Coast & Country News - February 2025

Cityninny’snightout

It’stakenthreeeditionsof Coast&Country News toarriveatthismoment,andthis iconicentertainmenthub,venuefora “cityninny’sbigcountrynightout”. There’sacarparkfullofgrubbyHoldenstation wagonsandonesad,inadequatelightoverthe entrancetothecommunityhall,situated45 minutesfromanywhere.Tweedsportscoatsand twinsetsaremakingtheirwayinside,fromwhere comesanunmistakablecall.

ofthefew,ifonly,windowsofopportunityfor thesefarmerstorelax,haveagameandamoan andgroanwithlike-mindedsouls,andacup ofover-steepedteaandasliceof“themissus’s” madeiracake.

Interestingthatalotofthewomenchoseto teamup.Theypreferredtosocialiseonthemat ratherthancompete.Andthatwaseasierachieved withoutconstantdirectionfromhusbands.

“OnthebackhandDoris.”NoMCtonightjust skips.“AndjackhighpleaseDoris.”Really?Indoor bowls?Isthishowsomefarmersspendtheirone cold,miserable,darknightoffeachfortnight. Whynotaconvivialroll-uponarealbowling greenandacoupleofshandieswithyourmateson asunnySaturdayafternooninthesun.

“CCan’t!!”expllaiinsThTheHHat.“CCrutchhing.” Crutching?Wouldn’tyoupreferaroll-upto staringupasheep’sbuttwithitsattendantdags andblowflies?Allwet,woolly,andstinky? “Yes,butthere’salwaysfarm stufftododuringdaylight hours.”So,everysecond Mondaynightbetween 7pmand9.30pmisone

Sothatnight,IjoinedTheHatand30,000other indoorbowlersfromnearly800clubsaroundthe countryforaroll-up,abigcountrynightout.It tookexactlyfourbowlsformetomakeadickof myself,formetogetthebiaswrongandsend mybowlscuttlingoffthematintothe neighbouringgame.

TheHatgavethesamescornfullookhegaveme thedayIalmostfellintotheoffalpit,andhehad t to rescue me I still have bad dreams about falling threemetresintoabedofbloatedand putrefiedsheepcarcasses.Abig countrynightout?Indoor bowlswasn’tquitewhatI hadinmindbutsufficeto sayIamstilltalkingabout it55yearslater.

Shockatproposedgreyhoundracingban

WhiletheNewZealandgreyhound racingindustryreelsfromtheshock announcementthattheGovernment intendstophaseoutgreyhoundracingover thenext20months,WaikatoGreyhound RacingClubmembersarelookingatthe widereffectsofthebanwithhugeconcern.

WGRCvicepresidentCoreySteelecomesfroma longlineofgreyhoundbreedersandtrainersgoing backtotheharecoursingdays.Hisgrandadbred the1989AucklandCupwinner.

“Everyonefeelsthatthebanhasapolitical agenda.In2022,GreyhoundRacingNewZealand implementednewrulesandregulationsaround greyhoundwelfarewhicharestricterthanNew Zealand’scurrentanimalcontrolbylaws,”said the 29-year-old.

industryformorethan15yearsandhastwo retiredgreyhounds.

“GRNZrulesalreadypreventeuthanasiaof racinggreyhoundsunlessavetcertifiesitas theonlysolution,andGRNZinvestheavilyin veterinarytreatment,rehabilitationandrehoming ofnon-competingdogs,”saidBartlett.

“Rushingthroughlegislationpreventing euthanasiapriortothebangivesoutthewrong messagetothepublicasitisalreadyinplaceand verymuchsupportedbytheindustry.

“GreatMatesKennelscountrywidearefully fundedbyGRNZandtakeallretiredand rehabilitatedgreyhounds.Theyarehealth-checked anddesexedbeforetheyentertheprogramme.

“Thehoundsarehelpedtoadjusttoanewlifeas apet,”saidBartlett

Aworkinglifewithgreyhounds

TheGRNZUnder30Young AchieversAwardwinner 2023-2024,21-year-old ChloeWatson’slivelihood isinvestedingreyhound industryalongwiththerest ofherfamily. Shehasbeenworking withgreyhoundssinceshe waseight,handlingsince 14andtrainingfrom18, andhasacertificatein CanineBehaviourand Training.

Costlyimprovements

“Manytrainersspenttensofthousandson improvementstotheirkennels,facilitiesand transportation.Allindicationswerethatonce thesewelfarechangeswereinplacethenthe industrywouldbeoutofthespotlight,sotheban announcementreallycamefromleftfield.”

GRNZandWGRChaveinvestedheavilyin trackmanagementandinfrastructureatWGRC’s hometrackatCambridgeRaceway.

“Therewouldbe10joblossesimmediatelyfrom theclubifthebangoesaheadandtheraceway wouldlose$100,000inincomefromhostingthe greyhoundracing.”

Greyhoundtrainersbreedtwotofiveyearsin advance,investingfinanciallyinsemenfromtop siresoverseas,soanyinvestmentinbreedingthis seasonwillhavebeenwastedmoney.

SteelesaidWGRChavegiventheir100% supporttoGRNZandtheirattemptstogetthe decisionoverturned.

Ex-racinggreyhoundownerandprevious WGRCcommitteememberandpresidentJenny Bartletthasbeenimmersedinthegreyhound

ChloeandhersisterZahra workbetweenadjoining properties.Onewheretheir auntHayleyMullanerunsaracing teamof40dogs,andtheotherwheretheir mumGraceHarrisonrunsarehabilitationkennels undertheRehabtoRehomingprogrammerun andfundedbyGRNZ,forinjuredracingdogs.

“Mypartner,AnthonyCleeve,alongwithhis fatherGarryCleeveandtherestofhisfamily,have about100dogs,sothat’saround150greyhounds betweenjusttwofamily-runkennels.

“We’veallbasicallyreceivedaredundancyletter anditisonlyjuststartingtohithome.We’reall freakingabouttheconceptthatin20months fromnow3000-plusgreyhoundswillneed rehoming.”

Chloeisconcernedaboutthefinancialimpact ofthebanonthebusinesscommunitywhich supportsthegreyhoundindustry.

“There’ssuppliersofmeatandkibble,veterinary support,supplements,massagecreamsand gels,equipmentsuchasmuzzles,leads,collars andcoats,plustrailersandvansthathavebeen convertedtotransportgreyhounds.”

OnTrackisanorganisationdedicatedto makingmentalhealthapriorityintheracing industry.Anyoneneedingsupportcancontact themat:www.ontrack.org.nzorcalltheirhelpline.

www.SpaShop.co.nz

Arehomedgreyhoundandownertrackwalkatanopendayat

CambridgeRaceway. Photo:CatherineFry

Photo:YvetteBodiam

MPIhascompletedthefirst phaseofaninvestigationinto allegationsofmistreatmentof sheepconnectedtoshearing practices,saidComplianceand ResponsedirectorGlenBurrell.

“Ourteamhasanalysed235 video files and we continue to speak to PETA (People for the

EthicalTreatmentofAnimals), industrygroupsandfarmowners, andhavealsomadeproactivevisits tofarms.

“Wehaveidentifiedsome instancesinthevideofootage whichareveryconcerning,and these are our focus in the next phase of the investigation ”

Whiletractorfiresarelessening,any istoomany,saidaveteranfirefighter intheWaikato.

KevinCurtisisinauniquepositiontooffer adviceontheissueasamemberoftheMatamata VolunteerFireBrigadeforalmost50yearsand seniorlossadjustorwithFMGInsurance.

TheMatamatabrigade’schieffireofficersaid farmcalloutsrelatingtotractorsandmachinery havebeenonthedownturninrecentyearsdue togreaterawarenessandspecialistadvice.

However,Curtissaidfarmersneedto remainvigilanttoprotecttheirfamilies,staff andproperty.

Nestingbirds

Onethebiggestcausesoftractorfiresonfarms isbird’snests,particularlyrelatingtostarlings.

Curtissaidthesebirdscanbuildanestin10 minutesonceatractorisparked.

FromJanuarytoJune2024FMGpaidout39 tractorfireclaims,costing$1.3million,with31 ofthese“totallosses”.

“Theyfindanicewarmanddarkplace–usually aroundtheengineexhaustorturbo–andbring goodnestingmaterial.”

Curtissaidstarlingshavetheabilitytofind theirwayintothesmallestofentrypointsto buildtheirnests.

Thebestactionfarmerscantaketoprevent theproblemistoleaveenginehoodsupwhena tractorisstoppedforanyperiodoftime.

“Starlingsloveaconcealedspacetobuild theirnests.”

Enginebaysneedtobethencheckedbefore startingthetractoragain,Curtissaid.

ThisisinlinewithFMG’slongrunningStop& Popcampaign.

Curtissaidcombineharvesters,quadbikes, side-by-sides,carsandutesarealsonotimmune fromadeterminedbirdkeentobuildanest.

Resultingfirescanbedisastrous,withmore thanathirdoftractorsthatcatchalighta completeloss.

Curtissaidthereisalsothepotentialtolose othermachineryinthenearvicinityalongwith associatedbuildings.

“Theendresultcouldbeamulti-million-dollar loss.”

Thecompanyhandledfivetractorclaimsa month,amajorityoftheserelatingtofires,the biggestat$302,000.

FromJanuary2019toDecember2023FMG paidoutmorethan$15.5millionintractor fireclaims.

Extravigilance

Inhislongexperiencewiththefireservice, Curtishasbeentothesceneoffarmfireswhen allthatremainedwastheframesoftractorsand sheds.

Remoteruralareasmaybe20minutesaway fromthenearestfirestation,soCurtissaiditis importanttobeextravigilant.

Herecommendedhavingfullyserviced fireextinguishersintractors,machineryand buildings.

“Thereisneversuchaphraseastoomuch suppression.”

Whileitmaysoundobvious,Curtissaid farmersandstaffalsoneedtolearnhowtouse extinguisherscorrectly.

Hestressedtheneedforfarmersandcontractors tocleantractors,harvestersandanyagricultural equipmentafteruse.

Highpressurehosesaregoodforthis,Curtis said.“Crackopenthebonnetandcleanthe enginearea.Heavyuseofequipmentcancoatthe engineinchaffandgrime,abuild-upofwhich cancausetheenginetooverheatandcatchfire.”

Curtissaidnestsinswitchboardsinfarm buildingscanalsoresultinafirecausing significantdamageanddisruption,and potentiallylossoflife.

Aswithbirds,Curtissaiditisimportantfor farmersandtheirstafftolookoutforsignsof ratsormicenearelectricalwiringandremove anynestsorotherflammablematerialfrom switchboards.“Makesureyourswitchboardsare properlyenclosedandhavearodentmanagement

MatamataVolunteerFireBrigadechieffireofficer KevinCurtis. Suppliedphoto

plansuchasensuringthebuildingis tidy,investingintrapsandbait,and keepinggrass/foliagetrimmedback fromtheexternalwallsofthebuilding.”

Helpinginadvance

Ifafirecallhastobemade,Curtissaid farmerscanhelpbrigadesinadvance. “Makesuretheycangetthefiretruck uptoaccessbuildingsandmachinery.”

Thismeansprovidingacorridorofat least4minwidthby4minheight,free fromoverhangingvegetation.

Curtissaidthewidthoffarm gatewaysalsoneedstobetakeninto consideration.

Ifadwellingisunderthreatoffire, Curtissaiditisvitaltohavean“escape plan”foralloccupants.

Thisincludesadesignatedmeeting

A tractor bursts into flames, ignited by a bird’s nest under the bonnet set alight by the engine Photo: NZME

areasuchasthemailbox.

“Onceout,don’tgoback.”

Hesaidfarmersneedtobealerttothe dangeroffireandthefireriskinside andoutsidetheirhomesandincludefire protectionintheirbusinessplans.

“Firehasthepotentialtocauselosses bothinsideandoutsideyourhome.The consequencescanbedisastrous.”

Curtissaidruralpropertyowners

Tipstohelpyousavemoneyin2025

AsNZcontinuestofacethe pressuresofrisinglivingcosts, findingwaystosavemoneyis becomingincreasinglyimportant.

Hence,ConsumerNZissharing tipstohelpyousavesomecash.

Saveupto$670bychanging yourcarinsurance

Switchingyourcarinsurance providercouldsaveyouasmuch as$670ayear.Consumer’scar insurancesurveyfoundthedifference betweenthehighestandlowest premiumsforafamilywas$56a month–or$670ayear.

Saveupto$825byshopping aroundforgroceries

Therecanbeabigdifference betweenwhatyoupayforthesame productatdifferentsupermarkets. Byshoppingaround,youcouldsave

hundredsoverayear.

Saveupto$870bytweaking yourpowerusage

Byadjustingthewayyouuse yourheatpump,switchingoff appliancesatthewall,andcutting downshowertimes,youcansave hundredseachyear.

“Forexample,settingyourheat pumpbetween19°Cand21°Crather thanturningthetemperatureup highercansaveyou$320annually,” saidConsumerNZcampaigns managerSaharLone.

Save$240bydroppinga streamingservice

Ifyou’repayingformultiple streamingservices,itmightbetime toreviewyoursubscriptions.

Ifyou’repaying$20amonth foraserviceyoudon’tusemuch, unsubscribingcouldsaveyou$240 peryear.

faceahigherriskfromfirethantheirurban counterparts.

“Theconsequencesaregreaterbecausefires aredetectedlater,andtheemergencyresponse takeslonger.

“Youneedtohaveahigherlevelof fire safetyawarenessandtotakeextraprecautionsin ruralareas.”

R researc site hostsmaizeevent

Maintainingmaizecropprofitabilityisthe focusoftheFoundationfor ArableResearch’spremierannual maizefielddaynearHamilton.

It’sachancetocatch-uponthelatestin maizenitrogenmanagementandherbicide resistancestrategies,aswellaswithother growers,beforethemaizeharvestbegins.

Aninsightintoopportunitiesandchallenges withmaizesilageproductionintheUnited Kingdomwillalsobeoutlinedbyvisiting expertsJonMyhillandKateBakeroftheUK MaizeGrowersAssociation.

