Ashburton Courier: January 16, 2020

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 20, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday 16 January 2020 Local news at www.starnews.co.nz HOME &GARDEN Myrtle rust athreat to native trees As you take to the garden this summer, keep an eye out for a threat to New Zealand’s native plants thatmay be lurking in yourown garden –myrtlerust. Myrtle rust,adisease caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii,is threateningmyrtle plants in New Zealand, includingsome festive summer favourites such as Pohutukawa (common in the North Island) and kanuka (common in the South Island). The disease first appears on myrtle plants as blotches of yellow dust on the leavesand stems. Spores are tinyand very easy to distribute by touchand even by wind. Its abilitytoattack many differentspecies of STOP BIRDS leaves, hail and vermin from blocking and damaging your spouting Qualitymaterials: BHP Colorbond steel mesh with unique patented louvrewill even keep out pine needles.Will not rust or sag with age or load.10year warranty,range of colours Proven in Australia &New Zealand over the last 15 years. FOR SAFE, PURE DRINKING WATER FROM YOUR ROOF. NOWAVAILABLE:STAINLESS STEELMICRO MESH Call Rohan anytime Mon-Sat for ano-obligation assesssment&quote 0800 486532 03 982 8850 myrtle plants and its ability to spreadsoeasily means that the disease is already present in many areas of the North Island and in some parts of the South Island. You may or may not havenativemyrtlesin yourgarden,but nonnative,common garden myrtles can also get infected. Nonnativemyrtles include eucalypts, bottlebrush, guavas and monkey apples or lilly pilly, acommon hedge species. Whennonnativesare infected, the spore load builds up, increasing the threat to other myrtles,asthe spores are easily spread by wind. Whatcan gardeners do to make sure their gardens are protected www.gumleaf.co.nz 2245493 from disease? The Beyond Myrtle Rust Programme, in partnership with myrtlerust.org.nz (hostedbythe Ministry for Primary Industries), has released aresource for gardenerstohelp them protect against diseaseorprevent its spread if the disease is present. Tips include: •Know myrtlerust: Myrtle rust forms blotches of tinyyellow spores thatlook like clumps of pollen. Spores can stick to clothes, shoes and fingers–so don’t touch it! •Know your myrtles: If you’renot sure whetheraplant with signs of infection is a myrtle,upload apicture of it to iNaturalist.NZ for professional confirmation, or try the iNaturalistSeek app for afast ID. •Donot prune myrtlesover the holidays: Myrtle rust attacksnew growth and is less infectious in the winter,sowait to prune to avoid growth in summer and autumn. •Water myrtles at the base of the plant in the mornings: Myrtlerust thrivesinhumidity. Water in the mornings at the base of the plant avoids wettingnew leaves,buds and flowers that are most susceptible. •Remove and report Popular New Zealand native trees such as kanuka and pohutakawa are among those under threat by myrtle rust. infected plants:Follow correct protocols to removeplants without spreading the infection. Pleasereport the infection on iNaturalist. NZ •Don’t plant highly susceptible myrtles: Lilly pilly/monkeyapple (Syzygium species)and Lophomyrtusspecies (ramarama, rohutu and cultivatedhybridssuch as “reddragon”)are very susceptible to myrtle rust. Chooseotherplants for your garden. You can also get into the holiday spirit by giving New Zealand’s native plantsavaluable gift–the removalof highlysusceptible nonnative myrtles from your garden in the North Island.Itiseasier to remove plants whenthey are stillhealthy, instead of removing them after they have become infected. Keep your home, property secure 2245794 It may be the holiday season, but remember just because you maybetaking abreak,opportunist thieves are always on the lookout so keepyour property secure these holidays. NewZealand Police prevention manager senior sergeant Beth Purcell says whilethe holiday season may be on your mind, it’s not the time to relax when it comes to keepingyourhomeand property secure. Police staffhaveseenanincreaseinburglaries, thefts and dishonestyoffences from residential properties in a number of areas aroundthe country overthe summer months. Some simple tipsimprove your homesecurity