Farmers Weekly NZ April 10 2017 by AgriHQ

30 Aussie arm pulling weight Vol 16 No 14, April 10, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz

Taste is tops Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

NE of the biggest consumer taste tests ever has revealed the eating quality of New Zealand lamb is consistently high with very little variation. The finding followed more than 3200 consumer taste tests in NZ and the United States last year and showed factors such as breed, gender, pasture, growth rates, fat cover, marbling, confirmation and locality had a minor effect on eating quality. The research was part of a FarmIQ Primary Growth Partnership programme in conjunction with Silver Fern Farms, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Landcorp. The study’s findings were available to the whole industry. SFF sales manager Grant Howie said of more significance to taste was selecting the right cut, correctly ageing the meat and matching the cut to the cooking method. Most of the gain in eating quality was achieved in the first seven days of ageing but there were benefits from days seven to about 28. Different muscles aged better than others but researchers found an overall positive trend across all cuts. Other factors that strongly influenced eating quality were

low pH, controlled electrical stimulation and a compelling brand story. Unlike beef, where animals were older when slaughtered, Howie said the age at slaughter meant there was less opportunity for stock management to influence the taste of lamb. However, ram breeders could include heritable lamb eating traits such as tenderness, low pH and marbling in their breeding programmes by using AgResearch developed SNP chip technology. “It is in everyone’s interest that the current high eating quality is maintained as breeders also look for other genetic improvement traits such as growth rates, disease resistance and yield.” The chips helped breeders find DNA markers to aid breeding decisions. Recent debate showed opinions differed about the flavour of lamb, with claims there was ram taint late in the season but Howie said research showed lamb gender did not have a consistent or significant impact. “Given the closeness in eating quality preference between rams, cryptorchids, wethers and ewes it would make little sense to exclude any from a premium value lamb offering,” the researchers said. “Through our consumer panel research very few consumers were sensitive to any ram-lamb effect.” The trial involved 4739 lambs from 16 properties nationwide, which provided 23,000 samples of loin, rump, topside and knuckle. They were subjected to a spread

Through our consumer panel research very few consumers were sensitive to any ramlamb effect. Grant Howie Silver Fern Farms

NO PROBLEM: Few people in international tests of New Zealand lamb found ram-taint spoiling their eating experience.

of chilled ageing and fed to 1800 consumers in NZ and 1440 in the US. Howie said the research

confirmed other studies about the positive impact on the eating experience of having a branded story behind the meat,

which released endorphins and dopamine in the brain. The lamb research followed a similar test in beef which led SFF in 2012 to develop an eating quality grading system for beef. SFF planned to use the research to launch retail branded products in key global markets, starting with China then the US. Branded packs had already been launched in Germany and Howie said branded packs of hot-pot rolls sliced from lamb flaps along with beef would be launched in Chinese supermarkets by the end of the year. Chief executive Dean Hamilton said the research showed there was little opportunity to differentiate lamb by eating quality except by growing volumes of chilled product. Five years ago less than 20% of SFF product was chilled, now it was more than 25%. SFF was also trialling aged frozen retail meat in Germany.

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NEWS

OPINION

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am April 7, 2017

28 Alternative View

60 Wetter than

Alan Emerson says a scientist should oversee our environment.

4 Forecast firm for this season Two small but unexpected increases in Global Dairy Trade prices over the past month have suggested that the world market has found a base and/or supplydemand balance, which bodes well for the farmgate milk price.

5 Blue Sky will seek new capital Blue Sky Meats will seek fresh capital to fund a new business plan after the failed takeover by NZ Binxi (Oamaru).

14 Cream on value-add cake Chinese food service demand has put cream on Fonterra’s value-added cake, necessitating a planned expansion of the Waitoa UHT plant in Waikato less than three years after it was built. Deluge destroys crops �� 3 Rain welcome for some �� 3 Forecast firm for this season �� 4 Blue Sky will seek new capital �� 5 Young farm workers vulnerable �� 7 Dairy wants to play its part �� 8 Rural costs will be passed on �� 10 Data drives production and reduction �� 11 Cream on value-add cake �� 14 MPI picks primary exports to grow �� 16 Aim tech at firms, not farmers �� 18

normal (mm)

Editorial �� 26 Cartoon �� 26 Letters �� 26 Pulpit �� 27 Alternative View �� 28 From the Ridge �� 29 Meaty Matters �� 28

WORLD

-10

-20

-30

30 Fortunes

-50

Drier than normal (mm)

turn for Aussie arm Five years of difficulties and restructuring have finally shown some results for Fonterra Australia in the form of a modest return to profitability and brighter prospects for milk supply in the near future.

Map reading tips This map shows the difference or anomaly in soil moisture level at the date shown compared to the average, generated from more than 30 years of records held by NIWA.

REGULARS Real Estate �� 31-46 Employment �� 47-48 Classifieds �� 48 Livestock �� 48-51

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NEWSMAKER

24 Clarkson happy to hand

over baton

Mark Clarkson spent the day visiting ANZCO’s FiveStar Beef-lot near Ashburton to say his thanks and goodbyes, so he couldn’t say what it felt like not to be running a business with a $1.5 billion turnover and 3000 staff round the world.

56 The ‘sale of all sales’ A national shortage of store cattle and grass-derived demand pushed weaner calf prices to record levels at the last ever cattle sale at Tinwald.

Market Snapshot �� 52

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Deluge destroys crops Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com DELUGE Debbie has nailed the lid on the coffin for many Mid Canterbury farmers battling the weather to wrap up harvest. With almost a month’s rain in 24 hours, the 60mm deluge left the last of the harvest in tatters, in some cases destroyed. High-value clover crops were the biggest victim while specialist seed crops were yet to be assessed in the sodden ground. For cropping farmers Richard Stewart and Joanne Burke the 24hour deluge had wiped out their bottom line. “On the back of years of depressed grain prices, like many, we went for seed crops to try and make up some loss – it looked hopeful then we just wanted to finish off to get an average harvest and now this. “Financially, we have been hit hard with this deluge,” Burke said. “But we are just one example of a bunch of people out there in the same sodden mess.” Valetta cropper David Clark was counting his lucky stars that

he managed to get his carrot crop in but he still had wheat and barley standing and hundreds and hundreds of tonnes sitting in storage waiting for the dryer. “It really has been a disappointing harvest, very much dependent on location and small windows of opportunity and the further inland you go with a naturally later harvest the worse it gets. “We had a complete weather change on February 22 and in the past 42 days we’ve had rain on 30, with the longest spell of no rain being three days – it’s unprecedented really and just heart-wrenching for a cropping farmer,” Clark said. With specialist vegetable and seed crops worth five times more than a grain crop, the higher-value crops had become a priority. “We made the call to chase value and thank goodness we did. “We have also harvested a lot of grain at 20% so there’s a massive drying operation to happen. “But now we can’t turn a wheel on the place so there’s no green feed planting, ryegrass is way

GONE: Hoping there’s no more rain anytime soon Richard Stewart checks out a destroyed clover crop. Photo: Annette Scott

behind and for clover that’s not in, it’s too late now.” Clark said the knock-on effect

of deluge Debbie would in many ways be more costly than the harvest.

Rain comes as a relief for some Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com “SURELY, the drought’s over. It’s marvellous,” was how Motunau farmer David Meares described the three days of rain falling on North Canterbury. “It’s huge, should really set us up well,” Chris Earl, who farms in the very dry Scargill Valley area further inland, said. Steady and at times heavy rain also fell on Banks Peninsula, which had a kinder past eight months than the wider North Canterbury area, but Port Levy farmer Tim Coop said it was still very welcome to boost feed cover and capital stock condition. He measured 100mm in the 24 hours to Thursday night, with rain still falling. The sun was shining everywhere on Friday, just what pastures needed after their soaking. The rain caused further slips

COMING HOME: Three days of rain meant Motunau farmer David Meares could retrieve the cows he had sent away because they were losing condition.

in the Kaikoura and inland road areas already hit by earthquakes but North Canterbury farmland desperately needed all the moisture it could get after four years of drought.

May 2016

Line of 308 lambs processed –

Though he had had some grass and clover growth since rain in March, Meares had sent cows to a nearby farm for better grazing in early March because they had been losing condition. The 121mm of rain from Tuesday to Thursday with more falling had been a game-changer and the cows would now be coming home. He would now have good feed through winter with resources still helped by stocking rates reduced in the worst of the drought conditions, with ewe numbers about 25% lower than previously. Earl reported 70mm of rain during the same three days, on top of similar rain in March. “The sub-clover has struck and there’s quite a bit of grass seed that was just sitting there and that’s all away now. “It’s really good that this has come early in autumn and we’re well set-up now.”

However, he thought there was still a long way to go for longterm drought relief with subsoil still really “dry as a desert” and he hoped it was the start of aquifers being replenished. Wet winters were still needed. Earl said his ewes were in good order for mating though still slightly behind last year when stock benefited from the impact of the big January rain despite February to April being very dry again. “This year we’ve been dry into mating so they might be back a bit.” The rain would be a big help to his hoggets, normally mated a bit later. Earl had been planning to sell some because of the feed outlook but now they would all be kept for mating. For farmers thinking about increasing stock levels as the feed position improved, getting lambs from their hoggets was the cheapest way to do it, he said.

Brunt of flood impact eases FLOODING along the Rangitaiki River continues to recede this morning but most farmers in the river’s vicinity are reporting 30-40% of land inundated with water. DairyNZ regional consulting officer Sharon Morrell said estimates were there were at least 60 farms in valley areas of Whakatane District cut off by floods and many more on the Rangitaiki Plains covered in water. “We have farms in valleys including Ruatoki, Waimana and Waiotahi that we can’t get to. “There would be about six farms on the plains that have had to get stock off but most farms have been able to manage on the areas that are not covered in water.” Water continued to flow through the devastated township of Edgecumbe via a breach in the concrete flood protection. Another breach had been found further upstream near a Maori trust farm property. Morrell said Fonterra’s Edgecumbe factory was due to start processing after cleaning up over Friday. “Most farms we know of have electricity but of course the biggest problem for them has been getting milk collected thanks to the roads being cut off.” Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust chairwoman Sandy Scarrow said the trust was working to ensure animal welfare issues were addressed, with vulnerable herds already moved away from inundated areas. “A lot of the valleys have been cut off by slips and we are advising people if they have any concerns to just call us on our helpline 0800 787 254.” Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president Darryl Jensen said water was starting to recede on most farmland but Galatea remained cut off on Friday morning. He advised farmers seeking advice on flooding to contact the Feds help line 0800 327646.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Forecast firm for this season Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com TWO small but unexpected increases in Global Dairy Trade prices over the past month have suggested that the world market has found a base and/or supplydemand balance, which bodes well for the farm gate milk price. Dairy market analysts agree that world prices will stay steady for a while and that the next New Zealand season may start optimistically on June 1 with a farm gate forecast similar to the $6/kg level for the current season. Most immediately, world markets appear to have priced in the NZ autumn milk production surge caused by good pasture growth and the desire of farmers to maximise revenue from a poor season. But there are potentially destabilising wide gaps between whole milk powder (WMP) prices and skim milk powder (SMP) prices, and between butter prices and WMP prices. Butter is at an unprecedented premium of US$1800/tonne over WMP, which in turn is $1000 higher than SMP. Fonterra has the flexibility in processing to make the best of those differentials, which it calls

For next season, a farmgate milk price in the low $6s is our base case, although the uncertainty bands are wide at this early stage. Sarah Drought Westpac

VOLATILITY: AgriHQ senior dairy analyst Susan Kilsby said world prices are stable right now but they never stay that way for long.

stream returns, but the high milkfat prices may encourage other countries to over-produce. More than 400,000 tonnes of European Union intervention stocks of SMP must be weighing

down the world market and show little signs of shifting. The GDT price index rose 1.6% in the first auction of April after gaining 1.7% on March 21. WMP prices rose 2.9% in March

followed by 2.4% in April, after the futures market indicated small falls or at best flat prices before each GDT event. In response to the late-season milk production increase, Fonterra now expects to be down 3% in milk supply compared with last season, whereas previously it had expected to be down 7%. NZ milk production as a whole may only fall 1-2% compared with the 2015-16 season. ASB Bank rural economist Nathan Penny said the GDT results appeared to show that global demand and supply were as close to balancing as they had been for several years. “As a result, and in the absence of market shocks, prices are likely to tread water over coming

months. That said, history has taught us that dairy markets don’t tend to sit still for very long.” AgriHQ senior dairy analyst Susan Kilsby said the very high differential between butter and WMP prices was encouraging the joint processing of butter and SMP. “As the world’s major supplier of WMP, that helps NZ. “We don’t usually see differences greater than $500/ tonne between WMP and SMP persisting for more than three months. “SMP is well down and the EU has been trying to sell off stocks, but it recently had to intervene again, out of Poland.” Kilsby said world prices were stable right now, but historically they never stayed that way for long. However, this season was almost over and the $6 forecast was now quite firm – AgriHQ’s own model came up with $6.11 after the latest GDT. Westpac raised its prediction by 10c to $6. “For next season, a farm gate milk price in the low $6s is our base case, although the uncertainty bands are wide at this early stage,” economist Sarah Drought said.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Blue Sky Meats to seek new capital Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com BLUE Sky Meats will seek fresh capital to fund a new business plan after the failed takeover by NZ Binxi (Oamaru). Chairman Scott O’Donnell said China-based Binxi indicated it was still interested in completing the deal but having sat tight for six months on the offer the Blue Sky board had decided to pursue the plan for the company developed last year. “Binxi is making noises it is still interested but I would never hold my breath,” O’Donnell said. NZ Binxi released a statement expressing its disappointment at not completing the takeover, saying its decision followed a review of forecast profits for Blue Sky and subsequent discussions with the company and not receiving a decision from the Overseas Investment Office by the offer deadline. “Both these factors meant that Binxi had to withdraw its offer despite achieving a 96% acceptance rate from shareholders. “Binxi has asked the OIO to continue the review process and expects to hear from them in due course.” The Chinese company had a 13% shareholding in Blue Sky and would work constructively with the company and shareholders. A major initiative being launched by Blue Sky was to improve meat yields at its Southland plant from the current

90% to the NZ standard 93%, a move an earlier review said could increase revenue by $3.5 million in three years. The second project was to grow chilled lamb volumes from less than 1% to 20%, which could improve revenue by $2m over the same period. He estimated fresh capital of about $2m was needed to launch those projects but no decision had been made on where that money would come from.

Binxi is making noises it is still interested but I would never hold my breath. Scott O’Donnell Blue Sky Meats “Those projects will give us the best outcome. They are not rocket science but will get the business up to speed.” Making its newly developed beef plant profitable was another opportunity to improve company finances but the Gore plant was idle because cattle could not be bought at a price that allowed Blue Sky to make money. Earlier this year NZ Binxi, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heilongjiang Binxi Cattle Industry, offered $2.20 a share for Blue Sky, which directors advised

shareholders to accept. However, it failed to receive OIO approval by the March 20 deadline and it considered there was “material adverse change” to the performance of Blue Sky. In a letter to shareholders O’Donnell said that change was wet, cool weather affecting feed quality and slowing stock growth and stock flows early in the season. “This reduced Blue Sky’s total seasonal processing volumes compared to preseason forecasts shared with Binxi.” The wet spring and summer also restricted Blue Sky’s ability to irrigate rendering effluent, which affected the operation of its rendering plant. “We expect that these issues will lead to significantly poorerthan-expected financial performance for full year 2017.” Financially, Blue Sky had a tough last year recording a $2.7m net loss before tax following pre-tax profits of $1.7m and $2.7m in the previous two years. But O’Donnell said the board believed the new business plan was potentially “a step change” for Blue Sky’s financial performance for the coming three years. NZ Binxi owned the former Lean Meats processing plant in Oamaru.

Farmers back independent on the B+LNZ board Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com FARMER support has allowed Beef + Lamb New Zealand to press ahead with the appointment of an independent director. Chairman James Parsons said there had been desire from a lot of farmers to fill the independent director slot, a position that had not been utilised since 2004. Taking up the independent director capacity would expand the board table from eight to nine directors. “But to do this we needed to amend the director (fee) pool, from $320,250 to $331,400 per annum, an increase of $11,150,” Parsons said. And farmers gave that go ahead with a yes vote of 59% for, 36% against, through a resolution at the annual

meeting. B+LNZ would now look to recruit an independent director. “It’s about getting the organisation match fit to deliver better value for farmers.” “Over the past 26 years lamb has lifted in value by 2.6% so price is working on our side,” Parsons said. Where the cost equation was not working was in the shortfall to offset the cost inflation. “So we have to do better – better position our products at the top end.” Meanwhile, the 2016 governance review of the constitution would also retain the controversial meat industry representatives at the board table. ‘”We looked at this extensively following the resolutions to do away

with these at the 2016 annual meeting but when farmers understood these representatives were nominated positions on the board we did get overwhelmingly positive feedback so we will retain the governance structure we have.” Farmers also supported the resolution related to changing the constitution to accommodate the increased directors’ pool with 93.35% in favour. The third resolution to appoint KPMG as B+LNZ’s auditor was also supported by a 95.55% in favour vote. The overall voting percentage, excluding proxy votes, was 11.06%, being 1799 votes received from 16,261 farmers, of which 53.79% voted by post and 46.21% voted online.

MONEY: Blue Sky chairman Scott O’Donnell says $2 million is needed to launch projects to improve the firm’s returns.

Make reducing your break-even milk price a priority this autumn In only two seasons the average dairy farm has managed to reduce their break-even milk price by more than $1.20 – with average savings of over $180,000 p/a.

A FRESH LOOK Do you wonder how you compare with some of our industry’s top operators? Or how they removed waste from their business to ensure long-term success?

TIME TO RESET Autumn is the perfect opportunity to take the time to really understand your business, and set up your farm and goals for the coming season. So join us, and learn more from your peers by attending a DairyNZ Autumn Reset event or visit dairynz.co.nz/tactics for live case studies and practical tips.

Let’s take a fresh look DairyNZ.co.nz/tactics

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Young farm workers vulnerable Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com YOUNG farm workers made up the majority of the 185 farmrelated suicides since 2007, a study of coronial reports has revealed. While statistically farm-related suicide was rare, Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa NZ (RHAANZ) chief executive Michelle Thompson said the suicide rate per 100,000 people was on average 20-50% higher than those in urban centres. Thompson said the data added weight to earlier calls for rural areas to have access to mental health and addiction services as equitable as those in urban centres. RHAANZ commissioned an analysis of coronial data, which was funded by AgResearch and completed by suicide researcher Annette Beautrais. She found that financial stress was not a primary cause of someone taking their life, a pertinent discovery given the study included the period when dairy prices crashed. “It may be an underlying cause but not the precipitating factor,” Thompson said. The main causes were a

HELP: RHAANZ chief executive Michelle Thompson said the study showed the importance of farm owners, managers and rural communities offering young workers pastoral care.

history of mental illness and the breakdown of a relationship. “That analysis of coronial data has been a huge step and helped us correct many of the misnomers and misunderstandings,” she said. During the dairy downturn the Government and industry bodies focused on equipping farm owners and sharemilkers with resilience and support to weather the low milk payout.

But the research showed that of the 185 people who took their life, young farm labourers accounted for twice as many deaths as farm owners or managers. Almost half of suicide victims were aged under 40, a third of those were aged under 30 and 12% of those were under 20. Thompson said the study showed the importance of farm owners, managers and rural

communities offering young workers pastoral care. Twenty years ago farm staff regularly ate a daily meal with the farmer’s family, which was an opportunity for the parties to engage and to learn more about each other. The nature of farming has since changed with greater intensification, larger units and corporatisation and she said that type of regular get together was not as common. The other recommendation was to have greater firearm security, such as a central armoury. Thompson acknowledged this was contentious and that firearms were an integral part of farming, but the survey found 40% of rural suicides were by firearms compared to 8% in the general population. “For many people, especially youth, it can be impulsive, a relationship breakdown, access to alcohol or drugs and a firearm. It can be impetuous.” The statistics emphasised the need for rural regions to have better access to mental health and addiction services. Thompson said suicide prevention programmes should be targeted at farm labourers and include workplace health

and safety, alcohol and drug education, resilience and life skills building programmes as well as education for employers, managers, rural communities and service providers. It also required a more accurate definition of rural, an issue which RHAANZ has been in discussion with Government departments. “When we ask the ministry (of Health) what they know about the rural people who took their lives they can’t tell us anything about who they are, which town they came from or what work they did.” Victims were categorised by region which was deemed rural or urban based on Statistics NZ classification. Thompson said the definition of rural sought by RHAANZ would remove 300,000 people from urban areas that were in fact rural and 100,000 people from rural areas that were urban. “The net impact is that an extra 200,000 people are deemed rural in terms of where they access their health care.” Under the current definition she said rural suicide rates were trending down.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Dairy wants to play its part Stephen Bell stephen.bell@nzx.com FONTERRA recognises dairy is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and wants to do something about it, environment manager Francesca Eggleton says. The industry faced a potentially extremely large liability. Dairy produced gases from cows, effluent, fertiliser, deforestation to produce palm kernel, energy use and transport. Of the gases produced 85% were created onfarm, 10% from processing sites and 5% from distribution. They added up to 3.1 gigatonnes of gases a year or 25% of agricultural emissions. But dairy was also a big contributor to the economy with 240 million people employed worldwide and a billion people relying on dairy for their livelihoods.

“Dairy gets a bit of a hard time around greenhouse gas emissions,” Eggleton said. But it was an emissions-efficient source of protein. “And New Zealand dairy is one of the most emissions-efficient in the world.” Its footprint was less than half the global average. It had the advantage of a very efficient system with year-round pasture, very efficient cows and low levels of brought-in feed. “The dairy industry recognises it has a number of social objectives.” They included climate change, food security and healthy eating. Dairy had extremely important roles to play nutritionally, economically and environmentally. Fonterra believed it had a social responsibility to improve its footprint and was working with farmers on mitigation and on clean technology and energy.

Its emissions had gone down 20% since 1990 and the reduction at its plants since 2003 was 16%. “We are particularly focused on nitrogen. We are really proud of this because it’s world-leading.” The work included 24,000km of riparian planting. “It is time for us to start recognising farmers’ efforts.” It was now considering whether marginal land should be brought into the planting programme and had spent $8 million so far on researching inhibitors and vaccines and was also encouraging low-emissions feeds. It was also setting up an evidence base and sharing the information on its progress as a global leader in carbon reporting. Customers, stakeholders and other would get easy access to Fonterra’s statistics. Fonterra was also looking at alternatives to coal but the

REDUCED: Fonterra’s greenhouse gas emissions have gone down 20% since 1990, its environment manager Francesca Eggleton says.

challenges were the cost and security of supply. It was also using 100 electric vehicles

and biodiesel in its tankers. And it was leveraging in markets with the good work being done.

Greenhouse gases to keep rising Stephen Bell stephen.bell@nzx.com TOTAL agricultural greenhouse gas emissions will continue to rise though emissions per unit of product will continue to fall, Agricultural Geenhouse Gas Research Centre director Dr Harry Clark says. Farmers were limited in the effect they could have with the efficient use of fertilisers, cutting stock numbers and adjusting diets. And there was no one solution that would provide a silver bullet, he told the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Conference. Instead the industry had to look to science and new technology for a basket of solutions including improved animal and feed performance, inhibitors and vaccines. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright agreed there was no silver bullet on the horizon but there was exciting potential for a methane vaccine. “It has everything going for it, except it doesn’t exist.” Clark said Kiwi farmers had been increasing the efficiency of production with a very impressive change reducing emissions by 1% a year for 30 years and dairy

emissions had been falling since they peaked in 2004. And some solutions had undesirable consequences. Feeding 100% forage rape could reduce methane emissions by 30% but increased nitrous oxide emissions, thus swapping one gas for another. And some solutions were not realistic. Reducing the nitrogen content of diets, for instance, might not be cost-effective and wouldn’t have a massive effect. There had been great strides made in reducing nitrogen fertiliser use but it was the engine of grass growth and fertiliser was responsible for only a small part of emissions. Efficiency was the way forward for now but solutions used had to be practical, cost-effective and safe. “There are no shortcuts,” Clark said. Sound science, hard work and time were needed. Clark also referred to the reports by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Vivid Economics on NZ emissions. He warned they should not be seen as forecasts. They were assumptions that when modelled showed the consequences.

They assumed the livestock sector would shrink but his research did not. Assuming a reduction in stock number would always give a reduction in emissions. His economic modelling showed the dairy sector could rise to have nine million cows producing more milk per cow. Though emissions per cow might fall the total from the increased numbers would rise. His models showed NZ would be really struggling to get back to 1990 emissions levels.

NO SHORTCUTS: Animal emissions solutions need sound science, hard work and time, Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre director Dr Harry Clark says.

Magic potions spell disaster Stephen Bell stephen.bell@nzx.com EVERY week scientist Harry Clark gets letters revealing the cure for greenhouse gas emissions from animals. He’s been working on the issue for more than a quarter of a century and believes there are no silver bullets but that doesn’t deter those in know from trying to help him. He called their solutions magic potions.

“They are strong on advocacy and light on evidence.” And it wasn’t just the enthusiastic amateurs who had these sudden insights. “Scientists do it too when they are looking for funding,” Clark told the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Conference. Many of the texts quoted as proving results had credibility problems. The most numerous solutions were about the powers of seaweed.

One that was often suggested contained a chemical that was banned in its man-made form because it destroyed the ozone layer. It was that chemical that reduced emissions from animals. It was easy and incredibly cheap to make that chemical but ... “There are no shortcuts,” Clark said. Sound science, hard work and time were needed to crack the emissions control conundrum.

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News

10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Rural costs will be passed on Stephen Bell stephen.bell@nzx.com URBAN people will suffer if sheep and beef farmers have to bear the cost of greenhouse gas emissions, Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor says. There would be a knock-on effect from the rural sector to city businesses, he told the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Conference. So for the economy excluding agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme was pragmatic and sensible. “We are one of the most emissions-efficient producers of beef and lamb.” If New Zealand farmers stopped producing they would be replaced by less efficient producers. But they had to play their part in balancing the social, economic,

cultural and environmental implications. And they should be rewarded with policies that gave credit for smaller areas of tree plantings because that would rapidly increase the rate farmers addressed that issue.

We are one of the most emissions-efficient producers of beef and lamb. Sam McIvor B+LNZ That was an issue also raised by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan

Wright who said there was a real opportunity to loosen the rules around carbon forests. She wanted a broader, more inclusive definition of what constituted a carbon forest. “If we can give credit, why not.” Native trees would take carbon out of the air slowly but do it for 300 years while pine forests took it out quickly but held it only till harvest, however could be used to buy time. A lot of land should never have been cleared and there was at least one million hectares suitable for trees. That would also help deal with soil erosion and water quality. But McIvor said hill country farmers were producing food on land that would otherwise be wasted. Farmers did respond to change but needed clear market signals,

KNOCK ON: Urban people will feel the effects of greenhouse gas costs put on the rural sector, Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor says.

had to grow confidence to scale up and had to be able to measure the change. They also didn’t want to be bogged down with administration. Though beef and lamb prices had gone up farm profitability had stayed flat as farmers battled rising input costs and demands on

their time that meant they were in the office when they should be on the farm. Any efforts should avoid putting administration onto farmers and let them get on with implementation. “Farmers are motivated to change,” he said.

Land use must change Stephen Bell stephen.bell@nzx.com

BIG CHANGES: New land uses could be transformational, economist Dr Suzi Kerr says.

