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PHOTO EDEN KIRK-WILLIAMSRoz and Craige Mackenzie take us back to the future.

It’s been quite a journey Pages 3-5

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CONTACTS

We appreciate your feedback.EditorEmail your comments to [email protected] or phone 03 307 7971.

Advertising Email [email protected] or phone 03 307 7927.PostAshburton Guardian, PO Box 77, Ashburton.

COMMENT FROM EDITORINDEX

As drought continues to suck every last drop of water out of Canterbury soils, it’s disappointing to see a number of irrigators routinely pumping water across Mid Canterbury roads.

With some schemes already out of water and others very close to running dry, this is a bad look.

While irrigation went largely unnoticed in the days of headraces and borderdyking, there’s no missing centre pivots at work. Even though less water is used, it’s easy to see how this might look to tourists and city folk, who have little understanding of water consents and farming practices and are already lamenting the amount of water used by farmers; watching it wasted just exacerbates the situation.

District councils are also taking a tough line on irrigators who allow water to spill outside farm boundaries.

Apart from being wasteful it takes a heavy toll on road surfaces, causing potholes and adding extra and unnecessary repair costs to be picked up by ratepayers.

The problem is compounded when dairy shed effluent is added to the mix.

There is also a safety element to be considered – water lying on the road or belting across windscreens creates a hazard for unsuspecting motorists.

We all know computer errors and wind gusting from unexpected directions can occasionally cause water to drift across roadsides, but that doesn’t account for recidivist offenders.

Water consents are never issued for roads – and Environment Canterbury has the teeth to take a harsh line on those who repeatedly flaunt the regulations.

Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

ROZ AND CRAIGE MACKENZIE 3

CHRIS MURDOCH DISCUSSES THE DRY SEASON 6

MARK TAVENDALE OPENS A SERIES OF COLUMNS LOOKING AT

SUCCESSION PLANNING 8

EMPLOYMENT MATTERS 10

IRRIGATIONNZ TALKS WATER STORAGE 12

RISK ADVISOR TIM EWAN 15

MARY RALSTON ON DROUGHT-RESISTANT PASTURES 16

GREG MARTIN TAKES US ON SOME OFF-ROAD TRIPS 19

TONY DAVOREN DECLARES DROUGHT 22

JOHN LEADLEY ON WATER STORAGE 24

SHERYL STIVENS ON WASTE AND WATER SAVINGS 26

JENNY PATERSON DISCUSSES AUTUMN PASTURE 28

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS UPDATE 32

A TALE OF BUTTERFLIES AND A ‘HUNGOVER’ HEDGEHOG 34

Mackenzies – what a journey

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Craige Mackenzie was a school boy when his parents moved on to a barren 200 hectare block of land just south of Methven.

“It was a very run down dryland farm when we came here – it had good potential but it needed a lot of work.”

Like most farming kids, Craige began his trade by learning from his parents’ hip, graduating to lambing beats, tailing pens, wool handing – and endless hours on tractors as he grew older.

By the time he left Mt Hutt

College the lights of Lincoln College had dimmed, and he opted for a stint in the University of Life instead.

But the lure of the land remained. By the 1980s he was back on Greendale Farm with his wife Roz.

It was operating as a traditional mixed cropping unit, typical of the land use on the Canterbury plains. Open air, manually operated tractors were the order of the day, and implements were basic.

continued over page

From a rundown dryland farm, Craige and Roz Mackenzie have created a highly productive business, focused on exceeding environmental benchmarks. They talked to rural editor Michelle Nelson about their journey.

Roz and Craige in their crop of the new Inferno biscuit wheat from PGG Wrightson Grain.

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was relatively hit and miss. They were tough times;

government subsidies on agricultural produce had been slashed, and farming in Mid Canterbury’s frequent summer droughts without reliable water was touch and go. Many farming families left their homes, and many more were left contemplating their options.

For Craige and Roz there was only ever one choice, and that was to soldier on toward a brighter future.

“Our motto has always been ‘farming for the future’,” Roz said.

“We knew we wanted to keep up with technology in a rapidly changing environment – but we never imagined we would be farming the way we are today.”

Craige attributes his father’s innovative thinking for his approach to farming.

“We were brought up to think about how we could do things more efficiently – to think outside the square.”

The original 200 hectares had grown to 420, with the acquisition of a neighbouring property. While the new block was also run-down, it had a water allocation, via

the Ashburton-Lyndhurst Irrigation Scheme.

Over time fencing was replaced and laneways built, and the last of the stones, which once characterised the Canterbury plains, removed.

“We had low soil fertility, and a lot of basic things needed to be put right,” Craige said.

“We’ve always been mixed cropping, we grew a lot of barley, ryegrass seed and peas, but we were always looking at other options.”

In the late 70s the Mackenzies grew one of the first crops of fodder radish in Canterbury.

“We drilled more wells and started to move into seed production to diversify,” Craige said.

Craige’s hip replacement about 12 years ago was the impetus needed to move out of sheep.

“I couldn’t catch sheep anymore, and they were not as profitable as other land uses.”

Craige and Roz were interested in the principles of precision agriculture.

“Precision agriculture as we know it today, started in 2001 when we started mapping crop yields with the combine (harvester), and realised the variability across the farm,” Craige said.

While the concept of gathering agricultural mega data was still in its infancy, Craige and Roz are adamant it is more about putting a name to age-old farming practices.

“Most farmers are already practising precision agriculture in some form or another, they just don’t realise it – it’s really just about being precise about growing crops, measuring and collecting data,” he said.

“Farmers have been doing that for years, they know how much stock they are running and what it will take to feed them, precision agriculture is just an extension of the same principles.”

“Our parents, grandparents and great grandparents fenced around different soil types on the farm to make the best use of the land – these days the fences have been taken down to make way for centre pivot irrigators,” Roz said.

“Technology has been developed to map what we once knew – the philosophy hasn’t changed, just the technology we use to measure.”

As the recipient of a Nuffield Scholarship in 2008, Craige focused on carbon footprinting.

On a visit to the US he was introduced to technology which identifies weeds from grass and spot sprays them,

and variable rate fertiliser application that aims to stop excess nitrogen leaching into waterways.

“After I did my Nuffield Scholarship it really ramped up. In terms of profitability, productivity and environmental lessons it all goes hand in hand for us,” he said.

“It became evident that we have a social responsibility to look at how we manage resources.”

In 2006 the lighter soils on the farm were turned over to dairying, managed by a sharemilker in a 50 per cent equity arrangement.

Here eddy covariance towers measure wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide transfer, determining how much water is lost through evapotranspiration. Lysimeters measure how much water drains through defined areas of the soil profiles. These findings are corroborated by soil moisture probes on site, and have resulted in significant environmental benefits and savings on water.

In conjunction with their daughter Jemma, Craige and Roz operate AgriOptics, a company which utilises precision agriculture

technology to provide agronomic support and solutions to farmers.

The company also provides a platform for data management in their farming businesses.

“Until recently we made do with the basics – we invested as we could afford to,” Craige said.

“But if we didn’t have GPS we wouldn’t have the rest.”

These days variable rate irrigation, variable rate fertiliser, soil sampling, crop sensors and yield mapping take the guess work out of farming.

“We need as many tools on the shelf as possible to get it right,” Craige said.

And with the past two years data in the can, the Mackenzies are confident they are getting it right.

“We can show no nutrients have leaked through the soil profile in two years, we have the records to prove that. The environmental benefits are huge – the savings on water are also huge.”

Winning the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards was vindication that the Mackenzies are on the right track, and they are keen to share their journey with others.

“The gate is always open, if anyone wants to come in to see what we do they are welcome.”


New Zealand’s natural resources don’t belong to a single generation. Roz and Craige, owners of Greenvale Pastures, believe the future is dependent on preserving what we have today. So a precision irrigation system, one that can reduce the amount of water used across their property by nearly a third, is worth its weight in gold.

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The Growsmart® Precision VRI system installed on Brian and Jo Bosch’s dairy farm in the South Wairarapa has been saving them precious water and dollars since it was first installed in 2008.

The couple use the intelligent system to avoid watering the tracks, ponds and drains underneath their Zimmatic™ centre-pivot. The water saved by avoiding these areas is diverted to other areas of the farm, increasing their irrigated land area by approximately 10%.

And after over six years of using the technology he’s pretty happy about the low maintenance requirements of the system hardware, “It’s just worked!”

The Bosch’s are not alone in the great results achieved using variable rate irrigation. Trials show savings of up to 27% on dairy and cropping farms are realistically achievable. Why? Because Precision VRI controls every individual sprinkler allowing you to irrigate where it is needed.

Find out how you could achieve great results like Brian and Jo by talking to your Zimmatic by Lindsay dealer today or by visiting growsmartprecisionvri.co.nz

© 2013 LINDSAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ZIMMATIC IS A TRADEMARKS OF THE LINDSAY CORPORATION.

SIX YEARS ON AND BRIAN IS STILL SEEING GREEN

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Winter will be a telling time

Thanks for all the feedback on my last wee article which came from mostly those people with the same coloured hair as myself or those with no hair!

But just how serious is it?It is very hard to measure a

drought one year to the next let alone one decade to the next, but this one is serious.

Talking to those in my rounds it seems certain areas are a lot worse off than others. I was on a farm below Hinds the other day and a well at 110 metres was having trouble and cutting in and out on low water.

Others not as deep in the same area are now dry.

Not only are some wells dry but some that still have water have over pumped their allocations for the year already

– so what happens if this weather pattern continues for these farmers?

If you go south, the conditions are worse as you will all have heard about the Opuha lake. I went past it the other day and it’s the Opuha puddle now with all irrigation totally turned off.

I reckon if you were quick

you could plant a winter crop in the mud and feed it off before the lake fills again.

Anyway, what really is the elephant in the room is what happens over the next three months with irrigation on restrictions in some areas, totally off in others, and dry land being truly dry this season. Where is the winterfeed

going to come from? What we don’t need is one of those winters with snow arriving in mid-March and hard frosts by early April.

One bright spot is the arable sector who have had on average an excellent season with good yields, bright grain and reasonably low growing costs.

Top that with a winterfeed

shortage, and more feed grain will be needed in late autumn and early spring which means good demand and good prices. They are trying not to smile while being around the dairy farmers.

So, just how serious it is will not be known until half way through winter, so as they say watch this space ...

Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

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One size does not fit all with succession planningYou and your family are unique.

It follows that any successful succession path must be personalised to your family, specifically tailored to its characters, circumstances, peculiarities, ambitions, financial reality, and farming business.

This is not a do-it-yourself job, or a paint-by-numbers exercise using “standard” templates or “tried and true” but tired approaches. What works for one family may not work for another.

Any successful succession path must be, in every sense, personalised: You can’t purchase a kitset succession plan. Gone are the old days of the eldest son simply taking over by birthright. Even the royal family has moved on from that.

If succession success is to be achieved for your family and farming enterprise, a raft of considerations must be discussed.

