FARMING
OUTLOOK
APRIL 2021
Trace elements essential P3 Regional economic summary P8 Three primary industry diplomas already!P13
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
General earthworks, big or small
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administration and work behind the scenes,” he says.
new 4 tonne Kobelco digger to add to his 15 tonne Volvo.
The family are based in Sherenden, up the Taihape Road but he works throughout Hawke’s Bay and as far up as Wairoa.
He started a new career as a digger driver in Wairoa working for other contractors and overall he’s been in the earthmoving industry for over 15 years.
The business has steadily progressed with at least 50% of his work being farm work and the remainder is a fair mixture of work including house sites, maintenance jobs, landscaping and civil work. Other work involves carting, spreading metal and constructing dams. Brent has recently taken delivery of a
“Things have been pretty good even through Covid but we were lucky enough to keep ticking along. Things have picked up again quite well and I’ve formed good relationships with good contractors and have some really good clients.”
By Chrys Ayley rent Taylor left school in Wairoa to take up dairy farming but he soon discovered that it was driving machinery that he much preferred. “That’s what drew me to diggers and the rest is history,” he says.
He then moved to Hawke’s Bay where he started working in the forestry industry, forestry roading and then moving on to civil work.
He’s particularly proud of his work on the Canoe Polo complex at Mitre 10 Sports Park Hastings which was officially opened in February 2020. It was a big job so he engaged sub-
contractors to help. “It was a big job and everyone was pretty happy with it,” he says. Brent particularly enjoys the civil workthe big projects. All in all “I enjoy being out there, I like being in the country, meeting new people, and working for clients. They’re all real good people. They’re reliable and that goes for the people I sub-contract to. I just enjoy the work and I enjoy driving machinery.” Contact Brent on his mobile, through his Facebook page or send an email. “We’ll get it sorted, big or small.” xcav8@outlook.co.nz, 027 352 0494
In 2014 he won the title of Hawke’s Bay Regional Excavator Operator Competition and went on to achieve a goal of competing in the National Excavator Operator Finals in 2015. “It was a good experience, I met some good people. It was fun and challenging.” Brent’s next goal was to establish his own business and about four years ago he established XCAV8 Hawke’s Bay was formed. “I decided to have a crack and go out on my own so I bought my own digger and away we went.” “I’m a one man band-it’s just me and my wife, Vanessa. She attends to all the
For all your earthmoving needs MCI & ASSOCIATES BUSINESS ADVISORY MCI Advisory offers a focus on family & corporate governance, business strategy, intergenerational transition/business succession, deal structuring, raising capital and formation of equity partnerships.
Sean Stafford Advisory Specialist
Tracks, dams, roading, metaling, house sites and all general works | Access to river metal
www.mcia.co.nz | 06 374 7059 6 Gordon Street, Dannevirke
Rural Cartage Specialists Nick Agnew 027 583 7373 1445 Omahu Road Has!ngs
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
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Trace elements are essential A minor change that can have major impacts - why you should be looking into your trace element status Victor Sanders BVSc Vet Services Hawke’s Bay
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s the days shorten and the grass stops growing, mobs of animals may start to drop behind their target weights. Worm burdens are commonly blamed for ill-thrifty animals, however they are just one of an extensive list of possible reasons for animals to stall or to start to go backwards. Another culprit that can be associated is a trace element deficiency.
