HB Today - Farming Outlook August 2019

FARMING OUTLOOK

AUGUST 2019

INSIDE Exciting times for Precision Agriculture Specialist P2 Farmers and growers urged to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards P6 New research shows perils of mass forestry planting on productive sheep and beef land P11 Methane emissions research discovery P14

2

FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Exciting times for Precision Agriculture Specialist

By Chrys Ayley

F

or a bloke lacking direction when he left school at 15 Nick Clark has done remarkably well for himself and is a well-respected Precision Agriculture Specialist with Cervus Equipment based in Hawke’s Bay.

Nick offers technical support specializing in John Deere equipment and works with training staff and offering solutions for clients. He travels all over the North Island as there are Cervus Equipment branches in Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast.

The travel can be “tough at times” as Nick has young children but he very much enjoys dealing with a diverse range of clients in the horticultural, viticulture and agricultural sectors. At the end of the day, he says, the mechanics are all basically the same: planting, pruning, crop maintenance and harvesting.

Nick learns quickly and then is able to apply that knowledge to other clients and their problems and issues. By having that broad knowledge he can help people change the way they do things.

He grew up on a cropping farm and his grandfather was a potato farmer but Nick went on to qualify as a diesel mechanic later turning to viticulture. “Driving tract-

ors and driving machinery was more my passion.” After a stint dairy farming he returned to diesel mechanics and spent several years in the South Island where he specialised on John Deere equipment.

He’s worked on John Deere equipment for eight years now.

When working with clients Nick tends to work with a sales person from the nearest branch. It’s important to understand the clients business then work out ways in which to solve their particular problems and improve the business. At the end of the day the job is helping farmers make their business more efficient and profitable, he says.

“We’re here to help, we’re interested in what the customers are doing more so than actually trying to sell them something. We prefer to be seen as trusted advisors. If our gear helps them, we’ll sell them that but if it doesn’t, we’ll point them in the right direction.”

Another aspect of the job is helping clients optimise the way tractors are used and discussions about automation, technology and data collection.

“Ours are a premium tractor: we like clients to use them to full potential, to make their business more efficient,” Nick says.

“We’re in a space at the moment where we’re moving towards automation so

quickly, that every day there’s something new, that’s so exciting it keeps us interested. Within a few years we’ll see some tractors without drivers. The times are pretty exciting.”

With Nick’s farming knowledge his job has worked out really well. It was never planned and his teachers might be surprised at what the “hands on” learner is achieving now!

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FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

3

Don’t let the b*****ds get you down

By Alan Maxwell, Barnes Mossman

T

he primary sector is constantly in the news these days. Water policies, the Zero Carbon bill, animal welfare, supermarket protests – it feels like everyone has an opinion and often farmers and the primary sector bear the brunt of the criticism.

There is widespread pessimism and concern around the current regulatory landscape and the impacts this will have on primary industries in the short and medium term. There seems to be a strong feeling that policy makers are being unduly swayed by social grandstanding, rather than strong cost benefit analyses as to the long-term impacts of suggested changes.

Despite this uncertainty agricultural export revenues rose to around $45b for the year ended 30 June 2019. This is an incredible result for the industry in the face of a weakening global economic environment and the high degree of local and global uncertainty. The primary sector should be incredibly proud of the economic contribution it makes to the country!!!

The current landscape also gives rise to huge opportunity for farmers and producers, if they are prepared to adapt to what is undeniably a changing industry.

Global food demands are a key reason for this optimism. With the world population forecasted to reach 10 billion in the next 30 years, there is going to be much higher requirement to produce ever increasing levels of food into the future. This will need to be done in different ways to what has been historically achieved, which provides opportunity for those who want to be innovative and brave.

Farmers are shifting their mindset from high-volume to high-value production and where they can, diversifying the agricultural products they produce.

There is also a need for improved education and communication with urban consumers and social libertarians. New Zealand continues to produce food for around 50 million people, more effectively than any other country in the world.

Any reduction in our production levels will need to be taken up by other less efficient producers.

For individual farmers, the immediate focus needs to be on improving efficiency and operational returns and taking more of a ‘commercial look’ at their farming operations. Taking advantage of the latest, best practice data, accounting and forecasting technologies means operators can have a far more relevant and complete overview of the financial performances of their farms.

