HB Today - Rural Focus March 2023

ByGeorge Tatham Director Beef +Lamb NewZealand

Itishardtoputintowordsthescaleof thedestructioninour regionandthe impactCycloneGabriellehashadonso manypeoples’livesandlivelihoods.

Mydeepestcondolencesgoouttothose whohavelostlovedonesinthestorm.It hasbeen averydifficulttimeforsomany inour regionastheystarttheclean-up andcontemplatewhatthefuturewilllook like.

Manyfarmers remaincut-offandwith winterfastapproachingsogettingridof storeandtradingstockandgettingbasic infrastructurerepairedis ahighpriority.

ItiscriticalGovernmentprioritise roading accessto remoteareastoallowstock trucksandmachineryinassoonas possible.Thiswinterwillbedifficult enoughwithoutcarryingextrastock.

Beef +LambNewZealandisworking alongsideRuralSupport Trust,MPI andotherstosupportourfarmers andfarmingcommunitiesthroughthe recoveryprocess. Iencourage allfarmers totapintothefundingandsupport networksandgetthehelptheyneedto getbackontheirfeet.

Thedamagecausedbyforestryslash insomeareascannotbeoverstated

andmuchofthefloodinganddamage wasentirelypreventable.Peoplehave losttheirhomesandhadtheirland destroyedbyforestryslashandsilt,not tomentionfences,bridges,cropsand farminfrastructure.

We frequentlyhearfromfarmersthat they’resickofhavingtocleanupthis damageaftermajorweatherevents.

TheMinisterialinquirymustbethorough andmaketheappropriatechangesso

thatthisneverhappensagain.Ona widerlevel,theGovernmentmuststop incentivisingthewholesaleconversion ofsheepandbeeffarmlandintoexotic pines,andinsteadbetter recognise and incentiviseon-farmplanting,whether exoticsornatives,dependingonwhat suitsthelandbest.

B+LNZ,alongwithFiftyShadesofGreen, hasjustlauncheditsKiwisBacking Farmerscampaigntoraiseawareness aboutcripplingGovernmentpolicies. Thiscampaign,aimedatallNew Zealanders,highlightstheoverwhelming waveofpoliciesandproposals threateningthefutureofsheepandbeef farmsandruralcommunitiesacrossthe country.

ThePrimeMinister recently acknowledgedtheGovernmenthas gonetoofar,toofastinsomeareasand agricultureisdefinitelyoneofthose areas.

NowmorethanevertheGovernment needstopausesomeofitspolicy programmeandfocusongettingthe policiesrightbeforepressingon.

ThecampaigniscallingforallNew Zealanderstostandup,backtheworld’s bestsheepandbeeffarmersandensure oursectorgetssensibleandworkable policies.

Attheheartofthecampaignisthewww. kiwisbackingfarmers.nzwebsite,which outlinessimplepolicysolutionsand enablesKiwistoshowtheirsupportfor sheepandbeeffarmersbysendingtheir viewsdirectlytotheGovernment.Please gotothewebsiteandsendanemail.This isourchancetoshowtheGovernment theyneedtotakeaction.

DuetotheCyclone,B+LNZhasmadethe decisiontopostponeitsfarmerdirector electionsinthis regionandI’mhappyto carryoninthe roleuntil afairelectioncan beheld.

It’simportant thateveryoneonthe B+LNZelectoral rollhas achanceto participateandmakeaninformedchoice andthiswouldbedifficultatthemoment.

AllfourcandidatesJennyBoyne,Patrick Crawshaw,PaulCrickandSandra Matthewssupportthepostponement. Lookoutformoreinformationonthe electioninthenearfuture.

SNT expandsandadds NewHollandTractorstoitslineup

Foundedin1951in Waipukurau Stevensonand Taylor(SNT) remains attheforefrontofagricultural dealershipsinHawke’sBayand recentdevelopmentswillensuretheir prominencewellintothefuture.

Thisyearthere’sexcellentnewsand GeneralManagerRobbySmithispleased toannouncethattheworldclassbrand, NewHolland Tractorfranchisehasbeen addedtotheSNTstableinadditionto CASEIH Tractorbrand.

TheotherexcitingnewsforHawke’s Bayisthatlaterthisyear,Juneifallgoes accordingtoplan,theywillbeopening abrandnewbranchintheheartof Hastings.

