Volume 112 I July 4th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz
HELLO ADVENTURERS!
Firearms and looking out for your mates - while you stay safe!
Rule # 4
Let’s talk Buck Fever. Our mind is an incredibly powerful tool that sometimes likes to tell and show us what we WANT to see but not what is ACTUALLY THERE. When we are excited about something this can get worse. Bearing this in mind, it is vital that you pay special attention to Rule # 4 because this helps address this issue. Remember, once you have pulled the trigger you cannot take it back. It is solely your responsibility as the person who is pulling that trigger to make decisions that keep everyone around you safe. You only get one chance. Send in what Rule # 4 is and the information that keeps you and your hunting friends safe PLUS a personal account of how you use rule # 4 to stay safe to agined@globalhq.co.nz. Then we can put you in the draw to WIN a brand new pair of Burris binoculars valued at over $600 thanks to Anna and James from Rivers to Ranges in Rangiora!
HOW TO SEE A FROST COMING! We have gone past the shortest day of the year (this year it was June 21st). This is the day with the least amount of available sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere while the Northern Hemisphere enjoys the opposite, with summer kicking off properly there now along with long bright days. For New Zealand this time of year marks the beginning of our coldest weather. It usually peaks between now and the middle of August, but for those further south it can linger until mid September. That means FROSTS are now part of the forecast. Typically most frosts form northwards up to about Waikato and fade out in the Auckland region but every now and then a big southerly blast will push the frost zone as far north as the so called "winterless north" (Northland). So far in 2022 that hasn't happened... yet.
What sort of weather creates a frost?
We need cold air, long dark nights, no wind (as wind keeps overnight temperatures up) and clear skies (to let any daytime warmth evaporate). That's the recipe for a good frost. Inland areas of both islands have the biggest frosts (like Central Otago or Waikato - which are both basins). • Can you find frosts in the upcoming forecasts at RuralWeather.co.nz? • What's the lowest overnight temperature you can find? • How far north will the frosts go (if any) in NZ over the coming 10 days?
SOUTH ISLAND STAG SLAUGHTER PRICES
This graph shows the South Island stag slaughter prices. 1
How have South Island stag slaughter prices been tracking this season?
2 In what month/year on this graph were prices at their highest level?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1
Head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/venisonmarket-in-slow-recovery/ and read the article on the current venison market.
2 What farmgate price is thought to be needed to help the venison industry recover? 3 What have been some recent challenges faced by the industry? 3 If you had to purchase a bull, which breed would you choose and why?
Next time we will cover Rule # 5. Each time you send in your answers it gives you a higher chance of winning! Good luck and happy hunting! Harriet :) Harriet
THE STORY OF NEW ZEALAND PORK
There are approximately 90 commercial pig farmers in New Zealand. Pig production can be either indoors (55%), or one of two outdoor farming styles, which are either free farmed (42%) or free range (3%). Each year New Zealand pig farmers produce around 630,000 pigs for the domestic market. As a nation we eat around 23kg of pork per person annually. Of this, 8.8 kg is produced in New Zealand and the remainder is imported. New Zealand pork is produced to high animal welfare standards using sustainable farming practices. https://www.nzpork.co.nz/nz-pork/ the-story-of-new-zealand-born-andraised-pork
QUESTIONS: 1
CHECK OUT THESE TWO FARMER PROFILES:
Sean Molloy (https://www.nzpork.co.nz/ourfarmers/sean-molloy), an indoor pig farmer in Sheffield near Christchurch.
What is the difference between free farmed and free range?
2 What is the annual percentage of New Zealand produced pork that is consumed compared to imported pork?
Head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/uk-fta-billenters-parliament/ and read the article on the UK FTA. Endorsed by Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor, legislation to enact New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom was introduced in parliament on Wednesday. 1
3 How many pigs per year are produced on Holly Sterne’s farm? How is used bedding and manure managed on this farm? 4 How many breeding sows are at Sean’s farm? What sort of effluent management system is used on this farm and what happens to the methane?
FILL YA BOOTS:
What is the desired outcome for a free trade agreement with the UK?
2 How much is it expected to boost the NZ economy by? Holly Sterne (https://www.nzpork.co.nz/ourfarmers/holly-sterne), a free farmed producer in North Canterbury.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND ANIMAL PRODUCTION? Check out the Bachelor of AnimalScience: www.massey.ac.nz/bansci
3 When is it hoped the FTA will come into place?