C&csep

From the good earth

September 2013Issue No. 157Bay of Plenty

& Waikato Farm, Orchard & Rural Lifestyle news

Ph 07 578 0030

Mike Taylor of A S Wilcox & Sons with Fraser potatoes being harvested in a paddock near Matamata, an area better known for dairying and horse breeding. Read more on pages 4 and 5.Mike Taylor of A S Wilcox & Sons with Fraser potatoes being harvested in a paddock near Matamata, an area better known for dairying and horse breeding.

Rural DriverPage 11-13

MaizePage 20 - 26

Potato prize pack

Page 5

Dairy DevelopmentsPage 27-30

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B&POW0184C

COAST & COUNTRY

The winner of the August Coast & Country book prize To Hound a Hog by Brett Huddleston, published by Halcyon Press, is Kevin Stables of Tokoroa.

New Zealand without dairy and dry stock farms,

but instead a nation of gardeners, growing crops to produce protein to feed a

hungry world thats a view of the future conjured up by a recent conversation

with a scientist.We were chatting, off the record,

over dinner, when he said he doubted New Zealand could con-tinue to intensively farm the way it does now. Our environment is too fragile and nitrogen leaching into lakes, rivers and streams is the ticking time bomb which will explode, despite the best efforts of scientists, government and farmers.

He painted a picture of vast paddocks of crops, some grown specifi cally to manufacture protein. Growing grass to feed livestock to produce meat and milk as protein was not an effi -cient use of land, and much more food per hectare can be produced from plants.

It all seemed a little too fan-tastic to believe. Then, within days, there were news stories that scientists at Maastricht University

in the Netherlands had developed lab-grown meat from bovine stem cells coloured by beetroot juice.

Professor Mark Post of the University of Maastricht, the scientist behind the fi rst in-vitro burger, believes that test tube meat will be better for us. We gain greater control over what the meat consists of, for example its fat content, and the reduction in the number of farmed animals reduces the chance of zoonosis, or infectious diseases that spread from animals to people.

Later, I learned from my food tech son about the possibility of 3D printers, the kind that can reproduce seemingly anything from a cup to an artifi cial knee, being able to produce food on demand from slot machines. I had my doubts but then discovered Nasa apparently plans to send a 3D, zero-gravity printer to the Space Station next year to produce tools and maybe food for astro-nauts and I thought Star Trek was science fi ction.

Im not entirely convinced grow-ing meat in the lab or printing

pizza will make food any safer, or tastier, or if

the public will even trust such pro-cesses. But then theres currently a fair degree of nervous-ness about milk

protein thanks to the food safety

scares involving both Fonterra and Westland

Milk products. For a different glimpse into the

future read about Emeritus Pro-fessor David Hughes predictions for food retailing on page 6 and Tauranga farmer David Blackleys novel suggestion for the future use of aging cruise ships see page 15.

Spring is when farmers and contractors make decisions about which maize varieties to plant and where see our seven-page feature beginning on page 21.

The Rural Driver team give the Jeep Grand Cherokee a workout on page 11. And on page 42 meet the couple, who after 60 years of market gardening, still believe growing food is a service to mankind.

Whos for lab-grown meat and 3D printed pizza?

By Elaine Fisher

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COAST & COUNTRY

are very willing to listen to new ideas.Central government has also

recognised the issues in its Resource Management Act reforms. These specifi -cally address the need to further manage natural hazards, including climate change and coastal erosion issues. We will be paying close attention to devel-opments in this space.

However, Paul doesnt believe the councils have done enough to safeguard lives and property from climate change impacts.

None of the documents produced so far truly encourage coastal communities, such as on the Coromandel, to address adaptation.

Paul says councils and government must take a stand on the hazards of climate change, and implement robust policies to adapt to changing condi-tions.

The implications of putting restric-tions on coastal development or requiring the managed retreat of at risk properties will be costly, in terms of money and potentially political careers. However, Paul says action is needed, and urgently.

In the end, it may be the insurance industry which becomes the unoffi cial regulator as insurers refuse cover for properties deemed to be at risk from climate change, he says.

Page 3

are very willing to listen to new ideas. Paul says councils and government

Councils taking action over climate change

Claims that local and central government are failing to

address the threats of climate change on Coromandel communities, made by Massey University PhD

student and Thames Coast resident Paul Schneider, have been challenged by

local councils.Paul, who has spent four years

researching the barriers to, and opportunities of, climate change adaptation on the peninsula says his fi ndings show lack of leadership over the issue.

Local government awaits initia-tive and foresight from regional government, which is not prepared to take the lead without the back-ing from central government.

Fifty-two people, including those living in the Coromandel, government and local body repre-sentatives, scientists, insurers and coastal developers, were interviewed as part of his research. Paul says he found an almost complete absence of leadership and that many people had low levels of understanding of climate change risks.

His research is thought to be the fi rst place-based and ethnographic approach to climate change. It also combines political ecology and environmental planning to understand the bigger picture. Paul presented his research at the New Zealand Climate Change Conference in July, where he was runner-up in the oral presentation award.

However, local councils dont accept his criticism.

PreservationThe Thames-Coromandel District

Council invests a great deal of time and money on ways to preserve the

coastline including working with landowners of properties affected by coastal erosion, says council chief executive David Hammond.

We do realise that the magnitude of climate changes for individual beaches is hard to estimate and will need more work over time.

Climate change is increasing this risk. Most settlements are very lucky that there are large beach reserves between the houses and the coast. This makes the risk and solu-tions less severe than for other parts of New Zealand like Hawkes Bay, Kapiti Coast and Dunedin. The areas without enough of a reserve buffer (for example, Buffalo Beach, Whitianga) have the biggest risk. But the cost of protecting houses, roads, structures and reserves is still signifi cant, and will only increase as climate change continues.

TCDC has also been working in partnership with its communities and regional council on coastal pro-tection works, predominantly on the eastern side of the Peninsula. This has involved numerous dune planting days, with hundreds of people involved in planting native plant species along coastal dunes to prevent further erosion. TCDC is also working on building coastal protection structures around areas that are highly vulnerable to coastal erosion, particularly in Whitianga, says David.

Rising temperatureJohn Tregidga, Mayor of the Hau-

raki District Council, says in his view council is taking a reasoned and responsible approach to the issue of climate change and sea level rise.

As part of our recent District Plan review process, the District Plan Committee considered climate change and included this in our proposed district plan.

The main effects of climate

change include temperature, changed rainfall patterns and extreme weather conditions, storm surges and sea level rise. In the Hauraki district it is anticipated that the predicted increases in temperature rising from 0 to 4.1 degrees Celsius over the next 72 years, based on 1990 fi gures, may cause increase in the frequency of droughts or heavy rainfall causing fl ooding and increase in extreme weather events.

The predicted changes in storm surges, tides and sea level may increase the risk to the Hauraki Plains area. Our coastal area of Whiritoa is at risk of tsunami, and sea level rise may result in salt-water intrusion in coastal zones, and potential fl ooding to coastal developments.

In recognition of this, the pro-posed plan has addressed this with the identifi cation of fl ood ponding areas and the highlighting of the building act requirement for fl oor levels above predicted fl ood levels across the plains.

Signifi cant issueWaikato Regional Councils com-

munity safety programme manager Adam Munro says that Paul raises a number of important issues about adaptation to climate change which we agree will be an increas-ingly signifi cant issue for Waikato coastal communities to address.

The reality is that all low-lying properties, particularly within about 100 metres of an active coastline, may be prone to the future effects of sea level rise.

Adam says the regional council feels it is working very well with councils and local communities in coastal areas, to address these types of risks and coastal erosion issues. We acknowledge that clearly there is more to do and we are commit-ted to doing more as required. We

Dune planting to help reduce

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By Elaine Fisher

MS1442

COAST & COUNTRY

Growing potatoes on the scale of this A S Wilcox & Sons Limited operation requires automation and technology far beyond spade work to make it viable and effi cient.

