The Country Bumper Edition - June 2022 by NZME.

BUMPER EDITION 2022

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BUMPER EDITION

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IN ROWENA’S WORDS…

n my humble opinion, March is ctically the best month of the year. prac cks off with my birthday on the It kic compasses the world-renowned 1st, enc n Shears in Masterton on the first Golden day, and is then swiftly followed up Saturd by th he Norwood Rural Sports Awards d New Zealand Rural Games in and Pallmerston North the following eekend. In Central Districts, the we egional Field Days bring everyone re together, and in Central Otago, the beautiful autumn colours begin emerging. It’s still warm enough to wakeboard without a wetsuit, cool enough to play a round of golf without being burnt to a crisp, and towards the end of the month deer usually begin to roar. The only thing that tops the bounty of delights that March prrovides, is June. The National eldays at Mystery Creek are to Fie mers like Christmas is for children, farm pening Morning for duck hunters. or Op The most wonderful time of the year. Exceptt for the inevitable annual fog disrupttion for flights. Or mud that’s been known to hamper the car parks. But it’s a chance to get off farm, bump into new an nd old frriends, check out the incredible evelopme ents in innovation and ingenuity de wi farmerss are so famous for. kiw he Counttry bumper edition provides the Th pportunitty to see what our rural retailers op have on offer, ahead of the postponed nt in late spring. Because it doesn’t even mattter what changes happen during the year, farming carries on no matter

what. There’s still winter to get th hrough and we all will be looking forward to spring, new arrivals on the farm and good grasss growth. So, enjoy, go crazy and feel good aboutt keeping the wheels of commerce turning. This is the perfect time to splash out and feel good about it! And let’s do it all again, in persson, ery in November – see you at Myste Creek!

A WORD FROM JAMIE...

’ve been going to Fieldayss annually to broadcast my rurral radio show since the late 1990ss. It’s like a comfy old set of gumboots I slip into every June. Just like night fo ollows ystery day and fog always rolls into My Creek, I was there, every year! Then Covid came along and my y two decade-long pattern was broken in 2020. Thankfully we got a break in the traffi ffi last ffic year but the pandemic has necesssitated w what yet another change. And you know oliday. they say? A change is as good as a ho eldays But how will I get my June Fie out the farming fix? How will I find out abo ation? latest in rural technology and innova Simple! Listen to The Country with Rowena Duncum and myself. We’re running a ‘Future of Farming’ series in June. Or better still have a flick thrrough untry. this bumper print edition of The Cou

See you at Mystery Creek on November 30!

Jamie Mackay and Rowena Duncum broadcast The Country radio show on the Newstalk ZB, GoldAM and Hokonui Mon-Fri 12-1pm. Also streamed on iHeart Radio and on-demand via www.thecountry.co.nz

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Contents Farmer, Doctor & Adventurer

Time to gear up

Fieldays update

Reboot your soil

Rural property roundup

Moving to greener pastures

Forestry/Don Carson

Fertiliser availability

Heartland Rugby

Managing pressure

Off-grid escape

Face of the future

Forestry investment

Sector celebrates 140 years

Water and rural living

Bumper Edition June 2022 | Published by New Zealand Media & Entertainment

BUMPER EDITION 3

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Farmer, Doctor and Adventurer Everyone needs a great neighbour writes Kem Ormond

aving a neighbour who is both a farmer and a doctor would add a sense of relief to anyone living

rurally. On our road when a neighbour needs a hand, there is always one person that you can rely on and that is Izzy. A catchup with her usually consists of meeting each other at the communal letterbox or waving through a cloud of dust. Dr Isabelle Lusk, or Izzy to her friends and neighbours, lives in the beautiful TukiTuki Valley in Hawke’s Bay, enjoying rural life on 70 acres with her family, cattle, sheep, and her beloved horses. With parents who are keen arborists, planting natives on her property has been a pet project. Having retired 3 acres alongside a gully, she has planted 2000 natives and each winter another 300 natives are added. With typical humility, she tells me she is just a normal working mum juggling work, life, and family, however there is a little more to this story. During the week she dons her doctor’s attire, and heads to one of the local health centres where she is a GP caring for her 700 patients. On weekends and days off, she is often seen riding her horse, moving sheep, or even helping the neighbours with their docking. If wearing two hats doesn’t keep her busy, finding family time is also a balancing act, but an important factor in Izzy’s life. She likes to be involved in her daughter Amy’s (10) local country school, manage her son James’ (12) basketball team, coach the mathletics team as well as helping at the local sports day. When life is this hectic, having a husband who is a locum doctor and can arrange his work life to be there for the bus run is a great help. On top of all that, she is often off to the Chathams to be the local GP, giving the regular GP a chance for a break off the island. The call of the Chathams In 2016 a work colleague sent Izzy a copy of an advertisement, thinking she and her husband Phil may be up for a taste of adventure. Off they went for an initial six weeks, putting the children into the local school and sharing the clinics and on-call. They fell in love with the way of

life and the challenge and variety of work in the Chathams and have since done many more stints and with more planned over the next two to three years. On the island is a beautiful weatherboard hospital that was originally built by nuns in the early 1920s. The doctors’ house is on the hospital grounds and includes a prolific vegetable garden that docs are tasked with tendering, following in the footsteps of generations of GPs on the island. The hospital has the capacity to sleep three patients overnight. The clinic runs from 8.30am- midday, Monday to Friday and the Dr is on call 24hrs a day. Despite a population of only 600 residents, during Izzy’s three-month stints, there has been a surprising number of acute incidents. Everything is dictated by the 800km ocean between the island and the nearest big hospital and a small team with limited equipment. Dealing with medical emergencies just becomes a way of life for the Chatham Island Dr, including the challenges that it brings. We are not talking scrapes, sprains, or a fishhook in the finger, and there have been quite a few of those. Izzy has seen the full raft of surgical, cardiac, and

Above: Horses are a passion for Dr Isabelle Lusk. Photo/Warren Buckland / HBToday

Left: The Chatham Islands has an abundance of fresh seafood. Photo/supplied

mental health emergencies, including several overnight stints with critically unwell patients until the retrieval team could get through. We are talking patients at sea, storms, air ambulances that can’t take off or land and fishing boats that must fight mother nature to get to the island. She has been recruited into fast and furious netball league teams both winters and is hoping at the New Year’s Day races next year, to get the chance to ride one of the racehorses in what is a highlight in the island’s calendar year. Obvious problem there, who will pick her up if she comes a cropper!

No matter what, Dr Isabelle Lusk certainly has found her happy place, at this beautiful, rugged, and isolated island. To be able to work with a resilient and resourceful medical team, enjoy the challenges and varied work, walk the magnificent windswept beaches and land blue cod off the rocks, you really couldn’t ask for more. And where to for Izzy? Her wish list includes more remote and rural medicine and perhaps some expedition medicine to more remote parts of the globe once the children get older.

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4 BUMPER EDITION

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Winter means it’s time to gear up! Each year I plan to get more organised . . . And each year I fall short, but I think I have found my solution writes Kem Ormond

few years ago, I had the unfortunate experience of being stranded in my home for three days. The ford up my road overflowed and turned into a raging river. Plus, if that wasn’t bad enough the power went off as well. Luckily, I had gas to cook on, bucket loads of water and a wood fire. Unfortunately, conversation was limited to one mute cat. It was while I was waiting for my frozen meat to start to thaw and my minted peas to start escaping from the freezer, that I realised it was about time to consider a generator. I am time poor, if I can get all I need in one dash through a shop then I am up for it! That is where NZ Safety Blackwoods comes in. Honestly, talk about a kid in a lolly shop and any rural person would have to feel the same. They have everything that is going to make life so much easier and enjoyable from safety clothing, workwear, engineering supplies, packaging/hygiene, and power tools . . . they even have coffee!

