Farmers Weekly NZ April 17 2017 by AgriHQ

3 Ageing farmers present challenge Vol 16 No 15, April 17, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz

It’s not just farmers Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE country’s senior scientist has called for a more mature conversation on solving water quality issues and an end to the polarised positions that have characterised the debate so far. Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser, said to have the pristine environment we all desired would not be achieved without having a conversation “where people are not threatened but will come together and discuss solutions”. “Where we have gone is groups with extreme positions and people are not listening to each other.” The Government’s proposed new fresh water standards were an example where groups reacted negatively before understanding the detail. Gluckman was commenting on his report, New Zealand’s fresh waters, values, state, trends and human impacts, which concluded the quality of freshwater resources was variable with some close to tipping point. “Some water bodies are in a good state but others have been significantly compromised by agricultural intensification, urban expansion and industrial pollution, hydroelectric development or the effects of drought.” Gluckman intentionally wanted to tell New Zealanders water quality was not just a farming issue. “There are so many aspects. “It is more complex than saying there are too many cows on the land.”

Gluckman predicted farming in 30 to 50 years would be more diverse with extensive use of precision agricultural technology to manage the use of land, fertiliser, herbicides and water. He also expected the growing of more high-value crops and more forestry. Technology derived from what he called “the son of genetic modification” or life sciences would be used to produce highquality, low-input produce. Farmers embraced technology and understood they had impacted on the environment but he was confident that, given the tools, they would continue changing their practices. “We can see farmers changing their practices in ways to improve the environment with riparian planting and fencing. They have spent a lot of money.” The report warned the clarity and E. coli concentrations in some

waterways had improved but others were degraded. Phosphorus and ammonia levels in urban and rural waterways had also improved but the reverse was true for nitrate and total nitrogen. Theoretically, improved water quality and economic growth were not mutually exclusive but improvements required change which would cost and take decades to achieve. “No single strategy will be enough. “Major changes will be needed in some sectors of the economy and in planning and consent activity. “These changes will be neither instantaneous nor cost-free.” Gluckman noted there was no single measurement of water quality, which had created confusion with proposed new water standards. “Water monitoring in NZ is imperfect, with

sampling site distribution not fully representative of the environmental variation that occurs, sub-optimal site density in places and variable quality of sampling and analysis protocols.” Federated Farmers environment spokesman Chris Allen welcomed the report as confirmation that while agriculture was

part of the problem, it was not alone. “Where there are problems all sectors of society, including farmers, are culpable and all sectors of society need to be part of the solutions.” Allen did not believe it was case of choosing between production or water quality. “I am convinced we can continue to produce food and agricultural exports while reducing our environmental footprint.” Water quality is more complex than saying there are too many cows on the land, Prime Minister Bill English’s chief science adviser Professor Sir Peter Gluckman says.

Water’s many threats FRESH water is under pressure from: • Agriculture – surface runoff depositing nitrogen, phosphate and sediment into streams; faecal contamination from livestock access to waterways; irrigation pressures; • Hydropower – water diversion and changing flow regimes; barriers to fish migration; • Urban development – pollution from urban storm water and industrial sources; • Pest invasions – altering ecological processes and

displacing native species and; • Climate change – impacts on flow regimes, groundwater levels, water temperatures, biotic invasions and consequences for freshwater ecosystems. Source: Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science adviser Professor Sir Peter Gluckman’s report, NZ’s fresh waters, values, state, trends and human impacts.

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OPINION

NEWS

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am April 12, 2016

60 Wetter than

normal (mm)

BoP farmers get help

Last week the Government announced income support and taxation flexibility for those hit hard by the Rangitaiki River floods.

5 TVNZ stumbling in dark The public is ready to see the other side of agriculture after a steady stream of anti-farming media coverage, the latest of which an industry leader has described as naive.

10 UK will offer good trade deal New Zealand’s farmers and exporters will get a favourable post-Brexit trade pact with the United Kingdom but find a new European Union trade agreement much harder, Lord Sam Vestey believes.

Farmers age as young drift away �� 3 BoP farmers get help �� 4 TVNZ stumbling in dark �� 5 UK farmers voice free-trade fear �� 7 More farmers champion environment �� 8 UK will offer good trade deal �� 10

-10

28 Alternative View

-20

Alan Emerson says RMA reform is a step backwards. Editorial �� 26 Cartoon �� 26 Letters �� 26 Pulpit �� 27 Alternative View �� 28 From the Ridge �� 29 Meaty Matters �� 29

The contentious bobby calf dairy trade in Australia appears doomed under a dramatic push by the beef industry.

REGULARS Real Estate �� 33-47 Employment �� 48 Classifieds �� 48 Livestock �� 49-51

MARKETS

New law boosts internet access �� 14 Farmers catch up with online sales �� 16

Wool will have its day again but has two long-term issues to get past as well as the short-term market doldrums, retiring Wool Services International marketing manager Malcolm Ching says.

Drier than normal (mm)

31Bobby calves set beef v dairy

Big money for hard workers in forests �� 13

24 Wool will have its day again

-50

WORLD

Taxes needed to cut emissions �� 11

NEWSMAKER

-30

56 All deer go at top prices Record prices for weaner deer at the High Peak Station annual sale topped the buoyancy of weaner sales throughout the South Island this autumn.

Market Snapshot �� 52

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.

Job

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Contact us Editor: Bryan Gibson Twitter: farmersweeklynz Email: nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com Free phone: 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 1519

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Farmers age as young drift away Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE average age of the nation’s farmers is over 51 years and is getting older at a fast rate while the sector is becoming increasingly reliant on migrant labour. Farmers’ average age increased 2.6 years to 51.4 between the 2006 and 2013 censuses while from 2011-12 to 2015-16 the number of migrant workers on cropping and livestock farms doubled and farmer and farm managers increased by a third. The data from Statistics NZ and Immigration NZ made sobering reading, not only for highlighting the lack of young people entering land-based primary industries but also the rate at which the agricultural workforce was ageing. Census data showed beef farmers at 56.1 and deer farmers at 55.8 had the oldest average age while dairy at 41.7 and mixed cropping farmers at 49.1 were the youngest. Immigration NZ figures revealed the number of migrant crop and farm workers doubled from 682 in 2011-12 to 1251 in 2013-15. The figure for 2015-16 was 1177. The number of migrant farmers and farm managers had increased by a third between 2011-12 and 2015-16, from 1708 to 2649. Livestock was the sector most reliant on migrant labour, with about 1000 workers and 2500 farmers and farm managers working in the sector in 2015-16. INZ area manager Darren Calder said other migrants could be working on farms under open work visas such as working holiday or partnership visas. The Government wanted to double the value of primary sector exports by 2025 and forecast the sector needed 53,000 more workers by then. While it was increasingly difficult attracting young people to the industry, another factor influencing the age profile of farmers was the drift of young rural people to urban centres. Lincoln University farm management lecturer Bruce Greig

NEW ENTRANTS: Initiatives are targeting young people into agriculture.

said farm succession or selling a property loomed as significant challenges as older farmers retired. “The question will be are there enough people to succeed the present generation of farmers?” The sharemilking process had been successful and the sector had been innovative by using equity partnerships, share farming, trusts and corporate ownership to get younger people into farm ownership but it needed to continue to be innovative. Equally, there were farmers keen to help young people into the industry and Greig said the combination of enthusiastic young people wanting to own land and farm owners willing to help them get a start was a powerful force. “We have got a younger generation that do want to own a farm and that is the very motivation that keeps us going and looking.” Foreign workers and others changing careers have successfully filled labour shortages throughout the primary sector, bringing diversity, knowledge, experience and a different perspective.

Waikato University senior geography lecturer Lars Brabyn said the rural-urban population shift was the result of net migration but also natural change through births and deaths.

The question will be are there enough people to succeed the present generation of farmers? Bruce Greig Lincoln University While the birth rate was falling, a more pronounced issue was the drift of young rural people to the cities, driven by access to tertiary education, the perception cities offered better employment prospects and social and lifestyle opportunities. His research did not differentiate between farmers and those working in other rural careers. Some urban people were moving to rural areas seeking a

lifestyle in a natural, mountainous or coastal environment while others were moving to cities for what they saw as a desirable lifestyle. At the other end of the age spectrum there was a distinct drift of older people moving from cities to specific rural areas seeking a more relaxed lifestyle. Growing NZ chief executive Michelle Glogau said her organisation was working in two areas promoting primary sector careers. They aimed at young people and also older people seeking a career change. Often those wanting to start a new career had qualifications and skills but were also work-ready. Glogau welcomed initiatives targeting school children through the development of curricula and courses and several new school-owned farms that exposed students to life on farms. Given the shortage of staff throughout the sector, promotional initiatives included career expos and Get Ahead days run by Young Farmers, in which young people were exposed to primary sector careers and opportunities.

We’re all getting old BEEF farmers are the eldest with an average age of 56.1 compared to 53.5 in 2006, followed by deer farmers at 55.8 (51.3), sheep farmers at 53 (49.9) and mixed croplivestock farmers 52.3 (50.2), Statistics NZ says. In contrast, dairy farmers were quite youthful at 41.7, up marginally on the 2006 average age of 40.8 while mixed croppers were 49.1 (45.9). The wider horticulture industry has not escaped the stigma of an ageing workforce. The average age of fruit growers increased 2.5 years between censuses from 50.6 in 2006 to 53.1 in 2013 and over the same period grape growers increased from 45 to 48.8 and vegetable growers from 45.8 to 47.7. The median age of NZ’s population also continued to increase, reaching 38 years in 2013 compared with 35.9 in 2006.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

BoP farmers get flood relief help Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com THE Government has announced income support and taxation flexibility for those hit hard by the Rangitaiki River floods last week. Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy declared the flooding in the region as a medium-scale event meaning those affected most by it could seek income support, tax flexibility and technical transfer for post-flood recovery work. Income support might come in the form of benefit payments, if required, and assistance for rural support trusts tasked with helping people through the aftermath. After an extensive helicopter trip over the eastern part of the region Guy acknowledged the event was “worse than I thought it was”. He noted the widespread silting and issues unfolding on how to now harvest the region’s significant volume of maize still standing. There were three bands of event scale against which the Government based its support decisions. They ranged from local events to medium then severe, as in the case of the Kaikoura earthquake. Guy said $500,000 would also be

made available to boost Taskforce Green ranks to help not only in cleaning silt and debris from Edgecumbe but also in helping on affected farms and orchards. “I am also aware we are approaching winter and there is only a month of growing conditions to get re-grassing done and we will do what we can to help given this situation.” Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president Darryl Jenkins said estimates were about 1000ha of pastoral land had gone under water and had been lost to farmers for grazing. Almost 4000 cows had been moved away from the region and more farmers were considering drying off in coming days. General consensus had been that the flood had not been as severe as the 2004 floods but there were still several rural communities cut off and proving difficult to access. They included settlements further back into the region’s western hill country including Ruatahuna and Galatea. But it was the small town of Edgecumbe that appeared to have borne the brunt of the Rangitaiki breach, with almost half its houses red-stickered. Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said officials were still gathering information

to determine if businesses in Edgecumbe would receive a business support package, similar to the one given to Kaikoura businesses after the earthquake. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council announced an official inquiry headed up by ex Finance Minister Sir Michael Cullen to determine events leading up to and after the flood. Guy and Tolley said there was no doubt an inquiry was necessary to determine reasons behind the stop bank failure that happened at the township. Tolley said she would be looking over the terms of reference to ensure all aspects of the event were examined. Local farmer and flood control co-ordinator Bruce Woods said the 2004 event came just before calving and 11,500 cows had to be moved out of the region. His rainfall records on his plains property had highlighted how significant this event had been. Between March 24 and April 3 he recorded 300mm of rain, including 186mm in only three hours. The second major event between April 4 and 6 had recorded 356mm.

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CHAT: Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower Ian Kinvig discussed the first bout of flooding.

That was almost half the region’s usual annual rainfall. “Yet during that second event my neighbour 600 metres away only got 70mm and one a kilometre away only got 2mm.”

Cyclone Cook was approaching as FW went to print. Look for coverage in next week’s paper.

Kiwifruit dodged the worst of the first storm Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com KIWIFRUIT growers got off relatively lightly from the initial round of Rangitaiki flooding but workers living in Edgecumbe were not so lucky. The consensus from industry leaders during a flood briefing to Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy was that the eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry would suffer most from a later harvest the rain inflicted and the sickening blow to Edgecumbe’s viability as a town supporting the sector. Estimates were almost half the homes in Edgecumbe were uninhabitable after 70% of them were flooded and 1600 people were forced to flee the raging floodwaters when the Rangitaiki River breached its stop bank. “Edgecumbe is servicing a fastgrowing horticultural sector. There are increasingly more orchards in an area that seems to grow SunGold fruit particularly well and Edgecumbe did not deserve this,” local grower Ian Kinvig said. Kinvig was hosting Guy and officials on his six hectare property during a tour of damage to the region that included visiting the town, the Fonterra plant and addressing pastoral farmers. Zespri chief executive Lain Jager said it was critical for orchardists to get surface water off their properties, with vines averse to having wet root systems for very long. “But it seems there are only one or two where we have not got the water off yet. By and large we will come through this okay.”

As Zespri expanded the area of SunGold fruit, the district east of Te Puke had strong growth in orchard plantings on the flat Rangitaiki Plains. Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (KGI) chairman Doug Brown said the group had recently secured an extra 1000 recognised seasonal employer workers from the Pacific Islands to deal with growing volumes of fruit. He hoped delays in harvest from the weather would not compromise the sector’s ability to get them fully employed sooner rather than later. “The delay may affect the pool of workers we have to harvest. Itinerant workers like backpackers could tend to go south to apple picking before we can get them fully started here.” KGI area representative Matt Moore said the heartbreak of the floods lay in Edgecumbe rather than on the orchards themselves and many of those most affected in the town were those who could least afford to be. EastPack’s former chief executive Tony Hawken said the impact of the floods would have been even greater had they happened in two weeks’ time when the SunGold harvest was at its peak. Kinvig urged Guy and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley to follow the proposed flood inquiry carefully. He was sceptical about how the catchment and Matahina Dam had been managed during the lead-up to the flood. “There is a need for increased social responsibility about how the dam is managed and its effect downstream on communities,” he said.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Dairy farmers to get advice on the media Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com DAIRY farmers who might have contact with mainstream media have been offered support and advice by DairyNZ in the wake of the Sunday programme that provoked a hostile farmer reaction. Media contacts would become more frequent in an election year, chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said. The TV1 programme The Price of Mik featured two contrasting farming businesses on the Hauraki Plains.

The conventional farm of Gavin Flint, Ngatea, was filmed last calving, in what was the wettest and worst winter of recent years. Cow condition was way down, some calving difficulties were filmed and farm buildings were inundated. Footage also included what many farmers thought was a gratuitous home kill and butchery. “Many farmers have aired their concerns on social media and I share those concerns,” Mackle said. “Certainly there is a bias in some of the media that we are working hard to correct through

WORRIED: Many farmers had shared their concerns about the Sunday programme and he shares those concerns, DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says.

information, strong relationships and positive story telling.” Mackle said DairyNZ heard last year that the Attitude Pictures company was researching and filming a documentary on the dairy industry and it was

TVNZ ‘stumbling in dark’ Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE public is ready to see the other side of agriculture after a steady stream of anti-farming media coverage, the latest of which an industry leader has described as naive. Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston said the rural sector needed to organise itself to present a co-ordinated response to anti-farming rhetoric, to inform the public what farmers were actually doing. Rolleston was responding to a Television New Zealand Sunday programme which he said was naive in its depiction of the dairy industry. The death this week of John Clarke, responsible for the iconic farming character Fred Dagg, reminded Rolleston that Clarke observed when he lived in NZ up to the late 1970s, the public had a connection with what he called the “national project”, agriculture, but that had since disappeared. Rolleston said the public’s

NAIVE: Television New Zealand was stumbling about in the dark rather than setting out to attack farming in its Sunday programme, Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston believes. attitude was changing and a recent discussion with the editor of a newspaper that had published many anti farming stories showed they wanted more balanced coverage. “The editor could see no more value or interest from the public in negative stories. They want to see the other side of farming.” Rolleston said the Sunday

producers were naive and should have got some advice to provide context and more accurately reflected the advances the industry had made. Instead they found a stereotypical, jovial farmer and someone following a biological system but Rolleston did not believe they set out to attack farming. “I’d describe it as TVNZ stumbling about in the dark.” The naivety of many urban media towards agriculture meant they viewed farming through lenses interpreted by groups such as Greenpeace. Rolleston said farmers should not start attacking critics but instead tell their stories about how they cared for water, were careful about using fertilisers and cared for their animals. Scientists also had a role, revealing the issues that needed addressing and how the industry was addressing them. “There is a sense that the rural sector is getting itself organised to ensure the message gets out there about what farmers are doing.”

contacted with suggestions of farmers and industry spokespeople to interview. Some of those were filmed but none was included in what went to air. DairyNZ was increasing its

efforts to engage with the media, the public and special interest groups to tell the real story of dairying. “Good dairying must be made more visible, especially to those that are commentating, those in regulation-setting positions and to our neighbours in the cities and towns.” Federated Farmers dairy section chairman Andrew Hoggard said anyone unfamiliar with farming would have received a very unbalanced view. The publicity about the programme suggested it would contain farmers’ heartfelt reaction to being unfairly portrayed in the media but it didn’t. Programme presenter Cameron Bennett took to social media to say he did not deliberately choose the worst example of dairy farming. “We went to Hauraki Plains with no agenda. We happened on Gavin and he kindly showed us around. “He was doing it hard in one of the worst winters going and we explained that. Give him a break.”

Hunter Downs date extended FUNDING for the $195 million Hunter Downs Water scheme in South Canterbury has fallen short of target. Backers would not say how much farmers had pledged but said some had struggled to get finance before the April 10 deadline so it been extended to April 28. Farmers had been offered 21,000 shares at one share for each hectare of irrigation. Shareholder equity was understood to be set at about 28.5% of the total meaning shares would cost $2650 each. The project costs equated to $9285 a hectare. Organisers would say only farmer commitment was strong.

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Project manager Stacey Scott said farmers who did not commit by April 28 would miss out. “We have a consent that is in its last round of renewal and we have a very favourable nutrient discharge permit that will not be granted again. “The opportunity in front of us now will not come again,” Scott said. “We will build a scheme based on the demand that is committed by April 28. “We cannot wait any longer as we need to start construction within the next couple of months to have water flowing by spring 2019,” Scott said.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

UK farmers voice free-trade fear Colin Ley BRITISH sheep farm leaders have issued a free-trade negotiation warning to the United Kingdom government not to drive the industry towards ever-higher livestock welfare standards, countering comments by UK Farming Minister George Eustice that Brexit should be used as a chance to increase welfare legislation. With one eye firmly on the UK’s post-Brexit trade ambitions with both the European Union and New Zealand, the National Sheep Association (NSA) said its members needed encouragement not more red tape. While Eustice believed raising livestock welfare standards even higher would protect the domestic market during the post-Brexit period, the association wasn’t so sure. “Our concern is that standards will be pushed higher and higher, incurring higher costs in the process,” chief executive Phil Stocker said. “That’s all very well so long as we get access to new markets as a result and that our domestic market isn’t undermined by cheaper products coming in from elsewhere. “The big worry, however, is that we will end up pricing ourselves out of our own market.” The association’s view was that UK retailers had always competed on price and would continue to do so in post-Brexit Britain. “I don’t want to get into a slanging match with NZ over different standards and equivalents but the retailers always tell us the standards between us and NZ are equivalent

PROTECTION: Britain has to find a way to protect its farmers from cheap lamb imports, National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker says.

although not necessarily the same. “It’s a very difficult position to argue.” Stocker was speaking after giving evidence to a UK House of Lords select committee examining the potential impacts leaving the EU could have on farm animal welfare standards in the UK.

The debate ultimately led to questions on future free-trade agreements with the EU, NZ and others with the association team warning that 35% of UK sheep meat production was exported, with 96% of it going to the EU. “If we crash out of the EU without tariff-free access we could be paying a tariff of 46% on lamb

exports into Europe. That’s enough to make trade not work. “Talk of new trade with other countries is all very well but for this to be done within two years is unrealistic. “We either need a viable export trade or we need to find ways, within World Trade Organisation rules, to protect our own shores

from cheaper lamb coming in produced to lower environmental and welfare standards. “This further emphasises why we have to be looking at carrots more than sticks to get the type of animal welfare outcomes we want.”

MORE: Lamb outcry P32

Fonterra’s payments are not under scrutiny FONTERRA has a different billing system to the companies investigated by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman that have been labelled as acting with “extortion-like” behaviour. In a move to improve efficiency Fonterra last year asked its suppliers to cut prices by 10% and pushed its payments out to more than 60 days but a spokesman said it operated differently to those companies

being slated by the Australian Ombudsman. Australian media reported the investigation by Ombudsman Kate Carnell found global businesses such as Mars and Kelloggs had pushed out payments for their small business suppliers to 120 days then offered them loans to keep them afloat. Carnell said it was a way for big companies to get cheap capital and equivalent to an interest-free loan but it was at the expense

of the cashflow of those small businesses. Asked to respond to the Australian finding, a Fonterra spokesman said it did not offer loans to small business suppliers waiting for payment and globally Fonterra had a standard payment term of 61 days from the end of the month that the invoice was sent. “However, we do take the needs of smaller business into consideration and work with them individually to reach an agreement

that meets their business’ needs.” That included options such as instant credit card payments for purchases up to $1000 and supply chain finance that allowed suppliers to manage cashflow by getting their cash earlier. “It works with the vendor selling their approved Fonterra invoice to a third party funder and, for a small discount, they receive early payment of that invoice. “The discount varies depending on how early the vendor requests

payment. Fonterra offers supply chain finance through supplier Prime Revenue.” The spokesman said long-term relationships with vendors were crucial to Fonterra’s business. “We negotiate with them each year to ensure they are comfortable with the terms of their agreement with us and provide them with the opportunity to renegotiate different aspects to ensure their needs are being met.”

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

More farmers champion environment Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com THE supreme award for the Otago region in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards has gone to Simon and Kirstin Engelbrecht, on a large east Otago sheep and beef farm near Palmerston. The 611ha home farm, Stoneburn, has been owned by the family since 2005 and was farmed in association with the 185ha Goodwood, nearer the coast. The business had 7500 stock units including 3700 Coopdale ewes, 1200 hoggets, 120 breeding cows and heifers and 172 R2 finishing cattle. The Engelbrechts have four children aged from 19 to 12 and form what the judges called a strong and united team with a passion for farming. They were also impressed by the clear communication between Simon and Kirsten and the wider community and their industry involvement. Simon began farming at 19 when he borrowed all of the money to lease a property. His approach to farming was unequivocal. “We do things to a standard not a price.” The judges noted the high production being achieved on this class of land amply reflected that. They said the animals were in good health and performance was exceptionally high. “The quality of genetics, the level of feeding and attention to detail in all areas of livestock production is outstanding.” The environmental features of the property included a QEII National Trust covenant over 2ha of native bush and management practices to reduce sediment runoff. The Southland supreme award winners were David Alanna and Julie Clarke with a sheep breeding and finishing and dairy support business at Glenham. Elgin Park Farms, 315ha, was on

PRAISED: Ballance Farm Environment supreme award winners Simon and Kirsten Engelbrecht, have a large hill country farming business near Palmerston.

hill country in eastern Southland, close to the Catlins Forest Park. The judges said it was a beautiful property being farmed exceptionally well with an outstanding progress of environmental initiatives. The focus around sustainability was evident with every management decision onfarm. “Significant fencing of waterways and critical source areas has been undertaken with riparian planting happening simultaneously. A large wetland has been established and several sediment traps have been created to capture nutrients. “Farming methods are wellresearched and considered before implementation with a continual drive to achieve best practice. David’s knowledge of soils and nutrients is excellent.” The Douglas-Clifford family on the 2950ha Stonyhurst property on the coast near Motunau won the Canterbury supreme title. The 22,000 stock unit business

contained sheep, cattle and deer breeding and finishing, operated by brothers John and Peter Douglas-Clifford and John’s eldest son Charles, now in day-to-day control. The family dated back to New Zealand sheep industry pioneer Charles Clifford who took up the original land lease in 1850. The award judges described Stonyhurst as an aesthetically stunning farm where management decisions focused on the preservation and enhancement of natural resources alongside successful commercial farming. “Overlooking the Pacific, the farm features stands of native bush which are protected and valued. Ongoing planting and protection programmes ensure the farm will continue to improve for future generations.” The heart of the operation was a 10,000 head halfbred sheep flock producing wool between 22 and 26 microns sold on contract through NZ Merino.

