dairy news 26 may 2015

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MAY 26, 2015 ISSUE 335 // www.dairynews.co.nz

HUB GOOD TO GOFarmers pledge $1.3m PAGE 18

MACHINES SET FOR DEBUTNational Fieldays PAGE 31-51

Fonterra to announce opening forecast payout. PAGE 3

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HUB GOOD TO GOFarmers pledge $1.3m PAGE 18

MACHINES SET FOR DEBUTNational Fieldays PAGE 31-51

Fonterra to announce opening forecast payout. PAGE 3

MAY 26, 2015 ISSUE 335 // www.dairynews.co.nz

RUGBY HELPS DAIRY WINFarm Manager of the Year James Foote says sport has helped shape his resilience. PAGE 14-15

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DAI RY NEWS MAY 26, 2015

NEWS // 3

FARMERS SHOULD expect “something around $5.00/kgMS” when Fonterra this week announces its opening forecast for the new season.

That’s the view of BNZ senior economist Doug Steel.

Steel told Dairy News that trying to predict the actual forecast payout is very difficult given the difficulty of getting inside the thinking at Fon-terra.

BNZ’s bases its forecast on what it thinks will happen in the next 15 months and there are many impon-derables, Steel says.

“If you look at current pricing and where current levels are, and if those were to persist for the next fif-teen months, then the payout could be a lot lower than $5.00. But if your forecast was for some improvement in international prices over the next 15 months and a lower kiwi dollar then you could imagine something quite a bit higher than that. That’s the point: it comes down to the coopera-tive’s view on where dairy prices will go over the coming season,” he says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says he’s been closely following what’s been happening in the dairy industry but he declines to put a number on the opening forecast payout that Fonterra will announce on Wednesday.

“We are in a period of volatility for the next three to six months but it could turn around very quickly,” says Guy, who owns a dairy farm

in Horowhenua. “My advice as a farmer myself, and as someone in Wellington with a bit of access to data, is that farmers should be work-ing very closely with their banks and accountants and doing line by line cash flow analysis.”

Guy admits it’s pretty tough for farmers now but says they are resil-ient and will get through the crisis.

The last five consecutive Global Dairy Trade auctions have seen the price index drop; last week it dropped 2.2%, whole milk powder down 0.5% and skim milk powder 3.6%.

Steel emphasises the payout figure to be announced this week is a forecast, so the people making this must have a view on where interna-tional pricing may go, and the cur-rency, the product mix and cost structures. Because Fonterra doesn’t know these things in advance, setting the milk price is extremely difficult.

“For example, look at the last two seasons when Fonterra fore-cast $7.00/kgMS at the end of May for each of them and one ended up at $8.40 and other looks like it’s going to come in at $4.50. This highlights that there is wide error around any

number… [predicted for] the next twelve to fifteen months.”

Many factors influence dairy prices – international supply and demand, pricing, inventory and political factors, Steel says. And the weather has a strong influence.

“There looks to be a large El Nino brewing and if that was to hammer New Zealand production next season the tight supplies could [cause] higher prices. From a NZ dairy farm-er’s point of view it’s hardly a good way of getting prices higher, but if you are trying to forecast milk prices

then you have to factor that scenario in.”

Steel agrees with other com-mentators that there will be little improvement over the next six months and the market is pretty sluggish. There is a lot of product around and prices are weak, result-ing in a lot of downward influence on dairy farmers, he says. Russia’s ban on dairy imports from the EU and the US is a big influence.

If that ban was lifted it could spark a rapid recovery, but Steel does not put a lot of weight on that happening.

NEWS��3-21

OPINION��22-23

AGRIBUSINESS�� 24-25

ANIMAL HEALTH��26-30

NATIONAL FIELDAYS PREVIEW�� 31-51

MANAGEMENT�� 52-55

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS�� 56-62

Yoghurts hit sweet spot. PG.05

Black beetle fight breakthrough. PG.28

High-tech farm launch. PG.20-21

THE GOVERNMENT has given $20,000 more help to drought stricken farmers in North Canter-bury.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy last week met affected farmers in Cheviot and says they’re

still feeling the impacts of drought. “North Canterbury – the Chev-

iot area in particular – has missed most of the recent rainfall, and con-tinues to face severe drought condi-tions,” says Guy.

“Because of this, an additional

$20,000 is being allocated to the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust.

“This will help them with more intensive activities, including individual visits and community events.”

Cash for drought-hit farmers

Predicting the forecast a tough task for co-opPETER BURKEpeterb@ruralnews�co�nz

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4 // NEWS

KNEE-JERK SPENDING cuts that compromise long-term productivity are a real risk in the face of the $4.50/kgMS payout forecast and probable low open-ing 2015-16 figure, leading farmers are warning.

Several examples came to light at a focus day on Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) earlier this month, and the South Island’s largest producer, Dairy Holdings, also says it is maintain-ing strategic investment to ensure long-term productivity gains.

“We’ve been investing in our farms pretty heavily and that will continue at the same rate this coming season,” Dairy Holdings chief execu-tive Colin Glass told Dairy News. “We’ve also invested quite heavily in dairy sup-port so this winter we will nearly, but not quite, be self suffi-cient.”

That means the group, which has 58 dairy farms, mostly in Canterbury, has much better control over replacement grazing and cow wintering costs, he says.

Ongoing investment in the milking platforms is part of a five year plan to upgrade infrastructure, notably irriga-tion, which is increasing pasture produc-tion, reducing nutrient loss and cutting the cost per kilogramme of milk produc-tion.

“In our experience anything that increases the amount of pasture you can grow and harvest increases your profit-ability…. Strategic supplementary feed is a tool we call on from time to time but it is all about how good you are as a pas-ture manager.”

That said, all costs are under the microscope across the group, he adds.

“Every dollar is a prisoner for us. We are looking very carefully at everything we spend. If it’s not contributing to increasing production and the bottom line then it has to be questioned.”

At LUDF the importance of pasture productivity was also stressed. The high profile 560-cow unit has cut next year’s pasture renewal budget from 15% of the 160ha milking platform to 10% but it’s been done on economic analysis, Graham Kerr of Agriseeds and a member of the farm’s management team, told the focus day.

“Next year is going to be tight, but you’ve also got to chase production to

dilute your costs. Regrassing is still highly economic if you get a response that makes a poorly performing paddock a high performing pad-dock. Do the paddock analysis and the sums rather than working to a recipe,” he urged.

Another more immediate corner that’s being cut on some farms – but not LUDF – is teat seal.

“For us it’s a man-agement thing,” said LUDF manager Peter Hancox. “It is quite a cost… but it’s a huge benefit in management and time not having a lot of red cows through the spring.”

In fact, across the board budgets for next season are “not a lot different” from the one just gone which is head-ing for farm working expenses of $4.03/kgMS, said Hancox. “We’ll still DNA the herd, keep on top of BVD…. In this type of grass only system there’s not a lot more you can pull out.”

That was echoed by SIDDC executive

ANDREW SWALLOW

Corporate farmer cautious with spending cuts

Colin Glass

TO PAGE 8

Match housing costs to market – DairyNZ

FARMERS WITH employees living on their property should be charg-ing them market rates to combat impressions that dairy workers were under-paid, says DairyNZ people team leader Jane Muir. The subject of low wages in the dairy indus-try got media attention last week when Coun-cil of Trade Unions presi-dent Helen Kelly tweeted links to job postings on the Farm Source site which she claimed proved gross underpayment of workers. Kelly tweeted links to job descriptions which she claimed were for jobs paying $12.80-$15.55 per hour. She arrived at this rate by dividing the

offered base salary by the average number of work-ing hours – which Muir says does not fairly repre-sent overall market offers. While farmers may offer workers accommodation, its cost is often calculated at discounted rates which, Muir says, can reflect a poor, unwarranted image of the industry. While it was common for employers to offer accommodation this was often done so at dis-counted rates, reducing the overall value of the package. For example, rents in the regions listed in the ads mentioned by Kelly were $240-360 a week – as much as $18,000 a year in some cases. This is no good for an industry reputedly a poor employer, says Muir. “The

dairy industry is strug-gling for employees and when stories like this hit the media people in towns say ‘there’s no way I’d let my child enter the dairy industry for pay like that’.” Muir recommends increasing rents, then increasing salaries in line

with the rent increase to paint a truer picture of the actual industry. “We calcu-late that 10% of the opera-tors reported to be paying below the minimum wage through calving would [not be unjustly accused] if they were to [charge] a market rent.”

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Jane Muir

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NEWS // 5

New yoghurts, organic milk hits sweet spot for co-op

FONTERRA SAYS it is hitting the sweet spot with a spate of new products in its New Zealand brands business.

Two products – Anchor Uno yoghurt for kids and Anchor Greek yoghurt – were launched over the past eight months to a fantastic response from consumers, according to Fonterra Brands New Zea-land managing director Tim Deane.

Deane says Fonterra Brands now dominates the kids’ yoghurt market; its high-protein low-fat Greek yoghurt is also popular. “There is a high demand for our yoghurts and we have hit a sweet spot,” Deane told Dairy News.

Also, the nationwide launch of Anchor organic milk this month enables the co-op to put the prod-uct within the reach of every consumer.

Deane says that with other organic milk brands only available in certain regions or very expensive, Anchor is on a mission to make organic milk more

widely available at a fair price, though its product costs slightly more than conventional milk.

“We want to put organic milk in reach of more New Zealanders… through our nationwide distribution and [pric-ing] Anchor Organic… at only about 20 cents extra per glass compared to our standard Anchor milk.

“All dairy farming is challenging, hard work. However, organic farming costs more so we have to pay more for the milk. We also have the added com-plexity of keeping the milk separate during collection and bottling. So a lot of effort on and off the farm goes into creating a certi-fied organic product.”

Organic milk consump-tion in New Zealand is far behind other countries; only 2.5% of the total milk we consume is organic, versus 8% in the UK and 15% in the US.

Deane says for 18 months demand has grown for organic milk, “so we decided to provide organic milk throughout the country at a fair price.”

He says 72% of Kiwis tell Fonterra that if organic

milk was more affordable they would buy it more often. A further 25% say if it was available in their regular supermarket that would also make a differ-ence.

“The total organic food and beverage market is now worth $133 mil-lion and the amount of organic milk sold domesti-cally over the past year has increased by 50%.”

Anchor Organic milk drinkers will be able to trace their milk from the fridge back to the farms it comes from.

“Our organic milk is sourced from Fon-terra organic farmers in Manawatu. We can pin-point the farms where our organic milk comes from and follow it from the farm right through to the supermarket shelf…. That’s a point of differ-ence between us and some organic brands that use third parties to bottle their milk,” says Deane.

Mark Flipp, a Manawatu Fonterra farmer supplying milk for Anchor Organic, says he’s excited to see his milk sold under the Anchor brand. His family farm was certi-

fied organic in 2010.“People talk about

when we converted our farm to an organic opera-tion. However, for us get-ting certified was more about continuing to farm the way our family always had.

“Being an organic farmer is about seeing our

farm as the land within our fenceline and rather than bringing in supplies from elsewhere we pro-

duce everything we need within that fenceline. In other words we’re self-suf-ficient.”

Anchor Organic milk is marketed carrying Blue or Green labels in recyclable lightproof bottles.

SUDESH [email protected]

Fonterra Brands New Zealand managing director Tim Deane.

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NEWS // 7

Long wait for prices to come right

IT COULD be two years before the mess in dairy prices regains some sort of equilibrium, according to Brent Love of KPMG who specialises in dairy agri-business.

He told Dairy News that even a big rise in the GDT index this week would likely take until next year to fully benefit dairy farm-ers.

“Any improvement is going to be gradual, pro-tracted and fraught with volatility in the market,” he says. “Bluntly speaking, the market is continually being affected by interna-

tional trade issues lead-ing to more milk coming on the market. These issues include the situ-ation in Ukraine which has led to trade restric-tions by Russia, a weaker-than-expected economy in China, and favourable exporting terms and addi-tional milk being exported by EU countries and the United States.”

Love says problems facing the dairy industry are now in the headlights of the Reserve Bank gov-ernor Graeme Wheeler. Recently he listed the dairy industry as one of three systemic risks facing New Zealand along with the Auckland hous-ing crisis and the overall global financial situation.

In his ‘stability report’ Wheeler noted global dairy prices fell by 50% last year and the outlook is highly uncertain. Wheeler also noted the high debt levels of a small number of dairy farmers and that many farmers have nega-tive cashflow.

Love says Wheeler’s concern is two-fold: the overall NZ economy which relies on dairy as an export generator, and the effect of the low payout on a wide range of rural businesses.

“It’s a warning shot to financiers and farm-ers alike, that we can see some tough times ahead in regard to the current cashflows. We are in for a bit of ride but there is no need to panic or be too emotional. It’s a time to look at the story, get a plan together and deliver on that plan, and that will be hard work.”

Love says the present crisis will put a lot of pres-sure on dairy farmers and their families, and he feels particularly sorry for lower order sharemilkers who will be badly hit.

The high retrospective payments of the 2014-15 season will not be as they were last season and, if

anything, the dairy com-panies will be re-balanc-ing retrospective winter payments following higher payouts forecast earlier in the season.

Despite the industry’s pain, Love hopes there will be some positive learnings out of the adversity. “This will allow farmers to take stock of their businesses and ask whether they have the right stocking rates, whether they are utilis-ing grass to best advantage and whether they have their labour and financial structures right.”

Some dairy farm-ers tell Dairy News they feel misled by Fonterra which early in the season was suggesting the 2014-15 payout would be about $6.00.

But Love points out that the rules on setting the farmgate milk price are complex and must be based on real data at the time – not on hunches about the future.

“I’m sure Fonterra and other dairy proces-sors in hindsight would love to restart the season. The 2014-15 season high-lighted the downside of volatility but if you go back to 2013-14 a similar sce-nario occurred but it was

PETER [email protected]

an upside. If you look at Fonterra’s original payout prediction for 2013-14 they weren’t predicting $8.40.”

Love says while the situation is of great con-

cern, he sees underly-ing demand for protein, in particular milk prod-ucts. Other producers are gearing up to meet some of that demand, but the

market forces will change again and there will likely be a gradual recovery in farmgate milk payouts.

Brent Love, KPMG

“Any improvement is going to be gradual, protracted and fraught with volatility in the market.”

@dairy_news

facebook.com/dairynews


8 // NEWS

director Ron Pellow. “We’ve chosen a farm system that has a lot of locked-in cost.” About 50% is staff and grazing, and cuts in other areas would simply be “deferring maintenance or eroding the long- term profitability of the farm”.

For example, a one-year cut in breed-ing costs by selecting cheaper bulls, or more natural mating, could have a six-eight year impact on herd produc-tivity.

As for staffing, while four people for 560 cows might seem over the top, Pellow suggests looking at hours worked per kg of

milk produced is a better “metric”. “The people per cow metric may not be very helpful…. We want to be looking at the long-term, not just the short-term.”

More extreme system changes, such as bring-ing replacement rearing back onto the platform, are not on the table at this stage.

“If this year is the new normal, then it is some-thing we’ll need to look at. But if this is just two low years and the next three to five years we’re back into where we’ve been for the previous four to five years, will that be the right answer? It’s an important ques-tion.”

FROM PAGE 4

Corporate farmer cautious with spending cuts

WESTLAND MILK has opened a company in China to market products in the lucrative market.

Westland Milk Prod-ucts Shanghai Ltd will market Westpro Nutri-tion infant and toddler nutrition ingredient pow-

ders, branded UHT milk and cream, Westgold con-sumer butter, EasiYo ‘make at home’ yoghurt, and Westpro milk pow-ders, milk proteins and butter in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Westland general man-

ager marketing Gregg Wafelbakker has taken the added responsibilities of general manager China, working from the co-op’s head office in Hokitika.

Wafelbakker says estab-lishing a wholly owned foreign entity in Shanghai made sense for Westland.

“It provides us with a foundation to grow our dairy ingredients business and expand into nutri-tional ingredients, con-sumer and foodservice products. Westland Shang-hai will buy products from Westland Milk Products in New Zealand and sell them to customers throughout China.

“This will enable us to have a closer relationship with those customers and understand their needs better, ultimately deliver-ing products and service that we believe will give us a competitive edge at the top end of the market. Given the priority that Westland puts on our con-sumers and customers, it is essential to have people on the ground represent-ing Westland in China.”

Finding the office space was easy but setting up a company in China takes time, but that was an investment in developing

a greater knowledge of the way business operates in China, says Wafelbakker.

“It has been a rare priv-ilege to start with a blank canvas for organisational culture and build some-thing that is distinctly Chi-nese but resonates with Westland Milk Products’ culture and business strat-egy.

“We started in April 2014 with one employee and today have 10. This number will grow as our business grows.”

Traditionally a seller of ingredients to other man-ufacturers or wholesal-ers, Westland will venture into only its second retail-ready product with its new UHT milk due to come on stream in April 2016.

“Our ultimate aim is to ensure we deliver the high-est value for our custom-ers and for our business,” says Wafelbakker.

“We will choose the best route to market that achieves that. China is a vast country with some 600 cities with popula-tions of more than one million people. Choos-ing a route to market that complements our prod-ucts and the customer/consumer base is very important.”

Westland slips quietly into China

Gregg Wafelbakker in the new Shanghai office.

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Effluent machines = big costThe conventional way of managing effluent solids is to use machines: machines that separate the solids; machines that break up the solids; machines that stir the solids.

As every farmer knows, such equipment is very expensive. First there’s the initial cost of buying the gear. Then there’s the ongoing cost of running it. And, of course, there are the costs of maintaining the machinery.

The Brown Farm: Their one crucial question...Shirley and Tony Brown own a 550 cow farm out in Pirongia, Waikato. When it came time to build a new pond, the question they asked was: how do we keep the costs down?

Hill-top complications...To make use of gravity and to avoid water table pressure on the pond liner, farm manager Paul Brown wanted to construct the holding pond on a hill. But in planning, he foresaw several challenges: 1. Because the proposed hill site was 100M

from the shed, the cost of getting electricity up to the pond to run a stirring machine would be significant.

2. Paul was also concerned with potential repair costs in the event that a stirring machine ripped the liner.

These complications led the Browns to look for alternatives. Could crusting and effluent odour be managed without machines?

A chance meetingAt the 2012 Agricultural Bio Technology conference in Rotorua, Sheryl Brown (Tony and Shirley’s daughter) met Liz Russell, the founder of EnviroSystems in the UK.

For 10 years, EnviroSystems had been addressing the cause of effluent crusting and odour. Scientists had discovered that crust and sludge were merely the symptoms of the real problem and that the cause of pond solids were

microscopic creatures living below the surface – anaerobic bacteria.

These anaerobic bacteria would separate the effluent fibres and send them to the surface. Once reaching the surface, these fibres would combine to form the crust.

Scientists realised that the way to beat crust bacteria was relatively simple: put counteractive bugs into the effluent pond. These corrective micro-organisms are called Aerobic Bacteria – SLURRY BUGS.

Can crust be prevented?The Browns learned that Slurry Bugs digest effluent fibre. It’s their food. And if sufficient numbers of Slurry Bugs are in a pond eating the effluent fibre, the raw materials needed to make the crust are removed.

That means no crust can develop.

Researching Slurry Bugs Because Shirley, Tony and Paul were open to biological solutions, they decided to investigate Slurry Bugs further.

Over the next two years they had further talks with Liz Russell, viewed video footage of Slurry Bugs in action in UK ponds and read independent research that drilled deeper into the biology behind it all.

