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www.age.co.nz Thursday, February 13, 2020
Autumn PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
Einbock Grass-Manager shows way forward for pasture management The future of farm machinery lies not just in being proÿ table, but also being environmentally friendly, Tulloch Farm Machines managing director John Tulloch believes. “I can sense a change in the air, with more of an emphasis on care for the environment and less on chemical reliance.” John foresees a growing market for farm machines that achieve better results for farmers through environment-friendly innovation. As an example, he points to the Einbock Grass-Manager which is ideal for pasture rejuvenation.
Tulloch Farm Machines managing director John Tulloch with the Einbock Pneumaticstar.
The vibrating tines on the GrassManager stimulate the grass, breaking up what has often become a thick matting of thatched grass, moss, and panicle, aerating the soil and giving important grasses and herbs more light and space to grow.
The Pneumaticstar can also be used for brassicas.
This simple action can extend the life of a pasture by several years, John says, therefore reducing the need for paddocks to be sprayed with herbicides and reseeded. Where partial or full reseeding of a paddock is required, the Einbock Pneumaticstar does the trick, being essentially the Grass-Manager with added seed boxes and dispersal mechanisms.
“They give an even distribution of seed, even on the toughest and most stony ground. By using longer hook tines in lieu of straight tines, both the Grass-Manager and Pneumaticstar can also be used for weeding row crops, reducing the need to spray.
“The seeder is accurate down to one kilogram of brassica seeds per hectare. They are very competitively priced when compared to other more common seed drill methods.
“Every time you spray weeds, the crop takes a hit too,” John points out. “Using the Grass-Manager/
Pneumaticstar in this way, pre and post emergence, the weeds die and the crop responds even better because the tines are also aerating the soil.” None of this comes at a high price, John says. “They are very low cost, even for the complete set, which allows farmers to reconÿ gure the machines for pasture renewal, sowing and weeding. “The fuel costs are low as they are a lightweight machine that go fast and typically have a six-metre span. They are very good on hills, and only need a small tractor to pull them. We have sold a lot in Southland and Otago with fantastic results.”
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Thursday, February 13, 2020 Wairarapa Times-Age
Regrassing time There will be a lot of grass seed going into the ground over the next few weeks. Here are the key drivers of successful regrassing:
■Using Certified seed is a must! Don’t gamble with the next few years of your paddock’s production
â– Endophyte selection is the first decision to make. Check www. dairynzfvi.co.nz for the latest information
â– If using cultivation, make sure you end up with a well consolidated seed bed. If direct drilling is used there is no room for cutting corners. Attention to detail is what will get the results, so:
â– Use the same website to select the correct cultivar for your application and climate
Autumn
PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
■Do a thorough spray job for weed control ■Use treated seed AND slug bait to control insect damage ■Ensure the drill is well set up (especially planting depth) ■Don’t drill clover with the grass seed. Use the small seeds box to deposit the clover seeds on/ near the surface (this means
that you’ll need to order the clover seed separate from the grass seed) Whichever system you use, make sure you monitor germination and insect damage, do the ‘pull test’, get at least one light grazing in before winter and apply some Nitrogen after that first grazing. Source: DairyNZ
Near normal weather predicted for Wairarapa until April NIWA is predicting near average temperatures, near normal rainfall, and near normal soil moisture levels for Wairarapa until April. In its “Seasonal Climate Outlook February 2020 - April 2020�, NIWA says for Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne “Temperatures are about equally likely to be near average (40% chance) or above average (45% chance). “Rainfall totals are most likely to be near normal (45% chance). Soil moisture levels and river flows are about equally likely to be near normal (40% chance) or below normal (35% chance).�
The primary climate driver during February-April is expected to be a warm pool of ocean water in the west-central Pacific Ocean since the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) dissipated, NIWA says “Increasing coastal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are also expected to influence New Zealand’s air temperatures in a warmer direction over the coming three months. For New Zealand, the change in climate drivers will most likely be associated with a change in circulation patterns and an increasing threat for periodic, heavy rainfall events, especially in
the North Island. High humidity may also be a factor. “Temperatures are expected to be near or above average for all regions of New Zealand except the north of the North Island where above average temperatures are most likely. “Rainfall is expected to be near normal in all regions of New Zealand except for the east of the South Island where normal or below normal rainfall is about equally likely.� NIWA is predicting near average temperatures, rainfall and river levels for early autumn in Wairarapa.