At the end of March, fourthgeneration dairy farmers Scott and Sue Narbey, at Helensville, were the second supreme winners of the Auckland award. Last year Richard and Dianne Kidd, also at Helensville, won the inaugural regional award then took national honours. The Narbeys had 155ha effective to milk 410 cows on a system 5 platform through a 44-bale rotary set up to allow only one person to milk through most of the season. Drains, ponds and a boundary with the Kaipara River were all fenced to exclude stock. In the past four years marginal areas had been retired into wetlands and planting of them was almost complete. Pest control was also being done. They were mindful of pugging because much of the farm’s soil was clay. A feed pad and more recently a calving pad had been built to mitigate that. Charlie and Helen Lea, at Cambridge, won six of the 10 category awards on their way to

being named supreme winners in Waikato. Ratanui Partnership was on a 225ha property and the farming business was a closed beef and sheep breeding and finishing unit wintering 2600 stock units, 60:40 beef to sheep ratio. The judges highlighted a wide range of innovations and innovative practices being used on the farm and in a plant nursery. “An impressive amount of planning and effort has gone into the farm infrastructure and the protection and enhancement of the environment. “Extensive riparian plantings, soil erosion control measures on cultivated and pastoral lands and sound knowledge of nutrient management practices have mitigated environmental risks,” they said. The Taranaki and Wellington regional awards will complete the series before the National Sustainability Showcase in Invercargill on May 31.

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News

10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

UK will offer good trade deal Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com NEW Zealand’s farmers and exporters will get a favourable post-Brexit trade pact with the United Kingdom but will find a new European Union trade agreement much harder, Lord Sam Vestey believes. The British peer and former owner of NZ meat processing plants under the name of Weddell until the 1990s was speaking at the opening of the Royal Easter Show in Auckland. He was chairman of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth and a regular visitor to major shows in NZ. Now aged 76, Vestey also lived in NZ in the mid-1960s and was a management trainee at Weddell works such as Tomoana, Westfield, Gisborne and Patea, now all closed. In preparation for his Auckland visit he was briefed at NZ House in London and talked to friends and acquaintances in Westminster. Brexit was by no means a done deal and as British Prime Minister Theresa May said “No deal is better than a bad deal”. British voters had some considerable shocks coming, including the EU/UK “divorce

WELCOME: Lord Sam Vestey, centre, arrived on set-up day for the Royal Easter Show and was shown around by Auckland Show chairman Duncan McNab, left, and met dairy cattle handler Duncan Pipe, of Tamahere, with two-yearold Ferdon Aftershock Lady Di. It will be the first show for more than 50 years without life member and cattle breeder Don Ferguson, of Otorohanga, who died in February.

settlement”, which might devalue the pound. “Moreover, I cannot see how Britain could continue to pay its farmers the large EU-type grants and subsidies, much of them to rich farmers. “UK farmers are going to have to learn from how NZ farmers survive without subsidies. “NZ will have to wait at least two years before it can make a new trade deal with the UK and there will be push-back from Welsh lamb producers, for example. “Another general election is due six months after the planned settlement of Brexit and if the public thinks the UK has been shafted then they will take it out on the ruling Conservatives.” Vestey thought Britain’s sheep meat exports to France might be disrupted, which would then rebound on the UK demand for NZ lamb. The family company, Vestey Foods, of which he was chairman and his nephew George was managing director, imported and sold meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetables to high-end customers, mainly hotels and restaurants. It traded the highly regarded NZ lamb, beef and dairy products. The founders, William and Edmund, in the late 19th and early

20th centuries built a vertically integrated meat business from farms in Australia, NZ and Latin America, processing plants, the Blue Star shipping line and the Dewhurst chain of meat shops in Britain.

I cannot see how Britain could continue to pay its farmers the large EU-type grants and subsidies, much of them to rich farmers. Lord Sam Vesty Businessman At its height it was called the largest privately owned conglomerate in the world. The processing investments were under the names of Weddell in NZ, William Angliss in Australia and Frigorifico Anglo in Brazil. Fourth generation Lord Vestey said the family no longer owned any offshore processing assets, only beef cattle and sugar cane farms in Brazil and two wineries in Australia.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Taxes needed to reduce emissions Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE absence of immediate, practical solutions to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions has been underlined in two recent international reports on New Zealand. The options of reducing the number of animals, the use of fertiliser, imposing a tax and retiring land from agriculture appear to be the immediate solutions but there was no costing or economic analysis. The reports acknowledged research was under way into microbiology, nitrification inhibitors, genomics, animal nutrition, genetics and farm systems but said they were longterm options. The Net Zero in NZ report by London-based Vivid Economics was written for GLOBE-NZ, a cross-party group of 35 members of Parliament and funded by business and philanthropic foundations, to look at the impact of different scenarios on emissions from energy,

industry and waste and land. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s environmental performance review said gross greenhouse gas emissions had increased 6% from 2000 to 2014 and agriculture accounted for 49% of NZ’s total greenhouse gas emissions, the highest contribution of all OECD nations. While acknowledging NZ was a leader in developing climate change mitigating technology and that it was still in the research phase, the OECD report advocated the Government develop a plan to achieve mitigation by 2030 while also taxing farmers for emissions. “The report suggests either incorporating emissions into the emissions trading scheme or developing alternative measures to counter the pressures of farming,” OECD environment director Simon Upton said. “The use of environmentally related taxes, charges and prices should be expanded.” The Net Zero report was based on an assumption that by 2050 dairy cow numbers were up to 1.3

million lower than 2014, beef cattle were down by up to 1.1m and sheep up to 10.5m fewer. The report’s authors noted the level of emissions per unit of product from dairy, beef and sheep had fallen about 1% from 1990 to 2012. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle pointed to a 201415 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation study that calculated greenhouse gas emissions up to the farmgate were 0.89kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of fat and protein.That was a 4% improvement on 2009-10 and due to better cow efficiency. The Net Zero report said total agricultural emissions were now 14% higher than 1990 levels but without efficiency gains they would have been up to 40% higher. Reducing livestock numbers was “an important abatement option” although the report did not quantify the financial impact from lower stock numbers. It said livestock could be replaced by horticulture or forestry. The highest emitting

BETTER: Onfarm greenhouse gas emissions have been cut with improved cow efficiency, DairyNZ chief executive Dr Time Mackle says.

farms produced twice the level of methane and three times the nitrous oxide per hectare as the lowest emitting farms. “While this variance partly reflects the variety of soils, climate, farm size and farm type, the way a farm is managed can also be influential,” the report stated. Improving the performance of the lowest performing farms could decrease emissions by 15% with similar gains from adopting precision farming practices and using nitrogen more efficiently. Breeding low-emitting livestock was another option with the report noting emissions from the most efficient sheep could be 50% less than the worst. Adoption of an AgResearch developed genetically modified ryegrass could reduce methane

emissions by 15% and nitrous oxide by 17% per unit of feed. Another pasture option was to feed diets high in fat or dry matter content that altered the biological process in the digestive system, while a brassica diet could reduce methane by 13% in summer and 38% in winter. Other options were to remove stock from pasture in autumn and winter which reduced nitrous oxide by up to 5% while nitrification inhibitors such as DCD could reduce nitrous oxide by up to 82%. However, DCD was removed from sale because of residue in milk and cost was also an issue. “Assuming that DCD is found to be safe for use, it is one of the few options available to effectively reduce nitrous oxide emissions.”

News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Comedy show lifts community spirits up

GOOD TIME: Rural support facilitator Graham Pomeroy with comedians Amelia Dunbare and Emma Newborn.

TAG, REGISTER, RECORD AND CONFIRM The simple steps for protecting New Zealand’s livestock industry.

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FORMER farmer Graham Pomeroy laughed so much during a performance of the Sons of a Bitch and Mel Parsons Woolshed Tour he had tears rolling down his cheeks. “It was just hilarious. “We had a fantastic night and it ended up quite a party… an event like this is stunning for the health of the community. “It was great for people to have a real laugh and leave their problems behind,” Pomeroy said. The small Marlborough town of Ward was treated to a free performance hosted by Farmstrong at the local community hall on April 8. The show toured the country last year to rave reviews. A free barbecue and drinks were also provided, much to the delight of the Ward locals. The double bill featured a set of country/folk songs sung by award-winning songwriter and musician Mel Parsons, followed by a comedy show called Sons of a Bitch, featuring Amelia Dunbar and Emma Newborn, who played country dogs. The comedy show was something the town really needed following the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake last November, which left large areas of Ward badly damaged. Pomeroy was a rural support trust facilitator and for the last few months had been visiting farmers around the top of the South Island affected by the earthquake to offer help if needed. He was instrumental in getting the Farmstrongsponsored show to Ward. Pomeroy, who recently sold his Collingwood farm and moved to Nelson, said the locals and the community benefitted hugely from the night out. “During the break everybody headed outside and were talking and laughing and having such a good time we weren’t sure we could get them back in. “The noise of everybody talking was deafening. “But that’s exactly what we wanted, people getting out, getting off the farm, socialising and relaxing and having a laugh with their mates.” Large areas of Ward were still damaged but the farming community was showing incredible resilience and getting on with things that needed to be done. “There are still so many smashed homes … some people are living in their woolsheds while they wait for their homes to be fixed. “There are still a lot of issues with broken fencing and tracks but the farming community is rallying together and helping each other out.” Massey University associate professor of disaster mental health Sarb Johal said the key to making it through tough times was learning to be resilient. Key things to do to keep morale high: • Do something you love – get out and socialise. Getting off the farm and socialising is great for helping you feel better and gaining a new perspective on things; • Remember, laughter really is good medicine; • Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is crucial to staying on top of things. Get as much as possible. If you don’t sleep you can’t get anything else done. Mistakes get made when you’re tired and; • Eat well and exercise. Make sure you eat regularly and don’t motor through your meal. Eat a well-balanced diet, especially if you’re doing hard, physical labour. Exercise can be something you love, like playing a round of golf. It doesn’t always have to be work-related.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Big money for hard workers in forests

BIG BUCKS: Tech savvy young people willing to work hard for good money are needed in the nation’s forests.

Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com WAGES up to $100,000 a year fall short of attracting young people into forestry careers, Forest Industry Contractors’ Association (FICA) president Ross Davis says. Labour shortages were limiting the forest contracting industry at a time when cutting had ramped up and was set for significant growth over the next 10-20 years. Members of the leading professional group for loggers were being challenged by the lack of young skilled people available to work in rural areas and the solution was not likely to be importing the people with skills. A severe lack of good people with the right skills was having a real impact in forest workplaces, Davis said. “Our industry is no longer about someone on the end of chainsaw. “The technology of the machines nowadays means often there is no need to even leave the cab and we need a new group of young people coming in with the skill set to work in a modern forestry career.”

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Only 6 years old, goes well, a little bumpy though. Selling to buy the new John Deere 5R with mechanically suspended cab.

Time for an upgrade. Selling cheap. Suit owner who doesn’t need to carry too much. Upgrading to the new John Deere 5R with 5,394kg rear lift hitch capacity.

GENUINE REASON FOR SALE

Urgent sale. I’ve got a whole load of loading to do so getting a new John Deere 5R with electric joystick and clutch-less auto-shifting. Can deliver.

Selling old trusty. I’m over having to lean out the cab to see what I’m doing. Will trade with cash for new John Deere 5R with low hood, panorama front windshield and roof.

Upgrading to a 93kW John Deere 5R so not needed any more. Looking for a quick sale.

GENUINE REASON FOR SALE

Only selling as I need something more narrow and can handle heavy work. Like the new John Deere 5R.

Clearing out shed to make room for the new John Deere 5R so has to go. All offers considered.

Great condition, but no automatic mast latch like the John Deere 5R I’m upgrading to. Which means I only need to leave the seat once to attach or detach the loader.

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Ross Davis Forest Industry Contractors’ Assn Improved prices had ramped up activity and with a lot of wood to be cut there was urgent need to balance a new industry skill set against employee demand. “The competition is certainly intense out there to attract the brightest talents and forestry is definitely in that competition mix. “There are some really attractive incentives in forestry at the moment and in parts of the North Island where business is really booming there are guys earning $100,000 a year – yes, they are working hard but the opportunity is there if we can get the tech-savvy workers.” The industry and the Government needed to look again at how school leavers were being prepared for real employment and work together to improve funding and access to technology skills training, he said. “Our members have been working closely with some of the really practical technology institutes as we need more people with different skills from those of the past. “Many more of our logging crews are using mechanised harvesters, providing a great workplace while at the same time making steepslope forest harvesting safer.” Forestry employers had successfully led the way with drug-testing regimes for more than 10 years and now the bigger challenge for employers in the forest was recruiting a suitably skilled workforce. Students and their parents didn’t yet understand that technology skills were now the key to getting good forestry jobs, Davis said. “We need early risers and hard workers – for highly skilled young people the jobs are there now to run multi-million forest harvesting machines. “Our industry is New Zealand’s third largest and we’re poised for growth in both logs for export and to local sawmills. “We really need smart, skilled young people who are not afraid of hard work. The rewards are there for the right people,” Davis said.

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News

14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Big three put cash in RBI2 pot Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com A FUND of $75 million and less constrictive conditions under the second Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI2) round is likely to see the big telcos delivering more tailored networks to rural communities. Applications for RBI2’s second round of funding closed with $100m ring-fenced for expanded rural broadband and $50m for dealing with cellular blackspots. But the big three telecommunications companies Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees Mobile had also put $75m of their own money into the pot to extend rural coverage. Group spokesman and Vodafone chief executive Russell Stanners said RBI2 promised to give the big companies more freedom compared to the original RBI to configure cellular and network sites that were suited to the communities they would be servicing. “What we learned under RBI1 was the Government over-specked the size of some towers, expecting only a couple of mobile operators and half a dozen internet providers. It meant in some cases the sites were completely overengineered. This time around we

want to build towers that are more fit for purpose.” Advances in technology in the past few years mean it was possible to configure towers for significantly less than the $500,000 it usually cost to build a cell phone tower. Costs could be as low as $50,000-$60,000 a tower for tailored community network solutions. “And we can purchase the components and build them for at least as cheap as what the Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP) say they can do them for.” Stanners said the union between the three telcos for rural broadband delivery promised to push penetration further than it was now. “The existing land coverage is 53% and the joint RBI2 proposal will see this go to 70% “The aim is to have more coverage and more speed to as many people as possible. “When you get 68%-70% land coverage in NZ the only areas not covered are the tops of the Alps and forest floors.” The use of more fibre optic cable for data backhaul had helped lift site speeds and capacity and the sites would also be 5G capable when that

TAILOR MADE: The second Rural Broadband Initiative promises to give more freedom to configure services to suit rural communities, Vodafone chief executive Russell Stanners says.

technology was available in about 2020. The sites would also be enabled to cope with the data demand that greater use of internet of things technology brought. The alliance between the three telcos was the most costeffective means of creating what would be a shared wholesale wireless network, open to internet

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service providers to sell to farmers. The extension was estimated to add more than 1200km of mobile coverage to main roads and bring improved speeds to rural households. Stanners said it was notable the WISP proposals put forward for funding did not appear to have those companies putting any money towards the initiative.

“Our proposal is unique. “Not only are we delivering fixed wireless broadband but we are delivering 5G when it comes and IoT network technology and investing our own money. “I have not seen other proposals but have not seen any indication at this point of time any are as comprehensive as future-proofed or with skin up front.”

New law boosts internet access THE passage of the Telecommunications Amendment Act through Parliament has been hailed by farmers and fibre companies alike for the ability it provides both to gain greater access to faster rural broadband and cut costs in doing so. Known in its full title as the Telecommunications (property access and other matters) Amendment Act, the legislation enabled the installation of fibre optic cables on power poles passing over privately owned land. Farmers with poles on their land used for suspending the cable would also have the opportunity to get hooked up to the ultrafast network for free, providing the building they connected was within 200m of the poles used. Beyond that there would be a 50% subsidy to carry the connection out as far as 500m. Northpower in Whangarei was a key sponsor of the bill. Corporate affairs manager Steve Macmillan said the act’s passage would shave millions off the cost of getting faster broadband deeper into rural New Zealand. His company provided fibre through Northpower Fibre to homes and businesses in Whangarei and had earlier explored the options for extending fibre into rural areas. “Our original costing back then estimated it would be $120 million over 10 years to get fibre to about 20,000 electricity customers in Kaipara-Whangarei districts.

“But the paperwork was going to be another $100 million on top of that. This is how much we will save just in this area alone, let alone across all of NZ.” There was no guarantee lines companies would necessarily pursue the fibre optic business case. But it did open up the option and that could include partnering with wireless internet service providers (WISPs). Macmillan said the law’s passage was helped by a tremendous level of cross-party support and input from lines companies and Federated Farmers. “You only need to read the comments on Parliament’s Hansard record to get an idea how everyone came together on this one.” Northpower Fibre was expanding its network into 12 more Kaipara and Whangarei towns over the coming four years and the law would enable farms in the vicinity to hook into the developing fibre loop. Federated Farmers communications spokesman Anders Crofoot said it had taken two years of negotiations to reach a point where landowners would fairly benefit from having a new commercial network built on their land. It was a significant change from the original proposal that had envisaged companies being able to lay cable across private land with no benefit to the landowner.

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News

16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Farmers catch up with online sales Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com KIWI farmers might be late in adopting online stock sales technology compared to some countries but they should soon catch up, StockX managing director Jason Roebuck says. In the 18 months the company had been operating it had grown rapidly to 1800 registered farmers with initiatives expected to provide further growth. That growth came in spite of limited internet access in many regions but that was now slowly improving. Roebuck said StockX operated a sales platform for trading store stock between farmers and was about to release an option allowing farmers to sell prime stock to processors. The online exchange challenged the high cost of trading stock through agents and sale yards. One client had saved $30,000 in selling costs in the last 18 months and others had saved about $15,000 by selling online. The cost of selling online was transparent at 2.5% of the settlement amount, something not always apparent in some existing transactions, he said. Sellers provided a standard

description of stock that could include detailed weight information downloaded from some weighing systems and that acted as their warranty. The listings were exposed to potential buyers throughout the country and when a transaction was confirmed StockX managed the money exchange with buyers lodging funds in a trust account within 24 hours. The two parties then arranged transport with the operator notifying StockX of the actual weight or tally. When the buyer received and accepted the livestock, StockX completed the transaction. The system could identify the buyer and seller and while there was a detailed description of the stock and options of still images or video of animals, the two parties could arrange a visual inspection either by the potential buyer or a third party. Another feature was the ability for a buyer to lodge a request to buy stock with a number of parameters such as number, region, breed, weight and price. That activated an alert to potential sellers with the buyer, who could continue daily business, notified when an offer was made and the transaction

SET AND FORGET: Online trading lets farmers lodge a request for stock then get on with their work, StockX managing director Jason Roebuck says.

could be completed by smart phone. “Set and forget, let the exchange work for you,” he said. StockX was more than disruptive technology because it added value by reducing selling costs.

Selling a $1200 bullock through a sale yards could cost $82, made up of $60 agency commission, $20 cartage and $2 yard fees. That compared to 2.5% of the settlement price through StockX, a single transport cost and better animal welfare by keeping the

animals onfarm until they were sold. Roebuck said those using the process would determine its worth. “The success of StockX will be determined by the value users get out of it.”

Sale yards still set stock prices THE number and size of the country’s stock sale yards is likely to shrink in the coming years because of the increasing acceptance of online selling systems. PGG Wrightson livestock manager Peter Moore said sale yards would continue to have a role but in the last 10 to 15 years there had been a steep decline in the number of stock sold through yards, reflecting lower sheep and beef numbers and more being sold direct to meat companies. Environmental requirements such as dealing with waste water were also becoming issues for yard operators. PGG Wrightson sold through 70 sale yards nationwide, some it owned outright and others were owned by farmers. But in the future there were likely to be fewer but more strategically placed facilities. The Wairoa yards on the North Island’s east coast were an example. They were built to cater for numbers of stock far exceeding what was handled today and it was planned to upgrade the complex to better serve modern requirements. In other areas two or three yards could be combined into one new, purpose-built facility. “PGG Wrightson is looking at how we can use yards more

efficiently and also look at what the future of saleyards is,” Moore said. “We see going forward that there is a place for sale yards but in the longer term there will be fewer of them and probably more specialised sale yard facilities using more modern technology and modern management of areas such as waste water.” He expected online selling to become more prominent but experience in Australia showed farmers were slow to adapt because many still wanted to see and touch stock they were selling or considering buying. There were already a variety of online selling methods including live streaming of auctions but other selling systems had not been thought of yet, he said. While online selling meant livestock had to be accurately described and required farmers to have confidence in agents, there were benefits from keeping stock onfarm until sold, not having the cost of transporting them to yards and owners having more time to consider offers. He expected sale yards to remain a key determinant of market prices.

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News

18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

World dairy prices to hold steady At some point in the year the European Commission may find a destination for the aged stocks, which will ease the market overhang. Kevin Bellamy Rabobank The surpluses from the big seven exporting countries would be unlikely to increase until the second half of this year. New Zealand milk production was well down at the beginning of the season but would recover strongly in the autumn months to end minus 2% for the year, Bellamy said. That decrease should be recovered in the new dairy season, especially in the peak months of October and November if the weather played ball.

CLEAROUT

8.9 billion litres, the lowest in two decades. During March, butter and casein prices rose 9.2% and 12% respectively as Asian food service sales were strong and lower Australian milk production restricted supply. Rabobank forecast whole milk powder (WMP) would trade in the range USS3000 to US$3200/tonne over the next 12 months, SMP in the range US$1900 to US$2100

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OUT OF STOCK: Dairy stores in China were low so its imports are expected to rise by 20% this year, Rabobank global dairy strategist Kevin Bellamy says.

and butter about US$4400. The WMP price range would deliver a farmgate milk price about $6/kg milksolids. AgriHQ dairy analyst Susan Kilsby said WMP futures prices were firming on the NZX Dairy Derivatives market following the 2.4% lift in Global Dairy Trade prices and the widespread rain and some flooding in NZ dairy regions. Most delivery months for this year had futures open positions at US$3000-plus. The NZ milk price futures were at NZ$6.02/kg for this season and $6 for next season, she said. Meanwhile, the slow start to the cull cow run this year gained momentum last week, AgriHQ analyst Rachel Agnew said. Some of the lift was a direct result of dairy farmers in the flooded Bay of Plenty being forced to move cows off farm, however, other regions were now also moving cows to slaughter in increasing numbers. There were a few question marks around the number of cows that would be slaughtered this season. Excess feed was proving an incentive for farmers to milk cows for longer. The number of farmers extending into winter milking had also reportedly increased this year.

NEAR NEW

Dairy stocks in China were now very low and that was the reason for a forecast of 20% growth in imports during 2017 versus last year. Retail demand for butter and cheese in the United States was strong with volumes up 5% and 3% respectively over the past 12 months. But there were signs the domestic demand for cheese was faltering and Rabobank wondered about the impact new President Donald Trump’s anti-free-trade stance might have. Withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, which was generally favourable for dairy, and the questioning of the North American Free Trade Agreement had already resulted in Mexico seeking more of its dairy supplies from the EU. Immigration policy changes might also leave a big gap in the dairy farm workforce, Bellamy said. Consumption of cheese, butter and liquid milk was quite buoyant in Australia, a mature market for dairy products. Because of the reduction in milk production of 7%, export surpluses were under considerable pressure. Australian production this season was expected to end at

n t y*

STEADY world dairy prices through the rest of 2017 should result from the present mix of supply and demand factors, Rabobank’s global dairy strategist Kevin Bellamy believes. However, milk fat and protein prices had diverged to record levels with butter prices more than US$2800/tonne above those of skim milk powder (SMP). Butter prices on the Global Dairy Trade platform reached $4750 on April 5, which was 75% higher than at the corresponding time last year. Bellamy expected butter prices to remain high but said demand for protein would remain weak. The already high levels of SMP stocks in the European Union would be almost certainly supplemented by further intervention buying this year. The EU had repeatedly tendered out the SMP stocks, now more than 350,000 tonnes, but it was not prepared to sell at the prices offered. “At some point in the year the European Commission may find a destination for the aged stocks, which will ease the market overhang.

“However, any solution to reducing high public stocks will be difficult as it will need to be nonmarket-distorting.” Global milk production continued to fall though the rate of decline was now easing.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Alliance expands tech project Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com ALLIANCE is extending it robotic meat processing technology into the Dannevirke plant in southern Hawke’s Bay in a $10.6 million project. The custom-built primal/middle cutting equipment included an x-ray unit to analyse each carcase and instruct the two cutting machines where to cut, chief executive David Surveyor said. The robotic primal machine then separated the carcase into hind, middle and forequarter cuts. The other robotic machine then separated the middle pieces into racks, loins, flaps and saddles. The project, planned for a mid-year start, also involved a reconfiguration of the Dannevirke plant’s boning room and would produce higher yields and improved productivity, Surveyor said. Alliance had already installed Scott Technology-designed equipment at its Smithfield plant in Timaru and the Pukeuri plant in Oamaru so the Dannevirke project would benefit from what had been learned there.