ONFARM greenhouse gas mitigation won’t be enough to meet New Zealand’s reduction targets so land use must be diversified, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research senior fellow Dr Suzi Kerr says. Higher carbon prices and the inclusion of agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme would help. “Biological greenhouse gases are not priced. That would be a signal to encourage change,” she told the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Conference. The economy needed land use to diversify because NZ had a risky strategy with few land uses. “Can we replace dairy and

red meat with other, high-value foods? “There must be other things capable people can grow in NZ.” But that questioned hadn’t been studied enough so it was not know what other things could be done. The industry support structures that might have enable that work were dismantled in the 1980s so now a grower of a new product was responsible for the whole process. It was also hard to scale new crops up. People were selling saffron, insects, seeds and tea but they were cottage industries. NZ also had a bad history with crazy fads like goats, ostriches and maybe manuka honey. But it still needed to pick winners and push products fast

from idea to evaluation and markets. Some changes would be transformational and need new markets to be developed so the system for allowing that to happen had to be revisited. More basic research on different products was needed with economic as well as scientific data. And charging for greenhouse gas emissions would change the balance of the playing field. Such changes could lead to radically different land uses but would need a lot of skills and capital. Changes so far had sequestered emission rather than reducing them and the Emissions Trading Scheme had provoked little response because of low prices.

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DR DON HUBER – USA Will talk on the role nutrients have on plants and how these protect it from specific diseases

NEAL KINSEY – USA Discussing how to achieve nutrient-dense crops and foods. He will also discuss the role of sulphur

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Data drives production and reduction Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

WIN-WIN: South Canterbury sheep and beef farmer Bill Wright has cut greenhouse gas emissions by one third while at the same time developing more productive farm systems. Photo: Annette Scott

with farm growth. Analysis of the Wrights’ farm system over the past couple of years had also provided important insights into the loss of nitrogen and any impacts on the amount of leaching and how it could be managed. The present environmental and water quality issues facing the agricultural sector had highlighted some challenges that needed to be addressed, Wright said.

increase production and not increase nitrogen loss. “Good science will continue to ensure that the modelling is improved,” he said. AgResearch farms systems team leader Robyn Dynes said the numbers showed that with the right choices the emissions intensity could be effectively reduced while also developing a farm that was more resilient, more financially viable and still producing quality product. “For the Wrights, as for many sheep and beef farmers, increasing the efficiency and resilience of their farming business had huge spin-off benefits for the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions,” Dynes said. “New Zealand farmers are playing a big part in lowering the emissions intensity of NZ’s agricultural production. “Without efficiency gains NZ’s agricultural emissions would now be more than 30% higher than in 1990 due to increased production.” The Wrights also gained a clear view of the nitrate leaching on their farm and how different pastures and crops could help manage that. FRNL programme leader, DairyNZ scientist Ina Pinxterhuis, said the inclusion of monitored

farms in the research programme was invaluable. “The farmers keep the researchers focussed on delivering practical solutions that maintain the viability of the business. “They also test the FRNL options on their farms, which is highly valuable for demonstration to other farmers and for determining what information is required for decision making and management support.” Working together on programmes looking at nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions was important to discover solutions that benefited both goals, Pinxterhuis said. Wright said the opportunity to be monitor farmers had allowed he and Shirley to farm with good facts helping their decision making. “Farmers are the first to want to protect the land, water and air, but now we are developing some useful tools that will enable us to do this while protecting our incomes, communities and the opportunities for future generations to farm the land. “Although we do face a new era in environmental awareness, farmers and our families will with new knowledge, through research, science and technology, have a sustainable future,” Wright said.

02045_WPAM_NZFW

A 25-YEAR record keeping regime has proven its worth for scientists studying how greenhouse gas emissions change with growing farm intensity. South Canterbury farmers Bill and Shirley Wright have records dating back to 1991, when they took on their sheep and cattle farm at Cave. Scientists from AgResearch worked with funders the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) and the Ministry for Primary Industries on the study of gas emissions at the Wrights’ farm. The farm was also the focus of a Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) programme that brought together DairyNZ, the Foundation for Arable Research, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research, Landcare Research and the Government in funding research around the nitrate leaching. The collaborative funding and research highlighted opportunities alongside strong environmental gains, Bill Wright said. Substantial reductions in the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions showed environmental gains could be made hand in hand

“Farmers are conscious of their collective responsibilities to restore water quality and minimise their environmental footprint. “This is material we are now learning how to manage in a way that not only protects the environment but provides opportunities to be more productive with less impact.” Data showed the Wrights’ farming system increased its efficiency and reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of product – meat and wool – by 18% between 1991 and 2014 and a further 17% by 2015. Emissions in 1991 were 16.9kgs of carbon dioxide equivalent gas per kilogram of product, 13.8kg per kg of product in 2014, and 11.4kg per kg of product in 2015. The farm changed from predominantly lamb and wool production in 1991 to a large proportion of beef, plus dairy support in recent years. The total amount of product leaving the farm had dramatically increased due to more forage production and use and adoption of new technologies. Some real positives had been highlighted with high cattle numbers and Wright was confident he could efficiently

“We’ll talk about the farm. The family. The livestock. The one thing we rarely talk about is money.” Shaun Crofskey, Westpac Senior Agribusiness Manager, Te Awamutu

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News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Forest benefits have wide reach Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com PLANTATION forestry is worth at least $2 billion a year in environmental gains for New Zealand, a major report claims. The sector was hugely important and the industry’s influence extended well beyond its direct impacts, in jobs and incomes in other parts of the economy and the impact on rural and urban centres, including being the major driver in some rural economies, the NZ Institute for Economic Research said. Plantation forestry and logging had a GDP impact more than 20% greater than sheep meat and wool, about 45% more than beef farming and was at a similar level to the wider horticulture sector. That was from exports of about $5b in the 2015 year and the outlook was extremely bright with exports forecast to rise to $6b by 2020, NZIER said in the 80-page report written for the NZ Forest Growers Association and the NZ Farm Foresters Association. Forestry’s wider contribution to the environment was from: • Extraction of materials from forests to provide food, fibre, energy and chemicals for pharmaceutical and other uses;

EXTRA BENEFITS: The non-market value of forestry could be implied at $9.6 billion a year, the Institute of Economic Research said.

• Its contribution to the stabilisation of soils and reduction in erosion, moderation of water flows, biodiversity, and retention of carbon and nutrients from being discharged into the atmosphere and water and; • Basic physical and chemical functions of nutrient and water recycling. Some of those benefits were difficult to quantify because they were not easy to measure.

However, because they were outside the forest owners’ primary, financial interest “they might not be taken properly into account in national decision-making processes, resulting in underprovision of forestry in potentially beneficial situations and distortion of polices around use of land for which forestry competes”. As well as the $5b in exports, plantation forestry and logging provided an estimated nearly $4b

direct benefit in the economy in 2015 from wages and salaries of $301 million, capital and land investment of $1.1b, contract services inputs worth $2.4b and freight services costing $171m. However, the industry faced constraints – an important one being that no one government ministry or department was responsible for forestry. Policy co-ordination would become more crucial as export earnings grew and carbon capture arrangements developed to help meet NZ’s climate change agreement targets. In that regard, the Government had been slow to partner with industry to ensure the best outcome. Nor was forestry’s significant environmental contribution factored into its economic value, meaning it was undervalued, NZIER said. A “satellite account” to rearrange and account for all that data was needed to properly reflect forestry’s importance. It was also important in tourism and recreation, with a wide range of uses. On a GDP basis, forestry was especially important in the economies in Gisborne, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Its value was also high in Northland, Tasman-

Nelson and Otago-Southland. The industry required long-term planning with the core radiata pine plantations taking between 25 years and 35 years to reach harvest age. The report also noted that NZ forests had not declined in yield beyond the second rotation, as productivity had gained through genetics and better management. The report used a study of the Ohiwa catchment area in eastern Bay of Plenty as a guide to potential benefits of forestry across a raft of environmental factors including carbon capture, flood and erosion control, reducing nutrient leaching, pollination, waste treatment and recreation to find a net ecosystem value of $5609 a hectare a year. If that was extended over the full NZ exotic planted area of 1.72m hectares in 2015, the value of nonmarket benefits could be implied at $9.6b, in addition to the market output of the forests, it said. Because the ecosystem services approach was still at an experimental stage, a conservative approach was needed in interpreting them but “even if the national average was only onefifth that of the Ohiwa catchment that would amount to $1.9b value annually.”

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Plant construction under way

FRESH APPROACH: Scott Champion takes over from Dr Patrick Aldwell as Kellogg programme leader.

CONSTRUCTION of the country’s newest dairy nutritional powder manufacturing plant was on schedule for an August 18 start. The $200 million Mataura Valley Milk plant was being built at McNab, north of Gore in Southland, and company director Aaron Moody said he was pleased with the progress. About 140 people were working on site but that was expected to increase in coming weeks. Mataura Valley Milk was a joint venture between local investors, milk suppliers and China Animal Husbandry Group. The pharmaceutical-standard plant would manufacture nutritional powders for infant formula markets, ultra-high temperature (UHT) cream and small amounts of skim milk powder from milk supplied by shareholder farmers.

Photo: John Cosgrove

Kellogg IS LIVER FLUKE PUTTING HOLES looks IN YOUR PROFITS? forward theFlukeliver,larvae burrow through Impacting stock health and production. and back Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE past will be celebrated and a new era launched at a summit of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme next month. The first ever gathering of Kellogg Alumni is being organised for May but it also notes the retirement of programme leader Dr Patrick Aldwell who has been involved in 21 courses since 1999. The former Dean of Commerce at Lincoln University, Aldwell has been replaced by former Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Scott Champion. The chairwoman of the rural leadership consortium, Juliet Maclean, said Champion would bring a fresh approach but he also had strong industry connections. “Scott has worked in research and development roles in both the private sector and academia, experiences that will add value to the programme and its participants.” The coming month was shaping up as significant for the programme, with the nearly 700 alumni who have completed the course since 1979 invited to a summit, the first ever organised in its 38 year history. Maclean said it was a chance for alumni to renew acquaintances, but the summit would also provide a forum to refresh passions and discover opportunities by sharing experiences and developing ideas. It was also an opportunity to bid farewell to Aldwell and acknowledge his contribution to 21 courses over 19 years. Alumni from the 1979 course, the first ever held, had enrolled for the May 18 summit in Wellington and Maclean said registrations were being received daily and there was still time to register. “The summit is a fantastic occasion to reconnect our alumni and an opportunity to continue the leadership challenge that the Kellogg programme has been so successful at initiating for participants over the past three decades.” She described the speakers as world class. They include Mint Lab founder Francis Valintine, the Ambassador of Singularity University Kaila Colbin, All Black mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, Animation Research founder Ian Taylor and Ruth Richardson, a former Minister of Finance and a director on a number of boards. Registrations close on May 11.

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News

14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Cream on value-add cake Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com CHINESE foodservice demand has put cream on Fonterra’s value-added cake, necessitating a planned expansion of the Waitoa UHT plant in Waikato less than three years after it was built. Fonterra operations division is installing two more 1-litre cream Tetra Pak lines at a cost of $35 million and creating 26 new jobs, chief operating officer Robert Spurway said. One had already been built and was operational and construction had begun on the second. When completed, in August, the expansion would more than triple the Waitoa output of 1-litre UHT cream, to a capacity of 120m packs a year. “It is a clear demonstration of our value-add strategy,” Spurway said. “Decisions around these expansions are based on demand for the product. “So it’s a reflection of the great work our foodservice team are doing in the markets, as well as our teams at our sites to support one of the fastest growing and highest returning parts of the business.”

People can taste freshness, and that’s what they are developing a preference for, particularly in China where dairy is really starting to take off. Grant Watson Fonterra

Foodservice products, of which UHT packaging was a major part, accounted for 8% of Fonterra’s total volume in the 2016 financial year. In the first half of the current financial year foodservice grew 17% to be 10% of total milk volume processed. It was therefore 40% of the consumer and foodservice division, which delivered 30% gross margin, or added-value, and earned $313m in the half-year. Output had been growing 1520% annually, to meet a rapidly growing demand from quickservice restaurants and bakeries in China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the United States, the Middle East, and Australia and New Zealand. China’s appetite for Westernstyle foods had been the driver for Fonterra’s UHT cream, replacing nonSaturday 22/04/2017 dairy whips with FMG Young Farmer Taranaki/Manawatu Regional Final dairy nutrition, Venue: The TSB Hub, Camberwell Road, Hawera Time: 10.00am-2.00pm mouth-feel, and For more information check out our Facebook page or functionality. website. Anchor Food Thursday 27/04/2017 Professionals, as AWDT Protecting Your Team the foodservice Venue: Tararua Conference & Events Centre at Masters division was now Hall, Pahiatua Time: 8.45am-5.00pm known, had rolled Contact: hannah@awdt.org.nz 06 377 4560 Website: To register for this programme go to http://www. awdt.org.nz/programmes/protecting-your-team/

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Friday 05/05/2017 – Saturday 06/05/2017 Field Days Marlborough Venue: Weld Park, State Highway 1, Ward Time: 10am Wednesdays 10/05/2017, 07/06/2017, 05/07/2017 and 02/08/2017 AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business Three full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months Venue: Te Akau Community Complex, Te Akau Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz or 06 377 4560 Website: To register for the programme go to http://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/understanding-yourfarming-business/

hours instead of the traditional three months, using a closelyguarded process developed by Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North. The IQF version stayed flowable and uniform and was therefore more cost efficient in fast-food restaurants. When first built, in 2014, Waitoa was equipped with five filling stations and four packing lines, and the building had room for eight packing lines in future. Chief executive Theo Spierings, who had championed foodservice since joining Fonterra in 2011, predicted at the opening that Waitoa would double its output by 2020. When the new lines are completed there will be seven in total – three dedicated foodservice lines for 1-litre packs of creams or milk, one for 200ml

Milk for Schools packs, two for 250ml packs and one for 125ml packs. Spurway said he couldn’t say publicly when the final packing line capacity would be needed, only that Fonterra put a great deal of effort into planning to match its facilities with demand and milk production. The existing Waitoa UHT plant building could also be replicated on the same site, when needed, he said. Fonterra also did UHT packs at Takanini, Auckland, where many of the consumer-ready products for NZ and our Pacific neighbours were made, and at some thirdparty processing plants around the world. UHT format was used for the Milk for Schools programme at home and for the white and fortified milks with Anchor Gold labelling in Mandarin, for the Chinese market.

Tony Leggett tony.leggett@nzx.com

LK0085515©

Thursdays 25/05/2017, 22/06/2017, 20/07/2017 and 17/08/2017 AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business Three full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months Venue: TBC, Paeroa Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz or 06 377 4560 Website: To register for the programme go to http://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/understanding-yourfarming-business/

Should your important event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@nzx.com

out UHT cream to 76 cities across China and expected to be present in 160 cities in five years. Fonterra grew combined consumer and foodservice volumes in Greater China by 48% in 2015-16, which made Fonterra an industry leader, the global foodservice director, Grant Watson said. “People can taste freshness, and that’s what they are developing a preference for, particularly in China where dairy is really starting to take off.” Spurway said functionality was a big part of the Fonterra foodservice success story, such as the UHT cream that won’t over-whip and held its shape for longer. Similar successes were behind the concurrent $240m expansion of mozzarella cheese capacity at Clandeboye, South Canterbury. Individually quick-frozen (IQF) mozzarella was now made in six

Easton is Australasia’s best youngster

Saturday 29/04/2017 Autumn Garden Show Venue: Christchurch Botanical Gardens, Christchurch Time: 10.00am

Saturday 22/09/2017 2017 National Alpaca Show Venue: Manfield, South Street West, Feilding. Time: 9.00am

DEMAND: China’s appetite for Western-style foods had been the driver for Fonterra’s UHT cream, replacing non-dairy whips with dairy nutrition, mouth-feel, and functionality.

NORTH Otago dairy farmer Morgan Easton is this year’s winner of the prestigious Zanda McDonald Award. Awarded in honour of the late Australian agribusiness leader, Zanda McDonald, the award recognises outstanding young people across the Australasian agriculture sector. It is awarded annually by the Australasian Platinum Primary Producers Group (PPP). Easton received the accolade at a gala dinner in Melbourne Australia on Tuesday evening during this year’s annual conference which attracted around 200 of Australasia’s leading farmers and agribusiness owners. Another New Zealand farm owner and manager, Henry Pinckney, and New South Wales agribusiness analyst Airlie

WINNER: Hayley and Morgan Easton with Allflex Asia Pacific chief executive Shane McManaway.

Trescowthick were the other finalists for this year’s award. Easton said he was humbled by the award which provides funds to travel and visit other members of the PPP

group to focus on a particular area of interest before reporting back to next year’s annual conference which will be held in Taupo, near the end of March.

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News

16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

MPI picks primary exports to grow Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com AN EXPECTED recovery in global commodity prices in the next two years could see primary sector export receipts grow more than 10% in the next two years. A Ministry for Primary Industries quarterly update of its Situation Outlook report, forecasts a $0.8 billion lift in exports for the year ended June 2017, to $37.5 billion and then lift a further 9.7% to $41.1b the following year. The improvement was driven by better prices for dairy and forestry and greater volumes of horticultural products, offsetting falling beef and lamb exports due to lower stock numbers. Excessive grain production and low oil prices have for two years suppressed global commodity prices, but the MPI report said those values were starting to lift as oil prices edged higher following a supply agreement and China reducing its coal imports, leading to rising energy prices. This was expected to benefit dairy prices in particular, with exports for the year to increase $1.2b to $14.5b. But a difficult growing season was expected to reduce milk flows by 2.5% despite the season starting with dairy cow numbers 1.3% higher than a year earlier. Milk production was expected to rebound 3.3% next season. It was all bad news for meat exports, with a forecast 11.2% fall in revenue driven by lower cull dairy cow following two years of high volumes, and lower stock numbers overall. Meat exports were expected to be worth $8.2b, $1b lower than 2016, but were expected to recover

BETTER: The improvement was driven by better prices for dairy and forestry and greater volumes of horticultural products, offsetting falling beef and lamb exports due to lower stock numbers.

continue for another two years. Export receipts have risen from $4.6b in 2015 to a predicted $5.9b in 2018. China was taking 70% of NZ log exports which had reached record levels, aided by low shipping costs. The MPI report said demand was coming from the expanding housing market and environmental law reforms were protecting China’s natural forests reducing domestic log supply. An ease in demand for sawn timber from China, Vietnam and Australia has resulted in volumes falling 3%. Horticulture was also Alpine Dairy, Switzerland enjoying a golden run, with exports growing from $3.8b in 2014 to a forecast $5.1b this year, $5.4b in 2018 and $6.3b in 2021. Growth had come from Kiwifruit, wine, apples

4.2% in 2018 to $8.5b. Lamb receipts this year were forecast to fall 10% to $2.3b with some of that reduction due to retained ewe lambs to rebuild flocks. Beef revenue was expected to fall 16.8% to $2.6b and venison to fall 10.4% to $160m. A lack of demand from China has driven a 19% reduction in wool revenue to $620m this year. Forestry has enjoyed a golden period that was expected to

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and pears and was expected to continue. The MPI report said Marlborough’s wine area would expand 25% by 2020, Zespri was releasing licenses for 400ha of Gold3 Kiwifruit a year for the next three years and apple and pear planting would exceed 11,000ha (an 11% increase) by 2020. For the current year Kiwifruit exports would hit $1.7b and wine $1.6b although the price per litre would fall 55c to $6.70 a litre. It noted the 2017 vintage grape harvest was forecast at 410,000 tonnes, down slightly on last year but still the third largest ever. Apple and pear exports this year would be a record at 387,000 tonnes. Export seed revenue was picked to fall 12% this year due to the high exchange rate and low demand on the back of low commodity prices. But the improved outlook

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from the dairy sector should help domestic demand. In 2016 22,796 cattle were exported to China and in 2017 that was expected to increase to between 30,000 and 35,000. The MPI report also looked at seafood, processed foods, honey, confectionary and cereal products.

Primary sector the powerhouse Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

It was all bad news for meat exports, with a forecast 11.2% fall in revenue driven by lower cull dairy cow following two years of high volumes, and lower stock numbers overall.

NEW Zealand’s economy was becoming increasingly reliant on the export dollars earned by from the primary sector, according to a Government report. The Ministry for Primary Industries quarterly update of its situation and outlook report revealed 78% of all NZ’s merchandised exports came from the primary sector. “This figure has increased over the past five years from 72% in 2012, indicating that the primary industries will

continue to be the dominant exporting sector for the foreseeable future.” Primary exports were forecast to generate $37.5 billion in receipts this year and $41b next year. It also revealed that 16% of NZ’s workforce was employed in primary sector production, manufacturing and support services with most of those jobs in Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato. The regions with the highest percentage of workforce in the primary sector were Tasman, Marlborough, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.

The sector annually contributed $22.2b the NZ economy, equivalent to 10% of NZ’s total GDP of $22b. This 2016 figure included $10b from primary production and $12.2b from food manufacturing, wood processing and support services. The dominant role of China as a buyer of NZ produce was also highlighted. In the year to June 2016, it bought 22% of all primary products worth $8.2b, and was our largest customer of dairy, meat, wool, forestry and seafood, fourth for arable and fifth for horticulture.

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18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Aim tech at firms instead of farmers Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com AS THE internet of things (IoT) becomes more of a reality for New Zealand farmers its success might lie in promoting it harder to farm service businesses than to farmers themselves. KotahiNet chief executive Vikram Kumar tipped the usual pitch for farmers to adopt the IoT on its head to delegates at the MobileTech conference in Rotorua. His company specialised in connecting businesses with sensors and wireless networks that enabled devices to communicate within businesses and beyond, including farms, orchards and processing operations. “Connectivity is being pushed by technology companies but often still not thinking about solutions. Connectivity is not IoT, it just allows us to get data and do something useful about it.”

CONNECTED: Low power, wide area networks will let farmers reduce their dependence on big telcos, KotahiNet chief executive Vikram Kumar says.

He cited an example of knowing how much milk was held in a silo on farm. “It may be useful for the farmer to know how much is in there but to a wider group of people it may be valuable too. For example, knowing how much milk is to be

collected is interesting to Fonterra to optimise collection of it.” A similar monitor was proposed for a feed silo but the farmer said he was only marginally interested in knowing how much was in it. “But knowing how much was in it was more important to the feed supplier. He could change his delivery model by knowing which customer needed delivery and could optimise the supply chain.” Given the early stages the IoT evolution was at, he challenged companies to question whether they should be pushing solutions at this stage to farmers rather working with service providers who could see the benefit for their businesses. IoT was on the cusp of becoming more integrated into farm businesses, whether for farmers or service company benefit, thanks to developments in connection networks. “What has been missing is the

COMING: Onfarm networks are a reality.

ability to transmit small volumes of data over long distances with low power/battery use. “Low power wide area networks were proving well suited to allow long battery life sensors to talk, hooking into wifi and Bluetooth to deliver coverage over 30km, making it ideal for extensive orchard and pastoral properties. “So often, we expect top-down connectivity with large telcos providing coverage, which is expensive and in a way makes us helpless until that coverage arrives. This does not have to be true for this sort of network and IoT.” The network option was evolving quickly with routers employing it rolled out in China this month. “In a couple of years you will have one of these put up on farms and orchards, empowering us to not to have to rely on large telcos

In a couple of years you will have one of these put up on farms and orchards, empowering us to not to have to rely on large telcos to fix our connectivity problems. Vikram Kumar KotahiNet to fix our connectivity problems.” He did not see the systems competing with established, large-scale telcos but more sitting alongside, filling a gap determined by the low data volumes IoT usually required.

Research aims to get under IoT hood

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WHILE fitness trackers and intelligent fridges have given the Internet of Things (IoT) a profile it will be in business and government applications where its true value will be unleased, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says. And a research project aimed to determine that potential. Muller said a national research project his organisation was managing would bring major tech users, firms and the government together to better understand its potential. IoT was a major topic at this year’s MobileTech conference in Rotorua, with experts generally agreeing its time had come. That was in part because of improved connectivity in rural areas through the Rural Broadband Initiative and rapidly developing, low power, wide area network systems enabling farms and orchards to form their own long-range connections to sensors and devices. Muller said the research would be done by mid-year. However, some initial observations had given him cause for optimism on IoT’s likely success. “While current uptake is very

low with only about 10% of New Zealand businesses having deployed or planning to deploy IoT type technologies, NZ has all the ingredients for a business environment that will support accelerated growth.” MobileTech presenter Vikram Kumar of network company KotahiNet said the exciting prospect for IoT was how it linked users to data from the physical world. “The internet has been very good for digital information but not so much for the physical world and understanding it better in real time.” The second area it would prove valuable in was as an “actuator” of that physical world. “That could be using it to turn on an irrigator or a milk chiller. IoT world is all about context, knowing what is happening in real time and changing it.” The research results were to be published in June. Global researcher IDC identified NZ as being the third most mature market for IoT by 2020, with the agri sector highlighted as a key growth driver with up to 10 million devices capable of connection.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Ag trainers to get more help Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE beleaguered training and education sector has received some welcomed news with PrimaryITO adopting a greater and more diverse training role. The changes followed a difficult two years for primary sector training providers in which a number closed, but that came with the realisation training was essential to meet the Government’s goal of doubling the value of primary sectors exports by 2025, chief executive Dr Linda Sissons said. Since taking on the role last July, Sissons has moved to ensure PrimaryITO was relevant, nimble and played its part in efforts to meet those growth targets while also finding ways to make training easier. Last year companies providing training for 1000 people collapsed or closed but the subsequent goodwill and determination from primary sector groups gave Sissons confidence the training gap would be filled. “I think we will because the industry is so committed.” The changes were also driven by the reality the industry needed staff with greater skills than previously to meet compliance and to use new technology. “It’s not been an anti-qualification but whoneeds-it attitude to qualifications,” she said. Sissons said the demands of the industry were changing and PrimaryITO’s response was to focus on what she called the three Ps – pathways, partnerships and production. The aim was to provide and promote a pathway for primary industry careers that were diverse and stimulating while also providing a lifestyle. Addressing training needs meant partnering with industry and other providers like polytechnics and Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, while there was a proven link between improved farm productivity and trained staff. “We have got a need for more qualified and smart workers so we need to see the primary industry as a positive career choice and at the same time address the changing shape of the workforce.” An initiative with Taratahi and the Manukau Institute of Technology was the launch of Primary Auckland, a programme to encourage school leavers into primary industry careers. Sissons said a South Auckland principal told her 5% of school leavers went to work in the primary sector, a figure that was low given the area’s proximity to land-based industries. A number of training providers that collapsed in recent years were set up by growers or farmers but struggled with the bureaucracy, rules and regulations, Sissons said. PrimaryITO proposed working with providers so they delivered training but left the administration to the ITO. “This is not an easy industry,” she said of education. “We are the people who understand the rules of Government.” Another change was to allow trainees more time to complete courses by doing them in bite-size pieces. Surveys showed courses were not completed because trainees got distracted at busy times of the year such as lambing or calving. PrimaryITO wanted to recognise previous learning such as on-the-job training and attending discussion groups or more formally through a training provider. “Through this way we can fast-track that learning,” she said. One part of the business that would not change was the network of training providers. “The feedback is that those training providers on the ground are worth their weight in gold.”

SHARING: PrimaryITO will take over administration from agriculture education providers leaving them free to concentrate on the training, chief executive Dr Linda Sissons says.

Sissons was previously the deputy chief executive of The Open Polytechnic and for 15 years the chief executive of Wellington Institute of Technology. She was introduced to agriculture when she was acting chief executive of Taratahi and after a brief secondment to Massey University to lead a project developing its agriculture portfolio was appointed to head the PrimaryITO role.

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20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Family honours lost son Ross Nolly WHEN the Herlihy family tragically lost their 20-year old son and brother Michael to suicide last year, their natural instinct must have been to want to shut the world out and grieve privately. However, the Whangamomona, Taranaki, farming family did the opposite. They sought to talk about what is often called the silent killer. In January the six Herlihy brothers, Paul, Mark, Craig, Tim, Dean and Michael were preparing for an attempt to set a new world record by shearing 3000 lambs in eight hours. But just 10 days before they were due to begin, Michael died of a suspected suicide. On the weekend of March 25 and 26 the Herlihy family ran a 24-hour Shearathon at Whangamomona to raise funds to support charities helping people at risk. They aimed to raise $10,000 by shearing 3000 sheep and through their Givealittle page. “People have never really wanted to talk about suicide,” Michaael’s father John said. “Until Michael took his own life we’d never discussed it either. “But it just seemed natural for us to begin to talk about it and to try to raise money to put toward suicide awareness.