This is my kind of shop!

Top Sellers

With over 70 years’ experience in New Zealand, nobody has more indepth knowledge of providing safety equipment, engineering, workwear, hygiene, and packaging than NZ Safety Blackwoods. With 32 Trade Centres across New Zealand, a comprehensive digital platform, knowledgeable sales and service reps, an award-winning customer experience team, and a range of over 120,000 products – partnering with NZ Safety Blackwoods allows you to leverage their scale, knowledge, and relationships with preferred suppliers to access the best products at the right price.

Well, that would have to be safety footwear. When you or your workers are on your feet all day, you both need footwear products that offer protection and support. Their range is extensive covering, safety, non-safety, gumboots, and safety footwear for women. Community plays a big role with NZ Safety Blackwoods NZ Safety Blackwoods has been a proud sponsor of the KidsCan Charitable Trust since March 2019, donating $5 from every sale of our Tredlite range of Safety footwear. In their first three years of sponsorship (March 2019 to March 2022), they proudly raised a total of $300,000.

This has been donated directly to KidsCan to help Kiwi kids affected by poverty so they can participate in learning and have an opportunity for a better future. All NZ Safety Blackwoods funds raised for KidsCan goes directly into their Jackets for Schools and ECEs programme. Since its launch in 2005, the charity has distributed over 340,000 raincoats. And because every child receives one, it makes them all feel special. NZ Safety Blackwoods stock not only coffee, but coffee pod machines, team them up with the merino gumboot socks that I took a fancy to, and I will be happy . . . happy . . . and we all need a bit of that don’t we!

NZSafety Blackwoods stock a vast range of Safety and workwear. Photo/supplied

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6 BUMPER EDITION

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Fieldays 2022 gearing up for a bumper event Mark your Calender, the Fieldays are back! Supplied by the NZ National Fieldays Society

ieldays attendees will have to swap their winter coats and gumboots for jandals and sunnies, with the iconic four-day agri event being held in summer for the first time in its 54-year history. From the farmers eager to get their annual Fieldays fix to townies looking to get a taste of what’s on offer, Fieldays 2022 will showcase the whole food and fibre journey, from farm to plate. Shifting Fieldays 2022 to November 30 to December 3 was not an easy decision but will ensure the popular four-day agri event can run to its full potential. The shift also provides a one-off opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand organisations to exhibit, when usually cannot attend during the event’s traditional June period. Other benefits of a summer Fieldays also include: no braving the chilly winter mornings, thick fog causing flight delays, longer days, better weather, and a good opportunity to do some Christmas shopping! The largest agri event in the Southern Hemisphere plans to end 2022 with a bang, considering last year’s event was a huge success. Fieldays 2021 generated an impressive $675m in sales revenue for New Zealand firms with $234m going

into the Waikato region alone. Plus, $330m additional GDP was generated for the New Zealand economy at Fieldays 2021, and almost 3,000 jobs were sustained. Chief Executive of the New Zealand National Fieldays Society, Peter Nation, says despite its vital boost to the local economy, Fieldays is much more than just doing business. “Fieldays is not just a platform for primary sector businesses to trade, it’s also a destination for families, friends, and the primary industries to come together. “Having that sense of connection is important for our wellbeing and bolsters our identity as Kiwis - events are in our DNA.” Shifting the popular four-day agri event also means that the gates at Mystery Creek will open to

international visitors and exhibitors as Aotearoa New Zealand’s borders are set to open by 31 July. “As a world-renowned event, it will be incredible to be able to welcome attendees and organisations from across the globe for the first time since 2019,” Peter says. “The conversations, connections, and meetings that could potentially take place at Fieldays 2022 would help drive our primary sector’s output and reputation worldwide.” He also notes that the event being positioned in November/December will suit those planning their summer holidays around the event. “The timing of Fieldays 2022 will suit many attending from overseas, who may choose to attend Fieldays and then enjoy a long summer holiday with friends and whānau. This within

Crowds are expected to return to the popular 4 day agri event. Photo/supplied

itself will bring an economic boost and much-needed tourism to our regions.” “We are very much looking forward to opening the gates in November for a summer celebration of Aotearoa’s primary sector.”

UR O Y W YLE O R G IFEST L

Winter Shopping list Rug up warm as you head outdoors Keep on track with your jobs through winter by repairing fencing, pruning trees and break fencing. We have you sorted for the colder months with our full range of winter clothing now available. Remember to keep your animal feed stocked up and on-hand. It won’t take long to organise; you can get everything you need online and delivered to you.

- Wett weaather gear - Break fencing - Thermals - Kids gummies - Animal feed Shop online now at store.pggwrightson.co.nz

BUMPER EDITION 7

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Farmers returning to their grass roots Reboot your soil. . . case study Supplied by Pastoral Improvements

ay of Plenty Farmers Tony and Chantel Hanham have changed their grazing ideologies and are literally returning to their roots. After years of exhausting more traditional farming methods, Tony knew something had to change. Both Tony and Chantel were determined to make as many changes as were needed to improve their soil and animal health. None of the traditional methods were working for them. After extensive research they realised a diverse multi species seed mix, along with nature’s synergy would replenish and reboot soil health. They approached Canterbury based seed company, Pastoral Improvements with their research and ideas and out of that meeting came the development and trialling of the “Reboot Seed Mix”, a long rotation grazing mix made up of 30 varieties. High yielding and high performing, providing substantial soil remedial benefits and increased animal health without compromising profit, everything the Hanhams were after. While reducing synthetic inputs, Tony and Chantel have seen a huge increase in soil nitrogen, fungal and bacterial activity since using Reboot to regenerate their soil. Four years on, the cows are thriving off the change, with

an indisputable boost in animal health resulting in increased production. One year of growing Reboot sequestered 36/t of atmospheric CO2 in a 300mm soil test, equating to about 10/t/ha soil carbon. 1 gram of carbon can hold 8 grams of water. If you want to mitigate farm emissions, this is a great model to introduce. Tony says “It’s a great feeling, when you can see the change every day because you’re on farm and you’re watching it happen. I look out at my cows and see them sitting down content, they get variety in their diet and eat nutrient dense forage as opposed to urea driven grass.” Where to start So, how can people who haven’t tried a multi species like Reboot slip it into their own system without too much risk? Tony advises “Sow a trial paddock, start small and increase the number of hectares you sow as you start to see results. A mentor is very important for confidence and management at the start, so talk to people who have already succeeded with the process. Pastoral Improvement can help with this. Soil test and using your results you can monitor your carbon more accurately and the nutrient density in your soil will rise as carbon rises” So, whether you need to find out more about the benefits of growing multi species like Reboot or ryegrass, clovers, legumes, herbs or brassicas,

the qualified staff at Pastoral Improvements will work with you, ascertaining what will be the ideal seed mix to enrich your pastures for maximum outcome. When it comes to the seeds you plant, it makes sense to get good sound advice Pastoral Improvements is a proprietary forage seed development and marketing enterprise, focused on serving farmers best interests in feed production. Uniquely 100% New Zealand owned and privately held, giving a heightened interest in their farming partners success, longevity and longterm relationships with them and their forages. They are focused on providing their customers with a high-quality product at fair market prices because they understand the challenges of the industry.

