Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, March 2014

Business is buzzing for Bees-R-UsPage 4–5

Horowhenua farmer takes out top award

Delivering kindy sessions to country kids

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2 March 2014 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

The Taranaki Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately ownedNew Zealand company.

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Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them. Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur. Good and best economical practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained.

A malfunctioning septic system can become a health hazard. When a system is not maintained or operated as a delicately balanced environment, problems occur. These problems include nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface, toilets gurgling and taking time to empty. At this stage your septic system is a serious health hazard to you and your children. Human waste produces faecal coliform bacteria, a source of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis as well as Hepatitis A and other diseases. Hepatitis can be a debilitating condition and cause long-term harm to children.

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Septi-Cure is Cost effective. By far the most cost effective solution is to pour one litre of Septi-Cure™ down each toilet bowl every six months. This simple action will help keep your system working at top efficiency by reducing solids and scum. Instead of emptying your tank frequently, the reduction in solids and scum saves you expensive pump out costs. Your irrigation field and leach lines will become clear of slimes and blockages so nature can handle the gradual seepage and evaporation for you. When this is happening your system will be

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operating effectively and not endangering you or your family’s health.

What is Septi-Cure™ Septi-Cure™ is a concentrated mixture of selected naturally occurring microorganisms. These harmless tiny organisms live and multiply by feeding on waste material. When introduced to your septic tank system, they go to work straight away digesting waste material, reducing solids and scum, allowing your septic system to start operating to its maximum efficiency. As they progress through

to your irrigation field they feed on the slimes that prevent seepage and evaporation. When seepage and evaporation return to normal, you have reduced the risk of contaminating groundwater and the environment as well as reducing the chances of infection for you and your family. Eventually, they get washed out of the system and have to be replaced to continue their work. This is why you introduce Septi-Cure™ to your septic system every six months for maximum efficiency.

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for three years. He says this allows them to have an odour-free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition.

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Nominations for Green Ribbon Awards sought

by Denise Gunn

Nominations are now being sought for the Ministry for the Environment’s Green Ribbon Awards.

The awards, which began in 1990, recognise outstanding contributions and dedicated efforts made by individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to protect and enhance New Zealand’s environment.

Last year’s placegetters included both the Taranaki Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council.

The Taranaki Riparian Management Programme, which sees Taranaki Regional Council management officers work one-on-one with farmers to establish streamside fencing and planting, won the ‘Caring for our Water’ category.

Horizons Regional Council gained national recognition in the ‘Public Sector Leadership’ section for their Manawatu River Leaders’ Accord. The Accord, which includes 34 signatories from a wide range of communities, was established in 2010 to clean up the Manawatu River.

Two Taranaki businesses were also recognised in last year’s Green Ribbon Awards. Inglewood-based Fine Particle Application won the ‘Green Economy’ section and La Nuova Apparelmasters took out the ‘Small Business Leadership’.

The categories included in this year’s Green Ribbon Awards cover protecting our biodiversity: reducing greenhouse gas emissions; caring for our water, minimising waste; protecting our

coasts and oceans; communication and education; community focus; stewardship champions; small business leadership; large business leadership; public sector leadership, and green economy.

All nominations will undergo a pre-assessment to ensure the entry is complete and matches the awards criteria. The criteria covers significant environmental benefit, measurable results, innovation, awareness and education, and going the extra mile. Successful nominations will then be judged by a panel.

Previous finalists and winners are eligible for nomination but must demonstrate changes or improvements to the project since earlier entry.

Successful finalists will be notified and invited to attend the Green Ribbon Awards ceremony in June. The winners will be announced during the ceremony and the Minister for the Environment will present the awards.

“We all know that environmental problems are not easy to solve,” said Ms Adams.

“But with the combined dedication and outstanding contributions made by so many people in our communities, we can all be sure that we are on the right track.”

Further information and an online nomination form are available at www.mfe.govt.nz.

Nominations for this year’s Green Ribbons Awards close March 24

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES March 2014 3

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Horowhenua farmer takes out top awardby Denise Gunn

Manawatu dominated the top placings at this year’s Taranaki/Manawatu regional final of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest.

Brad Lewis, a dairy farm manager from Levin and representing the Opiki Club, won the event. Mr Lewis will now represent the region in this year’s Grand Final.

Two years ago he also qualified for the Grand Final event. Mr Lewis holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and aims to work towards becoming a farm owner.

Runner-up was Marton Club’s Peter Fitz-Herbert. Mr Fitz-Herbert works on his family’s Rangitikei sheep and beef farm and has competed in four previous regional finals. He has plans to lease and develop his own farming business.

“The highlight of my day was winning overall, but my success in the technical aspects was very pleasing,” said Mr Lewis. “I knew Pete would be stiff competition — he has been putting in a lot of work for this year’s contest and there were times throughout the evening that I thought second best was going to have to do.”

Midhirst’s Roger Dettling came third, followed by Liam Richardson from Waverley.

“It was great to get the first North Island Regional Final ticked off and to see how excited competitors were to test their skills against the challenging modules and Race-Off setup,” said AgriKids NZ and TeenAg project leader

Josie Hampton. The top three teams from each regional final are also invited to attend the Grand Final to battle it out for the national champion’s title.

