Dairy News 12 November 2019

Monaghan stares down calls for resignation. PAGE 3 TOP CHEESE

Whitestone’s global success PAGE 8

COLORADO REVAMP More bells and whistles PAGE 34

NOVEMBER 12, 2019 ISSUE 435 // www.dairynews.co.nz

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Fonterra shareholders retain directors Andy Macfarlane and Donna Smit despite financial upheavel at the co-op . PAGE 4

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

NEWS  // 3

Monaghan stares down calls to go SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA CHAIRMAN John Monaghan Dairy sheep draws interest. PG.17

Speakers for Effluent Expo. PG.21

Gear for tough terrain. PG.35

NEWS ������������������������������������������������������3-13 OPINION ���������������������������������������������� 14-15 AGRIBUSINESS ������������������������������ 16-17 MANAGEMENT ��������������������������������18-19 ANIMAL HEALTH ���������������������������������20 EFFLUENT & WATER ������������������� 21-33 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS �������������������������������������� 34-35

stared down calls for his resignation at the coop’s annual meeting last week. In outbursts unseen at previous Fonterra annual meetings, several farmers blasted the directors for Fonterra’s poor performance and called for accountability. One shareholder Jan Marten Kingma told the meeting the directors are acting as if they weren’t involved in bad decisions. “We are still living on the same planet: the same staff and board are still there.” Kingma said shareholders are now watching the same board and staff implement the strategic change. He called for accountability for the loss, incompetence and failure by Fonterra leadership. “We want someone to take responsibility -take ownership and simply apologise.” He warned that Fonterra’s share of milk supply out of Southland is eroding thanks to its disastrous performance and lack of accountability. He urged the directors to take his comments into account when appointing the chairman after the AGM. Kingma, a former Fonterra board candidate, refused to comment saying he didn’t know media was present at the annual meeting. Monaghan responded by saying that everyone must take responsibility for the co-op’s shortcomings in the past. So rather than cut and run he has decided to stay on to do something about them. Monaghan says the board is now ‘totally rejuvenated’, assisted by a new chief executive and chief financial officer. He later told Dairy News that he wasn’t surprised by Kingma’s call to resign. “We are a broad church,” he said.

Fonterra’s outgoing Shareholders Council chairman Duncan Coull and Fonterra chairman John Monaghan at last weeks AGM.

OPEN AND INCLUSIVE INCOMING FONTERRA shareholders council chairman James Barron says he’ll be an open and inclusive leader. Barron was appointed last week, replacing Duncan Coull who stepped down after four years in the role. Speaking at Fonterra’s AGM last week, Barron said he is passionate about the co-op.

Monaghan is due to retire as a director at the 2020 annual meeting. Fonterra said in September that it would decide next year on a succession plan for the co-op’s chairmanship. “Having seen through the introduction of our new strategy and operating model, and with our divestment and debt reduction efforts well pro-

“I see this opportunity as the ultimate way I can contribute to our co-op’s success. I will work with Fonterra’s board constructively and will represent the view of our shareholders.” Barron says priorities include the review of the council’s functions and discussions on Fonterra’s capital structure review. Barron praised Coull for his contribution.

gressed, I will be working with the board in 2020 to facilitate chair succession,” Monaghan said in that statement. “The timeline for that succession will be agreed by the board nearer to the time,” he said. Monaghan took on the chairmanship after the sudden resignation of John Wilson last year.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

4 //  FONTERRA AGM

Ain’t broke but needs fixing SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz John Monaghan (right) with David Gasquoine at the Fonterra AGM last week.

DISAPPOINTING DAYS CANNOT BE REPEATED FONTERRA CHIEF executive Miles Hurrell says the co-op cannot afford to repeat last year’s disappointing performance. The co-op has forecast earnings of 15-25c/share for this financial year, based on a forecast EBIT range of $700-800 million. “While this is down on last year, our forecast EPS (earnings per share) is up, reflecting lower interest and tax. To get here, we can’t repeat last year’s disappointing performance. “The fundamentals of dairy remain strong.” He says the world wants more dairy, and a growing middle class with high disposable incomes is looking for pre-

mium products. “We believe we can create value from innovation, sustainability and efficiency. “And our new strategy positions us well to leverage this.” But at the same time, Hurrell says, the global economy is showing signs of slowing, with increasing trade tensions. “Given our reliance on the international market, these are factors we continue to watch closely.” On 2019-20 milk collection, he says milk collection forecast is similar to last year. Fonterra has revised its milk price to a range of $6.55 to $7.55/kgMS – the fourth consecutive year of milk prices over $6/kgMS.

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Two re-elected to co-op RE-ELECTED FONTERRA direc- is delighted and humbled to be retors Andy Macfarlane and Donna elected. “It’s a great endorsement of the Smit are looking forward to another board and management’s direction of three years on the board. Ashburton agribusiness consul- travel, although we still have a lot of tant and farmer Macfarlane told Dairy News he is honoured to be given the chance by Fonterra farmers to make a further contribution to repositioning the cooperative. “We have the opportunity to unify our efforts, as well as improve performance to a level that delivers more value Andy Macfarlane Donna Smit to our shareholders and our work to do.” communities. Macfarlane and Smit defeated “The unique position of Fonterra in NZ carries a high level of respon- three other candidates -- Cathy Quinn, Philip Haas and Victor Ruthsibility on all of us to do our part. “I take my share of that respon- erford. Smit was impressed by the calibre sibility to look after our land, our environment, our people and our of the candidates who stood this year. “The election process is good in community wealth, very seriously.” Edgecumbe farmer Donna Smit that it makes you reflect on what you

have contributed as an individual and as a team,” she said. “It focuses you on what you want for the future and it reconnects you with what’s important -- serving our farmer shareholders. I feel energised by the task ahead.” In the shareholder council elections, only two wards required elections as sitting councillors and candidates in eight other wards walked in unopposed. Whakatane farmer and lactose champion Gerard van Beek is a new councillor for eastern Bay of Plenty. Van Beek has been publicly pushing for the value of lactose to be included in the farmgate milk price. Vaughn Brophy, coastal Taranaki, retained his seat. Former council chairman Ian Brown was elected unopposed as the Fonterra farmer custodian trustee.

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Monaghan says the co-op is not broken but still needs to change. He told about 130 shareholders at the co-op’s annual meeting in Invercargill last week that there is a lot of commentary on “the Beingmates and China Farms, so it’s important to bring some balance to those conversations”. “We have a milk price that is consistently on par with our peers in Europe and the US. We should be incredibly proud of that milk price. “It doesn’t just fall from the sky. We work to deliver it every day and

standing of our co-op in many people’s minds. “Our new purpose is already guiding our decisionmaking, culture and behaviour as an organisation.” Monaghan urged shareholders to judge the board by its actions more than its words. “When you look at our key milestones for the year, you see a co-op doing what it said it would. “Last year I was humbled to stand up at the annual meeting for the first time as your chairman. We signalled that day that there would be fundamental change in the co-op and you wouldn’t die wondering. We have delivered on that commitment.”

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it benefits every New Zealand farmer, rural community and our national economy.” But Monaghan says the co-op needs to change: to take the best things from the past and adapt them for the future. He says the co-op has also learnt to listen more to its farmer shareholders and other stakeholders. “When we listened to our farmers, unit holders, customers, partners and other stakeholders, they told us they wanted to be part of our co-op, but we needed to show up differently. “I hope you’ve seen change in the way we communicate with you. Doing more listening than talking, and taking what I call ‘the shine’ off our language has improved the

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

NEWS  // 5

Four more years, mate PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE NZ/CHINA Free

Trade Agreement (FTA) upgrade has brought little joy to the dairy industry. The dairy industry has been left out in the cold with no new concessions, despite Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Trade Export and Growth Minister, David Parker seemingly upbeat at the outcome. The Government says the FTA with NZ is the best China has with any country, reflecting the importance both countries place on the relationship. But NZ dairy industry leaders are less than impressed with the outcome. Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) chairman Malcolm Bailey says his organisation is naturally disappointed that the upgrade has not resulted in specific gains for dairy market access. He says the existing FTA provisions will continue for up to four years and only then will there be complete duty free access for all NZ dairy exports to China. When the FTA was negotiated in 2008, ‘safeguards’ inserted into the agreement meant that if NZ dairy exports to China went over a certain level, tariffs would be applied to them. At the time, exports

Jacinda Adern with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Summit.

OPPOSITION UNIMPRESSED NATIONAL’S SPOKESMAN on trade, Todd McClay, says the various poor outcomes on the trading front are the result of the Government being distracted and failing to prioritise trade. He points to the very minor gains made by NZ in the China FTA up-

to China were relatively small, but in recent years their growth has caused the safeguards -designed to protect China’s dairy industry -- to kick in. “At the moment that is costing us about $100 million a year. In the negotiations, the NZ government put the case for the removal of the safeguards, but we met a very unwilling partner on the other side,” said Bailey. “The point we were making was that the subsequent FTA that China concluded with Austra-

grade and the problems with RECEP and the EU. “New Zealand officials have worked very hard and are to be commended. However, they have been let down by the Government which now needs to prove itself in trade.

lia gives [the Aussies] an advantage and we felt that an upgrade of the safeguards [would be] in order to level the playing field, but the Chinese didn’t see it that way.” While unhappy that the dairy industry has to wait four more years to see the safeguard tariffs removed, Bailey says the good news is that it is written into the present FTA that these will automatically be removed by 2024. “We have to look at the big picture. The NZ/ China FTA overall is an

excellent outcome going back to 2008. It’s just taking a little bit longer than we hoped and we view this as a missed opportunity but that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.” The other not so great news for the dairy industry in terms of trade was the failure of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP) summit to get India to sign up to a deal. This sees the door once again shut on NZ which is keen to export dairy products to India. But their gov-

ernment is holding out to protect the local dairy industry, an issue that concerns Bailey. “There is a lot of defensiveness in the Indian dairy sector. The point that we are trying to get across to them is that exports of dairy products that may result from an FTA with India would be complementary and not a threat to their dairy supply.” Malcolm Bailey says NZ dairy exports to India would help grow their local industry and potentially set them up to export dairy products. And there was one final knockback in the past week: a potential roadblock emerged in the negotiations between NZ and the EU on an FTA. Malcolm Bailey says during a recent trip to Europe he learned that NZ trade negotiators have received a “less than meaningful offer” from the EU on agricultural products. It’s no surprise, he says. Everyone knew agriculture would be a tough issue in the negotiations. “The EU are pushing the case on geographical indications. They are wanting to limit the ability of NZ to use names that originate in Europe so there is tension in that. Bailey says agriculture will likely be one of the last issues to be negotiated in the FTA.

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IMPORTANT MILESTONE AGREEMENT BY 15 participants in the Regional

Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade negotiations is an important milestone, says New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) executive director Stephen Jacobi. The text has been agreed by all but India which reportedly has sought to have New Zealand dairy excluded and is also concerned about a flood of cheap goods from China. Jacobi says business leaders are naturally disappointed that India is not yet ready to sign on and there is also more work to do on the market access front to secure the final deal. “From the outset, NZIBF has viewed the RCEP as a means to provide important impetus to broader trade liberalisation efforts, even though New Zealand has FTAs with most of the participants,” said Jacobi. “The inclusion of India provided an opportunity to remove trade barriers and expand trade and investment with an important partner with whom we do not have an FTA. The strategic and commercial benefits of RCEP will be increased should India ultimately join, but the agreement as it stands is of significance in a world where such agreements are becoming rare. “Without knowing the final market access package it is difficult to judge the overall value of the deal, but we remain hopeful that, along with improved trade rules, the RCEP will provide for new, commercially meaningful access on key products of export interest, including to India.” The RCEP negotiations were launched in late 2012 comprising 16 countries including the members of ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Once fully implemented, it will be the world’s largest trading bloc representing 39% of global GDP, a significant share of global trade and nearly half the world’s population. Jacobi also says New Zealand’s trade relationship with China stands to be further enhanced by the upgrade of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) announced last week. “The FTA has been a stand-out success in boosting trade and investment between the two countries. Inevitably further gains are harder to achieve, but as this upgrade shows, the FTA remains a vital framework for continuing to expand the relationship, particularly at a time when protectionism is on the rise around the world.” – Pam Tipa

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

6 //  NEWS

Skim milk no longer poor cousin in GDT

Processors spearhead pledge DAIRY AND meat processors have taken a leader-

PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

POWDERS LED the

way for the 3.7% jump in the Global Dairy Trade last week with economists now looking at an upside to current milk price forecasts. Skim milk powder (SMP) rose by 6.7% and whole milk powder (WMP) by 3.6% -- the latter to an average price of US$3254/tonne, says BNZ’s Doug Steel. “Firming international prices and a relatively low NZ dollar continue to add support to milk prices in New Zealand,” he said. “While the dairy sector faces many challenges including environmental policy proposals, the price outlook is buoyant.” Steel says market con-

Skim milk powder price is on the rise.

ditions suggest a 2019/20 milk price in the top half of Fonterra’s $6.55 to $7.55/kgMS range. ANZ’s Susan Kilsby told Dairy News their season forecast of $7.15/ kgMS could go higher, and the bank’s forecast for next season is $7.50/kgMS. Last week’s GDT rise was stronger than anticipated especially with milk

powders, she says. SMP has been trading at a discount to WMP for years because of the build-up of stocks in Europe. While public stocks disappeared about a year ago it wasn’t clear how much was in the private sector. The quick rise in SMP price shows that those stocks have cleared. Rabobank’s Emma

Higgins says while cheese and lactose average prices moved lower at last week’s GDT and butter pricing moved sideways, all other categories jumped. Strong preference remains for New Zealand SMP, with its price rising almost 7% to US$2924/t. Buyers are looking for cover as we move past

seasonal peak and SMP offer volumes on GDT drop off considerably from next month. Demand has remained steady for New Zealandorigin WMP product across the course of the production season thus far and volumes on offer peaked at the last auction. Rabobank is holding its $7.15/kgMS forecast for this season but will review next month. Higgins says while travelling offshore recently she sensed that the market had anticipated the New Zealand spring to be more bullish than it was. “We could possibly see some upwards pressure on markets still to come given that some buyers have been very relaxed about procuring product – particularly SMP.”

