14 July 2021 - Rural News by Waimea Weekly Archives

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Wednesday 14 July 2021

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Nelson young grower says win is ‘amazing’ Erin Bradnock

Jonathan Bates, a 28-year-old orchard block supervisor at Birdhurst Ltd, has won the 2021 Nelson Young Grower competition. Originally from Central Otago, Jonathan has been working at Birdhurst for the past 10 months and for him, growing is more than just a day job. “Horticulture is an integral part of my life, I wouldn’t be the man I am today without it,” Jonathan says. He has been working in the horticulture industry since he left school a decade ago. After facing a medical discharge from the army, he was first able to get work on an Otago cherry field. “I’ve always seen a future career path for myself in the industry. I really think that there’s an opportunity for everyone in horticulture.” The Nelson Young Grower competition is one of six regional heats, testing horticultural skills and knowledge through a day of challenges involving irrigation,

Jonathan Bates says he was “shocked” to learn he had won the 2021 Nelson Young Grower competition last Friday night. Photo: Supplied. block management, spraying, machinery and first aid. The national Young Grower of the Year competition will be host-

ed in Wellington this September, where six other regional finalists will compete for their share of $30,000 worth of prizes.

This was Jonathan’s third attempt for the young grower’s title at a regional level. “The first time I came third, the

second time I came second and the third, this year, I came first. continued on page 2

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Howls of protest over regulation

Nelson Young Grower’s win ‘amazing’ from page 1 It’s amazing,” he says. HortNZ chief executive, Nadine Tunley, says that the competition plays an important role in bringing together the growing community. “It’s been really tough for growers in the region with the Boxing Day hail and ongoing labour issues, so the Young Grower competition is a great chance for everyone to come together and celebrate the talented young leaders in the industry,” says Nadine. HortNZ president, Barry O’Neil, says that the competition was incredibly close, and the contestants will have a bright future in the industry. “It was a really awesome competition, and all the contestants can be really proud of what they have achieved,” says Barry. “With the rapid rate of change and challenges facing the industry, we need to support these talented young growers. Competitions like this give young growers invaluable experience to help start their journey as the leaders of tomorrow. People like Jonathan show that the future of the industry is in safe hands,” he says. Jonathan hopes to challenge people’s perceptions of horticultural work and says there’s much more to the industry than just fruit picking. “I’m really passionate about increasing people’s understanding of horticulture. Anyone can have a rewarding job with career progression in the industry.”

Jenny Nicholson Tractors and utes will be taking to local streets on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest government regulations. A Howl of a Protest, named in hope that participants will bring their dogs along to make some noise, is being held in 20 centres across New Zealand, including Nelson. It is being organised by Groundswell New Zealand, an organisation that is dedicated to reversing “unworkable regulations”. It is a volunteer group of farmers and rural professionals advocating for grass root farmers and rural communities. Co-founder Bryce McKenzie says those regulations include freshwater and winter grazing, significant natural areas, indigenous biodiversity and the “ute tax” - a new rebate scheme, which would place a fee on higher-emission vehicles. Richmond coordinator Andrina Cimino lives on a lifestyle block and says she has got involved because what is happening to farmers will sooner or later trickle down to lifestylers too. People who’d like to take part in the protest are being asked to meet at the Richmond Showgrounds at 12pm Friday 16 July for a 12.15pm start.

Jonathan in action during the young growers competition.

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vesting, complete with tree shaking demo and a factory visit to see what it takes to process pine nuts. Climate change: A new climate change education resource has been released by New Zealand’s pastoral farming sector. ‘The important role of New Zealand dairy and red meat in feeding a growing global population’, has been coauthored by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers of New Zealand. “Our pastoral industry is keen to work with the Ministry of Education to make this resource fit-for -purpose for classrooms,” says Federated Farmers President and climate change spokesperson Andrew Hoggard.

Team work: Food and fibre sector achievers were recognised at the 2021 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards dinner at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch last week. A favourite with many of the more than 500 farmers, growers, foresters, and fishers present was the winner of the Team Award. Steven Thompson from Bayley’s Rural Real Estate started helping farmers get out on the ocean waves to relieve the stress of their busy roles Surfing for Farmers now boasts a team of 50 volunteers and has spread to 16 regions.

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Pinoli Fine: The Pinoli Pine Nuts team held a successful open day on 29 June after winning Gold in the Earth category at the 2021 Outstanding Food Producer awards for the 3rd year in a row. Pinoli Pine Nuts also won the Marlborough Cawthron Environment Business Innovation Award. About 100 people were treated to a special tour focusing on growing and har-

Milk Price: ASB bank have revised their farmgate milk price forecast for the current season twice, and it now sits at $7.40 per kgms, quelling initial fears the price could drop below the $6 mark. Economists’ forecast for the next season a slightly lower $7.30 per kgms. Higher auction prices recently should flow through into the start of next season.

Brendon Lochhead is used to only leaving the farm every two weeks but knows for many others in the industry, the isolation can be hard. Brendon, his wife Ali, and sevenmonth-old son Fergus moved to a farm near Murchison a month ago. They recently had the opportunity to meet with others living rurally in the area at an evening aimed at connecting local families. “It was a good excuse to get off the farm and quite a few people reached out. It was a good way to get to know

Brendon, Fergus and Ali Lochhead who recently moved to a farm near Murchison enjoyed a chance to meet with others off local farms. Photo: Supplied.