ThefielddaywillbeatFAR’sNorthernCrop ResearchSiteatTamahere,ontheoutskirtsof Hamilton,onTuesday,February4,from10am to2pm.

FAR’sNorthIslandresearchmanagerDirk Wallacesaidtheeventisanopportunityto learnabouthowtogetthebestvaluefrom maizemanagementaswellastosocialiseprior toharvest.

ItisalsoachancetomeetFAR’snewly appointedseniormaizeresearcherRenevan Tilburg.

Topicsincludehowgrowerscangetthemost bangfortheirbuckfromtheirfertiliserbillas FARbuildsanitrogenmanagementstrategy formaize.AgResearchscientistswilldiscuss herbicideresistanceinmaizeandhowto managechallengingweeds.

Registerat: www.far.org.nz/events

Digintowaater qualit or

TheBayofPlentyisabundant inrivers,lakes,streams,estuaries andwetlands.

Thesewaterbodiesareessentialtothelocal economy,theecosystemandcarrysignificantsocial valueforbothrecreationalandculturalreasons.

Becauseofthis,oneofBayofPlentyRegional Council’scorerolesistoworkwithlocal communitiestoensurethatwhathappensonthe landisdoneinawaythatcanhelpsupportthe futurehealthofourwaterways.

Aperfectexampleofthisistheworkbeingdone toimprovewaterqualityintheWaihīEstuary.

Wetlands

Onceathrivingestuary,abundantwithkaimoana (seafood),theWaihīEstuaryisnowoneofthetop fivemostdegradedestuariesinAotearoa.

Decadesofwetlanddrainage,river channelisation,landusechangeandcontaminated runoffthroughoutthe35,000hacatchmenthas severelydamagedtheestuary’shealth.Significant changeisneededtoreturnittoamoderatestateof ecologicalhealth.

Andthatchangeiscurrentlytakingshapeinthe formofafirst-of-its-kindwetland.

CurrentlyknownastheCutwaterRoad wetland,thisjointventurebetweenRegional Council,iwicollectiveTeWahapūoWaihī, alongsidelocalfarmersandcentralgovernment,is thefirstofmanywhichaimstocreatea‘korowai aroundtheWaihīEstuary’–aprotectivebuffer

Formany,itcanbehardknowingwheretostartwhenitcomesto makingenvironmentalimprovementstoyourproperty.That’swhywe workwithpassionatelocals,andempowerthemwiththeknowledge andtoolstotakecareoftheirownbackyard.Together,wecanwork torestoreandprotectourenvironment,ensuringthatitisthriving forfuturegenerations.

RegionalCouncil,iwicollectiveTeWahapūoWaihī,alongsidelocalfarmers andcentralgovernmentareworkingtorestoretheCutwaterRoadwetland. ofwetlandsthatwillhelprestore thehealthandmauriofthishighly degradedarea.

Transformationwork

Duringthenext18months,the CutwaterRdsitewilltransform froma30hadairyfarmintoa27ha freshwatertreatmentwetlandanda 3hatidalcoastalwetland. Oncecomplete,bothwetlands willhelpimprovewaterqualityand biodiversity,contributetoclimate changemitigationandadaptation outcomesthroughcarbonstorage, andsupporttheculturaland recreationalvaluesofthearea.

Communityachievement

AstheLandManagementOfficer managingthisproject,it’sbeena

pleasuretocollaboratewithnot onlyTeWahapūoWaihī,butthe neighbouringlandowners,farmers andcommunitymemberswho haveallplayedaroleinenabling thiswork.

TheCutwaterRoadwetland showsyouexactlywhatcanbe achievedwhenacommunity comestogethertoworktowards acollectivegoal. Thiswetlandisjustonepartofa pictureofworkneededtoimprove thewaterqualityacrosstheregion. Ifyouarereadytodoyourbit, getintouchwithyourlocalLand ManagementOfficertoday. SeemoreinRegionalCouncil’s advertonthispage.

Cautiousoptimismovervisarulechanges

Cautious optimism over visa rule changes

AWaikatofarmerwhohas longhadoverseasworkers inhisstaffmixiscautiously optimisticaboutchangesto migrantvisarules.

“It’snotagame-changer,but isgoingintherightdirection,” saysGuyKalma,whoruns580 cowsatNgarua.

TheGovernmentrecently announcedmovestoremovethe medianwagethreshold,reduce experiencerequirementstotwo

yearsandintroducenewseasonal visapathwaystosupport employerstofillskillgaps.

Thechangeswillbe implementedinfourdifferent stagesthisyear.

ImmigrationNZisalso re-designingthe“jobcheck” stepoftheAccreditedEmployer WorkVisaprocess.

Itsaysthechanges,tobe implementedfromJuly,willhelp streamlinethe“jobcheck”for low-riskemployersandimprove processingtimeframes.

DairyNZdatashows16%of

farmsdonothaveenoughstaff tomeettheirneeds.

KalmasaidfeweryoungKiwis seefarmingasanattractive careerproposition.

“Thesadfactisthatthe industryneedsmotivatedpeople fromothercountriestofillthe staffingshortageonfarmshere.”

Saudiexperience

Hisexperiencewithoverseas farmworkersgoesbackto19971999whenhewasoneof2000 peopleemployedona28,000cowfarminSaudiArabia.

Onhisreturntothefamilyfarmin NewZealandheadvertisedforstaff butgotonlytworeplies,neitherwith theskillsrequired.

Afterbeingassistedbyfamilyanda staffagencyforayear,Guyorganised workvisasforthreeformerstaff membersinSaudi,twofromNepal andonefromPakistan.

Kalmasaidtheprocessinitially wentsmoothly,butrenewalswere moreofachallenge.

“Everyyeartheruleschanged,” Kalmasaid.“Therewasalwaysanew hooptojumpthrough.Asimple processgotharderandharder.

“Then,everyfiveyearsorso,when itwaspoliticallyexpedientandthe outcryfromtheagriculturesector gotoostrident,theruleswouldbe relaxedandtheprocesssimplified, beforetheconditionsresumed gettingtougher.

“Whilecontinualworkvisa applicationsweredifficult,workers’ familyvisasandresidencyapplications weremoreonerousagain.”

Afterpersonaldealingswith ImmigrationNZbecametootimeconsuming,Kalmasaidheturnedto aspecialistimmigrationlawyer.

Aworker’sexperience

Kalma’scurrentsharemilker,Arun Badesra,initiallycamefromIndiaon avisitors’visatopursuehisstudies incommerce.

Withexperiencebackhome,he decidedtoturnhishandtofarming

inNewZealand.

PassingtherequiredAgITO qualifications,Badesrabecame assistantherdmanageronanother Ngaruafarm.

Badesrasecuredatwo-yearworking visabuthiswifebackinIndiacould not,soheresignedfromthefarmjob andreturnedhome.

Thecouplewaseventually permittedtostayinNewZealand afterspendingaround$10,000on airfaresandvisaprocessing. Afterstintsontwootherfarmsin theWaikato,Badesrasignedupas acontractmilkerwithKalmathree yearsago.

Kalmasaidthemigrantvisarules needtobemoredefinedinrelation tothequalificationsoftheapplicant andtheroleforwhichtheyare applying.“Youcan’tgeneralise.”

Nowinhissecondseason50/50 sharemilkingontheKalmaproperty, Badesrasaidheandhisfamilylove thelifestyleonaNewZealandfarm. “Youcanbeyourownboss; it’safriendlyenvironmentand thereareopportunitiesifyouare hard-working.”

Kalmasaidtherearegood opportunitiesforwealthcreation intheNewZealanddairyindustry throughherdownership.“While farmownershiptakeslongerthanit didhistorically,itisachievablefor motivatedindividuals.”

FarmerGuyKalmawithcontractmilkerArunBadesra.

Photo:SteveEdwards

Lookcloser–performancematters

No-oneknowswhat thenext12months willbring.

Butonethingiscertain–new pasturesownthisautumnwill help–orhinder–yourfuture morethanyoumightthink.

That’swhyoneindustry expertisurgingfarmerstotake theriskoutoftheirpasture renewalbypickingproven performersaheadofcheapor uncertifiedseed.

Cheapseed

Barenbrugpasture specialistGrahamKerrhas seentheresultsofsowing cheapseedmoretimesthan hecarestorememberduringthe past30years.

“It’scheapforareason.” Whetherit’spoorgermination, highweedcontent,lowgrowth, noendophyteorpasturesthat aresimplynotwhattheyclaim tobe,hesaidonereaction prevails–farmerstressoverthe amountoffeedthatisn’tthere whenneededandexpected.

Unknownseeds

“That’soneofthebiggest costsofseedwithunknown provenance.Youdon’tknow untilit’stoolate,andthenyou haveaproblem.”

Certifiedproprietaryryegrass seedlikeArrayNEA2,however, makesuponlyafractionofthe totalpriceofpasturerenewal. Andforsomethingsosmall, ithasahugeimpacton productivityinyearstocome.

“Ifsomethinggoeswrongwithyour pasture,therepercussionsforthe wholefarmsystemaremajor.”

Highstakes

Notonlyistherenowayof knowingforsurewhat’scontainedin uncertifiedseedmixes,there’salsoa lotoffeedatstake.Andunlikemany otherunpredictablefactorsaffecting

yourbusiness,seedchoiceis100%in yourcontrol.

“Therearen’tthatmanyproven opportunitiestomitigateriskin suchahighstakesbusinessas pastoraldairyfarming.Putting seedqualityaheadofpriceisone ofthem!”

Formoreinformation,see Barenbrug’sadvertonthispage.

Pickaproven performer thisautumn.

Whenitcomestoinvestinginpasture, cheaperisn’tbetter.Taketheriskout ofyourpasturerenewalandgetthe bestreturnbysowingaproven, qualityproductfromBarenbrug. Askyourreseller,orlearnmoreat barenbrug.co.nz/pick-a-provenperformer ,

ShogunNEA12

Thephenomenal3-5year pasture,delivering performanceyour neighbourswillenvy.

Nextgenerationperennial, our‘goto’grassforsuperior persistenceandsummer growth.

Thesuperstarperennial, deliveringhighintake,yield, Nuptake&persistence.

Graham Kerr.

Cropprotectionsuppliercelebratescertification

WrightForWaterwaysPlantinginitiativehasbeenahugehighlight.

Acropprotectionsupplierthatrecently achievedToitūcarbonreducecertification believesitdemonstratestheircommitment tomeasuring,managing,andreducing greenhousegasemissions.

ToitūEnvirocareisaleaderinsustainability v verificationwithitscertificationsbeingsome ofthefirstintheworldtobeaccreditedunder ISO14065.

“BecomingToitūcarbonreducecertifiedisa hugeopportunityforNufarmtoaddmorevalue toourcustomersandendusers,”saidNufarm’s sustainabilityleadDebbieArnold.

electricityusageandfuelinvehicles.

Toachievecertification,Nufarmmeasured i its emissions for freight,bbusiness travel,wwaste,

“Wewantto dotherightthingnotonlyforour peopleandcustomers,butfortheenvironments inwhichwelive andwork.Ourpurposeis togrowabettertomorrow,andagricultural sustainabilityisintegraltothis.”

KeycarbonreductionsmadetotheKiwi businessinthe pastthreeyearsincludereplacing dieselforklifts withelectricforkliftsandreach trucks;transitioningtohybridcarsinthe companyfleetandinstallingsolarpanelstopower itsSouthIslandDistributionCentre.

Nufarmisalsodrawingsustainableconnections withitscustomers.“Oursustainabilityinitiative withPGGWrightson‘WrightforWaterways’ hasbeenahugehighlight.Together,overthe p past two years,wwe grew 180,0000 Manuka trees

andsuppliedthesetotheirgrowers toplantonfarmordonateto ruralcommunitiesthroughoutthe country,”saidNufarmmarketing managerEmmaAult.

BecomingToitūcarbonreduce certifiedmeanstheNewZealand businesswillnowbeauditedevery yeartoensureitcontinuesmaking progressinreducingitscarbon footprint.

“Weareproudtohaveachieved thiscertification,andtojointhe

likesofFonterra,Farmlands,Pāmu, SilverFernFarmsandotheragrisectororganisationswhichhave gainedthisinternationallyrecognised certification,”saidArnold. Globally,Nufarmaimstocut type1andtype2greenhouse gasemissionsby30%by2030. Domestically,thetargetis20% fewertype1and2emissions by2027.

Formoreinformation,seetheir advertonthispage.

Boostyourpasturerenovation withvermicast

Revivedrypaddockswithworm castings!

0800MYNOKE www.mynoke.co.nz

Itssuperiorwaterretention keepsmoisturewhereit’s neededmost,andit’seasier tospreadinsummer’s dryconditions.

Plus orderingdrierproduct nowmeansmorecubic metrespertonne,forbetter coverageandvalue.

Aruralcommunityhub

Aoncethrivingcommunityhub intheWaikato,whichfellinto disrepair,hasbeenre-bornasa functioncentre.

TheformerHungaHungaHallisthe centrepieceofwhatisnowRosebrooke HallandGardens,betweenMatamata andTeAroha.

ItbeganlifeataHungaHunga Women’sDivisionofFederatedFarmers’ meetinginOctober1954,withland giftedbylocalresidentNeilHight.

MatamataresidentValWilliams(nee

Explore our range of transportable designs online today! Sizes range from 60-140sqm, perfect for familylivingorfarmaccommodation.Builds completedin16weeksfollowingcouncilconsent.

Asarespectedresidentialbuildingcompany, proudlyownedandoperatedintheWaikato,weare committedtomaintainingourexcellentreputation bydeliveringhigh-qualitytransportablehomesto customersthroughouttheNorthIsland.

Thomas)hasfamilytiesinHungaHungastretching backtothe1930s.

Herfather,thelateJackThomas,donatedtimberfor thetongueandgroovemataiwallpanelsfromhisrunoffatnearbyWaihou.