They should be looking to have more regular and meaningful conversations with their strategic and financial advisors to gain better clarity over the assets they manage and the outputs they produce and how these

might change and flex over time. This will allow them to remain competitive, be more open to higher value production opportunities and be more flexible in the face of regulatory and social uncertainty.

4

FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Transporting dehorned cattle and disbudding of calves – do you know the rules?

By Kathryn Sigvertsen, Veterinarian at Vet Services (Hawkes Bay) Limited

I

t is widely known that cattle with long and/or sharp horns are not suitable to be transported, but at what point does a horn become long? We have found recently that consistent written guidelines do not really exist.

There are several different suggestions, coming from stock agents, MPI personnel, and what may be known as good management practice. These vary but probably the most commonly quoted would be “no sharp ends and within the ear”. For most cases this seems to be appropriate, although the exception is curled horns that are growing back into the head – these also need to be removed before transport.

The risk of long or sharp horns is carcass damage and bruising of other animals along with a safety risk for handlers. It is important to also note that it takes some time after dehorning for large horns to heal appropriately. It is recommended that they be dehorned at least three weeks before transport to reduce the risk of bleeding and damage to the raw end of the horn.

The Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 made a few

changes to current animal welfare rules.

One of these changes that may affect our farmers is the new disbudding and dehorning regulations. From 1 October 2019 it will be a requirement for all calves to have an “appropriately placed and effective local anaesthetic that is authorised by a veterinarian for the purpose of the procedure”.

Disbudding of calves is best done up to 6 weeks of age, the earlier the better, before the horn bud becomes attached to the underlying bony skull. Doing them later than this increases the risk of the horn becoming too large to burn effectively. They often require cutting before being burned to get a satisfactory result. As the horn develops there is also greater nerve supply and the local anaesthetic requires more than the single injection site used for disbudding.

The minimum age at disbudding needs to be old enough so that they can withstand the procedure, ideally no younger than two weeks old. This also gives time for the horn bud to develop enough to be able to feel. To get them done at the right age several batches may need to be done. Some cross bred dairy-beef calves

Photo by Richard Hilson

can take a little longer to develop buds so if they have been checked early it is important to recheck them in a few weeks to ensure no horn bud has begun to appear.

All adult cattle that need dehorning also require local anaesthetic – these rules have not changed. Still, it is best to get

them disbudded as calves rather than dehorned as adults!

The rules can be tricky, so if you aren’t sure whether your cattle are ok to truck or you have questions around the new disbudding regime, make sure you give us a call to find out more.

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FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Farmers and growers urged to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards

H

awke's Bay farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Entries for the 2020 awards programme officially opened on August 1 and close in mid-October. The 2020 awards dinner will be held in Gisborne in early March.

East Coast chairman Steve Wyn-Harris says there has been a lot of discussion about the need for the primary sector to tell its stories.

“Here’s the perfect opportunity for farmers and growers to share their positive actions with their local community and a wider audience. If you are frustrated by the negative sentiment coming from urban areas, if you want to change that, you have to help us tell these stories. We need you.”

Nick and Nicky Dawson at the 2019 awards dinner in Napier.

Wairoa farmers Dave Read and Judy Bogaard pictured with HBRC chairman Rex Graham and Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon after winning the 2019 Farming for the Future category award.

All farmers and growers, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists, are eligible to enter.

“Each entrant is visited by a small group of rural professionals. They want to look for opportunities to improve the financial and environmental sustainability of each business. Those judging teams have a wide range of skills and look at all parts of the farming business in a reasonably informal manner.

“It’s not just targeted at top farmers but those on the journey to the top. The awards are an important opportunity to grow and learn from others.”

Hawke's Bay comes under the East Coast region of the awards, which covers the geographic area of the Gisborne District Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Five of the nine supreme winners have been from Central Hawke's Bay and only one from Gisborne. Hastings pipfruit growers Graham and Marian Hirst, who also own Bay Blueberries, have been the only horticulture winners, although there have been a few finalists including Elephant Hill and Mission Estate wineries. The past two years have also seen finalists from Wairoa – Richard and Hannah Coop from Mahia Peninsula and Dave Read and Judy Bogaard from Frasertown. Last year’s winners were Patoka dairy farmers Nick and Nicky Dawson.

