An Ashburton Guardian Supplement

Dairying a new adventure Dairying a new adventure P3-4P3-4

FOCUSIssue 41 - October 18, 2011

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ContentsContents

An advertising supplement ofthe Ashburton Guardian

Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Ashburton Guardian

Publication date: October 18, 2011 Next issue: November 22, 2011

We welcome any correspondence to either: Amanda Niblett, phone 307-7927 email: amanda.n@theguardian.co.nzor Linda Clarke, phone 307-7971 email: linda.c@theguardian.co.nz

FOCUS

Linda Clarke Ashburton Guardian

rural reporterI hope townies take up Fonterra’s

off er to shout on the company’s 10th birthday.

The giant dairy co-op has a big in luence in the district, especially when it announces a inal payout of $8.25kgMS.

On the back of a recession, that forecast payout would have prompted some new dairy conversions and new home building. But will those new conversions sign up with Fonterra, or will they go with a new player in the district Westland Milk Products.

The West Coast co-operative is already collecting milk from Ashburton suppliers, and expects to pick up more.

The milk is not trucked to Westland’s Hokitika processing facility, but taken to a new plant at Rolleston, where it is has the water removed by reverse osmosis and then taken by rail over the alps.

It is another player in the Mid Canterbury market, alongside Fonterra and Synlait. Another option for dairy farmers.

There is no denying that Fonterra is the big guy though. And what their farmers don’t spend on farming operations or on reducing debt, they spend in our community.

The company’s celebrations on October 24 are at the Ashburton Domain, where it will build a temporary stage on the grass near the children’s paddling pool.

There will be free music, free sausages and free ice-cream, and lots of fun games.

It should also be remembered that while the payout goes up, so does the price of feed and fertiliser.

Chairman of the dairy section of the local Federated Farmers, Hamish Davidson, warns in his latest newsletter to be aware of pro iteering by some contractors. Good advice.

Enjoy the spring weather.

Everyone loves a free shout

Meet the board candidates

at roadshowFonterra’s farmer shareholders in Mid Canterbury

will have the opportunity to meet the candidates for their board of directors at an election roadshow in

Ashburton on November 3.

There are 10 candidates standing for the board this year. They are Grant Cochrane, David Macleod, Trevor Hamilton, Jan Marten Kingma, Lachie Cameron, Ken Hames, Gray Baldwin, Maurice Hardie and the two incumbent directors Jim van der Poel and John Monaghan.

All 10 chose to take part in the candidate assessment panel process and the results have been sent to shareholders. The panel assesses the capabilities, experience and quali ications of director candidates and provides shareholders with more information to help make an informed vote.

The panel consists of independent chairman John Loughlin, two members appointed by the Fonterra Board, John Wilson and Bill Falconer, and two appointed by the Shareholders’ Council, Simon Couper and independent Elizabeth Hickey.

Assessments were sent to shareholders, along with voting papers which must be returned by November 15.

The Ashburton election roadshow meeting will be at the Hotel Ashburton, starting 7.30pm.

Elections for the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council are also required in the Central Canterbury ward, which includes Mid Canterbury. Frank Peters and Charles Whitehead are vying for the one ward seat.

Candidates take of ice at Fonterra’s annual general meeting on November 17.

PHOTO KIRSTY GRAHAM 101011-KG-029

Having a ball on the farm Katie Boldy, 29 months (left), big sister Lucy, 3, and Grace McClelland, 3, check out the calf pens on the Strijland Farm, at Lowcliffe. The youngsters were part of a farm visit organised by the Ashburton Parents Centre.

On a new adventure .................................... 3-4Wetlands clean up ef luent .............................. 5 Two secrets to great hooves ............................ 6New player in the market ................................. 7Praising the bene its of trees ......................... 8It’s Fonterra’s shout ......................................... 9

Don’t forget those consents ......................... 10Broadband to boost pro its .......................... 11 Clean water a high priority .......................... 12Rewards for industry innovation ............... 13Farmers slow to install meters .................... 14Lots of positives in dairying awards ............ 16

3

Dairying a new adventureDairying a new adventureLinda Clarke

Rural Reporter, Ashburton Guardianken

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Jos and Phill Everest are tired, but happy. They have spent the past year converting their 270 hectare sheep

and cropping block on Fords Road to dairying.

The pair were ultimately thinking about a future where they could work less, enjoy their outdoor pursuits yet still make money when they decided dairying was the answer.

The numbers stacked up but the project would be a challenge on their heavy soils.

Jos said they bought and sold land to square up a home block, one they had planted carefully with pine, eucalyptus and poplar trees for shelter some 20 years earlier. Some trees have had to be sacri iced for centre pivots in the new venture, but the pair are reluctant to fell more trees that off er stock protection from Mid Canterbury’s frequent winds.

Their new 54-bale rotary milking shed has become a talking point. The milking platform is made of ibreglass, the irst in the district to use the strong but lightweight material.

The platform arrived in six-bale sections and was bolted together like a giant meccano set, Phill said.