The huge Grimme 170-60 harvester drawn by a 275 hp Fendt tractor travels at about fi ve km/h. It gently extracts the vegetables from the earth, removing any attached vegetation, undersize potatoes and much of the dirt, before delivering them to the enclosed platform where four women carry out an initial quality check.

Its the role of Aaron Mudgway to drive the tractor and control the harvester which has the capacity to hold six tonnes of potatoes. Once full, another tractor towing a trailer pulls alongside and Aaron raises a delivery shoot to deposit the potatoes into six bins.

This trailer was designed and manufactured by Wilcox engineers to reduce damage to the potatoes, says Mike Taylor, Wilcox Matamata manager. The trailer is fi tted with an upper structure which looks a little like over-sized fruit picking bags, with canvas shoots and straps to slow the potatoes descent into the bins. Innovation and quality in potato growing is

vital in a market competing with other foods and in which customer quality demands are high.

Around a third of our Matamata production is for the domestic market and two-thirds for processing and we grow different varieties to suit the seasons and customer demands, says Mike who has been with Wilcox since he left school in 1966.Back then to most consumers a potato was a

potato to be boiled, mashed, fried or roasted and eaten virtually every day.

VarietiesNow there are specifi c varieties packed

and labelled for different cooking quali-ties, and Wilcox has become a leader in growing gourmet potatoes for salads. Then there are the varieties needed by

processers who turn them into potato chips, frozen chips and French fries.

Although pasta, rice and other vegetables have affected potato consumption, they are still the number one vegetable, with 87 per cent of us eating them at least three times a week and 35 per cent of New Zealanders eating them daily.

Growing potatoes has come a long way since the companys beginnings.

Page 4 COAST & COUNTRY

Technology helps deliver potatoes from paddock to plateAt the far end of the extensive paddock near Matamata, fi ve people

are harvesting potatoes, and not one has a spade.

Technology helps deliver potatoes from paddock to plate

The Grimme 170-60 harvester drawn by a 275 hp Fendt tractor harvests potatoes

at around fi ve kilometres an

hour.

Norm Bruning - Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Western Bay of Plenty General Constituency)

Do you want rural representation on the Regional council?

My family and I are Western Bay of Plenty dairy farmers who understand the balance between economic land use and the natural environment.

The Bay of Plentys economy is largely rural based producing food for the world. When good environ-mental practices are demonstrated in agriculture, horticulture and life-style enterprises, we have winning products the consumer requires. Our small towns play an important

part in servicing our rural indus-tries. I am advocating for public debate on fi nancial and service delivery reform of councils across the region.

The Port of Tauranga shares, owned by the regional council, must be retained but the benefi ts need to be measured across the whole spec-trum of service delivery by Local Government in the Bay. Prioritizing expenditure including some debt servicing of costly utilities would have huge benefi ts and economic impact for the region.

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COAST & COUNTRY

Potatoes for all seasons, and occasionsThe late Syd Wilcox founded the company in 1954

after growing potatoes on his Pukekohe dairy farm during the depression of the 1930s to supplement his income. In 1943 he took the bold step to convert his whole property to potato and onion cropping.

In 1984 the operation expended to Matamata with the purchase of 300 acres of land for growing crops. Now we grow on around 800 ha of both company and leased land at Matamata, says Mike.

Wilcox grows potatoes and onions in Pukekohe, Matamata and Ohakune to ensure year-round supply. Matamata fi ts in between the early potatoes in Pukekohe and later varieties in Ohakune although there is some overlap.

SoilsThe move to Matamata was also partly

to preserve the more fragile Pukekohe soils which can be hard to work in winter. Its Mikes personal belief that Matamata soils and environment provide one of the best growing regions in the country, despite the fact it is dominated by dairying and horse breeding.

The land is generally fl at, the soils of high qual-ity and the weather ideal for cropping.

Preserving soils has high priority for the company and the use of GPS navi-gation systems is one way of achieving this.

Ever since I started working for the company Ive tried to drive in perfectly straight lines but its not easy using just your eyes and judgement. Now our drivers can do it without thinking as the machines are guided automatically.

This ensures that each tractor or sprayer which passes over the fi eld follows exactly the same wheel tracks, reducing compaction. Once each crop is har-

vested, wheel track ripping equipment is used to aerate the soils again.

Controlling soil erosion is another key consideration as up to 90 square meters of soil can be washed away from a heavily contoured 14 ha vegetable fi eld in heavy rain. Wilcox uses contour drainage, silt traps, cover crops and tilling techniques which create minimal disturbance to the soil structure to conserve soils and reduce erosion.

The rotation at Matamata includes potatoes, maize, grass and onions. The aim is not to mine the soils but preserve them.

PsyllidGrowing potatoes

has always been challenging, but never more so than in Ireland during 1845 to 1852 when blight caused crops to fail and one million people died of starvation and a million more left their homeland.

Blights are still a problem and so are a whole lot of other pests and diseases which we have to keep on top of, says Mike.The latest pest is the small insect known

as the potato/tomato psyllid, a native of North America which arrived in New Zealand around 2006. Nymphs, and pos-sibly adults, inject a toxin into the plants

when they feed which causes discolouration of leaves and the plant to become stunted exhibiting psyllid yellow and purple top. Importantly there is no food safety risk with this complex condition, but there can be considerable crop loss. In potatoes, the psyllid can cause a reduction in the numbers and size of tubers and production of secondary tubers. The insect can also carry the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberib-

Win a potato prize pack acter solanacearum which can cause a condition known as zebra chips. This produces black lines in potatoes infected with the bacteria when they are fried.

Mike says Wilcox has learned to control the insect with a combination of measures and by planting host plants for predator insects such ladybirds and spiders, around the edges of paddocks.

The weather is another factor to contend with and while irrigation helps in a dry summer, like all primary

industries, croppers are at the mercy of the elements.

Its these challenges, the satisfaction of producing food for thousands of people and the ethos of the company itself which is why Mike has made cropping his career.The company structure has

changed but Wilcox is still a family company with family values and a third generation, some of them just youngsters when I started, now involved, says Mike.It helps that he also likes pota-

toes especially the Wilcox variety called Vivaldi, mashed or roasted.

and environment provide one of the best

country, despite the fact it is dominated by dairying and

fl at, the soils of high qual-

Preserving soils has high

gation systems is one way

Ever since I started working for the company Ive

problem and so are a whole lot of other pests and diseases which we have to keep on top of, says Mike.The latest pest is the small insect known

as the potato/tomato psyllid, a native of North America which arrived in New Zealand around 2006. Nymphs, and pos-sibly adults, inject a toxin into the plants

when they feed which causes discolouration of leaves

million people died of starvation and a million more left their homeland.

problem and so are a whole lot of other problem and so are a whole lot of other

Wilcox engineers designed this trailer to reduce damage to potatoes.

Potatoes are a Kiwi favourite and such an excellent source of nutrition they

are dubbed the super food.This month Coast & Country has a special readers

prize to give away, thanks to A S Wilcox & Sons and Potatoes New Zealand. The pack includes one bag each of Wilcox Red Jackets (winter red potato ideal for baking/roasting), Vivaldi Gold (great tasting gen-eral purpose potato) and Perlas ( new season salad potato), a baking dish, a Bosch oven mitt, potato scubbing gloves, potato slicer and grater and a copy of Whos Cooking Tonight? by Claire Gourley which features a variety of potato and other vegetable recipes.

To be in to win send your favourite potato recipe (and photo if you wish) by email to Potato Contest along with your name, address and phone number to [email protected] or post these details and the recipe to Potato Contest, Coast & Country, PO Box 240 Tauranga 3110 to arrive no later than Sep-tember 17. The winner will be announced in the October Coast & Country.

COAST & COUNTRY

When professor David Hughes walks into his local supermarket,

the store greets him (on his mobile phone) and will more than likely make him a special

and exclusive offer on a product it knows he likes.

Its not that David is a celebrity (even though he is emeritus professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London). Its that hes a great customer and the supermarket has the technology to recognise and reward his loyalty and

David doesnt mind. Its not scary nor intrusive. I like it, he says. Tesco uses the information gained every time David swipes his loyalty card to gather data on his preferences. Now it has taken that even further with the offer of free Tesco Telly, which screens BBC programmes with advertising targeted at David.

