SOME of New Zealand’s $1.2 billion in dairy exports to the United States could face a nearly 30% tariff after US President Donald Trump imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports of NZ goods from this weekend.
Trump last week announced details of his long-anticipated import tariffs, with Australia, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil also facing a 10% rate. The European Union faces 20%.
The Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ) understands the new rates are in addition to current tariffs on dairy imports.
“For example, in a 2023 report, Sense Partners calculated the average tariff that the US applies on dairy products as 19.6%.”
Economists, sector leaders and politicians have assessed Trump’s imposition of tariffs from this weekend as worse than hoped for, but better than feared.
The US is our second largest primary sector export market with growth of 16% in 2023.
Meat exports grew 15% to $2.2bn, dairy was worth $1.2bn and it is our largest wine market, worth $797m.
Trade Minister Todd McClay said on Thursday the imposition
of tariffs will disrupt global trade and increase prices, but could have been worse.
“We are no worse off than many other countries in the world with a tariff rate of 10% while others face 40% and 50%.”
Discussions with exporters following Trump’s announcement reveals they still see opportunity in the market.
Trump claimed NZ imposes a 20% monetary or non-tariff barrier on US imports to NZ, but how that was calculated is unclear.
We are a trading nation. That whole environment is more difficult now.
Brad Olsen Infometrics
Sense Partners economist John Ballingall believes that could be derived from the US’s current 20% trade deficit with NZ.
McClay said officials are trying to determine how the figure was reached, saying the average NZ tariff on US goods is 1.8%.
“We don’t have a 20% tariff rate.”
He said the NZ government will follow Australia and not impose retaliatory tariffs, as that would only raise prices for consumers.
Continued page 3
Request is in for buckets of rain
At least a month’s worth of rain is needed across Waikato to alleviate drought conditions, says the region’s Federated Farmers president, Keith Holmes. “The ground is so dry and the aquifers are so dry that we need constant rain for 30-40 days just to get back to equilibrium.” In Taranaki, dairy farmers are buying in supplementary feed but there are concerns about availability.
NEWS 3
Increased trauma for volunteer fire brigades not met with support.
NEWS 5
Photo: Charlotte Curd Photography
Venerable sheep farm turns to cannabis
Rosedale Growbulk, run by Don, George and Lochie Morrison, has been selling rams across New Zealand farms for 100 years. Now the family are growing medicinal cannabis.
HORTICULTURE 15-16
Much for NZ to emulate – and complement – in thriving Singapore. NEWS 10
Relationships, communication key to farming success, writes Phil Weir.
OPINION 13
EDITORIAL
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News in brief
GDT increase
A 5% rise in skim milk powder prices helped the Global Dairy Trade price index to increase 1.1% at the April 1 event. Despite a 1.2% drop in the latest auction, butter prices are at record levels. Anhydrous milk fat rose 2.3% and cheddar was up 1.7%. The all-important whole milk powder price average was steady at minus 0.1% and US$4062/tonne.
Coutts appointed
Fonterra has appointed Liz Coutts ONZM chair-elect of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of Fonterra’s global consumer business.
Coutts is currently chair of ASX and NZX-listed companies EBOS Group Ltd and Oceania Healthcare Limited, as well as 2degrees Group. In the event of an initial public offering for Mainland Group, Coutts would be the non-executive chair of the board, presiding over the strategy.
Leaders recognised
Three sector leaders have been named finalists in the Dairy Women’s Network for the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award.
They are Ashburton-based dairy farmer Frances Beeston; Jo Sheridan, who is demonstration manager at Owl Farm at St Peter’s School in Cambridge; and Lara Sutton, who is a Waikato-based strategy and commercial partnerships manager at DairyNZ as well as a herd-owning sharemilker. The winner will be announced on May 1.
Decision close
An interim decision on Plan Change 1 is expected to be released by the Environment Court in May.
The ruling, which will see new rules for agricultural land use and aims to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments, will also likely be a precursor to farm environment plans, Waikato Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes said.
Rain welcomed but a lot more needed
Gerald Piddock NEWS Weather
SOME drought-stricken farmers across the country have received rain, but more is needed to reduce soil moisture deficits and restore water tables.
While the low front that brought rain to parts of the South Island and much of the North Island is a welcome reprieve, at least a month’s worth of rain is needed across Waikato, the region’s Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes said.
The region needs at least 70mm just to penetrate the soil after evapotranspiration.
“The ground is so dry and the aquifers are so dry that we need constant rain for 30-40 days just to get back to equilibrium prior to winter before the cold comes.
“What has happening in Taranaki is very much happening here now. It’s getting very serious,” he said.
Dairy farmers are either drying off or taking drastic deloading action. He is particularly concerned about the sheep, beef and grazier farms in western Waikato that do not have the same cashflow benefits as dairy farmers.
The high dairy payout has
Continued from page 1
DCANZ said it is working with the government to assess the impact.
“How other US trading partners respond will also be relevant to how the dairy market [is affected].”
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said there is a fear the tariffs could distort global trade as exporters re-direct beef to markets where NZ also operates.
She said the US beef herd is at historically low levels and beef consumption is at record levels,
motivated farmers to produce as much milk as they can while doing a risk analysis on autumn and winter feed reserves and the likelihood of when it might rain.
“As they eat that up, their options start to reduce in terms of what happens if the rain doesn’t come. That’s my real fear at the moment, that the rain is still probably 30 days away.”
Just be prudent – don’t take any risks that you don’t have to take.