“It was his birthday recently. He would have been 22, yet he never made his 21st. “It’s pretty rough, you know, but it happens all the time. “I could rattle off 20 people that I’ve known over the years who have committed suicide and you know it must feel so bad for their friends and families. But it really hits hard when it’s your own son” Whangamomona was a very tight knit community and that was never more evident than when a local family suffered a loss or are went through hard times. The Herlihys were overwhelmed by the amount of support they received for themselves and the event. “People have come forward offering their services and cash for the cause. People call in here all the time. It’s helped to be living in a tight-knit community but I think that would be the same in every backcountry area” John said. Supporters came from across the North Island for the Herlihys’ Shearathon. Some of the workers even came from Kawhia, such was the mana the Herlihy family had in the shearing world and a testament to the worthiness of their cause. The local shearers blitzed the original target of shearing 3000 sheep by an extra 722. The cause received $2 a sheep and the Givealittle page closed at

$5480 which, together with the shearing, easily broke the $10,000 target. “Michael showed no outward signs at all that he was feeling so low yet he was just one case out of hundreds. “I’d urge anyone who is feeling down or depressed to talk to somebody but most won’t reach out for help. “They think that no one loves them or will reach out to help them. If you ask for help you’ll get help” John said. “I think it’s a good idea that people now want to discuss suicide because there are more suicides in New Zealand than road deaths. “All measures are taken to prevent road fatalities, as it should be, but it seems that not a great deal is being done nationwide to prevent suicides” The tally board told the story of the weekend. The Herlihys didn’t expect to shear an extra 722 sheep but they had extra sheep in the shed and plenty of shearers on hand. John summed up the event. “You can’t fault the community support that we’ve had. That’s what Whanga’s about. We’re pretty overwhelmed by everything that happened on that weekend. Hopefully, it may help others who are in a similar situation to our own”

HARD AT IT: John Herlihy shearing. The family wore pink singlets to honour Michael and the cause.

IN THE OPEN: John Herlihy says people have never really wanted to talk about suicide.

SUSTENANCE: Food stall and raffles at the shearathon.

PROGRESS: Writing up the tallies at the shearathon.

ANOTHER ONE: Shearer working at the shearathon.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Yili to power the Waimate economy Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com THE launch of stage two of Chinese dairy giant Yili Group’s $400 million Oceania Dairy will give a huge boost to South Canterbury’s regional economy, Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley says. The expansion of the dairy processing plant also promised rising prices for farmers as Oceania developed a set price mechanism for milk. The opening of the stage two development at the Glenavy dairy plant would create up to 110 more jobs and increase Yili’s investment in the region to more than $630m. In line with stage two beginning Yili Oceania Dairy was set to launch a major recruitment drive with the company committed to employing all workshop operators, laboratory staff, warehouse managers and administrative staff from the local community following stage two completion, Yili Group chairman Pan Gang said. More than 90% of the existing Oceania staff were local residents. Pan said Yili would work with regional economic development agencies to promote local economic development. “This is huge,” Rowley said. “There is no doubting we recognise this is a big thing with significant potential for our district. “We support their initiative and growth whole heartedly,” he said. With one in five jobs in Waimate District either in dairy or related to the dairy industry, the regional economy was very reliant on dairying. “We realise we will not get all the 110 new jobs from within Waimate but we will have a good crack at filling the jobs from the South Canterbury and North Otago regions,” he said. With Hunter Downs irrigation set to come on stream, regional growth was booming. The district council had started working with consultants to establish a new economic development strategy. “We are headed to be the powerhouse of the South Island,” Rowley said. Stage two investment in Yili Oceania Dairy included a new ultra high temperature (UHT) plant, infant formula canning line, blending facilities, a whole milk powder dryer and facilities to make UHT milk products and lactoferrin. The completion of the stage two development would provide a significant economic boost to South Canterbury, including for farmers and milk suppliers. Yili was actively working with farmers to augment its milk supply to meet its growing production needs. The company was also developing a set-price mechanism where the milk price was guaranteed to improve year-on-year cashflow management for farmers, Pan said. There were 67 farmers supplying milk to Oceania Dairy. For its China market, Yili Group also announced the launch of a new premium PRO-KIDO Ruihu infant formula. Pan said Yili was fully committed to New Zealand, as evidenced by the significant and ongoing investment in Glenavy. Yili had also signed a memorandum of understanding with Lincoln University and Oceania Dairy’s research and development manager Dr Philip Wescombe was now based at the university to help in the establishment of a new research and development centre. “We consider Lincoln to be one of the finest agricultural tertiary providers in the world and we think this joint venture will generate innovation to the benefit of not only Yili group but the wider NZ dairy sector,” Pan said. Dairy trade was an important part of the economic partnership between China and NZ.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping and NZ Prime Minister John Key opened the Yili plant and the $236m stage one investment was completed the same year. The privately-owned Yili Group, with its headquarters in Inner Mongolia, was China’s largest dairy producer and the eighth largest dairy company in the world. In 2016 Yili achieved annual revenue of US$8.6 billion.

INPUT: Yili has grown its Oceania Dairy investment to more than $600 million.

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22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Drought index to help farmers Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com DEFINING a drought is likely to become simpler and quicker thanks to a NIWA index that combines all the indicators of an impending dry period under one value. Defining a drought had meant assessing a range of values including soil moisture deficit, evapotranspiration, rainfall and moisture anomalies, its principal climate scientist Dr Andrew Tait said. “There was not any one specific value that anyone could base a decision on. “We looked around at what the rest of the world had used, including the United States, China and Europe, which all have drought monitors in place. The index was not intended to be a forecasting tool but rather a trend analysis index that provided near real-time data on district and regional basis. To keep the new readings in context, NIWA had backdated the index over the past 10 years with 2013 and 2011, in particular, highlighted as dry years in the upper North Island. Given how often one part of the country or other was going into

The index will be one of the critical pieces of information used to declare a drought event. Andrew Tait NIWA

USEFUL: The drought index will be used by people considering drought declarations, Waikato Rural Support Trust chairman Neil Bateup says.

drought, in drought or coming out of it, the index was not before time, Tait said. “The Ministry for Primary Industries has been keen to work with us to have a better definition of information. “They tend to define a drought by the impact it is having on farmer income, animal health, crop growth, supplement demand and stress levels.

“The index will be one of the critical pieces of information used to declare a drought event.” While MPI had a specific interest in the index. It was available online and open to all users. Tait expected to see growing interest in the tool from regional councils, irrigation groups and resource managers keen to determine likely water demand

over peak periods. Users could get a national perspective from a colour-coded map of NZ or a regional or district indication of where the drought index sat now and historically. The index’s data sources were the 200 automated weather stations around the country, one of the most automated networks in the world. “This provides us with a very pure, objective data set to work with, without the subjectivity you can get with human input.” Feedback had been received on its format and layout from the national adverse events committee members. Waikato Rural Support Trust chairman Neil Bateup, a dairy farmer with many seasons of drought experience, welcomed the index as another tool for

determining a drought’s likely magnitude. “In the past when we have met we look at rainfall figures and soil moisture deficit graphs from NIWA. “This really brings those factors all together under one number. When our group meets with the likes of Federated Farmers, MPI and regional councils we would be looking at this now too.” Some regions in the index were defined by districts, with Waikato and Manawatu well split up. Tait said other areas like Southland and districts like Hurunui that extended from the sea to the mountains could be broken down further in future for greater accuracy. “We are also able to get the data down to smaller areas which opens up the opportunity for us to provide client-specific information.” The website was designed to be mobile and tablet friendly and Tait said there was a possibility applications could be designed around it in the future.

The NIWA drought index can be found at: www.niwa.co.nz/climate/ information-and-resources/droughtmonitor.

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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Water charge not so complicated Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com DETERMINING the cost of water and the economy’s willingness to pay for it is a debate long overdue, agricultural economist Peter Fraser says. The recent furore over bottling plants and how much companies would pay should open more discussion on whether all waterusing sectors should pay and how much they should paying, Fraser, a Wellington consultant, said. New Zealand First has called for all water users to pay 10c a litre on water used, something the Government dismissed as being unaffordable to big water-using sectors like dairying. “But in their own way they have raised an issue and it is something the Green Party also touched on before the last election, to charge all users of water as a tax – the idea was there but its execution was not as good as it needed to be,” Fraser said. He agreed, however, 10c a litre was unaffordable for most sectors and proposed a price closer to 10c a cubic metre (1000 litres). Prime Minister Bill English has said a tax or charge on water needed a “lot of work” and was not something that was going to change before the election. But there did appear to be more consideration about the possibility of charging. English said there was a need to work through the existing

complexities of water with its history of first-in-first-served but the Government had the opportunity to change who paid for what with respect to water. But Fraser maintained the Government would shy away from acknowledging the need for a charge, for fear of creating a Maori-led debate on ownership that would easily overshadow the seabed and foreshore debate. “I think it could yet prove a sleeper issue for this year’s election.

I think it could yet prove a sleeper issue for this year’s election. Peter Fraser Economist “The Government is doing much of what we could call ‘active inactivity’– being seen to do a lot but not a lot right now. Look at how the water quality issue has been addressed but pushed out 30 years.” Fraser described it as “appallingly stupid” to virtually give away water in the manner we do when its abundance was becoming more debatable. “It would be like Saudi Arabia giving away its oil just because it has a lot of it.” It was not sufficient for English

to simply dismiss the issue as being “too complicated”. “We had an issue under the Muldoon government where inshore fisheries were being pillaged and we dealt with that by starting the quota system. We stopped years of practice with a new regime. That could be done with a resource like water.” Once created the fisheries reform bought Maori fisheries claims. Fast forward 20 years from there and the issue was radio spectrum allocation and again iwi claims were recognised, resulting in 2degrees. “There is also an argument there. If you introduce a charge, how far do you go with it, you would have to charge everyone, not just water bottlers.” He pointed to the Crown Mineral Estate system that charged royalties for resources mined or extracted. “You could treat water exactly the same and the market would soon determine whether extraction is economic or not.” But determining a charge on water would not only create iwi claims, it would also undo the Government’s efforts to increase agricultural production through its irrigation projects. He pointed to irrigation schemes where economic modelling for farming showed irrigation with water charges simply would not be profitable for farmers. “The proposed Wairarapa

ISSUE: Agricultural economist Peter Fraser says water could become an election issue this year.

irrigation scheme never put a cost on the delivery of the water, let alone purchasing the water itself, and even at $6/kg MS. irrigated dairy was unprofitable.” Adding in a 24-28c/cumec price for the water’s dam storage scheme required a dairy payout of $7-$10/kg MS. “The tragedy of such a scheme is it needs dairy but dairy cannot pay for it, let alone also pay a water charge on top of it.” He did not believe all water users had to fear a singular charge, given the spectrum of quality of water available for use. “Not all water is the same. The water sold from the Mount Aspiring National Park is

obviously the top end but recycled Wellington sewerage water would have other applications and be priced accordingly.” He maintained irrigation, which accounted for about 80% of NZ’s pumped water use, would be the low-hanging fruit to deal with regarding charging and smarter use would evolve, not only for irrigation but for urban use too. “You look at Sydney, which has not increased its net water consumption since 1973, with far more smart technology used to conserve and recycle than we use here.” Aucklanders on average used 380 litres a day each compared to Sydney consumers’ 295l.

Cost talk misses pollution issue THE debate on who pays for water, and how much, misses a bigger point about the impact of irrigation water use on wider reserves of water, Matamata fresh water campaigner Angus Robson says. Robson has been a vocal critic of the Government’s plans to boost irrigation and intensive farming’s impact on nitrate levels in ground water. He was a member of Landcorp’s environmental stakeholder group that included ecologist and vet Dr Alison Dewes, Massey University’s Dr Mike Joy and environmentalist Guy Salmon. “To be honest, I don’t really care what is proposed to charge for water use. “The consumptive use of water is the least of the problems. It is the amount you don’t use that is impacted by nitrates and rendered contaminated that is the concern.” He likened it to taking a 1500 cubic metre Olympic pool and taking out 10 cumecs for irrigation then contaminating the remaining 1490 cumecs to render it unusable. Robson has researched data to highlight his concerns about the water footprint impact in Canterbury. Data sourced through Environment Canterbury and Canterbury Development Corporation calculated dairying’s use of

water ranged from 56,000 cumecs of water (56 million litres) per tonne of milksolids produced to 625,000 cumec per tonne of milksolids. “That is when you allow for aquifers to be recharged from within the catchment, at a nitrate level of 1ppm. “The highest usage figure allows for this but to achieve it is impossible. It exceeds the entire region’s aquifer and river capacity by 15 times if we want to achieve the dilution levels required before that water re-enters the aquifers.” Robson’s call to look beyond the immediate cost of water was shared by Victoria University assistant vice chancellor of sustainability Marjan van den Belt. “I agree it is important to calculate the limits for dairy activities to stay within the carrying capacity first then discuss fair distribution of resources and finally efficient allocation through funding transfer, the basic steps in ecologic economics.” She argued investment in ecosystems, including decommissioning farms in the wrong places, would require a long-term plan for the entire country in problem areas. “We need to develop investment mechanisms to transition to a more sustainable, resilient and desirable outcome.”

POINT MISSED: The issue with water is not the cost of what is used but the pollution of what is left, campaigner Angus Robson says.

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Newsmaker

Clarkson happy to hand the baton over Four days after retiring as managing director of meat company ANZCO Foods, it was almost like being back at work for Mark Clarkson, as he told Alan Williams.

ARK Clarkson spent the day visiting ANZCO’s Five-Star Beef feedlot near Ashburton to say his thanks and goodbyes, so he couldn’t say what it felt like not to be running a business with a $1.5 billion turnover and 3000 staff round the world. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t been able to catch breath yet.” He’s done the round of world offices in a three-week blitz with successor Peter Conley, and will visit the Marlborough processing operations later this month, and that will be it at ANZCO, except for continuing directorships at Beef + Lamb NZ and the NZ Lamb Company. Clarkson doesn’t refer to retirement, but of “handing on the baton” to fellow executive Conley that was passed to him 13 years ago by founder and executive chairman Sir Graeme Harrison. During those years, ANZCO has increased its turnover to the $1.5b mark from $800 million. He has a reputation for working round the clock and that’s continued in the three years since signalling his plans. “People might expect you to take your foot off a bit, but there was plenty to do to keep the business growing, putting our 2020 plan in place, and setting a robust path forward. It was time to make changes for myself, because the job is full-on, 24-7, and covers the world. It has been a privilege, and

it’s time to do things differently.” He says he’s been lucky to work in a business with such supportive shareholders – mainly Harrison and the Japanese companies Nissui and Itoham, who in the past couple of years were in a large majority position and took just modest dividends and left plenty of funding for reinvestment in the business. Clarkson was head of the sheep processing business for Waitaki International at the time it was split-up and sold in the early 1990s. He was soon employed by Harrison to start up the ANZCO Five-Star Beef feedlot on the Seafield coast near Ashburton. This was a 50-50 joint venture with Itoham, and it became what Clarkson called the “glue’’ between the two groups. Harrison knew Itoham from his days in Japan, where he set ANZCO up in the mid-1980s. The Itoham relationship has made ANZCO very good at partnerships, Clarkson said. The joint venture only ended when ANZCO bought Itoham out at the same time as Itoham took the majority stake in ANZCO. Feedlots were a new area for Clarkson, whose experience had been in livestock, cost-accounting, processing, and sales and marketing till then. Despite one savage early winter, the grain-fed operation thrived. “It produced 400kg-plus Angus steers, which finished very well, with well-marbled beef able to foot it with domestic beef in Japan.”

BIG JOB: Retiring ANZCO managing director Mark Clarkson says the job took him all around the world.

ANZCO was soon able to buy the nearby Fortex venison and lamb plant, when that company went under. It replaced the venison chain with beef processing facilities, and called its new business Canterbury Meat Products (CMP), with Clarkson soon installed as chief executive. To give farmers assurance after the Fortex experience, CMP set-up a payment security, with some group assets placed in a trust to provide funds if they were ever needed to pay farmers for their stock. No call has been needed, and the security remains in place. Clarkson tells an interesting anecdote about bank funding for CMP. The group had funds to buy the Fortex assets, and went to the Australian-owned banks for working capital funding, but were turned down. That’s when it went to the Japan banks, who fund ANZCO still, and the then NZowned TrustBank also provided funding. He moved up to group chief executive, and then managing director in 2004, allowing Harrison to focus on the chairman’s role and other agribusiness interests. The meat industry is tough and uncompromising, with a lot of risk to manage and margins low at the best of times. There’s weather impacts to withstand, and overseas shocks and disruptions. The same elements that farmers have to face, Clarkson said.

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“You’re always looking at how to improve profitability.” ANZCO has grown the existing business to achieve greater scale and better cover of overhead costs. It’s put a lot of time into its producer groups, where it brings together producers and overseas customer groups to improve their knowledge of each other and their requirements, all aimed at improving value. The Waitrose supermarket group in the UK and the Japanese chain Aleph are good producer group examples. Though ANZCO started as a lamb marketing business, it is now tilted about 65/35 in favour of beef. Developing a higher-margin Food & Solutions (F&S) business (covering food, ingredients, and healthcare) division has also been tough-going. Clarkson describes it as a longgame strategy not for the fainthearted. However, boosted by seven-year Crown research funding of the JV Food Plus programme, it now has some profitable segments, and is “on the cusp’’ of significant returns. The Food business includes the Angel Bay manufactured food brand (strong in Australia and now being promoted more domestically) and the McDonalds beef pattie supply deal. Ingredients has extracts and protein powders, and Healthcare a profitable blood

and tissue product business. ANZCO is targeting 20% of group turnover coming from F&S by 2020, and 30% by 2025, though the main focus will always be on livestock processing. Clarkson said he’s like any managing director, “impatient to get things done more quickly”. “It always sits there, the need to be going faster.” Increasing consumer demands means significant opportunity and challenges, and the need to be fleet-footed. Sending chilled product to China is the latest challenge. The issue of industry structure, over-capacity, and rationalisation has always been an issue. Not being farmer-owned, ANZCO wasn’t at the centre of this, but was involved in talks. The best opportunity was about four years ago, when some, but not enough, progress was made on a toll processing plan, called a Tradable Processing Rights scheme, Clarkson said. The industry could have got together and taken out about 30% of lamb processing capacity and 20% of beef capacity, to reduce competition in low-profit procurement and processing, and free up resources for competing in higher value marketing and innovation. “I’m sure we would have had a stronger industry now if we’d done that.”

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Beltex boost for sheep sector The beginning of an exciting new venture for the New Zealand sheep industry was born when the first imported Beltex embryos were transferred to ewes on a Mid Canterbury farm. Annette Scott was there.

OLLOWING 10 years of research and planning, Beltex NZ partner and long-time sheep genetics scientist Jock Allison is delighted. “This is the realisation of a long project that has exciting possibility for the NZ sheep industry,” he said. The Belgian Texels, known as Beltex, had a great deal to offer carcase quality in the export industry, Allison said. BeltexNZ was established earlier this year by Allison, Ashburton foothills Perendale stud breeder Blair Gallagher and Canterbury farm adviser John Tavendale and their families. The muscling in the sheep was impressive and the high-yielding lamb carcase had the Beltex continuing to grow in popularity as a terminal sire in the United Kingdom. Livestock markets reported higher prices for Beltex rams because of the fierce demand from buyers and top end lambs in the UK were achieving up to a 20% premium over other finished lambs. “Why wouldn’t we want that in NZ? “It’s where we need to go to get NZ lamb kicking forward,” Allison said. But it was to prove an expensive venture, at least at first look. “It would be 10 years ago that John got in touch with me and said that Blair was interested in the importation of the Beltex breed. “I got in touch with him and outlined what was involved. It wasn’t possible to source animals from the UK or the continent and the quarantine periods required, even if it was possible, were three years minimum.

NZ FIRST: BeltexNZ partners, from left, Jock Allison, John Tavendale and Blair Gallagher watch as Hamish Gallagher prepares a Perendale ewe for embryo transfer being readied by Lorenzo Frers of ABS Hamilton in the background. Photo: Annette Scott

This is the realisation of a long project that has exciting possibility for the New Zealand sheep industry. Jock Allison BeltexNZ “To have an importation for less than $3 million was unlikely. “This was enough for Blair to lose interest,” Allison said. But Allison tagged the Gallagher’s property in the Ashburton foothills as ideal for the introduction of the new breed. The pastures were ideal and the family had very good stud sheep skills, evidenced by them gaining the Beef + Lamb NZ genetics

award in the 2016 sheep industry awards. Gallagher’s 1100 hectare Rangiatea sheep operation ran 4850 ewes, including 800 SIL recorded stud Perendales and 100 Cheviot ewes with 1600 ewe hoggets and 400 ram hoggets carried over the winter. Meantime, over the past seven years the Ministry for Primary Industries did risk assessments on the importation of sheep and goat genetic material. It was agreed by the countries in the Organisation Internationale Epizootics that it was safe to directly introduce embryos and semen into recipient ewes in the NZ flock with the three to five year quarantine periods required in the 1980s and 90s no longer necessary. Having identified a new opportunity Allison headed to Scotland in 2015 to visit a Beltex breeder and a Scottish animal breeding company that would supply the reproductive skills to

allow the programming of ewes and the collection of embryos. “On the way to the NZ sheep industry awards at Masterton in June last year I was sitting across the aisle in a minivan from Blair and told him that it was now possible to import embryos direct. “We decided virtually on the spot that if this was to happen in 2016 then we had to get to the UK immediately, otherwise another breeding season would have come and gone and we would have to wait until the next year,” Allison said. The two were on the plane within two weeks and after discussions with A Breeds Europe, now majority-owned by A Breeds NZ (ABS) in Hamilton, Allison and Gallagher signed a contract with a breeder and with A Breeds Europe and the first embryos were collected in November and December. Following further health testing a month after collection the

embryos were flown to NZ to be transferred into ewes at Rangiatea in March. Gallagher said the Beltex had the ability to increase the loin eye area in lamb by up to 50%. “The Beltex leaves a more marketable lamb that commands a premium from buyers that want smaller, leaner and shapelier lambs that give more weight per kilogram than other breeds,” Gallagher said. And the superior eating quality of the Beltex, being very attractive to the modern red meat appetite, could add real value to the NZ sheep industry, he said. BeltexNZ would also be using some Beltex semen over Suffolk, Poll Dorset and Perendale ewes to breed some crossbred sires for use in the commercial lamb industry. The unveiling of the new breed was planned for the Canterbury A&P Show in November with the first of the progeny up for sale in 2018.

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Opinion

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

EDITORIAL Let’s get serious

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

Processors must set sights higher IT WAS with some accompanied frustration that I read your article titled Warning: Don’t get greedy. Mark Clarkson, the retiring chief executive of ANZCO, and incoming chief executive Peter Conley both cautioning farmers on lamb price resistance in the marketplace. Sheep farmers are just starting to see a dim light at the end of a long tunnel in regards to lamb price. The magical figure of $100 a lamb is now a reality once again. With this pleasing upswing in prices many sheep farmers who have taken a production hammering over the last three years would be now starting to think about the possibility of stabilising their business with potential re-investment to follow.

The own-goal admission of price resistance of what was described as a niche product only goes to support the belief that our sheep meat industry has been asleep at the marketing wheel in past years. The processors had chances to reboot the industry. They chose not to. In essence, they all believed the status quo of competing for a rapidly declining pool of stock was the way forward for the future. If ANZCO is not keen on the $100 plus lamb maybe other companies are more optimistic. But what’s the most disappointing to me is that both Clarkson and Conley, in this article show, a lack of aspiration in regard to the industry. If they both believe they have a sustainable, healthy industry underpinned by a sub $100 lamb they are mistaken.

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Hunting hawks RE GOVERMENT act allowing the killing of harrier hawks. Steve Wyn Harris, March 20, mentioned that free-range hens might not be that happy because hawks chase and kill them. The Government passed in 2012 the Wildlife Australian Harrier Notice, allowing occupiers of land to kill hawks if they injure or kill a domestic bird or animal. All keen duck hunters should check out this amendment to the Wildlife Act because hawks could be killing more ducks than hunters. Fish and Game explained that a person who demonstrates they are

enhancing protected wildlife, ie grey teal, has the right to cull hawks. I agree with Steve, hawks are a big problem for free-range birds of any sort, pheasants are a prime target for hawks. We culled more than 100 in the last drought. They were starving and attacking everything, Even our cat was chased on several occasions. With possums almost eradicated from Central Hawke’s Bay the hawks’ regular diet has disappeared. Gus Smith Waipukurau

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Letterof theWeek

EDITOR Bryan Gibson bryan.gibson@nzx.com

My advice to them is to lift their ambitions.

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ENTAL health is a topic society has never been comfortable talking about, more so those living in rural NZ. The traditional “ignore the pain” and “grin and bear it” approach to adversity is a badge of honour for men and women of the land. But there are times when a lift of the chin, the consoling “you ok?” or “you’ll be right” support for someone struggling to cope, is not enough. That is certainly the conclusion of a Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa NZ (RHAANZ) commissioned study that found the frightening statistic that 185 rural people have taken their lives in the last decade. Most of those were young farm workers, with the primary causes being mental illness and struggling to deal with a relationship breakdown. The rural suicide rate per 100,000 people is a disturbing 20-50% greater than those in urban areas. As an aside, rural NZ is fortunate to have RHAANZ and its passionate, energetic chief executive Michelle Thompson working on behalf of rural families to secure equitable health services. The organisation is more than a squeaky wheel. It is proactively challenging the status quo but also presenting Government officials with rural solutions promoted by rural people. This proactive approach to mental health services is needed to address this silent killer, but it needs to start with rural people doing a better job of looking after each other. As Thompson says in this week’s Farmers Weekly, the discovery farm workers were taking their lives at such a high rate was unexpected. It appears to be an unintended consequence of the traditional family farm being replaced by bigger, intensive, corporate businesses, with young farm workers not having the same degree of family pastoral care of previous generations. Rural NZ is quite rightly proud of the way it looks out for each other. Maybe farm owners and managers need to rethink how they look out for and monitor the mental wellbeing of staff, to ensure they know there is someone willing to be there for them when they need it.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Short-term thinking is no solution Sue Edmonds

HE stock phrase trotted out by farmers, when asked about their environmental efforts, is “I want to leave the land for my children and grandchildren better than I found it”. Yet recently there have been two reports, one from the OECD and one from the locally-funded MP group GLOBE NZ, which are highly critical of what we are doing to our environment and what we are not doing about climate change. Obviously, something is wrong somewhere. One answer popped up when I read about a couple of new books by Jonathan Boston, one of our major policy wonks, and I went out and bought Safeguarding the Future – Governing in an Uncertain World on the topic of anticipatory governance. Boston launched both this shorter text and a longer version at the Improving Intergenerational Governance conference held at the Beehive on March 23. Sir Geoffrey Palmer, for whom I worked in the late 1980s, also kindly sent me the speech he gave at the same conference. So, what aren’t we doing that we should be? We, and our legislators, have become short-term or “presentist” thinkers. While there are requirements for longer-term reporting placed on various institutions, including Treasury, we have no specific groups or organisations in government circles specifically tasked with taking long-term (40+ years at least) view of the plethora of implications arising from each new piece of proposed legislation. And even some of the groups that do exist have no statutory requirement to report in depth, which allows for long periods (which can be six years or more) between reports. Instead, as has frequently happened with the RMA, there is a constant desire to fiddle with

The

Pulpit

HORIZON: Farming and science writer Sue Edmonds says long-term thinking is needed to solve environmental problems. individual sections which prove irritating, or don’t fit with a wider thinking. I use the RMA because it did include some very long-term thinking in Section 5(2) where it talks about sustainability of the environment for future generations. As Sir Geoffrey reported, we now seem to rush out and make new laws. New Zealand now has more than 65,000 pages of statute law, with 4200 pages of such law passed in 2013. In 1959 the public Acts covered 880 pages. According to Boston we think longer-term about fiscal matters, but when it comes to environmental and social problems there is a rush to think of a stop-gap response, generally with a future date quoted when those promulgating it will no longer be around (e.g. water quality for swimming), and little or no attempt to take into consideration the wider issues that are already affecting us (e.g. climate change) and what effect they might have on the issue in question. Given the speed of change and possibilities of wide political turbulence in our world today, Boston and Sir Geoffrey are raising an important issue that surely needs to be considered sooner rather than later. The book contains a detailed

analysis of what is in place now, what systems could be introduced to improve our future thinking, and the financial, societal and environmental costs we will lumber our children and grandchildren with if we ignore them. After all, as Boston said: “It is in all our interests to take up the challenge. Safeguarding our future ‘on earth’ and that of future generations depends on it”. If today’s farmers are to keep their promise to themselves, this is something they should be taking seriously.