Inthedaysbeforetreatedpine, nativetimberwasusedthroughout, withrecordsshowingthefloorwas intendedtobe“levelenoughfor indoorbowlsandspringyenoughfor socialdancing”.

NowresidinginMatamata,Val remembersthatacoregroupof communityresidents–including herfather–pluslocalcontractors, progressedtheconstructionwork.

Buildingmaterialsweredonated, alongwithahotwaterheater,plus glassesandcupsforthehallkitchen.

Communityinput

hallbecamethecentreofactivitiesinHungaHunga, hostingWDFFmeetings,indoorbowls,tabletennis, SundaySchoolandamonthlychurchservice,plus regularfunctionsincludingschoolconcerts,21sts, welcome-ins,farewellsandanannualcabaret.

TheWDFFchippedinwith£20forstagecurtains whichremaininthebuildingtothisday.

Financialdonationsalsofloodedin,withevery householdinthedistrictcanvassed.

Thehallwasbuiltinjustayearandofficiallyopened byWaikatoMPGeoffSimonNovember2,1955.

TheMatamataCountyMailreportedthatallthe residents–youngandold–werethere,allwithakeen noteofexcitementandafeelingofhavingshownthe worldwhatgoodfellowship,determination,generosity andhardworkcando.

Val,aged13atthetimeoftheopening,saidthe

Lovedandcaredfor

Thehallranintandemwithnearby HungaHungaPrimarySchool,which servedthesmallruraldistrictfrom 1923to1984.

Theschoolanddistrictjubileechurch serviceof1973washeldinHunga HungaHall.

Withincreasingcostsandadeclining localpopulation,thehallclosedin 1997andremainedemptyuntilitwas broughtbacktolifebyEugeneand JoannaO’Reillywhopurchasedthe propertyin2014.

ThefollowingyearitbecameThe Hallweddingvenueandchangedhandsagainin2021 whenitwasacquiredbyKristinandEvanWilliams. KristinpassedawayinDecemberofthatyear,with herfuneralheldinthehall.

HerfamilydevelopedtheAlexandraRdproperty intoafunctioncentre,andRosebrookeHalland Gardenswaslaunchedin2023.

KristinWilliams’sister,AliceCapper-Starr,became marketingandsalesmanagerandsaidthe“rustic”state ofthepropertyhasbeentransformedintoit’snew “lovedandcaredfor”presentation.

AliceCapper-Starr,marketingandsalesmanager atRosebrookeHallandGardens.

ValWilliamswasaged13 whenHungaHungaHall wasopenedin1955.

ThepicturesqueHunga HungaHall.

Photos:SteveEdwards

Keeping it in thefamily

Vintageandclassicmachinery enthusiast,anddairyfarmer, ReeceHoughtonwasbrought uponadairyfarmwithone sisterandfourbrothers. Theirfatherhad Internationaltractors, andReecewasdoing tractorworkfroma youngage.

“MydadNeil switchedthedayto-daytractorsto JohnDeerewhen Internationaland DavidBrown combinedasCase International;dad couldn’tbringhimself todriveaDavid Brown,”saidReece.

Fromtheearly-1970sNeilcollected andmeticulouslyrestoredvintage JohnDeeres.Whenhepassedaway, hehadoneofthelargestJohnDeere collectionsinNewZealandandabig machinerysalewasheld.Sixtractors werepurchasedbackbyfamily members.

“Myfavoritewasa1955John Deere70.”

Reeceremembersploughingon thefarmwithhisdaddrivingthe JDGwithatwo-furrowploughand himdrivingaJD70(pre-restoration) withathree-furrowReidand Grayplough.

“Atlunch-timewehadtogoback andfilltheGupwithpetrolbutthe 70wouldeasilygoalldayonone tankofdiesel.

“ItwasJohnDeere’sfirstrow-crop dieseltractor.Oneofsiximported newbyGough, GoughandHamer, andanotherseveneightfollowedlater mostlysecond-hand.

TheJD70isquite rareinNewZealand.

Reecedescribed thetwo-cylinder, 50hpJD70,with sixforwardandtwo reversegears,power steering,andhand operatedclutch,asan “interestingtractor”.

“Ithashugepistons, a61/8inchboreand63/8inch stroke,withlivepowertakeoff,live hydraulicpowerwithhydraulic-stop cylinder,andRoll-O-Maticfrontend suspension.”

The70isstartedbyaJohnDeere four-cylinderV-typecranking engine,whichexhauststhoughthe airintakeofthedieselengineand sharesthesamecoolingsystem, makingthetractoreasytostartin coldtemperatures.

“It’swellknownforitsfuel economyandefficiency.Pre-launch trialsofthe70attheUniversityof Nebraskashowedaresultthatwas

deemedtoogoodtobetrue,butwhenitwas re-testedthenextday,itwasevenbetterafter beingbrokeninthepreviousday.”

ReeceisontheWaikatoVintageTractorand MachineryClubcommitteeandtakesthe70to clubeventsandusesitforsplittingfirewood,grass seedingandploughingaroundthefarm.

Headmitstobeingabitaversetogettingitdirty asit’sinsuchbeautifulcondition!

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Reecenowownshisfather’s1955JohnDeere70. Photos:CatherineFry

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Crank engine on the John Deere 70.

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TheP&PdPICSystem combines:(1)atrailerunit,connectedbetween thetravellingirrigatorandthedraghose,and(2)aKelcoIPG20controller locatedatthepump,providingafoolproof,cost-effective,thoroughand reliablefailsafeifanyfault,leak,orblockageoccursinthe effluentsupplysystemorwiththetravellingirrigator.

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Reviewing geothermalwaater useinTaurangga

Fruitandvegetablegrowersinthe BayofPlentydon’twanttobelefthigh anddryinareviewofwateruseby theregionalcouncil.

oncontact:

kjsmithengineering@xtra.co.nz

Mobile: 0275730566 orvisitoursiteat www.papd.co.nz

TheTaurangaGeothermalSystemManagement Planwillbecomepartofawiderstrategybeing developedbyBayofPlentyRegionalCouncil throughdraftregionalplanchangesrelatingto geothermalwater,whichiswater30°Candover.

Regionalcouncilstrategyandsciencegeneral managerNamoutaPoutasisaidthedraftplanproposes “nodirecteffects”onexistinggeothermalorfreshwater consentsintheTaurangageothermalsystem.

“Thedraftplanchangewillcontinuetoprovide asustainableandreliableheatandwatersource, whichwouldbebeneficialforgrowerswhorelyon thesesources.”

NewZealandKiwifruitGrowersIncCEOColin Bondsaidarelativelysmallnumberofkiwifruit orchardsintheBayofPlentyusewaterfromthe Taurangageothermalsystemforirrigationandfrost protection.

Feedbackcollection

SpeakingtoCoast&CountryNewspriortopublic submissionsclosingonJanuary31,Bondsaidasthe advocateforNewZealand’skiwifruitgrowers,NZKGI wascollectingfeedbackfromindustrystakeholderson themanagementapproachforgeothermalwaterwhich willbesubmittedtothecouncil.

“NZKGIhasakeeninterestinthistopicastheuse ofwaterisessentialnotonlyforgrowers’production ofkiwifruit,butalsofortheimportanteconomic benefitsthatourindustrycontributestotheBayof Plenty,”saidBond.

Duringthesubmissionperiod,NZAvocado alsoencouragedfeedbackfromitsgrowers.CEO

BayofPlentyRegionalCouncilstrategyandscience generalmanagerNamoutaPoutasi.

BradSiebertsaidgrowersusetheirborewaterfor severalusesacrosstheirorchardingoperationfrom irrigationandfrostprotectiontosprays.

TheindustryalsoworkscloselywithNZKGI, whilehesaidNZAvocadowouldbesupportinga submissionbyHortNZtoBayofPlentyRegional CouncilonitsdraftTaurangaGeothermalSystem ManagementPlan“unlesstherearedifferingviewsor additionaltopicsraisedbyourgrowers”.

“Ingeneral,NZAvocadosupportsmoreworkon understandingourgrowingregion’swaterresources towardsanequitableopportunityforgrowersto accessthewatertheyhaveavailableontheirland withminimalcompliancerequirements,”siad Siebert NewConsents

PoutasisaidtheprovisionsofthedraftTauranga GeothermalSystemManagementPlanandthedraft geothermalplanchangeproposeamorestreamlined andsimplifiedapplicationprocessfornewconsents.

“It’simportanttonotethat,duetothewaythe Taurangageothermalsystemworks,thewater temperaturewithinaborecandiminishovertime.

“Wetrytoavoidthisthroughconditionsofconsent andmonitoring.”Resourceconsentsforwatertakes under30°Cfallunderthefreshwaterrules.

“Thiswouldthencomewithdifferentrequirements forconsentandongoingcompliance,”Poutasisaid Shesaidtherewillbefurtheropportunitythrough theformalplanchangeprocessformorefeedbackto begathered.

Thereare172consentedgeothermaltakesin theTaurangageothermalsystem,73forirrigation and/orfrostprotectionand98areforpooland/or spaceheating.Poutasisaidcurrentlevelsofuseare considered“sustainablesystem-wide”andshouldnot induceexcessivelevelsofcooling.

Geothermalwateruse

About9.5millionm3peryearofgeothermal waterisconsentedforextractionfromtheTauranga geothermalsystem.Thosetakesarebothfor ‘geothermaluse’andfor‘non-geothermaluse’.

Poutasisaidmostoftheconsentsareforrelatively smallvolumes,withabout25%ofthegeothermal waterusedfor‘nongeothermal’usessuchas irrigationand/orfrostprotectionforcommercial horticulturalcrops.

New Zealand Kiwifr f uit GrowersInc CEO Colin Bond.

SpecificallybuiltforNewZealandHerd Homes,theSuperJetfromFarmChief deliversahigh-poweredmixingand pumpingactionforsuperiorincorporation.

Theeffluentpumpmixerispurpose-builtfor taskslikebreakingdowncrustsandmaintaining auniformeffluentconsistency,makingitidealfor emptyingHerdHomesquicklyandefficiently. Itspowerfulmixingactionensuresthatsolid andliquideffluentarethoroughlyblended, allowingeasierpumpingandapplication,saida spokespersonforFarmchief.

“Thecompactdesignmakesitanattractive optionforthoseworkingintightspaces.Fewer gratesmustberemovedtoensureaneffective mixingaction,withmanyherdhomesonly

Making fast orkofeffluent

requiringmixingfromasinglepoint.

“The3PTLsystemallowstheoperatortokeep themixerattachedtothetractorwhilemoving, savingthehassleandreducingthemess.”

Labelledasa“game-changerforfarmers aimingtoenhanceproductivitywhilemeeting environmentalcompliance”,durabilityand reliabilityareatthecoreoftheSuperJet’sdesign.

“Engineeredwithrobustmaterials,iteasily handlestheheavydemandsoffarmlife,offering long-lastingperformancewhilereducing maintenancedowntime.

“TheFarmChiefSuperJetisyourultimate productivitypartnerforstirring,emptying,and managingeffluentefficiently.”

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TheSuperJetinactiononafarm.

Benefitsofdicalcicphosphatetoogoodtoignore

Nowistheperfecttime toplanyourfertiliser programmeforautumn. Whetheryouaremaintaining orbuildingsoilfertility, phosphateswillbeneeded. Butthequantityneededand howwelltheyworkwilldepend onthetypeofphosphatesused. Althoughsuperphosphateis stillthego-tooptionforthe majority,dicalcicphosphate offersaplethoraofbenefits thatjustcan’tbeignored. Foronething,unlike superphosphate,itreleasesits nutrientsslowly.

Foranother,itproducesaliming effectuponapplication,thebest examplebeingFertco’sKingPhos withapHvalueof6.5-6.7. Additionally,dicalcicphosphate

canbesuccessfullygranulated whichreducesbothfinancialand environmentalwastage.

Slowreleaseofnutrients

Dicalcicphosphatesare citric-soluble,notwatersoluble likesuperphosphate.While thephosphatesinSuperare availableforplantstouseas soonasthephosphateshitthe soil,thenutrientsindicalcic phosphatemustbebroken downbysoilbacteriabeforethe plantscanusethem. However,thisisnotaproblem asthesebacteriaarewidely distributedinsoil,andsimply partofanaturalprocess. Thisdifferenceinsolubility givesdicalcicphosphateamajor advantage:thenutrientsare releasedmoreslowly.Soplants

areabletoaccessthenutrients astheygrow,andlessislostto theenvironmentduetorun-off, especiallyunderheavyrainfall.

Theoverallresultisthatthe dicalcicphosphatefertiliseris moreefficientatconvertingits nutrientsintoplantgrowth.

Anothergreatadvantage isthatdicalcicfertilisersare seedsafe.Ifsuperphosphateis appliedatsowingtime,there isariskthatnewseedlings canbe‘burned’fromasudden excessofphosphatenutrient dissolvingnexttotheirroots. Butifdicalcicphosphateis used,newseedlingsaresafer becausethenutrientisreleased slowly.Thisenablesfarmersto applytheseedandfertiliserat thesametime,savingtime andmoney.

COSTEFFECTIVERETRACTINGROOFSYSTEM

Canberetrofittedtoexisting concretewoodorblockbins Uniquespacesavingsectional design

Fertco’sgranulateddicalcic phosphatesreleasetheirnutrientsin aslow,controlledwaywhilelooking aftersoilpH.Wastageisreduced, seedsandfertilisercanbeappliedat thesametime–andyousavemoney. Perfectforhillcountry,pasture andcrops.Canbeaerialorground spread.

ReplenishyoursoilPwhile lookingaftersoilpH.

Canvasorsteelcladdingoptions Winchsystemforeasyaccess Keepsfeedorfertiliserdry Kitsetoptionsavailable

Thekingofphosphates! UseregularlytoliftsoilpH.