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www.age.co.nz Thursday, February 13, 2020
Facial Eczema - a perennial scourge
Facial Eczema can strike at unexpected times and well into autumn.
Warm summer temperatures bring with them the heightened risk of the productionlimiting disease Facial Eczema. More prevalent in the North Island, Facial Eczema (FE) is caused by spores released by fungi living in the dead material at the base of the pasture sward. B+LNZ Senior Biosecurity Adviser Will Halliday says ingested spores release Sporidesmin in the rumen which circulates in the bloodstream. Eventually reaching the liver, this toxin causes severe damage, impacting on the liver’s ability to carry out its metabolic functions. The resulting build-up of toxins in the bloodstream causes sensitivity to ultraviolet light resulting in FE’s trademark peeling skin and animal discomfort. But it is the liver damage that will cause ill-thrift and poor reproductive performance, with severely affected ewes typically showing up as dry at scanning. Will recommends farmers in
Autumn
PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020 affected areas keep a close eye on spore counts to monitor trends and identify paddocks that have been problematic in previous years. “Farmers in areas with FE will probably know their problem paddocks so can structure their rotations to avoid using them for at-risk animals.” Rather than risk grazing them, these paddocks can be cut for supplementary feed as the spores won’t survive in silage or baleage, before going through a
renewal programme. He says farmers should keep a close eye on stock throughout summer as the disease can strike at unexpected times and well into autumn.
“Post-mortem results will show any damage, the severity of the disease and how widespread it is a line of stock.”
Clinical signs are swollen, floppy ears, facial skin peeling and dull depressed animals.
Will says genetics are a valuable tool in the long-term management of the disease and sheep farmers in hard-hit areas should be including FE tolerance in their ram selection.
Sub-clinical signs include ill-thrift and Will says farmers should keep a close eye on kill sheets to see whether their sheep are affected by FE.
At the bottom of the cliff, Zinc is an effective treatment for FE, either drench or boluses, as the element will bind with the toxin in the rumen, rendering it inactive.
How to collect a pasture sample for spore counting
1 2
Select a paddock that you wish to monitor. We suggest you monitor four paddocks for a farm, one paddock in a lifestyle block. Cut a handful of grass with scissors or a knife, at 1cm above the ground level. Place the sample in a clean plastic or paper bag.
3
Repeat procedure at least 10 times, from random areas at least 10 metres apart in the paddock. Avoid only sampling parts of the paddock sheltered by trees and hedges and contaminating sample with soil and roots.
4
We need 100g of grass (one bread bag full) per monitoring site.
5 6
Store in the fridge until taken to clinic. Repeat sampling weekly in the same paddock, take samples on the same path across the paddock.
When counts get close to 20,000 per gram, you should take action. Fungicide sprays are ideally applied before spore counts hit 20,000, when grass is green and growing. Zinc dosing can be started at 20,000 to prevent liver damage. Source: South Wairarapa Vets
ARE YOU IN NEED OF PASTURAL RENEWAL? Call the team at Colton Bros and take advantage of our spray truck and two direct drills with slug bait and fertiliser application
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Thursday, February 13, 2020 Wairarapa Times-Age
Making the most of pasture
Autumn
PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
Similar to a high breeding worth cow, a high genetic merit ryegrass cultivar won’t fulfil its potential if it’s not managed properly. The choice of plant species and cultivar plays a major role in maximising the life of pasture, the amount of feed available for cows and ultimately the amount of profit from every hectare of pasture. Why does pasture renewal matter? Pasture renewal is important for increasing pasture productivity and long-term farm profitability. Replacing poor-producing pasture is one of the simplest ways to invest on-farm for a significant and relatively predictable rate of return. Pastures can grow indefinitely but, over time, factors such as drought, pests, and pugging will cause pasture to deteriorate with these adverse effects: ■
total dry matter production drops
■ desirable species decline
■ weeds increase
comparison, the better and easier it will be to make decisions.
