An Ashburton Guardian Feature

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October 2012

GGUARDIAN

FARMING

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In defence of Overseerp 2-3-4-5

nutrient budgeting 2

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Any feedback is welcome, any comments about our magazine, letters or story suggestions. Please direct any correspondence to: Linda Clarke, on 307-7971 email: linda.c@theguardian.co.nz or write to PO Box 77, Ashburton. Advertising: Phone 307-7900 Email: emma.j@theguardian.co.nz Publication date: October 9, 2012 Next issue: November 6, 2012An advertising feature for the Ashburton Guardian. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Guardian Farming or the Ashburton Guardian.

GGUARDIAN

FARMING

f

One of the architects of the much-criticised nutrient budgeting programme Overseer has defended the software, saying it might not be perfect but it is a world-leading model.

Dr Ants Roberts said Overseer, developed in the early 1990s, was up to version six, each version an improvement on the last and incorporating new technology. It helps farmers see what is happening to the nutrients, like fertiliser, they apply to the farm; it is controversially being used by Environment Canterbury to assess how much nitrogen is leaching beyond a crop’s root zone and potentially into groundwater and waterways.

Farmers say it should not be used as regulatory tool, and is not able to accurately handle some cropping and irrigated situations. The Foundation for Arable Research is already undertaking a review of the programme to see if it is fit for purpose.

ECan is implementing nutrient limits as part of its proposed Land and Water Plan.

Dr Roberts said Overseer was a mathematical interpretation of a biological system, and was a farm management tool to manage nutrients and report on nutrient losses.

“There are a lot of people who have never opened an Overseer programme who have been commenting on it,” he told members of the Ashburton water zone committee recently. “There is a lot of misunderstanding about it and a lot of agendas.”

He said the latest version had been tested at the Lincoln University dairy farm, where Overseer-estimated nitrogen losses more or less matched actual losses recorded by lysimeters.

A chief scientific officer for fertiliser company Ravensdown, Dr Roberts, was on the team that brought Overseer into the world two decades ago. The programme was developed by AgResearch and part-funded by the fertiliser industry and government departments to the tune of $15 million.

The software is free to farmers,

who developers say can stop wasting money on applying fertiliser that is not required and halt environmental damage from overuse of fertiliser.

Dr Roberts said Overseer was useful in helping farmers measure nitrogen losses. It had a long history with pastoral use and could handle complex cropping rotations and stock mixes. More money was needed to improve it further to cope with some irrigated scenarios. The software requires annual rainfall figures, as it takes a long-term view – the amount of irrigation needs to match rainfall inputs otherwise Overseer may overestimate drainage and nitrogen loss.

He said putting in the right data was important, otherwise it was a case of “rubbish in, rubbish out”.

In his presentation to the zone committee, the main driving factors for nitrogen leaching were outlined as soil texture, soil drainage, rainfall and irrigation, pasture development, animal type and winter management.

So, what were the main factors that will reduce the amount of nitrogen loss per hectare (using the programme)? Anything that reduces the amount of nitrogen concentration in urine patches on pasture soils.

The fertiliser industry expects to be very busy helping farmers adjust to nutrient limits, through the development of nutrient management plans, an essential part of farm management plans.

Ravensdown has carried out nearly 3000 nutrient management plans nationwide for dairy farmers.

In Canterbury alone, there are some 16,000 farmers, from big corporate to lifestyle block owners, all required to have a nutrient budget. So will the industry have them compliant by 2017, as the Land and Water Plan requires?

Dr Roberts said the workload was worrying, but Ravensdown management had said its farmer shareholders would meet the deadline.

In defence of Overseer

His advice: Make sure accurate

information goes into

the model

Improve effluent

management

Consider irrigation type

(spray or borderdyke)

Nitrification inhibitors

Low nitrogen

supplementary feed

Wintering barns

WetlandsStory continues over page

Dr Dirt, Ants Roberts.

nutrient budgeting3

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The fertiliser industry says Overseer will be a valuable tool for farming within environment limits.

Use of the programme has expanded to the point where it has enabled nutrient budgeting to be rolled out to virtually all dairy farmers and there has been a good start made with sheep and beef farmers as well, says Dr Philip Mladenov, chief executive of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand.

“We have to be careful that we manage its development so that it continues to add value by supporting profitable farming

within environmental limits.”

He says that as Overseer has come into common usage, expectations of what it can do have rapidly risen. In addition, new science is continually becoming available.

“This sixth and latest generation, released in August, has addressed a range of matters to achieve greater utility.”

These include improved definitions of farm block types and stock classes. It provides milking shed feeding and feed pads as two separate options and

enhanced input requirements for fertiliser, supplementary feed, irrigation, effluent management and nitrification inhibitors. There are improvements to the fodder crop component and, most importantly, it has introduced a more sensitive drainage model.

“A very significant upgrade to the arable sub-model was introduced in an earlier version and this has been carried through and better integrated into the new model.

Many of these innovations are designed to better represent the increasing range of farm systems.”

One of the key intentions of the upgrade has been to improve modelling of particular farming types or local conditions, he said.

“As a result of requirements in the Canterbury region, for example, the model’s drainage component has been improved to achieve more reliable estimates on shallow and stony soils which drain quickly and where there is growing use of irrigation.”

Dr Mladenov said Overseer was a sophisticated software, but still a work in progress.