A field day on the Patoka dairy farm of the 2019 winners, Nick and Nicky Dawson.

Regional coordinator Kate Taylor says to enter sooner rather than later.

“Have a look through the website, gather some information, talk to previous entrants, and put your name in the hat. We often use the phrase “don’t wait until you’re ready, because you’re never ready. Don’t wait until you’re finished, because you’re never finished.” But I would also urge you to go through the process now with no expectations so it’s a learning journey. Get some feedback on the work you’re doing, find out more about the process, and come back for another go; that is, unless you surprise yourself and make the second round of judging.”

She says another bonus of entering early is having the time to fill out the judging information sheets and to take advantage of the East Coast’s new buddy system where a management committee is appointed to guide a first-time entrant through the process.

First round judging takes place in November. Finalists are judged a second time by a separate finalist judging panel. East Coast finalists will be eligible for 10 category awards in 2020: Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award, DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award, Massey

University Innovation Award, Norwood Agri-Business Management Award, WaterForce Integrated Management Award and a new Synlait-sponsored climate change award. The Gisborne District Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council also sponsor a Farming for the Future Award. Details of the awards, frequently asked questions and other entrant information is available on the website www.bfea.org.nz.

People are also able to nominate another farming or growing business they feel would benefit from involvement in the awards programme.

The awards are organised by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

Entries now open for the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards Contact : Kate Taylor

027 603 2200

eastcoast@bfea.org.nz

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FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Rural Comment

By Hadley Brown, Rural Director Colliers Hawke’s Bay

A

fter what has been a very good winter Hawke’s Bay continues to be the land of sunshine and opportunity for its agriculture and horticulture producers and with spring almost upon us, I would suggest there is still a very positive sentiment across the markets.

It would also appear we are going to see a good selection of quality properties offered to the market this spring. Hawke’s Bay holds an enviable position due to the high proportion of quality dry stock farms and diversity across the horticulture sector. The buoyancy of the export markets and product prices in both of these markets are currently what’s yielding top results, while the economic landscape has been more challenging for the dairy sector.

We are seeing high level of enquiry into potential land use change across our region which has the ability to unlock value that has otherwise been unachievable. Central Hawke’s Bay has certainly been an area of focus, having the ability to offer a large portion of land with suitable soil types and the flat to easy contour required. The final key element - H2O - has been a challenge for many, but we are starting to see a number of smaller water storage

projects which will help facilitate opportunity for some.

With confidence rising in our region, the Rural and Agribusiness team at Colliers International in Hawke’s Bay is fielding solid enquiry from a diverse group of buyers which should reassure vendors hoping to sell this spring.

One of the biggest limitations rural investors could possibly face this year is the availability of funds, which could recede if proposed increases to bank regulatory capital requirements go ahead in the final quarter as part of the RBNZ’s review of the capital adequacy framework for registered banks. Change appears inevitable but we anticipate that a workable solution for all parties will be found.

Identifying various financial opportunities is an area where Colliers International can often help achieve a successful outcome which might otherwise have been derailed, by brokering innovative deals that would once have been considered unconventional but which are now becoming commonplace, as people embrace alternative investment options to achieve their end goals.

As interest rates continue to hold at record low levels, investors are turning

to other investment options such as commercial and rural real estate where yields are much more positive. A marked increase in interest in the farming sector from corporate investors who are looking for viable alternatives to their more usual investment streams means we can sometimes introduce an investor or outside equity into an already-established

farming business to either take it to the next level, or aid in succession planning.

Our specialised team will be bringing a number of quality sheep, beef and horticultural properties to market during Spring which we expect will attract keen interest considering the current level of confidence in Hawke’s Bay.

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FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Summer cropping with 501 Chicory

By Grant Macaulay Hazlett Limited

S

ummer cropping is ideally planned around what you want to feed and when you want that feed available, that determines what you need to plant for a summer crop. If getting lambs up to weight and off the farm sooner is your focus, then you should be thinking 501 Chicory as an option.