■ feed value reduces. Benefits of pasture renewal ■ New pasture is significantly more productive. ■ Control over seasonality of production. ■ Higher metabolisable energy. ■ Access to new endophytes developed to solve regional problems, such as resistance to pests and diseases, and greater tolerance of drought. ■ Cows on new pasture graze more grass, resulting in more milksolids production, and/or faster liveweight gains. Identify poorest paddocks Your poorest producing paddocks are the best ones to renew. That’s because they have the greatest potential for improvement, as long as underlying negative factors such as drainage problems and pests are addressed. Use grazing and yield records to identify your best and worst paddocks. The more measures and assessments you have for
est-1938
PAKOHE LTD
Farmers without accurate records may want to use the Pasture Condition Score Tool. Developed by a DairyNZ-led industry group, this tool outlines a plan for assessing and ranking paddocks based on the extent of damage from the likes of pests and pugging. Check it out at dairynz.co.nz/pasturetool Get establishment right If you want high quality pasture, you’ll need to spend time planning ahead and preparing soil before you start sowing. There are several key steps to consider.
1
Early sowing date The first step in your preparation is to think about when to sow seed. In most districts, it pays to have seed in the ground by March 31, provided you’ve given attention to moisture retention in the seed bed. Sowing later means you’ll face a greater risk of pasture damage in winter and spring; reduced yield; and small, less densely tillered plants coming out of winter.
2
Seed bed preparation A fine, firm, weed-free seedbed
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is ideal for plants to become established. Many farmers overlook the important step of rolling their seedbed to achieve consolidation before sowing. A consolidated seedbed conserves moisture and makes it possible to achieve the correct sowing depth, especially with a seed drill. Without consolidation, you may end up with a soft seedbed where wheel tracks are pushed down and coulter depths vary, leading to uneven seed depth and establishment.
3
Seed sowing rate You also need to decide how much seed to spread. There is no ‘correct’ ryegrass seed sowing rate for New Zealand farms; the appropriate sowing rate will depend on your sowing method. Both a standard and lower perennial ryegrass sowing rate can work well but lower rates need to be very well managed.
4
First grazing Pastures grow slowly until they are ‘nipped off’ at first grazing, which accelerates both their growth rate and tillering. To decide if a pasture is ready for its first grazing, make sure it passes the ‘pluck test’. This is where you check the plants are firmly rooted in the soil. If you can’t pluck them out by hand, they’re ready for grazing. Careful summer management Follow these tips for managing pasture through its ‘yearling’ establishment phase. ■ Graze for the first time only when new seedlings cannot be pulled
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www.age.co.nz Thursday, February 13, 2020 out by hand plucking. This is usually six-eight weeks after sowing. ■ Graze consistently to the same residual through the first winter and spring, leaving 4.5-5.5cm in height. This encourages growth and tillering of new ryegrass plants and helps avoid shading and suppression of white clover seedlings (as well as maintaining pasture quality). ■ Graze consistently at the same pre-grazing mass (2800-3200 kilograms of dry matter/hectare depending on type of pasture). Letting a pasture get too long, particularly in late spring, reduces its density by shading out daughter tillers. ■ Do not make hay or heavy crops of silage from new pastures in their first year as this damages plants (reduces tillering and root growth). ■ New pasture responds well to nitrogen so make two small applications of about 25-30 kilograms of nitrogen/hectare over the first six months when conditions allow (i.e not waterlogged and soil temperature is above 7° Celsius). ■ To be considered successfully established, a pasture must be dense, well-tillered and have survived a summer. Pasture management through summer has a major impact on future performance. For further information visit dairynz. co.nz/pasturerenewal Source: DairyNZ