Story continues on page 4

nutrient budgeting 4

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Dr Bruce Thorrold says the dairy industry has supported the development

of Overseer as it is a useful guidance tool for the industry.

“We support Overseer for farm management decisions when it is used by people who are trained

and competent in its use,” he says.

Dr Mladenov said Overseer was an important guidance tool and warns that it has to be seen for what it is.

“Overseer was designed to model nutrient movements and losses in a variety of farming systems – not specify exact

amounts in every situation. It is an important distinction.

“For example, there has been pressure to incorporate daily timestep data for rainfall measurements, whereas Overseer currently operates on monthly timesteps. Daily timesteps would add enormous complexity with little prospect of improved outcomes. The reality is that rainfall is unpredictable and can only really be understood over long-run averages.

“What Overseer does exceptionally well is provide for sound farm management decisions using science-based estimates of nutrient cycling within the farm system, including the amounts, on average, taken up by produce or lost from the root zone. It enables scenarios to be modelled to find the best management options.”

Dr Mladenov said there was a lack of research available to determine the fate of nutrients leaving the root zone and

entering water bodies, something agencies regulating waterways are interested in. But he says Overseer is

neither able nor has it been intended to model the fate of those nutrients beyond the root zone or the

farm boundary.

Meanwhile, further advancements in the support around Overseer are currently in

development. These will include improved training in its use and certification of

those involved in providing advice to farmers.

rare and precious gulls5Contributed by Mary Ralston, Forest and Bird

We have some very special residents that have recently arrived back in town – the black-billed gull or tarapunga. This gull looks like the common seagull, or red-billed gull, but is actually a totally different species and a rare and precious New Zealand bird. They are much smaller and rarer than the common black-backed gull. They are listed as endangered – like the kiwi.

The exciting news is that the black-billed gull or tarapunga are nesting on the riverbed just outside Ashburton. They are specialist braided river birds with specific requirements for their colony site and they seem to think our riverbed is up to scratch. The floods in the river over the last few months have created clean shingle islands which suit them for nesting and raising their chicks. Islands are ideal because they are less accessible to 4WD, motorbikes, dogs, cats and other predators.

The actual bank they have chosen this year is very low and may be washed over if there is a flood.  Hopefully that won’t happen but we still have the spring thaw to come and the chances of them surviving there are not great. Fortunately if that does happen and they lose their first clutch they are able to re-nest within a couple of weeks. 

Last year about 3000 black-billed gull /tarapunga were counted along the Ashburton River, well down from the 6000 counted the year before. In the colony near town, there are about 2000 so far. Most of tarapunga in New Zealand are found in Southland, but numbers there have declined dramatically over the past couple of decades. The gull’s numbers and range continue to increase in the North Island, but these colonies are small and the increase does not offset the South Island declines.

Why are these birds failing to breed successfully? There are many factors which cumulatively put a lot of pressure on riverbed birds – predation (from cats, dogs, stoats, weasels and ferrets) is one of the main reasons, and disturbance is the other. Motorbikes and vehicles on the riverbed don’t just disrupt the birds from sitting on eggs but they also expend a lot of energy getting away from these perceived threats. Vehicles have been known to run over birds, chicks and nests on the riverbed and stress can also affect a bird’s nesting behaviour. Weeds in many of the braided rivers also reduce the number of suitable nesting sites.

Signs have been put up at the access points to the river to remind people that birds are starting to nest on the riverbeds and should be given a wide berth. As well as the black-billed gull, wrybills, black-fronted terns, oyster-catchers and other birds are beginning to return to our braided rivers – it is especially important at this time of year that vehicles aren’t driven on the riverbeds and dogs are kept under control. We are very privileged to have these rare birds living in our backyard, we need to do everything we can to look after them.

Braided river birds need protection

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irrigate with caution 8Contributed by Mary Ralston, Forest and Bird

Contributed by Dr Tony Davoren

The equinox has now passed us by, with just a hint of “typical” equinoxial weather. No sooner had the combination of equinox and the developing El Nino cocktail shown their hand, than it has become cooler and a little damp again. Some of the “crystal ball” gazing of last month came to fruition – the rest did not. C’est la vie.

Last month I made a prophetic prediction that the irrigation season is not far away. I didn’t need a crystal ball for that. Experience tells me the equinox is the key – equal day and night, then increasing day. This time of the year is also a time of windy weather. At the time, the global climate measurements suggest we are heading into an El Nino phase – and so it has remained. The Southern Oscillation Index has remained negative (indicative of El Nino) but is not particularly strong with the last update in early September at -5.

El Niño is characterised by greater

southwesterly and westerly airflow over the east coast. So it was in early September when the weather was dominated by westerly and north-westerly weather systems; very wet on the West Coast and dry and warm on the east with a west to north west wind. In the last 10-12 days though the weather has been pretty neutral – some cooler days, frosts and the NW in particular has not been as prevalent.

However, the weather pattern, the longer daylength and soil temperatures finally reaching 10°C by 9am (or 10am with daylight saving) has meant a start to the irrigation season. Not everywhere though – as usual it is the early grass seed crops, kale and rape crops, and pastures on light soils (those with stones in the root zone) where a start has been required. Anyone with a long rotation (11-14 days) on lighter soils should have started, probably finished a round by the time this is read. Cautious irrigation is the name of the game though

– crop water use is averaging 1.5-2mm/day. Applying some Year 4 or 5 maths will realise a total of 10-15mm/week, just one round of a pivot per week or an 11-hour run with a Roto-rainer. Remember, save your seasonal volume – there may be a more valuable time to use it than have it drain out the bottom of the root zone.