It has no problem holding the combined weight of 54 dairy cows, with far less noise, and is 23 tonnes lighter than a conventional concrete platform.

The low-pro ile shed sits in the centre of the farm and was the irst dairy shed built in the district by Calder Stewart. The milking system is from Waikato and features an automatic teat sprayer, automatic cup remover and automatic drafter to alert those working in the shed to cows with potential problems.

Ear tag readers mean in future milk output can be monitored for individual cows, and supplements given accordingly.

The shed’s ef luent system is also state-of-the-art. It is gravity driven, and features a weeping wall which separates solids and allows green water to be separately stored and used to wash down the yard. The green water can also be sprayed onto pastures through the centre pivots.

Their 700 cows were sourced from ive separate herds around the country,

and are currently in the last few weeks of calving.

The bulk of the herd was bought from a retiring dairy farmer in Rotorua. Phil says it was a very emotional

time for the old-timer, who knew his animals by number if not name. He felt a big responsibility to make sure they were coming to a good home.

The resulting herd is something of a United Nations, mostly Friesian and Friesian cross, with the heifers being shown the ropes by the old girls.

Jos rears the young heifers, she has reared mainly bull calves in the past 10 years. This time around, she’s nurturing replacements for their own herd.

The calves are fed in two long purpose-built barns near the milking shed, and Jos has her daily task of feeding them down pat. The operation is not so big that she can’t give a few of them names, like Ugly Betty and Lady Penelope.

She says it’s great not having to mix milk powder, with liquid colostrum milk just 100 metres away.

Growing grass for the herd is de initely Phill’s domain, as you would expect from a man who made a career advising sheep and beef farmers over the past 30 years.

Forty per cent of the farm has been sown in new pasture, which is looking lush and growing well thanks to recent warm and dry weather.

Phill said the risk of establishing so much new grass could have been a nightmare, if the farm’s heavy soils had become water-logged with spring rain and made puggy by stock.

“We are heavy soil. We have to be careful with using the minimum amount of water and ef luent.”

Open drains that ran through every paddock on the farm were removed on 50 per cent of the property to make way for pivot irrigation. Drainage tiles laid when the property was part of Longbeach Estate’s dairy strip 100 years ago were also uncovered and replaced with modern drainage pipes.

Continued, P4

Twelve months ago, Ashburton District Councillor Jos Everest stepped down from her job in the public eye. She and farm consultant husband Phil started a new adventure as

dairy farmers

Phill is the relief milker until he can fi nd another worker. 061011-LC-014

Jos and her young heifers, hoping to be fed. 061011-LC-018

Dairying a new adventureDairying a new adventureLinda Clarke

Rural Reporter, Ashburton Guardianken

4

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The heavy soils also mean a little experimenting with the wheels of the irrigators to avoid ruts. Rainer Irrigation, which installed the centre pivot, is trying dual wheels and caterpillar tracks and boombacks, which wet the ground behind the wheels.

Computer software can allow them to vary the spray rate as the irrigator travels.

The farm has 90ha in dairy support, and winter grazing is purchased from a

neighbouring farmer at Winslow.

Phill said the shed was designed to be a one-man operation, with a few labour-saving devices. “We could also have spent a lot of money on a fancy automatic cleaning system that washes the platform as it goes around, but some things are better to be manual, that way you are constantly checking.”

Despite all the planning, and being high on the builder’s list, the shed was only just complete by the start of the new season. It was late July when 20 dairy cows stepped onto the plastic platform for the irst time.

The Everests employ a farm manager, Richard Spicer, and one other to help with the daily milking. They are on the lookout for another worker, but in the meantime are taking up the slack themselves.

Jos, who was raised on a dairy farm in Putaruru, said the early starts were usually no problem and it was a pleasure to watch the sunrise and hear the farm come to life for another day. Except for right now, when she is tired and missing her Mum, who has just returned to Tauranga after cooking, cleaning and ixing the garden for the past 10 days.

Phill and Jos’ three children are supportive of the new venture, but not keen to be dairy farmers.

Mark, a farm consultant for Macfarlane Rural Business, helped design and build the weeping wall. Paul, who loves machinery, is still working in Perth. Anna is the most inclined to work with animals, but has another year to go at chiropractic school.

Phill reckons they have spent $3.5 million on the new venture, from cows, to shed and irrigation. The farm

aims eventually to produce at least 1600kgMS/ha; it is collected by Synlait.

“We will not threaten the top producers. Our driver is to be grass fed, but we will use some supplements on the margin of the season.

“New Zealand’s advantage is growing grass and turning it into milk and that is what we want to be able to try and do, and do it better.”

061011-LC-004 OR 005The fi breglass milking platform has rubber matting in each bale for the cows to stand on.

061011-LC-001Caterpillar tracks, or dual wheels, are being trialled on spray irrigators to reduce dangerous ruts in the paddocks.

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NIWA scientists have devised a guide for farmers to make the best use of wetlands to “clean” water.