Keith Holmes Federated Farmers
With the maize harvest well through, farmers have the option of either starting their winter management now or gambling that they might be able to use the maize until the rain brings the pasture back, he said.
“My advice to farmers is just be prudent – don’t take any risks that you don’t have to take.”
He said they are holding lots of drop-in Rural Support Trust lunch meetings across the region to help farmers. These have been well attended, with 30-60 people turning up.
“It’s not just the drought, it’s all the stress that goes with it and it
so NZ exporters still expect high demand from the US despite the tariffs.
Rabobank economist Ben Picton said other than pushing up prices, the impact on global trade is not as bad as feared.
“In a relative sense it is not such a bad result but we are certainly less competitive today than we were yesterday.”
He said NZ wine exporters face bigger headwinds as tariffs will make them less competitive with US product.
Babich Wines chief executive David Babich said despite being a
affects the family, it affects the finances.”
WeatherWatch’s Philip Duncan said the rainfall totals varied from 40-80mm, which will make a big dent into drought conditions.
“But if you’ve been in rainfall deficit for several months and only get 30 or 40mm, it’s not enough to reverse things.
“I think this event will make a significant dent in the New Zealand Drought Index, with
significant cost, it can be managed, noting Europe has a 20% rate.
“We had very little expectation that it would be zero, but concern that it could be 25% so, while it is certainly bad news, it is more manageable than anything higher.”
Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen said it’s clear NZ was not directly targeted but NZ and US trade is a big enough relationship that it will matter.
The biggest worry for NZ is the risk of wider economic challenges such as China, which has a blanket 34% rate, growing more slowly because it is unable
follow-up rain and showers likely after it too and again coming in from the west.”
South Taranaki District Council mayor and dairy farmer Phil Nixon said they are still desperate for rain. He is hoping this latest rain will see pastures bounce back.
“We’re pretty desperate now because most farmers are buying in supplements to try and get through.”
Most farmers are still milking,
to produce or export as much.
“If all these countries are doing the same, if there’s retaliation to these tariffs then you’ll likely see lower-trend economic growth.”
For NZ exporters that ripple effect makes it more difficult, he said.
“The direct impact on the NZ economy is limited. It’s certainly not good, it’s the indirect, the second round effect of wider economic growth slowdown that I’m worried about.”
Olsen said oil prices dropped following the announcement, which suggests that market is now
having switched to once a day. The small group of autumn calving farms have little option but to buy in that feed, he said.
Most farmers have yet to dig into their winter feed reserves and instead are buying in supplementary feed, he said.
“But there is a lot of pressure on that at the moment because the bought-in feed is starting to get more scarce.”
What really concerns him is water availability. In his 46 years of farming, he had never seen water tables as low.
Farmers in his district on private and district-run water schemes are seeing wells and bores either drying up or at very low levels.
“That’s really compounding the issue for a number of farmers in the area.”
Federated Farmers Northland president Colin Hannah said they are nearing a similar situation to farmers in Waikato and Taranaki.
“It won’t take long for us to catch up with them.”
If it continues, the one advantage their region has is the opportunity for grass to grow back as the rest of the country goes into winter and the cold stops pastures from recovery, he said.
MORE: See page 7
expecting lower economic growth.
“It really highlights we are in a much more precarious trading position.
“We are a trading nation. That whole environment is more difficult now.”
Tractor and Machinery Association president Jaiden Drought said overall there is not huge concern.
“The bulk of machinery that comes into NZ comes from Europe or is locally made.”
There will be some flow-on effects such as freight forwarding costs.
FILL IT UP: Farmers needed a substantial amount of rain over a sustained period to replenish both the grass and water tables across the North Island.
Photo: Charlotte Curd Photography
Aussie cautions NZ on gene reg body
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Genetics
CROP protection and agri-tech companies in Australia are concerned
New Zealand’s proposed new rules for genetic technology will compromise the independence of the body appointed to oversee them.
CropLife Australia, the body representing developers and manufacturers of crop protection and bio-tech products, was one of the 15,000 submissions to the Gene Technology Bill, now before the health select committee.
In its submission, the body has generally praised the NZ government for efforts to develop robust regulation that is closely modelled on the Australian system, which has been operating for over 20 years.
CEO Matthew Cossey said harmonisation between Australia and NZ is essential. This was not only because they often share the same manufacturers, but because trans-Tasman unity gives both
countries much-needed leverage as smaller players in the global agricultural market.
“It is enough of a challenge already, so streamlined regulation becomes very important.”
However, CropLife’s submission also expressed concerns about conflicts of interest that may arise if the suggested structure is followed.
While establishing an outwardly
Legislative changes will limit liability
CHANGES to workplace health and safety law will lower the legal liability for landowners who allow their land to be used for recreational purposes.
The changes announced last week by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden follow further health and safety reforms announced earlier in the week, moves she said will reduce the cost and burden of compliance on low-risk businesses.
The minister said current work health and safety settings have reduced landowner appetite for
allowing recreational activities for fear they are legally liable should someone get hurt.
“Many landowners, managers, councils, farmers and iwi allow access to their land for recreational use out of sheer goodwill.
“I do not think it is reasonable or proportionate for landowners, managers and iwi to be prosecuted by WorkSafe if someone was to be hurt or injured during the course of a recreational activity just because they are responsible for the land.”
Changes to the law mean landowners will not be responsible for someone injured on their land while doing recreational activities.
“Health and safety responsibili-
ties will lie squarely on the organisation running the activities,” she said.
“For example, a farmer might worry they are responsible for the risks of a horse-trekking business on their land.