Limingeff f ect

Asmentionedabove,dicalcic phosphatehasalimingeffect,sosoil aciidityiisnotaffffected d Soilacidityisacommonproblem forpastoralandarablefarmers becauseplantgrowthandmicrobial activitynaturallyincreasesoilacidity overtimesothatplantnutrients liketraceelementsbecome unavailabletoplants.Moreover,the applicationofSuper,withitsvery acidvaluearoundpH1.7,can addtothisproblem. Toovercomethisissue,limeis frequentlyapplied.However,ifa dicalcicphosphatelikeKingPhos orSeaPhosisused,separate applicationsoflimecanbereduced ormayevenbeunnecessary.As always,asoiltestwillensureyou onlyapplywhatisactuallyneeded.

Granulationbenefits

Whilethesebenefitsontheirown justifytheuseofdicalcicphosphate oversuperphosphate,thereare furtheradvantageswhenthedicalcic phosphateisagranulatedproduct. Firstly,thedicalcicphosphateis transformedfromadustypowder,

Fertilisingavocadotreeshelps themgrowtotheirfullpotentialand producehealthyfruit.

Youcanuseavarietyoffertilisers, includingorganicfertilisers,generaluse homefertilisers,andfertilisersthatare specificallyforcitrustrees.

pronetocloggingmachinery,into free-flowinggranules.Handling becomeseasier,andmost i importantly,aapplication is safer Thisisparticularlyrelevantforaerial topdressingwhereablockageinthe aircrafthoppercancreatealifethreateningsituationforthepilot. Groundspreadersappreciatethe granulateddicalcicphosphatetoo becauseriskofwinddriftisreduced. Secondly,granulateddicalcic phosphatecanbemoreaccurately placedduringspreading.Thisresults inlesswastagesincetheproduct canbedirectedawayfromraceways, stockcamps,andwaterways.This notonlysavesnutrientwastagebut avoidsenvironmentaldamage. Andlastly,thegranulationprocess producesaconsistentproductwhich mixessafelywithanotherfertiliser. Thisreducestimeand applicationcosts.

So,whenyou’replanningyour autumnfertiliserprogrammethis year,considerusingagranulated dicalcicphosphatelikeFertco’s KingPhosorSeaPhos. Theadvantagesarejusttoogood toignore.

Itisbettertoaddthefertiliser mixedverywellwiththesoilthat willbeusedtorefillthehole. Remember,onlysloworcontrolled releasefertiliser–andalwaysinsmall quantities,nevermorethanavery smallhandful.

Seaweedplusphosphates forhealthysoilpH andmicrobialactivity.

Mulchandfertilising

Mulchingaroundthebaseofthetree isencouragedandcanhelpconserve water,improverootgrowth,provide nutrients,reducingstressonthetree andsuppressingweeds. Avocadospecificgranularorgeneral gardenfertiliserscanbeappliedunder thecanopyofthetree.Withgrowth intreesizethequantityoffertiliser willalsoneedtoincrease.Thenutrient requirementsoverwinteraremuchless thanspring-autumn.

Fungicidesandfertiliser

Fertilisermustnotbeaddeddirectly intotheholeatplanting.

Foliarfeeding(leafsprays)witha balancedliquidfertiliser(contains mixtureofN,P&K)for1-2months afterplantingcanhelpwithtree establishment.

Thereaftergranularfertiliserscanbe appliedtothesoil40cmaroundthe stem,beingcarefultoavoidcontact withthestem. Continuewithfoliarfeedingmonthly withliquidfertiliserandZinc(2g Zincoxide/litreofwater).

Boron(1gSoluborperlitreofwater) shouldbeappliedeverytwomonths. Halfthefertiliserinwinter. Increasethequantityoffertiliseras thesizeofthetreesincreases.

Granulated dicalcic fertiliser is safe to apply, according to Fertco.

Scientistsddiscuss the pros and consofnitrogenuse

Thereismuchstilltoknow aboutnitrogen,especially whenitcomestonitrateloss andwaterquality.

“Weneedtohavebetter discussionsandconfronttheissues andweneedtodoitmoreregularly, ifwe’regoingtosolvetheproblems thatweface,”saidProfessorJohn Hickford,fromLincolnUniversity’s DepartmentofAgricultural Sciences,whoorganisedarecent eventunpackingnitrogen’srolein theprimarysector.

Opendiscussion

TheNitrogen:FriendofFoe? ForumwasputonbytheNew ZealandInstituteofAgricultural andHorticulturalScientistsand heldatLincolnUniversity.

Thediscussionwasopenedby EmeritusProfessorKeithCameron fromLincolnUniversity’s DepartmentofSoil&Physical Sciences.

Heillustratedtheflowof nitrogenfromtheatmosphere intothesoil,throughdifferent organismsandoxidationstatesand onwardsthroughdifferentfarming andnaturalsystems.

“Theevidencetellsusclearlythat

Fixed-wingaircraftisusedtodropfertiliseronafield.

allplantsandallanimals;without nitrogenwewouldn’tbealive.

“Nitrogencanbeaddedtothe systeminorganicformsormineral fertiliserformsandreallyit’s aboutthemanagementofthose inputstoreducetheleakagefrom thesystem.”

Knownrisks

Mostofthespeakerspivoted betweenagriculturaland environmentalscience,butProfessor JackieKeenan,aresearcherinOtago University’sDepartmentofSurgery, focusedonhumanhealth.

Shetalkedabouttheknownrisk factorsforcolorectal(colon)cancer andwhatmightbedrivingthe increasedriskofearlyonsetofthe

BeforeKeenantooktothelectern, shesaidnitratesmaybeariskfactor, buttheywere“oneofmany”.

“Youcouldgetridofallthe nitrateinthedrinkingwaterin Canterburyandyouwillstill havepeopledevelopingcolorectal cancer,”shesaid.“There’sawhole lotthatweneedtounderstand aboutthedifferentpathwaysthat areinvolved.”

Afarmer’sperspective

TomLambie,aformer commissionerforEnvironment Canterbury,wasintheaudience. Hesaidtheforumwashighly engagingbutstressedtheneed tobalanceenvironmental improvementswithfinancial

“I’mapractisingdairyfarmer andnitratesandenvironmental improvementareextremelyimportant butalsowe’vegottoremainproductive. “Weneedtomakesurethatwe’re doingourcatchmentworkandmaking individualfarmingdecisionsthatlook forbestvalueformoneytomakethe bestoutcomes.”

Speakingfromafertiliserindustry perspectivewasWarwickCato, thesciencestrategymanagerat

farmer-ownedcooperativeBallance Agri-Nutrients.

Hisperspectivearoundnitrogen fertiliserandwhetherit’safriendora foewasclear.

“Myconclusionisnitrogenisnota friendorafoe.

“It’sthemanorthehumansthatuseit andsothefocusshouldbeonpractices andthepeoplecomponent,because that’swhatreallydeterminesthecontext inwhichyouseenitrogen.”

AlastairandAnnReeves arethefourthgenerationof Alastair’sfamilytofarmthe 90-year-oldproperty inTeAkau.

Buildingonthatfamilylegacyistheir goalandtheyhavedevelopedahighly resilientfarmingbusinessthatenhances thesurroundingenvironment.

ThecouplearealsotheWaikato RegionalSupremeWinnersatthe

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TheReevesfamilyatthe2024BallanceFarmEnvironmentAwards.LtoR:George,Alastair,Helen, Sophie,AngusandAnn. Photo:Ballanceawards

2024BallanceFarmEnvironmentAwards.

“Wewereveryproudandemotionaltoreceivethe WaikatoRegionalSupremeWinnersawardalong withfourotherawards,”saidAlastair.

“Enteringtheawardsnotonlyhelpsustotellour farmstory,butalsogivesustheopportunitytolook backandseehowfarwehavecome,” said Ann.

Buildingalegacy

Alastairalwaysworkedonthefarmduring school anduniversityholidaysforhisparentsJohnand HelenReeves.HegraduatedfromLincolnUniversity withaBComAgdegreeandspenttimeoverseas playingrugby.

“Icamehomein1996toleaseandrunthreequartersofthefamilyfarm.The1980swere incrediblyhardforfarmersandmyparentshad workedthroughthat.Theywerereadytohand

WaimaiRomneyStudwhichhadbeenestablished since1953.

WhenAlastairmarriedAnnin2000thecouple boughttheirown129hectaresoflandfroma neighbouringfarm,followedbyfurtherleases totallinganother457hectares.

AlastairandAnn’sbusiness,spreadoverallthe properties,concentratedonbuyingyearlingFriesian bullsandsellingattwoyearsandacommercial breedingRomneyeweflock.In2008,theirhard workandequitybuildingfinallyallowedthemto buythehomefarmfromthefamily.

“WethenprogressivelyboughtintotheWaimai RomneyStud,”saidAlastair.

WaimaiRomneyStudistheresultofAlastair’s parentspioneeringgeneticeffortsandtheirannual ramauctionattractsalargegathering.

over the baton, it was our family.” His parents continued to run the

“TheRomneysarebredforfacialeczematolerance, wormtoleranceandlowmethaneemissionper kilogrammeofsheep.”

worm tolerance and low methane emission per kilogramme of sheep.”

Thegoalistobreedlowinput,high productionsheepand“producetopquality meatwhilestillbelievinginwooland workingbehindthescenestopromote andimprovethewoolindustry”.

The goal is to breed low input, high production sheep and “produce top quality m believing in wool and working behind the scenes to promote a he wool industry”

In 2016, the Reeves started breeding their own sheep called Waimai CharaBlack.

In2016,theReevesstartedbreeding theirownsheepcalledWaimai

“TheyareaHampshire/Charolais crossresultinginhighgrowth animalswithfantasticeating qualityduetotheirhigh IntramuscularFatContent. TheyareliketheWagyuof thelambworld.”

“They are a Hampshire/Charolais cr ing in high growth animals with fantastic eating quality due to their high Intramuscular Fat Content. y are like the Wagyu of the lamb world.”

CharaBlack sheep, a Hampshire/ Charolais cross bred by the Reeves.

Photo: Catherine Fry

At present the CharaBlack meat goes off for processing with the rest of the farm’s meat until the right market can be found.

“We’re part of a South Island Genomics Calibration Trial and a PML trial in the North Island which is looking at the CharaBlack eating quality and marbling. The meat is doing well in trials, and we now have a stabilised, in-house bred flock of 200.”

Stock classes

Alongside breeding sheep for an environmentally positive outcome, the Reeves also have a good understanding of what’s best in terms of stock classes for the different areas of their land and the overall management of soil and sediment.

Around 10% of the poorest pasture on their current 600ha has been retired. Native bush is planted only where it will thrive. Poplars are planted annually to control erosion and forestry has its place on the farm

“We’ve tried different methods of planting and retiring land and have significantly reduced the cost of planting and learned what to plant where on our farm.”

Part of the community

The longevity of the Reeves family’s presence in their local community means they have strong community focus including

involvement with the local school, their local catchment initiative and tree planting on the farm.

“We support industry collaboration such as the development of the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme Plus (FAP Plus) digital tool and we became FAP Plus accredited in 2024.”

Alastair and Ann are keen supporters of the Growing Future Farmers programme As farm trainers they take a student on the two-year programme to provide them with practical skills, training, life skills, and experience in agriculture

Their own farm manager, Tom Lilley, went through a similar cadetship route into his farming career and recently finished training GFF student

Jess Cameron

“Sheep and beef farms are historically intergenerational, it’s in our DNA to look after the land for the next generation,” said Alastair

The Reeves have three children who have all pursued agriculturallyrelated degrees at Lincoln University

The eldest, Sophie, 22, now works in supply chain logistics. George, 21, is still studying and is part of the Crusaders Rugby Academy The youngest, Angus, 19, is still studying. Looking at their study choices so far, it indicates that one or more of the fifth generation of Reeves may well be next at the helm of the family business.

Alastair in the auction ring at the annual Waimai Romney ram auction. Photo: Catherine Fry

The Waimai Romney team at the 2024 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. From left: Jessica Cameron, Alastair and Ann Reeves, Morgan and Tom Lilley. Photo: Ballance awards

WaikatopigeonfancierRayHooker’sinterestinhis grandmother’sandfather’spigeons,budgies,canaries andcockatielsendedupwithhimbeinggiventhe responsibilityforthemat11yearsold.

Hooker. He sold a pair to a pet shop in Hamilton in order to buy food for the others and start his “business” Waikato pigeon fancier

“Myparentsboughtafarmand theyhadnotimesoItookover. Wehadhomingpigeonsthat wereraisedforeating,butIdidn’t wanttoeatthemanymore,”said

Hooker.Hesoldapairtoapet shopinHamiltoninordertobuy foodfortheothersandstart his“business”.

“Theyarrivedbackhomea fewdayslater,soIsoldthem again.Theycamehomethree timesandeachtimeIre-sold themtothepetshop.Thefourth

4x4Tours2026

NZAdventuresoffersmultidayback countrytoursthroughouttheSouthIsland undertheownershipofRobbie& ConnieCrickett.

Thedatesfor2026havejustbeensetand informationpackswillbeavailableonrequest. Asix-daycelebrationofthepastoralandmining heritageoftheSouthCanterburyandOtagoregions.

timetheydidn’tcomebackso thelastpurchaserobviouslyknew abouthomingpigeons!”

Ahomingpigeonwillalways returntotheplaceitisbornifset free.Duringwartime,theycarried importantmessagesbacktotheir country,evenwinningmedalsfor theirservices.

StartinginthheCanterbburytownof f Fairlliethhis tripwilltakeparticipantsacrossthemountainous countrystraddlingtheboundaryofCanterbury andOtagowithovernightsinOamaru,Otematata, Ranfurlywithtwonights,anightinMosgielandthe finalnightinAlexandrawherethetourends,saidthe Cricketts.

Highlightswillcentreonthediversityofthetripand thelittle-knownlocalitiesalongtheway.Placessuch asCattleCreek,TimberCreek,Deepdell,Nenthorn, Styx,SerpentineandGermanHill.

HighCountryHeritage

Sixdaysdowntheeasternalpinefoothillsofthe SouthIslandfromBlenheimtoCardronawith overnightsalongthewayinHanmerSprings,Methven, Fairlie,OmaramaandCromwell.

“Oneofouroriginaltripsandoneweofferfour timeseachseason.InMarch2026thistripisoffered asaseven-dayandfinishesintimefortheWarbirds overWanaka,”saidtheCricketts.