Last month I looked at the groundwater levels in K37/1792 and K37/0093 which are both in the Valetta Groundwater Zone. I made an calculation error with the water level for reliability in K37/0093 – it is not 5.7mbgl but more like 5.2mbgl. It doesn’t change my assessment that:

The water levels were charging upward and would be higher when measured in September; and in the coastal area there would be plenty of water for all (including the adaptive management consent holders) in 2012-13.

The same cannot be said for deeper bores

in the mid and upper Valetta Zone. Here recharge has taken longer to influence water levels in bores, so much so that at the beginning of August water levels were relatively low still. Sufficiently low that some adaptive management consents were on 100 per cent restriction for their adaptive management water. However, since then water levels have continued to rise and rise quite rapidly – over 2m in the past 6 weeks – and continue to rise.

As is usually the case:

The equinox heralded the start of the irrigation season, being that time of the year when day length, sun angle, temperature and solar radiation are favourable for growth and water use.

But at least for the next few weeks, irrigate cautiously. It takes more than 12 hours day and 12 hours night and 20°C to raise water use by the crops above about 2mm/day.

Equinox gone and time for 2012-13 irrigation season

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When I commenced farming on my own account 50 years ago, success was about making the right decisions and working hard and efficiently to achieve those desired outcomes.

At times, product price variation, weather variability, mortgage costs and other factors meant very little income for the year’s effort, but most survived.

Emphasis was always around work, produce and market. Little if any time was spent daily on record keeping except in most cases a farmer’s diary. Farm programmes were often worked out while driving the tractor and decisions were based on what had worked well in the past, or something you picked up at Young Farmers, Federated Farmers or the local dog dosing strip.

Spot visits by the government-employed Dairy Inspector to check on cowshed and dairy utensil cleanliness went undocumented. (Thank goodness for those coded party line phone rings advising up to 10 farms at a time of his presence in the area.)

Prime stock for slaughter were loaded onto trucks, accompanied by a simple docket

containing nothing more than destination and number (unsigned). OSH was non-existent.

Employment contracts with staff were virtually unknown. As an itinerant shearer and casual worker, pressure to join the shearers’ union was by-passed by co-operation with the farmer and work ethics.

Yes, farming was about work, produce and market. Record keeping was minimal and uncomplicated and book-keeping contained in a couple of shoe boxes in longhand.

This is far from the case today as indeed it must be. I certainly support many of the changes that have occurred in the industry over the last 50 years if New Zealand is to continue its role as food basket for the world.

Product verification, soil health, water quality and use efficiency, and a myriad of other constraints that are part of the industry today, can all be theoretically justified.

However some of the proposals in the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan are a step too far in my view in the pursuit of sustainable food production and soil and water health. While the intent of the plan has to be supported, the potential “big brother” aspect is

an area of concern.

Without doubt the strength of Canterbury’s rural base is testament to the diversity and productivity of our soils. The advent of irrigation in the post-war years bought a huge upsurge in per hectare production.

Technological changes since, together with a shift to centre pivot and lateral irrigation, have not only doubled production but allowed even greater diversification to previously unprofitable crop and stock regimes.

Product flexibility to meet market demands has been key to success. The range of stock plus crop varieties is now endless.

Despite some contrary opinion there is a huge opportunity to irrigate more Canterbury land sustainably, and still safeguard soil and water quality.

High country and foothill storage lakes feeding hydro stations and irrigation by gravity must surely be the most logical way forward.

The Land and Water Regional Plan through the Resource Management Act appears to stymie, or at least make prospects even more difficult in this area.

Another farming hurdle to cross and more bureaucracy

Story continues next page

record keeping11

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Another farming hurdle to cross and more bureaucracy

Even more concerning are rules surrounding soil nutrient thresholds that from 2017 will require farming practices currently permitted to obtain consent to continue in operation, in many cases.

The management tool set to determine soil nutrient status as from 2012 is Overseer, a somewhat complex and unproven programme with very little detail on methodology or accuracy.

Nutrient assessment is a necessary tool for sustainable farming in the future, but not at any cost.

Overseer may perform tolerably well on an established dairy farming operation, however Overseer’s worth in dryland situations with higher rainfall or those converting to irrigation is dubious.

Equally, existing mixed farming/dairy grazing/fattening and mixed cropping enterprises, where the balance of fertiliser requirement can vary vastly on a year-to-year basis, appear grossly marginalised by the LWRP. Rules 5.39 – 5.51 are a particular concern.

I believe farmers need to submit strongly and with a united front against the more draconian aspects within the document.

No doubt the devil will again be in the detail, and that is currently unknown.

When Geoffrey Palmer introduced the Resource Management Act (RMA) in 1989, he praised it as an enabling document.

Certainly it was a very important piece of legislation, but my 20 years of involvement

in RMA issues at Local Government level are much less positive.

Without doubt it has “enabled” many commissioners, legal practitioners, consultants and the like, to become very wealthy citizens. However cumbersome decision making and lengthy delays on major nationally significant consents, have cost this nation dearly.

My fear is that the LWRP with its as yet unknown detail will take farming down a similar route.

Is this just another set of rules designed by theorists for practical people to implement? I hope not!

To enable preservation of our precious soil and water resource, rules are needed – this

will certainly bring more accountability processes.

