’s Beef produce and market biological and sustainable beef. The meat they market as superior taste and ery ealt y mega 6:3 ratios of 1:1, as measured by analysis. Grandad’s Beef sells to leading restaurants in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and ueenstown. ey will need to find ot er suppliers as they grow. www.grandadsbeef.nz It’s really very simple. Cows are designed to consume pasture. The reality is if you want to make profit stop buying production. se t e urea money, the PKE money, the herbicide money, the animal health money to get off the not-so-merry-go-round and fi t e soil. t all starts t ere. Isn’t it ironic that one fertiliser company is advertising t e benefits of applying selenium w en superphosphate applications have been implicated as a cause of selenium deficiency in s eep and cattle in parts of NZ (Andrews et al., 1968)?

Superior hay

Some decades ago, I was asked by an older farmer if I knew how to make hay in April. My response was that I couldn’t even make hay in March. The reason for this was that NPK pasture was of too poor quality to be able to dry down while the weather or location was marginal. Now, with biological methods, making hay of superior quality in a four-day window, and silage in a two-day window is completely possible. When the farmer and the contractor both know what they are doing, superior pasture and other crops can be baled for silage or hay within the two to four days required. The key is to grow quality forage. When the phosphate, calcium, magnesium and boron are at luxury levels in the plants, the plants are packed solid full of sugars, not water. They dry down quickly. When stock eat the

forage, baled or not, they respond with extra weight gain or milk, and they eat less of it. There is less

wastage. Even the calves can be weaned onto high-quality balage without complaint.

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Coroner calls for more work on quad bike safety a whole-of-government approach to her recommendations. Her recommendations are that agencies with a mandate to set, implement and enforce quad bike standards and safety consider whether: t e uad i e or place afety ro ect ﬁndings provide a case for ROP devices to be mandated for all quad bikes; • a rebate or subsidy programme for rider

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It is imperative that further work be done by the government to address New Zealand’s unacceptably high number of quad bike deaths and serious injuries, says Wellington-based coroner Brigitte Windley.

training, purc ase and ﬁtting of de ices, and purchase of alternative vehicles should be introduced for farmers and their employees who use quad bikes in performing their farming activities; and a national ﬁ e-star safety rating system for uad bikes should be introduced. The full Coronial Finding into the death of Neville Anderson is available at coronialservices.justice.govt.nz

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espite t e public attention uad bike deaths have received, and the ongoing work done by government agencies such as WorkSafe and ACC with input and support from industry organisations, quad bike deaths were reported to have reached a record high in 2016.” The quest for safer design and use of quad bikes is not new, nor unique to New Zealand. The coroner noted research that quad bike fatality patterns in Australia and New Zealand are broadly similar and support harmonised trans-Tasman injury prevention efforts.

Roll-over devices

“While there is ongoing work by government agencies such as Worksafe and ACC to raise awareness of quad bike safety through education, on the basis of this recent research it would seem timely for New Zealand agencies with a mandate to set, implement and enforce quad bike standard and safety to revisit the position of mandating ROP devices.” The coroner detailed other government initiatives rolled out in Australia to incentivise the farming community towards safer quad bike use. The development of a mandatory ﬁ e-star national uad bi e safety rating in New South Wales had also been announced and was reported to have national support. “It is imperative that we examine proposals that may improve quad bike safety and reduce quad bike trauma and death,” says the coroner.

Whole approach While WorkSafe New Zealand has a lead role in workplace quad bike safety, the coroner suggested a cross-agency working group convene and consider

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She acknowledged roll-over protection devices as a controversial issue in uad bi e safety but identified compelling Australian research providing the first e er infield e idence about t eir protecti e benefit.

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Kiwi pilot helped Galapagos wildlife When Steve Collins began working as a shooter, killing and capturing deer from helicopters in New Zealand and later training as a pilot, he had no idea those skills would lead to a part in the largest, most ambitious ecosystem restoration pro ect in t e world.

eing in ol ed in ro ect sabela in the Galapagos Islands is the best job I’ve ever done in my life,” says Steve, who now lives near ati ati. As helicopter operations manager and chief pilot, Steve was a member of a team of experienced New Zealand pilots and shooters who, in 2002, went to Galapagos with the aim of exterminating goats which were decimating the islands ecosystems.

“We killed more than 250,000 goats and more than 1000 doneys. m not really into illing on that scale, but in this case it was essential,” says Steve, who tells the stories of his time on Galapagos in is boo te e ollins unter ilot .

Pilot training

e aim of t e pro ect was t e complete removal of all feral goats from Pinta, Santiago, and

northern Isabela, to allow the reestablishment of natural ecological conditions and preserve the islands’ uni ue ora and fauna. “Ever since I read a National Geographic article about Galapagos, I wanted to go there,” says te e. ot only did e get to visit, Steve also helped make a dramatic difference to the islands. ut none of t at would have been possible had he not been encouraged by older brother, pilot e e ollins i h he ﬁ s oo he has Joe Collins and Steve’s then i en a o his life as a h n e ilo . boss and helicopter operator ernie ilroy, to train as a pilot. later relocating and monitoring wildlife told ernie was too dumb to in t e , e ico and anada. be a pilot and his reply was ‘if those ose latter ad entures are to be t e bastards can do it, so can you. o you subject of his second book, due out think they are smarter than you?’ I had later t is year. ne er t oug t of it li e t at before.” um encouraged me to write t e So Steve enrolled in the Nelson Avia- stories for my children and grandtion College owned and operated by children but I had no idea how to do Wally Wagdendonk, whose patience t at.” o te e set about learning to and belief in him Steve credits with write by enrolling in a course run by the fact he was able to pass his theory Jenny rgante at t e aiari i ay of e ams. en began t e fun part lenty olytec nic. ying. te e is a natural story teller. is style e t eory is w at found ardest. is engaging and descriptive, giving e practical side of ying a elicopter the reader an insight into the people, is easy. s it is for any s illed operator the places, the drama and the beautiof mac inery t e elicopter becomes ful environments he experienced in an e tension of yourself.” nearly four decades in one of the most challenging and potentially dangerous Wildlife recovery occupations t ere are. n years of ying elicopters te e te e ollins unter ilot ew clocked up more than 15,500 hours; ealand alapagos slands is a ailable in deer shooting and recovery and as a online at ste ecollinsstudios.com and tourist operator in New Zealand; his from aper lus in ati ati. involvement in the Isabela Project, and By Elaine Fisher

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FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

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Gases in agriculture – education has begun I get the feeling that our overseas markets are beginning to wake up to the fact that we might just not be as 100 per cent pure as we make out, and that our supposed efforts to reduce our emissions have been in the form of cash paid for some pretty suspect savings by other countries. So, when I was invited to go to a session in Te Awamutu on climate change and agricultural gas emissions, I made sure to be there. It appears that Fonterra, DairyNZ, MPI and MfE have joined forces to start an education process at consultant and farmer levels. DairyNZ has new staff focused on gases, and AgResearch also rolled along to tell us what they have been ﬁnding in w at, in some cases, are ery e pensi e trials about met ane and nitrous o ide mainly from cows. First, we got a rundown on climate change itself, including what we knew already, which seemed a mi ed bag from audience group answers.

Since then I have done a lot of reading about the effects of urea on cattle, and was astonis ed to ﬁnd t at overseas they actually feed urea to cows to make up for shortfalls in protein content.

High protein

In New Zealand we have the reverse problem, in that for much of the growing season the pasture has very high protein content. So why are we doing our best to give our poor old cows permanent diarrhoea by smothering that high protein grass with more urea, most of which is either eaten, or goes straight through to groundwater? I was told by a farmer some years ago that he noticed that when cows went onto pasture that had had urea spread recently, they spent a huge amount of time at

the trough, which of course resulted in more frequent urination. Well if your gut was boiling from being upset by too much of the wrong food for its microbes to cope with, and producing vast quantities of ammonia, you would probably head for the tap and then urinate freely. Some farmers seem to have been coninced by e perts t at t ey can t grow grass wit out urea, to t e e tent t at t e urea spreader follows the cows around the farm, and the spaces between grazings are relatively short. Add to that the often very long walks to the shed twice a day, and people see animals getting more and more tired,

and t inner, and t en e pect t em to get pregnant again immediately.

White clover

Mother Nature and white clover have for centuries been pretty good at growing pasture, and if we looked to helping them do their job better with mycorrhizae and bacteria, rather than pouring on endless chemical N, many farmers would probably be surprised at what happens. I did, and these days I have masses of feed for two cows, two donkeys and three goats, no squirting bottoms, and make huge amounts of hay off my one hectare.

By Sue Edmonds

Cow burps

Then a rundown on trials conducted at Grasslands at Palmerston North on reducing the wicked methane from cow burps. They have compared results from different feeds, with forage rape apparently making the most difference, although most trials on this have been done with sheep. Fodder beet and maize silage results are still uncertain. High cereal diets (80 per cent of feed) can help, but are costly to use here. The item of most interest to me was that ‘pasture’ (80 per cent ryegrass, 20 per cent clover according to them) fared worst in all the trials. But when I asked about the soil components used to grow the pasture, they advised that they had decided not to include this in their current reporting. So, there was no information on the nitrate levels of the pasture, or how much urea had been used.

Cows’ urine

report from n ermay on nitrous o ide followed, and the cows’ urine got the blame, and soil got mentioned nowhere. There were standoff facilities and urease inhibitors mentioned, and fodder beet was apparently better than kale in providing some reductions. They also offered some management practices to reduce greenhouse gases, including reducing replacement rates, breeding for higher BW with lower stoc ing rates w ic tied for ﬁrst in reductions , using alternative feed such as forage rape, applying N fertiliser along with a urease inhibitor or using standoff pads when N loss is highest. However, they varied somewhat when it came to measuring the cost of $/ kgCO2e/ha saved, with alternative feed doing best and standoff pads most e pensi e.

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COAST & COUNTRY

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POOLS & SURROUNDS

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Barrier Reef pools are sold and installed throughout New Zealand by retailers who appreciate the great reputation, fabulous designs and attention to workmanship of t e arrier eef ﬁbreglass pool. Barrier Reef pools have been imported to New Zealand by Andrew and Jocelyn McGilllivray of auranga since . Jocelyn says the network of retailers is currently expanding throughout New Zealand and some of the new retailers are adding the Barrier Reef product to their existing businesses, such as Stu Gill of Zones andscaping in t e ran lin area. Other new retailers adding the Barrier Reef range to their existing business include Jude Calder of Chops

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Landscaping in Whitianga, Chris Brasell Landcapes, aupo and lan Jones of td in ambridge. isborne families will also a e t e beneﬁt of a new local retailer, JP and Theresa Anderson of Pools and ore isborne. “The Andersons have years of sales and customer service and look forward to helping Gisborne families turn t eir pool dream into reality. ools and ore Gisborne will be at the Poverty Bay A&P Show on ctober - ,” says Jocelyn. “The new retailers complement the existing retailers in North Auckland, Kerikeri, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, Matamata, South Waikato and the South Island, many of whom have been involved wit arrier eef pools for many years.” a e a splas t is summer. ind your nearest retailer of arrier eef at barrierreefpools.co.n

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POOLS & SURROUNDS

Pools handy-people can install

Pool Land can supply pool packages at very competitive prices, ready for summer.

Pool Land is the New Zealand agent for quality Australian-made Sterns brand vinyl-lined pools which can be supplied in a variety of models and sizes and are easily installed by the home handyman. Salt water-capable pools are also available says Jessica Taylor of Pool Land. Some models offer a deep end option ranging from 1.2-1.8m or 1.37-1.9m deep. “All models are suitable for in-ground and above ground installations. Pool packages come complete wit uality pump, sand ﬁlter, large s immer bo , ‘eyeball’ return and vacuum cleaning equipment.” Pool Land, which is a one-stop shop for swimming pools, spa pools and all pool accessories, has successfully marketed pool products nationwide for more than 20 years from the retail outlet and wholesale distribution warehouse at Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch.

“A range of pools, spa pools, pool accessories including covers, rollers, heat pumps, and auto cleaners, ladders and maintenance kits are available for nationwide supply,” says Jessica. Pool Land can supply pool packages at very competiti e prices and pac ages range from appro imately $5000-10,000. Larger size pools are available also by special request and all can be delivered nationwide. Pool Land directly imports pool accessories including cover rollers, bubble solar heating covers, pool heat pumps, and automatic pool cleaners. Pool bubble co ers increase pool temperatures up to ﬁ e degrees Celsius more than uncovered pools. Pool heat pumps allow for total control of water temperature and typically customers will select a temperature of 27-28 degrees Celsius, says Jessica. ool co er rollers mean tidy, space-efﬁcient storage of the cover when it’s removed from the pool surface. Pool Land offers an online shop www.poolland.co.nz and purchases of many products can be made online.

POOLS & SURROUNDS

Page 41

Solar power and robotics keep pools clean Having a Floatron in three different pools over the past 20 years has given Melissa Growden an edge when it comes to swimming pool maintenance, and how to keep chemicals to a minimum.