Many of the factors that must be considered, such as timing, profitability, control, finances and the positions of

spouses in regards to capital and income entitlements, are issues that cannot be avoided and can be very uncomfortable to discuss. Rarely do a husband and wife have exactly the same views on such issues.

Central to a thorough consideration of all of these issues, is genuine communication – for without being able to talk about what you have and what you want, it is very hard to plan for where you want to be.

There is no quick fix, no cookie-cutter answer, no succession-planning rubber stamp to let you off the hook. Nor is it appropriate to hide behind “my lawyer or my accountant told me I have to do this” when communicating with family members.

Mark Tavendale

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Sadly, we see instances where succession has not been addressed with any consistency, decisions are not made during a person’s lifetime and the consequences are almost invariably negative both financially and emotionally for the families involved.

As with anything, the most difficult part is just getting started. Self-discipline and leadership are required.

It is important that your chosen professional advisers work together to form a multi-skilled team equipped to tackle the various legal, financial, practical and taxation issues that arise.

Just as genuine communication is required from you, your advisers are only useful and effective if they are also listening to each other, understand what you

are wanting to achieve and are working together with complementary expertise.

Flexibility in any succession path is vital as nothing is more certain than change. Some of it can be foreseen, some of it cannot.

The will or trust deed that may have been appropriate for your circumstances at 25 is almost certainly not likely to be appropriate at the ages of 35, 45, 55, let alone at 65 or beyond.

Time moves on and it is important that vital documentation such as wills, trust deeds and directions to trustees represent your current thinking and – just as importantly – the thinking you have conveyed to family members that may be directly affected.

These family members, your potential successors, may have, in good faith, relied upon the assurances they have been given by you. The importance of a current and up-to-date will can never be underestimated. Avoidance is not an option.

For illustrative purposes,

let’s run with an irrigation example. The large capital outlay that irrigation infrastructure requires forces strategic decisions with long-term consequences.

You are faced with the choice of intensifying your current operation (borrowing more money and learning to operate new technology) or looking to new opportunities and investments off-farm.

In making this decision the particular personalities, talents, fragilities and appetites of your family are the most important factors.

You’re asking the big questions – is my business and my family going to be best served by intensification and development?

Do my children have a passion for the land and will they want to farm it?

Is there a specifically-identified farmer in the family who has invested unrecognised sweat-equity for some time? (Sweat-equity is not a legal term).

When it comes to sharing the assets of the family or organising the succession

path, on-farming children tend to think that the provider of the sweat-equity “made a choice”, but what was that identified farmer led to believe (or – rightly or wrong – what did they assume) when that “choice” was made? And what were any non-farming children led to believe, what did they assume?

Succession planning, by its very nature, impacts upon more than one generation of the family.

The decisions being made are strategic ones, involving critical assessment of risks.

Often profitability and financial viability will dictate the options available, regardless of desires.

Sometimes change is involved and it becomes necessary to act quickly.

Emotions cannot be ignored or forgotten, just as economic realities must be weighed in the balance.

The challenge of escalating capital values is a daunting one and, welcome or not, environmental capital investment is inescapable in our modern world.

An increasingly complex operating environment and the emergence of different operating structures inform the choices you must make. As an example, just look at the myriad of different options in relation to milk supply and the capital implications of each option.

While there is always a desire to be fair to children and grandchildren, let’s be clear: fair does not necessarily mean equal division of capital assets between family members. Nor does the law require this.

New Zealand farmers are world leaders. Even though we are seeing an increase in corporate farming, the essence of the majority of New Zealand farms will still be successful families who have addressed succession challenges while still achieving growth.

We look forward to sharing some thoughts on this one-size-does-not-fit-all subject over the weeks to come.

Mark Tavendale is a director of Tavendale and Partners


After living on Waimapu Station for 45 years as a casual employee working with her husband who managed the farm, Margaret Lowe’s employment relationship ended with her ultimately raising a personal grievance.

This case unfortunately demonstrates how quickly relationships can sour, but it also shows that sour grapes is not a justifiable reason for a personal grievance to be raised outside of the usual time constraints.

Mrs Lowe’s employment ended on or about August 14, 2014, when she and her husband left the farm.

On October 20, 2014, she raised a grievance claiming she had been disadvantaged by actions of her employer, which occurred on June 30. The claim was 112 days after the incident.

Ordinarily an employee must raise a grievance within 90 days of the event occurring or becoming aware of an event.

Unless an employer agrees

to a grievance being raised out of time an employee can only do so in exceptional circumstances.

Those exceptional circumstances include occasions where the employee has been so traumatised they were unable to properly consider raising a grievance in time, their representative failed to raise the grievance on their behalf, if the Employment Agreement does not include an explanation of the timeframes for raising a grievance, or the employer failed to meet a request to provide a statement of the reasons for dismissal.

On June 30, Tim Martin, the son of the sole director of the station, John Martin,

brought visitors to the station, not disclosing they were prospective new farm managers.

When Mrs Lowe realised they were she said she felt “gutted” and “ambushed”. She claimed the delay in raising the grievance was the distress caused by the breakdown in the relationship with the Martins.

Mrs Lowe said she was concerned about her husband’s health and that they were “both physically and mentally exhausted by the increasing conflict and hostility from the owners of the farm”.

Mrs Lowe wanted the Employment Relations Authority to take into

account issues that occurred after the end of employment. She claimed that she decided to raise a grievance on September 2, however her solicitor was away until October 1, which accounted for the delay in raising the grievance.

The authority member stated in the decision: “I do not accept this so affected or traumatised her that she was unable to properly consider raising a grievance within 90 days.”

Although Mrs Lowe had contacted her doctor about the stress she was feeling, the authority noted she was able to prepare affidavits and other documents for her husband’s personal grievance

during this period.The authority also noted

that Mrs Lowe did not decide to raise a grievance until September 27, and this decision related to the employer’s response to Mr Lowe’s personal grievance and the umbrage she took to what she saw as an accusation of her being untruthful.

Irrespective of the outcome, the whole scenario is a sad way for 45 years of a relationship to end.

Chapman Employment Relations provides employment law and HR advice exclusively

to employers. Any questions regarding

this column can be e-mailed to [email protected]

How quickly relationships can sour

Christine Summerville

EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

I do not accept this so affected or traumatised her that she was unable to properly consider raising a grievance within 90 days“

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Opuha’s shutdown reinforces storage argumentby Andrew Curtis

Two recent developments of interest to Mid Canterbury irrigators were the shut-down of Opuha Dam and the announcement of the Klondyke Storage Pond project last month.

While their timing was completely unrelated and arbitrary, IrrigationNZ believes they could not be more entwined. The bigger picture here is the need to accelerate a national conversation around investment in regional-scale water storage infrastructure.

It’s no surprise to us that this summer has brought home this message so clearly with these two significant announcements coming within days of each other.

The early cessation of irrigation from Lake Opuha was a huge blow for South Canterbury irrigators. While we’ve known for many years that South Canterbury is water-short, seeing the 17-year-old lake dry up was a shock to its backers and the farmers that rely on it.

Opuha’s weakness is its

reliance on foothills-fed water supply. Without access to alpine water, the lake was always going to be vulnerable to a one in a 20-year drought.

It’s devastating that Lake Opuha can no longer support irrigation for the remainder of the season. There are many South Canterbury farmers and growers who will struggle to

establish winter crops, be forced to dry off cows early and bring in alternative feed because of the shutdown. The Opuha water team did everything it could to eke out supply, but without rain there were no remaining options.

On the back of this, the Klondyke proposal launched by the Rangitata Diversion Race

Management Ltd last month, could not be better timed.

As well as improving security of supply for Mid Canterbury irrigators, this project has the potential to deliver water south which may be of huge benefit to South Canterbury farmers. Opuha’s early shutdown has illustrated the need for a wider network of water storage

infrastructure across the region to enable reliable water supply during dry periods.

IrrigationNZ supports further investigation of this proposal as New Zealand needs to be thinking laterally about how we redistribute water resources in the most effective manner. The RDRML Klondyke Storage Pond project

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Opuha’s shutdown reinforces storage argument

is a fantastic first step in this direction.

The good news around storage hasn’t ended there. In the Tasman region, IrrigationNZ was thrilled to receive notification that the Waimea Community Dam has been approved. This dam will not only guarantee surety of water for irrigators and

commercial users in the region, but will meet community objectives by augmenting local streams and providing town supply for urban users.

The big challenge now for any storage projects that make it through the consenting framework is sourcing investment. IrrigationNZ is keen that any debate around

storage, also addresses how it will be funded. Making sure there’s an appropriate split of public-private financing, which adequately reflects the public benefits of storing water, is key.

All water storage projects have the ability to bring multiple economic and environmental benefits for ratepayers, residents

and communities. These include reliability of water for growers, “downstream” benefits for support businesses and solutions to a range of environmental issues which include augmentation of rivers to guaranteed minimum flows that will help remove algae build up and ensure healthy eco-systems for in-stream life.

As more water storage projects develop around the country, it is particularly important that clear and realistic precedents are set around the funding of water storage. IrrigationNZ intends to keep these issues to the fore.

Andrew Curtis is CEO of IrrigationNZ

Far left – The site of RDRML’s proposed alpine water storage pond at Klondyke.

Left – Lake Opuha when full and (below) dry as it is now.

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Human risk capital planning essentialFarmers are not paying enough attention to human capital risk planning, says Crowe Horwath risk adviser Tim Ewen.

Although the intellectual property underpinning the farm’s wealth was often tied up with the owner, too little focus was placed on the “what-if ?” factor, he said. In the event of a farmer becoming either temporarily or totally disabled, or passing away, planning was essential to make sure the farm business could continue to provide for family members.

“Farms rely on key people to make the business work,” Mr Ewen said.

“Farmers need to take account of the human capital risk and ensure they have appropriate planning in place so the right money goes to the right people at the right time.”

Crowe Horwath cited a recent Financial Services Council survey, which found only 20 per cent of New Zealanders have income

protection insurance, compared with 95 per cent who have their car and home covered. It also noted a recent Kelloggs Rural Leadership research paper by Michelle Wilson, which found that while 80 per cent of farm widows have life insurance, in hindsight only 20 per cent found it was sufficient.

Meanwhile, 40 per cent said they should have had enough insurance to provide for a farm manager for 12 months. In addition, insurers typically pay out much less than is claimed.

Mr Ewen said farm owners should also be aware there could be advantages in altering their ACC structure.

“ACC will only pay 80 per cent of your pre-disability income, less tax,” he said.

“And farm incomes can fluctuate markedly. In some instances the books may show little if any profit after all expenses are allocated, so it makes sense to lock-in an agreed value cover that will also cover the farmer for

sickness as well as accident, regardless of how farm revenue changes.”

A related key issue is succession. Even though more than 70 per cent of farmers want to sell to their children, only 10 per cent have a succession plan in place, and access to capital is a major barrier, compounded by the high value of farms today.