We believe 501 Chicory is one of the cheapest summer crops to grow for finishing stock. In most dryland sheep and beef situations chicory can yield 10.5 t DM/ha, versus an old pasture growing 4 t DM/ha over summer. This gives chicory a 6 t DM/ha advantage.

Not all chicory cultivars are equal. Some are perennial, but 501 chicory is more of an annual type. Because 501 grows like an annual, it establishes faster and is ready for grazing sooner than slow-starting perennial types. This can result in one extra full grazing more than other chicory cultivars over the summer months.

501’s high DM yield, combined with excellent levels of metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein content making it the ideal crop for rapid liveweight gain. Stock adapt to chicory much quicker than to brassicas, so the feed

transition is quick and easy, with less of a growth check.

Having a very high feed value of 12.513 ME, gives the potential to grow lambs at 300g/day through summer, enabling faster stock finishing.

Lambs love it, and its deep roots improve soil structure. One of the best things about 501, is while sheep, cattle and deer love it, most insect pests hate it. As long as you spray the weeds and grasses out of it, pests like aphid, white butterfly and diamond back moth will pack their bags and leave in search for other food, so no insect spraying saving you more money and time.

A very good alternative to a pure chicory stand is mixing with a quality red clover like Morrow, both plants are tap-rooted.

Morrow red clover fixes nitrogen, reducing fertiliser requirements for the crop, and Morrow can be continued into the following new pasture. Using selective herbicides, we can kill out the chicory and many other broadleaf weeds without affecting the clover, once these have died off, direct drill new pasture seed into the remaining red clover.

10 Tips for growing a successful 501 Chicory crop 1. Spray out and plant early (as soon as soil temps are 12° C and rising).

Chicory ten days after grazing, winter 2019

2. Sow 501 Agricote treated seed @ 8-10kgs/ha for a straight sward and 6-8kgs/ha plus 6kgs/ha of coated Morrow red clover for a mixed sward.

3. Chicory seed is small so ensure that it is sown shallow (never deeper than 1cm).

4. Sow with the right fertiliser.

5. Roll, roll, roll. Good seed to soil contact will speed up seed germination.

6. Apply nitrogen fertiliser during the active growing season to maintain good growth rates.

7. Control weeds, and by doing so, control insect pests too.

8. First graze at 5-7 leaf stage followed by grazing at red gumboot height down to 3-4cm.

Chicory showing its strong tap root.

9. Don’t spray the crop out too late in autumn. New pastures take priority.

10. Don’t keep the crop for a second summer. It might look good in autumn, but it will open up in winter and go to seed next summer reducing yield and quality.

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New research shows perils of mass forestry planting on productive sheep and beef land Beef + Lamb New Zealand

L

arge scale conversion of sheep and beef farms to forestry as a result of the Zero Carbon Bill will have a significant negative impact on rural New Zealand, according to research released by Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

An analysis of Wairoa, where 8,486 hectares of sheep and beef farmland has, or is in the process of being, converted to forestry, shows forestry provides fewer jobs in rural communities than sheep and beef farms.

Rural consultancy BakerAg was commissioned by B+LNZ to compare the economic and employment effects of the conversion of sheep and beef farms into forestry.

The report, Social-economic impacts of large scale afforestation on rural communities in the Wairoa District, found that if all the sheep and beef farms in Wairoa were converted to forestry, then Wairoa would see a net loss of nearly 700 local jobs (the equivalent of one in five jobs in Wairoa) and net $23.5 million less spent in the local economy when compared to blanket forestry (excluding harvest year).

“This report illustrates the huge risks of unintended consequences from poorly

BAY FORD

designed policy and emissions targets, which will incentivise a high level of afforestation and result in a devastating impact on rural communities,” says B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker.

“The current targets for methane are excessive given the science on what is needed to limit warming, while at the same time there is unfettered access to offsets for fossil fuel emitters in the Zero Carbon Bill, despite fossil fuel consumption having to actually decrease. The net result is that it’s a real possibility that many districts like Wairoa across the country could see all their sheep and beef farms converted into forestry with disastrous consequences for the local community.