Having successfully developed several cultivars that have niches in their pastoral farming, Pastoral Improvements dispatch seed nationwide daily and export internationally. Right now, we are in the midst of a significant change within agriculture, international trade, food production and environmental concerns being front of mind to all. Customers internationally, demand to know their food has been produced sustainably and solely with a focus to land guardianship and improving their holding i.e., that the producer has looked after the soil. For full Reboot and other product information visit www. pastoralimprovements.co.nz, for the unabridged case study email your request willi@pastoralimprovements. co.nz

Above: Reboot, prior to first grazing Photo/supplied

8 BUMPER EDITION

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New Zealand’s rural property holds its own Inflation is the elephant in the room writes Nick Hawken, Bayley National Director Rural

espite some significant headwinds in the rural sector, property volumes and values are holding strong across the country reflecting the importance of our primary sector in the New Zealand story. There’s no denying that the past couple of years have thrown some significant curve balls at New Zealand’s rural sector, with those on the land responding with resilience and pragmatism as they’ve done the heavy lifting throughout the global pandemic. 2022 was always shaping up to be the year when the rubber hit the road, but rural New Zealand knows what it will take to retain our reputation and position as a leading producer and valued contributor to the global food bowl. With macro-influences on our primary sector continuing to loom large, and layers of uncertainty still to unravel, there are domestic challenges like labour shortages, climate change compliance, water and land management reforms, supply chain hiccups and in some regions, drought conditions to contend with. Meanwhile, inflation is the elephant in the room squeezing farm gate margins and taking the cream off the

top. Climate and environmental topics have continued to dominate headlines for the primary sector and earlier this year, it seemed that targets and tax systems which eat into farmers’ productivity and profitability were overshadowing the potential that technology could play in reducing overall agriculture emissions. However, the recent government announcement to establish a new Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions demonstrates a step in the right direction to support our primary sector. Although uncertainty remains regarding the real cost of emission reductions for individual farmers and the New Zealand economy overall as the carbon price keeps growing, the industry partnership He Waka Eke Noa finalised its recommendations to the government at the end of May. Farmers have spoken and they don’t want agricultural emission to be priced through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and have indicated a preference for a fairer farm-level pricing structure that recognises and rewards their on-farm actions. As I interact with clients around New Zealand, it’s very apparent that farmers are aiming high and know what needs to be done. In the rural property transaction space, lenders and advisors are scrutinising input/output data and wanting transparent record-keeping

with evidence of good governance of a property and Bayleys’ rural team is very aware of this in our dealings with clients and buyers. “The Future Maintainable Production Equation” is now a very real consideration come transaction time for buyers, and those vendors that are well-prepared are separated from the pack. Such detail may provide a premium price in the market – something that Bayleys continuously seeks for our vendors. The rural property market for the 12 months to 31 March 2022 experienced a lift nationally with almost 34 percent more land marketed and sold than the previous year. Not surprisingly with a solid payout, dairy farms sales were a big contributor to this growth however, across the board, values have lifted, driven by competing land use amongst horticulturists, dairy and fattening operators, as well as forestry and hill country farmers.

The performance of our primary sector exports on the global stage in recent years has boosted confidence amongst operators and driven the level of interest seen by various buyer groups. Zespri’s latest round of license tenders again hit record prices with a median of $801,000 per hectare for SunGold G3 kiwifruit demonstrating the continued confidence in the product, while Fonterra’s farmgate milk forecasts remains up around a record $9.00/kgMS for the season, underpinned by global demand and supply dynamics. While it is not clear whether we have reached the top of the cycle, we must remember that commodity markets are cyclical, and inevitably cycles bring volatility. Although inflation will dilute real returns to producers, it will be fascinating to see what value investors place on rural land as a future hedge to inflation.

The rural market has experienced a lift nationally Photo/supplied

YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS National network, strong local National network, strong local connections connections Bayleys Country saleshave teamthe have the market covered with experts in Bayleys Country sales team market covered with experts in all corners the country, who understand New Zealand’s rural sector, all corners of the of country, who understand New Zealand’s rural sector, whether it’s dairy, horticulture, viticulture or 22 lifestyle whether it’s a farm, land,drystock, lifestyle block or vineyards. In over years,real we estate. In over 22 years,number we have become New Zealand’s number one have become New Zealand’s one rural real estate brand, with our ruralteam real estate brand, with our dedicated team of country dedicated of country salespeople selling more farmland thansalespeople any selling more farmland than any other agency. other agency.

Bayleys Country team is part of the wider Bayleys national network Bayleys Country team is part of the wider Bayleys national network across all sectors; Residential, Commercial Property Services. across all sectors; Residential, Commercial andand Property Services. WeWe have ability to derive insights expertise from across country have thethe ability to derive insights andand expertise from across thethe country along with local market knowledge, provide clients andand along with ourour local market knowledge, we we cancan provide ourour clients unmatched results when it comes to ﬁnding best buyers your unmatched results when it comes to ﬁnding thethe best buyers for for your rural rural or lifestyle or lifestyle property.property.

bayleys.co.nz/rural bayleys.co.nz/rural LICENSED UNDER THE REA LICENSED UNDER THE ACT REA 2008 ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Pukekawa 376 Clark and Denize Road

Te Puke 670 No 2 Road

Centrally located riverfront farm

245ha

Kiwifruit, family home and the ideal shed

12.7323ha

This well-developed 245ha (more or less) property features majestic views over the Waikato River. The land consists of cropped river ﬂats with the balance easy to rolling contour with 60ha under crop rotation. The versatile block is situated in the heart of market garden country with peat, river silt and Pukekawa ash soils. Improvements include a one-bed cottage, four-bay implement shed and disused cowshed. You will be spoilt for choice with an abundance of excellent building sites featuring expansive river views in such a picturesque setting. An abundance of recreational appeal includes the stunning three kilometre river boundary, native bush, and established pine plantation.

Price by Negotiation

Located on very desirable No 2 Road and holding over a kilometre of road frontage (more or less) which could hold an opportunity for future subdivision potential. As it stands, it’s an impeccably presented property. The orchard consists of two separate KPINs totalling 6.59can/ha of mature Hayward kiwifruit (more or less), well sheltered with evergreen hedging supported by a well-sized loadout area and extensive four-bay shedding that includes a lockable workshop, smoko room, and a very functional vehicle pit. The solid brick and tile fourbedroom family home has superb indoor-outdoor ﬂow onto the fenced pool area and surrounding gardens.

Asking Price $5,400,000 + GST

Peter Kelly 027 432 4278 peter.kelly@bayleys.co.nz Karl Davis 027 496 4633 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

(if any)

Snow Williams 027 275 5500 snow.williams@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2502583

bayleys.co.nz/2313217

Gisborne 1276 Pehiri Road, Pehiri

Waipukurau 464 Mount Herbert Road

Sun Peaks Station: a well-balanced 737ha

737ha

X factor at Mount Herbert Farm

94.1236ha

Sun Peaks Station is 737ha of balanced contour, located 46km inland from Gisborne City, in the thriving Pehiri community. Set in an appealing farming climate, Sun Peaks enjoys mild winters and largely good growing conditions throughout summer. Investment into the farm in recent years is emphasised through new fencing and the addition of an extensive stock water reticulation system, which is complemented by excellent natural water across the farm. The farm aspect provides excellent sheltered breeding conditions. Easy contour at the front of the farm is utilised for summer crops and high-performance pastures, with circa 100ha easy contour bull unit at the back.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 22 Jun 2022 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne

If you’re looking for a property with X factor, Mount Herbert Farm, 94.12ha (more or less), could be described as the complete package. Situated only 3.4km from the main street of Waipukurau, facing north over the Tukituki river, you will enjoy rural living on town fringes. The 428sqm homestead comprises of six double bedrooms, ﬁve bathrooms, open plan living and double garage and sits on an elevated site with pool and grass tennis court among private gardens. The approximately 53.8ha irrigated alluvial Class 2 ﬂats suitable for farming livestock, cash cropping and/or horticulture. Farm infrastructure includes a three-stand woolshed, sheep and cattle yards plus a cottage.