This year’s Grand Final will be held in Christchurch from July 3–5.

Brad Lewis will represent Taranaki/Manawatu at the ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Final

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The contest, which was held at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, saw eight contenders completing a variety of practical, physical and theoretical challenges.

The event moved to The Mayfair for the evening show and quiz round.

AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Regional Finals were held alongside the Young Farmer competition with Manawatu also taking out the top placings in this event.

Nick Minnis, Tom Tukington and Angus Grant of Manly Maks from South Makirikiri School near Marton took out the top honour in the AgriKidsNZ competition.

The Mararua team of Harrison Martin and David Corpe from Feilding High School won the TeenAg event.

The AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg competitions were structured into eight farm-related modules. The top seven teams continued through to a Race-Off challenge to complete a series of tasks as fast as possible.


Bees-R-Us opened a larger store in New Plymouth this year

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Twelve years later the couple run a successful business, Bees-R-Us, producing honey and other

bee products.Stephen initially met up with Taranaki

beekeepers to gain experience and bought his first two hives shortly afterwards. A few months later, the number of hives grew to seven.

“Six months went by and the people we had bought the bees from initially decided they wanted to give up, so we bought their remaining 140 hives,” said Fiona.

At first the hobby was Stephen’s, but as the number of beehives increased Fiona became more involved.

The pair joined the Taranaki Bee Club and attended as many bee-related conferences, workshops and field days as possible. They have also furthered their knowledge through reading books on the topic and talking to beekeepers.

Fiona soon found her beekeeping knowledgeable increasing and she

enjoyed learning about the bees. With Stephen working five days a week and looking after the bees every weekend and evening, Fiona bought herself a bee-suit to help out.

As the couple’s three young children grew, Stephen and Fiona chose to expand the beekeeping operation.

“We decided that we liked the lifestyle that the bees gave us and wanted to continue to grow.”

In 2008 the growth of Bees-R-Us enabled the couple to give up their outside employment to run their business full time.

Stephen and Fiona now have close to 1,000 hives located around Taranaki.

“We are regularly approached by people who ask if we would like to put bees on their properties.”

Using wood ware and frames, the couple make their own new beehives. They then take bees from a strong hive to make a smaller hive and add a new queen.

BUSINESS IS BUZZING FORBees-R-Us

Although New Zealand-born Stephen Black attended a few beekeeping field days while living in Scotland, it wasn’t until he and his wife Fiona moved to Taranaki in 2001 that he was able to pursue his interest further.

“We breed our own queens so we always have a stock of new young queens to keep the hives strong.”

The couple built their own honey house in Urenui and over the years have added more equipment. Approved by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) in 2006, the Black’s honey house runs under a risk management programme (RMP). This means the honey produced from their Bees-R-Us business is eligible for export and run under strict regulations.

Last year the couple opened a small shop in New Plymouth where orders were processed, but the business soon outgrew the size of the store.

In April this year they opened a larger warehouse and shop in the Westown

area of New Plymouth. “We found there was a need as our business is growing, so we had to move our packing, sales and dispatch into town,” said Fiona.

“The most effective way was to have all the honey central for deliveries and couriers sending our parcels.”

The store stocks a wide range of raw and creamed honey, beekeeping supplies and bee products. Candles, made from pure beeswax, are also made on-site.

The business has worked well for Stephen, Fiona and their children.

“Stephen enjoys being outside and seeing parts of the country that you wouldn’t normally get to see,” said Fiona. “I’ve always worked in an office so I enjoy working in our shop and

BY DENISE GUNN


Stephen and Fiona now have 1,000 hives located around Taranaki

Visit our website www.runoff.co.nz for more details and use the CONTACT US page to touch base with Steve

Our website is designed to be a starting point

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLESTARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES March 2014 5TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

dealing with the customers both online and face-to-face.”

Although working for themselves sometimes means long hours, Stephen and Fiona can also take time out to support their children at school events and have an active involvement in their learning.

The couple have employed an assistant to help Stephen with the beekeeping and another to help in the shop. Fiona has also been in demand to teach others about bees.

“A couple of years ago I was asked if I could do a talk about the bees to a local horticultural society.”

“I got some beehive parts together to make a demonstration hive and made a costume to make it a bit more interesting,” said Fiona.

“It went really well and since then the talk has grown into a bit of an entertainment show, and has meant I can teach people about bees in a fun and educational way that they remember.”

Fiona packages honey for the store

D I G G E R S L T D

MARK MCGINNISPH 027 446 2234A/H 06 348 9947EMAIL [email protected]

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Farm Venture is a farm property investment and supervision company based in Taranaki with investments in Taranaki & King Country.The main land use is with dairy cattle producing above the top 10% of productive performance in the areas farmed.Substantial returns are achieved through increasing the productive capability which in turn creates large wealth gains and allows higher returns through a lower cost of capital.

The only persons who may subscribe for securities are persons

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As one of just two such remaining services in New Zealand, the association’s Hunterville

Mobile Kindergarten currently covers small communities in the Rangitikei, Hunterville and Kiwitea areas, visiting several venues.

