AgriBusiness News September 2016

Waikato
AgriBusiness News
SEPTEMBER, 2016 | www.wbp.net.nz
Coastal
water quality
monitoring
FARMERS
FLOCK
to facial eczema
tolerant genetics
Beef progeny tests
deliver answers
Image by Willow Tribe.
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2 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
The Drug Detection Agency
TAKING CARE OF
WAIKATO FARMERS
AND FARM EMPLOYEES
TDDA Waikato-Coromandel owners, Graeme and Leona
Smith have taken on more staff and increased their fleet to
cater for the ever-growing demand for onsite drug testing
and workplace policy design throughout the region.
Providing a complete
solution with a
comprehensive range of
drug and alcohol testing,
workplace policy design
and training services
makes eliminating risks
easier for business owners
and managers.
The mobile service,
offered by TDDA,
TDDA OFFER
POLICY DESIGN
MOBILE ON-SITE
DRUG & ALCOHOL
TESTING
QUICK FACTS
means less down time
for businesses and the
agency’s screening and
confirmation testing
processes ensures clients
have minimal exposure to
legal challenges.
On-site drug and alcohol
testing can prevent delays
from between 48 hours
to as long as a week in
obtaining a result from a
laboratory, which is both
disruptive and costly to
the company and the
employee. TDDA vans
have been designed to
have the added versatility
of being overt or covert,
where all signage can be
removed before arriving
at the workplace if
required.
TRAINING AND
EDUCATION
PROPERTY
METHAMPHETAMINE
INSPECTIONS
• Meth contaminated state houses have increased 700% in the last
18 months.
• The national average of failed drug tests is just over 6%.
• Methamphetamine shows on over 15% of positive tests.
• Cannabis shows on over 87% of positive tests.
• Employees who used drugs are 51% more likely to have increased
medical claims
• Regular drug users are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a
workplace accident
ARE YOUR FARM
HOUSES SAFE FROM P?
Clandestine methamphetamine
laboratories cost New Zealand property
owners hundreds of thousands of dollars
each year, with some premises used to
manufacture the drug so contaminated
they need to be destroyed.
And rural properties are increasingly
becoming a target because of their relative
isolation. Establishment of P-labs in rural
areas is the elephant in the room and
property owners and investors need to be
vigilant.
The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA)
Waikato-Coromandel is launching a new
service to eliminate the risk by providing a
mobile meth detection service.
TDDA, owned in the region by Graeme and
Leona Smith, provides testing to ensure
properties are free from meth, also known
as P, its residue and other contaminates
associated with the drug.
Graeme and Leona bought the business
recently and are passionate about using
it to create safe working and living
environments throughout the region.
“It’s estimated that a lab producing a kilo
of methamphetamine creates seven kilos
of toxic by-product contaminating the
property with carcinogenic residue.
The manufacturers of the drug move
around regularly to avoid detection,
leaving in their wake contaminated
properties to be purchased or rented out
to unsuspecting families and landlords,”
Graeme said.
TDDA, based in Euclid Ave, Hamilton,
provides pre-purchase testing to identify
if a property has been used for meth
manufacture alongside a comprehensive
range of drug and alcohol testing for
businesses.
Pre-occupancy testing ensures a property
is free of detectable levels of meth
residues before a resident moves in and
mi-occupancy testing deters tenants from
using or manufacturing the drug.
“This service puts the power back in the
hands of the property owner and gives
them peace of mind in maintaining a drugfree
environment” said Graeme.
GRAEME SMITH - GENERAL MANAGER 0274 881 364 | 07 850 5056 | graeme.smith@tdda.com
Level 1, 22 Euclid Ave, Te Rapa, Hamilton | Email: waikato@tdda.com | www.tdda.com

NZTech and Precision Ag NZ
help agriculture grow faster
New Zealand has an enormous opportunity
to use technology as a means to support
the economic growth of its agri sector and
become a world leader in a fast growing
agritech market, NZTech chief executive
Graeme Muller says.
The country is achieving
good agritech export
growth rates relative to
other nations. Global agritech
investment is expanding rapidly,
with VC investment in agritech
firms in 2014 estimated at more
than $US2.36 billion making
investment in agritech higher
than fintech.
“With our traditional
strengths in agriculture and our
growing strengths in tech, this is
an opportunity we should pursue
with vigour. Agriculture
is a big user and creator of
technology.
“Tech sector innovations are
being adopted in many agricultural
areas with examples such
as the application of precision
agriculture on-farm and industry-wide
information capture
and utilisation through activities
such as the development of
the Dairy Data Network,” said
Graeme.
“Reigniting productivity in
the rural sector is critical for
both farmer profitability and
New Zealand's global competitiveness.
“A trend of reducing agri-
cultural productivity is typical
across most other high-income
nations, with one exception
being the Netherlands. Despite
being a third of the size of the
North Island and having 26 percent
of the country below sea
level, it is now the second largest
exporter of agricultural products
in the world by focusing
on innovation and value-add,”
he said.
“Production costs have
placed pressure on the competitive
position of New Zealand
agriculture in world markets.
Reversing a slowdown in productivity
growth is critical given
the challenges the sector faces
with strengthening environmental
regulation.
“Previously, productivity
growth was driven by open
market reforms in the 1980s and
then changing land use, particularly
conversions from sheep
and beef farming into dairy production.
Significant expansion
of irrigated land, which has doubled
every 12 years since 1970,
has also contributed to land use
change and increased productivity.
Future expansion, particularly
in dairy, is now challenged by
the impact of land use on water
quality.
“Digital agriculture, in the
form of precision farming, big
data, sensor technology and
drones, delivers a new potential
for productivity gains across
rural New Zealand.
“To help New Zealand agriculture
we have formed an alliance
with Precision Agriculture
Association NZ. We recognise
the growing interest among
stakeholders, from farmers,
high tech firms and the government,
to understand the scope of
activities being undertaken by
various organisations and individuals
using tech to grow the
agri sector," Graeme says.
Precision Agriculture NZ
connects participants in the precision
agriculture value chain to
one common organisation; land
users, researchers, commercial
companies, regional councils,
primary industry organisations,
rural professionals and students.
The chair of Precision
Agriculture NZ, Craige
Mackenzie, says the focus is on
increasing the uptake of technologies
in land-based primary
production systems, developing
initiatives to promote and support
the allocation of additional
funding for research and the
development of PA technologies,
building capability within
the sector and promoting adoption
of precision agriculture
through industry events, symposiums
and field days.
NZTech chief executive
Graeme Muller
Craige recently travelled
to St Louis, Missouri, to
receive the award of Precision
Agriculture Farmer of the Year
from the United States-based
PrecisionAg Institute.
“We believe both organisations
working together will contribute
to the future prosperity
and success of the New Zealand
economy and particularly with
the profile and sustainability
of NZ primary sector exports,”
Craige says.
The tech sector is the country's
third largest and fastest
growing export sector, worth
more than $6.3 billion in 2015
and employing five percent of
the New Zealand workforce.
For further information contact
New Zealand Technology
Industry Association chief
executive Graeme Muller
on 021 02520767, Precision
Agriculture Association of
New Zealand chair Craige
Mackenzie on 0217 96092 or
Make Lemonade editor-in-chief
Kip Brook on 0275 030188.
WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 3
DWN joins forces
with Deosan
Dairy Women’s
Network has signed
on a new dairying
partner in Waikato-based company
Deosan recently.
Dairy Women’s Network
chief executive Zelda de
Villiers says the Network is
thrilled to work alongside
Deosan, a New Zealand
owned business specialising
in udder health, dairy hygiene
and liquid mineral products, to
offer its 9300 members market-leading
advice and education
in the space.
In the coming months,
Deosan will be presenting
a series of free educational
workshops on udder health
and mastitis prevention to
DWN members in key regions
throughout the country as part
of their agreement with the
Network.
Deosan chief executive
Kip Bodle says DWN was a
good fit for the company and
that many of his female staff
members have long-supported
and respected the Network
and expressed an interest in
the two organisations working
together.
“From a business perspective,
women are particularly
influential in decision making
around teat condition and
mastitis prevention and we
want to be engaging with an
audience who is interested in
the science behind these technologies.