The primal cutter automatically adjusted to suit carcase size. The investment was part of Alliance’s seriousness about achieving processing excellence and would help boost returns to the co-operative’s farmershareholders, Surveyor said. Alliance was also making progress with its lamb marketing programme into five-star hotel and high-end retail stores in India. Ten different premium cuts of Pure South frozen lamb were being sold there, with French racks among the most popular. The lamb was all processed and packed in New Zealand before being shipped to Mumbai. Alliance was partnering QualityNZ, a firm part-owned by former NZ cricketers Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming and Sir Richard Hadlee through their contacts in India, with the project starting in 2013. QualityNZ’s India-based chief executive Geoff Thin said the programme was an efficient “pasture to plate’’ model though it was still early days for the Indian market.

ROBOT: The primal cut machine in action.

STAR POWER: Alliance has partnered with cricketers such as Stephen Fleming, centre, to help promote its lamb in India.

Scott Tech in strong position

Alliance workshops visit North Island A SERIES of workshops for female farmers will include the North Island this year. The women’s workshops will include an update on Alliance’s developments from livestock and shareholder services general manager Heather Stacy and marketing general manager Peter Russell who will give an insight into why branding is important. There will also be a talk on knife care. Chief executive David Surveyor said “Successful farming is about partnerships. “It’s no secret that women are among the key decision-makers on the farm so it’s vital they have the information to make informed decisions to improve the productivity and profitability of their farms.” Stacy said “With women making up half of our shareholders, they make vital contributions to the co-operative’s success. “We want to take women along the Alliance journey by encouraging them to attend our workshops where they can learn more about our co-operative and give them an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience.” Workshops Taupo: Suncourt Hotel and Conference Centre,14 Northcroft

Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com

INPUT: Women make vital contributions to the co-op’s success, Alliance livestock and shareholder services general manager Heather Stacy says.

Street, Taupo, May 16, 10am-3pm Dannevirke: The Hub, 23 Gordon Street, Dannevirke, May 15, 10am-3pm Nelson: The Honest Lawyer Country Pub, 1 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson, May 29, 10am-3pm Amberley: Waipara Hills winery, 780 Glasnevin Road, Wairpara, May 30, 10am-3pm Geraldine: StoneBridge function venue, 842 Winchester-Geraldine Road, Geraldine, May 31, 10am3pm Invercargill: Ascot Park

Hotel, Corner of Tay Street and Racecourse Road, Invercargill, May 8, 10am-3pm Gore: Heartland Hotel, 100 Waimea Street, Croydon, Gore, May 9, 10am-3pm Gore: Heartland Hotel, 100 Waimea Street, Croydon, Gore, May 9, 6.30pm-9.30pm Mosgiel: Holy Cross Centre, 89 Church Street, Mosgiel, Dunedin, May 10, 10am-3pm To register, email communications@alliance.co.nz or phone 03 214 2734

INSTALLING robotic and other automated equipment in meat processing plants continues as a major revenue stream for Dunedin-based Scott Technology. Meat sector sales were not itemised in the report for the six months ended February 28 but managing director Chris Hopkins said they would be similar to the previous full year when they made up about 35% of sales. That was on overall sales up 32% on the corresponding period a year earlier, at $56.7 million from $42.8m. The meat processing work was mainly in Australia and New Zealand and still mainly in lambprocessing equipment but more was also being done in the beef sector, he said. The BladeStop bandsaw safety technology business in Australia, acquired in October last year, was also largely operating in the meat sector and was growing strongly. Scott Technology reported a 50% lift in pre-tax profits and the after-tax profit rose to $2.88m from $1.94m previously. There was a continuing and significant trend toward automation and robotics around the world, Hopkins and chairman Stuart McLauchlan said in the report. At the same time, the markets the company worked in – Australasia, North America, Asia and Europe – remained volatile and unpredictable. Scott Tech had expanded

its skill base and critical mass and was positioned to take advantage of the trend. Australasian sales rose to $45m from $35.5m previously and sales to Europe/Asia to $5.3m from $1.09m, largely because of the acquisition of a German appliance equipment competitor and also Chinese sales. North American business sales were lower, at $6.26m from $8.8m, because of having fewer robots available for refurbishment. The group saw an opportunity for the sale of BladeStop bandsaws in that market. Scot Tech was a much bigger business than it was a year ago with Brazil group JBS taking a shareholding of just over 50%. The capital injection lifted total assets to $118m from $83.5m and the company’s equity ratio to nearly 80% from 60%. All borrowings were paid off and the February 28 balance sheet included nearly $33m in cash, boosted also by the operating cashflow of $10.2m during the half-year. Scott Tech was over-capitalised and there was some pressure to put that money to use, rather than sitting in the bank, but there would be no rush to spend it, Hopkins said. The business would grow organically and potential acquisitions were regularly being looked at. Shareholders would receive a fully imputed half-year dividend of 4c a share, the same as last year. Directors were confident of a strong full-year result.

News

20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Ram taint is not a simple issue Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com A SINGLE cut-off date for ram lambs would not be a standalone fix for concerns about ram lamb taste quality, Massey University animal and meat scientist Dr. Nicola Schreurs says. There were many factors that could influence lamb meat quality. The eating experience was influenced by a combination of flavour, juiciness and tenderness. Ram versus castrated versus ewe was just one consideration of the production system. Schreurs said the “ram effect” was a difficult one to verify because most lambs with good growth rates were slaughtered before they reached puberty. No known flavour compounds had been associated with ram taint and it had not been independently and scientifically verified to occur with lambs produced in New Zealand. “At any set date for a lamb it could be an interaction of age, sex or feeding so a set date of March 31 is not necessarily the answer for preventing meat with negative quality attributes from entering the market,” Schreurs said. In her studies castrated male and entire male lambs younger than six months showed no difference in meat quality. “And that’s because they had not reached puberty.” Lambs reached puberty at about

TELLING THE DIFFERENCE: Dr. Nicola Schreurs says meat plant measures that differentiate between good and bad quality of any lamb would benefit the industry.

30% of their mature weight. Studies in the past decade had shown entire rams that reached puberty ahead of slaughter might have pH issues that could make the meat tough. “Because the meat quality of a particular lamb is dependent on multiple factors such as age, sex, genetics, ability to deposit fat, nutrition including both diet type and quality and a whole host of other factors, narrowing down

to a ram effect does not really make sense if trying to look at the whole picture of creating good or bad meat quality.” Diet was a key factor because it and genetics determined how much fat the lamb deposited. The ability of the lamb to partition fat to intramuscular deposits was also a consideration, Schreurs said. As the lamb got older the collagen in the muscle of the lamb

became more cross-linked. Collagen in raw meat makes meat tough. However, cooking solubilised collagen, turning it to gelatine, which was soft and easily chewed. In an older lamb the increased collagen cross-linking made it less soluble with cooking making the meat tougher. Schreurs said her most recent study on collagen and intramuscular fat in ram lambs slaughtered when they were aged five, eight and 14 months, showed meat was least tender at eight months. “This surprised us because we thought the 14-monthold lambs would produce the toughest meat. “However, the 14-month-old lambs also had the greatest intramuscular fat content and this was helping to improve the tenderness of the meat from these lambs compared to the eightmonth-old lambs. “So, it would be fair to say the answer is not there at the moment as to whether utilising a March 31 date is reasonable for preventing meat quality issues associated with ram lambs ” Schreurs said. “What would be of more benefit to the industry would be to derive in-plant measures that differentiated between good and bad quality of any lamb coming through a processing plant.” Schreurs was to present the

results her latest research at the Beef + Lamb NZ AgInnovation in Palmerston North next month. B+LNZ Auckland chief executive Rod Slater said while lamb sold on the domestic market was arguably better today than 25 years ago, that was not a reason to be certain there was no problem with ram lamb quality. With responsibility for the industry’s local market, Slater worked closely with Retail Meat NZ’s associated industry businesses including retail butchers, supermarket meat departments and wholesalers. He was surprised some exporters had acknowledged that while there was no quality issue with export product, the local market could do better. “I challenge that but there’s no hard data. “I’m not saying a local quality issue doesn’t exist but if there is a problem it has got to be fixed because we are kidding ourselves if we are supplying product into any market that is of negative quality,” Slater said. He had not had any complaints from retailers or consumers. “But, in saying that, people vote with their feet and we won’t always hear about it. “We do random audits and we will undertake to look into this issue come spring. “I can’t say we have ever done it but this concern makes it a reason to do,” Slater said.

Clean water quality is a national issue Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com CLEAN freshwater is a New Zealand issue, not a farming issue, Beef + Lamb New Zealand general policy manager Dave Harrison says. Harrison told farmers at the B+LNZ annual meeting their biggest challenge was in convincing society farming was not about ruining the environment. “Social licence is about society’s willingness to recognise farming is a good thing to do.” NZ farmers were some of the most emissions-efficient producers in the world and while motivated to produce safe and nutritious food amid increasingly tight environmental constraints, they needed their urban counterparts to understand their role in feeding a growing society. It was about recognising what the country had and providing the right incentives for the economics of change. NZ farming had extensive lowimpact farming systems. “We turn grass we can’t eat, on land we can’t crop into quality protein – never underestimate that philosophy. “We need to tell that (story) that will be key to our social licence,” Harrison said. Climate change was the other

DISAPPOINTMENT: It’s a shame few people know about farmers’ contribution to environmental management, Hororata farmer John Grigg says.

big issue facing the agricultural sector and the wider economy with greenhouse gases 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, 11% below 1990 levels by 2030 and a NZ target of 50% below 1990 by 2050. “It is a tough challenge but NZ sheep meat and beef, at 19% below 1990, is right there but we mustn’t get complacent. It’s about keeping it up,” Harrison said. Prime Minister Bill English reiterated the unbalanced environmental debate. “Water, in particular, has been focused purely on the rural areas because that’s where quality and quantity have been measured. “But we have never had a better opportunity to get an overview of water and the

progress being made.” English acknowledged the Auckland area, with its size and urban impact, as one of the biggest issues. “Having people has pollution and in saying that I would like to think we can have more of a balanced debate going forward.” The primary industries sector had a lot of work to do to get an understanding to the urban community about just how complex the rural community actually is. “The science on this is still moving and turning science into practical management is another challenge on its own. “I have deep respect that after 50 years of farming the soils are better than they were

– urban communities have no understanding of that so your core story is pretty good and critically important to our core NZ story,” English told farmers. He said the outlook for the next few years was good with opportunities in a positive environment in a country that was moving forward to solve some of the long-running and “nutty difficult” problems such as the environment. The misconceptions about farming and water use didn’t bode well with Hororata third generation farmer John Grigg. Also passionate about protecting native fish, flora and fauna, Grigg was frustrated by how little urban people knew about farming and its contribution to the environment. He suggested the rural-urban divide was largely caused by a changing society. “Fifty years ago everyone knew someone on a farm. Nowadays, it’s a shame few people seem to know about the work farmers contribute to wider environmental management. “We have a responsibility with the streams on our property and there’s a significant cost to maintain them. “My philosophy with the rivers has been to let them have the space to move within boundaries. When we have floods we let the

water go out of a channel so it causes less damage, erosion and troubles.” Grigg has worked with the Conservation Department for more than a decade to identify and maintain habitat for the native mudfish. “In our last trapping we found 60 and I was pretty excited about that.” One of the problems was predators like trout and eels. “As a farmer I get a little bit annoyed when people jump up and down about trout because they are a pest when it comes to the mudfish. “Balance is needed between what is needed as a country and what we perceive we need.” Grigg said realistically the bulk of NZ was a modified environment. “Even though we have lost trees to centre pivots there are more trees on the Canterbury Plains now than there were for thousands of years. “We have beautiful, clear water that comes out of our springs most of the time. “We’re very happy to protect what is there.” But with ongoing dry spells the time was right for water storage. “We’ve taken the aquifers to a sustainable level but we now need to use stored water to maintain our prosperity,” Grigg said.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

New tax rules give a win to farmers Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com INLAND Revenue is tightening tax deductibility rules but there’s been a win for the farming sector, agribusiness tax specialist Tony Marshall says. For most full time farmers the level of deductibility of farmhouse expenses would reduce to 20% this tax year from 25% but that was better than the initial proposal of a cut to 15%, he said. There should be little change in money terms for full time pastoral and dairy farmers though there could be an impact on orchardists and the bloodstock industry if the value of their home was relatively high compared to the farm value. “I think IRD was surprised at how many submissions they received, in the several hundreds and they’ve listened to people across the board.” Marshall, an agri-tax specialist at accountancy group Crowe Horwath in Dunedin, said the initial proposal was aimed at lifestyle block farmers who farmed their land as a sideline to their main occupations while claiming full deductions. The initial proposals last October caught farmers in that net and that had been changed. IRD had also indicated it believed some farmers were claiming deductions for private spending.

We’re pleased the Government has listened to what we’ve said. Dr William Rolleston Federated Farmers

The issue was important for farmers, who were spending an increasing amount of time in their offices “or their kitchen table as is the case for many farmers”. Federated Farmers had made strong submissions opposing the initial plan “and we’re pleased the Government has listened to what we’ve said”, president William Rolleston said. “The key thing for IRD was to just make sure that people who did not have their primary business as a farmer could not fully deduct their full expenses.” Two tiers had been established, Marshall said. Tier 1 applied where the value of the farmhouse was 20% or less of the total value of the farm and tier 2 applied where the farmhouse value was 20% or more of the total value of the farm. The first group retained 100% interest and rates deductions and farmhouse deductions dropped to 20% from 25%. Tier 2 farmers potentially had a big drop in deductions, especially for interest, once the new legislation was confirmed. Marshall said there was one area where tier 1 could get caught by the change, where a new farmhouse had been built on a farm owned for many years. A half-million dollar home could have been built on a farm bought for the same price many years earlier. Instead of working against the original farm cost, IRD would now accept a recent farm valuation to confirm the comparative values.

RESPONSIVE: Inland Revenue has listened to farmers and amended its new tax regime, Crowe Horwath tax specialist Tony Marshall says.

Deductions for telephone expenses were also being changed from the flat 100% rate to a minimum 50% rate. Farmers could make a claim up to 100% if they believed that was justified though it would involve a fair bit of paperwork. The new changes came into force in the 201718 year so the sector had another 12 months to prepare for it, Marshall said. However, there would be some adjustment required in GST returns made during the year.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

DOC land bees upset landowners BEEKEEPERS and farmers in the central North Island are seething over a deal they say has been struck between the Conservation Department and a honey company that is affecting bee numbers and stripping them of income. Landowners in the Ruatiti Valley in Ruapehu District have become increasingly angry at DOC issuing a number of apiary concessions to the True Honey Company (THC). The area is about 40km west of Raetihi. Owners spokeswoman Ashley Cole said she saw three helicopters working for almost four days transporting multiple hives from a farmer’s woolshed to the Murumuru and Taheke conservation areas. More hive deliveries followed and Cole estimated 1000 hives were put in the area. While it was not unusual for DOC to issue consents to put hives on its land, what upset locals and other beekeepers was the number of hives put into the area, effectively competing with local beekeepers’ hives. “It is also the fact that local beekeepers have been shut out of any opportunity to have a DOC concession here. They had their applications for the same concession sites turned down. “It seems that this particular company has somehow managed to get their way in here for reasons we don’t know about,” she said. Locals’ concern was doubled by the economic effect they claimed the additional hives were having on the community’s income. “The hives are being placed near our boundaries and are

Taumarunui farm consultant Geoff Burton had been asked to push the concerns of locals with MPI, in his position as a policy agent for the ministry. “We have not had any sort of firm response other than they are looking into it further,” he said.

The hives are being placed near our boundaries and are affecting existing contracts with ratepayers. Ashley Cole Landowner

UPSET: Ruatiti Valley landowners are unhappy the Conservation Department has allowed hives to be put on conservation land near them.

affecting existing contracts with ratepayers. “With this year having extremely low wool prices, down 50% and falling, the percentage of contracted apiary income will have a significant impact this year.” Just as livestock could be overstocked on a farm, Cole said the local bee population had effectively become overstocked with the arrival of so many hives on the DOC estate. “The numbers affect bee welfare, leading to starvation and colony collapse.

“One of the negative effects of this, other than the obvious impact of loss of honey income and lack of pollination, is that we hill country farmers get blamed for the hive losses through the use of chemicals.” Cole said locals’ frustration was at boiling point after two years of trying to converse with DOC over the effects of the apiary concessions on their income and on hive health. “I have also talked to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and this is an ongoing discussion.”

His concern was the impact DOC’s actions were having on the region’s economic returns from manuka honey, a key part of the district’s regional development plan programme. “So they (the Government) should be concerned that a government department is reducing the ability of the region to meet the goals of that development plan. “If the honey collection is occurring purely for DOC to increase revenue stream it would mean they have overstocked the whole region with hives and that will impact not only on locals but on DOC too. I understand colony collapse from overstocking can happen very quickly.” The impact of DOC’s actions had been exacerbated by a particularly poor honey harvest season making nectar for bees scarce.

Beekeepers complain about treatment TAUPO beekeeper Mark Morse of Kinloch Honey says he has reached his wits end over how he and other beekeepers have been treated by the Conservation Department in the Raetihi district. Earlier this year his dissatisfaction prompted him to file an official complaint with the department over disparities he alleges existed in its concession process and approach to beekeepers. Hi complaint outlined a history of his applications to put hives on DOC land near Raetihi, which had largely been unsuccessful. In 2012 Morse applied for a beekeeping concession but was told they were unavailable and hives in the catchment were unnecessary under DOC beekeeping guidelines.

He applied again in 2016 when all the conservation land adjoining his own property came up for beekeeping tender. However, he received no confirmation until two months after the application when he learned a large corporate beekeeping company was about to start flying hives onto the land on his boundary. That was despite being told by DOC staff the contract had not been let and being told DOC had not received his emailed application. “I really do not know where else to go with this. “The manuka industry has huge potential for regions like this and if it uses locals who live and work here, it brings another level of income that these guys in the back country have not had before.

“However, we are now seeing an outside company come in, use our roads and infrastructure and leave with no gain for locals.” His concern was also heightened by the impact the addition of hundreds of hives could have on hive health, already struggling under a tough season and a general lift in hive numbers. The irony of a department tasked with protecting the environment having an impact on its health was not lost on Morse and fellow beekeepers. “And we would have seen annual average yields on manuka drop from about 29kg 10 years ago to almost half that in the last four.” Fellow beekeeper Dave Davis shared Morse’s frustrations with the concession process and lack

of DOC communication with locals. “I applied for concessions in National Park, only to then be told there was no area there where I could put hives and that was after almost a year of delays in the application. It was not even worth going through the process and I would not bother again.” He later learned of True Honey Company hives put near the Bridge to Nowhere, where he had been told there were no concessions. Davis said there was a sense his region was under siege by many different beekeeping interests intent on sucking out as much manuka as possible at the end of the harvest season, after what had been a particularly poor one nationally.

Hives issue investigated COMPLAINTS about hives on Conservation Department land were investigated last year, its planning, permissions and land directdor Marie Long says. In a written response Long said “I understand these concerns were raised prior to Christmas and they have been investigated by the DOC Whanganui district office. “Compliance issues such as these are managed by the local district offices.” She noted that because of the concerns were raised, helicopter compliance checking was done, with results to be discussed with “relevant parties”. In a response beekeeper Mark Morse’s complaint, Long said it was “unfortunate” his application for the beekeeping tender process was not initially received. It was received later in January. “It is my understanding that the application is being considered presently and you will be informed of the outcome in due course.”

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agrievents Saturday 22/04/2017 FMG Young Farmer Taranaki/Manawatu Regional Final Venue: The TSB Hub, Camberwell Road, Hawera Time: 10.00am-2.00pm For more information check out our Facebook page or website. Thursday 27/04/2017 AWDT Protecting Your Team Venue: Tararua Conference & Events Centre at Masters Hall, Pahiatua Time: 8.45am-5.00pm 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/ Saturday 29/04/2017 Autumn Garden Show Venue: Christchurch Botanical Gardens, Christchurch Time: 10.00am 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/ 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/ Saturday 22/09/2017 2017 National Alpaca Show Venue: Manfield, South Street West, Feilding. Time: 9.00am Should your important event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@nzx.com

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Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Newsmaker

Wool will have its day again Demand for wool will recover and while big issues face the industry they are not the only cause of its demise which can be traced back to the abolition of the Wool Board, retiring Wool Services International marketing manager Malcolm Ching told Alan Williams.

OOL will have its day again but has two long-term issues to get past as well as the short-term market doldrums, retiring Wool Services International (WSI) marketing manager Malcolm Ching says. The issues were the acceptance in affluent markets, notably the United States, of the qualities of wool as a natural product as a way of safeguarding the environment, as opposed to using the dominant synthetic textiles, and also removing the widelyheld perception among some of those consumers that animals were harmed when the wool was removed from them. That was a stigma the world industry must get past but highprofile animal rights activists made it difficult. Part of the problem was that the US was a textile consumer country rather than a wool processor country so many people were unaware of its merits, Ching said. It could take another generation to fully achieve change. And the short-term troubles would be around for a while yet. They would be resolved by China using the tonnes of wool inventory it overbought from 2014 to early 2016 and also, after the Brexit-vote currency collapse, a recovery of sterling to encourage more processed wool into the United Kingdom for manufacturing of finished products. Those two events at the same time were a double whammy for the industry and prices had tumbled. In the meantime, the wool market was like being at the coalface of commodity trading. “It’s dog-eat-dog at very low margins and the risks can be high,” Ching said. “You need to be putting through high volumes.”

Ching has opted for early retirement though not as successfully as he initially planned. He’s now taking on some project work for WSI, including overseeing its involvement with wool protein extraction business Keraplast and doing some work for others. It would all have to fit in with motorbike trips round the country, boating, travel and the family lifestyle block near Christchurch. The basic level of wool preparation in New Zealand was still recognised as the best in the world. And despite diminished returns for crossbred wool, farmers still took pride in what they produced and were not getting the returns that they should get. The quality of animal health achieved by farmers as they worked hard to get the best quality lamb meat could also show up in the fleece. Breeding for meat had also helped wool with cross-breeding with Finns and Texels to produce a composite animal resulting in a tightening of crossbred wool to an average 35 to 38 microns from 38 to 42 previously under alltraditional breeds. The efficiency of the industry was highlighted by NZ being the most distant producing country from the big markets but being able to compete strongly with anyone. “NZ wool processed in NZ is held in very, very high regard because its leaves NZ unpolluted due to our farm practices and high-quality processing, even if it is high cost internationally.” However, 85% to 90% of the crossbred wool was sold overseas for further processing, into tops and yarns. It was a silo pipeline that NZ had no control over and sometimes various wools were

STIGMA: Many people believed sheep are harmed when wool is removed, retiring Wool Services International marketing manager Malcolm Ching says.

mixed together with a much less than perfect outcome. There was some irony in that because WSI was now effectively owned by Chinese conglomerate Shandong Ruyi, which took over the parent company, Australia’s Lempriere Wool. WSI was such a small part of the group that it didn’t have any influence there but was small enough that Shandong didn’t interfere here either. “We get enough rope in NZ to work within the environment we live in,” Ching said. He believed the industry would be in a stronger space now if a better plan had been put in place when the old Wool Board was wound up in the late 1990s. “Farmers saw these millions of dollars seen to be wasted on a gravy train but I think McKinsey did a huge dis-service to them when it gave a dump or retain choice, not giving them a third option of something in between. “It was all or nothing and we chose nothing but if you put

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nothing in then you get nothing back and that is the story of wool around the world today.” WSI came out of the Wool Board in the break-up of assets with shares issued to farmers and managers. Ching joined at the outset, 15 years ago, moving from the overseas-owned Kreglingers business, itself being sold off, and which he’d joined more than a decade before as a result of his wife’s family connections. WSI was split off without a trading business or much cash but containing a lot of industry experience, led by managing director Michael Dwyer, who, with most of the small team, came from trader Mair and Co. Because of its Wool Board background, WSI had been involved with farmer-owned wool entities, some of which did not get past the proposal stage. It had also provided infrastructure services to two that had emerged, Wools NZ and The NZ Merino Co. The NZ industry sold overseas

through direct contracts from exporters to customers, private dealing by merchants and via the auction system. The sharp fall in prices was highlighted at auction though Ching said the system was a very efficient way of transferring ownership. NZ also had experience in falling markets of overseas customers walking away from contracts, hoping to buy in at a cheaper price. Ching had been a regular commentator on the auctions and said both types of trading were needed. Auction prices would be subdued for a time yet while China worked through its big inventories. No-one really knew the extent of its stock levels but he expected the process would take some months yet. The timing was quite favourable, going into winter, with new wool volumes reducing, though a backlog of wool in store remained to be sold.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

EastPack takes high tech leap A kiwifruit packing plant that was mothballed six years ago is now revived and bristling with new technology that has created 600 jobs and can move 100,000 trays of fruit a shift. With more lanes than a bowling alley it is ready for the increasing crop. Richard Rennie reports.