Winter grazing without the mud By Michael Cashmore, Regenerative Agriculture Coach for Integrity Soils, www.integritysoils.co.nz Winter grazing of livestock in various parts of New Zealand is currently a contentious issue, due to concerns around sediment loss and animal welfare. Various regional councils are tightening up on current methods, but sediment loss is still assumed to be part of the process and there have been few suggestions of any alternative methods. The assumption is that winter inevitably means water logging and mud. Strategic winter feeding techniques such as bale grazing, where 25 – 35 bales/ha are placed about 15 – 20 metres apart, have been shown to develop resilient soil systems with improved soil structure. The results from bale grazing, illustrate how the issues associated with winter grazing are related to management practices, not wet winters. Mark Anderson of Westridge Farm in Otago has been trialling bale grazing and as a result winter grazing is being achieved with minimal mud and success on several levels. Bale grazing tends to stock’s nutritional needs, feeds underground livestock while
improving soil condition. Westridge Farm also provides diverse species pastures for winter grazing. In June 2019, Mark grazed 15 bales per break/3 days/100 cows. Stock ate most of the hay, they trampled about 20% into the ground and were then moved to the next break, before they cut up the soil surface. Hay trampled does not go to waste, adding carbon, N, P, K and other minerals. Beneficial organisms such as protozoa are stimulated by the organic matter and increase the nutrient cycling process. Soil health is improved, resulting in decreased compaction, increased water infiltration, reducing run off, increased worm numbers and improved soil structure. Increasing soil organic matter by 1% (30cm depth) increases water holding capacity by 144,000 litres/ ha and approximately $650/ha of nutrient is accumulated. Increasing soil carbon and building a resilient healthy soil biome is an ecological and financial investment. Last December during a field day at Westridge farm we carried out field
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tests comparing a bale grazed site with standard pasture. We tested water infiltration, compaction, soil colour, soil structure and worm numbers. The bale grazed site was clearly superior in all of these factors. The water infiltration was 10 times higher, soil colour was blacker, structure was more friable, there was no compaction layer and worms were more numerous. All of this was achieved in just 6 months.
PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
Bale grazing can lead to a build-up of nutrients, so these areas need to be rotated every year, typically not coming back to the same areas for four years. Bale grazing ticks all the boxes for regenerative practices. no till, and no bare soil, maintains roots in the ground at all times and encourages diversity above and below ground. Depending on where hay is sourced it can introduce other diversity of seed. It’s low impact, easy to set up, no contractors required, chemical and cultivation free and reduces tractor time and diesel. Try something different and trial an area on your farm this winter.
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Autumn
Management considerations include back fencing, to reduce compaction and mud in areas already grazed. If a large amount of hay is left behind, this can create dead zones of growth for the following season, however these areas will be more productive than surrounding areas in the future.
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24
Thursday, February 13, 2020 Wairarapa Times-Age
Minimising phosphorus losses
Autumn PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
When phosphate fertiliser is managed well, recently applied fertiliser generally comprises less than 10% of total phosphorus losses to the environment, a recent review has revealed. The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand commissioned a review of the factors affecting phosphorus (P) exports soon after mineral fertilisers are applied to pasture-based grazing systems in Australia and New Zealand. The findings were encouraging, with evidence showing that while it’s possible for fertiliser to comprise 80% of total losses, well-informed nutrient management reduces losses dramatically. “The important thing isn’t what’s possible but what’s probable,” says the lead researcher, David Nash. Intensive land use has expanded in New Zealand. Despite this, semi-quantitative evidence suggests that good management practice, combined with increasing awareness of P and the critical source areas, has seen stream water P concentrations decrease in the past 10 years.