“We recognise the contribution
women make to dairy
farming in New Zealand and
are honoured to be able to
provide our support to developing
the role of women in the
industry.”
Deosan is recognised as a
pre-eminent name in product
innovation around dairy shed
consumable products, offering
a complete range of teat
care, dairy hygiene and liquid
mineral products including its
signature teat spray TeatX.
With nationwide distribution
through all rural retailers,
an increasing number of vets
and a team of territory managers
spanning the country,
Deosan is well on the way to
becoming another iconic Kiwi
agribusiness brand, says Kip.
Zelda said DWN admired
Deosan’s commitment to giving
back to the industry and to
protecting the resources that
sustain it.
“We endeavour to source
the most environmentally
friendly ingredients and
always look for ways to innovate
our products so that we
can improve biodegradability
with no compromise to
on-farm performance,” said
Kip.
“As a not-for-profit organisation,
we are extremely grateful
to Deosan, as we are to all
our amazing partners for their
support. We simply couldn’t
deliver our members the high
standard of education and
support that we do, without
them,” said Zelda.
For more information on
Deosan, visit www.deosan.
co.nz
DWN offers opportunities for
connection post calving
As dairy farmers are emerging
from the depths of calving,
Dairy Women’s Network has
put its recent focus on supporting
women through the calving season.
That focus continues during
September and October with multiple
opportunities for connection
being facilitated by the Network.
“The aim of running social events
at this time of the year, is to get
women off-farm, socialising and
connecting with one another, while
at the same time learning a new
skill,” said DWN chief executive
Zelda de Villiers.
“While it’s still a busy time for
farmers, for many, these regional
catch-ups will be the first time they
have come up for air since calving
started.”
The upcoming regional meetings
also provide a chance for DWN
members to save some money with
the focus on making your own cleaning
and cosmetic products.
The Network is also running
ASB-sponsored First Aid
Familiarisation courses with St John
during the next two months.
The one-hour workshops are free
to attend and offer a refresher on
basic first aid, bandaging and CPR.
“With the recent changes in
Health and Safety regulations, it
is more important now than ever
to have basic first aid, CPR and
bandaging skills on-farm,” said de
Villiers.
“People who live and work rurally
are often isolated and don’t have
ready access to trained medical personnel
and facilities. The ability to
react quickly and accurately with the
necessary skills can save lives, so
this is one we are really delighted to
be able to offer our members.”
In line with the Network’s ‘learning
by doing’ philosophy, 15 DWN
members themselves will also present
training sessions to their peers
on a Dairy NZ rostering tool, which
they will receive training on from
Dairy NZ in Hamilton in October.
“Dairy Women’s Network
is a signatory to The Sustainable
Dairying: Workplace Action Plan,
which outlines a path to achieving
high quality work environments
which are mutually rewarding to
employers and employees.
“With the generous support of
the People Team at Dairy NZ, 15
DWN volunteers from all over New
Zealand will receive training in utilising
a free Dairy NZ rostering tool
to ensure good rostering practices
that meet labour requirements.”
Volunteers will take their learnings
back to their communities and
teach their peers how to use the tool.
“Providing volunteer leaders with
support, training and resources to
develop skills and confidence means
they not only apply those in their
own farming businesses, but also to
the benefit of the other women in
their communities.”
Staying along the HR vein,
succession planning is the topic of
the upcoming Dairy Modules for
October and November, and sessions
will be held throughout the country
in 20 different locations.
“Succession planning and getting
the next generation into farming and
farm ownership is always a widely
discussed topic and one that is surrounded
by uncertainty. We would
like to demonstrate how this can be
done and where to start the process.”
She said participants of the modules
will walk away with a greater
understanding of the range of
options available and how to account
for factors such as non-farming children
and succession beyond family
circles, pitfalls to avoid and confidence
to advance their plans in the
area.
For more details on the upcoming
DWN events for September and
October, visit www.dwn.co.nz/events
JOIN A GROUP IN AND AROUND THE WAIKATO, BAY OF PLENTY
AND KING COUNTRY AND MEET LIKE-MINDED WOMEN
Hauraki Plains, North Waikato, East Waikato, Waipa, South Waikato, North
King Country, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Western Bay of Plenty and Rotoroa.
Go to www.dwn.co.nz and click on groups for contact details and click on
events for an event near you.
80218

4 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
Refreshed summer coastal
water quality monitoring
Waikato Regional Council is to continue with a refreshed summer
water quality monitoring programme at open coast beaches used
for recreation purposes.
Such monitoring was
discontinued in 2009.
Through Long Term Plan
discussions in 2015, the council
decided to reinvest in a coastal
monitoring programme.
“The new work will help
us build up a clearer picture
of what’s happening now for
water quality at coastal sites
around the region that are popular
for recreation,” said the
council’s coastal science team
leader Dr Hilke Giles.
The 2016-17 summer monitoring
of open coast beaches
will add to ongoing wider work
that is building up a bigger picture
of coastal issues.
Results have just been
released of a survey snapshot of
coastal river and stream mouth
water quality at 18 sites on the
Coromandel Peninsula during
We’re celebrating 90 years at the
heart of the wonderful Waikato.
January and February last year.
Some of these river and stream
mouths were chosen because
members of the public were
interested in finding out what
was going on there, while the
council chose others to help it
build up knowledge.
Last year’s survey and analysis
of results was aimed at
assessing the ecological health
and suitability of the sites for
contact recreation.
The survey looked at measures
such as nutrient loads and
turbidity as indicators of ecological
health, as well as the
presence of enterococci bacteria
that can potentially affect
human health if present in sufficient
quantities. Results were
compared to relevant guidelines
for ecological health and
contact recreation standards for
people.
The results were very mixed
ranging from some sites being
within guidelines for various
measures in all samples, while
others exceeded some guidelines
all of the time. Median
enterococci bacteria concentrations
over the sampling weeks
were within guideline values
at 13 of the 18 sites, with five
above. The council stresses
that the results for January-
February last year are not
necessarily indicative of what
results would be if the survey
was repeated now but point
to where further investigation
may be necessary.
“We are in the process of
discussing the results and their
implications with the Waikato
DHB and Thames-Coromandel
District Council. While we
don’t have any major concerns
as a council at this stage, we
are working with the DHB and
TCDC to ensure communities
are receiving relevant information
and advice,” said Dr Giles.
She said the regional council
will be going back to some
of the previously surveyed
river and stream mouth sites
this coming summer to do more
targeted follow-up checks.
“This will be on top of us
refreshing the monitoring of
popular recreation sites in our
coastal waters.”
The river and stream
mouth sites surveyed over
January and February 2015
were (going anticlockwise on
the peninsula starting from
the south-east) involved: Te
Ramarama Stream, Otahu
River, Pepe Stream, Graham’s
Creek, Taiwawe Stream,
Wigmore Stream, Purangi
River, Taputapuatea Stream,
Tarapatiki Stream, Tohetea
Stream, Stewart Stream, Otama
Stream, Kuaotunu River,
Pitoone Stream, Whangarahi
Stream, Manaia River, Te Mata
Stream, Te Puru Stream.
Full survey results and analysis
of them are available at http://
www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/
tr201607/
Farmers can sprint for spring
growth with $15 off urea
Ask for Braemar
www.braemarhospital.co.nz
24 Ohaupo Road Hamilton
Phone 07 843 1899 | Fax 07 843 9815
As farmers kick-off a
crucial spring season,
Ravensdown is offering
urea at a $15 per tonne off its
current price of $475 per tonne.
The offer price of $460 per
tonne applies to all urea ordered
and picked up from midnight
August 15 until September 30
2016.
“This initiative benefits the
savvy, pasture-focused dairy
farmers who are looking at their
cost of dry matter production, but
also all the sectors like cropping
and sheep and beef who are planning
for a big spring,” said Greg
Campbell, Ravensdown’s chief
executive.
“In our annual results statement,
we talked about all-year
value being more than just the
rebate. This ‘Spring Sprint’ offer
is the latest example where we’re
taking the initiative - effectively
giving back $15 per tonne to our
customers when demand for urea
is high,” added Greg.
Several other products have
also been cut including Sulphur
Super 30 which falls $20 to $370
per tonne.