Waimate Mobile Kindergarten in Canterbury operates a similar service in the South Island.

Staffed by a head teacher and a teacher aide, Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten travels 450 kilometres each week over back country roads. In one particular venue, a second teacher supports the staff. The teaching team is supported by a fundraising committee.

Established in 1979 in recognition of the unique needs of young children within rural communities, Hunterville

Mobile Kindergarten ran sessions out of woolsheds in its early days.Ruahine Kindergarten Association’s general manager Alison Rudzki said the kindergarten now delivers eight sessions in six different locations.

“Operating out of community halls and schools in Moawhango, Papanui, Hunterville, Mataroa, Rangiwahia and Kiwitea, the mobile kindergarten recognises the unique needs of rural families and often works with other services such as Plunket to ensure a holistic approach to children’s needs are met.”

Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten is on the road five days a week and the length of each session varies according to travel times between venues. The busiest sessions are at Kiwitea and

Delivering kindy sessions TO COUNTRY KIDS

BY DENISE GUNN

For 34 years the Ruahine Kindergarten Association’s mobile kindergarten has travelled thousands of kilometres to deliver educational sessions to children living in isolated areas.

Hunterville where up to 12 children attend. Other venues are struggling for numbers. Mrs Rudzki said the mobile kindergarten is well-resourced to inspire young minds.

Fully equipped with a variety of resources including play dough, paint, collage, books, puzzles, construction equipment, dress-up props, trucks and cars, family play equipment, sand pit toys and climbing structures, the mobile kindergarten’s equipment is updated and interchanged on a regular basis.

“Children enjoy playing, exploring and discovering together or individually as they grow into confident, competent learners,” said Mrs Rudzki “Their learning experiences are documented

through individual portfolios, which are shared with parents and whanau.”

She said Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten promotes children to develop skills to be lifelong learners, alongside suppor tive teachers and whanau.

“Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten recognises Te Whariki as New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum.”

Children are eligible for kindergarten enrolment from two and a half years of age. Siblings, accompanied by their parents, are welcome at mobile kindergarten sessions. The number of children attending sessions operated by Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten can range from three or four and up to 12.

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Welcome to 2014Welcome to the second edition of Abundant Living in

2014. Over the past 10 years I have written over 400 columns covering many topics. Most of these are related in some way to the role of nutrients in protecting and reclaiming our health. In the process I have spoken by phone to thousands of readers and offered personalised advice where appropriate. I trust you will benefi t from the comments and advice. I also write a longer weekly email column. To subscribe to this column just follow the instructions below.

By way of introduction to new readers, I am the founder of my company Abundant Health, established in 1998. I work with various international experts to formulate what I think are a very special group of nutritional supplements. I also practise as a nutritional medicine practitioner providing personalised advice in a structured way. This column brings together my thoughts as a both a nutritional therapist and supplement formulator and researcher.

The next few months will be a very special time for me as we introduce a product I am sure will have a profoundly positive affect on cardiovascular health. This is a completely natural product that research shows is the most effective natural cholesterol support product available. Many people have genetically high cholesterol which causes an imbalance in the series of liver enzymes responsible for new cholesterol production. This US patented product will help balance these enzymes. This will be excellent for people who cannot tolerate cholesterol medicines or for those who prefer not to take them. People on cholesterol medication will also be able to take it safely as it will have many heart health benefi ts not just cholesterol balance.

I will be writing a new series on heart health which will focus on the types of diet and supplements that can offer signifi cant benefi ts for those concerned about their heart and circulatory health.

We will be looking at most aspects of cardiovascular health with everything from cholesterol to the actual processes which cause arteries to block. We will look at hypertension and in particular the types of diet proven to help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. In the meantime feel free to call me for personalised advice.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. Contact John on 0800 423559 or email [email protected]. Join his weekly newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz. For product information visit www.abundant.co.nz.

Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten is well-resourced

Head teacher, Jodi Currie was recently placed runner-up in the New Zealand Most Inspiring Teachers awards, promoted through Warehouse Stationery. A parent in the community nominated Jodi and other families showed their support through online voting.

The mobile kindergarten not only provides an educational service but is also often the only link children of some isolated farming families have to mix with other children.

Mrs Rudzki said the quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) experiences provided ensure that children’s transition into school is seamless.

Originally nine mobile kindergartens operated around New Zealand. However, over time kindergarten associations have found they were further subsidising the cost of these services. For many areas this meant the mobile kindergarten service was no longer viable.

The Waimate and Hunterville mobile kindergartens are similar as they both operate out of community halls or from school buildings.

“In reviewing these venues against the Ministry of Education (MOE) 2008 ECE regulations, under which the mobiles operate, it is challenging for us to comply with some criteria because we are working in spaces not specifically designed to be kindergartens,” said Mrs Rudzki.

“As a result, we incur additional expenditure in our ongoing attempts to comply with these regulations.”

The Ruahine Kindergarten Association is working with New Zealand Kindergartens and the Ministry of Education for a change in the licencing criteria that could potentially reduce some compliance costs, and is also in discussions regarding the funding of mobile services. As part of this process, the Association will be consulting with the community on the existing mobile service.