Melissa started selling Floatrons while she was studying at university, after using one with great success in her family’s pool. It made such a difference to the clarity of the water, and the chemical use was cut to a bare minimum. The business grew from there, and Melissa has been the exclusive Floatron NZ agent since 1997. A lot of time on the road in the early years has led to Floatron being a leading product for pool maintenance in New Zealand. It has made a world of difference to family life for company owners, Melissa and Craig. They have an increased passion for this product since having their three daughters, especially since one suffers with eczema and allergies. She suffers when swimming in chemical-laden pools, but Melissa and Craig are thrilled that she can swim in their pool all day long, with no skin or health issues at all. The Floatron is a revolutionary solar-powered water puriﬁer for swimming pools, w ic replaces t e need for chemicals by up to 90 per cent. The technology was initially developed to purify drinking water by NASA,

The Floatron solar-powered ae iﬁe fo s i in ools e laces he need fo che icals o e cen .

and uses the process of ionisation to combat algae and bacteria in the water. “With a Floatron you swim in crystal clear water, with no taste, smell, or chemical effects (that means no dry skin, or red stinging eyes). You save so much time on pool maintenance, because you don’t have to add excessive chemicals, or frequently test the water. And, you save money too, because chemical usage can be cut by an ama ing per cent,” says elissa. Alongside the Floatron, Melissa sells Zodiac robotic and automatic pool cleaners, which the family has used for more than 15 years. “These include automatic

Spa company’s 38-year experience Soaking in a spa pool is a wonderful way to relax and relieve the stresses of the day.

years to include the features that make your spa very easy to own and maintain, and they are also very energy efficient”. Sundance sets the industry ince ancient days t e benefits of standard for quality, safety and hydrotherapy for easing muscular aches durability and has been recognised and pains has long been known. internationally with more awards urc asing a spa is a significant and honours than any other spa investment so you want to ensure you company. are well-informed when making your “Our spas are sold by our local spa selection and that you are getting dealers who have a superior value for money regardless of your knowledge of spas and a genubudget. Established in California in 1979, ali fa il i e is s one of he ine confidence in t e uality of Sundance Spas has grown to become ad an a es of o nin a s a ool. Sundance Spas. Their expertise will simplify the often confusing spa the largest manufacturer of acrylic selection process and ensure you get the best spa for spas in the world. Sundance Spas manager Marcelle you. This means you can have assurance in the quality Churchman says, “Our history provides you with the product and quality service, and will know that your assurance that when you own a Sundance Spa, you own in estment in your spa was well wort w ile.” a spa for life. Our spas have been engineered over 38

pool cleaners which save you having to push a manual vacuum around the pool. These start from around $700 for the smallest model, right up to about $3600 for the top-of-the-range robotic cleaners with remote control and Wi-Fi capabilities via an app on your phone. eople are ama ed to ﬁnd products t at can sa e them so much time and money on their pool. Many people simply don’t have the time to look after their pool, and t ey are so glad to ﬁnally come across t e loatron.” Melissa sells Floatron and Zodiac cleaners from Gateway Caravans, 2 Gateway Drive, Whakatane (opposite the hub). Most sales are online, but it’s great for clients to be able to call in and buy locally.

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RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

ooling buildings by sending eat s ywards system capable of passi ely cooling water to below ambient air temperature wit t e potential to reduce t e amount of electricity re uired to cool commercial buildings by about per cent is reported in a paper publis ed online in ature nergy . ir conditioning accounts for a signiﬁcant portion of building energy consumption. ypical systems use a condenser system to cool circulating air, w ic consumes electricity and eats t e local en ironment. inding ways to lower t e energy usage of air-conditioning systems could sa e money, reduce green ouse gas emissions, and reduce t e impact of buildings on t e local microclimate.

Sending heat to outer space may help ‘inner space’ be more comfortable.

li oldstein, aswat aman and anui an a e de eloped an alternati e system t at uses t e s y to accept eat and induce cooling wit out re uiring energy beyond t e circulation system. eir system uses a specially designed panel t at emits infrared radiation directly into t e atmosp ere and outer space t roug a mec anism nown as radiati e s y cooling. ploiting t is mec anism, t e aut ors pump uid in t is case water t roug t eir panels and ﬁnd t at t ey can cool it by on a rooftop in tanford, alifornia. ey t en model t e be a iour of t is panel w en it is integrated into a typical airconditioning system. f used to remo e eat from t e condenser of a apour compression-

based air-conditioning system in a two-storey commercial building in as egas, t e aut ors s ow a reduction of per cent in t e electricity re uired for cooling o er ay to ugust of a typical year. urt er tests are re uired to determine t e commercial potential and to optimise t e tec nology. n an accompanying ews iews article, ustralian researc ers eoff mit and ngus entle note t at we need better air-conditioning tec nology for our cities, especially as t ey now ouse o er per cent of umanity. e dual eat sin in t e s y as many attractions for cooling efﬁciently t at can now begin to be e ploited following oldstein and colleagues demonstration.”

ec s momentum a uge impact New Zealand is rapidly becoming a signiﬁcant digital nation w ere tec nology is positi ely impacting on almost all traditional sectors suc as ban ing, agriculture and tourism, t e ec annual report says. ec nology s momentum is now pulling along organisations from rig t across t e ew ealand economy and tec as become t e country s fastest growing industry. ec c ief e ecuti e raeme uller says members ip is rapidly growing to include not only tec ﬁrms but also ban s, go ernment agencies, uni ersities and large traditional nontec corporates. ec as de eloped a national alliance, li e a tar lliance for tec ,

w ic now consists of associations t at, as of ay , collecti ely represents organisations w o employ almost , people. is growing not-for-profit community is committed to creating more prosperity for ew ealand, underpinned by tec nology. ec will continue to raise t e profile of tec obs as great places to wor , and tec firms as being critical for t e future growt of t e economy,” says raeme. e new ec board is itc ell am ugen and c air , arrie eers icrosoft , a erwood racle , i e mit , aul ea oll par , eig lounders atipay , elissa irt e apa , ac el elly par an , ara indle ec uture ab , im onnolly- tone , om ignell nitec and obett ollis ranui entures .

RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

‘Solid as rock’ cladding never needs painting Masada cladding has strength and durability and is as solid as the rock it is named after says Roly Bolton owner/operator of Masada Cladding.

“The low maintenance solution means there is no need to paint ever again. No need to water blast. All you need to do is rinse your cladding once a year to keep it looking brand new. “Masada cladding will keep your house looking modern with little-to-no maintenance. Instead, spend your time with the people you love and feel proud of your home. “Available nationwide, our 100 per cent New Zealand-designed and manufactured cladding provides the foundation for a well-protected and stylish home.

Re-cladding gives homes modern look. Masada Cladding is a family-owned and operated business whose owners know ﬁrst- and ow important a safe and secure home can be. With more than 30 years’ experience, Roly and his sons have seen it all when recladding many types of homes including older villas, farmhouses, state houses and bungalows. They have encountered a wide variety of circumstances which include leaky homes and tired old timber weatherboards which have deteriorated because of weather. Roly says Masada is the answer to having a great exterior on your house.

“We give you a 25-year guarantee, which means you can be certain you're getting weatherboard that is built to last,” says Roly. Whether you are looking to re-clad your e terior or need elp wit ﬁ ing your lea y ome, asada simpliﬁes t e process and handles everything from consents to installing the last weatherboard. “We are your problem solvers.”

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RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

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Tall timber buildings way of future The international building design industry is in the midst of a wood revolution according to Scion’s Sustainable Architect Andrea Stocchero.

Bigger, higher, safer timber buildings that are more sustainable and also look great are the future of building. “Wood and engineered wood products are delivering superior performance in structural, eart ua e, ﬁre, thermal, aesthetic and environmental properties, allowing bigger, higher, safer timber buildings that are more sustainable and also look great. “Scion is helping to increase the

uptake of tall timber buildings in New Zealand with new research and collaborations that focus on how to get the most out of our tall timber,” she says.

Why use wood?

New Zealand has a long history of building with wood – 90 per cent of our houses are built from timber. As a renewable construction material that is produced locally, using timber supports regional economies and promotes a land use (forestry) that sequesters carbon. Andrea says that is just the beginning of wood s en ironmental beneﬁts. e advantages of using wood reach beyond the forest and span the building’s entire life cycle. New Zealand has the opportunity to become a worldwide exemplar in sustainable development by building tall with wood. “Policies like Rotorua Lakes Council’s Wood First Policy encourages building with wood but more interdisciplinary research and science is needed to boost conﬁdence around tall timber buildings.”

In Australia, the University of Queensland’s Centre for Future Timber Structures is helping to lead the way on timber-based construction research and development. Scion joined their Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Advanced Solutions to Transform Tall Timber Buildings in 2016. As specialists in wood science and building acoustics Dr Grant Emms and Andrea have been awarded seed funding from the hub to develop a new research

We have been

proposal focussed on junction details for acoustic performance t at integrates ﬁre, structural and building energy efﬁciency research.

Acoustic design

Closer to home, Scion is also focussing on acoustic design for medium-density housing as part of a BRANZ-funded research project in conjunction with other research academies and industry partners. Scion is exploring the idea of a

New Zealand-based collaborative and multidisciplinary research centre for tall timber building design. Timber is an ideal building choice to meet growing demands for medium-density accommodation and commercial buildings. Andrea says, “We hope that Sir Bob Jones’ recent announcement of his plans for one of the world’s tallest wooden ofﬁce buildings in the heart of Wellington is just the ﬁrst of many”.

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RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

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MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Page 47

Valtra – the engineers’ choice for ag-contracting When engineers and inventors choose to buy your brand of tractor, you are probably doing something right. Marsh Contracting is a family business based in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. The company provides a full ag-contracting service, as well as manufacturing portable weighbridges and crash bars for rakes that they developed themselves. Marsh Contracting also uses Valtra tractors. Daniel Marsh says the company has been running Valtras on silage stacks for the past six years. “We have found stacking is one of the hardest jobs for a tractor and the Valtras have held up to it. They don’t mind their noses pointed in the air or going backwards and forwards all day.” Daniel says the initial decision to go with Valtra was purely economic. “When we priced tractors, Valtra was not the cheapest but we worked out that with the longer service intervals and oil changes at 400 hours it would be the cheapest.” e ﬁrst altra t ey got was a and it is still on the stack. After 8000 hours it is just as reliable as when it was new. wo years later ars ontracting boug t a and it is also still working the stacks. “They are phenomenal. ey do ama ingly well for a little p tractor,” says Daniel.

Power-shift transmission

As their other tractors came up for replacement, the Marshes replaced them with Valtras. They have now added t ree p models to t e eet. The ‘V’ stands for Versu, which has an improved power-shift transmission. The accelerator pedal doesn’t control engine speed; instead it controls the driving speed. Pressing on the accelerator changes the gear and the speed. ersu models a e a ﬁ e-step transmission gi ing

speeds in four gear ranges, and are powered by 6.6L AGCO Power engines. But what really matters is the built-in fridge. Daniel says it ﬁts two . bottles. “When you are a contractor and sit in a cab for a zillion hours every week, comfort matters. You want a quiet, comfortable cab, and that’s what you get with Valtra. I have driven lots of tractors and Valtras have the best air-conditioning I have ever had. “They also have good suspension and great front visibility, and they are very quiet. There is oodles of room behind the seat to put a tool box and lunchbox and there’s the fridge for drinks.” The passenger seat is a good foam seat, which is andy as aniel as up to staff w o dri e t e tractors and he has to spend time in the passenger seat to teach them.

bination of rippers, discs and a roller. e uses d- lue to cut down emissions and provide more fuel-efﬁciency. “The big tractor with the loader wagon uses litres of diesel less per day compared to our other stack tractor. It has great power on the hills. It holds on really well.” e altra also as options for precision farming, and Daniel is going to ﬁddle wit t at t is winter. would like to use it in maize for doing

skip runs so I don’t have to turn as sharply on the headlands,” he says. The tractors are serviced by Marsh Contracting’s mechanic, and Piako Tractors Rotorua is the Valtra dealer for Central Plateau and the BOP. Overall, Marsh Contracting is a happy customer. “Valtra are good all-round tractors. It doesn’t seem to matter what we put on them, they do the job well. I am pretty happy with them, as are all my staff,” Daniel says.

Auto clutch function

Valtras have lots of handy features, such as an auto clutc function. en pull up to a trafﬁc lig t, put on the brake and the clutch automatically comes on. When I take my foot off, it disengages the clutch and off we go.” Daniel says this is also handy if he has to stop in a hurry in a paddock, and he can turn it off if he wants engine braking. “Hydraulic assistance is also pretty handy with the loader. I turn it on, and it automatically revs it up for you. It means you can pick things up fast.” New this season in the Marshes’ operation is a Valtra . t as an ower engine wit p and a boost up to p, plus a continuously variable transmission. They needed that much oomph to cultivate maize ground wit a m-wide Daniel Marsh cultivator that of Marsh Contracting uses a comsays Valtra tractors are good on the silage stack and handle everything else they are asked to do.

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MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Leaving FAR after 22 years Foundation for Arable Research CEO Nick Pyke has announced plans to step down from the role in the next 12 months.

year s e ternal re iew identified t at is in good shape in terms of governance, management and research and extension strategy.” Nick was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 Queen’s Nick, who has led FAR since it was Birthday Honours in recognition of his formed in 1995, says that making the deciservices to the arable industry. sion to leave was not easy, but that the time He was appointed research director of FAR is right. in 1995. Since then, his vision has enabled “Following a positive external review in Nick Pyke is to step FAR to develop into a world-leading arable 2016 and our recent successful referendum down as CEO of research and extension body with a reputaresult, am able to lea e, confident in t e the Foundation for tion for research excellence and innovative knowledge that FAR is strong, positive and extension programmes. Arable Research well-focused with strong support from its e ow-on from t is researc and e tenwithin the next 12 grower base and industry partners. sion has contributed substantially to the months. “I came to FAR for two years and ended up economic and environmental sustainability staying for 22 years. I think that is an indication of just of the New Zealand arable industry. how much I have enjoyed the role. I have loved working with a great team dedicated to research and extension Farmer-based research and alongside some of the best farmers in the world, and Nick has developed and maintained strong links hope to maintain contact with them through continued with farmer-based research organisations locally and involvement in some aspects of the industry.” internationally, ensuring that FAR's research and FAR chair David Birkett says Nick will be greatly extension is nationally and internationally informed missed and difficult to replace. and benchmarked. “However, we are fortunate that his decision to leave The strength of FAR's international reputation and has been well-planned, allowing plenty of time for the Nick's vision combined in 2012 with the formation board to identify a suitable replacement and for Nick of FAR Australia, a FAR subsidiary providing project to carry out a well-managed handover. He won’t just management, research, extension and training services be walking out the door, it will be more of a transition to the Australian grains industry and fostering better process. research and extension linkages between the Australian and NZ agricultural research sectors. New appointment nder ic s leaders ip, was one of t e first “He will remain in the job until a new appointment is organisations in the primary sector to recognise the made, and after t at will continue on in specific pro ect- importance of whole-farm systems over individual based roles for a period of time. We expect him to be crop and management issues. Nick was instrumental involved with FAR for at least the next 12 months. in facilitating industry responses to recent black grass, “In the meantime, it will be business as usual. Last velvet leaf and pea weevil incursions.