“This is not about farmers
putting on more nitrogen than
they need, but getting the benefits
of growth-boosting, early spring
nitrogen at historically low prices.
Urea is already the lowest it’s
been for over a decade, but we’ll
keep passing on the value where
and when it’s viable to do so,”
concluded Greg.
www.wbp.net.nz
Publisher Alan Neben
Ph: (07) 838 1333
Mob: (021) 733 536
Email: alan@wbn.co.nz
12 Mill Street, Whitiora, Hamilton.
Editor Geoff Taylor
Ph: (07) 838 1333
Mob: (022) 694 1595
Email: geoff@wbn.co.nz
Production manager Tania Hogg
Ph: (07) 838 1333
Email: production@wbn.co.nz
Electronic forwarding Editorial:
News releases/Photos/Letters:
geoff@wbn.co.nz
Advertising bookings:
advertising@wbn.co.nz
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 5
Farmers flock to facial eczema tolerant genetics
Using CRV Ambreed’s facial eczema
tolerant bulls is just one of the things
Whakatane farmer Richard Sisam is doing
to help combat the disease on his farm.
“It’s one tool in the toolbox,”
Mr Sisam said. “We’ve
been using semen from
facial eczema tolerant bulls for
six years. We know for sure that
our tolerance levels are increasing.”
He also uses zinc on the
farm.
Mr Sisam considers facial
eczema a scourge. Facial eczema
causes liver damage and
results in reduced milk production
and, in severe cases, animal
deaths. Liver damage is caused
by sporidesmin toxin produced
by the pithomyces chartarum
fungus which thrives in hot and
humid weather.
Spore counts reached three
million in some parts of the
country this year, the highest
spore counts seen in a decade,
and many herds had a large
number of cows with sub-clinical
facial eczema.
“We’ve sold tens of thousands
of straws of semen from
facial eczema tolerant bulls -
around triple our sales last year
- following the worst facial eczema
season in years,” said CRV
Ambreed global grazing product
manager Peter van Elzakker.
Mr Sisam has seen how
breeding for facial eczema tolerance
has benefitted the sheep
sector of the agricultural industry
whose national flock is far
more tolerant than three decades
ago.
Waipa sheep farmer
Edward Dinger, winner of
three Beef+Lamb New Zealand
Sheep Industry Awards, said
facial eczema hit his district
hard last season, with the spore
count quadruple the levels seen
in most years.
“It was close to a million
spores per gram of grass,” Mr
Dinger said. “Genetics is certainly
part of the answer. “I have
been breeding facial eczema tolerant
sheep for 31 years.”
In similar conditions in 1981
Mr Dinger lost around a third
of his 2000 strong flock, but
last season he only lost about a
dozen of his flock of 600 sheep.
Over the past six years CRV
Ambreed has marketed facial
eczema tolerant Crossbred,
Friesian and Jersey teams, of
between six and eight animals
each.
“The team approach helps
managing the risk and creates
options,” Mr van Elzakker said.
“Every year we challenge
new prospect bulls and look for
individual bulls with improved
tolerance to increase overall tolerance
in dairy herds.”
More and more of CRV
Ambreed’s 150-strong bull catalogue
have increased facial
eczema tolerance and semen
from Holstein-Friesian bulls,
Glowing and Skylark, are selling
particularly well.
“If we can select bull dams
with high tolerance that goes a
long way to lifting the bar. We
expect our facial eczema tolerant
sires to be 25 percent less reactive
to a dose of facial eczema.”
Mr Dinger is watching CRV
Ambreed’s progress in breeding
facial eczema tolerant dairy cattle
with interest.
“You can breed facial eczema
tolerant cattle through progeny
testing. It’s a bigger and
more thorough process than
what we did with sheep, but it
takes longer."
Intelact vet and farm consultant
Chris Pyke said there was no
one solution that was completely
effective against facial eczema.
“If you can breed animals
that are more tolerant it becomes
part of a package.”
Te Awamutu-based VetEnt
large animal vet Emma Cuttance
completed her thesis on the
management of facial eczema
this year.
“Long-term we need to
be thinking about genetics or
pastures that reduce the risk of
facial eczema. CRV Ambreed is
quite rightly following the longterm
genetics option. In sheep
it has been successful. While it
is not 100 percent in very high
risk years, it is a massive step
in the right direction. Focusing
on genetics in combination with
pastures and crops that reduce
the risk will hopefully reduce
the need for zinc treatment or
fungicide treatment. Long-term,
this will be a better solution for
the environment.”
She said farmers needed to
be thinking 20 to 30 years in
advance about the gains that
could be made through genetics.
CRV Ambreed research
and development manager Phil
Beatson believes a genetic tool
is essential to combat facial
eczema in the long term.
“If global warming means
we are going to get these sorts of
devastating facial eczema events
more frequently and over an
increasing area of New Zealand,
it’s going to become an even
greater problem. It’s also quite
CATTLE
HOOFCARE
possible that use of a heavy
• Lame Cows
• Functional Trimming
metal, zinc, may be restricted in
the future. Everything points to
genetics offering the best longterm
sustainable solution to this
disease. Farmers need to be proactive
now.”
AgResearch geneticist Neil
Cullen has worked with CRV
Ambreed on facial eczema since
2002.
"Having personally experienced
facial eczema in the early
1970s on the family dairy farm,
I was always envious of the
genetic progress sheep farmers
have made fighting this serious
disease. Genetics really
was their only option given the
preventive/protective methods
available to dairy farmers were
not practical in a more extensive
system,” Mr Cullen said.
“We have developed a protocol
which safely tests bulls
for their level of tolerance and
have now completed six years of
testing without a single case of
clinical facial eczema in a total
of more than 250 bulls being
challenged. While the breeding
approach is not an overnight
solution, it does mean that the
average susceptibility of a herd
is reducing and the ongoing use
of zinc will be more effective in
providing protection."
CATTLE • Economical HOOFCARE
• Professional
ORAHIRI
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Jeremy Connolly
021 • Lame 037 Cows 9949 • Functional Trimming
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6 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
A new dawn (hopefully)
Andrew McGiven
It looked like the dairy industry was going
to head into unprecedented territory in
June, with the strong probability of having
a third low payout in a row.
While banks and lenders
had by and large
remained supportive
of farmers dealing with these
unsustainable prices, there must
be a point when they must have
to start making some hard decisions.
It has therefore been with
a sense of relief to see the
Global Dairy Trade prices start
to rebound, and while three
positive auctions in a row don’t
constitute a trend there has definitely
been a sense of optimism
return to the industry. What
was especially encouraging
was that the majority of buyers
on GDT weren’t from just
one country, which hopefully
signifies that the global supply/
demand curve is finally correcting
itself.
This optimism has also
spread to Fonterra who recently
increased the forecast pay out
by 50 cents, which will be a real
benefit for all dairy farmers.
While we have been hurting
here at home, the European
farmers have been bleeding
money even worse and are now
showing signs of turning the
milk tap off. While this will
slow supply even faster, the
only downside is that the US
and European governments
have put into place intervention
measures where they are
buying their own milk powders
at these low prices in order to
sell them at a later date when
the prices are better. When
these stocks come onto the market
this will have a dampening
effect on global prices but
hopefully if they aren’t dumped
all at once they won’t distort the
prices too much.
I also heard a prediction that
we are in for a warm spring,
which again should be good
news for all farmers in the fact
we can start growing grass faster
after winter and maybe have
an earlier/longer spring flush. I
guess this is one of the benefits
of climate change/global warming
is that with more carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and
warmer temperatures, as long
as we continue to have rain
and soil moisture we can grow
more pasture. The flip side
being of course that if we don’t
get the rain, only the higher
temperatures then we end up in
drought situations that we are
all well experienced with now
after some of the summers that
we have endured over the last
five-six years.
Even with this recent
downturn, dairy revenue still
accounts for approximately five
percent of New Zealand’s GDP,
so what’s good for dairy is
good for New Zealand. We are
world leaders in dairy exports,
food quality and environmental
Waikato vice president and Te Aroha
chairman. Federated Farmers.
outcomes regardless what the
naysayers may otherwise claim.