WestCoastExplorer

“Twiceeachseasonweofferthisverydifferenttour fromHanmerSpringstoReeftonwithtwonightsin Murchison,anightinWestportandReeftonfortwo nights,thecouplesay.

“Thetourisdifferentbecauseofthebeechforestand becauseoftheverymarkedsuddenchangefromthe tussockbrownsofCanterburytothedeepgreenofthe westevidentevenonthefirstdayofthetour.

“ThemountainsofMurchison,Dennistonandthe hiddengemsinthebushnearReeftonareamongthe highlightsofaverypopulartour.”

NZAdventuresoffersothertourssuchas‘46South’ and‘BigSky’.

Formoreinformation,seetheiradvertonthispage.

A convoy crossing the river at Lake Heron Station

Ray Hooker and his red splash Jacobin pigeon, which won Best Pigeon of the Show at 2024’s National Poultry & Pigeon Show

pigeonstosellandattendedhis firstshowatage20.“Theyflip overbackwardswhenflyingand arequiteamazingtowatch.”

Fifty-oneyearslater,hestill breedspigeons,buthasbeen

Jacobinsforthelast19years, showingthemalloverthecountry.

“RollersareliketheTumblers excepttheyperformmultiplerolls whileflying.”

TheJacobinpigeonhasa

distinctivethree-partmonk-like cowlarounditshead.Thisfancy pigeonbreedistheresultof generationsofbreedinginIndia. “Thirtyyearsagoyoucould importstocktoaddvarietytothe genebaseuntilconcernsover

Farmingcanbehardonjoints -Part2

Someoccupationsseemtoincrease theriskofosteoarthritis.

I’vespokentomanyfarmerswhose osteoarthritisstartedwhentheycame offsecondbestinanincidentwith livestock.Builders,mechanics,nursesand similarrolesareveryphysical.Weknow forcertainthatrepetitivejointstrainand traumaisacontributortoosteoarthritis.

Therearealsomaypeoplewhodevelop osteoarthritiswhohavehadmore sedentaryoccupations.Thisindicates that‘wearandtear’isnotnecessarily thereasonforcartilageloss.AnX-rayof farmerorteacherwithkneeosteoarthritis lookmuchthesamedespitesignificant differencesinoccupation.

birddiseasesenteringthecountry endedthatprocess,”saidHooker.

“ThereareafewJacobinbreedersin NewZealand,andwetrytooutcross, butwithoutnewgenetics,thebreed willbecomeextincthere.

“Averminandpredator-proofloft, hygieneandcleanliness,regular wormingandlicetreatmentsplus goodfoodareimportantifyouwant healthybirds.”

Breedingisveryselective,with coloursandtraitsinmind.

HookerkeepstoaJuly-to-January breedingseasonsoallhisbirdsaren’t moultingduringtheshowseason. Hehasenjoyedmanyyearsofawards attheNewZealandPoultryand PigeonshowsandoneofhisJacobins walkedawaywiththeBestPigeonof theShowatthe2024NationalPoultry andPigeonShow. Hookerisringsecretaryandalife memberoftheWaikatoPoultry andPigeonClub.

ThekeydiagnosticfeaturesonX-raysarea narrowinginthespacesbetweenjointsandthe growthofbonyspursontheendsofthebonesofthe joint.X-raysdonotshowcartilage.Alltheyshowis thespacebetweenthebones.Cartilageiscalculated onthesizeofthejointspace.Ifwide,thismeans cartilageexists.Iflittleornone,thismeansthe

IMPROVES

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TelarcRegistra onNo2847means:

•Compliantwiththe NewZealandComposting StandardNZ4454:2005

•Compliancewith ISO9001:2015 QualityStandard

RobinBoomCPAgMBSPC–IndependentAgronomyandSoilConsultant Ihaveasanindependentagronomistbeenevaluatingfertiliser materialsandindustrialby-productssoldtofarmersand growerstohelpthemgrowpasturesandcrops.Analysesof WaitoaComposttakenthisyearhaveshownextremelygood Carbon:Nitrogen(C:N)ratios,below20:1whichissuperbfor anycompost.Thereisalsonoissueofdangerousheavymetal amountscontainedinthese.IrateWaitoaCompostasthe goldstandardforcompostmaterialsandhaveyettoseea betterqualityproduct. WaitoaCompostSales lyn.fause @wiel.co.nz

cartilagehaslargelydisintegrated. It t mightsurprisethatcartilageisnotlost bywear.Itislostbydiseaseprocesses. Cartilageismaintainedbyamazingcells calledchondrocytes.Eachchondrocyte isresponsibleformaintainingapatchof cartilage.Chondrocytesaredamagedbya combinationoffreeradicalsanddestructive enzymes.Adding800mg+ofChondroitin sulphatecanbeveryeffectiveasthis stimulateschondrocytestosecretecartilage. Nutritionaltherapyforosteoarthritiscan beveryeffective.LastyearIhadacallfrom someonewithpainfromosteoarthritisin bothhishipsandknee.Istartedhimon intensivedosesofChondroitinsulphate (1600mg)GlucosamineSulphate(1600mg) and100%watersolublecurcuminextract(400mg). Henoticedadifferencewithinafewmonthsandnow reportssignificantbenefits.Pleaseemailmeifyou wouldlikeacopyofmyOsteoarthritisprogramme.

JohnArts(Adv.Dip.Nut.Med)isanutritionalmedicinepractitionerand founderofAbundantHealthLtd.ForquestionsoradvicecontactJohn on0800423559oremailjohn@abundant.co.nz Joinhisnewsletteratwww.abundant.co.nz

$99.95for3bottles freefreightor 1bottlefor$36.95 plus$5.99postage 60CapsulesperBottle

Hooker bred Flying Tumbler pigeons to sell and attended his concentrating on Rollers and Jacobins for the last 19 years,

three-part monk-like cowl around its head. This fancy

Red splash Jacobin pigeons with their distinctive feathered hood

Photos: Catherine Fry

Whilemanyagriculturalandpastoralshowsaroundthecountryare struggling,theMorrinsvilleversionisjusttheopposite.

Morethan8000people–fromatownwitha populationoflessthan10,000–attendedlast year’sMorrinsvilleA&PShow.

MorrinsvilleCountryMusicClubandthe WaiTaikoDrummers.

McRobbiesaidtheshowwillalsofeaturea climbingwall,bouncycastleandsideshowswhich youngsterscantackleforfree.

“It’sgoneaheadinleapsandbounds,”said MorrinsvilleAgricultural&Pastoral SocietypresidentBruceMcRobbie.

As well as ‘growing to order’ and aiding in

planning, customers all over Aotearoa can obtain native plants for riparian planting, returning disused land to native, or simply planting in the household garden With the capacity to produce over 1,000,000 plants per year the nursery is able to supply pure cold-hardy natives on a commercial scale with orders delivered right to your door.

To discuss your requirements please feel free to make contact Sales: Lance Taurua lance@minginuinursery.co.nz Mobile: 021 742 237 Phone: 07 366 3314

Theshowlookedlikefolding initscentennialyear–2017 –butMcRobbiesaida strongpromotional driveturnedthe cornerforthe society’scornerstone annualevent.

Billtopping

Thisyear’s Morrinsville A&PShowison Saturday,March1, andMcRobbiesaidit promisestobebigger andbrighterthanever.

Toppingthebillatthe MorrinsvilleRecreation Groundisthereturnofpig racingaftera20-yearhiatus.

NoA&Pshowwouldbe completeofcoursewithout traditionalcompetitive eventssuchasequestrian, beefanddairysections, calfclub,sheepdog trialsanddairygoats. Entries McRobbiesaid entriesinthedairy sectionarelooking strong,with $10,500inprize moneyup forgrabs. Featurecattleclasses aretheNorthIsland AyrshireChampionship andNorthIslandPurebred JerseyChampionship.

McRobbiesaidthiswasa“bigattraction” atpreviousMorrinsvilleA&PShows;andthisyear willseeentrantsauctionedoffaftertheraces,with proceedsgoingtocharity.

Nottooutdonebythepigs,performingsheep arereturningafteranentertainingdebutlastyear.

TheClydesdalehorseshowat theMorrinsvilleeventisalwaysoneof thebiggestintheNorthIsland,McRobbiesaid whilealpacasarealsoreturning.Tradestandswill featurethelatestincars,tractorsandmotorcycles, contrastedbyadisplayofvintagetractorsand farmmachinery.

Morrinsvilleemergencyservices–police,fire andambulance–aresettingupdisplays,while showpatronscanvisitafoodcourtplusother marketstalls.

McRobbiesaidthisyear’sMorrinsvilleA&P Showwillhavesomethingforeveryone,ranging fromastrongmancompetitiontoateddybears’ picnic.Apettingzoowillalsobesetup,plus gamesandpuzzlesfortheyoungandyoungat heart,andKiwanis’trainrides. Entertainmentwillbeprovidedby

Gatesopen8am,withNewWorldMorrinsville sponsoringtwo$250vouchersasgateprizes.

The strongman competition is returning to this year ’ s Morrinsville A&P Show

Landbeingsurveyedreadyforsubdividing.

SubdivisioninNewZealand isgovernedbytheResource ManagementActandvarious councildistrictplans. WhiletheRMAprovides overarchingregulations,therules forsubdividinglandcandiffer significantlybetweenregions.This variationisinfluencedbylocal politics,historicallanduse,and theuniquenaturalresourcesof eachdistrict.

Ifyou’reconsideringsubdividing yourfarm,herearekeypointsto guideyouthroughtheprocess: Understandlocalcouncil regulations: Minimumsectionsize Manycouncilsimposeminimum

lotsizes,oftenaround40 hectaresforruralareas.Thissize reflectshistoricalbenchmarksfor productivedairyfarmingbutmay notsuitallsituationstoday. Exceptionstominimumsizes Somecouncilsallowsmaller ruralorlifestyleblocksunder certainconditions.Indistrictslike SouthWaikatoandMatamataPiako,olderlandtitlesmay qualifyforsmallersubdivisions.

Zoningrules

Districtsmayhaveseparate zones(e.g.rural,lifestyle,rural residential),eachwithunique compliancerequirements. Assessyourfarm’ssubdivision potential: Beforeapplyingforsubdivision,

roadspeedlimits. Infrastructureandservices

Newsectionsneedreliableconnections toelectricityandsafemanagementof stormwater.

On-sitewastewatertreatment anddisposalsystemsmustcomply withregulations. Createsaleablesections

Yourgoalistooffersectionsthataresafe, compliant,andattractivetobuyers.This includesensuring: Aclean,uncontaminatedsitesuitablefor futuredevelopment.

Astablebuildingplatformthatwon’tpose riskstofutureowners.

Minimalconflictwithneighbouring activities,likenoiseorodours. Whyworkwithaspecialist? Subdivisioncanbeacomplexand technicalprocess.Byengagingaspecialist subdivisioncompany,youcan:ensureall compliancefactorsarethoroughlyaddressed; receiveprofessionaladviceonmaximising yourland’spotential;avoiddelaysorcostly mistakesincouncilapplications. Ifyoubelievesubdivisionmight befeasibleforyourfarm–orifyou’ve receivedencouragingfeedbackfromyour localcouncil–nowisthetime toact.Contactustodiscussyour land’spotentialwithoneofourexperienced specialists.

adetailedanalysisiscrucialto meetcouncilrules.Considerthese keyaspects:

Buildingsites Mustbestableandfreefrom floodingorslippagerisks.Ensure appropriatedistancefromproperty boundariesandintensivelanduses (e.g.poultryorpigfarms).

Roadaccess

Accesspointsmustmeetcouncil safetystandards,withsufficient separationfromcornersorareas withpoorvisibility. Councilengineersevaluate theseaccesspointsrelativeto

4bayLean-to*withbargeflashing.112m2.2open-frontbays,2baysfullyenclosed.2/3mx3m standardrollerdoors,PAdoor.CovertekSelf-supportmembraneinroofofenclbays.3.0m3.7mhigh,4.0mbays,7mdeep.Min4rowsgirtsforextrawallstrength.Photoillustrationonly.

bays,8mdeep+900mmextendedfront.Minimum5rowsgirtsforextrawallstrength.

Theeffectsofa‘fantastic’summer

Ithasbeenafantastic summerwithsomegreat sunnyweathertoenjoythe outdoors,albeitabit windyattimes.

Asaresult,manypropertieshave beenfacingsoilmoisturedeficits –somethingwhichwasborneout whiletravellingthroughtheregions intheholidayswithareasdryingout andburningoff;eventheWaikato waslookingdry.

However,thankstotheamount ofsupplementmadeacrossthelast yearmostfarmersareinprettygood shapestill.

Themajorityoffarmersare experiencedinhandlinganextended dryperiodandknowthataccessto quality,cost-effectivesupplement isvital.However,balancingwhen todestockor,fordairyfarmers, whentochangetoaflexiblemilking frequencysuchasOnceADay milkingor18-hourmilkings,oreven dryingsomestockoff,

isabitofanart.Forthosewhoneeditwestill havequalitymilkingfeedavailableatreasonable prices–includingabitofmaizesilagethatwillbe availablefromtheendofFebruary.

Rainfall

Intermsofrainfall,in Paengaroawehadatotalof 1,167mlfortheyear,whichis welldownon1,508mlin2023 and1,910mlin2022.Tobe fairtheBayofPlentytypically receivesahigherrainfallin summerthanmanyotherparts ofNZ,sosomeareaswillbewell downonthis.

dairyfarmerswillenjoymakinggoodprofitsthis year.Withinterestratescomingdown,arguably thisbreak-evenmilkpriceisevenlower.

Thenumbers

Forsheepandbeeffarmers thereiscauseforsomeoptimismasbeefpricehold athighlevelsandlambpricesholdingupstronger thanexpected.Therearen’tasmanylambsaround andmanyfarmershaveculledtheirbeefanimals earlierduetothehighprices.