“I am making it clear in the law that in this case the health and safety duties sit with the horsetrekking business.”
Earlier the government announced it is reducing health and safety compliance for small, low-risk businesses.
“These businesses will only have to manage critical risks and provide basic facilities to ensure worker welfare.”
Other changes include reducing box ticking by sharpening
independent gene technology regulator, the Bill proposes it is to be run through the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The EPA is the manager of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act, which covers genetic material.
The government should really look at a separate dedicated structure.
Cossey said such a set-up would be a conflict for the gene technology regulator’s independence, something the Bill stipulates it should have.
He also took aim at the EPA’s track record in approving new crop and pest treatments, which has applications waiting in a queue for years at a time.
“The government should really look at a separate dedicated structure. It strikes me you may
need a better entity to start with, with a better culture,” Cossey said.
“NZ farmers are already getting products three to four years after their international competitors. NZ does so many things extraordinarily well, farmers should have approval in half the time they do. The real threat is companies will walk from that environment, and will not come back.”
A recent government report has made wide-ranging recommendations to improve approval times through the HSNO Act applications.
When it comes to genetic technology regulations, Cossey said, Australia and Canada are regarded as two of the most efficient countries for approval processes relating to GE technology.
“But while they have been seen as the most efficient, countries like Japan, Philippines and Malaysia have all modernised their systems to ensure you are not regulating things that do not need to be regulated. They are all outcomes focused.”
the primary purpose of the Act to focus on critical risk and address over-compliance by clarifying the boundaries between the Act and regulatory systems that already manage the same risk.
Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson David Birkett welcomed the focus on critical risks rather than managing
every single risk, saying it is long overdue.
“They’re too strict, ambiguous and seem to have added more cost, complexity and compliance onto farmers without any better outcomes.”
Farm safety is crucial, but the system needs to be fair and practical, and be based on common sense.
BOOSTED: CropLife Australia CEO Matthew Cossey says NZ farmers deserve better access to GE tech tools to remain competitive and innovative.
Matthew Cossey CropLife Australia
Neal Wallace NEWS Regulations
RECREATION: Changes to the law mean landowners will not be responsible for someone injured on their land while doing recreational activities.
First responders last in line for trauma care
Neal Wallace NEWS Community
VOLUNTEER fire brigades are attending most of the country’s motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies, creating trauma- and stress-related issues – but accident compensation coverage is not keeping pace.
Many of the nation’s 11,832 volunteer firefighters now act as first responders to motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies in addition to structure fires. They say this exposes them to increasing trauma and leaves some struggling to cope.
United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) data shows that in the 2023-24 year volunteers attended 70% of all motor vehicle accidents, 71% of all medical emergencies, 42% of all structure fires and 85% of all vegetation fires.
UFBA chief executive Bill Butzbach said some brigades attend to between 400 to 500 calls a year in addition to two hours training each week.
Increasingly those calls are to motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies, which he said are complex and professionally and emotionally testing.
Under the Accident Compensation Act 2001, volunteer firefighters are not covered for work-related illness or injury
resulting from their fire fighting duties because they do not receive a taxable payment for this work.
A petition has been launched asking Parliament to give volunteer firefighters the same ACC coverage as paid firefighters.
As of March 31 it had nearly 25,500 signatures.
It states that while volunteers are eligible for compensation for work-related mental injury, to qualify they must prove a single incident was the cause.
Gradual injuries leading to illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer, asthma, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, hearing and/or vision loss, are therefore not covered for volunteer firefighters.
Professional firefighters have access to a toxicology panel to assess ACC compensation if they are diagnosed with cancer.
Butzbach said often volunteer brigades are the first to respond to a traffic accident or medical emergency, using their first aid skills while waiting for St John or an air ambulance.
“Feedback from firefighters is that these calls are especially difficult.
“They are in the sanctity of someone’s home and it is so raw because the ill person’s family are often there and firefighters are trying to save their loved one.
“It’s the humanity of it all, the emotion.”
Equally, being first on the scene of an accident or incident can be challenging.
“You’re on your tod and often can’t communicate because of poor communication coverage so you have to be on your game.
“It puts a heap of pressure on you.”
The role of volunteer fire fighters
11,832 volunteer firefighters
• This represents 86% of frontline Fire and Emergency NZ’s firefighters
• They cover 93% of NZ’s land mass Volunteers responded to: - 42% of all structure fires - 70% of all motor vehicle accidents - 71% of all medical emergencies - 85% of all vegetation fires
FENZ employs: - 1807 paid firefighters - 1138 support staff
During his fire fighting career, Butzbach said, he never attended the range of calls expected of the service today and ACC cover does not take account of the emotional and physical impact on volunteers from providing these additional services.
That includes growing evidence of links between some cancers and fires, with firefighters recording higher cancer rates than the general public.
“Every fire is a hazardous materials incident with flames,” he said.
“You have got to turn your thinking around and approach it in a different way.”
Butzbach said the UFBA is working with politicians to extend ACC coverage but despite an initial mixed response, he is confident a solution will be found.
He said it would be relatively
When the helpers themselves need help
Neal Wallace NEWS Community
ACCIDENT Compensation
Corporation Minister Scott Simpson says there are significant factors to consider before changing the extent of the scheme’s coverage.
He was responding to calls for ACC coverage to include volunteer firefighters, saying considerations other than financial need to be considered with such decisions.
“There needs to be a careful balance between fairness and ensuring the sustainability of the scheme and not expanding it beyond its legislated purpose.”
