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Farmlands Knowledge Hub
Grow it Yourself
Words by Laurence Frost – Farmlands Technical Advisor With food prices soaring, more and more Kiwis are starting their own backyard vegetable patches. Farmlands Technical Advisor Laurence Frost talks about the dos and don’ts of home-grown vegetables. If you rub your eyes in disbelief every time you go to the supermarket, you are not alone. According to Statistics New Zealand, the average New Zealand household experienced a 7.7 percent increase in costs in the year to March 2023. For those of us who like to eat, the numbers are especially grim, with food prices overall up 12 percent and vegetables up a whopping 21 percent. The high cost of food has driven increased interest in backyard vegetable growing to supplement budgets. But while farmers and lifestyle block owners have more room than the average Kiwi to plant a food garden, Farmlands Technical Advisor Laurence Frost says there are some common mistakes beginner gardeners make that can hamper their results. The most common mistake, he says, is failing to pick the right site to plant your vegetables. “Lots of morning sunlight would be my preference, and then we’ve got lots of sunlight through the daytime. If you’ve got raised gardens, they can be very productive because you’re taking care of one of the other main problems, which is overwatering.” Laurence says people often put their gardens in cold or poorly-lit places because it works within their housing landscape. “They say, ‘We’re not going to use the nice prime piece of lawn the kids play on to put a vege garden. Why would we want to put our weedy vege garden where someone can see it?’ They end up hiding it away somewhere and they are doomed to fail because they’ve not given it the best opportunity to thrive.” Safe access to the site is another factor to consider, he says. Once your new garden site has been carefully chosen, the next step is to turn or ‘dig in’ the soil, Laurence says. “You’re digging and then inverting the spade 180 degrees so what was at the top is now spade depth underground. You bury your weeds and provide organic matter where it can provide food for the plants when the roots get there.” If your garden is already established, you can use a ‘green crop’ between harvests to provide that green organic matter to turn into the soil. Morton Smith-Dawe’s Blue Lupin, Mustard and Grain mix is one product that could be used for this function. Laurence also recommends using quality tool brands like Dewitt and Farmyard, which are more durable. Once the soil has been dug in, he advises to wait for about a week or so before adding fertiliser, such as Tui Blood and Bone or Daves Sheep/Chicken + Humate Range along with Agricultural Lime. “I suggest using about a handful per square metre, not scientific but you don’t have to be. Work that into your topsoil about 10cm, building up the bed, so it’s looking nice and level.” A common mistake he sees people make with backyard gardens is not understanding their nutrient requirements. “People are either heavy-handed or do not apply anywhere near enough,” he says. “If I need to get from here in New Plymouth up to Auckland, and I try to do it on half a tank, I might get to Piopio but I’m never going to get to Auckland because I haven’t put enough in it. The same applies to plants.” The next step is to plant the plants, which can be either bought from a Card Partner or grown yourself. Laurence says gardeners often make the mistake of buying poor-quality plants because they are cheap. “Why don’t you just buy good stock and be done with it?” When planting, gardeners should use a string-line such as Donaghys Builders Line to make good straight rows. Laurence warns not to plant the crops too close together, as things can get crowded when they grow. “Allow for the fact that if you plant a cabbage it’s going to be fairly big, so don’t put your carrots next to it because they’re going to get drowned out by the cabbage leaves.” Once the garden is ready and the plants are in the ground, the next challenge is to protect them from predation. “You need slug bait, such as Yates Blitzem and various other kinds of slug and snail baits. Also consider blackbirds, they can sometimes hook out your seedlings while they’re trying to get a worm. If you’ve got pukekos, they just terrorise seedlings, they pull them out for fun,” Laurence says. “We sell Grazers Rabbits, Possums and Birds Spray, which comes in a 750ml bottle and is harmless