MILK PRODUCTION IN LINE WITH 2018-19 FONTERRA’S

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milk collection is up 0.8% in the year to date according to its latest Global Dairy Update. Fonterra’s New Zealand collection for September was 179.1 million kgMS, down 0.1% on the same month last season. Season to date collection was 309.4m kgMS, up 0.8% on last season.

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New Zealand milk production was down 0.7% on a litre basis but was up 0.7% on a milk solids basis in September compared to the same period last year. The variance between milk solids and liquid milk indicates improved pasture quality from last September, the update says. “Despite several cold snaps in

parts of the South Island, average temperatures were recorded across much of the country and on-farm pasture conditions remain good,” the update says. Fonterra’s North Island milk collection in September was up 1.1% on last September and the season to date is up 1.7% on last season. Favourable conditions are

expected to continue for the North Island. The cooperative’s South Island milk collection in September was down 2.1% on last September and in the season to date collection was 98.5m kgMS, down 1.1% on last season. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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ship role in getting 30 companies to sign up to pledge to the Government to take a more proactive role on biosecurity. The Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) are the brains behind the Biosecurity Business Pledge launched in Auckland on October 31. DCANZ chief executive Kimberley Crewther says the idea of the pledge is to recognise that New Zealand with its natural resource based economy -including tourism as well as agriculture -- benefits from being free of major pests or diseases. For NZ to maintain this privileged position it must recognise that all its activities have a biosecurity element, she says. “This is a recognition that it isn’t just a job for MPI at the border but every New Zealander can reduce biosecurity risks for the country. Also that business have the ability to play a leadership role in making sure NZ has a strong biosecurity culture, just as we have strong food safety and work safe culture.” Crewther says DCANZ and MIA developed the concept of the Biosecurity Business Pledge and then suggested their members and other associations, eg DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, HortNZ and Federated Farmers, spread the word. She says the risks of a major biosecurity incursion such as foot and mouth disease would be catastrophic for the dairy industry. Also driving the pledge idea was a recent MPI survey showing that while most NZers recognise biosecurity as a major issue, only 2% see themselves as having a role in keeping NZ free from major pests and diseases. “There is almost a good neighbour context to this. We wouldn’t want any of the risks that are sitting within the dairy supply chain to spill over to other businesses and equally we rely on others taking actions to reduce the risks for us,” she said. Crewther is pleased that Norwood, Countdown, Mainfreight, Auckland Airport and Northport have signed up and she hopes others will. As part of the pledge a network has been set up and organisations are starting to share some of their steps in building a biosecurity culture. “We have already seen Fonterra sharing their biosecurity guidelines for travel, so if any company is thinking about what guidelines they should have for corporate travel there is a model they can adapt. We are hoping that all companies will be thinking about different things which can be shared,” she says. – Peter Burke

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

NEWS  // 7

Manawatu farmers moving against FE PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

A GROUP of dairy

farmers in southern Manawatu are taking a proactive approach to dealing with facial eczema (FE) in the coming months. It’s estimated that a bad case of FE can cost up to $113 per cow in lost production. The farmers asked their DairyNZ consulting officer Kate Stewart to organise a discussion of FE and 30 farmers turned up recently to hear a local vet and a DairyNZ expert on the subject. They met at Graeme Richfield’s farm near Tokomaru. Richfield milks 220 Jersey cows on his 85ha block, each year battling FE. Proactive in his approach, each January he takes grass samples to Totally Vets at Palmerston North who measure the spores. He says he takes samples from different paddocks to make sure he gets a good representative sample that will pick up any sign of FE on the farm. “I started monitoring

DairyNZ’s Chris Glassey makes a point at the field day last week.

THE DAIRYNZ ANSWER CHRIS GLASSEY, a farm systems specialist at DairyNZ, was the main speaker at the meeting. He says traditionally FE has been a North Island problem but it is now spreading into many parts of the South Island. FE is a hard disease for farmers to control because on each farm some paddocks may be more susceptible than others. It’s a disease farmers must pre-

about six years ago and our start time depends on the weather conditions. It may be late January or February and we continue into April or May, again

vent, so it is wise of the Manawatu farmers to prepare for the onset of FE in the new year. “There is a lot of material on the DairyNZ website on how farmers can prevent the disease. We have funded a veterinarian to do some research for us and her findings are on the web site,” he says. But personally Glassey says he’d like to see more emphasis on breeding cows tolerant to FE.

depending on conditions.” Like most farmers he puts zinc in the stock water to help prevent FE taking hold. Local vet Ryan Carr, of

Totally Vets, says FE has been a consistent problem in the area every year and he says he’s noticed spore counts appear to be rising every year. He says the

counts used to be about 100,000, now he says they are around 500,000. Totally Vets has a series of monitor farms in the region and they take samples from them every week from when FE is likely to appear. This gives farmers a general warning, but he says farmers have to look at their own farms closely to see how these may be affected. “The first real obvious sign of FE on a farm is when cows show signs of being irritated and start seeking shade. It will then progress to obvious signs with the skin looking horribly sunburnt. “I have seen black Angus cows before and they are obviously uncomfortable and losing weight but you can’t see anything on their skin. It’s only when you look inside their mouth that you can see their tongue is burnt and their nose is burnt. Before these signs there will be a noticeable drop in milk production.” But Carr says by this time the damage to the cow’s liver is done and all that can be done is make the cow comfortable by providing her with shade.

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AUDIENCE OF 10 MILLION WHEN FONTERRA director paediatrics Susan Reelick agreed to an online briefing at the Shanghai Children, Baby, Maternity Expo (CBME), she was surprised to learn 10 million people would be listening in. Reelick was invited to chat online with China’s influential mother bloggers who goes by the name ‘hot mummy in parenting.com’. Her name is Crystal Zhang and she has 16 million online followers always looking out for the products she recommends. Reelick was at the CBME to support Fonterra’s big paediatric customer Hainan Govking whose brand is Goldmax Love, made by Fonterra and sold and distributed via 4000 stores. Govking has been working to expand distribution, targeting an additional 3000 stores, some of them the leading Mother & Baby Stores in China. Reelick says key amongst our selling points to the retailers and consumers is the New Zealand provenance. “ ‘Hot mummy in parenting’ had talked a lot about the product but also wanted to know about where the product came from, so it was great to be able to use all my time talking about Fonterra farmers and our pasture-based farming. “I explained that we are a cooperative in New Zealand owned by 10,000 farming families and that we have the ideal climate for growing grass and that our cows roam freely in paddocks eating fresh green grass. “The other big thing I talked about was how our farmers are always looking to embrace new ideas and advances in technology, and that they are seen as the world’s best in dairy quality, safety and animal welfare.” Reelick said the online listeners wanted assurance that our New Zealand processing sites are all Government certified, and that we have the best quality and safety systems to meet the regulations and customer requirements. Held annually in Shanghai, CBME China is the world’s largest trade fair for child, baby and maternity products and services.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

8 //  NEWS

Mouldy NZ cheese wins bronze at world contest PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

THE QUALITY of local

milk is a key to Oamaru based Whitestone Cheese’s latest international success. The company’s Farmhouse cheese took a bronze award in the 32nd annual World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy. Farmhouse, a pressed white mould semi-soft cheese, is unique, says Whitehouse managing director Simon Berry. “Very few cheeses are pressed with a white mould on the outside. That is why it would have stood out on a table of 45 cheeses (at the World

Farmhouse cheese

Cheese Awards),” he told Dairy News. Plus the whole milk adds lot of flavours. “The great raw material we have here in North Otago comes through in that recipe.”

Milk is supplied through Fonterra from two farms near Oamaru. “This is certified milk for export and domestic supply because it is part of the Fonterra system. But it is raw so it has

come straight from the cow and then we pasteurise it ourselves. “We will take delivery late morning or midmorning, we hold it overnight and pasteurise it the next day. So it is a good fresh milk supply. “It definitely adds to the flavour of the cheese because we are using whole milk, we don’t standardise it.” Berry says while that adds further complications later on when they try to get the standard weight and standard yield from cheese, using whole milk provides “all those natural flavours”. Farmhouse took the bronze award in Italy in one of the semi soft cow’s milk categories. Whitestone in 2016 won a silver medal at the World Cheese Championships in Wisconsin for its Vintage Winter Blue cheese. But this was its first entry in the Europebased World Cheese Awards and a first time international entry for Farmhouse which is the original cheese that

Simon Barry, Whitestone cheese.

launched the company in 1987. Whitestone’s sales manager Franco Sessa, who is of Italian origin and has been with the company for years, travelled to the awards to support the cheese and was invited to be a judge. The awards chose 260 judges from around the world to rate the 3804 cheeses initially in tables of 45 cheeses. The judges were not necessarily technical cheesemakers so were judging from a consumer’s perspective on flavour, how the cheese had aged, how it was handled to create flavour and the enjoyment of a good tasting cheese. Simon’s parents Bob

and Sue Berry were initially shown the Farmhouse by a local artisan cheesemaker and they developed it from there. The natural green and brown rind was not appealing on the market. Then they hit on the idea of importing fresh white mould usually used in camembert. It became a beautiful looking cheese and sales lifted immediately, Berry says. “We evolved the recipe to our own way. It is our philosophy that we put our own twist on things.” Whitestone grew its full range from there to meet the market. Farmhouse is a difficult cheese because the white

mould needs to breathe. It is sold in specially treated wedges but is best eaten as a whole round. “The flavour hasn’t changed in all the years we have had it. It has a beautiful full flavour of full cream milk and it has a freshness about it because it is just a little bit different.” But it is not an acquired taste like a blue or a washed rind. “It is a real pride to Mum and Dad who started the company to show their first cheese is right up there. It is the first time it has been recognised on the global stage.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

FRESH CONSUMERS NEW ZEALAND is a young market for specialty cheese and consumers are quite fresh to the idea, says Berry. We have only been making specialty cheese for 35 years here compared to centuries or even thousands of years elsewhere. “We have seen the shift away from processed foods into natural foods -- no sugars added and natural ingredients -- so it is seen as a health food now. It is great to see it is being

appreciated for what it is. “We have world-class milk and we know that because of the state of our dairy export sector. We are making worldclass cheeses here in New Zealand from that.” There’s a big lift in sales in summer with outdoors dining. “It is common now that when you go to a friend’s place you have cheese on the table before anything kicks off. Not even 10 years ago it was a sort of treat but now it is a commonplace.”

