Developments

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.

New water removal technology increases food waste biogas CHP performance

If New Zealand’s food industry is to fulfil its potential to develop anaerobic digestion (AD) plants fuelled with food waste, then it is critical that these plants optimise every part of the AD process in order to maximise economic and environmental returns. The majority of food waste AD plants produce electricity (with or without using the heat generated) using combined heat and power (CHP) generation units. When using CHP to create energy from the biogas produced by AD, one area which is often overlooked is ensuring that any water present in the raw biogas is removed; if water enters a CHP engine it can decrease its efficiency, resulting in reduced biogas yields and engine damage. The new Biogas Dehumidification System (BDS) from HRS Heat Exchangers removes water from biogas, protecting CHP engines from corrosion and cavitation. It also comes with a heat recovery section as standard, increasing an AD plant’s overall energy efficiency. Increased profits The importance of optimising your AD plant cannot be underestimated. While many of today’s food waste plant operators invest time and money in performance-enhancing additives and systems, removing water present in the raw biogas can be a lower priority. But with CHP engines being one of the most expensive pieces of equipment to replace on an AD plant, this is a false economy. Additionally, an inefficient CHP engine will result in lower electrical output and higher capex, and therefore reduced profits – a 1 MW digester operating at even 80 per cent capacity could be losing around $19,000 each month in lost electricity sales. The BDS reduces biogas temperatures from around 40ºC to approximately 5-7ºC, condensing more than 90 per cent of the water volume. It works via a chiller system which supplies a coolant that is transferred to heat exchangers. Biogas flows on the […]

Fonterra to explore opportunities in complementary nutrition

(Left) Judith Swales, head of Fonterra’s Global Consumer and Foodservice business. Fonterra has taken a stake in Motif Ingredients, a US-based food ingredients company that develops and commercialises bio-engineered animal and food ingredients. Fonterra joins Ginkgo Bioworks, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Louis Dreyfus Companies and Viking Global Investors. Judith Swales, head of Fonterra’s Global Consumer and Foodservice business, says the move is part of the Co-operative’s commitment to its farmer-owners to stay at the forefront of innovation to understand and meet the changing preferences of consumers. While the terms will not be disclosed, Fonterra’s investment represents a minority stake in the business. “Farmers expect their Co-op to get the most value from every drop of their milk and also keep an eye on tomorrow to futureproof their Co-op for generations to come. “Dairy nutrition will always be at our core, but we also want to explore how we can capture more value from new types of nutrition. “The complementary nutrition category – where plant, insect, algae and fermentation-produced nutrition co-exist alongside animal proteins, including cows’ milk – is fast evolving. It’s not a case of either/or, but both,” says Judith. “If we fast forward 30 years, there’ll be two billion more mouths to feed and there simply won’t be enough food to go around just using today’s methods. A combination of traditional and complementary nutrition sources will be required to meet the world’s increasing need for food, especially protein. “Consumers around the world will continue to want natural, grass fed dairy as a premium source of nutrition. At the same time, we recognise that no two consumers are the same. As diets and preferences continue to evolve, we want to be there, providing people with choices. “Our stake in Motif will help us be part of this emerging next-generation fermentation-produced nutrition […]

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 […]

Australian News:Why more expensive milk won’t help farmers much

The supermarket giant Woolworths this week broke ranks and announced it was going to stop selling A$1 per litre milk. It will now charge A$1.10, or A$2.20 for two litres. Chief executive Brad Banducci made it clear that there was more to the decision than straightforward economics: We’ve heard the outlook will continue to be extremely tough for dairy farmers… This is affecting milk production and farm viability, which is devastating for farmers and the regional communities in which they live. The Labor Party has been threatening to impose a minimum farm-gate price. Will what Woolworths is doing help farmers? Only a bit. Milk prices are internationally set The so-called “milk wars” began on Australia Day 2011 when Coles announced it was cutting milk prices to A$1 a litre. Woolworths and Aldi followed suit. The milk market does not just consist of dairy farmers, supermarkets and customers. There are also the processors – companies such as the ASX-listed Murray Goulburn, Parmalat, Lion and Fonterra – that stand between farmers and supermarkets. Then there is the international market for dairy products like butter, cheese and milk powder. The biggest determinant of farm gate prices in Australia is not what the major supermarkets do, but world dairy prices. The Department of Agriculture says 37% of Australian milk production is exported. Add to that the roughly 35% that goes into locally consumed butter, cheese and milk powder that is subject to competition from imports. You can quickly see the prices of nearly three-quarters of the milk produced in Australia are set globally. Dairy Australia has a higher estimate. Because even fresh milk is subject to foreign competition, it believes 90% of the annual movement in farm-gate prices comes from changes in international prices. Those changes are beyond the effective control of Australian farmers and regulators. Many of them are the result […]

Has your business registered for the Food Act 2014?