While we all as an industry may
have been at the bottom of a
trough over the last couple of
years, I believe the future looks
positive for us all, especially
in the mid to longer-term, and
while it is almost becoming a
cliché volatility is here to stay,
we just need to learn how to
manage it on a worldwide stage
a little better. I hope you have
had a successful calving so far
and wish you all the best for the
coming season.
Sheep milk industry set to grow through new partnership
New Zealand’s fledgling
sheep milk industry
recently received a
significant boost with approval
of the business case for a new
Primary Growth Partnership
(PGP) programme between the
Ministry for Primary Industries
(MPI) and Spring Sheep Milk
Co.
The new ‘Sheep – Horizon
Three’ PGP programme aims to
develop a market driven, endto-end
value chain generating
annual revenues of between
$200 million and $700 million
by 2030.
MPI’s PGP invests in cutting-edge
innovation programmes
in partnership with
industry to deliver significant
value for New Zealand.
MPI will be investing $12.56
million (40 percent) into the
new programme with Spring
Sheep Milk Co investing $18.83
million, representing a total
investment of $31.39m over its
six year life.
Spring Sheep Milk Co chief
executive Scottie Chapman says
with PGP support, sheep milk
represents a unique opportunity
for New Zealand to build a
high-value sheep milk industry.
Spring Sheep Milk Co is a 50/50
partnership between Landcorp
and a number of New Zealand
investors through SLC Ventures
LP.
“Internationally, there is significant
and growing demand
for sheep milk, especially from
Asia, where consumers like its
nutritional value, flavour and
digestibility.
“With the right approach,
New Zealand is in an ideal position
to develop the sheep milk
products to meet this demand.
Our PGP programme with MPI
allows us to do that in a planned
and systematic way so we create
a high-value, sustainable industry
from the get-go,” says Mr
Chapman.
“Establishing an end to end
value chain will ensure that
these returns are generated,
and retained in New Zealand at
every stage – on farm, through
processing and then into
marketing.”
Mr Chapman says the
Sheep – Horizon Three PGP
programme provides real opportunity
for those people already
involved in sheep milking, and
those who want to enter the
industry.
“To achieve a sheep milk
industry delivering domestic
and export returns at the
upper range of $700 million,
New Zealand will need up to 55
farms managed by farmers with
specific sheep milking expertise.
The current farming model
in New Zealand won’t achieve
this, which is why this joint
investment between ourselves
and MPI is so critical.”
Spring Sheep Milk Co currently
operates one farm of
around 4000 East Friesian sheep
near Taupo.
“Through the Sheep –
Horizon Three PGP programme,
Spring Sheep Milk Co will be
able to help drive sustainable
industry growth by investing in
a number of important areas,”
says MPI director-general
Martyn Dunne.
“This includes market intelligence
to guide a programme of
high-value product development
and establishing a research farm
to increase the genetic merit
of the sheep. It also includes
developing farming and environmental
systems, and building
the right capability and skills
required for successful sheep
milk farming in New Zealand.
“We’re very excited about
the benefits the Sheep – Horizon
Three PGP programme will
bring for our wider sheep milk
industry and the high value
products it aims to deliver for
consumers in New Zealand and
overseas.”
Mr Chapman says the
Sheep – Horizon Three PGP
programme will establish another
important industry that will
provide a real economic boost
for New Zealand that is environmentally
and socially sustainable.
“We’re pleased MPI shares
our vision for ensuring from
the outset that New Zealand’s
sheep milk industry has the
right structures and processes to
achieve the highest value returns
through demand-driven growth,
high value product development,
best practice farming
systems and high performance
dairy sheep.”
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
7
The Institute of Directors is
supporting rural directors
The Institute of Directors is continuing to support directors
add value to the rural sector with a new resource developed
to help directors before they step onto rural boards.
Farming Directorships: A due diligence guide for directors,
developed with DairyNZ, was released in April to help
prospective independent directors understand the nature
of the business, as part of their preparation in deciding
whether to join a farming company board. It can also be
used as a framework for considering farming advisory board
appointments.
IoD Waikato Branch Chair Margaret Devlin says being an
independent director on the board of a farming company
can provide a rewarding opportunity to add value to one
of the country’s largest and most important commercial
sectors. “The guide is about equipping prospective directors
and advisors in the rural sector with the best knowledge to
enter the environment” Ms Devlin says.
Directors must be able to
challenge ideas, ask hard
questions, and offer a different
perspective at the board table.
Providing practical tools that can be immediately applied
to the running of a farming business, the course focuses on
strategy, health and safety, and managing risks, as well as
giving attendees the opportunity to network with others in
the rural and agribusiness sectors.
“There is growing recognition of the important role that
governance structures and disciplines play in creating
and protecting shareholder value in a farming business.
Good governance that focuses on setting and reviewing
the organisation’s strategy and risk is critical when any
organisation operates in challenging times. Rural businesses
are no different but there can be added complexities around
the organisation’s structure and ownership.”
In 2015 the IoD launched its Rural Governance Essentials
course designed for rural business. It launched in Invercargill
to give rural businesses insight into the benefits a board can
bring, and the fundamental responsibilities of a board and
its directors.
Demand exceeded the IoD’s expectations so further courses
were added with Waikato being one of the first. It will
return to the region this year in Hamilton on 22 November
and an earlier date to be confirmed.
“Directors must be able to challenge ideas, ask hard
questions, and offer a different perspective at the board
table. They need a broad mix of skills, particularly a strong
grasp of strategy, risk, finance, and compliance. These two
offerings will help Waikato agribusiness,” Ms Devlin says.
“Governance is critical. We recognise that taking the time
to think and plan can seem a luxury but governance in this
dynamic and volatile environment it makes a difference.”
30344

8 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
Ecoworld makes finding the right
water treatment solution easy
‘Try before you buy’ demonstration system
ensures customers get exactly what they need
We all know the importance
of having clean
quality water on a
farm, from trough water through
to the wash down and more
importantly how it affects production.
Unfortunately all rural water
sources are different. So finding
the right water treatment solution
can be difficult and end
up a costly exercise if not done
correctly.
At the forefront of developing
new innovative rural water
treatment solutions is a company
based in Hamilton called
Ecoworld. Having had more
than twenty years’ experience
in the treatment of rural water
in Waikato, they have focused
many resources on specialising
in the removal of iron and manganese.
Over the last two years,
Ecoworld’s managing director
Ecoworld’s ‘try before you buy’
full scale portable pilot system.
Ron Walker has developed a full
scale fully automated portable
pilot (or trial) system to help
demonstrate their ‘iRon’ filtration
solutions for the removal
of iron and manganese. The
full scale system which is easily
transported via trailer allows
the company to give potential
customers the option to ‘try
before they buy’ and test the
iRon technology in ‘real time’
on their own water source. This
has helped Ecoworld to plan the
correct treatment solutions for
their customers.
Since the introduction of
the pilot system more than
18 months ago, the demand
for it has continued to grow,
with it continuously being
booked sometimes months in
advance. Dave Muggeridge of
Morrinsville took the opportunity
to try the pilot system before
he invested in an iRon filtration
system. Dave said “The option
to run a full-scale iron and manganese
filtration system on our
bore water has been nothing less
than brilliant. The two to three
week trial period enabled us to
see and use the water it produces
over our entire farming operation.”
When Meddo Farms in
Morrinsville required a new
solution to their water demands
Ecoworld were called. Having
previously had two open gravity
filters before installing the iRon
filtration system, former Meddo
Farms farm manager Colin
Torrington says that “before the
installation of the iRon system
the pumps were regularly running
24 hours to continually fill
the tank. With the iRon system
now installed the tank is always
full”.
According to Colin, not only
did the cows noticeably consume
more water and the farm
pipework was cleaner, the most
important factor was a regular
increase in productivity. As the
portable pilot filter was already
in use on another farm, Meddo
farms did not get the opportunity
to trial it onsite. However, they
had witnessed the filter in service
on a neighbouring co-operative
and were impressed. Fortunately
the chemical and mineral ‘make
up’ of the neighbouring farm’s
water supply was similar to their
farm and Ron was able to use this
data to build the correct solution
for their needs.
The portable pilot system is
a full scale, fully automated and
operational demonstration system.