“This is why B+LNZ is supporting science-based and sensible methane reduction targets and restrictions on the amount of carbon dioxide that can be offset by trees.”

These concerns were reinforced by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment who forecast that under a net zero target for carbon dioxide, there would only be a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and some 5.4 million hectares of trees would likely be planted to offset the remaining 60 percent of fossil fuel emissions, equating to 70 percent of the effective area in sheep and beef farming: https://

part of Hawke's Bay Motors Ltd

www.pce.parliament.nz/media/196523/report-farms-forests-and-fossil-fuels.pdf.

“Although forestry does provide some employment opportunities, these typically come in the final year of a pine plantation at harvest – usually the 30th year – and the nature of these jobs often sees them performed by crews who are based out of larger provincial centres rather than smaller rural towns. After the first harvest, the carbon value of the first is lost, leaving the residual economic contribution of that land at the mercy of international log prices” says Mr Baker.

“It is also worth noting that most of the benefit from incentives such as carbon credits go to the landowners rather than local communities, with forestry owners frequently not living in the rural communities where their plantations are, as opposed to sheep and beef farms which are typically family owned and have on average five people living on them.

180,000 hectares of plantation pine on them, so it’s important to build on this base and integrate sensible tree planting into sheep and beef farms rather than see wholesale conversion which is socially, economically, and environmentally unsustainable.”

B+LNZ supports:

A net zero target for carbon dioxide and restrictions on the amount of carbon that can be offset;

“The sheep and beef sector is willing to play its part to meet New Zealand’s international climate change commitments. It has already reduced its emissions by 30 percent since the 1990s – one of the few sectors to have achieved this.

A net zero target for nitrous oxide;

“Sheep and beef farms also have some 1.4 million hectares of native forest and

The full report is available on B+LNZ’s website.

A 10 percent gross reduction in methane by 2050 which is equivalent to net zero for carbon dioxide, and a further 12 percent net reduction in methane, if required, by 2050.

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FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

NZ Young Farmers member’s drive to

A

pair of fantails flit above Robert Barry’s head as he bends down to inspect a predator trap at the base of a totara tree.

The towering native is in a pristine bush block on a farm owned by the BEL Group near Waipukurau in central Hawke’s Bay.

The business was started by Robert’s mother Andrea and his late father Peter in the 1990s and now employs 70 fulltime staff.

The eight-hectare block is protected by a Queen Elizabeth II Trust covenant and is dotted with almost a dozen traps.

About 9000 cows are milked across nine dairy farms. The business owns or leases a further eight dairy support blocks.

“We have quite an extensive trapping programme here,” said Robert, as he points to two dead rodents.

Prior to taking on his new role Robert, was second-in-charge on one of the dairy farms.

The canopy of the bush block is teeming with birds. The haunting call of a tui drowns out the faint chirp of the fantails.

“This job is a great fit for me. I’m really passionate about improving dairying’s environmental footprint,” said the father of two.

This area is known to attract ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats, mice and occasionally possums, which prey on the birds and their eggs.

“I was always making suggestions to the BEL Group’s leadership team about ways we could improve our practices.”

Robert is using a ground-breaking trap developed by NZ Autotraps. The trap resets and rebaits itself, improving the kill rate.

“The great thing about these traps is that they aren’t labour intensive and they kill a range of predator species,” said the Tikokino Young Farmers member.

The 27-year-old’s passion for the environment has won him several accolades and landed him a new job.

Alison and Robert Barry.

In February he was appointed the sustainability lead for the BEL Group, which farms 3700 hectares (effective).

Not being in the milking shed every day has given Robert the opportunity to start implementing his ideas.

The business overhauled its wintering practices this year, with the aim of reducing nitrate and sediment loss from crop paddocks.

“I think it’s something everyone can do,” he said.

“Being smart about where you plant your winter crops and how you feed

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13

improve dairying’s environmental footprint them can lead to a big reduction in sediment runoff.”

“It can often be as simple as putting up a back fence or using a portable water trough to help reduce soil damage,” he said.

Grazing sections of crop growing near waterways or at the bottom of slopes last helps trap suspended contaminants.