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MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

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Environmental benefits of Hercules Plantain clear Hercules Plantain offers many ey benefits for farmers loo ing for increased productivity on their farms, says Riley O'Neill of Pastoral Improvements. ercules as been selected specifically for ig dry matter production, longe ity and late owering t ree attributes ey to gra ing systems. owe er, t e greatest attribute t at ercules may bring to farming systems is its en ironmental benefits a ing t e ability to reduce urine nitrogen concentration.” perennial forage erb, ercules lantain as a growt abit less erect t an ot er arieties, ma ing it less ulnerable to o ergra ing and increasing t e c ance for greater persistency. ercules is also ery late owering, e c les’ lon and fi o s oo system which allows the plant to better ‘consume’ excess nitrogen in the soil.

e positi e effect t at Hercules has on urine nitrogen concentration comes from a combination of two main factors firstly ercules long and fibrous root system w ic allows t e plant to better consume e cess nitrogen in t e soil profile, and secondly from the diuretic effect of plantain. Hercules Plantain (right) compared to Tonic Plantain. owering days later t an onic Plantain. is late eading owering date means t at ercules lantain will maintain feed uality for significantly longer periods compared to ot er varieties. Independent yield trials have also s own t an ercules lantain as annual yields greater t an onic lantain, wit a significant growt ad antage t roug t e critical summer autumn period.

useum e ibits elp identify modern mot g esearc scientists tac ling costly farm pests a e s own t eir s ills as amateur detecti es, trac ing down and using from decadesold museum collections to prove their case.

Our connections led us to museum specimens held in t e ew ealand rt ropod ollection osted by andcare esearc . ere we found dried adult . fuliginea specimens t at ad been identified and preser ed after t eir deat s years ago. e too legs from t ese long-dead mot s to Research associate Nicky Richards and her colgenerate genetic se uences w ic ta es more wor leagues were recently confronted wit a orina w en t e as bro en down (Wiseana) caterpillar found over time. It’s basically like putin out land and in line ting toget er pieces of o erlapping wit broader efforts to better ego to build w at you need. understand this major pastureat we generated from t ese munc ing pest, needed to 33-year-old specimens proved establis w ic species of orina identical to the sequence from the t ey were loo ing at. caterpillar found in Southland. Some species of Porina pose a DNA from these porina moth n ot er words, we ad a muc greater t reat to pasture specimens was used by AgResearch match. on ew ealand farms t an scientists to help identify a species is wor as elped us ot ers. lt oug se en orina of the caterpillar. de elop a new -based species are recognised, and t e method to identify Porina species can be identified by caterpillars. y building our sig t at t e adult mot stage, understanding of t is pest, we can it is impossible to do the same learn ow best to elp farmers wit t e caterpillars as t ey loo prevent the hundreds of millions identical. of dollars of damage it can do to “We suspected the caterpilpasture on ew ealand s farms lar found in out land was each year. from an elusive Porina species e can now e plore en ironmentally-friendly nown as iseana . fuliginea, but to confirm it we needed to analyse an adult mot of t at same spe- treatments for orina outbrea s and target t e species cies,” ic y says. t at are t e ey pasture anni ilators and gi ing all nfortunately, no adult . fuliginea ad been orina species a bad name.” found by us in our pre ious years of field o learn more about orina and ot er pests isit collections. o we ad to find anot er way. www.agpest.co.n

eing a diuretic means t at Hercules Plantain dilution of urine nitrogen concentration decreases the risk of N leac ing. t allows t e plant to ta e up a greater proportion of e creted nitrogen from t e soil gi en t at t e number of urine patc es wit ery ig concentrations of soil nitrate will be reduced,” says iley.

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PHONE 03 302 7909 www.pastoralimprovements.co.nz

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MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Cost-effective, reliable contracting service The last season was a challenging one for contractors and farmers as it was very wet and unpredictable says Japie Jordaan of Jordaan Contracting. “This season seems to be far more positive with the dairy payout looking better this year which is encouraging for farmers. There is an upbeat, more conﬁdent atmosp ere among t em and we are all looking forward to summer.” Japie says the demand for maize

machinery. Adding to our existing round baler combi we have purchased the latest Goweil combination baler/wrapper and now have the ability to replace the net with plastic wrap, which gives farmers a much better quality silage as well as extra layers of plastic on each bale to protect against tearing. This new baler creates a very high density bale. Running two round balers and a square baler allows us to complete jobs on time.” lso oining t e eet is a new ergmann loader wagon which has its own scales to better inform farmers of the amount of their supplement harvested. is ergmann loader wagon can ﬁne c op t e grass to 35mm, and each load is weighed as it is harvested. “Our decision to get this loader wagon was based on many farmers wanting to know how much grass is in each stack. We can now tell them exactly how many Kgs/Dm are in the stack.” For the past three years JCL has offered farmers the option of storing maize silage using an Ag-bagger system. Instead of silage being stacked in an ordinary stack or bunker the ag-bagger acts like a large sausage into which the silage is packed and stored. www.revitalfert.co.nz

is higher this season due to the cap Fonterra has put on palm kernel feed. Because maize silage is a good replacement for palm kernel, demand is increasing. “The team at Jordaan Contracting is waiting for the weather to clear so that we can get the seed in the ground. We have completed all the maintenance of the machinery so we are able to supply a reliable service for the farmers to get their work done on time. “JCL is focused on supplying a cost-effective service of a very high standard. We pride ourselves on this, and to this end we have upgraded our

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More than 20 years’ of research in Europe has proven that storing chopped silage and wet feed in long, ori ontal o ygen-deficient tubes until fedout, will significantly reduce spoilage losses. t also produces an easily-digestible, highly-nutritious feed that livestock prefer, which in turn contributes to cow productivity without expensive imported feed supplements. The Ag-Bag system is the dairy farmer’s ultimate efficient ar esting and feed-out solution. it the Ag-Bag system there is no time wasted with site preparation, rolling a stack, covering with tyres or oxygen face spoilage, including valuable nutrients seeping away. “The silage retains all its nutrients and is environmentally-friendly as there is no leaching into the surrounds. When harvesting, the bagged silagepressing machine compacts and covers silage crop all at the same time. The airtight environment prevents growth of aerobic bacteria, moulds and insect damage. Farmers that have used the ag-bagger system are very pleased with it and would not return to the old way of doing things.” Going forward Japie says; “My main concern is to ensure that we continue to offer our clients top-quality service and we will do everything possible to achieve this. We strive to have the most up-to-date equipment and a willing attitude to work together with farmers to get what is needed done.”

MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Protection for region’s waterways

More than $30 million will be spent by Bay of Plenty Regional Council on science, restoration and policy work to protect and improve the region’s waterways this year. Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder says that the region’s waterways are in good shape by national standards, but there’s more work to do to ensure clean, healthy waterways for the next generation. “We’ve made real gains in protecting water quality in recent years. But the cumulative effects of past land-use change are still surfacing, and the water management challenges we’re tackling are becoming increasingly complex. “Science and innovation, along with compromise and investment from all sectors, will be crucial to securing clean, reliable freshwater in the long term,” he says. Council’s water work this year includes helping landowners to pinpoint and treat problem E.coli bacteria sources, trial nutrient budgeting methods, and to fence and plant an additional 101km of waterway margins throughout the region. Farm animals are already excluded from more than 75 per cent of the region’s waterways.

Public consultation

Investment is also being channelled into science and computerised modelling work that will be used alongside input from local councils, iwi, community groups and industry stakeholders to set new catchment-speciﬁc water management rules and met ods under the Regional Water and Land Plan. Public consultation on proposed plan changes for the Kaituna Maketu, Pongakawa Waitahanui and Rangitaiki catchments will start in 2018. At 155km long, the Rangitaiki River is the region’s longest river. The council is working in partnership with the Rangitaiki River Forum to protect and restore tuna (eel) habitat and, with funding assistance from the Ministry for the Environment, restoring 206ha of wetlands in the Rangitaiki River catchment.

Kaituna River

Work is also planned to restore 20 per cent of the aituna i er s fres water ow bac into e wa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketu Estuary and recreate 20 hectares of wetlands. The project aims to restore the health and mauri of the estuary that has suffered since

the river was diverted away in 1956. Around Tauranga Moana, 16 subcatchment action plans are being delivered to improve water quality in partnership with iwi and local councils. More than 90 per cent of waterway margins that drain into the Tauranga Harbour are now protected from stock access.

Rotorua lakes

Water quality improvements for the Rotorua Lakes are also being targeted. A new online system to track nutrient discharges is being built and Rotorua farmers are being assisted to put nutri-

ent management plans and resource consents in place under proposed new nutrient management rules (Plan Change 10) to improve water quality in Lake Rotorua. The online tool will complement the council’s work on in-water treatment trials, weed removal and voluntary incentives that promote low nitrogen land use, such as forestry and alternative cropping, to deliver further water quality improvements under the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme. For more information about the council’s work to care for water go to www.boprc.govt.nz/freshwaterfutures

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MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

The continuous ‘wet’ causes some soils to collapse early si mont s of continuous wet weat er and surface ooding will a e a ma or impact on some ay of lenty and ai ato farms and spring crop establishment will be a long slow process, says Allister Holmes, research and extension team leader with the Foundation for Arable Research.

“Soil is made up of solids, liquids and air, but when surface water doesn’t dry off, eventually air spaces become so wet earthworms die and the soil pores collapses.” Allister says many hectares of farm land in the Waikato, especially around Hinuera and Ngatea, plus t ose affected by ooding in t e astern ay of lenty, have remained under water since Cyclones Debbie and Cook in April this year. en soils on rolling farmland w ic are normally free draining, have become saturated and by September, many regions have already had around their total rainfall for the year.”

to look at ground conditions under their feet before sowing, rather than focusing on a particular date.” espite ow wet some soils were, llister says ﬁ e days of sunshine and breezes would help dry them out, however, growers shouldn’t rush to get machinery on the paddocks. “While it’s natural to want to cultivate the soil to get air into it once it appears dry enough to drive on, deeper down it will still be wet and putting machinery on will create compaction problems.” The answer, he says, is to be patient and allow the soil to drain. Maize hybrids with a shorter maturing time offer options for growers. “Their yield is generally not signiﬁcantly different to longer season ybrids.”

Planting delays

Under-sowing pasture

Wet conditions have made it hard for all farmers managing livestock and could also delay this season’s maize planting, Allister says. n some parts of t e astern ay of lenty, growers have been able to turn over paddocks ready for planting, but there is little sign of that happening in the estern ay of lenty or ai ato. “Many consider October 10-20 as the critical dates for planting maize but it is more important for growers

Cultivating the soil prior to planting maize will aerate it and help it recover, but many farmers will probably under-sow pasture to get paddocks back in production. The risk is that while grass will grow and there will be a spring us , it won t a e t e same dry matter content because of the water-logged soils. Indications are that there will be a high demand for maize silage this coming season with some farmers committing to contract prices of up to 25 cents a kg ...continued

Herbivore Chicory a summer crop option The effects of summer droughts are not far from farmers’ minds and now is the time to be thinking about how to minimise the effect of another drought if it was to happen, says Riley eill of astoral mpro ements. New Herbivore Chicory. “While there are many options available for farmers to ensure that they have plenty of summer feed, the use of chicory as a summer forage crop has proven to be a successful option for many North Island farmers. “The latest chicory variety available on the market erbi ore is offering many benefits for farmers seeking a highly productive summer crop.” e superior production benefits of erbi ore Chicory through dry summer periods is attributed to its deep tap root which has the ability to ‘mine’ moisture and minerals much deeper than traditional forage species. This trait means that Herbivore Chicory can keep growing to provide high-quality feed through dry periods when grass and other forage crops struggle to do so. Herbivore is also very high in metabolisable energy, digestibility, soluble sugars and protein, with the latter being extremely important to maintain summer milk production. “Independent trial data has also shown that Herbi ore as production benefits o er ot er c icory varieties as well. Data from a recent forage chicory trial s owed t at erbi ore grew fi e to per cent more dry matter production than other leading varieties from a November sowing to July.” To get the best out of Herbivore Chicory as a summer forage crop it should be sown in October/ November at a rate of six to eight kg/ha. Its quick establishment means it should be available for its first gra ing in appro imately si to eig t wee s, and multiple grazings can be had off it over the spring, summer,and autumn, Riley says.

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We distribute via all independent seed resellers. Contact us and we can help streamline the delivery process to insure your reseller can deliver as fast as possible.

PHONE 03 302 7909

* On average, Pastoral Improvements Varieties cost 30% less than other leading proprietary varieties. All of our products have been independently trialled & researched and have shown to be equivalent in drymatter production and feed value than other leading varieties.

www.pastoralimprovements.co.nz

MAIZE, CROPPING & SPRING PLANTING

Maize silage and grain prices up

his

ai a o c o

continued...

Page 53

Arietta Herbicide

in addoc has een ooded since April.

compared to 19 to 20 cents last season. The cost of maize grain has also gone up by $50 a tonne compared to last year. “This is good for maize growers.” Around 100ha of maize in the Whakatane area was not ar ested last season because of ooding and some Waikato growers were also unable to make maize silage because of extremely wet conditions Allister predicts that once the weather does improve, contractors are going to be under pressure to get new crops planted.

Difference in rainfall compared to 2016. says Allister, slugs will have loved the conditions. “We know that slugs can kill an entire crop so slug control will be vital. “Maize seedlings are reasonably robust, and so long as we get some ﬁne weat er, s ouldn t be affected by bacterial or fungal diseases.” Whether or not this year’s wet weather will become a ‘norm’ is anyone’s guess but Allister says New Zealand has a maritime climate and warming sea temperatures tend to bring more rainfall. “Farmers do need to think about what that may mean and make provisions and plans to help their farms be more resilient in the face of adverse weather.” This can include planting different varieties of crops and pasture species each season and using no-till or low-till planting techniques. Giving consideration to farm infrastructure such as installing larger culverts and putting more metal on races could be worthwhile. Elaine Fisher

Grass silage harvest

Normally by mid to late September contractors would be harvesting grass silage, paddocks would be freshening up ready for spraying out and the cultivation of seed beds for maize planting. “However, some contractors haven’t even been able to get onto paddocks to cut silage. “Most maize growers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty don’t have their own equipment and rely on contractors to prepare the seed bed and plant the maize, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure to get this work done.” On the plus side, the extreme wet may have killed off black beetles and Argentine stem weevils, but,

Control weeds on your schedule. You’ve got enough to do without worrying about what stage of weed development you should be spraying. Arietta® gives you a more flexible timeframe for post-emergence spraying and better knockdown of problem grasses and broadleaf weeds.