Supermarkets have been forced to become smarter and use technology to their advantage because of the impacts of the global recession and a reduction in consumer spending by a population in which it has become fashionable to be a SuperScrimper who wastes not wants not.

Online shopping is going like a train. Ten years ago it was eight per cent. By 2020 it will be more like 20 per cent, says David. Shoppers make their purchases any time of the day or night online and chose to have the grocer-ies delivered; or they can drive by the supermarket and pick them up when it suits.

The Big Night In is a successful department at ASDA store which puts together a pack-age of products.

How fruit and vegetables are consumed is also changing. You are more likely to drink a pear than eat one. Combinations of juices, which provide almost all of the recom-mended daily requirements for nutrients, are popular for childrens lunches and among women.

Not everyone wants to eat meat and vegetables, and producers are now targeting Flexitarians who like veg and 3 veg for lunch with a gluten-free, cholesterol-free, vegan product called Chicken-free strips plant-based protein made from soyabeans and peas. Apparently, says David, they are quite tasty.

The smart way to increase consumption of fresh produce is to team up with the producers, of sauces and spreads, who want to benefi t from the good image fruit and vegetables have. These companies want the halo effect of fresh products. An example is the marketing

by a spread called Luripu which suggests spreading its product on broccoli.

Supermarket chains are also opening small con-venience stores in neighbourhoods. Some people are weighing up the cost of time and money travelling to a large supermarket against paying slightly more from a convenience store. By shopping more frequently they can also limit their spending to the money they have available on that day.

Type 2 diabetes is costing the UK taxpayer $140 bil-lion a year and the Government is now putting pressure on consumers to eat more healthy food because it cant afford the spiralling health costs.

David says the economic centre of

gravity is shifting away from Europe to Asia, which is to the advantage of New Zealand producers. More people with more income is good news for fresh produce. Should growers lie back and relax? No, buckle up your seat belts and put your crash hats on its never a straight line to the north.

Regional and bi-lateral trade agreements will bring terrifi c opportunities, but also strong competition. In future, fewer, larger, more sophisticated businesses will survive and prosper.

# Professor David Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London, was the keynote speaker at the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in late July.

Technology brings the personal touch to retailing

By Elaine Fisher

The British media had a fi eld day with the horsegate scandal, says professor David Hughes.

COAST & COUNTRY

What do you get when you cross a motocross rider with a top rally driver? It sounds like the start of a bad joke but for Taurangas Ben Thomasen the

answer is off-road success.After getting a taste for the speed and excitement

of motocross, a major back injury prompted Ben to switch to racing cars four years ago where he has gone on to stamp his mark in rally and hillclimb events culminating in his win of the national hill climb championships earlier this year.

In April he made an impressive debut racing in the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) section in the fi rst round of the New Zealand Offroad Racing Champs in Meremere, winning the section.

Bens winning form continued on the offroad circuit last month, when he once again won the ATV category at round two of the national championship series at the Best Forysth Gwavas 200 enduro event. But what really had people sitting up and taking notice of the young Tauranga driver in his Polaris RZR, was his success making New Zealand offroad racing history to become the fi rst UTV-class competitor to also claim the endur-ance race, in what he describes as a great training run ahead of the marathon offroad Taupo 1000 race from September 13-15.

His Hawkes Bay success earned him the North Island championship title and Ben is now sitting in the lead for the national championship series with its fi nal event coming up in Hamilton in October.

It defi nitely felt very good. Admittedly the condi-tions down there suited me, it was really wet weather

and the Polaris was just in its element. It was handling everything that I threw at it, says Ben.

While the ATVs are turning a lot of heads, with models like the Polaris RZR900 he drives offering quite an economical unit compared with the more expensive higher horsepower machines hes been competing against and beating, Ben admits a lot of traditionalists dont like them.

Some people are calling them the weed-sprayers, but a lot of others really like them because they are helping make it more accessible.

Ben rates his mixed motorsport experience as a major benefi t for his offroading, saying

its a cross between motocross and rallying. His rallying experience helps with car control and the type of racing is similar to being on a motorbike, with him picking good lines. Following Hawkes Bay, his atten-

tion is all on the Taupo 1000, which he will be competing in with fellow Tauranga rally driver Phil Camp-

bell, who is more familiar with racing his Fiesta as leader in the national 2WD series. Phil and Ben will alternate driving the 100km laps at the Taupo event. Ben plans to cover 300km a day and Phil 200km.

During summer Phil was also Bens co-driver in the national hillclimb series, sharing lots of helpful advice on the roads to help Ben go onto claim the title.

Ben now is looking forward to defending the title in the coming season, which kicks off in October. But for now, offroad events in the ATV is his main prority, along with hopes to squeeze in a few rally events including the Possum Bourne Rally on September 7.

It defi nitely keeps most weekends tied up and a lot of work in the evenings getting ready, but Im really loving it, says Ben.

COAST & COUNTRY

From rallying to offroading

culminating in his win of the national hill climb

on the offroad circuit last month, when he once again won the ATV category at round two of the national championship series at the Best Forysth

Ben rates his mixed motorsport experience as a major benefi t for his offroading, saying

its a cross between motocross and rallying. His rallying experience helps with car control and the type of racing is similar to being on a motorbike, with him picking good lines. Following Hawkes Bay, his atten-

tion is all on the Taupo 1000, which he will be competing in with fellow Tauranga rally driver Phil Camp-

bell, who is more familiar with racing his Fiesta

...the Polaris was just in its

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Children getting their pet lamb or pet calf ready for school Ag Days are being offered a helping hand by Tauranga Vets.

Once again, its vet clinics in Katikati, Te Puna and Tauranga are offering a free health check, vaccination and docking service for pet lambs and calves to get them ready for the show.

Vet Kate Heller says the annual offer has always been popular with children trying to get their pets ready for the big day. We do this because as your animal health professional we are proud to be supporting our local communities, says Kate. The pets have to be brought into one of our three clinics for the free treat-

ment. Just make an appointment and bring your pet calf or pet lamb into one of our veterinary practices and our skilled staff will sort out everything for you.

Each pet will receive its fi rst Ultravac 5 in 1 vaccination, and the second vaccina-tion dose of Ultravac 5 in 1 will also be dispensed free of charge. On top of that, each pet will get a free clinic health check, and if requested veterinary staff will per-form tail and castrate ringing for lambs. The details can be found on Tauranga Vets Facebook page or visit www.getvets.co.nz. The contact phone numbers are Tauranga 07 578 4044, Te Puna 07 552 4015 and Katikati 07 549 0215.

Free vet checks for Ag day pets

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EQUIDAYS

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HEWLETTS ROAD

Come and see Farmer Auto Village at Equidays this year!

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*Offer only available on vehicle purchases made between 18-20 October at Equidays 2013. Offer only available on vehicles purchased from Farmer Auto Village.18-20 October 2013

EQUIDAYS

Fifty riders will compete for a prize pool of $20,000 in the fast-paced Hyundai Derby

at Equidays in October.Equidays spokesperson, Sarah Riches, says the

event the result of an inaugural partnership between Equidays and Hyundai will attract a lot of interest as a derby event is rare on the New Zealand equine calendar.

Were really excited to introduce the Hyundai Derby event. Its the fi rst time an event of this calibre has been offered both at Equidays and within New Zealand. It will attract top riders who are keen on the challenges a derby course offers. There will also be huge excitement among spectators too, as its something New Zealanders dont have the opportu-nity to see very often.

Equidays 2013 will be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, from October 18 to 20 with Hyundai NZ general manager Andy Sinclair saying Hyundai is excited to be supporting the inau-gural Hyundai Derby.

As a 100 per cent New Zealand-owned company, we take great pride in supporting local events and

look forward to seeing some strong competition from NZs best riders.

Sure to be a crowd pleaser, the derbys high inten-sity, technical course generally touted as a mix between cross country and showjumping showcases speed and precision, providing plenty of entertain-ment for spectators.