Trace elements are essential elements that are required in very small quantities. A deficiency can occur either through a soil or plant deficiency or due to a lack of absorption in the animal. The main trace elements of concern are cobalt (B12), selenium, iodine and copper. Hawke’s Bay soils have traditionally been deficient in selenium and copper. Selenium deficiency can be insidious and only picked up when stock are weighed often, becoming apparent through reduced growth rates and stock not meeting targets. Selenium levels in pasture can be low
during good grass growth which is, unfortunately, not right now. It is also used by muscles for protection against damage along with helping the animal remain resistant to infections. The response to treatment for deficient stock can be astounding. Lambs growth rates can improve by up to 100g+ a day or R2 bulls can go from 300g a day up to 2-3kg a day on the same diet! Other subtle signs of deficiency are diarrhoea, early embryonic death in ewes and decreased milk production in dairy cows. Iodine deficiency is commonly associated with ewes being fed a brassica crop during gestation and is something to be aware of. Increased lamb deaths or weak lambs around lambing should sound some alarm bells. Copper can be a significant issue for individual farms. Deficiency presents slightly differently in various species with deer being the most susceptible followed by cattle then sheep. Cattle can show ill-thrift and diarrhoea, loss of coat colour and more seriously, spontaneous fractures in young growing animals. Young deer with low copper levels can have ill thrift and abnormal bone growth while older deer can suffer from swayback
in winter and early spring. Copper is a challenging and complex trace element as it interacts with other elements, such as molybdenum, iron and sulphur, meaning that there may be a primary soil deficiency or a created one. A change in fertilizer practice (e.g more molybdenum, a lot more lime) can create problems when there have previously been none. Copper in the soil is at its lowest in winter so ensuring levels are high enough pre-winter is essential in avoiding clinical issues. Luckily, testing for the trace elements can be done easily through a number of avenues. B12, selenium and copper are all stored in the liver so assessing
levels for sufficiency can be done either through liver biopsies or through liver testing of animals that have gone to slaughter. Blood samples are a good way to assess deficiency. While supplementation of copper and selenium on known deficient properties is common practice, care must be taken not to over supplement as selenium and copper toxicity can result in death. If you have any questions about the best policy for your farm regarding trace element supplementation or testing, do not hesitate to give the clinic a call.
Photo by Kathryn Sigvertsen
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
Redefining succession to transition
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ant to offer specialised support in areas of Governance, Business Strategy, Succession/Transition, deal structuring and raising capital.
here is a lot of talk about the aging demographic of New Zealand business owners, and what succession may look like for them down the road. For some businesses the planning is purely around positioning a business to sell. But for most privately owned businesses in NZ, succession comes with the added complexity of keeping the business in the family.
Leading the Advisory team is Sean Stafford. Bringing 17 years of corporate and agricultural banking leadership experience, Sean also has a number of his own business interests - including owning a Dairy Farm in Woodville and a Sheep & Beef farm in Seddon. Sean holds a BSc in Agricultural and Animal Science and is a Certified Director with the NZ Institute of Directors.
Families are complex! Nearly everyone in a family will have a differing view on succession and family values underpin these views. This makes any transaction personal. There is no one size fits all solution. And the need to treat family with equality and fairness often results in compromising the business in some form.
Sean believes in the following core transition principle • Start now - Think about business and succession from the outset to ensure a successful outcome. • Vision - Document the business vision and strategy to ensure successors/family understand where the waka is going. • Growth - Growing your business widens options for succession. • Governance - Have a structure that holds management accountable. • Roles and Responsibilities - Define these to provide pathways to develop successors/family members for takeover. • Professional Support – Use to help manage family dynamics, even better if involved for the journey, not just the transaction.
What if the complexity of succession for families could be removed and the ease of transition introduced? Too often the focus on succession is transactional. A business or farm is simply sold to the next generation. Often, as a result, a business is left in the hands of new owners who may not be fully equipped with the skills to move the business forward successfully. By reframing succession to transition, there would be a process for what is really an ongoing evolution of skills and capability within a business. There would also be a reduction in complexity and an increase in the focus of what is required to position your business for the future. MCI & Associates can help with your transitional planning and processes. Our newly formed Advisory team work directly with your account-
To hear more from Sean and the MCI team about how they can help you redefine succession to transition, please join us for a free webinar on Wednesday 12th May at 8pm. If you want to be put on our invite list email us at info@mcia.co.nz Leading the Advisory team is Sean Stafford
We can’t wait to chat.