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™Cutter, Ace, Atraflow, Synergy, Synoil are Trademarks of Orion Agriscience Ltd. ®Sylon, Atragranz, Dominator, Cypher are Registered trademarks Orion Agriscience Ltd. ®Astound is a Registered trademark Agri Solutions Ltd. ®Callisto is a Registered trademark of Syngenta Group of Company. Cutter, Ace, Sylon, Atraflow, Atragranz, Deal 510, Synergy Glyphosate 360, Astound Ultra, Callisto, Dominator, Synoil and Cypher are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, Nos P8850, P5817, P7775, P7214, P7340, P8298, P7747, P7425, P9168, P7409

Page 54

EQUIDAYS

Saddles, clothing made for the outdoors Circle M Brand’s owner Terry Marshall has more than 40 years’ experience custom-making saddles and tack. The Otorohanga company makes what people need – including both saddlery and equestrian clothing. Circle M has a distinct clothing range specialising in waxed cotton to ensure you are warm and dry. All Circle M clothing is designed and manufactured in Otorohanga using New Zealand’s ﬁnest fabric. Co-owner Terry Marshall says they are committed to good quality products. He specialises in the custom-making of Western saddles and with many years of experience in both making and using western gear he has plenty to offer for the specialist Western rider. Terry says with more than 30 years in the business they are proud of their New Zealand made-quality garments. Circle M also has a wide range of farming and hunting clothing ideal for the outdoor work and recreation lifestyle. Its specialised range of safety clothing is designed a unique way – overlaying hi-vis over the oilskin to make it warm and dry while being safe and seen. “Hi-vis is vital – everybody has to be seen and to be able to combine hi-vis with the oilskin makes it perfect for the Kiwi outdoors,” says Terry. “Once our customers see this product they know it is the perfect solution for their work (and play) environment.” Visit Circle M at Equidays – Site F21.

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Page 55

Hoofcamp on site at Equidays Everything horsey, best deals and the biggest range will be on offer at Hoofcamp Saddlery’s Site J12 at Equidays, Mystery Creek Hamilton, from October 13-15.

NEW ZEALAND’S BEST

Hoofcamp Saddlery is one of the largest stores in New Zealand and what makes it so popular is that it carries a wide range of gear for all disciplines says Kathryn Cook. “Hoofcamp has just started importing a range of Western and stock saddles from Australia which includes leather saddle bags, ri e scabbards, lasso, stoc whips and everything for the outback rider, bushman/ hunter and stockman/ shepherd rider.” Hoofcamp also caters for the show jumping rider, dressage, pony club, endurance and pleasure rider. “We are still increasing our range of products. New suppliers continue coming on board to enhance the wide range of gear, equipment, products and supplements for customers. As always Hoofcamp has a comprehensive range of everything equestrian,” says Kathryn. The store’s website with shopping cart is proving to be very busy, and popular with all products now available to the rest of New Zealand. The large second-hand corner with saddles and

-ADVENTURE ON HORSEBACK-

IMAGINE riding through North Canterbury’s high country- South or North to Lake Tekapo in November (approx. 400km or around St. James Station in February or March (approx. 300km/11days), viewing snow capped mountains, alpine lush native bush, snow fed rivers and rugged countryside which will enchant and captivate you at every turn. Relax an after an exhilarating days ride with billy boiled tea and a hearty meal. With Alpine Horse Safaris satisfaction is guara Our unequalled knowledge of the area and horses will ensure you get “THE ULTIMATE RIDE.” Trips range from 2 hours up to 12 days.

Lawrie and Jenny O’Carroll p: 03 314 4293 / 0800 4 Alpine e: alpinehorse@amuri.net w: www.alpineho

All-IN-ONE LIME-BASED FERTILISER Hoofcamp Saddlery of Whakatane is one of the largest stores in New Zealand and will be represented at Equidays this month. everything else equestrian is very popular too. “We sell on-behalf. This service takes all of the hassle out of dealing with buyers for the private person selling gear. Hoofcamp deals with questions and makes the sale for you. You just collect your payment after the item is sold.” Hoofcamp Saddlery has a workshop with a saddler available to carry out repairs. Anything that needs a heavy duty machine, stitching, rivets, domes, clips, buckles or zips, they can do. Horse cover repairs are a specialty. “We also launder the covers and re-proof them.” Hoofcamp’s Facebook page is proving very popular and Kathryn encourages people to give the company a ‘Like’.

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Equidays 2017 expected to be the biggest yet A father-and-son cowboy duo from the US, an Olympic equestrian coach and New Zealand’s horse-taming Wilson Sisters are just some of the attractions at this year’s premier equine event, Equidays from October 13-15 at Mystery Creek Events Centre near Hamilton. Ammie Hardie, Equidays’ senior event manager, says preparations for the “biggest Equidays yet” are tracking smoothly. Last year Equidays had more than 23,000 visitors through the gates at Mystery Creek. With the event now in its seventh year, Ammie says organisers are always looking to add to what’s on offer. “We get so much amazing feedback after each event, and

we’ve just gone from strength to strength each year,” she says. Since its inception in 2010, Equidays has grown into a world-class event, endorsed by Equestrian Sports New Zealand and event ambassadors, the popular Wilson Sisters. Education is a big focus of Equidays, alongside its values ‘Entertain, Equip and Empower’. This year there are 16 visiting clinicians and more than 40 hours of clinics per day, together with 200-plus exhibitors from which visitors can purchase equine equipment. Each year international clinicians host a variety of teaching workshops for riders and the public. Among the clinicians this

year are Rob Ehrens, Olympian and coach and Kyra Kyrklund, who is a six-time Olympic medallist and world champion dressage superstar. A third night show has also been added to the line-up of entertainment. “We’ve usually had night shows on the Friday and Saturday, but due to demand we’ve now added a Sunday night event.” The night shows feature top riders racing and jumping, and performances from world-leading equine entertainers. The Wilson Sisters (Vicki, Kelly and Amanda) will host the inaugural ‘Top Talent’ competition, where selected participants impress the crowd with their horsemanship skills.

Available in 1T & 1/2T bags. 25kg bags upon request from your local Rural Merchant. Ask in store today or phone us to locate your nearest supplier.

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Page 56

SHEEP & BEEF

Two new South Island 4x4 tours on offer

Last season High Country Journeys introduced two new fully-guided tours known as the ‘South Island High Country Grand Slam’ and the ‘Great Mackenzie Country and Central Otago Explorer’.

comfortable rural farmstays, good food, farming tales, high country yarns and 4-wheel driving through stunning scenery with passionate local guides who really know the country. “You will be able to drive your own 4WD vehicle (or a hired one) and travel at a more relaxed pace from station Both these tours are to station as part of a smaller extremely popular says Manimore personal group of vehicles ototo-based John Mulholland with radio contact in each one who took over the company in that has access to remote tracks, 2015. some only available to High ‘The Grand Slam’ is a sevenCountry Journeys.” day, eight-night package that John has been absolutely starts in Blenheim and takes rapt with the response to these in Molesworth Station and the tours. “A lot of our clients are North Canterbury high country coming down from the North then follows the usual route from try Island anyway so it was a logiun Co h ig H a of Lake Coleridge and the Rakaia The relaxed pace ns there is plenty cal progression to offer them an River area down through the Journeys tour mea option to do Molesworth on e scenery. of time to enjoy th Mackenzie Country to Cardrona/ the way. The other option we Wanaka in Central Otago. started in Omarama has some incredibly stunning e reat plorer is a si -day, ﬁ e-nig t tour new tracks and is popular with clients who have that starts in Omarama and takes in the rugged tusdone some of our other tours before and who might sock lands and majestic high country of the lower be looking for something a little more challenging”. Mackenzie Country/ Lindis Pass and Central Otago These two tours are also complemented by the area, also ending in Cardrona. legendary original six-day, seven-night ‘Heart of the John says these packages are an adventure as well High Country Tour’ that starts near Lake Coleridge as a oliday. ey combine ﬁne ospitality in ery and also ends in the Cardrona/Wanaka area.

Keeping your produce cool over spring The team at Hi-Chill are your expert refrigeration specialists with all the services that you need. Located on 21 Plummers Point Rd, Hi-Chill is a Tauranga company that supplies refrigeration and air-conditioning to the Bay of Plenty and beyond. Hi-Chill builds cool rooms, freezer rooms and hire rooms for homes, shops and home-based businesses using the latest refrigeration equipment with electronic control systems supplied by New Zealand companies. It also provides 24/7 back-up service support. As well as the standard sizes, Hi-Chill is happy to construct refrigerated rooms to your requirements.

“Our rooms are all portable, however should you need a room built inside, we can do this according to your needs as well,” says owner Warren Cook. “Our service support is also available to assist with any problems you might have with other refrigeration equipment, whether it be farm machinery, air-conditioning, home-kill refrigeration or ower room c illers.” As the weather starts to warm up, Hi-Chill can also solve all your airconditioning requirements, both to supply new, and to service your existing equipment. If you have a project coming up in the future, or need more information about the services they offer, give the Hi-Chill team a call.

Hi-Chill has a range of cool and freezer rooms to suit most requirements, but will construct refrigerated oo s o s eciﬁc requirements.

SHEEP & BEEF

Page 57

Pikowai property offers many possibilities Tenders close for this 240-hectare property at Pikowai on November 8.

- ectare beef ﬁnis ing property at Pikowai, midway between Whakatane and Te Puke, ideal as a dairy support block, breeding unit or possibly for partlamb fattening, is being offered for sale by tender. e property offers a good mi of topograp y wit an e cellent fertiliser history and around 15 hectares suitable for ma ing ay or silage supplements,” says il oldsmit of rig tson Real Estate Whakatane, who is mar eting t e bloc . oasting a t ree-stand wools ed, both cattle and sheep yards, solid post and batten wit electric fencing, of w ic all are of a good standard and strong weed-free pastures, t e new owner can choose from several house sites to build their dream homestead wit e pansi e rural and ocean iews.

“Water is supplied from a bore, pumped to storage tan s and gra ityfed to stoc troug s. nder pre ious ownership the property has been one of Beef + Lamb’s monitor farms so there is a comprehensive history of its performance during t at time. “This block is ideal for sheep and beef due to its close pro imity to t e rig tson angiuru ale ards, and is well-positioned to the dairying areas of otorua, a atane and e u e auranga, ma ing it ideal as a dairy support block. The climate is appealing wit reliable rainfall.” il is olding open days on t e farm, or by appointment will show it to individual interested buyers before tenders close on November 8. e pect t ere will be een interest in this property as not many of this size or quality come onto the market in t is region.”

unding for en ironmental wor ay of lenty egional ouncil will e pand on e isting efforts to maintain and protect the environment this year. air oug eeder says t is wor is so important that 33 per cent (more than $56 million) of the council’s million annual budget as been allocated to it. is is a ig er amount t an is allocated for any of t e organisation’s other four outcomes. The council’s environmental

Whakatane Surrounds

monitoring programme supports t e Bay of Plenty’s sustainable development, with air quality, biosecurity and pollution prevention all named as focus areas for t e coming year s wor . ro ects include t e opeopeo anal remediation, impro ing t e uality of aquatic habitats within the canal and wider drainage networ and drainage and ood relief wit in t e angitai i rainage c eme.

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Page 58

WEEDS & POLLINATION

mart application of pollen beneficial it iwifruit ines owering soon, growers are t in ing about t e best pollination met od for t eir orc ard and increasingly orc ardists are turning to applying male pollen artiﬁcially rat er t an using bees only. ood pollination is ital to increasing fruit yield and trials s ow optimal timing is ey. deally pollination s ould appen o er se eral days, catc ing eac ower w en it is most iable. e award-winning ollen mart is purpose -built for t is and not only is it good at applying pollen, it also acuums bac unused pollen and re-blows it at t e owers. e dispenser can be programmed to release t e e act uantity re uired. ne orc ardist w o nows better t an most is te e abbits. e was an original trialists of t e mac ine in . t was good timing as t e disease sa- ad wiped out all t e ieftain male plants e d ust grafted. e went t roug t e orc ard once wit t e ollen mart, and went from , to , trays of iwifruit immediately it sa ed our bacon,” e plains te e. ince t en, te e as purc ased is own ollen mart mac ine and it as become an integral part of orc ard pollination eac spring. ast season, e went t roug is orc ard wit t e ollen mart twice, applying . g of pollen o er . a of iwifruit. te e s fruit went from - count to count fruit, w ic e puts down to pollination wit t e ollen mart. e e ad a good season,” e says.

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is spring, te e is planning to go t roug t e orc ard four to ﬁ e times and cut down t e rate of application. e as already recommended t e mac ine to se eral fellow orc ardists w o struggle to get optimum pollination. ati ati iwifruit orc ardist lan oo ta es is purc ase decisions seriously. was drawn to t e ability to put pollen on w en wanted to, as opposed to waiting for someone to come along and do it t e e ibility was ey,” e says.

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raditionally, lan ad used g of pollen per ectare in two applications to supplement t e bee pollination i es per ectare . it t e ollen mart, e used g per ectare in ﬁ e applications and waited in anticipation for ar est to see if is orc ard would replicate t e success of t e trial results. or an orc ard t at as ad issues wit s ape fore er, t is season we only ga e t e ines a uic t in out and t e fruit as come up perfectly. m con inced using t e ollen mart as made a difference in t e s ape and si e of t e fruit, w ic we e also ad issues wit in t e past. d recommend orc ardists gi e t e ollen mart a go it wor ed well for me.” ollen mart is manufactured in a atane by e rangler td. t is a ailable in two single or double dispensers to cater for different row widt s.

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For Steve Rabbits the PollenSmart machine is an integral part of orchard pollination each spring.

WEEDS & POLLINATION A D E

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Silvana Nieto and Chris Mitchell of Seaside Bees checking a hive

Page 59

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Keeping bees in the backyard The strange-looking timber boxes dotted around the urban backyards of Western Bay of Plenty residents are actually beehives. The beehives are the creation of hobby beekeepers Chris Mitchell and Silvana Nieto. The Papamoa couple set up Seaside Bees about three years ago and now have a ‘run’ of about 50 beehives, some of which they rent out on a yearly basis, and some belonging to others. “People wanted some of our hives so we ended up building some extra ones and renting them out. We go and maintain the hives and do all the regulatory paperwork, (all beehives in New Zealand must be registered) inspections and treatment,” says Chris. “There’s quite a bit of labour involved and you need to be there a couple of times of month, especially during spring. Most of the rental cost goes straight into the labour to look after it. It’s a bit like a lawn mowing run.” The reasons for people wanting beehives in their garden is varied.