While acknowledging the “important and selfless contribution to communities around New Zealand”, Simpson said volunteers can still access mental and health services through the health and welfare systems.
Andy Milne, ACC’s deputy chief executive for strategy, engagement and prevention, said the support the corporation provides is set by the Accident Compensation Act.
“We can provide cover for mental injuries caused by witnessing a traumatic event at work.
“Emergency service volunteers can be covered for physical injuries and mental injuries resulting from a covered physical injury.”
ACC accident compensation policy manager Bridget Duley said there are no current plans to amend the Accident Compensation Act to extend work-related cover to volunteers.
“This is because volunteering is based on a different set of relationships and obligations than paid employment and such an extension would be inconsistent with the purpose of this type of cover.”
The Ministry for Business, Immigration and Employment has started consultation on updating Schedule 2, the list of occupational diseases included in the Act.
Previous expansion of ACC cover for mental injuries has been carefully considered to ensure they remain accidentrelated and balance the interests of ACC levy payers with considerations around
financial sustainability, she said.
“Any future reforms would need to consider the benefits of ACC support to people suffering from mental harm alongside costs to levy payers and the government, and the impacts on the mental health workforce,” she said.
Fire and Emergency NZ’s acting deputy chief executive for people, Nicky Chilton, said the safety, health and wellbeing of its people is paramount.
“We have comprehensive and free wellbeing support services which include access to our employee assistance programme, peer support network, wellbeing advisers and psychologists, which are available to all our personnel, career and volunteer,” she said.
In the last financial year FENZ invested around $214 million to support volunteers, including brigade grants, uniforms, training, volunteer conferences, reimbursements, challenge events and strategic initiatives for volunteers.
She said frontline staff are resourced based on risk, rather than a blanket, one-size-fitsall approach.
Feedback from firefighters is that these calls are especially difficult.
Bill
Butzbach
United Fire Brigades Association
easy to extend that coverage to those in emergency services who could be exposed to, or potentially suffer, from trauma.
Studies have quantified the annual economic value of volunteer firefighters at $800m.
Butzbach said employing full time firefighters to provide the coverage currently provided by volunteers, would be unaffordable.
“Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of the service. They are the front line, they are always there.”
Changing role outpaces healthcare assistance
Neal Wallace NEWS Community
THE risk Tom Thomson and his 11,831 fellow volunteer firefighters expose themselves to every day began to dawn on him when colleagues started being diagnosed with illnesses.
“It’s what we do. We didn’t think about it until we saw a few mates go down,” said Thomson, the deputy controller with the Motunau Fire Bridge in Hurunui, North Canterbury.
The topic and the lack of Accident Compensation Corporation coverage is regularly discussed among volunteers.
When volunteer and professional brigades became one under with the formation of Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), Thomson said, it highlighted the risk of the role.
During the recent Waipara vegetation fire, FENZ provided the volunteers fighting the fire with monitors that alerted them to the presence of toxins.
“They were going off every five minutes, which surprised us,” he said.
“We need to know the facts but previously we didn’t even know the questions to ask.
“It made everybody think.”
Thomson said volunteer brigade are
attending fewer fires and more motor vehicle accidents and medical events, which creates different pressures and stress on volunteers.
Counselling and assistance is available and after every call out there is a debrief.
Thomson said they realise that those who say they are fine and reject any help are those who most need it.
EXPANDING BRIEF: Volunteer firefighters in action at Waipara in North Canterbury earlier this year. Their expanded role to attend motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies has created health issues not covered by ACC.
GETTING RISKIER: Tom Thomson, the deputy controller with the Motunau Fire Brigade in Hurunui, North Canterbury, says volunteers are attending more motor vehicle accidents and medical events.
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Drought-hit farmers work to close NIWA gaps
Fiona
Terry NEWS Weather
FOLLOWING severe drought conditions in the
Top of the South last year, locals have devised a way of making sure their voices this year were heard early on.
Conditions for some farmers and growers last summer were extreme for many weeks before official acknowledgment of drought.
The lack of early recognition was exacerbated by the scant coverage of NIWA weather monitoring stations across the region, meaning the severity of the drought for some was unrecorded and consequently not acknowledged quickly by the government, said the Rural Support Trust’s Richard Kempthorne
To assess the level of need, the government uses data from NIWA’s weather stations.
“NIWA have been projecting where droughts will occur with a prediction model but it doesn’t work for our inland areas because there’s no monitoring,” he said.
“Very few weather station sites in the region include soil moisture levels. If the ones that do exist aren’t in the driest affected areas, then the predictions the organisation’s giving to the government don’t provide a clear picture.
“We’ve realised we cannot rely on the NIWA prediction, and that we have to be more forthcoming with feeding back to [the Ministry for Primary Industries] about what the situation is on the ground.”
As a result, a successful way of informing MPI about the
conditions, even in isolated pockets, was created. It’s believed this has played a key role in the Top of the South being included in the government’s declaration of a Medium-scale adverse event on March 7.
“Without the direct feedback from farmers through this system, it is most unlikely we would have been included in this drought declaration,” said Kempthorne.
A phone tree system was shared between members of the Rural Support Trust and Tamara Orr, the Top of the South regional adviser for On Farm Support –an MPI service. To start with, weekly phone calls or visits were implemented to farmers and growers across the region to check on conditions, ramping up to twice weekly for those in more effected areas.
Kempthorne said: “We’d ask questions about ground and grass conditions, water availability, stock, and whether those with animals were needing supplementary feed – and the effect it’s having on the people themselves and their businesses.