Whitestone is focusing on NZ domestic markets, with under 5% now being exported, partly because of the difficulty in regulations, marketing and competition for cheese. The company’s best export markets are close to home in the Pacific Islands and Singapore, and a little into Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States. But domestically in the last two years Whitestone has had 8% growth in the retail category.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

NEWS  // 9

Freshwater plan a killer blow NIGEL MALTHUS

A NATIONAL limit on dissolved nitrogen, as contained in the proposed national policy statement on freshwater, would “essentially eliminate” intensive agriculture in the Selwyn Waihora catchment, says Environment Canterbury chief scientist Dr Tim Davie. “Rough modelling” done on the catchment suggested that 15-20% of it could be intensive but the rest would have to be in dryland sheep farming or forestry, he said. Davie was speaking at a New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM) forum on the practical steps farmers can take to improve water quality. The forum, at Lincoln, occurred on the day submissions closed on the proposed policy statement, which among other things suggests a national limit of 1mg/litre of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). “To get our spring-fed systems to a value of 1 would require, under current management practices and the

ECan chief scientist Dr Tim Davie.

best that we can do, would require a land use change,” said Davie. Explaining some of the underlying science, Davie said there was more to stream health than just nitrogen and nutrients, which is why the policy statement on freshwater was bringing in other measures. He said the nitrate ion NO3 is toxic to aquatic species, impairing breeding

and other functions above about 2mg/ litre. But it was important to distinguish between toxicity and eutrophication -- the growth of “stuff ” in waterways including algae and weeds. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) measure is being brought in because it includes ammonia and nitrite as well as nitrate, and all are drivers of eutro-

phication. Davie also explained that the region’s alpine-fed rivers generally had low DIN concentrations, most of them well under 1mg/litre, but a lot more of the spring- and groundwaterfed streams of the lower reaches of the plains were well above 1mg. “The proposed DIN limits are a significant challenge for our spring-fed streams,” he said. DairyNZ water quality specialist Justin Kitto said the proposed policy statement put a huge weight on managing a complex interactive system on two measures – a DIN of 1 and a DRP (dissolved reactive phosphorus) number of about .02. But there was a lot of controversy around that and concern about how those numbers have been come up with, he said. DairyNZ’s recommendation was that the policy put the onus on regional councils to manage the ecosystem health of their rivers, said Kitto. “As opposed to saying DIN has to be no more than 1, look at what other factors are driving ecosystem health in a given catchment, possibly more

strongly than dissolved inorganic nitrogen.” He said the current national bottom line of 6.9mg/litre was based on an 80th percentile target aimed at protecting 80% of species from the effects of nitrate toxicity. DairyNZ was suggesting a 90th percentile target, which would move the national bottom line for nitrate toxicity to 3.8. Kitto said that would be much more stringent than the current bottom line for, say, the Hinds catchment “but it’s much better off than 1 which is currently proposed”. “The Government’s not going to accept 6.9. But we can’t accept 1. So we’ve got to come up with a compromise.” Other speakers at the event included DairyNZ’s Dr Ina Pinxterhuis and Virginia Serra, and a panel of Canterbury farmers. Serra told the forum that a stocktake of farmers revealed that 90% were planning changes to irrigation, 80% to reduce N fertiliser, and 66% were planning changes to effluent management. 60% were looking to try catch crops, 46% plantain and 45% low-N feeds.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

10 //  DAIRY WOMENS NETWORK AGM

Pride is making a big PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

PRIDE IS returning to the dairy industry, says the new chair of Dairy Women’s Network, Karen Forlong, a Central Plateau farmer. “We are starting to stand shoulder to shoulder and be a voice,” she told Dairy News. “On a personal basis in my time in this role as chair I would like to see that pride grows to a place where dairy farmers are not afraid to say ‘I am a food producer. I feed the world and I am proud of it’. “Adversity sometimes makes people come together and speak with a collective voice. “I would like to see the agricultural sector

do that because we are all food producers. The world needs us, New Zealand needs us.” Sometimes it is hard to tell our story because of the humble nature of New Zealanders, she says. That was evidenced in the way the All Blacks after their loss to England came out the next week to play with heart and passion, and to salute the crowd, in contrast to the behaviour of some other teams. “New Zealanders are intrinsically wired to be quite humble but we need to step over that and realise we do have something worth celebrating in this country. It is worth being proud of every aspect of it and that includes the agri sector. “All of New Zealand should be proud of the

DWN’s new president Karen Forlong.

agri sector. We are one of the cleanest food producing countries in the world.”

Challenges around water and greenhouse gases need to be faced “but we can get there,”

she says. “We can only get there by working together and taking time, not throwing one genera-

tion under the bus.” Former chair Cathy Brown, living the empowerment values of DWN, stepped down from the role to allow Forlong the same opportunity to grow. Forlong says she has “some very big shoes to step into” but sees the role as similar to an orchestra conductor. “I don’t really play an instrument. There are many components of DWN and my role is bringing all the great aspects of it together.” The industry is in a state of great change and there is a lot of noise out there, she says. A key DWN focus is acting as a supporter and enabler through this change. Delivering knowledge, sorting the noise and facts from each other and trying to soften the

noise a little to members are important. “We put a strong value on face to face connection where possible. We have this wonderful group of regional leaders who work voluntarily and tirelessly alongside busy day jobs to bring events together at regional level for members and others to come together face to face. Regardless of the purpose there is nothing quite like being in the same room as other human beings.” Nimbleness is a DWN strength particularly when there is a real need. The network has responded to issues in the past 12 months -- like M. bovis, new labour and housing regulations -- with workshops quickly put together for members. “We got rid of the noise and put the facts to

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

DAIRY WOMENS NETWORK AGM  // 11

comeback TRUE JERSEY FARMER KAREN FORLONG has farmed with her husband Maurice on just over 200ha near Atiamuri in the Central Plateau for 25 years. They milk 400 Jerseys which is not quite the norm on the Central Plateau where Friesian cross-breds predominate. Prior to farm ownership, the Forlongs were sharemilking around Waikato, including a contract milking job for Tatua supply which included a Jersey herd. They were offered the opportunity to buy the herd and go 50/50 share milking as a first step towards farm ownership and they have stuck with

them in a face-to-face situation where they could share their successes and their challenges.” Aside from expert facilitators they “had that wonderful thing called ‘gold’ in the room, with

Jersey since. Forlong says she could “talk the merits of Jersey until the cows come home”. They produce about 100-105% of their liveweight in milk solids, they are very efficient and their lighter frame of 400-420kg does a great job of protecting the steeper contour of the property. Forlong has been a member of DWN since 2000 when the first regional group for the Rotorua area was formed. She has experienced various roles that included being a volunteer regional leader.

people on the ground who are actually living the real deal”. “We can have all the great ideas written on paper but implementation is key.” Workshops aim to provide proven solutions

that can be implemented immediately. Forlong says one of her key strengths is she is an inclusive person. “A priority at times like this is to be inclusive, to allow people a place to

land in a safe and trusted place where they can ask the questions, share their challenges. We as a network are there to stand tall with them and walk through this whatever that might be. “We are getting better and better at that, we are playing very strongly in the people space, delivering in that aspect, and also supporting the Dairying Tomorrow strategy.” A key strength of DWN is that it is “pick and mix,” she says. Members can be involved as much or as little as time or inclination allows and in whichever aspect suits. That may include the annual conference, workshops, more structured involvement like business groups and social aspects to get off farm.

WOMEN’S STORIES INSPIRE MANY STORYTELLING WILL help attract, retain and inspire the next generation in dairy farming, says Jules Benton, Dairy Women’s Network chief executive. The DWN started 21 years ago and has truly come of age, she told the annual general meeting in Hamilton. The future will have some tough times but sharing stories as a key strategy will create deeper engagement with members, the dairy industry and ultimately New Zealand, Benton said. “There is strength in support as the industry will be truly seen for its passion, commitment and as world leading food producers. “We should be proud of owning our own stories, as they are authentic and capture the heart of who we are. For some, storytelling will provide hope and inspiration.” Looking to create deep emotional connections is the drive behind the DWN’s launch of its visual story telling project -- Our People. Their Stories -- with two stories launched and well received. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle praised the “terrific story tell-

ing efforts” of the network. “Farmers’ story telling is powerful,” he said. “It connects people with people to gain more understanding and the effort of the DWN is helping connect dairy to the people of New Zealand. “I see the DWN playing a key role in creating more confidence to see a positive future and achieve greater certainty as we all look to support each other to get over the next hill to our long term goals.” Mackle said the Dairy Tomorrow strategy is vital in formulating what the dairy industry will look like in the future. He stressed the importance of crafting the industry’s story to gain more understanding and tolerance. “We need to craft our future story and then deliver on it,” he said. “We have to deliver results on the issues Kiwi’s care about.” Chair Cathy Brown reflected on a full year of delivering knowledge and connection to members. “Real and relevant learning is essential for our busy members and this was evident in the attendance of several of our modules,” she said.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

12 //  NEWS

‘Follow FAO in methane battle’ AN AUCKLAND com-

pany believes reducing enteric methane through productivity gains is the way to tackle green house gas emissions. In its submission on the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, Pukekohe-based Zest Biotech is calling for the Government to follow the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s lead on the issue. Zest Biotech founder Nathan Balasingham says the biogenic methane reduction plan in the Zero Carbon Amendment Bill could be difficult to manage, but he sees an easier option. “Livestock do not emit methane at a constant rate or intensity,” Balasingham said. “The gas comes out both ends and at a variable rate.”

EXISTING TECHNOLOGY NATHAN BALASINGHAM wants the Government to look at existing technology to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. He says Biozest, developed by his company, increases pasture resilience and productivity. When livestock graze the treated pasture, more pasture is converted to milk and meat and less is wasted as methane and urea: more profit, less gas and urea. Biozest helps farmers to reduce greenhouse gases and their environmental footprint through productivity gains, in line with the FAO’s recommendations, he says. He says Biozest can double pasture productivity, as well established in trials. Nathan Balasingham

He says lab and chamber based measurement techniques have “serious limitations”. “Therefore, biogenic methane per se cannot be accurately measured. If we can’t measure it, it is difficult to manage it.” The model to measure, report and manage

emissions intensity has been developed by the FAO, called Gleam. It is compliant with IPCC Tier 2 methodology and ISO standards 14040 and 14044 (ISO, 2006). Balasingham says this strategy also ensures the other global challenges - poverty alleviation and

food security - are also addressed. “Agricultural emissions should be viewed as valuable resources that are currently being wasted. Methane is energy lost and urea is protein lost (leading to nitrous oxide emissions). “If we can improve

the efficiency of ruminant animals, we will produce more milk and meat and less waste (emissions). We have the technology to reduce emissions intensity and increase ruminant efficiency.” Balasingham says this means New Zealand could increase milk and meat

productivity and achieve a gross reduction in emissions. It could make economic gains and comply with international standards, meeting market demands for ‘low carbon’ produce and meeting our global food security obligations. Balasingham ques-

tions the Government’s rationale behind providing more financial support to Overseer. Instead of funding Overseer, the Government should back FAO’s Gleam, he says. “We recommend the Government uses Gleam and support the development and implementation of mitigation tools and strategies that will provide real steps toward achieving the Climate Bill targets. “If we implement the FAO recommended options, our farmers will be economically smart and climate smart farming champions. For every tonne of methane a farmer reduces, 86 tonnes of CO2 is offset. For every tonne of nitrous oxide they reduce, 298 tonnes of CO2 is offset.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

NEWS  // 13

Water reforms could be ‘recipe for disaster’ SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

DISREGARDING THE

gen caps in priority catchments -- had less financial impact for farmers and therefore the economy. “In contrast, the proposed nutrient limits under scenario three were forecast to impose a sig-

nificant financial burden on the dairy sector. The flow-on effects of less milk production are far-reaching and particularly severe for several New Zealand communities.

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social and economic effects of the proposed water reforms is a recipe for disaster, warns Federated Farmers Waikato president Andrew McGiven. Commenting on economic modelling done by DairyNZ on the proposed Essential Freshwater package, McGiven says our national standard of living would be under threat should the package be adopted. The modelling shows the reforms could greatly harm New Zealand’s dairy sector and the wider national economy by 2050, costing $6 billion per year. The Government’s September release of its proposed freshwater regulations prompted DairyNZ to make three studies of their potential economic effects. Two studies are independent and all three are peer-reviewed. The economic analysis points to a huge hit: total milk production is forecast to fall 24% by 2050, and all national exports by 5.2% ($8.1b). Tax revenue from dairy is also forecast to more than halve by 2050, with an annual loss of $540 million at the national level. McGiven says the reports paint an alarming

picture. “It shows there will be a significant impact on revenue and employment throughout the dairy sector that will eventually impact on our national standard of living,” he told Dairy News. “While all farmers are on board with improving our freshwater health and quality, the Government seems oblivious to the fantastic improvements that have already been made over the last decade and continue to be made. “To solely focus on the environmental aspects and completely disregard the social and economic effects with these proposed policies I believe is a recipe for disaster. “Farmers’ point of view is that we can’t be green if we’re in the red... and I don’t mean this as a political statement.” DairyNZ says the proposed Zero Carbon Bill would add to the industry’s woes. With the Zero Carbon Bill and its assumed reductions in methane considered alongside the Essential Freshwater reforms, the forecast is for an extra $1b loss (ie a $7b total loss) and another 4% reduction in milk production (total loss of 28%). The more moderate freshwater reforms, in isolation, are not expected to have the same degree of economic impact, says DairyNZ chief executive

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

14 //  OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

We’re second fiddle to Oz – again

MILKING IT... Opportunist

Blue skies

High on milk?

Early warning

AS EXPECTED, DairyNZ’s media release stating that the proposed water reforms could cost up to $6 billion per annum by 2050 has ruffled a few feathers. The leader of The Opportunities Party, Geoff Simmons, has been taking DairyNZ to task, describing its analysis as very much like a worstcase scenario. “Overall, I don’t think Dairy NZ’s case will persuade the Kiwi public to accept polluted rivers. At best it might just buy them some time,” he said. No one wants the public to accept polluted rivers. Farmers are already doing a lot on sustainability and they just want fair recognition from this Government.

A US startup called Blue Ocean Barns claims it has seaweed supplement that reduces methane emissions from cows. The Hawaii company says cows emit large amounts of methane after digesting grass and other traditional feed, but seaweed reduces those emissions. “Blue Ocean Barns seeks to scale fast,” said Joan Salwen, chief executive and co-founder. “We envision a world in which all beef and dairy products are climateprotecting. Today’s highemitting cows will cease to exist within a few decades, gone the way of cars without seatbelts, lead-based paint and aerosol cans.”