Farming will continue to flourish in Canterbury if sound commonsense decisions around water and soil nutrients are made.

Sensible water allocation of Canterbury’s ample water resource is a must for future expansion.

Growing the bureaucracy around our most valuable export industry will not only risk choking the Canterbury economy at a very vulnerable time in our history i.e. post earthquake, but ultimately hamstring the wealth of New Zealand into the future.

This is a risk the country cannot afford.

maximising pasture production Contributed by the Fertiliser Association of NZ12

Farmers who don’t follow these safety steps risk penalties under the Health and Safety in Employment Act if someone working on their farm is seriously injured or killed.

QUAD BIKE INJURIES CAN BE PREVENTED – THEY AREN’T PART OF THE JOB.

1. Ridersmustbetrained/experiencedenoughtodothejob

2. Choosetherightvehicleforthejob

3. Alwayswearahelmet

4. Don’tletkidsrideadultquadbikes

EVERY YEAR 850 PEOPLE ARE INJURED ON FARMS RIDING QUAD BIKES.

We’ll be visiting farms in your area throughout the year to check these steps are being followed on your farm.

DO

L 11

860

.2 S

EP

12

FIVE DIE.

For more information please visit www.dol.govt.nz/quad-bikes

187 West St, Ashburton - Ph 308 2055www.jeffmarshallsuzuki.co.nz

Offer valid until 31st October 2012. Normal lending criteria apply, ask us for for full details and cost. Offer not available in conjunction with any other promotion. Documentation fee $322, 1/3 deposit. 1/3 in 12 months and the final 1/3 payment in 24 months.

The Winchmore Research Station is helping us to better understand the long-term effects of superphosphate use on pasture growth and the farm system.

Scientific research has played an important part in the success of agriculture in New Zealand and through a research grant the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (previously known as Fert Research) has assisted the Royal Society of New Zealand to publish a special issue* of the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research devoted to assembling the results of the long-term fertiliser trials conducted at the Winchmore Research Station near Ashburton.

The Winchmore field trials represent some of New Zealand’s longest running scientific experiments and, globally, are the longest running trials of grazed and irrigated pasture.

The special issue catalogues the long list of outcomes established by this research

over the past 60 years. The initial aim of the trials was twofold – to measure the response of pasture to increasing rates of superphosphate; and to measure the response of pasture to different rates of irrigation at the same rate of superphosphate.

As a by-product, researchers and scientists have also been able to report on subjects as diverse as the build-up in farmland of the contaminants contained in fertiliser; the response of the invertebrate community in soil to irrigation; quantifying changes in soil carbon; the response of pasture to withholding fertiliser; and environmental questions around the loss of phosphate and potential impacts on surface water quality.

It has also provided researchers with a large archive of soil samples, datasets, and detailed records on which to study changes over a long period of time.

Since 1951, some 430 papers and

publications have been produced using the results, data, and information from work at Winchmore. These include papers on pasture and crop production, soil research, irrigation, and animal production.

The Winchmore trials have proven to be an invaluable resource in establishing the factors for maximising pasture production in response to the application of phosphorus fertilisers and irrigation. It is essential that the Winchmore trials continue to be maintained in order to address both the long term and the newly emerging agronomic and environmental issues associated with the use of phosphorus fertilisers in the New Zealand pastoral industry.

* The New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research: An international journal of temperate and subtropical pastoral science, Volume 55:2, June 2012. Special Issue: The long-term Winchmore trials: 60 years of discovery. www.royalsociety.org.nz

Winchmore proves goldmine for researchers

improving the bottom line13Contributed by Irrigation NZ

Locally owned and operated

T R A N S P O R T L T D

Phone 308 4079

Locally owned and operated

Visit our websitewww.ruraltransport.co.nz

• Modern Spreader Trucks• Spreadmark Certified • GPS Equipped Fleet• 4 Wheel Drive – low ground compaction• Single Wheels for Tram Line Spreading• Experienced Operators with over

50 years combined service

Call Hamish today to discuss yourfertiliser requirements

Proud to be servicing the farming community in Mid Canterbury

The deadline for larger irrigators to install water meters is now only days away. With a meter installed you will be compliant with the new regulations. At the same time water meters provide information that can be very valuable to your operation.

The first thing to do is look at the information. A meter allows you to track your water use over any time span you wish – hourly, daily or across the season. Most meters have a rate (litre/second) display or alternately information can be telemetered to either your PC or a provider who supplies access. Reviewing the data allows you to instantly compare the specifications of the pump and system design - against what it is actually doing.

If your irrigation scheduling assumes that your pump is working at its designed specification to put on a required amount, for instance 30 l/s, but it is working at 15 per cent under, then you are only applying 25.5 l/s. Potentially under watering a crop has financial implications. Or the opposite could apply where excess water is used, potentially compromising compliance, leaching nutrients and reducing crop yields.

The next question is why is it not pumping at the specified rate? Are the impellors wearing out, have water levels dropped in the well, or is there a faulty valve? Once you have the information, irrigation application can be rescheduled or an issue with the pump, supply or distribution identified and fixed. Monitoring over the season alerts you to developing problems and your irrigation application can be tailored to actual performance, not assumptions.

Below is an example calculation using meter data.

A pivot covering 132ha has a flow meter reading of 5972 m3 of water pumped for a 24 hour period. We can convert the volume (m3) to depth (mm) of irrigation

applied. Volume pumped is 5972m3 in 24 hours and this irrigated 132ha, so what depth did you apply?