Mr Ewen recommended that farmers develop a comprehensive succession plan, specifying buy-sell agreements, share purchase funding options and shareholder employment contracts. The plan should include funding for off-farm retirement needs and contingencies to cope with a major disability or premature death.

“Regular reviews are important because circumstances change,” Mr Ewen said. “They’re not a fun conversation to have, but they certainly give peace-of-mind and clarity to those involved”.


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Can we re-think our pastures?Rain, or the lack of it, is on our minds despite a few falls over recent weeks. Dry spells aren’t unusual in Canterbury but the lack of substantial rain in the foothills and plains since last April is definitely unusual.

There are calls for more water storage. Irrigators want greater reliability of supply, and others without irrigation want access to water.

Are there other ways to look at the problem of farming in dry summers? Precious water is being used to irrigate ryegrass pastures that quickly run to seed in hot weather. But not once over this dry summer have I heard a farming leader suggest we need to re-think the choice of pasture grasses used on the majority of sheep, beef and dairy farms.

Mixed species pastures containing deeper rooting grasses such as tall fescue, grazing brome, prairie grass, timothy and cocksfoot tolerate dry conditions much better than ryegrass. Adding herbs such as plantain (high in magnesium and calcium) and chicory (high in zinc, potassium and calcium) to the

mix benefit livestock health, and clovers and lucerne fix nitrogen from the air which “feeds” the grasses and herbs. This can reduce the need for soluble nitrogen fertilisers.

Mixed species pastures with these components are still highly palatable when mature. They don’t run to seed as quickly as ryegrass and can be “saved” – they don’t have to be grazed to prevent them going to seed. Saved mixed pasture is still high quality.

As well as poor drought tolerance, ryegrass pastures are susceptible to grass grub and thistle invasion and have problems with endophytes: limitations that alternative species do not share.

Studies have shown that lambs put on considerably less weight (probably due to

a high burden of internal parasites) when grazing lush, high endophyte ryegrass pastures compared to grazing alternative species. Other studies report greater weight

gains in beef stock and lambs, and increased milk production for cows grazed on mixed species pastures.

Trees, of course, are another aspect of reducing the impact

of drought on stock. A recent study confirmed what many farmers have always known: that cows like shade! Cows without access to shade spent more time lying down and had to expend energy keeping their body temperature within the normal range; those with shade increased grazing time, feed conversion efficiency and live-weight gain.

So let’s not just clamour for more and more farms to be irrigated, or for more water for those who already have irrigation. There are different strategies that can be employed to ensure our farms have resilience to dry conditions.

Dryland farms with mixed species pastures can have highly productive pastures even in drought years and will have low running costs and low capital outlay compared to the millions required to invest in irrigation – that’s got to be good for keeping young New Zealanders on the family farm. And on those farms that already have irrigation, a re-think of pastures will make much our precious water go a lot further.

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

Mixed pasture holding up in the drought.

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Going off-road, even when there is one

A few years ago I was involved in a round-table mediation between an ex-husband and an ex-wife.

The dispute was about how to divide the matrimonial property and I was acting for the ex-husband.

Things started tense. They hadn’t spoken to each other for a while and bitterness had set in on both sides like an Alaskan winter.

There was a farm and plant and vehicles.

At one point my client had expressed his frustration that his ex-wife was selling their stuff without asking him.

“And now you’ve gone and sold the Prado,” he said. “And what’s worse, you’ve used the money to buy a flippin’ Rav4!”

continued over page

GregMartin

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from page 19“Hey!” I said quickly turning

to my client. “What’s wrong with a Rav4? I’ve got a Rav4.”

We all burst out laughing. Things went a little better from there.

Yes, at that time I had a Toyota Rav4 and, as odd as it may sound, it was great for getting into the back country.

Before arriving in New Zealand for a year of study and fishing, I had seen it on TradeMe and my brother had taken it for a test drive.

“Mint” had been his assessment of the Japanese import and when I arrived in Christchurch a few months later the ubiquitous shiny blue Rav4 and my brother were waiting for me at the airport.

Six years later it wasn’t quite as mint anymore, but in those years it had effortlessly and reliably taken me on trips into Lake Sumner, up the Rangitata north and south banks, out exploring in the lower reaches of the Rakaia … in fact, anywhere I wanted to go (with or without the boat or quad bike on the trailer towed behind).

But then that should not have been too much of a surprise as it had all you really need for getting out back in Canterbury: reasonable

ground clearance, a powerful engine that is well-balanced against overheating, and 4WD that kicks in when you need it. It also had great poise on loose gravel and, of course, air-con and a banging stereo.

The one thing the Rav4 didn’t have was the grunty sound of a diesel truck, and in 2013 I replaced it with a Mitsubishi Challenger that

makes exactly the “I want to go to the mountains” sound I was looking for each time you turn the ignition key (even if you are only heading into work).

The Challenger also has selectable 4WD, high range and low range, enough space in back for an overnight sleep before an early hunt or fish, and of course air-con and a

banging stereo.Like the Rav4, the

Challenger gives me the ability to get out there. I don’t know how you could live in New Zealand without something that can get you all the way up Double Hill Run Road, and back via Heron Station – reliably and without being too worried about the odd gorse scrape down the

side. It would be like living in Venice without a boat.

It’s adventure on the way to adventure and, sometimes, adventure on the way back. Like the time we were returning from a day trip up the Hopkins to Memorial Hut above Lake Ohau, one of the few relatively easy 4x4 access tracks across DOC land that gets you close in to the divide.

From left – Great winter drive up to Mt Olympus skifield.

The Rav4 on stag recovery duties.

The tough, feisty Rav4 heading into Lake Sumner.

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It had been a stunning drive, but to add to the adventure I had decided that we would avoid using the perfectly serviceable bridge over a side stream and instead take an alternative track and ford the stream further down.

Halfway across we were bottomed out on slippery boulders with water coming in the driver’s side doors.

There was no forward, or backwards, just shuddering wheels, scraping metal and the feeling the front right wheel was digging further into a gully.

From there the adventure advanced to evacuating my UK friend and his family on to the bank from which we had departed and then getting towed up the other on to dry

land by a passing tractor.“Not the best decision I have

made today,” I’d said to the young farmer in the cab as I unhitched my snatch strap from the back for his machine.

“You could say that,” came the response from the cab, dry, and without a smile. He closed the back window and pulled away.

The Mitsubishi was now

standing up from the stream, still draining water from inside, diesel engine running. At least we hadn’t drowned her.

My friend from the UK and his family were walking across the bridge looking thrilled. Yes, not the smartest decision I had made that day I thought to myself, but what the hell, that’s adventure.

TIPS

Five easy “off-tar” drives in Canterbury:

■ Hill country drive: Cheviot to Culverden over the Lowry Range along Eggleston Road. Random Spur Road is also a legal road, but challenging unless it is dry.

■ Beach drive: Spencer Park and up the beach to the south side of the Waimakariri River mouth (key available from the ranger at Spencer Park). Leave it to two hours after high tide, and make sure you are off the beach two hours before.

■ River drive: Up the Hopkins to Memorial Hut above Lake Ohau (yes, technically Otago, but only just). Use all bridges. Can be boggy.

■ Alpine drive: Ryton Station up to the carpark of Mt Olympus skifield (winter drive when road open for skiers). You may need to radio ahead from the halfway cabin to check for avalanches.

■ Lake drive: Lake Taylor to Lake Katrine, Sumner National Park. Suggest don’t tow in a boat unless you’re feeling brave or have a trailer you don’t mind bending a bit.


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Finally ... it’s called drought

I’m unsure what planet some of the politicians and their support crew are on, but eventually the penny dropped and the “medium-scale adverse event” (political speak) became a drought.

I know we are not supposed to “use the d word”, but please, get over it and tell it like it is.

Politicians and other officials have spent a couple of months

“ducking for cover” and avoiding the d-word like it is akin to the f-bomb or other frowned upon words and phrases that are in their red covered manual of banned words. For all of my scientific and working career drought has had a very succinct scientific/technical/agronomic meaning; something like

■ “A period (long) of dry

weather that is harmful to crops”; or

■ “A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions.”

So when we have had weather conditions that are having (and have had) an adverse effect on plant growth since December,

well I think and know it is a drought. Probably result in a detention or suggestion to use some other politically correct meaningless phrase for using the d-word.

Since November (and particularly since December) ET has outstripped rainfall on a daily basis. Setting aside the isolated 27mm rainfall on 22

February there have been only 10 days since 1 December when the daily rainfall has exceeded ET. I need not expand on the size of soil moisture deficit that has developed in that time, other than to say on Lismore silt loam it is about 170mm – about 3 months average rainfall. It really beggars belief (“defies or goes beyond what is believable”)

Tony Davoren

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to think all we have had is “a medium scale adverse event” – although what does that mean? Is it a tsunami or earthquake or wind storm or whatever? I could rant a little more, but you know and I know the rainfall and ET plot confirms we have relatively severe drought conditions that have existed now for about 6-8 weeks, and the

signs were ominous as early as October-November last year.

Some of my previous articles have discussed the similarity of this season with the El Niño event of 1997-98. Nothing has changed in the last couple of months - El Niño has strengthened in January and February as shown in the plot of weekly SOI values

Do the seasons 1997-98 and 2014-15 have Southern Oscillation Indices (SOI) that are similar?

Comparison of the SOI for the two seasons shows strong similarities. Undoubtedly 1997-98 had much stronger SOI with index values, especially in December-March when they were in excess of -20

in. While the index alone does not guarantee drought like conditions, I am sure you remember the 1997-98 drought (not a medium scale adverse event because that description had not been invented then).

The 2014-15 SOI is similar because it has been negative since June and greater than -6, the indicator of a strong event.

El Niño typically results in lower than normal rainfall on the east coast – so it has been.

If the seasons continue to mimic each other it would appear we may have to wait till April or May for a significant rainfall and probably not until May before rainfall might exceed ET and start to deal to the soil moisture deficit.

Weekly SOI trend for 2014-15 (from Weatherzone).


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The time to act on water storage is nowRecent weather patterns somewhat reminiscent of a generation ago, remind us that without efficient irrigation development and use, this community would have its backs to the wall at this very moment.

Production would be halved (ask any dryland dairy farmer) and unemployment rife.

The vision to utilise water resources over a generation ago has been the district’s saviour, and we have only touched the surface.

As Federated Farmers environment and water spokesman Ian Mackenzie states, New Zealand stores less than 2 per cent of rainwater, pointing out the multiple production, tourism and recreational benefits of the government-funded Waitaki Hydro projects.

Recent activity has once again highlighted the need for better and more efficient inland storage of excess flood and run of the river flows. This has been talked about for more than 60 years.

In June, 1957, my late father voted in favour of a proposed

Government subsidised scheme to draw water from the south bank of the Rakaia, seven miles above the township and distribute it by open channel to the farming area between the Rakaia and Ashburton rivers.