Tender Closing 12pm, Thurs 30 Jun 2022 26 Takapau Road, Waipukurau

View by appointment Simon Bousﬁeld 027 665 8778 simon.bousﬁeld@bayleys.co.nz Stephen Thomson 027 450 6531 stephen.thomson@bayleys.co.nz BOUSFIELD MACPHERSON LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

View by appointment Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz Andy Lee 027 354 8608 andy.lee@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY (WAIRARAPA) LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2752583

bayleys.co.nz/2870884

Tararua

Masterton 370 Masterton-Stronvar Road, Weraiti

926 Waituna Road, Kumeroa

Talana Hill

660.42ha

Larger than lifestyle

46.6635ha

Located in the renowned farming district of Kumeroa, Talana Hill is a property that has been meticulously and faithfully cared for by its owners of 22 years. From the moment you go through the gates you will see the duty of care that has gone in to ensuring this property is set up for ease of management. Talana Hill is a genuine hill country property, with a balance of approximately 18 hectares of cultivatable land, 307 hectares of medium to steep hill country and 335 hectares of steep hill country. The scale of the property gives options for both sheep and beef, or forestry, with fantastic access throughout the property. Multiple titles offer different options for purchase if required.

Price by Negotiation

On the exclusive Weraiti Hill lies this attractive 46.6635ha property just ﬁve minutes from Masterton. A well-formed driveway leads to the central building site looking north over the majority of the farm. Water is sourced from the reliable Wainuioru scheme and is reticulated around the farm. The block is well subdivided with electric fencing and the contour of the property makes for easy stock management. A beautiful setting and an opportunity to build the dream home and have a small farming operation on the outskirts of town.

Price by Negotiation

bayleys.co.nz/3100406

bayleys.co.nz/rural

Paul Hofmann 021 084 60446 paul.hofmann@bayleys.co.nz Andrew Smith 027 760 8208 a.smith@bayleys.co.nz MID WEST REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 EASTERN REALTY (WAIRARAPA) LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/3151101

Andrew Smith 027 760 8208 a.smith@bayleys.co.nz Simon Clinton-Baker 021 953 909 simon.clinton-baker@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY (WAIRARAPA) LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

10 BUMPER EDITION

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MOOving to greener pastures We have all heard that old say saying “The grass is always greener on the other side”. Two brothers from Eketahuna are about to experience it! writes Kem Ormond

ust 11 years ago, they arrived from India with just two suitcases, and through sheer hard work and determination, brothers Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kambo are about to start a new adventure. While living in India, Manoj finished an agricultural degree and worked for a fertiliser company for nine months. He came to New Zealand in 2010 to study horticulture for nine months. Sumit came over after Manoj and gained a diploma in business management in Tauranga. Manoj then decided to have a go at dairy farming, getting a job in 2011 on Andrew and Monica Arbuthnott’s 285 cow Chessfield farm as farm assistant for six months, then being promoted to farm manager. He then changed to contract milking on the farm and Sumit joined him in 2012. Last year they started sharemilking on an additional farm, Windhoeak with 460 cows, owned by Geoff Arends and Ester Romp What they love about New Zealand dairy farming, is how rewarding it is to see the improvements that can

be made on-farm, and they love the culture which they have found unlike in any other industry. In 2021 the brothers were named Bay/Wairarapa Share Hawke’s Farmers of the year (regional) as well as the National title of New Zealand share Farmers of the year. A huge achievement. This came about from their professionalism, drive and being high-achieving farmers. June will see them and their 9 staff moving from the Tararua district and heading down to Methven, in the South. Unlike other share milkers, who have to pack up their homes, equipment, and herd, it will be a little easier for Manoj and Sumit. Their herd and machinery have been sold and they only have

their household goods, staff, and their suitcase to take. They are leaving for bigger opportunities and bigger challenges! From milking 760 cows on two farms to milking 2,000 cows on one farm. The new farm is 540 hectares, all irrigated and the herd and machinery will be waiting for them when they arrive. This way there is no disease being transmitted into the property and when they leave it will all stay for the next Sharemilker. Hopefully by only having one farm to work and a group well-seasoned staff, they may finally have more spare time for family and relaxation. What is the Vision for the future?

The brothers’ vision is to be ultimate farmers producing high-quality food that is valued and satisfying to produce. Their mission is: surrounding themselves with the right people. Educating themselves and the next generation. Supporting the community. Being passionate about they do. Using technology and being early adopters. Setting reasonable goals and incurring no bad debts. The brothers’ long-term goal is to own multiple farms and set up an offfarm business. I think a wonderful future is awaiting these two brothers, they are an inspiration to any young person contemplating getting into dairying. They show where hard work and vision will take you.

Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kambo moving to Methven, for bigger opportunities and bigger challenges. Photo/ supplied

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Solid future for wood Markets can be fickle and trees planted now won’t be seeing a sawmill for at least two decades.Writes Don Carson

hat the downstream industries of wood processing have an immediate and exciting future has been highlighted in the recently released Emissions Reduction Plan. We’ve known for a long time of how exotic trees sequester huge volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and so manage to offset three out of every eight tonnes of New Zealand’s agriculture and industrial greenhouse gas emissions. That’s been an opportunity for decades for many farmers to invest in long term timber production, but also more recently to earn carbon credits. So, areas of mostly marginal farmland have been converted from pasture to production forestry. That will continue, especially in the more vulnerable summer dry parts of our country where dryland farming is threatened by both more days per year of soil moisture deficit, but paradoxically more intense and erosion inducing storms and floods. More planting has raised questions of the long-term prospects for timber. Markets can be fickle and trees planted now won’t be seeing a sawmill for at least

two decades. It’s also common knowledge that New Zealand has a large exposure to China and is dependent on logs for half its forest product export income. That’s where the Gas Reduction Plan has clear pointers to where forest products are headed. Firstly, the government impetus to process more timber in New Zealand. There are obvious legislative blocks to the development of sophisticated wood processing here. Law changes, carefully managed, will give potential investors more confidence to put their money into building capacity. Red Stag, just out of Rotorua, is an example of not just investor confidence, but an indication of the second feature of wood processing here. That is, modern engineered timber. Beyond residential housing, wood has not been a major building material for decades all around the world. Concrete pours and steel beams have been the order of the day. But the advantages of using cross laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber are becoming increasingly apparent, with easier and more rapid and safer construction featuring in architectural considerations. The sky, almost literally, is the limit. Tokyo based Sumitomo are building Japan’s tallest building, at 70 storeys and 350 metres high. It is being made of 90 percent wood. Such huge wooden construction has environmental advantages. The carbon the tree has locked up in its

wood continues to be locked in timber, potentially for a lot longer than the life of the tree the timber came from. The other advantage is that building with wood means that there is less use of concrete and steel and both of these materials emit carbon when they are manufactured. The third component of the future of wood in this country is in its use as a fuel. It’s ironic that what has been a virtual waste product in sawdust and wood chips is increasingly sought after for using in heating. Dairy companies are responding to overseas market demand for better environmental practices in manufacturing dairy products and converting powder driers from coal to using wood pellets and chip. Schools have been mandated by the government to make the same

conversions to their heating systems. It’s ironic that dairy farmers seeking wood material for stand-off pads and calf beds will be competing for the supply of the same material that their co-ops are after. The fourth leg of the stool that holds up increasing wood demand is the bio-economy. In broad terms it means refining the lignin in wood into the same plethora of products currently manufactured out of plastic. This allows the oil used now to make plastic, to remain beneath the ground, instead of going through a plastic phase and heading into the atmosphere as more carbon dioxide. Considering the huge range of plastic containers and other plastic based objects we use, the wood potential here is huge.