Trialling Slurry Bugs After weighing up the two approaches – Machines (symptoms) vs Biology (causes) – the Browns decided to build their hill-top pond and to dominate it with Slurry Bugs from the beginning. Their rationale: if Slurry Bugs prevent crusting, we save a lot of money and get better fertliser in the process. If Slurry Bugs fail, we’ve spent very little to discover that fact and can then proceed with a machine-based approach.

The ResultsAfter 5 months, the Brown’s effluent pond looked like this:

As impressive as that was, one further question remained: had Slurry Bugs dealt with the problem of sludging on the bottom of the pond? In December 2014 that question was answered when Paul siphoned out the effluent.

The bottom was clear.

Where to from here for the Browns?For the Browns, the onging task is simply to keep Slurry Bugs dominant in the pond. They do that by adding a small amount of Slurry Bug powder into the pond every week. Easy.

Before you buy machines:Call 0800 4 SLURRYBUGS (0800 4 758779) or go to www.slurrybugs.co.nz

Clear pond. No machines?

Nitrogen oxide, Menthan, Ammonia vaporises into the atmosphere

= odour

Solid Separation

Storage Bunker

Stirrer Pump

HoldingTank

Effluent from shed

With more steps in the process, a machine approach to treating effluent will always be costly

Organic N + P + K is easily taken up by the pasture

PumpEffluent from shed

The biological approach uses far less machinery and works better

Slurry Bugs = less machinery = 1/10th cost


10 // NEWS

Sharemilkers share painSHAREMILKERS ARE in the same difficult posi-tion as dairy farm owners, says Federated Farmers sharemilker chairperson Neil Filer, who concedes the current situation is “not pretty”.

The idea of sharemilking is to share the good times and share the pain, such as the industry is now going through.

Filer says lower order sharemilking contracts have been designed in a way that will allow people to pay their bills and buy groceries but not much else. They certainly won’t be getting ahead in a hurry, he says.

“Under the 300 cow rule, any lower or variable order sharemilkers will be getting at least 21% of the milk price.”

Filer says established sharemilkers can cope with one bad season but if the situation continues it will create problems. Sharemilkers who entered the industry in the past year are at risk because they don’t have the buffer of a good season to fall back on.

He advises sharemilkers to do the same as farm-ers – talk to their accountant and bank manager. Filer says he needs $5.30/kgMS to pay staff and other costs.

Winter milk bonus an insult

FONTERRA’S ONE-OFF South Island winter milk offer of $1.40/kgMS has been slammed as “a

complete insult to dairy farmers” by a long-time out-of-season supplier.

Aad van Leeuwen con-tacted Dairy News after reading the cautious sup-port for the move in the May 12 issue of this paper.

ANDREW SWALLOW“It’s a complete insult

to dairy farmers in the region and a typical case of the co-op ripping off its own members,” he said. “You can’t produce winter milk for $1.40/kgMS… That’s less than half what they should be paying.”

Van Leeuwen has one year to run on a winter contract supplying Cad-bury via Fonterra from a farm in North Otago. It was set up 6-7 years ago with “millions of dol-lars” invested in housing cows specifically to milk through winter.

“You can work out for yourself where the milk’s going to go if this is all Fonterra’s prepared to pay,” says van Leeuwen, who is in the process of negotiating winter supply terms with Oceania.

This year roughly 80% of the milk from his 12,000 cows went to Oce-ania; next season it will be 90% and the way things are shaping up, it could be 100% the year after.

Other winter milk sup-pliers further south are similarly disappointed by Fonterra’s paltry offer, says van Leeuwen. “Their contracts have been pulled and they spent zillions set-ting up for winter milk.” Cartage charges mean there’s even less of the $1.40/kgMS premium left

for them, he points out.“I find it hard to believe

anyone will be interested in supplying at $1.40/kgMS. You don’t just throw a switch to turn on winter production but I suppose if you’ve been caught without a contract $1.40 is a bit of help.”

Wintering costs in the southern half of the South Island mean the premium should be at least $4/kgMS, he says.

Many farms that don’t normally winter milk have already dried off and win-tering costs nudging $40/week/cow in some parts of the south, and the low payout, mean more cows will be wintered on milk-ing platforms with a longer dry period than normal, he adds.

Fonterra, which made the offer of $1.40/kgMS less cartage to Clande-boye, South Canterbury, to suppliers in Canter-bury, Otago and Southland by e-mail in April for milk produced in June and first half July, said it was to take advantage of additional demand in Asia for moz-zarella.

Earlier this month it said work on a new quick-frozen mozzarella plant at Clandeboye is complete, doubling capacity.

Wilma and Aad van Leeuwen are not happy with Fonterra’s winter milk premium.

ELE-

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Image courtesy of Te Aroha Museum

In 1814 there were two cows and one bull, brought into New Zealand by Samuel Marsden. Today the dairy industry has 4.9 million cows and processes 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids per year.

In early days, if you were milking more than three or four cows, you were a full-time farmer. Today, two people can milk 800 to 1,000 cows in a couple of hours.

Between 1979 and 2014, milk solid production increased by 1.3 billion kilograms. 60% of those gains came from genetic improvement.

Once, farmers knew their individual cow’s quirks, characteristics and names. Today, farmers have the smallest details of every one of their hundreds if not thousands of cows at their fi ngertips.

The story of the New Zealand dairy industry has been one of constant improvement. And at LIC, we’ve been part of that story for over 100 years, helping improve the productivity and prosperity of our farmers. Helping make New Zealand dairying the world leader that it is.

Improvement. It’s in our nature. It’s in our name.

Prosperity comes from productivity.Productivity comes from improvement.Now let’s talk about whereimprovement comes from.

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Image courtesy of Te Aroha Museum

In 1814 there were two cows and one bull, brought into New Zealand by Samuel Marsden. Today the dairy industry has 4.9 million cows and processes 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids per year.

In early days, if you were milking more than three or four cows, you were a full-time farmer. Today, two people can milk 800 to 1,000 cows in a couple of hours.

Between 1979 and 2014, milk solid production increased by 1.3 billion kilograms. 60% of those gains came from genetic improvement.

Once, farmers knew their individual cow’s quirks, characteristics and names. Today, farmers have the smallest details of every one of their hundreds if not thousands of cows at their fi ngertips.

The story of the New Zealand dairy industry has been one of constant improvement. And at LIC, we’ve been part of that story for over 100 years, helping improve the productivity and prosperity of our farmers. Helping make New Zealand dairying the world leader that it is.

Improvement. It’s in our nature. It’s in our name.

Prosperity comes from productivity.Productivity comes from improvement.Now let’s talk about whereimprovement comes from.


12 // NEWS

IN BRIEF

ANZ bags award

ANZ HAS again won the annual Canstar Best Agribusiness Bank award, the fourth consecu-tive year it has done so.

The award goes to the institution offering the best combination of products and services to agribusiness customers.

“We’re delighted to win the award for the fourth year,” says Graham Turley, ANZ managing director commercial and agri.

“This is a tremendous reflection of the hard work and commitment from everyone in our business who provides support for the New Zealand agribusiness industry.

“This award recognises the depth of the ex-pertise we offer, the quality of our products and the convenience of services like our 18-hour a day contact centre and online banking resources for rural customers.

“Our business term loans, credit cards and cash management accounts were standout features that helped secure this award.

“We were also recognised for our disaster relief support, environmental loans and work in the community.”

The latest valuation has seen a substantial fall in the market value of cows.

Time to ponder livestock valuationTHE RECENT release of the national average market values (NAMV) for livestock presents an opportunity for dairy farm-ers to reassess the valua-tion method they are using for their livestock.

According to Crowe Horwath principal tax advisory, Tony Marshall, the valuation highlights the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different industry sectors.

“The release of the 2015

values has seen a substan-tial fall in the market value of dairy cattle, a slight dip in the value of sheep and a significant increase in the value of beef cattle. These changes mirror closely the changes in the associated commodity prices.

“The substantial fall in herd scheme values for dairy cattle presents an opportunity for dairy farmers to enter the herd scheme valuation method. This scheme is often seen as the best method over time as it ensures that inflationary gains are not subject to tax.”

In general livestock is valued using either the national standard cost (NSC) or the herd scheme (HS) method. The key dif-ference between the two is that movements in value under the NSC method are on revenue account (tax-able income or deductible expenditure), and move-ments in value under the HS are on capital account (non-taxable or non-deductible).

“When there has been a substantial fall in herd scheme values, as there has been this year, the cost of moving livestock from the national standard cost scheme to the HS gener-ally diminishes,” Marshall says. “This is often seen as the best time to enter the HS, particularly if live-stock values are expected

to increase again in the future.”

For herds bought in the past couple of years a change from NSC to HS may also result in a deduct-ible loss arising on transfer, Marshall says.

“A word of caution how-ever: once you have elected to value a type and class of livestock using the herd scheme you must continue to use that method and any further reduction in value will be a capital loss rather than a deductible one.

Marshall says at the very least now is an oppor-tune time for dairy farmers to be discussing livestock valuation methods with their accountants or busi-ness advisors so that any opportunities can be acted upon before they disap-pear.

The values for Friesian dairy cows and Wapiti deer have also been affected by a change in the tax treat-ment of those types of live-stock, whereby the value of Friesian, Jersey and other milking breeds have been combined as have the values of red and wapiti deer.

These types have been combined due to a per-ceived tax advantage pre-viously existing, whereby owners of mixed breeds could pick and choose the valuation method that gave them the best tax outcome, Marshall says.

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14 // NEWS

Rugby years help shape new farmer’s resilienceWHO SAYS rugby and dairying don’t mix well? Just ask James Foote, a semi-professional rugby player who switched to dairying four years ago and recently notched up one of the biggest wins of his career.

Foote (30) played semi-professional rugby for 10 years; today he’s contract milking 425 cows at Miranda, Hauraki Plains, for Russell and Ces Evans.

In only his fourth season in dairying, Foote was crowned the Farm Manager of the Year at this month’s New Zealand Dairy Awards.

Unsurprisingly, his rugby career came to the judges’ attention during the competition.

“The life skills and disciplines from his previous career as a rugby player have given him a great grounding for dairy farming. He has a strong focus on improvement and does a SWAT analysis each six months, focusing on

turning weakness into strength. We found that very refreshing,” the judges noted.

Foote told Dairy News that while growing up he had two passions in life – rugby and dairy farming.

In 2000, he was given an opportunity to advance his rugby career in Auckland, and spent the next 10 years playing semi-professional rugby in New Zealand and overseas. But in 2010, James and wife Louise decided to return home to pursue his other passion.

Despite being born and raised on a drystock farm in Pukekawa, Foote was attracted to milking cows and the potential in dairying. “Dairy farming was a clear winner for us, with the pathways and the support you can get through it.”

For two seasons starting 2011 he was second-in-charge on a farm owned by Craig Strawbridge at Ngatea. In 2013 he worked as farm manager on a 250-cow farm at Mangatangi.

Foote then decided it was time to lift his game to another level. He applied to be a contract milker with the Evans. In his job interview Foote laid out his plans for the farm,

to raise milk production from 750kgMS/ha to 1000kgMS/ha.

“When I came for an interview with the farm owner for this position he had never done anywhere near 1000kgMS/ha. I love a challenge.”

In his first season on the farm Foote is on target to produce 135,500kgMS – 4500kgMS shy of the target. But this was no ordinary season; the Hauraki Plains was gripped by a really dry summer crippling drought.

“I’m pretty happy with

the season; we had a very dry summer. Despite the setback this is a record production for the farm.

“If you come into your first year on a farm you inherit a lot of things from seasons before. We have dealt with whatever we inherited; we have put a few strategies in place to get to the 1000kgMS/ha.”

Winning the national title has been “unbelievable”, says Foote. They entered the

awards for the first time, only for the feedback from judges that would help them improve their business. “To win

the national title was unbelievable really. It’s still sinking in to be honest.”

Winning the Auckland-Hauraki regional title was a bonus.

“I told Louise the regional awards had taken a fair bit of our time; we were looking to go up to Auckland

[for the national finals] as a bit of a holiday – time taken from the farm and the kids.

“It was a pleasant surprise to go up there and

win. In my acceptance speech I did promise Louise a holiday at some stage.”

Louise helps with relief milking and getting cows in when their only worker is on leave.


WITH THE low payout, James Foote’s first year as a self-employed dairy farmer has been a baptism of fire.

His farm assistant Matheson Taylor is also in his first year of dairy farming.

Foote says there been a lot of new ground broken on the farm this season.

The low payout hasn’t helped. But he says as a contract milker, if he can get through a tough year, things can only get better from here.

“It’s a real test if you can get through this year. Although the low payout’s having a negative impact, this tough season will make me and the farm owners better farmers for it.

“Like rugby, one bad game doesn’t mean the end of the world; you learn from it and fine tune your game and go into the next one,” Foote says.

BREAKING NEW GROUND

James Foote with wife Louise and children Cooper, 4 and Emerson, 18 months.

“I bring a lot of things that I have learnt from playing rugby into dairy farming.”

This is an authenticated statement from ANDrew keller, beggkell dairy ltd. rakaia, canterbury.

Bloat controlReduced ketosisImproved cow conditionAsk your vet

Rumenox is a registered trademark of GVL. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, A10896. See foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Phone 0800 485 123 (0800 GVL 123) glenmarkvet.com

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NEWS // 15

Rugby years help shape new farmer’s resilience

James Foote says one bad year in dairying doesn’t mean the end of the world.

However, her main role is looking after their children Cooper (4) and Emerson (18 months). She will get more involved in day-to-day farming as the children grow up.

The Footes have a goal of $1 million equity in 10 years. And they plan by 2016-17 to have gone 50:50 sharemilking with 300-400 cows.

Foote says the goals are reassessed regularly as circumstances can change. But they “have goals in place and are extremely motivated to get there.”

His rugby career has been a good grounding for dairying, he says. “I bring a lot of things that I

have learnt from playing rugby into dairy farming; lots of things like 1% gains that all add up to getting you there in the end.”

The awards have put them into contact with many people and they plan to tap into this.

“We are utilising all the people we can around us; we are relatively new and it’s important we use all networks around us to go forward. People are willing to help so it’s good to have all this support.”

Foote singles out his previous employer Craig Strawbridge and current employers Russell and Ces Evans for their support.

As a contract milker, he is self-employed and on a fixed payout, locked in at the start of the season. While he is not directly affected by the low payout, Foote needs to use “all the tools in our bag” to get through the tough season. “Our supportive owners help us out.”

The 160ha farm has its challenges; 120ha are flats of marine clay and 40ha of hills.

The cows eat mainly pasture grown on farm; PKE, maize and grass silage are used as supplementary feed.

@dairy_newsfacebook.com/dairynews

NOW READ IT ONLINEREADING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

■ BREAKING NEWS

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All the latest stories and more at www.dairynews.co.nz

This is an authenticated statement from ANDrew keller, beggkell dairy ltd. rakaia, canterbury.

Bloat controlReduced ketosisImproved cow conditionAsk your vet

Rumenox is a registered trademark of GVL. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, A10896. See foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Phone 0800 485 123 (0800 GVL 123) glenmarkvet.com

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NEWS // 17

WEALTH CREATION is now the world’s most powerful political force, US former Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

“[That’s] wealth not just for those at the top, but wealth that allows you to bring people out of poverty,” he said.

Powell was the opening speaker at the Alltech REBELation Symposium in Kentucky last week which had 3000 attendees from across the globe.

He said people asked him all the time if America is still the number-one super-power. He tells them “we are still up there” but in the last 40 years China and Asia have come up, “all doing what it necessary in this world and the idea is to create wealth”.

He said it is wonderful the Chinese have brought people out of poverty but they still have a lot more to do.

GETTING WEALTH NOW THE BIG POLITICAL LEVER

Delegates at Alltech’s REBELation symposium in Kentucky.China stops buying,

prices crumble

THE CHINESE bought a one year supply of milk powder from world markets then suddenly stopped buying, Alltech’s chief innovation officer, Aidan Connolly, says.

That’s having a dra-matic effect on prices in China, New Zealand and around the world, he told the opening day of Alltech’s REBELation Symposium in Kentucky, attended by 3000 interna-tional delegates.

“Whether the Chinese government is choosing to manipulate the markets or whether [it] is buying strategically, the reality is the consumption of milk by China is tremendously affecting the price of milk around the world,” he said.

“The Chinese effec-tively purchased a year’s supply of milk powder from the world markets and suddenly in one fell swoop chose not to buy anymore.”

Connolly was illustrat-ing how much Chinese buying was now influ-encing milk prices. He said until then dairy pro-duction had had a posi-tive outlook and milk prices had been at a very high level, also extremely affected by what was going on in China.

The reform of the European common agri-culture policy also has tre-mendous implications

for milk prices, not just in Europe but the rest of the world, he said.

“We are no longer living in a world where an Irish person can pro-duce milk in Ireland and not worry about the milk price somewhere. We are no longer living in a world where it is possible to con-sider what is happening in some part of the United States and not be con-cerned about what the Chinese purchasers are doing.

“Increasingly we see that these markets and that interconnection is making it extremely important to understand the world market.”

Connolly, who is also Alltech’s vice-president corporate accounts, said there were big differences in cost of production: Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia have a tremendous cost advantage. It will be interesting to see if the European Union reforms will bring down the cost of production in Europe and enable access to other countries. Due to imported feed costs, etc the cost of production in China is also still substantially higher than in Argentina, New Zealand and even the United States.

The milk output from China is increasing and will continue to increase but they are limited by land.

Looking at the largest

PAM [email protected]

producers, he noted that Fonterra is now not just a New Zealand company; it is also present in China and other parts of the world as were all the other companies in the top 20.

He said the future for milk will see a steady 1.8%

per annum growth glob-ally.

“The demand will increase faster than con-sumption and produc-tion levels, which should lead to us seeing a higher price.”

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18 // NEWS

MORE FONTERRA mozzarella cheese will be topping pizzas in Asia and the Middle East.

The co-op has completed a new mozzarella plant at its Clandeboye site in Canterbury, doubling production to make enough mozzarella for the 300 million pizzas made annually by global pizza and pasta restaurant chains in China, Asia and the Middle East.

Fonterra managing director of global operations Robert Spurway says the co-op has seen growth in consumer and foodservice categories and this expansion will form a key part of that success.

“The expansion at Clandeboye is an example of our V3 strategy in action,” says Spurway. “Foodservice products such as cheese give a high value on return and our R&D is enabling us to cut months off the production time of this mozzarella…. The additional capacity will bring volume to that equation.”

The expansion is part of the co-op’s foodservice strat-egy, including doubling cream cheese production at Te Rapa, the recent start-up of the Waitoa UHT site and plans to expand slice-on-slice cheese capacity at Eltham.

Clandeboye site manager Steve McKnight says the site began 24 hour production this month, with farmers sup-plying winter milk for the quick frozen grated mozzarella.

“We’re seeing the popularity of cheese take off in Asia, so the timing of this upgrade couldn’t be better. To meet orders from that market, we will be producing cheese 24 hours a day, making use of our new lines and taking winter milk from our farmers in Canterbury, Southland and Otago,” says McKnight.

The site expansion has brought 25 new roles. The staff have finished training and are now at work.

New pizza cheese plant pumping

Pledges make southern dairy hub a ‘goer’THE PROPOSED Southern Dairy Hub is closer to fruition, thanks to strong support from farmers and businesses.

The Southern Dairy Development Trust has

announced that 516 farm-ers and businesses are pledging $1.306 million in support.