Wetlands are like a sponge - they take in large amounts of water and “clean” it by processing out nutrients carried in the water. These nutrients can include diff use pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus from farm run-off .

The location and structure of the wetlands is key to their success in this role. NIWA freshwater scientists have devised a new wetlands guide so farmers can make best use of them.

For wetland water iltering to succeed, NIWA scientists have discovered that you need between 1 to 5 per cent of land in a catchment as a wetland. With that amount of wetland you’d expect to see a reduction of between 20 to 50 per cent of nitrogen levels in waterways.

NIWA’s Dr Chris Tanner has also been involved in the irst ever trials with loating treatment wetlands, a new innovation that is now being applied in Lake Rotoehu as part of the Rotorua Lakes restoration programme. Those wetlands are performing well.

“It’s new work internationally, to look at the performance of these wetlands that loat on the water surface

with their roots hanging down into the water below. Nobody has ever tried to quantify their performance. What we found, for stream lows into Lake Rotoehu, was between 45 per cent and 77 per cent nitrogen removal and 32 per cent to 35 per cent total phosphorus removal.”

Nitrogen is one of the key nutrients causing deteriorating lake water quality. Around 75 per cent of the nitrogen and phosphorus run-off to the sea from New Zealand rivers originates from modi ied, mostly pastoral, land use.

Once there are high nutrient levels in the water it is very hard to remove them. Wetlands are a low cost natural system that can intercept and treat these nutrient-rich lows before they get into lakes and estuaries.

Tile drainage is an agriculture practice that removes excess water from soil subsurface. It can act as a signi icant route for nutrient losses, particularly of nitrogen, from intensively grazed pastures to waterways.

The New Zealand Guidelines for Constructed Wetland Treatment of Tile Drainage is a handy new resource intended to guide farmers, farm advisors, rural contractors, and regional council staff to appropriately locate, size, design, and construct eff ective treatment wetlands, Dr Tanner said.

6

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We all know that having a healthy herd is paramount to good business. There is also

the feel-good factor knowing that you are looking after your animals.

A key part of herd health is the hoof. We all know that a cow with a damaged hoof can spell disaster. So how do we combat this? The answer is to take a holistic approach to healthy hooves. Below are two important points that help avoid lameness.

Firstly, nutrition is a key element in the equation. We have all heard the saying “you are what you eat”. Well this is not quite the same with dairy cows, but you could say that the better the food (or nutrition) the healthier the diary cow will be. This in turn means the cow’s hooves are also going to be healthier.

There is a common perception that hoof damage is caused by rough tracks and constant walking to and from the milking sheds. However, we now know that this is incorrect. Hoof damage starts from the inside out. Not from the outside in. This is where nutrition comes into play.

If the diary cow is in optimal condition then its hooves will be strong and healthy and be able to resist the normal wear and tear of everyday walking.

This is not to say that having good, well maintained tracks and sheds doesn’t aid in the prevention of lameness. Research shows that tracks with a higher crown through the middle reduce the amounts of lameness.

A holistic or combined approach is always best. However, the main point is, proper nutrition is very important. The best method of feeding is one that avoids rumen upset. Phasing the herd between feed types carefully will help to avoid this problem.

Secondly, curbing excessive hoof growth is also a key element in the equation. Let’s face it. A dairy cow weighs a lot. Each hoof has to hold a lot of weight. On each hoof the weight burden is spread between the two claws. You can imagine that if one claw becomes higher than the other then the weight will be unevenly distributed. The higher claw will take more weight.

And what happens when that single claw starts to be put under more pressure? It grows even more ... to try and cope with the extra weight. This then causes lameness, because eventually the higher claw will start to buckle and falter under the extra weight. This is lameness.

This is where hoof maintenance comes into play. We call it preventative trimming. Hoof trimming ensures that both claws on each hoof are even and in the best shape for evenly carrying the weight. Without correct trimming lameness can be rampant amongst dairy herds, leading to lots of lost production.

In summary it is important to remember that correct nutrition to one, keep the cow in optimum health and two, in such a way to avoid rumen upset is very important.

This coupled with preventative hoof trimming will signi icantly reduce the amount of lameness in your herd.

The photo on the left shows a typical hoof overgrowth, and the photo at right shows the same hoof trimmed to the correct size and shape.

77

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Mid Canterbury dairy farmers are among those supplying milk to Westland Milk Products’ new

drying plant at Rolleston.

Westland chief executive Rod Quin said the company had been running one tanker into the district daily since July when the Rolleston plant opened, and local farmer interest in Westland was increasing.

The milk is concentrated at Rolleston by removing the water and is then sent by rail to Westland’s Hokitika processing facility, where it is made into whole and skim milk powder and high end protein powder.

On the home front, its house butter is Pam’s or Budget brand, and EasiYo; Westland also provides Cookietime with butter for its popular cookies.

Mr Quin said the Ashburton suppliers – he declined to say how many – were shareholders in Westland, a co-operative

company.

Shareholders paid $1.50kg/MS, compared to Fonterra’s $4.52, which Westland regarded as a membership right and commitment to the co-op, he said.

