HB Today - Farming Outlook April 2024

FARMING OUTLOOK

AUGUST2024

Heiferteatsealing-aneffectiveintervention

ByKathrynSigvertsen, Veterinarian, VetServicesHawke’sBay

Heiferteatsealingisoneofthemost effectiveinterventionswecanperform toimproveanimalwelfareonfarms acrossNewZealand.

Heifermastitisbeforeorafter calving,orduringthefirstlactation, significantlyaffectsudderhealth andlifetimemilkyield.

Heifershavebeenshowntohaveahigher riskofclinicalmastitisinearlylactation thanoldercowsandwithoutteatsealing, heifermastitisratesarereportedtoreach 25%onNewZealandfarms.Mastitisin earlylactationtypicallyoccurswithin7 daysaftercalvingandtheseinfectionsare usuallypickedupfromtheenvironmentin latepregnancywhenuddersareswollen and/ordrippingmilk.Theassociatedcosts andcomplicationswithheifermastitisare clearandpreventionofintramammary infectionsisthequickestwaytoprotect

yourtimeandinvestmentinheifersbefore theyjoinyourmilkingherd.Mastitisinthe firstlactationhasasignificantimpacton lifetimeproductionevenifcured. Teatsealantadministeredatleastfour weekspriortocalvingdramaticallyreduces clinicalmastitis(an84%reductionin Strepuberisinfectionatcalvingand68% reductioninmastitisinthefirsttwoweeks oflactation)andiskeytogivingyourherd thebestpossiblestarttotheirmilking life.Thenon-antibioticsubstanceforms aphysicalbarrierblockingtheentryof bacteriaintotheudderthroughthedry period,throughcalvingandintolactation.

VetServicesHawkesBayandVetServices Dannevirkeofferateatsealingservice. StartinginMayourfullytrainedand experiencedtechnicianteamswillbe visitingdairyfarmsacrosstheregion tohelpwithpreparationsforthespring calvingseason.Ifyourheifersarecalm andaccustomedtothedairyshed,the workcanbecompletedthere.However, formajorityofjobsweuseourteatsealing trailer.Designedtorunoffyardsandarace, thetrailermakesiteasiertoinsertteatseal, keepingupto6heiferssafelyrestrained duringtheprocess.

Ifyouareplanningtoalsotreatsome cowswithteatsealantsonlyatdryingoff, itisimportanttofollowverystricthygiene protocols,andeveryonethatisdoingthe jobmustfollowthese.VetServicesare happytorunstafftrainingsessionsonfarm

ortoprovideextrapairsofhandsontheday ofdryoff–justgiveyourlocalclinicacall tomakethearrangements.

Afterteatsealing,Dairyfarmerscannow sendtheusedplasticfromthesyringetubes backtotheirveterinaryclinicforrecycling. Zoetislaunchedarecyclinginitiativewith TerraCyclein2022andinthelasttwo seasonshavecollectedover800kgof returnedtubesfromVetServicestobe senttoFuturePostforrecyclingintofarm products.Welookforwardtocontinuingto supporttheprogrammeasarecyclingdrop offpointfortheusedplasticsyringesagain thisyear.

Tofindoutmoreaboutheiferteatsealingor theTeatsealrecyclingprogrammeplease giveVetServicesacallon(06)8588060.

Firstharvestoftablegrapes-the‘kingoffruit’

Divinetablegrapesthatheraldthe startofabrandnewindustryin Hawke’sBayhavebeencomingoff vinesinMaraekakaho.Itisthefirstharvest ofGreencollar,aninnovativeJapanese companydeterminedtoexpandthe currentlytinytablegrapeindustryinNew Zealand.

Theharvestfollowsacomplexandintricate growingprocess.Justonebunchpershoot isselectedtostayonthevine,withtherest oftheflowerscarefullyremoved.Eachof theremainingbunchesishand-thinned threetimestoincreasefragranceand sweetness,coveredbydelicatepaper,and furtherprotectedbyalittleumbrellashade.

Thatlevelofcareandattentionreflectsthat forJapanese,thegrapeisthe‘kingoffruit’. Abunchisoftenbeautifullygift-wrapped andpresentedtoshowgratitude,ortowish someoneseason’sgreetings.

