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Vineyard device saves back, wet feet and time

In the picture: Dr Majeed Safa, left, Department of Environmental Management technician Warwick Hill who built the prototype, and Mike Liao with the device. Lincoln engineering student Mike Liao has designed a machine to make work easier and more efficient in vineyards. It allows for grape picking, leaf clipping and pruning while sitting down. Mike says the fruiting wire for a viticulture position system defines the position of working. “This wire’s height can vary depending on different type of trellis system. But one thing most trellis systems have in common is they are relatively low. The working position is usually much lower than an adult human’s comfortable working range.” “Thus, the solution — come up with an adjustable chair which hold workers into comfortable position,” Mike says. He says the device is designed to make people’s people easier. However, the side effect of comfortable working is a quality assured working period and better efficiency- in this case by up to 20 per cent in harvesting time. “This device also rises people’s feet from the ground which can be cold and wet. Working with cold and wet feet is not ideal for anybody.” The idea come from working in the University vineyard, he says, where he found he suffered from a sore back himself. “So I started to wonder if there is something I can do to improve the experience.” When the course required he comes up with a project related to agriculture he thought it might be a good chance to do just that. The “vineyard assistant device” took about two months from start to its successful field test on May 6. Mike is not looking to commercialise it at this stage, but it will be making an appearance, along with Lincoln University, at this year’s Fieldays, from 15 to 18 June, […]

Role in Indonesian agricultural project formalised

Lincoln University’s part in a US$106m (NZD$156m) project to sustainably manage and help spread technology through Indonesian agriculture was formally recognised recently. In the picture: Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Professor Robin Pollard, left, with Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD) Executive Secretary Dr M Prama Yufdy. Vice Chancellor Professor Robin Pollard signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD) Executive Secretary Dr M Prama Yufdy on May 6. IAARD is part of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and is implementing the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Research and Technology Dissemination (SMARTD) project funded by the World Bank. Lincoln already has several IAARD staff studying at post graduate level after they completed the University’s English language programme, and there is a need for more staff to be upskilled. IAARD have been sending staff to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for training. The agreement establishes areas where Lincoln could further increase its involvement in the training as well as looking at other areas of collaboration. These include; Government scholarship programmes aimed at addressing institutional research needs in Indonesia, establishing pathways for Indonesian students to complete Masters and PhD Programmes in relevant agricultural fields, as well as the development of collaborative research projects in priority areas. Lincoln’s Director of International and Student Engagement, Dee Coleman, says Lincoln’s strength in Agriculture has been favourable for the Indonesian Government and “we welcome these relationships where we can engage in international knowledge sharing between nations”. “The perception in Indonesia of Lincoln as New Zealand’s specialist land based university is cemented, and it lifts our academic profile with other Government departments,” she says. *Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development functions are performed by the Secretariat and 13 research centres for the purpose of managing research and development. These […]

Rural Contractors annual conference coming up

Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) is encouraging all of its members – and any others interested in the agricultural contracting sector – to attend its annual conference being held in the Bay of Islands later next month. Chief executive Roger Parton says this year’s RCNZ annual conference is being held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort, in Paihia, from June 27-30. “The conference is now only a month away and for those who have not registered yet; now is the time to do so,” he explains. “We will be unable to hold any accommodation past the end of this month, so if people want come they need to get their registrations in now.” Mr Parton says the conference has an exciting agenda of relevant and pertinent issues to the rural contracting sector – along with a number of top-line speakers. The theme for this year’s conference is: “Your Business from Start to Finish” and it will also be a celebration of Rural Contractors NZ 20 years as an organisation. “We have an an agenda chock-full of presentations on how to get smarter in running your business and use of the latest technology,” Mr Parton adds. “If you have never attended a national conference before; I can highly recommend it. It provides a fantastic opportunity to network with contractors from all around the country, learn new stuff and have a bit of fun as well. Registration forms and information on the annual conference are up on the RCNZ website or email: office@ruralcontractors.org.nz for all the details.