About 50 of the business’ staff are involved with feeding out to cows and young stock over the winter and shifting crop fences.

Two full-time fencers have also been employed to fence off small ephemeral drains.

This trap resets and rebaits itself, improving the kill rate.

Robert and son Freddie examine macroinvertebrates on the side of Mangatewai Stream.

The QE2 bush block, one of the BEL Groups properties.

Green-thumbed students at the local school are helping to grow native plants and trees for the newly-protected areas.

testing kits and to find potential wetland sites,” he said.

Nine people were vying for two positions in the hotly-contested election.

Robert and his wife Alison were finalists in the 2018 Balance Farm Environment Awards for East Coast winning the Predator Free 2050 and DairyNZ Sustainable Farming Award.

Robert saw joining the NZ Young Farmers Board as a unique opportunity for a young person to obtain governance experience.

“Legally we don’t need to fence them off.

But they’re areas that get wet and boggy in winter and if we reduce the number of cows walking through them, that can have a significant impact on water quality,” he said.

BEL Group chipped in $4000 to help the school extend its shade house, which can now produce 1000 riparian plants a year.

The majority of the farms sit in the Tukipo River catchment, which has poor water quality.

Robert is the chair of the Tukipo Catchment Care Group, which he founded in February 2018.

“The river doesn’t have the benefit of a large volume of fresh water flowing through it. It’s fed by springs on surrounding farmland,” he said.

The farmer-led community group is focused on improving water quality, biodiversity, and their greenhouse gas footprint.

“I have been thinking about standing for the board for the last two years,” said Robert.

“This year through the group I have applied for and received $32,000 worth of funding from Fonterra to purchase water

“To be elected and have the backing and support of my fellow members is an awesome feeling. I’m really happy.”

“Anything we can do to keep livestock out of those springs will make a difference.”

Earlier this month, he was elected to the NZ Young Farmers Board.

“There aren’t many boards out there that have being under 31-years-old as a criteria, so it’s an amazing opportunity which I had to seize,” he said.

Robert has been elected to the NZ Young Farmers Board for a two-year term. His first board meeting is in August.

Source: New Zealand Young Farmers

Hastings Sales - Karamu Road

Ph 873 3336 karamuholden.co.nz

Antony Matt James Mark

027 240 662 022 639 0306 022 077 0862 027 567 4449

14

FARMING OUTLOOK AUGUST 2019

Methane emissions research discovery Courtesy AgResearch

A

n international collaboration led

by New Zealand scientists has made an important discovery in the quest to help lower methane emissions from animals.

The findings have just been published online in the respected International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal.

Methane emissions from animals account for around a third of New Zealand’s emissions. The animal itself does not produce methane but rather a group of microbes, called methanogens, who live in the stomach (rumen), and produce methane mainly from hydrogen and carbon dioxide when digesting feed. The international team which involved researchers from AgResearch (New Zealand), the Universities of Otago (New Zealand), Monash (Australia), Illinois (USA) and Hokkaido (Japan) has for the first time identified the main rumen microbes and enzymes that both produce and consume that hydrogen.

The findings are important because scientists can now begin to target the supply of hydrogen to methanogens as a new way of reducing animal methane emissions. Work will now focus on screening specific compounds that can reduce the supply of hydrogen to the methane pro-

ducers without compromising animal performance. The research will also seek to find ways to divert hydrogen away from methanogens towards other rumen microbes that do not make methane.

Leader of the research programme, AgResearch Principal Scientist Dr Graeme Attwood, said: “We’re really pleased about the progress in this research because it opens up a new approach to reducing livestock methane emissions. This is vital for New Zealand to meets its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Paris Agreement and to ensure the farming of ruminants is sustainable into the future”.

An important feature of the programme is its strong international collaboration with leading laboratories around the world. The involvement of AgResearch scientists has been made possible by New Zealand Government support for the activities of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, a New Zealand initiated alliance of 57 countries committed to working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Special Representative of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, Hayden Montgomery, said “This breakthrough has global relevance and again demonstrates the value of the Global Research Alliance in providing a

platform to develop such research collaborations. Through well-co-ordinated and well-funded science, we increase the likelihood of developing practical solutions to reducing global livestock emissions.”

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