Whilegrowingtheworld’sbestseedless tablegrapesistheprimeaim,thecompany isalsofocusedonensuringthecompany’s employeeshaveawork-lifebalancethatis nottypicalinJapan.

Hastings-basedChiefExecutiveShin Koizumiispassionateaboutgrapes,but heisequallypassionateaboutpeople havingmeaningfulworkbalancedwith opportunitiesforleisurethatenhancetheir lives.

“Foraround30yearsIworkedinanoffice asatypicalwhite-collarworker,commuted

onapackedtrain,meetingaftermeeting, thenIwenthomelateatnightjusttosleep. IwassearchingforanewlifestylewhereI wasn’twhite-collar,norblue-collar.Iwanted toworkundertheblueskyandsun,that’s whenIfoundedgreen-collar.

Thepassionforgrapescomesfromtime spenthelpinghisgrandparentsharvest fruitinYamanashiprefecture.“WhenI wasachild,Iusedtohelpharvestgrapes andcherriesatmygrandparent’shousein Yamanashiprefecture.Iremembertheair andthesun,andIalsoremembertaking fruithomewithmetotaketoschool,which madeallofmyschoolfriendsveryhappy.

“Whatwearedoingnow,growinggrapesin HastingsandinruralJapan,bringstogether allofthoseelements–beautifulfruit,a wonderfullifestyleandmakingpeople happy.”

Ataharvestcelebrationattheendof March,morethan100guestsgathered attheMaraekakahoRoadvineyard, includingAmbassadorDesignateMakoto OsawafromtheJapaneseEmbassyin NewZealand,HastingsMayorSandra HazlehurstandMPforTukitukiCatherine Wedd.

Thefirstannualharvestwillfinishthis month,withthefocusthengoingonto preparingthetwo-andthree-year-oldvines fornextsummer,andplantingmoretogrow thebusinessacross20hectares.Itwilltake untilabout2029fortheHastingsproperty toreach100percentgrowth.

Thefledglingindustryhastraditionally playedsecondfiddletowinegrape growinginthiscountry,butJapanesebasedGreencollarisdeterminedtochange that.Withinfiveyears,itwillhavegreatly increasedthenumberofhectarescurrently

devotedtotablegrapesinNewZealand (about30hectares).

Thecompany’sgrapeswillselllocallyand beexportedtoAsiancountriesincluding Japan.

KiwiandAussiefarmersvisitHawke’sBayagribusinessoperations

Twenty-onefarmersfromacross NewZealandandAustraliahave recentlyspentthreedaysvisiting agribusinessoperationsacrosstheHawke’s BayregionontheRabobankBusiness ManagementProgramme(BMP)alumni tour.

Thetour–oneoftheseveralevents beingheldthisyeartocelebrate25years ofRabobank’sBusinessManagement Programmes–wasattendedby12 programmealumnifromNewZealandand ninefromAustraliaandtookinvisitsto halfadozenleadingagriculturaloperations acrosstheHawke’sBayregion.

ThetwoRabobankBMPs:theExecutive DevelopmentProgramme(EDP)forfarm businessownersorseniormanagersand theFarmManagersProgramme(FMP)for up-and-comingfarmers–arerunannually byRabobankwiththeaimofequipping farmerswiththelatestinbusiness

managementthinking.Alumnieventsfor pastparticipantsareheldonaregular basisinlocationsacrossNewZealandand Australia.

Thesixagribusinessoperationsvisitedon thelatestalumnitourwerehorticultural producerApatuFarms,beefoperators

NewsteadFarmandRissingtonStation, snack-sizedappleproducerRockitApples, agriculturaleducationtraininginstitute SmedleyStation,anddairyfarming businessSpringhillDairies.Business ManagementProgrammeDirectorRobin Stonecashsaidthealumnitourexemplified thecamaraderieoftheBMPs.

“Participantsfromacrosstheyearsand programmesquicklybecamefriends. Thethemeofthisyear’salumnitourwas resilience–inthefaceofCycloneGabrielle fortheHawke’sBayregionandhighlighted howthefarmsandbusinesseswesaw cametogethertohelpeachotherthrough,” shesaid.