Advisory boards can offer guidance for farmers during a period of uncertainty

As the agricultural sector grapples with high levels of dairy debt and increased volatility, Crowe Horwath’s Head of Agribusiness, Neil McAra, says farmers need to look at getting sound governance support. McAra is a strong advocate for advisory boards which can assist farmers with the ability to make better decisions and can help improve business governance. The value, scale and complexity of New Zealand farming operations have increased significantly over the last two decades. McAra reports that this, coupled with an increase in borrowing particularly in the dairy sector, has in many cases left mum dad farming units managing multimillion dollar businesses carrying high levels of debt. Unlike a board of directors, advisory boards are non-binding and have no legal definition. This allows value to be added to the company through forming an appropriate mix of people who can be open and have free-flowing discussions. The structure can be flexible and adaptable to the surrounding environment. “Advisory boards are sounding platforms that can help mollify the pressure business owners are faced with”, McAra comments. “As farming operations expand from small family operations, into a larger scale we need to ensure their governance develops with them.” Ensuring good governance of farms is becoming more important especially since it was reported earlier this year that dairy farm debt in New Zealand is sitting at $38 billion. “The volatility of the market has business owners in the rural sector looking for help. Good advisory boards can give fresh insights and high-quality objective advice to issues and problems that arise,” McAra said. Introducing an advisory board at the very least ensures the farmer or business owner spends time on their business rather than in their business. “With mounting pressure and heavy workloads sometimes it’s hard for farmers to get their head out of the […]

Contractors must do their bit

Agricultural contractors around the country must play their part in helping to prevent the spread of the invasive weed velvetleaf, says Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) president Steve Levet. Mr Levet is reminding contractors about the importance of biosecurity and machinery hygiene practices on, and between farms, in controlling the spread velvetleaf and says rural contractors have an important role to play in this. “Contractors need to be conscious of the potential of spreading velvetleaf when moving between properties, or between areas of the same property, and to take responsibility in managing these risks,” he says. Velvetleaf plant seeds can be spread by the movement of vehicles, machinery, feed or stock. It can also spread to new areas of the same property, between neighbouring properties, or even between regions. Mr Levet says by implementing some simple biosecurity practices rural contractors can help protect the spread of unwanted pest plants such as velvetleaf. “Farmers and other professional operators in the rural sector like contractors need to pull together to help protect our agricultural sector from the spread of velvetleaf and other pests. I just want to remind rural contractors to stay vigilant and keep up sound biosecurity practices.” Mr Levet says RCNZ has worked with national pest agencies to produce guidelines for machinery hygiene to prevent the spread of pests and weeds, which includes a hygiene logbook: http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/General/keepitclean.pdf Tips for contractors – Before entering a property, check with the landowner for any known pest infestations. Treat any infested areas with extra caution and plan for a thorough decontamination before leaving the infested area. – Machinery hygiene should be practised whenever a machine is moved between properties. – For farms with velvetleaf, ideally machinery wash-down should occur on the property before movement off the farm, containing any seed at source and avoiding soil […]

EU meat producers launch Farm-to-Fork initiative for NZ consumers

A new initiative from European Beef and Pork has been launched to help give New Zealand consumers transparency over the food safety and ethical standards of the imported products. In an age of growing consumer awareness about the way our food is produced, a production concept that assures animal welfare and safe preparation is being championed by the EU meat industry. The European Union’s new farm-to-fork programme was created to assure the public that beef and pork has met high safety requirements and environmental and ethical manufacturing standards. The main philosophy behind the concept is that consumers need to be able to easily trace where the meat on their plate came from. Ensuring animals have healthy lives, which significantly improves the quality of their meat, is another primary concern. In a bid to reduce animal stress, the concept regulates transport as well as density, temperature and humidity, noise level and air circulation where animals are kept. Imports of European pork into New Zealand resumed last year after an 11-year ban. Reassuringly for New Zealand families, the use of hormones, growth stimulants and antibiotics is banned in EU beef and pork. The farm-to-fork concept also protects consumer health, requiring the farming of pigs and cattle in the territory of the EU to be supervised by veterinary institutions. The health of animals is monitored, and the meat of animals is also subject to veterinary checks. Further ensuring the safety of EU beef and pork, sanitary packaging processes are strictly regulated. Polystyrene trays with stretch foil, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging effectively prevent meat from drying. These measures also prevent bacterial growth, guaranteeing the freshness and proper colour of the meat. In its most innovative measure, the concept requires all EU beef and pork products to be labelled with the name […]

FWF after lucrative Japanese market

In the picture: David Musgrave managing director. From Regional Manufacturing a section of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Eve Johnson sits on the board of Functional Wholesale Products and has come back into the company as Development Manager. Eve has worked with FWF for 11 years now and was formally CEO. She shares with NZ Manufacturer plans for the future. Functional Whole Foods Limited, based in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand specialises in the production of high quality, cold pressed flax seed oil and seed meal. The Company formulates these products with other natural extracts to produce and market a range of products with particular health benefits. The products are sold widely throughout New Zealand and a number of countries overseas. All products are made from New Zealand raw materials that are certified organic and are from sustainable production. The Company has established and built the flax seed oil market over the past 20 years and remains the market leader in New Zealand. Functional Wholesale Products is in partnership with The Herb Farm developing and producing a range of healing cosmetics that are building momentum. What area(s) of the business are currently being developed? Our partnership with Japan – we are exploring new avenues and revenue streams in this lucrative market for Flax Seed Oil. New routes to market in New Zealand with opportunities to expand the concept overseas. Does the company place much emphasis on R & D? Yes we do and have worked extensively in the past with Massey University and Crop and Food, Canterbury. More recently with Lincoln University through Charles Brennon. We have found the use of students an excellent R&D find! Where do you export to and where are future opportunities? Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Czech Republic. Future opportunities in the UK and Europe, […]