While the fundraising drive fell short of the $2 million target, trust chair-

man Matthew Richards is confident it will go ahead. “It’s a fantastic result and a huge endorsement for the hub project.”

“We are grateful and thankful for the support

from our community and are confident we will get a good hearing in front of our industry partners DairyNZ and AgResearch.”

The official num-bers include pledges that arrived in the mail after the April 30 deadline: 55% of farmers between Dune-din and Bluff have pledged financial support.

The next step is to present figures to DairyNZ and AgResearch, Rich-ards says. “The support of a majority of south-ern dairy farmers is a key factor in determining the hub’s future, as our part-ners wanted to see farm-ers supporting this. While we didn’t hit the financial target of $2 million, I’m still confident we will get the decision to go ahead.”

The hub is intended as an innovation centre where ideas and con-cepts can be tested. It will do comparative research, demonstrate research

results and have educa-tion and training facilities. It will be located in cen-tral Southland and house about 850 cows in four herds.

“We’ve been out look-ing for the right farm over the last couple of months – centrally located, with a mix of soil types and ide-ally some contour. It will be a sheep conversion to allow us to start with a clean slate.”

Funding will include $10 million from DairyNZ and AgResearch, $2.5 million from the closed Southland Demonstration Farm, pledges from south-ern farmers and busi-nesses, and the remainder debt.

The trust expects the farm to make money from research, commercial lease space, room hireage, livestock sales and milk supply.www.southerndairyhub.co.nz

Southern Dairy Development Trust chairman Matthew

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20 // NEWS

High-tech dairy farm ticked off bucket list

AT THE top of Graham Bagrie’s bucket list was a new dairy shed and he’s done it in style: an estimated $1.7 million state-of-the-art dairy complex.

To call it a shed is wrong because apart from the 54-bail rotary platform with all the mod cons, there is a small separate herringbone dairy shed as part of the complex. This is designed so AB technicians or vets can work with cows without interfering with the milking platform.

The other week Bagrie invited all the contractors and suppliers he deals with to see the shed in

its pristine state. They wandered through the shed munching sausage rolls or sandwiches, looking at the array of technology. But more than the technology, it was the design of the complex that drew gasps of amazement.

Bagrie formerly milked his 580 cows – 40% straight Jersey, 60% Friesian – in a basic 26-a-side herringbone shed near his house. He says having the cowshed near the house was fine when he had young children, but now having the shed that close to home was intrusive – especially at weekends. “It was a case

of move the shed or move me and so I decided to build the new shed a long way from the house,” he says.

As well as dairy farming, Bagrie runs a large contracting business on the same site on the road to Waitarere Beach, north of Levin. He employs up to 50 people in this business and still does about 1000 hours year himself on machines. But the dairy farm and the contracting business are run as separate entities. He also runs about 300 beef animals on a 200ha run-off.

Bagrie’s reason for building the new high-

spec shed was because he always wanted to – arguably not a great reason he admits.

“I always like a challenge in my life and have been around a lot of sheds as a contractor. When I looked around sheds it was not all about what was right or wrong but personal preference and in my case functionality. Then there’s providing a good work environment for staff and what looks right. I like a bit of elbow room and so I wanted it to be roomy with a nice staff room and an elevated office that overlooks the whole operation for the

herd manager. After all the dairy shed is the hub of our operation.”

Bagrie says his great interest was in the design; one idea was to have an integrated veterinarian

and AB set-up. This was to prevent any animal remedies contaminating the milk. The small herringbone shed was designed to make it easier for AB technicians and

was linked to the new system of heat detection installed.

“One of the problems with heat detection is you must have somebody continually watching the

Most people’s bucket list has things like skydiving, walking the Great Wall of China or owning a special car. But atop Levin dairy farmer and contractor Graham Bagrie’s list was something quite different. To celebrate achieving his goal he invited home the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, and 200 or so dairying people. Peter Burke was there for the occasion.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan and farmer Graham Bagrie in the new shed.

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NEWS // 21

High-tech dairy farm ticked off bucket list

The DeLaval 54-bail rotary platform has an underpass for staff.

NOT TOO many farmers can persuade the Minister for Primary Industries to come along and open their new dairy shed. But Nathan Guy, himself a dairy farmer, is but a few kilo-metres away.

So the minister duly turned up on a fine day – when Wellington and the Kapiti Coast were under siege from floodwaters – and unveiled a gold plaque in the new shed.

“This complex has some of the best technology available in NZ and we have an opportunity to showcase this technology and export it to the world,” Guy said. “Many coun-tries are interested in what we do here and we have an opportunity to grow our exports of agritech and IT. If we don’t do that, other countries like Australia or Holland will.”

Guy says he’s impressed that Graham Bagrie paid so much attention to making the complex people friendly. He says by 2025 the country will need 50,000 more workers in the primary sector and to reach that number our farming facilities must be good.

“It’s easier to attract staff if you have a modern facility. The dairy industry needs to attract the people with higher skills and facilities such as this will help people make a career choice in agriculture.”

MINISTER OPENS DAIRY SHED

cows and there is a risk of missing one or two that are on heat. We have installed a camera to do this job and it doesn’t get tired and have a day off. It picks up the heat patches or tail paint and automatically drafts the cows to a separate pen.

“The thing about this is that it over-drafts. For example, if there is manure on a heat patch the cow will be drafted out or if a patch is only just broken it will do the same. By doing this it enables the herd manager to make the final decision so it’s a good combination of technology and human decision making.”

The newly designed shed is intended to be run by one person. The latest in technology from DeLaval includes automatic cup removers

and automatic feeding systems, some of which still has to be installed. LIC technology with links to Minda are part of the design.

Also fascinating the 200 or so people at the open day was the underpass into the centre of the rotary. This makes it easier and safer for his staff and contractors to service the shed.

Environmental issues are a big priority for Bagrie; his system meets special local conditions and link in with his contracting business.

“Normally you try to clean out the stone traps with a tractor and front loader, but because we have a fleet of excavators I have made it so that I can clean it with an excavator. The stone trap is large so it won’t need cleaning as

often and in our case we have a lot of issues with sand. So it’s more to trap sand than stones,” he says.

A big benefit for the 580 cows that produce about 210,000kgMS is that the new shed is 500m closer to their pastures so

their walking time will be much reduced. The farm, a mix of sandy and peat soils, can dry out badly in summer, so maize silage grown on the farm and PKE are used to keep the cows milking.

Graham Bagrie’s new $1.7 million dairy shed.


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22 // OPINION

RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

MILKING IT...

DAIRY FARMERS will be bracing for sombre news from Fonterra this Wednesday.

Six months ago, the 2015-16 season prospects were looking bright. Falling dairy prices were tipped to rebound within six months; sadly, that prediction hasn’t come to pass.

With five consecutive drops in the Global Dairy Trade price index, any hope of a price bounce-back this year has all but evap-orated.

It’s hard to believe that Fonterra announced an opening fore-cast of $7/kgMS for the 2014-15 season a year ago; after several revisions, the forecast payout for the season stands at $4.50/kgMS milk price and 20-30c/share dividend.

The year before, it first forecast was $7 but paid farmers a record $8.40/kgMS! So all is not lost. Dairy prices could rebound. But for that to happen, all the ‘planets’ have to align: Russia’s trade ban on European dairy products must go, China has to resume buying and oil prices must rebound to give Middle East consum-ers more disposable income to spend on dairy products. Throw in also some unknowns: the path of the US currency and milk pro-duction in the quota-free European Union.

What Fonterra will announce this week is difficult to predict, since it will base its opening forecast on events in the coming 15 months. As one anaylyst says, if current prices were to persist for the next 15 months, the payout could be even lower than this season.

But if your forecast was for an improvement in international prices over the next 15 months and a lower Kiwi dollar, then farm-ers would be looking for something higher than $5/kgMS.

Whatever Fonterra opens with this week, farmers must brace for another tough season. Discretionary spending must be cur-tailed and farm management practices maintained.

But then farmers deal with change all the time, ever mindful of sunshine, rain and a host of things governing a livelihood that wholly depends, ultimately, on the natural elements. This is part of the volatile world they deal with. Now, throw in commodity prices and exchange rates and you have an extremely challenging environment. This is an accepted fact of life for a farmer.

Given dairy’s importance to New Zealand, our leaders are sit-ting up and taking notice. Problems facing the dairy industry are now in the headlights of the governor of the Reserve Bank, Graeme Wheeler.

All eyes are on the dairy industry; this week Fonterra will give its take on what is likely to happen over the next 12-15 months, and we will hope, as we must, that a splendid planetary alignment will soon cause a lift in the prices.

Watching the planets

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The full storyUNION BOSS Helen Kelly has dairy farmers in her sights over pay rates and work conditions, naming and shaming a Taranaki cocky last week and going on Radio Live to lambast dairy farmers as poor employers.

Some dairy farmers may have deserved the brickbat, most did not. But Kelly and her union mates are not the kind to let facts get in the way of a good story. So, well done those dairy farmers who got straight on the blower to the radio host to balance the record by recounting cases of excellent em-ployment practice in the industry.

One example given was fairly common: a young guy with no experience but a good attitude found himself on $40k with a free house, milk, veges, meat and virtually no per-sonal expenses, working a ten-on, two-off roster.

As usual, the dairy in-dustry is working to knock into line those few farmers who are bad employers. And as usual, the unions persist in an adversarial approach that tars all farmers with the same brush.

You can bank on itSHANGHAI Pengxin sub-sidiary Milk New Zealand Holdings has expressed a desire to build its own fac-tory here.

Recently the firm took the supreme winner title at the 2015 HSBC NZ China Trade Association busi-ness awards. Does this herald another Chinese company carving a niche in New Zealand’s dairy landscape?

As for the awards, Milk-ing It reminds readers what HSBC stands for – Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Cow freebiesCONTINUOUSLY DOLING out freebies and subsi-dies to various sections of society, the Punjab government in India has now decided go a step further and provide free-of-charge power to cows. Having already floated several schemes for “wel-fare of cows” –including setting up a 10ha state-run sanctuary (gaushala) in each district – the SAD-BJP government will now provide free electric-ity to all 472 cow shelters functional in Punjab.

The decision is expect-ed to ‘benefit’ 269,000 cows in these sanctuaries and please the state’s cow worshippers.

No milk, just muscleHERE’S ANOTHER threat to the NZ dairy industry. US food giant Hormel is reporting a 32% lift in sales largely due to Muscle Milk. The product contains no milk, but that doesn’t seem to hold back its sales.

Hormel acquired Cyto-Sport, the maker of Muscle Milk, in August 2014, and the investment is paying off. Despite many com-plaints about the mislead-ing name, including a 2011 warning letter from the FDA and lawsuits, sales of both the protein powder and the liquid beverage are climbing.


OPINION // 23

Failing to plan is planning to failTHE NEED for farmers to have a sound strategy to avoid flip-flopping from year to year is now more important than ever.

The only constant in the future will be volatil-ity and farmers must set their businesses to be able to absorb uncertainties if they are going to survive volatile times.

Historically, the old adage was that the dif-ference between a good farmer and a bad farmer was time. In other words, all farmers do the same thing eventually; the big difference is the timing of their actions. From an operational perspective, this is still true. However, increasingly I see that the difference between a suc-cessful business and one that struggles through challenging times is that one has a plan and the other manages day to day.

The key to resilience is a strategic plan that guides major decisions. This is not to say that your day to day tactical manage-ment is not important. However, to use a rugby adage, “forwards win matches, backs decide by how much”. Your strategic plan is the forward pack of a dairy farming busi-ness, securing the busi-ness in the set piece and ensuring the team will not be caught unawares by a poor climate year or a low milk price; and the tactical management (the backs) determines by how much we win the game.

The need for system resilience is more impor-tant than ever before because future milk pro-duction will be set against a backdrop of increased farm business uncertainty.

Fundamentally, a resil-ient system has three essentials: profitable every year and not just when milk price is high; a low production-cost base to insulate the dairy farm business from price shocks; and the means for the farm to generate suffi-cient funds in better times to exploit opportunities in lean years – when other

businesses can’t capitalise. A resilient farm busi-

ness is one designed to utilise its competitive advantages. This requires a ‘fit for purpose’ system that will provide a consis-tent level of production at a consistent cost, within the general averages of cli-mate, input price and milk price uncertainty.

A resilient farm system will, therefore, have a plan for the appropriate stock-ing rate for the farm, an appropriate level of sup-plementary feed pur-chases, and key decision rules about drying off and culling cows which it will not change come hell or high water.

Resilient systems still have sufficient tactical flexibility to overcome unanticipated events that can lower short term prof-itability (e.g. cold wet spring, dry summer, low milk price), but the foun-dation principles of the resilient system remain the same. At the same time you need to enjoy what you do at a personal level and have fun farming. It’s a tall order – but most farmers I know love a chal-lenge.

Markets love volatil-ity, as Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is fond of saying. Maybe that’s what we also must do – learn to love the thing that challenges us the most. Because it’s here to stay.

Historically, farmers have focussed their learn-ing on plant and animal husbandry, rather than developing broad man-agement skills. Don’t get me wrong – those skills are still vitally important. As a dairy industry scien-tist, that is part of what I do every day: help farmers to maximise value from understanding produc-tion systems. However, modern dairy farming has increased in complexity.

My firm view is that dairy farmers need an increased level of under-standing of business man-agement principles if they are to prosper in a tumul-tuous ‘price-taker’ envi-ronment.

It is now vital that farmers have a broader range of management skills alongside their tradi-tional farming skills. These include cashflow bud-

geting, human resources, contract negotiation and knowledge of multiple facets of compliance. The resilient farmer has to have the science of man-

agement sitting alongside his animal and plant husbandry skills.• Dr John Roche is DairyNZ’s principal scientist.

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24 // AGRIBUSINESS

California’s ‘star’ dairymen falling out of favour

DAIRYMEN IN Cali-fornia see themselves as the “star model for dairy-ing” but they are far from creaming it. The milk price of about US$13-16/cwt (1cwt = 0.0508 tonne) is about US$2 below break-even for most farmers.

They are four years into a drought and fear they will run out of water to grow crops to feed their cows.

State government restrictions mean no more dairy ‘farms’ can be built in California and the dairy-men believe the govern-

ment no longer wants dairying in their state.

J.D. Ruan, who has a 5500 cow dairy in the Cen-tral Valley and interests in various farm businesses with up to 20,000 cows in the Central Valley alone, says it’s going to be tough in California for a long time. There are opportu-nities in other states, such as South Dakota, so he is looking there. But he will stick with his California operation because of the extent of his investment.

“The government won’t allow more expan-sion in California. In Dakota they are asking for more dairies – a totally dif-ferent feeling than here

in California where they don’t want us anymore.”

The milk price is based

on a formula but there is definitely a correlation between Fonterra’s Global


Californian dairy farmer EJ Ruan shows Kiwi farmer Blair Murdoch his new medicine storage facility with fingerprint security.

Dairy Trade and their milk prices, he says.

California’s daily dairy production is down about one million pounds on last year – that’s citing the co-op CDR, which Ruan supplies. That’s about 2.5% down on last year so far.

“Beef is good and the [dairymen] are not making any money. A lot of guys

were happy to get a good milk price and as soon as they saw it heading back down they sold out. They just didn’t want to go through another down-turn.”

But he says though California dairy farmers are very good at losing money, they are also good at making money when the milk price rises again and can regain all their losses.

Jessica Lawrence, Alltech territory sales rep in California, and also a dairy farmer through her family’s 2500 cow opera-

tion in the Central Valley, says water and govern-ment regulation are the biggest threats to dairying. Her family operation is spending $15,000-$20,000 per annum on water qual-ity.

It is “do or die for dairy farming in Califor-nia’s Central Valley at the moment, Lawrence says. “The government either

needs to relax and let us dairy or there won’t be dairy.” The government wants housing, she says.

She explains that north of the Central Valley lies San Francisco, which does not understand dairy farming, and southwards is Los Angeles, which doesn’t understand either.

She says they are trying to figure out the science on water, but some of the science is disproving the environmentalists’ theo-ries so they don’t want to know.

There is talk of water storage systems but it is 10 years too late. Some say to get out of the drought it would need to rain every day until the end of the year. The snow melt also needs to get back into the lakes, but another Cali-fornia dairyman says that snow isn’t happening and they aren’t getting the snow melt.

The drought threat-ens the whole ag industry,

Californian dairy cows.


AGRIBUSINESS // 25

California’s ‘star’ dairymen falling out of favour

Jessica Lawrence, Alltech, with his father Manual (centre) and brother Jonathan on the family farm.

says Lawrence. Farming is trying to adapt its prac-tices, moving to more drought resistant crops and trees.

There’s no more recy-cling they can do in dairy. “The only time we use freshwater is when it must be fresh – in water troughs and tank washing. Outside of that it’s all recycled.

“The water threat is if we don’t have enough to grow feed we won’t have enough for the cows to eat – or any other animals for that matter.”

Almost all the water in the dairies is now recycled; the only water not recy-cled is, for instance, cow drinking water.

“Some people say we will run out of water in a year, then others say we’ve got water for 30 years.” But it is not clear what is available in underground reserves.

In respect of the milk price, breakeven cost is $16.50/cwt (1 cwt = 0.0508 tonne); in April it was $13.91/cwt, but that came off a really good year, she says.

It is supposed to hit $16.00/cwt by the end of the year, she understands. Milk price is based on real-time sales of whey powder, butter, cheese based on a formula.

The milk price is not directly related to global prices but it still relates to them. A lot of the whey sold in California is not accounted for in this price; some are arguing they should go back on the fed-eral system. The Market Protection Plan – an insur-ance scheme which kicks in when milk prices drop below a certain level - is not in effect in Central Valley as the plan is based on federal prices.

Lawrence sees Califor-nia as the “star model of dairies”. A lot of people come to see their dairies, from the US and overseas. Within the US the dairy facilities will be compara-ble. The size might be dif-ferent.

“The difference is what we feed; we have abil-ity to use by-product that no one else in the world

has access to.” In Febru-ary she had a nutritionist visit from Wisconsin. “He knows nutrition, he knows the dairy industry. He was blown away by what we feed and how we feed it. It’s what we feed and how we feed it and the flat land that is the success of our dairy.”

In 2009-2010 many dairies went out of busi-ness. The cow num-bers in California did not change – the bigger guys got bigger. The ones that are still here added facili-ties or cow numbers. A few facilities went – older facilities that needed to go, she says.

When drought hits, the Californians don’t stop producing, Lawrence says. The farmers speculate that if they all dumped their milk they would change the market in a day.

The problem is the banks lend money based on production and cow numbers. So if today you got a loan based on 2000 cows, then next day cut your herd to 1500 cows, the bank would pull your loan to give you a smaller loan. Hence the contro-versy: when the milk price drops, the farmers need bigger loans, but the banks say ‘if you want bigger loans, you need more cows’.

“California is the big-gest milk producer in the US but it does not have the most cows. We produce more milk per cow.”

Government threats to viability are increasing the regulation of water and air quality; the subject of methane gas has caused a lot of talk of a tax. Air quality also includes dust control. Air quality is a lot easier to deal with than water quality, says Law-rence.

She would rather see her water quality inspec-tor once a week than once a year. She has to test her lagoon water for irrigating, measure the amount of water they are using, test well water to see if they are leaching into the water supply, and test crops at harvest and soil samples. “They say ‘water quality’

but it incorporates a lot of different management practices.” • Dairy News reporter Pam Tipa visited California dairy farms with a group of New Zealand dairy farmers and Alltech representatives on the way to Alltech’s REBE-Lation Symposium in Lex-ington, Kentucky last week.