Modern engineered timber construction adds aesthetics to high strength Photo/supplied

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Price rises for fertiliser Situation in Russia /Ukraine impacting prices writes Kem Ormond

f you are a farmer, you know the importance of feeding your pasture, and I can imagine you must be reeling with the thought of expecting further rises in the price of fertiliser within the next few weeks. The situation in Ukraine has put a squeeze on the availability of nutrients across the globe. Soon our ships will be hitting the water and then costs will impact the price of fertiliser. Since the situation in Ukraine has started, global urea prices have lifted from around US$600/ tonne to nearly $1000/tonne. Even though farmers here in New Zealand are miles away from Europe, the impacts of this war are being felt, especially as the sanctions have started to bite. This is being seen in the form of increased fuel costs and in fertiliser. There are several factors that are having an impact on fertiliser prices, including high energy costs that are severely driving up the cost of production and export restrictions imposed by China, who are a large global exporter. Russia is the largest exporter of fertiliser in the world and with Belarus’ exports of potassium being disrupted because of its support of Russia, the pinch is being felt as collectively

they hold 40 per cent of the global potassium supply. As the situation in Russia and the Ukraine has progressed there has been a noticeable rise in the cost of nitrogen and potassium. Farmers will be weighing up the costs of applying fertiliser on their pastures and the impact it will have on their bottom line come spring. Working closely with their fertiliser supplier will be more important than ever. View from a local fertiliser distributor Charles Dickie from Dickie Direct, believes nutrient efficiency is the key to farm profitability. They are working closely with their clients to help them find these efficiencies for their farms.

Listed below are a few simple ideas that can be adapted to ensure nutrient efficiency is maximised: • Prioritise lime to ensure your soils pH is in the optimum range for pasture production. This will enhance the response of applied and existing nutrients in the soil. • Look at all product options to ensure that the product you are using is actually giving you the best value nutrients, what was applied last year may not be the most efficient product option this year. • Understandyoursoilcharacteristics and how well they utilise different nutrient forms. Make sure you are using the most efficient nutrient form for your soil type. • Use up to date soil tests and custom blends in order to be more targeted

with your applications.

Above: Weighing up the cost How will farmers deal with the of applying increase? fertiliser Talking to one farmer in the will be on Raglan area that farms a 1300ha farmers’ property, says “We are currently minds.

working on our plan for Spring, and we Photo/supplied feel we will try a targeted application, reducing overall tonnes applied. This way we will keep in line with our already budgeted figures”. A Hawke’s Bay farmer who runs mainly cattle had this to say “While a weak dollar is favourable for meat and grain prices, this will not offset the very considerable fertiliser price increases. Arable farmers must use fertiliser to produce a satisfactory yield while meat farmers can “mine” their nutrients for a short period”

Driving Farm Proﬁtability Through Nutrient Efﬁciency

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Scoring with Heartland Rugby Is the ball still oval? Writes Kem Ormond

hank goodness for Craig Calder, CEO South Canterbury Rugby Football Union. When asked by Farmside to write about their association as a sponsor for Heartland Rugby, South Canterbury to be precise, my knowledge was . . . is the ball still oval? You would think with a male orientated family I would have known a little more, but alas I fell down badly there! Thanks to my discussion with Craig, I am almost at sport reporter status! What is Heartland Rugby?

This New Zealand wide competition has been played for over 16 years, bringing 12 country towns together to play the game they love. All players are amateurs, and most are aged from mid20s to late 30s and they play because they love the game. Process workers, dairy farmers, carpenters, labourers, office workers and plumbers to name but a few of the occupations of players, all committed to their teams, their region and all extremely proud. The provinces include, Buller, West Coast, North Otago, South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Wairarapa Bush, Whanganui, Poverty Bay, East Coast, King Country, Thames Valley and Horowhenua Kapiti. They are all independent rugby unions but affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Competitions are run from August to Labour weekend and an array of silverware is up for grabs including the Meads Cup, Lahore Cup, and the Bill Osborne Cup. Sponsorship, so important Three years ago, Farmside became one of the sponsors for the South Canterbury Union providing the union with funding to run their heartland team and in turn getting naming rights. Sponsorship is so critical, not only for South Canterbury but for all the provincial unions to keep the team viable and attending games, travel, and accommodation etc. This means that that the club must find $200,000 every season to stay afloat. Being involved in grassroot rugby is the perfect platform for Farmside, an opportunity to talk directly to

Mark your Calender June 29th,

South Canterbury vs The Hawke’s Bay Magpies customers who are mostly supporters and rugby fans. You will see Farmside staff at almost all South Canterbury home games and their involvement at community level does not go unnoticed. Craig did mention that he coached the current GM of Farmside, Jason Sharp 25 years ago when he left school, just shows you what a small country we all live in! The South Canterbury Rugby Union places importance on culture, religious beliefs, diversity and most importantly, family and brotherhood. All games and

events include the children, it is like one big family. With South Canterbury unbeaten last season and scoring the maximum number of points along with winning the Meads Cup, they now have the opportunity to take on the Hawke’s Bay Magpies for the Ranfurly Shield. This is being held at McLean Park, Napier, June 29th. Now I have the dilemma of which jersey to wear, I have grown rather fond of the black and green, but I have a feeling McLean Park will be awash with black and white.

FACTBOX

Farmside is a rural broadband specialist, delivering connectivity solutions to Kiwis in more locations than ever before. Farmside is no fly-by-nighter. It has been delivering rural broadband for over 20 years. Services: RBI1 and RBI2 Rural Wireless broadband, Fibre, VDSL, ADSL, Satellite and a range of phone services. Farmside is 100% owned by Vodafone New Zealand and together, ther are bridging the gap by bringing broadband and mobile connectivity to more rural communities than ever before. Farmside’s multi-award winning team is based in Timaru and is dedicated to providing Kiwis not only connectivity solutions, but also excellent customer service.

Above left: South Canterbury Heartland Rugby sponsored by Farmside Above: South Canterbury winning the Meads cup with an unbeaten record on wins last season.

Photos/supplied

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How to Manage the Pressure Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock passes on his insights about how to manage when you’re feeling ‘under the pump.’ Supplied by Farmstrong Recognise The Signs It’s important to recognise when you are ‘under the pump’ so you can do something about it. We all have only so much coping space and when we have multiple things coming at us, that gets squeezed and shows in different ways for different people. Some people become irritable. Others go silent and withdraw. What are your tell-tale signs? The Farmstrong ‘Under The Pump’ checklist is a good place to find out. Prioritise Workload There’s always a to-do list as long as your arm on a farm. That’s why it’s important to prioritise your work especially during busy times. What are the top two or three tasks you need to work on today? Once you’re feeling back in charge of your schedule your stress levels will go down. Look After The Basics When we’re really busy, the things that go out the window are often the things that keep us well and help us cope. So, make sure you eat well, get enough quality sleep, keep active and do the hobbies or activities you enjoy. Anything that boosts your mood and energy levels will help you manage busier periods. Schedule Recovery Time I embrace pressure as part of my job, but when I get the opportunity, I also step away from it and make sure I recharge. That’s because I’ve learnt, no one can just go ‘hammer-down the whole time’, you need to step away. I head home into a different world after rugby, so I make sure I’m not just focusing on one thing. If you’re only thinking about rugby or farming all day, every day, of course it will start to get on top of you. So, it’s important to do something else whether it’s with your family or a hobby or catching up with mates outside the industry. Something different. If your current workload won’t