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TOO MUCH: Sir Geoffrey Palmer thinks New Zealand seems to rush out and make new laws.

Opinion

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Politician gets scientist’s job Alternative View

Alan Emerson

I HAVE major issues with Simon Upton being the next Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. He’s been a National Party member of Parliament and Cabinet minister, not to mention a previous chairman of the Young Nationals. I find nothing in that pedigree that remotely suits him to the role. Going to the website you can read that the commissioner is independent of Parliament, has broad powers to investigate environmental concerns and is wholly independent of the government of the day. An ex Young Nat’s chairman, MP and Cabinet minister can do all that? I thoroughly support the commissioner’s role and have utmost respect for the three previous commissioners. They’ve all been eminent scientists, highly qualified and with extensive scientific experience. It is a job for a scientist with no political baggage, not a politician. Our first, Dr Helen Hughes, initially graduated as a botanist going on to complete a masters degree in plant ecology. As a Fulbright scholar she also studied plant physiology and

biochemistry. Returning to New Zealand she worked for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research before heading an interdepartmental group charged with the writing of a NZ Conservation Strategy. She was eminently suited to the role. The second commissioner, Dr Morgan Williams, was a great person who wasn’t afraid to get out and about and get his hands dirty in the process.

I can think of more than a dozen scientists I would put well ahead of a retired politician with extensive qualifications in the arts.

Like his predecessor he was a highly qualified scientist. Gaining a masters degree in biology and ecology from the University of Canterbury he then went to Bath where he completed a doctorate in population ecology. After working in Antarctica and Fiji he joined the then Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the fields of research, management and policy. He was well respected, a top scientist who would state his case factually and free from anything political. Dr Jan Wright is our current commissioner and like her predecessors is a highly qualified and capable scientist.

She has a degree in physics from the University of Canterbury and a masters in energy and resources from Berkeley University in California. She also has a doctorate from the John F Kennedy School of Government. Wright has had numerous consultancy and board roles including chairing Land Transport NZ. As I’ve written previously, I don’t always agree with Wright but I would never argue her motives or research. She is a person of some considerable integrity who, among other things, accused the Government of dropping the ball on the environment. Would an ex government minister say the same thing? Wright is often in the media. She argues factually, coherently and without fuss. My view is that she is an asset to NZ, bringing science and credible argument to often woolly and emotive debates. She will be sorely missed. Enter the heir elect, the Hon Simon Upton. Upton has degrees in English literature, music and law. He attended Oxford as a Rhodes scholar where he gained a masters in political philosophy. He is director of the Environmental Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which recently released a report on NZ. As I wrote in Farmers Weekly at the time, I believed the report seemed a muddle of confused thinking. I stand by that statement.

QUALIFIED: Is Simon Upton the right man for the job of being the country’s environmental policeman?

In Parliament Upton was responsible for the Resource Management Act, which, instead of centralising decisions, farmed them out to the various local authorities with the shambles we have today. Recently the Productivity Commission declared it a point of weakness in our planning system. I thought that was a charitable statement. He was also responsible for the initial negotiations into the Kyoto Protocol. He was architect of our science

system, our Crown Research Institutes, which have been described as dismal, dire and dreadful. The appalling and selfdefeating contestability model was introduced under his watch. Amazingly, the Labour and the Greens have backed Upton’s appointment. NZ First, to its credit, hasn’t. I’m not privy to the other nominees but I can think of more than a dozen scientists I would put well ahead of a retired politician with extensive qualifications in the arts. It is absurd and whether the Government called in political favours or Labour and the Greens suddenly developed acute myopia, I can but guess. Maybe it’s just the two-fingered arrogant salute of a third term government. My point is that I fully support the role of the commissioner and argue strongly it is a position for a highly qualified scientist with extensive NZ experience. The person must have excellent communications skills and be strong enough not to be hijacked by the myriad of fringe groups that circulate around environmental issues. They must be politically neutral without any baggage. The last three commissioners had those attributes in spades. I remain unconvinced the commissioner elect has any of them.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath-emerson@wizbiz.net.nz

Blue Sky left searching for positives INVERCARGILL based meat processor Blue Sky Meats is trying to put a positive spin on its prospects after being advised by Chinese cattle and meat company subsidiary NZ Binxi Oamaru that its takeover offer would not proceed. The main reason for the decision was failure to receive Overseas Investment Office approval by the March 20 deadline, but Binxi also cited a material adverse change in this season’s performance. As a result Blue Sky has advised shareholders they will continue to own their shares, 96% having already accepted the offer. That offer for 100% ownership at $2.20 a share, placed a value of $25.4 million on Blue Sky compared with a current valuation of just under $15 million based on the last trading price of $1.30. Chairman Scott O’Donnell made the point adverse seasonal conditions are part and parcel of agricultural businesses, while NZ Binxi has asked the OIO to continue to process its application in spite of its withdrawal. It also signalled its possible willingness to reconsider if the OIO were to come through with a positive response.

Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

Not surprisingly O’Donnell is not holding his breath after spending six months waiting for the deal to go through. The Blue Sky board now optimistically plans to raise $2 million more in capital, although it isn’t clear where this will come from, in order to improve yields and lift chilled lamb from 1% to 20% of its business. Financial performance has also suffered from an inability to process cattle at its Gore plant because the high cost of cattle made it impossible to make a profit. Last year’s result was a $2.7 million pre-tax loss and NZ Binxi’s reference to material change as a reason for withdrawing its offer suggests this year won’t be any better and may well be worse. The new business strategy

presented to shareholders in January, which Blue Sky now intends to implement, is expected to achieve a “step change” in the company’s financial performance within three years. The directors will proceed to identify the source of the extra capital required to fund the strategy. The material I have read fails to convince me that the board’s optimism is justified. The company faces a number of problems that suggest it won’t all be plain sailing, even if the equity raising is successful. In no particular order these are: • Since buying the beef plant in 2014 Blue Sky has failed to operate it profitably or even succeed in having it running when cattle were available; • Processing yields 3% below industry standards mean the lamb plant has underperformed; • Inability to operate the rendering plant because of effluent discharge when there is too much rain; • Optimistic target for increasing chilled production as percentage of total throughput; • Insufficient scale of operations needed for optimum efficiency.

Meat company profitability depends largely on the ability to procure and process livestock competitively with other processors and then sell the output at or above the prevailing global price.

The new business strategy presented to shareholders in January, which Blue Sky now intends to implement, is expected to achieve a “step change” in the company’s financial performance within three years.

Blue Sky Meats cannot afford to process cattle, its yields are significantly lower and its product mix dramatically worse than its competitors, and in spite of Lowe Corporation’s presence on its share register it doesn’t appear to be able to maximise its rendering potential.

The fact NZ Binxi’s offer had gained 96% acceptance suggests other shareholders, including Lowe Corporation, were keen to sell, probably recognising it was the best offer they were likely to receive. The next interesting question is where the new capital will come from – existing or new shareholders? Lowe, HW Richardson Group and Binxi are the three largest shareholders. They may be reluctant to increase their exposure, especially when the first two hoped to reduce it and the third has decided not to proceed with its planned takeover. It is also certain Alliance will have briefly considered and rejected the chance to buy the business, so there isn’t any hope from that quarter. In the meantime Blue Sky must box on as well as it can, but shareholders must be prepared for disappointing results.

Your View Allan Barber is a meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic. co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress. com

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Perception is slow to follow onfarm changes From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

AS A sector, we are certainly under the hammer and scrutiny from our urban cousins over water quality and the impacts of farming on the environment. Some of it is valid, born of our ignorance in the past, current miscreants and the rest of us grappling with the sudden changes required in an established business set in a complex biological and dynamic environment. And some of it is based on ignorance, misinformation and folk pursuing their own agendas and plain mischievousness. I occasionally write a piece for the provincial paper and the last time I made the point of stressing the good work many farmers are doing in making improvements to the environment and their

farming practices. To earn some environmental credibility with my audience, I told the urban readers that I myself had planted some 50,000 trees, protected many of my waterways from stock and planted them out with riparian plantings, created wetlands, and done my Farm Environment Plan. I told them we had won the regional Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) and that I now chaired the East Coast BFEA. Well you should have seen the vitriol I got when the paper posted it on line. I even later added a comment inviting them to come and have a look and debate with me on farm but none took up the offer. As one of my mates said, “If they don’t like what you have done or you, they aren’t going to be too fond of me or most other farmers I know”. So, it’s not easy but we just have to keep telling our good stories and interact with urban folk where we can. However, in recent times I have seen great things that give me heart. A few weeks ago, the East Coast

region of the BFEA had its awards evening and this year it was up in Gisborne. All eight entrants were doing terrific things with their land and we got more of a look at the five finalists. I was pleased I’m no longer a judge as it must have been very difficult splitting these folk as all of them were most impressive. In the end, Philip Holt and his family deservedly took out the supreme award and given their proximity to Napier, I am hoping that when we hold the field day in early October we can use it as an opportunity to showcase to the public the sort of great work that farmers all over the country are doing. The following week I attended the Horizons BFEA and again there was a terrific line up of finalists. Sean and Tracy Baxter took out the overall award and they and the Holts will join the nine other regional winners at the National Showcase down in Southland at the end of May. Last week I MCd a seminar in Carterton put on by the volunteers who run the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group.

GUARDIAN: Philip Holt and his family deservedly took out the East Coast Ballance farm environment supreme award.

Their Farming for the Future had a terrific line up of speakers who were doing amazing things with the land and in their businesses. Dan Steele from Blue Duck Station talked about how his business marries farming, conservation and tourism. His eco-tourism venture has grown from nothing a few years ago to a staggering 8000 guests each year. Every one of them he points out leave as ambassadors for our country. Karen Williams talked about resource planning and used the example of their own BFEA winning property. Geoff Burton, Corina Jordan and Glen Jackson added their own perspectives and examples to paint a picture of how one could

still sustainably manage land and water but operate successful businesses. Michael Jamieson with his background as a chief executive delivered the big picture and talked about how we can position our environmental credentials out there in the world marketplace. All the people mentioned above and hundreds of others show that we can continue to farm and manage the land with these new environmental constraints and considerations but the rules must be pragmatic and mindful it can’t be done overnight.

Your View Steve Wyn-Harris is a Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer. swyn@xtra.co.nz

Mother nature puts things in perspective From the Lip

Jamie Mackay

WE ALL have parts of our jobs we don’t particularly like. Farmers more than most probably, especially when Mother Nature throws them a curve ball, as she has done with abundant bitchiness of late. My particular bugbear is travel. Ever since I was a kid suffering chronic car sickness I’ve been a terrible traveller. I write this column at Auckland airport, from where my flight to Christchurch has been delayed by more than two hours because the aforementioned Madam Nature has thrown a real hissy and a spanner in Air New Zealand’s works. Now I know a lot of you will be thinking what the hell is he moaning about? And you’d be dead right. Sitting around in airports beats the heck out of any number of tasks farmers endure on a daily basis, especially when the weather sucks. My particular touch point to make me pull my head in

when I’m moping around airport lounges is to remember back to the jobs I disliked – make that hated – when I was a farmer. It’s a great, give-yourself-a-good-slapping, reality check. Top of the list for me was shovelling sheep shite from beneath the woolshed grating. Back bent all day, with a chilly wind up your backside exacerbating the discomfort, whether it was on the shovel or the wheelbarrow. I had a particular dislike for winter crutching muddy ewes and for some reason I detested vaccinating sheep vehemently. I also had no tolerance nor aptitude for machinery breakdowns and even though lambing in a Southland snow storm is as bad as it gets, it was amazing what the adrenaline rush of saving livestock can do for a shepherd. But back to the present. I’ve been in Auckland for two days for the NZME Rural Accelerator Series, which is just a fancy title for wining, dining and schmoozing important clients and showing them all the whizz-bang new advertising technology that’s available in radio, print, digital, social media, experiential and events. Even old dogs need to learn new tricks so it was very much a learning process for me as well. However, the most interesting part of my two day sojourn in

TURNAROUND: Jamie Mackay takes back what he said about Fonterra’s Auckland offices.

the City of Sails was a guided tour of Fonterra’s swanky new headquarters in the Wynyard Quarter near the Auckland waterfront. I was most impressed by this behemoth building where I’m reliably informed Fonterra, in the interests of frugality and efficiency, battery farms its workers with its open-plan, hot-desk layout. The norm for office workers is apparently 12 square metres per person. Fonterra has managed to reduce that to eight square metres! I take back everything I ever said to chairman John Wilson about this being a grandiose monument

planned by management during an $8.40 payout year but paid for by shareholders in a $3.90 season. The most fascinating aspect for me, as a member of the media, was going to the bunker room where Fonterra monitors media and social media posts from all around the world. When collated, this makes up a happiness meter for how our biggest exporter is perceived domestically and internationally (Note to self: No more pointed comments about how much Theo is paid or I’ll end up on Fonterra’s naughty boy board for dissident commentators). Next port of call on my northern mini-tour is the

ASB Rural Corporate Conference in Christchurch. For me these events are part professional development, part great radio interview fodder, part client liaison and part charity fundraiser. The professional development comes from listening to some of the motivational speakers on offer such as business entrepreneur and former Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung, the NZ Merino Company’s CEO John Brackenridge, Fonterra’s Jacqueline Chow, KPMG’s Head of Agribusiness Ian Proudfoot and All Blacks’ high performance manager Don Tricker. Then it’s back to Dunedin to MC a school charity fundraiser featuring Sir Brian Lochore on Friday evening, followed by hosting the 20 year reunion of our old Southland rugby commentary “Scream Team” at the Highlanders v Blues game at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night. If I survive this week I’m really going to enjoy the sanctuary and solitude of Sunday. So yeah, when I think about it and give myself a good slapping, travel ain’t so bad after all. It sure as hell beats shovelling sheep shite and Mother Nature’s latest offerings.

Your View Jamie Mackay is the host of The Country that airs on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport, 12-1pm, weekdays. jamie@thecountry.co.nz

World

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Fortunes turn for Aussie arm Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com FIVE years of difficulties and restructuring have finally shown some results for Fonterra Australia in the form of a modest return to profitability and brighter prospects for milk supply in the near future. Managing director Rene Dedoncker said it was paying a leading milk price, close to finishing the rebuild of the Stanhope cheese plant and growing its share of national milk supply. That was the bedrock of a sustainable approach for “running our own race” in Australia. Previously, a $100 million a year solid earner with more than 1500 supply farms, 20% of Australian milk production and 12 manufacturing sites, the business ran into difficulties in 2012, was restructured, reduced and redirected. In recent times it was caught between the market leader, Murray Goulburn, paying a high milk price that Fonterra was obliged to match, and the strongly competitive domestic market for dairy products with supermarket dominance. Dedoncker said he now had 1100 supply farms and seven plants to process 1.7 billion litres annually, of which 60% stayed in Australia and the rest was exported. Though total Australian milk production fell 7% in the nine months to the end of March,

Fonterra Australia’s collection was down 2.4%. The interim results for 2017 showed Fonterra’s revenue from Australia was $785m in the six months to January 31, up slightly from $766m in the previous corresponding period.

We all need to stay closer to the signals from the global markets as the milk price being paid just wasn’t reflective of the world market. Rene Dedoncker Fonterra Oceania, the Australian and New Zealand reporting division, posted normalised earnings before interest and tax of $74m, versus $6m. Given that NZ performance has historically been steady and not subject to big movements, the latest improvement almost all occurred in Australia. The drive for more milk was focused on northern Victoria where the $140m rebuild of Stanhope after fire was due to be operational by the end of July. Fonterra needed 50% more milk in that region to fully use the new plant, which would come from new supply, more supply

from existing farms and Fonterra’s back-up ability to transport milk from other parts of Victoria. “Importantly, having cheese from Stanhope, mainly cheddar and mozzarella, plugs a hole in my portfolio mix. “Demand for mozzarella is amazing and it appears we will have major customers for the Stanhope mozzarella. “It will also provide whey to the nutritionals plant at Darnum, where Beingmate and ourselves are now fully operational on infant formulas.” Rising world prices for dairy commodities had also boosted Australia’s ingredients sales and returns, including two months of near-record shipments over summer. Fonterra Australia had now reshaped its business to concentrate on its strengths –cheese, butter, food service, nutritionals, powders and some brands like Mainland and Anchor. Commenting on the Australian Senate inquiry into the dairy industry, he said Fonterra was pricing milk transparently with full explanations of the components. That would reduce the need for regulation of any form though it would be some months before the committee reported. Representatives of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce had visited Fonterra in NZ to see what “a fully developed milk system looks like”. “We all need to stay closer to the

BRIGHTER: Fonterra Australia managing director Rene Dedoncker has been in the job for eight months and already things are looking up.

signals from the global markets as the milk price being paid just wasn’t reflective of the world market.” Fonterra was now paying A$5.20/kg milksolids (NZ$5.70), versus something under $5 from its competitors, particularly dominant co-operative Murray Goulburn. Essentially, financial recovery for Australian dairy farmers lagged behind NZ because of the large domestic component of consumption and the higher standing costs of dairy farming – water, feed and lower economies of scale. By the same token, Australian dairy farmers received just over $A6/kg last season compared with only $4.30 in NZ. Bad weather had also affected Victoria but Tasmania, where Fonterra drew about 30% of its supply, was holding its milk output. Dedoncker forecast a modest lift in Victorian production in the

new season, from July 1 onwards. Fonterra chairman John Wilson recently raised the topic of cooperative participation by non-NZ dairy farmers for suppliers in Australia, Chile and Sri Lanka. That was an aspiration Fonterra had and one, he hoped, shared by farmers in its overseas milk pools. “There will be significant interest in some geographies but not all. “I personally view it as a natural progress for Fonterra co-operative but there is no time line.” Such moves would help secure Fonterra’s overseas milk supplies but changes were still years away. Forms of sub-co-operative structure were being examined, such as in Victoria through the Bonlac supply company. Any new structures would not detract from the rights of NZ shareholders, who now had average capital investments in Fonterra of $900,000, Wilson said.

Kiwi lamb supply helps UK farmers Colin Ley A SIGNIFICANT drop in New Zealand lamb exports to the United Kingdom this year has been noted by Scottish farm economist Stuart Ashworth as a key factor in a recent improvement in lamb values on the British market. “NZ data suggests that their lamb kill in the run-up to the key Easter period has been lower than last year and exports to the UK and Europe have been running significantly below last year’s levels,” Ashworth said during a press briefing in Edinburgh that focused on how Scotland’s livestock farmers might fare over the next two years of Brexit negotiations. While he believed it would be “pretty much business as usual” for the UK’s overseas meat trade in general, he agreed British sheep prices, since the turn of the year, had been at their lowest level for four years. “Prime sheep prices have received a boost in the past week, however, as the key Easter holiday approaches,” he said, highlighting NZ’s possible

influence on that improvement. “This has brought us, in fact, within touching distance of last year’s price.” Speaking as Quality Meat Scotland’s head of economics services, Ashworth said the poor trade so far this year had been “influenced by a heavier-than-normal carry-over of hoggets, many of which have been presented to the market at heavy weights and high fat cover”. Even now, despite the reported fall in NZ supplies, the future beyond Easter didn’t look too clever. “The UK lamb kill has been increasing through February and may run ahead of year-earlier levels later in the season,” he said. “Accordingly, trade volumes may increase in the next couple of months and potentially this could affect farmgate prices at the start of the new season.” The UK December farm census suggested a modest 1% increase in breeding ewe numbers across the UK, though the Scottish breeding ewe flock was reported to have declined in size. Overall, the 2017 UK lamb crop was unlikely to be

PESSIMISTIC: Even though a fall in New Zealand lamb supplies has helped United Kingdom values the future beyond Easter doesn’t look too clever, Quality Meat Scotland’s head of economics services Stuart Ashworth says.

significantly different from last year. “Nevertheless, the marketplace looks challenging with UK sheep meat consumption remaining constrained by the relative competitiveness of the lamb on retail shelves,” Ashworth said. “France remains a challenging market

with the continuation of its long-term decline in consumption. “Opportunities do exist in northern Europe, however, although exchange rates will play a significant part in terms of allowing Scottish and UK exports to remain price competitive.”

Real Estate

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

Some bee land prices tripling Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com

EMOTE land areas uneconomic for pastoral farming but suited to beekeeping are becoming valuable as the price of manuka honey skyrockets. Values have risen into the $2000 to $3000 a hectare range from less than $1000 in parts of the lower North Island in the last 18 months and in upper areas of North Canterbury and Marlborough values have gone from about $2500/ha up to $5000. Those gains were on land that was otherwise unproductive, Quotable Value valuers Richard Guy in Manawatu and Todd Howden in Canterbury said. Canterbury beekeeper Nick Belton bought a 680ha block near Hanmer about a year ago. It had been an unproductive part – largely steep gully land – of a larger, viable farm block. “There’s a fair bit of competition for land in some areas and there’s some big corporate beekeepers who have come down and paid some high prices,” he said. “We hope to be competitive with them and buying our own blocks means we’ve always got somewhere to keep our bees.” Belton didn’t say how much he paid for the block but said he was comfortable with the figure. The block was mainly naturally regenerating manuka and kanuka. “We do have to be careful with these inflated prices. “It’s still very marginal land and

INFLATION: Prices for marginal land are rising as beekeepers buy blocks for exclusive use.

you’re counting on manuka being a good, long-term story and the price not diving at some point or having some other problem.’’ Belton has 1800 hives on various sites round North Canterbury, including many by arrangement with farmers. Like many other parts of New Zealand, this season in Canterbury had been one of the worst, with a poor manuka flower set followed by poor weather. In the lower North Island demand was especially strong for established manuka blocks and for valley blocks where apiarists could have ownership of both sides of valleys, Guy said. “They want large parcels because bees can cover a big range.

“If you’ve got one side of the valley and someone else has the other side then their bees are working over your area.” Areas opened up over the last 18 months included in the Tararua Ranges, the wider Wanganui area and also the Waitotaras. In one area, a buyer sprayed out a pine plantation and replaced it with manuka. In Canterbury and Marlborough, the bee-hive zones had become a hot topic in the last eight months or so, Howden said. “I guess it was always going to happen but what they’re paying surprises me. “It would be interesting to see a budget. “Apiarists are paying a premium

for native bush and certain classes of land unsuited for livestock production that would otherwise have been discounted and we will continue to watch this market closely.” The bee industry was one bright spot in the rural property market and kiwifruit was the other, Ruralvalue general manager Richard Allen said in the group’s March update. Dairy land values in many parts of the country continued a downward trend. Well irrigated and wellmaintained farms continued to sell well but those with issues around water, soil quality, or outstanding maintenance were more likely to be bought at a lower value by neighbouring farmers rather than selling for a premium. Waikato was a good example, Hamilton valuer Nick Birdsall said. Since November good quality, well-located farms had been selling strongly at between $50,000/ha and $70,000/ha while those of lower quality, with heavy peat soils, poor land development and future nutrient regulation risks had been selling for less than $40,000/ha. Howden said Canterbury dairy farm prices across the board were down about 5% to 10% on the late-2014 peak, though the quality farms with long-term water permits in a reliable irrigation scheme catchments continued to go for good prices. Older, run-down units needing maintenance work or higher supplement feeding inputs and with short term water permits were the worst affected. There had been two smaller

units in Mid Canterbury, one of about 120ha and other about 80ha, that been bought by adjoining arable farmers and the dairy units had been decommissioned. They both had good water permits, probably the main attraction for the buyers, he said. Another feature of the Canterbury market involved farms now limited by Land and Water Regional Plan rulings.

Apiarists are paying a premium for native bush and certain classes of land unsuited for livestock production that would otherwise have been discounted. Todd Howden Quotable Value Farmers were shying away from intensification and instead looking to buy more land for “extensification”. They were paying a premium for irrigated land covered by the nutrient discharge consent of the irrigation provider or for property holding a long-term groundwater permit plus a high nitrogen baseline, providing flexibility for the future. Hill country, high country and dry stock finishing properties were selling well in the Canterbury/Marlborough market, Howden said.

Pure Hawke’s Bay cheers RMA changes Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com A GM free Hawke’s Bay is a step closer with proposed changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) stopping central government from overriding local GM rules. The Maori Party has been central to the government’s efforts to get the RMA changes over the line in Parliament, and the party negotiated an amendment to RMA changes that exempts GM crops from ministerial override. In return the party has supported the RMA amendments. Spokesman for the GM free group Pure Hawke’s Bay Bruno Chambers said the group had always been quietly confident the Maori Party would ensure local council powers over GM free organisms would be protected. He said the back down the Maori Party forced on Environment Minister Nick Smith was embarrassing for the minister, with the GM issue drawing the majority of debating time in Parliament during the amendment’s reading.

“As an exemption it is not as wide as Pure Hawke’s Bay has called for, and we would have preferred that Section 360D (relating to ministerial powers) be dropped altogether. However this protects our right to decide on GM organisms for the foreseeable future.” In a statement, Maori Party leader Marama Fox – who sponsored the amendment – told Parliament the amendment preserves the region’s ability under local plans to regulate all types of GM crops in their territories, including forestry, grasses and any activities involving the growing of GM crops. In its proposed form the amendment does not extend to genetically modified livestock. However the minister of the day would still be required to introduce rules preventing councils from regulating GM livestock farming. But Chambers said a minister wanting to do so would risk a political scrap with locals who were offering strong backing from the region’s food exporters and community.

Large scale apple grower John Bostock said the amendment was a victory for the region. “We are grateful to the Maori Party for securing this protection against a minister who is determined to override our local decision making, despite the clear market advantages that GM free status offers.” Chambers said the amendment was the clearing of yet another hurdle in the long running attempt to declare the region GM free. The next hurdle lay in Federated Farmers’ Environment Court action against the GM free efforts in Hawke’s Bay. “It remains uncertain how long that action will take, or whether it is worth pursuing given how things have played out now, but we have anticipated that action for some time.” But Federated Farmers president and GM supporter Dr William Rolleston said the RMA changes only reinforced the need for the Feds to continue pushing ahead with their case against Hastings District Council.

“There appears to be a difference in interpretation between what the Maori Party define as crops, and what the Minister does. And the fact the changes don’t include animals weakens the case of councils who have sought to ban GM from agriculture.” Rolleston said there was also a case for defending farmers’ rights to adopt GM technology as it came on stream, something a GM free region would remove. He also maintained GM free supporters would face commercial and legal challenges to their ability to declare products GM free under fair trading law. “When you have the council laws still permitting the use of vaccines manufactured using GM, the rules contradict themselves.” He said the continuing legal argument would now move from whether councils “could” restrict GM organisms, to whether they “should”. “And they have to prove in court the council can do a better job controlling GM than central government.”

CONFIDENT: Bruno Chambers of Pure Hawke’s Bay says the group always thought that the Maori Party would ensure local council powers over GM free organisms would be protected.

Country magazine OUT NOW View online at www.bayleys.co.nz/country

KUPENGA; PREMIUM FARMING, THRIVING COMMUNITY

2943 Pehiri Road, Tahunga

A rare and attractive opportunity to purchase a high quality, well run breeding and finishing farm rich in recreational pleasures and versatile contour. 60km west of Gisborne in the historically summer safe farming district and thriving rural community of Tahunga, Kupenga Station is 837ha of highly versatile breeding and finishing country with an abundance of flat and easy contour. Over 6km of river frontage and wintering 8,000 quality stock units, Kupenga comprises mainly warm, sheltered hill country rising from 240m along 50ha of fertile river flats to 420m. Considerable investment has resulted in largely sound infrastructure and delivered strong performances with lambing percentages consistently over 140%. Much of the flat to easy hill country has been cropped and developed into superior grass species allowing livestock to flourish. A full range of improvements including a beautifully built and maintained five bedroom homestead set in established grounds of native and English trees, a three bedroom cottage, restored shearers quarters, and a 5stand woolshed with extensive covered yards, plus multiple sets of satellite sheep and cattle yards.

Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Fri 28 Apr 2017 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/2750366

James Macpherson

Simon Bousfield

M 021 488 018 M 027 665 8778 B 06 868 5188 B 06 868 5188 james.macpherson@bayleys.co.nz simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

Kupenga is an outstanding opportunity to secure a very rare, large scale, productive breeding and finishing farm.

WAITAHOATA STATION; CONTOUR, SCALE AND LOCATION

418 Te Hau Road, Whatatutu

Superbly located in the winter warm farming community of Whatatutu, a comfortable 50km north of Gisborne, Waitahoata has a great balance of contour and scale rarely found. The farm comprises approximately 100ha of fertile river flats, steadily improved and flood proofed ensuring prime and productive land which capacitates current finishing of all progeny and circa 350 bulls to a high-quality. The remainder of the 1,199ha station is healthy hill country of mostly medium contour. Set up to achieve strong performance and ease of management, the farm benefits from a robust reticulated water system consisting of over 100 troughs drawn from a deep bore beside the picturesque Waipaoa river as well as some springs. Access throughout the farm is gained from an excellent all-weather road, as well as a comprehensive tracking system. Improvements include a substantial five bedroom homestead set in established grounds, supported by two additional three bedroom farm houses. The 5-stand Woolaway woolshed includes large covered yards, and multiple sets of satellite sheep and cattle yards are situated across the farm.

Tenders Close 4pm,

Farms like this seldom come to the market - act now.

www.bayleys.co.nz

Fri 28 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior) 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/2750365

James Macpherson

Simon Bousfield

M 021 488 018 M 027 665 8778 B 06 868 5188 B 06 868 5188 james.macpherson@bayleys.co.nz simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

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WATERFRONT RETREAT

30 Gilbert Road, Pukearuhe, Taranaki

Overlooking some of New Zealand’s most spectacular Coastline is 121 hectares including areas of Native Bush and easy contoured grazing land. Located at the end of Pukearuhe and Gilbert Road views encompass the Taranaki Bight, Mount Taranaki and surrounding farmland. Access to the beach is walking distance from the property with boat launching available for water enthusiasts. The easy contoured land is currently utilized as a support block providing supplements and grazing to a local farmer.

Tenders Close 1pm,

With spectacular views the options are available to secure a place to retreat and experience the outdoors or utilize as a smaller grazing unit.

Mark Monckton

Tues 9 May 2017, 81 Powderham Street, New Plymouth

View Tues 11, 18 & 25 Apr 11am-12pm, www.bayleys.co.nz/522298 M 021 724 833 B 06 759 5284 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

SCALE, SCOPE, OPPORTUNITY

Albury, South Canterbury

761 Mt Nessing Road

Deadline Sale 1pm,

Aorangi Downs is a 527 hectare cropping, grazing and finishing property with a four stand raised board woolshed and covered yards, an exceptional set of cattle yards complimented with a Te Pari cattle handler and scales. Three 250 tonne silo’s to handle the 200 hectare cropping operation, there is also a 30 x 12m implement shed/workshop with three phase power. Stock water is supplied via the Albury water scheme (32,400 litres per day) to troughs in all paddocks. Multiple contractors using the consented rotten rock quarry give an additional income. The 300m² brick homestead built in 1997 with spectacular views over the Fairlie Basin to Fox’s Peak and beyond has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas, office and large mudroom. The house has under floor heating, large Metro wood burner and a heat transfer system. With the duck season approaching the exceptional duck pond creates lots of opportunity for some play time. These vendors are excited about moving on to their next venture. This property is a must see.

Thurs 4 May 2017

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554321

Noel May

Kurt Snook

M 021 457 643 B 03 687 1227 noel.may@bayleys.co.nz

M 027 256 0449 B 03 687 1227 kurt.snook@bayleys.co.nz

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

www.bayleys.co.nz

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SCALE BALANCE INFRASTRUCTURE

25 Parker Road, RD2, Matakohe

PRIME LOCATION - HUGE POTENTIAL

This 320.2 hectare property has been strategically developed as a

Tender 2pm,

Invest the time to consider the opportunities this property has to

dairy farm, with the three year average for production being

Thurs 20 Apr 2017 123,682kgMS off 180ha milking platform. Future development of the (unless sold prior) 84 Walton Street, Whangarei additional 117ha is in progress to be added to the current milking Thurs 30 Mar/ 6 Apr 2017

platform. Improvements include a very tidy 8 year old 40 ASHB cowshed complemented with automatic cup removers, new inflations, Tru-test walk over weighing system and brand new

Dosatron. There is a newly installed in-shed feeding system, 6 x

View

11am-12pm www.bayleys.co.nz/1020061

Catherine Stewart

M 0800 422 959 simple shelters, x 3 stand off pads, cattle yards, converted woolshed B 0800 80 20 40

and very functional calf rearing facilities. Our instructions from the Vendor are that this property is to be sold, available as a going

catherine.stewart@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

offer. Comprising 319ha - 780 acres in nine titles and currently run as part of a long time family beef breeding and finishing unit. Very privately located central between Whangarei City and Marsden Point. Featuring extensive frontage to Whangarei Harbour with wide ranging northerly views over the harbour extending from the City to Whangarei Heads and across to Marsden Point. Plus it has multiple

Tenders Close 2pm, Thurs 27 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior) 84 Walton Street, Whangarei

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/1050075

Lin Norris M 021 959 166

access points including direct access to the rapidly growing One Tree B 0800 80 20 40 lin.norris@bayleys.co.nz Point area. Waterfront properties of this size and location are an increasingly rare commodity. Cotton Road represents a gilt-edged opportunity for the prudent investor. There’s significant potential for future development - concept plans are available.

concern. View now to appreciate how you will benefit from the current

Cotton Road, Ruakaka, Whangarei

Alex Smits M 021 273 6975 alex.smits@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

investment in this farm.

LARGER LIFESTYLE OR GRAZING

Waerenga

DAIRY - 14 TITLES

77 Cozen Road

Auction 11am,

This 60ha dairy farm is naturally flat and fertile, and comprising of

Desirable location, versatile sized property, strong family community - Thurs 4 May 2017 what more could you ask for? This 19ha land holding is of flat to rolling contour and is perfect for your grazing, cropping or larger lifestyle requirements. Water is currently supplied from the

(unless sold prior) 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

View Tues 11 & 18 Apr

14 separate titles, future options here are limitless. The 24 aside dairy produced 52,101kg/MS last season milking 144 cows - that’s only 6 rows and you’re done milking! The main home is surrounded by established gardens, consists of three bedrooms and has been

1460 State Highway 25, Pipiroa

Tenders Close 2pm, Wed 26 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

View Tues 11 & 18 Apr 1-2pm

neighbouring bore and will be available for two years following

11am-12pm www.bayleys.co.nz/812701

settlement date. Mature plantings offer a lovely lifestyle aesthetic,

Karl Davis

while a disused cowshed and four bay utility shed support the block.

M 027 496 4633 B 0508 83 83 83

everyday needs including two vets, well regarded schooling and a

M 027 496 4633 B 0508 83 83 83 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz

Lee Carter

health centre. The location also offers easy access to Auckland

Lee Carter

Situated only 17.6km to the expanding rural centre of Te Kauwhata plus within easy access to main arterial routes, it is a quick 60.5km commute to Hamilton with Auckland 92km away. Multiple potential building platforms are available or lease the land back to the Vendor.

M 027 696 5781 SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

renovated throughout. Nearby is a self-contained sleep out and a three bay garage. Farm Source stores are located in Kopu and Ngatea both 9km from the property, Ngatea also offers a host of

Airport located 87km and Hamilton 90km away. Take advantage of this 14 title property!

www.bayleys.co.nz/812713

Karl Davis

M 027 696 5781 B 0508 83 83 83 lee.carter@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS. LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

www.bayleys.co.nz

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

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35HA GRAZING ON TE PUKES DOORSTEP

Te Puke Highway, Te Puke

240HA ON THREE TITLES

For sale by Tender, this 35 hectares grazing block, currently used as

Tender 4pm,

Located only 20 minutes South East of Havelock North, dissected by

a dairy support block, is a rare opportunity in this location to acquire land of significance. The property has been well farmed for decades and in more recent years good management continued in the form of neighbour lease, with industry recognised farming husbandry the order of the day. The property has a mix of contours including flat, undulating and an area of hill. Some would argue there are areas of possible horticultural development, but the consensus would be for dairy support to continue. With small beef blocks seldom available,

Thurs 13 Apr 2017 (unless sold by private treaty) 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga

View Fri 11am-12pm

www.bayleys.co.nz/2300044

Snow Williams M 027 275 5500 B 07 571 4662 snow.williams@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

this would be an option also.

1805 Kahuranaki Road, Havelock North

the Kahuranaki Road, is this 240ha finishing property with an abundance of easy contour. There are numerous places to build your dream home and the three titles provide options to adjust boundaries. The current owner winters around 2,050 stock units, with early lambing ewes and finishing cattle.

Tenders Close 4pm, Wed 10 May 2017 (unless sold prior) 17 Napier Road, Havelock North

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/2850794

Tony Rasmussen

and sheep yards. Stock water derives from natural creeks, dams and

M 027 429 2253 B 06 872 9315 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

some spring water sourced troughs.

Tim Wynne-Lewis

Improvements include a four stand raised board woolshed, hay barn,

Ideal additional finishing land, first farm or retirement block, with the building and title options adding the extra opportunity for lifestyle. The vendor has purchased another property, providing this fantastic

M 027 488 9719 B 06 872 9307 tim.wynne-lewis@bayleys.co.nz COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

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opportunity.

READY TO TAKE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Motonui Station, Elsthorpe, Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay

STRATEGIC ADDITION OR STARTER

Darfield

Located near the strong Elsthorpe community, Motonui Station is a

Deadline Sale 4pm,

Tramway Road

Deadline Sale 1pm,

well balanced 751ha breeding/finishing property. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very well set up Wed 17 May 2017 (unless sold prior) yet still has fantastic potential. On top of regular fertiliser applications, there is a real opportunity to improve production levels through pasture renewal. With large portions of easy tractor country, a metalled central laneway and subdivision into over 95 paddocks,

17 Napier Road, Havelock North

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/2800647

Desirable parcel of 60.3641 hectares - add to an established farm or Thurs 4 May 2017 perhaps an opportunity for young farmers to get started. In two parcels, long road frontage to Addingtons, Tramway and Homebush Roads, Templeton soils, well subdivided, trimmed shelter hedges,

(unless sold prior)

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554276

Mark Clyne

Tony Rasmussen

and three bay implement shed with two bays lockable, concrete floors. A chance for those with the vision to secure this opportunity

M 027 531 2964 mark.clyne@bayleys.co.nz

in a popular farming district. Adjacent to 68 Addingtons Road

Dean Pugh

tree plantings. Improvements include a three bedroom homestead

M 027 429 2253 B 06 872 9315 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

with a self-contained sleepout and separate office, a three bedroom

Kris August

(www.bayleys.co.nz/554375) which is being marketed separately,

M 027 335 6303 B 03 375 4728 dean.pugh@bayleys.co.nz

grazing management and workability is a real strength. Other features include a reticulated water system and a large number of

cottage, implement sheds, a four stand woolshed, three lots of sheep yards and two sets of cattle yards completing the Station. This is a great opportunity to fine tune a well located and very

M 027 248 9266 B 06 872 9311 kris.august@bayleys.co.nz COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

having a modern home, with full infrastructure plus irrigation from own well or Central Plains Water Limited. Consider all options to buy

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

this 60.3641 hectares alone or with the 92 hectares property as well. Act early to inspect!

desirable Station.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

www.bayleys.co.nz

Country magazine OUT NOW NE W

LI ST IN G

View online at www.bayleys.co.nz/country

LOCATION, IRRIGATION AND SOILS

Killinchy, Central Canterbury

Darfield

’LOCHAIRE’ - 216 HECTARES

68 Addingtons Road

Deadline Sale 1pm,

737 Leeston Dunsandel Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

Desirable small farm of 92.6730 hectares within close proximity to

Thurs 4 May 2017 (unless sold prior)

Situated in a well-regarded farming area, this 216ha farm provides

Fri 28 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior)

Darfield township. The production from Templeton silt loam soils is enhanced with irrigation from the existing well. Neatly subdivided with range of older buildings. Large home built in 2011 with four

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554375

Mark Clyne

the key elements looked-for in the region - quality soils, good water, a high standard of infrastructure, two good yards, an excellent shape, two good homes and in four titles it provides purchasing

M 027 531 2964 mark.clyne@bayleys.co.nz

options. Fully irrigated via one lateral irrigator and three guns from

separate lounge plus large deck areas and expansive lawn and garden. This is a quality Canterbury farming location and is adjacent

Dean Pugh

breeding and finishing farm. It has been farmed to a high standard

to 60 hectares being sold separately (www.bayleys.co.nz/554276).

M 027 335 6303 B 03 375 4728 dean.pugh@bayleys.co.nz

bedrooms, country kitchen, spacious living and dining areas and

Close enough to commute to nearby Christchurch city, this could suit long term investors, high value arable growers, or those looking to

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

three wells, the property is currently operating as an intensive over the generations, which is reflected in its presentation. A strong fertiliser history, a nutrient baseline of 33, and surrounded by land used for vegetable production, arable crops, fattening, dairy and

capitalise on the irrigation supply with new ventures. This is an

dairy support, ’Lochaire’ provides options. Only 7km from Dunsandel

appealing property so act quickly to arrange an inspection.

and Leeston, the Community Hall, tennis courts and swimming pool

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554217

Ben Turner M 027 530 1400 B 03 375 4700 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Evan Marshall M 027 221 0910 evan.marshall@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

are only 800m away. A property with scale, quality and versatility.

WHEN YOU VALUE PRIVACY - 222HA In a most picturesque location, this 222ha hill country grazing property provides numerous attributes from recreation and relaxation, to grazing and tourism. Originally known as "The Hunts

French Farm, Banks Peninsula

LOW-COST WATER, HEALTHY SOILS

Deadline Sale 4pm,

245 Coaltrack Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

Fri 5 May 2017 (unless sold prior)

Excellent well water of 99 litres/sec coupled with good soils forms

Fri 28 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior)

Estate", it has a rich history which has been enjoyed by our current

View by appointment

owner, whilst earning an income from leasing the farm. The original

www.bayleys.co.nz/554469

five-bedroom homestead and a modernised woolshed with covered

Ben Turner

several springs and creeks, complemented by a good rainfall.

M 027 530 1400 B 03 375 4700 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Situated at the end of the road gives privacy and there are wonderful

Evan Marshall

views of the valley below and the ever-changing Harbour. Around an

M 027 221 0910

yards, ensures both character and function. Water is a feature, with

hour’s drive from Christchurch and close to the Inner Harbour amenities, cafés, boat ramps and the golf course, it has all the

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

the basis of this cost-effective 136ha dairy farm. Our Vendors have focused on soil health to set the base for long-term productivity and profitability. The dairy platform is approximately 125ha effective, currently milking 300 cows with the ability to do more. Production has been up to 182,000kgMS from 400 cows. A 30ASHB dairy with cup-removers, ADF teat spray system and in-shed meal-feeders provides ease of operation. Irrigated by one centre pivot, one lateral and two rotorainers, balance by sprinklers. There is a large, modern family home, three-bedroom cottage and two self-contained units. In two titles, with an option to purchase separately.

ingredients needed for a retreat or an adjunct to an existing farming operation. A unique property with a bright future.

www.bayleys.co.nz

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

Dunsandel, Central Canterbury

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554374

Ben Turner M 027 530 1400 B 03 375 4700 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Mick Sidey M 027 229 8888 B 03 375 4700 mick.sidey@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

FOR SALE KOKONUI FOREST AND LAND

Waipu - Northland

ADJOINING LAND

FORESTRY BLOCK

*Indicative boundary only

ONE OF NZ’S BEST RIGHT HERE

Timaru

1199 Pareora River Road

For Sale

PRODUCTION FOREST + GRAZING LAND $3,500,000

plus GST (if any)

Built in 1912, Holme Station is an impressive slice of New Zealand

View by appointment

rural history, on 17 acres of park-like grounds on the outskirts of

www.bayleys.co.nz/552287

Timaru. The current owners have completely and meticulously

Sue Morton

renovated and fully refurbished while successfully maintaining the

M 027 600 5777 B 03 687 1227 sue.morton@bayleys.co.nz

original ambiance. The property is offered with quality high end furnishings through out. The core structure has been fully

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

strengthened, roof re-tiled with original Marseilles tiles, fireplaces relined and strengthened, new wiring and water reticulation throughout. A full commercial kitchen installed, with diesel fired central heating for the ten bedrooms and six remodeled bathrooms, new carpet throughout. The homestead is fully compliant with current building code.

+ 101ha Titled Forest area planted with 84.9ha of 95’ and 97’ Pinus Radiata + All thinned and mostly pruned with inventory data available + 30.74ha of adjoining grazing land on a separate title that can be purchased separately or jointly

FOR SALE BY TENDER Friday 21st April 2017 at 4:00pm

+ Only 20km to Northport at Marsden Point

WARWICK SEARLE 021 362 778

A wonderful home, lovingly restored.

www.bayleys.co.nz

www.propertyconnector.co.nz CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

For Sale NEW LISTING

Boundary indicative only

King Country | Mapiu

Price

252 Hectares

$2,300,000 plus GST (if any)

Breeding And Finishing - Genuine Potential Here. Medium and some steeper hill country, 252 hectares (two titles) in an excellent location. Mairoa Ash soils with some papa faces. Three bedroom home with additional single quarters. Modern woolshed, covered yards, utility buildings and good cattle yards. Spring water, gravity fed, along with natural water. 2,500-2,700 stock units based on average efficient. Ideally suited to a family or expanding neighbour, a place to make your mark, using your stockmanship skills on some larger paddocks and grow and finish very good stock. At or around $885 per stock unit, your challenge is to buy better with as much upside. | Property ID TK1025

Inspection

Licensed under REAA 2008

By appointment

Contact Kevin Wrenn 021 136 6843 Les Old 027 248 2667

Northland | Tangowahine 186 Hectares An All Round Performer. Diversity gives a competitive edge to this beef and dairy farm located just off SH14, near Dargaville. Fertile peaty clay loam flats form a small dairy platform that is productive, profitable and easy to run. Two gentle west-facing basins provide sheltered grazing for beef cattle plus all the dairy drystock. Two good homes provide for the family and the location lends itself to enjoying offfarm interests in Dargaville or Whangarei. A small pine forest and some native bush provide another interesting angle. Does this tick all your boxes? Give me a call now for more information. | Property ID DG1023

Deadline Sale Closing 2pm, Thursday 20 April 2017

Inspection By appointment

Contact Nicky Reid 0800 100 027

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

N EW

LIS TI N G

82 CARTER ROAD, TAUMARUNUI Here´s an opportunity to secure an attractive first farm with the infrastructure in place to get started; or a superbly located, warm, sheltered beekeepers block with ample manuka throughout plus good access to numerous hive sites, all only a stone´s throw from Taumarunui which is regarded as a reliable farming region. 140 hectares of medium hill country with stunning views from the property out over the township and beyond to Mount Ruapehu. Pockets of native trees all adding to the aesthetics of this farm. The tidy 3-bedroom home with double garaging and a self contained sleepout set in mature grounds, along with a 4-stand woolshed, covered yards and cattle yards are all located at the front of the farm, off the end of Carter Road. Subdivided into 9 main paddocks plus holding paddocks by conventional fencing with 4x4 access tracks throughout.

140 hectares Tender (unless sold prior) www.nzr.nz Tender closes 4pm, 11th May 2017. 1 Goldfinch Street, Ohakune Jamie Proude 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008

Tender Closes: 4pm Thursday 11th May 2017 ( unless sold prior)

PUTAKI Mahoe Road, Waitomo Putaki presents the opportunity to secure a large-scale Sheep and Beef operation on easy to steep hill country in an area that is historically regarded for its consistent summer rainfall and favourable soils renowned for quality livestock production. A total of 1274 ha. Currently used as a sheep and cattle breeding station with lambs sold as forward stores or killed and weaners sold in the Autumn. Infrastructure includes a 1993 tidy 4bedroom home with massive views over the farm, 5-stand woolshed (1400NP) with covered yards, covered cattle yards x2 and x4 sets of satellite sheep yards.

1274 hectares Deadline Private Treaty www.nzr.nz/nzrr208 Deadline Private Treaty Offers Close 4pm, Thu 20 April 2017 (if not sold prior) Jamie Proude AREINZ 06 385 4789 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008

LIS TI N G N EW

WAIRARAPA COASTAL STATION ’Cross Keys’, 750 Otahome Road, Whareama, Masterton There´s something special about this section of New Zealand´s Pacific Coast. Cross Keys Station, located between Castlepoint & Riversdale beach, is a 35-minute drive from Masterton and features almost three kilometres of uninhabited coastline loaded with Paua and Crayfish and excellent recreational fishing. An Iconic Kiwi bach sits above a private beach (see website for video) near the middle of the property. There are numerous potential house sites that have sweeping 180 degree views from Castle Rock down to Riversdale, with the sunrise out of the Pacific and the crystal clear night sky´s being world class. The farming operation is a traditional sheep and beef breeding and semi finishing unit in a summer dry climate carrying approximately 5,000 stock units. There are around 540 hectares effective, mainly medium hill, and 72 hectares of pine plantations (included in the sale). A three bedroom dwelling, four-stand woolshed and other support buildings are located in a sheltered valley near the western road entrance. The farm is well set up to be run by one labour unit with good tracks, stock laneways and Otahome Rd enhancing access. The proximity to Masterton means there are off farm employment and top secondary schooling options. The local rural community supported primary school of Whareama is just a few kilometres distant. This is a once in a life time opportunity to secure your slice of heaven.

LOCATION, SCALE & AESTHETIC APPEAL - THE SWEET SPOT "Bushgrove" 72 Adams Peak Road, Tinui, Masterton Located in a sheltered valley just 20 minutes drive east of Masterton sits this picturesque economically sized sheep & beef unit. Bushgrove & Glentarn have been in the vendors family since 1884 over four generations. The two units have been farmed as one for many years and together carry 7,140 su (5 yr av). There are around 845ha effective with the majority being medium hill accentuated by a small area of productive flats and a very attractive 58ha block of QE2. There are 74ha of developed forestry with 31ha being held under forestry right (can be purchased with the farm) The balance of the property being 110ha of bush & bee hungry manuka scrub gullies. A real feature of the property are the lanes, tracking & access. An attractive character homestead and supporting shearers quarters, four stand wool shed with covered yards and other support buildings all being very tidy. With this scale a stock manager can take the pressure off an owner and a partner can work in town, kids are easily schooled in quality local & Masterton primary & secondary options and the sports fields and cafes aren’t far away! Tenders for separate units will be considered (conditional on both being sold). A detailed property report is available- please contact Blair for a copy. Farm Open Day; Tues 11th April between 10am-2pm - bring own transport & helmets - call to register please.

618.94 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: W026 Tender, Closes 4pm Tues 16 May 2017 NZR 1st Floor, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 | 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

1,086 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: W024 Tender, Closes 4pm Thur 11 May 17 NZR 1st Floor, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 | 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

Premium finishing unit - certified organic -

   •  •   •    •     •  •  •   

Production and location    •  •  •   •   •   •   •   •   

Excellence achieved    •  •  • 

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                                  

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

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

285 BARFORD ROAD, MAYFIELD

DEADLINE TREATY

• 300ha of flat quality land, predominantly Pivot with some Gun irrigation • Current land use is dairy support plus beef and lamb finishing. Current lamb weight gains average 300g per day • Irrigation water from the very reliable BCI irrigation scheme • Property is ideally suited as dairy conversion, dairy support, finishing or equally suitable for cropping DEADLINE TREATY CLOSING 12 NOON, 4TH MAY 2017

• • • •

Major recent development include irrigation, fencing, laneways, regrassing all to very high quality Two homes plus numerous farm building Seldom do properties of this quality in this location come available Options available to purchase: 300ha or 116ha or 184ha separately.

Web Ref SWDR1214

RAY KEAN M: 0274 357 478 E: ray.kean@southernwide.co.nz

PAUL BROWN M: 0274 326 864 E: paul.brown@southernwide.co.nz

Unit 7B, 303 Blenheim Road Riccarton, Christchurch p 03 348 1040

RALPH SHAND M: 021 335 466 E: ralph.shand@southernwide.co.nz

Well located drystock

OPEN DAYS ID TER54784

TE KUITI 749 Barber Road 578.5ha 21km east of Otorohanga. 433ha effective, 9ha in 27yr pines, balance in native bush. Good mix of contour from river flats to easy rolling hill running to steeper hills in parts. Approx 1/3 of the farm has troughed water, the balance being natural. All weather central race and good fertiliser history. Excellent 4 bedroom home, double glazed. Currently wintering 1500 ewes, 750 other, 490 cattle and 100 R2s for 6 weeks. Anyone looking for a large, well located property in a sought after farming district should view this property.

Please bring your own ATV to open days. VIEW Tuesday 11th, April 11.00am - 1.00pm Tuesday 18th, April 11.00am - 1.00pm

TENDER closes Wednesday 26th April, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) 131 Rora Street Te Kuiti Plus GST if any

TENDER Hugh Williams Mobile 021 878 782 Office 07 878 8266 hugh@propertybrokers.co.nz Peter Wylie Mobile 027 473 5855 Office 07 878 0265 pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

Property Brokers Ltd, PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited Licensed under the REAA 2008

LK0086844

EXCEPTIONAL MID-CANTERBURY PROPERTY

RURAL rural@propertybrokers.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Outstanding support block

WEB ID FR54660

BULLS Santoft Road This 142 hectare (STS) property provides outstanding sundry farm buildings. An extensive development VIEW By Appointment guaranteed summer production, with all the benefit program in recent times has seen the property associated with the wintering capability of sand country. completely refenced, metaled central race system installed, establishment of new grass species, capital With 40% (65 hectares) of the property under pivot fertilizer applications and an upgraded stock water irrigation and the balance being free draining sand, the system. property will complement any existing farming system or has enough scale to operate as a standalone unit. With a price indication of offers over $4,250,000 + GST the property has affordability and a balance of soil type's Improvements include a 3 bedroom dwelling, 3 stand seldom seen. woolshed, stock handling facilities, 2 pivot irrigators and

BY NEGOTIATION + GST (IF ANY) Stuart Sutherland

Mobile 027 452 1155 Office 06 323 5544 Home 06 323 7193 stuarts@propertybrokers.co.nz

Blair Cottrill

Mobile 027 354 5419 Office 06 323 1538 blair@propertybrokers.co.nz

3 1

The Ford

WHAKAMARU 70 Ford Road 308 hectares - 285ha effective milking 580 cows through a 50 ASHB shed + 90 young stock. Four homes make up the dwellings with a very substantial brick and tile homestead. Contour is varied from flats to rolling and then some steeper sidlings. Good Access with rhyolite and pumice lanes. Production last year 187-247,000kgs/ms. Deadline Treaty 1st May 2017. Possession is 1st June 2017.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

WEB ID TPR54978

DEADLINE SALE

VIEW Thursday 13 Apr 11.00 - 1.00pm DEADLINE SALE closes Monday 1st May, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior)

4 Paul O'Sullivan

Mobile 027 496 4417 paulo@propertybrokers.co.nz

RURAL rural@propertybrokers.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

ALBURY PARK

GRANDVIEW

WEB ID TMR54793 DEADLINE SALE ALBURY 627 Richardsons Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Monday 15th May, 2017 at 4.00pm, Looking for an iconic farm? Albury Park would be arguably one of the best in the district. With a very high (unless sold prior) standard of improvements, good location, and all you need in a farm with this amount of scale. The current owners have invested over the years to ensure that this property will be remembered for years to come. With approximately 45 hectares planted in commercial 4 woodlots and providing shelter throughout the farm and the investment in the high standard of fencing, pasture, 1 fertiliser and buildings. This property is a real credit to Michael Richardson the family. Mobile 027 228 7027 Office 03 687 7145 michael@propertybrokers.co.nz

WAIMATE 1590 Pikes Point Road • 235.1223 hectares • 175 hectares K-line Irrigation • Central all weather lane • Comfortable 4 bedroom home • Low cost MGI irrigation

WEB ID TMR54907

DEADLINE SALE View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 4th May, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior)

The name says it all "Grandview" and indeed it is. 175 ha under irrigation with the balance dry land, currently run as part of a dairy platform and milking up to 700 cows. All in productive pasture with very good soil fertility. Only needing a dairy shed to complete this farm.