Unfortunately voting rules required 70 per cent of the land area to be in favour, but because of large-scale holdings only 60 per cent responded positively and the vote was lost.

On a one farmer/one vote basis 75 per cent were in favour.

The frustrating value of hindsight.

continued next page

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The time to act on water storage is nowWhile the massive storage

proposed for the RDR is certainly a step in the right direction, it is my view the higher the altitude of any storage facility (subject to topography and geological suitability) the greater the benefits.

There is no cheaper form of water transportation than gravity and surely piped gravity-fed supplies are the ultimate in water distribution and optimised power generation.

As often stated in these articles there must be a better way than drawing water from a depth of over 200 metres in parts of the district with the lie of the land across the Canterbury Plains.

It’s interesting that the pipeline conveying Ashburton’s wastewater the 17km to Ashton Treatment Farm requires several pressure release structures to handle the excess pipe pressure. This on the gentlest sloping land in the district.

It’s imperative all options are explored thoroughly, even the aquifer storage option common in some overseas countries.

The greatest hurdle to maximise water use efficiency nationwide is public perception of its value to the economy. Just try and convince some pen-pushing bureaucrat in Auckland that their job, and those around them, is dependent on New Zealand’s ability to competitively produce food to markets internationally.

Most would rather “invest” in another America’s Cup debacle!

Developments such as the Ophua scheme with its win-win-win situation for producers, recreationalists and conservationists alike need enhancing and expanding.

Nature has given New Zealand an abundant water supply, favourable topography and proven farming skills to make the most of it.

Knowledgeable information, an enabling Resource Management Act and positive communication all have a part to play.

I believe it can happen. A positive media would really make a huge difference. With talk and increasing evidence of global warming, the time to act is NOW.

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Practise resource efficiencyAutumn has officially arrived and the dry, warm weather continues.

The lack of rain continues to put pressure on our ground water resources and for us the reality is our well is very close to going dry.

After very light drizzle overnight it was good to see the rainwater barrel on the verandah was full again and ready for watering food gardens and lemon and lime trees that need lots to drink.

Water restrictions in our townships can be challenging for gardeners and it is annoying to see lawns and pathways flooded with over-watering.

Be water wiseGet some advice or do your own research on the best type of sprinklers or water systems to set up so the precious water we have is used wisely.

Get rainwater barrels set up under downpipes behind sheds and around the house to harvest every bit of those showers of rain and give you additional reserves of beautiful rainwater to use at

anytime. Fix any leaks on taps as only drips waste water. In the kitchen save any rinsing or cooking water for plants or put it into your compost or worm farm along with kitchen scraps to keep the microbes moist and working to make plant food for your winter vegetables. Make sure your farm irrigators are not watering our roads. It’s not a good look and wastes money and water resources.

Overwhelming plastic waste

In newly-published findings of a global study, the authors found that New Zealanders apparently generate about 3.68kg of waste per person each day – a rate much higher than the majority of the 192

countries examined. The study in leading journal

Science estimates between five and 13 million tonnes of plastic waste wind up in the world’s oceans every year.

The authors found the

coastal countries they studied generated about 275 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2010, and that 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of that waste entered the world’s oceans.

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in the ocean was first reported in the scientific literature in the early 1970s, until this study, there had since been no rigorous estimates of the amount and origin of plastic debris making its way into the

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FREE compost workshop – see bokashi buckets, worm farms and composting options. When: Monday, March 23, 11am to 12noonWhere: Eco Education Centre (alongside Mastagard Recycling Shed) All welcome phone 0800 627-824 or email [email protected] Supported by the Ashburton District Council

marine environment.With between 4.8 and 12.7

million metric tonnes going in, researchers are only finding between 6350 and 245,000 metric tonnes floating on the ocean’s surface.

“Right now, we’re mainly collecting numbers on plastic that floats.

“There is a lot of plastic sitting on the bottom of the ocean and on beaches worldwide.”

So what can we do?Reduce plastic shopping bags and lightweight plastic packaging.

Secure your waste and recycling so it does not end up as windblown litter.

Empty clean plastic bags can be stuffed inside each other and reused or dropped off for recycling.

Farm plastics can be recycled at www.plasback.co.nz

Farmers with smaller volumes of feed sacks, baling twine and sileage wrap can drop it off at the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park.

Don’t burn plastics – this pollutes our air, impacts on ours and our children’s health and affects our climate.

For help with recycling plastics on farm or at home all 0800 627-824 or email [email protected]

Energizer now makes batteries from old onesWhen most consumers toss old batteries out they assume the battery is out of juice and worthless.

Energizer has recently

developed the first AA and AAA alkaline batteries made with recycled batteries.

About 4 per cent of the weight of the new Energizer EcoAdvanced batteries comes from the recycled cells.

However, Energizer estimates that by 2025, nearly 45 per cent of the weight in EcoAdvanced will come from recycled batteries.

EcoAdvanced is expected to be available in US stores this week and internationally by the end of the year; lasts longer than any other product produced by Energizer, but costs 25 per cent to 30 per cent more than standard batteries.

EcoAdvanced provides benefits far beyond reducing the number of batteries in landfills.

By creating the market for the recycled materials, it decreases the need to mine new materials and mining is a big contributor to greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change.

While Energizer’s new product is the first alkaline recycled battery, it’s not the first type of battery to be

recycled.In fact, 96 per cent of all

lead-acid batteries, such as car batteries, are recycled,

Household batteries can be dropped off for recycling at the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park.

Make sure batteries don’t end up in farm pits or general rubbish as they contain lead, mercury and other heavy metals which will contaminate your soil and water.

Far left – How much plastic waste ends up in the ocean?

Left – By washing your fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap, you could cut down on water waste effortlessly.

When the current drought conditions finally break, the new green shoots will be a danger to all livestock. Best to plan ahead so you can avoid your horses eating these at all costs!

The good news is that autumn is the ideal time to lime paddocks and re-sow pastures if necessary. Here is a guideline to discuss with your local agricultural contractor.

Scenario #1:If your pasture contains a

predominance of ryegrass and clover, you are best to spray it all out and start over. We all have an aversion to the use of sprays but unfortunately it is the only way to drastically reduce the proportion of rye-grass in the sward. In fact if

you are going to replace solid rye/clover with horse-friendly grasses you will need to spray it out two years running.

You will need somewhere to keep your horses while your new pasture establishes. For this reason a lot of people

renovate just one paddock at a time unless they have somewhere else to keep the horses.

Scenario #2:If you have a mixture of

‘good’ grasses but you can see

clover or weeds like cat’s ear or docks then you can just use a broadleaf spray and this will not hurt your grasses. You will still need to observe the with-holding time before allowing the horses to graze again.

Feedback from horse owners

who have taken steps to eliminate clover is unanimous that it was the best thing they ever did to improve the health and behaviour of their horses.

Clover will keep coming back so it will be part of your ongoing pasture management

to spray it out. Early spring is another suitable time, ensuring your hay will be clover free.

Longer grass tends to shade out clover so managing your pasture so that the grass doesn’t get grazed down short all the time helps prevent

clover from taking over again.

Plan ahead:If you want safe grass for

your horses next spring then put a paddock aside now. It will grow slowly over winter. Then you can avoid your horses grazing the fresh spring grass.

Apply lime:If it is your own property

then it is worthwhile having the soil tested before applying any nutrients. However if this is not possible for whatever reason and you have an abundance of docks or other weeds then it is likely that applying lime is appropriate and autumn is a good time.

Liming adds necessary calcium to the soil and unlocks minerals like phosphorous. In simple terms liming will raise the soil pH and reduce pathogenic fungal populations. Spreading lime in the autumn will have long term benefits for the coming spring due

to increased earthworm and microbial activity.

Whatever you do, don’t overgraze your grass. The plant needs leaf area in order to photosynthesise and grow. When grass is grazed to dirt virtually all leaf area has been removed and it will take a long time for these plants to recover.

Whilst sowing more horse-friendly grasses is a huge step in the right direction it is equally important to manage the grass so that horses graze it when it is longer and more mature. Unrestricted access to young, vegetative or stressed, over-grazed grass of any species will cause health and behaviour problems sooner or later.

For more information on why you need to eliminate ryegrass and clover, which grasses to sow and all aspects of pasture management for horses, go to www.calmhealthyhorses.com

Autumn and your horse pastures

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Manage your pasture: These horses are allowed limited access (one hour) daily to this predominantly cocksfoot pasture early summer. Avoiding over-grazing maintains leaf area allowing the grass to recover more quickly. The rest of the day they live on a track with hay.

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Autumn grass can be just as hazardous for horses to graze as fresh spring grass. Especially if they are prone to laminitis, gaseous ‘colic’ or head-flicking , the incidence of all sorts of health and behaviour problems invariably spikes over the coming months.

Surveys helps farmers through the dry


Matching irrigation application to soil types is proving invaluable in Canterbury. With the big focus on water throughout the country, electro-magnetic (EM) soil surveying is being used by irrigated farmers in conjunction variable rate irrigation (VRI) to make their water go further.“By utilising the EM soil survey for VRI farmers can typically get water saving of up to 30 per cent.

They can also reduce any likelihood of nutrient leaching and improve plant growth. These same maps provide critical information for the placement of soil moisture probes.” says Jemma Mulvihill, operations manager at Agri Optics NZ Ltd, the country’s leading Precision Agriculture specialists.

“As farmers we can get a better understanding of the land we’re working with. By EM soil surveying, the farmer gets an in-depth look at what their soil is like.

“In many cases the farmer will know they have a poor patch in one place while

another can yield very well. By surveying the soil they get an understanding of why this is happening.

“These maps can be adapted for variable rate application of irrigation, fertiliser or any other paddock input. The same map can be used for identifying soil testing areas.

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on our EM soil surveying business and managing farmers’ data. These are two pretty complex areas that need specialised management if the farmer is going to get improved results that they are looking for.

“We’ve also linked with other companies who share our same philosophies. Our blog ‘H2Grow’ is one of these initiatives where, working with Dr Tony

Davoren of HydroServices and Sarah Elliot of Lindsay New Zealand, we cover a range of topics around soil, moisture and efficient irrigation management. Data management has been the big stumbling block throughout the world for the adoption Precision Agriculture beyond guidance.

“We recognised fairly early on that farmers wanted options around how involved they needed to be in the processing of their Precision Ag data. Some wanted to be fully involved and make all the maps themselves, and others wanted the option of someone else doing it for them because their time was best spent out on the farm,” says Jemma.

“It’s a pretty specialised area and like anything, if you’re not doing it all the time you can be a little rusty at it.

“In farming timing is everything. So we take the hassles out of it by processing the data for them.

“The Precision Agriculture industry is steadily growing in New Zealand and farmers are increasingly recognising it as

a valuable tool to enable them to improve their bottom line. For most farmers it hasn’t been about a whole new way of farming but more about choosing what management options they can utilise throughout the season.