“Some farmers have recognised the value in this information being fed through and are even calling us now to keep us informed, even those who wouldn’t usually be inclined to reach out for help.”
The information is sent though to the MPI through Orr’s connections to make sure the messages are heard loud and clear.
“Tamara is able to feed the information direct to the correct department, knows the correct procedures to follow, and the best format in which to present the information,” said Kempthorne.
The breakthrough comes
Knowing that the information is going to MPI has been massive for us because it gives us a voice.
Brian
Dineen Maruia Falls
after an admission by NIWA last year in Farmers Weekly of shortcomings in its New Zealand Drought Monitoring system. The organisation’s statement sparked discussions that Kempthorne hoped would result in additional monitoring stations being established.
“The conversations allowed us to give it a really good push to see whether NIWA would have funding to put in more sites and the answer we received was no.
“We acknowledged that they’re
costly to install and run, and put the case that some locals are very well equipped to monitor recordings and supply the information, but NIWA also felt this option was unviable.”
In response, the Rural Support Trust felt there was no choice but to apply their own solution, in conjunction with Orr from the MPI.
“Some people are finding their water supply is running dry where it never has before. It’s really tough for some,” said Kempthorne.
One of those is Brian Dineen who, together with wife Hannah, runs a 200 hectares dairy and beef farm south of Murchison near Maruia Falls.
“It’s been stressful,” he said. “We started digging into our winter feed a month ago just to keep the milkers going, and we’ve needed to send cull cows to the works two months early rather than milk them to the end of the season,
which will impact production.
“Some creeks dried up around eight weeks ago and we’ve not seen it this bad before. We’re younger farmers here, though, but we’ve heard a lot of stories from the older farmers who’ve been around the traps for a while saying it’s definitely a tough drought.
“Weather conditions have also meant our own baleage was down this year and that’s been a real kick in the guts so we’ll probably be needing to buy some feed later on.”
Dineen believes his nearest monitoring station is in Nelson, around a two-hour drive away, so he has been hugely appreciative of the opportunity to feed back information about what he’s experiencing.
“Knowing that the information is going to MPI has been massive for us because it gives us a voice. Having someone actually beat the drum for us is huge.”
COMMUNICATE: Top of the South regional adviser for On Farm Support, Tamara Orr and Rural Support Trust’s Richard Kempthorne helped instigate a phone tree system to improve drought communication.
Photo: Tim Cuff
SI Fonterra farms lead the way on emissions
SOUTH Island Fonterrasupplying dairy farms are beating their North Island counterparts when it comes to reducing their farm emissions, Fonterra says.
The claim is based on general trends seen from collecting onfarm data since the introduction of Fonterra’s Co-operative Difference payment incentives.
“You do definitely see a regional skew and you can loosely say that the further south you are, the easier it will be to be in that very low emission pool,” Fonterra director of on farm excellence Mike Hide said.
The main reason for this is the surety of pasture supply these farm systems have due in part to most of them having irrigation systems.
It gives them the ability to grow reliable homegrown feed throughout most of the milking season, he said.
Hide also pointed to South Island farms’ scale and the fact that they are modern due to most being relatively new conversions.
“But generally, it’s that ability to grow home-grown feed consistently through the season.”
This is reflected in the Cooperative Difference payments, where a large proportion of the payments are going to South Island farms, he said.
However, he emphasised that every farm is different, and emissions vary season to season.
The further south you are, the easier it will be to be in that very low emission pool.
Mike Hide Fonterra
“Just because a farmer has low emissions on one season, it doesn’t necessarily follow that there will be low emissions the next season.”
This is often due to climatic conditions.
Fonterra had also extrapolated that data with nutrient leaching levels. The farms are using less nitrogen fertiliser, using homegrown feed more and bringing in less imported feed, he said.
“What it means is that on average, they have quite a significantly lower purchased N surplus, which is quite closely related to N loss. What we can tell from that is those farms in that low emissions camp are likely to have low N leaching also.”
While herds in the South Island are generally larger, the tight regulatory controls brought in by regional councils mean farmers have little wriggle room and this also plays a part in the lower emissions.
For North Island farmers, there is no getting around the fact that the difference payments will be harder to achieve the further north the farm is located, he said.
However, he pointed out that the incentive payment is a small part of the Co-operative Difference package.
“When we originally started negotiating these contracts, customers were keen to see all of the payment go to low-emission farms.
“We worked closely with them to create a solution that allows for a significant amount of that money to go towards low-emission farms but equally, about 50% goes to onfarm solutions projects, which is
available to farms in the co-op.”
This allows all of Fonterra’s farmers to benefit from the payment system in some way.
It also helps retain those customers.
“At the end of the day, no one is getting paid less next year than they would have been otherwise.”
Fonterra has been collecting data for its Co-operative Difference payment system since 2021. For the 2021-2022 season, 72% of farmers achieved the base level or above, followed by 83% in 20222023 and most recently 87% in 2023-2024.
The data is presented to farmers in an insights report. The report for the current season’s performance will be sent to
farmers later this year and they will get their final number, which will inform what payments they will receive later next year.
Based on modelling using information from the 2023-2024 season, the 50th percentile net emissions footprint for Northland was around 920 CO2e/tonne of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM). For Waikato it was around 900 CO2e/t FPCM, for Canterbury it was 760 CO2e/t FPCM, and for Southland it was around 780 CO2e/t FPCM.
The modelling accounts for emissions from farming activities as well as the impact of emissions associated with peat soil, historic land use change and estimated carbon removals.