Confidenceinthedairyindustryisridingabitof ahighatpresent.TherecentGlobalDairyTrade auctiononJanuary21recordedanincreaseinthe indexby1.4%andmostimportantlyWholeMilk Powder,NewZealand’slargestexportcommodity, climbed5.1%.

Thisputahalttotheprevioustwodeclinesinthe GDTandshowsthatpricesareholding.DairyNZ’s nationalaveragebreak-evenmilkpriceisnow$8.32 perKgMSsowithapayoutat$10perKgMSmost

StatisticsNZrecentlyreportedthat inflationcameinat2.2%intheDecember 2024quarter.Thisbringsconfidence ofanotherpotentialsizablecuttothe OfficialCashRateattheReserveBankof NewZealand’snextannouncement onFebruary19. Wholesaleinterestrateshavebeen steadilyfallingbutonlynowhaveweseen renewedcompetitionbetweenthebanks withcutsininterestrates.Istillthinkthat theycouldeasilycutratesfurther.Willwe seeresidentialinterestratesinthe4ssoon?

Lookingahead

AsIlookattheyearaheadIwonderwhatis in-storeforus.WhatIfeelisthatdespitehaving moreknowledgeandinformationavailableto us,whichshouldenableustopredictthings moreaccurately,weareactuallyfacingmore uncertaintimes.

WhateffectisDonaldTrumpgoingtohave? WhatisgoingtoplayoutwithRussiaand Ukraine?WhatisgoingtohappenwithChina thisyear?Thingscanallchangeeveryso quickly.Butwecanonlymanagewhatwecan andstaypositive.

Confidenceinthedairyindustryisridingabitofahighatpresent.

PROUD

Thescienceisjustplainwrong!

Well,maybenotentirely,butitdoes dependonwhichbitofscienceis focussedonandhowitisapplied.

Awell-knownscientisthas repeatedly,overrecentyears,dismissed organicfarmingwiththeonelinerthat heknowsallaboutorganicfarmingand itgrowshalfasmuch.

That’saboutasmeaningfulassaying thatweknowallaboutdogsandthey bitepeople.

Butit’snotorganicfarmingthatisthe subjectofthisarticle.Whatconcerns meistheuseof‘science’tojustifythe ongoingrelianceonsyntheticnitrogenwhenthere arealternativeswithonlyupsides.

Therearesystemsthatgrowmoreyear-on-year atlowercostwithonlypositiveenvironmental consequences.

Timeandeffort

Thedismissaltothatis,“ifitsoundstoogood tobetrue...”Dismissaliseasybecausetakingon newinformationandreorganisingourpresent understandingtakestimeandeffort.

Beingincreasinglybusy,wemuchprefersticking withourcurrentviewonthingsandsavingwhat littlesparetimewehaveforleisureactivities.

IoftenhearthatNewZealandfarmingindustries arewellplacedbecausepeoplemusteatandthereis anever-increasingworldpopulation.

Theworldpopulationisonlyincreasinginsome areasandthoseplacestendtohavelowincomesand don’tpurchasemuchifanyofwhatwesell.

Aspopulationsmovefromprimarilyruralbased tourban,asallcivilisationsdo,birthratesdrop. It’sanaturalprocessthathastakenplaceover hundredsofyears.

Inruralcommunitiesachildrapidlybecomesa labourunitandthereforevaluable.Inanurban environmentanextrachildisjustacost.

Themarketsthatpayenoughtoensurethe financialwellbeingofourfarmersarethosewhere peoplehavelargedisposableincomes,andthose peoplehavechoice.

Increasingly,theywanttoknowwheretheir chosencutofmeatordairybaseddesserthascome fromanditsenvironmentalfootprint.

Sustainablemeasures

Carbon,gainorloss,isthemeasureof sustainability.Wherefarmingsystemssustainably sequestercarbon,theycancarryonindefinitelywith steadilyincreasingproductionandlowercosts. Wherecostsaresteadilyincreasing,andthe maintenanceofproductionisachallengeit’salmost certainthatcarbonisbeinglost.

AnotherusefulmeasureisNitrateNitrogenlevels ingroundwater.Carbonandnitrogenbindtogether andwherethereissteadilyincreasingNitrateN

Whichsciience is best?

losses,soilcarbon,particularlythelabilefraction willbediminishing.

Beforethewidespreaduseofurea,pasturegrowth intheWaikatomeasuredbythestaffatRuakura ResearchStationregularlygrewinexcessof18 tonneofdrymatterperhectareannuallyandthat scienceisavailable.

Annualgrowthratesnowaresignificantlylower withtotalfarmproductionproppedupbygrazing offandimportedfeed.

Thatdoesn’talterthefactthatmeasures,the basisofallscience,showproductionfromourbest pastoralsoilstobesteadilydeclining.

Thelossissufficientlyslowenoughforclimate tobeblamed,butovertimethedrophasbeen significant.

Forthosegenuinelyinterestedindelvingdeeper intothisareawe’rekeentoshareourfindingsfrom thelast25yearsofwork.

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Thepublicwillhavetheopportunityto commentonanylegislativeproposalswhen aBillreinstatingthetradeoflivestock exportsbyseaisconsideredbySelect Committeethisyear.

AssociateMinisterofAgricultureAndrew HoggardsaystheGovernmentisreinstatingthe tradeoflivestockexportsbyseawhileensuringthe higheststandardsofanimalwelfare,

“TheGovernmentwillintroducelegislation changestoreinstatethetrade,enhanceoversight, andstrengthenrequirementsforexportersto identifyrisksandmanagethewelfareoflivestock exportedbysea.

Actamendments

“WewillamendtheAnimalWelfareAct1999to ensureexporterseffectivelymanageanimalwelfare outcomesthroughouttheentiresupplychain.

MinisterHoggardsaidtheGovernmentis committedtomakingsurethatwhenthetrade isreinstated,wehavethehigheststandardsof animalwelfare.

“ChangestotheAnimalWelfareActareonlya partofthat.Whileweprogresslegislation,wewill continuetoengagewithexpertsintheindustry andkeyanimalwelfarevoicesaroundoperational detailstounderstandhowtobestensurehigh animalwelfareoutcomesthroughouttheprocessof exportinglivestockbysea.

Regulationsandstandards

“Thisisaspecialisedtrade,soitisimportant thatwetestdetailswiththoseinvolvedinthelive exportbyseasystem.Thiswillinformdecisions onregulationsandstandards.Thepublicwillhave anopportunitytocommentontheseproposals throughthereleaseofadiscussiondocument nextyear.

“Reinstatinglivestockexportsbyseawillprovide additionalexportandincomeopportunitiesfor farmers,benefitingNewZealand’seconomyand ruralcommunities.Theexportoflivestockby seahascontributedtoNewZealand’seconomic prosperityandthetradewasworth$374millionin 2022.Ourlivestockishighlyvaluedbyourtrading partnersandsupportsimprovementtotheirfood securitygoals.

“NewZealandstoppedexportinglivestockfor slaughterin2007andthiswillnotchange.”

DairyNZiscallingforamoreintegratedand sustainablyfundedbiosecuritysystemaspartof changestotheBiosecurityAct1993.

TheGovernmentannouncedpublicconsultation onproposedamendmentstotheBiosecurityActin September,inabidtostrengthenthebiosecurity system.

DairyNZchiefexecutiveCampbellParkersaid astrongbiosecuritysystemiscriticaltosafeguardand protectthefutureofNewZealanddairyfarming.

“Thecurrentsystemisfragmentedandisfunded throughmultiplelevies,eachwiththeirown legislativeprovisionsandadministration.

“Thedifferentprogrammesoftenhavethesame stakeholdersinvolvedandthisduplicationispartof thefrustrationexperiencedbydairyfarmers.

“Wewouldliketoseeamoreintegratedand sustainablyfundedbiosecuritysystemthatprioritises investmentinreadiness.”

Initssubmission,DairyNZalsohighlightedthe proposedchangestotheGovernmentIndustry Agreementforreadinessandresponse,andprovided feedbackonproposedchangestocompensation settingsandeligibilityundertheAct.

“NZneedstoinvestinappropriatesystem-wide preparednessformajorbiosecurityevent.”

Toreadthefullsubmission,see:www.dairynz.co.nz/ resources/biosecurity

AlivestockshipleavingNapier’sportinpreviousyears.

Photo:IanCooper

NewchairatthehelmofDairyNZ

ThenewleaderofDairyNZwants the“industrygood”bodytoworkmore closelywithfarmers.

“Engagementisthekey,”saidTracy Brown.“Wehavetheexpertise, particularlyinthefieldsof scienceandresearch,wejust needtoimproveourdelivery.”

Tothisend,DairyNZhas organisedmorethan60 on-farmeventsaroundthe countrysincecalving.

Anaverageof30farmers attendedeachgathering,which Brownsaidisa“biguplift”from previousyears.

“Thereisarealsynergyinlearning andinformationsharing.”

BrownhascomeintotheroleatDairyNZwith recordpayoutsforecasttofarmersandexportsfrom thesectorpredictedtogrowby10%intheyear toJune2025.

Brightfuture

“Thefuturefeelsreallybright,” shetoldCoast&CountryNews fromWellington. Shenotedthatcownumbers inNewZealandhaveplateaued somewhat,downfrommore thanfivemillioninrecentyears to4.7millioncurrently.

degreeinagsciencemajoringinfarm managementandageconomics.

Agriculturaleconomist

Hottopicshaveincludedrecruitmentand retentionoffarmstaff,profitabilityand theenvironment.

DairyNZ Chair Tracy

HervisionasDairyNZchairisforthe organisationtobecome“moreconnectedandin tune”withfarmers.

Atanationallevel,Brownsaidfarmerswant confidencethatbiosecurityisinhandandthisis amatterwhichDairyNZ,alongwithothersector organisations,ispursuingwiththeGovernment.

BrownsaidDairyNZisalsosharingviewswith Government,inconjunctionwithBeef+LambNew ZealandandFederatedFarmers,onpoliciesrelating toimprovingwaterqualityandreducingcarbon emissionsfromfarms.

Bothmattersareclosetoherheart,asherextensive CVillustrates.

TracyandhusbandWynn,whofarmnear Matamata,wontheWaikatoBallanceFarm EnvironmentSupremeAwardin2010.

Sevenyearslatertheytookouttheinaugural FonterraFarmSourceResponsibleDairyingAward.

Sustainabilitysuperstar

Alsoin2018,Brownwasnamedasa“Sustainability Superstar”fortheSustainableBusinessNetwork Awards,whilethepreviousyearwasafinalistinthe WestpacWomenofInfluenceAwards. ShechairedtheDairyNZDairyEnvironment LeadersForumandservedasafarmerrepresentative onboththeDairyEnvironmentLeadershipGroup andDairyTomorrowWorkingGroup.

BrownwasalsoappointedbyCabinettothe EssentialFreshwaterIndependentAdvisoryPaneland NationalAnimalWelfareAdvisoryCommittee. ANuffieldScholar,sheisoneoftheAgri-Women’s DevelopmentTrust“Escalator”AlumniandLincoln UniversityKellogg’sRuralLeadershipScholar.

Brownisalsoanimmediatepasttrusteeofthe NZDairyIndustryAwardsandchairofTeRarawa FarmingLtdintheFarNorth,whileotherpastroles haveincludedtrusteeoftheDairyWomen’sNetwork andStPaul’sCollegiateSchoolinHamilton.

Thisisdueinparttolanduse changesandreductionsincow numbers.

However,dairyproductionisup6.5 percentthisyear,chieflythroughgood climaticconditions.

Inputcostsarealsopredictedtostabilise.

“Thestarsarealigningwithareasonableseason andanimprovedpayout,”saysTracy.“Farmersarea bitmoreoptimisticandinamuchbetterplacethan lastyear.”

Shebelievestheemphasisindairyfarminginthe nextfiveto10yearswillbeonefficiency,emerging technologyandmanagingemissions.

“It’saboutreducingthefootprint.”

Brownsaidfarmershavemade“bigefforts”inthe past10yearsinareasincludingplantingtoprotect theenvironmentandmovestowardstheuseof renewableenergysourcessuchassolarpower.

“Farmersshouldbereallyproudoftheirefforts.”

A“townie”kidfromNorthlandwhomovedto aruralcommunityatage11,Tracystartedout studyingatMasseyUniversityforaveterinarydegree. Afterayearhowever,Tracyoptedforafour-year

ShecompletedaBachelorof AgriculturalSciencebeforecutting herteethintheworkforceasan agriculturaleconomistfortheMeat &WoolBoard’sEconomicServicein Wellingtonforfouryearsinthe1990s. AfterabriefstintbackinNorthland fortheFarmCadetScheme,she movedtotheWaikatotoworkforthe AgIndustryTrainingOrganisationand thenwentruralbankingwithASB. Duringa10-yearbreaktoraisea familyoffourwithWynn,shehoned hergovernanceskillsoffthefarmon theboardsofMatamataToyLibrary andMatamataIntermediateSchool, withthreeyearsaschairperson.

DairyNZfundingisbasedonalevy paidbyfarmersandcalculatedonthe quantityofmilksolidssuppliedto theirrespectivedairycompany. Forexample,atypicalfarmmilking 413cowswouldfaceanannuallevyof $5516plusGST.

DairyNZcollectsaround$67million eachyearfromNewZealanddairy farmers.

TheDairyNZboardcompriseseight members,fivefarmer-electedandthree professionals,plusanassociatedirector. Achairanddeputyiselectedbythe boardatitsannualmeeting.

WithofficesinHamiltonand Wellington,theboardmeetsroughly everysixweeks.

Lastyear’sannualmeetingwasheld inCanterbury.

Brown.

SH29KaimaiRangeovernightclosures

Asummerofworktocomplete much-neededmaintenance onStateHighway29overthe KaimaiRangewillseetwo five-nightclosuresthismonth. FromSunday,February9,tothe morningofFriday,February14;

andfromSunday,February16,to themorningofFriday,February 21between8pmand4.30ameach nightthestatehighwaywillbe closed.Theclosuresareneededto undertakeasphaltrenewalsandother routinemaintenanceactivitiessuch asclearingdrains,signmaintenance

androadmarking,saidaNZTransportAgency WakaKotahispokesperson.