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26 // ANIMAL HEALTH/FEED

US mill churns feed for cows around the clockCOWS DON’T know it’s Christmas, says Brian Larson, plant manager of JD Heiskell Ltd’s Pixley branch, a big feed mill in the major dairying region of Central Valley, Califor-nia.

And with cows milked around the clock in the region, EJ Heiskell’s feed-mill works 24/7 in eight hour shifts and never shuts down – even for Christ-mas. It is pushing out about 100,000 tonnes a month of feed to the Cen-tral Valley region only.

The company is in nine states and has 420 employ-

ees nationwide but Pixley is the biggest. Head of quality control Melvin Martins says they feed mil-lions of dairy cows off the mill and that’s only into the Central Valley area.

Dairy News visited the site with a group of mostly Southland dairy farmers and Alltech NZ represen-tatives as part of a tour of the Central Valley region organised by Alltech’s Cal-ifornia representative and dairy farmer Jessica Law-rence. Alltech products are used in some mix for-mulas.

Martins says their plant alone feeds millions of dairy cows and that’s just in the Central Valley. Feeds include corn, canola

and almond husks – in increasing supply because of a huge push to plant almonds and other nuts throughout the region for export to China.

Corn comes from Nebraska, Iowa and Min-nesota by train every four days and must be unloaded in 15 hours. They can unload 800t in eight minutes but Larson says that’s “kinda slow”. In Texas they are must faster, unloading a 100 cars of canola in nine hours. “In Texas they do everything fast,” he jokes.

Eight gigantic silos can each hold 3000t of corn. The corn and canola are railed in, other feeds are trucked in.

They can mix up to 2000 formulas a day in accordance with customer requirements and the con-trol centre has a fulltime nutritionist with a PhD in the discipline.

Calf pre-mix for-mula can be supplied to farms in containers, cost-


ing US$400-600 a tonne depending on the mix required by the customer, says Todd Heuer, calf spe-cialist.

From 0-60 days, calves fed the mix average a 1.3kg/day weight gain, and from 60-120 days, 4kg/day. The 12 month average in New Zealand is 800g/day.

Martins says trends come and go in nutrition and can be determined by the nutritionist. PKE has come and gone also but choices are also dictated by economics. And though it’s “trash for humans, it’s feed for cows,” he says.

With big returns and demand from China, there is a huge push throughout

the Central Valley to plant nut trees; by-products such as almond husks are now used. One nutrition-ist told Dairy News that the husks are very good feed for dairy cows, containing 35% sugar.

Baking waste is also ground up; it is not their highest selling product but it is available and is used to feed dairy cows, says Martins. Cotton husks are fibrous and are said to help the rumen in calves – it is mainly used in mixed for-mulas.

Neighbouring JD Heiskeill’s Pixley ethanol plant takes 1500 tonnes a day of corn. Larson says ethanol was booming five

years ago especially in the Midwest, but the econom-ics did not stack up and plants shut down, some of them half built.

When the boom was on the price of corn went “through the roof ” and the ability to feed animals was coming under threat. The situation has now stabi-lised. The federal mandate on ethanol has expired and the price of oil has dropped.

A dairy operation next to the ethanol plant pumps its effluent to the plant for extraction of byproducts such as methane, CO

2 and

clean irrigable water.

Kiwi dairy farmers tour the JD Heiskell feed mill in California that feed millions of cows daily.

@dairy_news


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ANIMAL HEALTH // 27

@dairy_news


BCS to make bigger contributionBODY CONDITION score (BCS) is to be included as a new trait in breeding worth (BW) from February 2016.

During the National Breed-ing Objective Review in 2012, BCS (specifically late lac-tation BCS) was identified as an important trait. Since then NZ Animal Evaluation Ltd (NZAEL), a subsidiary of DairyNZ, has estimated the

economic value of BCS at $106.6 per BCS and the rate of improvement in BW could be enhanced by including BCS.

The economic value of BCS comes from two main compo-nents. Firstly, the reduced costs of a cow maintaining or losing less condition, as opposed to a cow losing lots of condition in spring and then having to replenish that condition in

autumn or winter when feed is more expensive. Secondly, the value of a well-conditioned cow milking well into late lacta-tion, rather than drying her off early for poor condition. These result in an economic value of $106.6 per BCS.

The BCS breeding value is calculated using records of two year old heifers, collected in early lactation. Most come

from CRV and LIC progeny test herds.

Raw scores are converted into a day 60 lactation equiv-alent, and then enter the AE model.

As a result of a recent review a ‘breed neutral’ adjustment will be implemented into the calculation for this breeding value. This adjustment will come into effect in June.

Fast and mess free

Check out our websiteswww.ruralnews.co.nzwww.dairynews.co.nz

Heatmark Ero

BCS breeding value is calculated using records of two year old heifers.

WHEN ANIMAL hair falls out as it does during moulting in the spring, getting heat detectors to stay on a cow can be challenging, comments animal health company Rurtec. Getting adhesive all the way to the skin certainly helps, the company says.

With the spray-on glue and new applicator, its Heat-mark Ero achieves this and “sets a new standard for cost effective heat detection”.

The firm’s principal, Ian Carr, says the detectors can be pre-loaded into the applicator box and then removed to apply one at a time using the applicator block. “The result is quick, easy mess-free application of the detector across the backbone.”

There were a good number of big users among those trying the product last season, he says.

One was the Pye Group, South Canterbury, whose drys-tock manager Kris Murray says, “I’ve tried most of the heat detectors available and as long as they stick on good and show heats effectively then the choice really comes down to price.

“We tried Heatmark Ero on about 1500 heifers and found the spray-on glue and applicator system worked well for applying them in a race. Retention was good and we have ended up with good mating results. Price-wise, we couldn’t buy better so will be using them again.”

Heatmark detectors are available from vet/farm supply stores. Tel. 0800 RURTEC

There are many advantages of having a robust, reliable tracking system.

You can draft out cows that need attention, read their tags safely from

outside the run and you’ve always got accurate data, whichever sta�

member does the reading. If there’s an outbreak, you can lock it down fast.

Give your farm and your industry the technological edge by recording all

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28 // ANIMAL HEALTH

A PRODUCT contain-ing a natural insecticide to fight one of New Zealand’s worst farm insect pests is a step closer following sev-eral years of research and trials by AgResearch.

Research into the prod-uct, that is infused with the naturally occurring bacteria Yersinia entomoph-aga (Ye), will soon begin its second stage which includes investigating the optimum application rate and production scale-up.

AgResearch senior sci-entist Dr Mark Hurst says that if successful the prod-uct would have a signif-icant impact on black beetle populations which cannot be effectively con-trolled by insecticides in established pasture.

It’s a great example of an effective biopesticide, AgResearch says: a natural pesticide based on micro-organisms or their bioac-tives, targeted and safe for the environment and humans and helping to solve many insect pest and disease problems.

Black beetle (Hetero-nychus arator) is found in warm areas of the North Island, where root feed-ing larvae are capa-ble of severe pasture damage. Dry summers and autumns for three years have contributed to a pop-ulation explosion.

The product is based on the Ye bacterium dis-covered in 1996 in a grass

grub corpse during a search for alternatives to chemical pesticides such as organophosphates, which are being phased out. Ye releases toxins that ‘burst open the gut’ of the insect and cause rapid death, says Hurst, who led the research team.

“The biopesticide is good at killing a large vari-ety of insects, especially beetles and moths. But it doesn’t harm earthworms, honeybees or other benefi-cial organisms.”

Senior scientist Michael Wilson says trials carried out in autumn and spring last year gave encouraging results and suggested that spring might be the optimum time to utilise the product.

“In spring you kill the adults before they lay eggs so you get fewer larvae hatching and it’s actually the larvae that do most of the damage. It’s difficult to

target larvae directly with a biopesticide because they are underground, so hitting the adults in spring is probably the way to go.”

Hurst says that now the product has been proven to work, they will explore the best methods for man-ufacture and application in existing farm machinery.

Meanwhile, entomol-ogist Sarah Mansfield is investigating the move-ment and feeding behav-iour of black beetles for the most effective delivery technique for the product.

Research into biopes-ticides is ongoing in the Next Generation Biopes-ticides Programme (NGBP), an initiative of AgResearch, the Bio-Pro-tection Research Centre (Lincoln University) and Plant and Food Research.

NGBP leader Dr Mau-reen O’Callaghan says all the research points to a user-friendly biopesti-

cide product being much closer. “The very promis-ing results achieved in the field trials are the result of excellent collabora-tion between research-ers, industry partners and farmers.”

Development of the product has been sup-ported by Ballance Agri-Nutrients and MPI via their PGP programme, and DairyNZ.

Waikato farmers have hosted field trials as part of several Sustainable Farming Fund projects focussed on controlling pests, O’Callaghan says.

The biopesticide prod-uct can be used with other techniques to con-trol black beetle., such as sowing insecticide-coated seed to kill black beetle adults when the grass is germinating.

Farmers can also use ryegrass cultivars contain-ing the endophyte AR37.

A natural insecticide is in the pipeline to fight the black beetle.

Natural insecticide to fight black beetle closer to fruition

Black beetles are found in warm areas of the North Island.

One shot could save a hidingScours can knock you sideways – hurting your calves, your family and your income. And it can strike on any farm. With Rotavec® Corona, a single shot before calving helps protect your calves against three of the most common causes of infectious scours – rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli. Talk to your vet today about Rotavec Corona – the easy, one shot way to help your calves stand up to scours.

One shot could save a hidingScours can knock you sideways – hurting your calves, your family and your income. And it can strike

Corona, a single shot before calving helps protect your calves against Talk to your

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30 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Farmers are being urged to update NAIT records of all animal movements on June 1.

Minimise risk in stock movingDON’T PUT your livelihood at risk when moving or selling stock over the Gypsy Day period, says Ospri New Zealand.

It wants farmers to call OSPRI to update NAIT and TBfree details and record all animal movements.

“This will help protect New Zea-land’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe food and maintain access to valuable international mar-kets,” says Stu Hutchings, OSPRI group manager.

Up-to-date NAIT data allows farmers to get back to business sooner in the event of a biosecurity incursion or food safety concern and is already being used to contain animal diseases like bovine tuberculosis (TB).

“By keeping their NAIT and

TBfree details updated, farmers can have peace of mind that livestock – not animal disease – will be the only thing they move around the country on Gypsy Day,” says Hutchings.

NAIT data is used to trace the movements of potentially infected stock, on and off farm, so the source of the disease can be identified and special TB testing schemes set up to contain the infection.

As long as your contact details and location are updated, OSPRI can call you when your herd is due for a TB test, he says. “Updating your details is quick and easy and a pivotal part of keeping TB under control.”

To protect their farming busi-ness, herd owners should follow these simple steps when moving or selling

stock this Gypsy Day.Check the TB status and testing

requirements of the area into which you’re moving cattle.

Correctly complete an animal status declaration (ASD) form when shifting stock and do not accept any animals onto your farm if they’re not accompanied by a correctly filled out ASD form.

If you’re in a movement control area, all animals must have a pre-movement TB test within 60 days of being shifted off farm.

Record all animal movements in the NAIT system, including move-ments off and onto the farm.

Complete all these steps easily by calling OSPRI on 0800 482 463.

@dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

Time for smarter herd controlHOW DO you get the best out of a farm busi-ness when the payout’s low?

By using the right tools, said Drury dairy farmer Sue Dyer, speaking at recent CRV Ambreed workshops on how tech-nology can be better used to achieve herd improve-ment goals.

Dyer has used CRV Insight online herd recording app since its launch in 2012 and says it has helped her increase her farm’s productivity.

“I carry my smartphone with me everywhere, so having access and being able to enter data about my cows wherever I am on the farm – in the paddock, shed or at home – is a no brainer.

“I get a great snap-

shot of how my 370 Frie-sian, Friesian-cross cows are performing, informa-tion about my individual cows, and a full range of reports.”

Global growth consul-tants Frost and Sullivan recently predicted that by 2018 New Zealand would have 90% smartphone

and 78% tablet owner-ship.

Andrew Singers, infor-mation management and information tech-nology manager at CRV Ambreed, says the dairy industry needs to keep up with a growing demand for technology on the go.

“There is still a huge

amount of work to do to help dairy farmers adopt and use herd manage-ment technology to its full capacity,” he says.

CRV Ambreed herd improvement products and services for dairy farmers include the free workshops referred to above.

Sue and Mark Dyer, Drury dairy farmers.

30 // ANIMAL HEALTH

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NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 35

National Fieldays chief executive Jon Calder.More sites, sharper

ag focus will tackle downturn

Fonterra tents will occupy part of the new site created by filling up the lake.

THE 2015 National Fiel-days should be “busi-ness as usual” despite the downturn in dairy prices, says chief executive Jon Calder.

He is hoping for 130,000 visitors at the four-day event next month. Though visi-tor numbers fluctuate every year, partly driven by the economic climate, the weather has a greater impact on turnout.

Calder points out that visitor numbers is just one matrix, “certainly not the most important one”.

“We have 980 companies exhibiting with us and we make sure we design and build the best event for them to be successful,” he told Dairy News. “That’s our main focus, plus a great experience for the 120,000 people who visit us during the Fieldays.”

All exhibitor sites were sold out by January; the challenge now is to bring people to the exhibitors.

“Hopefully we can bring the customers; with the current economic cli-mate and low dairy payout, perhaps there could be a reduction in spend-ing. But the three regional field days leading up to the National Fieldays [have

shown] some positive signs.

“Our farmers are run-ning large businesses and there’s a lot of forward planning. Look at the advancement in technol-ogy and systems over the last five years: our farmers are keeping up with that, so if they are not here to buy they are certainly here to learn and look at prod-ucts they are looking to procure over the next 12 months.”

A lot of sales leads are generated at Fieldays, Calder points out. Sales are made in the weeks and months following.

Last year poor weather on the first two days affected the event, but turnout during the last two days was strong. The total was just short of

120,000 and the organis-ers are hoping for better weather this year. “Get-ting 130,000 people would be nice; it means we would have a whole lot in the kitty.”

Last year the National Fieldays Society put at least $200,000 back into the agricultural sector via scholarships, grants and donations.

The board wants to grow that amount, Calder says. “The financial suc-cess of Fieldays isn’t just for turning a surplus, it’s to give us more for good work.”

This year the soci-ety has spent $1.6 mil-lion on improvements to Mystery Creek includ-ing, notably, filling in the lake beside the main pavil-ion, taking nearly 90,000

cubic metres of earth. This has added 34 sites to that area. Another 70 sites have been created on a dedi-cated tractor and machin-ery site.

Calder believes the event will look and feel different. “Our physical footprint has expanded; traditionally about 94% of the event’s footprint has been agricultural and 6% rural living; the new layout has shifted agriculture up to 95% and 5% is for rural living. This is an impor-tant step; we are conscious that while lifestyle prod-ucts appeal to everybody, we are an agricultural event; we never lose focus on that.”

The Fieldays will also have a new precinct housing seminar rooms. National Fieldays Society


and Federated Farmers are teaming up to hold semi-nars on topics “exciting and very relevant to what’s going on in the agriculture sector now,” Calder says.

Another major change is relocating the tractor pull to the back of the property, bringing it closer to tractor and machinery dealers, “to try to create a zone of activity around those companies.”

Fieldays is more than a trade show, Calder says. “It’s more than coming in and buying things; there’s a huge educational component made up of demonstrations and sem-inars.”

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36 // NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS

Big dairy tech secrets will see daylightTWO BIG secrets in “breakthrough, revolutionary” dairy platforms and tech-nology are being tightly held by Waikato Milking Systems (WMS), says chief executive Dean Bell.

And there’s another new product too, but farmers must wait for Fieldays to hear about them all, Bell says.

“For 30 years WMS has designed and manufactured game-changing dairy technology…. The three new products we have in the wings, to be launched on the first day of Fieldays, are world-firsts and revolutionary.

“One of them is the new Centrus 84-bail rotary platform but the other two are under wraps. We want farmers to be the first people to see them, hence no advance promotion.

“But one marks the biggest break-through in the design of rotary dairies in 20 years. We’re very excited about all three products…. Suffice to say all three

will have a material impact on the effi-ciency of the farm dairy and on herd management.”

The WMS site this year is about ‘Changing the face of dairy technology’. All the new products embody that, as do the other products now market leaders.

Says Bell, “Until now many farmers have only heard about our products and this is an opportunity for them to see and talk about the technology so they can better understand how it will com-plement their farming system.

“Our Centrus composite platform display always attracts a high level of farmer interest because its construc-tion is so different from anything else on the market.”

The Centrus rotary, 80% lighter and stronger than concrete platforms, is multi-layered, including Kevlar used to make aircraft and bullet-proof vests. “Its lightness means less electricity is

required to rotate it and there is less wear and tear, saving on maintenance,” Bell says.

“Centrus platforms are in demand for large herds and farms milking more often than twice a day; they have particu-lar appeal for farmers in countries where 24 hour milking is not uncommon.”

Also on the WMS site will be prod-ucts that improve efficiency and/or reduce the cost of milking. “Operational costs of milking machines can be signifi-cant, and our variable speed drive deliv-ers significant power savings.”

Two products are aimed at min-imising mastitis, the company says.

The WMS swing arm system “perfectly aligns the cluster during milking in her-ringbone sheds, ensuring every quarter is milked, promoting good udder health and minimising mastitis,” Bell says.

“Our SmartD-Tect automatically tests each quarter at every milking iden-tifying [any risk of ] mastitis at every milking, enabling early intervention.”

The company’s electronic milk meter, introduced in 2014, “tests every cow at every milking so the farmer can see what each cow is producing, the flow rate and milking duration”.

And addressing the issue of farm labour, the company says its SmartECR

automatic cup remover can be custom-ised to suit farmer and herd preferences.

Bell points to his company’s record of innovation, performance and dura-bility, “with oversight of every aspect of every product – from design through to the finished product. We engineer com-plexity out of our milking solutions and build in a robustness which few can match, and we back that up with superb service”. Innovations aside, one of the most important aspects of our product and service offering is that all elements of the Waikato Milking System range are future-proofed.www.waikatomilking .co.nz

Milking platforms will be part of Waikato Milking Systems display at the Fieldays.

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Protrack E2 Heat herringbone system from LIC on a trial farm in Waikato.

Focus on yield, prosperityHELPING FARM-ERS raise productivity and prosperity will be the focus of LIC’s two sites.

In addition to its main site the co-op will have another for its newly formed subsidiary busi-ness LIC Automation.

Chief executive Wayne McNee says both will focus on farm improve-ment, the LIC Automation site displaying automa-tion and sensor technol-ogy systems from Protrack and DAL.

The co-op will show everything it has to offer “that can help our farmers improve their prosperity and productivity,” McNee says. “And it will celebrate some of the industry’s success, and how much improvement our share-

holders have achieved.“The rapid growth

of the dairy industry for 100 years is a great suc-cess story. Farmers have… made the most of new technologies from LIC that help them farm more efficiently. We think Fiel-days is a great opportunity to recognise that.”

LIC will have knowl-edgeable staff on both sites, ready to discuss the co-op’s services and solu-tions, and talk about the challenges they are cur-rently facing.

“These conversa-tions give us the insights to understand what our farmers need from us, so we can develop and deliver the right solutions,” McNee says.

New gear on display

will include an automated heat detection system for herringbone dairy sheds and a new smartphone app to record and review health treatments, plus

tentative bull teams for the 2015-16 season, online tools to improve herd reproduction and develop-ments in short gestation genetics.