“Toseethedevastationofsuchabeautiful andbountifulregionwasheartbreaking, butitwasupliftingtoseeandhearhow everyonehasworkedtogethertorestore theircommunity.”

Daytwoofthetoursawthealumnivisit NewsteadFarm,an817-hectarebeef operationrunbyRobandHelenPattullo. MrPattullo–whoattendedEDP13across 2009and2010–saiditwasterrifictohost thetouringalumnigroup.“Therewere severalpeopleonthetourwhoI’vemet before,soit’sbeengreatreconnectingwith them,”hesaid.

“Ialsoreallyenjoyedtalkingtothealumni aboutourbusinessoperationandsomeof thechangeswe’vemadetothewaywerun thefarmovertheyears.”Reflectingonhis ownparticipationontheEDPmorethana decadeago,MrPattullosaidhe’dgotalot outofprogrammeattendance.

“Itwasafantasticprogramme,godIwas luckytobeinvitedtothat,”hesaid.“I thoroughlyenjoyeditasyou’rechallenged acrossawholelotofstufflikenegotiation, humanresources,finances,land management,succession,anditwasina greatsizedbite,withtwoweek-longcourses ayearapart.”

MrPattullosaidtheongoingalumni programmeeventswereanothermajorplus ofEDPattendance.

“Withthealumnievents,oneofthebest thingsisgoingtoareasthatyouhaven’t visitedbefore,”hesaid.“You’reexperiencing differentwaysofdoingthings.It’sa continuationoftheEDP,you’relearning, you’rebringingstuffbacktoyourown farmingbusiness,you’redevelopingyour networks,andIloveit.”

SourceRabobank

RobPattullopresentstoalumniatNewsteadFarm.

AlumniGroupShotatSmedleyStation.

Expandinghorizons:StevensonandTaylor'snewHastingsbranch

StevensonandTaylor,alongstanding nameinagriculturalmachineryin Hawke’sBay,hasrecentlyunveiled anewchapterinitsstorywiththeopening ofabrand-newbranchinHastings.This strategicmovecomesontheheelsof excitingdevelopmentswithintheindustry, particularlytheadditionoftherenowned NewHollandbrandtotheirportfolio.We spokewithRobbySmith,GeneralManager ofStevensonandTaylor,togaininsight intotheinspirationbehindthisexpansion. "NewHollandwastheinspiration,"Robby explains."TheopportunitytohaveNew Hollandinourportfoliowasthebigpush toopeninHastingsaswefeltitwasagood platformtobettersupportourcustomers ofCaseIHandNewHollandbrands." ThisstrategicdecisionreflectsStevenson andTaylor'scommitmenttoproviding

comprehensivesupportandservicesto theirclientele.

Whenaskedabouttheanticipatedbenefits forlocalfarmersandcustomers,Robby emphasisesthegeographicaladvantage ofthenewHastingsbranch."Bybeing closertothemgeographically,wecan bettersupporttheirbusinessneedsand expectations,"henotes."Coupledwithtwo dealershipswithinHawke’sBay,wecan providecomprehensivepartsbackupto supportourserviceunit."Thiscloseness totheheartofagriculturalactivityinthe regionensurespromptandefficientservice forfarmersrelyingonStevensonand Taylor'sexpertise.

MarkPeyper-Smith,BranchManageratthe Hastingslocation,shedslightontheunique offeringsandservicesthatcustomers

canexpect."Wehaveaveryextensive knowledgebackgroundwithourenergetic staffinourHastingsbranch,particularly aroundthehorticultureandviticulture sectors,"Markshares.Thisspecialised knowledgepositionsStevensonandTaylor asmorethanjustadealershipbutatrusted partnerinthesuccessoflocalagricultural ventures.

Ensuringcustomersatisfactionand maintainingstrongrelationshipsisacore focusforStevensonandTaylor."Wedo whatwesay,assimpleasthat,"Markstates firmly.Thiscommitmenttoreliabilityand transparencybuildstrustandloyaltyamong theirclientele.