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DATA: South Island Fonterra-supplying farms generally have lower emissions than North Island farms, data shows.
Gerald Piddock NEWS Emissions
SFF Ltd posts less of a loss for 2024
Neal Wallace NEWS Production
SILVER Fern Farms Ltd has posted a $21.8 million after-tax loss for the 2024 year, on revenue that was down $144m.
The loss for the year to December 31 was a $6.6m improvement on the $36.4m loss for the 2023 year, which reflects improved pricing later in the year but also costcutting measures and a focus on efficiency.
Silver Fern Farms Co-op, a joint shareholder in SFF Ltd with Shanghai Maling, posted a $10.9m loss after tax, a $1.3m improvement on the $12.2m loss posted a year earlier.
SFF Ltd chief executive Dan Boulton said the 2024 year began slowly with weak market prices and ended with markets recovering but low livestock flows and procurement tension as companies chased tight livestock supplies.
Much of the company’s revenue loss occurred in the first half of the year.
“While we started 2024 with good livestock throughput and operational efficiencies, market pricing was still subdued,” he said.
“The second half of the year saw a dramatic reduction in livestock flows from winter, followed by unprecedented levels of procurement tension from September onwards.”
This challenged operating efficiencies and the ability to capitalise on improved market returns.
Revenue for the year was $2.636 billion, down $144m, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was up $16.3m at $32.7m.
The second half of the year saw a dramatic reduction in livestock flows.
Equity fell $30.8m to $704.6m.
In the eight years Boulton has worked in the meat industry, he said, the past 12 months have been the most volatile.
A focus on controlling costs and improving efficiencies helped temper the 2024 result and is contributing to an abovebudget performance for the first three months of the new financial year.
“Over the last six months, farmgate beef and sheep returns have been above the five-year average and remain around 25% ahead of the same time last year, allowing increased programme payments to farmers.
“Livestock flows have been much better since the start of the year. The company is now trading ahead of budget, and the outlook for the remainder of the year looks very positive,” he said.
The improved market conditions have enabled margins to be more evenly shared.
Boulton said the company’s marketled strategy is attracting more interest and business with 70% livestock supplies coming from shareholders.
“We had record farmer loyalty, a record number of farmer shareholders and record customer engagement.”
With growing international concern with tightening protein supplies, Boulton said, new high value customers are being drawn to NZ’s sustainability story.
“There is a lot to be excited about.
“Protein is at a tipping point and there is plenty for our sheep, beef and venison farmers for the future.”
Co-operative chair Anna Nelson said while the loss for SFF Ltd is disappointing, the board remains confident about the company’s market-led strategy.
Nelson, who will be appointed co-chair at Silver Fern Farms Ltd following the cooperative’s annual meeting in May, said 2025 has started positively for both the company and suppliers.
“Emerging geopolitical and trade risks have the potential to impact our operating performance, but I have confidence the business has the capability to adapt to any changes to our global operating context and minimise any impacts on
the business and on farmer returns.”
Last October the co-operative purchased a 12.5% stake in Woolscour Holdings Limited, which trades as WoolWorks.
The $18.485m investment was funded by $15m in cash with the balance by way of a 12-month vendor loan.
The co-operative board is not declaring a dividend or patronage reward for the 2024 financial year.
RECOVER: SFF Ltd chief executive Dan Boulton said the 2024 year began slowly with weak market prices and ended with markets recovering.
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Dan Boulton Silver Fern Farms Ltd
A glimpse of the future in Singapore
Neal Wallace MARKETS Food and fibre
EPLICATING
RSingapore’s economic success in New Zealand is not possible, but an agribusiness delegation that recently visited the island citystate believes there is plenty that can be learnt from it.
Food HQ innovation chief executive Victoria Hatton said goals for the trip, which attracted 26 people from across NZ’s agribusiness sector, were to build capability within the next generation of sector leaders and to consider how to grow the value of NZ assets.
“We have a valuable asset in land and it’s about how we optimise that for our customers and clients.
“Singapore has very little land and we have plenty. It’s almost a juxtaposition.”
Hatton said by the end of the week the cohort was thinking about how to use the growing trust and knowledge among the group, and the merits of greater sector co-operation.
There was also discussion about how markets have changed, illustrated by how Singapore
has evolved in the 60 years since independence.
It has a population of 6 million and a land mass area slightly larger than Lake Taupō. Despite not having any natural resources, it is now the world’s fourth largest financial centre, operates the world’s second largest port facility and has a GDP per capita twice that of NZ.
We
must
ask ourselves
‘What does NZ in 2070 and beyond look like?’
It has a goal of being 30% selfsufficient in nutrition by 2030.
Bilateral trade between NZ and Singapore in 2024 was $6.5 billion.
HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott said there was plenty to learn from Singapore’s transformation, which was built on a united commitment to purpose and a depth of support across government and business for an agreed outcome, as well as the benefits of scale.
“How do we create a NZ Inc business set so we are stronger together instead of each trying to do their own thing?
“I realise that is slightly idealistic, but there could be something in it.”
Scott said another lesson is the need for agility in an increasingly volatile global business environment.
“If not we’ll be left behind.”
Aisha Ross, the chief executive of Taranaki-based farming, horticulture, aquaculture and investment iwi business Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW), agrees there is strength in working with entities that have aligned values.
“When we participate on a global scale, we’ve got to play to our strengths and that comes from collaboration.
“Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi – with your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive,” he said.
Ross said the importance of investing in food innovation and technology was another lesson he learnt from the trip and which NZ should consider.