$9,600 at stake in wire art contestENTRIES HAVE closed for the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award.

National Fieldays and Waikato Museum are looking to the arts community for No.8 wire innovation, offering a first prize of $8000.

Fieldays head of events Lee Picken says the award draws on an iconic farm product and translates this through talent and ingenuity into an art form.

“Entries must be 75% No.8 wire which leaves scope for other materials to be combined with wire to create a win-ning artwork. This award promotes ingenuity and takes everyday practical agricultural products into the art gal-lery.”

Last year Fieldays doubled the first prize money to $8000 and the award was won by Te Awamutu mother and son Nick and Dagmar Elliot with Rustic Hinaki.

The contest is longstanding at Fieldays and culminates in a month-long exhibition: the finalists’ work will be on show June 5-29 at ArtsPost Galleries & Shop, Hamilton.

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Milk tech giant to showcase innovationMILK ANALYSIS, ‘gentle’ teat liners and a lower-temperature CIP detergent are among the things to see on the DeLaval site.

Herd Navigator milk analysis, launched 2012 for DeLaval robotic milking customers, gives farmers a “head start on health, reproduction and profitability,” the company says.

The system works with DeLaval VMS robotic milkers to promptly identify problems with reproduction, mastitis, ketosis and feed balance.

“The system accurately identifies cows in need

of special attention, and gives farmers clear information on what action can be taken. The early and specific alerts enable action – improving reproduction, production efficiency, profitability, animal welfare and food safety.”

Herd Navigator works by analysing milk samples during milking for indicators of reproductive disorders, heat, mastitis, ketosis and feed balance problems. The system

then gives information and suggests actions to improve cow reproduction and health, reducing costs, production losses and deterioration of milk quality.

DeLaval’s Clover liner (launched in 2013) exerts even pressure on the teat and gives optimal teat massage. Benefits include protecting teats from exposure to high pressure, and less strip yield. “This results in gentler milking, helping reduce rates of subclinical mastitis and

hyperkeratosis,” the company says.

Lactisan is a natural, non-irritant biodegradable concentrated teat spray formulated from lactic acid that occurs naturally in milk. “It provides a gentler way of protecting a herd from infection, by breaking down the bacteria’s walls to let the lactic acid do its work, achieving total kill in 30 seconds,” says DeLaval.

The company’s new

Reduced Temperature Detergent for dairy clean-in-place (CIP) systems can reduce power consumption by up to 25%, helps reduce a farm’s environmental impact and safeguards milk quality. The dispersion technology is said to give the same CIP results at 65 deg C as at water temperature of 85 deg C.

The Swinging Brush developed for production animals is now available in a smaller form for, say, calves and goats. It promotes animal welfare, “boosting production, stimulating blood circulation, reducing the risk of skin disease, and keeping animals clean

and calm.”The new Cell Counter ICC

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be in country or town. The device is used with an iPod Touch and the DeLaval ICC app.

And keeping tabs on livestock and buildings is a function of the company’s Farm Monitoring Camera, for real-time monitoring via smartphones,

tablets or computers. It withstands dirt, humidity and weather extremes and has a motion detecting and recording function, night vision and sound, and is a simple ‘plug and play’ set-up.Tel. 07 849 6020

www.delaval.co.nz

Cell counter, ICC gives on-the-spot somatic cell counts.

The Herd Navigator identifies problems with milking, feed balance and animal health.

Have a look at our website for up to date information on the bulls we are marketing plus several more that are not listed in our current catalogue.

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Live Post keeps trickiest critters at bayTARAGATE’S NEW Live Post, launched this season, uses an electrified pigtail to control “even the trickiest animals,” the company says.

“The Live Post has several new and differ-ent features which add up to it being safer and easier to use.

“With the larger lower section not live, there is much less chance of getting a shock and the post will not short out on long grass or crops.”

The lightweight but strong spring steel shaft has the added advantage of a heavy duty 9mm foot that will not break.

There is also an option for a second wire for use with smaller animals, giving added security.www.taragate .co.nz

www.dairynews.co.nzLATEST STORIES EVERY DAY

Top gear from noted Euro makerKUHN FARM Machin-ery New Zealand will showcase a number of new machines from this renowned manufacturer.

The Performer trailed cultivator is a multi-pur-pose unit that can work in stubble or previously cul-tivated ground. Based on a central spine frame of 300 x 300mm, the cultivator comprises four elements which allow individual configuration of each to suit the job in hand.

Two rows of 510mm discs cut all residue across the full width of the frame, and are followed by four rows of tines with a

280mm spacing and a non-stop coil spring protection rated to 800kg for mixing or deeper loosening. The third element comprises a set of smaller diameter levelling discs for a tidy finish, and the rear ele-ment a 700mm diame-ter, ‘V’ profile roller with a weight of 225kg/m for final consolidation and mois-ture retention

By adjusting or remov-ing individual sections, the cultivator can be used for trash incorporation and mixing with all units in place, deep loosening with the front disc set lifted, or fast stubble cultiva-

tion for ‘chitting’ with just the discs lowered. Discs can be operated as shal-low as 7cm, and tines have a range of 5-35cm. With operating widths of 4-5m, power requirement is from 60hp/m, with a maxi-mum permitted of 500hp.

The FC 3160 trailer mower conditioner (cut-ting width 3.1m) has the maker’s Optidisc cutterbar suspended under the main frame, following ground conditions closely to mini-mise damage to crop and ground.

Each cutting disc has two quickly attached blades, and a protection

system called Protecta-drive which shears the main drive to the disc around a preformed stress groove. Cutting height is adjustable up to 90mm with optional skids. This ensures minimal damage if any obstructions are hit at speed and 15 minute repair times.

Following up the cut-ting unit is a rotor con-ditioner with the choice of swinging steel flails or crimping rollers for more delicate crops. Both sys-tems are protected by shear-bolt to the main rotor. Completing the package is the Gyrodine

power hitch headstock at the front which allows turns over 90 degrees without damaging the drive line, and oversize tyres at the rear which help carry the machine and protect the ground in all conditions.

The GA 9531 is a twin rotor central delivery swather with a raking width of 8.40-9.3m. Sus-pended off a central spine, each rotor has 15 arms with four tines per arm, to ensure clean raking

in all conditions. One of the main features of the swather is its rotor drive gearboxes with a two-stage reduction drive to ensure trouble free, extended life. Each rotor is carried on a six-wheel undercarriage to ensure good ground fol-lowing and clean raking, and has hydraulically adjustable swath width to produce a neat row for different types of harvest unit.

The RW 1610 E-Twin is a trailed table wrap-

per with a heavy-duty low chassis that enables it to handle silage bales to a 1200kg capacity. Bales are lifted onto the four belt wrapping table, while a second bale can be carried by the lifting arm as the unit is travelling for the next bale. Film is applied by a pair of reels that pre-stretch and apply film with a 66% overlap, so reducing wrapping times by 50%. In-cab controls allow auto or manual operation.www.kuhn.co.nz

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V-shape offsets to x-shape tandems ready for debutNEW PRODUCT and new models across Origin Agroup’s range will be of special interest to Fieldays visitors.

A new name in disc harrows and chisel plows has arrived here with the release of Gascon Interna-tional. Products include disc harrows with V-shape offsets to X-shape tan-dems in working widths from 3.0m fixed frame up to 6.0m hydraulic folding versions.

Pottinger Novacat rear mounted disc mowers from 2.62m up to 4.3m cutting widths will be on display. New features will include hydro-pneu-matic suspension and an optional hydraulic ram fitted to the left hand lower link for easy attach-

ment and removal from the tractor.

The new X8-ED double rear mower-conditioner with new ‘vortex’ condi-tioners will interest oper-ators looking for high capacity, along with Pot-tinger’s popular Alpha Motion front mounted mowers.

New twin rotor rakes from 6.9m to 7.6m work-ing widths will be released along with a 1252C four rotor swather rake.

A new range of mounted and fully trail-ing tedders from 7.81m to 13.2m working widths have a unique headland lifting system, and newly designed tine arms which produce an even spread pattern to maximise pro-ductivity and increase

forage quality. Also on display will be

Pottinger loader wagons with automatic knife sharpening said to save up to 5L fuel per hour.

Alpego power harrows are available in working widths from 2.5 up to 7.0m with 400hp rated trans-missions. And this maker’s Roto-Pick one pass rotary cultivator, with automatic leveling board, leaves a smooth no-ridge seedbed. This machine is reckoned ideal for one pass cultiva-tion direct into existing pasture or after crops, to save time and cost.

A new Cambridge ring design (Plus Ring) has extra weight added to the roller for improved soil consolidation. Its castings are stronger to improve

reliability and service life. A three year warranty underscores this improve-ment.

Rollers from 5.3m up to 8.3m widths, with hydrau-lic folding frames down to 2.5m transport width, are available.

Two Hatzenbichler model seeders will be on display with from 8 to 16 outlets to suit 2.5m to

12m working widths, and suitable for fitting to any power harrow, cultivator or roller. They offer a ver-satile and cost effective way to quickly sow forage crops, turnips and grass.

Hatzenbichler seeders use a positive cog belt and pulley seed drive system, and come in manual or electric variable drive options. They seed as low

as 1.0kg/ha at speeds of 2km/h.

Bogballe GPS con-trolled twin disc fertiliser spreaders suit dairy, crop-ping and drystock farming; Bogballe’s noted 4x over-lap accuracy is renowned.

Bogballe uses environment-friendly border spreading controls that are simple to calibrate and adjust with optional

variable rate controllers with or without weigh scales.

Manip tractor front loaders will be on site, showing new designs and features. Models and sizes are available to suit all tractor makes and models.Tel. 07 823 7582www.originagroup.co.nz


Gascon International’s chisel plow will debut at the Fieldays.

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NZ NATIONAL FIELDAYS // 43 DAI RY NEWS MAY 26, 2015


App puts visitors in navigator’s seatAN APP downloadable free to Android and iOS devices will put Fieldays navigation and news at visitors’ fingertips.

The app, using iBeacon technology, comes in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish.

Marketing manager Rebecca Wylie says it is a “huge advance that will enhance visitors’ experience, putting their fingers on the pulse”.

“They can create their own schedule for visiting favourite suppliers or viewing favourite events, receive notifications via the iBeacons on site, pin to the map where their car is parked, find their friends and check the weather.

“The news section lets users choose to receive the latest Fieldays news direct to their phone, and there’s a social media function. With this, visitors, exhibitors and media have access to Fieldays Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds, tap into the ‘FieldaysNZ’ hashtag and capture

and share their own moments with the Fieldays camera.

“We’re proud to be able to roll out something so user-friendly and innovative out to our customers.”Fieldays App features

Point of interest: find the closest food vendors, first aid, and other essentials. View event information such as gate opening times, and ticket prices.

Proximity-based messaging: relevant to the location of users, the app delivers content, offers and information that visitors want.Fieldays map: allows users to see

their location relative to points of interest represented by pins. Keep track of where their car is by dropping a pin on their map in the app.

Friend-finder: users can share their location with Facebook friends who have

the app on their phone.

Fieldays schedule: lets

users see what’s happening –

seminars, demonstrations,

Rural Bachelor heats, etc. Users can create an itinerary for their

time at Fieldays.Fieldays

exhibitors’s tag: users can view all 900 exhibits and get a rundown of what each offers and where to find them.

Pump saves power costs, lifts yieldINNOVATIONS BY Corkill Systems, Opunake, have saved millions of dollars in electricity costs for dairy farmers who use their products, the company says.

Also, the firm’s lobe pumps reduce cooling costs and give “spectacular” increases in yields by reducing damage to milk solids, says principal Steve Cork-ill.

He says EECA trials have shown that his company’s Vari-Vac has yielded aver-age electricity savings of 52% by 20 farm-ers in different locations. One is said to have achieved 73% savings.

Corkill System’s electronic variable speed milk pump controller has separate milking and washing programs, and fits all milk pumps, receiving cans and plant types. It reduces damage to milk while only pumping when milk flow is at a cer-tain level.

The firm’s range of vacuum pumps (pump, electric motor, interceptor and oiling mechanism) comes in capacities

to suit any herd size.Its CSL positive displacement (lobe)

pumps are installed by dairy farm-ers and dairy companies, Steve Corkill says. Lobe pumps cause only “minimal” damage to milk compared with other types of milk pumps and contribute to greater milk yield.

“We make four sizes – 120, 240, 400 and 600L/min. The 600L/min unit can handle up to 80 sets of cups.” The pump’s built-in pressure control pro-gram protects plate coolers.

“Because of the minimal damage to the milk we are about to install a larger lobe pump at an organic milk transfer station where the milk, because of its nature, has to be handled delicately.”

Corkill says they have installed larger lobe pumps/controllers in several dairy plants where very large volumes have to be shifted. Factory staff report “spectac-ular” reduction in milk solid damage.Tel. 0800 10 7006

A lobe pump from Corkill Systems will be on display.

They don’t split, perish or deteriorate from milk fat absorption or chemical washing – which means there are no cavities to harbour bacteria, cleaning is easier, and cell count is dramatically reduced.

See for yourself why these new plastic products are changing the game in New Zealand dairy sheds.

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CVT transmission drives optimum economyA TARANAKI contractor is discovering the economic benefits of Fendt’s Vario CVT transmission, reports AGCO.

Wayne Prout, an Ingle-wood independent owner/driver subcontracting to Ken G Moratti Contract-ing, does a lot of mowing and tows balers, ploughs, rakes and tedders when required.

Prout, a long-time Massey Ferguson owner, had been running a MF 7480 with Fendt Vario CVT transmission. Then last July he bought his first Fendt tractor, a 716, from Field Torque Taranaki, Stratford, and is “thrilled with the decision,” AGCO says.

The Vario transmis-sion ensures the drive train operates at utmost

efficiency. It works in combination with the trac-tor management system (TMS) so the Fendt 716 is always working at its eco-nomic optimum.

TMS ensures the trac-tor drives at lower engine speeds on flat terrain. On slopes, the load increases, so TMS increases the engine speed. This means the tractor works at reduced engine speed as often as possible – and that means better effi-ciency

Prout says he drives the Fendt 716 with the Vario transmission in ‘pedal mode’, meaning he gener-ally only has to drive it on the accelerator.

“You don’t touch the brake pedal at all. It has its own automatic brak-ing system. It holds well on the hills without having

to chop and change gears like the old tractors, and it cruises comfortably.

“Stability on the hills is exceptional and it handles the mower very comfort-ably. Once you get into the computer system and get it set up, it’s probably the simplest tractor ever to operate.”

At 165hp, the trac-tor has more than enough power needed for mowing, and will undertake heavy haulage in the summer, carting silage.

Another major bonus cited by Prout is the extra headroom in the Fendt 716 cab, which has added much to his operator com-fort.

He says the quality is superior and “it will hope-fully see me through until I retire”.www.agco.com.au

Taranaki contractor, Wayne Prout, with his new Fendt Vario.

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The Vario transmission ensures the drive train operates at utmost efficiency.



More buzz in electric fencingGALLAGHER WILL unveil its most powerful-ever energiser, a robust “supremely portable” strip grazing unit and a clever little dual purpose insu-lated handle.

The M10,000i Energizer packs a whopping 100 joules of stored energy to provide plenty of power over longer distances, says national sales manager Peter Nation.

“Combining sheer brute force with incredible intelligence, the unit deliv-ers advanced monitoring capabilities to give farmers peace of mind their ani-mals are where they should be.

“A controller unit monitors perfor-mance and highlight any faults in the fencing system, and can be positioned up to 50m from the main Energizer in

a conveniently accessed and highly vis-ible location.”

Optional accessories include a remote controller that enables the farmer to quickly locate faults within a monitored zone, turn the Energizer on or off remotely, and test a fence once a repair is completed.

Also new to the Gallagher fencing range is the S10 Solar Energizer. Per-fect for strip grazing, this robust and highly portable unit makes a great alter-native to battery-powered systems, says Nation.

“We’ve put it through its paces in testing. The super tough casing is drop resistant and waterproof. And it’s effec-tive even for areas of lower sunshine as it will continue to operate for up to three weeks without sun.”

The company has also extended their range of ring top posts by adding a new 728mm version that’s ideal for farmers who prefer a slightly lower fence height. Made from heavy duty glass-fibre nylon, the head eliminates the risk of shorting and makes it easier to handle and erect standards.

Also on the site will be two portable fencing handles – insulated and dual

purpose. The connection hook of both these products has a ring top design to ensure the handle will not bounce off the fence wire. These handles can be attached to poly wire or poly tape using

a simple loop. A streamlined design makes it easy

to wind the handle in through pasture, and a large moulded hand grip avoids the risk of shock to the user. The dual

purpose handle has extra connection points, allowing farmers to safely liven the fence from either the reel or handle end.www.gallagher.co.nz

The M10,000i Energizer packs a whopping 100 joules of stored energy.

The S10 Solar Energizer is a great alternative to battery-powered systems.

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Clever use of optics and twin nozzles along with the original Teatwand concept allows the perfect teat spray coverage with the minimum usage.

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The concept behind the Onfarm Datachain System is to automate tasks on your farm and provide control from your smartphone or PC.

The system removes the guesswork and much of the manual labour, making your operation more sustainable and cost effective.

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Shore-mounted pump set to stir interestTWO NEW develop-ments in effluent handling will show on the Reid & Harrison site.

A self-priming version of the company’s Yard-master multi-stage pump is specifically designed for fixed installation, where high efficiency is also required. Self-prim-ing reduces the need for manual intervention on start-up.

Chief executive Keith Cooke says customers have asked for a viable alternative to the floating frame systems.

“With the exist-ing shore-mounted stir-rer, we now combine the

Yardmaster self-prim-ing pump to bring safe accessibility to the stor-age system. With the Yard-master established record of reliability and low ser-vice costs we have a prod-uct designed and made by New Zealanders for our conditions.”

Also new to the event is a redevelopment of the Yardmaster screw press separator. The latest ver-sion has a strengthened design for the body, frame and screen, and improved service access.

Cooke says the screw press’s newly worked design is entirely for the benefit of the end user,

and keeps in with the Yardmaster brand prom-ise of reliability and hard working.”

Reid & Harrison will use the Fieldays to show two complete solutions for effluent management in shore mounted and

floating frame situations. “Seeing the prod-

ucts in context of a com-plete system is important to understanding how the products integrate,” Cooke says. www.yardmaster-pumps.com

Yardmaster’s new multi-stage pump.

Nozzle for changing spray regimesCROPLANDS’ LAUNCH of its TurboDrop vari-able rate (VR) spray nozzle makes available a unit with greater flexibility of application rates than those of tra-ditional air inclusion (AI) units.

This makes the nozzles especially suitable for users who frequently need to change rates for different spray regimes.

Available in four sizes (o15/02/02/fert) and with flow ranges of 0.68-5.8L/min, each nozzle has the potential to replace up to four different conventional items. As an example the 03 VR item has a volume range of 150-400L/ha at 10 km/h, compared to the 03 AI unit which can only apply 150-200L/ha at the same speed.

Croplands cites the obvious benefit to a user who might spray at a forward sped of 6km/h on rugged land, then move to flat paddocks later in the day and achieve 16km/h. Alternatively, the same operator might spray at 100L/ha for a tidy-up, 200L/ha for a fertiliser appli-cation or 300L/ha for post emergence. All rates are achievable with a suitable rate controller.