Love beeswax

“Some people are just keen on honey and others are keen on pollination of their plants and vegetables. Quite a few people are keen on the beeswax. There’s a lot of things you can do with it such as making lip balm or food wraps, which is quite satisfying. I mix it up with olive oil and Vaseline to make a boot polish.” Chris says bees “absolutely love” citrus trees so many people with the hives have found they are getting two crops a year from their citrus trees. Clients are encouraged to get involved in the collection of the honey and beeswax themselves if they are keen. “If they want to suit up and handle cones then

they can, and ultimately, at the end of the year, they might decide to either keep renting for another year or purchase the hive and do it themselves.” The beehives are made from rough-sawn untreated pine and metal rooﬁng tiles. ey loo li e mini houses.

Bee Aware Month

Chris and Silvana have seen heavy growth in the uptake of hives each year and have found themselves in hot demand by schools and community groups that want to learn about urban beekeeping. They were guest speakers several times last month as part of Apiculture New Zealand’s ‘Bee Aware Month’. “We take along a comb with bees and the Queen on it; we basically borrow it out of the hive for a few hours.” The couple are running an eight-week course at the local community centre on beginner beekeeping and there is already demand for a second course. If bees aren’t your thing – maybe you’re allergic – and your neighbour suddenly gets a beehive, should you be worried? “The reality is that bees are always around because t ey forage up to ﬁ e ilometres. e most li ely way to be stung by a bee is if you stand on one with bare feet and that bee could be anybody’s bee. “If someone has a single beehive, or even two, on their property, provided they aren’t pointed under the neighbour’s washing line, they shouldn’t really be a big issue.” Bee poo is likely to be a bigger issue than getting stung.“People can get yellow splatter on their car or kitchen window. “Bees don’t poo in the hive so they go out on w at s called cleansing ig ts.”

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Page 60

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Clamp-down on subdivision rules a real possibility If you have ever considered subdividing a small block off your farm then now is the time to move, especially for those in the Waikato District. The proposed new rules are expected out within months. t seems only yesterday t at t e last rule c ange was notiﬁed and now we a e another potential clamp-down upon us. It is predictable that the rules will inevitably make rural subdivision harder – they always do. This latest change is needed to integrate the old Waikato area with the Franklin area that was annexed when the Super City was established in 2010. I feel that the

new rules could well take the toughest from both plans and effectively allow no rural subdivision unless you are protecting an environmental feature. Those who watch this space might recall t at t e last rule c ange notiﬁed in 2011 suggested that only a block more than 40 hectares in size would qualify to have a lifestyle block subdivided from it. That went all the way to the wire before being knocked back at the eleventh hour. However, I believe that Waikato Regional Council will again throw all its weight behind this option.

Productive land

Many councils in the region have altered their rules in recent years to prevent the subdivision of productive land. That is to be expected, however the rules are often too broad in application and prevent sensible subdivision of small unproductive, easily-accessed blocks as well. There is a demand for lifestyle blocks from those who genuinely want a rural lifestyle as opposed to living in a 'lawnmower paradise' rural residential enclave. Rather than encouraging them to establish closer to the city, where the productivity is already compromised and access to services is available, these blocks are being forced to locate further into the hinterland.

As you so often hear these days, the only thing certain is that there will be change. It's anybody's guess what that change will be but I would put money on the fact that, come next year, we will be dealing with a district plan that discourages any rural subdivision at all.

Use current rules

So my advice to those who need to subdivide for some reason is to utilise the current rules in your particular area and don't hold out hope that things are going to get easier. They won't. The new rules will come around fast but you will have an opportunity to make submissions to them. It is a complex process, but worth being involved in if you stand to be disadvantaged under the new rules. However, taking action now is by far the best approach and the only guarantee to hold on to your current rights. f you are interested to ﬁnd out w at opportunities for your land might potentially be lost, feel free to give me a call and discuss your situation without delay. Brent Trail, Managing Director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. For further information call 0800 268 632 or email btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

Trace minerals and reproductive performance New Zealand cattle are not commonly supplemented with zinc except when given as a preventative against facial eczema in the autumn.

such infections can delay conception. The 2015 study of 100 herds across New Zealand revealed endometritis cows have an eight per cent lower six week in-calfrate.

When zinc is supplemented on a regular basis, benefits include impro ed oof ealt and hardness, immune function (such as reduced white blood cell counts) and improved milk production and quality. Adequate zinc is also important for good reproductive performance. For instance, studies have shown that cows supplemented daily with 300-400mg organic zinc can have significantly s orter days to first oestrus after calving than non-supplemented cows. Copper, cobalt, selenium and iodine are other trace elements that are important for reproductive performance. s well as poor t rift, cows deficient in t ese minerals tend to be more prone to retained foetal membranes and uterine infections (endometritis) after calving. A recent New Zealand study showed that

Lowered immunity

race mineral-deficient cows a e a lowered immune competence and reduced ability to clear infections. In terms of direct in uence on t e reproduction tract, trace mineral-deficient cows have reduced ovarian activity, are more prone to silent heats, have reduced conception rate and have higher rates of early embryonic death. ptimising dairy cows reproducti e efficiency is important and ensuring optimal trace mineral status is one factor in achieving this. Blood sampling a representative number of animals from your herd is a simple and effective way of assuring these are at an appropriate level during the mating period.

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Ranch owners, a blonde and a redhead, have $500 to buy a bull. The redhead says, "I will go to the sale to see if I can find one for under t at. If I can, I will send you a telegram. e finds one for $499 and with $1 left, goes to t e telegrap office and finds it costs per word. Stumped at how to tell the blonde to bring t e truc and trailer, s e finally tells t e telegrap operator to send the word ‘comfortable’. Sceptical, the operator asks, "How will she know what to do from just that word?" The redhead replies, "She's a blonde so she reads slow: 'Come for ta bull.'"

HORTICULTURE

Page 61

Solving water quality issues in perpetuity This election proved critical for fruit and vegetable growers. abour ﬁred a s ot at growers when they came out with a policy to apply tax on water used for irrigation. Other taxes proposed at the time of writing t is article, but not deﬁned, also had potential to hit the rural sector hard. Regardless of who ends up in government, the discussion about water tax was one that needed to happen. It made us aware that there are still a large number of people who don’t know how healthy food is grown. It also showed that New Zealanders are passionate about water quality, if not quite sure what causes poor water quality, or how to improve it. Facts and evidence are essential in any ongoing conversation. Horticulture New Zealand contends that using science and technology to inform sustainable farming practices and reduce adverse environmental impacts will have better outcomes than taxes will. That is, if we are looking to solve water quality issues in perpetuity.

Healthy food

Food consumers world-wide are increasingly wanting information about the environmental impacts of the food supply chain, particularly when it comes to healthy food such as fresh fruit and vegetables. No one is more aware than our growers that environmental sustainability is paramount as it relates to freshwater and horticulture. Our growers are mainly intergenerational family businesses with a lot of collective knowledge about cropping systems and the environment. Some of them have been keeping records for more than a century. So working with them, rather than punishing them with taxes that are not even related to good environmental outcomes, will have the most positive impact on reaching whatever targets a new government sets. Regarding water use and water tax, some impor-

tant issues and questions were raised during the pre-election debating.

Water charge

There seemed to be some confusion around existing payments but in reality, no one in New Zealand pays for water. Some people pay for the infrastructure to deliver water and, in the case of urban New Zealand, for water treatment. A law change would be required to charge for water. And for there to be such a law, the question of who owns water – a renewable resource that falls from the sky – would have to be answered. Previous governments have said that no one owns water. People also seemed to think that using water to produce food automatically made the water user a water polluter. This is completely untrue. Growers are already using science and technology to ensure timely use of water and management of nutrients. It has become clear that New Zealanders need to have more information about how water is captured, stored, used, and managed as waste. Understanding water’s life-cycle and knowledge of what is already being done to protect waterways will be essential in any ongoing policy development.

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Vegetable shortages

Faced with a water tax, growers have two choices; either keep irrigating at present levels, producing fruit and vegetables of good quality and achieving good productivity per hectare, or reduce watering. A reduction in watering will see a reduction in the amount of fruit and vegetables produced. If there is a shortage of vegetables for example, prices increase; this is basic supply and demand. It has been the case this winter because heavy rain and the cold weather have impacted on harvesting. Horticulture New Zealand will be working with the new government to ensure it understands that it is in New Zealand’s long-term interests to promote healthy eating and incentivise the production and consumption of affordable and accessible fresh fruit and vegetables. The health system is where the cost of an unhealthy nation is borne.

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 62

Compliance steps up on the orchard Humes say. “It’s all in the taste!” We’ve been ‘sweet as’ for 30 years. 4 Prospect Drive, RD 2, Katikati www.humepack.co.nz

Zespri International’s overseas customers are demanding evidence that it not only provides a quality fruit product that tastes good and is safe to eat, but also provides evidence that this is the case. Hume Pack n Cool grower services manager Maria Thorn says this has been part of the packhouse compliance programme for several years, but is now extending to the orchard environment. “Kiwifruit is a ‘low risk’ food product, however things we take for granted such as clean water quality, safe compost and fertiliser and worker hygiene need to be accounted for and documented.” Recent grower roadshows held by Zespri describing the change of legislation in the US is driving the need for an assurance of basic hygiene. This includes not only the provision of clean hygienic toilet facilities, but the inclusion of washing facilities that allow workers to wash their hands after every refreshment and meal break. Further to these Food Safety requirements, Zespri is adopting the GlobalGAP Assessment of Social Practice module and although it will mainly affect the contracting sector of the industry and those large growers who employ staff, the industry is now being asked to provide evidence that all workers on their properties are being provided safe, healthy and fair employment. “This includes the orchard owner ensuring the legality of the workers on their orchard at any time,” says Maria. All this comes at a time when orchardists are struggling to secure enough labour to continue with the day-to-day orchard operations, increasing canopy hectares being planted and the complexities of supplying fruit worldwide.

The invention of this simple hand-washing facility, which could be erected near eating areas for orchard workers, will help growers meet new industry requirements. Hume Pack-n-Cool has information about how to construct the device.

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

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See us at the NZ Agricultural Fieldays Bay of Plenty Creek awards judging coordinator Mystery nationwide Pavilion siteherself PB30 a former winner, says Margaret Wright,

entering the awards offers farmers and growers sales@cosio.co.nz the Email chance to:have their businesses evaluated http://www.cosio.co.nz by aWebsite team of :highly respected and experienced farmers, growers and agribusiness professionals, as well as network with like-minded people. “The judging process is not daunting and the team offers constructive advice and feedback in an informal setting. “Visits to the farmers or orchards of entrants are followed up by a report outlining what was discussed and offering commendations and recommendations. The judges take a o increase profits holistic approach to the process by d forget recovering for up tojudging 5 years

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evaluating every and try to get aspect of the farm or something worthgrower business.” while out of it. Entering the Bay We have reasonof Plenty Ballance able production Farm Environment but agreed the Awards encouraged orchard could Whakatane kiwifruit look a lot tidier. growers Iain and “As a result of Leanne Blackwood to the feedback we’re “sharpen their game”. going to plant The couple both some native trees work full-time on on the boundaWhakatane orchardists Iain and Leanne their 7.95ha orchard, ries and in areas Blackwood say entering the 2017 awards which includes 4ha where we can’t o h an eneﬁ s. of SunGold, 0.61ha produce fruit to of Sweet Green help get the bird (G14) and 3.3ha of Hayward Green. life back in and improve the aesthetic look of “We entered after talking to our neighbour’s the orchard. We’re also looking at planting daughter, who worked for Zespri, encouraged males there so we can harvest the pollen from us to have a go,” Iain says. The Blackwoods them.” were still developing the golden kiwifruit Iain says entering the awards was a worthwhen they were judged. “The place didn’t while process and they will enter again in the loo t at as because it was a wor in profuture once they’ve worked through some gress really. But we thought we’d have a crack of the items in their feedback report.“The

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orchard will also be in far better shape with grown vines and full canopies. It was good to enter in the early stages though so we stepped back and looked at the business from the outside. Sometimes you’re so busy just producing fruit you don’t see what’s right beside you.” The winners of the 2018 award will be announced at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards evening which Margaret says is a valued platform for celebration, networking, and the sharing of ideas and resources among farmers, agribusiness professionals, community leaders and representatives from regional and national governments. Entries for the Bay of Plenty awards close on Friday, October 27, 2017. All farmers and horticulturists, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists within the geographic area covered by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council are eligible to enter the Bay of Plenty awards. Enter online at www.bfea.org.nz or contact Kirsten Winter on 0275 721 244, email bop@bfea.org.nz

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 64

Entries open for young grower awards

Entries are open now for the 2018 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year competition and organisers are encouraging all motivated and career-driven young horticulturalists to take part. The competition features a day event where contestants aged 30 and under battle it out in a series of theoretical and practical events at the Te Puke A&P Show on Saturday, February 10 as well as a speech contest held at a gala dinner on Thursday, February 15 at ASB Arena in Mount Maunganui. Winners are announced at the dinner with the top three contestants receiving cash prizes. The Bay of Plenty winner will then go on to compete at the national competition and will receive professional development opportunities through Horticulture NZ. Erin Atkinson, winner of the 2017 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year, went on to win t e national title t e ﬁrst woman to do so. e recommends the competition as a fantastic personal development opportunity. “I thoroughly enjoyed competing in the BOP Young Fruit Grower. It was a great way to meet new people, progress my public speaking skills and challenge my practical skills. It was a fun day and an amazing opportunity.” Entries for the 2018 competition close at 4pm on riday, ecember , . o ﬁnd out ow you can enter the competition or for details on how to sponsor the event visit www.bopyoungfruitgrower.co.nz or follow on Facebook/BOP Young Fruit Grower.

Erin Atkinson, winner of the 2017 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year, is encouraging all young growers to enter the 2018 event.

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KIWIFRUIT

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Public’s help needed in Zespri bud wood case Zespri and the police are calling for information from the public to help bring a criminal prosecution over the alleged provision of bud wood from Zespri’s new varieties to growers in China. espri c ief operating officer imon immer confirms t at espri as already ta en steps against t e grower w o allegedly pro ided t e bud wood to China. “This includes terminating their licence, dropping t eir un old fruit and remo ing all un old plant material from their orchard. We accepted the grower’s green fruit this season.” owe er, police a e not c arged anyone in relation to t e case. e officer in c arge, etecti e enior ergeant reg urner says police are not currently in estigating t e matter, but it remains an open investigation. ould t ere be any person in t e community with information about this matter, police encourage them to provide that information to advance this investigation. e in estigation identified a suspect li ing in New Zealand who was licensed to grow the protected ariety. s pre iously reported by espri, a licensed grower within New Zealand has had their rig ts to grow t at ariety wit drawn.”

