Agriculture

Praising NZ’s primary industry

Fieldays 2019 was officially opened on Wednesday 12 June with the Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern cutting the ribbon alongside New Zealand National Fieldays Society President Peter Carr to mark the occasion. A common theme from the opening ceremony was the importance of our primary industry and the role Fieldays strives to play within it. Society CEO Peter Nation said, “We as an event take our role very seriously in staging a platform that educates and supports those within the industry while attracting opportunities for trade with international visitors.” “It is always a proud moment for us when we open the gates on opening day and we stroll through the streets to see the various agribusinesses with their finest on display and the large numbers of punters getting some valuable time off farm to keep up with the industry’s latest,” says Nation. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke of the strength of New Zealand’s primary industry and its importance to the people of New Zealand. She spoke of Fieldays being about celebrating and appreciating our primary industry and wished visitors another successful, innovative and inspiring Fieldays. The day started off with visitors piling through the gates as they opened at 8am with the weather holding off leading to a busy first day with over 26,360 visitors piling through the gates. This year’s new Fieldays Explorer band also proved popular with over 10,710 unique visitors making the most of the new initiative. Day two kicks off nice and early for the Innovation Awards presentation followed by another action-packed day celebrating and supporting our primary industry. ABOUT FIELDAYS Fieldays is based on a 114-hectare site at Mystery Creek 10 minutes from Hamilton and is the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. Fieldays draws people from around the globe – both as exhibitors and […]

New organisations boosting Kiwi ag-innovators

Entrants in the Fieldays Innovation Awards will be boosted by a team of knowledgeable, passionate and well-connected organisations with three new sponsors being added to the already impressive group. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Gait International and James & Wells join Vodafone NZ, Callaghan Innovations and Massey University to form the strong team of sponsors fostering New Zealand agricultural innovations in the Fieldays Innovation Awards. The awards provide an ideal platform for innovators to conduct market research, gather information, receive advice, make connections and launch their ideas nationally and internationally. Fieldays Innovations event manager Gail Hendricks speaks of the benefits of having such fantastic sponsors on board, “We are really lucky to have a group of amazing sponsors supporting the Fieldays Innovation Awards for 2019. The support, advice and connections that each of our partners have for entrants will do wonders in advancing their ideas, propelling them onto the national and world stage with such reputable knowledge behind them. “AWS has supported many successful New Zealand start-ups and enterprises in their technology journeys, and with AgTech being such a common theme amongst innovation entries, we see them being a hugely beneficial part of the Fieldays Innovation Awards’ team of sponsors, says Hendricks. Founded by Kiwi entrepreneur Daniel Given, Gait International is a design for manufacture and value engineering company with specialist supply chain management solutions that helps global companies to deliver world class engineered products. Daniel Given, Gait International CEO speaks of the new partnership with Fieldays, “We were very keen to get involved in Fieldays Innovation, as it has been key to enabling Kiwi Agri-business innovators. Building successful businesses is hard, we are excited to be able to share some of our experiences and provide mentor ship to the agri-businesses of the future.” James & Wells is the number one […]

Paralympian coaches dairy farmers

Former Paralympic blade runner Liam Malone hopes to inspire dairy farmers to stay strong and continue rising above the challenges facing the sector when he speaks at the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) next month. The two-day event run by farmers for farmers, with support from DairyNZ, is being held at the ILT Stadium in Invercargill on the 25th and 26th of June. The theme for this year’s event is “Creating Our Tomorrow”. Malone is among a line-up of diverse speakers, including All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, set to share their experiences and advice with farmers to support them in their commitment to take dairy to the next level. The double-amputee, who was born with fibular hemimelia, is no stranger to overcoming adversity. As a teenager, he suffered anxiety and depression and admits he made some bad choices, but his turning point was the death of his mother. Malone decided to take control of his life, and just three years later won two gold medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. “I realised you can’t outrun your problems, you need to face them,” he says. “While the dairy sector has done a good job facing its challenges over the last decade, there continue to be more and understandably this has taken a toll on some farmers. I hope to provide them with tools to help them be more resilient.” Malone likened the journey dairy farmers are on to that of a marathon, not a sprint. He says while the changes are coming fast, they are constant, and farmers need to be prepared to stay the distance. “I’m sure at times farmers feel as though they’re in a race to meet all these new regulations and consumer expectations coming at them thick and fast and that the finish line seems […]