Apply the calculation (Volume in m3 / Area in ha) / 10 = mm depth

(5,972 / 132) / 10 = 4.5 mm / ha

Was this what the pivot was set at? Is it enough to cover demand?

A handy calculation to remember is that 1 litre of water over 1 m2 of ground = 1 mm depth of water applied.

In some crops, putting them under moisture stress is desirable to improve quality aspects, so the information a meter provides is equally valuable to achieve this. The implication for biomass crops is reduced yield. There are some basic principles when predicting crop response:

There is no response of yield to water unless the crop is in deficit

Once deficit has occurred yield is lost.

Once yield is lost extra irrigation cannot bring it back.

Biomass crops are equally sensitive to water deficit at all stages of growth.

The information from a water meter can improve your irrigation management and ultimately your bottom line.

Using the 132 ha example, the table below estimates how much revenue is lost by under watering over a season by 30mm.

Rule of thumb for a grass crop is 1mm water stress = 15kg of drymatter (DM) loss.

For the dairy example assuming a payout of $6.00 per milk solid (MS)

30 * 15 = 450 kg DM lost per ha450 kg DM = 30 kg MS lost per ha 30 * 6 * 132 = 23760

Equally, crop yields are affected, with figures from Plant and Food Research estimating 0.1 to 0.25 per cent yield loss per mm of water stress, depending on crop type.

With seasonal volume allocations on consents, metering data can be used to track how much water is being used cumulatively. This enables users to firstly stay compliant, but also assists when managing seasonal scheduling so allocation lasts the whole irrigation period.

Water metering information is useful. It ensures application of irrigation is correct maximising production. At the same time it can be used to monitor systems and water use over a season preventing compliance issues. In short it is another tool to help make you money and guarantee regulatory performance.

Water meters make life easier

Price per unit Potential Lost Revenue over 132ha

Dairy 15kg DM ~ 1kg MS $6.00 $23 760

Beef 15kg DM ~ 1kg LW $4.00 $15 840

lamb 15kg DM ~ 1kg CW $5.50 $21780

Structure wise 14An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature

Stru

ctur

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CT

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0800 115 000CHCH LOCAL (03) 324 3392

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We are proud to own and occupy our purpose-built facility. Built by a truly professional team, their attention to detail, follow up and ‘can do’ attitude made a difficult project enjoyable.

Graham Rule - Director, Strait Freight

Coming from a farming background gives us a greater understanding of what you require.

Contact us today for a no obligation quote and see how we can meet your requirements.

With StructureWise you know that you are building with performance, strength and versatility. Built on time and to budget.

www.structurewise.co.nz

You may not want to hang a tractor from your shed, but it wouldbe nice to know you can.

Are you looking for a TOuGH shed?

Over 15 years of experienceHere at Structure Wise, we have been designing and manufacturing buildings specifically to our customers’ needs for over 15 years.

Whether you need a farm shed, warehouse, storage shed or hangar, Structure Wise is the company for you.

What differentiates us from our competitors is our custom design and build. Our team of licensed builders, engineers, and designers, can design and build your structure from scratch, no structure is too big, or too difficult.

“We’re not just trying to sell steel sheds,” Structure Wise owner Phil Williams says.

Our peoplePhil Williams and his wife Kate started Structure Wise a number of years ago. His experience in construction and his expansive rural background means he is well equipped to help clients, both rural and other, with their building needs. Phil and Kate have two teenage children Isaac and Brooke. Phil’s interests include spending time with his family, tramping, jet skiing, travel and reading. He has also completed several cycling trips; most recently to Tanzania, and Sydney to Melbourne. He is often looking for further cycling adventures!

Pam Davies will be your first port of call at Structure Wise and will assist you with your query. She has an interest in building, architecture and interiors and was thrilled to start working for a company that has such a

good reputation. When she’s not working Pam loves getting stuck into a good book or movie, camping, hiking, mountain biking, adventure travel, skiing and spending time with her husband Gareth.What does she love about Structure Wise?“ It is a company of integrity and they have done well by building quality buildings – and these generally sell themselves. Nine years ago, my husband and I built a shed with a different company, and it is not even in plumb! These buildings are engineered correctly. We wish we’d shopped around a lot more before we built! We’d certainly recommend others to do that as quality difference is quite extraordinary. I also like the fact they are situated in a small rural town. Structure Wise supports their community – and I enjoy being associated with that.”

Geremy Burson, who has a pre trade in carpentry, started working for Structure Wise in 2004 after completing a course in Computer Aided Design. Geremy started learning how to draft basic timber pole sheds with Phil’s guidance and now he does all the drafting, as well as most of the orders for the company including the structural members, cladding, reinforcing and fixings for each job. Next year Geremy will start his diploma in Architectural Technology. What does he love about Structure Wise? “I enjoy working for Structure Wise, the staff are all really nice and Phil is a good boss. He has made working here really enjoyable and always willing to listen and help out.”