Retro-fit units are available for all older machines.www.croplands.com.au

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Milking, handling effluent in new barnINNOVATION IN dairy technology from the GEA equipment range will include WestfaliaSurge and Milfos milking equip-ment, Houle effluent han-dling equipment and Norbco barn systems.

GEA is working with Calder Stewart Rural Buildings to build Norbco barns and its Fieldays site will have a partial section of a Norbco barn.

GEA capital equip-ment North Island sales

manager Adam Franklin says the barn structure is aimed at giving site visi-tors a sense of scale and dimension, incorporating bails and a Houle scraper system.

“With interest increas-ing in barn housing sys-tems, we want to give farmers a better sense of the barn ‘experience’ and what sort of dimensions cows enjoy, and the type of equipment that integrates into a barn environment specifically designed for cow comfort.”

The company is also exhibiting its Houle slope screen separator, with a screen shape and design that has no moving parts, keeping maintenance simple and minimal.

GEA’s high compres-sion XScrew press will be displayed for the first time, intended for dairy effluent output with higher than average solids content.

The company’s dairy hygiene division FIL will present its ‘Quality Milk’ programme – a simple,

two step formula where a clean dairy + healthy cows = quality milk.

The programme links FIL’s new dairy detergents with udder health treat-ments including Teat-shield and Iodoshield teat sprays.

A display of Milfos iCORE milking technology will show how the system can be upgraded and future-proofed for match-ing to the level of data capture that best suits a farmer, “safe in the knowl-edge that if they wish to move up another level they do not have to install a completely new system to do so”.

Although the MIOne robotic milker may not physically be on site, a video feed from a farm installation will show the level of innovative tech-nology in the MIOne system. The latest robotic arm will also be on dis-play, showing how simply it operates and its focus on udder health.www.gea-farmtechnolo-

gies.com

McCormick range boasts CVTMCCORMICK HAS begun using continuously vari-able transmission (CVT) in its X7 tractors, says New Zealand distributor Ag-Tek.

The VT Drive models have a ZF Ecomm transmis-sion unit with four stepless ranges.

Speed range is adjustable from 85m to 50km/h, with control by McCormick software and using an inter-face called Data Screen Manager, with a 12 inch touch screen.

The CVT is available in five models, from 143 to 192hp, powered by either 4 or 6-cyl Tier 4 Betapower engines with Ad-Blue emission control.

The introduction coincides with upgrades to the rear end of the tractors, which now have lift capac-ity of 9300kg and closed centre hydraulic systems of 123L/min.www.agtek.co.nz

McCormick X7 tractor.

Milfos rotary display will show the iCORE technology featured in this dairy, including iPUD display units with heads-down display.

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Latest spreading technology from Amazone will also be on display.

Claas Cargos 8000 series will debut at the Fieldays.Cargos 8000

a Claas of its ownOFFERINGS FROM some of Europe’s leading farm machinery manufacturers, including Claas, Amazone, JCB and Fliegl, will be on display at the Claas Harvest Centre display.

General manager retail, Roger Nehoff, says the introduction of the Axion 800 Cmatic series means the German manufacturer now offers CVT technology on 15 models from 145hp to 410hp.

“The new Axion 900, Axion 800 and Arion 600/500 series have been well received by local producers and the availability of the optional Cmatic transmission will increase their popularity,” Nehoff says.

“With four-point cab suspension, smart onboard technology and a range of options that allow customers to configure their tractor exactly as they want it, these are comfortable and versatile machines.”

Making its NZ debut is the Claas Cargos 8000 series of ‘compact’ dual-purpose forage loader/transport wagons.

“With a loading volume of 30-41 cubic meters, these three new models have about 20% less capacity than the 9000 series and are just the right size for local conditions,” Nehoff says. “Importantly, all three models can be converted from a high performance loader wagon to a forage transport wagon in 15

minutes. Removing the loader unit allows the wagon to be used for transporting other materials throughout the year, and it increases the wagon’s capacity by three tonnes.”

The new Claas Disco mowers and mower-conditioners come in 28 new models with operating widths from 2.6 to 9.1m. These include the Disco 9200 front-and-rear mower-conditioner combination, which won a Machine of the Year award at the SIMA agricultural expo in Paris.

All models have the new Max Cut cutter-bar, whose one-piece, wave-shaped bar support allows the cutting disc modules to be set much further forward than before. In combination with the specially formed wear inserts, this creates an enlarged cutting area and ensures optimal cutting quality, efficiency and durability under all conditions.

New at Fieldays will be the Fliegl ADS120 push-off spreader wagon, which enables fast and efficient spreading of manure. It holds 14 cubic metres (12 tonnes), and has a low centre of gravity for optimum stability. Features include a hydraulically adjustable drawbar and an optional tailgate which enables it to be used as a push-off trailer.

The site will also display the latest spreading technology

from Amazone, “ZA-TS mounted and super capacity ZG-TS trailed models that set industry benchmarks for precision, efficiency and operational ease,” Nehoff says.

The latest models have integrated weigh-cell and tilt sensor technology, electronically controlled hydraulics, GPS automated part-width section control and headland systems and easy-to-use ISOBUS-compatible terminals.

“They’re easy to operate – you simply enter the desired spreading rate and drive off,” Nehoff says. “The two weighing cells detect any deviation between the desired application rate and the amount being discharged. Also, the on-board tilt sensor measures any deviation in the centre of gravity, front to back and left to right. The processor then automatically adjusts the electric metering shutter slides to ensure an even spreading pattern.”www.claasharvestcentre.co.nz


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Cobra gets more biteIMPROVEMENTS BY Hi-Tech Enviro Solutions to its Cobra travelling rain gun make this irrigator even more of a standout in its field, says the com-pany’s general manager, Brian Nicholson.

“Since its launch in 2013 we have sold many hundreds of Cobras, which

have performed excep-tionally well.”

Notably, its design allows application depths as low as 1mm, and appli-cation rates down to 4.2mm/hour, “which avert ponding and grizzling by local authorities,” the company says.

The Cobra also enables

farmers to spread over large areas, with full or partial circles and a setting that allows spreading to one side to accommodate sidling land.

Now come “a number of enhancements at the 2015 Fieldays to make the Cobra an even better per-former,” says Nicholson.

These improvements include a new shear bolt safety mech-anism that will

allow more

weight to be towed. If the Cobra encounters any obstruc-tions or excessive load, the system will activate

and pro-

tect the unit, and quickly and easily get the machine working again.

Also, a wheel assem-bly replaces the skid at the front, reducing rolling

resistance and making the unit easier to tow and roll on undulating ground.

The wire winding system now spreads the wire evenly across the drum’s full width, with no kinks or snags. And rede-sign of the main cover hinges allows better access for maintenance

Hi-Tech will also exhibit a shore-mounted effluent stirrer/agitator with a horizontal impellor for effective mixing and

low run-ning noise. Features include a modular main body that will allow the differing lengths to be supplied to suit all sizes and depths of ponds, and also reduce initial trans-port costs.

A new headstock assembly has a self-con-tained hydraulic system to allow easy raise/lower and lateral movement of the agitator.www.hitechenviro.co.nz

FENCING SYSTEMS manufacturer Strainrite has used clever design and modern manufacturing tech-nology to refine an old concept, and introduce the Tangle Free electric fence standard.

The standard has a specially moulded pigtail loop insulator with no internal wire, thereby eliminating the risk of electrical shorts that ocurr when insulators wear through.

Made from UV stabilised, wear resistant polymer to withstand harsh New Zealand conditions, the stan-dard’s poly-wire/tape makes them easy to install and reduces the risk of wire/tape ‘falling out’ a fence line is being moved.

The moulded profile of the loop has no sharp edges, so minimises any chafing, and the narrow tape open-ing prevents the annoyance of heads ‘interlocking’ – common with standard designs, the company says.

Available in 6mm light, 6mm long and 7mm heavy-duty sizes, all the standards have galvanised spring steel shafts and a galvanised pressed steel foot, said to be stronger than mild steel or plastic.

Strainrite general manager Brian Collins says “the concept of a loop top pigtail has been around for many years. We’ve listened to users around the country to come up with this new design and we see the Tangle Free offering giving more choice to farmers.”www.robeng.co.nz

Old concept refined

Tangle free electric fence.

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Be more than just average statistics

AVERAGES ARE a great mathematical tool and brilliant for hiding poorer performing results because they get dragged

up by higher results. Unfortunately the

reverse also happens: the top performing results get dragged down into the general population. This is fine when we are only interested in trends

in the status quo, but the dairy industry today needs change.

The dairy industry faces a number of chal-lenges – environmental, welfare and profitability to name a few.

But change is not driven by averages; it is driven by the statistical outliers – those farmers trying something different in all or part of their farm-ing systems.

Trying to predict the future is not a perfect sci-ence but it is reasonable to expect that environmental standards will be tighter, and in particular N leach-ing limits will need to be lower, animal welfare stan-dards will be increasingly monitored by the public and profitability needs to be maintained in the face of highly variable payout.

Production increases of 40% in the last two years (to 2200kg MS/ha), N leaching levels dropping 25%, grass har-vest over 18t/ha, stock-ing rates of seven cows/ha with no pasture damage, costs under $3.00/kgMS, high yield crops produced solely on effluent, simple high input systems – these are statistical outliers hidden by the industry use of averages.

These statistical outli-ers are all being achieved on a number of farms with HerdHomes shelters and, as I’m sure, they are being achieved under different farm systems also.

These HerdHomes farms are following nei-ther a traditional NZ grazing method nor a tra-ditional European fully housed system; they are developing a hybrid system which utilises the

best of both worlds by providing shelter to cows when necessary to pro-tect the cows or pasture or both.

This allows the farmer to focus on efficiently growing and harvesting the highest tonnes of DM/ha possible. In a number of cases this is a mix of crop and pasture with pas-ture harvest yields higher due to a focus on limit-ing damage and main-taining the grass in an active growing stage. This is achieved by the cows themselves: giving them access to shelter during poor weather means they will leave the pad-dock themselves, saving the paddock from greater damage.

Having flexibil-ity of feed options also means farmers can match demand far more evenly, and the cows use the feed more efficiently when out of the wet, cold or heat in some areas of the country.

Effluent capture is simple on these proper-ties and is then treated as a valuable fertiliser resource, returned to the paddocks to maximise use of the nutrients and minimise environmen-tal runoff. In a number of cases this reduces the need for any external phosphate or potash.

When wrapped together it can be a very efficient growing platform, recycling resources via feed efficient cows which allows strong profitability from a long term sustain-able system.

Or of course you can be average.• Hamish McMillan is the chief executive of Herd Homes.

Herd Homes structures follow neither a traditional Kiwi grazing method or a traditional European housing method.

HAMISH MCMILLAN

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CARRY-MATE ELECTRIC fencing gear is made from rotationally molded high density polyethylene, giving it enough strength and flexibility to handle everyday farm use.

It is designed to transport, deploy and retrieve elec-tric fence standards while interfacing with electric fence reels. It improves organisation and safety and provides a systematic approach to portable fencing.

It can easily be stored and safely and easily trans-ported by means of its attachment system that can be mounted on most farm vehicles. It will also carry reels.

See it at the Innovations site or visit:www.carry-mate.co.nz

Tough fencing for everyday farm use

Tru-Test livestock electronic ID equipment will also be on display.

Carry-Mate fencing gear made from molded high density polytheylene.

Innovation at its bestDAIRY AUTOMATION and refrigeration systems will be prominent on the Tru-Test site, as will livestock electronic ID and weighing equipment, says Verne Atmore, New Zealand sales and marketing manager.

The dairy gear will include the recently released VatManager all-in-one vat controller and monitor.

Tru-Test Group, after 50 years of farming innovation and manufacture, “has

innovation deeply embedded in its philosophy, and strives to seek out and encourage creative thinking, drive innovation internally and commercialise great ideas from farmers,” Atmore says.

“The company looks constantly at better ways to help farmers optimise their assets. Grassroots innovation has been [our foundation] since Waikato dairy farmer John Hartstone came up with his idea in 1963 on

how to sample milk.” Atmore suggests

farmers “come and talk to us about what can make a difference to productivity onfarm. We can help with NAIT requirements and managing data integration.

“We can clarify what’s happening with MPI’s new cooling regulations

for raw milk and how to invest wisely in dairy refrigeration to minimise the risk of having milk rejected.

“And we can show you options for identifying best producers, managing mating, drying off and culling to get the best out of a dairy herd, and growing out young stock well to optimise genetic

input. The advice is free and can save money.”

The company is again sponsoring the Grassroots Innovation Award, an award seen as a ‘launch pad’ for many Kiwi inventions and ideas. www.trutest.co.nz


Registration is FREE!

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• Costbenefitsofpurposedesigned CalfHousing

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52 // MANAGEMENT

Candys hit the sweet spot with focus farm

FOR THE past four years the Okaihau property of Alister and Lyn Candy and their daughter Christine has been Northland’s DairyNZ focus farm. They have benefitted from the advice of a special advisory board, DairyNZ and AgFirst farm consultant Gareth Baynham.

Neither Lyn nor Alister was born locally. Alister hails from Levin and Lyn from Hamilton. Alister’s family arrived at Okaihau in the early 1960’s when his father was helping his brother to break in the land. It was tough work, in the days when marginal land loans were available to help clear scrub on land with production potential.

Alister returned to the farm when his uncle wanted to move away, and began working with his father. There were various family partnerships until Alister and Lyn bought a one-third share and

took over the property in 1990. They had a rotary shed built and in the early days milked about 200 cows. The cow numbers increased as Alister cleared ti-tree and fern.

Today they run 320 Jersey cows on the 103ha, stocking animals at 3.1/ha. Last year they produced 112,000kgMS. As well as the 103ha milking platform, the Candys have an 85ha run-off at the back of the property where they raise beef. A further 171ha of bush is covenanted by the QEII Trust.

For years there was talk in the district about having a DairyNZ Focus Farm because there hadn’t been one for many years. Gareth Baynham was one of the drivers behind this and the setting up of the Candys farm for this purpose. He says when the idea of having a focus farm was first mooted at a local discussion group, there

was widespread support for this to be Alister and Lyn’s property. He says they had an interesting farm and the personality to go with the task. Four years ago it happened.

“It was a bit different in the case of Alister and Lyn, Baynham says. Five other top farmers drove the whole project and provided the support to Alister and Lyn in the first year, giving them a lot of advice. As the project progressed their role diminished and Alister and Lyn took advice or made their own decisions, the farmers and advisors saying “well done,” he says.

Before they became focus farmers, Alister and Lyn were just farming. Their previous three year average milk solids production was 73,000kgMS and the goal was 100,000kgMS. This was achieved last year at 112,000kgMS. The focus farm concept breathed

new life into their operation, says Lyn.

“It changed the way we managed our farm. We’d never done budgeting before. In the early days if we wanted something we just went out and bought it. We learned about how to

manage our grass and about condition scoring to get better reproduction

from our cows and have a much narrower calving

The night-time silence of cows quietly chewing their cud is broken by the distinctive call of kiwi. In the past four years, Okaihau dairy farmers Alister and Lyn Candy have much improved the production of their herd and the habitat of kiwi on their property. Peter Burke went to learn what they have done.

window. We also got good advice on how to better rear young stock. We’d

never used PKE before and just used hay, balage or occasionally some crops.”

With a focus on condition

scoring, Alister now dries off his cows earlier depending on their condition. On the day Dairy News visited the farm Baynham was doing the rounds of the cows and checking their condition scores.

Like most Northland farms, climate and soil play a big role in the way the farm is managed. The Candys have had help from consultants, but they, like other farmers, say consultants and other farmers from within the local area are the best advisors. Alister says they have two soil types on the property – wharekohe, an old clayey soil, and Okaihau loam.

“Wharekohoe is very wet and it has a silicon pan underneath it so the water doesn’t get away, so it’s not free draining. When it’s wet you have to watch the cows all the time when they are on the wharekohoe and be prepared to take them off at the slightest hint of trouble because of the risk of pugging. When it’s wet you can’t take tractors on the

wharekohoe.”Instead Alister puts

PKE in trailers and brings stock from the wharekohoe to these. This type of soil also requires a different approach to fertiliser application. It requires little and often because the wharekohoe doesn’t retain nutrients for any length of the time. This is the complete opposite to the freer-draining okaihau loam soil which is also not as prone to pugging. The Candys have a travelling irrigator which enables them to irrigate about 28ha of the Okaihau loam.

They have an ongoing policy of re-grassing, and chicory and other species of grass have been tried and have helped, but kikuyu (imported from Rhodesia in the 1920’s) remains a dominant species on some properties in the region. For grass species like chicory, lack of rain is the main problem and it tends not to persist.

For Alister the big change has been the advice on getting cow condition right and focusing on the needs of young stock.

“One day a guy came here, threw up his hands in horror and said we’d never get the cows in calf so we put them on OAD and got most of them in calf with only a 6-10% empty rate. Setting those condition score targets and having a big focus

Alister and Lyn Candy (right) with daughter Christine on the farm.

The Candys have had help from consultants, but they, like other farmers, say consultants and other farmers from within the local area are the best advisors.

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MANAGEMENT // 53

OUT THE back of the farm is the Candys’ run-off block where the young stock are grazed. There they also run about 40 beef breeding cows behind the heifers, and keep some low producing cows which they mate to a Her-eford or a Belgian Blue bull.

The most famous advocate of the Belgian Blue is the well known Northland farmer-politician, and now NZ High Commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith.

“When you mate a Jersey cow with a Belgian Blue bull, the resulting calf is a much better looking beef calf and sells better in the yards. We used to use Herefords but they come out too brindle and they didn’t sell anywhere near as well as the calves from the Belgian Blues,” says Lyn Candy.

The run-off block is used to winter the fatter cows while the thin ones are kept up on the main block where they can closely moni-tor them.

Next to the run-off block is the 171ha of bush covenanted by the QEII Trust. It’s a con-servation measure that has benefits for the environment in preserving the bush which is a habitat for kiwis. The QEII status also saves the Candys a rates bill.

“There we have a community pest control area and we are trapping mustelids, pos-sums and rats. The result is we have seen an increase in bird life – tuis, tom tits, wood pi-geons and of course kiwis. They have always been in this area and with the enhanced habitat their numbers have increased,” says Alister.

The way the Candys have configured their farm is a model for others to follow. It shows that production can be substantially increased, but at the same time, the environ-ment can be enhanced.

BLUE BEEF AND BUSH

Candys hit the sweet spot with focus farmon that right through the year has helped with reproduction. So the six week in calf rate has gone from 42% before we became a focus farm to 71% last year and 78% is the target.”

The other big change that has arisen out of the focus farm programme has been a move to a ‘techno’ type system – something which seems to be catching on in Northland. The Candys now have 60 paddocks instead of the original 15 on their support block. Water has been reticulated to all these

‘cells’ and Alister says it is a great time saver and has helped in raising production levels on the property. They have also taken the opportunity to fence off creeks.

For Alister and Lyn, having a lot of advice and scrutiny of their operation has been hugely beneficial. The numbers tell part of the story. Their expenses have dropped from $5.06/kgMS to $3.70/kgMS while at the same time their surplus has risen from $0.94/kgMS to $2.30/kgMS. Now highly motivated, they are looking to achieve

AgFirst farm consultant, Gareth Baynham.

Alister Candy with a Belgian Blue calf.

new goals; any thought of retirement is on the back-burner.

This week their time as a focus farm will end. The last field day will be on May 26. Not only have the Candys learned a lot about themselves and their operation,

they watch with interest as neighbours and colleagues quietly take up some of the ideas that have arisen from the focus farm field days. In every sense of the word it’s been a success.


