You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
RURAL/LIFESTYLE<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>August</strong> <strong>20</strong>, <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong><br />
15<br />
Blackgrassfoundinlocal seed<br />
TONI.WILLIAMS<br />
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Blackgrass pest weed has<br />
been found again in Mid<br />
Canterbury.<br />
It was found in ryegrass seed<br />
grown in the <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
district, and being tested at a<br />
seed processingplant for<br />
purity and germinationas part<br />
of routine preexport<br />
certification.<br />
It was not part of aspill that<br />
occurred between Tinwald<br />
and Methvenin<strong>20</strong>13.<br />
Biosecurity New Zealand<br />
principal response manager<br />
David Yard said the farm was<br />
one of anumberofproperties<br />
under routine surveillance for<br />
blackgrass after planting<br />
contaminated seed back in<br />
<strong>20</strong>07. It was imported.<br />
“Biosecurity New Zealand is<br />
still investigating but we<br />
believethe discovery is<br />
connected to the importation<br />
of contaminated seed in <strong>20</strong>07.<br />
‘‘Blackgrass was detectedina<br />
<strong>20</strong>16 ryegrass harvestand we<br />
commencedaresponse with<br />
the seed sector, Federated<br />
Farmers and local authorities<br />
to eliminate blackgrass.<br />
Mid Canterbury farmers need<br />
to keep an eye out for the<br />
blackgrass weed which has<br />
been foundinthe area again.<br />
“Initially, threeblackgrass<br />
(Alopecurus myosuroides)<br />
seeds were found in a100g<br />
sample of ryegrass seed.<br />
Subsequent testing of the<br />
remainderofthe harvest<br />
(approximately 14 tonnes)<br />
foundfurther lowlevel<br />
contamination with blackgrass<br />
seeds,” he said.<br />
Blackgrass seed was known<br />
to survive in the ground for<br />
many years and it was likely<br />
this incursion had come from<br />
the sowingofcontaminated<br />
seed in <strong>20</strong>07/<strong>20</strong>08.<br />
“This detection, while<br />
disappointing, was not<br />
unexpected given the ability of<br />
blackgrass seed to persistin<br />
the environment for many<br />
years. This is why Biosecurity<br />
New Zealand and the seed<br />
growingindustry had been<br />
carryingout ongoing<br />
surveillancefor this weed,” he<br />
said.<br />
“Blackgrass has been found<br />
on only three properties, so we<br />
do not believethe pest is<br />
widespread.”<br />
Blackgrass was aserious<br />
pest weed in Europe and the<br />
United Kingdom, especially as<br />
it was resistanttomany<br />
herbicides making it difficult<br />
to control.<br />
However, it was not<br />
expectedtotake hold in New<br />
Zealand with Biosecurity New<br />
Zealand,farmersand the seed<br />
industrytaking any incursion<br />
seriously from the outset.<br />
Mr Yardsaid since the<br />
discovery BiosecurityNew<br />
Zealand has had all affected<br />
ryegrass seed held securely at<br />
the seed facility.<br />
“We are workingtohave the<br />
seed approved for shipment to<br />
another country which already<br />
has blackgrass and has no<br />
restrictions on these imports.<br />
This seed cannot be sold in<br />
New Zealand.<br />
“We have also directed seed<br />
offal (waste material from the<br />
seed processing) to be<br />
destroyed securely by deep<br />
burial.”<br />
Avisit to the farm concerned<br />
noted the farmer had very<br />
good biosecurity practices in<br />
place and the processing<br />
company did exactly the right<br />
thing notifying Biosecurity<br />
New Zealandofthe detection<br />
and securingstock on the<br />
premises,hesaid.<br />
Mr Yard said Canterbury<br />
farmers should continue to<br />
keep alookout for blackgrass.<br />
If they believe they have<br />
foundit, they shouldnot<br />
disturb the seedhead, but take<br />
aphoto and call the Pest and<br />
Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99<br />
66 and report the suspected<br />
find.<br />
IN BRIEF<br />
DAIRYNZ BOARD<br />
DairyNZ is seeking farmers with an<br />
interest in shaping the futureofthe<br />
New Zealanddairy sectortojoin<br />