AfterservicingthewiderHawke’sBay regionfromCentralHawke’sBay,Robby

saysnowisthetimetoopen asecond branch.“Demandtellsusit’stimetoget closertoourclientbaseinHastingsand northto Wairoa,providingthem aprompt salesandserviceoption.”

Thenewpremisesat1420Omahu RoadwillfeaturebothCaseIHand NewHolland Tractorsand arangeof agriculturalequipment,parts,and afully operational servicedepartment.SNT Hastingswillbeemployingupto15 newstaffwhichwillbringthetotalstaff employedtoover55.

“Weare passionateabouttheCNHi productswesellandarecommittedto supportingourcustomersthroughout Hawke’sBay.Wehavemade asignificant investmentinpartstosupporttheNew Hollandbrandanditsexistingcustomers inHastings.”

AnintegralserviceatSNTisour Engineeringfabricationworkshop providing avastrangeofskillsand equipment,fromqualifiedengineers, certifiedwelding,machinistsonsiteand precisionequipmenttohelptakeyour ideasfromconceptto reality.

“Ourengineeringsideofthebusinessis whatseparatesusfromourcompetitors –Providingcorebusinesssolutionstoour customersunderone roof.”

“Welookforwardtobeingintheheart ofHastingsandcontinuingtoprovide ourestablishedclientswithservice excellence,”Robbysays.

Keepaneyeout forthesecurrentdiseasechallenges

VetServicesHawke’sBay

Ourthoughtscontinuetobewithallofthoseaffected byCycloneGabrielle. We hope thatwitheachweek thingsgetslightlybetteronyour roadto recovery fromthisawfuldisaster.

Keepaneyeoutforthesecurrentdiseasechallenges andgiveus acallifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutyour livestock,need ahandonfarm,orjustneed achat. We arehearingofsomeissueswithfliesduetothe warmandwetweather,dirtystock,and reduced protectionduetohighlevelsofrainfall. Prevention offlystrikeisalwayspreferabletotreatment. We havea numberofeffectiveandeconomicalproductsinstock tohelptoeradicateflies,mites,liceandticks.Ifyou alreadyhavestrucksheep,youwillwanttotreatthem with adipproductwhichaddssomethingeffectiveto knock-downanymaggots,orelsespottreatthemwith anOPproductlikeMaggo. Talktoyourveterinaryteam or retail representativetodiscussyouroptionsinthe currentconditionstoensurethatyouaregettingthebest effectivenessfromyouranimalhealthproducts.

Unfortunately,attimesofstressandwithstagnant waterwemayseeanincreasednumberofbacterial infectionsincludingsalmonellaandleptospirosis. Theseinfectionscanbepickedupbydrinking contaminatedwater,orthrough skinwhencutsorgrazes areexposedtocontaminatedwaterormud,andcan spreadfromanimalstohumans.Pleasegiveus acallif youhaveanyquestionsorsuddendeaths.

Facialeczemaspores(sporidesmin)growinthe baseofpastureinwarmmoistconditionsfoundat thistimeofyear. Wheningestedthesporesdamage theanimal’sliverwhichcan resultinpoor reproductive performance, reducedgrowthratesandindairycows

anoticeabledropinmilkproduction. VetServices monitorslevelsofFacialEczemasporeseachweekin FE-proneareasacrossthe region. Youcanfindthese weekly resultsonourwebsitewww.vshb.co.nz/facialeczema-risk-monitor/.Zincbolustreatmentsneedtobe used2-3weeksbeforethesporegrowthisinthedanger zoneformaximumprotection.

Preparationsfortupping. Toxovax®andCampyvax4® areavailable.Thesevaccinationsarestronglyadvised inbreedingewestoavoidlossescausedbyabortion storms,stillbirthsandneonataldeaths.Pleasecontact

yourtradingmanagerstoorganiseyourorderstoensure theproductwillgetto youontime.

Hastings –garry.jones@vshb.co.nz

Napier –david.lowe@vshb.co.nz

We arewithyou.

The VetServicesteamandourfantasticindustry partnersareavailableand readytojumpinandsupport youwherewecan.Wehavegoodsuppliesofdrench andflytreatments,andareworkingcloselywithMPIand CivilDefencetoensureproductisgettingtowhereitis needed.

DrycowsupplyPatoka

EwesstuckinslipatPatoka.