ASTPACK’S new $12.8 million, high-tech, high-speed kiwifruit packing facility now awaits only one thing – the arrival of the new season’s fruit. The facility, opened by Prime Minister Bill English, is a major advance on a Te Puke site that only six years ago was mothballed with a skeleton staff as the industry reeled from vastly reduced fruit volumes in the wake of the Psa virus. While rain had delayed the harvest this season, the site was poised for an intense rush of SunGold fruit initially, employing 600 staff across two shifts packing 100,000 trays of fruit a shift. The site’s capacity boost this year came from the commissioning of EastPack’s 14 lane Bravo sorting and packing line installed alongside the existing Alpha machine. It would take the company’s capacity at the site from 6m trays last year to 10.5m.

Since I started in late 2014 the company has invested $50m across all its facilities. Matt Bowker EastPack Site manager Matt Bowker said once initial commissioning and teething issues were sorted that would rise to 12m trays next year, keeping the company well ahead of the expected surge in SunGold fruit expected as new plantings came to harvest next year and beyond. With wet weather delaying harvest in Bay of Plenty, he likened the plant’s processing profile to that of a sharply shaped peak, describing the site as a “sprint shed” when the harvest hit full pace. The plant was designed with that in mind, incorporating levels of technology capable of dealing with 7500 fruit a minute while also meeting Zespri’s high export standards for grade one fruit. A key part of the plant’s technology was the use of Spectrim digital photographic

equipment that scanned and photographed every piece of fruit passing through the 14 lanes. That amounted to 1m photographs a minute being taken, with the ability to capture images in colour and two different infrared spectrums. “The equipment can essentially create a 3D image of the fruit for evaluation and gets taught by us what to look for in terms of imperfections. “Because we now have this technology across three sites, we are also able to share what we already know between machines and keep all sites updated on grade issues,” Bowker said. In addition, the grader was equipped with near infra-red grading technology, often referred to as the “dark art” of fruit grading for its ability to determine what the fruit’s interior and eating quality was like. “It is basically a light spectrometer that shines onto the fruit and measures the frequency of the light through it, coming up with four key quality parameters – fruit firmness, brix (sugar) levels, internal flesh colour and dry matter.” Combined with data on weight, a profile of the fruit’s quality could be determined. It was invaluable, particularly at the early part of the season when growers wanted to capitalise on the Kiwistart early harvest bonuses but had to be wary of smaller fruit struggling to make the required brix and drymatter levels to be eligible. “Near infra-red has enabled us to extract the fruit that does meet the standards for growers who otherwise may not have had any, or very little, be eligible from their orchard, giving them a significantly greater return than they would otherwise have had.” Investment in the boosted capacity came as Zespri continued to offer 400ha tranches of SunGold licences to growers for the next four years, with that area alone generating an extra 6m trays a year once reaching full maturity. Expectations for this season were for 30-40m trays of the prolifically fruiting SunGold variety and 60m of Green. Bowker said despite the high level of automation in the plant, there was still a need for good staff in the operation, with a stable source of Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) staff

FLASH: Matt Bowker with the Spectrim photographic software capable of taking a million images a minute for fruit grading.

from the Pacific Islands returning year after year. “We now have people who have a good level of skills and have moved up the ranks to be team leaders and operators and proven

exceptional to have on board.” EastPack has had to reinforce the increased grading capacity with an extra $10m spent on coolstore capacity, taking the entire investment on the site to $25m.

“Since I started in late 2014 the company has invested $50m across all its facilities, ensuring we have capacity ahead of time to deal with fruit volumes,” Bowker said.

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Opinion

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

EDITORIAL Public ready for good farm news

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Climate claims an April Fool joke ALAN Emerson’s recent column Blinkered reports obscure future (FW, March 27) is very Trumpian, with sweeping assertions without evidence to support them. They ridicule and demean skilled professionals. He even has his so-called experts, just like Trump’s so-called judge. So much for environmental scientists and economists, all their data and analysis and their international perspective. Transformative change is necessary to address climate destabilisation and other pressing environmental issues we face and that’s what they are offering up. But, heck, let’s just go with the opinion writer who finds their considered proposals “ridiculous” and “annoying”. I kept having to check I was actually reading this in the Farmers Weekly, a rural publication I have come to respect and enjoy. I wondered if it was Emerson’s April Fools effort or

if the title of his column had been changed to Just Kidding. On reducing our carbon footprint, Emerson notes that whatever we do needs to be popular to the extent voters will back it. To the contrary, acclaimed climate scientist Dr James Hansen of the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions Programme at Columbia University (perhaps one of Emerson’s so-called experts) has said “We can no longer just do what’s politically possible. Now we have to do what’s necessary”. My money’s on Hansen. Gord Stewart Matamata

Horses and fat STRAIGHT to the point: Three gripes. Yes, I know, woman grizzling about something – all valid though and also quite enlightening. Firstly, these bloody dairy farmers who refuse to allow their kids to have a horse. An ancient wives’ tale tells

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Jersey is fine grained and tender. Premiums need to be paid on fine-grained, tender meat and yellow fat shows the Jersey in it. Thirdly, these greeny zealots who say 400 litres of water to make one litre of milk. Crap. I go out and sharemilk the cow with her calves and get 10 litres of milk. It makes cheese, yoghurt, butter and cream for my coffee. I could give my family a whole heap of 4000 litres of water but that just ain’t going to cut the mustard. And besides, my cow gives me lick kisses, which are nice. Vikki Subritzky Whangarei

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Letterof theWeek

EDITOR Bryan Gibson bryan.gibson@nzx.com

us a horse eats as much as seven cows. We’ve all heard it. Picture 100 years ago – a big Clydesdale working his guts out, pulling the plough for days on end, mowing, raking and all the hay needed, pulling the dray to town to get stores. I’d say that horse probably did eat as much as seven cows did and earned every pound of it. Fast forward to today. One crossbred pony for the kids and big enough for mum to ride would eat maybe as much as a few sheep. Stop living up to your name as a tight dairy farmer. Get them that horse. Second, meat companies downgrading for yellow fat in prime cattle. They should be paying a premium for Jersey cross. Again, go back a few years. The old boner Jersey cows had slimy yellow fat. No one wanted to eat boner cow. That mindset still exists today. Yellow fat equals boner cow. Not so. I’ve been eating meat for 50 plus years. The best meat I’ve eaten was Angus-Jersey, the very best.

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T NEVER rains but it pours. Current affairs shows, freshwater reports and cyclones have all brought dark clouds to farming in the past week. I’ve seen a bit of anger, a bit of amusement and a bit of ambition in reaction to these things. It’s the latter we should focus on. We need to ask the question: what do we want for our industry? To me, the answer is that we want a sustainable, high-producing sector that our nation is proud of. To achieve that we need to make sure we’re doing things right onfarm and throughout the supply chain. That means treating the environment with respect and having good plans to mitigate the damage we cause. It means treating animals with respect and dignity. And it means providing a career pathway for those others who work the land. If we get those things right, good things will follow. Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston thinks New Zealanders are ready to hear positive stories about farming. I think he’s right and it’s pleasing that industry leaders are working together to try to make that happen. We can’t get into an argument with those who attack farming. What we can do is decide on our story and tell it with conviction. We shouldn’t be ashamed of the fact we grow food. Yes, we need to acknowledge the impact of farming on the environment and be crystal clear about the lengths the industry is going to to address them. Last week’s scientific analysis from the Prime Minister’s science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman was clear that agriculture plays its part in freshwater degradation. So what are we doing about this and how are we passing on that information to our customers and our country? This is not about pointing fingers. If everyone involved in farming can get up in the morning and look in the mirror proudly, we’ll be okay.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Crops and bees need protection Tonde Kaitano

N RECENT years bee health has become a primary concern in New Zealand and around the globe – largely as the result of an increasingly widespread and false belief that honey bee and hive numbers are on the decline. In fact, the opposite is true, with populations generally remaining stable or increasing, especially in countries such as NZ where the value of honey as an export commodity has risen significantly. The forces with the potential to negatively impact on bee populations are many and varied – ranging from bad weather to parasites and diseases through to the deployment of poor farming and beekeeping practices. Undoubtedly, though, it’s the use of pesticides and crop protection products, particularly neonicotinoids, which are at the heart of the debate – often highlighted by environmental advocacy groups and nongovernment organisations and, thus, a focal point for public scrutiny. These groups are not just concerned about the direct lethality of these chemicals but also their potential to affect key behaviours such as homing ability and foraging, which might ultimately lead to the death of a colony. In light of the intense discussion taking place, it’s no surprise numerous research studies and reports have been devoted to determining the impact the chemicals might have on bee populations. Though some neonicotinoids are inherently toxic to bees, the potential for harm is greatly dependent on the method of application and concentration at which bees are exposed to these substances. The core findings from these studies and reports can be summarised as follows: • Under realistic field conditions, where application is done in accordance with specified dosage recommendations, both seed-treatment and foliar treatment methods resulted in

BALANCING ACT: Getting the balance between crop and pollinator protection right is crucial. Photo: David Alexander

The

Pulpit

chemical residue and exposure levels consistently below that which might be considered harmful to bee colonies. • The studies that signalled any adverse effects were generally done under unrealistic exposure conditions, ie, within a laboratory setting, using higher

dosage rates than recommended or with forced feeding. • Some reports would even appear to illustrate that neonicotinoids might be beneficial to bee health, with findings from the 2014 Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) indicating their use leads to an overall reduction of disease and pest risks to the wider ecosystem. On the basis of information available to it, the APVMA is of the view that the introduction of neonicotinoids has led to an overall reduction in the risks to the agricultural environment from the application of insecticides. This view is also balanced with the advice that Australian honeybee populations are not in decline, despite the increased use of this group of insecticides in agriculture and horticulture since the mid 1990s. Insect pollination is very important to modern agriculture with an estimated annual value to the global economy of

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US$235-577 billion (IPBES Report, 2016). Honey bees (Apis mellifera) have a special place among agricultural pollinators because they form large colonies and can be managed with relative ease. Crop protection is just as vital, however. Up to 40% of total global crops are lost each year to plant pests and diseases – a figure that could almost double without the use of pesticides. Therefore, striking the balance between crop and pollinator protection is crucial, which is why every crop protection product that makes it to market is first subjected to years of testing, research and development costing, on average, USD $286 million, to ensure they are safe and meet the necessary standards. With reports suggesting honey bee numbers are on the rise – in fact, up 65% in the last 40 years – it falls to the agriculture sector as a whole to take responsibility for ensuring our products and practices continue to have a

GOOD HEALTH: Bayer New Zealand’s regulatory science manager, crop science, Tonde Kaitano says bee populations are not under threat from neonicotinoids that are properly applied.

minimal impact on the global bee population. These global results remind us that to optimise the health of both bees and the wider ecosystem the recommended and tested safety precautions on pest management products should and must be followed.

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Opinion

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Government sells out on the RMA I BELIEVE practical resource management legislation is vital for New Zealand. I remain, however, totally unconvinced the Resource Management Act, (RMA) “reform” passed by Parliament is anything other than an absolute crock. Though compromise is a reality of MMP the deal between the Government and the Maori Party is a total sellout by National. The harsh reality is that the RMA isn’t working and neither will the son of RMA that has just become law. Only last month we had the Productivity Commission saying the Resource Management Act should be scrapped and replaced with one law for both housing and the environment.

Iwi will become all-powerful in the resource management process and with it they will have the opportunity to slow things down and/ or clip the ticket.

In its 516-page report the commission said the system was complex, cumbersome and failed to respond to rising housing demand or adequately protect the environment. I agree with both points. Commission chairman Murray Sherwin said fixing the terminal problems of the RMA wasn’t just a

Alternative View

Alan Emerson

case of changing legislation as the Government is doing. So, my view is the RMA needs to go right back to the drawing board, cut a lot of the unnecessary bureaucracy and incorporate most of the commission’s recommendations. The most emotive part of the legislation and the part likely to cost the Government in the ballot box is the section on iwi consultation. It has all become exceedingly murky. RMA Minister Nick Smith told us none of the sections in the Bill gave iwi the power to decide resource consents. He then went on to contradict himself saying iwi had the right to be consulted over issues important to them, like water consents. The Maori Party is supporting the legislation because it secured better consultation with iwi. Co-leader Marama Fox told me the RMA should not be used to the detriment of the country’s natural and cultural taonga. “We’re confident that the gains we have advocated for will ensure there is a clearer balance around protecting papatuanuku,” she said. For the uninitiated, papatuanuku means the land, giving birth to all things

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INFLUENCE: Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox predicts considerable and ongoing influence over local government as a result of its deal with the Government on Resource Management Act reform.

including human-kind, it’s all encompassing. What that tells me is iwi will become all-powerful in the resource management process and with it they will have the opportunity to slow things down and/or clip the ticket. A group calling itself as the NZ Centre for Political Research published an open letter to Prime Minister Bill English urging him to stop the RMA legislation as drafted. It quoted constitutional lawyer and ex Act MP and National candidate Stephen Franks saying the Bill entrenches permanent race privilege and corruption. He went on to make the serious charge that the legislation would subordinate powers trusted to elected local governments, in deliberately obscure words, to racially inherit power beyond the reach of electoral recall. The document goes on to ask English what mandate the Government had for the radical changes.

All that was grist to the mill for NZ First leader and Northland MP Winston Peters who described the legislation as a step towards a separatist abyss while promising to repeal it after the election, if he could. He believed the Government should withdraw the Bill and fix it rather than go down the racebased pathway to apartheid. Simply, the RMA “reform” process has been an absolute mess, far more of a whimper than the promised roar. Farmers are right to be concerned with several areas of the new legislation. The first is that the new law gives the minister additional power to interfere in local decisions, which I don’t agree with. The second is a statement from Fox that if Maori had been at the local government table then “I’m damn sure that our rivers would not have degraded to the state that they are”. That tells me two things. One, that Fox has no idea of the general state of our rivers and maybe she’d like to start with the Heathcote and Avon. My second point is that,

according to Fox, the sting in the tail of Maori influence at local government level will be considerable and ongoing. My main concern is larger than just one minister and is the Government sellout to the Maori Party. Yes, it will boost the Maori Party’s profile and votes in the coming election and, yes, it will hurt National’s main opposition, Labour. The problem I have is that in achieving that cheap electoral gain the Government has sold out both the majority of NZ voters and a workable resource management process. It will be interesting to see if that will show in the upcoming election.

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

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Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Climate change issue won’t go away GLOBE-NZ, a group of 35 MPs from all the main parties, has released a report by British firm Vivid Economics that lays out various scenarios for New Zealand to meet the target of zero emissions by 2050. Business NZ and the Sustainable Business Council have both welcomed the crossparty initiative, saying it gives confidence there will be collective and co-ordinated action towards meeting the target. It will also help to achieve commitments under the 2030 Paris climate change agreement to reduce emissions to 20% below the 2005 level. The report, Net Zero in NZ, acknowledges this country’s unique characteristics: a significant amount of renewable energy, large share of land sector emissions (methane from sheep and cattle) and a large forestry sector. Biological emissions from pastoral agriculture represent almost 50% of NZ’s gross emissions, more than any other developed country. Forestry provides great carbon sequestration potential, now 30% of gross emissions, but much of the sector is in private ownership which makes it susceptible to commercial pressures. Vivid presents three scenarios, the first of which, named Off Track NZ, exploits low-cost reduction technologies without significantly cutting agricultural production and consequently does not meet the zero emissions target. The other two scenarios, named Innovative NZ and Resourceful NZ, meet the target in different ways. The first implies a 25-30%

Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

reduction in livestock numbers and a shift away from pastoral to arable, horticulture and forestry while the second envisages an even greater transition to forestry with an extra 1.6 million hectares. The report notes apologetically that might entail a difficult transition for rural economies. It also acknowledges the risk of a reduction of NZ’s food production being offset by greater and less environmentally efficient production elsewhere. But it then poses another, more positive outcome as the world changes systems to meet emission targets, which sees “substantial changes in the global patterns of food consumption and production. These could include reducing losses and waste in the supply chain, changing diets from animal products to plant-based food with equivalent protein content and a reduction in overconsumption.: Pigs might fly is a tempting reaction to at least two of those changes. The conclusions are quite simple: reducing emissions will involve major changes to energy supply and use, including an increase from 70% to 100% renewable, vehicle electrification, heat sources, substantial land use changes and afforestation with the

TREND: Statistics show the sheep and beef sector will probably achieve 2050 emissions reduction targets.

benefit of new technologies. The final conclusion is the need for different strategies in the second half of the 21st century in the event further emissions reductions are required because, by then, forestry will have delivered most of its benefits. Based on these conclusions Vivid’s report makes six recommendations to enable achievement of the carbonneutral target: a significantly higher emissions price than today’s Emissions Trading Scheme value to discourage investment in high-emissions infrastructure, inclusion of agriculture in the ETS, a change in regulatory arrangements and market support (subsidies?), further global investment in lowemissions technologies, political co-operation and independent institutions responsible for developing climate change policies. This report clearly has no formal standing and there is no guarantee the present or any

future government will implement or initiate further work on the recommendations. But it is logical to expect moves in the general direction indicated, either as recognition the Paris target has no chance of being attained without significant change or in the event of a Labour/Greens government, which would almost certainly have no compunction about including agriculture in the ETS. It is always tempting to use averages and coarse statistics but in NZ agriculture’s case the specifics show sheep and prime beef have declined by about 25% and 20% respectively while dairy cows have increased by a similar percentage over the last 10 years. This suggests the sheep and beef sector will achieve the target of its own accord by 2050 without government encouragement, though an increase in farmer income would, of course, be welcome. However, nothing positive will happen without leadership from both government and industry.

It isn’t enough to adopt farreaching recommendations or regulations that expect farmers to reduce herd and flock size without a compensatory replacement of income. This is presumably where market support would be necessary to avoid thousands of insolvencies, accompanied by a collapse in farm values, unless compensated for by mass forestry plantations. The report sees opportunities in agriculture such as improving low-performing farms, breeding lower-emissions livestock and taking advantage of new feeds, all of which have been talked of before. This brings me back to leadership. The Government must engage with the sector to develop a workable strategy which will gain the commitment of all participants and agree to a course of action consistent with NZ’s global obligations. The Globe-NZ group is the first constructive attempt to avoid party politics but it requires a mandate to continue its work. It is essential that Beef + Lamb NZ and DairyNZ develop their respective positions on this issue; otherwise the sectors might end up being forced to comply unwillingly with decisions made by others. The climate change debate won’t disappear so the Government will have to act.

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

Show filmed and cut to fit biased agenda MOST of us in the rural sector who watched the Sunday programme The True Price of Milk were angry and incensed with its handling of the subject. Yet the promo was pitched as “the farmers’ side of the story”. It followed on from TV1’s excellent Country Calendar, which it does well and is a terrific vehicle for informing urban people of the good things and great stories in rural New Zealand. Cameron Bennett, who has been one of our best investigative journalists, came out of retirement and likely feels he gave a sympathetic and sensitive handling of his subject. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that in his naivety and ignorance he had no idea that his researcher and producers served him up with a dairy farmer who shouldn’t have been selected and should never have agreed to represent his industry. They claim they chose him as the “quintessential kiwi cocky to give the farmers’ perspective”. Given that we now live in the 21st century, the quintessential kiwi cocky is a fast-disappearing species and lives mostly in the minds of biased television executives.

They set him up badly by editing his footage to suit their agenda. They should now have a duty of care to hep him deal with the exposure they brought upon him. There was no doubt the first dairy farmer was an amiable and well-meaning fellow with a desire to help but he was an unsophisticated man and his farm, coming out of one of the wettest winters ever into a miserable spring, was not a good look. Every shot showed mud, skinny cows, mess and dark skies. They then selected an articulate and intelligent woman to show an alternative reality on her organic farm just up the road. But she or the producers were clever enough to not film her herd in that awful spring but in summer when the skies were sunny and the flowers in the fields were blooming. She told us her husband was a builder doing nine to 10 hour days, giving them the ability to farm as they wished with their small herd. No doubt her farm also has had stillborn calves, cows needing help to calve and has effluent ponds but the streaming sunshine showed none of that. Perhaps

From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

her farm has also had a beast put down or even butchered by the local home kill man but the show’s producers wanted that to be seen on the other property. It will be interesting to see if WorkSafe pursues Bennett for illegally and dangerously sitting on the guard of a moving tractor. If they don’t, I would like to know why the double standard exists. The killing and butchering of the heifer had absolutely no relevance to the story line, The True Price of Milk, and was inserted into the finale purely as a shock tactic to cement the story line to the urban audience that we in the rural sector are a barbaric lot intent on ruining the environment. Neither of these farms are representative of most dairy farms. I’m told the programme

filmed a couple of other farms including a Ballance Farm Environment Award-winning one but chose not to use that footage. They also interviewed industry spokespeople but that too fell

I’ve made a complaint to TVNZ on the grounds of lack of balance, accuracy and fairness.

on the cutting room floor. No doubt none of it backed up the programme’s bias. Statements from Bennett like “All over the country farmers are maximising every bit of arable land. This is part of the Government s goal to double agricultural output by 2025” is just plain wrong. We all know of the great work in riparian planting of streams, retirements and the goal is to double export value not production, which is quite a different matter.

It’s about adding value Cameron. Get your facts right. So, what to do? I’ve made a complaint to TVNZ on the grounds of lack of balance, accuracy and fairness. They will sit on the complaint until middle of May before having to respond, at which time I will be able to take a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority. They will probably take many months before deciding and at best issuing a slap with a wet bus ticket. Here’s something you can do that will have a better and more immediate effect. Show sponsor Mazda NZ to me it has no editorial control of the programme. But they do have the ability to hit TVNZ where it will hurt most - in the pocket. Get in touch with Mazda and let them know of your displeasure. In the meantime, all of us, city and country need to continue to lift our game in how we treat the environment and work together on this challenge rather than being distracted by folk who have a myopic, hypocritical and biased view and who, for their own purposes, try to drive a wedge between us.

Opinion

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Programme slant all about ratings WHAT a week for farming. We lose the Kiwi bloke who gave us a real connection to the humorous side of rural New Zealand and with his satire would have done more to bridge the urban-rural gap in his era than any modern advertising campaign or positive story could ever do in today’s hostile climate. RIP John Clarke, aka Fred Dagg. On top of that has been the portrayal of the dairy industry by the current affairs programme Sunday. Many questions have been asked and I won’t go into the rights and wrongs of the farming practices shown but more about the personalities and agendas that came into play over this poor depiction of dairy farming. Let’s start with presenter Cameron Bennett. Was he a naive Auckland journalist who headed out into the wilderness as his defence of the programme on social media would have you believe after the backlash by many farmers disgusted at the content? I say no. Neither Bennett nor his team are as naive about rural

The Voice

Craig Wiggins

NZ as they make out. They have form. The series of green biased programmes such as the story on the Selwyn River and others have all featured the right people to be confronting and controversial. That, in turn, raises the profiles of the programme and presenters in an industry where the battle for ratings and advertising is paramount for longevity. That is the single driving factor of any current affairs programme. Ratings equal advertising sales and financial success for channel and all involved in its making. That comes at the expense of anyone who thinks these programmes portray the truth. Now we look at the farmers; Flinty was an uncomplicated man

who thought he could do his bit to tell the tale of a hard-working dairy farmer battling the worst elements on a budget that has been halved. I ask, was the full story shown by those who have the ultimate power in the editing suite? I suggest not. The time of year and conditions shown where definitely not comparable with the organic farm also featured. The naivety and inexperience in dealing with the media of this farmer fell right into the hands of the controversial topic Sunday wanted to escalate. Jasmine Purnell, the organic farmer, fell right into the bias that Sunday has. A feel-good version of sustainable farming they thought – big fluffy cows, summer growth, sunshine, a stroll out to get the cows. Surely this must be the answer. Well, sorry, not if you want to survive. I suggest the husband’s building business that she states he works 10 hours a day does more to support the family unit than the Sunday programme would have wanted to show. I

NAIVE OR BIASED: Cameron Bennett has come under fire for his portrayal of dairy farming.

commend her passion for the way she does things but in this programme the gun was loaded against dairying by Sunday and she pulled the trigger. The effect was exactly what Sunday wanted – it enraged and engaged the public as it battles with ratings. They are the only winners in this. Flinty is not, dairying and NZ Inc is not and neither are the viewers who watched this documentary and believe that’s a typical and an

unbiased view of the real story behind milk. So what do we do now? Take a look at the stories I have filmed on the Farmers Weekly Facebook page under the title The Farmers Voice. Real farming stories from real farmers. Share them on your social media pages. If you really want to make a difference, hit the share button on anything positive. We are at a point now where we need to control our own destiny.