“At the moment one tanker services these (Ashburton) farmers, but we will have a second tanker in the not too distant future.”

Mr Quin said some of Westland’s Canterbury suppliers were existing farmers switching from Fonterra, and others were new conversions.

Farmers make supplier decisions annually around February but already Westland is ielding inquiries from potential new suppliers. It has some 300 suppliers, most on the West Coast.

The company also announced a $7.80kg/MS payout for the 2010-11 season.

“We are keen to grow our market supply in Canterbury. We have just taken on a full-time Canterbury milk supply manager.” Tony Watson started in that role last week.

Mr Quin said Westland had not been aggressively recruiting farmers but word was spreading informally within the district’s dairy community.

“We will be more active in talking with farmers, but it is not a situation where we can take an open-ended supply.

“Now we are collecting in the Ashburton area, farm consultants and the banking community are all aware we are an option in Canterbury and they are talking to farmers.”

He said farmers who wanted to join the co-op had to comply with a company code of practice that emphasised environmental and animal welfare standards.

Mr Quin said milk volumes were already ahead of seasonal expectations, thanks to warm weather.

Westland Milk Products’ new drying plant at Rolleston

Westland Milk Products’ chief executive Rod Quin

8

Promoting benefits of treesPromoting benefits of trees

A new three-year programme of regionally-based workshops launching this November

will help pastoral farmers and their advisors identify the economic and environmental bene its of planting trees on their properties and how best to incorporate appropriate species into their land use strategies.

The workshops break new ground with their “whole farm” approach and region-speci ic content. They are supported by the Sustainable Farming Fund, hosted by local branches of the NZ Farm Forestry Association and draw heavily on the expertise and practical local experience of knowledgeable farm foresters.

The involvement of local AgFirst consultants, Tane’s Trees Trust, Landcorp, regional and unitary councils, Young Farmers and Rural Women ensures that every workshop is tailored to re lect the opportunities and challenges speci ic to that area, and that tree planting, whether for timber, shelter, erosion control or potential ETS bene its, is viewed in the context of wider farm management practices.

Project manager Ian Nicholas says nearly every farm in New Zealand contains land that is dif icult to farm or marginal in some way.

“In these situations trees can provide better returns than traditional

farming, as well as creating an on-farm asset that, when mature, will provide farmers with a range of real inancial options. However, farmers need more information about the multiple bene its, both short and long term, of tree planting, as well as the practical speci ics of tree species selection, planting and management.

“Many have put the idea of planting trees in the too-hard basket, partly because of lack of knowledge about what are the best tree species to plant, and where, and also because in recent years many farmers have been in survival mode and tree planting has not been on their radar.

“The ETS is creating renewed interest in tree planting among land owners throughout New Zealand. For farmers, planting woodlots is an excellent way to off set on-farm carbon emissions, but to gain the maximum bene it from these woodlots, and for optimum establishment, the right species need to be sited in the right areas - where the land will bene it most from trees, and where returns from stock are marginal.

“Farmers need targeted information in a forum and style that best suits their business and decision making processes. They want to know how to site trees most eff ectively within their particular farm landscape to augment farm income and address land management issues (eg. planting

on erosion-prone land), off -set carbon emissions and to comply with local government requirements.”

Key themes that will be addressed during the workshops include:

Trees in the farm business: Integrated land use strategies generating diverse revenue streams - spreading risk and cash low, enabling short-term and inter-generational/succession planning.

Trees as a vital part of any integrated land management strategy: Wise land use and “ it for purpose” planting - erosion control,

riparian management/water quality, weed control, managing trouble spots, and protecting valuable soils, the lifeblood of the farm.

Integrating trees with livestock management: trees for shelter and fodder, animal welfare issues, impacts on animal health and productivity... and pro itability.

Trees and the ETS: planting to off set on-farm emissions.

The irst workshop will be held on November 17 in the Gisborne area, at the Wensleydale woolshed, Whangara, with the theme Trees for Pro it.

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Fonterra’s shoutingFonterra’s shouting

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Fonterra’s big shout for Mid Canterbury recognises the area’s strength in dairying, says Fonterra shareholders’ councillor Ange Ward.

The giant dairy co-op is hosting a free family day out, with a sausage sizzle for thousands, on Labour Day, October 24.

The company is celebrating its 10th birthday, with free food and entertainment at six diff erent centres around the country. The Mid Canterbury event will be held at the Ashburton Domain, near the children’s paddling pool off Walnut Avenue; it is one of two in the South Island.

Fonterra is building a temporary stage and big screen, with Dane Rumble the main attraction. The day begins at noon with MC Phill Hooper introducing a range of performers until closing at 4.30pm.

Ange said local Fonterra farmers will be helping and in the crowd, but Fonterra hopes thousands of urban people will come along as well.

The company has a huge impact on the local economy, which depends on dairying with many businesses in dairy or agricultural support.

Mid Canterbury has around 300 dairy herds, with an average of about 700 cows each. Most dairy farmers are Fonterra suppliers and shareholders.