PhotosbyAnyikaScotland

Prime ruralopportunity

Intheheartofthe reputablefarming regionof Tararuaandin asmalldistrict calledHoroeka,you’llfind Waimiro, awell-presentedsheepandbeeffarm readytobeenjoyedby anewowner. Waimirobenefitsfromgreat road frontageandis abalanceofeasy-rolling tomedium-steepcontouroverthe approximately195effectivehectares.

AfeatureofWaimiroisthe watersupply. Aspartofthedistrict’swater scheme,the farmiseligiblefor14unitsofwaterper day(14,000l/day).Giventhechanges weareseeingtoweatherpatternsand changingclimates,thissuretyofquality watersupplybringsgreatpeaceofmind. Ofnote,thepropertyhasavoidedbeing affectedby recentweathereventswhich theownersareverygratefulfor.

Timeonthefarmhasbeenspent regrassing,maintainingfencing,increasing lambingpercentagestoover150%and followinggoodfarmingpracticesthrough fertilizerapplication,keepingstock wellfedandmaintaininggoodaccess aroundtheproperty.Waimirooffersa 3-standclosedboardwoolshedwith yards, a3-bayimplementshedandother infrastructure.Itisalsocomplemented by awarmmodern3-bedroomhome. Iftraditionalruralcommunitiesare attractivetoyou,thenyouwillalsobe pleasantlysurprisedbytheoptionoftwo full-primaryruralschoolsas achoice. Waimirositsapproximatelyhalfway between WeberandPongaroaSchools. Bothschoolsholdtraditionalrural valueswhileatthesametimeensuring

theirruralkidsget aqualityeducation anddon’tmissoutonanyofthenew technologiesandopportunitiesthaturban schoolsoffer.Ifyouhavehighschool agedchildren,thentheDannevirkeHigh Schoolbusleavesfromtheendofthe road.

Thepresentownersarereadytomove ontonewadventureson alargerfarm, whichmakesthis aprimeopportunityfor firstfarmbuyersorperhapsaninvestor lookingtoprovide apromisingyoung farmercomingthroughtherankswithan opportunitytoleasetheirfirstfarm.

To findoutmoreaboutthisaffordable opportunity,calloremail JeromePitt(0272422199 jeromep@forfarms.co.nz).

Norsewood

LocatedinNorsewood,SouthernHawke’sBay, NgamokoHeightsis asummer-safecattlefarm, comprisingof40.5192hectaresofpredominantly flat toeasycountrywiththebalancebeing medium. With a2009-newhomepresentedbeautifullyand inexcellentcondition,aswellasgaragesandsheds galore,thispropertyoffersbuyers arangeofexciting options.

SouthernHawke’sBay

Whywouldn’tyou?Situated32kmineitherdirection from WaipukurauandDannevirkeis42hectares (103acres)offlat-easycontour,withapproximately 4hectaresbeingmowablelocatedintheSouthern Hawke’sBay.Withwellset-upinfrastructureforcalfrearing,excellentfencingforsheepandcattlefinishing, and areliablewatersupply,thisturn-keyoperationis waitingforitsnewowner.

M: 0272422199

H: 063744105

E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

Thepropertyiscomplimentedby atidythreebedroom homewith alargedeckandswimmingpoolandthe landevenhasitsveryownwaterfall!

M: 0272422199

H: 063744105

E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

Countingthecost ofourmostexpensiveweatherevent

It’sshapingupto beNewZealand’s mostexpensiveweathereventandin termsofitsspreadandscale,itmaybe worsethantheChristchurchearthquake, FederatedFarmersCEO TerryCopeland says.

Copeland,wholosthishomeinthe southernquake,recentlysawforhimself theflooding,siltandslipdamageinrural areasoftheHawke’sBay.

“Thereare areastherethatlooklikea lunarlandscape –justeverythingwiped out.Thereare farmersandgrowers whoselivelihoodsandeverythingthey ownhavebeenstampedoutovernight.

“ThefactthatCycloneGabriellehas claimedatleast11livesisdevastating butquitehonestlywe’reveryfortunate thetollisn’talothigher,”Copelandsaid. Thegovernmenthas recentlystepped upwith$26millionofdirectsupportto farmersandgrowers,inadditiontothe $25millionannouncedlastmonth.

“That’sastrongresponse,andvery welcome,”theFedsleadersaid, “but Ithinkeveryone –includingthe government –knowsit’sonly astep alongthelongpathto recovery.”