RURAL + LIFESTYLE
REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST We are pleased to introduce Mike Heard to our New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty team. Mike brings with him an award-winning tenure in the real estate industry which has earnt him a stellar reputation with his clients in the rural, lifestyle and horticulture sectors.
With 25 years experience you can trust Galbraith Earthmovers with all your excavation needs
Currently he has very strong buyer demand for rural and lifestyle properties which he needs to satisfy. If you are looking to sell, he has the knowledge and experience to achieve the best possible result for you. Contact Mike now for a confidential, no-obligation chat or complimentary appraisal to show where your property sits in today’s market.
M +64 27 641 9007 mike.heard@nzsir.com
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House sites, subdivisions, civil area work, forestry, roading, skid sites Kelly-Anne - 0276217626 or Steve - 0277596426 admin@galbraithearthmovers.nz or stgalbraith@hotmail.com
ADVERTORIAL
Tech tackling New Zealand’s greatest agricultural challenges
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n a move to better service the burgeoning technical requirements of farmers, Cervus Equipment is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Gray to the role of Precision Ag Specialist – New Zealand. Mr Gray commenced his new position in January and brings with him a unique mix of technical expertise and on-the-ground farming experience having embarked on a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) at Lincoln University in addition to working across New Zealand’s dairy and farm contracting sectors, and the United States harvest season.
daunting, support is in place to help farmers effectively integrate technology into their operations. “The biggest thing I want to stress is that given the backup we can provide, farmers should feel confident to start their precision agriculture journey,” Mr Gray said. “John Deere gives tremendous support to customers using our technology through our dealership technicians, as well as the suite of online tools available to give real-time support. “Through free-to-access platforms like the John Deere Operations Centre, precision agriculture allows customers and dealers to access field and machine data coming off John Deere machines in real time anywhere in the country. This helps keep equipment and customer operations running with less downtime in the paddock.”
His initial interest in precision agriculture was borne out of a desire to seek solutions to farmers’ biggest hurdles. Having worked around the world, Mr Gray said he was happy to be back in New Zealand with his family and eager to start providing tools, technology and solutions to farmers to help them transform their businesses.
Thinking back on precision agriculture’s impact on farming “When I moved back to over time, Mr Gray New Zealand from the said AutoTrac™, US, I noticed the farming John Deere’s guidance landscape was rapidly technology allowing Cervus Equipment has appointed Andrew Gray as Precision Ag Specialist – New Zealand. Mr Gray changing,” he said. machines to essentially brings a wealth of technical and hands-on experience to the role. steer themselves “The challenge farmers to significantly reduce fatigue for the operator, was another major face is the increasing demands of regulatory requirements, the fact our milestone. industry has a tight labour pool and the constant demands for primary industries to remain competitive and profitable.
“Precision agriculture works to fix all of these problems. For example, accurate data collection and precise product application helps ease the burden of meeting council or government requirements, and modern John Deere machinery works towards helping farmers to achieve more with less operators,” he said. Mr Gray said at the core of precision agriculture innovation was a drive to also increase profitability by giving farmers greater ability to control spending at a micro level to give cumulative long-term savings.
However, he said the future was now firmly focused on automation and artificial intelligence.
“It’s going to be huge. Eventually, farmers will drive into a paddock and not just see a field, but be able to look closely at each individual plant and apply products and chemicals accordingly,” he said. While eager to see new technologies come online, Mr Gray said he was most looking forward to working side-by-side with farmers and contractors.
“When farmers save money on their inputs, they can spend more money on capital investments and their long-term plans,” he said.
“There is so much room for growth, the more precision agriculture applied to the paddock the more efficiencies are achieved and the further our industry can develop,” he said.
He also emphasised that while precision agriculture may at first appear
Media contact: Hannah Hardy 0421 196 004, hannahhardy@bluehillpr.com.au
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
“We do what we do because we’ve got a good crew.” By Chrys Ayley
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elly-Anne and Steve Galbraith of Galbraith Earthmovers have worked hard in the four years since they founded the company and now the team numbers 16 who are all considered part of the family. One of their sons, Connor Edwards, has also joined the team and runs a crew.