allow that, build mini-breaks into your day. Even a fifteen minute break to ‘reset’ mentally and physically can make a big difference to how you feel. Keep Perspective Many people only know me as a rugby player and rugby is a big part of my life, but the reality is I also have other things going on in my life so when a setback happens on the field, I don’t let that define who I am as a person. Yes, losing a rugby game still hurts but I tell myself, I’m still a father, a husband, a son with a great family. That’s the most important thing. Sometimes you’ve just got to accept your setbacks and move on. Remember, a setback also offers an opportunity to learn and do better next time. Have A Natter I know through the work I do for Farmstrong, how important it is to keep talking and check on those who might have ‘dropped off the radar and stopped communicating’ during challenging times. Just listening can be a huge help to someone who is feeling ‘under the pump’. So, if you see someone struggling, start that conversation, ask them how they’re going and make time for a proper catch-up, whether it’s over a coffee or at the pub. Visit the Farmstrong website to brush up on your listening skills beforehand. Make Your Wellbeing a Priority Treat yourself and your team as your farm’s biggest asset and invest in the things that make people more resilient. The science of wellbeing says people who thrive tend to have five simple habits in common – connecting with mates, learning new things, keeping active, enjoying simple pleasures and helping friends and community. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing have a positive, cumulative effect over time and increase your ability to cope when you’re ‘under the pump’. Live Well to Farm Well Last year, more than 15,000 farmers directly attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to Farmstrong. So, visit the Farmstrong website to see what other farmers are doing and ‘lock in’ what works for you.

Under the pump? Am I getting enough sleep?

Photo/supplied

Am I talking to someone about what’s on my mind? Am I eating well and keeping physically active? Am I having down-time to recharge? Do I have a list of what is realistic to achieve each day? Using these questions to lock in small changes can make a big difference.

Above: Sam Whitelock Farmstrong Ambassador

To ﬁnd out what works for you

VISIT

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Off-grid escape Outlook Lodge is set on a beautiful, elevated site on Outlook Station, 35 minutes from Raglan in the heart of the Waikato district. Only an hour and 40 minutes drive from Auckland City and just 25 minutes from Hamilton City writes Kem Ormond

ver the years this property has been bought and sold in several different blocks. In more recent times, it has been bought back into one large block consisting of 1300ha, and is now operating as a sheep and beef operation. Hamish and Julie Ormond and their family are your hosts at Outlook Lodge, and not to be excluded, are the working dogs Beau, Mazza, Jess, Polo, Nell and Swampy. This lodge is the result of some talented Te Awamutu builders who love to spend time at this amazing property and enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of busy life. With only limited time available by the builders to enjoy the lodge, the decision was made to share this special experience with a wider audience so they too can enjoy what Outlook Lodge has to offer. This atmospheric off-grid lodge is an ideal family or group escape. Sleeping 10, the lodge sits on a remote spot on the farm with amazing views out towards

farmland and native bush. What makes this lodge special, apart from being off-grid, is that it is rustic, warm and welcoming. Think little house on the prairie . . . but with all the luxuries and I mean ALL the luxuries. Being farmers, wool is showcased in the lodge. Woolen duvets, wool pillows, pure wool blankets and 100 per cent Egyptian cotton sheets adorn the beds. Luxurious sheep skins and pillows look right at home on the chairs and couches. There are two bunk rooms each with bespoke bunks and one double sized bunk bed in each room. Farming and rural paraphernalia adorn the walls, a perfect finishing touch to this rustic lodge. The beautiful wooden kitchen is generous and what a great space for a bit

of social gathering. It has a gas hob and hanging on the wall is the cast iron skillet ready and waiting for bacon and eggs to be cooked. Self-catering, you just need to bring your food and there is a BBQ at your disposal as well. Ponds in front of the lodge and native bush gives a real serene setting and when you see puffs of smoke coming from the chimney, you honestly feel like you are living the pioneer dream. The flying fox will keep you and of course your children entertained for hours and the beautiful walks on the property are a great option for stretching the legs and taking in the beautiful surroundings and views. It is not often you can relax and watch a working farm carry on around you! Come evening, gather around the

campfire for a bit of star gazing and guitar playing. The brazier is great for roasting marshmallows and you will notice it is made from horseshoes, a testament to this families ingrained association and love of horses. You will see the glow of the Hamilton lights behind the hills and if you are lucky enough the moreporks will be calling out. You can soak in the hot tub or even get competitive with a game of darts. One thing for sure there will be no blaring noise from a TV, maybe just the odd visit by an escaped sheep and on the odd occasion the roar of a passing wild deer or grunt of a wild pig. Check out their website so you can have an experience of a lifetime. www.canopycamping.co.nz/ outlook-lodge

STILL YOUR LOCAL JOHN DEERE DEALER We’re Brandt. We’re here for you, New Zealand. Doing whatever it takes to help you build your own success through outstanding performance of our people and the uncompromising quality of our products and services. We’re the same people you’ve always known, just with a different shirt.

Outlook Lodge offers a chance to experience total relaxation Photo/supplied

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The future for our farmers We have seen them, not always heard them, but they are heading towards being the way of the future for our farmers writes Kem Ormond

am talking drones, and Airborne Solutions in Hawke’s Bay are leading the way with one of the most innovative products that has hit the market in a while. Airborne Solutions started two years ago by 2 pilots, Bayden Neustroski and Scotty Horgan. They manage to fit in being pilots as well as running their drone spraying and seeding business. Bayden is a part time helicopter pilot working out of Te Anau and Scotty, an ag pilot in Hawke’s Bay. In fact, it is because they are both helicopter pilots that they saw the potential for drones being able to assist farmers with precision spray and seed applications. They went ahead and imported a XAG P30, a drone that has been developed and tested over millions of hectares across the globe, to assure it gives pinpoint accuracy in both placement and rate. Bayden and Scotty are fully confident in their product, and because of the ability to change droplet size with a touch of a button, they feel secure in the knowledge that there will be no spray drift into neighbouring properties. Being so specialised, Airborne Solutions are finding enquiries coming from all over the country. They have completed work in the West Coast, Kawekas, Mt Cook National Park and up the East Coast of the North Island. Accuracy a big bonus The XAG P30 is accurate up to 2cms and can do one thousand 1.2m2 x1.2cms spot sprays per hectare within 15 minutes. Accurate and quiet, this machine can get into those hard-toget gullies and steep faces, where it is too difficult and dangerous to be attempted by any other means. Another advantage of the XAG P30 is the saving in chemical usage, you can potentially reduce chemical inputs because of the accuracy of the drone. The first thing New Zealand farmers think of when they think of drones is spot spraying gorse in difficult places, but this is not XAGs strong point, and Bayden and Scott want to help

change the perception of what can be achieved with spray drones on cropping country. XAG is used all over the world for crop spraying but they find resistance due to old school thinking. Most farmers consider you need water rates of 200 litres plus per hectare, Airborne Solutions are cutting these by up to 90% with great results and no issues with drift or quality of the job at all. Drones minimises crop damage, stops the movement of disease through a crop like a tractor wheel does, have an exceptional spray pattern, can operate over waterlogged areas and are more carbon efficient than a tractor. This machine is perfectly suited also to seeding and spreading. Covering up to 10ha/hr, it is an efficient cost saving

way to cover the ground compared to traditional methods. Yes, this will be a change to traditional farming methods, but Airborne Solutions believe what is needed to go forward in the future, is some new style thinking! Sales and support Airborne Solutions thought the XAG product was so advanced and well suited for the environment and the challenges here in New Zealand, that they have become the official distributor for XAG products. What does this mean for the future? “Legislation is hard here in New Zealand for the average person to purchase a drone for their own farm

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use incorporating spray and seed. Drones will become a more familiar sight when rules and regulations are brought in line to that of Australia” says Bayden. In time, having a drone to assist with farming activities will become a daily occurrence. Imagine how easy it will be to spend an hour spot spaying with your drone, ready for planting and all done when time suits. Until changes in legislation happen, Airborne Solutions will carry on supporting and providing high quality precision spraying, seeding, and spreading with their XAC. Hopefully later in the year they will see the arrival of two more new machines the XAG V40 and XAG P100 offering more performance, larger spray unit and more innovation.