Phil Williams

Pam Davies

Geremy Burson

JJ Ltd15An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

New TractorsUsed Tractors

Christchurch | 36 Hickory Place, Hornby | Ph 03-344-5645 | Fax 03-349-8241 Ashburton | McGregor Lane | Ph 03-307-6031 | Fax 03-307-6025

New Agmech 2 bale multifeeder• Fixed elevator• Self loading • 1.5 to 2 m3 capacity

Massey Ferguson 6265• 5200hrs• Fitted with Quicke 740 loader

Massey Ferguson 6255 • Fitted with Pearson 20-39 Loader• 6,796 hours, very tidy

AGMECH Forage wagon

Massey Ferguson 7475, Dyna VT• 50kph• 2,600 hrs

$87,000Massey Ferguson 7480, Dyna VT• 50kph• 800hrs• On narrow wheels

$59,000

Massey Ferguson 7485 Dyna VT

$160,000

MachineryUsed Balers

MF 185 Series 2 TBC Baler $70,000Massey Ferguson 185, Series 1, 88,000 bales $30,000McHale Fusion, Series 1, 62,200 bales $60,000Welger RP150, fixed chamber, belt round baler $6,000

Used EquipmentMaxam 3300 II, twin wilter mower $8,900Webco CF700, centre feed wagon, tandem axle $8,000

$16,900

Massey Ferguson 5455 Dyna 4• 5000 hrs• c/w stoll loader• very tidy

Massey Ferguson 390 4WD tractor• c/w Pearson Loader• 6,500 hrs

Case MXU 135• 5400 hours

Valtra A95• c/w Valtra 930 self leveling loader• 1780 hrs

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• 13 cubic metres capacity• Tandem walking axle• Extensions to increase capacity to 16m3

• Hydraulic brakes & dummy load cells

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TYM 433 Tractor• Fitted with LT500 loader• Turf tyres, ideal lifestyler tractor.• Only 908 hours

$22,000+GST +GST

Plus many more new and used machines on site.

JJ Limited - A company with a proud historyIn June 2008 J J Limited, the Southland and Otago Massey Ferguson dealers, celebrated their 50th year in business

Relevant milestones• June 1958 J J Limited opened the Invercargill branch, marking the beginning of a fruitful and enduring relationship with Massey Ferguson.

• 1961 The Invercargill branch shifted to new premises at 260 Dee Street from which the company still operates today.

• 1963 J J limited opened the Gore branch having been awarded the dealership rights for Eastern Southland and West Otago.

• 1966 The Gore branch shifted to their new premises in Lyne Street.

• 1975 saw the introduction of the Lely Roterra to New Zealand. J J Limited became the sole Southland Lely dealers, a position they proudly hold today some 34 years later.

• 1985 J J Limited became Southland’s sole Welger dealers.

• 1988 J J Limited Gore Branch were appointed Southland agents for Fendt tractors.

• 2001 With the changing of the New Zealand importer and distributor for Massey Ferguson and Fendt products to AGCO the opportunity arose for a new retailer for their products in the Otago area so J J Limited headed North and opened their branch in Mosgiel.

• 2009 The opportunity arose to become AGCO and Lely dealers for Canterbury.

We are in the people business. Our company is run by dedicated hard-working people, for dedicated hard-working people. This is our mission to the hard working farmers of Southland and Otago.

After 50 years and three generations servicing the farmers of Southland and Otago, we J J Limited are proud to include the farmers and contractors of Canterbury in this mission statement.

We at JJ Ltd. are a team of committed, efficient and motivated people who strive to achieve excellence in everything we do.

We know our clients’ needs, we know our region and we know our products.

Our core business is to sell, repair and supply parts for tractors and other farm machinery. Our goal is to provide you with the best service available. We only supply the best quality goods and services available in the marketplace.

Our commitment to you, the client, is that we will do whatever it takes to keep you up to date with the latest technology, offer you the best available repair service and the best quality parts money can buy.

Our business, like that of farmers and contractors, is not a Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm business, and that’s why we are proud to offer you our 24-hour a day, seven day a week service.

JJ LTD ASHBURTONFarm Machinery Sales, AshburtonWe are a progressive branch of the successful JJ Ltd company that operates 6 dealerships in the lower South Island and have been servicing the rural community for over 50 years. We are driven by an absolute commitment to customer satisfaction and we sell and service today’s most reputable brands of tractors and farm machinery. Due to the rapid growth of our company we require a dynamic sales person to join our team.

The following attributes are sought :

• Proven history of excellence in sales• A natural ability to build and retain relationships• Well organised and gives attention to detail• Ideally has experience in a similar role or some knowledge of farm machinery sales• Computer literacy with a good level of communication and numeracy skills

In return the right candidate will be offered an excellent remuneration package which includes a company vehicle. In addition we offer ongoing product training and the opportunity to work for a company that rewards dedication.

If you would like to become part of the JJ LTD team then please apply in strictest confidence by emailing or posting your resume to

Terry GordonJJ LtdPO Box 16360Horny, Christchurch 8441 or terry.gordon@jj.co.nz

lifestyle 16

WE TAKE THE HASSLE OUT OF MOVING

THE ASHBURTON FURNITURE MOVERS DIFFERENCE

From packing, clean-up, storage and moving your whole household to delivering a recent large purchase, we do it all. Call today for a quote.

Houselots - nationwideNew furnitureOffice relocationInsurance availableFully lined and equipped trucksFull packing serviceHousecleaners & rubbish removal available

Secure and alarmed storageLocally owned and operated in Ashburton since 1994Range of truck sizes to suit load and locationFree quotes in Mid Canterbury

Call owner operators Mike English 027 479 0455 or

Roger Smith 027 223 0406

ROUGH PADDOCKS?

These will be killing your tractor, mower, fert spreader, sprayer, silage wagon and wrecking and slowing

down your farm operation.