Kelly-Anne who attends to all the behind the scenes matters such as administration, HR, managing vehicles and marketing has recently appointed Leesha Hilton to manage the Health and Safety portfolio. “Leesha is my right hand girl, I couldn’t do it all,” she says. Recently the company achieved a 97% success rate in a forestry H&S audit which they’re very pleased with. It means they know “their guys can get to go home safe at the end of the day.” The team comprises a mix of ages and skills. Training is an essential part of each team member’s development. Two new 17-year-olds work “under the wing” of more experienced guys and are doing amazingly well, Kelly-Anne says. Employing younger people is part of their philosophy, as is ongoing training and development. All staff achieve various unit standards including first aid. This means that they are all “on the same page” she says. Training is provided on site by a tutor from North Tec and the team all study together. Kelly-Anne describes the staff as “amazing” and admits the business wouldn’t be the success it is without them and their expertise. “We are family run and the staff feel like family to us.” “We are a really family oriented group of people, we get on well and we have a really fantastic team. It’s the team effort that makes us who we are.” “We’re really fortunate as we have people coming to us looking for work. We really do get the pick of the bunch. We’re also very aware that the people we bring into our family group have to fit with us, and what we are trying to do, which creates a good, honest working environment.”
Steve Galbraith is still very much “hands-on” but doesn’t work on the machines quite so much these days.
Kelly-Anne and Leesha Hilton show off the 30 tonne Volvo Excavator, purpose built for forestry work.
As the business grows so does the vehicle fleet which now consists of seven diggers, four bulldozers and loaders, graders, rollers, trucks and trailers. Steve is still very hands on but doesn’t work on the machines so much these days but whenever he gets a chance he’ll jump on the truck. “He’s constantly out looking at new jobs, what we can do next, and overseeing the guys.” Now the couple are setting up a new yard in Willowbank Avenue and plan to build a house, a shed and to store trucks. Work is as varied as ever but is about 60% forestry work and the remainder civil and town work. They do subdivision excavation, slip repairs, horse arenas and they were involved with the Canoe Polo pond. Currently they’re working on the big pool that’s being constructed at the Hastings Sports Park. “We do what we do because we’ve got a good crew.”
Rural Publications
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
Igniting passion in the beef industry
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021 marks 15 years for Future Beef New Zealand which was established to encourage and promote youth involvement and interest in the Beef and wider agriculture industry through the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Hoof & Hook Competition, which is being hosted for the first time at the Tomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay in Hastings from the 7 to 9 of May.
Event Manager Isabelle Crawshaw says the move to the Tomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay in Hastings was an exciting decision to be more central for competitors, stock and to be surrounded by an agri-hub of organisations that can be utilised to run modules for the competition. With the event needing to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19, the Future Beef Executive Committee, breeders and competitors are looking forward to coming together again to showcase the talent of our youth coming through the industry and provide the opportunity to those who are not from a farming background to learn about the vast range of different career pathways that are available within the sector. The purpose of the competition is to ignite interest and passion in the beef industry, as well as educating youth from across NZ about not only the beef industry but the wider food and fibre industry as well.
The Hoof and Hook Competition is about inspiring youth and the future leaders of the industry.
Ninety three competitors from Gore through to Northland will be travelling to the 2021 Beef + Lamb New Zealand FBNZ Hoof & Hook Competition to compete in stock judging, modules, handlers and the coveted Allflex Ambassador title. Alongside individually competing, six schools have entered into the Generation Angus Education Team Award where they compete against the other schools to come out on top across all of the competition categories. The trophy is currently held by Rathkeale College but is being contested by Iona College, St Matthews Collegiate, Feilding High School, Napier Boys High School and Morrinsville College. The Intermediate and Senior Allflex Ambassador Award is also competed for throughout the weekend which sees an Intermediate Ambassador win a trip
around NZ to attend a competition, visit a farming operation or spend some time investigating careers in the industry. A Senior Ambassador wins a trip overseas where they might visit some farms or attend another competition and represent FBNZ. These highly contested awards involve an interview, an essay, a public speaking engagement, mentoring points and the accumulation of all of their points from the rest of the competition. Over the years the successful Ambassadors have gone on to achieve amazing things within the industry and all give back to the competition as volunteers in some capacity.
passionate trustees and an extremely supportive family of sponsors.