“PleasenotethepreviouslyadvisedSH29closure wasforoneweek,anextraweekhasbeenaddedto completeadditionalmaintenancewhiletheroadis closed,whilealsoallowingforthepossibilityofbad weather.Iftheworkiscompletedbeforethefull twoweeksisup,thentheroadwillreopenearly.”

Duringtheday,SH29willbeopenbutmaybe underatemporaryspeedrestriction,saidNZTA.

“Thisisoneofanumberofnightclosuresfor SH29forvitalmaintenanceworkonthisbusy routelinkingWaikatowiththeBayofPlenty.

Theteamconstructingthefour-laneexpressway thatwillconnectTaurangaandTePunahasmade greatprogress,accordingtoNZTAWakaKotahi.

Nearlytw t omillionhoursofworkhavebeen completedonthisRoadofNationalSignificance, andfourofthe10bridgesarenowcomplete.

TheTakitimuNorthLinkStageOneemploysmore than200people,andmorethan2000haveworked onthisprojectsinceitsinceptionin2021.

Thereisplenty ofactivity happeningwith earthworksandenvironmentalcontrolsoneachside oftheWairoaAwa(river)andtheconstructionof

Duetothenatureoftheroad overtheKaimaiRange,plus theheavytrafficvolumesdue toitsimportanceaspartofthe ‘GoldenTriangle’, fullclosuresarethemost efficientandeffectiveway togetimportantmaintenance workdone.” Furtherclosuresareplanned forApril,withexactdatestobe sharedwhenconfirmed. Thedetoursforthisclosureare significantandaddconsiderable timetojourneys.Peopleare advisedtoallowextratimefor theirjourney,orifpossible,delay traveloverSH29onthesenights.

Thedetourroutes:

South:SH28,SH5,SH30,SH33,SH2via Rotorua.

North:SH24,SH27,SH26,SH2viaKarangahake Gorge.

Theclosurepointsonthewestern(Waikato)side areatSH29/SH24andSH29/SH28intersections andontheeastern(BOP)sideattheSH29/ CambridgeRdintersection.Emergencyservices accesswillremainatalltimes,andresidentscan accesstheirpropertyfromtherelevantsideof theclosure.

the355-metrebridge,whichspansthevalleyflood plains,NZTAWakaKotahisaid.

“TheWairoaValleybridge,a10-spanbridge,has threecompletedtodate,”projectdirectorBrian Robertsonsaid.

ThisseasonfocusesonmajorworksatState Highway2andFifteenthAve,StateHighway29to TakitimuDriveTollRd,andMindenRd,TePuna. Morethan1.5millioncubicmetresofdirthave beenshifted,andlocalroadsintheBethlehemand Taurikoareashavebeencompleted,NZTAWaka Kotahisaid.

TheclosureswillaffectpeoplewhouseSH29.

Photo:MichaelCunningham

NZKGIChairman MarkMaystongives thekeynotespeech.

Photos:JamieTroughton/ DscribeMedia

Kiwifruitgrowerscelebrate industrymilestones

Around400kiwifruitgrowersfromaround thecountryrecentlyattendedtheglitzy 30thanniversaryofNZKGI.

Amongthem,thefirst-everchairmanofthe groweradvocacyorganisation,HendrikPieters, who’screditedwithhelpinglaythefoundations forthehighlysuccessfulindustrywehavetoday. Whenhewasayoungorchardistinthe1980s,the industrywasgrowingrapidlyandZespriwasinthe processofbeingformed.

“Itwaslikeamaelstrom–therewaslotsgoingon andtherewerealotofpeoplewhoweren’thappy withtheoldexportersystem.Growerswereat thebeckandcallofexportersandretailersandI believedgrowersshould havemorecontrolover marketing,aswellas growing,”saidHendrik.

“Inessencewehad asituationwherethe industrywasverydivided withalotofgrowers goingtotheGovernment tryingtorepresentother growers,”saidHendrik.

“Thereneededtobeone growervoice.Itwasn’t easy,ittookusabout twoyearstobringthe differentfactionswho wouldn’ttalktoeach otherintooneroom.Weneededtodoawaywith theself-interestandfigureoutwhatweneededto dotobringtheindustrytogether.”

whichkiwifruitisexported.In1992and1993, kiwifruithadtobedumpedwhentheboardset pricestoohigh.Growershadenormousdebt andHendrikwaspivotalintheformationof theworkingpartytorepresentgrowers’interests whichwouldlaterbecomeNewZealandKiwifruit GrowersInc.

Theorganisationnowrepresentssome2800 kiwifruitgrowers.ForNZKGIchairmanMark Mayston,theOctober2024eventwasachance topaytributetothosewhosettheframework inplace.“Whatthatgenerationhasbeenthrough tobuildtheindustrytowhatitistodaymakesme reallyproudofwhat’scomebeforeus.It’sabigpart ofourcelebration;torecognisethosepeople.It’sa luxuryforustobeableto takeitoverinthestateit’s in.”

Withanabundanceofkiwifruitanddeclining demandoverseas,theKiwifruitMarketingBoard wassetupwiththepowertobuyallkiwifruit forexport.Lastyear,2024,markedthe35th anniversaryofthesingle-deskstructureunder

Markhighlightedthe2010 Psa-VoutbreakandCovidas twomajorrecenteventsthat hittheindustryhard.

“Everydecadeseemsto throwacurveballupfor ustodealwithbutit’sall inthestrongleadershipto beabletodealwiththose. They’renobiggerthanthe challengesfacedbygrowers inthe1970s,1980sandin the1990swhentheindustry wasonthevergeofbeing bankrupt.Psa-Vwasmassiveforus.Itwasthe endofourgoldvarietyasweknewit,butwewere luckythatourpreviousgenerationshadinvestedin buildingnewvarietiessowehadsomethingthereto workwith.Wetookapuntanditpaidoffandthat’s thegoldthatwehavetoday.Ouraimistomake gooddecisionsbecauseourendgoalistohandit overtothenextgeneration.”

systemforsprayingpollendirectlyontothefloweranddeveloped specificallyfortheNewZealandKiwifruitindustrytoassistgrowers inachievingmaximumresults.

MCColinBond,left,withpanellistsJohn Palmer,HendrickPietersandPaulHeywood.

Callsforfruitflyvigilance

Nonew flieshavebeenspottedsincea singleorientalfruitflywasfoundin SouthAucklandinearly-January.

Theflyisasignificantthreattothehorticulture industrywithmaggotscapableoffeedingonmore than300differentfruitandvegetablecrops.

ABiosecurityNewZealandspokespersonsaid itsofficerswerecontinuingtochecktraps,collect wastefrombinsintheareaforsafedisposal,and inspectfruuit in a mobile laboratory

Thespokkesperson said officers had been visiting producemmarkets to share information with the localcommmunity

Thesearcch for oriental fruit flies has been ongoingin n South Auckland after one was found inaPapatooetoe surveillance trap last month

Smallppest,bigproblems

HorticulttureNewZealandchiefexecutive KateScott t saidthesmallflycouldcause significant t issuesfortheindustry.

“Therisk k totheNew Zealandecconomy, andinparrticular tohorticullture, wouldbe substantial l in theeventtthat thisorienttal fruitflywaasfound tohavehaadan established d poppulation.

Impressiveapproach

ScottsaidMPIhassuccessfullyeradicatedfruit flyincursionsinthepast–sogrowershavefaith initsresponse.

“I’vebeenincrediblyimpressedwiththe approachthatMPIhastakentorespondingtothis findofthesinglefruitfly,theyhavemovedswiftly, theyhavereallyrobustsystemsandprocessesin place,soIhaveahighdegreeofconfidence.”

Growersalsoplayanimportantroleandare always checkingcropsand orchardsforpests, Scottsaid.

U UnitedFresh represents companiesright through theproduce supplychhain.

PresidentJerry Preendergast saidthere aremultiple w wholesale produucemarketsnear wheretheflywaasfound.

“Quiteclose,infact,most ofthebigwhoolesalemarkets arewithinkiloometresof thatparticular r findlocation. They’renotwiithinthe restrictedzone,bbutthatcould becomeabigchaallengefor productmovementifthey areincluded.

“Obviouslythere’san immediateimpactinterms of,youknow,thefruitand vegetablesthataregrowingbecausethisflyuses thosefruitandvegetablesasahost,sothatwould impactdomesticsupply.

“Butthemainhitwouldbethatmanycountries whichweexporttowouldprobablychoosenotto takeourproductsmovingforward–thatwould havehugeflow-oneconomicimpacts.”

MPIrestrictedthemovementoffruitand vegetablesaroundthelocationwherethefruitfly wasfound–incasethereareothers.

“WehaveconfidenceinMPI, andmarketsdohavecontingencyplansinplace shouldtheybeputintoarestrictedarea.”

Prendergastsaiditisimportantpeopleknowitis stillsafetoconsumeproduce.

“Thelastthingwewantisforpeopletobe fearfulofconsumingfruitandvegetables–they aresafeandthere’snoreasonwhytheyshouldn’t beconsumed

Insteadofputtingwasteinrubbishbinstobe disposedofnormally,residentsarebeingaskedto putfruitandvegetablewasteintospecialresponse binsforBiosecurityNZtodisposeofsecurely.

“There’splentyofgreatqualityproduceinthe marketatthemoment,soI’dencourageeveryone togetoutandeattheirfive-plusaday.”

Growershavebeenaskedtoreportanysuspected findsoftheorientalfruitflytoMPI’sPestand Diseaseshotline,on0800809966.

Newfreshwaterlearningopportunity New freshwater learning opportunity

Asasector,growershavea responsibilitytoensuretheir practicessafeguardrivers,lakes, andstreams.

Now,there’sanopportunityf orgrowers,staff,horticulture advisorsandcouncilstaffto enhancetheirknowledgeand demonstratetheircommitmentto freshwatermanagement. Anewmicro-credential,‘Assess andManageRiskstoFreshwater fromHorticulturalProduction,’has beenapprovedbyNZQAatLevel4 (10credits).

Thisnewqualification,available thisyear,willprovidepractical knowledgeonidentifyingand mitigatingfreshwaterrisksfrom horticultureoperations.Completing this100-hourprogrammewillequip y you with skills to: -assesspotentialriskstofreshwater valuesandecosystemhealthfrom

horticulturalactivities. -identifyon-farmbiophysicaland managementriskfactors. -recommendbestpracticesto managetheseriskseffectively. Thisqualificationnotonly supportsgoodpracticebutwill alsodemonstratethatyou understandandactivelymanage freshwaterrisks,saidapostonthe HortNZwebsite. Whilenationalandregional freshwaterrulesarestillevolving, Governmenthaveconfirmedthat growerswillberequiredtohavean approvedFreshwaterFarmPlanfor theiroperation.Thisprogramme helpsensurepreparednessforthis. PrimaryITOandFruitionare developingtheprogrammecontent andassessments,andthere’sroom for150participantsin2025.

I If you have any questions, pleaseemailHortNZat comms@hortnz.co.nz

Exportrevenueforecastfornewheights

NewZealand’shorticulturesectorcontinues tosurge,withexportrevenueprojectedto reacharecord$8billion,a12%increase byJune30.

Thesector’sexportforecastswerereleasedin thelatestSituationandOutlookforPrimary Industriesreport,availableontheMinistryfor PrimaryIndustries’website.

Thereportpredictskiwifruitexportsaresetto exceed$3billionforthefirsttimeandapplesand pearexportsaresettoexceed$1billion,reflecting s strong international demand for New Zealand’s s premiumproduce.

Freshandprocessedvegetableexportrevenueis expectedtoreboundandincreaseby7%reaching $770millionwhilecherriesareforecasttoincrease sevenpercentto$98million.Aforecastrebound foravocados will see exportrevenueincreasing 147%to $91 million

“Thisisexcellentnewsforourgrowers,whohave demonstratedremarkableresilience,particularly followingtheextremeweatherchallenges of 2023,”saidHorticultureNewZealand chief executiveKateScott.

“However,itisimportant to remember thatgreaterexportrevenue for the horticulturesector does not necessarilytranslate into greaterprofitability for growersbecause they arefacingincreased costsofproduction

producewithmillionsofconsumersglobally.

“Thisreportreinforcesourconfidenceinthe sector’spotentialtodoublefarmgaterevenueby 2035,inlinewiththe AotearoaHorticultureAction Plan

.Toachievethis,weneedtheGovernment tosupportourindustrybyfosteringresilienceto climatechange,protectingvitalvegetablegrowing areas,investinginsustainablelandandwateruse, andacceleratingresearchanddevelopment.

“Thesectorremainscommittedtocollaborating withtheGovernmenttoensurehorticulture’s continuedsuccess,benefitingNZ’seconomy, environment,andcommunities.”Thereportshows thehorticultureindustryremainingthethird largestearnerofexportrevenueintheFoodand Fibresectorfor2025/2026

Kiwifruit is one of New Zealand’s major exports.

“WewantNew Zealandtothrive by sharingourworldclasskiwifruit,apples, avocados,onions, cherries,andother

Tipsforgrowing g yourownavocadotree

Avocadoseedsarerelatively easytosproutandisagreat projectforkids.

Keepinmindthattrees grownfromseedoftenaren’tas productiveasthetreethefruit wastakenfrom.

Removetheseedfromthe avocadoandcleantheflesh fromit.Orientatetheseed sothemorepointedendis facingupwardsandinsertfour toothpicksaroundthemiddleof theseed.Pushthetoothpicksin farenoughthattheyfeelstable. Placeseedonajar,orglass,of waterwiththetoothpicksresting ontherim,ensuringthebottom halfoftheseedissubmerged. Sproutingcantakebetween twoandeightweeks.Ensure thebottomoftheseedremains

incontactwiththewaterby toppingupthewaterintheglass asrequired.Oncethesprout reachesabout20cmpotinsoil.