“Precision Agriculture is no longer just the domain of the cropping farmer with the big tractors. It’s now being used on all types of farms throughout the country as they try to make better use of their resources to boost efficiency and profits. Dairy farmers are using it to better manage irrigation and effluent, sheep and beef farmers are using it to better identify where they should spend their fertiliser dollar and the horticultural and cropping farmers are using it to keep a rein on significant input costs. Precision Agriculture is really powering ahead”.

For further information visit www.agrioptics.co.nz or email [email protected] and check out the blog at www.h2grow.nz

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Dairy awards in full swingThe 2015 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is in full swing, with judging under way and the first regional winners have been announced

National convener Chris Keeping says March is always a highlight in the awards calendar, as 33 winners from 11 regional competitions are announced.

“Our teams of judges have an interesting time as they meet our entrants and learn where their strengths and skills lie, as well as gain a sense of their enthusiasm for the industry and their future within it.”

The titles of New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions are up for grabs, along with impressive prize packages.

Canterbury/North Otago regional managers Jeremy and Stacey Duckmanton said the feedback about this year’s batch of entrants had been encouraging.

“We are confident that the

finalists – and ultimately our winners – will represent the region strongly,” Mr Duckmanton said.

“Judges spent two hours on the sharemilker/equity farmer and farm manager entrants’ farms and a new team of judges will revisit to undertake the finals judging.

“The judges take a strong interest in how the entrants are farming the properties to maximise the resources available and in a way that also helps them to meet their next farming, personal or business goal.”

Mr Duckmanton said

judging in the dairy trainee category differed, with all the contestants coming together to participate in the practical skills component, before taking part in individual interviews.

A total of 55 entrants have been judged in the Canterbury North Otago region, including 11 competing in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, 16 entered in the Farm Manager of the Year and 28 entered in the Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.

Waikato judge and Te Awamutu dairy farmer

Jenny Sinclair says an aspect that emerged while judging a group of this year’s sharemilker/equity farmer entrants was that all had different starts in the industry.

“There are no prerequisites for entering the dairy industry.”

Mrs Sinclair says some of the entrants had obtained university qualifications, others had switched careers to dairying and some were training on the job.

“One of the big reasons for entering is to get your name out there and to get at the top of the list if there’s a competitive job market.”

The awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Farm Source, Ravensdown, and Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO.

Tickets to most regional awards dinners are still available and can be purchased online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

FINALISTS

Canterbury North Otago Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year finalists:Jimmy Illington & Melissa Tapp, AshburtonDavid Le Heron, RakaiaHenry & Erin Bolt, TemukaTony Coltman & Dana Carver, LeestonJustin & Melissa Slattery, CulverdenRoss & Gina Wills, Oxford.

Canterbury North Otago Farm Manager of the Year finalists:Jonathon & Stacey Hoets, RakaiaMurray Bowden, AshburtonAdam Wakelin, Ashburton.Ben & Jemma Abernathy, OxfordMark Cudmore, CheviotMatt Wills, Temuka

Canterbury North Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:Daniel Mcatamney, RakaiaBlair Woods, Ashburton James Davidson, DarfieldBlake Harvie, OamaruPaula Lalich, DarfieldBrigette Lee Lee, Culverden

Jeremy and Stacey Duckmanton.

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120 Moore St (Behind Masterguard)

FREE QUOTES

Offer excludes selected 4x4 tyres, see website or in store for details. Promotion valid from Monday, 9 March until Thursday, 2 April 2015. Buy three get the fourth tyre free offer applies to Bridgestone branded car tyres, Bridgestone Dueler 697 and 674 tyres and Bridgestone Ecopia EP850 tyres only, which excludes selected 4x4 tyres and all van and commercial tyres. Savings are off current in-store regular point-of-sale price. In all instances the lowest value tyre will be given free of charge. All tyres must be fi tted in store at the time of purchase and the offer includes tyre fi tting, tyre balancing, new valve stem and casing disposal charges. Offer is available strictly while stocks last. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer. For full terms and conditions, see bridgestonetyres.co.nz or ask in store.

Phone 307 8438

The place where farmers get their qualityagricultural replacement parts and

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‘And much more from the company that understands meal feeding.’

• Rotary & Herringbone & Robotic Sheds• Feed Systems• Molasses Systems• PKE & Pellet Systems• Silos• Augers• Mills – New Generation• Mineral Dispensers• Dust kits• Air Fluidizer Kits

SITE 337AT SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS

SEE US AT

SEEUSAT

Michelle Nelson

MY BACKYARD

Magical monarchs and a hungover hedgehogMonarch caterpillars have been absorbing a lot of time in my backyard over the past month.

While the garden dries off and carefully tended plants bolt to seed under the current watering restrictions, I’ve had plenty of time to watch tiny caterpillars turn to pupae.

When the kids were little swan plants were a feature in every garden we occupied, but to be fair I never had many chances to obverse the magical metamorphosis from egg to butterfly.

Our “very hungry caterpillars” routinely devoured every inch of foliage and the hunt was on for surplus plants in relatives’ gardens, with ripe pumpkins served up as a last-ditch substitute.

Luckily my Mt Somers garden is home to several mature swan plants and my two-year-old grandson has enjoyed watching the caterpillars’ progress as much as his mother did many years ago.

I’ve become as preoccupied

by the endearing little stripy critters as my grandson Arlo is.

Monarch caterpillars grow at an incredible rate, and by the end of last week all survivors were safely ensconced in bright green chrysalis, transforming into beautiful butterflies.

However, not everything in the garden has been so cheerful.

Take for example a very grumpy hedgehog.

I’ve never been confronted by a hedgehog before and was more than a little surprised by the prickly encounter I had recently.

continued next page


We build for industries. Starting with the primary ones.

COMMERCIAL•INDUSTRIAL•RURAL

At Calder Stewart we’ve never forgotten where we

started, building quality farm buildings for the Kiwi

farm industry. And over the course of the last 55

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We pride ourselves at being a Rural Design &

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from P34I’m not sure who told me

to use beer as a pet-friendly slug bait, but for years I’ve been placing a saucer of the beverage in slug-prone areas of the garden.

The idea is that the pests crawl in and drown – there are good reasons for all those safety messages around drinking while swimming.

It did cross my mind that the beer was disappearing faster than I would have anticipated, but I put that down to evaporation.

The expected quota of slugs and snails also failed to materialise in said saucer, also leaving me scratching my head.

However, several days into the baiting programme, I met Mr Prickles – and the mystery of the missing beer was solved.

Maybe I woke him while he was sleeping off a night on the tiles, with a side of booze-soaked slugs; or maybe he needed a top-up – whatever the reason, he stood his ground, huffing, clicking and

growling at me.There was no curling into

a ball and waiting for the danger to pass or scuttling off into the undergrowth – this grumpy hedgehog was in attack mode; move that saucer and prepare to die lady!

Thoughts of a 1970s’ budget horror movie ran through my head – something akin to Mothra perhaps?

Anyway, his hostility did put me off venturing into that corner of the garden during dusk for a couple of days.

I also changed my broad daylight tactics, leaving the beer in the bottle and lying it on its side, well out of reach of a hedgehog with a penchant for booze!

Thanks to everyone who called with advice about dispatching the resident possum – it must have been eavesdropping or phone hacking, because I’ve not seen hide nor hair of it since installing a humane killing trap near its usual haunt.

Let’s hope none of my neighbours have inherited the nocturnal pest.

Remembering the joys of nature. PHOTOS MICHELLE NELSON

Magical monarchs and a hungover hedgehog

www.guardianonline.co.nz 12

PMR GRAIN SYSTEMS CROP STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS

Tel: 03 303 7266 | Web: www.pmr.co.nzEmail: [email protected] Mobile: 0274 151 390Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0275 146 609

Crop Storage SpecialistsCrop Storage Specialists

When the pressure is on to get your grain dry and moved, you can rely on Perry equipment to deliver year after year

Suppliers of:• Driers• Belt & Bucket

Elevators• Intake Conveyors

Available to match all sizes of fan units. Fully automatic gas fi red, with computerised control. Single and double units available.

CROP DRYING FANS & CONSTANT HUMIDITY GAS BURNERS

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Also air tunnels, fans & heaters etc all sizes suitable for all crops.

Sizes from 8” through to 13” dia and 32’ long up to 113’ long. Available with either hydraulic lift or winch lift, swing away hoppers or standard inlet hoppers.• Iron edge fl ighting 50% thicker than standard• New taper bearing gearbox• Independent drive kit available• Tubulators available

TIMBER DRIVE-OVERDRYING FLOORS

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• Flat bottomed or hopper.

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• Can be fi tted with stirrers, drying fl oors and unload systems.

• Dairy Feed Systems now available.

GSI SILOS

WAKELY ROLLER MILLSFrom 1.5tph through to 30tph plus.

SKIOLD DISC MILLSMultiple sizes available.

Visit us at the South Island Field Days Site 308-310

THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE OF OUR PRODUCTS.FOR A FULL RANGE OF PRODUCTS

VISIT US AT THE FIELD DAYS

0800 879 879

Expert water, effluent, drilling and geotechnical services

ph: 03 230 3000 www.mcneillnz.com

Visit the McNeill team at A&P site 101

Water bores

Flow monitoring

Data logging

Pump sales and service

Effluent management

Learn more at: www.mcneillnz.com/events

Enter to win a free pump preventative maintenance plan

Friends of the SIAFDAgricultural Consulting Services Ltd Andrew BookerAvon City FordBalance Agri-NutrientsBob McCleary YamahaBruce HoreCanterbury Green WasteCanterbury Westland TransportCB Norwood DistributersClaas HarvestCochranes of CanterburyColin HamiltonConcrete PowerCressland ContractingD J Engineering Dow agro SciencesDrummond & EtheridgeFarmlandsFertergation systemsFrews transportGallagher fencingGary Cockram HyundaiGoodwin Contracting LtdGraham HoltGreenfields Farm (Aylesbury) LtdGuy BassetHadfield farming partnershipHowe SprayingHydro ServicesHynds PipeIlam ToyotaITM Darfield

Kea TrailersKirwee Rugby ClubLand powerLiving EarthLyndon hireM A Bruce LtdMcKay and Donaldson YamahaMike Gould YamahaOrionPeter KingPGG Wrightson Turf Power cable DirectPower FarmingRavensdown EnvironmentalRob CurleS J WorsfoldScreen WorksSeaton BrothersSeed ForceSelwyn District Council OfficersSheat contractingSheds NZSilvester Motor CompanySmiths well drillingT L Parker LtdThe Pile MasterThink Water LeestonThink Water LeestonTornado GatesWaverly FarmZelem Ltd

CUT COSTS NOT QUALITY

Mobile - 021 1433 469O� ce - 03 318 6934Email - [email protected]

Lucy Baker

bale feeder

$495

Sheep or yearlings feeder

Ideal for hay or baleage

Portable

Supplied flat packed

Weight limit of 450kg

www.riverdownsteel.com

Super Circle feederHeavy duty

Bolts together

2135mm (7’0’’) diameter

1450mm h x 670mm d

20 feed spaces

$695

All prices are GST exclusive

FEED BIN ON SKIDSteel Trough with drainage holes drilled in each corner.