“New Zealand’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management has likely made a difference. “Having the policy reinforced with voluntary processes and regulation to help farmers optimise what they do is essential. “Ultimately, I believe farmers care about the environment and want to do what’s best. Financially it’s in their interests too as wasting phosphorus would be like pouring money down the drain.” David says that widespread adoption in New Zealand of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles that are part of good nutrient management practice have been effective - that is, applying the right source of nutrients at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. For instance, the review showed that when appropriate P mitigation strategies were applied to 14 catchments in New Zealand, P exports were estimated to be halved with minimal impact on farm profitability. On well-managed farms, practices are adopted that address a range of soil, fertiliser, effluent management and irrigation issues. “The answer isn’t to limit fertiliser but to make sure that applications aren’t any higher than you need - and to choose timing, rates and
where service isn’t promised - it’s delivered
formulations that are going to minimise their impact.” The paper also looked at selecting fertiliser compounds for specific types of farming systems and effective ways of adapting farming systems. “Each farming system needs to be looked at in terms of how the water is moving on each individual farm, what the soil properties are, and so on. It’s not just a matter of looking at solubility, which is the issue everybody seems to focus on.”
can use it, it doesn’t get picked up by the water that tends to run across the surface. “You want it to go past the ‘squelchy layer’ because if it’s not there it doesn’t get picked up and transported offsite unless you’ve got sub-surface drainage of some kind. “When you actually look at what farms do and mathematically investigate it, the effects of recently applied fertiliser were really very small.
Most of the phosphorus is gone from the fertiliser granule within 24 hours when fertiliser is applied, David says.
“The primary effect was from what had been put on over the years (regardless of solubility), if it has raised the fertility of the soil.”
“If you get it away from the surface and into the soil where the plants
For more information and the full review go to www.fertiliser.org.nz
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www.age.co.nz Thursday, February 13, 2020
DairyNZ autumn pasture advice The focus in autumn is reaching average pasture cover and cow condition targets ready for spring. Where practical and economic, this should include keeping cows in milk where body condition is adequate.
the underlining problems behind pasture deterioration. Consider soil fertility and pH, over-grazing, pugging, drainage, soil compaction, weeds and pests. New pastures should first be grazed when the plants break off rather than pull out when plucked by hand. Use the pluck test to test when to graze. The first grazing should be a quick nip off with (top 2-3cm) with young stock or 2-3 hours grazing with cows. New grass often becomes nitrogen deficient 2-3 months after sowing, particularity after a wet spell. Look out for yellow leaf tips, the most obvious symptom of this occurring. Small applications of nitrogen (2030 kg N/ha) from 6-8 weeks after sowing will increase seedling size before summer
Good grazing management through early autumn is maximising the pasture you grow and utilise, balanced with allowing pastures to recover after any dry periods in the summer. The secret to achieving this good grazing management is leaving consistent post-grazing residuals and graze pastures at the right time (2.5-3 leaves). Grazing ryegrass pastures too early reduces autumn growth and too late reduces quality. During May, the rotation length may be extended beyond this to start building feed for winter. If residuals are less than 7 clicks/1500 kg DM/ha, feed supplement to maintain herd intake and protect pasture. If there is no supplement available then stand cows off pasture once they reach the target residual. Frequent intense grazing before plants reach the three leaf stage reduces recovery of tiller numbers during autumn. It is important to determine the leaf stage of your own pastures. Leaf appearance rates mainly depend on temperature and water availability with leaves taking longer to appear in colder temperatures or where water is limited. If farm cover is below where is should be (in order to meet target cover at calving) N fertiliser can be a great ‘circuit breaker’ to get growth back on track. Use a large part of the farm for best effect. Whole herd body condition score (BCS) assessment is a powerful tool to assist proactive feed management during autumn and to sort mobs of cows for differential feeding during winter. To manage calving BCS targets,
Before first grazing it may pay to test a sample for nitrate toxicity – Nitrate poisoning is not uncommon when grazing resown pastures especially annuals.