UK HEALTHY food firm Good Hemp is launching a new cannabinoids (CBD) hemp milk. The firm already produces and retails its own brand of plant-based vegan milk which is made from the hemp plant. Good Hemp CBD Barista Seed Milk will be the first product to launch, expected on shelves in mid-November. Then will follow two more flavours: the Good Hemp CBD Seed Milk, and the Good Hemp CBD Chocolate Seed Milk. Each carton will pack a punch of 65mg of CBD – that’s a 7.5mg dose per milk serving.

EFFICIENT MILK testing is getting a boost. In the EU-funded project MOLOKO, Fraunhofer researchers in Germany have teamed up with partners to develop a new optoplasmonic sensor designed to provide fast, on-site analysis of safety and quality parameters for milk. In the project MOLOKO (Multiplex phOtonic sensor for pLasmonicbased Online detection of contaminants in milK), 12 partners from seven countries—including one dairy— have devised a fast and inexpensive test. In about five minutes, an optoplasmonic sensor analyses the product for six substances, so providing a supplementary check and an earlywarning system within the supply chain well before the milk is pumped into the tanker.

‘ANOTHER FOUR years’. These words, uttered by a certain Australian rugby halfback, bring up nightmares for many New Zealanders. They were only about sport but, frustratingly, they now also apply to the outcome of NZ’s FTA negotiations with China, as a result of which the Aussies will enjoy a four year advantage over NZ in dairy exports. The Chinese negotiators were in no mood to remove or change the advantage Australia has over us in their tariff free access to that market. Heaven knows why the Chinese were unmoved by the logic of our argument for a level playing field for exports from Australasia. Is it sinister? The Chinese market is very important to NZ and our politicians and trade negotiators must tread carefully so as not to get offside. It’s a great market now, but will it always be? We once believed that of Britain and the EU but, although we have reasonable deals with them, they drive a hard bargain. The news that the EU has made a silly offer to NZ over agriculture in the FTA negotiations comes as no surprise. Europeans often wax lyrical about free trade but deep down they still cuddle up to protectionism when the going gets tough. The NZ/EU Free Trade Agreement was never going to be easy and the focus on the geographical indications was always going to be centre stage. In a tough week for the dairy industry, the Government has been trying to put on a brave face, helped by the spin doctors going in circles like a ferris wheel on steroids. In truth, NZ as a small exporter of primary produce has limited real power. But that said, our trade negotiators in the past have always come up with the goods, albeit at the last minute. There is no cause for panic, but we need the trade winds to blow favourably for our team.

GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND? GOT SOMETHING on your mind about the latest issues affecting our dairy industry? Put your pen to paper or your fingers to your keyboard, and let our readers know what you think. Contact us by either post or email. Don’t forget to put your name and address. Note: Letters may be edited. POST TO: LETTER TO THE EDITOR PO BOX 331100, TAKAPUNA, AUCKLAND 0740 OR EMAIL: dairynews@ruralnews.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

OPINION  // 15

What drives production? WILL BLAKEWAY

I HAVE lost count of how often I have heard people say ‘production is a result of 90% feeding and 10% breeding’. You can feed a poorly producing cow as much feed as you like and yes, her production will go up,

Feed will not fix high pin bones, sickle hocks, narrow pins and cow hocks – all essential attributes for a wide, well attached udder that will last. but by how much and is it economically sustainable? But if you feed more to an animal with poor conformation, will the feed fix her conformation? I think not. Feed will not fix high pin bones, sickle hocks, narrow pins and cow hocks – all essential attributes for a wide, well attached udder that will last. Pins also obviously have an impact on calving ease. Feed won’t fix frailty and capacity, poor feet and legs, narrow chest and muzzle, etc – again critical to enable her to walk the distances Kiwi cows must walk each day and consume enough feed for maintenance, production and reproduction. Don’t get me wrong, feeding is an essential part of all stock farming and particularly in the dairy industry where we put a lot of pressure on the animals to produce and reproduce at high levels. Interestingly, adherence to the 90% feeding notion isn’t evident in the large number of R2s which come into the national herd each year undergrown and the number of cows put

forward for mating in poor condition. On the breeding side of things, New Zealand dairy farmers have been ‘educated’ into believing that the current index system will fix anything and everything. Unfortunately, positive conformation traits have often not been the strong

faced with. I’d suggest a more accurate yardstick is 50% feeding and 50% breeding. • Will Blakeway is a breeding consultant with World Wide Sires

What drives production – feeding or breeding?

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suit of many of the dairy sires you see topping the RAS list and used heavily over the national herd and as sires of sons. The philosophy behind the index (BW) is that the smaller and lighter a cow is, the more efficiently she will convert feed into milk solids but this has brought its own set of issues – some of which are outlined above. Difficult calvings from tail-off bulls are becoming an issue on many farms with farmers questioning the size or breed of the bulls when, maybe, they should be questioning the phenotypical make-up of the cows which tend to be tail-enders, ie narrow high pins and lack of capacity, etc. Fortunately, there is help out there, as there are plenty of bulls world-wide (and a few here) that can fix these issues and be extremely profitable even if they rank negatively in the current index system. Global genetics companies have been concentrating and focusing on producing bulls that suit our grazing industry and producing highly efficient fertile cows that last. In closing, 90% feeding and 10% genetics is an over-worn saying which has no relevance in the environment we are all

Above: Alan Marx with his Tow and Fert Multi 4000 applying his brew in Taranaki. The Tow and Fert’s versatility is one of the many benefits on farm allowing for multiple products to be applied to pasture in one pass.

ses Molas

DO THINGS YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ON THE FARM BEFORE WITH A TOW AND FERT. As a specialist liquid spray machine, the Tow and Fert has been designed to enable farmers to dissolve their N fertiliser in the tank in minutes, suspend UFP solid fertilisers in the liquid, spray small round seeds such as chicory, plaintain, clover and swedes, and even apply weed spray when required, all while using effluent as a base liquid.

Once upon a time there was a separate machine for everything. A bulky spreader for your solid fert, a liquid spray machine for foliar applications like weed spray, and a seed spreader for overseeding your pasture. Farmers would make three trips out onto the farm for the application of these products. The revolution in farm machinery technology has continued to make farmers more efficient and the Tow and Fert is at the

Tow and Fert is not only revolutionising the application of fertiliser for dairy farmers, it is also saving them money by significantly reducing capital fertiliser inputs and helping to increase milk production.

forefront of this change. Tow and Fert’s patented liquid spray technology means that farmers can now use one machine for all three of the above applications on their farm.

Tow and Fert is a machine that you will quickly come to realise is an indispensable part of your farming system.

“IT’S A MAGIC WAY TO UTILISE ONE MACHINE TO DO A BROAD SPECTRUM OF JOBS ON THE FARM.” Alan Marx on his Tow and Fert Multi 4000 Beneath the shadow of Mt Egmont in Taranaki, Alan Marx is farming 330 cross breed LIC cows on 120 hectares. Running a conventional style dairy farm, Alan was looking for a better way to do things when he came across the Tow and Fert. “I spoke to a contractor who was spraying fert with a Tow and Fert for a friend in Southland. I realised that the machine could do a lot of things that I wanted to do other than urea. This is a very versatile machine and it’s ticked a lot boxes for me in terms of its versatility.” Alan’s farm nutrition system includes a number of different products such as molasses, lime flour, urea, magnesium sulphate and seaweed extract and selenium. “The other thing I’ve done is spread my small seeds, I’m talking about clover, chicory and plaintain. The Multi 4000 has a 6 tonne payload, so half of that is water and the other half is product. I’ll chuck in 40kgs of plantain seed and 40kgs of red or white clover at the same time.

There is no extra labour, no extra machinery costs and the strike through the seed being broadcast through the Tow and Fert is absolutely unbelievable.”

Alan Marx

And as for the results on the farm, “One of the things we’ve noticed on farm is how even the grass is growing and the grass sward is very, very thick. We have got a lot greater plant density since we’ve been using the Tow and Fert. I’ve described the grass to a lot of people as carpet grass, it’s as even as the pile on a carpet.” And when it comes to milk production in the VAT “The results of the improved grass growing are that we are producing more milk.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

16 //  AGRIBUSINESS

Synlait’s foray into supermarkets SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

CANTERBURY PROCESSOR Syn-

lait is boosting its presence on New Zealand supermarket shelves. The company is forking out $112 million for Christchurch-based Dairyworks, a major cheese player which also exports to Australia. The acquisition gives Synlait a bigger platform on the domestic dairy market to compete with the two major players Fonterra and Goodman Fielder. A Synlait spokeswoman says the company is eyeing cheese and liquid milk categories in NZ as part of its Everyday Dairy strategy. “Synlait has no intention of becoming a dairy trader,” she told Dairy News. “Our objective is to participate in selective categories of the New Zealand everyday dairy market: cheese is one of these, alongside liquid milk. “The acquisition allows us to con-

tinue to get closer to consumers, a key part of our long-term strategy.” Once approved by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO), the Dairyworks deal will give Synlait a foothold in the domestic market. Dairyworks holds 47% market share of NZ cheese sales with its Dairyworks and private labels brands. It holds number two position in butter (25%), number four in ice cream (9%) and number four in milk powder (19%). Synlait will now have butter brands competing with butter made by Fonterra, Westland and Dairyworks cheese company is Goodman Fielder. being bought by Synlait. In the cheese market, it will go head to head with Goodman Fielder (Chesdale and Puhoi Valley) bought Temuka-based Talbot Forest and Fonterra (Anchor and Mainland). Cheese this year. Some Talbot Forest While Synlait has no branded con- products are sold in supermarkets. Synlait chief executive Leon Clemsumer products of its own, it recently

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ent says buying Dairyworks is an exciting opportunity. “This business is a great strategic fit for us and an important step in growing our presence in the Everyday Dairy category,” says Clement, who headed Fonterra’s brands business in NZ before joining Synlait last year. “Dairyworks is a nimble and innovative company. It will fit well with Synlait and provides us with an opportunity to keep optimising our value chain while giving access into Australia where Dairyworks presence is growing.” He says opportunities exist in both businesses to streamline supply chains and lift competitiveness. “It gives us the ability to optimise how we process milk solids and get the most value from our supply of milk.

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has won the prestigious New Zealand Food Award in the chilled category for its Cooking Cream. The product is a pre-reduced cream that was initially developed for professional chefs and commercial kitchens. The co-op says its excellent coating and heat stability properties mean it does not require further reduction and this has the benefit of saving on cooking time. “We recognised that this was a product that would be useful to home chefs too and was a natural extension to our existing retail range of premium creams, which includes Mascarpone, Crème Fraiche and Sour Cream,” says Tatua Foods business manager, Hayes Taylor. “We launched Tatua Cooking Cream into supermarkets earlier this year

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“We’re excited by this opportunity as we work to capture more value in the dairy market in New Zealand and globally.” Dairyworks will operate as a standalone business under the Synlait umbrella, with its chief executive Tim Carter reporting to Clement. Dairyworks doesn’t process milk: it buys cream from several local sources to make ice cream, Synlait told Dairy News. The company says Dairyworks has established channels across the NZ grocery network, including the two major supermarket chains. It has a growing relationship with Australian supermarket giant Woolworths, the owners of Countdown, and strategic customers in NZ food service and restaurants. “Should the purchase of Dairyworks be approved by the OIO, Synlait intends to continue to support the Dairyworks strategy, which includes Australia,” the company said.

when we rebranded and relaunched our retail and foodservice products in new packaging,” said Taylor. The re-launch of the premium creams range also introduced new resealable packaging for the brands to improve and extend in-home usage and reduces wastage. The New Zealand Food Awards celebrate New Zealand manufactured products, focusing on innovation and excellence. The winning products earn the New Zealand Food Award’s quality mark to highlight the superiority of their products. The awards were announced in Auckland last month. Taylor says the win highlights Tatua’s commitment to quality and innovation. “Our focus is on developing highquality, innovative products that have excellent functional properties.”

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AGRIBUSINESS  // 17

Felicity Cameron, Spring Sheep Dairy’s Tauwhere Road Farm manager.