The largest herd on one farm supplying Fonterra is 1800, and the smallest 60. The highest producing herd generates 590 MS per cow and is milked three times a day.

While Dane Rumble is the headline act at

Fonterra’s Ashburton shout, other entertainers include Acoustic Solution and Bubblemen. A game zone will feature six fun events including a coconut shy, tug o’ war, and a race to ill a fridge with 2l milk containers.

The day is free, though Fonterra will take a gold coin collection in buckets with all pro its going to Ashburton St John.

Ange said St John was a itting charity to receive the donation because it is an important part of the whole region.

“The St John ambulance is a service that we all rely on and we’re pleased we can support them through our birthday shout.

“The ambulance is particularly important to those of us who live in rural areas where the nearest hospital can be more than hour’s drive away. We’re pleased we can give back to an organisation that has helped many farmers over the years get the help they need in the time they need it after an accident.”

Dairy farmers are most commonly hurt by the animals they tend, through kicking or accidental crushing.

The donations collected at the Ashburton Domain will contribute to St John Ashburton’s campaign to get de ibrillators into the communities in Mid Canterbury.

Volunteers will be collecting gold coins around the ield from midday until 4.30pm.

At other Fonterra shouts around the country, volunteers will be collecting for North Haven Hospice Society in Whangarei, Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance in Hamilton, Taranaki Rescue Helicopter in Hawera, Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter in Palmerston North and Southland Hospital’s children’s ward in Invercargill.

In Auckland, the Motutapu Restoration Trust will receive the proceeds of the gold coin collection to help restore the Island habitat in the Hauraki Gulf.

Ange said the Fonterra shout promised to be a great family day out for everyone who wanted to come along for the free entertainment, BBQs and ice cream treats.

“It will be a chance for the co-op to thank the many people and communities who have helped during its irst ten years.”

Dane Rumble is the headline act at Fonterra’s Ashburton shout

10

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A Fonterra milk payout of $8.25 per kilogram of milksolids has spawned a rash of new dairy

conversions in Mid Canterbury.

Ashburton District Council environmental services manager John McKenzie said the number of new building consents being sought was good news for the district but creating a heavy load for building inspectors.

Delays were possible, he said.

The building consents related to milking sheds and farm buildings. “And once you see a dairy conversion, there are new dwellings that go with it.”

New houses might be subject to up to 12 compulsory checks by building inspectors, as per the Building Act. Dairy sheds needed fewer inspections.

In the 12 months to the end of September this year, council processed 25 applications for new milking sheds. The work was worth nearly $10.1 million. In the previous 12 months it processed 18 applications for milking sheds worth $5.8m.

Mr McKenzie said the numbers of milking shed consents increased by 38 per cent over the year, but the dollar value had increased by 66 per cent, mainly due to the rising costs of steel and building materials.

Consents for new houses received in September had doubled the expected monthly volume, with 22 for the month.

The value of new houses consented the previous month in August totalled $4.8m (representing 14 houses), and for the 12 months to the end of August totalled nearly $40m. The values were up on the previous 12 months.

Many of the new homes are accommodation on dairy farm conversions, while more in ill in urban subdivisions had also been noted.

“It is good news for the district, but extra work. It was inevitable when Fonterra announced that $8.25 per kilo that there would be a low on through the rural economy.

Last month we got 22 new dwelling consents and so we are well ahead of the larger centres.

“We can see the economy picking up.”

Mr McKenzie said farmers wanting to build a new shed or house should visit council irst to see what consents were necessary.

“There are a range of consents that related to rural activities, from back low prevention systems in dairy

sheds needing a building warrant of itness through to swimming pool

fencing and safety compliance and consents for grain silos.”

He said unconsented work often came to light when a property was being sold and conveyancing work undertaken.

It was sometimes dif icult and more expensive to obtain consent retrospectively.

He said council was frequently advised by Environment Canterbury it had granted consent to a farmer to discharge ef luent, but the district

council had no corresponding building consent application.

Builders, plumbers and others in the building trade had a responsibility to make sure all necessary consents were in place.

Mr McKenzie said the Building Act had some big ines for off enders, but the district council preferred to educate rather than prosecute. Consents relating to ef luent were important because council needed to ensure groundwater was not contaminated.

An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature

If you’re building a new shed or house you should visit council fi rst to see what consents were necessary.

11

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High speed broadband in more rural areas will increase productivity on farms, and pro its, according to dairy farmer co-operative LIC.

The Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative is rolling out $285 million of infrastructure for more and faster broadband to rural areas over the next six years. Much attention has been paid about how this will impact schools and hospitals, but what about the farmers?

Their businesses are, after all, the backbone of our economy, but what’s the connection between farming, the internet, productivity and pro it?

Rob Ford, LIC’s general manager of Farm Systems, says it’s simple - information is power.

“Real-time information is critical to the on-farm decision making process and high-speed broadband in more rural areas is key to that,” he said.