READ IT FIRST.

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World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Farmers hit back at dairy slur FARMERS in Britain have been urged to kick start the conversation into the truth behind food production following the recent attack on dairy farming. Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board dairy chairman Gwyn Jones issued the call following a media frenzy surrounding images published in the Daily Mail of calves housed in hutches at Grange Dairy, East Chaldon, Dorset. A piece in the Guardian newspaper was entitled “Dairy is scary”. “The public are waking up to the darkest part of farming” quickly followed. Animal rights campaigners likened the housing, which AHDB said was seen as one of the best systems of calf rearing, to a battery farm for calves. A few days later, Somerset dairy farmer Justin Birch was targeted by activists who released more than 45 calves from their hutches. “People will claim to have animal rights at heart but actually they are putting them in danger,” he said. Other farmers feared similar attacks on their livestock. But Jones said the furore could be used as an opportunity to educate consumers on how food was produced. “The problem is the person who wrote that piece (in the Guardian) is a vegan so, obviously, you are going to have a vegan point of view, who does not worry about the facts and figures

because it will ruin his piece. “But actually I think it has worked in our advantage because now we can start calling for the real debate on how food is produced. “We have to come out now to confront some of this nonsense.” A joint industry statement from Dairy United Kingdom, AHDB Dairy, the National Farmers Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance and the Country Land and Business Association echoed Jones’ call and encouraged shoppers to visit a farm and talk to a farmer to learn the truth behind dairy farming. Grange Dairy farm partner Nick Cobb said the farm had successfully passed spot audits and had been in liaison with Marks and Spencer and its milk buyer over the matter with no concerns over animal welfare. Meanwhile, vegans and activists continued to use city centre billboards and national newspaper advertising to convey the message “dairy is scary”. North London cafe, The Fields Beneath, used Mothering Sunday (March 25) as a marketing tool to “ditch dairy”. A banner read: “Happy Mother’s Day? She gets pregnant. She has baby cow. She makes milk. We kill baby cow. We get milk. Every year.” NFU dairy board chairman Michael Oakes said he initially

CONTROVERSY: One of the pictures taken by Animal Equality UK that has sparked a row in Britain about dairy farming.

thought the advert was a spoof. He urged farmers to reinforce the positives of dairy, something the industry should be proud of. “There a lots of good things and lots of positives to dairy farming but the industry needs to work together to get the message out there.

“It is very disheartening when we know how hard we work to protect the welfare of our animals.” Jones urged the industry to be better co-ordinated and better prepared for a likely next attack. The Fields Beneath owner Gavin Fernback said “We do

consider what farmers are putting out there and it is nothing personal against them. They are not bad people. “But there is a disconnect between how farmers love animals and how we love animals. Vegans help challenge that missing link.” UK Farmers Guardian

Supermarket chain stands by its suppliers SUPERMARKET Marks and Spencer will stand by one of its dairy suppliers after a series of media articles wrongly accused the farmer of cruelty. The retailer issued a strongly worded statement that said no animal’s well-being had been compromised on the farm and reinforced its solidarity with United Kingdom agriculture and dairy farming, adding it was not the time for knee-jerk reactions. J F Cobb and Sons had been accused by charity Animal Equality UK on March 28 of mistreating calves, which were housed in rows of pens. The farm had breached the rules by keeping calves slightly older than eight weeks in hutches. The story was seized on by national newspapers, which ran headlines describing condition the calves were being kept in as “shocking” and “heartbreaking”. The Guardian published an article entitled Dairy is scary: the public are waking up to the darkest part of farming, which made a host of misleading and false claims about the dairy industry. But, the supermarket, which bought 136,000 litres of milk a week from Cobb, said it immediately inspected the calves on the Grange Dairy site and found there was no distress

OUTCRY: Accusations of animal cruelty were levelled after Animal Equality UK showed pictures of rows of calf hutches on a British dairy farm.

among any of the animals. It also asked the RSPCA to inspect all 40 of its dairy farms. Following a full inspection of the site, Dorset County Council trading standards department also agreed there was no evidence of any breaches of welfare requirements. M&S said any calves over eight

weeks of age should not be housed in hutches but in this instance it had been one mistake by a trusted supplier. Some of the calves in hutches were believed to be slightly over this age, contravening the law. “If a trusted supplier makes a mistake we believe it is right

to stick with them, help them to rectify the issues and, in turn, make them a more robust business.” M&S said. “Severing links with suppliers can devastate communities and industries. “That is not the way we do business. “Farming is a complex business

that relies on a delicate financial and moral equilibrium between farmers, retailers and consumers. “This is a reality of modern business. “If this balance occasionally and unwittingly tilts in the wrong direction, it is our duty as one of the UK’s biggest retailers to help put this right. “But there is a wider issue at play. “British farming is in a precarious position. “The number of dairy producers in England and Wales has fallen dramatically and yet the UK dairy industry accounts for around 18% of UK agricultural production by value. “As a British retailer, it is right that we support this vital sector. “We stand by our farmers and we stand by British farming. When mistakes are made, we deal with them. “We don’t shirk from our responsibilities because, ultimately, we believe that working together with our suppliers for the long term is for the greater good and drives better results. “And better results at M&S mean excellent animal welfare, higher farming standards and amazing quality products for our customers,” it said. UK Farmers Weekly

World

32 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

Kiwi lamb again upsets UK farmers SUPERMARKETS in Britain are still stocking large volumes of imported lamb from New Zealand despite local lamb being at its most abundant in the run-up to Easter. And farmers were being encouraged to visit local supermarkets to check what lamb was on shelves and tweet their findings with the hashtag #lambcheck. At the start of March, the National Farmers Union Scotland’s secret “shelfwatch”, a union survey that checked Scottish supermarkets for homeproduced lamb, found huge variations in support for British lamb across retailers. More than a month later its members were reporting the situation had not improved. The NFUS asked its members to report back on the origin of lamb products stocked at their local supermarkets and the union said they had “not got off to a good start”. NFU Scotland members found Tesco stores were still stocking a high percentage of imported lamb, especially NZ lamb, on the fresh meat shelves. There were examples of NZ lamb on shelves below a banner proclaiming “Fresh Scottish meat”. In addition, commingling of home-produced and imported lamb was making it difficult for shoppers to make informed choices to buy Scottish.

UNFAIR: British farmers are complaining not just that New Zealand lamb is on sale in Britain but that it is being promoted on special against local lamb.

For instance, almost the entire stock of fresh lamb at a Tesco store in Oban – 90% – was found to be from NZ while in its store in Perth every single leg of lamb was imported.

It was a similar story in an Asda store in Trenant, where 100% of lamb legs were imported. Results were better at its store in Ayr with two-thirds of its fresh lamb offering being sourced from

Britain but none of it came from Scotland. South of the border an Asda store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, had widespread commingling of United Kingdom and NZ lamb.

Furthermore, there was a price promotion for NZ leg of lamb under its Butcher’s Selection range, reduced from £6.99/kg to £5/kg, with Welsh leg of lamb stocked on the same shelf but not in the promotion. In the Forfar branch of Lidl, NZ lamb and Danish pork were being stocked in a chiller unit under Scottish branding though the store was also stocking Scottish chops. NFUS said there was no excuse for supermarkets stocking such high levels of imported meat at this time of year because Scottish lamb production traditionally fell towards the start of spring. Scottish farmers said they produced enough lamb to meet year-round demand in Scotland. The early results of the NFUS Shelfwatch revealed Marks and Spencer, Aldi and Lidl stocked the highest proportion of British and Scottish lamb. Morrisons was singled out for concern as the long-standing supporter of British farmers was found to have a “worrying” amount of imported lamb available. But on a spot check at the Sutton branch of Morrisons found a vastly improved situation. All the fresh lamb stocked was British and clearly labelled as such both on the packet and on prominent shelf banners. NFUS was expected to reveal the full findings of its Shelfwatch campaign soon. UK Farmers Weekly

Bobby calves set beef v dairy THE contentious bobby calf dairy trade in Australia appears doomed under a dramatic push by the beef industry. Beef leaders kicked off a campaign to stamp out the practice of selling male dairy calves at five days old. Instead, they wanted a minimum age, possibly three months, or weight limit before calves could leave a farm for slaughter. The move heightened tensions between the dairy and beef industries with dairy farmers saying they would struggle with the cost of keeping calves longer. The move by the Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group, with the knowledge of the Cattle Council of Australia, was believed to be the first time one sector had moved to force standards on another farm sector. “The industry needs to change the way it handles bobby calves,” VFF livestock group president Leonard Vallance said. “We want to improve animal welfare and increase production in the cattle industry.” Vallance would not confirm his group was seeking a minimum age or weight standard for bobby calves, only that he thought they must be “robust”. “It’s not dairy policy, it’s meat industry policy … the minute they stop milking them, they belong to the beef trade,” he said.

Vallance, a former chairman of meat industry regulator PrimeSafe, was expected to meet the United Dairy farmers of Victoria soon to discuss an industry-driven review of the cattle supply chain. There were fears changing the rules around bobby calves could lead to an increase in the number of bobby calves destroyed onfarm. Dairy farmers said some breeds of calves, such as Jerseys, were sold at a loss at five days of age. Keeping them longer without any market demand would be unprofitable, they said. Others said it would be impossible to accommodate double the number of calves onfarm. “My calf shed is full now, plus the extra labour and cost,” one dairy farmer said. “It just can’t happen without a market for them,” another said. UDV president Adam Jenkins said the dairy industry was constantly reviewing its role in bobby calf welfare. “The industry is best practice now but we can always improve,” Jenkins said. It was believed the VFF Livestock Group’s proposal to review the standards for bobby calves had the in-principle support of Cattle Council of Australia chief executive Duncan Bremner. Last week Bremner, with Vallance and senior federal

government bureaucrats, visited Midfield Meats in Warrnambool and the Union Station dairy farm in western Victoria. Both businesses were owned by Colin McKenna. Midfield was one of Victoria’s biggest abattoirs. McKenna’s dairy farm reared Holstein bull calves that were then backgrounded (raised on pasture and forage) elsewhere to be killed at about 550kg liveweight at about 16 months old. McKenna said he was unaware of the VFF Livestock Group’s bobby calf plan. He said there was a market for Holstein bull calves as long as dairy farmers reared them properly. “They have to be a minimum 140kg when they go for backgrounding,” he said. Bremner said the party visited the McKenna farm to “talk about some of the contentious issues” in the livestock industry. “(That includes) what happens with the bull calves and how we cater to what the producer is looking for. This is about highlighting what’s best for the producer, what’s best for the consumer and what’s best for everybody in between,” Bremner said. Arguments put forward for growing bobby calves beyond the existing five-day minimum age included: • Increased throughput in under-used abattoirs;

STANDARD: Australian beef farmers have yet to confirm they want minimum age and weight limits before bobby calves can be moved from dairy farms.

•

Developing a new market for the dairy beef and calf rearing trade; • Improved animal welfare and reduced biosecurity risk; • Reduced risk of antibiotic residue in Australian beef and; • Increased access to global markets. But Jenkins said any change would require strong industry consultation. “We aim to always be ahead of the curve and the dairy and livestock industries can work together for that.”

There was always interest in bobby-calf welfare from animal groups. Those groups were consulted when welfare changes were made, pointing to recent industryled phasing out of calving induction. The Victorian Government, Animals Australia and RSPCA Victoria said they did not know of a review of bobby calf standards. The RSPCA has previously promoted the consumption of veal as a way to improve bobby calf welfare.

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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.

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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.

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.

www.bayleys.co.nz

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59 HECTARES AT TIKORANGI

Taranaki

29 Snell Road, Tikorangi

Tenders Close 1pm,

The opportunity to secure 59 hectares in the highly sought after Tikorangi district is available. Situated on the corner of Snell and Inland North Road the Fonterra supply property is for sale with an end of June settlement subject to Title. Only 3.5 kilometres from Tikorangi School and local sports club the farm includes an attractive low maintenance four bedroom home set amongst established trees and garden. The dairy shed is a 28 bail rotary with an in-shed feed system, two 16 tonne silos plus feed pad. Additional improvements include an underpass crossing Snell Road for easy management, concrete silage bunkers and a number of hay and storage sheds with water provided via mains supply.

Wed 10 May 2017, 81 Powderham Street, New Plymouth

The farm is in a prime location with two titles providing options.

’MIDWAY FARM’ - 81.13 HECTARES

View 11-12pm, Wed 19 & 26 Apr & 3 May www.bayleys.co.nz/522347

Mark Monckton

Michael Sanger

M 021 724 833 B 06 759 5284 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz

M 027 235 7546 B 06 759 5283 michael.sanger@bayleys.co.nz

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

Darfield, Canterbury

2915 West Coast Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

This very well-located arable farm is fully irrigated, currently from well water, but has joined the C.P.W. irrigation Scheme Stage Two. Irrigation is via a centre pivot, Ocmis boom and Turborainer. It has good quality soils, allowing good results from all crops grown, which has included potatoes, maize, kale, cereals and specialist seed varieties. Nitrogen loss to groundwater is 38kg/ha per annum. The property has fantastic shedding, with large sheds and silos for handling and storing crops. These sheds could also suit a number of different farming or business uses. The three-bedroom homestead is set in mature gardens. Situated approximately five minutes drive from Darfield township, schools, sports clubs and amenities, 30 minutes from Christchurch International Airport and is handy to skifields and lakes for recreation.

Thurs 11 May 2017 (unless sold prior)

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554519

Ben Turner

Mike Adamson

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

M 027 221 1909 B 03 375 4700 mike.adamson@bayleys.co.nz

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

A high-producing unit.

www.bayleys.co.nz

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

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

READY TO TAKE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Motonui Station, Elsthorpe, Hawke’s Bay

240HA ON THREE TITLES

Located near the strong Elsthorpe community, Motonui Station is a

Deadline Sale 4pm,

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

well balanced 751ha breeding/finishing property. It’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, grazing management and workability is a real strength. Other

17 Napier Road, Havelock North

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/2800647

Tony Rasmussen

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

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.

desirable Station, capable of finishing large numbers of livestock.

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

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 M 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

and sheep yards. Stock water derives from natural creeks, dams and Tim Wynne-Lewis some spring water sourced troughs. Ideal additional finishing land, first farm or retirement block, with the building and title options adding the extra opportunity for lifestyle.

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

The vendor has purchased another property, providing this fantastic

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opportunity.

WATERFRONT RETREAT 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

30 Gilbert Road, Pukearuhe, Taranaki

LARGE DAIRY FARM/GRAZING BLOCK

Tenders Close 1pm,

Our genuine vendors would like to sell 85.66ha FH and 65.96ha

Tues 9 May 2017, 81 Powderham Street, New Plymouth

424 Upper Pitone Road, Okato, Taranaki

WCL (more or less) of their farm (being 151.6ha in total). A further 42.91ha FH could potentially be added.

For Sale by negotiation View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/522345

views encompass the Taranaki Bight, Mount Taranaki and

View 11am-12pm, Tues 18 & 25 Apr

The contour of this farm has some good areas of flat mixed with

John Blundell

surrounding farmland. Access to the beach is walking distance from

www.bayleys.co.nz/522298

steeper sidlings. Currently the farm is used to milk cows, graze

M 027 240 2827 B 06 759 5195 john.blundell@bayleys.co.nz

the property with boat launching available for water enthusiasts. The

Mark Monckton

supplements and grazing to a local farmer.

M 021 724 833 B 06 759 5284 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz

With spectacular views the options are available to secure a place

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

easy contoured land is currently utilized as a support block providing

replacements and run beef cattle. The races are generally wide and in great condition. There is a tidy 18 aside herringbone shed and ample other farm sheds. A very nice four bedroom home with a double garage and a second

to retreat and experience the outdoors or utilize as a smaller

three bedroom home which is in tidy condition compliments this

grazing unit.

property.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

Mark Monckton M 021 724 833 B 06 759 5284 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

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GLENGARRY

Okuku

PRODUCTIVE NORTH CANTERBURY UNIT

787 Birch Hill Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

459 Inland Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

240 hectares of fertile flats being exceptionally well sheltered from

Thurs 11 May 2017 (unless sold prior)

’Leebrook’ is a 156ha fully diversified property with good productive

Thurs 18 May 2017 (unless sold prior)

numerous shelter belts planted, subdivided into 39 paddocks with stock water in all, irrigation water rights for 76 liters/sec from two low pressure rotor rainers and side roll irrigation covering approximately 160 hectares. It has been in the same family for 54 years and has run over 4000 stock units in the past, scaled down to approximately 2400 stock units. Being close to the foothills it has a reliable rainfall of 850mm plus irrigation. Good range of farm

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554302

Lex Chapman M 027 433 1552 B 03 311 8020 lex.chapman@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

soils, reasonable annual rainfall and approximately 68% irrigated by centre pivot and Ocmis gun, with a 60 litre/sec consent. Almost the whole property has been re-grassed in the last three years and with an increase in fertiliser application, has resulted in highly productive pastures. The property is currently grazing sheep and dairy cows. Shedding and fencing are very good and there is a new set of cattle yards.

buildings, modernised four bedroom homestead in a mature private

The homestead is a four-bedroom, two-storey Oamaru-stone home in

setting plus a three bedroom cottage. Ideal finishing and fattening

landscaped gardens with fantastic views of the property and

block or potential dairy support block.

surrounds.

Waiau, North Canterbury

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/554493

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

Mike Adamson M 027 221 1909 mike.adamson@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

A very productive and attractive property.

Dunsandel, Central Canterbury

ONE OF NZ’S BEST RIGHT HERE

Timaru Surrounds

LOW-COST WATER, HEALTHY SOILS

1199 Pareora River Road

For Sale $3,500,000

245 Coaltrack Road

Deadline Sale 4pm,

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

plus GST (if any)

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

Fri 28 Apr 2017 (unless sold prior)

www.bayleys.co.nz/552287

focused on soil health to set the base for long-term productivity and

rural history, on 17 acres of park-like grounds on the outskirts of Timaru. The current owners have completely and meticulously renovated and fully refurbished while successfully maintaining the original ambiance. The property is offered with quality high end furnishings through out. The core structure has been fully strengthened, roof re-tiled with original Marseilles tiles, fireplaces

View by appointment Sue Morton M 027 600 5777 B 03 687 1227 sue.morton@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

the basis of this cost-effective 136ha dairy farm. Our Vendors have 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

relined and strengthened, new wiring and water reticulation

provides ease of operation. Irrigated by one centre pivot, one lateral

throughout. A full commercial kitchen installed, with diesel fired

and two rotorainers, balance by sprinklers. There is a large, modern

central heating for the ten bedrooms and six remodeled bathrooms,

family home, three-bedroom cottage and two self-contained units. In

new carpet throughout. The homestead is fully compliant with current

two titles, with an option to purchase separately.

building code. A wonderful home, lovingly restored.

www.bayleys.co.nz

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

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 17, 2017

French Farm, Banks Peninsula

WHEN YOU VALUE PRIVACY - 222HA In a most picturesque location, this 222ha hill country grazing

Deadline Sale

property provides numerous attributes from recreation and relaxation, to grazing and tourism. Originally known as "The Hunts

SCALE, SCOPE, OPPORTUNITY 4pm,

Fri 5 May 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 several springs and creeks, complemented by a good rainfall. 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

hour’s drive from Christchurch and close to the Inner Harbour

761 Mt Nessing Road

Deadline Sale

Aorangi Downs is a 527 hectare cropping, grazing and finishing

Thurs 4 May 2017

an exceptional set of cattle yards complimented with a Te Pari cattle handler and scales. There are also three 250 tonne silos to handle

the Albury water scheme. Multiple contractors using the consented

Kurt Snook

rotten rock quarry give an additional income. The 300m² brick

M 027 256 0449 B 03 687 1227

Peak and beyond has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living

amenities, cafés, boat ramps and the golf course, it has all the

areas, office and large mudroom. There is an exceptional duck pond

ingredients needed for a retreat or an adjunct to an existing farming

that creates an opportunity for some play time. These vendors are

operation. A unique property with a bright future.

excited about moving on to their next venture.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

Rural

www.bayleys.co.nz/554321

Noel May

shed/workshop with three phase power. Stock water is supplied via

homestead with spectacular views over the Fairlie Basin to Fox’s

1pm,

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

the 200 hectare cropping operation, and a 30 x 12m implement

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

Albury

property with a four stand raised board woolshed and covered yards,

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

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

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

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

www.bayleys.co.nz

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

189ha Dairy or Dry Stock Farm, Only 2km to Westport Ray White Rural is proud to offer for the first time in 43 years this diverse, mixed country property, with potential to further develop.

• 189ha (467 acres) on the southern banks of the Buller River • Conservatively farmed as a dairy unit milking 150 cows Purchase whole property or: 83ha home farm, 27ha terrace, 15ha cutover pine block, 24ha development and a 4ha bare block.

Expressions of Interest

Closing Tuesday 9 May 2017 4pm Martin Jack 0272 467 762 raywhite.co.nz Property ID WST21277 Landmark Real Estate West Coast Ltd. Licensed under REAA (2008)

Ray White Rural Westport

WES001

‘Buller Bridge Farm’, Lower Buller Gorge, Westport

farmersweekly.co.nz

THE NEW ADDRESS FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE Stay up-to-date with the real estate market with

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colliers.co.nz

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Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

CHOICE TE ANAU PROPERTY

OTAGO COASTAL PROPERTY

NEW LISTING

KURI PARK 1020 TAIERI MOUTH, KURI BUSH

DEADLINE SALE, 163.0477 HA FH

• 1020 Taieri Mouth Road, and 189 Otakia-Kuri Bush Road being only 22km from Dunedin City • 249ha can be purchased as one unit or possible subdivision and building opportunities • Multiple titles and excellent building sites give purchasers purchasing options • Stunning coastal property with flat and rolling land providing excellent grazing for both sheep and cattle • Large four-bedroom homestead with kitchen and dining area, living room, lounge, billiard room, family bathroom, separate shower room, two toilets, laundry, in garden setting • Farm building include 3 stand woolshed, 7 bay implement shed and 2 hay barns • The combination of breath-taking coastal views along with quality pastures as well as native bush gullies makes this property something special For Sale By Deadline Private Treaty Closing 3rd May 2017 at 12 Noon

• • •

Main highway frontage approximately 16km from Te Anau. Well known for its reliability and productivity this property has a strong balance of soils, easy shape and layout providing a good base with room to diversify. Normally winters 1220 breeding units. 350 ewe hoggets, 40 MA cattle, and this season 85% of lambs have gone at 18.39kg. Three stand raised board woolshed, cattle yards plus a full range of other well maintained buildings. The modernised bungalow home comprises three bedrooms, open plan kitchen/living, adjoining conservatory, garage and double carport. Situated on a sunny and elevated site with established surrounds.

Deadline Sale closing 4.00pm, Wednesday 31st May 2017. Web Ref SWI834

DALLAS LUCAS p 03 231 3014 m 0274 325 774 e dallas.lucas@swre.co.nz

MICHELLE LUCAS p 03 218 2795 m 0275 640 737 e michelle.lucas@swre.co.nz

AD0087025

ON BEHALF OF PADDY & ROBYN WARD •

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Web Ref SWDR1226

Hargest House, Level One, 62 Deveron Street, Invercargill 9810 p 03 218 2795 f 03 214 0872 e southland@swre.co.nz

RAY KEAN M: 0274 357 478

DOUG WARHURST M: 0274 660 247

ANDREW BOOTH M: 0275 759 256

AD0087034

21 Macandrew Road Dunedin 9012 p 03 466 3105

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

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

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

AD0086845

EXCEPTIONAL MID-CANTERBURY PROPERTY

THE ADDRESS FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE Stay up-to-date with the real estate market.

2087RE

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

RURAL rural@propertybrokers.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

At Tokoroa

The Ford

WEB ID TPR54579 TOKOROA 48 West Road View By Appointment A top tier production unit - 71.47 hectares in two titles. Milking 200 Jersey cows (wintered on-farm) doing 89,000 KG/MS average. 24 Aside Herringbone shed built new 8 years ago. Two houses - 3 kilometres from town.

BY NEGOTIATION

WEB ID TPR54978 WHAKAMARU 70 Ford Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Monday 1st May, 2017 at 4.00pm, 308 hectares - 285 ha effective milking 580 cows through a 50 ASHB shed + 90 young stock. Four homes (unless sold prior) 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 SALE

Deadline Treaty 1st May 2017. Possession is 1st June 2017.