1370mm w x 1360mm h

3050mm (10’0’’) l

26 feed spaces

$1450

12 head cattle yard 1 x Saracen self-locking head bale

8 x 8ft (2440 mm) cattle panels

1 x 8ft (2440 mm) Gate in frame

1 x 3ft (920 mm) Gate in frame

1 x Complete backup bar system

10 x full length coupling pins

$5280RETAIL VALUE

$4495FIELD DAYS PRICE

A Saracen VARIABLE WIDTH CRUSH! WINrs

VISIT OUR SITE 186-187AT THE SOUTH ISLAND AGRICULTURAL FIELD

DAYS AND ENTER THE DRAW TO

BE INTO WIN.

WORTH $6900

A big thank you from the SIAFD to:

2Farmingwww.guardianonline.co.nz11 www.guardianonline.co.nz 10www.guardianonline.co.nz South Island Agricultural Field Days

Tractor Shoot Out among attractions at new-look South Island Field Days

The Field Days take place from March 25 to 27. They will be held for the first time on a large new site in Courtenay Road, Kirwee after 32 years at its previous location near Lincoln University.

The Field Days offers the farming public an opportunity to view the latest in agricultural developments in practical working conditions and static displays.

The event usually attracts about 25,000 visitors over the three days, although the organising committee is hoping the larger site and new location will result in even more coming through the gate.

Entry into the event will also be easier and more logical.

The previous site was a triangle, which meant exhibitors in the far corners were sometimes overlooked by visitors.

The main attraction of the field days is the machinery

demonstrations. They will include the Tractor Shoot Out, a competition that involves tractors from 120hp to 150hp performing a series of tests

and practical tasks, such as hooking up equipment.

Judges from New Zealand and Australia will evaluate their performance along with

other factors, including cab comfort and layout.

A new fencing demonstration is also expected to be a big attraction.

The ‘Battle of the Bangers’ is an inaugural promotional and demonstration event for New Zealand-manufactured post-driving.

It is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

The ability to see leading manufacturers’ post driver models posting together should make for a grand spectacle in the fencing demonstration area.

Rural News Group will sponsor a $250 prize for the best large site, while the SIAFD committee will provide another $250 prize for the best small site.

A $1000 prize will be awarded for the best-run demonstration and commentary.

The Field Days will open at 8 am each day and will close at 5 pm, and all routes into the

event will be sign posted for easy traffic flow.

Tickets are $15 per person per day with children under 15 admitted free. Dogs are not permitted, with the exception of guide dogs.

Traffic coming from the south will turn into Telegraph Road before Burnham and then into Courtenay Road.

Traffic coming from Christchurch and Darfield will head towards Kirwee and follow the signs to the site on Courtenay Road.

There are two vehicle entry-exit points into the event site. The site has been designed to minimise walking from the carpark to each of the four entrance gates.

There is no separate exhibitors’ carpark, and no vehicles will be allowed on site during the event.

For more information about South Island Field Days contact Nicola Burgess on 03 423 0537, 0275 858 417 or [email protected].

Getting in and out of the 2015 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) should be quicker and easier than it has been in the past.

South Island Agricultural Field Days

Courtenay Rd

From Darfi eld

From Christchurch

From

Sou

th

IRRIGATION SPECIALISTS

your one-stop shop for... resource consent applications and compliance reviews

water meter installation and verification

water meter datalogging, telemetry and reporting

soil moisture monitoring

dairy effluent irrigation design and troubleshooting

effluent storage requirements

OVERSEER® analysis and nutrient budgeting

irrigation system design and troubleshooting

Aqualinc Research Ltd ChRiStChuRCh Neal Borrie 03 964 6521 / AShbuRtOn Matt Bubb 03 307 6680 / hAmiltOn Greg Barkle 07 858 4851

www.aqualinc.com / www.myirrigation.info

stop-by & see us at site 526 at South Island Field Days

0800 PLUCKS 0800 758257

www.plucks.co.nz [email protected] Main South Road, Rakaia 7710, Mid Canterbury

See us at the Field Days or call us at Plucks for more info

See You at the South Island Field Days

All this Machinery and more will be on our site at Kirwee

Plucks EPS Pond Stirrer

Heavy Roller: STD 3 meter (10ft) x 1.5M (5ft) dia x 16mm thick

Heavy Duty Finger Harrows

Plucks 3 Metre Chisel Heavy Duty Cultivator

VPlucks LP35E

Super Flat Rain Curve

Irrigator

New ADR 500 Effluent Screening Plant

Applied Depth – No Overlap

543210

–20–16–12–8–4048121620Distance (m)

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just 5 mm applied depth!

Enviro Saucer with clip on Pond Stirrer

Site No.286 & 287

2Farmingwww.guardianonline.co.nz9 www.guardianonline.co.nz 8www.guardianonline.co.nz South Island Agricultural Field Days

CLIP AND BRING THIS AD WITH YOU AND GET 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF COMMUNICATION HARDWARE

T: 03 358 8082 E: [email protected]

INCREASES PRODUCTIVITYSUPPORTS HEALTH AND SAFETY WITH INBUILT GPS

BEST COVERAGE NETWORK ON THE MARKET RUGGED AND RELIABLE HARDWAREFor a free presentation on farm safety, check out times at the TL Parker stand.

MEET YOUR SAVIOUR! AT STAND 520 KIRWEE FIELD DAYS

Crystal ball or a button pushLong days, late nights, in all weather and spread across some of the most rugged land on earth.

You’re a farmer, but that shouldn’t mean that your safety, or the safety of your crew is automatically compromised due to remote conditions.

Excellent communication can help you and your farm managers to quickly and efficiently co-ordinate daily activities as well as swiftly respond in emergency situations.

T L Parker Ltd provides nationwide radio coverage, from Auckland to Invercargill, high country to dairy flats. Where cellphones can be unreliable and expensive to operate, a well-designed two-way radio communication system will operate so effortlessly that it will often go unnoticed in your daily routine.

Communications Solutions Manager, Craig Pidgeon, explains how the introduction of Motorola digital two-way radio systems have been increasing productivity and

safety on Canterbury farms.“Mundtville Dairy Farm

in Canterbury were having problems with intermittent cellphone reception. With 12 staff spread over 536 hectares, it was estimated they were able to contact one another only 30 per cent of the time.

“In early 2014, digital two-way radios were rolled out across the farm and the

improvement was immediately apparent. Less trips across the farm were needed as everyone had up-to-date information immediately.

“After having the new radios for only a matter of days, a staff member fell off his motorbike and broke his leg. He called for help via radio and within minutes help had arrived from across the farm.

He was taken to the medical centre and then airlifted to Christchurch in a short amount of time.

“The need to co-ordinate supplies, people and equipment across a large area, as well as keeping managers informed so they can respond to ever-changing conditions or emergencies, is dependent on constant and reliable

communication.“T L Parker Ltd provides a

personalised solution based on the complexity of the farm, and with 18 staff, we keep fully trained in the sales and servicing of the latest, state of the art digital two-way radio equipment, systems and networks, to provide the best communication systems possible,” Craig said.

Keep your team talking and join the ranks of efficiency and enhanced safety, with service and advice from T L Parker Ltd, communication built for success.

Less trips across the farm were needed as everyone had up-to-date information immediately

“

DRY CORNERS! COME AND SEE THE RAINER CORNER SWEEPER FIELD DAYSSITE #379-381

Cnr Robinson & McNally StreetsPhone 03 307 9049Email [email protected]

IF ANYONE CAN MAKE IT RAIN, RAINER CAN

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• LOW OPERATING PRESSURE

• 1/4, 1/2 AND FULL CIRCLE

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Covered sitesOffice Catering

Farmlands

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www.agconsulting.co.nz

Site Designed andMapped by

ToiletsFood Sites

First AidCash Point

522

Battle of the BangersNZFC South Island Doubles

Fencing Compitition

514 537

385

222

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Vintage Tractor Area

2Farmingwww.guardianonline.co.nz7 www.guardianonline.co.nz 6www.guardianonline.co.nz

What happens when you require

EMERGENCY POWER?Diesel Generators for your dairy farm

• Quality European product• John Deere or Perkins

engines• Trailer mounted options

• Technical expertise• Service contracts• Polyester powder coated

over galvanised steel canopy

Options for your:• Dairy shed• Water supply• Irrigation system

• Residential and staff accommodation

Contact CraigP: (03) 471-7405 or M: 021-377-434E: [email protected]

SteveP: (03) 344-1454M: 021-377-488E: [email protected]

SITE 576


Exhibitors list

Going to Southern Field days 12-14 Feb – site 441

0800 337 840 • 0276 246 750 • [email protected] 20 Hoskyns Road, Rolleston

0800 337 840276 246 [email protected] Springs Road, Lincoln, Canterbury, NZ

Profi t from SustainabilityFertigation is an effi cient and effective way to fertilise crops, saving time and money while improving yields. Fertigation Systems works with existing irrigation and nutrient plans to improve pasture sward and grazing residuals; reduce soil compaction; increase soils carbon levels; provide more control over where and when nutrients are applied; and is an effi cient way to apply nutrients.

Fertigation is an effi cient method to fertilise crops, saving time and money while improving yields. Fertigation works with existing irrigation systems.

Benefi ts are:No spreading costs Reducing soil compaction, Precision control over where and when nutrients are applied

Fertigation Pump specials for the next 6 weeks – call us to fi nd out more.