One of New Zealands top course designers, Gerrit Beker, in association with Showjumping Waikato, will ensure the high intensity course is designed and built professionally to the highest standard.

Sarah says spectators can expect to see a course that will test both horses and their riders abilities.

The Hyundai Derby event will be a test of techni-

Hoofcamp Saddlery in Whakatane is one of New Zealands largest specialist

equestrian stores. Locally-owned it has been operat-

ing since 2008 and stocks leading brands including Equistar, Flair, Pessoa, Trainer, Tekna, Cavallino, Wild with Flair from Arion, Bates, Wintec, Saddlecraft, Saxon, Kin-cade from Weatherbeeta as well as Horze brand gear and clothing.

We custom-make belts, pouches, collars, knife sheaths and any other leather items, and are now produc-ing Hoofcamp-made large canvas saddle bags, pack saddle bags and farrier chaps, says Kathryn Dick of Hoofcamp.

We import a line of Western sad-dles, bridles, breastplates, cruppers and bareback pads. Hoofcamp Sad-dlery repairs, launders and re-proofs horse covers; and we fi x tents, tram-

poline mats, zips in oilskin vests or leather jackets, and many other things requiring a heavy industrial machine. We also do saddle repairs, re-packing, re-lining, all leather strapping and other stitching and arrange courier pick up for out-of-town customers.

Hoofcamp also stocks supple-ments including Nutritech, Domhealth, VetPro and Ethical and horse feed from Dunstan, Cam-bridge Grains and FibreFresh.

Committed to all things equestrian, Hoofcamp sponsors Riding for Disabled, Eastern Bay of Plenty Hunt Club,

Committed to all things equestrianTauranga Western Riding Club, Opotiki Showjumping and Te Teko Showjumping Shows, Edgecumbe Pony Club and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Dressage group.Hoofcamp makes large canvas saddle bags and stock Western

saddles.

cal ability and confi dence, particularly for showjumping horses, which may, for the fi rst time, be experiencing the undulating ground with banks, ditches and natural fences.Its a fantastic opportunity for spec-

tators of all ages to see New Zealands best riders in action. They can catch the action from the grandstand or vari-ous viewing points around the course to get a close up view of how riders

navigate the various challenges of the course.

Sarah also says that with Hyun-dai and Gerrit Beker on-board, the Hyundai Derby will eventually attract interest abroad, including international riding talent.

The Hyundai Derby will be lim-ited to 50 riders, with entries closing September 27, 2013. For more infor-mation go to: www.equidays.co.nz

Page 9EQUIDAYSEQUIDAYS

High intensity derby will be crowd pleaser

Equidays will feature and wide range of horse events over three days.

www.boeckmann.co.nz phone 07 549 2383 or 021 0225 5648

email [email protected]

What is it that your horse needs in a float? Safety, comfort and stability. And what is it that you need in a float? Quality, safety and durability.

For more than 50 years, Boeckmann have been leading the European market by keeping these needs front of mind and are consistently voted the #1 preferred horse float brand in Germany. Were proud to now make these high quality, yet affordable, horse floats available in New Zealand.

100% made in Germany, superb quality, aerodynamic, light-weight, great looking, rustproof, fully sealed, quiet, safe and comfortable, Boeckmann floats are built to last a lifetime.

Your peace of mind is also assured as all Boeckmann floats come with a two-year warranty. And, we deliver nationwide.

RURAL DRIVER

MODEL: 4609-4WD ROPS C/W FRONT END LOADER90hp 4wd ROPS 12X12 Sync shuttle trans. Crowd action front end loader self level with joystick control. Great farm tractor good horsepower with easy to use shuttle shift trans.

Sell Price Only $59,950

MODEL: DM1383-KC 3M CUTCentre tow 3 meter cutting width mower conditioner (Tyne) with swivel hitch swing either way excellent ground contour following through parallelogram cutter bar mount design.


MODEL: TD1635 5.2M TED WIDTH3point linkage tedder 5.2m working width 4 rotors. Ocillating headstock, low mounting point and integrated pendulum provide great stability. Easy adjust spread angle.Retail $14,706 Sell Price Only $13,000

MODEL: 2615-2WD ROPS50hp 2wd ROPS 4x2 constant mesh trans, independent PTO control, oil brakes. Good simple basic tractor great for the small block, horticulture or a second farm tractor. Can have front end loader fitted.


MODEL: DM1382-KC 3M CUT2 point hitch 3 meter cutting width mower conditioner (Tyne) with side mounted bogie wheel economical heavy duty for wide mowing, sturdy main beam suspends the cutterbar and provides good ground contour following. fold back for transport.


MODEL: RK3875 5.8M-6.5M WORKING WIDTHTwin rotor rake 5.8 to 6.5 meter working width steering rear axle sealed gearbox independent rotor suspension.


Model: DM1309 2.8m CutFarmer series disc mower 3 point linkage 2.8m cutting width 7 disc. Each disc has shear pin protection, easily replaced, tough basic mower


MODEL: MF7619EF-D6185hp 4wd Cabin (210 with boost) 24f & 24r 6 speed powershift with clutchless power shuttle. This is serious horsepower for serious work. Fitted with 540/65R30 front & 650/65R42 Rear tyres. This is only $690 per Hp check it out.

Sell Price From $145,000

MODEL: 5430-4WD CAB C/W FRONT END LOADER92Hp 4wd Cabin 16fx16r - 4 speed power shift with power shuttle. Crowd action front end loader fitted with joystick control This is a great all rounder great for farm work, loader or the bigger jobs on the farm.


prices do not include Gst, deals subject to availability

SPECSJeep Grand Cherokee L

imited

Engine: 3.0L V6 Diesel.

Power 184kw @ 4,000rpm.

Torque N.m 570 @ 2,000rpm.

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

transmission with E-shift

4WD System: Quadra - Trac 11

active full - time 4WD System.

Price: RRP $85,990.00

Contact: Graham @ Farmer AutoVillage

07 578 6017 or mobile 0272 947418

Page 11RURAL DRIVER

There are few four wheel drives that can tackle the transition from smooth

highway cruiser to serious off-road performer. The Jeep Grand

Cherokee is one.The inherent qualities of the biggest Jeep

would seem to be the ideal combination of style and rugged ability, for the New Zealand rural family.

Equally at home running the ridge track to the south forty; towing the horse fl oat or stock trailer to town; or whipping down the Central Plateau for a roadie to the snow the GC ticks all the boxes.

The modern day Jeep is a far cry from its rough and ready war-time ancestor.

Yet even the swish modern 4WD carries haunting reminders of its battleground roots and the symbolism of true American grit.

It seemed a fi tting salute to the heritage of Jeep to take the latest Grand Cherokee on a mission befi tting its bloodlines for a photo session under gunfi re.

Locked and loaded, the Rural DRIVER crew packed an assortment of fi ne American arma-ments and headed for the range the Loaded NZ clay shooting venue off Pyes Pa Rd for a mix of highway and off-road driving.

And as luck would have it, we met some real American gunslingers at home on the range.

These days the new generation Grand Cherokees come in a

wide range of confi gurations, so make it your mission to check them all out at Farmer AutoVillage. Basically, the range takes you from the Laredo 2WD at $65,000, that is perfect for the troops and their gear; right up to the breathtaking SRT8 with a 6.4 Litre V8, capable of outrunning missiles at zero to 100km/h in fi ve seconds. It will invade your bank account to the tune of $110,000. And its reviewed very well in the luxury, high performance market.

The Laredo offer 3.6L petrol eight speed autos and the 3L CRD diesel.

The Limited series marches out with a 3.6L, a 5.7L petrol and also the 3L diesel, which was our test vehicle, list price $85,990.

Stepping up the ranks is the stylish Overland series with the same engine selection as the Limited series.

And theres options throughout the range for the Quadra-Lift air suspension.

Level of luxurySo what has changed with the new GCs?Clearly, a bit of design fl air has rubbed off,

with the European infl uence; Jeep is hitched via shotgun wedding to the Fiat family. But its nothing radical compared to the new Chero-kee due here next year, which turns its back completely on the square boxy look (that some say rightly should have remained the domain of the Wrangler) with a radical style makeover. But thats a story for another day.

