North Canterbury News: April 22, 2021
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High country issues discussed<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
High countryissues got afair<br />
airing at arecent field day.<br />
Government agencies,<br />
farmers and industry<br />
organisationscame together at<br />
Rob Stokes’Lees Valley<br />
property,near Oxford, to<br />
discuss subjects as diverse as<br />
fire danger, adverse events,<br />
pastoralleases, waterquality,<br />
biodiversity and forestry.<br />
The issueshave come to the<br />
fore in recentmonths with<br />
majorhigh country firesand<br />
new governmentlegislation.<br />
The field day provideda<br />
chance for farmers to discuss<br />
theirchallenges with the<br />
Ministry for Primary<br />
Industries(MPI),Fire and<br />
EmergencyNew Zealand<br />
(FENZ) andEnvironment<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> staff, as well as<br />
MPs. Federated Farmers, Beef<br />
and Lamb New Zealandand<br />
2354936<br />
MEAT2U.NZ<br />
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&WILD GAME<br />
MEAT PROCESSING<br />
313 00<strong>22</strong><br />
the agencyAlpine Fault8were<br />
alsorepresented.<br />
While no government<br />
ministers attended, Mr Stokes,<br />
who is theFederated Farmers<br />
highcountry chairman,hoped<br />
aministerial visit was in the<br />
pipeline next month.<br />
‘‘Itseemslike there’s light at<br />
the end of the tunnel. It’s good<br />
newsthat theseorganisations<br />
havecome on boardand we<br />
can work through some of<br />
these issues.’’<br />
FederatedFarmers national<br />
board memberChrisAllen said<br />
recent government legislation<br />
seemed to be a‘‘onesizefitsall<br />
approach’’ and was<br />
unworkable in ahigh country<br />
environment.<br />
‘‘Itwas agreat to be partof<br />
an event in an iconic part of the<br />
landscape, whichreally lent<br />
itself to get thediscussion into<br />
thatpractical side.<br />
‘‘Our job as Fedsistohelp<br />
Pair impressed by breed<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
Canadian cattle have givena<strong>North</strong><br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> coupleanew passion for<br />
farming.<br />
Culverdencouple Robbieand Anna<br />
Clark havebeenbreeding Speckle<br />
Parkcattle since2007.<br />
Beforeswitching to Speckle Park,<br />
the couplehad ashorthorncattle<br />
stud.<br />
‘‘They’re verysimilar. The shorthornisanawesome<br />
breed, but the<br />
colourmarkingsfromthe Speckle<br />
Parkcomesout in the dairy calves,<br />
which is crucial in helping farmers<br />
identify thebeefcalves fromtheir<br />
replacementcalves,’’ Mr Clarksays.<br />
The Clarksrun 35 studcows at their<br />
Parkvale Speckle Parkstud,along<br />
withasmall commercial herd, all<br />
Speckle Park.<br />
‘‘Wejust liketheir attributes —the<br />
quality of themeat, theyyieldwell,<br />
and they lookgoodinthe paddock,’’<br />
Mr Clarksays.<br />
‘‘They’ve got to be functionaland<br />
they certainly are.’’<br />
TheSpeckle Parkwas developed in<br />
Canadafromthree Britishbreeds:<br />
Angus, shorthornand white park.<br />
Thebreed wasfirst importedinto<br />
NewZealand15years ago through<br />
semen brought intothe <strong>North</strong> Island<br />
andhas graduallybeenbred intoa<br />
pure breed.<br />
Thereare around 20 SpecklePark<br />
breedersthroughoutNew Zealand<br />
andthe numbers are growing<br />
steadily.<br />
Speckle Park bulls are becoming<br />
increasingly popularamong dairy<br />
farmerslooking forterminal sires, Mr<br />
Clarksays.<br />
‘‘It is thefastest growing beefbreed<br />
in Australasiaatthe moment and<br />
there’s afew beef farmersaround<br />
looking to get into them,’’hesays.<br />
‘‘They’re averystylishbreedand<br />
very functional, and Ienjoyworking<br />
with them.You’ve got to believe in<br />
what you’redoing andbepassionate.’’<br />
ALL FENCING STYLES &<br />
EARTHWORKS<br />
2358603<br />
Phone: 021 640 748<br />
www.highcountryfencing.co.nz<br />
informpolicy makers so they<br />
can come up withsomething<br />
that is workable,and the field<br />
day was areally good showcase<br />
of whatisn’t going to work.’’<br />
In the firinglinewerenew<br />
stock exclusion rules, which<br />
shouldn’t apply in the high<br />
country, Mr Allen said.<br />
‘‘We need to go back to the<br />
basicsand ask what is the<br />
problem and what are we<br />
tryingtofix? There is alot of<br />
cost to farmers and for not<br />
much outcome.’’<br />
On the positiveside,Mr<br />
Allensaid therewas good<br />
engagement betweenfarmers<br />
and MPI in tackling wilding<br />
pines.<br />
‘‘There’salot of good work<br />
goingoninthe highcountry<br />
and peopledon’t see it.’’<br />
FENZ <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong><br />
principalrural fire officer<br />
BruceJanes saidthe field day<br />
was agood chance for<br />
firefighters and farmers to<br />
discuss the benefits and<br />
dangersofcontrolled fires.<br />
‘‘Not all fire is bad. We’ve<br />
had an increasing number of<br />
enquiriesfor burns for 100 to<br />
300 hectares of land.<br />
‘‘Burning is part of our<br />
historyand our land management,<br />
and we can help farmers<br />
and address theirconcerns.<br />
Farmers were very receptive.’’<br />
FENZoffers afree service to<br />
advise farmersonhow to<br />
manage controlled fires.<br />
Farmerswere advised to<br />
prepareafiveyear burn plan.<br />
‘‘Weknow the devastating<br />
impact of escapedburns. But<br />
these can be avoided with<br />
smart land management.<br />
‘‘Ifyou’reout on the quad<br />
bikeand think ‘it’s calm, so I’m<br />
going to light up’, but you<br />
haven’t looked at the weather<br />
forecast,you’reasking for<br />
trouble.’’<br />
Beefingup... RobbieClark,ofCulverden, was<br />
promoting the attributesofthe Speckle Park cattle<br />
breedatthe recentSouth IslandAgricultural Field<br />
Days.<br />
PHOTO:DAVIDHILL<br />
Wanting to buy or<br />
sell something?<br />
Advertiseinour<br />
classified section<br />
Phone Amanda 3132840 or<br />
email info@ncnews.co.nz<br />
RURAL LIFE<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>April</strong> <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2021</strong><br />
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Wai: We care<br />
"Seeingthe changes in freshwaterquality and land<br />
use in thepastthree decadesmotivatedmetoget<br />
involved andhavemysay on water management in<br />
the Selwyn-Waihora zone."<br />
SimonHay –<br />
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Water Zone<br />
Committeemember<br />
Nine of <strong>Canterbury</strong>’s tenwater zone committees arelooking for new<br />
community members. If youare interested in joining your local committee,<br />
visit ecan.govt.nz/waiwecare before10May and letusknow waiyou care.<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong>’s waterzonecommittees recommend actions and tactics to councils while working with<br />
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Environment <strong>Canterbury</strong>
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