MarkalsopointsoutthattheHastings branchwillnotonlyfeatureNewHolland machinerybutalsoaselectionofCase

IHtractors,providingadiverserange ofoptionstocustomers."Weareproud toofferbothNewHollandandCaseIH tractors,"Marknotes."Thisallowsusto catertoawiderrangeoffarmingneedsand preferences."

StevensonandTaylor'snewbranchin Hastingsrepresentsnotjustanexpansion, butadeepeningcommitmenttoservingthe needsoflocalfarmersandcustomers.With afocusonspecialisedknowledge,customer satisfaction,andawelcomingatmosphere, theHastingsbranchispoisedtobecomea hubofagriculturalexcellenceintheregion. Withthisnewchapter,Stevensonand Taylorcontinuetowritetheirstory ofinnovationanddedicationtothe agriculturalcommunity,ensuringthat farmershavethetoolsandsupportthey needtothrive.

MurrayGrant,CNHBusinessManagerNZ,left,andGeneralManagerRobbySmithright. TheStevensonandTaylorTeam.

ByMikeHeardAreaManager Rural&Lifestyle–Property BrokersHawke'sBay/Gisborne

I

nrecentyears,theHawke'sBay ruralmarkethasbeendominatedby larger-scalesheepandbeefproperties (200ha+)sellingtoforestry.However,the last12monthstotheendofFeb2024 hasseenadramaticfall-offinthisdemand ontheprioryear,68%byvalueofsales $41.5m($128mtheprecedingyear),a 44%reductioninthenumberofsales(10 soldthisyear)andactualhectaressoldhas morethanhalved.Importantly,wehave seenthemedianprice/hainthiscategory dropto$10,800/ha,backfrom15,300/ha theyearbefore,withanotableabsenceof highvalue($5m+)CentralHawke'sBay salescomparedtotheprioryear. Itwouldbeabravepersontoruleout themarketinfluenceoffutureOverseas InvestmentOffice(OIO)decisionsinfavour of'pasturetoforestry'inHawke'sBay,given decisionsalreadynotifiedthiscalendaryear forLUC6,7and8landnationally.The benefitsoftheNZtestincludecriterialike thecreationofjobs,increasedrevenuefrom timbersales,increasedinvestmentinthe land,areductioninnetcarbonemissions andconsequentialbenefits.Whilethere hasbeenalotofuncertaintywithOIO

processesinHawke'sBayandGisborne theselast12months,wearenowseeing alotofapplicationsbeingsuccessfully processednationally.

However,thereisstillasignificantriskin relyingontheseOIOdecisionsinsupport ofacurrentvaluationorappraisal,given

thatLandUseClassificationsclearlyhave aconsiderableinfluenceandindependent regionalgovernmentpolicysettingsare likelytobeafactor,too.Fornow,the businessoffarmingcontinuestodrive marketactivity.

WhileDairyfarmsalesthisseasonhavehit thebrakeswithnosales,therehavebeen sixdairysupportsales,whichcompares favourablytotheprioryear,demonstrating ongoingdemandforbeeffinishing/dairy grazing.

Horticultureisoperatingatninesalesthis seasoncomparedto11salestheprioryear, which,givenGabrielle'sadverseevents,is betterthanexpected.Themedianprice perhectareisholdingupat$190,000per hectare.However,thereisasignificant rangeinthesizeofthebusinesssoldand notablysomeverylow-pricepoints,well below$100,000/ha,comparedtotheprior year,whichhadnosalesbelow$115,000 perhectare.

Overall,theregionhasstoodupwellthese last12monthsinwaysthatwouldhave beenhardtoeveranticipate,giventhescale ofthecyclone'simpactandtheeconomic situation.Weremainveryconfidentin thebusinessoffarmingandgrowingin Hawke'sBay.Theregionisunderpinned byfarmersandgrowersinvestedinthe long-termgrowthoftheirownbusinesses.

Weareofthesameview,soforthose wantingtolookattheiroptions,weremain committedtodoingtheworkandproviding thesupportasandwhererequired.