0800 337 840 - 0276 246 [email protected] Hoskyns road, Rolleston

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Free lunch for those who bring this advert in with them

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COME TO SEE US AT SITE 123 AT

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD DAYS. Smart Fuel Storage

Available in 1300, 2300, 4800 and 9500 litre diesel stations

Visit our website for a full list of products

and features

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See us at the South Island Field DaysSite 660

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350-354 & 400-404 . . . . . . . . . .FarmchiefFarmlands Village .Farmlands Customer Care: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farmlands Grain & Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Horticulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farmlands Fuel567-568 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FarmquipFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . .FarmsideC102 . . . .Federated Farmers of New Zealand488 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FeedTrace168 . . . . . . Fellowship of Christian Farmers123 . . . . . . . . . . .Fertigation Systems Ltd767 . . . . . . . . . . . .Fertilizer New ZealandC208 . . . . . . . . . . . . .FF Instrumentation729 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fiber Fresh FeedsC103-104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figured LtdC117 . . . . . . . . . .FIN-Tape Irrigation Ltd814 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FlexiTunnelFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .FMG125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Focus GeneticsFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . Fond Foods276-277 & 326-327 . . . . . . . . . . . Fonterra710-711 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forestquip848 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred’s Fencing126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Freshenergy Ltd815-816 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frizzell Ltd660 . . . . . . . . . .Fuel Storage Systems Ltd486-487 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Galaxy GroupFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . GallagherC267-268 . . . . . . . . . .Game Gear NZ Ltd425 & 375 . . . . . . . Gary Cockram HyundaiC153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GATEPLATES170-171 . . . GEA Farm Technologies NZ LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . GEA/FIL105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Generator Place385 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Genetic Enterprises715 . . . . . . . . . . .George Henry & Co LtdC110 . . . . . . . . . . . Gibb-Gro Brian Mace856 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gilbrook Lifestyles202-204 . . . . . . . . Giltrap Engineering LtdC151 . . . . . . . Glenmark Veterinary limitedC256-257 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Global Survey573-574 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goldpine712-713 . . . . . . . . . . Gough Agritech Ltd257-258 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gough CatFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . Gough TWLC118 . . . . . . . . . . Gtech New Zealand LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . Gulf Oil

850 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gutter Solutionz220-221 . . . . . . .Hampton Engineering Ltd858 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hanham ConcreteFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . .Hansen4 . . . . . . . . . . . Harcourts Rural Lifestyle259-261 . . . . . . . . Hardi Australia Pty Ltd365-366 . . . . . . . . .Harvester Markets Ltd109 . . . . . . . . . . . .Haygain Hay Steamers323 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heiniger NZ14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HELiPRO637 . . . . . . . .HerdHomes Systems Limited741 . . . . . . . . .Holman Enterprises LimitedC218 . . . . . .HomeTech Solatube Canterbury851 . . . . . . . . . . . HRV Canterbury North108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HSC HydraulicsFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . Humes719 . . . . . . . . . . .Husqvarna New Zealand740 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HW Industries121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hydraquip NZ Ltd868 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hydro MarineFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . .Hydroflow527 . . . . . . . . . . . .HydroServices Limited661-663 . . . . . Hynds Pipe Systems Limited376, 377,426, 427 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hyundai New Zealand Limited223 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I .S . Dam Lining391 . . . . . . . . . . ICS Farm Machinery LtdC222 . . . . . . . . . . .Imagine Photographics2 . . . . . . . . .Independent Welding SuppliesC105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insurance People849 . . . . . . . . . . .Interlink Farm and Steel16 . . . . . . . . . Inversion New Zealand LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iplex827 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ironman 4x4C155 . . Irrigation Evaluation Services Limited421-422 . . . . . . . . Irrigation Logistics Ltd474 . . . . . . . . . . . Irrigation New Zealand111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irri-Max Ltd224-226 . . . . . .Isuzu Utes New Zealand Ltd364 & 414 . . . . . . . . . . . . . ITM Darfield867 . . . . . . . . . .James & Son (NZ) Pty Ltd150-154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JJ LTD360-363 & 410-413 . . . . .John Deere LimitedC150 . . . . . . . Johne’s Management Limited554-556 . . . . . . . .Johnson Gluyas Tractors5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Just Horse N Around613 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kea Trailers NZ Ltd307 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keenan New Zealand731 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Engineering106 . . . . . . . . . . . .Kerrick Industries LtdC156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . key Industries373, 423, 424 . Kirwee Volunteer Fire Brigade

738 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kiwi Wood324 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kliptank Ltd737 . . . . . . . . ksn products visual solutions282 . . . . . . . . .Kwikkraft and Ramco BoatsC157-158 . . . . . . . Lallemand New Zealand462 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Landex174-176 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Landplan Ltd104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LandproC200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Levyrefunds .co .nz17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lilyfields Mt SomersC162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lincoln Unviersity714 . . . . . . . . . . .Lions Club of RollestonC124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Littl’ JUey272 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Livestock Improvement Corporation /DALC269 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Living Earth205-206 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lochiel TrailersC253-254 . . . . . . . . . . . Lockwood Group524 & Farmlands Village . . . . .Longveld LtdCatering marquee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lovely Grub Location Catering557-558 . . . . . . . . . . . . Lyndon Harrows285 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lyntec Holdings Ltd103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Macs Macrocarpa222 . . . . . . . . . Mainland Minerals Limtied279 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malvern LionsC122 . . . . . . . . . . . MarketBook Australia846 . . . . .Martin Bennett Hydraulics LimitedC201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matrix Mediation239-240 . . . . . . . . . . Maxxis 4WD Tyres155-157 . . . . . . McCarthy Contracting LtdC112-113 . . . McDonald Agri-Fert / Biohelp823 . . . . . . . . . . . . .McKeown Petroleum210-211 . . . . . . . . . McMillan Drilling Ltd101 . . . . . . . . . .Mcneill Drilling Company682 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melrose MotorsportFarmlands Village . . . . . . Meridian Energy736 . . . . . . . . . . .Merinosock@gmail .com825 . . . . . . . . . .Metalform Tow and Farm683 . . . . . . . . . . .Mickey Thompson TiresC258 . . . . . . . . Mighty Mix Dog Food Ltd764 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miles Toyota392 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milk Bar569-570 . . . . . . Milka-Ware Ashburton Ltd207-209 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mimico684 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Model Barn Ltd336 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mojo Motorcycles280 . . . . . . . . . . .Molloy Agriculture LTD760 . . . . . . . . . . . .Mountpanther NZ Ltd102 . . . . . . . Mt Alford Lime and AgriblendC271-272 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MyMilk Ltd688 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nails Pacific Ltd

523 . . . . . . .New Zealand National Fieldays750-751 & 800-802 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Zealand Tractors Limited571 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Newlands Group Ltd133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ngahiwi Farms Ltd689 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nichols (NZ) Ltd136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nithdale Genetics606-610 . . . . . North Canterbury EquipmentFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . Nuform134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Numat AgrimatFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . Nutritech135 . . . . . . . . NZ Boer Goat Breeders Assn824 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NZ Kelp636 . . . . . . . . . .NZ Techni-Ice Chilly Bins765 . . . . . . . . . . .OMC Power Equipment521 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Onfarm Solutions766 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orari IrrigationC159 & 442 . . . . . . . . . . . .Orari Nursery386-387 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orica Chemicals12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oringi Rainwear415 . . . . . . . . .Orion New Zealand LimitedC100-101 . . . . . . . . Ovis Management LtdC273 . . . . . . . . . . .P L Berry & Associates100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pace Power & Air219 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parkland Product706-708 . . . . . . .Paul Wilkins Tractors Ltd337 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permbrand369-370 . . . . Peter Munro Commercials LtdPGGWrightson Lane . . . . . PGG Wrightson611 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plains Irrigators Ltd857 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plains Pride Ltd286-287 . . . . . . . . Plucks Engineering Ltd .308-310 . . . . . . . . . . PMR Grain Systems732 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Polar Bright Ltd632 &582 . . . . . . . . . Polaris New Zealand768-770 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Porter Group650-653 & 700-703 . . . . . . . Power Farming137 . . . . . . . . . .Power Farming Ashburton311 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Powerturf NZ288 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PPP Industries Ltd417-418 . . . . . . . . .Prattley Industries LtdC214 & C166-167 . . . . . . Precision Farming679 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Primary ITOFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . .ProFence853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ProlanFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . Promax173 . . . .Property Brokers - Hastings McLeod185 . . . . . . . .ProWay Livestock Equipment485 . . . . . . . .Pump & Valve Specialties Ltd438 . . . . . . Pumps & Filters Canterbury LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . Purina Pet Care576 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Qpower

382 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rabobank379-381 . . . . . . . . . .Rainer Irrigation Ltd329-331 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ravensdown533-534 & 483-484 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ray Mayne Hose & Fittings Ltd479 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RD PetroleumC270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RDS Systems Ltd437 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read Industtrial Ltd681 . . . . . . .Real Dog Equipment CompanyC260 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Red Snap’r735 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Redrockhats531-532 & 481-482 & Farmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REL Group139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reliant Solutions641 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Renewable SolutionsFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . Repco388 . . . . . . . Reporoa Engineering 1982 LtdF4 . . . . . . . . . .Revolution Postdrivers Ltd826 . . . . . . . . . Richard Miles Engineering490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Riequip685 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Right House Ltd186-187 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Riverdown Steel262-263 & 312-313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robertson Manufacturing Ltd572 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rollit FeedersC259 . . . . . . . . . . Roskam Adroit Limited776 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rotowiper Ltd357-359 . . Round Hill Agri - Dowdeswell NZ11 . . . . . . . . Rural Building Solutions LtdC168 . . . . . . . Rural Property InternationalFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . Rural TVC175 . . . . . . . . Rural Women New Zealand429-436 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruralco NZ LtdC209 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rurtec540-541 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RV Sales730 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SamcoC210-211 . . . . . . . . . . . . Samen NZ Ltd561-562 . . . . . . . . Scannell hay equipment200-201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Seed Force232 . . . . . . . . .Selwyn Rakaia Vets ServicesC109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Semex NZ LTD140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shelfmart 2013 LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . ShoofC251 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shuzi NZ LtdC114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sibelco NZ Ltd389 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Silvan NZ Pty Ltd318-319 . . . . . . . . . . . .Silver Fern Farms233-234 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Simple Shelter775 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simplicity Imports141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sinkerlock LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . SinochemFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . .Skellerup

. . . . . . . . . . . . Skyworks Canterbury Ltd822 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Slurry Solutions Ltd10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Smart Ag SolutionsC212 . . . . . . . . . .Smart Farm Systems LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . Smith AttachmentsFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . .Snapchill341 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soil MattersFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solo322 . . . . . . . . .South Pacific Meats Limited19 . . . . . . . Southern Woods Plant Nursery771 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Southfuels Ltd338-340 . . . . . Southland Exhibitors Society772-773 . . . . . Specialised Structures NZ ltdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . Stallian Plastics239-240 . . . . . Starmaxx Agricultural Tyres588-589 . . . . . . . . . . . Stihl Shop FostersFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . Stony CreekFarmlands Village . . . . . .Strainrite Fencing13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stream Line Feeding8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stronghold Fasteners289-291 . . . . . . . . Stronghold Trading Ltd529 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Structure Wise Ltd112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunshine Solar7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superior Minerals Ltd110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Survus ConsultantsC216 . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable Soils ltd6 . . . . . . . . . . .Sustainable Water Limited535-537 . . . . . . . . . . Suzuki New Zealand271 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Swazi Apparel Ltd235-237 . . . . . . . . . . Synlait Milk Limited520 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T L Parker Ltd761-763 & 811-813 . . . .Taege Manufacturing656-658 . . . . . . . . . Talbot Agriclture Ltd774 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tall Tree ToppingC172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Talley’s Group Ltd142 . . . . . . . . . . . .Tapper Industries LTD374 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taskpower NZ Ltd113 . . . . . . . . . Tasman Tanks NZ Limited241 . . . . . Taylor Mechanical & Engineering440-441 . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Pari Products192 & 242 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TechniPharm Group & Cowhouse ltdC163 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telford - a Division of Lincoln University239-240 . . . . . . . Terramax Wheel Systems161 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Chainman Ltd160 . . . . . .The Feeder Leader Company Ltd489 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Pile Master463 & 513 . . . . . . . . . Thinkwater Leeston1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tickle Trading Ltd342 . . . . . . .Tokoroa Engineering 2014 LtdC206-207 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Top Soils