Paul O'Sullivan

4 Paul O'Sullivan

Mobile 027 496 4417 paulo@propertybrokers.co.nz

Haunui - 743 ha

Twin Rivers

FINAL NOTICE

WEB ID PR54132 TIRAUMEA 421 Haunui Road Haunui is a 6000su breeding/finishing property located in the summer-safe Tiraumea district. Sub-divided into 50 plus paddocks and well accessed by strategic laneways, Haunui features a walk-in opportunity for its new purchasers. Infrastructure consists of a 5 stand woolshed (1000np) 2 cattle yards and 4 sets of well located satellite sheep yards. The property is well accommodated with two 3 bedroom recently modernised homes. Haunui has had consistant investment in fertiliser, fencing and infrastructure making an ideal mid-scale property with the bonus of ample natural water and manuka stand.

TENDER View By Appointment TENDER closes Thursday 20th April, 2017 at 2.00pm, Property Brokers 129 Main Street Pahiatua

Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823 Home 06 376 6341 jared@propertybrokers.co.nz

Phil Wilson

Mobile 021 518 660 Office 06 376 5478 Home 06 376 7238 philw@propertybrokers.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

WEB ID FR54739 HALCOMBE 306 Awawa Road "Size does matter". At 659.41 hectares (1629 acres) Twin Rivers is one of the largest land holdings of its type in the Manawatu District. Currently operating a breeding finishing programme, features include approximately 215 hectares of flats, 213 hectares of rolling contour, all of which has been cultivated. Excellent metalled race, reticulated water, fertilizer history, 2 houses and full range of on farm infrastructure. View by appointment.

TENDER View By Appointment TENDER closes Wednesday 26th April, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ltd 54 Kimbolton Road Feilding

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

7 2 3

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Well located drystock

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

Coastal farm 109.504ha - Rangitikei

OPEN DAYS

WEB ID MTR54690 BULLS 49 Duncan Road View By Appointment AUCTION 2.00pm, Fri 26th May, 2017, 240 Broadway A very desirable 109.5054 ha Rangitikei coastal farm consisting of mainly flat contour with some hummocky Palmerston North breaks. There is a good array of buildings for both storage and calf rearing. Stock water is courtesy of a bore and pumped to all paddocks. Set in tidy grounds the very comfortable 3 bedroom home is well maintained and features spacious and comfortably laid 3 Richard White out living areas. My retiring clients have presented the Mobile 027 442 6171 farm in good stead, making way for the new owner to Office 06 327 0070 Home 06 342 3702 realise the potential this attractive property offers. 1

AUCTION

ID TER54784 TE KUITI TENDER 749 Barber Road TENDER closes Wednesday 26th April, 2017 at 578.5ha 21km east of Otorohanga. 433ha effective, 9ha in 27yr pines, balance in native bush. Good mix of contour 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) 131 Rora Street Te Kuiti from river flats to easy rolling hill running to steeper hills Plus GST if any in parts. Approx 1/3 of the farm has troughed water, the balance being natural. All weather central race and good Hugh Williams fertiliser history. Mobile 021 878 782

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.

Office 07 878 8266 hugh@propertybrokers.co.nz Peter Wylie Mobile 027 473 5855 Office 07 878 0265 pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

VIEW Tuesday 18th, April 11.00am - 1.00pm

richardw@propertybrokers.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

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

Excellence achieved This is an outstanding property within close proximity to Cambridge and only minutes to the Karapiro domain with all the activities  352 Luck at Last Road, R D 2, Cambridge

 40.1383 hectares  very good grazing land with approx. 15 hectares mowable; approx. 15 hectares rolling to steeper grazing land; approx.10 hectares of native bush predominantly Tawa which is completely fenced & re-generating at a faster than expected rate  the grazing country is subdivided in 23 paddocks with very good quality 7 + 8 wire post & batten fences  two water sources - top half is watered from a spring to a manacon tank then gravity to troughs; there is a deepwell with submersible pump supplying 2 manacon tanks then gravity to troughs and home tank then high pressure pump to interior of home  farm amenities incl. 6-bay implement shed with 2 bays lockable, 5 bays concrete floor, clearlight panels in the roof, 3-phase power & toilet; 2-bay open ended shed with concrete floor; calf rearing & hay shed with slot in gates for calf rearing centrally located on the property

Tenders close Thursday, 4.00pm - 11 May 2017

Open Days: Thurs, 20 April & Sun, 23 April 12noon to 2.00pm

 a substantial 5 bedroom, modern home located on an elevated site facing north / north east, enjoying panoramic views over the Waikato and catching a glimpse of Maungatautari Ecological Park. - architecturally designed and surrounded by tasteful and well-constructed landscaped grounds - open plan living with woodburner & heat pump, large double glazed windows - rumpus room and provision to separate part of the house for B&B if required web ref R1241 Licensed REAA 2008

Howard Ashmore 0274 388 556

phone

07 870 2112

office@pastoralrealty.co.nz

MREINZ

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

WAIRARAPA COASTAL STATION ’Cross Keys’, 750 Otahome Road, Whareama, Masterton

618.94 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: W026

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 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. (see website for property video)

Tender Closes 4pm Wed 31st 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

FOR SALE KOKONUI FOREST AND LAND

Waipu - Northland

ADJOINING LAND

FORESTRY BLOCK

*Indicative boundary only

PRODUCTION FOREST + GRAZING LAND + 101ha Titled Forest area planted with 84.9ha of 95’ and 97’ Pinus Radiata + All thinned and mostly pruned with inventory data available

82 CARTER ROAD, TAUMARUNUI

+ 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

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

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.

140 hectares Tender (unless sold prior) www.nzr.nz | Ref: nzrr229 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

LIS TI N G N EW

KOROMIKO - HEALTHY LIMESTONE, CENTRAL LOCATION 853 Admiral Road, Gladstone, Masterton, Wairarapa Koromiko is centrally located in the thriving rural community of Gladstone and is equidistant to Masterton, Carterton and Greytown (20 minutes). This district is sought after for its limestone soils which are very healthy and clean. Koromiko offers great lifestyle choices for the family - being close to towns allowing the opportunity for off farm employment; it is close to the Gladstone school, the sports complex and the popular Gladstone Inn, and within commuting distance of Wellington. The property is well balanced with approximately 45% of easy rolling limestone - the front country, with the balance being medium hill mudstone soils which are sheltered, and hang on in the summer months as they lie away from the predominant nor west wind. Koromiko has well maintained fencing, with around 38 main paddocks, all with great access and the renowned quality limestone water feeding stock and domestic supply. The property has a four-bedroom house with rumpus room/artist studio, double garage with office/sleep out, a large high stud workshop, three bay hayshed, a tenanted three-bedroom cottage and garage, a four stand woolshed and covered yards, cattle yards and satellite sheep yards. The farm has been leased in conjunction with other properties and regular fertiliser has been applied. The seven titles could provide opportunities to split the farm. Some rare scale at Gladstone, buying quality has always been a good choice!

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 arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. Video on website.

378 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: W025 (video) Tender, Closes 4pm Fri 2 June 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

1,086 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: W024 Tender, Closes 4pm Tues 23 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

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company

For Sale

Licenced under REAA 2008

FINAL NOTICE

Masterton | 43 Jordan Terrace

Tender

1.1 Hectares Premier Residence In A Beautiful Setting. This magnificent 320m2 home was built for a local doctor’s family in 1939 to a very high and exacting standard. Designed by well renowned Wellington Architect William Grey Young. The current owners are only the second family to own this stunning property, improving and maintaining it over the last 25 years. With four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three reception rooms this is a grand family home. The private home has expansive views of the mountains and valley from the elevated site, located in a top Masterton residential address. Complemented by two double garages and a carport. Plenty of future subdivision options with two legal entrances at either end of the property. | Property ID MA1231

Closing 4pm, Thursday 18 May 2017 (unless sold by private treaty)

Inspection By appointment

Contact Tim Falloon 027 449 2105

A Golden Opportunity

Waiau

Borne Lea 120.5963 hectares - If you are looking for an opportunity into farming then this could be it, or alternatively this could be a great addition to any current farming operation. Approximately 40 hectares of flats (10 irrigated) and 80 hectares of easy downs. The excellent soil types receive an annual application of Sulphur Super and Lime and are sown in a mix of permanent pasture species and clover. Borne Lea is well-fenced with a good central lane. Older style character four-bedroom home with an excellent array of support buildings. Borne Lea is ready to be taken to the next level.

DEADLINE SALE

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: RAN25811

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 1.00pm, Wednesday, 3 May 562 Leader Road West Inspection day: 1.30pm, Tues 18 April. Register your interest with Bruce Hoban, phone 027 588 8889

Bruce Hoban B 03 313 0610 M 027 588 8889

0800 200 600 | farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

Licensed under REAA 2008

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

Licenced under REAA 2008

OPEN DAY

Equine Heartland - Three Titles

Matamata

Highly Desirable Dairy Farm

Waihi

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

, • Regular rectangle shape • Central race system to 25 paddocks • Natural sheltered paddocks • Crystal clear on-farm water supply • Just a short drive to the centre of Waihi township • Excellent contour • Desired farming location • Great range of farm buildings Phone or email Dave McLaren to receive the full Information Memorandum for this property

AUCTION

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, 20 April, 7657 STATE HIGHWAY 27

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

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEP25728

(Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Friday, 21 April Waihi Golf Club, 113 Woodlands Road, Waihi OPEN DAYS 11.00-12.00pm Sunday, 16 April

Dave McLaren B 07 573 5888 M 027 223 3366 Scott Cameron B 07 573 0244 M 027 455 5768

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

OPEN DAY

A1 Avocados

Katikati TENDER

• Prime avocado orchard 6.25ha approximately 500 trees produced over $200K last year • Spacious modern home to be proud of, great for entertaining • Huge and high stud shed, lockable, powered, room for tons of toys • Sea view from the master bedrooms. His and hers walk in wardrobes and private deck also - warm and sunny • Magnificent stand of cypress - stoney stream on the boundary • Great location, close to town • Fantastic family friendly home with considerable income - be Quick!

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 3 May OPEN DAY 2.30 - 3.30pm, Sunday, 23 April

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TAR25858

Andrew Fowler B 07 571 5797 M 027 275 2244

OPEN DAY

Orchard Park Lifestyle - 183 Kauri Point Road High producing, low cost 3 can ha of Hayward Kiwifruit on 7.35ha. The large manor home sits amoungst stunning mature trees. This is the site of the original homestead. The stately avenue entrance and large, English specimen trees dotted around the 13 post and railed paddocks make this an exceptional park like property. Fertile ground and healthy pasture is ideal for grazing a horse or beefies. Your ponies will love it here.

Katikati TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Tuesday, 9 May OPEN DAY 1.00 - 2.00pm, Sunday, 23 April

This low altitude, north facing land on the harbourside of the highway is suited for avocados or G3 kiwifruit. The property boasts exceptional support buildings with space aplenty for all your equipment, tack room and stables as well as the covered boat or trailer park and three bay powered shed. The boat launch at the end of the road offers great fishing. An outstanding property and a prestigious address. www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TAR25889

Andrew Fowler B 07 571 5797 M 027 275 2244

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

OPEN DAY

Tui Hills

Katikati AUCTION

• Selling 74.6 hectares total, in two titles • 34 paddocks and approximately 16ha mowable • Wintered 100 R1 heifers plus 100 R2 heifers • Areas of pristine native bush • Some of the very best views in the Bay of Plenty • Amazing house site • Excellent range of farm buildings • Magnificent Aongatete River on the boundary • Future subdivision potential www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEP25840

(Unless sold by Private Treaty) Closes 4pm, Thursday, 11 May 214 Devonport Rd, Tauranga OPEN DAYS 11.00-12.00pm Wednesday, 19 April Sunday, 23 April

Dave McLaren B 07 573 0243 M 027 223 3366 Scott Cameron B 07 573 0244 M 027 455 5768

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.

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: WHK25841

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

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

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 utilizing 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.

Rerewhakaaitu TENDER Closes 4.00pm, Friday, 28 April PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited Cnr Marguerita & White Streets Rotorua Viewing By Appointment

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: ROT25842

Brett Ashworth B 07 347 6076 M 021 0261 7488

Bareland With Options

Wanganui

201.4978ha bareland block situated on the No 2 line, approximately 5km from Wanganui with an opportunity to purchase the full block or further options as below. A good balance of croppable flats, easy hills and some steeper sidlings. Divided into 26 paddocks with conventional fencing, a set of relatively new cattle yards plus a set of sheep yards. 2.4ha of the block is planted in 25 year old pine trees plus some re-growth natural bush. Drained with Novaflo plus water via the Fordell Water scheme. Good road frontage and adequate metal tracks. - 112.6ha (more or less) approximately 47.2ha of flat land and approximately 65.4ha of easy sidlings. 2.4ha of 25 year old pine trees plus a small area of regrowth natural bush. Sheep yards, relatively new cattle yards and a hay shed. It is also on the Fordell Water Scheme. This block would be good for dairy grazing and stock finishing. - Ideal for breeding and finishing. Consisting of approximately 91.21ha made up of approximately 31.42ha flat with the balance medium hills plus a hayshed. Good first farm or runoff. www.pggwre.co.nz ID: WAN25271

PRICE BY NEGOTIATION

Doug Glasgow B 06 349 2005 / 06 327 4732 M 027 204 8640 H 06 327 3723

pggwre.co.nz

A unique opportunity has arisen on an intensive bull finishing farm located mid-way between Matamata and Cambridge.

Experienced herd manager required, 10 min north of Dannevirke

The farm is 180ha effecting finishing up to 450 bulls a year, and is run using a cell grazing system with many small mobs of bulls. 100kg calves are purchased in the spring and are killed from 18 months of age before their second winter.

Skills and Attributes required:

n Pasture management and feed budgeting n Animal husbandry with particular attention to animal health and milk quality n Effective communication skills n A positive attitude with a desire to grow your skills and be part of a team n Minimum of 4 years experience

We require

• Someone with an interest in intensive bull farming systems and bull management. • A self-starter with the ability to work independently • Attention to detail and ability to problem solve • A passion for farming, stock welfare and pasture management • Preferably practical farming experience • Good dog would be beneficial but not essential • Interested in development work

Position offers:

We Offer

Please email your CV to: steve-jane@xtra.co.nz

• An environment and opportunity for the successful candidate to learn, grow and take more responsibility within the role and farm operation. • A warm 3-bedroom house with phone and internet provided • An opportunity to be a part of a very high performing system • A favourable location only 20 minutes to Matamata and Cambridge, 40 minutes to Tauranga and Hamilton, 1 hour to Rotorua. • Location allows partner to work off farm and very good schooling for children. • Diverse range of work

Dairy Farm Manager

STAFF? Call Debbie 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@nzx.com

BRINDLE BITCH, 5 years. Works on sheep and cattle. $1500 ono. Phone 07 826 7779.

ANIMAL HEALTH

MAINSTAY HUNTAWAY , b&t, five years old. Phone 027 410 2702.

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

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

BRIAN BURKE, NZ Champ 1984 and 5 times NZ Champ finalist, available to train your working dog. In three weeks he will transform your heading dog into a productive asset for the farm. Contact Brian 06 343 9561 for further details and pricing (heading dogs only).

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

FOR SALE

FIFTY WORKING DOGS. View video, ship to you. Never been easier! 021 030 0037 or 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BUYING NOW! Huntaways, Heading & Handy dogs. Quick $ale! No one buys or pays more! 021 030 0037 or 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

ATTENTION FARMERS

5-YEAR-OLD Heading dog. Natural worker. Phone 07 312 4762.

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. 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.

NEED

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

DOGS FOR SALE

AD0087126©

Applications close 1st May 2017

DOGS FOR SALE

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

Remuneration will be set according to experience and skill level

A competitive pay will be offered to the right person.

Competitive remuneration and rostered time off Strong support and coaching fron the manager 3 bedroom house School bus to local schools Local outdoor opportunities - tramping, hunting, fishing AD87112©

n n n n n

ANIMAL HANDLING

FARM MAPPING YOUR FARM MAPPED showing paddock sizes. Priced from $600 for 100ha. Phone 0800 433 855. farmmapping.co.nz

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

FOR SALE DOG/PET FOOD. Lamb/ Beef and chicken products. All natural - raw - no preservatives or additives. NOSLOC PRODUCTS. Ex-freezer Te Kuiti. For information and prices www.nosloc.com or phone 07 878 6868.

T H IN K PRE B U I L T

The station has initiated a significant development that will grow the effective farming area and expand stock numbers well beyond the current level of 40,000 stock units.

WANTED

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide. We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase. NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

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. 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 DAIRY HEIFERS May to May. Proven Grazier with references. Ashley Clinton CHB. Also available winter cow grazing dairy or beef. For more information. Phone 06 855 6895. GRAZING AVAILABLE in the Manawatu for R1’s May to May. Phone 027 448 4404.

DRYSTOCK GRAZING farm wanted to lease. Any area or size considered. Phone David 027 203 0545 or email: utopyea@gmail.com

NEW HOMES

Ideally this person will have great stock knowledge and knowledge of rotational grazing, great people management skills and will be familiar with the use of TracMap, FarmAx, FarmIQ, Figured or some similar data based farm management program. Health & Safety is a major focus of any farming operation and this person will be up to date with good practice and the requirements of a robust health & safety system.

Z N MADE

Endorsements in training in the use of a quad bike, tractor and the safe use of general farm equipment are a must.

LIVESTOCK REQUIRED

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

STOCK FEED MOISTURE METERS Hay, Silage dry matter, grain. www.moisturemeters.co.nz 0800 213 343.

WORK WANTED

HILL COUNTRY MANAGER’S position by ambitious, motivated couple. 20 plus years in industry. Any location considered. Please email with information and contact details to runcountry14@gmail.com

CHILLERS &

FREEZERS

udly NZ Made Pro Since 1975

021 441 180 (JC) frigidair@vodafone.co.nz

FOR FARMERS & HUNTERS When only the best will do!

HOMES FARM SHEDS SUBDIVISIONS PUMPS LK0086496©

The role of Stock Supervisor is one of these key positions.

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 07 572 0230 Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

B R O O K L A N D S SIMMENTALS OPEN DAY. Wednesday May 3rd from 10am. Bulls for sale from this day on. 329 Rakaiatai Rd, Dannevirke. Colin and Catherine Hutching. Phone 06 374 1802. 17 I/C PUREBRED PEDIGREE Friesian Heifers. Complete line. Calving from 19th July to a Jersey bull. Well grown and good type. Phone 027 645 1957.

We could save you hundreds of $$

To cope with this expansion, three key positions have been identified as specialists in a new organisational structure, each reporting to the Station Manager.

The person most suitable for this role will have significant experience in beef and lamb farming and will be acclimatised to either working in Northland, a coastal farming operation or farming along the East coast of the North island, New Zealand.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

POWER CABLE

Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build. Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

Parengarenga Station is a 5900-hectare station situated in the Far North specializing in the farming of high quality beef and lamb. The Incorporation also has commercial interests in Forestry and development plans in Apiculture, Tourism, Aquaculture and Horticulture.

FORESTRY

LEASE LAND WANTED

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

STOCK SUPERVISOR

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

Prices include delivery to your door! For friendly & professional advice CALL 0800 843 0987 Fax: 07 843 0992 Email: power@thecableshop.co.nz THE CABLE SHOP WAIKATO www.thecableshop.co.nz

www.stockfeeders.co.nz / 0800 104 404

0 $DIS1C0 OUNT

Courses completed in First Aid and GroSafe would be an advantage. Although not central to this role, a good understanding of pasture management, water reticulation and animal health would be an advantage to working in conjunction with the senior management team. We are offering a very competitive salary, with added benefits of a regular allocation of meat, a complimentary house and a bonus.

Parengarenga Incorporation

Applications close 5 pm, Monday 1st May 2017

AD0087155©

6636 Far North Rd

A Position Description is available upon request.

EX GST

• 15 feed positions • 25-30 animals $1200

OVAL FEEDER

The General Manager

RD 4, Kaitaia 0484

NOW

$750

STOP WASTAGE / REDUCE PASTURE DAMAGE

If you are this special person we would welcome your application to:

Email: GM@parengarenga.co.nz

$850

STANDARD FEEDER C5 Bolted & C6 Pinned • 1 x Size 15 Bale • 2m diameter

S2 Pinned • 2 x size 15 bales • 3 x size 12 bales

LK0085104©

Herd Manager - 600 Cows

Stockperson General

If you are fit, energetic and have a clean drug record then send us a covering letter and CV with three references to gjtrower@farmside.co.nz

Classifieds

NOW

$1100 EX GST

• 35-40 animals

New Zealand’s proven stock feeder for 24 years 100% New Zealand Made 100% New Zealand High Tensile Steel

LK0085321©

Employment

LK0086941©

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

Dispersal Sale

Friday 28th April 2017, starts 12.00 noon at 99 Pehiri Road, Waerengaokuri District, Gisborne

Comprising of: 102 Mixed Age Cows 20 18 Month Heifers 62 Bull Calves 52 Heifer Calves 4 Herd Sires

AUCTION OF HERD OWNED AND FARMED FOR 30 YEARS. A/C MP & I HEERINGA DATE: Monday 24 April 2017 ADDRESS: 317 Aotearoa Road, Wharepapa South, Te Awamutu DAIRY NO: 74676 START TIME: 11.00 am (auction under cover)

COMPRISING OF: • 270 Friesian and Friesian X Herd, all in-milk - BW 60, PW 74, R/a 87% • 36 In-calf Friesian and Friesian X heifers – BW 102 PW 104

Enquiries to: NZ Farmers Livestock John Watson 0274 941 975 Neville Clark 0275 986 537 Brent Bougen 0272 014 698

Inspection prior to sale welcome contact: Steve & Jen Herries P: 06 863 7000 E: alpine.angus@wnation.net.nz Catalogue available online

www.alpineangus.co.nz

HERD/HEIFER DETAILS: • 3 digit herd code, Farm sold, contour rolling • Herd mated to LIC 4 weeks, to calve from 10 July. • Herd tailed Hereford bulls, out 18 December • Heifers calv. 15th July to Jersey or Aysh- out date 25 December • TB 10, BVD clear, Lepto annually, HB shed • 385 MS/cow, Som cell average 170,000. AUCTIONEERS NOTE: These cows/ heifers farmed on all types of terrain. Strong feature of the herd is good average age, udders and production. Cows will be sold inmilk and will be in good dairy condition. All vetted in calf prior to auction. Farmers can take delivery within days of the auction. Herds owned and owner operated and supported by long LIC breeding history are totally recommended. PAYMENT TERMS: 1 JUNE 2017 Grazing can be held to 31 May on cows and heifers if farmers do not have access to properties. View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock

First Annual Female In-Calf Production Sale

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.

On-Farm Fairlie – 5 May at 12 Noon Offering: approx. 70 Stud Fully Recorded Females including: - Selected R2yr, R3yr, R4yr - Annual draft proven cows

LARGE PRODUCTION HERD AUCTION A/C PE & MJ MCLEOD DATE: 26 April 2017 ADDRESS: 390 Hastings Road, Matapu, Taranaki START TIME: 11.00am (auction under cover)

Approx. 50 R2yr Commercial Meadowslea-bred heifers - Ex - Grays Hills Stn, Grampians Stn, Braemar Stn.

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

AUCTION IS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH NZ FARMERS LIVESTOCK LTD.

COMPRISING OF: • 280 Predominately Friesian herd BW 76, PW 83, R/a 97% HERD/HEIFER DETAILS: • The best cows from 480 head

www.meadowslea.co.nz

• Calved from19 July, 6 weeks to LIC PSS, tailed HFD out 3 Jan. • TB 10, Lepto vacc, BVD clear, milked in Rotary shed • 457 kgMS/cow, 180,000 Som. cell avge • Long walks to shed, cows in good condition

VALLEY AYRSHIRE CLUB 43/50 PW 161/67 RA 100% FEMALE SALE top 10 All Breeds for NZ )

• All vetted in-calf, and still in-milk on sale day • Good honest hard working herd, totally recommend to purchasers.