The co-op is taking a leading role in the Government’s plans, with Rob an active member on their advisory board that provides advice and insight for how the plans can best meet the needs of the rural people it will aff ect most.

For LIC, it’s farmers – their shareholders.

“Farmers are collecting more and more data about their animals and their land every day, and the vast majority record this electronically.

“They see their animals every day, they know their land and their pasture, but it’s how they use this information that is most important because that’s how all the important decisions are made.

“Access to their farm information, at the right time

and the right place is imperative for making the right decisions, and rural broadband is absolutely critical to that,” Rob said.

LIC, with its head of ice located just out of Hamilton and more than 1500 staff in the peak season, is the market leader in farm information and automation solutions that help farmers to operate faster, smarter, better and most importantly, more pro itably.

And for many farmers, use of these products to their full capacity has been compromised by their remote location and inadequate broadband access.

The availability of high-speed and wireless broadband to more rural areas of New Zealand will change this, Rob said, and allow more farmers to utilise this technology on their farms on a device of their choice, whether it be a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.

“It unlocks a world of potential that many farmers have never been able to consider, either because they cannot get the Internet, or they only have access to incredibly slow dial-up.

“It’s one thing to have management information in the farm of ice – another when it’s delivered in the farm dairy or on the farm, where and when it’s needed.”

Electronic recording and reporting is the way of the future for dairy farming and LIC’s Farm Systems team are constantly developing new products and inetuning current ones. With the roll-out of broadband to more areas, many will be moved to the internet, providing a range of exciting bene its and improvement for farmers.

“Gone are the days when farmers would be sent screeds of information in the post, which largely went unread and unused because it was simply to much, and would take too long.

“Now, and in the future with web hosting, farmers are presented with more enriched information, in a way that suits them so it is much easier to interpret, and use.

“That will only get better with web hosting because the information farmers receive will be more real-time, with dramatically faster update speeds so information can sent more regularly.

“And they’ll be able to access that information from any computer with an internet connection which is extremely valuable given how many diff erent types of ownership structures we see on farms; there can be lots of people involved in the business.”

An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature

A fast broadband connection will enable farmers to do more of the office work out in the paddock.

12

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Dairy farmer Greg Roadley says clean water is a high priority for the Ashburton water zone and setting nutrient load limits critical.

Mr Roadley is on the 11-member Ashburton water zone management committee and leads its water quality aims. He says actions to protect and improve water quality begin with a map of water quality across the district, so hot spots can be identi ied.

“We need a clear snapshot of what the water quality looks like over the whole of the area. This will help us identify areas where it is compromised or deteriorating and where there are gaps in our knowledge.”

He said there were already some areas of challenge in the Ashburton River around phosphorus and nitrates, and in some lowland streams.

The zone committee is currently looking for feedback from farmers on 73 recommendations about how water is used in Mid Canterbury. Its zone implementation programme (ZIP) puts priority on water quality, water quantity and security, the Ashburton River and biodiversity.

The committee has identi ied a number of key water quality issues, including on-farm nutrient management issues (in both irrigated and non-irrigated contexts), sedimentation problems (gravel pits and stock in water), and both urban and rural quality management issues (including the setting of nutrient load limits).

“We are aware that some water quality issues may arise from birds as well as human-driven activities, and there are signi icant challenges for water quality from land intensi ication,” the group says in its draft ZIP.

While on-farm practices had improved, the community continued to be concerned about water quality.

The committee wants water-users to move beyond compliance to “more than compliance” and “good practice”.

The zone committee can ask Environment Canterbury and the Ashburton District Council to monitor and identify hot spots in the zone, and share the information with the community.

Nutrient load limits are compulsory by July 2012 under the National Environmental Standards, and the committee wants to talk with the community about setting load limits within the Ashburton catchment.

It says the limits must be applied in a way that results in a wide uptake of good management practices (as appropriate to soil types and land use) within a reasonable timeframe.

The committee also wants to work with industry and landowners to encourage land-users to take up best practice for on-farm nutrient use and ef luent management.

Feedback on the ZIP needs to be in by October 21.

An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature

Greg Roadley

13

Rewards for industry innovationRewards for industry innovation

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Innovation, discovery and achievement making a positive contribution to irrigation and

ef icient water management are set to be rewarded by the industry’s national body.

Irrigation New Zealand, in association with Aqualinc, open nominations this week for the second biennial Innovation in Irrigation award.

The award is an opportunity for the industry to showcase innovation, and IrrigationNZ’s way to recognise new invention, ideas, systems, or gadgets that are constantly coming out of the irrigation sector.

The award celebrates, encourages and promotes innovation and the bene it and impact irrigation provides to communities right throughout New Zealand.

Innovation is the potential for new knowledge to have a positive impact on irrigation through technology or in a manner that will enhance the economic, social, cultural or environmental aspects of irrigation. Individuals, groups or companies are invited to highlight their innovation with entry into this prestigious award.

The 2012 award, run in conjunction

with the association’s biennial conference, to be held in Timaru in April, is sponsored by Aqualinc and carries a cash irst prize of $2500, as well as publicity, recognition and kudos, not only for the award winner but also those entrants selected as inalists.