It’s the final countdown for businesses that make, sell or transport food to meet the 28 February 2019 Food Act registration deadline. This includes food manufacturing, such as manufacturers of dried/dehydrated fruit or vegetables, confectionery, meat, poultry, fish products, dairy products and fresh ready-to-eat salads. New Zealand Food Safety (a business unit of the Ministry for Primary Industries/MPI), is urging owners/managers of all New Zealand businesses that make, sell or transport food, which have not registered yet, to find out immediately if they need to register a plan or programme under the Food Act 2014. The Food Act came into force on 1 March 2016 and introduced a common-sense, risk-based approach to food safety. New Zealand Food Safety’s Manager Food & Beverage, Sally Johnston said that under the Food Act all people growing, making, transporting and selling food had a responsibility to keep it safe and suitable. “Most New Zealand food businesses have now registered, which is excellent,” Ms Johnston said. “New Zealand Food Safety, local councils and industry organisations are working hard to help all remaining businesses to meet the 28 February 2019 deadline for registration. “If existing food businesses are not registered by the 28 February deadline, they will be operating unregistered businesses, their retail customers may refuse to accept their goods or use their services, and MPI and local councils may need to take enforcement action. So, immediate action needs to be taken to get registered. “We want make it easier for businesses to make safe and suitable food and comply with food safety requirements.” Under the Food Act, new food businesses have to register as soon as they start trading and existing food businesses (operating under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 or Food Act 1981) had from 1 March 2016 until 28 February 2019 to register […]

Farmers financially prepared NZFood website

Farmers financially prepared for setbacks

Farmers are well-placed to survive any potential financial uncertainty from major setbacks such as global warming, new Lincoln University research has found. Lincoln University academics Bruce Greig, Peter Nuthall and Kevin Old surveyed more than 400 farmers* and found the majority of farms are financially strong. Associate Professor Nuthall said it is “highly likely” farmers would survive most price downturns and the impacts of global warming. He said an assessment of the financial resilience of New Zealand farms was particularly important given changing weather patterns stemming from global warming may exacerbate supply shifts, and the opening of world markets through trade agreements could lead to fluctuating supply and demand, all increasing price volatility. However, their results showed most farmers and their farms are in “a zone of stable functioning in which they can operate and absorb financial shocks in at least the short term”. “Profit levels are not high relative to the investment, but this has been the case for decades and has not caused problems due to farmer and farm family resilience,” Associate Professor Nuthall said. “This does not mean some farmers have not struggled financially, particularly over periods of low payouts, including low wool prices, and periods of severe drought. New farmers with high initial debt will have found it difficult to meet their commitments in these periods. “The majority, however, have had the equity to cope, especially the significant numbers with 100% equity.” However, he said, action to maintain current financial levels through prudent production system selection and good financial management will be needed. Figures from the article. Farm equity is, on average, nearly 82% 62% of fruit/viticulture operations have 100% equity but this ranged down to 10% of the dairy farmers having 100% equity. 12.8% of farms had at least $8 million debt, and on the […]

2018 tractor and farm machinery on NZFood website

2018 tractor and farm machinery sales set new record

Sales of tractors and farm machinery hit a new record in 2018 and there are no signs of a slow down, says NZ Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president, John Tulloch. TAMA figures to the end of December showed a total of 4640 retail sales across all HP (horsepower) categories compared to 4079 in 2017 and 4062 in the boom dairy year of 2014. Mr Tulloch said he expects the strong sales trend to continue through 2019 unless there was a global event that had a sudden impact. “Of course we never know what the weather will throw at us but most of our customers are used to dealing with climate variations, even extreme ones. We’ve had a wet season but that could well be followed by a dry season.” The dairy industry, which accounts for a large proportion of TAMA sales, was looking to improve based on the last four global dairy trade auctions. The latest auction on January 15 resulted in a GDT price index increase of 4.2%. The increases were reflecting the flow-on impacts of the European summer drought on local dairy production there, Mr Tulloch said. The current Australian drought would also affect production across the Tasman. “When global supplies are tight and demand is good then prices have to go up. This would be a welcome relief to our industry after recent difficulties for dairying.” The improving outlook combined with new environmental restrictions being introduced in New Zealand might see more dairy farmers, especially those in the South Island, move to wintering cows inside. Under-roof wintering causes less damage to pastures and results in less effluent run-off. It also boosts the condition of dairy cows. “As profit returns to dairy we expect that farmers will look at the benefits of wintering inside. These cows are […]

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