The system is housed in
a self-contained ‘crate’ with its
own lighting and cooling system
and containing the latest in
wireless technology. The system
is easily transported from site to
site, only requiring a single phase
power source and a water supply
to run.
Please contact Ecoworld for
more information and to book
your opportunity to ‘try before
you buy’ using their portable
pilot system on your own water
source.
Call Ecoworld 0800 109 202
Bobby calf improvements
noted this season
The calving season for dairy farmers is
now in full swing and improvements in calf
welfare have been noted across the bobby
calf supply chain.
A
suite of welfare actions
has been implemented
since the end of the 2015
as part of an accelerated work
programme focused on further
improving the standard of care
for bobby calves, including new
regulations which have been in
place since August 1.
“Everyone across the supply
chain has a role to play when it
comes to the welfare of bobby
calves. What we have seen and
heard so far is promising and
a majority of people are following
the rules, but we have
also noticed some people still
need to change their practises to
ensure all regulations are met,”
says MPI’s director verification
services, Chris Kebbell.
“We’d like to acknowledge
the majority of farmers, transporters
and processors who
have always cared for young
calves and are meeting the regulations
with ease, but we remind
the minority that they have an
obligation to care for calves and
they face infringement fines or
prosecutions if they don’t.”
The four regulations introduced
this season include fitness
for transport requirements,
a maximum transport duration
of 12 hours, the prohibition on
killing calves by blunt force to
the head and the prohibition
of transporting calves by sea
across Cook Strait.
These regulations provide
MPI with additional tools to
respond to those who are not
meeting their obligations for the
welfare of calves.
“The key area we have noted
that could be improved by the
minority is ensuring calves are
fit for transport,” said Chris.
“Farmers should not rely on
transporters to make the decision
on fitness for transport as
farmers are in the best position
to know the animals.
“That means making sure
calves are at least four days old,
are properly fed to manage the
stress of transport, free from
signs of injury or disease, are
alert and have firm hooves and
dry navels.
“We’d also encourage farmers,
transporters and processors
to continue to strengthen
communication with each
other to ensure their systems
do not compromise the welfare
of calves. This means that
only healthy, well fed calves are
selected for transport, that the
collection and transport process
minimises the stress on calves
and that transport journeys are
planned and kept as short as
possible,” adds Chris.
For more information on the
regulations, visit www.mpi.govt.
nz/calves or contact our Animal
Welfare team by email animalwelfare@mpi.govt.nz
If you are concerned about the
welfare of any animals, please
contact us to report these confidentially
by phoning 0800 00 83
33 and select option 1.
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 9
Best practice becoming
earthworks norm
Use of best industry practice in erosion and sediment control
during earthworks projects in Waikato is becoming the new norm,
says Waikato Regional Council.
“It’s a fantastic outcome
and shows how much
effort the earthworks
industry, working with the
council, has put into lifting
performance in recent years,”
said land development team
leader Jorge Rodriguez.
“Best practice in erosion
and sediment control is now
the norm on a large number
of earthworks sites, both big
and small.”
Mr Rodriguez’s comments
follow a best practice
awards ceremony at Waikato
Regional Council’s Hamilton
offices recently to acknowledge
the industry’s top performers.
The number of entries and
nominations in this year’s
awards reflected the wide
range of different projects
being undertaken across
our region from small scale
permitted activities to large
scale roading projects. They
illustrated the high current
level of environmental
awareness in the industry.
Innovation was also recognised
with an award to
Fulton Hogan for using a
new type of grass to stabilise
areas prone to slipping along
state highway 23, where slips
are a recurrent problem.
Mr Rodriguez said the
council’s rules are designed
to prevent sediment from
such projects from running
off into waterways as it can
seriously affect aquatic life
and water quality.
“There really has been a
greater effort recently across
the board by the earthworks
industry to carry out projects
in an environmentally
sensitive way. We believe
there’s a range of reasons
for this better performance,
including our education
programmes and Waikato
Regional Council’s collaborative
approach to working
with the industry.”
For example, over the past
decade the council has had
hundreds of people through
its erosion and sediment control
workshops. And, over
the past 12 months, there has
been a focused programme
within the earthworks and
building industries to ensure
that adequate erosion and sediment
controls are installed
and maintained throughout
the duration of works on any
development site.
This has resulted in a substantial
decrease in enforcement
actions undertaken
even though the overall con-
sented activity and the number
of active earthworks sites
has increased considerably
in the last two years. “All
award winners and nominees
have made a fantastic
effort to exceed compliance
expectations in implementing
best practice erosion and
sediment controls for earthworks,”
Mr Rodriguez said.
Innovation award
Fulton Hogan, West Waikato – for
the trial using Vetiver grass to help prevent
slips along SH23. Means to stabilise
slip prone areas in a cost effective
manner while minimising traffic
disruption was needed. The trial use
of Vetiver grass to stabilise a bare cut
batter prone to erosion has proven to be
a very successful trial to date.
Large site award
Fulton Hogan/HEB Alliance – for
exceptional approaches to erosion and
Our picture shows (right to left): Robin Black (Hancock Forest Management), Bevan MacLachlan
(Seay Earthmovers), Gary King (Downer Waikato Alliance), Kerryn Mclellan (City Edge Alliance),
Mike McKay (Olsen Ltd), Ryan Smith (Schick Civil), Kerry Watkins (Fulton Hogan), Simon Cathcart
(Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Joint Venture), Craig Fisher (PF Olsen Ltd).
THE WINNERS ARE:
sediment control on the very difficult
Huntly Section of the Waikato
Expressway site.
Medium site award
Schick Civil Construction – for
a consistent and proactive approach
towards self-monitoring at the SH3/
Airport Road intersection upgrade near
Hamilton.
Small site award (joint winners)
Waikato District Alliance and Seay
Earthmovers – for a proactive approach
to erosion and sediment control on difficult
and rapidly changing sites during
the construction of culvert structures.
Forestry award (joint winners)
• PF Olsen Limited and McKay
Logging (McKay & Olsen Limited)
in recognition of the effort made
to work with Waikato Regional
Council during harvesting to avoid
accelerated erosion
• Hancock Forest Management/A&G
Sinton Hauler/Tractor Logging for
preventing accelerated erosion and
sediment exportation.
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10 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
A Real Kiwi Story
It was the 1950s and Kiwi’s Bert and Dawn Hansen were building
their house. Bert couldn’t find a reliable toilet valve, being an
entrepreneur he invented one.
This then led Bert into
developing a range of
high performance Brass
Foot and Check Valves. The
design was patented and fast
became the benchmark for
industry standards and today
the original design Bert created
is used in a multitude of
valves in hundreds of markets
all around the world.
After 60 years in business,
Hansen Products is
extremely proud to be a New
Zealand owned and operated
business.
With the initial success
of the Brass Foot and Check
Valves, Bert and Dawn worked
many long hours to keep up
with supply. Their garage was
the hub of their business with
all the machining, assembling
and packaging carried out
there. In those early days Dawn
remembers having to pack up
the car and take all the fittings
down to the railway station for
distribution.
In the 1960s the range was
expanded further with Bert
designing and manufacturing a
range of Brass Quick Couplings.
However by the early 70s Bert
and Dawn realised that plastic
was the way of the future and
re-developed the existing range
of Brass Quick Couplings and
Brass Foot and Check Valves
in plastic. By the end of the 70s
Bert and Dawn saw an opportunity
to add to their range and
designed and manufactured
a range
of Nylon easy to
use “Cold Fit Pipe
Fittings”. Back
then this completely
changed the
way Kiwi farmers
joined Alkathene
pipe, “We had a
few teething problems
with the original
cold fit range,
mainly around the
single barb being
difficult to get past the hard
pipe when it was cold and a
130kg farmer trying to tighten
up a 25mm fitting with a
24” stillson on a -5 degree
Southland winter’s day. Those
were some fun learning times
but we got those problems sorted,
we should have labelled the
fittings “Kiwi Proof”.
In the mid 1980s some more
enthusiasm and ideas were
injected into the business when
Carl Hansen (Bert and Dawn’s
Son) arrived from completing
his engineering trades. Within
a short period of time, Carl’s
experience in engineering and
his desire to use the “right”
technologies in manufacturing
and materials added even more
strength to the Hansen company.