158-159 . . . . . . . . .Toplink Machinery LtdFarmlands Village . . . . .Tornado Industries491-492 . . . . . . . . . . . Total Eden NZ Ltd542 . . . . . Townsend Seeds International LtdC261-262 . . . . . . . . . . . TracMap NZ Ltd367-368 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tru-Test Group654-655 & 704-705 . . Tulloch Farm Machines690 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Two Hands590 . . . . . . . UCC Motorhomes & Caravans20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Udder Treat MintC125 . . . . . . . . . . . . United Fisheries Ltd3 . . . . . . . . . . . United Insurance Brokers325 . . . . . . . . . .Veehof Dairy Services LtdC161 . . . . . . . . . . . . Viking Containment239-240 . . . . .Vredestein Agricultural Tyres292 . . . . . . . . . . Waikato Milking SyetemsC224 . . . . . . . . .Waitaki Boys’ High School579-581 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Walker Mowers, Hustler Mowers, Bear Cat Chippers, Billy Goat

turf equipment and outdoor vacuums .635 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Waratah FencingFarmlands Village . . . . . . Waratah/Xfence629-631 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WaterForceC213 . . . . . . . . . . . . Watermetricsnz Ltd733 . . . . . . . . . . .Watson Multishears Ltd855 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wearparts752-756 . . . . . . . Webbline Agriculture Ltd530 . .Weld Worx Industrial Welding Supplies Ltd190 . . . . . . . . . . . . Westpac AgribusinessC111 . . . . . . . . . . . WETiT Teat SprayersC217 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wharthog NZ585 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Windshadow Ltd182-184 . . . . . . . . . Winslow Dairy Center640 . . . . . . . .Winter Gardenz GreenhousesC115-116 . . . . . . . . . . Winton Stock Feed742 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wood-Mizer NZ LtdF 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wood’n Steel691 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Woodpeckersigns138 . .Woodstock Quarries Ltd (NorWest Rock

dairy lane capping)C205 . . . . . . . . . . .WorkSafe New ZealandC120-121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . World SolarC152 . . . . . . . . . . . World Wide Sires NZ739 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WovenVeranda384 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wrangler Ltd591 . . . . . . . . . . . .Wright hotspring spasC265-266 . . . . . . . . . . . . Wurth NZ Ltd564 . . . . . . . . . . .Yamaha Motors NZ LtdFarmlands Village . . . . . . . . . . . . Zeetag129 & Farmlands Villange . . . . . . . . Zoetis584 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ZTR Mowers Ltd

Site number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number CompanySite number Company

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Strong interest in Agri Innovation awardsTalk to us about water use and nutrientsEnvironment Canterbury’s message: ‘measure to manage’

Efficient water useis the key

For water use that’s about making sure you have an effective water measuring system installed.

It’s also about using the information from your system to ensure you are making efficient and effective use of water.

Efficient water use will not only save you money – it will reduce your nutrient leaching. Over-irrigating is a major cause of increased nutrient loss.

So if you have any questions about what you should be doing to measure water use or

how to make better use of the data you are already capturing, talk to us at the Environment Canterbury stand at South Island Field Days.

Dealing with nitrogen and phosphorus

For nutrients Environment Canterbury has tips on how to improve your nitrogen use efficiency.

This starts with measuring how much nitrogen you are using and understanding what this is costing you.

Our advice for farmers is to start collecting your nitrogen loss data and measuring your soil moisture.

You may also need to look at your phosphorus and sediment loss – again this will be costing you money as well as affecting your local streams and rivers.

There are things you can do now which are as simple as creating buffer strips or fencing and cultivating across the slope.

Environment Canterbury staff can also talk to you about winter grazing management and how to better manage your nutrient loss risks.

We will have an example of a good practice checklist at our stand for when you are planning, feeding or replanting your winterfeed paddocks.

Dealing with drought – FAQsA medium-scale adverse event was declared by the Minister for Primary Industries on February 13, a move welcomed by Environment Canterbury. The announcement gives the farmers and their families access to support, as well as highlighting to the wider community the challenges facing the rural community.

Can I have an exemption to go above my annual

volume?No: As a consented water user, you need to make sure you are carefully monitoring your water use. Your annual volume limit cannot be exceeded even if you now realise you might run out before the end of the season if rain does not come soon.

The annual volume on a groundwater take is a condition set when a consent is granted. Consent conditions are written to provide reliable water supply for nine years out of 10 while protecting the environment. This appears to be the one season in 10 when farmers have to manage with less.

While some farmers may be struggling, others have planned ahead and have destocked or brought in feed. We are working with farmers who are genuinely having trouble coping, but we also need to take into account what others have done to manage their situation.

In some areas farmers are working collectively to make sure water is available to those with the greatest need while staying within overall groundwater volume limits. Environment Canterbury is working with these groups and supports this approach.

How do water take restrictions work?

Almost every river in Canterbury has a minimum flow level which is designed to share available water among users while protecting the environment. Irrigation takes will stopped when a minimum flow is reached in a particular stream or river.

Water take restrictions as a result of low river flows are updated daily by Environment Canterbury scientists and are available on the Irrigation

Restrictions web page. Visit www.ecan.govt.nz and click on Irrigation Restrictions in the Get It Done Online section in the top right. You can search using a consent number or by location in the region.

Some groundwater takes are also subject to restrictions as they are directly linked to surface water (the takes will be subject to restrictions when the river flow falls below the minimum level).

If you have a water take and believe the irrigation restriction information on the

website may be incorrect, or you need advice, please contact Customer Services on 0800 324 636.

What can I do if stock need water

and I can’t access my usual supply?

It is crucial that farmers have access to the water they need for stock while at the same time recognising the rules and potential for environmental impacts of taking stockwater.

If a farmer’s access to

stockwater is subject to resource consent conditions, Environment Canterbury will carefully consider those conditions taking into account the ongoing dry period.

Environment Canterbury will do everything it possibly can to help farmers get access to stockwater - taking into account that stock are generally not permitted to enter waterways.

There are rules excluding stock from natural waterways (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands):• Access is allowed only if

there are no significant adverse effects such as pugging, discolouration, bacteria increase, evidence of faecal matter

• All intensively farmed livestock are prohibited from natural waterways.

What if I need to bring supplementary

feed in? Will I be penalised if doing

this increases the nitrogen loss above my baseline?

Farmers should make every effort to say within their baseline. The nitrogen loss figure used to compare against the baseline is based on a 4-year rolling average and farmers may find that other changes they are making on farm compensate.

Advertising feature

John Sunckell, Brookside farmer and Selwyn Waihora zone committee member, discussing options for drain management and enhancement with Environment Canterbury Land Management Advisor Katherine Glasgow.

The growing popularity of South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) has led to higher than ever interest in the Agri-Innovation Awards.

The Agri-Innovation Awards will be judged at the Field Days, which take place from March 25-27 at the new Kirwee site.

The Kirwee site is larger and has a better layout than the previous site near Lincoln University so it can accommodate more exhibitors.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will open the event on Wednesday, March 25, while Selwyn MP Amy Adams will attend the following day.

SIAFD organising committee member Daniel Schat says the larger number of entries in the Agri-Innovation Awards reflects the growth of the event. About 450 exhibitors will take part in the field days, up from about 300 last year.

“This growth has also led to an increase in interest in the Agri-Innovation Awards, which is a sign that our economy is still pushing

forward,” Daniel said.Entries in the Agri-

Innovation awards give entrants a chance to demonstrate their inventions and technological innovations. Past entries in the awards have ranged from a small component that fits on motorbikes to major pieces of

farm machinery. There are three categories

within the Agri-Innovation Awards competition.

One is New Zealand-made farm machinery.

The entrants in this category include Canterbury engineering firm Robertson Manufacturing, which will

be located on site 262 and is entering its Little Ripper two-bale feeder.

Within the Farm Aids and Farm Inventions category, Fertigation Systems on site 123 is entering a fertigation pump, Richard Miles Engineering on site 826 is entering a milk transfer

trailer, and Te Pari Products on site 440 is entering an electronic drench gun.

Within the Imported Farm Machinery category, Mountpanther NZ on site 760 is entering a Slurryquip effluent umbilical system and Kelly Engineering on site 731 is entering a 6.0m harrow.

South Island Field Days prepares for more exhibitors, visitors than ever

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Preparations are well in hand for the South Island Agricultural Field Days later this month is well underway, with an increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers expected at the event’s new site in Kirwee.

The Field Days will take place from March 25-27 on Courtenay Road, Kirwee, on 40 hectares of land South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) purchased after it outgrew its previous leased site near Lincoln University, where it has been based for the past 32 years.

Field Days have been held near Christchurch every second year since 1951.

Organising committee chairman Alastair Robinson says while there is still a lot to do, the event has a good committee, and they are confident everything will get done on time.

The new rectangle block at Kirwee is a better shape than the former site in Lincoln and should be easier for exhibitors to work with. Entry into the event will also be easier and more logical.

The previous site was a triangle, which meant exhibitors in the far corners were sometimes overlooked by visitors.

SIAFD usually attracts about 25,000 visitors over the three days, although the committee is hoping the larger site and new location will result in even more coming through.

“We have registered 450 exhibitors, which is over 150 more than our previous event. We’re hopeful that we’ll have

more people through the gate than previously but time will tell,” Alastair said.

“There’s been heaps of positive feedback from exhibitors and they’re all looking forward to the new site. They’re happy with the layout we’ve chosen.”

A feature of this year’s Field Days is a half-circle centre-pivot irrigator, which will operate at the front of the site.

The irrigator is up and running to ensure a good crop of grass for harvest equipment

demonstrations.Think Water Leeston has

made a commitment to supply, install and maintain the irrigator for a period of 20 years and will have a strong presence at the Field Days.

Think Water Leeston is a family-owned water services business that has been providing pumping and irrigation equipment and solutions to the Canterbury region for more than 25 years.

SIAFD organising committee member Daniel

Schat says crops for demonstrations have been drilled and sites allocated.

“We have more room and the shape is a lot more conducive to filling up the space.

The half-circle centre-pivot irrigator is located at the front, close to the big demonstrating exhibitors,” he says.

The increase in exhibitor numbers this year shows the community is continuing to support the Field Days and wants to be a part of it.

“It’s only a $15 entry fee so it’s very minimal,” Daniel said.

“South Island Field Days are all about checking out that bit of equipment that you’re interested in buying and seeing it working.”

About 100 pieces of machinery, including tractors, headers, mowers and seed drills, are put through their paces throughout the event.

Daniel says the Field Days couldn’t be possible without the huge number of volunteers who help with setting up, running the event on the day, and clean up afterwards.

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MARCH 25-27 2015, KIRWEE

Guardian farming march 15, 2015

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