FederatedFarmershasbeenaskedbya numberofmediaoutletstoput adollar figureonrural sectorlossesfromCyclone Gabrielle,andCycloneHalebeforeit.

“Honestly,thecostisstillbeingcounted,” Copelandsaid.“Therewill stillbefarms ontheEastCape,forexample,who haven’tbeenabletogetouttotheback oftheirpropertiestodoanassessment becauseofdestroyedaccess.” Stocklosseswillbeinthemany,many thousandsofanimals.

“Asaneducatedestimate,theFederated Farmerspolicyteambelievestotal on-farmcosts,incomedisruption, infrastructurerepairandcrop/orchard restorationbillsforallaffectedfarmers andgrowerscouldtop$1billion.”

Coststothenationintermsofpublic infrastructure,foodshortagesand inflationcomeontop.

Thesevere2004floodsprovidesome sortofbenchmark –andbearinmind thesecostsarein2004dollars.Some ofthestatisticsfromthatevent:1014 farmsflood-damaged;5000sheepand upto1000dairycattlelost;20,000haof farmlandunderwater;$5.8minlosses fromdumpedmilk(Fonterraalone);$24 millionindamagetorivers;anestimated $159m-$189mdamagetofarmsand another$200minuninsureddamage; $77mindamageto roadandbridges.

CycloneGabrielle’simpactsarea quantumbigger.Itwreakedhavoc over awider area(nineprovincesvs five)anddamagetoruralinfrastructure seemsmuchmoresevere.Horticulture businessesinparticularhavesuffered significantlyhigherdamageinthe recent event.

In Tairawhiti,FederatedFarmers Gisborne-WairoaactingpresidentCharlie Reynoldshasmadethepointthat restoringfencelines –criticaltolivestock feedmanagement –costsaround $25,000perkilometre.Thereare plenty offarmsinthe regionwith10kmormore offencelineslumpedorwashedaway. Anotherexample:Anappleorchardis roughlyvaluedatabout$100,000per hectare(excludinglandvalue).Some 2,100haoforchardsintheHawke’sBay alonehasbeendestroyedorseverely damaged.

RuralinsurancespecialistFMGisalready handlingmorethan3000claimsfrom CycloneGabrielle.

“Thesumsinvolved,thestresson familyfamiliesandthehitonproduction andincomesinruralareas reallyare horrendous,” TerryCopelandsaid.

“Recoveryisgoingtobe averylonghaul and –quiterightly –seriousquestions arebeingaskedaboutwhere,andhow, to rebuild roads,bridges,rail,electricity sub-stationsandotherinfrastructure.”

Moving towardsrecovery

ByHinewaiOrmsby ChairoftheHawke’sBayRegionalCouncil

CycloneGabrielle’simpactonour regionhasbeenmassiveandwill befeltformanyyears. Tragically liveshavebeenlostandourheartsgo outtotheirfamiliesandwhnau.Those whohavelosthomes,businessesand livelihoodsneedoursupporttohelpthem gettheirlivesbacktogether.

Hawke’sBayRegionalCouncilhastaken amajor roleinthecivildefence response, andourstaffhavecontributedmassively tothe region’sresponse.Thiseffortand

focuswillcontinueaswemoveintothe recoveryphase.

Keytoour recoverywillbefindingways ourcouncilcanhelpthoseimpacted bythefloodstohelpthemselves.Our communitiesneedtobe reconnected assoonaspossibleandinfrastructure repairedsoour rebuildcangetunderway atscale.

Itis reassuringthatwehavebeenvisited by anumberofgovernmentministers,all ofwhomhavestressedtheircommitment toour recovery.I haveurgedthissupport tobeconstantandcontinual. We cannot recoverasaregionwithouttheon-going supportofcentralgovernment.

Duringthesevisits,wehaveconsistently emphasisedthatweneedfour-wheeldriveaccesstoourruralcommunitiesas soonaspossible,andthatstocktrucks needtobeabletakestockfromfarms beforewinter.Thismaymeantemporary solutionsto roadingandbridging,with permanentsolutionscominglater.

We anticipatethattherewillalsobemany thousandsoftonnesofwastethatwill needtobedealtwith. We appreciatethat youwillwanttostartthe recoveryofyour landassoonaspossible.