Future Beef New Zealand and the Hoof & Hook Competition is about inspiring youth and the future leaders of the industry and wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated volunteer committee,
The 2021 Future Beef NZ Beef + Lamb Hoof & Hook Competition is being held at the Tomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay from the 7 - 9 of May. For more information visit www.futurebeef.co.nz
Callum Woodhouse, a former Allflex Ambassador, participating in Hoof and Hook.
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
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A compelling yarn
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he Government is supporting a new project with all-wool New Zealand carpet company, Bremworth, which has its sights on developing more sustainable all-wool carpets and rugs, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is contributing $1.9 million towards Bremworth’s $4.9 million sustainability project through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund. Bremworth is a subsidiary of Cavalier Corporation Limited. Damien O’Connor said the three-year programme will involve research and development of natural and green chemistry-based alternatives to the few remaining synthetic components of woollen carpets. “The rise of synthetic carpets has overtaken wool dramatically in the last few decades, which has severely affected the wool industry,” Damien O’Connor said. “I’m told that an average Kiwi household laid with synthetic carpet is estimated to have the equivalent weight of 22,000 plastic shopping bags on its floor. That’s a compelling reason to use sustainable wool wherever we can to make healthy homes for Kiwis and the world. “More than ever consumers are considering the entire life-cycle of products.
We believe this programme will spur demand for New Zealand strong wool and enhance our manufacturing competitiveness through strong environmental credentials that challenge industry norms.” New Zealand wool is 100 percent biodegradable, renewable and sustainable. “It aims to keep New Zealand woollen yarn and carpet manufacturing capacity in New Zealand, preserving jobs, and protecting local communities and supply chains.” Damien O’Connor said revitalising the strong wool sector was a key part of delivering the Fit for a Better World – Accelerating our Economic Potential Roadmap, released last year. It included bringing forward $84 million of SFF Futures funding for innovative and creative projects. “This new project is a great example of an initiative that aims to create a step change in the wool products manufactured in Aotearoa, and deliver on the Fit for a Better World vision. “Ultimately we hope it will benefit New Zealand’s strong wool sector, with better returns for our farmers and manufacturers, and supporting their communities. “If we get this right, then that’s a compelling yarn we can sell to our markets abroad,” Damien O’Connor said.
RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL
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CROWNTHORPE 470 Kawera Road Opportunity Presents
A seldom found, well located larger crossover block of 48.97 hectares (121 acres) within a 20 kilometre radius of Taradale or Hastings on a very desirable lifestyle destination road. A three-bedroom 1978 Lockwood home on a very private elevated site with ample shedding and good road frontage fenced into some ten paddocks, well watered from troughs and dams with a larger set of cattle yards with load-out race. A fantastic transitional block well capable of generating standalone income with opportunities to further subdivide. Contact Paul or Mark to view.
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(Will not be Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday 19 May
VIEW
By Appointment Only Paul Harper M 027 494 4854 | H 06 874 3849 E paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz Mark Johnson M 027 487 5105 | H 06 875 1070 E mark.johnson@pggwrightson.co.nz
pggwre.co.nz/HAS34084 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008
Helping grow the country
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
Regional economic summary produce into higher value goods. These sectors have been indirectly impacted by COVID-19 as closed borders means a shortage of foreign workers and backpackers who tend to fill many of the seasonal jobs available.
By Susan Kilsby – Agricultural Economist
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he Hawke’s Bay regional economy is facing a number of challenges brought about by COVID-19. Whilst the disease itself has not been particularly prevalent in the region it has caused major disruptions which is costing the regional economy.