Civil claim

imon says if anyone as any information about t is case t ey s ould contact t e ew ealand Police. e action we re ta ing against t e grower relates to both breaches of our licence agreement for un old and breac es of our rig ts under t e lant ariety ig ts ct. ese ci il claims will go t roug t e court system and are independent of the New Zealand Police criminal investigation,” he says. ast year espri recei ed information t at its gold iwifruit arieties old espri un old and old espri arm may be growing illegally in ina and immediately began an e tensi e due diligence process. e reports were conﬁrmed late last year and

Splash Direct 2113 Main Road Te Puke

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Zespri contacted police regarding a possible breach of espri s plant ariety rig ts.

Fraud offence

reg says police in estigated t is matter as an obtaining by deception incident, w ic is a fraud offence. The allegation was that a licensed grower in ew ealand obtained payment by falsely representing t at t ey ad t e aut ority to sell rig ts to grow the protected varieties. No member of the New Zealand Police visited China during the course of this investigation. There was liaison between police staff stationed in China and other government agencies. espri maintains e cellent networ s and relations ips across t e world. s a result, espri became aware of t e matter and t e identity of t e suspect.” reg says police will not be commenting on ow t e bud wood may a e got to ina.

Clear message

imon says espri will not ma e any details about the grower public but “want to send a clear message t at we will igorously protect our for growers in New Zealand and offshore. We’re continuing to wor collaborati ely wit aut orities in ina to determine our options with the support of the New Zealand government. “We are investigating whether there are other plantings in ina and w ile we are limited by w at we can say wit out pre udicing t ese in estigations, our wor to date s ows t is is not of signiﬁcant scale. e re not releasing details about the illegal planting sites at this stage and the investigations into how the bud wood was transported to China are ongoing.” espri as its own trial sites to grow iwifruit in aan i ro ince ina, and is establis ing a iwifruit centre of e cellence t ere. aan i produces between - per cent of ina s total iwifruit production. imon says it is important to note t at wit out running t ese growing trials in ina, it s ig ly unli ely espri would a e found out about t e breac in t e ﬁrst place, as we now a e strong wor ing relations ips across t e ina iwifruit industry”. Elaine Fisher

Craig Bell Mobile 0272 931 268

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AVOCADOS

Page 66

Turning problem paddocks into productive horticultural land

JOIN THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS Leading technical advice Orchard management plans Flexible harvest options Top rating packing facility Chat with our experienced team today about how we can help you reach your orchard goals.

Greg O’Carroll, Grower Services 027 268 0374

The gully after earthworks and contouring to create productive orchard land.

A gully covered in scrub is not easily accessible and is mostly only good for growing weeds and at best grass – and certainly not avocados – or is it?

Once this step was completed, the valuable ash and topsoil was returned to the newly contoured ground. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though.

Darling Group’s Woodland Orchard is situated adjacent to the Just Avocados packhouse site in Woodland Rd, Katikati. Over the past two months the various problem gully areas in the orchard have undergone a total transformation. With the help of skilled bulldozer operator Steve Boyd and his team, and Darling Group orchard manager Nathan Darling, two hectares of accessible and plantable land will be added through land clearing, contouring and nutrient correction. “Before works began, Woodland Orchards had roughly 4.5ha of avocados, 15ha of varying varieties of kiwifruit, and some pockets of inaccessible weedﬁlled gullies and step sidlings,” says at an arling.

Manageable contour

Erica Faber, Orchard Productivity Manager 027 549 8229 John Emett, Grower Services 027 476 9087 @just_avocados

The gully on the Darling Group’s Woodland Orchard before work began.

www.justavocados.co.nz

A decision was made to develop these areas into productive horticultural land with a manageable contour to allow machine harvesting. “Anything that had a good north-facing aspect would be contoured for planting avocado, and dams and ponds would be establis ed to manage t e ow of water through the property and to create some nice-loo ing and functional wetland areas.” The project started with the removal of all vegetation which was then burnt. The top soil and ash layer was stripped off and put to one side while the lay of the land was developed with the remaining clay.

Some challenges

e a e ad some c allenges, suc as finding water and springs in places we didn’t expect, but we dealt with this by draining the springs with Novao pipe and t en burying t em.” eat er as also slowed progress but Nathan says the project should be finis ed by ctober. “We are half way through the project with two out of four bloc s finis ed and we are in t e process of getting the soil results so that we can make the required nutrient correction so that the blocks are suitable for growing a ocados.” e e pected finis ed area is an e tra a t at will be planted wit a ocados in a ig -density system (8m x 4m). These new plantings will be Hass on Bounty clonal rootstock. Of course, all of this does come at a cost but at an says t ere are many benefits. “Cleaning up and contouring this land works out c eaper t an buying new at land to plant. lso, t e unproductive gullies just cost you money and host pests and disease than can have an impact on the rest of your orc ard.” Progress on this project will be reported in the Just Avocados newsletter. If you have similar issues with your land and would like to know more about what has been done at Woodland Orchards then please feel free to contact Nathan Darling, email nathan@ darlinggroup.co.nz or contact Steve Boyd Contracting on , email boyd.par tra.co.n Midge Munro

AVOCADOS

Page 67

Avocado’s unique nutrition qualities uncovered New Zealand researchers have discovered that New Zealand-grown avocados have unique nutritional qualities, with double the amount of vitamin B6 and 20 per cent more folate than those grown in other countries. Demand for avocados is already surging in New Zealand and this nutrient-packed super fruit is fast becoming a staple ingredient in the diets of highperformance athletes, busy parents and the elderly. e ﬁndings were announced at t e ew ealand Avocado 2017-18 season launch held at Eden Park’s Centenary Lounge. The launch drew celebrities and included presentations from head international rugby strength and conditioning coach, ironman and avocado grower Nic Gill, and chef, author and avocado enthusiast Nadia Lim. The research was conducted by the phytochemical and health team at Plant & Food Research throughout the 2015-16 season. New Zealand avocados were analysed in accredited laboratories in New Zealand following the protocols required by the New Zealand Food Composition Database which is an independent validated source for the nutritional composition information for the foods consumed by New Zealanders. New Zealand Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular says the new research is huge news for the nation. “We always knew avocados were good for us. It’s wonderful that we have now conﬁrmed our locally grown

fruit is especially healthy.” New Zealand avocados have a folate measurement of 81.6 micrograms per 75g serving, providing 41 per cent of the recommended daily intake. They have a vitamin B6 measurement of 0.47mg per 75g serving, providing 30 per cent of the recommended daily intake.

in the world. Avocados are “the Ferrari of fruit,” he says. “Many athletes and high performing individuals eat avocados throughout the day, due to the nutrient-dense and quality fuel they provide.”

Immune function

Celebrity chef and co-founder of My Food Bag, Nadia Lim, demonstrated healthy ways of using avocados at the launch, and spoke about the need to innovate for a healthier New Zealand. “Avocados are simply one of the best

Folate contributes to normal growth and development in children, and to good tissue growth in pregnancy. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal immune system function and helps reduce fatigue. But that’s not all – the super fruit is full of healthy mono-unsaturated fats that help keep appetites under control, is low in sugar and sodium, a good source of dietary ﬁbre, and is pac ed with a range of essential vitamins and minerals. These vitamins are particularly beneﬁcial for at letes, mums, busy families and young professionals. Nic Gill, who is also an associate professor of Sport and Recreation at AUT, addressed the guests on achieving optimal performance. Nic is credited by the likes of Jeff Wilson and Steve Hansen as being the key architect behind the bestconditioned team

Innovate for health

everyday simple, healthy delicious foods and Kiwis love learning new ways to enjoy them.” Nadia prepared for guests two salads; roast pumpkin, pear, avocado salad with blue cheese and raspberry balsamic dressing and harissa chicken, pumpkin and avocado salad with mint yoghurt dressing. Launch guests included Art Green and Matilda Rice, Laura McGoldrick, Mikki Williden, Zac Franich and iarni rig t w o were ser ed ﬁ e different avocado dishes to enjoy.

Celebrity chef and avocado enthusiast, Nadia Lim.

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“I have observed the benefits of annual Gypsum applications over many years in a range of soil types and I will continue to recommend Gypsum in fertiliser programmes for Avocados”

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Gypsum improves Soil Structure by adding calcium which is needed to flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil.

Gypsum Suppresses Soil Borne Disease which are often present in anaerobic soil conditions.

Gypsum Helps Reclaim Sodic Soils by decreasing exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) for soil improvement and better crop growth. The calcium replaces the sodium in clay-binding sites which can then be leached from the soil as sodium sulphate. Without Gypsum, the soil would not be leachable.

Gypsum Decreases Swelling Clays and the cracking associated with levels of exchangeable sodium on the montmorillonite-type clays. Less swelling means less clogging of the pore spaces through which air, water and roots move.

Gypsum Prevents Crusting of Soil & Aids Seed Emergence resulting from raindrops or from sprinkler irrigation on unstable soil. Gypsum and lime can prevent crusting that forms in acid soils. Gypsum Improves Low-Solute Irrigation Water from rivers that no longer contain leachable salts which can inhibit penetration into soil or causes soil particles to degrade. The problem can be corrected with surface applied gypsum or application to the irrigation water.

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Gypsum Multiplies the Value of Other Inputs including fertilizers.

Gypsum Prevents Waterlogging of Soil where a combination of high sodium, swelling clay and excess water result in drainage issues. Gypsum Increases Water-Use Efficiency of crops with improved water infiltration rates, hydraulic conductivity of soil and better water storage in the soil all leading to deeper rooting and better water-use efficiency. 25% –100% more water is available in gypsum treated soils than in non-treated soils, important in areas and times of drought. Gypsum as a Fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily available calcium and sulphur.

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Page 68

AVOCADOS

Spreader ideal for small holdings and orchards A unique spreader, small enough to apply fertiliser efﬁciently onto lifestyle bloc s and orchards, has been designed by father and son Lance and Bryce Carlyle to offer a specialist service in the Bay of Plenty.

engineering experience, designed and built the Micro preader specifically for lifestyle bloc s and orc ard work. “The hydraulic blower is capable of spreading up to 10m, perfect for under avocado trees. With a low side discharge, product is distributed directly under trees meaning less wastCalled the Micro age,” says Bryce. Spreader, it is owned The electronic controls and operated by husenable the operator to band and wife Bryce ‘pause’ the spreader at the and Belinda Carlyle end of a row, resulting in whose business is based more efficient fertiliser at their lifestyle block delivery. in Whakamarama. “Via the push of a e low-profile, button – rates from 20 light footprint machine to 300kg/hectare can be provides a unique achieved. A variable speed spreading solution for vibrator gives options for orchard and lifestyle spreading denser powderblock owners as it is type products such as capable of delivering gypsum.” varying spread rates Other products (but not and products,” says limited to) include lime, Bryce. urea, Agrisea pasture and Living on a lifestyle he ic o eade ’s lo ofile and li h foo in soil nutrition. block themselves “It’s not just fertiliser a es i ideal fo s eadin fe ilise o seed on means Belinda and we can apply. We can orchards or small blocks. Bryce are familiar with also spread grass seed the unique challenge of small holdings, especially for speedily re-sowing paddocks or new avocado when it comes to maximising productivity. orchards too.” Check out the website to see a video Bryce, who has 20 years’ electronics experience of the Micro Spreader mini blower in action and his father Lance, with 50 years’ mechanical www.microsprrader.co.nz

Organisations join to promote bee safety Aerial and ground sprayers can protect bees from unintended exposure to agrichemicals by following some simple rules.

Yo r C i tr to r ts o r th or

e loo a ter o r ro ers a o ados rom the or hard to the orld de mar ets

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Responsible use of products is the driver for the ‘Bee Responsible’ campaign led by Agcarm, NZ Aviation in Agriculture and Rural Contractors New Zealand. “Bees are extremely good pollinators of crops, so contribute substantially to New Zealand’s multi-billion dollar agricultural economy,” says Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross. “Agrichemicals are vital for ensuring the security of our food supply and, when used responsibly, pose no threat to our bee population. But we must remain vigilant and address any potential risks to our bees.”

The campaign was promoted during September to coincide with Bee Aware Month, as well as the peak sale of agrichemicals, however the message is always relevant, says Mark. “It’s important for manufacturers of agrichemicals to have clear label statements regarding safety precautions for their products, including describing how to protect our pollinators – like our members do.” Rural Contractors New Zealand chief executive Roger Parton emphasises the importance of adequate training for people applying agrichemicals. “Correct application is as important as using the correct agrichemical.” He advises using registered chemical applicators for spraying to ensure the safety of bees and people.

AVOCADOS

Page 69

Demand for avocados in Asia remains firm ~Avocado~

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Call us today to start growing your future

Avoco, which exports to Asia under the Avanza brand, is expected to ship about 292,000 trays outside Australia in 2017-18 – about half of what it sent to various Asian markets last season.

Small volumes

The alternate bearing cycle of avocado trees responsible for the smaller export volume is a frustrating reality for growers and marketers alike. Avoco export manager Ted Thomas says customers throughout Asia were prepared to pay a premium price for New Zealand fruit and it is disappointing there is not more fruit to sell. “The up and down nature of New Zealand’s production remains our Achilles heel in terms of staying relevant to our customers in Japan. We grew volumes by as much as 47 per cent last season but this season we’re looking at mareting a signiﬁcantly reduced volume. “The upside of a short supply window is that values for the Avoco grower should be strong.” Ted says the creamy taste of New Zealand avocados means they will always compete well against the likes of fruit sourced from other countries, including Mexico.

Selling point

“Another unique selling point is research which proves New Zealand avocados are nutri-

tionally better for you than avocados grown elsewhere. This speaks volumes to the typical Asian consumer who values their health and wellbeing.”

Trade show

New Zealand’s reputation as a supplier of premium quality, nutritious avocados was reinforced at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong last month. Regarded as Asia’s leading trade show for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, it was a chance for Avoco and its team of experienced marketers to meet with customers and explain how its supply model can meet their need for great-tasting avocados under the Avanza brand. It was the fourth consecutive year that Avanza operated a joint trade booth with US-based marketing partner, Mission Produce, with both parties using the event to promote how effectively their partnership provides a 12-month supply solution.