Dairy sheep open day draws huge crowd MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH NEW Zealand’s bovine dairy industry under the pump, it was little surprise to see 300 plus rurals turn up at the fifth annual Spring Sheep Co open day at Matangi near Hamilton. Pushing the message ‘Discover New Zealand’s Gentlest Milk’, building on advantages for those struggling to digest cow milk, the presenters talked the audience through Spring Sheep’s journey so far. That journey centred around bringing together aspects like the NZ production environment, building a scaleable supply chain, understanding the needs of consumers and new product development. With five years under its belt, the company suggests they are now able to demonstrate the concept really works and they are moving to a position to bring more farmer suppliers on board. At this stage Spring Sheep operates three farms, one located near Taupo and two near Hamilton. A new supplier at Karaka, South Auckland has just been welcomed and will milk 600 ewes next season. Business manager Thomas Macdonald suggested there is substantial interest in sheep milking brought about by increasing pressure for pastoral farmers to met water and carbon emission regulations. “Milking sheep has a much lower environmental footprint.” The presentation went on to note that a typical property for conversion into sheep milking fell into the 50-70ha size, probably had a mothballed milking parlour and may have

SPRING SHEEP CO SPRING SHEEP Milk is jointly owned by Pamu and SLC. Pamu, formerly Landcorp, is owned by the NZ Government and is currently the country’s largest farmer, with 1.6 million livestock units, operating in the areas of milk production, beef, lamb, venison and wool. SLC is a marketing company that specialises in taking highend NZ products to the global marketplace.

fallen into maize production because there is no succession planning. This looked to be the case at the Tauwhere Road Farm that ran to 55ha, had a disused milking shed and had transformed to carry 900 head of sheep in 150 days between April and August 2018. Manager Felicity Cameron said the conversion was really easy. “We just needed to add a few rails in the milking shed and go from four to two cups, sort out some fencing and water supply out on the farm and we were up and running.” Today with the help of two staff, ewes are milked through a 24-a-side shed, taking around three hours for the morning and 2.5 hours for the afternoon sessions. Felicity, an ex-dairy farm worker and shepherdess says sheep are “just so friendly, come into and leave the shed easily, so I love seeing how happy they are”. Much of the growing interest in the concept centres around production levels, that in turn drive revenues from milk, wool and cull animals. Traditionally, NZ sheep struggled to produce even 200 litres per annum, but the introduction of European genetics in 2017 has seen a steady rise in output that is likely

to reach 300 litres during the current season. With typical supply contracts offering around $3 per litre, the company suggests that at 300 litres production, returns are slightly above dairy and if they reach 400 litres, as predicted, will be well ahead. Current production largely goes for drying at the Waikato Innovation Park at Hamilton, with a second plant being developed by Melody Dairy coming on stream in 2020. The dried product is incorporated into a range of products including milk replacements, ice cream, yoghurts and cheeses marketed on their nutritional benefits rather than a luxury item. Current markets include Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and NZ. Currently human clinical trials are being conducted to prove sheep milk products are a real alternative to those struggling with the digestion of cow milk. Sheep milk is lower in alpha-S1 casein and naturally an A2-type product, free from the A1 beta casein proteins. It is also high in short to medium chain fatty acids making it easy to digest. The product is also 60% higher in protein than cow or goat milk, with higher levels of A, B, C and E group vitamins and good levels of the minerals, palcium, phosphorous and magnesium.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

18 //  MANAGEMENT

Still on track to beat M.bovis HIGHEST PRIORITY

NIGEL MALTHUS

THE TAG made 10 recommendations, which the programme has accepted, including four with the highest priority: ■■ Surveillance options for defining and declaring biological freedom need to be assessed and the appropriate options selected.

THE INDEPENDENT

Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme has produced an upbeat progress report reiterating its belief that eradication is feasible. The October 18 report supports the findings of earlier reviews, and acknowledges substantial changes made to the programme, including improvements to information management systems, resourcing, management, and communications. It notes positive signs, including a downward trend in infected places, shorter times for risk movements to be dealt with, and a decreasing conversion rate of highrisk farms being confirmed as infected. MPI director-general Ray Smith says the report provides assurance that the programme is working, and that the right changes have been made to improve the programme and support affected farmers. “M. bovis is one of the greatest biosecurity challenges we have faced in New Zealand, and both Government and our industry partners remain committed to achieving eradication, while reducing the impact of that process on affected farmers as much as possible. “The battle isn’t won yet. We still have hard work to do and there will be more farms placed under restrictions while

To date 4% of NZ farms have been under restrictions.

ERADICATION FEASIBLE BIOSECURITY MINISTER Damien O’Connor said the report showed that good steps had been taken to improve the programme since June, and eradication remains feasible. “Those improvements include better data and information management, better communication with farmers, placing more responsibility for decision making in the regions and adding more staff with technical skills and agricultural experience. “At present we are seeing fewer infected farms, which is heartening. Biosecurity NZ is working more closely than ever with our M. bovis partners Dairy NZ and Beef + Lamb NZ to refine the testing regime, compensation system and to help farmers,” said O’Connor. “The TAG, as would be expected, makes recommendations for where work is required, including ongoing refinement of the ELISA test and beef surveillance.

testing is conducted. We also know that there are areas, like compensation, where we need to continue to improve.

“The 10-year programme is a world-first attempt and we expect to make adjustments. I’ve asked that the next focus should be mapping out what we expect over the next two years. “I want to thank our industry partners and all those working in the programme who’ve done the hard work in recent months to ensure we stay on track. “I know this is tough for farmers caught up in the response. No-one wants to be placed under controls and have their animals taken away, but we’re committed, with our partners, to eradicating M. bovis for the good of all farmers. “The Government recently boosted funding for rural support trusts and we’re making improvements to key farmer tools such as the national animal tracing system. All farmers should be registering animal movements. Doing so is vital to the eradication effort.”

“Over $100 million in compensation has been paid out, and for most people the process is effective. However we

know that some complex claims are still taking too long and we are working on reducing that wait.” DairyNZ chief execu-

tive Tim Mackle says the report builds on important information for the programme going forward. “Speed and efficiency is key, as the [sooner] infected properties are found and placed under restrictions, the sooner we win this battle for New Zealand farmers. “We are nearly 18 months into working to get rid of this disease, and it is positive to see a decline in the number of infected dairy farms. However, there are still 61 dairy farms under movement restrictions. We understand the stress and worry involved for those farmers and our priority remains supporting them. “We believe maintaining a collaborative approach is the best option for all farmers. By sitting at the table we can ensure that dairy farmers are getting value for money, performance is monitored, processes are improved, costs are scru-

■■

Scoping, development and implementation of the next phase of the information systems should be fast tracked.

■■

Proposed surveillance systems for non-dairy systems including cow-calf operations, calfrearing enterprises and replacement dairy groups be implemented as soon as possible.

■■

The impact of the surge should be evaluated and feasibility of achieving biological freedom re-evaluated when the information management systems are fully functional and enough data has been accrued.

To date, 4% of farms in New Zealand have been under restrictions and required testing due to Mycoplasma bovis, and just under 0.8% of farms have been confirmed as infected. The latest MPI update shows 201 confirmed properties, 186 of them cleared and 15 still active. 110 of the confirmed properties are classed as beef, 49 dairy and 42 “other”. Meanwhile, 279 properties are currently under a Notice of Direction and 281 are under Active Surveillance.

tinised and dairy farmers’ views are represented to the Government. “We want to thank every farmer that has been affected by M. bovis for their strength and resilience in the face of the uncertainty they’re facing. Being involved brings enormous pressure and challenge: being put under restrictions, undergoing testing, and for the worst affected, depopulation of their herds.” Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor noted that more beef farmers -- overwhelmingly bull-beef -- are coming under restrictions. However, he said they

are generally risk movements from cattle that have come out of the dairy herd and are terminal because the affected animals are finished and processed. “Also, disease tracing shows us that once infected, drystock herds do not readily transmit disease to other herds, increasing the chances of successful eradication over the longer term. “We will continue to sit at the table with the Government and DairyNZ to ensure this programme has the greatest chance of success, and that farmers are represented every step of the way.”

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

MANAGEMENT  // 19

Hot cows affect reproduction ONE OF the biggest headaches faced by NZ farmers is reproductive failure where in a herd six–week in calf rates fall and empty rates climb. This translates to a major hit to the businesses bottom line due to lower production and more involuntary culling. For this reason, many farmers consistently devote significant resources and efforts towards optimising reproductive performance and regularly review their reproductive performance and policies. While many of the contributing factors to poor reproductive performance are obvious (Poor BCS, Endometritis, Metabolic disease, lameness & Bull management) one factor that is not often thought of is heat stress. The majority of spring

calving herds in the North Island are susceptible to heat stress as they mate cows from midOctober to late December. Towards the latter part of this period it is not uncommon to see cows grouped around water troughs and under any available shade with drooping ears, tongues protruding and drooling excessively. These clinical signs represent an animal struggling to cope with heat which results in immediate depression of feed

intake, decreasing production and less obvious reproductive failure. This is one of the reasons why cows seem harder to get in calf towards the end of the mating period. In a scientific article published earlier this year by authors Wolfenson and Roth the depressive effect of summer heat on average conception rate of lactating cows artificially inseminated was reported to be 27.7% during summer months compared with 42.6% during the cooler winter months. This effect was most noticeable in hotter years where a further 5% depression in conception rates was observed. This is a very significant effect! While the actual mechanisms for this depression in conception rates are complex, the effect

better manage heat stress in cows through the hotter months by ensuring cows are provided with plenty of cool water, shaded areas, sprinklers on stand-off areas and fans during milking. If you are reading this and concerned your cows may be struggling to conceive speak to your farm advisor or Veterinarian about possible strategies to reduce the immediate and future effect of heat stress on reproduction. of heat on reproduction is via multiple actions involving interference with reproductive hormone secretion, the health of ovarian function pre – ovulation, the cows ability to support early pregnancy and the viability of the embryo (which is most sensitive to excessive heat up to 8 days post conception). Fur-

ther, there is a larger negative effect on the breeds of cattle common to the NZ dairy industry which originated from cooler climates. So, what are the practical implications for managing the ill effects of heat stress on reproduction. The most obvious answer is to reduce exposure of breeding cows to

extreme heat by avoiding mating cows through hotter times of the year. This further incentivises the goal of attempting to maximise pregnancy rates through the early mating period. The more cows in calf prior to the heat arriving the better! The second and (in some cases) less practical approach is to attempt to

Reference: Impact of heat stress on cow reproduction and fertility, Wolfenson and Roth, Animal Frontiers, Jan 2019, Vol.9, No.1

• Greg Jarratt is a vet and director of Matamata Veterinary Services. This article is brought to you by

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

20 //  ANIMAL HEALTH

How can you keep BVD out? AMANDA KILBY

BVD IS a viral disease of

cattle with a big economic impact. It is estimated to cost the New Zealand cattle industry $150 million in direct production losses each year.1 “Persistently infected” (PI) cattle are the main source of BVD spread; these animals were infected with BVD before birth, when their immune system was still developing. They shed high levels of the BVD virus in their blood, saliva and faeces

for their entire lives. PIs spread BVD by having direct or indirect (via saliva or faeces) contact with naïve animals. When a naïve animal is infected with BVD, it will usually recover in 2-3 weeks. However, during this “transient infection,” cattle may experience pregnancy loss, reduced growth rates or milk production, or any number of secondary infections. Because PIs are the main source of BVD, controlling BVD relies on finding and elimi-

nating PIs from within your herd, then protecting your herd from contact with outside PIs to prevent reintroduction of the disease. Effective BVD control plans require: monitoring the herd, finding and culling PIs, improving biosecurity, and strategically vaccinating ‘at-risk’ cattle. Last month, we addressed how to monitor the herd and test individual animals to find PIs so they can be culled. These two steps of a BVD control plan allow you to eliminate the dis-

BVD is costing the cattle industry $150m annually in production losses.

ease from your farm. The second half of the puzzle is to prevent re-introduction of BVD by improving biosecurity and strategically vaccinating at-risk animals. The largest management risk factors for BVD are: 1) bringing outside cattle onto your farm without testing them for BVD, and 2) allowing your cattle to have frequent over-the-fence contact with animals of an unknown BVD status2. Therefore, improving BVD biosecurity involves the following steps (in order of importance): ■■ test all purchased/ leased animals, including service bulls, before they arrive on-farm ■■ improve boundary fencing and manage the use of road-side paddocks when neighbouring stock is nearby ■■ spell shared yards and equipment for several days between use

for different groups of cattle ■■ clean and disinfect boots and equipment when moving from one group of cattle to another. Frequent animal movements and the high density of cattle in New Zealand mean that most farms cannot eliminate their BVD risk. So, BVD control also requires vaccination of at-risk groups of cattle. Effective vaccines, such as Bovilis® BVD, prevent the formation of PI calves inside pregnant animals and reduce the impact of transient BVD infection on naïve animals. Work with your vet to identify groups of “atrisk” animals, and fully vaccinate them prior to when they could have PI contact. ‘Fully vaccinating’ with Bovilis® BVD means giving two doses of vaccine, 4 weeks to 6 months apart in the first year, then an

annual booster for ongoing protection. Groups of animals requiring vaccination for BVD control include: ■■ calves/heifers away at grazing with groups of animals of an unknown BVD status ■■ cattle which will having contact with animals of an unknown BVD status over mating or pregnancy ■■ animals with very little BVD antibody (“naïve” herds) and the possibility of contact with animals of an unknown BVD status ■■ all service bulls* *Even on farms with low BVD risk, all service bulls should not only be tested to ensure they are not PIs, they should also be completely vaccinated before mating. Bull testing and vaccination is a low-cost insurance policy, because transient BVD infection reduces sperm quality for months. If a bull becomes sick with

BVD, the entire mating season could be ruined. BVD control is good for your animals and good for your bottom line. Monitoring the herd, finding and culling PIs, improving biosecurity, and vaccinating at-risk groups of cattle are the steps of an effective BVD control plan. For more information about BVD control, speak with your vet or visit www.TopFarmers.co.nz for BVD videos, fact sheets and more. References 1. Heuer, C. et al. (2008). Economic effect of exposure of bovine viral diarrhoea virus on dairy herds in New Zealand. J.Dairy Science, 90:5428 -5438. 2. Han, J.H. et al (2018). Using Bayesian network modelling to untangle farm management risk factors for bovine viral diarrhoea virus infection. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 161; 75-82.