Unemployment levels in NZ have not skyrocketed as was previously feared, and therefore there aren’t more kiwis who are able and available than previous years to fill the employment gaps on our farms, orchards and primary processors. In Hawke’s Bay unemployment levels fell to 4.6% last year (from 8.3 in 2013) and this year anyone capable and willing to pick apples will have a job – at least for a few months.
Hawke’s Bay derives about 10% of its income directly from agriculture (more than twice the national average), and significantly more from further processing of primary sector goods and providing services to these businesses. Hawke’s Bay is blessed with weather and geographical conditions suited to producing a wide range of food and beverages as well as hosting world class events. Unfortunately two of the largest events the Hawke’s Bay normally hosts, being the Horse of the Year Show and the Art Deco Festival, had to be cancelled due to the movement restrictions that were in place in March. This was a real blow for local retailers, accommodation providers and other industries that serve tourists needs. The tourism industry in the Hawke’s Bay is struggling but data shows it did do better than many other parts of the country last year. This is primarily due to 80% of spending in the tourism sec-
tor being from domestic tourists while just 20% is derived from international tourists. Earnings from tourism in the year to November 2020 fell just 1.9% to 97.1 million. Last year both the Art Deco festival and the Horse of the Year Show were able to be run, with Horse of the Year sneaking in just a few days prior to the national lockdown. This helped Hawke’s Bay increase its share of the national tourism spend to 16.3% meaning it received a larger slice of a smaller pie! Hawke’s Bay’s economy is driven primarily by the manufacturing and agricultural industries. With much of the manufacturing relating to turning local
The labour shortage in the apple industry is at crisis point. NZ Apple & Pear have already advised they expect 14% less fruit will be picked this season with the hit to the economy estimated at just over $1 billion. And it’s not just the apple industry that is struggling for labour. Other industries such as meat processing are also finding it extremely difficult to recruit staff. The quantity of stock being processed this season is lower than normal anyhow, due to many farms rebuilding herds and flocks following last season’s drought. But the labour shortage is a constraint and some plants are opting to reduce their processing further and
sell more meat in carcass format as they simply don’t have the staff available. Horticulture has been a significant growth industry for the Hawke’s Bay in recent years and directly accounts for 5.6% of the local economy. This puts Hawke’s Bay third in terms of exposure to horticulture behind the Marlborough and Tasman regions. Horticulture is a growth industry for the regions but lower profits this year will stifle growth as cash-flow constraints limit investment opportunities. It is not only difficult to find pickers but also difficult to source the labour required to expand orchards or graft existing blocks to newer varieties. Also suffering from a lack of labour is the forestry industry. Winter is the main planting season for pine trees, but labour constraints may limit the amount of planting that is able to be achieved. Tensions remain high between the pastoral and forestry sectors as no one likes to see entire farms planted in pines. However there are significant opportunities to plant less productive farmland into pines either for harvesting or carbon sequestration. A more integrated approach has the potential for improved economic outcomes. Economic growth is desperately needed in the Wairoa region which is really struggling. In 2018, Wairoa was ranked second highest in the country for social
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
deprivation. The index compiled by the University of Otago ranks Wairoa at 9.2 on an index where 10 represents the most deprived areas. This compares to a deprivation index of 6.2 for the whole of the Hawke’s Bay while NZ averaged 5.6. Despite the economic challenges which Wairoa faces, and concerns that afforestation is driving people away, its pop-
ulation is growing nearly as quickly as other parts of Hawke’s Bay. In the year to June 2020 the population of Wairoa increased by 1.7% having expanded every year since 2014. Dairy farming incomes this season are being maintained at high levels as global demand for dairy products has remained strong throughout the pandemic. Sheep & beef incomes are more
mixed. Returns for lamb and beef are tracking near their five year average at the farmgate level; international demand for cheaper cuts of meat is very robust, but demand for the higher values cuts which are normally consumed in restaurants remains subdued. Dining out rates are expected to increase as vaccination rates near herd immunity levels which is expected to occur by
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about July for the United States and soon after for the EU. Last year the population of Hawke’s Bay grew by 2% in the year to June 2020 with 3.5% of New Zealanders now living in the region. The growing population has put upward pressure on house prices – similar to what we are seeing in other parts of NZ.