HRS brings packaged solutions for pasteurisation and sterilisation

Pasteurisation and sterilisation are now so well established that it is impossible to contemplate the production of many food and drink products without using these important techniques. Both pasteurisation and sterilisation involve the use of heat, usually in a way which does not affect the fundamental characteristics of the product (in other words, it doesn’t cook it). However, while sterilisation seeks to completely eliminate any micro-organisms which may be present in the product (and so typically uses higher temperatures or longer treatment periods, and is therefore more likely to have an effect on the product’s characteristics), pasteurisation reduces the microbial load by a significant factor (for example by5-logs), which in normal circumstances reduces them to a level at which they do not pose a hazard. While simple plate heat exchangers may still be suitable for the pasteurisation of simple fluids such as milk and fruit juices, more textured and viscous products, such as cooking sauces, creams and curds, require different solutions in order to maintain their quality and texture. In order to meet this diverse range of requirements, HRS Heat Exchangers has created its Thermblock packaged pasteuriser/steriliser for food products for aseptic filling, as well as any other filling or packing method. Depending on specification and the intended use, Thermblock uses the most appropriate HRS tubular heat exchanger to deliver effective and efficient thermal treatment. All HRS Thermblock systems allow for full adjustment of the heating-holding-cooling cycle of the product, so that it can be tailored to your product/s and method/s of working. They can also be used as HTST (High Temperature, Short Time) units, subjecting the product to high temperatures for a short time to minimise potential side-effects, such as organoleptic changes or nutritional losses). There are three models of HRS Thermblock: HRS Thermblock DTA Series This features a double tube […]

The critical role of IIoT in the future of food processing

Michael Cahill, Rockwell MES Technical Consultant As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. New Zealand food companies, that often produce high value-add product that is exported around the globe, value their brand and reputation. Things are changing. Customer expectations for food safety and quality are unprecedented. Expectations from regulatory authorities are increasing to meet ever growing market regulation. Demand for high safe products is driving growth at an unprecedented rate. The reality is the number of food recalls has been steadily increasing over the last decade, according to FSANZ’s 2009-2018 reporting. The lack of visibility in the early stages of production is leading to an increased amount of inedible product and is posing serious food safety compliance risks. With headline after headline, product traceability from paddock to plate is becoming more and more important. Any deviation in quality in the product line will involve significant wastage and financial burden on the organisation. A sustainable approach to maintain the highest standard of production quality is sought to meet these customer, regulator and growth challenges. Connecting the dots The rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has emerged as a solution to this problem. IIoT platforms and advanced analytics now enable users to fuse multiple data sources to provide contextually relevant historical and real-time data. Add in AI and machine learning and food manufacturing is more predictive and intelligent than ever before, giving workers uncanny insight into how to solve issues and predict problems before they happen. The problem isn’t a lack of data but a lack of connectivity from food companies. IIoT has provided the tools to better verify quality, establish batch genealogy and capture meaningful processing data from beginning to end. It’s now the job of manufacturing plants and farms to […]

What do your motors really do?

In 1969, the first home security system was born, consisting of four peepholes and a camera that could be moved to look through any of them, broadcasting the images to a monitor. Nowadays, we can now stream and view a feed of our home security cameras on our mobiles, giving homeowners greater piece of mind. Here, Markus Brettschneider, of ABB’s food and beverage program, explains how food plant managers can add a similar level of connectivity to retrofit most motors with smart sensors to bring their plants to the digital age. Industry as a whole is utilising technologies and solutions enabled through the industrial internet of things (IIoT). Gartner predicts that 25 billion devices will be connected to the internet of things by 2020, with some agencies predicting even double this amount. This presents plant managers with a conundrum. Most food manufacturing and processing plants currently have motors powering essential equipment such as mixers, conveyors and packaging machines. These motors are just motors and do not play in the same league as the other intelligent devices in their factories. With years of service often left in the motors, it’s difficult for plant managers to justify replacing motors that work effectively for the sake of an upgrade with any smart features. However, there are alternatives to a complete overhaul in order to connect motors to the IIoT. Instead of investing in new, more intelligent or smart equipment, plant managers should invest in sensors that provide similar functionality to connected devices. For example, ABB offers smart sensors, which can be fitted to almost any standard low voltage induction motor. The pocket-sized sensor, dubbed ABB Ability Smart Sensor, is directly attached in a couple minutes to the motor’s frame, without wiring. By using sensors that feed performance data to the cloud through a […]

Agricultural pests a symptom, not a problem

Farmers should stop treating agricultural pests as a problem, and instead realise they are a symptom of an unsustainable farming method, says a visiting expert in regenerative agriculture. Dr Jonathan Lundgren, founder of Ecdysis Foundation and Blue Dasher Farm, was in New Zealand for an international workshop on conservation biological control of invertebrate pests, hosted by the Bio-Protection Research Centre, at Lincoln University. He told workshop participants that healthy ecosystems did not have the pest problems that were present in monoculture agriculture. “If you have a pest problem in your field, that’s your field telling you that something is out of whack. If all you are doing is reacting to a pest problem, then you are never going to get ahead – you’ve got to solve the underlying problem, not just the symptoms.” The underlying problem was lack of biodiversity, Dr Lundgren said. “The way we approach our food production is way too simplified.” Instead, he said regenerative agriculture not only solved pest problems, but was also more profitable. Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainable agriculture, by trying to regenerate degraded land and ecosystems, rather than simply sustaining what is left. Farmers who follow regenerative methods use few if any pesticides, don’t till the land, practise crop and stock rotation that mimic natural processes, and encourage biodiversity. Dr Lundgren said one study of the insect communities in cow dung found more diverse and more populous insect communities in the cow dung from regenerative farms – including more predators of pest species (mostly flies). It also found that that the dung from cattle farms using common avermectin pesticides to control parasites had twice as many maggots as were found in the dung from regenerative cattle farms. In another study researchers found conventional corn farms using pesticides had more than 10 times the […]

