Ballance Kapuni plant hit by gas supply issues
Fertiliser co-operative Ballance has written down $88 million - the full value of its Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki - from its balance sheet in the face of a looming gas shortage.
A first-time entrant has won the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Award.
Parkhill Dairy Farm, at Ashley Clinton, Hawke’s Bay was entered by owner Andrea Barry and manager Craig Pennell.
Parkhill was one of the first three dairy farms converted by Barry and her late husband Peter Barry in 1994. She is proud of the work done and is still being done on Parkhill.
“When you go to the top of the hill and look over the land, it’s amazing how it has changed in 23 years,” she says.
“It’s a beautiful property that deserves to be showcased. I’m ready to show it off. We haven’t entered environmental awards in the past because of people’s perceptions of dairy. Here’s our chance to change that.”
The Barrys bought Parkill in 2000 through an equity company called Longrow Pastoral Ltd. They changed the name to Longrow Dairies Ltd then bought Barry Farms in 1996 and Ashton in 1998 (as part of Epic Agriculture).
The three different entities were combined into one operating unit in 2000: BEL Group is made up of Barry Farms, Epic and Longrow. It employs 65 staff working on 2600ha of milking platform and leased dairy support land.
“It’s a credit to Andrea and Peter for their vision at the start and we are carrying on that passion,” Craig Pennell says.
He has managed Parkhill for three years with the help of a herd manager and two assistants with casual extras at busy times.
A former Fonterra networker, Pennell has previously been sharemilking in Southland and Bay of Plenty and contract milking in Waikato, but this is his first position with a corporate enterprise. “There are lots of opportunities here to make a difference. I love sharing my knowledge and experience with others still coming through.”
Parkhill peak milks 880 mostly Friesian cows from a 268ha milking platform. Total production last season was 177,076kgMS from 770 cows on 220ha (809kgMS/ha). To date, the farm is on track to surpass its target of 275,000kgMS (1026kgMS/ha).
A history of being grade free shows the team’s attention to detail on milking procedure and hygiene, as well as herd health, the awards judges said.
Record keeping is done on the computer daily, including rainfall, soil temperature, effluent application rates, samples taken for nitrates and any maintenance done. They also use the Fonterra diary for animal treatments, plant cleaning and checks, water usage and milk quality compliance such as vat temperatures.
Pasture-based grazing system
Parkhill runs a pasture-based grazing system with about 500kg tonne of dry matter bought as pasture and maize silage. About 20ha of turnips is used for feeding in January/February.
Effluent is spread by a travelling irrigator on a quarter of the farm. An annual nutrient budget with nitrogen fertiliser is used to support pasture production. The judges said BEL Group was aware of the requirement to meet nitrogen leaching limits under the Tukituki Catchment Plan Change by May 2020.
“As part of their sustainable milk plan, BEL Group is using Overseer to test scenarios and determine the best way to remain compliant. They are working with the council proactively on this.”
Native, blue gum and pine trees were planted in critical source areas when the farm was first converted. The farm has extensive shelter belts and some fenced wetlands. Stock is excluded from relevant waterways and a Fonterra riparian management plan has been completed. Temporary fences are used to keep stock out of some waterways. Cropping is avoided on rolling land and minimal tillage is used where possible.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
A landmark New Zealand trial has confirmed what many farmers have long suspected - that strategic spring nitrogen use not only boosts pasture growth but delivers measurable gains in lamb growth and ewe condition.
It was recently announced that former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has stepped down of New Zealand Pork after seven years. Leo Argent talks with Eric about his time at the organisation and what the future may hold.
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
RaboResearch, the research arm of specialist agriculture industry banker Rabobank, sees positives for the Alliance Group in its proposed majority-stake sale to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…
OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…