Bert and the team didn’t
sit still for long and in the late
1980s it was decided Hansen
would design and manufacture
a range of True
Fit Threaded Fittings.
With the Hansen
range of products
growing rapidly, it was
time to move out of the
garage and into its own
manufacturing plant to
start injection moulding
their products. This
move was a huge investment
and there were many sleepless
nights in the Hansen households.
The move proved to be
the right decision and it wasn’t
long before Hansen products
were being demanded from all
over the world. The 1990s saw
the products develop a stronger
following in New Zealand
and Australia, with many of
the original products having
upgrades to high performance
materials and the core ranges
growing every year. “At one
point it felt like we were adding
fitting configurations every
month” recalls Carl Hansen. In
1999 it was time for Hansen
Products to move into even
bigger premises. A building in
Union East Street, Whangarei
was found and the building
underwent huge changes to
house the manufacturing plant.
The turn of the millennium
saw Hansen Products continue
on the path of constant
improvement; a sister company
in Canada was established,
Irripod was purchased, the Easy
Fit range was updated and after
much encouragement from
the market our Full Flow Ball
Valve was released.
2013 Hansen released the
Easy Fit Compression Fittings
range designed specifically for
joining medium density polyethylene
pipe. In 2014 Hansen
released the compact Fastflo
Trough Valve & the ingenious
Han-Tool used to determine
which Easy Fit Poly or
Compression fitting will fit
your pipe. 2015 brought additions
to the alves ranges with
the ultra compact Mini Fastflo
Valve and adding to the Ball
Valve range a Male/Female
threaded version.
Further releases in 2016
are in the pipeline as Hansen
continues along it’s inventive
path, listening to famers’ needs
and responding with reliably
designed, innovative and practical
product solutions.
All of these products have
been designed for high performance
while still staying true
to Bert’s original philosophy of
“Keep it Simple”.
After 60 years in business,
Hansen Products is extremely
proud to be a New Zealand
owned and operated business.
We are continuing to design,
manufacture and distribute pipe
fittings and valves of the highest
quality around the world.
Hansen has built a reputation
Bert Hansen’s Original Toilet Valve 1952
Hansen instore display unit 2014.
for providing high performance,
easy to use, simple products
that deliver our customers “Best
Installed Value”. The winning
formula that has been applied
to the product range since the
1950s has ensured a loyal customer
following through the
generations. With a range of
more than 1000 different products,
loyal customers and a dedicated
team, Hansen is poised for
the new challenges ahead.
An original Hansen advertisment 1979.
Hansen Easy Fit Pipe Fitting 2009.

Trusted!
WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 11
for over 40 Years
New Zealand’s only 100 o /o owned and
operated Fittings & Valves manufacturer

12 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
Ballance Farm Environment Awards
recognise catchment success story
Farming in an environmentally sensitive
catchment can be tough, but the Birchall
family is working hard to meet the
challenge.
And the Bay of Plenty
Ballance Farm
Environment Awards
provided them with the perfect
opportunity to highlight some
of the good work they are doing
on their 280ha dairy farm near
Rotorua.
As well as benefiting their
own business, their involvement
in the Awards also helped
them show the wider community
that farmers in the Okaro
catchment take their environmental
responsibilities very
seriously.
“There’s a lot of good work
going on around here. Farmers
are very supportive of each
other, so we felt it was important
to put our hands up and tell
others about what is happening
in the catchment,” Shane
Birchall says.
He and wife June run their
530-cow operation, Waionehu
Farm Limited, with their son
Daniel and daughter Megan.
Shane and Megan are also
involved in several local committees
that focus on environmental
issues.
Shane and June first entered
the Bay of Plenty Ballance
Farm Environment Awards
about eight years ago and
enjoyed the experience, so the
whole family decided to enter
again this year.
“I think the kids were a bit
hesitant at first, but we all found
it to be an excellent educational
and networking experience and
they are already talking about
having another go in future.”
It reinforced what
we are trying to
do here.”
In the last 10 years the
family has invested heavily in
infrastructural improvements
designed to enhance environmental
and economic sustainability.
As well as upgrading
the farm’s water and effluent
systems, the Birchalls have also
erected two HerdHomes - the
first in the district – which have
helped augment animal welfare,
minimise pasture damage
and reduce nutrient loss.
All waterways have been
fenced and planted, and a 2ha
June and Shane Birchall behind daughter Megan
and son Daniel.
wetland has been constructed
to filter nutrients from farm
run-off.
“This place has been in our
family for 35 years. Mum and
Dad laid a good foundation but
we realise that if we want to
keep the operation sustainable
for future generations, we need
to keep improving,” Shane
says.
Ballance Farm Environment
Award judges described the
Birchalls as an innovative family
with individual strengths.
They praised the family’s environmental
focus “within the
farm and the community”.
In the 2016 BOP Ballance
Farm Environment Awards
the Birchalls won three category
awards, including
the WaterForce Integrated
Management Award, which
recognises farmers “who have
developed and implemented
integrated water management
systems and processes for
water used within their farming
system”.
Shane says the WaterForce
award was welcome recognition
of efforts to improve water
efficiency on the property.
He says the family was
thrilled to win three category
awards.
“It reinforced what we are
trying to do here.”
He says the judging process
was thoroughly rewarding
“because it makes you sit down
and take a good hard look at
what you are trying to achieve”.
“We also met some very
interesting people, including
the judges, scientists and other
entrants.”
Shane says the Awards programme
provides excellent
informational tools that will
help farmers tackle environmental
issues in future.
“There is a lot of good science
out there, and this is a
great way of getting the message
across.”
He says all farmers should
consider entering the Awards,
even if they don’t feel their
farm or orchard is ready.
“You don’t have to have all
your ducks in a row. Just put
your hand up and give it a go.”
Entries for the 2017 Bay
of Plenty Ballance Farm
Environment Awards close on
October 21, 2016. It costs nothing
to enter and entry forms
are available online at www.
nzfeatrust.org.nz
Great scholarship chance for Waihou-
Piako zone students
There’s another great
opportunity coming up
for students from the
Waihou-Piako rivers zone to
get a tertiary studies scholarship
worth up to $6000.
Waikato Regional
Council’s Roger Harris
Scholarship for 2017 is
available to those intending
to study or already studying
civil engineering or resource
management, with a particular
focus on river and catchment
management.
The scholarship is dedicated
to helping students whose
families live in the council’s
Waihou-Piako rating zone.
Applicants should submit
a curriculum vitae including
qualifications, copies of
NCEA results and information
on extracurricular activities,
as well as any other information
that demonstrates their
skills and attributes.
Applications, which close on
9 December 2016, should be
sent to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Waikato Regional Council
Private Bag 3038
Waikato Mail Centre
(Envelopes should be marked
Roger Harris Scholarship
Application)
For more information, contact
Karen Botting on 07 862 8376
or 0800 800 401, or email
Karen.botting@waikatoregion.govt.nz.
There are also
details at www.waikatoregion.
govt.nz/Funding
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 13
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14 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
Beef progeny test delivering
answers to farmers
Commercial farmers can bank on
estimated breeding values (EBVs) for calf
weaning weights delivering on what they
predict.
Initial results from the Beef
+ Lamb New Zealand
(B+LNZ) Genetics beef
progeny test are rolling in and
the second cohort of calves is
due on the ground in coming
weeks.
The test is being run across
five large commercial properties
and involves about 2200
cows and heifers each year.
Its goal is to determine how
bulls of different types perform
under comparable commercial
conditions.
It aims to put a dollar value
on the worth of superior genetics
– from both the perspective
of breeding cow performance
and finishing stock’s carcase
attributes.
B+LNZ Genetics general
manager Graham Alder says
that, at this point, there are
three key results for commercial
farmers to note.
“The most significant result
so far is around the estimated
breeding value for weaning
weight. More than 80 percent
of the expected weaning weight
advantage predicted by estimated
breeding values is being
realised on New Zealand commercial
farms.”
Mr Alder says farmers
should be very reassured by
the results.
“They were achieved across
the country on five large-scale
farms, across different breeds
and with both highly-proven
bulls and bulls that could be
purchased by commercial farmers
at most bull sales.
“The key point is the calf
weaning weight EBV will
largely deliver what you expect.