Michael Richardson

Mobile 027 228 7027 Office 03 687 7145 michael@propertybrokers.co.nz

4 1

Production in a league of it's own

WEB ID FR54773

BULLS Brandon Hall Road Located only 10 minutes drive from Bulls, this 233 hectares (STS) has very few peers with its proven productive capability. The 165 hectares under 2 pivot irrigators and 68 hectares of heavy sands present an outstanding opportunity to purchase a bare land property that has productivity written all over it. Fully developed with ease of management in mind, the current outstanding levels of production mean this is

one of the few remaining large parcels of land within the Lower North Island with the potential ability to be converted to dairy or further developed as an intensive finishing/cropping unit. Whether you're looking for a standalone property or one to complement your existing business this property will not disappoint. Price indication offers over $6,750,000 + GST call today to inspect.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

BY NEGOTIATION + GST (IF ANY)

VIEW By Appointment Stuart Sutherland

Mobile 027 452 1155 Office 06 323 5544 Home 06 323 7193 stuarts@propertybrokers.co.nz

Blair Cottrill

Mobile 027 354 5419 Office 06 323 1538 blair@propertybrokers.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

OPEN DAY

Highly Desirable Dairy Farm , When an opportunity arises you need to pounce. Your opportunity right now is this highly desirable Ford Road Dairy Farm. A modest 44.46 hectares this farm is producing good numbers off approximately 120 cows. First time on the market in decades, this flat picture perfect dairy unit has been developed over the years with love and planning. A central race system services 25 paddocks milking 120 cows through a 12 aside shed. Calving on 20 July, cows are wintered on with calves and heifers grazed off. Sound brick and tile three bedroom dwelling elevated from the road along with an array of excellent farm buildings and barns.

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEP25728

Waihi AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Friday, 21 April Waihi Golf Club, 113 Woodlands Road, Waihi OPEN DAYS 11.00-12.00pm Wednesday, 12 April Sunday, 16 April Dave McLaren B 07 573 5888 M 027 223 3366 Scott Cameron B 07 573 0244 M 027 455 5768

TENDER

High Performance Finishing Farm - 1129 Northern Boundary Road • 324ha - includes 275 ha lucerne • Two titles, flat to rolling contour, fully deer fenced • Profitable options include - deer farming, cattle finishing and dairy support • Winters - 4,700su, plus cuts 2,500 round bales of high quality lucerne balage(1200 bales fed out) • Potential to winter 5,000 + su utilising surplus balage • Good quality water supply from two bores • Annual rainfall 1600mm, free draining Volcanic ash soils • Located 47km(35min) south east of Rotorua The farm has extensive double fenced shelterbelts providing a unique microclimate and is serviced by a central lane to 65 paddocks. A good quality modern homestead with five bedrooms plus office and double garage, set amongst mature trees. www.pggwre.co.nz ID: ROT25842

Rerewhakaaitu TENDER Closes 4.00pm, Friday, 28 April PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited Cnr Marguerita & White Streets Rotorua OPEN DAY 11.00am - 1.00pm Thursday, 13 April

Brett Ashworth B 07 347 6076 M 021 0261 7488

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

TENDER

Rangitaiki Plains Grass Factory

Whakatane TENDER

Land Area: 75.0497 hectares (STT), all flat contour. A modern 48 bale rotary dairy shed, Waikato plant, with Milkhub® automated monitoring and drafting system, 300 cow capacity yard. Produced 120,000kgMs 2016/17 on 135ha platform, milking once a day, production system one. Two good homes. Highly fertile land with good infrastructure and time efficient central race system. The Rangitaiki Plains is a well-known area for productive dairying, and service centres are in close proximity with Whakatane 22km and Edgecumbe only 3.9km.

Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 10 May PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited 12-14 Peace Street, Whakatane OPEN DAYS 11.00am - 12.00noon, Thursdays 13, 20 & 27 April

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: WHK25841

AUCTION

Equine Heartland - Three Titles

Matamata

Breeding And Finishing

Hawke’s Bay

Rarely found and seldom available, this 32.34 ha property is for sale by Auction with the added bonus of three separate titles. The contour is flat and fertile with high quality free-draining soils, ideally suited to equine, grazing or horticulture. Infrastructure includes a stable complex complete with 11 loose boxes plus tack room, implement storage, lunging ring, cattle yards and a disused sand based exercise track. Housing is well catered for with two houses. In close proximity to the Matamata racecourse and centrally located, this is a must to inspect.

AUCTION

• ‘ Brookfields’ 240.91 hectares (595 acres) in the Te Pohue District • Subdivided into 16 main paddocks plus lanes and holding paddocks • Water reticulated from a spring source supplemented by dams • Four stand woolshed, sheep and cattle yards, hay barn and shearers quarters • Appealing two-storied, three bedroom home, single garage, plus ample shedding • A good balanced property in a historically summer safe area, 44km from the Napier Airport

PRICE BY NEGOTIATION

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: MAT25757

(Unless Sold Prior) 11:00am, Wednesday, 26 April, PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Cambridge OPEN DAY 1:00-2:00pm, Thursday, 13, 20 April, 7657 STATE HIGHWAY 27

Peter Donnelly M 021 449 559 Nerrida Schuler M 021 424 711

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: HAS25701

Plus GST (if any)

Doug Smith B 06 878 3156 M 027 494 1839 Paul Harper B 06 878 3156 M 027 494 4854

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

FINAL NOTICE

Licenced under REAA 2008

NEW LISTING

’Echills’ - Specialist Finishing Unit

Hawke’s Bay

Quality Productive Potential

North Otago

• 274.88ha (679 acres) in Kereru farming district • Finishing bulls, steers and lambs to good weights, 2400-2600SU across the effective area • Subdivided into 75 main paddocks plus laneways • Water reticulated throughout from spring sources, plus some dams • Comfortable older style three bedroom home plus a two bedroom cottage • Four stand woolshed, two large implement sheds, workshop, sundry farm buildings, sheep-yards and steel Te Pari cattle-yards • A great opportunity just 36km west of Hastings

TENDER

• 407.2068ha freehold in four titles, fertile easy rolling pasture land, 355ha effective • Irrigation by pivot and K Line systems supplied from North Otago Irrigation Co. Scheme - reliable pressure water • Modern 70 bail rotary dairy shed, meal and grain feeding, rectangular yard, compliant effluent system • Four excellent dwellings and farm buildings

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: HAS25672

Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 27 April PGG Wrightson Real Estate Cnr Maraekakaho & Orchard Roads Hastings

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Friday, 28 April

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: OAM25833

Doug Smith B 06 878 3156 M 027 494 1839 Paul Harper M 027 494 4854

Multiple Land Uses

Dipton

• 186ha subject to survey • Three bedroom split level brick home (built 1973) • Three stand RB woolshed and covered yard area, five bay implement shed • All deer fenced (2008) • Central lane to all but one paddock • Water supplied via mostly 25ml line to cattle troughs • Main highway location

$3.95M

Dave Finlay B 03 433 1340 M 027 433 5210 H 03 434 8390

Plus GST (if any)

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: INV24987

Andrew Patterson B 03 211 3144 M 027 434 7636 H 03 230 4426

pggwre.co.nz

Employment

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

FARM MANAGER

classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

REGIONAL MANAGER

500ha, Te Kuiti

Alliance Group

Our clients own this very well developed farm, just 15km from Te Kuiti. It has waterways fenced, riparian planting, 140 paddocks and a good network of races for stock access. The farm is used predominantly to support the owner’s dairy business, so receives calves at weaning and sends them back as R2’s ready to calve. It also grows out some service bulls for the business and winters some cows on fodder beet grown on farm. The farm runs at peak 1,500 - 2,000 cattle over the Summer/Autumn period. The primary focus, however, is to grow out top quality Dairy Heifer replacements for the dairy farms – approximately 700R1 and 700R2 heifers. We are seeking a competent manager to continue the fine job the outgoing manager of 15 years has done (leaving as they have purchased a farm). If you are used to using some dairy farming tools – feed budgeting, MINDA herd records and are seeking a quality job on a quality farm, then this will interest you. The successful applicant will be offered a competitive package that includes a good four bedroom home.

Alliance is the ONLY 100% locally owned co-operative meat company in NZ and it is quietly going about completely overhauling the way it does business. (See its 2016 annual report. www.alliance.co.nz/co-op/annual-reports ). Its shareholder base of 5000 farmers ensures that it is New Zealand’s – and indeed the world’s – largest exporter of sheep meat, as well as a significant contributor to beef and venison exports. The Senior Management team is well down the path of redefining the way the company interacts with its clients and shareholders. Being a co-operative, its farmer shareholders are at the centre of everything they do, and having Southland as its roots it is an innovative and somewhat understated company. This Regional Manager, Livestock role covers a team of 12 that operate between Timaru and Nelson. This role is not about being a subject-matter expert on meat; it is about being a true team leader. This role is all about leading, mentoring, managing and growing their team. There is a component of helping the team do business differently, so if you currently lead a small team, have an empathy with agriculture, are the type of person that wants to ‘actually make a difference’ and enjoy the philosophies of a true co-operative, then this role will interest you. This is a very exciting role and is one that is part of the senior management of Alliance. This role has direct visibility into the Senior Leadership team, as it reports to the GM Livestock and Shareholder Services. Logic says the role is probably best based within a 50km radius of Christchurch, and although you could work effectively from a home office, it would be an advantage to spend regular time at the Christchurch office. To apply email your CV to jobs@fegan.co.nz or call us on 07 823 0117. Applications close 4pm Friday 21 April 2017.

To view photos www.fegan.co.nz. To apply phone 07 823 0117 or email jobs@fegan.co.nz. Applications close 3pm Friday, 21 April 2017

www.fegan.co.nz

Human Resources • Recruitment • Employment Relations

Contract Milking Position

OPERATIONS MANAGER

A Contract Milking position is available for the 2017/2018 season, located between Rotorua and Tirau.

Hamilton

The herd size to calve will be between 450 and 500 cows on 220 effective hectares.

MilkTestNZ is the leading laboratory for scientific testing of milk samples from farmers who supply dairy companies. Through continual innovation they lead the world in laboratory automation with unique robotic sorting and splitting systems. Offering a range of world class tests in Microbiology, Composition, Analytical and Specialty testing, MilkTestNZ meet the needs of their extensive client base across a number of dairy industry sectors including cattle, sheep and goats. For full details on this dynamic organisation please see www.MilkTestNZ.co.nz

The farm system is mainly grass based and is supported by a 100-hectare support unit. The milking shed is a 30-aside herringbone.

As their services are extended with increasing demand, the role of Operations Manager reporting into the CEO provides key management oversight to the coordination of the Laboratory staff, systems and procedures. A key aspect of this role will be to ensure that all laboratory activities support the business objectives of providing excellence, technology and analytical information with speed and accuracy and increasing production capabilities.

Three houses will be available for the Contract Milker and staff.

•

Operational leadership

•

Health and Safety leadership

•

Establishing and maintaining systems

•

A balanced approach to Staff Management

•

Document control

•

Financial budgeting & Asset Management expertise

•

Accurate reporting

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Professional company representation

•

Scheduled auditing

If this position interests you please email a current C.V. and further inquires to: farmpositionsnz@gmail.com.

LK0087012©

The Owners do not live on-farm, but are involved in the policy setting and ongoing management of the properties.

To be successful within this role you will have proven excellence in the following areas:

The ideal candidate for this role must be well organised, be an effective motivator and be able to demonstrate a vibrant style of management where close attention to detail is a critical component for their success. The role holder will enjoy an environment where there is open communication, opportunities to be challenged and a culture that supports innovation and excellence. Ideally they will also hold tertiary qualifications that include both science and business. If you believe you have the core skills and competencies to be an effective leader within this environment, please forward your cover letter and CV to Linda-Maree Drake lindamaree@fegan.co.nz or, call us for further details on 07 823 0105.

Stock Manager Stock Manager position available on sheep, beef and deer farm. • Good stock skills and working dogs • Communication skills and reliability • Experience with farm maintenance • Able to take responsibility and work with others

RUN OFF YOUR FEET?

Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@nzx.com

*Available for one month or until close of application

Bring your experience from dairy cattle or goats, and add to it. You will enhance your CV and take a step up in excitement, satisfaction, and remuneration. You’ll also enjoy a short lactation and great work/life balance.

Please apply with CV to: Bob Kingscote, Toppesfield 257 Hossack Downs Road, Waiau 7395 Email: toppesfield@farmside.co.nz

EASTER EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE!

Please send your CV or enquiry to: petergatley@outlook.co.nz Southern Cross Dairy Sheep Technology

Get your April 17 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 11.

Contact Debbie 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 0765 classifieds@nzx.com

LK0087018©

7km from Waiau, North Canterbury.

Have you milked sheep before? No problem. Nor had we until making the move from dairy cattle two years ago. We have imported the best genes from the UK and France and have the newest conversion in the industry, all on a stunning farm overlooking Lake Taupo.

LK0086941©

Advertise your vacancy in The NZ Farmers Weekly – Plus receive added value of online free of charge*

There is a good 3-bedroom house available on a school bus route.

Rural Livestock Limited is the largest privately owned stock and station company in the South Island with in excess of fifty agents servicing and growing our clientele across the South Island. We have an exciting opportunity based in Otago for the right person to join our team to lead and manage our Otago team of Livestock Agents. You will be responsible for growing this region both with our livestock services and our finance portfolio. This position will also involve being part of the company management team in driving the positive strategic plan for the business. The successful applicant will: • Have an in-depth knowledge of the agriculture industry • Have the ability to lead, mentor and manage our team • Be highly motivated, well organised and professional in their approach • Have a high level of written and verbal communication skills • Possess competent computer skills • Hold a current, valid Driver’s Licence This is a great opportunity to work for a leading independent company, working with experienced colleagues in a great team environment and offering a competitive remuneration package. Expressions of interest can be made to Simon Cox on phone 027 209 7665. A copy of the Position Description is available upon request to Jo Cullen, HR and H&S Advisor on jo.cullen@rll.co.nz or 0274 730 820. Please apply in writing with your current CV to: jo.cullen@rll.co.nz Applications close 5pm, 30 April 2017

LK0086999©

Dairy Farm Manager

SITUATION VACANT OTAGO LIVESTOCK MANAGER

Livestock

Employment

Farm Business Manager

FRANKTON SALEYARDS

World’s Largest Urban Farm

WEDNESDAY 12th APRIL

With an effective grazing area of 1430ha, this pristine land with first class infrastructure is spread across multiple park locations within the wider Auckland Region. After 30+ years of service the incumbent is retiring and we now require a new Farm Business Manager to lead the world’s largest urban farm.

The Agricultural Leaders’ Health and Safety Action Group (ALHSAG) is a membership organisation that brings together farmers, CEOs and senior leaders from agribusiness, industry groups and government with a commitment to making farming safer by sharing information and practical solutions to health and safety issues on-farm. We are looking for a track record of successful leadership that has delivered strategic impact and influential management of a diverse stakeholder group to lead the establishment and ongoing development of this greenfield agricultural sector initiative. This exciting role provides enormous opportunity to shape the nature and delivery of a new entity. As General Manager you will be the catalyst for the development and delivery of strategies and efforts to operationalise ALHSAG’s programmes, and will work both within and beyond the membership group to support and influence members and a range of sector stakeholders – from the farm gate through to government.

This role will suit someone who has the ability to think laterally, can apply best practice and sees the benefits in applying technology across the business in the name of accurate information flow and profit. The appointee will not be measured by the time they spend behind the desk in the CBD but rather by the results and outcomes that are delivered. Our client is committed to assisting with the challenge of accommodation within the region.

The successful applicant will possess: • Knowledge and experience of the agricultural sector, ideally gained from within a commercial or industry body. • A track record of successful business management which has involved full administrative and financial oversight. • Communication and presentation skills to effectively engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. • Experience working with a Board or senior advisory group.

For more information, or to fill out an application, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 0800 475 465 (Reference #7017).

This unique opportunity will appeal to those senior leaders who have a deep alignment with the purpose of the organisation and the vision, aspiration and energy to develop an entity from the ground up.

LK0086883©

The current farming operations comprise a Coopworth Ewe flock of 4300, bred with a focus on fertility and FE resistance, weaning in October/November. 1500 ewe lambs are also carried over for replacements. The cattle policy supports predominantly a trading element with approximately 900 head of heifers and steers processed annually.

Download the app today

QUALITY YOUNG FR/FRX COWS Tuesday 18th April – 12 Noon Morrinsville Saleyards On A/c D J Van Bysterveldt Family Trust

• • • •

Confidential enquiries can be made to Meredith Woodsford, (03) 357 3283. Please direct applications to: meredith.woodsford@farmlands.co.nz

Our vendor purchased these cows last Autumn as elite high BW empty cows, milked right through the winter, producing 360MS in their extended lactation.

Applications close Friday 21st April.

RECRUITMENT & HR Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE

FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

7-MONTH HEADING pup showing promise. Phone 06 388 0212. HEADING PUPS three months b&w. Seek employment! $500 each. North Waikato. Phone 09 233 6136 or 027 328 8678. SOUTH ISLANDERS the Lions are coming! So are the dogs! Shipping 22/4/17. 021 030 0037 / 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes. BOOK AN AD. For only $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in The NZ Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book.

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GARLIC & HONEY. 200L - $450 or 1000L - $2000 excl. with FREE DELIVERY from Black Type Minerals Ltd www.blacktypeminerals. co.nz

ATTENTION FARMERS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT $5.85 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 07 571 0336 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. SECOND CHANGE FOR Working Dogs (on Face Book). Buying working dogs with issues. 021 030 0037 / 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

FERTILISER DOLOMITE, NZ’s finest Magnesium fertiliser. Bio-Gro certified, bulk or bagged. 0800 436 566.

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

GRAZING AVAILABLE GRAZERS WANTED. Up to 250 head. May onwards. West Waikato. Phone 07 825 8070.

PERSONAL

Just Country Dating

All Men and Ladies welcome Phone: +64 6 357 2454 HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

LK0086385©

DE HORNER

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24hours. Prices based on works schedule. Experienced musterers available. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

New Plymouth 27th April Hamilton 30th April Pukekohe 3rd May Whangarei 6th May Rotorua 9th May

STOP BIRDS NOW!

ZON BIRDSCARER

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz

WINDMILLS for water pumping. Ferguson Windmills Company. www.windmills.co.nz sales@windmills.co.nz Phone 09 412 8655 or 027 282 7689.

Our social evenings are coming soon to a town near you!

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z P.O. Box 30, Palmerston North 4440, NZ

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

LK0086950©

ANIMAL HEALTH www.drench.co.nz farmer owned, very competitive prices. Phone 0800 4 DRENCH (437 362).

Classifieds FOR SALE

ANIMAL HANDLING

They have been dry since 15/2/17 and were blanket dry cow treated. Our vendor fully guarantees these cows.

Bookings essential phone 027 390 9189 NO texts! NO DOOR SALES

RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$500. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533. RAMS. SOUTHDOWNS AND Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. Suitable for Hogget mating. $250- $500. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533. BOOK AN AD. For only $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in The NZ Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie Brown on 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email classifieds@nzx.com

LIVESTOCK REQUIRED STORE LAMBS WANTED. North Island. No commission. Payment in 7 days of trucking. 06 873 3696 or 021 228 4238.

Deferred payment sale – due 31/5/17

PUMPS HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

View www.mylivestock.co.nz for catalogues

WORK WANTED FULL TIME. GENERAL farm hand on sheep and beef property for experienced Lincoln University graduate. For CV call or email Scott: 027 261 9754 / scott.courtnell@ gmail.com

Download the app today

A/C Domala Farms, C/- D & S Hobday Friday 21st April 2017 1049 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth 11.30am start

115 x very good uddered, good temperament, fully grown, OAD, transitioning to organic status herd with excellent age structure. BW 75 PW 83 REL 95% DTC 29/7/17 in-calf to LIC Friesian, 3 weeks AB then tailed with PB Angus bull.

Get your April 17 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 11. Contact Debbie 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 0765 classifieds@nzx.com

Enquiries to Ollie Carruthers 0274 515 312

CLEARING SALE OF IN-MILK FRIESIAN/ FRIESIANX/XBD COWS

EASTER EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE!

SQUARES BALE FEEDERS FW

Needs no loader!

Self loader with electric or hand winch loading, tip deck. ATV towable. Feeds medium square baleage hay or straw. All models have variable speed feed, floatation tyres, jack stand, ground driven and hot dip galvanised frames.

Campbell & Bowis Engineering Ltd

Telephone & Fax 03 308 8012 • A/H David 03 308 6000 119 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton • www.campbellbowis.co.nz

LK0087021©

classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

124 Strong Fr Frx Cows BW 82/44 PW 127/53 RA 95% BW’s up to 164 PW’s up to 337 107 Cows 3, 4 & 5-year Calving 17/7 LIC Frs 4½ weeks, tailed with Rec Fr Bulls – out 22/12 Cows mainly in-calf to AB, calving dates are vet verified

LK0086885©

We seek an individual with the ability to pull information together from a number of enterprises and sources to drive efficiencies and opportunities across the farming business. The appointee will be in charge of executing the future farming strategy to deliver desired outcomes in accordance with the business plan; measuring and monitoring needs to be a desire rather than an exercise. An open enquiring mind is a prerequisite for this position, as are the skills to encourage participation from a wide sector of people. The Auckland region is very proud of its parkland assets and there is a strong desire towards continuous improvement and asset preservation.

Applications close 5pm Monday 24th April 2017

Comprising: 100 heifers, 9 0 steers Mixture of Black and Red colouring. Weight range 320kg-420kg Cattle will come forward in good condition. Enquiries: Michael Conwell 027 226 1611

General Manager

LK0086951©

On account of client 190 18-month HerefordX beef cattle

34 x in-calf FriesianX/XBD heifers. Excellent condition, type and temperament. BW 92 PW 99 DTC 29/7 to Jersey bull. Auctioneers Note: All stock come forward in top condition. Only selling due to health issues. Cows transitioning to organic, full status November 2018.

For More details contact: Sam Jones 027 4777 314 Tim Hurley 027 445 1167

Download the app today

LK0086927©

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Annual High Genetic Sale On farm – 500 Lodore Road, Okaihau Tuesday 18 April 2017 at 1.30 pm

AUCTION OF IN-MILK JERSEY HERD & REPLACEMENTS M/S AG & JA LILE DATE: Thursday 20 April 2017 ADDRESS: 112 Waiari Road, Paterangi, Te Awamutu D/N: 73628 START TIME: 11.00am

Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

The top BW in-calf heifers are offered in pairs. The purchaser has the pick and the owner retains the other heifer.

LK0086937©

Enquiries welcome: Roger Hutchings Malcolm Hutchings Ph. 09 401 9678 Ph. 09 401 9676 Email: lodore@ihug.co.nz Auctioneer: Brian Robinson Email: monties@actrix.co.nz

GREAT SHIFTING JERSEY BASED HERD AUCTION A/C MEADOWDALE FARMS DATE: Thursday 13 April 2017 ADDRESS: 138 Rawhiti Road, Reporoa D/C NO: 3081 START TIME: 11.00am (auction under cover) COMPRISING OF: • 310 Predominately Jersey in-milk cows, BW 57/41 PW 57/68 R/a 77% • 61 Jersey and Friesian cross in-calf heifers, Capital line, BW 100 PW 80, calving to Jersey from 25 July DETAILS: • Herd calving 25/7 to LIC Nom 4 weeks (Jersey and Friesian sires) • All mating dates confirmed, 6 week in-calf rate 79% • Tailed Jersey bulls out 5 January • TBC10, Lepto annually, BVD clear • Som cell avge 100,000, MT rate 9% • Owned and farmed for 27 years, cows in great condition • LIC Nom sires selected for cows temperament, structure and longevity.

First Annual Female In-Calf Production Sale On-Farm Fairlie – 5 May at 12 Noon Offering: approx. 70 Stud Fully Recorded Females including: - Selected R2yr, R3yr, R4yr - Annual draft proven cows Approx. 50 R2yr Commercial Meadowslea-bred heifers - Ex - Grays Hills Stn, Grampians Stn, Braemar Stn.

PAYMENT TERMS: 31 May 2017 Cows can be grazed on, if farmers have no access to farms. FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Pat Sheely 027 496 0153 VENDOR: Kerry Barnes 07 333 7276 LK0086921©

: R2yr heifers mated to top low birthweight calving ease yearlings

Vendor: D S Giddings 03 685 8027 Auctioneers: PGG Wrightson Callum Dunnett 027 590 8612 Participating companies: PWA Hamish Zuppicich 027 403 3025 Rural Livestock Anthony Cox 027 208 3071

www.meadowslea.co.nz

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

In-Milk Clearing Sale A/C Wood Percy Trust 334 Wakelins Road RD 3, Kerikeri Thursday 20th of April 2017 10.30 am start

Further inquiries please contact: Kris Sturge Ph 021 510 4385 Vendor: Mark Ph 021 222 8062

LK0087024©

Comprising approximately 550, 2-8 year cows and 100 in-calf heifers. • Vendor exiting the Industry • Grand opportunity to purchase an outstanding CRV herd • Ambreed Friesian herd for 15 years, bred for type • All G3 DNA profiled • TB C10 and EBL free • In-calf to FR, CRV 6 weeks • Natural mated beef bulls – bull out 9/1/17 • DTC 25/7 on • Cows to be sold in milk • Any cows left on farm can have option of dry cow therapy. All animals need to be uplifted by 28 May 2017

PAYMENT TERMS: 1 June 2017 Grazing will be available to those without access to farms until 31/5/17 by prior arrangement. DELIVERY TERMS: Deliveries within one week from the auction date. Special pre auction arrangements for Farmers without access to farms for 31 May 2017 deliveries and payments. View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock or from the vendor, or your local Farm Source Livestock agent.

POWERFUL LARGE HERD AND HEIFER AUCTION A/C DG & SL ADAMS

BIG PRODUCTION IN-MILK FRIESIAN HERD & HEIFERS AUCTION M/S BJ BISHOP FAMILY TRUST

DATE: Friday 28 April, 2017 ADDRESS: 54 Gower Road, Taupiri, Hamilton D/N: 72373 START TIME: 10.30am (auction under cover)

DATE: 19th April 2017 ADDRESS: Durham Road Upper, Inglewood D/N: 42967 START TIME: 10.30am – Machinery, 11.00am -– Livestock

COMPRISING OF: • 600 Friesian (60%) and Friesian X herd - BW 58, PW 84, R/a 99% • 189 predominately Friesian in-calf heifers - BW 76, PW 92 HERD DETAILS: • Closed herd; 500ms/cow • Owned and farmed for 35 years, changing to grazing operation • Herd: calving 10 July to Nom CRV 4wks, tailed Hereford bulls, out 17 December • In-calf heifers calving 3 July, to Jersey, bulls out 17 December • System 3 farming, (PKE, maize), 99,500 Som cell last season • 750 cows milked in rotary shed, heavily culled prior to auction • All calving dates verified , MT rate 12%, in-calf heifers 3% MT • Bred to CRV 15 years; in-calf to Maelstrom ,Phonic, Roscoe, Diesel, Booma, Repo sires • Selected sires for fertility, statue, longevity, temperament • TB C10, BVD clear, Lepto annually, majority in-milk, dry cows blanket treated. AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Very good herd, well farmed by passionate farmers who have decided they need a change in farming lifestyle. All dairies will be presented in excellent condition. In-calf heifers average 480- 500kg/lw (outstanding). Our vendors are considered leading edge in farming practises, hence you can purchase with confidence. Herd recording, health management, focused breeding requirement over many years enable them to offer a reliable consistent producing cow. Totally recommend and encourage presale inspection. Pre-sale inspection welcomed and photos available from agents.