The GCs new look has slim-line, bi-xenon headlamps leading the way, although theres no escaping the iconic seven slot grille up front.

It has indicator lights on the outside of the wing mirrors; optional air suspension; re-tailored rear, including shapely lights; a fi n aerial and larger spoiler.

The level of luxury seems to never end. After two days with this remarkable vehicle, we were still making little discoveries. The automatic opening and closing rear hatch. Little LED lights everywhere shining down from the wing mirrors, in the internal door handles you name it.

All the usual features youd expect are there, and more. We particularly liked the huge 8.4-inch multi-view display, which automatically fl icked into massive rear view backing display.

The climate controls are outstanding, even the mirrors and steering wheel are heated. The rear passengers get their own air controls on the lower centre console.

I loved the single stick wiper/indicator/lights control. Jeep has packed a lot into one lever. It took me a while to discover all its secrets, but once revealed, it was a joy to use and very intuitive.

The GC doesnt seem a big vehicle from the outside. I was concerned, at fi rst glance, that it looked from the outside to be more mid-sized. However, once the rear hatch is opened, this Jeep becomes the tardis the space opens up before your eyes.

Now for the advances under the hood.The eight speed auto is an absolute delight.

Always in the right gear to make use of the tor-quey CRD three litre, the GC feels fi rm, sure and determined. Behind the wheel, it impresses like a sporty little crossover, rather than one of the biggest SUVs on the market. Surpris-ingly nippy for its size, the Jeep would not feel intimidating to a driver of any stature.

It handles quite nimble, yet sure-footed at the same time.

Eight speed autoThe ride is incredibly smooth and quiet.

Theres a lot of gear changing going on, all quite seamlessly, but its noticeable that eight speeds means theres plenty of action behind the scenes. I liked the way it oozed down through the gears almost inappreciably, on hill descents, so it was ready and willing in the perfect gear for acceleration on the up-hills.

Motorists in the region will have noticed the current genocide of passing lanes, an appar-ent determination by roading authorities to eliminate the few remaining chances to get past slow traffi c. Discerning drivers therefore appreciate a vehicle that is a capable of decisive and confi dent overtaking.

There is one scientifi c word to describe the overtaking ability of the 3Litre/eight gear combo: Woosh.

Its smooth, safe and almost surgical in its delivery of power with control.

The sure-footed Jeep is ably assisted with the 20 inch wheels and we drooled over the 265/50

R20s underfoot. Arriving at the shooting range, the Americans were suitably impressed with the new Jeep.

As the Rural DRIVER team gushed about things American-made, the shooters from South Carolina cast doubt on whether anything these days was made at home any more.

Born in the USAI assured them, Jeeps still roll off the pro-

duction line in Detroit, Michigan. They were pleasantly surprised, then admitted they didnt know much about Jeep.

Typical, it takes the Kiwis to show them the benefi ts of their own concepts.

Next theyll be expecting us to show them how to sail

So even with its townie tyres on, we let the Jeep loose on the hilly terrain of the Loaded shooting range.

We were awestruck at the 4WD competence of the Grand Cherokee. It switched from luxury highway cruiser to all-terrain hill pad-dock mauler with the fl ick of a dial.

Choosing from mud, rocks, sand or snow, theres also a hill-descent mode and a low ratio to select from.

We gave the Jeep a workout over the bush tracks and steep farmland of the Loaded range, and came away with grins as wide as the South Carolina Plains. Hell, even the Americans looked impressed!

As our US friends settled into their work, and the shotguns blasted overhead, we switched the magnifi cent beast back to townie mode, turned for the highway, and our transformer assumed the role of elegant road car again.

This is a vehicle that really makes travel a pleasure. From the smooth power, the feeling of safety and sure-footedness is backed up in reality, with active full-time 4WD, electronic stability control and trailer sway control; and a solidity and soundness that is American and proud of it.

Dang, I want one.Thanks to the team at Farmer AutoVillage

for the driving privilege and to Blackie and the guys at Loaded for the photo shoot venue.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

By Brian Rogers

There are few four wheel drives that wide range of confi gurations, so make it The climate controls are outstanding, even

Jeep Grand Cherokeetrue American grit

R20s underfoot. Arriving at the shooting range, R20s underfoot. Arriving at the shooting range,

116 Hewletts RoadMount Maunganui, Tauranga City Tel: 07 578 6017www.farmerautovillage.co.nz Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook

RURAL DRIVER

The IRD decides to audit Grandpa, and summons him to their offi ce.

The auditor was not surprised when Grandpa showed up with his lawyer.

The auditor says: Well sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. Im not sure the IRD fi nds that believable.

I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it, says Grandpa. How about a demonstration?

The auditor thinks for a moment and says: Okay. Go ahead.

Grandpa says: I'll bet you $1000 that I can bite my own eye.

The auditor thinks a moment and says: It's a bet.

Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditors jaw drops.

Grandpa says: Now, I'll bet you $2000 that I can bite my other eye.

Now the auditor can tell Grandpa isnt blind, so he takes the bet.

Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye.

The stunned auditor now realises he has wagered and lost three grand, with Grandpas lawyer as a witness. He starts to get nervous.

Want to go double or nothing? Grandpa asks. Ill bet you $6000 that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the

other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between.

The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides theres no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again.Grandpa stands beside

the desk and unzips his pants, but although he

strains mightily, he cant make the stream reach the waste basket

on the other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the auditors desk.

The auditor leaps with joy, realising that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win.

But Grandpas own lawyer moans and puts his head in his hands.

Are you okay? the auditor asks.Not really, says the lawyer. This

morning, when Grandpa told me hed been summoned for an audit, he bet me $25,000 that he could come in here and piss all over your desk and that youd be happy about it!

Taking on the worldThe standard battle ground for fl atmates

is over dishes and cleaning duties, but two former Mount Maunganui housemates have

joined forces to take on the world.Reigning New Zealand MX1 champion Cody

Cooper and fellow Mount motocross star Rhys Carter, who are also Moto City Suzuki teammates, have been

picked for two of the three spots in the New Zealand squad competing at the Motocross of Nations in Ger-many this month.

Joining them in the event, affectionately called the Olympic Games of motocross, is Kayne Lamont, who was last years Australian Under-19 motocross cham-pion. Kayne will ride a KTM motorcycle in the MX2 (250cc) section, while Cody and Rhys who both ride Suzuki RM-Z450s have yet to fi nalise their role.

Mount Maunganuis Rhys Carter will join forces with his former fl atmate Cody Cooper to take on the worlds best in Germany later this month.Photo by Andy McGechan, BIKESPORTNZ.COM.

Grandpa and the Taxation Office

Team manager Josh Coppins, who competed with Cody last year, has not decided who will have the teams MX1 (450cc) or MX3 (open class) role, saying there are strategic aspects to be considered.

Sometimes, strategically, it is an advantage to list your number one rider as the MX3 rider [so they could, poten-tially, avoid battling throughout the event with the number one riders from some of the other nations].

The Kiwi team is putting together a plan to build on the number 15 ranking achieved at the same event in Belgium last season, when it begins for 2013 near Leipzig, on September 29, with Josh hoping the team can slip inside the top

10. Josh is excited to be team manager for the fi rst time and is pleased with the calibre of riders he had to choose from. He also hopes it is the start of a new era in the motorsport, with the next wave of youth talent stepping up.

His own retirement from international competition along with that of Tau-rangas Ben Townley and Haweras Daryl Hurley has opened the way for new blood.

It will be a fi rst for Rhys to ride this event and it is a huge undertaking but we will be calling on the experienced Cooper to step up and make another huge effort as our lead rider. These three riders are currently racing in Australia and they are extremely fi t.

116 Hewletts RoadMount Maunganui, Tauranga City Tel: 07 578 6017www.farmerautovillage.co.nz Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook

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RURAL DRIVER

When the man with a foreign accent rang to ask Martin Foster to design

and build him a yacht, Martin wasnt impressed.

I thought it was one of my mates and hung up.