• Amanda Kilby is MSD animal health veterinarian

NEW RULES KICK IN DAIRYNZ IS encouraging farmers

to check they meet new minimum standards included in an amended Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare. The code has been recently amended by the Ministry for Primary Industries and came into effect from October 31. Many of the changes relate to requirements in off-paddock facilities. About 40% of farms use off paddock facilities, mostly to feed cows when grass growth is limited. They include barns, feed pads and stand-off pads, and can provide environmental and animal health benefits. For farmers with off-paddock facilities: ■■ Where cows are wintered on hard surfaces (like stones or concrete) with no soft lying area, a compressible surface

■■

■■

■■

■■

(like rubber) needs to be available for cows to lie on Calving cows on hard surfaces like concrete or stones must have a dry, non-slip covering such as straw or rubber matting. The amount of effluent build-up on the surface must also be managed Calving cows in off-paddock facilities must have enough space to separate themselves from the herd Wood chip pad facilities with no roof must have drainage that minimises ponding, to provide enough comfortable space for cows to lie down Where concrete feed pads are used in wet weather and cows are kept on feed pads for most of the day for several days, some access to drier paddocks must be provided every day. As

an alternative, farmers can also use rubber matting if the feed pad is used regularly to reduce pugging. “The new minimum standards are designed to allow cows to express natural behaviours, such as lying comfortably, in all types of environments,” said Helen Thoday, animal care team leader at DairyNZ. “Cows find surfaces with moisture levels higher than about 75% uncomfortable to lie down on. In a paddock, that level is about when you will see water in your gum boot prints.” DairyNZ will be working with farmers who winter cows on crop paddocks, to find on-farm solutions to meet this requirement. • For more information on the new minimum standards visit dairynz. co.nz/facilities

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 21

Speakers lined up for expo A STRONG lineup of industry speakers will feature at this month’s NZ Effluent & Environment Expo in Waikato. Organisers say the Expo will be the biggest yet, with over 90 exhibitors and six different educational seminars at the two-day event. The expo will be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre on November 19-20. Speakers will include agribusiness commentator Jacqueline Rowarth and Manawatu dairy farmer and author of ‘The Lean Dairy Farm’, Jana Hocken, who wrote the book to help farmers learn how to run more efficient, profitable dairy units. Rowarth is a regular columnist in rural publications including Rural News. Expo attendees can also hear from social licence consultant Penny ClarkHall, who will discuss social licence -rebuilding trust from the ground up. Expo organiser Amanda Hodgson says the event will have exhibitor sites and farmers’ seminars during both days. “We wanted to deliver a combina-

Expo highlights ■■

Education on effluent, environment and biosecurity and its management

■■

Practical seminars run by industry professionals

■■

Challenging everyday thinking seminars

■■

Live demonstrations

■■

Futureproof farm systems through good advice

■■

Supported by the dairy industry and regional authorities

■■

Over 90 exhibitors plus food and coffee

■■

Campervan sites available onsite.

Former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry is one of the speakers. Inset: Jacqueline Rowarth (top) and Jana Hocken.

tion of education on effluent management and something for the ‘top few inches’ in our speaker slots this year.

“Making sure farmers are sorted in their own wellbeing and mental health is crucial,” she said.

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Former All Blacks Coach Sir Graham Henry has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for 4pm Tuesday

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

22 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Effluent storage MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

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might include removing the need to irrigate or risk of ponding in wet weather, using effluent when plant uptake is maximised, storage capacity during breakdowns or reducing labour requirements or stress during busy periods. Dairy News recently visited the Ngarua Effluent Field Day organised by Dairy NZ consulting officer Frank Portegys. Aad and Jill de Groot’s 65ha Maungakawa Road property milks 210 cows at peak, producing 83,000kgMS (1280kgMS/ ha or 395kgsMS/cow). The System 2 spring calving herd are fed around 60 tonnes of imported PKE, supplemented by 4.5ha forage maize, all fed in the paddock. The farm has a flat to rolling contour, with soil type that varies from Kereone silt loam(welldrained), through Morrinsville clay loam (moderately well drained clay over loam) to Waitoa silt loam (poorly drained loam over sandy loam). The farm system typically produces around 13,000-14,000L of effluent

Aad de Groot

each day. The de Groot’s storage capability centres around an 850,000L, above-ground Kliptank positioned on a high point around 250m from the dairy shed and silage pad. Installed in 2016, the tank is constructed from a polypropylene liner, HDPE walls and PVC uprights, with multiple agitation points around the lower circumference. In operation dairy effluent travels through a sand trap to be collected in an in-ground 20,000L concrete tank acting as a sump from where it is sent, using an 11kW pump, direct to a trav-

elling irrigator or to the storage tank. At the storage area, a PTO driven pump is used for sending material to the irrigator, as well as being able to recirculate fluids to reduce sediment and keep microsolids in suspension The effluent field allows spreading over 23ha (5 paddocks from sump and 5 paddocks from storage) typically spread at around 19mm depth, delivering 85kg N/ ha with an estimated fertiliser value of 0.45kg N/ cubic metre. Currently, the effluent block is showing very high levels of potassium (K) at 41MAF units, compared to a

ment,” said council investigations manager Patrick Lynch. “This farm has posed

WRC established that from 2010 to 2016 the company purchased a neighbouring farm and

as the courts, the public then be irrigated to and even their own indusland as fertiliser in an try has lost patience environmentally safeDAIRY and NEWS NOVEMBER 12,with 2019 them,” Lynch said. economically prudent,

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 23

MANAGING POO

offers increased flexibility

ALL DAIRY farmers have a of effluent non-compliance. effluent management requireresponsibility to manage the All farmers need to be aware ments and how to meet them. effluent from their cows and this of, understand and adhere to DairyNZ resources available is taken seriously by the vast permitted activity rules. to all dairy farmers include a majority of dairy farmers. For farmers who haven’t yet Dairy Effluent Storage CalculaMost dairy farmers are undertaken the work needed to tor, A Farmer’s Guide to Building investing in reliable, sustainable meet their obligations, advice is a New Effluent Storage Pond us informed about for the mum amount of substrate bladder atfrom dairy thefarm irrigator run. In either the storage available systems. companies and a certification scheme system status. It also for siting the bladder. $40,000, the travelcase, Wilson is notified Well-designed and conand regional councils. DairyNZ accredited effluent system allows us solooking much flexWilson comments, irrigatoralso at $8000, by structed a text message to alert effluent storageling prohas an environmental designers. Farmers for a lot of probbenefits – better extension specialist support establishing effluibility particularly at busy “Thewhose systemrole just gives us in the multi-stage pump at himvides of potential flexibility for irrigation, better workingso with farmers, ent infrastructure visitor the times likecan calving silage much peace of mind, $12,000 andincludes the G-valve lems. environmental rural professionals and others DairyNZ website making: – wewww.dairynz. just divert to particularly in extended at $3000. Earthworks The cost of the management, peace of mind and reduced risk help farmers their while co.nz/effluent. the bladder until we have periods of rainfall, were carriedtoout using on- understand system, largely installed

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the time to irrigate.”

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Collection sump on Mike Wilson’s farm. Inset: Mike Wilson.

range of 7-13 MAF units on elsewhere on the farm. De Groot says, “We chose the Kliptank because it is relatively compact, is tidy and didn’t require the extensive groundworks needed for an in-ground system. Although it’s unlikely, the tank can also be dismantled and taken with us.” Total costs for the system included $65,000 for the storage tank, $7500 for the PTO pump and $5000 for groundworks. Just a few kilometres away, Mike and Louise Wilson are equity partners/sharemilkers with Mike’s parents on Paratu Road. Running to 135ha, the farm carries 410 milkers at peak, producing 170,000kgMS (1260kgMS/ ha, or 415kgMS/cow). The property is predominantly well-drained Kereone silt loam, with a small area made up of Topehaehae clay loam (poorly drained loam over clay). Described as a System 3 operation, the spring calving herd is offered inshed feeding and has no feed pad, with access to forage maize and around 7ha of chicory. The effluent system sees material passing through a small sand trap to remove solids that in turn leads to a 25,000L in-ground sump and an additional 20,000L concrete tank to deal with

is fitted with a pressure sensor, effectively creating an auto-shutoff feature. This is triggered by low pressure, suggesting a leaking hose, or high pressure triggered by a blockage or the end of

peak flows. From the collecting tanks, effluent can be pumped directly to pasture or into a 500,000L storage bladder situated on a fenced off level storage area adjacent to the dairy shed. In either scenario, pumping is taken care of by a Yardmaster, 4-stage, 18.5kw pump, although power constraints on the site mean it cannot run during milking. At the centre of the system a gravity operated G-valve is installed to ensure there is no back flow from the bladder to the sump if the pump is not operating. Rainwater can be diverted away from the effluent stream when the yard areas are clean -- an important consideration as the surface areas of the yard, roof and surrounding areas amount to 860sq.m, adding 8600L in a 10mm rainfall event. The effluent area amounts to 40ha, complemented by the 7ha chicory sown area during summer. The latter allows a full bladder of 500,000L to be applied at a depth of 7mm. Wilson makes the most of the latest technology available, employing a Williams travelling irrigator with cannon that

NORTH ISLAND Call Jarred L’Amie 027 203 5022 www.gaz.co.nz

SOUTH ISLAND Call Alastair Robertson 027 435 2642 www.cochranes.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

24 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Cultivating the right way BALA TIKKISETTY

CULTIVATION OF paddocks

is common on farms at this time of year. It’s also a time when local storms may occur, adding substantial risk to an important farming practice. To help maximise production, and protect the soil properties and environment, there are a number of factors to bear in mind when planning for cultivation. The physical, chemical and biological soil environment will be impacted due to cultivation and this effect, particularly on potential erosion, differs greatly depending on the soil type, slope, moisture levels and cultivation methods. Topsoil erosion of bare or cultivated land leads to the loss of the very basis of the farm production system. Erosion can also disrupt infrastructure and increase the costs of maintenance, such as cleaning culverts and drains and repair of tracks and races. The resulting sediment and nutrients getting into waterways can smother and disrupt the ecosystem, resulting in reduced biodi-

versity and lower fish stocks. There are a number of techniques farmers can use to help reduce the environmental risks associated with cultivation, and with erosion generally, and at the same time protect their soil resources. Contour cultivation, sowing at right angles to the slope, helps prevent sediment and nutrient running off paddocks to places they’re not wanted. Avoid large, unbroken areas of bare soil at any one time. If a large sloping paddock is to be cultivated, leave strips of undisturbed land at intervals across the slope where possible. Soils should be cultivated when moisture content is neiTopsoil erosion can result in sediments ther too high nor too low. and nutrients getting into waterways. Other conservation cultivation techniques include practices known as minimum tillage or no is likely to be poor because cultivation tillage. These include spraying chemical reduces soil organic matter levels. Minto remove vegetation and direct drill- imum or no tillage will not repair the damage overnight but, with residue ing of seed into soil. If soil has been continuously cul- retention, it will eventually. Where the soil structure has been tivated for many years, the structure

damaged by repeated cultivation, consider maintaining pasture on the damaged area for a year or two to enable the soil to restore itself. Because of certain textural differences, the natural rate of water infiltration in some soils is low. But the infiltration rate can also be low due to soil structure damage caused by frequent tillage or other management related issues like compaction. Run-off from these areas increases the risk of erosion, so more care is needed in such cases. As an additional protection measure, an effective filter strip needs to be established and maintained between any cultivation and water bodies. Healthy riparian vegetation in these areas, including dense ground cover or rank grass, should be maintained to improve bank stability, increase water quality, filter sur-

face run-off and to provide habitat for wildlife. Studies show that up to 90% of sediment can be caught in an effectively constructed filter strip. Any pathogenic organisms trapped in long grass filter strips will die off in sunlight. So, the wider the buffer strip the greater the benefit. In the filter strips, generally, grasses should be kept to a height of at least 10-15cm with a high density of stems and leaves at ground level for maximum trapping effect. Remember that Waikato Regional Council has a rule in the regional plan which says farmers must not cultivate paddocks within 2m of a river, stream or lake bed. This is designed to prevent contamination of waterways. Finally, be cautious when moving cultivation equipment between farms so as not to spread pest plants and other soil borne diseases. Decontaminate the equipment by thoroughly washing it before taking to another farm. • Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor (technical) at Waikato Regional Council.