Top-up

Martin Napper, Avanza’s market manager for Korea, says Mission’s fruit, sourced from California, would be a helpful top-up to their supply this season. Avanza is contributing about 46 per cent of New Zealand’s total shipments to Korea which is shaping up to be one of Avanza’s best performing markets. “The market grew by 92 per cent last year and reached 530,000 import trays,” he says. “That growth is continuing with speculation total imports for 201718 could reach as high as

one million trays.” Despite handling smaller export volumes due to a low crop year, Martin says it is important to continue to service Korean customers. “Avanza is committed to growing the Korean market and we can contribute to that goal by ensuring we deliver the consumer premium quality fruit each time so in a high-volume year, we become their preferred choice of supplier.” Avanza’s shipments to Asia started in September and will continue until t e ﬁrst wee of January. All other Avoco fruit is being shipped to established retail and wholesale customers in Australia which is New Zealand’s highest-paying market for avocados.

The 5 health benefits of being an AVOCO grower 1. Consistent OGR 4. Best customers

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3. Support Excellent technical support is available, leading to improved orchard health and productivity.

Generous OGR per tray Audited total serving – over 2.8m trays

Percentage of trays served in 2016-17

AVOCO delivers excellent returns in years of heavy and light volume.

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Australia Retail (high value) Wholesale

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Nothing fl ashy. Just good old-fashioned teamwork.

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Interest in New Zealand avocados remains high in Asia despite the setback of a small national export crop.

Page 70

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

FORESTRY

Pine plantations impact water quality Researchers have shown that blue-green algae can increase in waterways close to pine plantations.

Run-off from pine plantations leads to more blue-green algae cover in rivers, according to a new study by Spanish and New Zealand researchers.

Organic matter decomposition rates (measured as loss of tensile strength of standard cotton strips) varied very little among sites, whereas river ecosystem metabolism increased with the abundance of Phormidium, especially The researchers looked at different sites along the in the lower part of the river. Maitai River near Nelson, each of which had different The results of the present study pine tree cover in the catchments feeding into them. suggest that pine forestry does promote The researchers say forestry activities can lead to ormidium biofilm abundance and more sediment build-up in streams and that this affect ecosystem functioning in the sediment often includes phosphorous, which is what Maitai River. t e blue-green algae needs to ouris . e type of blue-green algae the scientists found — Phormidium — has only become common in New Zealand during the past decade. Little is known about the effect of these proliferations on river ecosystem functioning. In the present study, researc ers e aluated fi e sites along the Maitai River differing in pine plantation cover of their catchments. ey ypot esised t at ormidium biofilms would trap more sediments and recycle more phosphorus than diatoms; that Phormidium proliferations would increase with forestry cover in the catchment and that the varying abundance of Phormidium would affect river ecosystem functioning. Their studies showed Phormidium did not trap more sediment or recycle more phosphorus (measured as al aline p osp ate acti ity t an diatom biofilms. However, the cover of Phormidium did increase with the proportion of forestry in the catchment.

Toxic cyanobacterial proliferations in water bodies can cause serious environmental and public health issues, as well as having economic effects. Increased inputs of nutrients and ﬁne sediment caused by forestry a e been hypothesised as possible causes of increased Phormidium-dominated proliferations in New Zealand rivers. Source: Marine and Freshwater Research, Cawthron Institute.

Page 71

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 72

n edicta e eat e New skipper Tom Mayne is a selfconfessed ‘ﬁshaholic’.

Everette Hicks, 8, caught two golden snapper at once.

Shane with a nice tarakihi.

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t t is time of t e year, t e tara i i mo e in closer to shore as the water temperature drops. e barracuda usually accompany them and provide an excellent source of bait. e snapper a e generally mo ed out into deeper water alt oug you will still catc t e resident reef snapper ins ore. ome big blue cod a e also been caug t. e swell t at aturday was about two metres but slow-mo ing and long-legged w ic some people t oug t was a lot of fun. e started fis ing some ins ore spots in s allow water and t oug plenty of fis were caug t, t ey were all undersi ed snapper w ic was definiti ely entertaining but not t e aim. o ing on to t e i e ile it was same old, same old, so off to udney we went. at reef is about nine miles from the entrance with a water depth of around 60 metres. fter - minutes t e fis ing really came on wit snapper and tara i i being auled aboard. ne of t e fis ermen, att, was not feeling so well in t e swell and was pro iding some burley to assist t e fis ing.

eat i in

nbe nown to im e ad caug t a little fis on is line and w ile e was not concentrating, a big Jo n ory came and grabbed it. at ga e im somet ing else to t in about and e managed to wind it up successfully to produce t e fis of t e day . s t e day went on t e fis ing got arder and arder. o ing to a new spot, it fired up again and a w ole lot of golden snapper and a few tara i i were caug t.

ate

ne of t e younger fis ermen was eig tyear-old erette ic s w o ad only e er been fis ing from t e mussel barges in metres of water. e too up t e c allenge of deep water fis ing and produced some nice fis . om ayne is one of our new s ippers for t e summer season. e as a lot of boating nowledge and e perience and is a self-confessed fis a olic . e also produced a nice feed of fis . e weat er calmed down and was near perfect by t e time we eaded for home. e fis ing around ayor sland u ua as been good wit a uge ariety caug t by only a andful of anglers. ese included tara i i, snapper, golden snapper, cod, pin maomao and porae. est bait as definitely been tuatuas w ic are preferred by tara i i. mall w ole s uid are irresistible to both tarakihi and snapper. The water temperature has come down to . but out at u ua it remains a lo ely a ua blue and is crystal clear.

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ofﬁce website. unscreen s ould always be applied if you are planning on spending time outdoors. e sun protection factor s ow as on t e sunscreen bottles can be confusing. t is best to imagine t e number represente great open spaces, mountains, la es and ri ers ing a multiple of your normal sunburn time. draw isitors from all o er t e world. e or instance, if you normally burn a e ery few dangerous animals in ew wit in minutes, a will ealand but t ere is a idden danger increase t is to minutes. at we should all be aware of. “Ultrais not commonly nown is t is calviolet radiation from the sun is far culation is based on a laboratory stronger in ew ealand t an environment when the sunscreen the northern hemisphere. As a was developed and does not repconse uence we a e some of resent real world experience. t e ig est rates of s in cancer n reality, t e way most anyw ere in t e world.” people apply sunscreen, a oby says t e strengt of is actually deli ering a of increases in spring and summer around se en. erefore, using The Skin Centre’s Dr mont s. is t e cause of sunsunscreens wit s below is Toby Nelson, BSc (Hons) burn. cessi e sunburn, especially unli ely to offer any signiﬁ cant proMBBS MRCP (UK). in our yout , dramatically increases tection unless applied in generous our ris of de eloping a s in cancer amounts,” says oby. later in life. unscreen s ould be applied minutes before n order to protect yourself and your c ildren from going outside and e ery two to t ree ours dependsunburn, t e best option is to co er up or sit in t e ing on w at acti ities you are doing and more often if s ade during t e part of t e day w en t e is underta ing watersports and sweating a lot. strongest. is information can be found on t e met

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COUNTRY LIVING

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Promoting arthritic joint healing I spoke to a client recently who had been affected by osteoarthritis in his hips and shoulders. We created a personalised joint health programme that included supplements that can help promote healing in arthritic joints. When I followed up with him he said that he is mostly symptom free. The real hero however is not so much the dietary changes and supplements, but his body’s own healing processes. All disease starts with changes to cell functions. If this is left unchecked it can lead to tissue damage and eventually to disease. Our bodies have incredible healing properties that can become overwhelmed by a disease process. While physical damage to joints can cause arthritis it is important to see it as a real disease and not just wear and tear.

Collagen matrix

Joint cartilage appears as tough lifeless tissue. A closer look reveals something quite different. Cartilage matrix is secreted by specialised living cells called chondrocytes. These cells maintain small pieces of cartilage. Anything that negatively affects chondro-

cytes will eventually damage cartilage. Lose enough cartilage and you have osteoarthritis. Chondrocytes can become damaged by several processes. Firstly free radicals can damage them to the point that they cannot function properly. If left unprotected by antioxidants the chondrocytes will die and the piece of cartilage it maintained will eventually be lost. Secondly, corrosive enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases attack the collagen matrix of cartilage and t irdly unwanted in ammation can damage chondrocytes.

Reduce inﬂammation

What we need to do is to protect chondrocytes, reduce in ammation, reduce free radical acti ity and reduce MMP activity. What this does is to allow our natural cartilage healing processes to spring to life. The result is less pain and improved mobility. e answer is an anti-in ammatory and antio idant-dense diet. e t en add anti-in ammatory supplements that can help restore joint healing processes. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz

Got a bike? – take a bus Bay of Plenty Regional Council has completed the roll-out of bike racks on Rotorua buses, with Tauranga the next city in its sights. The Bay of Plenty’s Public Transport Committee chairman Lyall Thurston says it’s too early to gauge how many bus users are taking advantage of the bike racks. However, in other regions that use the racks, a positive impact on bus passengers can be seen. “Bus racks allow people to travel a much greater distance to and from their bus stop, and their eventual destination. This opens up public transport to a much wider range of potential passengers, and ultimately

Bee nutrition winners Shane Tims, a commercial beekeeper of Papamoa, and hobbyist beekeepers Gill and Gary Jamieson of Pukekohe have both won bee nutrition packs from AgriSea. Gill and Gary will receive ﬁ e litres of gri ea ee Nutrition valued at $100 and Shane wins 20 litres of AgriSea Bee Nutrition valued at $257. The packs were offered as prizes by AgriSea in the August issue of Coast & Country News.

Abundant Health Bettaflex Super Joint Formula

may help reduce the number of cars on our roads. b iously t ere are also ealt beneﬁts for t ose that choose to use bikes for part of their journey.” Lyall says the Western Bay Public Transport Blueprint sets out a number of initiatives for the Tauranga urban bus service, including the introduction of bike racks for the start of the new bus service contract, expected to be early 2019. In the Bay of Plenty, bike racks are currently installed on Rotorua Cityride and the eastern services of Whakatane to Ohope, and the Whakatane/Kawerau/Opotiki to Tauranga bus services.

What is Bettaflex

• Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function. • Bettaflex combines high grade chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine sulphate and a potent 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. • Each capsule of Bettaflex contains 382mg of high grade chondroitin, 425mg of glucosamine and 50mg of curcumin extract

How can Bettaflex help

BEST BUY! $79.95 for 3 bottles free freight or 1 bottle for $28.95 plus $4.99 postage

• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage. • Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes. • Curcumin from turmeric helps to balance joint immune function to support joint health • Research suggests chondroitin is effective only at levels of over 700mg daily.

John Arts comments:

“I formulated Bettaflex based on the latest research into natural compounds that can help with joint support and function. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend a double dose for the first 1-2 bottles to saturate joint tissue.” (John Arts, Founder Abundant Health Ltd)

Abundant Health

Cautions: Always read the label and use only as directed. See your health care practitioner if symptoms persist.

TO ORDER PHONE: 0800 423 559

Or order online at www.abundant.co.nz or post a cheque to Abundant Health Ltd, PO Box 4347, Mt Maunganui South, 3149

COUNTRY LIVING

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From 1967 to 1970 Lesley worked for Terry and Catherine McGougan in their Waimana IGA store and now she has featured the wide variety of goods the store sold in a large cross stitch artwork she has gifted to her former employers. “Over the last couple of years while recovering from several operations, doing needlework as elped fill my days,” says esley, w o featured in the March issue of Coast & Country ews w en s e correctly identified t e ‘History Item’ from the Opotiki Museum as an early cash register. “I recall having to work the heavy keys on the till (in the McGougan IGA store) and the amount would show up on the ticket at the top of the machine. It was all pounds, shillings and pence until decimal currency came in. “Sometimes the money draw would get stuck and refuse to open, but a good thump in the right place usually got a result. “It was a heavy, cumbersome appliance which took pride of place on the wooden shop Lesley Doran of Hamilton with the McGougan IGA counter. Waimana store cross stitch she has created. “Every day it got a clean over to keep it bright and shiny. It was all part of the job examples of the wide variety of goods to handle cash in those days, not like the IGA general store stocked. today’s world of supermarket checkouts “I well remember all the grocery items and credit cards. Those were the days,” we used to stock, including those we she says. weighed up and put price tickets on. er first ob ob iously made a “The coins at the bottom of the marked impression on Lesley who frame are a reminder of when New took inspiration for her cross stitch Zealand changed to decimal currency project from an old IGA magazine and on July 10, 1968. I found the changeore-created a ‘shopping list’ of items, ver quite easy to handle.” including Waimana Red Band Cheese. Lesley says she was never surprised “The cheese features in the second at the jobs she was asked to do at the row of the cross stitch. It was made at McGougan store. “I was asked to serve the Waimana Cheese Factory and was customers, get orders ready for delivery, world-renown as an excellent cheese.” pump petrol and sweep and wash the The cross stitch also includes oors. remember being sent ome matches, light bulbs, boots, bikes, ladearly from work on April 10, 1968 ders, sweets, ice cream, milk, a rolling as the Wahine storm was coming and pin, our, brooms, petrol and more as aimana ooded badly.”

COUNTRY LIVING

Tours appeal to sense of adventure driver and the vehicle but the amazing scenery and true high country made it all worthwhile. “Everyone on the tour had a story to tell, all looking to get off the beaten track, all from different walks of life. An unexpected bonus was making great friends on the tour,” says Joyce. For any NZ Adventure 4x4 trip the only mandatory stipulation is for vehicles to have good condition all-terrain tyres and a low range transmission. Every vehicle is supplied with a radio for commentary and two-way communication.

at NZ uth Island off-road is wh Exploring the rugged So er. Adventures 4x4 Tours off

NZ Adventures 4x4 Tours organise journeys through the back country of the South Island which are so popular, many clients return for more. In January 2016 Joyce and Warwick Brown from Te Awamutu did the Eastern Explorer, and because they loved that one so much they did the High Country tour in December. Warwick says it was on their bucket list. They wanted to see some of the New Zealand countryside and they had a four-wheel drive vehicle. “It appealed to our sense of adventure. With these tours you get to go places off the beaten track and access privatelyowned farms, many of which have been in the same family for generations.” Joyce says the highlight, especially during the High Country Tour, was meeting the farmers themselves – at their place. “They were amazing; so interesting. Proud to meet the tourers and for us to hear about their challenges and to see their farms and to be part of their lives – even for a short time. It was really wonderful.” The Eastern Explorer is nearly 1000km and crams an awful lot of

interest into t e ﬁ e days. NZ Adventure tour organiser Connie Crickett says the tour takes in areas where they have not previously explored. Starting in Geraldine, it travels through the regions, overnighting in Omarama, Ranfurly, Mosgiel, awrence and a ﬁnal nig t in le andra. “The route is diverse and interesting – a tour of the vibrant heartland of our beautiful country with old gold workings, high country stations, Oceania Gold’s site at Macraes Flat, heavy forested gorges, the semi-barren Lammermoor mountain range and the mighty Clutha River.” Warwick and Joyce says the tours are well-organised. Accommodation and catering is excellent and very good value for money. “Robbie and Connie between them are quick to understand the individuals in the group and are fantastic in making it great for everybody,” says Joyce. “They help and encourage where needed or just be there to ensure the sometimes challenging drive was accomplished by everyone. “Many on the tour had not been offroad before, even though they owned a 4x4 (some vehicles were hired). At times it was challenging driving, stretched the

Connie and Robbie Crickett of NZ Adventures 4x4 Tours enjoy sharing the South Island back country with their clients.