Plantingatree

Findasunnylocationtoplant thetreewherethesoilisnot pronetofloodingordampness. Digawholelargeenoughto fittherootsystem.Checkthe depthoftheholeiscorrect byplacingthetree,stillinit’s bag,intothehole.Thetop ofthepottingmixshouldsit 1cm-2cmabovethelevelofthe surroundingsoil. Wetthesoilaroundthehole priortoplanting. Ifthetreecomesinaplastic wrap,placethebaseofthetree intoabucketofwaterandfully submergeforafewminutes

untilallthepottingmixis soaked.Donotleavethepotting mixsubmergedinwaterfor prolongedperiodsasthiswill drownthetree.

AVOJECT ® SYRINGE

Theprovenlowpressuremethodforeffectivephytophthora controlinavocadotrees.TheAvoJect®arehighquality syringeswithasmalltiptominimisetreedamage.

E:info@avoject.co.nz|W:avoject.co.nz

•AerialSurvey

•AerialLifting

•AgriculturalSeeding

•AgriculturalSpraying

•AgriculturalTopdressing

outsidethetreesrootsystem.It’salso recommendedtocreateashelterusing fourbattensandsomeshadenetting. Individualsheltersareusually constructedfrom50mmby50mm ground-treatedbattensforming a1.25msquarewithshadecloth onthefoursides.Thiswillallow adequateprotectionforonetotwo fullgrowingseasons.Theheightof thebattensshouldbe1.5mto2.3m long,whichallowsfor30cmto50cm burialofthebattenand1.2mto 1.8mheightfortheshelter. Theenclosureshouldreachthe groundtopreventdamagefrom rabbits,hares,possumsorbeetles. Theshadeclothisusuallystapledto thebattensleavingonesidethatcan beunhookedforaccess.

Caringforayoungtree

Keepingtherightamountofwater inthesoilfortheseyoungtreesisnot easyandiscrucial.

Youmustapplyenoughwaterto wetthesurroundingsoiltoadistance ofatleast40cmto50cmfromthe pottingmix.Oncethisvolumeofsoil iswetyoumuststoptheirrigation andallowforexcesswatertodrain. Asageneralrule,withavocadosin NewZealandconditions,itisbetter todolargeinfrequentirrigations (e.g.,50litreperplantevery10days) thansmallfrequentirrigations(e.g., 5litresperplanteverytwodays).

Irrigationinthefirstweekswill probablybemorefrequentbecause mostoftheroots(allofthemfor thefirstdays)willbeinthepotting mixwhichcandryveryfast.Asroots starttogrowintothesoilaroundthe pottingmix(whichcanhappenas soonasfour-fivedaysafterplantingif soiltemperaturesarehigh),irrigation eventscanbelessfrequent.

Cutoffthebaseofthebagand removeitbeingcarefulnottocutthe rootsystem. Cutalongthesideofthebagfrom thebasebutnotquitetothetop. Placethetreeandbagintothehole andorientatethetreesothatmost oftheleavesfacenorthtoshadethe trunkasmuchaspossible. Whensettledcarefullyfillthe remainingspacearoundtheoutside ofthetreewithsoil,slidingthebag upwardsastheholeisbackfilledwith soil.Beverycarefulnottodamage therootsastheyareveryfragile. Slidingthebagupastheholeisfilled willensurethepottingmixdoesn’t fallawayfromtheroots.Youmust ensurethatyoudon’tleavemajorair spacesasrootswon’tgrowinthese. Onceyouhavefilledthehole, gentlypatthesoilwithyourhands tosettleitfirmlyaroundthepotting mix.Avoidstampingthesoiltoo firmlyorwithyourfeetasthiscan damagetherootsandavocadoroots likeloosesoiltogrowinto. Treeshouldbesoakedassoonas possibleafterplanting,however,to avoidrots,itisimportantthatwater doesnotformapuddlearoundthe collarofthetree.

Stakeandshelter

Intheearlyplantingand establishmentphaseastakeisusually usedtoholdthetreeinplace.Place thestakefacingtheprevailingwinds sothatthewindpushesthetree awayfromthestake.Ensurethe stakeishammeredintotheground

Oncetherootsystemhasdeveloped inthesoil,itisimportantthatthe trunkhassomefreedomtomove sincethatmovementwillhelpthe trunktodevelopthestrengthneeded toholdthecanopyoncethesupport isremoved.Ensurethatstakes supportthetreebutallowsomesmall movementofthetrunk.

Readmoreonpage14fortips onhowtousefertilisertogetthebest outofyourtree.

Strategy for 2025-2026 Season

Asthe2024-2025seasondraws toaclose,DarlingGroupis proudtoreportthatwewere 90%throughourharvest byChristmas,reflectingour continuedcommitmenttoan earlyharveststrategy.

Withthenextseasononthe horizon,wearealreadyplanninghow tocapturethebestopportunitiesfor growerswhilelayingthegroundwork forlong-termsuccessinbothexport anddomesticmarkets.

Forthepastfiveyears,weprioritisedearly harvestsandthedevelopmentofinternational marketsbeyondAustralia.Underpinningthis isa12-monthsupplystrategytohelpusgain volumerelevanceandyear-roundrecognition withinternationalcustomers.Thisstrategyhas beenpivotalinnavigatingchallengingseasons, including2023-2024,whereweachievedtop exportreturnsdespiteindustry-wideheadwinds.

MovingintoCanada

Thatseasonalsomarkedasignificantmilestone aswebecamethefirsttointroduceNewZealand avocadostoCanada.Buildingonthissuccess, wehavecontinuedtoexpandourpresencein Canadathisseason,focusingonkeysizesand maintaininghighstandardsofquality.Ourefforts haveresultedinpositivecustomerfeedbackand acommandingcirca70%marketshareofNew ZealandvolumestherethisseasonaftermoreNew Zealandexportersfollowedourleadandembarked onprogrammesinthismarket.

InadditiontoCanada,ourstrategicfocuson Chinasawuswithacirca50%shareofNew Zealandvolumesandshowswearepunching aboveourweightinkeygrowthmarkets.

Lookingahead,ourplantohaveadedicated teammemberonthegroundinShanghaibefore thestartofthenewseasonshowsourcommitment tomarketdevelopmentandcloserengagement withcustomersinAsia.

Avocadomarket

Thisseasonwemarketedthe majorityofClass2and3avocados thatwereexportedresultingin,for ourJustAvocadospackedgrowers, 95%marketablefruitasattheendof December.Findingvalueforawider rangeofgradesisanotherkeyoutcome ofourstrategy.

Theglobalavocadomarketremains dynamic,with2025-2026shapingup tobeanotherunpredictableseason. WhiletheAustralianmarketfaces potentialoversupplychallenges, DarlingGroup’sflexibilityensuresthatwecan pivottoplaceourfruitinthemostadvantageous markets.Ourstrategicapproachallowsusto navigatethesecomplexitieswhilecontinuingto growinkeyinternationalmarkets.

Managingcosts

Costmanagementontheorchardisanotherarea offocus.Thisseason,weinitiatedasnappicking trialaimedatreducingharvestingcosts.While stillinitsearlystages,thisinnovativemethodhas thepotentialtoenhanceoperationalefficiency whenimplementedwithrobustguidelines. Suchinitiativesreflectourproactiveapproach toaddressingfactorswithinourcontroland preparingforfuturechallenges.

AsiaandNorthAmericaremaincentralto DarlingGroup’sgrowthstrategy.Ourcontinued investmentintheseregionsensureswestay aheadofmarkettrendsandconsumerdemands. Withstrongcustomerloyaltyandabusiness modelalignedwithglobalsupermarket strategies,wearewell-positionedtocapitaliseon emergingopportunities.

The2025-2026seasonmaybringitsshareof challenges,butDarlingGroup’sprovenstrategies ofearlyharvest,marketflexibility,andfocuson keygrowthregionsprovideasolidfoundationfor success.Aswelooktothefuture,ourcommitment toinnovation,quality,andstrategicpartnerships willensurethatwecontinuetoleadthewayinthe avocadoindustry–bothlocallyandglobally.

Newapptoreportpests

Find-A-Pestisavailablefree ontheAppleAppStoreand GooglePlaystore. It’savailableforanyonetouseto reportanystrangeorsuspicious speciesyoufind.

Thefirsttimeyouloadtheapp,you willseeashortseriesofintroductory screens,whichyoucanskipifyou choose.Afterthis,youwillbeasked toselectyourregion,whichwillhelp tofilterthelistofpestfactsheetsto themostrelevanttoyou. Youcanexploretheappthrough thefactsheetslists,orsearchfora

specificpest.Toreportanysuspected pestsighting,simplyclickthe ‘ReportaPest’buttononthehome screenorfromanyfactsheet.Fillin theformandclicksend. Youcansenduptothree observationswithoutsigninginto theapp. Signingintotheappis donethroughiNaturalist.When youselect‘LogIn’fromthemenu, itwilltakeyoutotheiNaturalist loginpage.Makesureyouselectthe sign-upbuttonifyoudon’talready haveaiNaturalistaccount. Formoreinformation,visit www.findapest.nz

Deceree Paulo stacking avocados bound for Thailand at Just Avocados in Katikati

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“Husband: Why did you buy every colour of tail paint in the shop?”

WeatheringTheSeasonsInStyle: HowPergolasAdaptYourOutdoorSpaceYearRound

NooneknowstheunpredictabilityofNewZealand weatherbetterthanCarolM.Whenshedecidedto upgradeheroutdoorspace,shewantedsomethingthat wouldletherenjoythesunshinewithoutworryingabout asuddenchangeintheweather.Heranswer?ALiving Culturelouvreroofpergola,allowinghertotransform heroutdoorspaceintoaversatile,all-weatherretreat. Carol’sexperiencehighlightshowessentialadaptability iswhenitcomestodesigningyouroutdoorlivingspace. Withalouvreroof,youcaneasilyadjustthelevelof sun,shade,andprotectionofyourspace.Whetherit’s openingtheslatstobaskinthesunoranglingthem tocreateagentlebreeze,alouvreroofensuresyour outdoorspaceisalwaysperfectlysuitedtoyourneeds. AndwhentheunpredictableNewZealandweather decidestochange,theroofcanbefullyclosed,keeping youandyourfamilycomfortablyprotected. Thisiswhylouvreroofsarethecornerstoneofmodern outdoorspaces.Asmorehomeownersembraceoutdoor spacesthatseamlesslyblendwithyourhome,these structuresarebeingintegratedintohousedesignsmore andmore.Nolongeranafterthought,they’rebecoming essentialfeaturesofthehome,placeswherefamiliesand friendscanspendtimerelaxingandcelebratingthelittle moments.

LivingCultureknowsjusthowwelllouvreroof pergolaselevateoutdoorspaces.Morethan justashadesolution,they’realifestyleupgrade, offeringtheperfectblendofpracticalityand sophistication.Craftedfromdurable,weatherresistantaluminium,theirlouvreroofsarebuilt owithstandNewZealand’svariedclimatewhile maintainingtheirsleekappearance.Availablein arangeofstyles,theycanbecustomisedtosuit ourhome’sdesignandaesthetic. arol’spergolawasdesignedtoperfectly omplementherhome’sdecorandensureher atio’susabilityyearround.Byaddingmotorised ontrols,sheadjuststheroofwiththetouchofa button,makingiteasytotransitionfromsunto shade.It’sthiskindofsimple,easyfunctionality thatmakeslouvreroofsperfectforhomeownerslooking toelevatetheiroutdoorlifestyle.

Asoutdoorroomsbecomemorepopular,they’re reshapinghowweuseourhomes.Modernhouseplans increasinglyfeaturedesignsthatcombineandenhance theindoorsandoutdoors,creatingspacesthatflow naturallyandprovideyear-roundusability.Alouvreroof pergolaistheperfectadditiontothesespaces,offering ashelteredspacethatcanbeadaptedtothechanging seasons.Whetherit’sasummerbarbecueoracool wintereveningbytheoutdoorheater,thesestructures providethecomfortandversatilityyouneedtoenjoy youroutdoorareatothefullest.

What’smore,louvreroofsalsocontributetosustainable living.Byregulatingtheamountofsunlightandairflow inyourspace,theyhelpreduceyourneedforartificial heatingandcooling.Thisenergyefficiencynotonly supportsenvironmentallyfriendlypracticesbutalso lowersyourhouseholdenergycosts.It’sawin-winfor bothyourlifestyleandtheplanet.

LivingCultureknowsthateveryonedeservestohave accesstohigh-qualityoutdoorlivingsolutions.That’s whythey’recommittedtoofferingpremiumpergolasat affordableprices.Withoptionsrangingfrommanualto

motorisedsystems,theymakeiteasytofindasolution thatfitsyourbudgetandyourneeds.Theirteamof expertscanguideyouthroughtheprocess,ensuring yourpergolaistailoredtoyourspaceandenhancesyour homeineveryway.

Carol’sstoryisjustoneexampleofhowalouvreroofcan transformanoutdoorareaintoafunctionalyetstylish extensionofthehome.It’snotjustaboutcreatinga beautifulspace,it’saboutcreatingaspacewhereyour familycanrelaxandconnect,nomattertheweather. Ifyou’rereadytotakecontrolofyouroutdoor environmentandembracethepossibilitiesofasheltered outdoorroom,exploreLivingCulture’srangeoflouvre roofpergolastoday.Visitthemonlineorattheir showroomtostartyourjourneytowardsanoutdoor spacethat’sasadaptabletotheweatherasyouneed. LivingCulture:Liveoutdoorsforless. DON’TMISSOUTON10%OFF

Tohelpyougetstarted,we’reofferingyou10%off ourlouvreroofs.UsethecodeCOASTPERGOLAat checkouttoredeem.Thisofferisvaliduntil8thMarch 2025,sodon’tmissout!(T&Csapply.Discountexcludes pergolaaccessories.)

Monty, age 6, with ‘Bob’ his ag day calf in Whakamarama

Grandkids Chelo, age 11 months and Tovi, age 2, helping mum Michaela, and granny at docking time in Katikati

Audrey, age 3, cuddling ‘Rosie’ a three-year-old unbroken filly

Maungatautari Rd, Cambridge

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