Velvetleaf found in Horizons Region

Horizons Regional Council has confirmed findings of Velvetleaf in fodder crop in the Whanganui, Ruapehu and Horowhenua districts. Horizons biosecurity staff have been working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to assist in containing the spread of Velvetleaf and have found 252 plants while inspecting local properties. Horizons biosecurity manager Bill Martyn says his team inspected 125 hectares over the Easter break. “This included all known sites of the Kyros line of fodder beet which has been implicated in the Velvetleaf incursion,” says Mr Martyn. “Unfortunately the majority of these sites, except in Ohakune, are in the advanced stage of shedding seed. Despite staff removing all seed they could find, the rain on Friday and Saturday nights has washed many away and into cracks in the ground.” Mr Martyn says while all known sites of Kyros fodder beet have been examined, there may be other lines that have been affected. “Our staff are proactively investigating other fodder crops, but as we cannot be everywhere at once, we urge farmers to check their crops for Velvetleaf with its distinctive large heart-shaped leaves. We have found it to also look like a dead thistle plant at sites in our Region. “If you have any questions or would like some help checking your crop please give us a call on tollfree 0508 800 800. However, if you think you may have found the plant, please make immediate contact with MPI via tollfree number 0800 80 99 66.” The next steps for Horizons biosecurity staff include contacting contractors and seed reps to isolate and identify the risk areas of farms. “Our staff will also be working alongside farmers with advice for site management into the future. We understand they will be concerned about land use going forward and we will do everything […]

Manuka Honey can be identified

The UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) says recent advances in science mean it is now possible to definitively identify genuine Manuka Honey. UMFHA Administrator John Rawcliffe said, over the past four years, the Association’s members had been driving rapid advances in the application of science using high resolution mass spectrometry to the point where products claiming to contain genuine Manuka Honey can be readily authenticated. “We have a comprehensive database of Manuka and other floral origin samples. These have been collected from across the length and breadth of New Zealand over the last three seasons and can be used to test for Manuka Honey. Once this receives final international verification, testing agencies in all our key markets will be able to use a web -based model to easily check Manuka Honey products as being true to type.” John said the new data set will provide real assurance and long-term confidence amongst consumers and regulatory authorities in markets where Manuka Honey is sold. “This will be a significant breakthrough for the industry, in terms of being able to differentiate Manuka Honey from other floral type honeys. We now understand in a much more comprehensive way the complex array of signature compounds that make Manuka Honey such a special product. This discovery offers the ability to differentiate and position genuine Manuka Honey apart from the raft of ‘me too’ products currently being sold.” John said the new web-based analytical model is the latest innovation to be introduced by the UMFHA, following last year’s announcement at a Primary Production Select Committee of the discovery of the novel compound – Leptosperin – found in Manuka Honey. Leptosperin is one of a number of key signature compounds found in Manuka Honey. It is relatively stable and cannot be easily synthesised. Leptosperin also fluoresces, which led to […]

Old dirt, new boots: the economics of land, water and people

The evolution of New Zealand’s farming systems towards greater sustainability, and one man’s journey to redefine what it means to be an academic, are the topics for an inaugural professorial lecture being held at the University of Waikato this month. At just 40 years old, Professor Graeme Doole is one of New Zealand’s leading environmental economists. He grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Taihape region of the central North Island, and has spent the past decade researching the environmental problems associated with agricultural activity on both sides of the Tasman. Professor Doole acts as an economic adviser to the Ministry for the Environment, in a position jointly funded by the Ministry and the University’s Waikato Management School. One key aspect of his role is to help central and regional government develop insights into the economic impact of new environmental policies that will significantly improve the water quality of New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and streams. “Society wants better water quality, but at the same time our national economy is heavily reliant on agriculture. Now we’re faced with trying to reverse-engineer our traditional farming systems, and that’s really difficult,” he says. In recent years, Professor Doole says his academic practice has shifted towards “a more pragmatic economics where I can engage with people and help to solve real-world problems. You’re always hoping that your work will transform the world for the better, even in some small way, rather than just living in a book.” The loss of contaminants from farms into waterways remains a huge challenge for New Zealand to overcome. However, Professor Doole believes researchers often spend too long trying to build complex models, rather than looking for simpler solutions that would lead to quick environmental wins. “We need to ask ourselves, right now, what is the […]

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