and deter burglars: •Lockyourdoors andwindows. •Record the serial numbers of expensive electronic items and photograph these andother valuables, email images to your home emailfor vault storage. •Keep valuables out of sight suchasjewellery, cameras andelectronic games. •Install an alarm system, get sensor lights fitted. •Keep gardensheds and garageslocked when not in use and don'tleave garden tools and mowers outside. •Keep hedges or plants around doors and windows welltrimmed, don’t give the burglar aplacetohide. •Keep thehouse secure when you areout in the garden or yard. •Note downregistrations, descriptions,date, time andplaceofany suspicious vehicles or people andgive us acall. •Don't leaveyour vehicle windows down whenit's sitting outside your property. And remember when going on holidaymake arrangements for yourmail and newspaper to be stopped or collectedbyafriend or neighbour. •Hide valuable items, financial documents and spare keys to vehicles. •Lock your garages and any sheds. •Set timer switches on lights and/or radios. •Don’t mention on yourvoicemail you will be away from home forafew days. •Beaware that burglars haveaccesstosocialmedia. If youare going awaydon’t post this publicly on your socialmedia. •Get aneighbourorfriend to makeregularschecks on the property. Or get them to close curtainsinthe eveningand turn lights on to givethe appearance that someoneishome. 2242242
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday 16 January 2020, Page 21 Rural&Lifestyle Good farm management learnings By Toni Williams Chris and AnneMarie Allen opened their farm gate to around 40 Canterbury teachers and industry representatives recently giving them insight into afarm working to good management practice. The Allen’s own a 360hectare sheep and beef farm at AshburtonForks,near Mt Somers, in Mid Canterbury. They run 1500 breeding ewes (either cross breeds or half breeds). The half breeds are Merino and Romney which produces softer wool at around the 23 to 24 micron range. It makes a“big difference between getting $2.50 per kilogram to $13 to $14 per kilogram for the half breed wool. And Iknow which one I’d rather spend all my time in the shedslooking after,” Chris says. They also finish 300 to 500 cattle in various classes, and have a“small amount of cropping” (20 hectaresofbarley);half of which is for stock and the rest is sold. The Allen’s bought the property in 1994. It was sold to them as 900acres, the yields noted in bushelsand the fertiliser requirements in hundredweight. And they have made afew changes in the past 25 years to bring it into the 21st century. There is an upgraded irrigation system; they now have one lateral and five centre pivots. And it’s work made just that bit easier with reliable connectivity. They use it to control the water supply and to turn on and off the irrigation system all from the touch of abutton on amobile phone. They also use it to check moisture levels in the soil and nitratelevels in one of their on farm wells. “Stop and start pumps alter the flowrate for the amount of water we are putting on per hectare...it’s all (via) cellphones. It’s important to be connected.’’ Chris and Anne-Marie Allen address teachers visiting their property. The recent addition ofthe nitrate sensing probe into one of their wells, measures in real time what the nitrate level isin the well. “We’vegot shallow aquifers,two and ahalf to three metres deep, sowhat we’re doing does affectthe water but at least we’ll build up astory of what’s going on with our activities.” The readings will help them plan their farm operation; where they plant their winter feed, and the crops they should grow. “We use precision irrigation scheduling water,water monitoring, probes,physical assessments and relying on electronic systems to perform.” “It’s real time information.” “We’vegot 10 different soil typessowe’vegot some of the finest soils you can imagine in Canterbury tosome of the worst challenges.” “And they change over the length of this house. What’s good inone part, may not be in another.” The property isfully irrigated and has had a long term irrigation consent off the Ashburton River since the early 1980s. It was one of the earlier adopters of irrigation. And over the time it’s changed from borderdyking (at 30 odd feet gradient) to pivot irrigation. The