Airborne Solutions, a leader when it comes to Innovation. Photo/supplied

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Where is Forestry heading Whether you realise it or not, Wood products are a big part of your life writes Marcus Musson

he New Zealand Forest industry is a very exciting place to be for many different players, from farmers to corporate owners, contractors to sawmillers. Forests are a tangible investment that provide optionality as well as ticking all the boxes for a sustainable and climate positive method of growing one’s wealth, and there’s not many countries that can grow trees like we can. In addition, the harvesting infrastructure in New Zealand leads the world with technology and innovation in some very challenging terrain. Carbon’s been the buzz word for a while and, at current NZU prices, there’s not too many land uses that can touch it in ROI terms for rolling to steep hill country. Without growing forests to sequester carbon, we don’t have a bull’s roar chance of coming anywhere near to our emissions offset targets required by the govt. Proposed changes by the govt to remove exotic plantings from the permanent category of the ETS will likely reduce the number of bare land conversions, which, holistically is a good idea, but in reality, removes important income streams from marginal landowners such as farmers and Iwi. Wood products have been a huge part of our country for decades and, with focus being shifted onto sustainable, low emission products, innovation around wood-based construction is changing the face of the building industry. Technology has allowed for multi-level wood based commercial buildings, chemical free, decay resistant cladding and exterior products plus the expanding residue market replacing coal with woodchips for heating and electricity generation. We are currently in the midst of a harvest cycle that is producing nationally, over 32 million cubic metres of logs per annum, bringing in around $6 billion annually in export earnings. This huge volume is a result of the planting boom in the early 90’s that carried on through to the early 2000’s coming to maturity. Unfortunately, New Zealand

is not geared to process this volume of logs and therefore our export markets are hugely important to ensure the harvest level can carry on at current levels with approximately 65% of all log production heading overseas. Unlike the meat and fruit industries, our log exports are the lower quality grades (log equivalent of bladders and brains) which are simply not economic to process in NZ. There’s always plenty of rhetoric around exporting logs, especially around election time, but the unfortunate truth is that until there is significant investment in additional processing capacity in NZ, export markets are crucial. It is expected that this investment will happen, however it will likely be led by technology and unlikely to be in the form of the classic 4X2 production. China is our primary trading partner for log exports and NZ radiata is sought after as it can be easily sawn, dried, glued, machined and painted whereas

Forest360 is one of New Zealand’s largest independent full service forest management companies with a combined 34 years of industry experience. Phone 0800 366 700 • 06 323 5621 Email info@forest360.nz www.forest360.nz

many of the Russian and European species don’t have the same properties. Russia passed an effective ban on log exports earlier this year, however, the war in Ukraine may test Putin’s resolve as he will likely need additional sources of funding as western sanctions start to bite. Europe has stopped all imported lumber from Russia which was around 20 million cubic metres per year, a figure which mirrors the NZ supply into China. While it’s unlikely that China would move to cut the stable supply from NZ, it is a distinct and sobering possibility which would have massive consequences for our industry and economy. India has always been touted as the next China but with the EPA effectively ruling out Methyl Bromide as a log fumigant, we have eliminated ourselves from this market and handed it to the Aussies on a plate. India does have potential in terms of fibre demand, but as it is a democracy with inherent internal infrastructure

issues, its unlikely to replace China as a primary market in the short to medium term. Being a commodity trade, we are used to sharp and unexpected swings in sales prices as a result of demand and supply imbalances, however the new headwind has come in the form of fuel. We are obviously not on our own with that problem, but, as we have to move big heavy things with other big heavy things, we have a very high fuel burn per tonne of log production. For simplicity, the fuel burn per tonne of log to harvest and deliver that log 100km to a port or sawmill is approximately 6 litres which equates to an additional $5/tonne in fuel cost over the past 12 months ($3,000/ha). Whether you realise it or not, wood products are a big part of your life, you may write on them or wipe on them, build with them or burn them, they are there and made from forests around your region.

NZ Radiata is sought after for a range of reasons Photo/supplied

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Sector celebrates 140 years The sheep and beef sector continue to show resilience and adaptability. Supplied by Beef & Lamb New Zealand

ast month, the red meat sector celebrated the 140th anniversary of the arrival of the Dunedin in the UK with its cargo of frozen sheepmeat. This shipment revolutionized this country’s sheep and beef industry and 139 years later, in 2021, red meat exports reached $10 billion, despite supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19. Over the past two years, farmers, processors, exporters and transport operators have worked tirelessly in the face of COVID-19 to overcome global logistical challenges, labour constraints and processing disruptions to get the best possible result for the New Zealand economy. By taking a collaborative approach, the red meat industry has been able to make the most of the strong global demand for red meat and buoyant prices to generate record export revenues. In February this year, red meat exports topped $1 billion, with increases in value in all major markets. This is an exceptional result and one the whole sector should be proud of. Significant challenges remain across the supply chain but the sector’s resilience, innovation and

collaboration mean it’s well placed to continue to be a standout in the economy. The signing of a Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom in March this year opens up a wealth of opportunities for this country’s beef industry. Significant work went into achieving this result and while the agreement has yet to be ratified by both parties, which will likely happen early next year, it signifies the end of over 50 years of virtually no access for NZ’s beef products into this high-value market. This agreement gives exporters 12,000 tonnes of tariff-free exports from the outset and this increases every year for 15 years after which there are no quota limits or tariffs. At home, there are significant opportunities and challenges for the sector. Beef + Lamb New Zealand is concerned about the unprecedented amount of new environmental regulation farmers are dealing with and is strongly advocating for the Government to not introduce any new requirements, including on biodiversity. The He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership has delivered its recommended option on emissions pricing to the Government. This was our sector’s opportunity to develop a sustainable framework for measuring, managing and reducing on-farm emissions and the result,

while not perfect, is a better option for farmers than the Emissions Trading Scheme and can be improved over time. Sustainability is particularly important in light of concerns about rising inflation and farm business viability. Feedback gathered during a consultation period with farmers over February and March was essential in shaping the final proposal. Farmers and industry are now awaiting the Government’s response. Beef + Lamb New Zealand is continuing to advocate for material changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme to stop productive farmland being swallowed up by carbon farms. The organisation believes recent changes to the Overseas Investment Act and proposed changes to the ETS don’t go far enough, and the Government needs to urgently limit

the ability of fossil fuel emitters to fully offset their emissions by planting trees. While many parts of the country are heading into winter with plenty of feed on hand for livestock, farmers in Waikato are facing a medium scale drought event. On the other side of the Island, farmers on the East Coast were affected by flooding earlier in the year and this has also impacted on feed supplies. Help is available to those affected, through the National Feed Coordination Service. The sheep and beef sector continues to show resilience and adaptability when dealing with challenges. Work continues on influencing the Government to get its policy settings and infrastructure right, in order to enable our sector to continue its key role in NZ’s recovery from COVID-19.