“A survey will be distributed during term one of 2014, to ascertain the needs of our community in regard to mobile ECE education,” said Mrs Rudzki.

“If we can secure sufficient guaranteed enrolments, the association aims to embark on a fundraising drive to secure significant long-term financial support for the mobile kindergarten service.”


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So you want to renovate your house?by Lian Brownson

ADVERTOR IA L

I assume you have looked at all the options before renovating, such as looking at land and building, or buying an existing house in a different area.

As life changes your needs for a house can also change.

Good questions to ask are — have all the children left home, will there be room for extended family and grandchildren? Do you still need all the land you have or do you need a smaller and easier property to look after in the future?

It might not take long after you look at some open homes or new show homes, to fi nd out that your existing place is ‘not bad’ after all! So the renovations start, but you need to decide where to begin and where to stop.

Before you go too far it’s best to consult with a good builder and architect to work out what is possible with your budget.

Renovations can open up a can of worms so it is wise to put a bit more aside on your budget to cover unforeseen problems that can arise.

Also you will need to think about not wanting to over capitalise and make the house worth more than market value. Then you should take off an amount for wear and tear which might help to balance the books and justify the amount spent.

All renovations don’t have to be about demolishing most of the house. You can achieve a lot by consulting a good kitchen and bathroom designer. These areas are generally in need of an

overhaul. But they are not cheap to do with soft close drawers, modern appliances and perhaps beautiful stone bench tops.

The kitchen and bathroom may be a main feature of your house, and often a main priority for prospective future buyers.

A good interior designer can also assess different options with paint colours, drapes and blinds, and updating furniture, new carpet, de-cluttering, grouping and modernising some areas. Sometimes that can make a major difference to the way you live in your house.

Interior designers don’t have to be that expensive and if you do your drapes and blinds through me I can provide a total of three hours free. It is important to get people that you can work with and who can listen to you, work to a brief and deliver.

You want to enjoy a smooth-running project that keeps to both time and budget.

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L I V E S T O C K

Sorting spring starts nowWhat’s happening, or not happening right now on farms, is a result of actions taken over the last six months, therefore what occurs in spring is influenced by management over the next three months.

Some properties have little pasture cover, while others have sufficient feed for at least the next month and enough conserved silage or balage to meet animal requirements through until substantial pasture growth begins in autumn.

Management decisions made months ago is the reason for the difference. The notion that pastoral farming is just a series of ongoing random events that must be dealt with as they occur simply doesn’t gel with the best operators.

Elite farmers, those with production and profit figures others simply don’t believe, appreciate that they have the ability to plan and manage their operations months in advance.

Problems on these properties rarely ‘just happen’ and these farmers don’t start their days wondering what calamity may have occurred overnight. They’re

interested in but not worried about what the weather will deliver and accurately forecast each season’s production.

Pastoral farming can be, and for a few is, a wonderfully satisfying, largely stress free and lucrative way of spending their time. Time off the farm is planned in advance, nothing untoward happens while they are away, and to a large degree the farm largely looks after itself.

The common factor isn’t the size of the property, nor is it the stocking rate. High levels of debt may sharpen focus and add an edge to decision making but the debt levels of this group range from none to highly indebted.

The one thing in common these operators share is they farm properties where soil health is outstanding. And that isn’t by chance, it’s because they’ve taken the steps necessary to create soil conditions that favour pasture growth.

A habit of these farmers is spending regular time in the paddock just watching and soaking in the atmosphere. There’s no substitute for sitting on a gate watching animals graze, kicking over cow pats, and chewing on a grass or clover stem.

It’s experience over many years that enables them to know almost inst inct ively what combination of ‘fertiliser’ inputs will work for them. I happened upon one of this group almost 25 years ago. He was keen to tell me that he grew a lot of clover over summer but didn’t have to deal with bloat.

He also said that he along with a small group of neighbours had no problem getting animals in calf, and calcium/magnesium related issues in spring were largely a non-event. I was keen to learn more and eventually the ‘secret’ was disclosed.

Each year in February or March they collectively ordered bulk dolomite from Golden Bay and applied it to their properties at 250kg/ha. They weren’t nitrogen users as the prolific clover growth over summer fixed more than enough nitrogen for maximum pasture growth.

Calving was set to begin just prior to the start of the natural increase in soil temperatures and per cow production was well above district average.

It all seemed too good to be true, but since then the number in this group has steadily increased and although farming practices vary in detail, these operators are all very much in tune with their animals and land.

Dolomite from Golden Bay, the only dolomite currently available here, is from a naturally occurring deposit. Originally

of sea bed origin it contains as well as 11.5% magnesium and 24% calcium, a wide range of naturally occurring trace minerals.

Because it contains both calcium and magnesium it doesn’t fit neatly into lowest cost nutrient programmes and these programmes are also unable to take into account the benefits of the steady improvement in physical soil structure that results from regular applications of this renowned soil conditioner.

Ideally soils comprise 25% air and 25% moisture. The air content is essential as virtually all beneficial soil organisms require a steady supply of fresh air.