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CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Page 76

Do we need to harden-up in agriculture? e deﬁnition of t e word arden , w ic dates bac to t e t century, is to become more deﬁnite and strongly felt , or, ‘to make someone less emotional and less likely to feel sorry for other people’.

Now this is a very wide topic and not for the faint-hearted, but it seems that we are being pushed back and softened by a ‘nanny’ state. You can loo at any sector of our economy or business to ﬁnd t e pus towards taking over our ability to think independently and make our own decisions. Apparently one of our major weaknesses as an economy is that we lack productivity. To get more productive we need more grit and attention

to achieving more. It seems that we do work long hours, but with low productivity.

More pain

Recently I was at a physiotherapy presentation on keeping mobile and e ible and t e physio said we need to go to 20-30 per cent pain. In other words, we need to push two to 30 per cent past our pain barrier to get a result. It was from that comment that I realised we are soft and only going to 10 per cent and then we give up. at if we all ust made t e e tra effort w en we are doing a task, making more effort to get it right and do it better for longer? What if we refused to give up so easily and stayed on task for longer? What if we inspired others to make more effort and ‘harden-up’ a little? On the farm we are making millions of decisions, all interlocking, which will affect the outcome of the business. The ability to harden-up and focus on the tasks at hand could have

amazing results. We have English doctors leaving their homeland and coming to New Zealand to get away from formﬁlling and bureaucracy, only to ﬁnd it is following them here.

‘Moaning Kiwis’

Are we becoming a bunch of ‘moaning Kiwis’, blaming everyone else for our woes, rather than hardening-up and facing the issue and getting it sorted ourselves? Sometimes we will see a situation that has stalled due to the inability of people to move forward and they start looking to the legal system to sort it. Maybe we need to harden-up, step-up and get it sorted ourselves, rather than looking elsewhere for a solution. ow we ﬁnd t at ardened-up immigrants are doing some of our work which we softies refuse to do for low wages. It is all a bit worrisome really, all because we wanted our kids and their kids to have a better and easier life than us. We do however, seem to have made it easier and easier which has made them softer and softer. Maybe we need to ‘harden-up’ and become more deﬁnite and strongly felt . Disclaimer – These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought. Don Fraser is the Principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the Farming Industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675. A disclosure document is available on request.

Get to know the growers of New Zealand Global interest in the story behind healthy, fresh food has inspired Horticulture New Zealand to start an Instagram page where people can better get to know the fruit and vegetable growers of New Zealand, Horticulture New ealand c ief e ecuti e Mike Chapman says. Growers of New Zealand (@growersofnz) went live in late September and sparked interest from New Zealand and around the world. Each week a grower will be proﬁled at wor , and the seasonal crop they have been working with will be highlighted in a recipe. “Social media is a great way to reach a wide and engaged audience w o want to ﬁnd out more about their food and the people who grow it. Instagram is really t e social media of foodies, tra ellers and in uencers and of course, it is very visual which is perfect for healthy food. “But it is no longer just the food people are interested in. Increasingly people want to know their food has been produced in a sustainable way, with well protected labour,” says Mike.

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“New Zealand fruit and vegetable growers have a great story to tell. Many run inter-generational family businesses where three or four generations of the same family have been caring for the land. They understand environmental sustainability from years of record keeping and e perience. s t e generations c ange, more science and technology is applied and in horticulture we have businesses at the cutting edge of healthy food production. “Growers of New Zealand can also tell our international audience more about New Zealand fresh fruit and vegetables, given t at we e port to mar ets and there is interest in organic growing worldwide, which is another New Zealand strength. “Recipes are always popular on social media, as people look to healthier eating and want daily inspiration and advice. We will be promoting what is in season at the time and therefore readily a ailable and affordable, and also will be proﬁling t e lesser known fruits and vegetables to encourage people to broaden their horizons. “Horticulture is growing rapidly and we need to attract more people into careers. o we ope by proﬁling the range of jobs available we will get people either starting out, or looking to change their career, interested in the varied paths horticulture has to offer.”

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Keeping ‘natural capital’ in the bank

One teaspoon of soil contains more living organisms than there are people in the world. Without this ‘biological diversity’ there would be no terrestrial life on earth. In addition to providing habitat for billions of organisms, soil acts as a water filter and growing medium. It contributes to biodiversity, solid waste treatment, acts as a filter for wastewater and supports agriculture. Unlocking the secrets of this complex chemical, physical and biological powerhouse – a powerful source of ‘natural capital’ – has had a huge impact on human life. The transformation of this type of natural capital into resources that people value and use is generally called ecosystem services. It is a concept gaining more attention as we see environmental pressure increasingly applied to the health of resources we once took for granted, such as soil. Functional land management is a resource management framework that seeks to optimise the cropping and environmental returns from land. It focuses on soil functions related to agricultural land use: primary production, water purification and regulation, carbon cycling and storage, functional and intrinsic biodiversity, and nutrient cycling.

Soil quality monitoring

Waikato Regional Council’s soil quality monitoring programme measures soil properties such as soil compaction, nutrient status, biological activity, soil carbon and organic matter at 150 sites. About 30 sites are sampled eac year so it ta es ﬁ e years to get around all 150 sites. The sites covered include the major land uses and soil types within the region. The results show a variety of trends, ranging from issues such as compaction and excessive nutrients to an improvement in some indicators such as macroporosity (a measure of the proportion of large pores in the soil that provide the air supply to roots).

The latter is most likely attributable to good land management practices undertaken by our farming community.

Improvement needed

Building on that good work, some areas still need improvement. Good practices needed include optimum cultivation and avoiding over-grazing and heavy grazing under wet weather, both of which can damage the soil’s structure and lead to compaction. Others include carefully matching fertiliser applications to suit soil and crop requirements, practicing appropriate use of pesticides and other agrochemicals, managing pasture to maintain complete soil co er and careful application of farm dairy ef uent to avoid saturation and to optimise organic matter and nutrient status.

Human-induced erosion

Minimising human-induced erosion and maintaining good soil quality are essential for maintaining soil ecosystem services such as nutrient and water buffering, productive capacity, assimilating waste and minimising impacts of sediment and other contaminants on water bodies. rotecting sensiti e areas on farms also beneﬁts production. For example, wetlands deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as improving water quality, ood regulation, coastal protection, and pro iding recreational opportunities and ﬁs abitat. Soil is one of the most valuable assets that a farmer has. It is our collective responsibility to make use of soils without damaging either the soil or any other part of our environment, protecting them for our own use and use by future generations. The council is committed to working with farmers, the wider agriculture sector and other stakeholders to increase the understanding of soil issues and to provide advice on sustainable agriculture practices that decrease impacts on our natural capital. Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council. Contact him on 0800 800 401.

Page 77

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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classiﬁed listings

trades & services

accommodation

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Romantic, separate, selfcontained accommodation with a touch of luxury. Rural location 5 minutes from Hobbiton. Sleeps up to four. Continental breakfast included. Phone 021 0595 185

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NEED A C.V? A C.V. For You can provide you with the professional touch. From scratch or alterations.

trades & services

“Get the interview….Land the job” Contact via www.facebook.com/ acvforyou or 0204 037 6034

for sale

PULLETS HY-LINE BROWN, great layers. Phone 07 824 1762 www.eurekapoultryfarm.weebly.com ORPINGTON CHICKS & PULLETS Lavender, black, white, blue & splash. Plus Buff Orpington ducklings. Phone 027 2555 5518 or 07 549 5568

October 5

Lameness Workshop: Dairy

Women’s Network East Waikato Group. 11am – 1pm in Walton. To register; https:// www.dwn.co.nz/register-forfree-event?ID=9820

October 6

Birds Aplenty Photo

Competition closes today. Categories for all ages. See tinyurl. com/ycnodnnp

October 6-8

Animal Husbandry, Tirau,

including cattle, sheep, pigs, bees and chickens, $250/$400 per couple. See www.lals.nz

LIST YOUR RURAL EVENT October 7 Fernbird Survey, 7.30am, HERE! email your listing to: elaine@thesun.co.nz with ‘Rural Event’ in the subject line.

October 4-8

Tulip Festival, Rotorua. See www.tulipfestrotorua.co.nz

an opportunity to visit Uretara Island in the Ohiwa Harbour. Register with Stuart, 07 312 4583.

Beginners Home Gardening

Workshop, 9am-5pm, Pakarakara Farm, Thames www. pakarakafarm.co.nz/education

October 8

October 21

October 28

kara Farm, Thames, $140. See www.pakarakafarm.co.nz/ education

for the season (near Katikati), 9.30am-4pm, Thursday to Sunday until December. www. irisgarden.co.nz

Waitete Bay, ph Dell 027 521 9260.

10am, Tirau, how to make small-scale silage, $55. See www.lals.nz Scenic Farm Walk, 10am, 584 Herepuru Rd, Manawahe (near Whakatane), free. Brent Mountfort will show how 20 years of fencing and re-vegetating marginal land can improve biodiversity and bring back birdlife, without compromising farm proﬁtability. Ph Liddy 027 569 9022.

October 24

October 29

Advanced Home Gardening Workshop, 9am-5pm, Pakara-

Rotorua Botanical Society,

Western Bays Track, Lake Taupo. Ph Chris 07 345 3840.

October 14

Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project Work Day, weed control and planting. Ph Paul 07 349 7432 or 027 650 7264.

Amazing Life of a Godwit,

5.30pm, illustrated talk by Adrian Riegen, 21 Pyne St, Whakatane (Eastbay Reap) $5.

October 14-15

Bonsai Show, Hamilton Gardens.

October 15

How to Show Roses, Tony Clayton demonstrates at 415 Cameron Rd, Tauranga. Ph Judy 07 573 6525.

October 19-29

Tauranga Arts Festival www. taurangafestival.co.nz

Amazing Iris Garden opens

Ohiwa Harbour Birdlife Kayak Tour, 8.30am, $10. Hire kayaks available. See tinyurl.com/y9f2a7kg

October 21-23

Waikato Botanical Society,

Easy Gardening, 6.30-

8.30pm, 8-week course, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $75. See tinyurl.com/jqm5j6a

October 26

Benefits of Urban Trees,

lecture by Geoffrey Donovan, 6pm, Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga, gold coin. See tinyurl.com/y8hk6qt5

October 26-28

NZ Arborists Conference,

Tauranga. See tinyurl.com/ y98jz979

Silage & Pasture, from

BOP Bee Interest

Group meeting at 2pm. Location TBC. pH Gordon 0275442882 or email bopbeekers@gmail.com

Soap, Creams & Ointments

Workshop, 10am-3pm, Katikati Resource Centre, $85. See tinyurl.com/ycdp5xnh

Scarecrow Festival

11am-3pm, Hamilton Gardens, free. See tinyurl.com/ y8gpq9k7 Plant Sale, 10am-4pm, Hamilton Gardens.

BER TR TIM E

NT ME AT

PEPP ER

Arts festival puts spotlight on dairying New Zealand’s economic basis has to shift if we want a sustainable future according to Thames farmer and former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons – and that will mean a spotlight on dairy farmers. “The dairy industry has outgrown its ecological limits in terms of soil, water and greenhouse gas emissions,” she says. “But it could be different. There are solutions but

Pakaraka Farm owners Dina and Niva Kay, Harry Parke, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Yotam and Lily Kay. farmers and Fonterra don’t seem very interested.” She cites the work of agri-ecologist Alison Dewes and economist Peter Fraser who have investigated Ministry of Primary Industries (then MAF) policy work from 2008, showing 250,000 cows could be removed from Waikato and “no one would notice”. “Waikato cow numbers could drop by 20 per cent and farmers would be more proﬁtable,” says Jeanette. “There would be no need to import the palm kernel that makes milk a marginal product. Animals could be fed on grass and fodder and, because there are fewer per hectare, they would be healthier, happier and so produce more milk. “Costs go down and income goes up. Dairy farmers are locked into ‘if 300 cows are good, 400 will be better’, but that’s not the case.” Offering solutions to the country’s issues is the focus for the ‘Paved with Good Intentions’ panel at the Tauranga Arts Festival on Sunday, October 29 whre Jeanette, business commentator Rod Oram and economist Shamubeel Eaqub will be quizzed by Radio New Zealand’s Guyon Espiner. Jeanette is also one of six speakers who, on October 28, will individually address the topic ‘Our Place to Stand’ about what it means to be a New Zealander and the wider notions of turangawaewae. Tickets from Baycourt or Ticketek. TECT cardholder discounts apply until October 6 (Baycourt only). www.taurangafestival.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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Luca – almost 2 years old “taking care of business” in the calf shed in Marotiri.

The sausage "farm" dog FOREST HARVESTING & Cooper herding up the MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOREST HARVESTING & FOREST HARVESTING &stock in Te Kuiti. FOREST HARVESTING & MARKETING SOLUTIONS

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Left: Little calf rearer Zia - 2 years old is helping out with the running the calf shed.

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Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345 Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345

Office: Fax:07 07347 347 8345 Office:07 07347 347 8344 8344 •• Fax: 8345

Above: Zachariah, 2 months old hangs out with his big brothers’ lambs after a feed in Mangatawhiri.

PRIZE UP FOR GRA

BS!

Pictures and kathy@thesun.co.nz “Codetails can be emailed (high resolution jpgs) Tauranga. Please includuntry Camera” or posted to Coast & Country, to PO e a name, address and phone number with eve Box 240, ry entry.

Unit 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO Box 525, Rotorua Unit 1318 Pukuatua St, Box Rotorua Unit 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO Box 525, Rotorua Unit 6, 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO PO Box525, 525, Rotorua