“
If you are planning to renew poor performing pastures firstly identify the poor performing paddocks for renewal and address the underlining problems behind pasture deterioration. Consider soil fertility and pH, over-grazing, pugging, drainage, soil compaction, weeds and pests.”
to gain the necessary BCS must be considered. Particular attention must be paid to R2s and heifers finishing their first lactation. An autumn feed budget can be used to reflect on the current feed supply and demand situation, and plan ahead to reach cow condition and pasture cover targets. If you are planning to renew poor performing pastures firstly identify the poor performing paddocks for renewal and address
the herd must be assessed in early March. There are several strategies managers can use to get every cow close to her ideal BCS at calving. From early March, OAD milking and feeding milker’s supplements are not effective ways to gain BCS in early-calving cows. To hit targets, cows need to be dried-off based on their individual BCS, their approximate calving date, and the amount of supplementary feed available for autumn feeding. For later-calving cows, OAD milking and supplementary feeds can form a part of the strategy for BCS management. But the time taken
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Monitor your new pasture for weeds, seedling weeds can be sprayed before or after first grazing. Spraying should be delayed if there is more than 50% bare ground. Waiting for all clover plants to be big enough to spray means that weeds are often too advanced to control.
Autumn
PASTURE& FERTILISER
2020
For more information visit https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/ seasonal-management/autumnmanagement/
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Thursday, February 13, 2020 Wairarapa Times-Age
Online strategies for coping with drought
Autumn
While no one can make it rain, there are management strategies that farmers can put in place to protect the future performance of their capital breeding stock, such as early weaning, body condition scoring and feed budgets, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Most importantly, farmers need to look after the well-being of themselves and their families. As well as making use of networks (friends, family and neighbours, rural professionals) there are agencies, such as the Rural Support Trust who are there to support farming families. Beef + Lamb New Zealand offers online resources for farmers affected by dry conditions. The resources include a fact sheet outlining strategies to manage and mitigate the effects of drought, coping with stress on the farm and advice on feed requirements
and animal welfare during the dry period. With the correct planning and use of tools such as early weaning, body condition scoring and feed budgets, farmers can make the most efficient and effective use of limited feed resources. ■ Tools for extreme dry management ■ Animal Health & Welfare Tools ■ Feeding decision tools ■ Body Condition Scoring Tools Farmers can find all of these at https:// beeflambnz.com/news-views/ extreme-dry-management
PASTURE& Use of trace elements for pastoral farming FERTILISER
2020
The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (FANZ) has published a new edition on the use of trace elements for pastoral farming.
The booklet covers: ■ the role of trace elements in soils, pastures and animals ■ assessing trace element status of soil, pasture and animals. It discusses: ■ why molybdenum is so important for white clover ■ what element deficiency leads to reduced twinning in ewes ■ how lack of cobalt leads to poor growth rates associated with B12 deficiency.
This booklet has sections covering: ■ a brief description of the major soil groups in New Zealand ■ the trace elements required by plants and animals ■ the role of trace elements in soils, pastures and animals ■ assessing trace element status of soil, pastures and animals ■ methods and practices to prevent trace element deficiencies from having adverse economic effects.
“Since the 1930s, trace element deficiencies of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in animals, boron (B) for brassicas, clover seed crops and lucerne and molybdenum (Mo) in clover have been identified.
New Zealand soils are inherently deficient in several trace elements that are required for pasture growth and animal health, the booklet says in its Introduction.
“This has been shown by deficiencies in trace elements becoming evident across a wider range of soils than was earlier apparent.
“More recently, the requirement of iodine (I) for sheep and cattle and zinc (Zn) for treatment of facial eczema has also been established.” With the greater intensity of pastoral farming, soil reserves of some trace elements will become depleted, the booklet warns.
“As many farmers are directly supplementing animals to maintain optimum animal performance, they may not be maintaining the trace element status of the soil.” While available information from research on trace element status and requirements of soils, pastures and animals has been used to compile the booklet, it advises farmers to “monitor the trace element status of your own farm to give the most accurate picture”. The booklet is available online at www.fertiliser.org.nz and also by hard copy by contacting the Association.
TOGETHER WE WILL ENDURE Farming is the backbone of a proud nation carved out by our early pioneers’ strength, determination and hard work. Resilience and an inherent belief in a better way forward still drive’s our farmers desire and need for perpetual innovation. These same qualities are the foundation of Zimmatic. We are proud to lead the way in irrigation technology and to be part of the enduring legacy our farmers leave for future generations. Image courtesy of Christchurch City Libraries
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