Thursday 27th April 2017 at 11.30am

• Farmed and Owned for 20 years

Sale to be held by kind permission of ows contracted to LIC for 2011 matings Mr David Swap at his property: calve 1461 fromMorrinsville 16-7-12, weeks – Walton6.5 Road, Kiwitahi, ey and Kiwi cross Morrinsville

PAYMENT TERMS: Farmers without access to farms can graze cattle on to 31May 2017.

ed toOffering be will 420 comprise: cows after non Ayrshirecows in calf cows nt, culls,10older & 5% rejection 1 Ayrshire empty in milk cow ion last season 347kgs ms/cow, 39 Ayrshire in calf heifers 50 head. TB Status C10, from Lepto herds s ms/ha, on rolling to vaccinated steeper This offering consists of several lines of capital stock ed farm, no meal, palm kernel or maize

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

FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Warren Espin 027 677 6361 NZ FARMERS LIVESTOCK AGENT: Simon Bailey 027 702 9988

from vendors who have decided to exit the dairy industry. All cattle are well grown, in top condition, are by the breeds leading sires and feature outstanding eplacement stock also available production backgrounds. If you are looking for replacements or brood stock why not consider Ayrshires.&A catalogue giving allto details g genetics potential beof these onefullyof recorded and LIC transferable cattle is available from es leading suppliers of Genetics to the auctioneers.

VENDOR: Paul & Michelle 0272726022

Ph 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051

VENDOR: Mike 07 872 2599

POWERFUL LARGE HERD AND HEIFER AUCTION A/C DG & SL ADAMS DATE: Friday 28 April, 2017 ADDRESS: 54 Gower Road, Taupiri, Hamilton D/N: 72373 START TIME: 10.30am (auction under cover) 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.

View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENT: Matt Hancock 027 601 3787 VENDOR: Greg Adams 027 2888 977

LK0086828©

www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or www.ayrshire.org.co.nz

nson BRLL All enquiries to: Robinson 10051Brian or 07 8583132

FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENTS: Mike McKenzie 027 674 1149

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

dustryCatalogues for years to come. also available on line at:Full details

Brian Robinson agents: Livestock Ltd. to the Auctioneers: sole marketing

View the sales catalogue on nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock or from the vendor, or your local Farm Source Livestock agent.

EARN FARM SOURCE REWARD DOLLARS ON ALL FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK PURCHASES & SALES* T&Cs apply. See nzfarmsource.co.nz/rewards

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

AD0087113©

: R2yr heifers mated to top low birthweight calving ease yearlings

LK0086921©

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

NDEXING JERSEY & JERSEY CROSS 13THHERD ANNUAL THAMES

ner

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

STOCK FOR SALE

220 Crossbred cows Herd BW 92, PW102 Calving 1st August 2017 Option 1) Herd has been computer split into three lines of 120, buyer picks any two lines, or would sell any one line of 120 BW 95, PW 102 over those lines

Wed 3rd May 2017 Machinery 11am – Cows 12 Noon On A/c Rangea Farm Ltd, RD1, Pukeatua

Contact Steve Emile 027 224 3880

STOCK REQUIRED

Tuesday 2nd May Machinery 11am – Cows 12noon On A/c A & T Dairies, SH23, Raglan

Comprising: 120 FrsX In Calf Cows 26 Kiwi Cross In Calf Heifers – G3 Profile Profiles and Catalogues to follow

Option 2) Would sell lower end of whole herd 2 year to 8 year olds BW 73, PW 59 Long history with this Hawke’s Bay herd Sharemilker going back to smaller job

YOUNG CROSSBRED JERSEY HERD & MACHINERY SALE

Contract for Export R 1YR FRIESIAN HEIFERS 18 MTH BULLS, STEERS & HEIFERS R3 YR STEERS 470-550kgs 27-35kgs STORE LAMBS MA EWES RWR or SIL MA COWS Due Aug-Nov

Comprising: 430 IC Xbd/Jsy Mostly young Cows 72 IC Xbd/Jsy Heifers & 99 Xbd/Jsy Ylgs Hard working herd from hard country, these cows will shift well. Profiles and Catalogues to follow

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Download the app today

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 Contact Liam McBride 021 222 2662

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Contact: Philip Webb 027 801 8057 or Chris Johnston 027 257 4091

PHONE NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

Download the app today

AD0087065©

CROSSBRED HERD FOR SALE

CLEARING SALEDUE TO FARM SALE

AD0087064©

livestock@farmlands.co.nz

R2YR FRIES HERE/ANG STEERS 200 @ 470-530kgs 39 available 20th Oct Ang Bull

NORTHERN WAIROA FULLY RECORDED JERSEY FEMALE SALE Monday 24th April 2017 at 12 noon

Export Contract 2016 Born Friesian Heifers (F12+) Luke McBride 027 304 0533 Wayne Doran 027 493 8957 South Island

Richard Harley 021 765 430 Greg Collins 027 481 9772

Have ewe heard the most successful place to advertise your livestock is in The NZ Farmers Weekly?

Featuring progeny from several of Northlands best Jersey herds these are cattle that have good indices, high production backing and are sired by the breeds best bulls. Northland cattle are renowned for their shifting ability so farmers looking for genuine cattle and value for money should attend this sale. Catalogues giving all details can be viewed on line at www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or www.jersey.org.nz or can be obtained from the auctioneers, Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd or Jersey Marketing Service. Enquiries to Kevin Hart ph 0272 915575, Brian Robinson Ph 0272 410051, Ross Riddell Ph 0272 111112

AD0087148©

North Island

OF THE MOB

A very well presented offering comprising; 28 Jersey in calf heifers 3 Jersey cows 10 Jersey rising one year heifers 41 head from TB C10 and Lepto vaccinated herds

Mid July Delivery $1250 Gross $1250 Gross

STAY OUT FRONT

Sale to be held on the property of the Browning Family 1586 Waihue Road R D 2 Dargaville

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

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

SOUTH ISLAND HERDS FOR SALE:

IN CALF HEIFERS:

360 M/A Black X Bred Frsn Cows, BW:98, PW:119. A Beautiful Black Cross Bred Frsn Herd, got everything you want in a Top Herd, New to the Market.

980 MA Frsn X Cows, BW:47, PW:65. Hard working, well presented large herd. Computer Splits Available. Medium Frame with capacity, Production done with no supplements.

72 Frsn, Kiwi X I/C Hfrs, BW:118, PW:134. Weighed 16/3/17.- 375 kg Avg. Purchased as Yearlings from local C10 Status Dairy Farmer.

$1,900 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061338)

Jason Roberts, 0272 431 429

200 M/A FFX, FJX, Jsy Cows, BW:47, PW:54. These Early Calving Cows are farmed on an unfertilized Dairy Farm, off very hard country, priced to sell.

$1,500 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061208)

Dave Munro, 0275 904 825

$1,850 +GST

(Agonline Ref 061176)

Rod Whale, 0272 738 923

Quality Female Dairy Sale - 1461 Morrinsville Walton Road, Morrinsville 105 Frsn/Frsn x Selected InCalf Carryover Cows - BW 92 - PW 143 - RA 100%, 57 Frsn/Frsn X InCalf Heifers - Very Well Grown - 500 Kgs + - BW 99 - PW 144 - RA 100%. Thu 20 Apr, 11:30 am Regan Craig, 0275 028 585

www.pggwrightson.co.nz

(Agonline Ref 061318)

Craig Taylor, 0274 357 437

300 MA Frsn/Xbred Cows, BW:46, PW:69. Outstanding young cows selling best 300 cows out of 800, capacious strong boned predominantly black and white.

100 Frsn I/C Hfrs, BW:88, PW:85. Lovely Line of 100-110 Frsn Hfrs, Surplus to Requirements due to change in farm structure.

(Agonline Ref 061239)

(Agonline Ref 061332)

$1,950 +GST

$1,480 +GST

Roddy Bridson, 0274 582 775

Steve Wattam, 0274 934 484

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.

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

$1,700 +GST

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.

$1,750 +GST

(Agonline Ref: 061285)

Andrew Upston, 0274 053 454

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

Outstanding Xbred Inmilk Herd And Replacements And Machinery Sale, Waikato

On A/CL Erena Farm Ltd, Te Poi Sth Road, Matamata, D/N 77390.

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

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

Pincots Holstein Friesians Final Dispersal Sale, Te Awamutu Te Awamutu Saleyards,Paterangi Road,Te Awamutu Comprising Of 15 Holstein Friesian Cows & Hfrs Aut Calving, 56 Holstein Friesian I/C Hfrs, Spring Calving.

Fri 21 Apr, 11:00 am Andrew Reyland, 0272 237 092

Helping grow the country

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 17, 2017

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

Friesian, Friesian Cross and Jersey Herd Friday 28th April 2017 Sundries 9.30 am, Cattle from 11.30am Vendors: Somerset Green Ltd Matthew Satherley and Megan Edmeades, 433 Wairakau Road Manawaru, RD 1, Te Aroha Phone 07 884 6825 Sale to be held on the property by kind permission of the owner Mr Tony Watkins will comprise: 115 Friesian and Friesian Cross cows 41 Jersey cows 46 Friesian, Friesian Cross and Jersey in-calf heifers 22 Jersey rising one-year heifers 4 Jersey rising 2 and 1-year bulls 228 head TB Status C10, Lepto and BVD vaccinated Also on offer will be Jersey and Friesian semen.

airy industry for are years to come. Catalogues available on line at Full details ble. www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or from the

In-Milk Clearing Sale

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. 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

Friday 28th April, 11.30am Start A/C RA & SL McIntyre 189 No 1 Rd, RD1 Waitoa. T/N 76391 Comprising: 180 Frsn/ Frsn x Incalf Cows • BW52, PW9, RA89% • DTC 14th July, Incalf LIC Frsn nom & B.o.D 5 weeks, Tailed Swap Herefords (Bull out 24th Dec) • 360M/S – 3 Cows/ha, Ave SCC74,000 • Owned 39yrs, 3 letter herd code • TB C10, EBL Free, Lepto Vacc Catalogues/Photos on Agonline or Contact: Vendors: Rod & Sue 0274 464 050 Agent: Allan Jones 0272 240 768

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

Download the app today SALES TALK An infant rabbit was orphaned. Fortunately though, a family of squirrels took it in and raised it as if it were one of their own. This led to some strange behaviors on the part of the rabbit, including a tendency for it to avoid jumping, but instead to run around like the other squirrels. One day the rabbit was really feeling sad, so it went to its step-parents to discuss the problem. After explaining to them how it felt different from its step-siblings, they gave him a big hug and said, “Don’t scurry, be hoppy.”

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

Auctioneers: Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd

ries to the sole marketing agents:

Robinson BRLLto: Enquiries 272 410051 07 8583132 Brian or Robinson

Ph 07 858 3132 or 0272 410 051

Falkner y Marketing Service 27 482 8771 or 07 846 4491

COMPLETE HERD & REPLACEMENT SALE Tuesday 2nd May, 11.00am Start Jary Rd, Cambridge D.C 73487 A/C Lansdale Friesians Comprising: 151 Incalf Friesian Cows 25 Inmilk Empty Friesian Cows 70 Incalf R2 Friesian Heifers 90 Rising Yearling Friesian Heifers This is a long established Friesian herd (99 years), farmed by owners that have carefully selected sires from mainly overseas with strong production & conformation traits. This season the herd has produced over 400MS/ Cow & was still doing 1.7MS/Cow on the 27/03/17 herd test. There are many very good families & individuals within the herd our vendors’ have spent a lifetime breeding that would complement any purchasers’ herd. Cows calving from 18th July for 6wks AI then run with recorded Frsn Bulls. Incalf Heifers calving from 15th July to Angus easy calve bulls & are approx. 480kg. Heifer calves are well grown & in good condition, showing good dairy type. Mark this date on your calendar if you require genuine cattle that will move & perform at a high standard. TB C10, EBL Free, BVD neg, Lepto Vacc, Herringbone Shed. Further Information on Agonline or Contact: Andrew Reyland 0272 237 092 Peter Schnuriger 0272 431 836

QUALITY LIC FRSN FRSNX HERD

Inside Marquee

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

LK0086854©

Milked at the foot of the Kaimai Ranges in a very high rainfall and very wind prone area these nominated bred cows are of a very high conformation standard. They have been bred from the best nominated genetics available from NZ and around the world. Interest has been indicated by AB companies in GH INDEXING & have JERSEY contract mating JERSEY some cows. They averaged up toCROSS 400kg ms per cow from a grass, hay, silage HERD and little PKE (60 tonne) system. Cell counts have always averaged across season below 100 per BW 143/50 161/67 cow andPW the herd has alwaysRA been100% dry cow therapy treated. Herd is drenched daily minerals (in top 10 All Breeds forwith NZ ) and zinc. Calving is due to commence from the 23rd July to Nominated AB and the herd was tailed with any cows contracted to LIC for 2011 matings Jersey bulls. In-calf heifers are due from 18th July e to to calve fromJersey 16-7-12, 6.5andweeks DNA profiled bulls. All cows heifers B Jerseywill and Kiwi cross be pregnancy diagnosed prior to the sale. All recorded with indices 29, timatedcattle toare be 420 cows average afterof BW non PW 62 and RA 99% with individual cow indices egnant, culls, older cows & 5% rejection up 149 and PW 329. Delivery of all cows will be oductionto BWlast season 347kgs ms/cow, from 10th May 2017 and of the young stock from 00kgs immediately ms/ha, after onthe rolling to steeper sale. LIC transfers available on ntouredsale farm, meal, palm kernel maize day. no Those farmers in need of tidy,or well uddered, quiet replacement cattle from genuine sharemilking d. vendors who are exitingalso the industry are urged to ung replacement stock available attend this sale. Intending purchasers please have your Nait number available on sale day. A full list of anding sundries genetics & potential to be one of will be advertised next week in the 22nd ountriesApril leading suppliers of Genetics to Waikato Times.

PGG Wrightson National Hereford Sale 2017

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

AD0087162©

HIGH QUALITY

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

ONE DAY HEREFORD SHOW & SALE Monday 15th May, Tru-Test Beef Expo

Open Paddock Viewing 9.30am - 11.30am Barelands, 2183 Kimbolton Road, Kiwitea

AD0087027©

CLEARING SALE

Livestock

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 49 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

National Hereford Sale 3.30pm, Manfeild Stadium, Feilding Online National Hereford Sale catalogue available at: www.herefords.co.nz

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING PHONE NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2016-17

AGRIHQ 2016-17

6.00

6.11

AS OF 23/02/2017

AS OF 06/04/2017

Prior week

Last year

NI lamb (17kg)

5.90

5.75

4.95

Milling Wheat

333

345

NI mutton (20kg)

3.60

3.50

2.40

Feed Wheat

302

295

SI lamb (17kg)

5.60

5.50

4.65

Feed Barley

310

276

SI mutton (20kg)

3.55

3.45

2.25

PKE

229

186

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 8.59

8.46

7.15

Jan 17

Maize Grain

375

351

PKE

233

188

* 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.

Mar 17 AgriHQ Seasonal

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

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Wheat - Nearest

223

221

248

Corn - Nearest

203

201

210

316

325

355

4.5

306

340

2500

287

294

300

2000

Feed Barley

273

266

277

PKE (US$/t) Sep 17 Mar 17 Jun 17 Ex-Malaysia NZX WMP Futures

Last week

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3140

2925

2750

SMP

2000

1925

2020

Urea

507

AMF

5650

5425

Super

317

Butter

4500

4460

DAP

2750

DecDec

FebFeb

AprApr

JunJun

Last yr

AugAug This yr

Latest price

739

WOOL (NZ$/kg)

Last week

Prior week

Last year

505

29 micron

6.65

8.95

330

35 micron

4.15

3.95

5.80

840

39 micron

3.90

4.15

5.75

Aug

Sep

4 weeks ago

Sharemarket Briefing MARKET movements were muted last week as investors stayed on the sidelines. Growing geopolitical tensions in Syria and Korea, as well as impending French elections and the global corporate reporting season saw caution in global markets In New Zealand, there were only a few market releases. The NZX50 made only small movements in either direction, with lower than usual trading volumes as investors looked to global peers for clues. In addition to the current global concerns, New Zealanders also had to contend with yet another cyclone bearing down. The weather saw an even quieter day for markets on Thursday. The Real Estate Institute released its March data, which showed a lift in median price, volume and activity levels from the prior month. Median house prices firmed, with the annual median rising 10.3% from February’s figure. Eight of the twelve regions hit new record median highs and the average time to sell was 32 days. S&P500 earnings are forecast to grow by about 10% overall, relative to the same quarter a year ago. This would be the strongest since 2014 though investors will be watching for improvements in top-line revenue as well. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

7252

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7159

5.5

NZ venison 60kg stag

600 4.5

250 Apr 14

Apr 15

Apr 16

Feed barley

Oct

39 micron wool price

6.5

350

150 Apr 13

12003

3004.0 OctOct

$/kg

NZ$/t

3000

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

4.5

400

450

3250

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

500

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Jul

Last year

NZ average (NZ$/t)

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Jun

NZ venison 60kg stag

5‐yr ave

Prior week

2500 May

5.5

6005.0

FERTILISER

Last price*

US$/t

6.0 $/kg

302

Feed Wheat

South Island 1 7kg lamb

6.5

c/kkg (net)

ASW Wheat

NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

6.0

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

3000

10150

6.5

5.5

APW Wheat

Nearby contract

North Island 17kg lamb

INTERNATIONAL

3500

1500 Jun 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 C2 Fonterra WMP

Last year

7.0

Australia (NZ$/t)

4000

Last week Prior week

UK CKT lamb leg

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Nov 16 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Apr 17

PKE spot

Auckland International Airport Ltd

YTD High

YTD Low

6.63

7.43

6.31

Meridian Energy Ltd

2.84

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)

3.60 7.97 9.67 3.19 8.70 5.18 3.18 4.52

3.71 10.86 9.90 3.25 9.05 5.26 3.30 4.56

3.32 7.85 8.50 2.94 8.12 4.65 3.14 3.58

Listed Agri Shares

500

3.5 400

300 2.5 Oct Oct

Dec Dec 5‐yr ave

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

c/k kg (net)

$/kgMS

Last week Canterbury (NZ$/t)

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

US$/t

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

FONTERRA 2016-17

8 7 6 5 4 3 Sep 16

Sheep

$/kg

Dairy

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

3.160

3.240

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.560

0.810

0.550

Comvita Limited

7.400

8.650

6.000

Delegat Group Limited

6.300

6.720

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.250

1.500

1.200

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.010

6.400

5.930

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.600

2.610

2.550

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.370

1.420

1.220

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.540

0.550

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.330

7.750

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.320

3.650

3.290

SeaDragon Limited

0.007

0.008

0.006

Seeka Limited

5.400

5.500

4.300

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.190

1.460

1.120

S&P/FW Primary Sector

10150

10194

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

12003

12023

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

7252

7290

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7159

7254

6927

Feb Feb

AprApr Last yr

JunJun

AugAug This yr

Dollar Watch UNITED States President This Prior Last Donald Trump didn’t help NZD vs week week year the cause of an easier kiwi USD 0.6953 0.6968 0.6854 currency when he said the EUR 0.6522 0.6548 0.6079 US dollar was trading too high. AUD 0.9255 0.9237 0.8908 There was an GBP 0.5546 0.5590 0.4844 immediate pick-up for Correct as of 9am last Friday the kiwi to US$0.698 from 0.691, BNZ currency strategist Jason Wong said. The dollar had been at that lower point because of geopolitical worries over Syria and North Korea. “It will be interesting how the Trump comment plays out but there are bigger things in the background. There’s a risk-off view in the market and no-one was wanting to take new trades just ahead of Easter.” With dairy prices making another recovery in recent weeks, BNZ believed the kiwi was oversold, with an argument for it to be trading at about US$0.72 on fundamentals right now but a recovery to that level is unlikely while the other worries are centre-stage. Further out in the year, the fundamental picture will change as US interest rates rise and the kiwi should end the year about 0.67, Wong said. The kiwi and aussie dollars eased slightly on the other major crosses on the geo-politics but the kiwi looks cheap against the aussie one-on-one, he said. While dairy prices have risen, iron-ore prices have tumbled this month, which should be a negative for the aussie. Wong expects a recovery to A$0.95 by mid-year. He expects a E0.63 to 0.64 rate for the kiwi by year-end. Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017 NI SLAUGHTER

39 MICRON WOOL

LAMB ($/KG)

($/KG)

5.90

3.90

5.60

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

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.70

5.65

5.25

NI Bull (300kg)

5.70

5.65

5.15

NI Cow (200kg)

4.50

3.90

SI Steer (300kg)

5.35

4.95

SI Bull (300kg)

5.05

5.10

4.50

SI Cow (200kg)

4.10

4.20

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 5.5

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)

$/kg

5.0 600 4.5 500 4.0 400

300 3.5

Oct

Dec Dec

Feb Feb

5‐yr ave

Apr Apr

JunJun

Last yr

AugAug This yr

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

NI Stag (60kg)

8.35

8.25

7.45

NI Hind (50kg)

8.25

8.15

7.35

SI Stag (60kg)

8.60

8.50

7.45

SI Hind (50kg)

8.50

8.40

7.35

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

9.5

$/kg

8.5

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)

600

7.5

500

400 6.5 300

5.5 Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

Jun Jun

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

Aug Aug This yr

GOOD MALE LAMBS AT STORTFORD LODGE ($/HD)

105

high lights

$655-$865

$1060-$1300

Weaner Friesian bulls, 150-200kg, at Taupo Fair

Weaner exotic steers, 250-320kg, at Feilding Special Fair

Cull cow numbers now starting to flow WITH Gypsy Day just a few weeks away, cull dairy cow numbers are now starting to flow nationwide, which has taken the pressure off buyers, and most sales showed some softening last week. However, with grass plentiful and other stock expensive, farmers looking for cows to graze are underpinning the market, ensuring that prices still stay well above past years. NORTHLAND NORTHLAND The second round of weaner fairs began at WELLSFORD last Monday, with steers and bulls offered, followed by heifers, and also breeding cows last Tuesday. Conditions on farm are very different to the earlier fairs, with a good autumn bringing strong local support to the market, and prices firmed for all weaner fairs. The weaner steer and bull fair consisted of 720 steers and 220 bulls, with lighter cattle expensive shopping. Prices lifted on 2016 levels, with Angus-Friesian steers, 170-190kg, earning $750-$780, with the lighter end at $4.34-$4.45/kg, while HerefordFriesian, 189-196kg, made $815-$865, $4.31-$4.41/kg. Hereford-cross, 228-270kg, returned $835-$975, with 3 378kg Hereford-Jersey, making top dollar at $1220. Bull prices improved, and Friesian, 150-170kg, returned $605-$620, with heavier types making $700-$850, while Hereford-cross, 213310kg, fetched $665-$935. Weaner heifer prices firmed on last sale and 2016 levels, with just over 600 head offered. Hereford-Friesian, 135-190kg, made $600-$745, with the lighter lines reaching $4.42-$4.44/kg. Angus-Friesian, 220-278kg, fetched $770-$960, while a big yarding of Hereford-Jersey, 127-210kg, returned $550-$775. The top exotic lines sold to keen interest, and $800-$900 was needed to secure lines, while autumn-born

WAITING: Deer lining up before the High Peak weaner deer sale recently. More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

Charolais-cross, 280-296kg, made $930-$960. Three vendors made up the breeding cow section, with a good mix of vetted-in-calf and run-with-bull. Hereford cows, in-calf to Hereford bull, made $1530-$1810, while a big offering beef-Friesian, in-calf to Charolais bull, sold for $1540-$1760, and run-with-bull, $1300-$1320. AUCKLAND AUCKLAND A large yarding of weaner cattle were offered at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 8th April, as flood conditions force them out. Prime cattle sold on recent levels,

with steers, 625-702kg, earning $2.72-$2.89/kg, putting the top line over $2000, and heifers, 461-574kg, $2.73-$2.87/kg. The top boner cows made $2.11/kg, with lighter types at $1.78/kg. Forward store steers, 573kg, returned $2.79/kg, while 400-416kg made $2.65-$3.00/kg. Heifer prices were solid, and 365-392kg made $2.87-$3.06/kg, and 15-month, 308350kg, $2.72-$2.80/kg. Weaners were mainly lighter types, and demand was strong as buyers enjoyed the smaller outlay. The best of the steers were 166-176kg, and made Continued page 54

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Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

$600-$850, with 87-115kg earning $400-$610. Heifers, 93-107kg, returned $430-$630. COUNTIES COUNTIES About 500 cattle were yarded at the TUAKAU prime sale last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Kane Needham reported. Steers and heifers were steady, but prices for a big offering of boner cows eased. Steers made $2.93/kg, good-medium, $2.86$2.90/kg and lighter $2.80-$2.82/ kg. Prime heifers sold up to $2.90/ kg, and good-medium $2.78$2.87/kg. Dairy-type heifers returned $2.40-$2.55/kg, while most beef cows traded at $2.10$2.30/kg. Boner cows were out in large numbers and prices eased 5-10c/ kg. Friesian sold to $2.05/kg, with the remainder at $1.80-$1.90/ kg, medium $1.70-$1.80/kg and lighter $1.45-$1.60/kg. Numbers were back at last Monday’s sheep sale, with heavy prime lambs in short supply. The best lambs made $125, medium $105-$115, and lighter, $100. Store lambs continue to sell well, with the top making $87-$95, medium $75-$83, and light, $65-$70. A good line of ewes, bought for breeding, made $127, while in the prime pens heavy types made $97, medium $73-$85, and lighter $57-$65. WAIKATO Every seat and pen was full at TAUPO last Monday, as buyers travelled from all over the North Island, for a combined weaner and store cattle sale of 1500. Most of the yarding were weaners, and Angus steers, 170-190kg, fetched $820-$890, $4.68-$4.80/kg, while a line of 86 202kg made $955. Simmentalcross, 168-190kg, made $790-$875, and Hereford-Friesian, 200-227kg, $800-$915. Heifer numbers matched the steers, though a larger portion were dairy-beef. Angus, 200-218kg, made $800$850, and Hereford-Friesian, 110121kg, $470-$517, and Friesiancross, 141-181kg, $482-$610. Two quality lines of Angus bulls, 200234kg, returned $915-$1000, and Friesian 158-201kg, $655-$865. R2 beef-cross and Hereford-Friesian steers mainly sold for $2.91-$3.00/ kg, and a quality line of HerefordFriesian heifers, 364kg, $2.96/kg. Nearly 200 main pens of cattle were sold at FRANKTON last Wednesday, as more vendors look to take advantage of the resilient market.Of the 1200 offered, 400 R2 steers and 280 R2 heifers featured, with a mini weaner fair following. The R2 pens included annual draft lines, and Hereford-Friesian and quality beef lines made top dollar.