gravity fed option was not efficient enough. Chris says just athird of the farm was covered by border dyking, but the water rights should have been enough to do all of the farm. And it was only 70 percent reliable. “We’re using the same volume of water we were using, over all of the farm now with as much reliability as we can.” Even with the reliable source, the property has its own water storage pond which spans six and ahalf hectares. It holds 150,000 cubic metres of water and is two and ahalf metres deep. “That’s enough water for 1820days over the whole of the property,” Chris says. Chris spends afair amount of time offfarm duetohis commitmenttothe National Board of FederatedFarmers and advocating for farmers, which he is passionate about doing. And he has some pretty big policy responsibilities with water, the environment and biodiversity. “I’m avery strong advocate of good management practices,” Chris says. “It’s anational discussion and aCanterbury incentive discussion about getting everyone doing good management practice.” He says aclassic example was not using the same level of fertiliser used by forefathers on the land 60 yearsago. It was unlikely to need it. Chris saystestingthe paddocks, and getting a programme for its needs, meant they were getting the right levels offertiliser they needed at optimum level. The other consideration was irrigation and it meant knowing your soil types, being aware of moisture deficits, and the need to use water such as aneed to activate ingredients in added chemical. “Make sure you’ve got aneed for turning it on”. “We just want to make sure we’re being efficient atwhat we do,” he says. Clark: Farmers cautious on spending Mid Canterbury farmers are taking acautious approach to spending, even though commodity prices are in their favour, says Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president David Clark. He said prices for lamb, milk and crops were buoyant but farmers were not thinking about buying new tractors or building new yards because of uncertainly about pending Government legislation. Environmental rules being considered by Government over the summer will affect farmers. Some say the rules have unachieveable bottom lines that will spell economic disaster for agriculture and the country. Mr Clark said the public policy needed to be fair and reasonable. Farmers voiced their big concerns when the proposed rules were released in October. Hundreds of submissions have been received and Ministers are working through them before deciding the final form of the document. ‘‘We are waiting to see where they decide to land it,’’ Mr Clark said. ‘‘But farmers have stopped spending. Maintenance and development has stopped. ‘‘They are not upgrading irrigation or building anew hay barn, or refencing or building new yards. ‘‘Commodity prices are near record highs and this should be a buoyant time in the cycle. ‘‘But if those rules come out, retailers in Ashburton better get used to empty shops.’’ Mr Clark said cropping farmers were gearing towards harvest, with promising yields expected for those not affected by last year’s hail. David Clark Rural Directory CONTRACTORSGENERAL ACL -Ashburton Contracting Ltd Ph: 308 4039 SHEARING CONTRACTORS Proshear Limited Ph: 302 7541 To advertise in this space please call 308 7664 RURAL DIARY Thu • Thursday, January 16 • Rakaia Gorge On Farm Lamb • Temuka Calf Only Monday, January 20 • Temuka Tuesday, January 21 • Canterbury Park All Stock Thursday, January 23 • Temuka Store Cattle Monday, January 27 • Temuka Tuesday, January 28 • Canterbury Park All Stock excl. Store Cattle Wednesday, January 29 • Temuka 2th Ewe and Ewe Lamb 2231137 • DairyNZ accredited Effluent Pond Design andConstruction • Pond Constructionand Irrigation Development • Hedgeand Stump Removal • Farm Conversions • DairyTracks– Lime or Gravel • PumpHire • Wellsand Galleries • Bulk Earthworks • Subdivisions • Site Works • Tree Shear • Transportation 2246502 199 Burnett Street, Ashburton 2245974 Brought to you by your local insurance brokers
Page 1 and 2: Margaret Feiss Licensee Salesperson
Page 3 and 4: Local news at www.starnews.co.nz As
Page 9 and 10: Couple tow coffin to Parliament Cam
Page 19: Local news at www.starnews.co.nz As

Ashburton Courier: January 16, 2020

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?