theirboard.<br />
They arehave two directorroles<br />
to fill withdirector and chair Jim van<br />
der Poeland directorColin Glass<br />
retiring by rotationafter three years;<br />
both willstand for re-election.<br />
Details canbefoundatwww.<br />
dairynz.co.nz/agm<br />
DairyNZ board memberPeter<br />
Schuytsaid it was an important time<br />
forthe dairy sector, and theboard<br />
will playakey role in settingstrategy<br />
in arapidlychanging environment.<br />
DairyNZ was in aunique position<br />
to advocate forfarmerstoinfluence<br />
future policy and support farmers<br />
with solutions to adapt their farming<br />
systems, he said.<br />
LEVYFARMERS<br />
DairyNZisseeking applications<br />
from farmers to fill oneposition on<br />
the Directors’ Remuneration<br />
Committee whichindependently<br />
sets boardfees.<br />
The role is open to current levy<br />
paying dairyfarmers but must be<br />
nominatedbytwo currentlevy<br />
payers. More information on the<br />
rolescan be foundwww.dairynz.co.<br />
nz/agm.Nominations must be<br />
received by noon,onSeptember 3.<br />
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals whose focus is on<br />
the health and function of the spine and the nervous system.<br />
Chiropractic is knowntohelpwith back andneck pain together<br />
with headaches but it is moreabout total healthand wellbeing.<br />
It is about getting people functioning at their best to get the<br />
most out of their daily lives.<br />
Chiropractic is about having ahealthy spine that allows forthe<br />
free flow ofnerve signals from the body tothe brain, so that<br />
the brain caninterruptthese messages and respond.<br />
The role ofthe spine is to act asprotection to the central<br />
nervous system with each vertebral segment being able to<br />
bend and move with the bodies daily movements.<br />
The central nervous system is the message information<br />
highway ofsending and receiving communication from the<br />
body to the brain forinterpretation and response.<br />
What we do and how weuse our body inour everyday life<br />
can impactonthe spine. This maylead to changesinthe way<br />
spinal segments move resulting in abnormal or dysfunction<br />
spinal movements and spinal wear and tear. This can occur<br />
gradually from bad posture orrepetitive movements or from<br />
asuddenonset of asporting injuryormotor vehicle accident.<br />
This everyday wear and tear to the spine may impact the<br />
messages travelling through<br />
the central nervous system, resulting in a change and<br />
&<br />
Health<br />
Wellbeing<br />
Chiropractic fortotalhealth and wellbeing<br />
miscommunicationbetween the brain and the body.<br />
When we get miscommunication due to abnormal spinal<br />
segment movements, chiropractors call this aChiropractic<br />
Vertebral Subluxation.<br />
Thechiropractors role is to restorethe normal spinal movement<br />
so that communication between the body and the brain is<br />
unimpeded.<br />
Debraisavailable forhealthcoaching forpeople who want to<br />
improve their lifestyle, starting with an in-depth look at diet,<br />
exercise,sleep hygiene and stress management.<br />
Injury Prevention<br />
HolisticHealth<br />
• Relief from<br />
back/spinalpain<br />
• Improvedhealth and<br />
injury prevention<br />
• Move, heal,rest,<br />
digestbetter<br />
• ACC registered<br />
• Reiki<br />
• Massage<br />
•Nutritionals<br />
•Weight Management<br />
Phone or text<br />
027 282 1585<br />
• Skin and Body Care<br />
• Self Hypnosis<br />
•Vibrational Energy Healing<br />
•Spiritual Guidance<br />
•Group Meditation<br />
Annie<br />
OUR FOCUS<br />
•Quality assured<br />
•Comprehensive checks<br />
•Personalised services<br />
•Trendy styles<br />
•Affordable pricing<br />
Monday-Wednesday9:30am -4pm<br />
Thursday&Friday10am -2:30pm<br />
Saturdayand Sundaybyappointment<br />
*Wetakeaerhoursby appointment<br />
2300957<br />
03 308 9516<br />
www.ashburtonchiropractic.co.nz<br />
First Floor Smith &Church Building<br />
Moore Street, <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
2300754<br />
David Atkinson, Optometrist<br />
65 Tancred Street,<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
Phone: 307 8988<br />
www.nzfocusoptometry.co.nz<br />
2300962