ALL YOUR ON FARM WATER NEEDS IN ONE PLACE. TALK TO US TODAY. Reticulation, storage, stockwater and more. Every farmer knows that a reliable water supply is vital for the success of both livestock and crops. So, whether you need to fix your fittings, prime your pumps or replace your reticulation system, visit your local Farmlands store for the best products, biggest range and even better service. To find out more visit www.farmlands.co.nz

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MECHANICAL SEPARATOR FOR DAIRY SHEDS Key benefits of effluent separation: • Preservation of nutrients natural fertiliser returned to the land in a controlled manner • Up to 80% reduction in greenhouse gases Off the tank as well as eliminating unpleasant odours • Stable treatment process • Cost effective reduction in fertiliser costs as returned to the land CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER: South Island

Phone

Email

Region

North Island

Phone

Email

Region

On Farm Agri Centre Ltd

03-547 3276

dmfarm@xtra.co.nz

Stoke

Geo. Hutchinson & Co. Ltd

07-889 5202

brendon@hutchies.co.nz

Morrinsville

Thinkwater West Coast

03-768 6993

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West Coast

Thinkwater Taupo

07-377 6344

ryan@caldera.org.nz

Taupo

Rakaia Engineering Ltd

03-302 7305

john@relgroup.co.nz

Rakaia

King Farm Services

07-304 9640

service@kingfs.co.nz

Edgecumbe

Canterbury Farm Services Ltd

03-308 8226

shaun@canterburyfs.co.nz

Ashburton

Elite Farm Solutions

06-761 7265

elite.fs@xtra.co.nz

Opunake

Orari Irrigation Ltd

03-971 1979

wayne@orariirrigation.co.nz

Orari

Bromley Dairy & Pumps Ltd

06-323 9660

steve@bromsdp.co.nz

Feilding

Kirk Irrigation Ltd

03-689 8474

admin@kirkirrigation.co.nz

Waimate

Ordish & Stevens (Forwater)

06-370 0700

scott.forbes@ordish-stevens.co.nz

Masterton

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

26 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Separation gives constant result EFFLUENT SEPARATION offers

a number of unique advantages, and opportunities that other systems don’t offer, says farm equipment

manufacturer Rakaia Engineering Ltd (REL) Group. REL says a separator offers a consistent treatment result: liquid and solid fractions stay

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within a 10 -15% range of nutrient split between solids and liquids. “In order to be able to manage how effluent is applied to land, we first need to quantify the nutrient content of what is being applied, in order to plan effluent applications,” the company says. “Nutrient content will vary from day to day based on feed volume and type. “By separating liquids from solids, and then injecting into irrigation at a rate of up to 30% effluent/70% water, we can better manage fluctuations in nutrient loading.” REL says other treatment systems don’t allow this same flexibility. In removing the solids from the liquids, the anaerobic breakdown of wastes is halted, mitigating the risks of the waste becoming anoxic through the fermentation process. Both solids and liquids remain nearly pH neutral -- preserving the nutrient value and reducing the need for man-made fertilisers, but also keeping nutrients in a storable format. “In halting the anaerobic process, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the storage pond by up to 85%, as well as almost eliminating unpleasant odours,” REL says. The company’s Bauer Separators are able to screen particles from as fine as 0.25mm, up to 1mm, offering a range of irrigation options. “With all coarse material being extracted

in the separation process, irrigated wastes have the quickest possible path to the root zone of the crop and, with fertiliser in a natural format, the quickest possible uptake. “On farms where nutrient volume is too high, the solids fraction is dry enough to be moved without environmental risk. “With separation being able to lock up to 30% nutrient in the solids, moving solids to another site allows the farmer to drop the overall nutrient loading on site dramatically.” Farmers are facing more pressure to increase control over their nutrient loadings on farm. REL says separators are the only method of treatment which will adequately deal with increased solids loadings. Bauer Separators are warrantied to perform with waste up to 20% solids content, so are suited to changing site & environmental requirements, REL says. “No other system provides the same level of solids removal, without the need to remove bulk wet solids waste from storage, and without further drying being required. “Not only are wastes in a very useable format, they are very easy to handle with existing farm equipment. “The FDE Design Code of Practice indicates that separating solids as soon as possible is a preferable outcome for handling farm wastes. Only mechanical separation can truly delver this intended result.”

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 27

Making good use of green water THE USE of technology to improve farming practices and returns has always been an interest and a passion for Reperoa farmer Alistair Neville. While studying at Massey University he came across a paper advocating the benefits of foliar applied fertiliser. He quickly latched on to the idea and converted to the Tow and Fert range about six years ago. Neville runs a Tow and Fert Multi

800, which has since been updated to a 1000 model. “We are putting mostly nitrogen through the machine, urea and SOA mix or an N and elemental sulphur brew. We will also run giberillic acid in the colder months.” Neville is also making the move to an autumn milking run to take advantage of the premium payout available from Fonterra for winter milking and

Hefty fine for ‘careless’ farmer

Alistair Neville

to make the most of summer with his boat and bach. “With us going into winter milking the Tow and Fert will be a key component of the whole system to grow as much grass as we can.” He uses the sprayer three times a week following the cows. He is also able to make use of the excess green water on the farm as the base in which to mix the fertiliser brew.

Neville also uses his Tow and Fert Multi 800 as a trash pump, cleaning culverts and troughs and helping the garden with green water. “We need to be environmentally friendly and with new environmental regulations coming in we need to be smarter about how we use our fertiliser, especially nitrogen, and I think the Tow and Fert is the answer to quite a lot of that.”

EFFLUENT SEPARATORS

WAIKATO FARMING company B & B Singh Ltd

was last week slapped with a $63,000 fine for unlawful discharging farm effluent. The convictions and fines were imposed by Judge Melinda Dickie in the Hamilton District Court. Judge Dickie also issued an enforcement order requiring the farmer to install appropriate effluent infrastructure on the property. The company is owned by Gurnam Singh. The prosecution was taken by Waikato Regional Council, under the Resource Management Act, following inspections of the farm’s effluent system. The first inspection on 17 August 2018 found a pipe from the cowshed discharging effluent directly onto the ground. When the council re-inspected the system on September 26, 2018 the same pond was found still overflowing. In sentencing notes released earlier this month Judge Dickie stated, “It is unacceptable to be aware of the failings in a system and to not take steps to address those failings or mitigate them until they can be addressed.” In reflecting on the farm’s history and most recent failings, she described the defendant’s actions as “highly careless”.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

28 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Soil moisture: no NIGEL MALTHUS

FARM MANAGER

Farm manager Bryan Mitchell checks the control panel of a new pivot.

Biozest

Bryan Mitchell describes as brilliant the SCADAfarm systems that allow him to remotely monitor and manage the irrigation of his 300ha of leased grazing land near Kirwee. The farm has recently been transformed under Mitchell’s management -and with the landowners, the Hayes family -- with comprehensive irrigation including nine pivots, a weather station and soil moisture monitoring, new

fencing and stock water. Internet-enabled SCADAfarm systems (supervisory control and data acquisition) tie it all together to allow Mitchell to manage his irrigation needs from a desktop or smartphone screen. Trading as Hayes Road Grazing, Mitchell now runs the farm as a grazing unit for Spectrum Group, a dairying group with six farms in Canterbury and another four in Waikato. Mitchell says the farm, long and narrow with a lot of public road crossings, wouldn’t make a

great dairy farm but it operates as the dedicated heifer-raising unit for Spectrum’s Canterbury dairies. At peak it carries up to 2400 animals and has about half that at the moment. “Next month they’ll start turning up at 100kg and we keep them through to the following May (2021) so in 17 months we send them home in calf. That’s the plan.” The bulls are now running with the mobs that are due to return to their home farms in 2020. About 90% of the property is in permanent pasture and the rest in

winter crop for the R2s – about 7.5ha fodder beet and 25ha kale. The farm is on the Central Plains Water scheme and runs nine centre pivots (and some K-line) controlled by SCADAfarm Pivot, SCADAfarm Weather and SCADAfarm Soil Moisture. Mitchell says the system means he can irrigate “when we need to”. He described the weather and soil monitoring system as “brilliant” because of the way it marries up ET (evaporative transpiration) and recorded rainfall, along with 15-day forecasts, to provide advance notice of

®

Zest Bi tech

SCADAfarm software that allows farmers to control irrigation.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 29

more looking over the fence Vanessa Robinson, Waterforce.

growing grass. We know when we can switch off and when we need to switch on. So it allows us to grow grass efficiently and hopefully not have to buy in as much supplement to get through the leaner times.” Vanessa Robinson, national water management manager for Waterforce, explains that the SCADA system was developed by Waterforce and Schneider Electric. Along with the three modules used on Mitchell’s farm – SCADAfarm Pivot, SCADAfarm Weather and SCADAfarm Soil Moisture -the company also offers SCADAfarm Pump and SCADAfarm VRI modules. The key to the system is its internet-connected data management, with both historical and realtime data securely stored in cloud-based servers and accessed by customers on a subscription basis. Robinson says the company currently has over 3500 clients, not just farmers but others includ-

ing territorial councils. SCADAfarm Pivot alone has more than 350 units currently live throughout New Zealand. She says the system records vital data about a property’s weather conditions and soil moisture levels and offers water traceability and water

scheduling tools, to help avoid overwatering, minimise leaching and optimise plant growth while meeting compliance requirements. She says some farms have halved their energy costs by changing their irrigation behaviour and taking advantage of off-

peak energy rates. “Not everyone has weather stations but for compliance or for auditing purposes now, you need to have some level of soil moisture monitoring to actually prove that you are only irrigating when you need to irrigate and you’re not losing any

she says. Farmers need to show that they are auditing themselves, being compliant and only using irrigation when they should. “People don’t realise how much farmers are investing in these areas. The benefits are huge for everybody.”

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A new pivot on Newhall Farm, Kirwee.

water through to drainage.” Robinson says while ECan is very proactive in its region, the rest of the country is slowly catching up to better water management and SCADAfarm is “leading that drive”. It is a wonderful tool used for the right reasons,

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when irrigation will likely become necessary. For each pivot, the smartphone screen shows where the soil moisture lies within its optimal “green zone” and allows Mitchell to start, stop, reverse or park it safely in case of predicted high winds. It is still important for Mitchell to have eyes – and boots – out on the farm. He might, for example, inspect and manually start one pivot while using the smartphone to start a couple of others. His CPW allocation allows him to run up to seven of the pivots at once. “Instead of having to go round seven pivots manually every day I can check them once and them check them a couple of times on the phone. “Otherwise it could easily take 1.5 hours each morning to get them going.” Mitchell says the bottom line is that the SCADAfarm system is “something you need to have” for modern auditing and compliance requirements. “You have to have some way of knowing what your soil moisture is doing now. I don’t think looking over the fence and seeing what the neighbour is doing is good enough any more. “It allows us to keep

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

30 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Managing poo MICHAEL O’GRADY

AS ANIMALS digest

ingested feeds it is partitioned to maintenance, animal output (milk yield and constituents, live weight gain etc) and reproduction. The undigested portion passes out

in their faeces. Chopping and mixing feeds (protein, energy, minerals, fibre and water), even as part of a complementary buffer feed, helps the animal to digest the maximum amount of nutrients from the feeds to drive performance and reduce environmen-

tal emissions, from both nitrogen and methane. Typically, waste materials are increasingly stored on-farm and applied to ground in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Farm dairy effluent flow rates of around 50L/cow/day are typical (range from 20-115), with total solids of 0.5kg/ cow/day (range from 0.50.95); with average total nitrogen of 22 g/cow/day (range 6-40) and the of total phosphorus of 2.5g/ cow per day (range 1-6) (ref Heubeck, Nagels and Craggs, NIWA). Slurry has a high fertiliser value. When applied in a timely manner, at the correct levels, it can help reduce purchased fertiliser bills on farm, add important organic matter back to the soil and improve pasture and live-

THE BENEFITS OF 100% NATURAL GYPSUM

Gypsum application is a standard practice worldwide for addressing the build up of sodium in soils, including soils receiving waste waters. Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

Gypsum, a sustainable and readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime. Gypsum in amendment

• Displaces sodium binding clay soils • Reduces high soil aluminium levels • Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests throughout New Zealand shows sulphur deficiency is wide spread. Although often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur due to the sulphate radical (SO4--). • Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4--), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils

Gypsum in water savings

• Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application

How Does Gypsum Work? Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulphate. Calcium from gypsum replaces sodium in the soil. The sulphate allows the sodium to be effectively leached out of the soil. The soil then has more ability to flocculate and form stable aggregates to improve drainage and soil quality. Na+ Na+ CaSO4 + Soil Cation Exchange