Singaporeans are being asked what they want the country to look like in 40 years, a question Ross said NZ – or regions like Taranaki – could also be asking.
Wairarapa farmer Lisa Portas said the trip highlighted that NZ does many things well, but she saw opportunities to do better, by,
‘Angry politics’ will keep rural sector on its
toes
Gerald Piddock NEWS Economy
FARMERS should not assume that the regulatory policies that have been paused or repealed by the current government will be gone for good, economist Shamubeel Eaqub says.
There is nothing stopping a new government changing those policies back in 18 months’ time, as countries around the globe enter an era dominated by increased anger and division.
“You should not be running your businesses to the minimum of regulations. You need to have a buffer because regulations will change, and they’ll bite you in the butt if you don’t move quickly,” Eaqub told the Out the Gate Conference in Rotorua organised by Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Although hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty over the past 100 years, there is increasing polarisation among communities caused by inequality.
This has led to anger and fracturing in societies in Europe and the United States as well as in New Zealand. These are not isolated incidents but are reactions of people thinking they are not getting a fair deal, he said.
“This period of angry politics is going to be with us for some time to come and we should assume it will affect us here in New Zealand because we benefited so much
from the 80 years of stability and consensus on how it was that we should be running the world.
“I’ll make a very confident prediction: we are going to see more frequent changes of government and as a result, more frequent changes of policies, and as a result more uncertainty for all of us.”
He said the current government’s unpopularity in the first half of its first term is unprecedented.
“I have never seen a political cycle where within the first half of a term the existing government is unpopular. It has never happened in my working career.
“This is the first time in a year and a half that New Zealanders have gone, ‘This government we have just elected, we don’t like what you are doing, we don’t think you are doing a good job’.”
As food producers, farmers need to keep considering the people they are feeding. While farmers are trying to feed the world, they’re
for example, operating at scale to capture value.
Dean Fraser, the transformation manager at Te Tira Ngai Tahu Holdings, has previously worked in the Indo-Pacific region, home to half the world’s population, and is well aware of its potential.
But the world is changing quickly, Fraser said, noting that in 2007 Nokia was hailed for its
telephone technology. That same year the first iPhone was released.
“We need to be cognisant of what is coming.
“We must ask ourselves ‘What does NZ in 2070 and beyond look like?’”
• Wallace’s trip to Singapore was made possible by the support of ASB, AGMARDT, FoodHQ and KPMG.
Volunteers needed for this year’s Fieldays
Gerald Piddock MARKETS Fieldays
UNCERTAINTY:
Economist
Shamubeel Eaqub says New Zealand is entering a period of political uncertainty dominated by societal anger.
not feeding their own population, which Eaqub said horrifies him.
Data from a recent survey he undertook showed that onequarter of New Zealanders went without a meal sometime in the last 12 months.
“That’s a shocking statistic.”
In the 1980s-1990s, 80-90% of households would buy meat on a weekly basis. In the last year, that has dropped to around 60%.
“It’s all very well for us to feed the world but if we’re not feeding our own people, where do you think our social licence is going to come from?”
He questioned whether that licence could be sustained if it becomes harder and harder for people to have a decent quality of life.
Despite this challenge, he said, surveys show the farming sector is not disliked by people living in cities. The challenge is maintaining that social licence, he said.
THE New Zealand National Fieldays Society has put out a plea for volunteers to help run this year’s event, which takes place from June 11-14 at Mystery Creek, south of Hamilton.
Organisers are currently 48 people short of the 150 required every year to run Fieldays. The minimum age to volunteer for Fieldays is 16.
Volunteers are part of the fabric of the event, Fieldays head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said.
Fieldays was founded by volunteers and their support is still required to make it successful, she said. The New Zealand National Fieldays Society is a charitable organisation that receives no government funding, and
volunteer support is really important to its overarching objective, which is advancing agriculture.
“We can’t do it without volunteers – they are incredibly important. We do need the help. Volunteers absolutely help us run this even safely and effectively,” she said.
Volunteers dedicate their time and effort to ensuring that visitors have a memorable experience and leave Fieldays having learnt something new.
The volunteers are needed for a variety of roles including ticket scanning, supporting the sites, driving the rubbish trucks, sorting waste and client hosting.
The jobs can also be quite labour intensive and finding people willing to dedicate four days of shift work is hugely challenging.
“It’s a difficult thing to get commitment to support,” Storey said.
HELP WANTED: Fieldays needs a further 48 people to help run this year’s event in June.
LOGISTICAL HUB: Ships waiting to berth off Singapore, which is the world’s fourth largest financial centre, and operates its second largest port facility.
Dean Fraser Te Tira Ngai Tahu Holdings
Seaweed company signals red for NZ methane market
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Emissions
ARED seaweed methane mitigation company is pulling back from efforts to launch into New Zealand as demand for its treatment starts to ramp up in other farming markets.
Dr Steve Meller, CEO of methane mitigation company CH4, told Farmers Weekly that, since commissioning a red seaweed processing plant in South Australia in January, the company has been ramping up supplies locally and globally to beef producers.
“We have raised almost NZ$100 million so far and have announced our commercial partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation, and a global partnership with Indian company UPL.”
Meller said markets are now established in South America, South Korea and Japan.
In June last year Australian protein company CirPro announced the successful processing of CH4’s branded Methane Tamer product at commercial scale to supply 100,000 cattle a day with the
product to CirPro’s feedlot partners.
The expansions come three years after CH4 announced plans for its Bluff plant, now in operation. It was originally intended to coincide with plans to launch the methane mitigating product here for use in cattle.