CRC launches new food grade bio-degreaser

CRC Industries has introduced a new NSF A1-rated CRC Food Grade Bio Degreaser which expands its leading CRC Greenlight Food Safe Program range. The degreaser is an extra heavy-duty cleaner formulated to penetrate and dissolve tough grease, oil and contaminants for easy removal – safely. CRC Industries Australia Managing Director, Shona Fitzgerald, said the product had been scientifically formulated for use in food processing applications. Biodegradable, non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-flammable, pH balanced and water soluble; the degreaser’s advanced formula is powerful but non-abrasive, non-corrosive and solvent-free. The product can be used confidently on all metals and alloys and will not damage bright metals including aluminium and brass. It is safe for use on fibreglass, glass, plastics, rubber, painted surfaces and laminates. It is also gentle on the environment with all ingredients readily decomposable. “This product has been specially formulated to penetrate and dissolve tough grease, oil and contaminants for easy removal – with a focus on personal and environmental safety,” Mrs Fitzgerald said. “These properties make it ideal for use in many applications especially where there are regulations or restrictions in place concerning the types of products that can be safely used or allowed. “It can be used to quickly and effectively clean mechanical equipment motors, tools, benches, walls, floors, filters, grills, drills, grinders, rollers, dies, moulds (injection, plastic, steel, aluminium), chains, conveyers, wire rope, robotics, hoists and more.” CRC Food Grade Bio Degreaser is available in 5L and 20L bulk containers as well as a 750mL trigger pack. “The launch our new CRC Food Grade Bio Degreaser is an important milestone for CRC as we remain focussed on adding customer value through extensive research and development, anticipating demand and delivering the right solutions in an ever-changing market, whilst adhering to the strictest protocols for food safety,’’ Mrs Fitzgerald said.

WorkSafe joins Young Farmer of the Year Competition

WorkSafe New Zealand has today announced a partnership with the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition. WorkSafe Chief Executive Nicole Rosie says the partnership will connect New Zealand’s future farming leaders with health and safety in an engaging setting, build rapport with rural communities and help create generational change. “We want to help those farmers just starting out to understand health and safety is about caring for themselves and their people. Good health and safety practices are at the heart of every successful farm business.” For the Young Farmer of the Year, WorkSafe will run individual health and safety challenges at each of the seven Regional Finals as well as a single event at the Grand Final, created collaboratively between Young Farmers’ representatives and local WorkSafe staff. The first Regional Final is being held in Milton tomorrow. As part of the support, WorkSafe will also be running challenges in the AgriKidsNZ and Junior Young Farmer of the Year sections. New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith says the partnership with WorkSafe is the perfect fit. “Our organisation has a strong focus on health and safety. We want young farmers to become old farmers, that’s what makes this partnership a perfect fit and we’re hopeful it will help efforts to improve health and safety on farms and in agri-businesses.” WorkSafe joins other sponsors including Ravensdown, New Holland, Honda, Stihl, FMG, Massey University, AGMARDT, Lincoln University, Betacraft and Meridian.

Failure to fix problems results in severe injuries

A Gore farm machinery company’s lack of effective repairs to a tractor has resulted in a substantial fine and reparations to an injured farm worker. “Vehicle service industries must ensure diligent workmanship, systems and practices in the work that they do to prevent injuries to users,” says WorkSafe Head of Specialist Interventions, Simon Humphries. His comments follow the sentencing today in the Gore District Court of farm machinery business Agricentre South Limited after brakes on a tractor serviced and supplied by the business failed and ran over a worker. The brakes on the second hand tractor were not working when it was first purchased by Agricentre South in 2015. Some diagnostic work and repairs had been completed when the tractor was delivered to a property for a trial in April 2016. The farm owner identified further issues with the tractor, including its brakes and Agricentre South attempted to fix the issue on-farm. Five days into the trial, the brakes failed, and the tractor ran over a worker leaving her with fractured vertebra, fractures to her arm and injuries to both legs. The farm owner who was driving the tractor escaped the incident unharmed. WorkSafe’s investigation found that Agricentre South had failed to ensure the tractor’s repair history was communicated between staff, failed to ensure the tractor had fully operational brakes, and that wires for the warning lights were reconnected and working after repairing the brakes. “The vehicle service industry, including the servicing of farm machinery, needs exceptional diligence to ensure the safety of the end users of vehicles and plant. Working brakes are the difference between life and death – on the road and in the workplace” Mr Humphries concluded. Notes: A fine of $239,063 was imposed Reparations of $103,459 had already been awarded to the victim in April 2018 […]

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