In February this year, red meat exports topped $1 billion. Photo/supplied

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SHORTER JOURNEYS ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN ANTIQUITIES

MEDITERRANEAN ANTIQUITIES

ICONIC WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

ISTANBUL – ROME or vice versa 15 DAYS | 9 GUIDED TOURS | 3 COUNTRIES From AU $5,445pp in Veranda stateroom

BARCELONA – ATHENS or vice versa 15 DAYS | 11 GUIDED TOURS | 6 COUNTRIES From AU $5,445pp in Veranda stateroom

BARCELONA – ROME or vice versa 8 DAYS | 5 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES From AU $2,995pp in Veranda stateroom

ENJOY,IT’SALLINCLUDED • Private veranda stateroom with king-size bed • Guided excursion in each port of call • Onboard meals and beverages; including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Specialty coﬀee, tea and bottled water • Complimentary 24-hour room service

• Choice of 8 dining options — no charge for alternative dining venues • Culture Curriculum: Lectures and performances of music, art, dance, cooking and history

• All onboard gratuities, port charges and taxes • No credit card surcharges • Industry-leading Health & Safety Program

• Access to LivNordic Spa facilities including sauna, hydrotherapy pool and Snow Grotto

NO KIDS | NO CASINOS | VOTED WORLD’S BEST 0800 447 913 VIKING.COM OR SEE YOUR LOCAL VIKING AGENT *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores based on 28 July 2024. Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities based on 17 November 2022. Mediterranean Antiquities based on 29 December 2022. Iconic Western Mediterranean based on 26 November 2022. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 5 March – 30 June 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com

BUMPER EDITION 21

www.thecountry.co.nz

Water, too precious to waste Living rurally comes with added water decisions writes Kem Ormond

hen you live rurally and are reliant on your water tanks to store your water, you realise that you need to do your homework. You need to decide, what capacity, how many tanks will you need for your household, what is the life expectancy and when is the right time to replace. You need to talk to a company that know their tanks! Promax,certainlyknownotonlyabout water tanks, but about liquid storage products in general. Rural landowners are practical people and sometimes they need to talk to a company that thinks along the same lines. History In the 1850s, the Strachans of Strachan near Aberdeen, Scotland sailed to New Zealand and became the Strachans of Ngatimoti near Motueka. They were settlers, blacksmiths, and farmers. They were also coopers. Just like the Strachan family of today, clan Strachan of yesteryear forged a name in the field of liquid storage. They used their skills in coopering and engineering to make wooden kegs and butter churns for neighbouring farmers and large buckets for local growers taking their berries to the Motueka wharf for shipment to farflung markets. Who would have thought that a berry

bucket would lead to where they are today? From small beginnings In 1992, Promax made their first tank in a kiwifruit packing shed in Whangarei. They were never going to stay there. As a brand and a business name, Promax means maximum performance and delivering complete customer satisfaction. You can’t achieve those things in a packing shed. From day one, they wanted to make the best tanks in New Zealand - not for the sake of their ego but because it would help them stay true to the words that drives them together. “Making a difference today to sustain life tomorrow” In the late 1980s, Tim Strachan ran a kiwifruit orchard and engineering business in Northland. Like many others, Tim was also dealing with the fallout from the 1987 stock market crash. For Tim Strachan, who had to provide for his six children, it was time to branch out and ensure a better tomorrow for his family. In doing so, he started a company, one that now sustains life all around New Zealand. In 1992 Tim and his son Hamish began making water storage tanks in a Whangarei packing shed repurposed into a temporary factory. The first product they rolled out the door was a 3000-litre above-ground water tank, and demand for Promax tanks was constant and instant. As Hamish says: “We made them in the morning and sold them in

the afternoon.” In 2007 Promax opened an impressive site in Rangiora in the South Island, and in 2010 they commissioned a state-of-the-art facility in Kerikeri in the Far North. Today’s manufacturing facilities are far removed from their humble beginnings in that kiwifruit packing shed. Instead, they’re worldleading plants boasting in-house resin compounding and massive kilns that produce thousands of tanks every year. Today, while innovation is still their point of difference, they have refined their product range in line with what their customers require. They have a team of qualified engineers who use specialist software to create exceptional products, experienced sales representatives, and an exceptional customer service team who tirelessly support their customers. With North Island and South Island sites and a fleet of delivery trucks, they

can provide superior products and customer service nationwide. Promax serve clients working in four distinctive sectors throughout New Zealand, Industrial, Build, Civil and Rural.

Above: Promax, a real family affair with years of experience. From left to right: Rural Community Walter, Tim, With their farming backgrounds, it’s and Hamish fair to say the people who started the Strachan.

company have a particular affinity with Photo/supplied the rural community. As Hamish Strachan likes to say: “We aren’t afraid of getting our hands dirty. “New Zealand’s agricultural and horticultural industries have always faced challenges. It’s no different today. But throughout a changing climate and wave after wave of modified legislation, Promax does what it has always done “delivers solutions”. Promax is the company farmers call when liquid storage become a bit challenging in the country.

TOP QUALITY BUILDER

Residential & Commercial • New Homes & Renovations • Shop & Ofﬁce Fit-outs In-House Architectural Designer Licensed Builders with 20+ years experience CABINET MAKING & JOINERY

Kitchens Joinery Design & Build Cad Drawings Wardrobes

EXPERT PAINTERS & DECORATORS Interior & Exterior Professional New Houses & Repaints

SEEKING PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS We are seeking professional, enthusiastic staff, looking for a career in the logistics industry. Pyramid Trucking is looking for Class 5 drivers to join our team for either full time, part time, casual or contract. We have positions in Te Aroha and in Napier, and we are looking for someone who is ﬂexible for shift work. Forklift and Dangerous Goods training will be provided for the right person if needed. If you have a passion for transport and driving, we provide great gear and working environment. A competitive remuneration package with weekly pay. All PPE provided. Immediate start and training available for the right people.

Applications must have New Zealand residence or valid NZ work visa to apply. Applications by email only. Email CV to Jodene@pyramidtrucking.co.nz or call 021 808 778

FARMERS

The story behind...

WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK

Ruralco provide a platform to share the amazing stories of farming success that are all too often lost in the ‘media storm’. We believe it is vital for farmers to be seen for the value they bring to the country, and we are committed to playing our part in that. An overarching idea was created that will help pro�le New Zealand’s most valuable industry in a most positive way.

Ruralco are launching the “Farmers. We’ve got your back” campaign. This one clever tagline communicates three distinct and di�erentiated messages:

Many Kiwis want to show support for our farmers. We have developed this campaign as a way of demonstrating our loyalty to farmers and their contribution to NZ.

Farmers have our nation’s back by providing jobs, feeding our nation, and adding to the export value of our economy and farming sustainably for generations.

As a nation, we have our farmers’ backs by recognising the hard daily mahi that farmers contribute to NZ, and by buying local produce grown o� the land.

As this campaign rolls out over the coming months you will see the stories we share on your behalf, and we will invite our valued members to be part of it and help spread the word.

Ruralco has farmers’ backs by supplying the right products and services at competitive rates when you need it. Telling the good stories of the value farmers bring to NZ, and supporting our rural communities and backing rural businesses.

It is our aim that this campaign becomes a movement.

Show your support, New Zealand, join the movement at ruralco.co.nz/gotyourback

SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT

SEE YOU THIS SUMMER fieldays.co.nz

30 NOV- 3 DEC