“IrrigationNZ is looking to recognise and reward the positive initiatives being undertaken with irrigation, and

wider community bene its as a result of irrigation,” IrrigationNZ business manager Chris Coughlan said.

Nominations from irrigators, schemes, water user groups, environmental groups, industry, university students and researchers open on October 20 and close on February 1, 2012.

Finalist entries will be showcased, and the of icial award presentation held at the IrrigationNZ conference in Timaru, April 2-4.

Although the innovation may have evolved over a longer period of time, to be eligible the innovation must be able to show a clear impact to irrigation in New Zealand in the past ive years.

Too often irrigation is portrayed as a negative activity without also acknowledging the huge associated bene its to the community, economy and the environment that good management practice irrigation undoubtedly delivers.

This award gives the industry the opportunity to showcase the steps it is taking to improve and deliver on the wider community demands of ef icient use of water and consideration for the environment.

“This is the chance for everyone to get involved and highlight the innovation that is happening and encourage more of it,” Coughlan said.

“So if you have quietly been working away, or know of someone who has, on a good idea and believe recognition is deserved then now is the time to enter.”

The inaugural award in 2010 was won by Precision Irrigation, a Feilding-based irm that has developed a variable rate irrigation (VRI) system for pivot and lateral irrigators. The system uses mapping and GPS technology to intelligently alter the amount of water applied over the area under the irrigator. The technology has immediate impacts and can bene it the farmer with greater water use ef iciency and power savings.

Since the Irrigation Innovation Award, Precision Irrigation has gone from strength to strength. In the past year they have sold double the systems that they had envisaged and will by the end of this season have around 60 VRI systems operating on pivots and laterals worldwide, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and America.

For full award information, criteria detail, and nomination/entry forms go to www.irrigationnz.co.nz

An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature

Chris Coughlan

14

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Mid Canterbury farmers are being given a hurry up about installing water measuring

systems as required the government’s National Regulations.

From November 10 next year, water consent holders with takes of more than 20 litres per second need to have installed a water measuring and reporting system.

John Young, Environment Canterbury’s Team Leader Water Metering, said consent holders must comply with the Government’s regulations and need to act soon to avoid the expected rush for equipment and installations.

In the Ashburton Water Management Zone there are 2095 water takes that require a water measuring device.

“To date, only around 14 per cent of the required installations for surface water takes have been carried out, and 39 per cent for ground water.

“One of the most urgent issues facing water consent holders is the installation of water measuring devices and the reporting of actual water usage.

“The government’s National

Regulations are here to stay and there will be consequences for those who do not comply by the deadline.”

Mr Young said there were obvious cost advantages to getting organised and installing water measuring devices sooner, rather than later. “If there is a last-minute rush this could result in a shortage of equipment and labour and require installers to contract out services and these costs could be passed on to farmers.

“If people get caught in the rush to install as the deadline draws closer it is possible they will be in breach of their consent conditions. We have a dedicated water metering team based in Ashburton that works closely with industry and the community to provide the necessary advice and guidance to make installing a measuring system as easy as possible.”

In New Zealand there are around 12,000 consents that require water measuring devices to be installed. Approximately 42 per cent of these are in Canterbury – the highest regional proportion in New Zealand.

The National Regulations apply to all water consent holders with takes of ive litres per second or more. Consents granted after November 10, 2010 are required to comply with the National Regulations immediately

and consent holders must install a water measuring device providing continuous measurements, take daily readings, as well as provide annual records to their regional council.

Medium-sized consent holders (from 10 up to 20 litres per second) must comply by November 2014 and small consent holders (between 5 and 10 litres per second) have until November 2016.

Mr Young said there are obvious bene its to installing water measuring systems.

“Measuring water use will provide consent holders with the information they need to ensure they use water ef iciently and optimise production, comply with resource consent conditions, as well as reducing irrigation and pumping costs.

“You wouldn’t run your car without measuring its fuel performance or speed and running your farm or business is no diff erent. It is important to have the information required to ensure you are getting the best use out of your resource.

“The information is also important in assisting Environment Canterbury with the planning, allocation and management of the region’s ground and surface water.”

Environment Canterbury has worked with Irrigation NZ, industry suppliers and farmer representatives to establish standards for the installation and veri ication of water measuring devices. There are around 40 companies in Canterbury which have been assessed and are authorised to provide water measuring services.

Consent holders should refer to their resource consent/s and review their conditions to determine whether the National Regulations apply, and if so whether they are in the two-year, four-year, or six-year compliance category.

Individual consent conditions can be viewed online at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/Pages/consent-search.aspx

If consent holders do not have a copy of their consent or do not know their consent number they should call Customer Services on 03 353-9007 or 0800 324-636.

More information about water measuring services, approved installation companies and the implementation of the National Regulations can be found at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/watermetering http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/

central/measuring-reporting-water-takes.html

An Ashburton Guardian advertising feature

This map shows the numbers of unmetered (in red) and metered (in blue) water takes.