to pets and humans.” Another method of pest control is called ‘companion planting’, where crops are placed next to other plants that can repel their predators. “Companion planting is a good thing,” Laurence says. “For example, you should plant marigolds where carrots are because the marigold exudes an oil the carrot fly doesn’t like. It doesn’t affect us but makes it a bit funky for them.” Depending on the season and where you are located, frost protection such as Cosio Frost Cloth, or even straw, may be needed for some plants. “Cabbages and others in the crucifer family handle frosts okay but there are some veges that are frost-tender,” Laurence says. “With pumpkins and cucumbers and courgettes, along with early potatoes, they’re definitely a bit more frost-prone, frost-tender than you’d like them to be. The grower needs to have proactive systems in place prior to any frosty weather conditions.” Follow these steps and you will have homegrown vegetables on the dinner plate in no time. But how do you select the best vegetables to grow in your area? Laurence says local knowledge is crucial. “The easiest thing you can do is to ask, what do all the other growers in the neighbourhood grow? There’d be a reason for it. Talk to your community or go to your local garden centre because they are pretty knowledgeable about it.” Top tips for your vegetable patch: Pick a warm, well-lit part of your section Tap into local knowledge about which plants to grow Buy quality seeds and seedlings Don’t skimp on fertiliser Allow enough room for plants to grow Blitzem Snail & Slug Pellets 1kg An economical control of snails and slugs that kills through dehydration. Contains a bittering agent to help prevent accidental consumption by children and pets. Tui Blood & Bone 20kg Tui Blood and Bone provides your garden a natural source of nitrogen for healthy plant growth, and phosphorus for strong root development.
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A Guide for Attracting Garden Birds in New Zealand
Words Courtesy of Topflite Why Feed Wild Birds? Restoration As our population grows, cities get denser and suitable habitats for our birds get smaller. National bird counts show that some populations of native and introduced species are in decline, while others are increasing. By creating bird-friendly habitats in our urban spaces, parks and gardens, we can help bird populations grow throughout New Zealand. Preservation Birds need a little help from us, especially in winter when natural food sources are in short supply. Most New Zealanders know by now that putting out bread is not the answer. Bread and grains are really bad for birds as it lacks the proper nutrition. Putting out clean water, good quality seed, nectar, fat-based food and fresh fruit will see birds through times of food scarcity. Appreciation Watching birds is one of life’s most simple yet enriching pleasures. Amusing to look at and gorgeous to listen to, birds bring life and personality to the garden. But it’s more than just a pretty picture. Feeding birds creates a connection with nature, which humans need for a good sense of wellbeing. It also helps us to learn about bird species; their habits, food preferences and behaviour. What Food for Which Bird? For Native Birds New Zealand’s native birds eat a combination of nectar, fruit, foliage and insects. They don't eat seed like the introduced bird species brought to New Zealand by settlers. The best thing to do for native birds, if you can, is to plant a range of flowering and fruiting native plants as long-term food sources. During winter and autumn, when natural food sources are scarce though, try putting out nectar, Energy Food or fresh fruit to attract native birds. For Introduced Species: One clue as to what a bird eats is the shape of its beak. Finches and sparrows for example, have triangular-shaped beaks, designed to crack into hard seed coats. Our premium New Zealand-grown seeds are high in energy and rich in essential nutrients, providing a boost when food is scarce for these common garden visitors. Many introduced species of birds will also love a taste of Energy Food, if there's any left after the tauhou/silvereye have visited! Insect-eaters will gobble up any mealworms that are scattered on the ground, and every bird appreciates a safe, clean water source for drinking and bathing. Winter Feeding for Wild Birds in New Zealand A bird’s natural diet is dependent on the availability of food between seasons. Here's what to feed New Zealand birds in