Ca++ Soil Cation ➔ Exchange

leached

+ Na2SO4

Gypsum in soil conditioning

• Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit gypsum.co.nz Michael O’Grady

stock performance Phosphorus tends to be twice the value of potash and nitrogen. The full fertiliser value depends on the amount of nutrients available for plant uptake at time of slurry application and weather conditions at the time of application. Applications in the cool moist weather during spring, rather than summer, increases the amount of ammonium-N that is captured by the crop and reduces losses of N resulting from ammonia volatilisation. The method of application also has a major bearing on utilisation, as seen when applying slurry below the crop canopy with a vertical trailing shoe. That allows grass to harness more of the ammonia and reduce volatilisation.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 31

made easy

DM%

Application Dilution

Application Timing Spring

7

None Summer 1/3 Water

5

2/3 Slurry

Spring

Summer 2/3 Water 3

1/3 Slurry

Spring

Summer *SP = Splash Plate *TS/BS = Trailing Shoe/ Band Spreader

Irish slurry handling specialist Abbey Machinery is currently working on the live sensing of the N, P, K and AM levels in slurry during application through NIR, a process that will allow true precision slurry application. In April 2019, Teagasc carried out field trials at its environmental research farm in Ireland comparing slurry applied by traditional splash plate and slurry applied using Abbey Machinery’s ver-

tical trailing shoe applicator, at a rate of 3375L/ ha. Applied on April 23, the trial plots were reassessed on May 21 with yields being measured. The area applied by splash plate had 1200kg DM/ha, while the section applied with Abbey’s vertical trailing shoe had 2285kg DM/ ha. The 90% increase in grass yield from the same slurry, applied on the same day, gave a compelling argument towards

the environment. The benefits of Abbey Machinery’s low emission slurry spreading equipment, DM band spreader, vertical trailing shoe or Tri-App trailing shoe and disc injector is how and where they deliver the slurry onto the soil to harness more fertiliser value, shorten rotation length, reduce carbon emissions. They also allow the minimisation of crop contamination, reduce smell/ odours and reduce fertiliser bills. • Michael O’Grady is business development manager international for Abbey Machinery, Ireland.

the use of Abbey’s vertical trailing shoe. New thinking on slurry application post silage cutting now recommends allowing the grass to regrow, post-cutting for two weeks, then applying the slurry via vertical trailing shoe. In this way the grass is not contaminated with the slurry and the longer grass better harnesses the ammonia and maximises the nitrogen retention within the crop -- a winwin for the farmer and

Organic Fertiliser Type

N kg/m (units/1000 gal)

P kg/m K kg/m (units/1000 gal) (units 1000 gal) 3,6

3

N1 (S132,2014)

N2 (Actual)

Cattle (7% DM)

2.0 (18.0)

0.7 (6.5)

0.6 (5.0)

3.3 (30.0)

4.3 (20.0)

Pig (4% DM)

21 (19.0)3

2.1 (19.0)

0.8 (7.0)

1.9 (20.0)

5.2 (24.0)

0.8 (0.7)

0.6 (5.0)

1.1 (5.0)

Soiled Water

0.48

N

SP*

6

TS/BS

10

TS/BS

3

TS/BS

6

SP

5

TS/BS

7

SP

2

TS/BS

5

SP

3

TS/BS

4

SP

1

TS/BS

3

P

K

5

30

4

28

2

17

FORSI SEPARATION SOLUTIONS ARE SUITABLE FOR ANY INDUSTRY ● Dairy effluent ● Car wash ● Drycleaning ● Horse pool ● Veggie processing ● Winery waste See us at the Effluent Expo Site 40 Have a chat to the team onsite about how we can help with your waste water problems

Value €m3 (units/1000 gal)4,5

Liquid Manures

Method

Maintenance free separation solutions

Slurry Value 3

Fertliser Value (units/1000 gal)

Forsi Innovations Ltd | 14 Waihou Street | Matamata | Ph 07 880 9479 | Fax 07 880 9486 | www.forsi.co.nz

Ref Teagasc (Irish National Farming Research and Advisory body).

INCREASE PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE Hundreds of users of HerdHomes® shelters agree, an investment in HerdHomes® Shelters is an investment in the on going productivity of your farm The future of productive farming www.herdhomes.co.nz M + 64 27 499 0123 P + 64 7 857 0528

NZ Patent Numbers: 521150, 544190, 550635, 545042. Further patents pending. International Patent Numbers: 2003267874, 03748807.9. Further patents pending

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

32 //  EFFLUENT & WATER

Visit us at the Effluent Expo SITE #71

Call the experts. Cnr Robinson & McNally Sts, Ashburton Ph 307 9049 • Email admin@rainer.co.nz www.rainer.co.nz

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EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT & CONTROL

EFFLUENT SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

PUMPS, PU UMPS, STIRRERS & SEPARATORS

TER YARDMANST E U L F F E ENT MANAGEM t Monitoring T | Effluen SUPERSMAR

See demonstrations in ‘real time’, data displays plays luent and pick up a copy of the Yardmaster® Effluent Management Guide. EFFLUENT SYSTEM DESIGN

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Stand

• • • •

this week launch its TG range of tankers at Agritechnica in Germany. Positioned below the existing PD 11 series (designed for professional users), the TG machines will be available in 18 or 20 cubic metre capacities for farmers wanting simple high capacity tankers with low maintenance and extended service schedules. Part of the design brief was to reduce tare weights, although the tankers retain anti-surge baffles and other options available in the range. The units can be equipped with hydraulic drawbar suspension for smoother travelling and the option of a 3.8 tonne capacity rear linkage to carry injection or dribble bar attachments. The main filling system will be the company’s patented ejector vacuum pumping set-up, said to offer up to 6000L/minute filling capacity, achieved by only creating a vacuum in the ejector pipe system, not in the rest of the tank chamber.

50

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER  // 33

NZ firm to monitor global lakes NIGEL MALTHUS

A CHRISTCHURCH

company has won a major technology contest with a satellite-based remote sensing solution that could monitor the water quality of every lake globally. Seequent’s Lake Indicator Modelling System (SLIMS) takes satellite imagery data, and models and visualises it through time to detect lake health changes as they occur. The system has been awarded the grand prize at the New Zealand Aerospace Challenge 2019, in which entrants had to present new methods of harnessing satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) data to improve detection of agricultural pollution. The runner-up to Seequent was New Plymouth-based Drone Technologies, for its real-time model measuring water health along rivers and streams. The event was run by ChristchurchNZ with aerospace multinational Airbus and other partners. The organisers said satellite and drone technology offered “huge” opportunities in tackling the two major challenges facing agriculture globally: reducing water pollution and maintaining soil health. Daniel Wallace, Seequent general manager for civil and environmental, says water quality and the health of our lakes sustains our way of life. “It’s not economical to visit all lakes to monitor adverse environmental impacts, but with satellite remote sensing every lake can be monitored virtually. “Algal blooms, sediment events and other adverse changes in lake health, which could otherwise be unseen and unknown, suddenly emerge with our new monitoring solution. “Subsequently these lakes could be visited to

further investigate the health degradation,” said Wallace. Seequent says only 2% of lakes are now monitored by established methods, but SLIMS could effectively and economically monitor the health of all New Zealand’s 3820 lakes. Wallace says commercialisation is “a way off” but Seequent is discussing pricing and bundling the system in ways that make sure the value is sound for authorities in New Zealand and overseas. The winning team included collaborators from Lincoln Agritech and the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management, and had support from Environment Canterbury and the University of Waikato. They received a cash prize of $30,000, over $15,000 of Airbus data vouchers, $2500 of legal support and an offer of commercialisation support from Xstart, a tech incubator at the University of Canterbury’s Centre for Entrepreneurship. Andrew Mathewson, managing director Airbus Australia Pacific, said the Challenge demonstrated that space technology and sustainability are converging in new and exciting ways. “There is so much opportunity to use satellite data to better manage agricultural activities, but also to combat global environmental challenges like climate change. Seequent’s solution is a great example of this type of innovative and practical technology to enable better management of our environment.” The judges included Valentin Merino Villeneuve, head of Airbus Defence & Space Australasia. “Seequent’s winning solution demonstrated the potential of commercialising existing satellite data to monitor environmental challenges on the ground. It is these tangible solutions that will drive

A SLIMS screenshot of Lake Ellesmere.

innovation and change in how we research and respond to our changing world,” he said.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

34 //  MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Colorado gets enhanced content MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

HAVING CLOSED the gap against the heavyweights Ford and Toyota in the fiercely contested ute market, the Holden Colorado Z71 will be seen with new features when the 2020 model arrives at dealerships in November. These will include wheel-arch fender flares, a new black grille, underbody protection, DuraGuard spray-on tub liner and a soft-drop tailgate. Said to enhance the overall aesthetics of the vehicle, the new flares and grille are complemented by the underbody protection, DuraGuard spray-on tub liner and the innovative soft-drop tailgate in the functionality stakes. In particular, the new tailgate, available exclusively on the updated Col-

orado Z71 has none of the the traditional thumping ‘drop action’ of tailgates that can catch users unawares. This is undeniably the hero 4x4 model of the Colorado range. The new features of the Z71 build on other exclusive features including 18-inch alloy wheels, leather interior and heated front seats. The upgrades are included in an unchanged recommended retail price. In addition, the new Colorado Z71 joins all other new vehicles sold at authorised Holden dealers in having a three-year free scheduled servicing plan, three-year free roadside assistance and three-year free warranty. In other Holden news, the change in company strategy last September to focus on SUV and LCV, to meet changing consumer

preferences, seems to be bearing fruit. The September 2019 result is up 47% compared with the same month last year, achieving a 9.2% market share,

Holden Colorado Z71.

which placed the brand in second spot for the month and fourth overall for 2019. Year to date, all Holden LCV and SUV models have registered substantial growth, attributable to the renewed focus, as shown by Colorado sales up almost 10%,

Trax up by more than 40%, Equinox up 50% and Trailblazer up a massive 60%. Significantly, Acadia

was the biggest seller in the large SUV segment for September and Col-

orado achieved third in segment for the month.

COLD AWARD FOR WEIGHING SYSTEM SIMPLE DESIGN coupled with a product that ‘gets the job done’, has led to Datamars taking the Gold Pin at the Best Design Awards. The Tru-Test S3 weigh system, which includes the MiHub Data Link phone app and MiHub Livestock, took the top honours in its category, while the Datamars’ integrated solar energiser won a bronze award in the same category. Judges liked the clean lines of the S3, its clear screen interface and the tactile quality of the front fascia and keypad. Paired with robust load bars and the smartphone app it gives farmers a novel weighing experience. The Tru-Test S3 weigh scale is said to offer a new level of simplicity

and economy in animal weighing and data management on-farm, by stripping back the functionality and allow-

ing the farmer to get on with the job. It captures the weight information for later analysis via the MiHub Live-

stock digital portal, using Bluetooth pairing to a phone application, bringing advanced technology to the ‘economy’ end of the weigh-scale market. Ease of use was intentional in the design, ensuring minimal interactions were necessary for the farmer to capture the weight information required. Individual animal weights can be matched to animal ID on-the-fly via the app, synching all data automatically through the MiHub Livestock cloud software for future use. The S3 weigh scale is easy to read in varying light conditions, has large, easily accessible buttons with a tactile feel for powering up and zeroing the scale and is rated IP67 for outdoor use

in wet conditions. It is easily mounted to timber or pipe infrastructure in a yard. Power from a lithium-ion battery removes the need for external power supply, and this is easily removed for charging and storage. Verne Atmore, vice president, Livestock Management Solutions, says, “Winning the esteemed Gold Pin is a proud achievement for both our internal team and external design partner Indemic. They drove a customer first approach, focused on improving the user experience and retail performance, as well as designing for manufacture excellence.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 12, 2019

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS  // 35

Alpego gear built for tough terrain MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

HILLTOP HARVESTING, a contracting busi-

ness operated by Wayne and Nicola Preston, is based on the south-east side of the Brynderwyn Hills. They offer a range of services including cultivation, seeding, undersowing, roller drilling, round and square baleage, conventional bales and earthworks. Wayne says, “The strength of our Alpego power harrows and subsoiler are a huge bonus when working on our clients’ ground that is typically very heavy and undulating”. The couple have owned five Alpego power harrows over the years, purchasing their first, a DX500, in 2004. A

Wayne Preston with his Alpego power harrows.

6m Alpego Dmax 600 arrived last year, while an older DX600 model was replaced by an identical unit in October. The Dmax folding power harrows are constructed using a heavyduty frame, with power

delivered via a 1000 rpm central driveshaft to a multi-speed gearbox that sends the drive to each harrow laterally, via camclutch protected drive shafts. Individual rotor shafts run on Twin-Force ball bearing assemblies,

while an independently adjustable levelling board ahead of the roller assembly helps break clods to the required size and create a level finish. “The Dmax power harrow holds the ground well, helped by its inte-

gral weight, with the independent mounting of each harrow allowing it to contour well,” said Preston. “We run 350hp tractors, so the 450-500hp rating of the Alpego gearboxes means they are really on top of the job.

We get high outputs, managed to clock up over 350 hours last year and never had any problems.” Prestons also operated a 3m Alpego KFR Cracker subsoiler and cultivator for the past two seasons to open ground ahead of

the power harrows at a depth of 400-600 mm. In most cases after spraying out, one pass with the KFR subsoiler followed by a pass with the power harrow sees the ground ready for planting maize. The KFR Cracker subsoiler is said to be able to penetrate the hardest ground and leave a level finish, using a hydraulically depth-controlled, double-spike rear roller that crumbles the soil behind the angled ripping legs. “It’s very robust and well built,” said Preston. “We pull at full depth with 350hp and make a great job. “The only irritation is having to change shear bolts, which we accept saves us doing damage to the legs with hidden objects.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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