The pressure exerted by animal feet is considerable, and soil where animals are concentrated can quickly become compacted.

What grows above the surface of the soil is a reflection of life below and without the activity of earthworms and other soil dwellers compacted areas remain lifeless producing only a fraction of the feed grown on areas that remain well-structured and biologically active.

A report written in 2004 by Dr Graham Sparling one of New Zealand’s leading soil scientists contained the following passages: ‘For soil to be soil, it needs to have life, otherwise it’s just rocks and dust’ and ‘It’s a sobering thought that our entire high tech world is ultimately supported by life in the top 20cm of the soil’.

Phone 0800 436 566 to discover whether dolomite will benefit your operation.

Soil Matterswith Peter Burton


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manawatu/rangitikei Alan Davis 027 442 2543 06 328 8760

marton, hunterville Craig Peters 021 226 0630 06 343 2562

wanganui Simon Gray 021 934 520 06 348 0588

wanganui Andrew Bell 021 476 950 06 345 7942

manawatu Dean File 021 244 3241 06 362 7835

ohakune, waiouru Ian (Buster) Healey 0274 985 440 06 388 0850 or 06 385 9565

Democracy at its best?Why good governance matters in local government reform. Are the present problems with local government performance and service delivery the result of the system, or of those who govern the system?

Much of the difficulties faced within the current system are the state of governance and leadership elected within the current system. A classic example of this is the huge financial problems faced by Northland’s Kaipara District Council. Poor governance leading to poor oversight on the management function was a key driver of their financial crisis.

Our current democratic system allows for councillors or a Community Board member to be elected by their community. While many bring passion, enthusiasm and commitment, many will also have limited, or no governance experience

or knowledge of a council’s specific regulatory or legislative requirements.

There needs to be a major change to the Local Government Act that would require councillors and senior staff to be more accountable and liable where there has been a clear breach of fiduciary duty to the wellbeing of ratepayers.We see an opportunity to strengthen corporate governance with the inclusion of professional directors appointed by central government working alongside elected representatives.

Growing attention has been placed on changes to Local Government and how it should be organised. There has

been much criticism of local government performance and central government seem to have the notion that the only answer is to amalgamate on the basis that bigger is better.

Right of centre politics believe that large provides efficiency and economies of scale while left of centre believe greater power delivers effective decision making. Few analyse and identify the problems within local government and fewer still determine with any real clarity what the appropriate role and function of local government should be.

Councils are required under the Local Government Act to ensure that all decisions enhance the economic and social wellbeing of their ratepayers.

Any consideration of local government reorganisation should not be limited to proposals floated by the units of local government nor limited to one or two proposals.

Other proposals and alternatives should also be considered. Options should not be limited to those that adhere to the current legislation but be determined by what actually best fits a region’s needs.

The key questions are how meaningful representation is achieved, how we can ensure good governance, how greater vision and leadership can be fostered, the improvement of delivery of services

and the cost reductions that can be achieved.

Any reorganisation must be predicated on the basic requirement to meet the tenets of Section 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 with the emphasis on ‘local’.Purpose of local government

The purpose of local government is:(a) to enable democratic local

decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and

(b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

(2) In this Act, good-quality, (in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions), means infrastructure, services, and performance that are:

(a) efficient; and(b) effective; and(c) appropriate to present and

anticipated future circumstancesA starting point must be consideration

of a modified status quo and any changes must be decided by a binding referendum giving the people of a region the right to make the final decision. This would be democracy at its best.

Bill GuestFarmers of New Zealand

Membership Services: 09 439 5219 • 09 430 3758www.farmersofnewzealand.com

Email: [email protected]

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Piping hot response to European innovation

The recent Southern Field Days, held at Waimumu this February, has been a huge success for drainage specialists Pipe and Fittings.

Their new product — the Milford Eurofl ow range of culvert pipes — has proven a real drawcard, with farmers fl ocking to the Contractors’ Federation tent at the yearly agricultural event to get a closer look.

And with good reason, drainage has always been a big issue on farms, as it is a huge factor in protecting the health of the soil and the roots of the crops and pasture grasses which grow in it. From the old days of digging ditches by hand, to the modern methods of the present, drainage has remained a key factor.

The Milford Eurofl ow series of pipes comes complete with junctions and connectors, allowing a whole drainage system to be snapped into place almost as easily children’s building blocks.

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channels into large culverts without full-size fi ttings.

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Small wonder that so many Field Days patrons have decided to ‘ditch the ditch’ and switch to a better solution!


Irrigate effl uent further at lower cost

When irrigating effl uent, consistent pressure and volume over greater distances are crucial – a case for progressing cavity (PC) pumps, says noted pump maker Mono Pumps New Zealand.

“Mono PC pumps allow farmers to spread effl uent further without costly upgrades to power supply,” says the company’s general manager Shazad Ibnul.

“So, based on comparisons with centrifugal effl uent pumps that deliver a similar performance, a Mono option will cost less to operate.”

Mono has supplied water pumps to New Zealand farmers for more than 40 years and has 15 dealers nationwide providing service and support direct to New Zealand farmers.