We can plough, press, level, cultivate and roller drill from

$270 per ha.

Also top down x2 and roller drill from $225 per ha.

*For October only*

It’s been a sad time on the lifestyle block. Barbara has been coping with the death of her favourite dog.

RIP Ozzie the dog

quality, professionalism, knowledge

WATER WELLS120 High StreetSouthbridgeTel (03) 324 2571www.drilling.co.nz

lifestyle17

Call owner operators Mike English 027 479 0455 or

Roger Smith 027 223 0406

ROUGH PADDOCKS?

These will be killing your tractor, mower, fert spreader, sprayer, silage wagon and wrecking and slowing

down your farm operation.

We can plough, press, level, cultivate and roller drill from

$270 per ha.

Also top down x2 and roller drill from $225 per ha.

*For October only*

12 Line Road, Methven - Phone 302 8946 - www.dixonmachinery.co.nz

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Taming the wild

NEW

Well some days are just hard, whether you live in the country or the town.

On August 28, 2012 we lost our friend, mate and canine companion, Ozzie. He was hit by a car on the road outside our gate. Luckily he was killed instantly and did not suffer.

It was about 9.30pm at night when he was let outside to go pee; my son reckoned he would have been outside for about five minutes. I was at a meeting and got the bad news over the phone.

The dog had decided to go across the road, whether he had seen something or smelt the dead lamb pile down the road at our neighbour’s we will never really know. Tom had come inside and asked where the dog was and then said he needed to come inside or be locked up for the night. So my son went outside and called the dog; seconds after that the bang was heard and Tom new instantly what had happened. He headed for the gate to see, but before they got to the end a car pulled in and a gentleman got out and said he thought he may have hit our dog.

My son went to head out the gate but Tom stopped him, unsure of what the dog may look like. The guy that hit him was very nice and for that we thank him.

We all know the dog should not have been on the road at all.  His car had taken a good hit-most of one side of bumper was gone and the lights were all smashed. Ozzie was not a small dog so the damage was a good amount. 

We were very pleased that the driver was not hurt and that it was just his car; we have since paid for the car to be fixed through insurance.

Tom placed Ozzie on the wee trailer and we parked it in the shed for the night as the girls were asleep and had no idea that this had happened.  I said to my son and Tom, “no-one is to say a thing to the girls in the morning, and I would tell them after school”. Tom wanted to know how I was going to keep that from them.  It was easy, I just made sure that we were running late all morning and then they had to rush to the bus. No time to let the dog out. We had also made sure the cage door was shut that night so they wouldn’t notice.  I was very lucky and they went off to school with no knowledge of the dog’s death.

I tried to dig a hole that morning for him but between all the tears and the hard ground, I didn’t get far. Two hours of digging and I had a hole two feet deep and three long, he was a big dog and there was no way I could dig the hole.

Tom phoned at lunchtime to say he was bringing home a digger to dig the hole. I was a bit cross as I had spent two hours digging. I am sure the painters and carpet men renovating our house thought I was mad. They had just seen me digging a hole in the garden crying my eyes out. They had no idea the dog was dead till one of them came over to ask a question and I cried and told him poor guy.  I must have been a sad, sorry sight.

By 3pm I was feeling sick, knowing the kids would be home at 4pm.  Tom arrived home with the digger just before the bus and was busy digging the hole when the girls got off the bus. They waved at him and walked to the garage, as we are still living in there while the quake repairs are under-way.  

I told the girls and they didn’t react as I expected at all. They just sat there and said nothing. They didn’t cry and

I don’t think they realised that they wouldn’t have him around anymore. They went back out to their father as they now realised that the hole they thought was for a tree was for the dog.

My son was very quiet and said nothing.  They all went out to the shed to get Ozzie and bring him round to place in the hole, that’s when it hit. We were lucky that he just looked asleep and had just a little bit of blood coming out his nose.

Tears came then and everyone was crying. Even Dad who they had never seen cry. 

For a family who had never owned a dog, Ozzie had brought a lot of joy and laughter to our house. Even friends thought he was a wonderful dog so calm and relaxed, never barked or jumped on anyone. (He had been well trained by his first owner.)

He was wonderful with little children, and very much part of the family. Even the cats miss him as at night the dog is not pushing them off their beds to take over in front of the fire. For a few days the cats never sat on the beds, they sat beside them. I think they were waiting for him to come through the door and move them. Or out of respect for him in their own way, they have never really gone back to sleeping on them, which I find funny.

I never realised how much I had become attached to him and the rest of the family. He was very much part off the family, he spent more time inside than out.  I can admit that while writing this I am crying making it very hard to see the keyboard.

To our best friend Ozzie, our big black dog may you REST IN PEACE. You will never be forgotten.  

RIP Ozzie the dog

Healthy Soils Biological Farming Consultant Donald Hart 027-432-0187 and Sally Truelove 027-436-2458

To achieve top performance plants need an optimal quantity and balance of minerals. Healthy Soils programmes are designed to provide this.

Providing farmers with the knowledge, information and materials to rejuvenate and build soil fertility to produce Healthy Soils - Healthy Plants - Healthy Animals -

Healthy People, ultimately reducing the need for rescue chemistry!