winter: Birds are at their coldest and need more energy than usual to survive. They search out rich sources of fat and protein to sustain them until natural food starts appearing again in spring. Vegetable fats provide the energy they need to keep warm and make the next flight. Put out Wild Bird Energy food consistently for the small birds, along with bits of fruit. Small birds like silvereyes will visit often. In the colder months, putting out nectar or sugar water can improve survival rates for tūī and korimako. Make sure the feeder is designed specifically for nectarivorous birds and clean it twice a week. Seed eaters will also be on the look-out for a feed so top up feeders regularly with Wild Bird Seed mix. As our seeds are nearly all grown in New Zealand, the nutritional value is much higher than that of imported seeds. The birds will be well-nourished for the breeding season to come. Frequently Asked Questions Where Should I Hang My Bird Feeder? Somewhere high, and dry. Always hang a bird feeder out of harm’s way. Birds feel safe feeding high up off the ground as they are out of the reach of predators like cats, rats and stoats. When hanging a bird feeder from a tree, be sure to hang the feeder out on a limb rather than close to the trunk to discourage pests. How Do I Clean a Bird Feeder? First, chuck out any leftover bird food. Take the bird feeder apart and soak well in warm water to remove debris. Scrub thoroughly using a squirt of gentle dishwashing liquid. Leave it to dry completely before refilling with your local flyers’ favourite NZ-made bird feed. Tweeeet as! How Else Can I Attract Birds to My Garden? Planting native trees is the best way to provide long-term food sources for native birds. Tūi and bellbirds love flax or kōwhai and native jasmine. Koromiko and other hebe species will bring insects which in turn attract birds like the pīwakawaka and grey warbler. Topflite Wild Bird Mix 20kg A premium mix of top-quality New Zealand grown seeds, providing essential energy to wild birds to thrive in your garden. Topflite Coconut Feeder These coconut shells are filled with nutritious peanut flavoured energy food, which we’re sure your garden birds will love.
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A Heavy-Duty Passion for the Task at Hand
Words in Association with Milwaukee Tool It’s almost 100 years since Henry Ford presented Milwaukee Tool founder A.H. Petersen with the challenge of replacing the large and cumbersome two-handed drills used on Ford assembly lines with a lighter, more portable innovation. The Milwaukee Hole-Shooter – designed to solve a specific user task – was just the beginning. Today, Milwaukee Tool’s focus remains on improving the way people work. This commitment to users is just one of the reasons why Milwaukee products are now available at Farmlands stores nationwide. This partnership helps bring unparalleled levels of performance and productivity to everyday farming and growing situations. It also offers extensive product availability through the depth and breadth of Farmlands’ retail offering. Milwaukee Tool New Zealand General Manager Geoff Polkinghorne says, “This focus on the end user is in our DNA. Milwaukee Tool does not engineer tools for the sake of it. We’re always asking, “How can we use emerging technologies, rigorous design and extensive field testing to aid our users to complete jobs faster and to a higher standard” Their dedication to providing the end user with the best tool for the job led to Milwaukee Tool developing the world’s first Lithium-ion cell for use in power tools. This innovation gave users optimal tool runtime, fade-free performance and battery compatibility across numerous tools. It also opened the door to countless new ways to advance cordless tools. “It’s a race with no finish in terms of technology and improvements,” says Geoff. “A farmer can head out with 16 different tools from a platform like our M18™ cordless system and use the same batteries for all of them. You’d be surprised how many tasks can be completed with the hundreds of solutions on our cordless platforms, like M18™, M12™ or MX FUEL™.” M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver 13mm The M18 FUEL™ 13mm Hammer Drill Driver delivers the capability to drill large holes at high speed into the densest materials. M18 Transfer Pump Tool Faster Water Transfers, Faster Service Calls. The M18™ Transfer Pump (M18TP-0) brings new to world cordless innovation to the industry with the fastest setup in the marketplace.