With a range of fl ows and standard discharge heads of up to 120m, Mono

eliminates the need for a series of pumps when irrigating paddocks further away from the pond. Mr Ibnul says no one knows PC technology better than Mono.

“This is what Mono is known for. We’re one of the fi rst PC pump manufacturers in the world with pumps powered by diesel, electricity and solar.” He says Mono dairy effl uent pumps use up to 75% less power than a centrifugal pump.

“The pumps are surface mounted, easier to clean and less hazardous to maintain and operate.” Contact: 0800 659 012, www.monopumps.com.au/NZ/effl uent pump.

I can’t take risks here.. Our pump sets come standard with the following features and benefits, for our farming clients:

• Stainless Steel Baseplate - gives long-term protection against corrosion, unlike galvanised baseplates.

• Silicon Carbide Mechanical Seals - prevent self-priming issues common with gland packed pumps offered by others as standard. Provide long term sealing against effluent leakage to maintain a safe pumping environment.

• Pump Life Expectancy based on our 35+ years of Progressing Cavity (PC) pump engineering by the only PC pump manufacturer directly serving New Zealand farmers - gives us the unique ability to ensure our pumps operate at the most effective speeds for pumping animal effluent, which impacts directly on the maximum pump life expectancy.

www.monopumps.com... that’s why I choose dairy farming’s most reliable and efficient effluent pump solution

For information on your nearest Mono dealer, contact:Nationwide Toll Free: 0800 659 012 Auckland: 09 829 0333Christchurch: 03 341 8379 Dunedin: 03 476 7264

Dairying’s giant marketplace

by Paul Campbell

Despite scares and alarms around milk products in China, the fact remains that demand for New Zealand protein imports has been rising fast and a recent visit by a Chinese government official has given some indications as to why.

China’s Deputy Head of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, Chen Xiwen, met with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy to discuss the background in which New Zealand dairy exports to China rose 79% to NZ$4.7 billion in 2013 and milk powder exports doubled to NZ$4 billion.

Mr Chen attributed the huge growth to a wealthier Chinese marketplace that has outstripped the production of food in the country — despite the fact that has doubled in the last 35 years.

With the county’s population increasing by seven million births a years, imports are expected to be a basic necessity for at least the next decade.

China’s population was not only growing, but getting richer and more urban, which meant demand for animal protein was growing quickly.

“We don’t have the ability to match that demand,” Mr Chen said through an interpreter, adding that China imported two million tonnes of dairy products last year “and a significant proportion of that is milk powder, and the majority of that is from New Zealand.”

In 2013, 46 per cent, of New Zealand’s milk powder exports went to China.

New Zealand ran a trade surplus of $523 million in December, according to Statistics NZ figures.

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DairyNZ’s research head set to semi-retireDairyNZ’s chief scientist Dr Eric Hillerton has decided to semi-retire later this year.

Dr Hillerton’s early research career was spent at the University of Reading and the National Institute for Research in Dairying in the United Kingdom. He took on the chief scientist position with Dexcel (now DairyNZ) in 2006 after five years working as the principal scientist at the Institute for Animal Health.

He said one of the most rewarding parts of being a scientist with DairyNZ is the direct involvement with dairy farmers, understanding the real problems on farms and helping develop solutions and new technologies.

“Much of the value of that science lies in taking research and knowledge directly to farmers, and testing how to apply and transfer innovative technologies and solutions.”

Dr Hillerton said there have been many highlights during his time with DairyNZ.

“I am especially proud of the quality of the scientific research at DairyNZ, which has become outstanding. We now have top scientists here who are truly world-leading. An example is our work identifying genetics involved in feed conversion efficiency by dairy cows.”

Dr Eric Hillerton to semi-retire this year

That work was recognised recently with a gold status awarded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and a Kudos award (Hamilton Science Excellence Awards).

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said Dr Hillerton has made a great contribution to the New Zealand dairy industry over the past seven years.

“Eric has driven a significant improvement in science quality and output, and his relentless focus has had real benefits for farmers.”

Following his plans to semi-retire in July, Dr Hillerton will continue to contribute to New Zealand dairy farming through various projects.

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Following on from my earlier articles on tools, this month I would like to talk about angle grinders and discs.

The angle grinder is becoming increasingly popular for hoof trimming and I am often asked for my opinion about it. If it wasn’t for the angle grinder we would walk around with RSI. It does make the job easier and quicker, but there are a few things to be aware of. There are still people who use normal grinding discs meant for steel on hooves instead of the correct specialised discs. I am sure you wouldn’t use a hoof disc on steel — therefore you shouldn’t use a steel cutting disc on a hoof. The cutting disc will clog up very quickly and overheat the hoof (this is where the burning smell comes from), which causes damage to the live tissue of the hoof, and that is not our aim.

There is a range of discs available on the market made especially for hooves, yet I can appreciate that it may still seem like a daunting task to decide on the right one for you. Let’s have a look at some of those discs and what their pro’s and con’s are.

The cheapest disc that we stock is the Wopa grain disc. Obviously, the price is their biggest pro. It is an effective disc and will last for a good number of cows. Most people who use them tell me that they last for at least a year. The disc looks like a really coarse sand paper and many people think that it must be very aggressive.