The deadlines for installing water measuring systems are:Date Take size10 November, 2012 20 litres/second or more10 November, 2014 Between 10 and 20 litres/second10 November 2016 Between 5 and 10 litres/second

15

Premier Engineering

Located in Ashburton’s Industrial Estate, Premier Engineering is a father and son team dedicated to quality fabrication, repairs andmaintenance. Ask them to build it, and they

will, with the owners speci ications being foremost.John and Gaye Rich recently purchased the engineering division from AIS (formerly Premier Machinery), where John previously worked.The services offered are the same as they were before, except now it is able to offer even more, with the lexibility to tackle new challenges.

John, an a-grade diesel mechanic by trade, provides extensive experience in both maintenance and engineering ields. This competence is trusted by many locals, who take their machinery to this business. As acerti ied welder, he is able to repair and manufacture on heavy trucks and trailers.John also has practical farming experience, with Gaye and John recently down-sizing from a 100 acre block to a 20 acre lifestyle farmlet. Having owned and operated a country garage for 10 years during the 1980’s, both are aware of the need for timely and competitively priced repairs.John and Gaye’s son Zane also works at the business, after working throughout Australia and locally drilling and harvesting for contractors. Zane also has engineering experience, and between father and son, believe that they can make everything from a pot handle to a plough and more!“Engineering must be in our blood. My great grandfather and grandfather were blacksmiths, I still have some of the tools they created,” John said.Premier Engineering is experienced in repairing Duncan Drills, and specialise in the repair and

fabrication of agricultural equipment, such as bale forks and silage grabs. They will also undertake repairs on any make or model of drill or implement.John and Zane appreciate the urgency of what they do. They understand that when farm equipment breaks, it is imperative to get it repaired and up and running promptly.. They prioritise urgent repairs, and aim to provide a better service than what was previously provided.Their commitment to this is shown by the purchase of a state-of-the-art medium sized portable mig-welder, combined with a new generator for more ef icient on-site repairs. They also state during their initial set-up period, they are locating reliable suppliers, locally and New Zealand wide, who can provide quality parts, services, accessories and spares at realistic prices.

Premier Engineering offers an extensive range of services to dairy farmers too, such as building gates and hay feeders, and can repair, manufacture and maintain any other dairy farmer’s agricultural machinery.For quality welding and fabrication, Premier Engineering has the knowledge and experience to keep your machinery working 100%.No job is too small. Flexibility and diversity allow Premier Engineering to work hand-in-hand with their customers whatever the job may be. Premier Engineering will strive to grow and will always pursue top standards of workmanship and honest, friendly customer service.

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For all your baling requirementsStuart 027 692 0455 - After Hours 3039 123 - 223 McKenzies Road, RD1, Ashburton

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Story by: Amanda Niblett

Photos: Emma Jaillet Godin

The workshop at Premier Engineering is well equipped to tackle the fabrication and repair of a wide range of agricultural equipment.

John and Zane Rich at Premier Engineering will tackle any fabrication task, from a pot handle to a plough. They pride themselves in high quality workmanship while providing honest, friendly customer service.

16

Lots of positives in dairy awardsLots of positives in dairy awards

The 2011 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year, Jason Halford, is now the proud owner of his own herd, sharemilking 280 cows at Opiki,

Horowhenua.

“I was ready for the next step and I think sharemilking is a great sector to be in and owning cows is a big positive.”

Mr Halford is co-ordinating the 2012 Dairy Trainee of the Year regional contest for his area, one of 12 regional competitions held nationwide by the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

He says the experience of winning the national farm manager title has been great. Opportunities continue to present themselves and he has received many invitations.

“The highlight of it all was winning the award as it gives you real con idence that what you are doing is on the right track.”

It has also made him consider what he is doing on farm. “It’s made me think more about what I do, about the environment and about all those principles that I have applied in the past and still do now. Once you win a competition, there’s a responsibility to make sure you are doing everything right.”

The New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year contest is run by the Dairy Industry Awards, which also oversees the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year contests.

Mr Halford encourages people to enter the awards,

whether they believe they can win or not. “Give it a go and don’t be scared that you might not be the best and win it. Challenge yourself and ind out where you are at as you can only get better.

“I think the dairy industry awards are positive for putting you out there as it’s good for your hard work to be recognised. The awards are also an excellent way to fasttrack your career.”

Mr Halford said progressing to sharemilking, from farm managing, has been a big change. “You realise the diff erence between farm managing and sharemilking, where there is a hell of a lot more responsibility. You need to make sure everything is organised as the buck stops with you.”

He is also discovering new challenges of 50% sharemilking his herd on John Seymour’s 90ha property by himself. “It’s quite a change when you have to do everything by yourself. You see how organised you really are and you can be organised and still not get everything done!”

Entries in the 2012 awards open on November 1.

The Canterbury/North Otago region awards are being co-ordinated by Lauriston dairy farmers Rob and Debbie Mackle. Details of the local awards launch will be announced soon. Jason Halford