New dwelling consents for year to January 2021
Source: Stats NZ This is evident in the sharp lift in house price and rental costs in the region. House prices in Hawke’s Bay have grown at a compound average growth rate of 13.4% in the past five years while average rental costs have increased by just under 8%. Building activity, relative to population size is relatively strong at 58 consents being granted for the 10,000 head of population. The rate of growth within the region is fastest in Central Hawke’s Bay.
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
New leptospirosis research findings
R
esearchers from Massey University and the University of Warwick have found that nondairy stock farmers are just as likely to get infected with leptospirosis as dairy farmers, proving the disease is no longer dominant in one farming sector. People contract leptospirosis from infected animal urine, and knowing the patient’s occupation is critical to combatting the spread of the disease, such as by using livestock vaccination to reduce human contact with infected animal urine. From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, there was an average of 140 cases of leptospirosis every year, resulting in an 89 per cent increase compared to five years prior between 2012 and 2016 where there were only 74 cases per year. New research has found the patient’s occupation was only recorded accurately in two thirds of cases in surveillance data taken between 1999 and 2016 when there was a total of 1557 cases. Lead author of the study and Professor in Veterinary Public Health, Jackie Benschop, says knowing the patient’s occupation is essential for uncovering the burden of the disease, and for designing new intervention strategies and ascertaining the effectiveness of
current strategies. Although data should contain the occupation for each case, sometimes it is recorded as ‘unknown’ and often there is no differentiation beyond farmer for different classes of farming, she says. “Livestock farmers, notably dairy and dry stock, need to be differentiated, as there are some specific risks. Dry stock farming encompasses the pasture grazing of beef cattle, sheep, and deer for meat, wool and velvet production. In comparison, dairy cattle are often fed a pasture-based diet and supplement when required to balance their feed intake, are milked twice daily for nine months of the year and have calves removed from the dams within 24 hours. Thus, the dairy system relies on much more direct animal–human contact.” Their research, using routinely collected surveillance data and a mathematical model, looked at all occupations reported; a dairy farmer, milker or a farmer whose animals included dairy cattle and were classified as a dairy farmer. Pig, deer, beef, bull and sheep farmers were classified as dry stock farmers. From the cases during this time period, 1403 were available for analysis. From their main finding of equal numbers between dry stock farmers and dairy farmers infected by leptospirosis, Professor Benschop says the research
suggests that when a leptospirosis patient is being interviewed to collect data they need to identify their occupation as ‘farmer’. She says it is important to try and more finely differentiate their type of livestock farming as it has implications for leptospirosis prevention and control strategies. Approximately 99 per cent of dairy farms in New Zealand have a leptospirosis vaccination programme in place for their cattle, however for dry stock vaccination rates are much lower. Although dry stock farmers do not have daily contact with their animals they are still exposed to the disease through calving cattle and deer. Professor Benschop says poor vaccination uptake in dry stock farming also exposes meat workers to risk as they come in direct contact with the stock in yarding and slaughtering. “This work provides important evidence for reassessing the current minimal use of leptospirosis vaccinations in dry stock. Vaccination programmes applied to dry stock should help reduce the high proportion of meat workers and dry stock farmers being infected with the serovars in the vaccines. The effectiveness of such a vaccination programme has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of ‘dairy farm
fever’ in dairy workers in the past 40 years.” Source Massey University. You can read more about their research here: http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/ lookup/doi/10.1098/rsif.2020.0964
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
13
Three primary industries diplomas already!
K
erry McCutcheon had more than her fair share of challenges. In 2015, after a personal relationship ended, she decided to take charge of her situation and turn her life around. It was the start of an educational journey that recently saw her graduating with a Diploma in Environmental Management.