In this case looks are deceiving. It is not too aggressive but because of the way they are made it can lose some bits of grit as you work with it. This may unbalance the disc which will make it vibrate slightly. Another disc we stock is the one made by Demotec in Germany.

This is an aluminium disc with seven little carbon blades in it. I was very impressed with this disc when I tried it out. It would be too slow for us as professionals dealing daily with large numbers of cows, to work with, but for a farmer it is ideal. It is a very well-balanced disc which leaves a nice clean

smooth surface on the hoof. This makes it easier for the trimmer to see what he or she is dealing with. This disc is about $80 dearer than the grain disc, but the great thing about them is that you can turn the blades around as they have two sharp sides to them. When both sides of all seven blades have been used you can replace the blades rather than the whole disc. This makes the disc more cost-effective in the long run.

The last disc I want to mention is the disc that we as full-time trimmers use. It is a professional disc that is available in aluminium and titanium. We would be very reluctant to recommend this disc to a farmer. It is very aggressive when the blades are sharp and I could almost guarantee that you would lose a cow if an inexperienced person were to use this disc.

That may be enough to turn you away from this disc, if not, the price probably will!

Discs are great tools for hoof trimming and it will still work even if

you cut in to stones, however this will dull the blades quicker and therefore it is advised that you flick large stones out first.

It is also very handy for preparing the hoof for claw blocks. You may be worried about staff using discs and the risk of damaging the cow.

That risk is always there, even with a sharp knife. We always need to be sensible when we trim cows’ feet, and a disc does not make a knife redundant.

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra

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Fiscal Alchemy?by Allen Cookson

On radio, I heard a bankers’ spokesman responding to a distressed farmer’s story of his bank’s foreclosure on his assets.

The banker had no sympathy for the farmer. He said the money was owed to depositors who were entitled to get their money back with interest according to the terms of the loan. In fact the great bulk of money lent by banks is created by them. When this created money is repaid, it is extinguished.

The bank is entitled to keep the interest on the debt to pay its expenses and earn profit. The accompanying example in the chart has interest the same amount as principal. However if there is a farm mortgage default, the bank gets the farm, which it may sell. In this scenario the bank is much better off than in the normal situation

where it has to be satisfied with interest alone.

Being aware of people whose ability to service debt is extremely questionable, yet who have been persuaded by bank staff to take on more debt, I have come to suspect that banks are happy with defaults on a small enough scale to avoid Reserve Bank attention (requiring increased capital).

Edward Miller, Strategic Advisor of First Union, confirms my awareness of unconscionable pressure put on bank staff to achieve unreasonable targets in selling debt.

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phenomenon — earlier in the year we had a banking council with two other bank unions — the FSU from Australia and Unite the Union from the UK. They mentioned the exact same thing.

“In fact Unite and the British TUC gave evidence on this in the UK’s parliamentary inquiry into mis-selling, mentioning the negative impacts it has on both the consumer — increasingly being saddled with debt that they may not necessarily need (in one instance a fish and chip store was sold complex derivative instruments) — and for the worker, who is under a huge amount of pressure to reach their targets.

“Given the stagnant wage growth in New Zealand and growing debt-to-income ratios, banks have a fairly good understanding that debt will paper away the difference between what wages will be and what people need to live.

However the process by which this takes place is not pretty. The stress on bank workers is pretty high — some workers quit their jobs, seek psychiatric help etc.”

When I asked this question of the Reserve Bank:

“Does the bank retain money received from foreclosure?”

I got this reply:“The loan extended to the borrower is

funded by deposits placed in the bank by depositors and other creditors.

“The bank would therefore need to retain the money obtained from the foreclosure to pay back depositors and other creditors for the use of their funds.”

When I took issue with answers to my inquiry, I was told the respondents were experienced and well qualified. Yeah right?

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The battery may very well have been invented in ancient Mesopotamia, but its modern form goes back over 100 years. Electrical pioneers like Edison would easily recognise even the most modern car battery of today — and they’d be able to tell you about their biggest problem, too.

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Built for a hard day’s workThere’s a war on for the attention of Kiwi farmers, and it’s one which takes no prisoners.

by Andy Bryenton

It sold well to the kind of market who have always appreciated the less-than-subtle charisma of the Antipodean alternative to the pickup; people who enjoy AC/DC played loud, perhaps, and builders who need to haul three ladders and two bags of cement at Bathurst speeds between sites.

But VE owners must be kicking themselves just a little bit right now. Because the VF is here, and it has turned up the sense of drama to eleven — right where Angus Young’s amp usually hovers. Not only has this delightfully mad Aussie’s Redline iteration belted around the Nurburgring in a blistering 8:19, it’s also packed with little tweaks and comforts which give it a gloss of civility.

Inside, the dash is tastefully appointed with a Germanic level of electronics, from auto parking assist and a reversing camera to a touch-screen entertainment system with voice recognition and smart radio apps. More leather than a certain kind of expo, as well, and comfort you would expect from

a top sports car, not a workaday light commercial. That’s the theme of the VF all over — and especially under that brutish front deck of a hood. Holden are ending production of the Commodore for good in 2016, according to industry insiders, and there is a sense that the skunk works in Australia has decided to crank out a ute which is not just loud, meaty and fun, but which can dance with the best sports cars on earth and leave them breathless.