Healthy SoilsBalanced Mineral Fertilisers

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We Provide• Soil mineral and nutrient availability analysis.• Independent soil fertility, nutrient advise and interpretation.• Recommendations and programmes for balancing soil nutrients.• Approved Kinsey and Albrecht nutrient balance programme practitioners.• Premier providers of high quality soil and plant fertilisers, nutrients and micronutrients.• All fertilisers are mixed on-site at our store, ready for application.• A complete systems biological approach to soil and plant nutrition, addressing the underlying issues of nutrient and mineral deficiency.

Stockists and promoters of Golden Bay Dolomite

and palaMountains scientific nutrition products.

Ashburton Contracting Limited

P 03 308 4039 A South Street, Ashburton W www.ashcon.co.nz

We are the experts in:

UnderpassesLaneways

Effluent PondsPhone Dave Rowlands 027 484 1114

Diesel Workshop direct line: 308 7400

meeting challenges 18Contributed by Neal Shaw, ATS Chief Executive

Job losses, restructuring and closures have been hitting the headlines frequently over recent weeks.

Whether it’s the closure or mergers of Christchurch schools, the loss of around 100 jobs at Kawerau when the newsprint mill halves its production, or the recent announcement of 440 jobs being cut at Solid Energy’s Christchurch head office, Spring Creek and Huntly East mines, the effects will be felt by many.

It is especially distressing when some of these communities have already faced their share of adversity in recent times thanks to the Canterbury earthquakes and the Pike River disaster.

For Kawerau residents the outcome is equally bleak, especially when you factor in the high proportion of beneficiaries in the town – one of the highest rates in the country.

The loss of jobs from one of the main employers in the area has prompted some talk-back radio debate about who is responsible and what sort of intervention there should be in situations like this. One opinion was that the Government should step in, but I don’t believe that is the right

answer. Looking to the Government to bail out private business sets a dangerous and unnecessary precedent.

Falling demand and unfavourable interest rates were cited as being behind these projected job losses. These are factors all businesses have to face. In today’s world there are always changes to markets and every business has an obligation to adapt or die.

It is too easy to lay blame or call on the Government to intervene. Businesses have to find ways to remain competitive and they have to be adaptive to continual change.

We need to look at competencies and skills that will enable that business to survive; that survival is also dependent on getting it right in the market place. There’s no denying some of our biggest influences are our trading partners and the high value of the NZ dollar.

Couple that with seasonal factors and one-off weather events, interest rates and development costs and there’s no doubt there are many factors to consider if you are in business today.

Do subsidies save jobs?

Molloy Agriculture Limited offers a wide range of modern, fully computerised machines backed up by experienced and professional operators

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Call Us 03 3028098 Online Bookings www.molloyag.co.nz

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meeting challenges19

Do subsidies save jobs?To be truly successful, business owners and

managers have to take responsibility and make their own way – not with Government hand-outs.

We are a generation which has not experienced or been exposed to the hard times previous generations have faced such as a World War or the Great Depression. We have also reached a point in our society where anyone under the age of 40 has little or no knowledge about the effect of the reforms of the 1980s and the removal of Government farming subsidies.

Despite the hard times which ensued, many would argue the scrapping of those subsidies has actually made New Zealand’s agricultural sector stronger.

The removal of Government subsidies has led to increased innovation, diversification and productivity in agriculture. It has given farmers the freedom to farm the way they want to, and as a result agriculture has continued to grow and add value to New Zealand’s economic growth.

Farmers now maintain cost structures that reflect the real earning capacity of their farms, and the land value of their properties is now more aligned with the earning capacity.

Today’s farming operators and the industry as a whole, are far more innovative than during the times of Government subsidies. Farmers have

proved themselves to be much more resilient and adaptive to the change forced on them in the 1980s than many anticipated and it has been to the betterment of agriculture.

Farming is a business not just a lifestyle. Those that are involved in the sector today are the ones who have been able to successfully adapt and those who are highly skilled in business management. These skills were important prior to the removal of subsidies, but they are now vital tools which are being applied every day.

Our farming sector has shown what can be achieved through drastic change, and that returning to the bad old days of Government hand-outs isn’t the way through the sorts of predicaments we are currently facing.

A subsidy is just another cost on the taxpayer, and we already have a significant burden on our working population to fund our existing beneficiaries, not to mention the future funding required to care for our aging population. Placing a greater financial burden on our working population is not the way to help out troubled businesses.

Instead we need to look at how to remain relevant in the marketplace and how to continue to adapt and meet the challenges which come our way.

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out and about 20

PHOtO tetSURO MItOMO 240912-tM-031

Liam Scott uses a farm-made water pistol to shoot down a stack of beer cans at Longbeach School’s Country Day recently. The school issued a warm welcome to Christchurch’s Central Bright School, whose school was badly affected by last year’s big earthquakes.

PHOtOS tetSURO MItOMOMid Canterbury farmers with grass seed issues had the chance to talk about their crops when FAR hosted informal field discussions at Methven and Wakanui farms recently.The sessons included ryegrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue and involved paddock visits. Topics up for discussion included nitrogen, closing methods and date, and plant growth regulators. Speakers included Dr Phil Rolston from AgResearch at Lincoln, FAR’s Richard Chynoweth and Murray Kelly, from PGG Wrightson.

FAR is meanwhile gearing up for its annual Crops Expo, which will be held at the Chertsey arable site on December 5.

The date is coming around fast and planning is now well underway to ensure that the popular field event runs smoothly and has something to offer everyone. Amongst the plots on show this year will be trials on the effect of N on milling wheat, late season management of ryegrass, managing white clover bulk and the efficacy of new fungicides on barley.

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