So, if you want heavier calves,
choose bulls with heavier 200
Day Weight EBVs.”
Lead scientist Dr Jason
Archer says the other two key
findings relate to cow mating –
specifically, artificial insemination
(AI) results and the impact
of cow condition at mating.
“AI success improved
markedly between Year 1 and
2 of the test – likely due to
improved cow body condition
scores, more feed handy
to yards, quieter cattle, and a
tighter calving period resulting
from the success of the year 1
AI programme.”
Dr Archer says the other
noteworthy point for commercial
farmers is the importance
of body condition score at mating.
“Analysis of the project’s
pregnancy data against body
condition score reinforces what
we already know – that a better
condition score is important for
re-breeding. For reproductive
success, a minimum score of 6
at mating is recommended, but
greater than 7 is optimal.”
Tautane Station is one of the
five properties involved in the
test. The 3700-hectare station
is owned by Ngati Kahungunu
and leased to the Taratahi
Agricultural Training Centre.
Manager Matt Smith says that,
while it is early days for test
results, everything to date is
positive.
“There will be some really
great information come out in
about 12 to 15 months. For
instance, I’m looking forward
to seeing how the heifers perform
– particularly those from
high-growth sires. Will they
stand up to our commercial
conditions?”
Mr Smith says it all comes
back to efficiency. “I don’t
want big cows. I want a cow
that will work hard over winter,
hold her condition, get in calf
and produce a calf that grows
well.”
The role of body condition
scoring has also made an impact
on Tautane. “We are now managing
our herds around body
condition scores, particularly at
weaning time. “We’ve always
scored them, but by eye. Now
we have a figure and we are all
on the same page. The aim is a
score of 7 at mating.”
The use of AI has not passed
Mr Smith by. “We are looking
at using it on a commercial
basis. It opens up such a large
pool of genetics – and from
bulls we could never afford to
buy.”
Additional information
Tautane Station manager Matt Smith is impressed with
results to date from the B+LNZ Genetics beef progeny
test. Tautane is one of five large commercial properties
involved in the test.
1) This graph shows progeny test bulls’ 200 Day Weight (weaning) EBVs and how they matched
on-farm weaning weights in their calves. When EBV goes up, so does average weaning weight. This
was the case for all bulls, across all breeds.
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Beef progeny test delivering
answers to farmers
WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
15
From page 18
2) Artificial insemination success rates across the five properties:
Farm 2014/15 2015/16
Whangara 44% 56%
Rangitaiki 56% R2 heifers, 64% MA cows 64%
Tautane 49% 58%
Mendip Hills 42% 49%
Caberfeidh 56% R2 heifers 62% R3s
3) Body condition score versus pregnancy rates:
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16 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
CRV Ambreed shows off
EU-approved production
centre to Lincoln students
AB company, CRV Ambreed, recently gave Lincoln University
students a rare look behind the scenes at its Bellevue Production
and Logistics Centre on the outskirts of Cambridge.
The centre recently got
the green light to export
straws of semen to the
European Union (EU) following
an official audit, CRV
Ambreed operations manager
Andrew Medley told the 41
students during their tour.
This accreditation makes
Bellevue one of only two such
approved locations in New
Zealand and one of the best bull
semen collection and processing
facilities in the Southern
Hemisphere.
“It’s essentially given us a
passport to the European market.
It has increased opportunities
for CRV Ambreed in the
UK and Ireland. As farming
systems change there’s potential
for New Zealand genetics to
go into other dairy markets in
Europe,” Andrew said.
But it’s not only the EU that
benefits from CRV Ambreed’s
achievement.
“Within New Zealand the
farmer can be sure that CRV
Ambreed bulls meet some of the
most stringent rules imposed on
semen trading internationally,”
Andrew said.
The Bellevue Production
and Logistics Centre is a red
line facility – that means no
one can enter the site without
strict controls. The Lincoln
University students were able to
witness staff at work from especially
designed vantage points
without crossing the red line.
Andrew explained CRV
Ambreed’s breeding philosophy
and breeding programme
design which involves partnering
with the country’s top
breeders to source the best bull
calves to enter the formal progeny
test programme.
“Our breeding programme
is all about improving genetic
gain,” Andrew said.
“Our role is to provide
the products and services to
enable the farmer to get their
cows in calf to ensure the elite
genetics will be in the milking
herd in three years’ time. Each
year we bring in 120 yearling
bulls into our progeny testing
(PT) programme selected
from 1500 bulls offered to us.
Those 1500 bulls go through
an intense selection process that
measures their genetic quality
using genomic selection technology
to help identify the elite
bulls that end up in the PT programme.”
The Lincoln University students
watched, from behind a
glass viewing platform, the collection
of semen.
“Some of these bulls are
being collected 50 weeks of
the year, twice a week, with
the capability of producing
100,000 to 120,000 straws,”
said Andrew.
And, from another viewing
platform looking down on the
laboratory, the students saw the
high tech system used for the
management of the semen. The
semen is processed in a semen
extender, injected into hundreds
of straws, each labelled to correctly
identify the sire and then
frozen before being stored in
liquid nitrogen at a temperature
of minus 196 degrees celsius.
CRV Ambreed also exports
NZ grazing genetics in significant
volumes to the USA,
South America, South Africa
and Australia.
“That’s quite a big thing
for New Zealand dairy farmers,
when they see their product
going offshore,” Andrew said.
Bachelor of Agricultural
CRV Ambreed operations manager
with students from Lincoln University.
Science students Abigail Jones,
of Karamea, and Chris Beatson,
of Darfield, felt fortunate to see
artificial insemination theory in
practice.
“Seeing it puts what we’ve
learned at university into reallife
perspective,” Abigail said.
Chris, son of CRV Ambreed
genetic development strategist
Phil Beatson, was excited to see
the new centre having visited
the old one.
“The Bellevue site is pretty
impressive,” Chris said.
“There’s a lot of interest in this
work.”
Bachelor of Commerce
(Agriculture) students Grace
Woolnough, of Mangawhai,
and Duncan Bridgman, of
Christchurch, were grateful
CRV had included viewing
spots in the design of the facility
so visitors could look behind
the scenes.
“I thought it was pretty
fabulous, having these places
where you can watch things
from,” said Grace,
“It’s pretty impressive,”
added Duncan. “There’s a lot of
technology in there and room to
add to it when new technology
comes along.”
EU auditors will visit the
Bellevue site every six months,
to ensure it continues to meet all
standards on an ongoing basis.
About CRV Ambreed
CRV Ambreed’s business is
built around one goal: helping
dairy farmers achieve their
highest performing herd possible.
Working with the CRV
Ambreed team provides dairy
farmers with insight into genetic
performance and capability;
a range of products and services
to suit individual needs; and
access to world-class expertise
and support.
About CRV Ambreed’s
breeding programme
CRV Ambreed’s breeding
philosophy is to produce
long-lasting, productive cows.
CRV Ambreed developed the
New Zealand Merit Index
(NZMI), a desired gains index
with a future focus on the genetic
direction of farmers’ herds.
Emphasis is placed on overall
opinion and selected type traits
that are strongly connected to
long-lasting, productive animals.
NZMI has consistent longterm
goals:
• Creating greater genetic gain
on protein production while
maintaining the size of the
Friesian
• Emphasis on efficiency and
sustainability for farmers’
future herds
• Improved shed traits, capacity
and udders
Sires developed with NZMI are
focused on breeding a cow that
typically produces on average
450kg of milk solids each year
and last for at least 5.5 lactations.
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 17
Foaling with remote view
CCTV at Waikato Stud
In a recent Interview Mark Chittick from
Waikato Stud said: “I first saw Smartway
Security during Equidays at Mystery Creek
a couple of years ago and when I saw their
CCTV demonstration truck it immediately
got my interest.
We had been considering
installing
CCTV for a while
and when I saw what they
were demonstrating, it all
made sense to me”.
“We had experienced
some problems at night and
wanted to control who was
entering the property, plus
we wanted a CCTV system
to keep track of the horses”.
In addition to installing
cameras a part of the work
to be carried out was for
Smartway to install wireless
data throughout the property
to connect the cameras and
then they added long range
WiFi at strategic positions
around the complex.