Most Hereford-Friesian steers returned $2.98-$3.10/kg across all weights, and Hereford and Angus, 426-474kg, $2.86-$2.93/kg. The lighter end of the HerefordFriesian heifers cracked $3/kg, with 302-362kg making $3.01$3.13/kg, and heavier weights, $2.76-$2.82/kg. Angus bulls, 415461kg, fetched $2.69-$2.78/kg. The best of the weaner steers made $740-$860, with Hereford-Friesian heifers, 182-210kg, making $700$770, and Friesian bulls, 187238kg, $650-$760. TARANAKI TARANAKI Sales were a game of two halves at STRATFORD, with a bigger offering of cull cows selling on an easing market, while the Wednesday store sale was red hot. New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Stephen Sutton reported that in 30 years in the industry, he has never seen April prices improve on March levels.Of the 425 cattle offered last Tuesday, most were cull cows, and with space tightening up, prices eased. Heavy cows, including beef lines, sold to $2.00-$2.15/kg, with younger dairy cows bought to farm on making $1.90-$2.15/ kg. An entry of Red Devon bulls, 400-500kg, were purchased as service bulls for $3.20-$3.50/ kg.Wednesday saw a capacity yarding of 1220 cattle, but the number of buyers exceeded supply, and prices for most types continued to improve. R3 steers, 500-630kg, traded at $2.90-$3.05/ kg, while in the R2 steer pens, buyers were hard pushed to get anything under $1000, with most trading at $3.00-$3.50/kg. Heifers also sold to another level, with prices for quality lines ranging from $2.80-$3.30/kg, with $3.00$3.10/kg common ground. In-calf Hereford heifers of medium condition sold exceptionally well at $1350-$1450, with Angus, 460kg, making $1640. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY There was a slightly smaller offering than last month at the MATAWHERO cattle sale on Tuesday. Older cattle numbers were much lower, however, instead replaced by a sizeable yarding of weaners. Only a handful of R3 steers were offered, with two 520-595kg traditional lines making $3.03$3.17/kg. The highlight among the R2 steers was a good quality selection of 395-415kg Angus, which made $1385-$1405, or $3.39-$3.51/kg. Other Angus-cross lines 290-360kg were $1080-$1200. R2 Angus heifers, 305-340kg, were $995-$1030, while other various 390-440kg straight beef lines made $1220-$1290. A line of 425kg R2 Friesian bulls

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TOP BID: Hamish Guild looks on during the High Peak Station’s weaner deer sale. More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

made $1275, or $3.00/kg. Weaner Angus steers, 210240kg, went for $975-$1090, while 175-225kg Hereford-cross and Murray Grey made $890-$940. Various 175-220kg traditional type heifers made $790-$835, while 120-150kg lines were $600-$690. Beef-type weaner bulls made $990-$1100 for 250-290kg, with $860-965 paid for 175-235kg. One line of vetted-in-calf mixed age Angus-cross cows, 440kg, made $1075. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY A busy week at STORTFORD LODGE saw the usual prime sale last Monday, weaner steers and bulls last Tuesday, and weaner heifers and store stock last Wednesday. Cattle prices were very positive, with weaner steers firming, and heifers steady. Prime lamb prices firmed last Monday, with the small mixed sex yarding making $100-$135. Ewe numbers were very low, and the market consistent, with light-medium earning $75-$80, and heavy, $90-$104.A small prime cattle sale offered all Angus, with one line of heifers fetching $2.86/ kg, while a second line could not be guaranteed as heifers, and returned $2.40/kg. Angus cows, 496-594kg, made $2.12-$2.20/kg, and Angus-cross, 676kg, $2.28/ kg.A full rostrum of mainly local buyers pushed weaner steer prices further last Tuesday. The majority of the yarding were traditional

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steers, and top lines, 250-330kg, returned $1080-$1200, 210-240kg $960-$1060, and 180-210kg, $850$965. Exotic, 255-290kg, traded at $1060-$1185. Friesian bulls proved popular, and 115-140kg fetched $590-$700, and 160-185kg, $750-$830.Local buyers returned for the weaner heifer fair last Wednesday, with a steady market resulting. Traditional and exotic featured, with a good variance in weights to fit most budgets. Most Angus fitted into 150-200kg, and returned $685-$870, while Angus-Hereford, 115-150kg, made $510-$670, and 230-300kg, $860$1070. Most exotic-cross heifers traded at $840-$1080.A quality store cattle offering mainly sold to outside buyers, and R3 traditional steers traded at $1440-$1885, with Angus-Hereford selling up to $3.30/kg. Specially advertised R2 Angus steers, 368-429kg, made $3.55-$3.72/kg, and later-born Angus-Hereford, 308-325kg, $3.69-$3.70/kg. The remainder of the yarding was small, though featured R2 Angus-Hereford bulls, 457kg, at $3.14/kg, and Charolais heifers, 308kg, $3.38/ kg. Store lambs were by no means left in the shadow of the large cattle entries, with nearly 11,000 offered. The increase in number was mainly due to cancelled lines the week prior, with big entries from Wairoa, and the first half of the sale offered up heavy, forward types. Good-heavy male lamb prices were steady at $94-$116, with medium types returning $92-$99. The better end of the ewes made $97-$115, though prices eased for medium-good types to $94-$101. Good-heavy mixed sex returned $96-$113. Very light lambs were still expensive shopping, with all sexes making $84-$91. MANAWATU MANAWATU After weather disruptions last week, cattle volumes returned to normal at RONGOTEA last Wednesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood

reported.R3 Hereford-Friesian and Angus-cross steers, 442710kg, returned $2.71-$2.88/kg, while Hereford bulls, 527kg, made $3.03/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 476kg, $2.92/kg. The best of the heifers sold to $2.90/kg, though lesser types only managed $2.33$2.37/kg. A small yarding of R2 cattle featured Hereford-Friesian, with steers, 394kg, at $3.04/kg, and heifers, 375-413kg, $2.902.96/kg. Younger cattle made up the biggest portion of the yarding, and Hereford-Friesian steers, 139-175kg, made $685-$690, and Friesian, 152-215kg, $615-$870. Charolais-cross, 277kg, returned $955. Angus-cross, and crossbred heifers had plenty of weight at 272-280kg, and made $820-$870, with lighter lines trading at $540$620. A big yarding of bulls saw Friesian, 172-247kg, fetch $640$730, and crossbred, 125-245kg, $520-$660. Small lines of quality beef and beef-Friesian saw lighter types make $630, with the tops earning $910-$1010. In the calf pens, the top Friesian, HerefordFriesian and Angus-cross bulls returned $300-$440, with lighter types earning $200-$280. Heifers of similar breeding sold to $150$330.Boner cow prices eased as more come to sale. The better types made $1.76-$1.86/kg, and medium $1.67-$1.70/kg. Jersey, 400-424kg, earned $1.57-$1.66/kg. An influx of cows into FEILDING last Monday pushed numbers up to 430, with prices easing as supply increases and two short weeks loom.A reduced yarding of prime lambs lifted, with the top line selling to $144, and most trading at $110-$130. Ewe numbers were similar to the previous week, though a larger portion were medium to good types, with prices firm at $77$128.In the rostrum, Angus & Angus-Hereford cows, 514-583kg, made $2.03-$2.12/kg, on a steady market. Dairy cows eased, with heavy Friesian trading at $1.84$1.94/kg, medium $1.80-$1.85/ kg, and lighter, $1.73-$1.80/kg.

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017

ON SALE: High Peak Station weaner deer waiting for the auction to begin. More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

Jersey and Jersey-cross, 400-454kg, returned $1.70-$1.83/kg. Light dairy heifer prices came back, with Jersey, 290-323kg, making $1.81-$1.85/kg, and Friesian, 381-440kg, $2.44-$2.53/kg, though Friesian & Friesiancross, 553-576kg, sold to $2.80-$2.85/kg. Jersey bulls, 492-528kg, sold well at $2.68$2.69/kg. The store lamb yarding was less than advertised which may have helped sale prices. Casual observers considered the market to be easing but, in reality, the weight and quality on offer was reduced more than the prices. Prices for longer term lambs did slightly ease back on recent highs but lambs are not weighing so well with the dull conditions. Second cuts are still selling for nearly the same money as the tops. Buyers were virtually just bidding up to the same dollar levels regardless of the weight of the lambs, it seemed. Ewe lambs were sold for the same levels as males and under the same rules. $129 was the day’s top price for 88 ram lambs and they were easily the heaviest lambs offered with the top ewe lambs making $108.50. Ewes: RWR $69-$118; Lambs; very heavy, $114-$129; heavy $104-$118; medium $98$108; light, $88.50-$105. The cattle sale was dominated by the dairy industry with most of the steers being dairy cross and most of the bulls were Friesian. The pick of the cattle yarding was the rising two year heifer section. The best of the two year steers – 16 Herefords at $1550, $3.09/kg – made nearly the same as the best three year steers at $1560 as the steers eased back a little. Eight R2 Friesian bulls were good indicators and sold for $1500, $2.90/kg and the bulls eased in line with the steers. 5 useful weaner Friesian bulls sold for $955, $3.53/kg but many pens of weaner bulls had such a range of weights in the pen that it was hard to get a gauge on values. Even with some quality heifers being offered, this section eased in line with the rest. nine Charolais-cross heifers sold for $1390, $3.13/kg but, as more rain approaches, buyers are holding. Steers; R3, 531-588kg, $1410-$1560, $2.61-$2.88/kg; R2, 336-501kg, $1020-$1550, $2.59-$3.49/kg; R1, 118-144kg, $630-$660, $4.47-$5.33/kg; Bulls; R2, 267-517kg, $900-$1500; R1, 108-270kg, $490-$955, $3.10-$5.55/kg; Heifers; R2, 272-450kg, $870-$1390, $2.86-$3.22/kg; R1, 113-284kg, $450-$840, $3.38-$5.08/kg. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY The approaching long weekend meant a change of sale day at COALGATE, though sheep numbers were largely unaffected last Wednesday. A third of the cattle offered were cows, with prices easing. Local buyers competed on 2500 quality store lambs, with most making $101-$109, and the remainder, $80-$98. Prime lambs firmed to $100-$133, while a small ewe section saw heavy types make $104-$129, and medium, $80-$98. The yarding of 370 cattle consisted of 150 cows, with run-with-bull Simmental

making $1070-$1120, and empty Angus, 533-712kg, $2.17-$2.20/kg. Cull dairy cows eased, with 507-514kg earning $1.67-$1.75/ kg, and lighter types, $1.53-$1.63/kg. Steer and heifer quality was limited to dairycross, with steers returning $2.78-$2.86/kg, and heifers, $2.60-$2.74/kg. All sections were covered in the store pens, albeit by small numbers. R2 heifers featured, offering up Angus and AngusHereford, 375-395kg, at $2.93-$2.99/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 343kg, $3.29/kg. A foggy start to the day may have delayed flights, but did not deter a good bench of buyers making it to CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, though numbers in all sections were low. The second calf sale last Wednesday sold on a steady market. Store lamb numbers dropped to 700 head, and with all lines mixed sex and of mixed quality, the tone of the sale was softer. Light lines returned $78-$87, medium $81-$92, and good, $97-$103. Prime lambs made up the biggest percentage of the sale, with prices steady at $90-$126. Ewe numbers were limited to 433, and the market lifted $4-$5, with medium-good at $80-$106, and heavy, $110-$127.Just over 300 cattle were offered and the low supply of prime cattle kept prices high. Forward Angus and Angus-Hereford steers sold to $2.99-$3.06/ kg, and Devon, 670-700kg, $3.03-$3.11/kg. Dairy-cross lines mainly traded at $2.79$2.88/kg. Top heifers made $2.83-$2.89/kg, and local trade, $2.75-$2.80/kg.Demand for cows was high, with extra buying power from paddock buyers. Angus-cross sold to $2.12-$2.20/kg, and Hereford, 447-500kg, $1.94-$1.95/ kg. Bulls were steady, with high yielding Charolais-cross at $2.98-$3.00/kg. A small store offering featured R2 Angus steers, 394-452kg, at $3.17-$3.27/kg, while 1-year Angus, 256-259kg, returned $3.52-$3.55/kg. Angus-Hereford heifers, 347-386kg, sold for $3.02-$3.08/kg.There wasn’t much change from the previous week at the second calf sale of 920 head, with local buyers dominating the market. Traditional steers, 245-290kg, made $1045-$1130, 210-240kg $940-$1005, and 180-200kg, $870-$910. Charolais steers, 210-245kg, returned $9451060.Traditional heifers, 225-245kg, went for $930-$970, 180-215kg, $800-$900, and 150-175kg, $700-$745. A few 220-235kg Charolais-cross lines made $935-$1015, while 150-200kg returned $755-$845. SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY Both cull cows and lambs are flowing freely now at TEMUKA, while western calves had their time in the spotlight last Tuesday, with pleasing results.Light and medium store lambs held their value at $85-$95, with interest strong from mid and south Good ewe lambs returned $95-$98, and mixed sex, $95-$107. Prime lambs were steady, with most earning $90-$138, while the ewe market continued it’s consistent run at $80-$117. Breeding ewes also featured, with run-with-the-ram making $113-$120, and the remainder, $93-$114.A big yarding of 540 cows met strong demand, with prices

firm. Angus cows sold to $2.11-$2.17/kg, and medium, $1.81-$1.93/kg, while heavy Friesian returned $1.80-$1.90/kg, and medium, $1.70-$1.80/kg. Lesser types, 429494kg, made $1.60-$1.69/kg, while Jersey, 406-442kg, returned $1.51-$1.69/kg. Quality steers met solid demand, with Angus, Hereford and Charolais, 510-725kg, making $2.90-$2.99/kg. Friesian bull prices eased, with 625-648kg earning $2.70-$2.80/kg, and Angus, 613-635kg, $2.80/kg. Angus also featured in the heifer pens, and 506-558kg made $2.85-$2.91/kg, while Friesian, 442482kg, returned $2.46-$2.54/kg.Western calves graced the rostrum last Tuesday, with 1340 offered. Prices lifted $170-$300 on 2016, though was slightly softer than the Mackenzie section sale. Southland and local buyers worked to per head budgets, and light Angus steers, 150-220kg, made $860-$980, $5.14-$5.22/kg. Medium Angus, 210-250kg, returned $960-$1125, and 255kg plus, $1130-$1290. Most lines of steers sold for $935-$1260, while two lines of Hereford bulls, 222-263kg, made $1010-$1350. Angus heifers, 100-145kg, returned $450-$680, 150-200kg, $725-$905, and 210-235kg, $910$1005, while Angus-Hereford, 190-240kg, fetched $805-$970. A number of lines sold over $1000. OTAGO OTAGO A reduced yarding of prime sheep saw prices firm at BALCUTHA last Wednesday, while store lambs sold on a steady to slightly softer market. A small yarding of store lambs saw top lines ease to $87-$91, with medium types following suit to $72-$84, while light lines remained steady at $60-$70. Limited numbers of prime sheep however increased competition, and prices firmed across the board, with heavy lines making $115-$123, medium $100-$110, and lighter, $91-$97. A similar result in the ewe pens saw heavy lines firm to $109-$121, while prices lifted for medium and lighter to $90$104, and $75-$87. Two-tooth’s returned $94, and rams, $55-$71. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND Lamb prices have found a comfortable level at LORNEVILLE, with both prime and store lambs steady on recent weeks. An increased number of cows took pressure off buyers, and prices eased. A good sized yarding of store lambs met strong demand, and the top lines were steady at $85-$93, with medium earning $75-$82, and light slightly firmer at $65$75. Prime lambs sold on a very steady market, with heavy lines making $110-$120, medium $91-$108, and lighter $82-$89. Ewe prices eased, and the tops made $85-$105, medium $65-$75, and light, $45-$60. A big yarding of cull dairy cows sold on a softer market, with 450kg plus earning $1.60-$1.70/kg, 400-450kg, $1.50-$1.60/ kg, and 350-400kg, $1.48-$1.50/kg. Dairy heifers also eased, with most trading at $2.00-$2.40/kg. Prime prices remained solid, with steers earning $2.70-$2.90/kg, and heifers, $2.60-$2.80/kg. The store pens featured R2 Angus and Murray Grey steers, 439-441kg, at $3.21$3.31/kg, while Angus-cross, 377kg, made $2.94/kg. Hereford-cross heifers, 389kg, fetched $2.90/kg. In the calf pens, HerefordFriesian bulls, 200-240kg, returned $670$740, and Hereford-cross, 164kg, $650, and heifers, 174kg, $640. A small yarding of sheep were offered at CHARLTON last Thursday, prior to the Easter break, though the better prime and store lambs sold to increased demand. The top store lambs firmed to $100, while medium types returned $80-$90, with lighter lambs slightly softer at $65.The heavy and medium prime lamb market had a firm tone, with tops making $118, and next cut, $100-$108, though lighter types eased to $91. Heavy ewes held their value at $135, but a lesser quality yarding from there down saw medium types make $76-$85, and light, $60. Rams returned $40-$70.

Best feed conditions in years stimulates South Island demand for livestock With plenty of autumn rain and favourable ground temperatures, grass is growing in the South Island. “This is the best feed situation we have seen in a long time,” says PGG Wrightson South Island Livestock Manager Shane Gerken. “With so much stock sold during the last three years because of drought conditions, farmers have depleted their capital stock, which they are now seeking to replenish. “During the traditional March and April weaner sales, buyers have been paying record prices for calves, up between $150 and $200 from last year’s record prices. Traditional and exotic steers are selling at auction around the $4.50 per kilogram mark, with heifers between $4.00 and $4.20. Heavy steer calves are commanding $3.70 to $4.00 per kilogram, while medium steers are fetching between $4.40 and $4.60. “Some lighter weight steer calves are making well over $5.00 per kilogram,” he says. There is a demand for well-bred heifers, which are being bought for breeding rather than to finish, and most calves through the South Island sales are going locally, says Shane Gerken. “Although we normally enjoy North Island support, the current South Island auction prices are cutting North Island farmers out. When they factor in the cost of freight, the margins have become too tight to ship stock. “While we have been used to North Island farmers setting livestock prices, prices are now being set in the South Island.” With Canterbury lamb finishers purchasing store lambs, that market is also lifted over the last month. “As the processing companies come out with winter contracts, it has given farmers confidence to buy. “For 26 to 31 kilogram store lambs, stock is changing hands from $3.00 to $3.20 per kilogram, for heavier lambs that is $2.75 to $2.95 per kilogram, and for lambs in the 24 to 27 kilogram range, prices are $3.40 to $3.50. “With ample rain, low stock volumes and a surplus of grass, prices for South Island livestock should remain firm as the autumn progresses,” he says. PGG Wrightson’s ‘Go-Beef,’‘Go-Lamb’ and ‘Defer a Bull’ products provide farmers with the opportunity to fund the cost of stock for an extended period, with no cash outlay. “Those farmers who take advantage of these products will be well positioned ahead of next spring,” said Shane Gerken.

Get in touch: 0800 10 22 76 www.pggwrightson.co.nz Helping grow the country

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 17, 2017 NI SLAUGHTER COW

SI SLAUGHTER COW

SI SLAUGHTER STAG

($/KG)

4.50

4.10

R2 BEEF-FRIESIAN STEERS, 325-375KG, AT RANGIURU

8.60

$/KGLW

3.07

high lights

All deer go at top prices

ECORD prices for weaner deer at the High Peak Station annual sale topped the buoyancy of weaner sales throughout the South Island this autumn. The Guild family’s High Peak sale in Canterbury, the country’s largest onfarm weaner deer sale, achieved a record price of $500 a head for a pen of hybrid weaner stags weighing in at 71.5kg. The sale, which offered close to 900 weaners from hybrid weaner stags and hinds to European-cross weaners and Rakaia/English weaner hinds, attracted strong interest from across the South Island. “It was a miserable, cold day and we nearly held the sale in a shed but everyone came dressed for the bad weather conditions so we decided to tough it out in the deer yards,” Hamish Guild said. The sale started strongly with a record price for the first pen offered. James and Anna Guild bought the 3780 hectare High Peak property near the Rakaia Gorge in 1973 and now their sons Hamish and Simon manage the farming and tourism operations. The station ran 1850 breeding hinds, 750 velvet stags, 340 Angus and Hereford-cross beef breeding cows and 4500 Perendale breeding ewes. Deer were a big focus of the farming operation with the family’s deer unit marking its 40th anniversary this year. PGG Wrightson northern

TWO HEADS: Hamish Guild of High Peak Station catching up with PGG Wrightson auctioneer Glenn Peddie before the sale. South Island deer agent Ron Schroeder has worked alongside the Guild family for many years. He said achieving record prices was the result of good management to produce top animals combined with the strong deer industry. “The deer industry has shrunk by 50% over the past 10 years so farmers like the Guilds who continue to improve their operation yearon-year and produce highquality animals do well in this tough industry. “The Guilds produce highquality deer and we have no

problem finding buyers for them,” Schroeder said. This year’s sale saw a full clearance with the weaners sold as finishers, potential velveters and for breeding. Schroeder said several factors underpinned the strong South Island autumn weaner sales including the general shortage of weaner deer on the open market when the industry in general was tracking very well. The schedule at $8.60/kg, very good returns on velvet and an abundance of grass had all played a part. There were also a number of

farmers who had gone out of dairy grazing and back to deer. “We have seen this particularly in Mid Canterbury and this has put pressure on the market as well. “The schedule is up $1.50 on this time last year and we didn’t get the fall-off from January as we usually do given the markets now have given the industry a much broader shoulder. “I believe there is a bit of procurement built in (to the $8.60) but I am reasonably confident the venison market remains reasonably strong overseas,” Schroeder said.

$4.35-$4.55/kg

$860-$980

Weaner Angus steers, 230-275kg, at Temuka Western Section

Weaner Angus-Hereford heifers, 225-275kg, at Stortford Lodge Heifer Fair

Diversification of livestock agents THROUGHOUT New Zealand’s history women have been an integral part of farming, whether in the foreground or the back. More recently, a growing number of women are servicing Suz Bremner the industry in areas such as AgriHQ Analyst consultancy, product sales and animal health. One role that is largely untapped is that of the livestock agent, but, we are slowly seeing a growing number of women entering this sector. It is a bit like male midwives though, they’re there, but numbers are still very low. An internet search of the bigger companies found just three female livestock agents and one trainee, with two of them based in Hawke’s Bay. Carol Milligan of Redshaw Livestock has been entrenched in the livestock industry for many years, independently buying and selling stock. When the late Laurence Redshaw asked her to join his team, Carol felt it was a logical next step and, while it came with a big lifestyle change, she does not regret it. She enjoys the camaraderie and people she deals with daily and, dare I say it, is just one of the boys. Her niche sits with small block holders and bull farmers though she also works with bigger properties and stud stock. A more recent addition to the industry is Caitlyn Rokela, though with a farming background and degree in animal science, she is well equipped for the role. Caitlyn was one of 12 to take up livestock representative trainee roles with PGG Wrightson. She is near the end of her 18-month training and her time has been spent learning the ropes, mainly based at yards or out in the field with other agents. She enjoys the people and environment and her goal is to continue in the role, which has included some auctioneering. Diversification has been key to the success of many businesses and will no doubt continue to be beneficial to the agriculture industry as a whole. suz.bremner@nzx.com

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