Wewouldalsoliketotakethisopportunity toacknowledgetheconfidencevendors haveshowninourlandandlifestyleteam overtheselast12monthsandtheexcellent resultsachievedunderverychallenging circumstances.

"Whetheryouare lookingtobuyorsell yourfarmorlifestyle property,wehavethe teamtoexceedyour expectations. Withagreatmixof energyandexperience onyourside, youcan'tgopast PropertyBrokers."

Seasonaloutlook–May/June/July

ByJamesMillward, MetserviceMeteorologist

ElNiñogoeslocoinsummer,but finallyhasitssayinautumn

AstrongoceanicElNiñoevent, characterisedbywarmerseasurface temperaturesintheequatorial easternpacific,peakedinJanuarybutits impactsonourshoresearlythissummer werefarfromtextbook.IntheHawke’sBay, underastrongElNiñopattern,wewould typicallyexpectdrysummersandplenty ofhotdays(thinkbacktothesummerof 97/98)aswesterlywindsandhighpressure dominateacrosstheNorthIsland.

Setagainstabackdropofunprecedented warmthinoceanicbasinsacrosstheglobe, ElNiñowasunabletotrulygetmovingin theatmospherethroughthepeakofthis summer.Wesawanunusualfewmonthson theweathermaps,includinganotablywet Januarywhere240%ofnormalrainfallwas observedinNapier,andanunderwhelming temperatureresponsewithonlyfiveJanuary daysclockinginabove30C(comparedwith eleveninJanuaryof1998).

ElNiño,despiteweakeningrecently, hasmadealateappearanceonweather patternsaroundNewZealandoverrecent monthsthough.ThroughFebruaryand Marchjust33.6mmofrainfellinNapier, withonly4wetdays(dayswith1mmor

moreofrain)aspersistentsouth-westerly windsplaguedtheweathermaps.

Asimilarpicturewasobservedacrossthe HeretaungaPlainstoo.Growersacross theregionwillhaveclockedjusthowcool Marchwas;themeantemperaturein Napierwas16.4C(climatenormal17.2C) makingitthecoldestMarchsince2012. Withtheappleandpearharvestinfull swing,Aprilhascontinuedtoseemoreof theNiño-esquepatternsofMarch,bara briefwetterandwarmerinterludemidmonth.

OceansofferinsightsintoNZ’s winterweatherastheElNiño SouthernOscillation(ENSO) headsintoneutralterritory WatersintheeasternequatorialPacific continuetocoolanditwillnownotbe longuntilourElNiñoeventreachesits officialend.Accordingly,theinfluenceof thismajorglobalclimatedriverwillfade onourweathermaps.OnefinalNiño hurrahthroughtheendofAutumnis expectedthoughwithMaysettoofferup similarweatherpatternsasrecentmonths; temperatureswillbenearnormalwith slightlydrierthannormalweather,but don’texpectthesameprolongeddryrun ofFebruaryandMarchaswearewellinto Autumnnow.

Ourfocusthenturnstowardsshortertermclimatedriversinourregionandsea

InToughTimesInvestInTopBulls

HerefordsaretheProvenLeadingBreedfor

surfacetemperaturesaroundNewZealand. Thesesmaller-scale,temporallyvolatile regionaldriversexhibitsharpvariability throughwinterandcanbringamultitudeof weathertoourshores.

Ofparticularinterestthiswinterishow muchcoolerseasurfacetemperatures southof,andaroundNewZealand,are comparedwithrecentyears.NewZealand consecutivelybrokeitswarmestwinter recordeveryyearbetween2020and2022, with2023anothernotablywarmseason, andthiswaspartlydowntotheverywarm seassurroundingournation.Thiswinter airtemperatureslooksettobemuchcloser

tonormal,withthosesamewatersnot offeringupthesameinsulationtowintery coldairmassesfromtheSouthernOcean. Indeed,coldsnapsshouldaffecttheregion withsomeregularitythisyear,especially comparedtorecentwinters.