Mark continued: “With
the WiFi we now have about
three quarters of the main
farm covered which has been
extremely useful for our
Farm Management Software
Programme as it enables the
staff to update their records
as they go, instead of writing
it down and then entering
it when they get back to
the office, they now do the
updates direct on their smart
devices”
As they had not used
CCTV previously it was
important that the system
was easy to use and they
have found that looking back
and downloading footage is
a breeze.
Mark followed on: “I have
a really good team working
here, they loved the idea of
getting the cameras and are
really proactive about the
safety of the stud and the
horses, but the best benefit
we have had, is having the
cameras in the foaling boxes,
it has been massive!”
“To be able to keep an
eye on the mares remotely
- while working around
the farm provides a fantastic
time management advantage.
“They are not only used
during foaling but all round
the year when we have sick
horses that needs attention, it
is a feature that every breeder
should look at.”
“There is a good general
feeling that with an up market
property like this and
with the valuable stock here,
the cameras give us a better
sense of security and also I
want to look after my staff,
so a having a system like
this in place, it just takes it
to another level”.
In summing up Mark said:
“My favourite features of the
system I suppose are that it
is a deterrent when people
see there are so many cameras
around, also the WiFi has
been invaluable for all of us,
but my absolute favourite
is the remote view on my
phone so I can go in and look
at the cameras whenever I
like.”
Roger Bull, director of
Smartway Security said: “It
is really good having quality
clients like Waikato Stud and
we love seeing systems and
products we have designed
being used in the way that
Waikato Stud do. It makes
your job more satisfying”
Smartway will be back
at Equidays again this year
from October 16 to 18 so
check out what they can do
to help your business reach
that “other level of security”
Or you can contact them on
0800 93 63 63
Do you want to know
when visitors arrive
on your property?
Are you having trouble
with theft of milk,
fuel or equipment?
Parabeam Wireless Gate
Alerts are the perfect solution
and choice for owners to
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With a set of beams located
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visitors arrive on your property.
The precision detection
beam reports to a base
receiver which sounds a loud
beep, they can operate from
a distance of 50m to 2.5km
from the beams and run on
solar power.
It can even be interfaced
with your alarm system to
trigger other actions or you
can receive alerts on your
mobile phone with an extra
module.
They are fully waterproof
(IP66 rated), professionally
installed and come with a
three year warranty.
There are a variety of
uses for this product such
as larger rural properties,
dairy farms, vineyards and
orchards, residential homes,
homestays and resorts, construction
and building sites.
Wireless Gate alerts can
also be integrated with your
Camera System to show up
on the playback log and this
makes it easier to monitor
traffic in and out of your
property.
And how about another
set of beams to span the
yard (max 40m) where you
store your farm machinery?
Multiple entrances will each
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18 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016
Soil properties critical when applying effluent
Dairy effluent is a great source of nutrients
for growing pasture.
But if not managed properly
effluent can also be
a significant source of
contaminants which harm our
waterways.
Understanding how soil
properties affect nutrient loss
is a key to maximising the
benefits of effluent on farm
and minimising its impacts on
waterways.
Soil texture and structure
determine the amount of water
that can enter and be retained
within a particular soil, and the
rate of transmission of excess
water through that soil.
So effluent irrigation systems
should be matched with
soil properties to minimise runoff
and leaching.
The rate at which effluent
can be applied to the land for
maximum production benefit
is determined by the soil’s
properties including structure,
porosity and infiltration rate.
The nature of the effluent
and cattle treading on soils
can affect the infiltration
rate. Treading damage, which
occurs most when the soils are
wet, significantly reduces the
infiltration rate. For some soils
this can result in accumulation
of effluent below slopes and
in hollows. It can then enter
surface waterways.
Movement of water
through soil pores is generally
described as hydraulic conductivity.
When hydraulic conduc-
tivity of the soil is low, irrigation
of effluent will result in
ponding and run-off once the
total water capacity of the soil
is exceeded or if application
rate exceeds infiltration rate.
Low rates of hydraulic conductivity
are found in soils that
are poorly drained, and ponding
and runoff often occur with
high rainfall. Many of these
soils are artificially drained to
reduce the incidence of ponding
and water-logging, and this
carries a risk that effluent can
bypass the soil and be directed
rapidly into waterways
Leaching occurs as excess
water moves through the soil.
So soils with lower water
holding capacity are more
susceptible to leaching, while
soils with high water holding
capacity (deep silt loams) can
store significant quantities of
effluent.
The soils that have low
available water holding capacities,
are the shallow to moderately
deep soils, as well as
sandy or stony soils. Effluent
irrigation on these soils is likely
to result in leaching unless
it is applied at low rates and
in small doses. The irrigation
system on these soils must be
capable of low rates of application
to gain the maximum
nutrient benefit.
Drainage and the level of
biological activity of the soil at
the application site are important.
Aim to apply effluent at
a rate that keeps it in the root
zone so that the nutrients can
be utilised by pasture.
Permeable soils with a deep
water table and no drainage
limits are best for putting effluent
on. However, on stony soils
the risk of effluent draining
directly to ground water would
be an issue to consider. In such
situations, application depths
and rates should be adjusted to
account for this risk.
Another issue is “bypass
flow”. When effluent application
rates are higher than
infiltration rates, water can
enter continuous macro-pores
that are open at the soil surface,
and then move very
rapidly via so-called “bypass
flow” through a relatively dry
soil matrix. This means little
opportunity for the water to be
retained within the root zone
and high leaching of nitrate is
likely to occur.
Bypass flow of farm dairy
effluent can occur in soils that
undergo shrinkage and fissuring
during drying, especially
when these soils have been
previously compacted by
treading.
A key to avoiding over
application can be having adequate
effluent storage so that
By Bala Tikkisetty
Sustainable agriculture advisor at
Waikato Regional Council
Mark McHardy wins Cooperative
Leader of the Year Award
Cooperative Business New
Zealand has announced
Farmlands Fuel general
manager, Mark McHardy, as
the winner of the Cooperative
Leader of the Year Award for
2015/16.
The award honours an individual
who has shown significant
co-operative leadership, commitment
and support of well recognised
and accepted co-operative
principles.
They also need to display
vision and courage for the
co-operative model, along with
demonstrate successful initiatives
that have benefited their
co-operative or the co-operative
sector.
Cooperative Business New
Zealand CEO, Craig Presland,
says that Mark was the stand out
nominee for this award.
“His business’ successes as
general manager of Farmlands
Fuel have been based in strong
co-operative principles such as
leveraging the collective buying
power of the group, displaying
a strong vision and determination
in ensuring full health and
safety compliance, implementing
systems and procedures that
have ensured the efficient and
sustainable supply of fuel and
irrigation can be deferred if
conditions aren’t right.
DairyNZ has released a
new smart phone app to help
farmers apply effluent more
efficiently. The Dairy Effluent
Spreading Calculator app provides
dairy farmers and effluent
spreading contractors with
leading the long-term survival
and growth of Farmlands’ fuel
business,” he says.
Farmlands Co-operative
CEO, Peter Reidie says Mark has
been at the forefront of growth
for Farmlands Fuel for the past
10 years and has shown decisive
leadership around the expansion
and delivery of the Farmlands
Fuel business to Farmlands’
shareholder customers and the
wider rural New Zealand community,
along with offering innovative
solutions throughout the
fuel and lubricant sector.
“Mark has contributed to not
only the success of Farmlands
guidance around nutrient application
rates based on the depth
and type of effluent they apply.
• Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable
agriculture advisor at
Waikato Regional Council.
Contacts: bala.tikkisetty@waikatoregion.govt.nz
or 0800 800
401.
Fuel but also Farmlands
Co-operative as a whole, as a key
member of the executive team
that now guides New Zealand’s
largest rural supplies co-operative,”
he says.
“Mark has excellent focus
on customer service, has implemented
a leading environmental
awareness plan and has been a
champion in the health and safety
arena, not only within Farmlands
but in the wider fuel industry.”
Mark has a strong affinity to
rural New Zealand. He comes
from a dairy farm in the North
Island and completed a Diploma
in Horticultural Management at
Lincoln University, before working
in the grain and agricultural
chemical industries.
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 19
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