Plants and flowers have always been Kerry’s passion. Growing up, Kerry filled her room with pot plants. In her twenties, she gained a certificate in floriculture. Gardening brought her great joy, yet she never grew this interest beyond the hobby stage. In 2016, she enrolled in a Certificate in Sustainable Horticulture at EIT’s Regional Learning Centre in Maraenui. “I needed to do something to get me out of that funk,” she says, looking back at turbulent times. The mother-of-three put her foot on the gas and excelled. She absorbed knowledge like a sponge and volunteered many extra hours in a local garden. That year she was awarded top student of her class. A work experience at a garden centre as part of her studies then led to a parttime job. For quite some time, Kerry was working while also studying towards two level 5 Diplomas in Horticulture (Kerry completed the strands in General Horticulture as well as Nursery Produc-
tion). “It was a huge juggling act, but I love studying. I have always been a big reader and I’m interested in science. It’s great that I’m really using my brain. It gives me a sense of achievement. The tutors are very accommodating and know me and my quirks.” Kerry has a disability which can impact on her studies. Last year she was a Student Association board member with a focus on representing EIT students with a disability. Kerry doesn’t let her disability limit her academic performance. Last year she received top marks throughout. This year, she was among the students who won an EIT School of Primary Industries scholarship which covers the fees of her programme. Her ultimate goal is to finish her environmental management degree and to find an interesting and challenging job. “A role where I can combine field and laboratory work would be great. There are so many exciting areas but I’m leaning towards biosecurity,” she says. Kerry spends her free time in her quarter-acre garden and browsing second-hand shops and bookstores for new reading material. “I love reference books, encyclopaedias, and thrillers. My house is full of them although I don’t even have the time to read them all.”
With three diplomas under her belt already, Kerry is now studying towards a degree.
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14
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2021
Dry affected farmers urged to use support services
F
armers in regions facing dry or extremely dry conditions are being urged to tap into the resources being made available to them through their industry organisations and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The feed planning service is open to all livestock owners and helps farmers complete a feed plan. It can be accessed by phoning 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) or 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 432 479 69). The feed coordination service connects farmers who are short of feed with available sources of supplement, such as silage and hay. Mark Harris, B+LNZ’s Lead Extension Manager, says there is no significant rain in the forecast so it is unlikely farmers in affected areas will be able to build pasture covers going into winter. “I really encourage anyone affected by on-going dry conditions to make use of the feed planning and feed coordination services. Having a third party discuss your options with you can often help clarify your thinking and help with the critical decisions that need to be made going into the colder months.” He says experience from the Hawkes’ Bay drought showed that seemingly dire situations can be turned around by proactive management decisions “There are case studies on the B+LNZ website which show the power of having
a third party cast an eye over the situation and guide decision making. It is important to try and limit the impact of these extremely dry conditions to this year and try and protect the performance of capital stock next spring.” He says there are a range of drought support tools and resources on the B+LNZ website including a simple feed budget and experiences of farmers who have got through drought in recent years.
programmes/the-farm-debt-mediationscheme-2/ Rural Support Trusts are there to help rural people during tough times. They offer a free, confidential service to rural farming communities. Farmers and farming families who need help are encouraged to call 0800 RURAL HELP or 0800 78 72 54 for confidential advice and support.
For information on all drought management related tools and resources go to https://beeflambnz. com/news-views/extreme-drymanagement
For farmers who need financial help, or extra wellbeing support, the Government has allocated $200,000 for the Farm Business Advice Support Fund, which is managed by Rural Support Trusts. Banks are jointly funding the initiative. Qualifying farmers can receive up to $6,000 to seek independent financial or business advice. More details are available here: http://www.ruralsupport.org.nz/what-we-do/Financial Farmers and growers can also access the Farm Debt Mediation Scheme, should they need help working through debt issues with their bank. MPI can assist with the costs of mediation through the scheme’s hardship fund. More information can be found at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fundingrural-support/farming-funds-and-
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