Intermsofrainfall,wintershouldn’tstray farfromthestatusquowithnearnormal toslightlydrierweatherpatternsfavoured. Whilstthisdoesn’truleoutawettermonth, atypicalseasonisexpectedoveralland shouldputfarmersonanevenfooting headingintospring.Thiscontrastsstarkly withlastyear,whereaverywetJune exacerbatedeffectsofthedevastatinglywet startto2023.

RainfallaccumulationatNapierAerodromein2024(red).Notethesharpcontrasttothewet yearsof2022(yellowdotted)and2023(orangedotted)aswellastheextendedrunofdry weatherfromearlyFebruarytoearlyApril.

Newdigitaltool-diseaserisk&costs

Afreeinteractivetoolhasbeen launchedtoprovideappleandgrape growersandprospectiveinvestors withaglimpseintohowclimatechange mayaffecttheriskandcostsoflivingwith commonplantdiseasesindifferentpartsof NewZealand.

CreatedaspartoftheOurLandandWater NationalScienceChallenge,theChanging Climate:DiseaseRisk&Coststoolallows peopletoentertheirorchardorvineyard’s addresstoviewtheriskofAppleFire Blight,GrapePowderyMildewandGrape Botrytisontheircropsunderdifferent climatechangescenarios.

Italsotranslatesthatriskintofinancial terms,helpingpeopleunderstandhow climatechangemayaffectthecostof managingplantdiseasesontheirlandin thedecadesahead.

“Insimpletermsit’saportalintothe future,”saysMikeBarley,thedirectorof NewZealandagri-techcompanyHortPlus.

“Ithelpswithclimateadaptationplanning andprovideseasytodigestinformation forpeopleintheappleandwinegrowing industrywhowanttounderstandhow plantdiseaserisksarelikelytochange,and importantly,whatthecostimplicationsof thosechangesmightbe.”

HortPlusdevelopedthetoolin collaborationwithPlant&FoodResearch (diseasemodels,TeAoMāori),NIWA (climatemodels),TheAgribusinessand

EconomicsResearchUnit(economic modelling)andAppliedResearch& Technologies(diseasemodelreviews).

AgribusinessandEconomicsResearch UnitresearcherJohnSaunderssaidthe tool’scombinationofGISriskmappingand climate,diseaseandeconomicmodelling madeitunique.

“Theaimistoletpeoplegetabitofan ideaaboutwhatthefutureholdsbeforeit arrives.Ifyouarebuyingahouseyouwould checkfloodmaps.Whyshouldn’twehave richinformationaboutthelikelyimpactof plantdiseasesforhorticulturalists?”

Saunderssaidtheeconomicmodelling usedtookarangeoffactorsintoaccount, includinglikelyincreasesordecreasesin

thecostsofdiseasecontrolmeasures,such asspraying,aswellaschangesincrop yieldthatmightresultindifferentclimatic conditions.

Inadditiontobeingahelpfulresource forgrowersandinvestors,hesaidthe toolwouldalsohelpcentralandlocal governmentplannerstounderstandhow plantdiseaseriskischangingataregional andnationallevel,andhowmuchitmight costtomitigatethoserisksinthefuture.

“NewZealand’sviticultureindustryisworth morethan$2billioninexportsandour appleindustryalmost$1billion,sothey arebothconsequentialtothecountry’s economy.

“Resourceslikethiscanhelpwithstrategic thinking.Inmanywaysthesuccessof SauvignonBlancwasjustahappyaccident inNewZealand.Wecouldhelpfindthe nextopportunitymorequicklywithbetter dataandamoreplannedapproach.”

Whileincreasesinaveragetemperatures typicallyresultedinhighercostsfor managementofplantdiseases,therewere someexceptions,Saunderssaid.

“Theslightsilverliningisthatsomeregions maybecomemoreviableforcertaincrops astheclimatechanges.NorthCanterbury mightbecomemoresuitableforgrowing grapes,forexample.”

CreditHortPlus

ForGates,GateAutomation, Fencing&Balustrades. ResidentialandCommercial. QualityCraftsmanship&Style.

Contactthespecialistsforanoobligationquote

FactoryShowroom:416OmahuRd,Hastings

Email:heyhoe.engineering@gmail.com

Website:www.heyhoe.co.nz

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