COMPRISING OF: • 240 Friesian and Friesian cross herd - BW 68/46, PW 86/66, R/a 98% • 60 Friesian and Friesian cross heifers - BW 105, PW 109 HERD/HEIFER DETAILS: • 35 years owned and bred to LIC/CRV sires • A very well respected Taranaki dairy herd, 480kgMS cow under the shadow of the mountain. • Herd calv 5/08/17 to 3 weeks LIC / CRV - nominated sires, T/off Hereford • In-calf hfrs calv 5/8 to Jersey bulls • TB C10, BVD clear, Lepto vac, HB shed • Cows auctioned in-milk and fully guaranteed by Barry • Cow numbers 138 and 144 considered for contract mating • Current herd test as of end of March, 1.68MS/cow. MACHINERY LIST: • 6320 John Deere 4WD+ Loader, 6620 John Deere 4WD+ Loader, Portacom family room, test buckets • 5 t Molasses tank stand, 3000 L SS colostrum vat, 50 tt mobile calferteria, 3 PKE trailers, Causmag spreader, hip lifters, meal feeding trailer, milk feeders, milk trolley and drums plus farm sundries • A/C client: 4 PKE trailers, 9 t meal silo PAYMENT TERMS: 1 June 2017 DELIVERY TERMS: Deliveries within one week from the auction date. Special pre auction arrangements for Farmers without access to farms for 31 May 2017 deliveries and payments. Pre-sale inspections welcomed.

PAYMENT TERMS: 1 June 2017, Grazing available to 31st May for farmers without access to farms.

View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock or from the vendor, or your local Farm Source Livestock agent. FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Colin Dent 027 646 8908 VENDOR: Barry 06 756 7354

COMPRISING OF: 406 Capital Dairy cattle – LIC PSS bred herd solely for 50yrs • 290 Predominantly Jersey herd- BW 90/54, PW 93/66, R/a 99% • 58 Predominately Jersey in-calf heifers - BW 116, PW 108 • 58 Jersey yearling heifers - BW 131, PW 106 HERD/HEIFER DETAILS: • Bred to LIC for 50 years • All cattle in a very good condition. Herd calv 14/07/17 to 5 weeks LIC PSS Jersey, bulls out 19th Dec • 1250 kgMS/ha, all grass, minimal PKE in summer, high stocking rates • Som cell avge 95,000, MT rates annually less than 10% • All cows vetted to catalogue dates • Heifers calv. from 14/07/17 to Jersey, bulls out 19/12 • HB shed, TBC10, BVD clear, EBL free AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Our vendors have owned and milked herd for 9 seasons, previously owned and bred in district by John Lorimer for 35 years. Well managed by very good farmers whom have passion for well bred, quiet and good framed Jersey cows. Low som cell history and high fertility cows in good condition provides a grand opportunity to buyers. Herd comprises 90% Jersey and 10% Jersey/Friesian.

FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Ben Deroles 027 702 4196 VENDOR: Graham 027 483 5625 or Julia 027 478 9989

View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock LK0086964©

Note: Cows are mated to all the Top Stud Sires at Meadowslea

FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Matt Hancock 027 601 3787 VENDOR: Greg Adams 027 2888 977

EARN DOUBLE FARM SOURCE REWARD DOLLARS

For every purchase of livestock at any Farm Source Livestock on-farm auction during April and May 2017*

T&Cs apply. See nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock

LK0086965©

LODORE/KAURI AYRSHIRES

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

EXING JERSEY & JERSEY CROSS HERD

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

50 PW 161/67 RA 100% 10 All Breeds forHOLSTEIN NZ ) TARANAKI

FRIESIAN BREEDERS

contracted to LIC for 2011 matings FEMALE SALE lve from 16-7-12, 6.5 weeks nd KiwiWednesday cross 12th April 2017 at 12 noon Sale to be held at the Stratford Showgrounds Flint Road to be 420 cows after non Stratford will comprise: 22 Holstein Friesian lls, older cows &in-calf 5%heifers rejection 2 Holstein Friesian in-calf cows last season ms/cow, 2 Holstein Friesian347kgs empty in-milk cows Holstein Friesian rising one-year ms/ha, 6 on rolling to heifers steeper 32 head plus 2 embryo packages and 120 straws rm, no meal, palmsemen kernel or maize Holstein Friesian

Upper Clutha On Farm Calf Sales Fri 28 April Upper Clutha On Farm Calf Sales, Wanaka, Otago Commencing @ 11am at Mt Aspiring Station, Mt Aspiring Road, Matukituki Valley

This 3rd annual sale continues with the same high standard of entry that previous sale purchasers have appreciated. Cattle sold from previous sales have gone to the South Island and across all of the North Island. We have received very good reports on their shifting ability. Backed by generations of selective breeding, good indices and popular sires you can select from this high production backed offering with confidence. All cattle are fully recorded and LIC transferable.

cement stock also available

netics & potential to be one of eading suppliers of Genetics to ry for years to come. Full details

Catalogues giving all details are available from the auctioneers, Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd or on line at www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or www.holstein.org.nz

e sole marketing agents:

The above vendors will offer approximately the following number of calves on farm 700 Hereford & Hereford Angus X & Angus X Steer Calves 250 Hereford Angus X & Angus Heifer Calves 250 Hereford Bull Calves 100 Hereford Heifer Calves 35 Angus Bull Calves 30 Hereford 18mth Heifers (suitable as capital stock replacements) The above calves will be sold on farm. Further Inquiries Craig Knight John Duffy

027 590 1331 027 240 3841

Tuesday 11th April, 11.30am Start 642 Piako Rd, Hamilton A/C Harrmac Farm Ltd 127 XBred Incalf Heifers, BW108, PW124, RA100% Complete replacement line of extremely well grown Incalf XBred Heifers. Calving 28th June to Jersey Bull, Bull out 10th Dec. Highly Recorded heifers with BWs up to 153, PWs to 183. Herd Ave 439M/S per Cow, 1506 per hec on System 2. TB C10, EBL Free (Herd), Lepto Vacc, BVD Neg (Herd). Delivery – Immediate delivery unless prior arrangement made with Agent for purchasers without access to farm. Payment – 14 days from Saleday. Catalogues available on Agonline or Contact: Regan Craig 0275 028 585 or 07 889 7300

QUALITY FEMALE DAIRY SALE Thursday 20th April, 11.30am Start 1461 Morrinsville-Walton Rd A/C DL & LJ Swap Comprising: 57 Frsn/ Frsn x Incalf Heifers (very well grown, 500kg+) BW99, PW144, RA100% Due 13th July, Bulls out 10th December, Incalf to Jsy Bull. 105 Frsn/ Frsn x Selected Incalf Carryover Cows, BW92, PW143, RA100%, Due 13th July, Bulls out 10th December, Incalf to Swap Herefords. Delivery to Suit to 1st June. All Cattle in exellent condition. TB Tested, Vetted Incalf (Incalf warranty applies). Light Luncheon Available. Regan Craig 0275 028 585 or 07 889 7300

OUTSTANDING XBRED INMILK HERD & REPLACEMENTS & MACHINERY SALE Thursday 27 April 2017 Te Poi Sth Road, Matamata, D/N 77390 A/C Erena Farm Limited Machinery: 10.30am Start Herd: 11.30am Start Comprising 262 Capital Dairy Cattle 198 XBred Inmilk I/C Cows, BW92, PW107, RA94% 15 XBred Inmilk MT Cows, BW105, PW133

180 Jersey Incalf Cows, BW21, PW30, RA54% Herd calving 20th July, 4½wks AB Jersey, Tailed Jersey & Hereford Bulls, Bulls out 24th Dec. Last season production 314M/S per cow, Ave 1062M/S per hec, SCC120,000. Herd has been milked on the same farm for over 60 years. A genuine opportunity to buy big strong Jersey Cows with type, udder conformation & capacity (Worldwide Sire Breeding). TB C10, Lepto Vacc, H/Bone Shed. Delivery – Immediate unless prior arrangement made with agent to purchasers without access to farm. Payment – 14 days from sale date.

PGG Wrightson Jason Roberts 0272 431 429

ng Service 71 or 07 846 4491

REPLACEMENT LINE XBRED INCALF HEIFERS

Tuesday 18th April, 11.30am Start 324 Gunn Rd, Waharoa A/C M & K Shailer Comprising:

Catalogues available on Agonline or contact the Agents:

LK0087045©

Enquiries to Neil McDonald Ph 06 765 6304 or n BRLL 0272 188 904, 51 or 07 Brian8583132 Robinson Ph 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051

Vendors to include - Mt Aspiring Station Ltd, Southern Farms – Matukituki Station, West Wanaka Station, Alphaburn Station, JIT Hillend Ltd, Highlandburn Partnership

INMILK JERSEY HERD DISPERSAL

XBred I/C Heifers, BW125, PW119

Herd/Heifer Details: • Long Established LIC Herd • Herd BW up to 170, PW up to 351 • Herd Calving from 16th July to 3 wks AB, plus 2 wks total of short gestation Tailed off Jersey Bull, out 11th Jan • Incalf Heifers calving from 16th July to Jersey, Bulls out 25th Dec • Heifers in excellent condition, BW up to 168, PW up to 179 • TB C10, BVD Tested, Lepto annually, HB Shed • On track 410 M/S at auction day, SCC Ave 180,000 Auctioneers Comment: This herd has not been put on open market prior to auction, so a rare opportunity to purchase cows and replacements of this quality. Farmed by the Magill family for the past 16 years. Our vendor has sold their farm. This quiet, great uddered, capacious herd, is in good condition and will be inmilk on sale day Machinery: 2008 JD 6130 Tractor with Stoll Loader, Pearson Auger Bucket, Front Forks, McIntosh Feedout Wagon, 2.75T Fert Spreader, Spray tank and Sprayer, Maxam Hay Mower, Hay Conditioner, Tip Trailer, Gallagher Silorator, Connor-Shea Seed Drill, Grader Blade, Circular Bale Feeders x2, Mobile Calf Feeder (50 Teat), Mobile Calf Shelter (9x3), Various Calf Feeders, Feed Trailer x2, Chain Harrows, Water Blaster, Crayfish Pots x 2, 2HP Yamaha Outboard (low hrs), Cattle Head Bail, Weigh Scales, Quad Spray Tank, Hip Lifters, Horse and Cow Covers, 90 Gallon Diesel Tank, 7kw Petrol Generator, Silage Bales x 50, Mini Spreader, 1000 Litre Pod, 2000ltr Plastic Drum, Numerous farm sundry items Payment: Cattle - 31st May 2017, Machinery - on day of auction Delivery: Immediately after auction. Unless arrangements have been made prior to auction for farmers without access to farms. Can be kept on farm until 31st May 2017. Cows that aren’t delivered immediate will be dry cowed within 1 week of sale. Catalogues/photos available on www.agonline.co.nz or contact Todd van Berlo 0275 297 748 or 07 888 0977

Harris/ Begovich Terry Howard 0279 392 788

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Have you got a bull sale coming up?

WAIPA HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN FEMALE SALE Thursday 20th April, 11.30am Start Sale Held on Property of David and Wendy Harker 245 Kakepuku Road, RD 3, Te Awamutu Offering Will Comprise: 33 Holstein Friesian Incalf Heifers 2 Holstein Friesian Empty Inmilk Cows 9 Holstein Friesian Rising Yearling Heifers 44 Head of Fully Recorded LIC Transferable Animals This annual sale is considered by many farmers as THE place to purchase replacements. They are well grown, well bred, by the best sires available, have high production backing and have BWs up to 196 with several having contract interest. If you are looking to purchase top replacements be sure to attend this sale. Previous purchasers have told of how well these cattle perform. A catalogue giving all details is available from the auctioneers. Catalogues also available online at www.pggwrightson.co.nz or www.brianrobinsonlivestockltd.com Auctioneers PGG Wrightson and Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd. Enquiries to: PGG Wrightson Ltd Andrew Reyland 07 871 3316 or 0272 237 092 Brian Robinson Livestock Brian Robinson 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051

Advertise in The NZ Farmers Weekly

To advertise Phone Nigel 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@nzx.com

CAPITAL STOCK AUTUMN AND SPRING CALVING FRIESIAN COWS & HEIFERS Friday 21st April 2017, 11.30 am Start Vendors M/s Robertson Family Trust Cambridge Sale held at Te Awamutu Saleyards, Paterangi Road, Te Awamutu Offering Will Comprise: 15 Friesian Cows and Heifers Calving April – May 56 Friesian Incalf Heifers Spring Calving 71 head The original herd was sold last year at auction to all regions of NZ from where we have had very good reports on their productive performances. Herd averages up to 8700 litres 649 kgs MS were attained. The sale cattle are in very good condition and show lots of dairyness to make them top producers if fed sufficiently. Straight bred Friesian cattle are hard to find, here is your opportunity. A catalogue giving all details of these fully recorded and LIC transferable cattle is available from the auctioneers. Catalogues also available online at www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or www.pggwrightson.co.nz. Auctioneers Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd. Enquiries to Brian Robinson 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051 PGG Wrightson Andrew Reyland 07 871 3316 or 0272 237 092

23rd ANNUAL AYRSHIRE FEMALE SALE Wednesday 19th April, 1.30pm Start Sale held on the property of the vendors M/s G & B Travers and Family, 607 Te Rore Road Takahue R D 1 Kaitaia Offering Will Comprise: 45 Ayrshire 2 and 3 year Spring Calving Incalf Heifers 25 Ayrshire Spring Calving Cows 70 head TB C10, Blackleg and Lepto vaccinated Cattle from previous sales have been sold to all parts of NZ. Purchasers in need of replacement cattle that have the shifting and production ability need to consider attending this sale. These are no nonsense cattle farmed on rolling to steep country that have great temperament, very good conformation, good productive traits and hardiness. A catalogue giving all details of these fully recorded and LIC transferable cattle is available from the auctioneers. Catalogues also available on line at www.pggwrightson. co.nz or www.brianrobinsonlivestockltd.com or www.ayrshire.org.nz. Auctioneers PGG Wrightson and Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd. Enquiries to: Brian Robinson Livestock Brian Robinson 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051 PGG Wrightson Whangarei and Branches Dean May 09 408 7272 or 0275 901 001

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 10, 2017

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

STOCK REQUIRED EQUIRED

livestock@farmlands.co.nz

Breeding E EWES WES FRIESIAN BULL CALVES 150-‐220kgs 320-‐450kgs 18 320-‐450kgs 18 MTH BULLS ULLS 18 18 MTH MTH STEERS TEERS 330-‐460kgs 330-‐460kgs 470-‐550kgs 2.5 YR STEERS

DAIRY HERD AUCTION

NORTH KING COUNTRY COMBINED BULL BREEDERS OPEN DAY Monday 1st of May The following Studs will be open to the public from 10.00am till 3.00pm to inspect the Bulls that will be offered for sale this year: Tarangower Angus, Rob Purdie, 07 877 8935 912 Ngatrawa Rd, Mahoenui Iona Angus, Bruce Bevege, 07 877 7541 100 Rauriki Rd, Aria Kia Toa Charolais, Paul Grainger, 07 878 6458 973 Troupers Rd, Te Kuiti Rockend Herefords, Peter/Josh McCormack, 07 877 7897 603 Paraheka Rd, Aria Strathmoor Herefords, Bruce Masters, 07 878 8502 317 Mokau Rd, Te Kuiti Potawa Simmentals, Andrew Neal, 07 877 8009 488 Mangaotaki Rd, Piopio Raupuha Shorthorns, Russell Proffit, 07 877 8977 1933 SH3 Mahoenui Ipuru South Devons, Peter Foss, 07 877 7881 54 Kumara Rd, Aria Kaha Speckle Parks, Catherine Robertson, 07 877 8111 142a Paekaka Rd, Piopio For further information please contact: Cam Heggie Brent Bougen PGG Wrightson NZFLL 0275 018 182 0272 104 698

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

A/C of Hophead Farms Limited To be held on the property 107 Kiwi Road RD6 Te Awamutu Date: Tuesday 11th April 2017 10.30am - machinery auction 11.30am - livestock auction

18 MTH ANGUS & EXOTIC HEIFERS EIFERS 300-‐380kgs DRY C COWS OWS 26-‐35kgs 6-‐35kgs Store LAMBS 2

0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Well presented line up of cows being put up for sale as in-milk, as farm has been sold. Herd farmed on a low input system. Delivery can be made day after sale as in-milk or will be dried off for end of May delivery at purchasers risk. Catalogues available on line or from listing agents. Machinery New Holland T6010 tractor, 4,010 hours. Massey Ferguson 135 tractor. Honda TRX 500, 2012. Yamaha AG100, 2012. Giltrap 4.5 tonne tip trailer. Maxxam 2,500 mower/topper. Suzuki Vitara farm truck, 1989. 2 x 3 leg fuel tanks. 2 portable troughs. Read sidewinder 3PI bale feeder. Plate meter. Reels plus standards. Assorted 6x2 and 10x2 timber. Cowshed sundries. Stallion 40 teat calfeteria. 1x12, 2x10 teat calf feeders. 2 long calf, meal troughs. C-Dax mag spreader. C-DAX 12v spinner.

SALE TALK

A panda walks into a bar and gobbles some beer nuts. Then he pulls out a gun, fires it in the air, and heads for the door. “Hey!” shouts the bartender, but the panda yells back, “I’m a panda. Google me!” Sure enough, panda: “A tree-climbing mammal with distinct black-and-white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves.”

EASTER EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE!

Get your April 17 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 11.

On offer: A/C Tarewa Dairies 34 Fresian and Fresian X heifers BW 75, PW 101 Calving from 15th July 2017 Well grown heifers

Contact Nigel Ramsden DDI: 06 323 0761 0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

For further information, contact: Stephen Weck 027 455 1106 Jason Duncan 021 170 5354

Providing the most comprehensive Dairy Livestock network in New Zealand. NORTH ISLAND HERDS FOR SALE:

SOUTH ISLAND HERDS FOR SALE:

IN CALF HEIFERS:

256 M/A Jsy Cows, BW:62, PW:57. Jersey Portion of Herd, Large Framed Cows, Very Quiet, Farm Sold.

300 MA Frsn/Xbred Cows, BW:46, PW:69. Outstanding young cows selling best 300 cows out of 800, capacious strong boned predominantly B & W 55%, top cows.

111 Frsn, FJX, JFX I/C Hfrs, BW:94, PW:105. Well Grown selection of I/C Hfrs, Predominately Frsn/Frsn X, Well Worth A Look. 430 Kgs Approx.

(Agonline Ref 061239)

(Agonline Ref 061285)

$1,700 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061266)

Stu Ward, 0275 927 542 110 M/A Frsn/Frsn X Cows, BW:78, PW:63. Group has produced 355 M/Solids till 23/02, Vendor Downsizing, Very Quiet, Out of Top Herd. Current SCC: 110-120.

$1,700 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061269)

Allan Jones, 0272 240 768

306 M/A Frsn, Jsy, X/B Cows, BW:80, PW:96. X/B Herd on a Grass / Silage System, av age of 4.26, (Farm Sold), Low Somatics, well worth inspection, priced to meet the market.

$1,600 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061243)

Peter Forrest, 0275 986 153

$1,950 +GST

Roddy Bridson, 0274 582 775

Selling Lines of 50 R3yr F/FX Cows, BW:70, PW:74. Computer split lines of 54 to pick 50, top quality R3’s. Vendor has farm policy of milking only 2yr olds and selling them as R3s. Top quality here!

$2,300 +GST

(Agonline Ref 060958)

Rod Whale, 0272 738 923

FW FW

Andrew Upston, 0274 053 454

220 Frsn, FFX I/C Hfrs, BW:54, PW:55. Quality Replacement Line of DNA’d Ambreed Hfrs, Will Consider Splits, Current Weight Avg 430 Kgs.

$1,500 +GST

(Agonline Ref 061262)

Vaughan Vujcich, 0274 968 706

95 AB I/C Hfrs, BW:114, PW:121. Very nice line of AB I/C Heifers, these are a replacement capital line, inspection would impress, in calf to recorded DNA Jersey bulls.

(Agonline Ref 061059)

(Agonline Ref: 061218)

Neil Carter, 0272 821 104

$1,750 +GST

210 MA X/Bred Cows, BW:45, PW:79. Very nice Line of Fully Recorded Ambreed young Cows doing good production on a high stocking rate. Viewing will Impress.

$1,950 +GST

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

This sale will be conducted purchase price plus GST

Call Nigel

On offer: 165 Friesian and Friesian X cows BW 58/44, PW 81/63, RA 91% PW up to 300 Calving from the 17th July 2017 In-calf to LIC

HAVE A SALE COMING UP?

$1,770 +GST

Paul Anthony, 0275 342 514

AUCTIONS PREMIER INCALF DAIRY HEIFER FAIR INGLEWOOD SALEYARDS, TARANAKI 100 Top F/FX Dairy Hfrs.Comp: 60 Ambreed Hfrs. Nominated breeding High Production,picked 60 from 100,Cap Stk Replacement line.38 LIC Hfrs.Complete Cap Stk line,includes contract matings,BW121,PW140,100% RA. Due to calve from 25th July. Full Profiles available. Fri 21 Apr, 12:00 pm Kim Harrison, 0275 010 013

www.pggwrightson.co.nz

MANGANUI TRUST DAIRY SALE - STRATFORD

Manganui Trust, 382 Croydon Rd, FN 40923, Stratford: 300 Frsn/Frsn X in Milk Cows 80 Frsn/ Frsn X Heifers Ambreed herd due to calve 1 Aug 17 Hard working hill country cows.

Mon 24 Apr, 10:30 am Kim Harrison, 0275 010 013

For photos and more information visit www.agonline.co.nz:

OUTSTANDING XBRED INMILK HERD AND REPLACEMENTS AND MACHINERY SALE, WAIKATO On A/CL Erena Farm Ltd,Te Poi Sth Road,Matamata, D/N 77390. Machinery 10.30 am Start.

Thu 27 Apr, 10:30 am Todd Van Berlo, 0275 297 748

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2016-17

6.11

AS OF 23/02/2017

AS OF 07/04/2017

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

Last year

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

4.90

333

345

NI mutton (20kg)

3.50

2.40

302

297

SI lamb (17kg)

5.50

5.40

4.65

Feed Barley

310

309

278

SI mutton (20kg)

3.45

2.25

186

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 8.46

8.19

7.17

229

238

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

375

351

PKE

233

241

188

North Island 17kg lamb 7.0 6.5

Last week

Prior week

5.0

Last year

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

Wheat - Nearest

223

221

248

Corn - Nearest

203

201

210

325

326

356

306

340

Feed Wheat

294

298

301

2000

Feed Barley

266

265

308

1500 Jun 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 C2 Fonterra WMP

PKE (US$/t)

Sep 17 Mar 17 Jun 17 Ex-Malaysia NZX WMP Futures

NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

NZ venison 60kg stag

5.5

600

$/kg

306

2500

South Island 1 7kg lamb

6.5 6.0

ASW Wheat

3000

6.0 5.5

INTERNATIONAL

APW Wheat

3500

Nearby contract

5.70

Australia (NZ$/t)

4000

5005.0 4004.5 300

4.0

Oct Oct

Dec Dec

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3000

2820

2585

SMP

1925

1940

AMF

5650

Butter

4500

5‐yr ave Last week

Prior week

Last year

Last week

Prior week

Last year

1980

Urea

507

505

6.65

8.95

5650

5425

Super

317

330

35 micron

4.15

3.95

5.80

4500

4460

DAP

840

39 micron

3.90

4.15

5.75

739

35 micron wool price

6.5 CANTERBURY FEED PRICES 5.5

2700 Jul

Latest price

Aug

Sep

Oct

250 150 Apr 13

THE quarterly survey of business opinion on the New Zealand economy decreased for the March quarter, with a net of 16% of companies more confident about the next 12 months, down from 26% last quarter. However, expectations for businesses’ own activity remained steady with 25% expecting activity to increase. That is generally a better measure of economic activity. This second steady gain in a row in the Global Dairy Trade with larger volumes sold is indicative of the dairy market stabilising, as the index hovers around 1000. Importantly, whole milk powder increased 2.4% to $2924 a tonne, recovering after an earlier dramatic drop. Expectations are for the Fonterra milk price to stay at $6/kg. This is much higher than the previous two years and will be the first time in three years the payout will be higher than DairyNZ’s estimated breakeven amount. Both Comvita and Orion Health have had dismal weeks in terms of share price performance, with both announcing downgrades to guidance. Comvita’s share price fell more than 17% after it issued a full-year earnings downgrade as bad weather and a slower than expected recovery in demand from small exporters affected earnings. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

7290

Apr 14

Apr 15

Apr 16

Feed barley

4 weeks ago

Sharemarket Briefing

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

$/kg

350

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7236

NZ venison 60kg stag

600 4.5

c/k kg (net)

2900

NZ$/t

US$/t

This yr

29 micron

450

12020

Last yr

AugAug

(NZ$/kg)

3100

10097

JunJun

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

AprApr

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Jun

Feb Feb

FERTILISER

Last price*

2500 May

Last year

5.75

333

* Domestic grain prices are grower bids delivered to the nearest store or mill. PKE and fertiliser prices are ex-store. Australian prices are landed in Auckland.