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54 // MANAGEMENT

Getting the most from supplementsEVERY TIME the milksolids payout drops, the industry starts talking about reducing production costs. Supplemen-tary feed is often the first target since feed and feed related expenses, such as stock grazing, are big ticket items for most farms.

Reducing the pro-duction cost per kilo-gram of milksolids will only be viable if produc-tion levels can be main-tained at an economic level. Slashing feed inputs is risky because milk output is driven by energy input. In my opinion the focus should be on making changes which enhance productivity rather than just decrease cost.

Farmers can improve the returns they get from their supplementary feed spend by:

Maximising pasture harvested. While pasture is not necessarily a cheap feed once you take into account the cost of the land it is grown on, most of the costs associated with growing pasture are fixed. This means that it costs you

about the same for kgDM wasted as it does for every kgDM har-vested. This year the focus needs to be on increasing pasture har-vest. It will never be economic to

feed supplements and waste pas-ture. Plan to do regular pasture walks and moni-tor pre and post-grazing residuals carefully.

Feeding the most cost effec-tive supple-ments. Most New Zealand

dairy cows are lacking one thing – energy. While fancy supple-ments and complex rations may produce a bit more milk, there is a high chance they will not generate as much profit as you would get by feeding the cheapest form of energy.

Growing a proportion of their supplementary feed requirements themselves. There are many benefits from growing high yielding crops on the home farm or run-off. Generally

the cost per kgDM is lower; cropping enhances the pasture renewal pro-cess and gives more control over crop harvest time. Maize is a great option because it can be grown in high fertil-ity paddocks, including those with a his-tory of effluent application, without the need for additional fertiliser.

Minimising storage and feed-out losses. If you buy a supplement for 30c/kgDM and waste 10%, the cost is now 33.3c/kgDM eaten. If you waste 30% it rises to 42.9c/kgDM. Keep silage stacks well covered and maintain a clean, tight face. Don’t overfill feed bins. If you are feeding in the paddock put the supple-

ment along a fence line or use an electric wire to stop stock tram-pling it into the ground.

Investing wisely in grazing off. Grazing off can be ‘cheap feed’ if your livestock are well fed and achieve growth targets, but it can be very costly if your heifers fail to get in calf, or are late doing so because they do not meet live-weight targets. Plan to check your stock on a regular basis.

The first step to sensible sup-plementary feed use is to do a feed budget to determine how much feed you will require for the coming season. Be realistic about expected pasture growth rates and target milk production levels and use these to deter-mine how much supplement you require and when you will need

it. Then, taking into consideration the factors above, make a plan to determine where you will source the feed you need.

Finally, remember it is always expen-sive to buy feed on the spot market when everybody wants it. • Ian Williams is a Pioneer forage special-ist. Contact him at [email protected]

Slashing feed inputs is risky because milk output is driven by energy input.

www.dairynews.co.nz

BREAKING NEWS MANAGEMENT STORIES MARKETS & TRENDS MACHINERY REVIEWS COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE...

Check out our websites


MANAGEMENT // 55

One man’s trash is another’s treasure

THE MAY 31 traditional end of the dairying season and June 1 as the start of the next one has always been called Gypsy Day, when 50:50 sharemilk-ers or contract and lower order milkers move to new and often bigger jobs milking more cows as they follow a path to farm own-ership.

Until a few years ago many animals were walked sometimes over one-three days under permits from local councils, and requir-ing some cooperation where herds were liable to meet or have to cross dif-ferent roads. More vehi-cle traffic and regulations now mean that most stock

are shifted by trucks; only farm gear and chattels are taken by road.

Also during this season are clearing sales, from late March to early May. They happen when farm owners have sold their farms and/or contract or sharemilkers cannot get a milking contract or have decided to leave the indus-try for the last time.

Everything must go: stock and equipment sometimes 20 years old and often described by neighbours as junk. Equip-ment and implements are lined up, and scrubbed or waterblasted to help the auctioneer to extract another dollar from a reluctant bidder with the comment “cared for… beautifully presented,” etc.

Invariably the machin-ery and equipment ends up in miscellaneous boxes, sold to a low bidder, prov-ing the old adage “one man/woman’s trash is another’s treasure.”

Catering used to be done by local playcentre or school PTA ladies keen to raise cash. These days are more professional: mobile food vendors sell hot food and drinks throughout the

sale.The farm gear is sold

first, followed by the live-stock, the milking herd then the heifers and finally the yearling calves.

A recent successful clearing sale was held on behalf of Steve and Dawn Rumney at Piarere, 12km from Matamata

They had owned the farm for the last 21 years and it sold at auction on April 23 to an Australian who saw it online and had a friend visit.

“I had been a butcher for nine years before farm-ing. Now, after 30 years on wet concrete, a knee oper-ation seven years ago and now the other knee telling me something, we decided to sell,” said Rumney. Immediately following the

auction they contacted RD1 Livestock and booked May 15 for the sale.

“It’s been full on; we had been busy doing open days before the farm auc-tion and then we had only three weeks until the clearing sale.”

Rumney first assem-bled his machinery in a paddock adjacent to the dairy shed and goods and chattels in a storage shed. They then assembled and collated his herd breeding and production records and had catalogues printed. On sale day infor-mation sheets were avail-able for would-be buyers containing BW, PW and LW figures for all animals plus calving dates.

The sundries were sold outside on a fine day, but auctioneer RD1 Livestock erected portable yards and a waterproof pavilion for the livestock sale. They were sold in lots of two, with each animal’s details printed on a board for all buyers to see as they went through the ring.

This long established CRV Ambreed Friesian herd was all sold, prices averaging $1930. Said Rumney, “We were expect-ing about $1700.” Heifers

TONY HOPKINSONgained $1680 per head and calves $675 per head.

“This was a well-bred herd with excellent records and in great con-dition; the prices reflected that,” said RD1 agent in charge Kelly Higgins.

Everything must go: stock and equipment sometimes 20 years old often described by neighbours as junk.

Auctioneer Pat Sheely (right)

talks potential buyers into a sale

at the farm.

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56 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

New generation designed for the operatorTHE FOURTH genera-tion of the Valtra T Series offers models with 155-250hp and up to 1000Nm torque, a large amount of power to take on demand-ing tasks.

They are available with two transmission variants – Versu and Direct.

The Versu models have the maker’s AutoTrac-tion automatic clutch function for its power-shift transmission, which allows shifts automati-cally by monitoring travel speeds, unlike competi-tor systems that look at engine speed. Additional features such as hill-hold and hydraulic assistant aid the driver with transport and frontloader operation.

The Powershift operates with five steps in four gear ranges, plus 10 speeds in the creeper ranges, giving a total of 30 forward and 30 reverse speeds.

The Direct transmis-sion, built in-house by Valtra, offers three driv-ing modes. The default is pedal mode (auto-matic): the driver sets the target speed with the drive pedal. In lever mode (automatic) the driver sets the target speed by the drive lever. In manual mode the driver can set separately the engine revs and manage the driving speed independently with the drive lever.

T Series models are powered by 6.6L or 7.4L

AGCO Power engines. Exhaust emissions are minimised by a Tier 4

Final SCR system. The SCR system and optimised turbo and engine package results in excellent fuel efficiency and eliminates the need for an exhaust gas recirculation system or

diesel particulate filter. The T174 model comes

standard with Valtra’s EcoPower feature. When the driver presses the eco button the nominal engine speed drops to 1800rpm while torque increases.

This reduces fuel con-sumption by about 10%, lowers the noise level and extends engine life. In addition, the Sigma Power feature, standard on all models, increases engine output by 15hp when the PTO is under sufficient load. The transport boost function in turn raises an extra 15hp in the C and D ranges.

The most striking fea-ture of the fourth gener-ation T Series is its new

cab – stylish, spacious and quiet. Pillars that curve outwards maximise inte-rior space for the driver and keep the external dimensions compact. The cab is now 20cm wider by the driver’s seat than the previous generation, for plenty of room.

Electrically heated front and rear screens, a front windscreen wiper sweeping 270 degrees, fac-tory-fitted parking cam-eras, LED working and

rear lights, and six square metres of glass combine to offer unsurpassed vis-ibility if optioned. Also, the optional roof window helps when operating a frontloader.

Other features include stereo with subwoofer, cool box, TwinTrac reverse-drive system that can be adjusted laterally and a factory-fitted, fuel-powered, phone-operated auxiliary heater. www.valtra.com.au

A new stylish cab (below left) is the most striking feature of the new Valtra T series.

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MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 57

Ute tonneau cover locks into placeA NEW roll-up tonneau cover – called Advantage – from Best Bars uses a ‘clever’ alloy frame fixed to the top of the well-side tray with specially designed brack-ets to lock it into place; it doesn’t require holes drilled into the sides of the vehicle.

Removable ribs inside the cover keep it taut, providing a smart and attractive appearance, and keeping the weather at bay, says John Frear, the company’s sales and marketing manager.

The cover simply rolls up when the ribs are removed and stored behind the cab for loading or transporting tall or bulky items. Elastic straps keep the rolled up cover tightly in place while driving. The material used is a heavy-

duty vinyl, which still retains its soft feel, even though it is tough.

“The new cover combines the flex-ibility of traditional fabric covers, but without the need to drill unsightly holes in the side of the vehicle to install hooks for bungy cords,” Frear says.

“The frame holds the cover firmly in place and it’s easy to unclip and roll back to allow access to the full cargo space, while the supporting frame prevents stretching or wear.

“Installation is a breeze for ‘under rail’ liners and only minor modifications needing to be made to the liner if they are the ‘over rail’ type.” www.bestbars.co.nz

Advantage roll-up tonneau cover.

One machine, multiple tasksTHE GASPARDO Contessa, a versatile cultivator/planter com-bination, has three key elements equipping it for multiple tasks in one pass, or individually.

First is a robust frame with large carrying wheels at the rear. Underslung is a choice of Mas-chio power harrow or Torro or Aquilla ranges with maximum power inputs of 380 and 300hp, respectively.

Second is a 2500L hopper assembly carried on a three point hitch directly above the rear wheels of the frame to spread the load; it can be used to carry fertil-iser or seed for planting. The Gas-pardo Flexseed roller system uses a volumetric design for fertiliser or seed output. The assembly has a wide opening with access stairs.

Third is the planting element that can be set up as a vacuum operated precision unit with either 6 or 8 rows at 75cm spac-ing, or a new 16 row unit at 37.5cm spacing that allows high plant densities per hectare and subse-quent higher yields.

Alternatively, seeding can be by a more conventional double-disc opener drill system which is normally more suited to cereal production, offering 370mm stag-gered discs and 320mm press/gauge wheels that control plant-ing depth from 0 to 8cm.

With operating widths of 4.6, 5.0 and 6.0m, control by Isobus and optional features such as E-drive and auto row shut-off via GPS signal, the unit should be useful to larger scale farmers or contractors.www.powerfarming.co.nz

Versatile cultivator/planter combo.

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Cow housing, feed mixer lift Southland herd’s performanceA COMBINATION of a wintering barn and a feed mixer wagon is paying off for Southland dairy farm-ers Louis and Angela Eng-lish, reports the wagon supplier, Webbline.

The couple milk 870 cows on a 335ha family farm at Dipton West.

Seeking better perfor-mance from their cows, and to avoid pasture damage in winter, in 2013

they contracted Specialist Structures to build them a 5500 sq.m barn.

Then came their BvL mixer wagon.

“We are pleased with the BvL and to date it has

been trouble free,” Eng-lish says. “We’re impressed with the build quality and design. The machine gives a fast and consistent mix, it’s nice and simple, with no feedout conveyers to worry about, and the single axle is excellent for our setup as there is no scuff-ing on tyres when turning.

“Going to the barn system and investing in a mixer has resulted in grow-ing out our cows bigger, our overall cow condition and health has improved and we have increased our production from 415kgMS to 515kgMS per cow, an increase of 25%.”

They first fed in the barn with their old silage wagon. But the cows were

“picking through the feed, and the elevator of the feed wagon tended to throw some feed over the wall to where the cows were standing, causing issues with the effluent scrapers.”

The BvL’s delivery chute system suffers from none of the spillage of the old machine, “so we get a con-sistent feed row and the cows clean everything up; there is virtually no feed wasted or picked through”.

“We have had the cows inside at night since the start of May and are feed-ing about 8kgDM/cow – a mix of silage, PK and straw. Once we dry off, we will increase the feed to 10kgDM/cow which

will consist of whole crop, silage and straw.”

English says he pre-fers to keep the system as simple as possible: he isn’t doing any special feed mixes, just getting the basics right in mixing his feed, which is showing up in cow performance.

He loads the mixer with a large BvL 180 shear grab, “an excellent invest-ment,” he says. “The stack face is tidy, it’s fast to load and because we are cutting a grab full of compacted silage, we are getting up to 1400kg in one shear grab full of our wetter silage. It’s easy for the staff to use and because it’s robust it is unlikely to get damaged.”

Webbline sales manager Glen Malcolm says Eng-lish’s comments about the BvL are echoed by others, notable in a low-payout year.

“Forward thinking farmers are looking to increase productivity and get better returns out of their cows and more out of their feed on hand. The BvL mixers are playing a large role in achieving this.

“Mixing the feed increases rumen perfor-mance…. There is enough scientific evidence out there proving the eco-nomic benefit of doing this.”Tel. 0800 932 254www.webbline.co.nz

Louis English says the BvL mixerwagon has been trouble free so far.

No spillage: BvL’s delivery chute system suffers from none of the spillage of the old machines.

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ARCHWAY GROUP in Te Puke are acknowledged as experts in nutrient containment and control of efflu-ent from dairy sheds and feed pads.

The company works North Island wide build-ing weeping walls, a proven means of passive (non-mechanical) separation of effluent liquids and solids. The solids are held for later disposal and the ‘green’ water collected for yard and feed pad cleaning, or it can be sprayed to pasture on lower rates.

“We have been flat-out installing the weeping walls and Tri-Block bunkers as farmers see their advantages. We’ve recently installed several weeping walls for dif-ferent Maori trusts in the central North Island,” said Amanda Hodgson a partner with Matt in Archway Group.

The company also offers a free infrastructure plan to help farmers to assess where regulations might take them in longer term.

Site visitors can fill out a questionnaire to get a no-obligation visit and learn the options available. A com-pleted form puts entrants in a draw to win 1 tonne of Sharpe’s early wean calf pellets worth $1000.Tel. 07 573 9883

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Weeping walls allow a passive separation of effluent liquids and solids.

New addition bolsters compact tractor rangeISEKI HAS bolstered its line of compact tractors with its new TG6000 Series. Three new models (36-47hp) will “suit anyone looking for a handy all-rounder to tackle tasks on farms or in grounds-care applications,” the company says.

The new series is powered by Iseki 3- and 4-cyl water-cooled engines that develop more power and torque at low revs, but are also Tier 4 compliant for cleaner exhaust emissions.

For added ease and flexibility, a choice of hydrostatic or power-shuttle transmissions is available. The three-range hydrostatic

transmission and the 12 x 12 speed power-shuttle transmission “provide effortless direction changes and a greater speed range”. Automotive-style cruise control is also a standard, giving greater comfort and control.

Heavy-duty axles, with 4WD as standard, make the new series an ideal frontloader tractor, the maker says. Pre-plumbed hydraulic valves allow easy attachment of the loader, and open-centre hydraulics with oil flow up to 49L/min allows “lifting more and working faster”.

A reinforced chassis and a linkage lift capacity of up to 1580kg

makes for versatility and easy attachment of implements.

The operator platform is flat and uncluttered.

The 38-47hp models can have an optional air-conditioned cab. The deluxe cab has dual side

entry, “outstanding” visibility with 360 degree views and temperature control.www.iseki.com.au

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Feeder saves time, moneyTHE ANNUAL toil of calf rearing just got easier with the launch of a ‘premium’ mobile calf feeder range designed to save time, money and effort, says the developer, Stallion Plastics.

The new ‘2020 MG and OT mobile feeder range’ has been cre-ated to make easier the back-bend-ing, time-consuming work of calf rearing, says chief executive Grant Allen – himself a dairy farmer.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talk-ing to seasoned dairy farmers and I look at what works – and what doesn’t – on my own farm. In par-ticular, we get feedback from time-challenged farming women heavily involved in calf rearing and cleaning feeding equipment,” says Allen.

“They’ve told us they want mobile feeders with increased stability and strength, a greater tank capacity, more accessibility and easier clean-ing. So we’ve researched, designed, developed, trialled and launched a range to make calf rearing easier, cleaner, quicker, safer and more effi-cient.

“I know firsthand the pressures the low milk payout is placing on farmers’ budgets and we’re confi-dent this range takes mobile feed-ers to the next level of innovation in providing a top quality, user-tai-lored product for excellent value for money. Farmers who’ve trialled the range have given excellent feedback.”

Key features of the new range of eight different models includes: new larger 500 and 1000L tanks, redesign of tanks for easier clean-ing, lower inspection visibility with

repositioned side access and new larger tank lids with three-way lock-ing system (more accessible and built to withstand high wind).

The trailer units have greater sta-bility from their lower centre of grav-ity and their frames are stronger, heavier gauge galvanised steel.

All are in stores nationwide from June 1. Launching at Fieldays will be a new larger 2.5L feeder bottle and a new goat feeder range.Tel. 0508 688 688www.stallion.co.nz

Tractor model touches the magic 400hp markTHE MF 8600 series had a reputation for no-non-sense reliability and buck-ets of power; the new generation 8700 series takes things a step further and hits the magic 400hp mark.

Powered by an Agco-Power/Sisu 8.4L engine with 8.4L capacity, the engine meets Tier 4 Final emission regulations with the use of SCR /Ad-blue after-treatment.

MF introduced this technology to tractors in 2009, and the MF 8700 series, though not new, now uses exhaust gas re-circulation and larger diesel oxidisation catalyst

(DOC) to keep the nasty stuff under control. This negates the need for any particulate filters (DPF) as preferred by some com-petitive brands.

With five models from 300hp to 400hp maxi-mum, technologies such as dual stage turbocharging, electronic waste-gate and intercooling are harnessed to produce a useful 30hp boost for PTO and trans-port work above 20km/h.

More power can result in more heat, so the new 8700 series has a revised cooling package layout: hot air is directed up through re-designed lou-vres in the engine hood,

while cooler air is directed to the radiator and adjoin-ing cooling packs.

Transmission is via the maker’s well-known VT unit with two ranges and stepless speeds from 0.03 to 50km/h; it has features such as cruise control, speed supervisor, active stop and a choice of three different driving strate-gies.

At the business end the numbers read large, as one would expect. The rear axle can be equipped with the latest tyre equip-ment up to 2.15m diam-eter to get power to the ground, while the 3-point linkage can lift 12,000kg.

The closed centre hydrau-lic system has an output of 205L/min and can be specified with up to six pairs of remote valves.

Up on top the driver shouldn’t have too much to complain about with the panoramic cab offer-ing 360 degree visibility, Optiride-Plus hydrau-lic cab suspension, and all

controls laid out neatly to hand. Control is via the recog-nised MF ‘T’ stick or an optional multi-pad on the

right hand console.Completing the pack-

age, all machines are factory equipped to ‘auto-guide ready’ specification,

so GPS guidance can be fitted at the time of order or later.www.masseyferguson.com.au

Stallion Plastics chief executive Grant Allen has tested the feeder on his dairy farm.

The MF8700 series uses exhaust gas re-circulation.