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A Lifetime Dedicated to Unleashing Excellence
Words by Ayla Miller Renowned dog trainer and trialist Lloyd Smith has spent more than 50 years with a whistle in hand, winning sheep dog trials across New Zealand. He shares his proven methods to unleashing a canine companion's potential as a farm dog. Lloyd Smith’s association with working dogs can be traced back to 1969 when he left South Otago High School and began working on Hazeldale, situated up the Clinton Gorge in Southland. Initially planning to pursue studies at Lincoln College, he soon discovered a passion for stock work and gradually assembled a “motley looking bunch” of dogs, but a team regardless of appearances. “Looking back, they weren't really of any great consequence and that was probably more my fault than theirs. But they got me started,” Lloyd recalls. Moving on from the Clinton Gorge, he began mustering at Nokomai Station south of Lake Wakatipu, first under the guidance of head shepherd Bob McKay, then later under Larry Murdoch. It was during his time in the hill country alongside these seasoned stockmen, including the likes of Ted Phipps and Sam Boynton, that he absorbed the principles of effective stockmanship and learnt the skills to train a dog in accordance with those principles. “That's where I sort of got the bug,” he says. During those early years, he exclusively trained his dogs using livestock. However, later Lloyd modified his approach, dedicating a significant portion of basic training away from sheep, where only he and the dog are present. This allows him to focus on establishing the dog's command without the distractions of sheep, reducing it to a simple matter of obedience between the two of them. In 1982 Lloyd attended his first sheep dog trial championships and since then has been placed 61 times, including winning five New Zealand titles and five South and North Island titles. He has also been selected twice for the New Zealand Test Team competing against Australia. All of these results were with dogs he trained himself. One of the most common mistakes Lloyd sees people making when training their dogs is having a lack of patience – a mistake he admits he also made early on in his career. “Over the years, you learn to be more patient. A lot of people want everything done in a hurry and that just doesn't work that way when you're training dogs. It's about taking your time, one step at a time, and working your way through the stages of training until you've got the dog trained,” he says. Recognising when a dog is ready to be trained is a skill learnt over time, but Lloyd says a young dog who is ready will demonstrate a desire to work stock. If training begins before the dog shows that desire to work, then the animal may not understand what the trainer is trying to achieve, resulting in a loss of interest from the dog and a disillusioned trainer. In terms of choosing the right dog for the farm, Lloyd says it differs greatly from one farm to another depending on the circumstances, but there are two main types of dogs that suit being sheep dogs: heading dogs and Huntaways. Huntaways are known for their boisterous, energetic nature and are well-suited to forcing situations such as driving mobs through the yards or shifting sheep, while heading dogs are quieter and will work in a calmer manner. However, both can be trained to work across a variety of situations. When choosing a dog for your farm, Lloyd recommends starting with a young pup with good breeding behind it, as training a dog can be a long-term project. “Some of them are a lot more trainable than others and that's a big help. Some of them exhibit a lot more natural talent as far as handling stock goes.” One piece of advice he gives to all dog trainers would be to spend as much time as possible with their dogs while they are pups. Properly training a puppy requires dedicating a significant amount of time, specifically from the weaning stage (around eight to ten weeks of age), up until approximately eight to ten months of age, when more intensive stock training begins. Lloyd says it is important to ensure the puppy understands that it needs to conform, and that it recognises and responds to a particular tone of voice. “The biggest single asset you have when you're training a dog is to be able to growl at a pup and get them to realise by the tone your voice that they are doing something undesirable. And it's not all about growling, it's about recognising and rewarding progress made with a reassuring, rewarding voice,” he says. “The puppy stage is about getting them in the right frame of mind, for future training and obviously creating a bond. You and the pup should have a good relationship.” “It still comes down to really getting control of your dogs, because if you've got control of your dogs, it allows you to have better control of your stock.” Despite the many changes that have taken place within the agricultural industry, from technology to farming practices, the role of working dogs remains just as critical as it was when Lloyd first began his journey. These intelligent, loyal animals continue to provide essential support to farmers across the world, helping them manage their stock with skill and dedication. As we look to the future of farming, it's clear the bond between farmers and their canine companions will remain unbreakable. Thanks to remarkable individuals like Lloyd Smith, the legacy of the working dog will continue to endure, inspiring generations of farmers and dog trainers alike to recognise and appreciate the vital role that these animals play in our lives. FEATURED PRODUCTS Pro Plan Performance Extreme 32/30 PRO PLAN Performance Extreme is a high-energy formula with concentrated nutrients to release that potential energy, enabling your dog to maximize its performance. Stockman & Paddock Working Dog Dry Food Made with beef as the no.1 ingredient, High Performance Working Dog is specifically formulated with 26% protein and 16% fat to help keep your working dog in peak condition, working harder for longer.
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