TheCouncilisputting significant resources intoenvironmentally responsiblesolutionsfor retrievaland removalof thesiltandwoodwaste, carcasses,andbroken fencingonfarms. We encourageimpacted farmerstocontactusto discuss removaloptions andhowwecanhelp. We arealso repairing damagedstop-banks. We need togetthe region’sfloodprotection uptostandardassoon aspossiblesoweare readyforfutureweather events.TheCouncilhasover248km ofstopbanksacrosstheHeretaunga Plainsonthe Tukituki, Waipawa, TtaekurandNgaruroro riversandsome tributaries.Thereare 6.7kmofbreaches tothisnetworkandwehavetemporarily repairedallthesegaps. We arenow workingextremelyhardwithmultiple teamsoverthecomingmonthsto permanently repairthebanks.Usingthe siltofffarmswillhelpwiththiswork.

Overall,wenowknowthatCyclone Gabrielledumpedunprecedentedand un-forecastamountsofraininriver catchments. We aregetting amuch betterpictureofthedamage done.And

weknowthatwhentheCouncilworks withitscommunities,our rebuild willbe better.

Ifyouhaveanyfurtherideasabouthow thiscanoccur,pleasecontact myselfor othercouncillors.

To seetheHBRCHelpForFarmersand Growerswebpagepleasegoto:https:// hbrc.info/HelpforFarmers

HinewaiinspectingdamageatDartmoor 4daysafterCyclone Gabriellehit

FMGis making steadyprogress

RuralinsurerFMGsaysit’smaking steadyprogressontheinitialclaims it’sreceived,appreciatingthere’sstill alongwaytogotosupporteveryone impactedbythe recentsevereweather.

“Wewanttoacknowledgethepatience ofourclientsasweworkthroughthe highvolumeofclaimsgeneratedbythese extremeweatherevents,”saysFMG’s HeadofClaims,NickiMackay.

“Ifyourclaimiswithus,thenplease knowwe’reworking hard,itwilltaketime, sowe reallyappreciateyourpatience.”

TheFMGClaims Team hasnoticeda significantincreaseincallsfromclients

callinginforanupdateonhowtheirclaim istracking.

“While Ifullyempathise,I’dliketoassure everyonethatifyou’velodged aclaim, cyclonerelatedornot,thatit’sbeing managedbyourClaims Team andwe’ll beintouchassoonaswehavean update,”saysNicki.

“Weare prioritisingandworkingthrough ourmostvulnerableclientswithurgent claims,andinorderofseverity.These arethepeoplewhohavelosteverything,” saysNicki.Clientscanalsocheckthe progressoftheclaimsviaFMG’sonline

offeringFMGConnect –reducingthe needtowaitonthephone.

“Clientswhohavelodged aclaim will have receivedadviceoutliningwhat informationweneedtoprocessthe claim.Oncethecorrectinformationis provided,we’llcontinuewiththeprocess. Pleasecheckforthisletterorclaimants canupdatethisinformationonFMG Connect.”

RegardingFMG’swider responsetothe recentsevereweatherevents,it’smoved itsin-houseassessorsfromaroundthe countrytotheareasmostimpacted. Ithasalsocontractedinadditional

assessingsupportto reachpeopleas efficientlyandassafelyaspossible.

“We’realreadysettlingclaims,making emergencypayments,andsupporting clientsthatneeditwithtemporary accommodation,”saysNickiMackay. Sofar,FMGhaslodged3,824claims relatedtoCycloneGabrielle,mostlyfor buildings,contents,andvehiclesaswell assomeclaimsforbusinessinterruption. Ifyouneedimmediatesupport,like temporaryaccommodation,thenplease callFMGon0800366466. We’rehere and readytohelp.

5yearsintoproducingtheSISBallcock

-notonehasgoneinthecemetery

Anindependenttrialshowedat52psiwith50mm pipeworktotheballcock,theballcockgave aflowrate of13cubicmetresperhour

These 8plasticballcocksfailed –afewofthemwithin60daysofinstallation.In5-yearsof manufacturingourSIS Valve –not asingleunithasbeendumped.

Note: a70yearoldcastinplacetrough. Theseballcocksdidnotfailinthistrough.However,thefarmerdidcomment(withsomedegreeof embarrassment)thatthenumberofbrokenarmsandbodiesinthetrough waswellintodoublefigures.

Madefrom316marinegradestainlesssteel. Afarmin ourareahas300troughs,thispropertyhas20%ofthe ballcocksfaileveryyear,thatis60 ayear,of thoseat least10%willbelessthan