CALL NOW Leon 021 440 575 Natasha 021 440 444

[email protected]

Temporary Water Exclusion Penalty Rebate! Get your penalties back – sort your water issues

To qualify your water exclusion problem must be fixed and tested by May 30, 2015.

Farm-chlor is MPI approved and offers the most economic and reliable way to kill E.coli in water.

SEE US AT FIELDAYS IN THE INNOVATION TENT

Concrete Repairs and Protection for Dairy Sheds

PERMACOLOUR DAIRY FIX

Fast setting high strength cement based plaster coating for repair and improvements to your shed floors and yard.

PERMACOLOUR KS500

Deep penetrating densifier to protect concrete against harsh chemicals and hardens concrete to reduce wear.

PERMACOLOUR REPELL SS

Water Repellant sealer creating an easy to clean concrete surface and reduces bacteria and mould growth.

All products are easy to apply yourself or we can arrange an

applicator for you.

Call 0508 444 555 www.permacolour.co.nz

Manufacturing quality cement based products in New Zealand for 23 years!



MACHINES IN action on paddocks, or filmed in walk-around video tours – this pinpoints Tull-och Farm Machines’ new approach to exhibiting at National Fieldays.

A spokesman says Fieldays has “always presented a challenge to exhibitors in knowing what models of large product ranges to show to potential customers from different regions in New Zealand.

“This is compounded by finite stand space and the ever increasing cost of getting increas-ingly larger machines to Waikato.”

“Tulloch Machinery will take the somewhat radical approach of bringing only one key exhibit to the Mystery Creek venue, then invite visitors and potential customers to view the entire product ranges via interactive media sta-tions situated throughout their site.”

Screens will show machines in action, walk-around videos, set-up tips and manufacturers’ brochures.

NEW APPROACH TO FIELDAYS

Swathers ready for takeoffNEW FEATURES on 2015-16 Krone Swardro swathers will enhance their reputation for good performance, low running costs and long working life, says local distributor Tulloch Farm Machines.

Their maintenance free rotors and rotor gearboxes have Duramax cam tracks backed by a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The new features will ensure even better perfor-mance on New Zealand paddocks, Tulloch says.

A new tine design has a profile progressively curved from the tip and along its full length, to lift crop gently and mini-mise losses, and to elimi-nate soil contamination thereby improving crop quality. It also causes min-imal damage to the sward,

resulting in faster re-growth and potential for higher forward speeds to boost daily outputs.

An upgrade to the chas-sis uses 5mm framing, and a re-designed axle transmits less load onto the main frame, helping reduce transport or stor-age height to 4m maxi-mum. An optional tine folding kit reduces this height even further.

The fully pivoting rotors use the maker’s Jet Effect rotor which com-bines with the Tridem undercarriage to cause the rear bogies to ‘touch down’ first, followed by the front wheels when lowering and the reverse when lifting. This averts contamination from tines hitting the ground, partic-ularly on headland turns.

The swathers are avail-able in either TS (side delivery) or TC (centre delivery) formats, in oper-ating widths 6.2 to 8.8m.www.tulloch.co.nz

Tulloch says the new Krone

Swadro swathers will perform

better on New Zealand

paddocks.

Check out our websiteswww.ruralnews.co.nzwww.dairynews.co.nz

SERVICEACID DETERGENTS

CLEAN DAIRY

Find out if Quantum One is suitable for your dairy, call 0508 434 569 to get in touch with your local FIL Area Manager

YOUR FORMULA FOR QUALITY MILK

THE NEW FIL QUANTUM ONE ACID

*1 drum of 1.0ml dose rate product in a 400 litre wash tub will yield 500 washes; 200L drum of 1.5ml dose rate product in a 400 litre wash tub will yield 333 washes

50% morE WasHEs*

LoW 1mL usE raTE

ExTrEmELy LoW rEsiduE risk



A new workforce for the worldMASSEY FERGUSON says it has taken the concept of a utility tractor and re-engineered it from the ground up to meet the needs of present and future farming.

On offer in the power bracket is an array of build specifications, options and accessories encapsulated in the MF 4700 Global Series.

“These state-of-the-art tractors are the result of a $350 million investment in a completely new, clean-sheet design,” says Simon Hole, marketing director, AGCO Australia/New Zealand.

“Unlike the majority of other

tractors in the sector, the Massey Ferguson Global Series has been designed and built in the 21st century, purpose-built for modern applications. They retain our traditional straightforward operation, dependability and value for money.

“In addition where possible we use existing design technology and components which allow us to provide local parts and service most efficiently across our whole range of tractors, wherever they are in the world.”

At least 90% of the parts and components in the Global Series are entirely new, though combined laboratory and field testing for 36,000 hours saw prototypes tested in brutal conditions in Arizona, USA and Lusaka, Zambia.

Engineers at MF’s Beauvais plant in France developed a new transmission with synchronised mechanical reverse shuttle for the MF4700 tractors. A constant mesh, straight-cut gear design with a large contact area means the transmission should prove easy to service in tougher parts of the world. Essential (semi-platform) models offer power shuttles activated by a

lever on the dash, while standard (footstep) units have synchro-shuttle to the driver’s left side

A 12 forward/reverse speed gearbox is controlled by two straightforward levers mounted on either side of the driver’s seat; one lever shifts the gears, the other selects high or low range. An independent 540rpm system is fitted for the PTO.

The rear axle has inboard reduction units and oil-immersed brakes; the front axle is offered in 2 or 4WD configuration, both with hydrostatic steering.

The 4WD version has a guarded driveshaft layout under the centre of the tractor, with a spring-on/hydraulic-off control system that ensures the 4WD is engaged when the engine is turned off.

An open-centre high pressure hydraulic system uses a tandem pump to supply the pressure and flow required to control and power implements; electronically controlled maximum lift capacity is 3000kg. The tandem pump is mounted to the right side of the rear housing, with much of the system built into the cover plate

and offers good access for routine maintenance or service.

The MF4700 Series models are available with comfortable, footstep or semi-platform operator environments with logical, easy to

use controls. A fully approved ROPS frame and optional sun canopy are fitted. www.masseyferguson.com.au

ENGINE POWERMF4700 Series features:

❱❱ MF4707, 74hp AGCO Power 3.3L, 3-cylinder turbo-charged engine

❱❱ MF4708, 82hp AGCO Power 4.4L, 4-cylinder turbo-charged, Tier 2 mechanical fuel injected engine. @dairy_news


MF4700, a utility tractor revamped for modern applications.

Autumn / Winter HerdHomes® shelters users throughout New Zealand continue to talk to us about the benefits they get throughout the autumn and winter. It allows for users to manage pasture residuals and round lengths with ease. Drying off is based on calving date as all stock are wintered at home where putting on a condition score is simple

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

seasons ... Take control of the

Flexibility Lactation can be extended, giving greater production and profits

Simple Every farmer agrees that their farm is simpler to manage and run with a HerdHomes® shelter on it

Improved calving Calving with shelter means greater survival rate and less stress for staff

Feed efficiency Increases of up to 40% have been gained meaning lower cost wintering, greater weight gain or an increase in production

See the new and improved design. More loafing space, increased effluent storage and a stronger roof. Ask the farmer why they picked HerdHomes® shelters and see for yourself how it is working out. Make your own mind up.

Contact us about an on farm visit in your area 0800 HERDHOMES (0800 437 346)

POWERED BY APEX

WIN!a Fieldays Farm PackVisit our stand for details

FIELDAYS DEALS*Don’t miss out on some great specials on trough valves, tank valves, hose nozzles and more! Make sure to stop by our stand at F38 - 42.

0800 500 484apexvalves.co.nz

Buy the Best!

* Deals provided in conjunction with New Zealand’s leading rural merchants.

NZ MADE

POWERED BY APEX

WIN!a Fieldays Farm PackVisit our stand for details

FIELDAYS DEALS*Don’t miss out on some great specials on trough valves, tank valves, hose nozzles and more! Make sure to stop by our stand at F38 - 42.

0800 500 484apexvalves.co.nz

Buy the Best!

* Deals provided in conjunction with New Zealand’s leading rural merchants.

NZ MADE

Helping grow the countryFreephone 0800 363 363 www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Experience tells us there’s a difference between a marketing claim and making a claim.When you’re signing your insurance policies, chances are at some stage you’ll need to make a claim. Which is not the time you want to be finding out that you’re not covered for what you thought.

Over a century of experience has told us that marketing claims are one thing, and insurance claims are another. So we focus on the important things like making sure that when it comes to insurance claim time, there’s no surprises and you get what you signed up for.

Our claim history backs this up, as do thousands of satisfied customers. There really is no substitute for experience. And that’s what really works out there.

($5,399.25 INCL. GST)


SUZUKI AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS:WHANGAREI PacifIc Motor Group ...................................09 430 4390NORTH SHORE Winger Suzuki North Shore ..................09 441 4750AUCKLAND Winger Suzuki Greenlane ............................09 524 6030MT WELLINGTON Moyes Panmure ..................................09 570 7840PUKEKOHE Winger Suzuki .................................................09 239 2389HAMILTON Winger Suzuki..................................................07 838 1249MORRINSVILLE Nicholson Suzuki ...................................07 889 7042MATAMATA Nicholson Suzuki ..........................................07 888 7059PAEROA Whyteline Limited ...............................................07 862 8783WHAKATANE Nicholson Suzuki ........................................07 308 6334ROTORUA Grant Johnstone Suzuki .................................07 349 2221TAURANGA Tauranga Motor Company ...........................07 578 1378TAUPO Taupo Motor Company .........................................07 378 2946GISBORNE Gary Bates Limited .........................................06 867 9438NAPIER Bayswater Suzuki .................................................06 833 5718HASTINGS Hawkes Bay Suzuki ........................................06 876 3142NEW PLYMOUTH Autocity Suzuki ....................................06 769 5371PALMERSTON NORTH Eurocar Suzuki ...........................06 356 6363WANGANUI David Jones Motors ......................................06 345 5115

LEVIN Horowhenua Motor Company ..............................06 368 7169PARAPARAUMU HMC Kapiti ..............................................04 298 8089TAWA Mexted Motors .........................................................04 232 8144LOWER HUTT Brendan Foot Motors ................................04 587 0005BLENHEIM Wadsco Motor World ......................................03 578 5199NELSON Nelson Bays Suzuki ............................................03 548 2235CHRISTCHURCH Hollands Suzuki ....................................03 366 5261TIMARU Hollands Suzuki ...................................................03 688 8297DUNEDIN Gilmour Suzuki ..................................................03 474 1670QUEENSTOWN Winger Suzuki ...........................................03 442 8989INVERCARGILL Southern Automobiles...........................03 211 2233

SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE DEALERS:KAITAIA Kaitaia Motorcycles ............................................09 408 1950KAIKOHE Renton Motors (1976) ......................................09 401 0313WHANGAREI Pacific Motor Group....................................09 430 4390DARGAVILLE Randells Suzuki ...........................................09 439 6952WARKWORTH Warkworth Motorcycles...........................09 425 8535AUCKLAND Holeshot Motorcycles ..................................09 486 5187AUCKLAND Colemans Suzuki ...........................................09 303 1786

PUKEKOHE MR Motorcycles ..............................................09 237 3095PAEROA Whyteline...............................................................07 862 8783MT MAUNGANUI Moto City ...............................................07 927 1340HAMILTON Boyd Motorcycles ...........................................07 838 1209MATAMATA Phil’s M/C Centre...........................................07 888 7604MORRINSVILLE Phil’s M/C Centre ...................................07 889 7686TE AWAMUTU Wilks Penny Motorcycles ........................07 871 3069PUTARURU Phil’s M/C Centre ...........................................07 883 7602WHAKATANE Underwood & Wilkins M/C ........................07 308 6166ROTORUA Bike Force ..........................................................07 348 9171TAUPO Darryl August Motorcycles ..................................07 378 8342TAUMARUNUI Bike Torque ................................................07 895 7994NEW PLYMOUTH New Plymouth M/C Centre ................06 758 4449GISBORNE Gisborne Motors .............................................06 867 6759HASTINGS Bay Motorcycles ..............................................06 878 3289HAWERA Action Moto Suzuki ...........................................06 278 4160WANGANUI Whitelock Suzuki ...........................................06 345 3462WAIPUKURAU Central Bikes .............................................06 858 8983DANNEVIRKE Dannevirke Suzuki .....................................06 374 2925FEILDING Gary Worsley Motorcycles ...............................06 323 6256

PALMERSTON NORTH Courtesy Motorcycles ...............06 356 2195PAHIATUA Motorcycle HQ .................................................06 376 7163MASTERTON Fagan Suzuki ................................................06 378 6159LOWER HUTT TSS Red Baron ............................................04 569 3989MOTUEKA Murray Thorn Motorcycles ............................03 528 9992NELSON Nelson Motorcycle Centre ................................03 548 3786BLENHEIM Wadsco Motorworld .......................................03 578 5199AMBERLEY Arthur Burke ....................................................03 314 0127CHRISTCHURCH Avon City Suzuki ...................................03 341 3490ASHBURTON Jeff Marshall Motorcycles .........................03 308 2055TIMARU Mike Gould Suzuki...............................................03 688 4802OAMARU Young Motors .....................................................03 434 5354DUNEDIN McIver & Veitch .................................................03 477 0236BALCLUTHA PowerZone Suzuki .......................................03 418 4672GORE Hokonui Suzuki .........................................................03 208 5271WINTON Winton Motorcycles ...........................................03 236 7231INVERCARGILL Southern Suzuki ......................................03 214 4467


GRAB THESE DEALS AT FIELDAYS® OR SEE YOUR SUZUKI DEALER TODAY:

KingQuad 400 4X4 AUTO

$9,995 EXCL GST

LT-A400F

($11,494.25 INCL. GST)

$1,001SAVE • Electronic fuel-injection

• 4-stroke, 4 valve engine• Selectable 2WD/4WD CVT transmission

with Hi/Lo ratio and reverse• Torque-sensing limited slip front differential • Disc front brakes and sealed rear brakes• Twin shock rigid rear axle• Comfortable T-shaped seat• 24 Month/15,000km warranty

Mudbug FARMBIKE• Quality made in Japan• Dual side-stands• Comfortable seat• Handlebar-mounted carrier• 125cc 2-stroke• 6-speed

$2,995 EXCL GST

TF125

($3,444.25 INCL. GST)

$551SAVE

KingQuad 500 4X4 AUTO• Liquid cooled fuel injected 4-stroke• CVT transmission with Hi/Lo ratio and reverse• Push button 2WD/4WD select with diff-lock option• Independent front and rear suspension• Disc front brakes• Fully sealed oil-bathed multi-plate disc rear brake• 24 Month/15,000km warranty

$11,300 EXCL GST

LT-A500X

($12,995 INCL. GST)

$1,000SAVE


$12,995 EXCL GST

LT-A500XP

($14,944.25 INCL. GST)

$1,051SAVE


$13,995 EXCL GST

LT-A750XP

($16,094.25 INCL. GST)

$901SAVE

FARM WORKER VERSATILE• Fuel-Injected 1,300cc• Hi/Lo ratio 4WD/2WD• 500kg payload• Full canvas cover• Folding rear bench seats• Folding windscreen• Special entry level model• Optional Maxxis tyres and


$13,990 INCLUDES GST

$5,039*DEPOSIT

FARM WORKER WELLSIDE• Fuel-injected 1,300cc• Hi/Lo ratio 4WD/2WD• 500kg payload• Fibreglass roof & bulkhead• Wellside tray• Optional stock crate• Optional tow bar, Maxxis

tyres and bullbar shownNo helmet required

INCLUDES GST

$16,990

$6,090*DEPOSIT

$5,739*DEPOSIT

FARM WORKER MULTI PURPOSE• Rugged all-terrain capability• Hi/Lo ratio 4WD/2WD• All-weather protection• Fuel-Injected 1,300cc• Optional tow bar, Maxxis

tyres and bullbar shown• 500kg payload• Folding windscreen• Optional stock crate availableNo helmet required

INCLUDES GST

$15,990

KingQuad 300 4X4 MANUAL• Independent front and rear suspension• Selectable 2WD/4WD• 3-speed sub-transmission with 15 forward gears• In-gear starting ability• Front diff-lock in super-low ratio• Front disc brakes and sealed rear drum brakes• Sturdy front and rear cargo racks• Heavy duty towbar• 24 Month/15,000km warranty

$1,301SAVE$7,995

LT-F300F

($9,194.00 INCL. GST)

EXCL GST


* Deposit $5,038.20, first payment $5,039, second payment $5,039. Total amount borrowed $10,078.


• Number one selling 200cc farmbike

• Quality made in Japan• Dual side-stands• Electric start 4-stroke• 5-speed• Comfortable seat• Handlebar-mounted

carrier• Large 12V headlight

• Fuel-injected 1,300cc• Hi/Lo ratio 4WD/2WD• 500kg payload• 1,550 x 1,600mm galvanised

steel and ply deck• Fibreglass rear cab and roof• Work bar and tow bar• Optional Maxxis tyres and


TROJAN

$4,695 EXCL GST

DR200SE

$596SAVE FARM WORKER

FLATDECK

INCLUDES GST

$20,590

$7,492*DEPOSIT


FREE BULLBARS ON THE FIRST 20 FARM WORKERS

SOLD

ALL FARM WORKERS

1⁄3DEPOSIT

1 ⁄3IN 12 MONTHS

1 ⁄3IN 24 MONTHS

4.95%

INTEREST**

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE FOR ALL SEASONS

Like us on Facebook

WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROMOTION: Offers are available from participating Suzuki dealers until 30 June 2015 or while current stocks last. Excludes fleet purchases and all other promotions. Product availability: At the time of printing the number of units and colour options were correct. SNZ Ltd reserves the right to change specifications, appearances, models, colours and other items shown in this catalogue at any time without notice. Colours and specifications may differ slightly from those shown within this catalogue. MOTORCYCLE: Some prices are recommended retail excluding GST, motorcycle savings shown include GST. AUTOMOBILE: Full details of Zero Dollars Down, S-Cross Save $2,000, Grand Vitara Free Adventure Pack and Jimny Free Accessory offers are available at www.suzuki.co.nz. Zero Down weekly payments based on nil deposit, 5.9% interest rate and a 5 year term. Payments include on-road costs, a $395 documentation fee and a $13 PPSR fee. Normal lending credit criteria apply. FARMWORKER: Farm Worker interest rate of 4.95% applies on the amount borrowed. Documentation fee of $395 applies plus a PPSR fee of $13.00. Finance to approved purchasers, normal lending criteria apply. Farm Worker finance and Bullbars offers are not provided in conjunction with any other promotional activity. ACCESSORIES: Accessories are covered by their own manufacturer’s warranty conditions.

SUZUKI NEW ZEALAND LIMITED 1 HEADS ROAD, WANGANUI.

*See IMPORTANT INFORMATION below for full terms and conditions of these offers.

COMING SOON

SEE IT AT FIELDAYS PER WEEK

$138PLUS NO DEPOSIT FINANCE FROM JUST

PER WEEK$120PLUS NO DEPOSIT

FINANCE FROM JUST

$2K OFFSAVE $2000 ON EVERY S-CROSS

MODEL

FREEPACKADVENTURE • SATELLITE NAVIGATION

• BLUETOOTH• REVERSE CAMERA • NUDGE BAR• ROOF RACKS

NO DEPOSIT FINANCE ACROSS THE AUTOS RANGE*

NEW CARS FROM JUST

PER WEEK*

$76

FROM JUST

PER WEEK$89

dairy news 26 may 2015

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