Frenchman Bruno Trouble wasnt to be put off so lightly. He rang back and fi nally convinced Martin to take him seriously.

I was stunned. It really was Bruno Trouble, Americas Cup and Olympic skip-per and the creator of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Bruno tracked Martin down after seeing the designs which won him the New Zealand Naval Architect of the Year Award. He wanted a low-tech, 57 foot yacht with a canting and lifting keel. He didnt want it built of carbon fi bre, because his wife said those yachts were too noisy. Bruno called the yacht Martin built Wanaka and ordered another for his son.

Martin didnt set out to design and build yachts. His business career, until then, had included restructuring an ailing New Zealand electronics company into a world class, rural telecommunications award win-ning export company, working for CSIR in

South Africa, for the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise agency and the Bank of New Zealand. However, a love of learning and design led to the hobby of yacht design and the unexpected commission from one of the worlds top yachtsmen.

New hobbyNow Martin has a new hobby designing

and producing a hand-built carbon fi bre or aluminium bodied car hes calling the Zetini Haast Barchette.

I had an E-Type Jaguar and loved it. So did his mechanic. When he was a bit short of money hed ring up and ask me to bring the Jag in he knew hed fi nd something which needed fi xing.

So Martin decided to indulge his love of the ultra-cool retro looks of old school class and style, and build his own reliable car. The concept and design is his, enhanced by graphic designer Adrian Lamb, with sus-pension by Pfadt Race Engineering. The Barchetta is not a race car, but someone will race it one day.

The fi rst Zetini Haast Barchette two door convertible is currently under construc-tion, with the aluminium body being hand tooled in Queenstown.

The custom made cars will have two envi-

ronmental engine options: the E-ROD 6.2L LS3 which delivers 430hp and 424 ft.-lbs. of torque, and the E-ROD 7.0L LS7 which delivers 505hp and 470 ft.-lbs. of torque.

Transmission is a Getrag 6-speed manual transaxle. Using a transaxle ensures optimal weight distribution.

High performance Brembo brakes and bespoke three-piece forged alloy wheels, with hexagon centre nuts, add to the cars classic look.

Cost for the 6.2L engine car is $215,590 (excluding any GST). Lead time is six months from receipt of deposit.

ZetiniThe progression of advance design,

combined with a close relationship with our target market, will ensure Zetini will continually be leading the fi eld in true high performance automobiles and yachts, says Martin.

Martin Foster was among the speakers at the HortNZ Conference in Wellington in late July where he told his audience success came to those prepared to be leaders, with integrity in everything they do, without tunnel vision, who ask for help, assess the risks and aim to the best of the best.

By Elaine Fisher

Naval architect now car designer

Martin Foster, of Zetini Marine, designs and builds true high performance cruising yachts.

The Zetini Haast Barchette is designed by New Zealander Martin Foster.

Watch out for farm animals on the road, particularly in rural areas is among the warnings to tourists in a New Zealand

Transport Authority pamphlet.When you see them, slow down and do not

sound your horn it may startle them. You may need to stop and let the animals go past or move slowly up behind and follow the farmers instruc-tions.

The seven-page publication sets out information on road hazards such as livestock and one lane bridges, which Kiwi drivers take for granted but which are, of course, foreign to visitors.

Warning to watch out for livestock

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MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

A business which installs and maintains automotive air

conditioning units, and sells commercial cleaning equipment, may not seem the obvious place

to buy a vacuum cleaner. But SMAC Electrical is the place to

fi nd robust, reliable cleaners for all situ-ations.

Not many people think of us when they think of vacuum cleaners but clients who have bought one of our Karcher range for their home are very impressed at how effi cient and long lasting they are, says Kim McCarthy of Tauranga Karcher agent SMAC.

Karchers innovative fi lter technology means it has a range of vacuum cleaners

suitable for contract cleaners, tradesmen and domestic use with a choice of wet, dry or brush-type upright vacuums.

The Karcher range of dry vacuum cleaners have been developed to meet the requirements of contract cleaners and hotels, and Karchers small mobile dry vacuums are ideal for daily mainte-nance cleaning.

Theres even a cordless broom which is perfect for those quick in-between clean-ups at home, in offi ces, shops, bars and restaurants. It operates so quietly it is ideal for day time cleaning.

SMAC also stocks the range of Karcher water blasters, including the versatile HD 801B which is a mobile high-pressure cleaner with combustion motor for universal use where no power supply is available.

This is an awesome machine for

It is a sad indictment of our society that an event essentially glorifying the wholesale slaugh-ter of large numbers of sentient beings is paraded as "family entertainment".

Yes, possums cause some depredation to the environment, almost as much as developers and dairy farmers in some places, but the environ-ment will not be saved by the loss of a few possums in more accessible areas where the native environment has already been compromised.

It is sad that people become environmental zealots only when they have an urge for slaughter, and do not show the same degree of environmen-tal keenness when it comes to modifying their own destructive lifestyles or political action to modify the destructive lifestyles of others.

The four day possum hunt advertised on your (August) front page is not environmentalism, it is thinly disguised sadism.

Dr Michael Morris,Director,Environmental Education Ltd,(Critical Thinking for the Environment).

Vacuum cleaners for home and work

I read with interest Don Frasers article Do low debt farmers have an edge in the Coast & Country, August 2013.

With no family money behind us my husband and I didnt buy our own farm until we were in our 50s.

We purchased 37 hectares in 1998 and milked 90 cows. We paid off our mortgage and accumulated some savings.

When we sold our cows and shares in 2007, people assumed we used that money to pay off debt. We didnt enlighten them.

We now graze dairy heifers and have a comfortable lifestyle. Our savings continue to grow. We can afford whatever we want new car, travel, etc.

We were told many times that 100 acres wasnt enough. We dont understand why people want more. We are happy with our lot and know we have not had the stress of so many others with more.

Names Supplied,Morrinsville.

Happy with our lot

Environment not saved

SMAC Electrical Karcher Technician Peter Hull compares a20 year old machine with the

latest models.

farmers and lifestylers as it can be used almost anywhere, provided there is a water supply. Buying Karcher quality products that are backed by war-ranties, parts and service, always makes sense, says Kim.

Karcher has changed the colour of its professional range of products. All new professional machines will not be the traditional yellow, instead being col-oured the new anthracite (grey) colour. The colour change creates a clear differentiation between consumer use products (yellow) and commercial use products (anthracite).


I read with interest Don Frasers article Do low

A business which installs and maintains automotive air


Kitset PKE Bin + NEW Sliding Roof Add-onWith current tough weather conditions, we know how important it is to reduce wasted PKE and ensure feed storage is secure, weatherproof and long-lasting. Interbloc PKE Bin DIY kitsets available or have our experts install for you.

Interior dimensions: 4.2m wide x 9.6m deep x 1.2m high = 48m3

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Our dedicated Rural specialists can handle your next project from start to nish. Call us on 0800 468 375. For more information, visit www.interbloc.co.nz

More courses for your horsesTheres more under the bonnet of a CLAAS ARION 400 advanced technology tractor than 100, 110 or 120 powerful European thoroughbreds. With its four speed PTO, clutchless reversing, 6500 kg rear linkage lift, spacious cabin and a host of other smart features to make your working day as productive and comfortable as possible, ARION 400 delivers all the features of a high capacity tractor. Except the price tag. Fitted with the optional Stoll front end loader or front linkages, hydraulics and PTO, ARION 400 becomes an even more versatile and efficient work platform.

Contact us today and find out how ARION 400 gives you more courses for your horses.

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Converting aging cruise liners to fl oating abattoirs would deliver

savings and effi ciencies for farmers, believes David Blackley,

dry stock farmer of Tauranga.The radical idea, David says, could

also result in an up to 40 per cent improvement in returns for farmers.

David says cruise liners are ideal for conversion to mobile abattoirs because they have air condi-tioning, water, a pen-size layout (for example, former cabins), sta-bilisers for creature comfort; and are

self-berthing.He sees such

vessels calling at ports around New Zealand to take on board live-stock, which would then be slaughtered to order on route to market, to be delivered as fresh or chilled meat.