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people and the food was good,” he says. Farming can be challenging, says Brendon, but having others to talk to helps you know that you are not alone. Rural Women NZ recently collaborated with Top of the South Rural Support Trust and Federated Farmers to hold the mid-winter event for the rural sector of Murchison. The evening was timed so that share milkers and farm workers new to the area could meet other. The focus of the evening was friendships, getting together and getting off the

farm. Issues for women and families living in rural areas haven’t changed according to Rural Women NZ member Barbara Stuart. She says loneliness and other issues related to isolation, along with practicalities like getting children to school are still relevant for those on rural farms. “Young women need to be supported,” she says. With this in mind, Rural Women NZ are working on a new initiative, Zoom@Noon, an online forum for busy rural women who don’t have time to drive long distances to meet with other women.

WEDNESDAY 14 July 2021

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WEDNESDAY 14 July 2021

Varroa mite hits beekeepers hard

Patrick Dawkins

Beekeepers in Nelson-Tasman are being warned to be vigilant this winter and spring, with the ever-present threat of varroa mite already having led to significant colony losses for some. In much of New Zealand largely increased levels of hive mortality were reported going into winter, with the highly populated beekeeping regions of the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay particularly hard hit. The parasitic varroa mite and the viruses it vectors are thought to be to blame. Some North Island operators reported deaths to 30 to 50 percentage of their colonies, and beekeepers in the top of the south say they too are fighting an increasingly difficult battle against varroa, which first arrived in New Zealand in 2000. Twenty-one years on, a combination of factors is making control of varroa difficult, with suspected resistance to traditional in-hive miticide treatments, over population of hives and the economics of the industry all said to be working against beekeepers. At Tua Marina Apiaries beekeeper Will Trollope was particularly hard hit by varroa in autumn and suffered significant hive loss. He

Varroa mites on a worker honeybee. is now attempting to nurse weak- sue.” ened surviving colonies through Many North Island beekeepuntil spring nectar and pollen ers who suffered at the hands of flows begin. varroa this year pointed towards While he has suffered a “massive growing resistance to flumethrin, spike” in losses this year, Trollope the active ingredient in commonsays he, and other local beekeep- ly used miticide Bayvarol, as a ers he has spoken too, have seen potential problem. North Amerithe challenge of varroa worsening ca and Europe, who have had varover the past several seasons. roa mite much longer than New “The struggle to maintain hive Zealand, have seen resistance to numbers is the big issue,” Trol- flumethrin develop. lope says. “We have got used to “I don’t believe our regular aulosing a few hives to varroa each tumn treatment is working as year, but for losses to spike like it well as it should do and that in has in the last few years, this year turn is exacerbating any reinvain particular for me, it is a big is- sion problems,” Trollope says.

Reinvasion is caused by bees carrying mites on their back either “drifting” off course and into neighbouring hives or when they intentionally “rob” weaker hives of their honey. Blenheim beekeeper Philip Vercoe is taking extra measures this season to stay on top of mite populations in his hives, but says he is seeing and hearing reports of high mite counts from students in the apiculture course he tutors at NMIT through Otago Polytechnic. “The differing treatment schedules of beekeepers and a lot of

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hives in the same area is also a big part of the problem,” Vercoe says. “That leads to reinvasion, especially autumn reinvasion. With so many hives in some areas, mites and disease are spread more easily.” The struggles of the honey industry are also playing their part. Non-manuka honey prices have fallen from as high as $14/ kg five years ago, to as low as $3/ kg to the producer, or unsaleable, now. That makes the economics of maintaining an effective pest management plan difficult. Those who aren’t managing mite loadings closely might be in for a shock, Vercoe believes. Nelson beekeeper Nick Milne says having an intensive treatment regime is key to ensuring the mite doesn’t have too much of an impact on hives. “Keeping varroa under control is always a challenge, especially when there is a lot of financial pressure in the industry. I know some beekeepers who haven’t sold honey for two years and a number who are adjusting their practices to work within their cashflows. Thankfully hive health in Nelson Tasman sounds pretty good and losses as expected from the conversations I have had with local beekeepers.”

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WEDNESDAY 14 July 2021

Quad bike maintenance a non-negotiable

Early lambs in Pelorus are getting a helping hand from their elder brethren. Lambs from the Templeman farm, up the Maungatapu Valley near Pelorus Bridge, have been dressed in little woolly jumpers to combat the cold. Lambing season has regional variations, but generally occurs late July through September.

Checking tyre pressure on quad bikes should be a fundamental health and safety process, says WorkSafe New Zealand. Harm resulting from quad bikes continues to be a serious issue in New Zealand. There have been 75 fatalities across the country since 2006. A further 614 people have been seriously injured. The reminder comes after a fatality on Tui Glen Farms in Wharepuhunga in the Waikato in January 2020. An experienced employee was fatally injured when the quad bike they were riding with their dog rolled on a steeply sloping area of the farm. The victim was found pinned underneath the bike. A WorkSafe investigation found that the quad bike provided to the staff member had incorrectly inflated tyres with significant variations of over-inflation of tyre pressures. It also found that the staff member had not been trained and instructed on how to check and maintain tyre pressure. “Planning on the farm needed to include a more comprehensive system for checking the

quad bikes tyre pressure,” says WorkSafe Area Investigation Manager Paul West. WorkSafe strongly recommends that farmers consider what vehicles are best suited for the different roles and terrain of their farms. A side by side vehicle or farm Ute may be a safer option than a quadbike for some jobs. WorkSafe also recommends that businesses consider install-

ing crush protection devices (CPDs) on the back of quad bikes. Currently, WorkSafe are working with ACC on a cash back offer on CPDs, to help ensure workers go home healthy and safe to their whānau. Tui Glen Farms have since installed CPDs on its quad bike and purchased a side by side vehicle and two-wheeled motorbikes.

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