There’s 530 Newton Metres of torque to play with, delivered smoothly thanks to a re-configured drivetrain, a sportier suspension setup and unquestionably the best electric power steering in its price bracket.

The Gen IV motor up front may have less of a bellow with all this refinement, but it makes the Redline go like the proverbial haunted convenience.

The overall verdict, both here and overseas, has been that Holden have done it again. A sports car with a surprisingly low price and a surprisingly high fun-factor to rival the old Monaro

Leave them seeing redFans of Holden’s VE ute found a lot to love about the raucous, powerful flat-decked beast.

At Northland’s Field Days recently the battle lines were clearly apparent — in one camp, the trusty and time-honoured ATV quad bike, and in the other, the rising force of the side-by-side UTV.

It’s an engineering argument which Polaris have been listening to closely. Their Sportsman quad bikes and Ranger UTVs both sell well here, and recent visits by Polaris designers to these shores have given rise to the Ranger 570 HD — a tougher side-by-side for agricultural use. But the boys in the Polaris backroom haven’t stopped there. They have developed new machines to bridge the gap, starting with the single-seater, fully roll caged Ace, and now following this up with the first quad bike designed from the ground up for New Zealand and Australian demands.

Like our other unique antipodean auto it’s called the Ute. But this is no big flat decked truck. The Polaris Ute begins with the template of a Sportsman ATV quad, then beefs it up to handle the hard knocks of farming

life. Independent suspension all round improves handling, while a wide, balanced stance keeps the centre of gravity manageable, even with the addition of a large tipping rear tray.

The Ute features advanced engine and gearbox management systems which kick into all-wheel drive when it’s needed, and also allow for a hill descent mode like that seen on bigger ‘cousins’ like the Land Rover Discovery. Even fully laden (with an impressive 550kg towing weight and 180kg in the tipper) the Ute can handle steep surfaces safely. Even better, this new breed of ATV comes with the popular, powerful engine from the Ranger 570 HD, transplanted in to offer serious grunt.

The Ranger itself is no slouch, so expect torque and pickup aplenty when the Ute’s throttle is given a nudge! If the Ace was Polaris Industry’s way of bridging the gap from UTVs like their powerful RZR down to the size of a quad, the Ute is their way of pushing the tried and true quad bike formula up into the middle ground.


According to Environment Canterbury’s Judith Earl-Goulet the plan does not tell farmers what they can or cannot do but does set limits on allowable nutrient losses.

The soluble nature of synthetic phosphate and artificial nitrogen are the two major nutrients that are at the core of nutrient loss into our environment and our waterways. If that’s the major problem then in a real world, rather than a synthetic or artificial world, the problem is easily solved and the change and rectification of the problem can begin tomorrow.

In his book ‘The Closing Circle’ Doctor Barry Commoner, USA, characterised the artificial nitrogen fertiliser industry in its dash for profits, as one of the ‘cleverest business operations of all time’ because evidence exists that in the presence of artificial nitrogen, the natural fixation of nitrogen from the air by soil micro-organisms STOPS and as a result it is increasingly difficult for farmers to give up the use of the artificial product. Doctor Arden Anderson, USA, calls it the ‘cocaine’ of the dairy industry.

Nitrogen is essential for plants, so where do all the natural forests (unfertilised) get their nitrogen requirements? Straight out of the atmosphere via the soil micro-organisms and that has been happening on our planet for the last 460 million years, when the first plants appeared.

Farmers on Agrissentials fertiliser programmes get all their nitrogen requirements for free! Planet earth’s atmosphere is saturated in nitrogen and this natural source of nitrogen

re-establishes clovers back to the soil, it is non-evasive to the environment and saves the farmer truckloads of money.

The heavy use of superphosphate over the past 60 years, according to Doctor Morgan Williams’ report to the New Zealand government in 2004, has left an average of 1.7 tonnes of locked up phosphate per hectare in our farming soils. The micro organisms in Agrissentials’ fertilisers can source this locked up phosphate and convert it to a plant available form.

The essential plant requirement for phosphate is 0.2 per cent which is well covered by Agrissentials’ natural fertilisers, together with all the other macro and micro elements which are converted by the soil micro organisms to a plant available form, the ultimate form for plant uptake, and the minerals remain stable within the soil.

This combination of minerals and microbes together with moisture and sunlight is the ultimate formula for plant growth and health ensuring the survival of life and sustainability on our planet. The closer you get to nature, the better everything operates.

So, the new rules, new plans, farm licences, new compliance etc are really not an issue, providing you have a strong positive attitude and the right products to make it all happen. Agrissentials was initially set up in 1992 to manufacture and market safe, certified, eco friendly, sustainable fertilisers to meet today’s new demands for food production — it all begins behind the farm gate, in the soil.

New rules — new opportunitiesUnder the new rules, farm environment plans will soon become compulsory in the Canterbury area and this is expected to be reflected throughout New Zealand.

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Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, March 2014

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Transcript of Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, March 2014