The vessels would be able to relieve the pressure on existing facilities in times of adverse weather, such as the summer drought which meant some farmers found it hard to have animals slaughtered when their feed supplies were running low.

DiversifyDavid believes wool and skins could

also be processed on-board and could be waste stored for use as fertiliser as it is in conventional abattoirs. The fl oat-ing slaughter houses would reduce the need to transport refrigerated contain-ers around the world, many which return empty to New Zealand, he says.

We need this kind of long term thinking because New Zealand is further away from our markets; and our current labour costs and carcass

expenses are too high. There are high capital costs per output from our current facilities and high costs of transport to market all of which add up to insuffi cient profi t margins for farmers.

AustraliaFloating abattoirs could also col-

lect animals from other countries, including Australia, to keep the

plants operating year round.

There would be savings in

staffi ng too. No transport costs, not housing or food costs, as

all would be supplied on-

board.Davids vision

includes the ships being converted at the Port

of Tauranga, providing additional employment in the region.However, the cruise ship to kill-

ing ship idea hasnt won favour with Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills. I applaud Davids innovative thinking, when we are in a time where we need to be looking at all options for the sector. However, my initial response would be that any plan that involves processing livestock on ships, when we already have over capacity of processing here on land, would not be widely accepted.

What the industry doesnt need right now is even more processing capacity, says Bruce.

Quick fixWe need to come up with a long

lasting answer to the meat industrys problems, rather than any quick fi x. Social acceptance of live shipments, even if the outcome at the destination

By Elaine Fisher

was processed product, is also not particularly posi-tive.

Different parts of an animal have different values in different markets, so as soon as you put them on the ship you would lose the advantage of being able to send respective pieces to the best-paying market, says Bruce.

I am not sure where funding for this proposed fl oating processing would come from. The meat sector already faces multi-million dollar bills for shut-ting down plants on land before fi nding money to start anew on the high seas.

Cruise ship to killing ship proposal

Stop Stock Theft is New Zealands fi rst ever online map designed to report and track suspected stock theft, and is a joint initiative between Crimestoppers NZ, NZX-Agri and the Police.

Stock theft is report-edly costing the country $120 million a year, says Katie Milne, Federated Farmers rural security spokesperson.

Stock theft, also known as rustling, is a low blow because once you lose stock you cannot replace them. They are gone and it robs your farm business of vital income, says Katie.

While the Police do take theft seriously, the new website Stop Stock Theft allows victims to report things

Online tool to help foil rustlersanonymously. This is about building up intelligence on when and where the theft took place and what was taken.

orchard tractors

small tractors & mowers

ag tractors

MOWERS

CONTRACTORS

We read the water meters every morning, says Tony Chamberlin. Its part of our routine now. Were

much more conscious of how much water we use

since we put in the meters.Tony manages the Chamber-

lin farm, running 480 cows on 220 hectares of rolling land near Mangakino in the South Waikato. A former sheep and beef farm, it was converted to dairy in 2011.

Working along with his father, Wayne, the Chamberlin operation was one of a dozen farms involved in a water-use study conducted by DairyNZ during peak milk-ing time last season.

The study focused on measurement of water use in the farm dairy (and stock drinking water on some of the farms). It also considered the farmers practical experiences with metering and monitoring water use.

From this study, the rationale and benefi ts of metering water became apparent pretty quickly.

The most important thing is costs, says Wayne Chamberlin. We need to stop any leaks. Its power thats costing us, and wear and tear on the pumps, so we need to be on to that. Vigilance is the key.

On another study farm near Te Awamutu, Phill Swney put it bluntly: You learn a lot when you put in water meters like you can use pretty much double the water if you have a leak going all night.

On the Tuit Farm, milking 920 cows near Tauhei in the North Waikato, it was about observation and training. Clem Schollum, farm manager at the time of the study, and now farming in the Hawkes Bay region, says different staff have different techniques for running the shed. With water meters you can identify who is most effi cient with water use and use their skills to teach the whole staff.

Meters are defi nitely the coming thing. In the Waikato region, Variation 6 to the proposed Waikato Regional Plan requires all dairy farms taking more than 50 cubic meters of water per day, for shed use and stock water combined, to meter their water use and report twice-yearly to the Regional Council. Other

regions will no doubt be following suit.

But the industry

isnt waiting for council regulations to force change.

With the new Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord, dairy companies have com-mitted to requiring 85 per cent of all dairy farms (including all signifi cant water users)

to install water meters by 2020. They will monitor and report progress toward this goal, beginning in 2014.

Farmers looking to put in meters can draw on the experience of those involved in the DairyNZ water-use study.

The fi rst step to accurate monitoring is appropriate meters, properly installed. Meter or meters at the farm dairy must be placed carefully to isolate the shed for

accurate monitoring (and reporting as needed).

Telemetry adds to the cost, but eliminates the need for

manual readings. One farm in the study started just with meters to save money. Two weeks later they added telemetry for ease of moni-toring. Systems are available for

wireless transmission of water use data on farm. These can

also be used to monitor pumps, water-loss alert devices, etc, for effi cient farm management. In the DairyNZ study, metering led participants to be analytical about their farm water set-up and day-to-day operating practices. Two farms with rotaries made adjustments from continuous to intermittent water fl ow for some applications. Two other farms prepared staff procedural manuals for water management.

Study participants were universally positive about their experiences with metering and monitoring water use.

It was viewed as a valuable tool for good farm management and benefi cial in its own right (in addition to any role it might play in meeting regulations).

DairyNZ has fi ve short, YouTube-style videos featuring farmers involved in the study. For their observations, tips

and advice, check out the videos at: www.dairynz.co.nz/smartwateruse

Gord Stewart is a specialist in water use and conservation. He is assisting DairyNZ with implementation of the

Smart Water Use on Dairy Farms programme.

Metering to manage water use on dairy farms

Wayne Chamberlin at work: Careful use of water in the farm dairy makes a difference. Wayne Chamberlin at work: Careful use of

accurate monitoring (and reporting as

We have to be proactive about effi cient water use. Theres going to be

pressure on everyone in New Zealand, not

just farmers...

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CONTRACTORS

Expect more tractors and possibly over-size vehicles on rural roads in coming weeks as farmers and contractors begin preparing for

the cropping season ahead.

Travelling to a from cropping sites should be a little easier this season, thanks to new rules for agricultural vehicles which came into force on June 1.

Rural Contractors New Zealand the national association and the leading advo-

cate for rural contractors in New Zealand executive director Roger Parton says the new rules offer agricultural vehicle owners improved compliance and greater opera-tional fl exibility. He says Rural Contractors NZ has worked collaboratively with Minis-try of Transport, NZTA and NZ Police to develop them.

These changes are a long time coming and have resulted in rules that are easy to understand, comply with, and enforce. These changes recognise the unique oper-ating characteristics and environment that

agricultural vehicles require to travel on the road.

The new rules will also reduce compli-ance costs for rural contractors and farmers. The changes include: a two-tier system for agricultural vehicles has been established based on a 40km/h operating speed. Vehi-cles operating below this speed will have no compliance other than they must be roadworthy.

The changes mean that agricultural vehi-cles fi rst registered from June 1, 2013, must use a fl ashing amber beacon at all times

The 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the sharemilker competition with a special launch event and celebra-tion ball at its annual awards dinner.

National convenor Chris Keeping says the mile-stone anniversary creates an opportunity to delve into the sharemilker competition history and to celebrate its success.

Entry for the 2014 awards will be launched in Taranaki on October 22. The sharemilker competi-tion began in Taranaki and the fi rst national winners, Kevin and Diane Goble, represented the same region.

Organisers have also confi rmed that a 25th anniver-sary ball will be held following the national awards dinner in Auckland on May 9 next year.

Its pretty amazing to think that over those years thousands of sharemilkers have participated in the competition, relishing the opportunity to have their business analysed and enhance their progress in the industry while having some fun and meeting lots of people.

New rules offer greater flexibility for contractors

Dairy awards turn 25

when on-road to alert other road users to the presence of agricultural vehicles.