Feb 17 AgriHQ Seasonal

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg)

Feed Wheat

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Oct 16 Dec 16 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

c/kkg (net)

$/kgMS

Prior week

Milling Wheat

PKE

What are the AgriHQ Milk Prices? The AgriHQ Seasonal milk price is calculated using GDT results and NZX Dairy Futures to give a full season price. The AgriHQ Spot milk price is an indicative price based solely on the prices from the most recent GDT event. To try this using your own figures go to www.agrihq.co.nz/toolbox

US$/t

Last week Canterbury (NZ$/t)

6.00

8 7 6 5 4 3 Aug 16

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

AGRIHQ 2016-17

FONTERRA 2016-17

Sheep

$/kg

Dairy

Apr 17

PKE spot

Auckland International Airport Limited

YTD High

YTD Low

6.80

7.43

6.31

Meridian Energy Limited

2.95

2.57

Spark New Zealand Limited Fletcher Building Limited Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Ryman Healthcare Limited Contact Energy Limited Vector Limited SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited (NS)

3.63 8.12 9.75 3.25 8.72 5.26 3.16 4.37

3.71 10.86 9.90 3.25 9.05 5.26 3.30 4.38

3.32 7.85 8.50 2.94 8.12 4.65 3.14 3.58

Listed Agri Shares

3.5 400

300 2.5 Oct Oct

Dec Dec 5‐yr ave

Feb Feb

AprApr Last yr

JunJun

AugAug This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

3.170

2.150

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.560

0.760

0.720

Comvita Limited

6.800

8.020

7.630

Delegat Group Limited

6.350

5.800

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.200

1.490

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.080

6.100

5.990

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.600

2.560

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.350

1.310

1.270

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.540

0.500

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.350

6.750

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.380

3.480

3.320

Seeka Limited

5.360

4.590

4.500

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.160

1.460

1.430

S&P/FW Primary Sector

10097

10194

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

12020

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

7290

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7236

7254

6927

INDICATIONS that the This Prior Last NZD vs United States Fed will week week year start winding back its USD 0.6968 0.7008 0.6780 massive money printing EUR 0.6548 0.6557 0.5962 programme are another AUD 0.9237 0.9151 0.9032 reason for the kiwi dollar to ease on the big crossGBP 0.5590 0.5615 0.4824 rate through this year. Correct as of 9am last Friday It joins the Fed’s gradual interest rate tightening strategy which already has the US dollar on a firming trend, Westpac Bank strategist Imre Speizer said. He thinks the kiwi could ease down to US$0.67 by year-end. There’s also an expectation the European Central Bank (ECB) will start exiting its money-printing and low-interest-rate policies despite chairman Draghi saying during the week that there weren’t any plans to do so. He had to say that to stop markets pushing interest rates and the euro higher, Speizer said. The ECB will be a laggard compared to other central banks but the eurozone economy is improving. After falling to €0.65 from just below €0.69 since mid-February, the kiwi has traded sideways. Speizer expects a move below 0.64. The kiwi has eased against sterling recently and the trend over the next few months could be lower to sideways but expect sterling to weaken again towards year-end as Brexit negotiation details emerge and affect the UK economy, he said. There’s not a lot driving the kiwi/aussie cross now but Westpac believes the kiwi is still sitting above its fair value estimate around A$0.88 to 0.90 and could ease into that range. Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER COW

($/T)

($/KG)

R2 BEEF-FRIESIAN STEERS, 375-425KG, AT WELLSFORD

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

5.65

233

4.20

Cattle & Deer BEEF Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.65

5.20

NI Bull (300kg)

5.65

5.15

NI Cow (200kg)

4.50

3.90

SI Steer (300kg)

5.35

5.30

4.90

SI Bull (300kg)

5.10

5.00

4.60

SI Cow (200kg)

4.20

4.15

3.30

US imported 95CL bull

7.39

7.35

6.68

US domestic 90CL cow

6.74

6.81

7.06

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.5

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 South Island steer (300kg) 6.0

$/kg

5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5

Oct

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

Aug

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

NI Stag (60kg)

8.10

7.40

NI Hind (50kg)

8.00

7.30

SI Stag (60kg)

8.50

7.40

SI Hind (50kg)

8.40

7.30

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

9.5 8.5 $/kg

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)

600 7.5 500

6.5 400

300

5.5Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

Jun Jun

Aug Aug This yr

3.32

high $850-$900 lights Weaner Angus

heifers, 185-210kg, at Temuka

$1180-$1380 Vetted in calf Angus cows, 410-510kg, at Stortford Lodge Cow Fair

Cyclone Debbie’s tail causes issues

T MIGHT have just been the tail of the cyclone but sales were disrupted around the country as heavy rain and winds caused numerous slips and surface flooding, hampering efforts to shift stock. Most sales went ahead though, albeit on reduced numbers, with just a weaner heifer fair at Feilding postponed to the following week. NORTHLAND NORTHLAND WELLSFORD held a well-timed grown cattle fair last Monday, with a significant lift in demand from the larger Northland area following good growth. Good quality traditional and beefFriesian cattle sold to record levels, with R2 Angus and Hereford-Friesian steers, 394-445kg, making $3.20$3.38/kg, with $1100-$1420 common through the 430 head section. The heifer market was equally as strong, and Hereford-Friesian, 321-388kg, made $2.99-$3.08/kg, while a lighter line, 291kg, managed $3.40/kg. Hereford-cross, 282-297kg, fetched $3.18-$3.23/kg, while AngusFriesian, 380-445kg, returned $3.01$3.03/kg. A small offering of bulls sold exceptionally well, with the top Angus, 406kg, making $3.20/kg, and lesser types, 396-416kg, $2.88-$2.93/ kg, while the top Friesian line, 442kg, made $3.05/kg. Cattle sold on a mainly consistent market at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, though R2 steers and boner cows improved, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. A good sized yarding of 850 were offered, and local demand saw R2 beef steers push to $3.00-$3.11/ kg, with lesser dairy types steady at $2.60-$2.70/kg. Good beef bulls

Continued page 54

GAME ON: Tom Crowe checks out the competition next to his Simmental-Charolais bulls, foreground, which made $1230/head at 333kg at the first of Temuka’s two calf sales last week. Photos: Andrew Swallow More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

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Markets

54 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017 sold to $3.00/kg, and crossbred, $2.70-$2.80/kg, while heifers sold freely, with better types earning $2.98-$3.10/kg, and lesser, $2.85/ kg. Weaner beef, and exotic steers made $3.40-$3.60/kg, and beef bulls, 250-320kg, $3.20-$3.40/kg, while Friesian bulls, 140-160kg, returned $650-$710. The top heifers were beef-cross and exotic, and at 180-230kg, made $3.20$3.60/kg. Hereford cows with calves-at-foot sold well at $1390, with other beef lines earning $1250-$1350. Heavy in-calf beef and Friesian cows sold to $2.00$2.20/kg, with a mix of buyers operating, while medium cows returned $1.88-$1.98/kg, and light $1.80-$1.85/kg. AUCKLAND AUCKLAND April got off to a great start at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 1st April, with some buyers wondering if tricks were being played as the prices climbed. Young cattle sold well, with the smaller outlay attracting more bids. Prime cattle were limited to forward steers, 555-612kg, at $2.70-$2.88/kg, and heifers, 409457kg, $2.75-$2.82/kg. Top boner cows, 564-633kg, made $1.95$2.21/kg, and light, 463-519kg, $1.64-$1.80/kg. The store pens featured crossbred steers, 434-459kg, $2.76-$2.83/kg, and 18-month, 339-397kg, $2.92-$3.15/kg. Light steers, 212kg, made $755, while heifers, 312-329kg, sold for $2.90-$2.93/kg. Weaners sold to high demand, and featured Hereford steers, 210kg, at $810, and Hereford-Friesian, 142-145kg, $650-$740. Medium heifers, 117125kg, sold for $510-$575, and 117-125kg, $510-$575. COUNTIES COUNTIES Store cattle prices remained firm at TUAKAU last Thursday, Keith West of Carrfields Livestock reported. Nearly 800 cattle were offered and R3 steers, 500-542kg, made $3.08-$3.13/kg, while the R2 steer section consisted mostly of Hereford-Friesian, with 404-456kg trading at $3.03-$3.22/kg and 354395kg, $3.05-$3.17/kg. Friesian bulls, 440kg, made $2.85/kg while autumn-born R1 steers, 296319kg, fetched $3.20-$3.30/kg. The best of the heifers were 450-490kg and made $2.97-$3.03/kg while R2, 355-379kg, earned $3/kg and 310-335kg, $3.13-$3.22/kg. Hereford-Friesian steers topped the weaner section, with 201kg making $900, while other lines fetched $820-$865, and lightmedium, $670- $800. Friesian weaner bulls, 160-205kg, made $610-$720, with Simmental-cross heifers reaching $830, and the remainder, $500-$630. Wednesday’s prime sale saw 300 offered, with prices steady to firm. Steers were steady, with heavy lines at $2.85-$2.90/kg, medium $2.79-$2.84/kg, and lighter, $2.73-$2.79/kg. Heifers firmed 2-3c/kg, with heavy lines earning $2.88-$2.94/kg, medium beef heifers $2.82-$2.87/kg and lighter, dairy-types, $2.10-$2.42/kg. Beef cows traded at $2.06-$2.26/kg, with prices firm for boners as heavy Friesian made $1.99-$2.08/ kg, medium $1.86-$1.97/kg, and lighter boners $1.56-$1.78/kg. A yarding of 700-800 ewes and lambs was offered last Monday,

TOP BUYING: Last week’s calf sales at Temuka attracted a strong gallery of buyers.

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

with prices steady. Heavy prime lambs traded at $120-$130, mediums $110-$119, and lighter $98-$109. Store lambs earned $77$90, and heavy prime ewes $80$99. Medium ewes made $66-$79. The COALGATE sale was another one affected by Cyclone Debbie, though determined buyers gathered, despite the heavy rain. The first calf sale was held, with numbers well below last year, though prices well up. A big store lamb offering also featured. Just on 5000 store lambs featured top quality lines, with most selling for $90-$105, and few below $70. The prime section took a back seat, though 840 lambs sold on a steady market at $100-$129, while a very small yarding of ewes firmed to $85-$126. A reduced calf sale saw 550 calves offered, with local buyers dominating. Angus steers, 250300kg, lifted $200-$270 on last year to $1130-$1320, with just one small line selling down to $800, and Hereford, 243-300kg, $930-$1120. Just 150 heifers were offered and Angus-Hereford, 240-290kg, sold for $885-$1040, with Hereford, 258-273kg, making $910-$940. A small prime sale featured mainly heifers, with forward traditional lines, 430-443kg, making $3.06-$3.15/kg, while primes, 492-496kg, firmed to $2.92-$2.95/kg. The best of the cows made $2.06-$2.20/kg, and medium, $1.74-$1.80/kg BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY Farmers are starting to offload for winter, and at RANGIURU last Tuesday a quality line up of cattle was presented. Local buyers braved the rain, and the market was strong throughout. Just on 875 head were offered, with killable steers making $2.90$3.03/kg, pushing some over $2000, while R3 heifers fetched $2.68-$2.85/kg. The R2 steer pens featured Angus, 414kg, at $3.03/ kg, and similar weighted Hereford-

Friesian, $3.00-$3.07/kg, while Friesian, 388-413kg, made $2.70$2.73/kg. Hereford bulls sold for breeding, and at 295-338kg, made $3.13-$3.14/kg, with Hereford heifers, 382kg, returning $2.70/ kg, and Hereford-Friesian, $2.73$2.75/kg. Weaner heifers of similar breeding made $590-$710. A consignment of vetted-in-calf beef-cross cows to a Simmental bull returned $1320-$1500, and prices were firm for boner Friesian cows, 450-535kg, at $1.91-$2.00/ kg. WAIKATO Annual draft R2 beef-Friesian and dairy beef steers drew a good crowd at FRANKTON last Wednesday, with the market continuing its consistent run. Hereford-Friesian steers, 408-443kg, made $3.04-$3.09/ kg, and 496-509kg, $2.90-$2.92/ kg. Lesser quality Hereford-cross sold for $2.74-$2.89/kg, while small lines of Angus, 345-404kg, managed $3.19-$3.30/kg. The R2 heifer market was strong for a quality line up, and Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers hit $3.05/ kg, while a number of other lines returned $2.85-$2.97/kg. Good demand for weaner steers saw Angus, 245-255kg, make $785$800, though Friesian, 115-142kg, were buyable at $380-$472. Friesian bulls mainly traded at $550-$730 and Hereford-Friesian heifers, 120-170kg, $500-$630. TARANAKI TARANAKI STRATFORD managed to hold three successful sales, despite heavy rain and flooding hampering efforts to get stock to sale. Numbers were reduced at all sales, though those that were yarded sold exceptionally well, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Stephen Sutton reported. A yarding of mainly cows made up the 250 head offered last Tuesday, and with interest for young cattle to farm on, prices were very strong, Heavy types, and

the younger cows sold for $2.00$2.20/kg. Wednesday saw a reduced yarding of 150 store cattle, but the market was very strong, and featured R2 steers of good quality at $3.00-$3.40/kg, and heifers $3.00-$3.25/kg. The main sale of the week was the last Dairy Beef weaner fair, with 900 offered. These sales finished on a high note, with a special entry of Hereford-Friesian and Angus-Friesian steers 260kg, averaging $900-$1000, with most other lines selling very well. A limited number of Friesian bulls, 150-200kg, sold for $700-$850, with lighter types at $550-$600. Jersey bulls returned $300-$350. In the heifer pens, 170kg plus Hereford-Friesian made $700$735, and Angus-Friesian, 160170kg, $700, with nothing selling below $500. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY Prices hit record levels at the MATAWHERO weaner fairs last Tuesday and Wednesday, despite abysmal selling conditions. Steer numbers reduced to 1660, and buyers from around the North Island pushed past budgets to secure top quality traditional cattle, with prices generally up $85-$230 on 2016. Angus featured, and top lines made $1135-$1150 with the bulk trading at $930$1150. Light-medium weaners were very expensive, and 155-180kg returned $870-$930, at $5.50/kg plus. On a c/kg basis, 200-215kg Angus traded at $4.60-$4.75/kg, and 240kg plus, $4.25-$4.50/kg. Charolais, 215-245kg, returned $970-$1105, $4.51/kg, while the top line made $1185. Bull prices also lifted for the 500 offered. Hereford and Angus headed to Waikato, with Hereford, 230-290kg at $1040-$1390, and nothing under $1000, while Angus, 240kg, made $1110-$1120, and 210-215kg, $895-$930. Locals were out in force for the

weaner heifer fair last Wednesday, though outside buying power also influenced the market, with prices also pushing past last year’s levels. Just over 1000 were offered, and Angus heifers, 210-250kg, traded at $870-$920, with the lighter end at $4.05-$4.21/kg, and heavy $3.60-$3.90/kg. Lighter weighted lines, 150-180kg made $760$800, and 125-145kg, $660-$765. Charolais, 210-240kg fetched $855-$920, and 150-200kg, $760$810. A busy week at MATAWHERO finished with a quality line-up of store lambs on Friday, with local demand firming the market. Of the 3760 offered, few sold below $85, which reflected both the quality and the strength of the market. For the better end of the lambs there was little price difference for male and ewe lines, with good males trading at $104-$105 and ewe lambs $99-$105 while medium males returned $97-$102 and ewe lambs $91-$101. Two lines of mixed sex lambs sold for $93.50-$107. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY The cows came to town last Wednesday at STORTFORD LODGE, with the in-calf cow fair offering mainly traditional cows, to a keen bench. Store lamb numbers were below expectations due to adverse weather. Prime ewe numbers hit seasonal lows last Monday, with most light to medium condition. A strong market saw most make $69-$79, and heavy, $82-$99. One big consignment of lamb’s boosted numbers to 520, and the market was firm, with the bulk earning $111-$124, and a heavy lines of ewe lambs, $140.A bigger yarding of prime cattle was well received, and the top prime steers were Angus-Hereford, 628kg, at $3.09/kg, while heifers of similar breeding made $2.96-$2.97/kg. Demand for cows was strong, with traditional lines, 522-560kg,

Markets

making $2.17/kg, and 411-458kg, $2.00-$2.10/kg. Store lamb numbers reduced to 3000, and featured heavy male lambs, though it was the small lambs that were very expensive, with very light lines hitting $4.00/ kg. No lambs sold under $90, despite some very small types offered, and light-medium ewe lambs made $90-101, and good, $97-$106. Light male lambs returned $92-$99, medium $100-$105, and a quality top end, $107-$124. The in-calf cow fair consisted of 530 mixed age cows, and 80 R3 heifers, with the majority vetted— in-calf to Angus or Hereford bulls. Buying power came from the lower North Island, Gisborne and local, with all sourced as replacements. Prices lifted, and Angus made $1390-$1575, with 400-480kg earning $3.44-$3.54/ kg, and 500-560kg, $2.81-$3.00/ kg. Two lines of Hereford cows managed $1600-$1610, while Hereford-Friesian returned $1345$1400. R3 Angus heifers were hot property, and sold for $1460$1750. MANAWATU MANAWATU Severe weather in the Manawatu, Wanganui and Horowhenua areas resulted in a small sale at RONGOTEA last Wednesday, though the calf pens had an excellent selection for the autumn rearers, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Older cattle numbers were limited to 2-year Murray Grey steers, 462kg, at $2.90/kg, and R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 310375kg, $2.58-$3.07/kg. A small entry of boner cows saw the better types make $1.87-$1.97/kg, and Jersey, $1.43/kg. Young Friesian cows, 408-413kg, returned $2.14$2.25/kg. Weaner cattle consisted of Hereford-Friesian steers, 120150kg, at $590-$700, and heifers, 123-140kg, $500-$550. Calves featured, and good Friesian bulls made $320-$395, and medium, $250-$300. Good Hereford-Friesian bulls returned $350-$420, and lighter, $180-$300, while Angus-cross fetched $200$405. Hereford-Friesian heifers made $150-$320, Angus-cross $150-$300, and Friesian, $120$170. Big numbers at the FEILDING

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017 prime sale last Monday sold to mixed results, with lambs managing to hold their value, despite 7000 offered, while more cows took the pressure off buyers, and prices eased. Most prime lambs traded at $103-$132, and a smaller offering of store types earning $60-$102. Ewe numbers are moving towards seasonal lows, with a bigger number of light grazing ewes offered. Prices were firm, with heavy lines at $98-$108, medium $75-$96, and light, $60$75. Cow numbers were boosted by Angus, which met solid demand, though prices softened to $1.90$1.99/kg. Friesian, 523-570kg, made $1.85-$1.89/kg, while Jersey, 362-402kg, eased to $1.50-$1.58/ kg, though in-calf Jersey returned $1.91-$1.96/kg. The only other section of significance was the heifers, though quality was very mixed, which was reflected in the prices. Heavy rains meant more than half of the anticipated yarding didn’t make it to the weaner steer and bull fair in FEILDING. The rostrum was full of buyers from all over the lower North Island though, which meant very good returns, especially for lighter types. Traditional steers began at $840$895 for 130-175kg lines, rising to $1000-$1120 for 220-255kg and $1170-$1265 for 260-285kg. Charolais-cross and South Devoncross steers, 245-285kg, went for $1040-$1090. There was a small offering of bulls, with the peak price of $1230 going to a line of 295kg traditional types. Gelbviehs, 205-260kg, went for $790-$870. The store lamb market reached new heights for this season with a general lift in sale prices and cents/kg across all weight ranges as prices increased by over $2/ head for the better store lambs and $3-4 for the lighter types. In a yarding of over 13,000 store lambs it could be expected that most buyers would have a chance to purchase but, such was the determination of a couple of Hawke’s Bay buyers, many buying numbers had no purchases recorded to them. The average weights were less than last week’s and, as is becoming normal, second and third cuts sold close to the better

cuts. Top money this week was $119.50 for 366 ram lambs and the top 129 Romney ewe lambs sold for $110.50. A handful of ordinary run-withram ewes were sold early in the sale. Ewes, RWR; $95-$105; Lambs; heavy, $105-$119.50; medium, $100-$110.50; light, $94.50-$107. The cattle sale was much smaller than last week’s with the interest shifting to the weaner fairs. Sale prices were not consistent with some sections strong and others just off the pace as buyers look around at mud. One vendor sold a number of pens of forward older steers, mostly all over $1800 with the top 25 at $1820, $2.99/kg. Top rising two year Angus steers sold for $1600, $3.41/kg, and the weaners were ordinary. Older bulls lifted but the weaners just backed off a little – 10 top autumn-born rising two year Friesian bulls sold for $1765, $2.96/kg, and 14 good weaner Friesian bulls made $1070, $3.44/ kg, which would not suggest a backing off but the lesser types did ease. Heifers were firm on a smaller yarding and sold up to $1390, $3.03/kg, for exotic cross heifers with the Angus heifers selling for 10 cents/kg more and weaners were sold. Steers; R3, 475-607kg, $1350$1820, $2.69-$3.00/kg; R2, 302503kg, $1035-$1600, $2.90-$3.61/ kg; Bulls; R2, 404-596kg, $1320$1765, $2.95-$3.27/kg; R1, 150311kg, $680-$1070, $3.44-$4.77/ kg; Heifers; R2&3, 321-458kg, $1040-$1390, $2.98-$3.37/kg. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY Strong prices continued at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, with the store lamb market lifting, and all classes of prime cattle selling to high demand. The yarding of 3100 store lambs were mainly mixed sex, with light types earning $72-$80, medium $75-$96, and good, $93-$98. Medium male lambs returned $94-$95. Prime lambs and ewe numbers were moderate, with lambs steady at $91-$129, while ewe prices firmed as mediumgood made $80-$110, and heavy, $110-$140. Steers featured in the prime pens, and forward types lifted, with 430-521kg earning $3.02-

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$3.15/kg, and primes, $2.86-$2.99/ kg. Heifers traded at $2.81-$2.95/ kg, while bull prices lifted to $2.90-$3.03/kg. Prime beef cows returned $2.10-$2.21/kg, top dairy cows $1.82-$1.95/kg, and lighter types, $1.69-$1.85/kg. Vendors left very happy after the first calf sale of the year last Wednesday. A full rostrum of buyers from Canterbury were present, with no North Island influence. Most calves offered were traditional beef cattle in very good order. Traditional steers, 270-340kg, returned $1180-$1250, 225-260kg, $1035-$1130, and 195-220kg, $940-$1000. On a c/kg basis, Angus, 230-290kg returned $4.40$4.60/kg, and 200kg, $4.78-$4.82/ kg. Traditional heifers, 225-295kg fetching $950-$1010, and 170215kg, $790-$860. OTAGO OTAGO Demand was solid at BALCLUTHA last Tuesday, with all classes of stock selling well, PGG Wrightson agent Emmett Sparrow reported. Prices did ease slightly for the lighter end in all classes however. A good yarding of store lambs saw top lines make $90-$95, and medium $80-$86, though lighter types eased to $60-$72. A similar story in the prime lamb pens had heavy and medium lines steady at $113-$120 and $94$109, though lighter types eased to $81-$87. Heavy prime ewes were also very steady at $105-$120, though a lesser quality line up of medium and light ewes saw lines make $80-$95 and $65-$75. A line of Romney mixed age breeding ewes fetched $122. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND Numbers improved at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday, with increases across most classes. Store lambs were steady, with good earning $85-$93, medium $75-$83, and lighter $50-$70. Border Leicester-cross ewe lambs returned $136. Prices were steady for heavy prime lambs at $110-$120, though medium and lighter eased to $90$102, and $80-$89. Heavy prime ewes made $100-$140, medium $70-$96, and light $44-$60, with 2-tooths returning $53-$79. The cattle pens were busy and prices eased, with prime steers at $2.60-$2.80/kg, and top heifers,

+ +

$2.50-$2.60/kg. Good dairy heifers made $2.20-$2.30/kg, and medium, $1.70-$1.90/kg, while good cows returned $1.80-$2.00/ kg, and light-medium, $1.50$1.70/kg. Features in a big store section were R2 Angus mixed sex, 366kg, $2.89/kg, Angus-cross heifers, 400kg, 2.82/kg, and 336kg, $2.59-$2.73/kg. Friesian bulls, 496kg, returned $2.76/kg, while weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 147-150kg, made $510-$590, and heifers, 140-160kg, $500-$560. Prices were consistent at CHARLTON last Thursday, with all classes of sheep selling well. Heavy prime lambs returned $115, medium $110, and lighter $95, while heavy store lambs made $98, medium $88-$90, and light, $70-$75. Demand for ewes was strong and the top line sold to $145, while medium types made $110, and lighter $65, with 2-tooths earning $85, and rams, $40-$80. Lorneville and Castlerock Calf Sales April 6 and7 Southland calf sales kicked off with LORNEVILLE selling last Thursday and CASTLEROCK on Friday. At Lorneville just over 600 calves were offered to a local bench, and sold on a very sound market, with prices easily up on last year. The top lines of steers was 360kg Limousin, which sold for $1400, while the mainly traditional and exotic lines made $900-$1100, with heavy types at $3.70-$4.00/ kg, and lighter, $4.00-$4.30/kg. A similar sized yarding of heifers sold to a top of $1150, with heavy lines making $3.60-$3.80/kg, and lighter, $4.00/kg, while a small offering of bulls sold for $560$1130, with most trading at $4.00/ kg. The Castlerock sale followed last Friday, and 1200 mainly traditional and exotic calves featured. The highlight was two top consignments of Charolais steers and heifers, with the steers topping the section at $1200$1300, while the heifers made $1100-$1200. Medium steer calves returned $970-$1100, and light $800-$950, while medium heifers fetched $900-$1000, and light, $770-$880. A quality line of Murray Grey bulls were destined for the dairy herds at $1315.

Markets

56 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 10, 2017 39 MICRON WOOL

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

NI SLAUGHTER COW

($/KG)

FRIESIAN BONER COWS, 475-525KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

3.90

5.50

4.50

1.68

high lights

Wool prices down again Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com

OOL prices fell at the latest Christchurch auction in the face of targeted buying. The crossbred market became very challenged again after several weeks of relatively stable sales, PGG Wrightson South Island sales manager Dave Burridge said. Wool needed good colour and style to secure buyer interest. Exporter group New Zealand Wool Services International (WSI) reported 11,700 bales on offer including a high proportion of wool re-offered after failing to sell previously. However, only 5326 bales were sold, for a pass-in rate significantly above 50%, with many growers unwilling to accept market prices. The high pass-in rate was at odds with the last few sales in Christchurch and Napier, which achieved 80%-plus sale rates. Currency couldn’t be blamed for the weak market because the kiwi dollar had eased slightly against the United States dollar since the previous sale. There had been a fall-off in buying activity, especially from Chinese traders who had been the main buyers. Widespread lower prices had affected buyer confidence, the WSI report said. Most exporters who were

POOR SALE: Prices were down and more than half the offering at the Christchurch wool sale was passed in.

buying were covering for old orders for China, Australia, Western Europe and the Middle East. Burridge said lamb wool and oddments were under considerable pricing pressure, especially any lots showing fault. First-shear lamb wool made up about a quarter of the offering, with a much smaller offering of second lamb shear. Prices were lower across the board with 28 micron fetching $4.65/kg clean, down 23c on the March 23 Christchurch sale; 29 micron was $4.26/kg clean, down 31c;

30 micron $4/kg clean, down 31c; 31 micron $3.60/kg clean, down 20c; 32 micron $3.60/ kg clean, down 23c and 33 micron $3.62/kg, down 25c, according to the Wrightson numbers. Good to average crossbred full wool also had a significant easing in price, with second shear only slightly lower in comparison. Full wool sales (all in clean measure) were: 32 micron steady at $4.34/kg; 33 micron $4.39/kg, up 1c; 34 micron steady at $4.37/kg; 35 micron $4.05/kg, down 21c; 36 micron $4.04/kg, down

25c; 37 micron $3.97/kg, down 39c; 38 micron $3.91/ kg, down 35c; and 39 micron $3.89/kg, down 29c. For crossbred second shear, prices (clean) were mostly easier, with one of two classes steady to firm: 33 micron 3 to 4 inches was at $4.08/kg down 13c; 35 micron 3 to 4 inches was $3.88/kg, down 10c, 2 to 3 inches $3.66/kg, up 1c; 37 micron 3 to 4 inches at $3.86/kg, down 11c, 2 to 3 inches $3.64/kg, down just 2c; 39 micron 3 to 5 inches $3.88/ kg, down 10c, 3 to 4 inches down 6c at $3.84/kg, and 2 to 3 inches steady at $3.65/kg.

$945-$1100

$1035-$1130

Weaner Angus Weaner Angus steers steers, 200-250kg, at 225-260kg, at CanterMatawhero Weaner Fair bury Park Calf Sale

Weaners, calves are expensive shopping NOT even the tail of a cyclone deterred determined buyers around the country, keen to get their hands on quality weaners, calves, and cows. An interesting fact to start off Suz Bremner – in the South Island sales are AgriHQ Analyst referred to as calf sales, while in the North Island they are called weaner fairs, so if you learn nothing else today, you now know why, when we report on them, we call them by different names – it’s a bit like tailing and docking. The early fairs tracked at similar levels to 2016, but they have continued to strengthen from there. While significant grass covers are helping, I also think that many buyers are well aware that numbers are limited, and the window to buy good quality weaners in decent numbers is small, so they need to meet the market. Budgets have had to be revised, and annual buyers will certainly be noticing the stretch on the purse strings, with very few quality steers trading for less than $900. Quite possibly for the first time in history, prices for Angus and Angus-Hereford steer calves, 200-250kgLW, in the South Island have matched the North Island, with $945-$1130 paid in the north, compared to $900-$1130 in the south. That will explain the lack of buying power from the usual North Island buyers at the southern sales, with local demand driving the market up. Heifers of similar breeding, 170-220kgLW, in the north have traded at $790-$900, with southern prices tracking similar at $750-$900. Special mention has to go to the Stortford Lodge cow fair, where all lines of traditional cows were purchased to rear their calves. While some may think that is not significant, the fact that beef breeding herd numbers have fallen so much makes any retention important, especially as it is near impossible (though not totally, given procedures available these days) to get Angus progeny out of a dairy cow. suz.bremner@nzx.com

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