A new licence endorse-ment now allows for a greater range of agri-cultural vehicles to be driven by the holder of a Class 1 (car) licence once they prove they have the skills to do so. Other changes have improved and simplifi ed the rules on pilot vehicles, work time variation schemes, hazard identifi cation and vehicle visibility, says Roger.

Rural Contactors NZ has run a series of

seminars around the country to help educate our members and the agricultural sector about the new regulations and ensure the industry is up to date with its responsibilities.

More information on the new rules for agricultural vehicles can be found on the Rural Contractors NZ website: www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

Watch out for over-sized vehicles on rural roads as contractors get into spring cultivation.

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FORESTRY

Lax attitudes to safety are prevalent in New Zealand and even with the best will in the

world, it is a battle to get safety to be seen as the number one priority by every individual

in the workplace, says Forest Owners Association president Bill McCallum.

Forest owners are hopeful that a project designed to convert

forest waste into liquid biofuels will provide growers and mills

with extra income streams.In what is known as the Stump to

Pump project, the Government has approved $6.75 million in funding to be matched by partners Norske Skog and Z Energy.

The $13.5 million project will be based at Norske Skogs Tasman mill in Kawerau. The initial 14-month study will examine the feasibility and econom-ics of making biofuel from sawdust, bark and harvest residue, which currently has little or no value. If successful, a test plant will then be built in Kawerau.

The success of the venture could prove to be a shot in the arm for forestry

as well as timber and paper mills. We congratulate the partners for making such a big investment in such an important opportunity for the sector, says Forest Owners Association chief executive David Rhodes.

Forest owners have been working with the Bioenergy Association for several years with the aim of getting government to recognise the oppor-tunities that lie in bioenergy. This is a signifi cant step forward.

David says, in uncertain times, investors are unwilling to invest in new forest planting unless they can see higher returns than they are getting now. For their part, timber and paper mills face stiff competition from overseas log buyers and mills that have much lower cost structures, or enjoy government

subsidies of one kind or another.

Making biofuel from forest and wood waste is the focus of

hundreds of scien-tifi c projects around

the world. While most of them are motivated

by a desire to break the worlds dependence on fossil fuels, they also have the potential to make forestry and wood processing more profi t-able.

The Stump to Pump project aims to produce bio-crude oil from sawdust which can then be refi ned into diesel or petrol. Meanwhile, David says Scion Research in Rotorua is working with enzymes to convert chemically-pulped softwood into simple sugars, which can then be converted to fuels and bio-chemicals. And at Canterbury University, scientists and engineers are working on a package suitable for small to medium-sized sawmills to produce bio-crude oil from the gasifi cation of wood waste.

Rejection of unsafe work practices vitalThats why the association is wel-

coming the recently announced government workplace health and safety reforms, called Working Safer, which addresses the recommenda-tions of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.

The Government has a vital role to play in improving safety in the work-place. It has the power to pull a range of levers that will infl uence attitudes, understandings and behaviours of all involved.

What we desperately need is a change in culture at all levels of our society, so that unsafe work practices are rejected as being socially unac-ceptable. We have seen huge changes in social attitudes to drink driving and tobacco smoking, thanks largely to government support for campaigns addressing those issues.

We now need the same focus brought to bear on cultural attitudes that portray risk-taking as being acceptable.

The real game changer will be when we get acceptance from every-one involved from the boardroom through to the worker in the forest

Biofuels from forest waste holds promiseas well as timber and paper mills. We congratulate the partners for making

important opportunity for the sector,

subsidies of one kind or another.

Making biofuel

Biofuels from forest waste holds promiseBiofuels from forest waste holds promise

that we have a collective and personal responsibility for health and safety. This is a responsibility to and by the worker, as well as to their workmates, their families and the businesses they work for.

Bill says members of the FOA and the Forest Industry Contractors Association aim to do better than the Government goal of reducing workplace injuries and deaths by 25 per cent by 2020.

We are acutely conscious of our work-place death toll and the huge impact this has on the families, friends and workmates of those involved. No workplace fatality is acceptable.

Forest owners have implemented a number of major safety initiatives, but we are open to new ideas about how we can do things better and, in conjunction with FICA, the FOA is initiating an independ-ent review of forest workplace safety.

The reforms are signifi cant and will rein-force the efforts of both FICA and FOA towards creating a zero harm workplace. But while strict enforcement of regulations is critical, without strong leadership from all forest owners and contractors and 100 per cent commitment to safety from all involved in the industry we will not achieve the zero harm goal we are seeking.

A replica of the bogeys used to convey timber out of Whakamarama hinterland to the wharf at Plummers Point in the 1920s has been constructed in Puketoki Reserve.

Terry Edwards, the founder and leader of Friends of Puketoki, designed and fabricated the life-size replica and with helpers set some of the original rails on sleepers and re-constructed the bogeys on them.

Eventually signs explaining aspects of the early mill-ing history of the area, together with reproductions of photos of the time will be sited along the short loop track, which passes along the two tramways that traverse the reserve.

Bogey replica

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EARTHWORKS Page 19

Allan Hedge has a machine which makes short work of limbs from 40-year-old

avocado trees, gorse, blackberries and all manner of invasive vegetation.

It is the highly maneuverable Positrack 100 skid steer loader with a hydraulic forestry mulcher fi tted. Allan of Ecomulch purchased the machine to clean up avocado orchards after he had pruned the trees. However, he is now using the machine to clear areas of gorse, and other unwanted vegetation and weeds

My machine is one of the few of its type in New Zealand; and owing to its small size and low ground compaction I have been asked to work in a blue-berry orchard removing rows so as to plant new varieties. The Positack just fi ts in nicely between the work done by large tractor mulchers and the massive tracked machines. It is perfect in bush areas for clearing around the big trees such as in all ter-rain parks, says Allan, who is well-known for his avocado pruning work.

His avocado pruning takes him from Gisbourne to Kaitaia in the Far North. It does a great job of cleaning up avocado orchards, and I fi nd it satisfy-ing to do the pruning, do the mulching and leave the orchard looking neat and tidy all in one go. One of the big advantages of this machine is it will suck branches away from trees, so there is no need to move branches after pruning. So, really, the Posi-track can mulch almost anything anywhere .

Fire is a land management tool and now that Federated Farmers has a representative on the Forest & Rural Fire Association of

New Zealand Committee, its role should be better understood, says Federated Farmers

national board member and rural fi res spokesperson Anders Crofoot.

His comments follow the election of Gavin ODonnell, Federated Farmers Nelson provincial president, to the FRFANZ committee.

Having a farmer represented on the FRFANZ committee is useful to getting balance in the decision making around rural fi re and Gavin will be an asset to the team, says Anders.

Farmers have long been using fi re as a land management tool, but sometimes there has been a disconnect between fi re authorities and land owners. The knowledge and understanding around the risks verses benefi ts has long been overlooked.

Having farmer representation on the FRFANZ committee will help ensure the consents and permits in place are founded on good advice. Fire is an intrin-sic way of integrated land management, so we need to ensure the past generations knowledge and skill will not be lost, says Anders.

The Department of Conservation has often welcomed information from Federated Farmers, and have been investing in using fi re as a tool for land management by sending people to Australia to learn the techniques. Farmers, especially high country and arable farmers, can make good use of this knowledge but getting those trained people involved in planning burns. It also provides practice for them to keep their skills up in dealing with fi re in a controlled situation.

Farmers are often neighbours to forestry blocks, as well as having them on their property, so they need to be an integral part of the communication and collaboration process, ensuring best manage-ment practices in managing fi re risk and community safety, says Anders.

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The Ecomulch Positrack 100 ready for transport to its latest

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After

B/4

MAIZE

Feeding maize silage can lift profits

Pasture is the major component of the New Zealand dairy cows

diet. However, opportunities exist to improve profi t

through the strategic use of maize silage.

The pastoral dairy farm is a bal-ance between pasture supply and cow demand, which must be maintained to achieve effi cient conversion of feed into milk and profi t.

Unless well integrated with pasture supply and feed demand, extra feeds such as maize silage, will produce extra milk

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