However, that goal remains elusive and Meller said he is uncertain when NZ farmers may have it as a tool to help reduce methane emissions.
There is no supporting data that says there is any safety question.
Dr Steve Meller CH4
“The [NZ] regulators somehow believe questions exist over safety of the product. Yet there is no supporting data that says there is any safety question over the use of red seaweed, and we have supplied information on that,” said Meller.
Last year Meller gave a presentation to a Parliamentary select committee receiving submissions on changes to legislation to allow methane mitigators to be administered.
Meller has been outspoken in challenging government regulators on their stance, maintaining the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) regulations have stymied his and other companies launching products.
Bovaer, another high-profile methane mitigation product, has been withdrawn by DSM from the application process in the past two years.
“At some point the market may open up in NZ,” Meller said.
A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation report released last year highlighted concerns over gaps in the understanding of the active bromoform extracted from red seaweed. Synthetic variants are known to have carcinogenic effects.
But Meller maintains the redseaweed-sourced active is fed only in minute quantities to livestock and does not have such properties.
In analysing red seaweed as a natural bromoform source, the report noted bromoform was not detected in products from treated animals up to 147 days post-treatment.
NZ Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle
DROPPED: CH4 co-founder Dr Steve Meller says it is unlikely his company will be releasing its red seaweed-based methane mitigator in NZ anytime soon, despite having a processing facility in Bluff.
said any new inhibitor product made available in NZ has to be supported by good evidence that it is safe and effective in the NZ farming environment, and that it does not lead to any trade issues when the commodity is exported.
Managing such risks means the product has to be registered under the ACVM Act when making inhibitor claims.
“CH4 Global has not applied to NZFS to register its product for use in NZ. We are ready to review any application and supporting evidence if we receive it,” Arbuckle said.
He said suppliers needed to demonstrate that any risks to public health, trade, animal welfare and biosecurity from the use of the product could be managed.
But Meller said he was more interested in markets that have supportive pathways to help launch methane inhibitors.
“Why would I spend millions when I have other markets that facilitate its pathway to market because that market wants it?”
NZFS has confirmed there are currently no asparagopsis products seeking registration in NZ.
From the Editor
This is simply the cost of doing business
Neal Wallace Senior reporter
ARECENT visit to Singapore reinforces the speed with which global markets are changing –and reinforces the reality that unless New Zealand’s exporters adapt, we will be left behind.
It is a common claim that NZ can feed 40 million people, but with a world population of 8.2 billion, if we stopped exporting meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables tomorrow, markets and consumers would adjust within hours.
The world does not need us.
Naturally we focus on feeding the most affluent, but those markets increasingly come with animal welfare and environmental expectations.
We adjust or we become irrelevant.
Last month 26 agribusiness leaders visited Singapore to see what lessons NZ could learn from an island state without any natural resources – one that in just 60 years since independence has become a
global economic and logistical leader.
Bilateral trade between NZ and Singapore in 2024 was worth $6.5 billion. Singapore is the world’s fourth largest financial centre and operates the world’s second largest port facility.
Its success is built on being business friendly and agile, and on its willingness to collaborate as a nation or with foreign companies.
This makes Singapore a litmus test for global trends.
Singapore has a goal of 30% selfsufficiency in nutrition by 2030 and some of its brightest minds have been charged with finding ways to reduce its 90% reliance on imported food.
They include alternative proteins, repurposing low value or waste products, adding value to existing food products, and international collaboration.
The NZ delegation saw opportunities for NZ food producers and agritech to collaborate.
Singapore has other challenges it is tackling, such as a reliance on fossil fuel for its energy and the risk of losing a major portion of its land area to sea level rise.
This has prompted the government to set emission reduction targets and, given the vigour with which Singaporeans embrace country-good actions, it is highly likely they will be achieved – and will have implications for NZ food exporters.
But meeting these requirements is our ticket to play with the premier league
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
Voting was close in last week’s poll, with 54.3% of people believing we should subsidise meat and dairy for New Zealand families.
teams, to benefit from their size, demand distribution, product mix and brands.
Having been fortunate to visit eight key markets in the last year, it is clear that such supply requirements are the new reality.
Critics conflate this as an argument about whether climate change is real, the cost of adhering to the Paris Agreement or dismiss it as a United Nations conspiracy.
These arguments are irrelevant.
Quite simply, this is a cost of doing business, a condition of supply required by our increasingly discerning customers.
Farmers will quite rightly say that they should be rewarded for meeting these higher standards, and we have already seen Nestlé take that step.
There are also limited moves by others to reward production standards.
It needs to happen more quickly and the rewards need to be significant.
Singapore’s international status gives it an international perspective. It is always looking beyond its borders for opportunities, trends and to collaborate, something, it could be argued, is lacking in NZ.
Politically Singapore operates a very different system to ours, but given the multiple challenges we face, NZ needs to rethink how we as a country tackle them.
That starts with realising the world is changing very rapidly.
• Wallace’s trip to Singapore was made possible by the support of ASB, AGMARDT, FoodHQ and KPMG.
Letters of the week
The gene tech regs we need
Kimberly Crewther DCANZ executive director
THE position taken by the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand on the Gene Technology Bill has been the subject of recent media commentary, and some clarification is needed.
DCANZ supports the liberalisation of gene technologies in New Zealand. We recognise the opportunities from allowing more research and use of the technologies, including for productivity, pest management and environmental outcomes. We support the government’s move to a risk-based framework. Alongside this support, we have sought changes to the Bill.
Our changes are not intended to put a roadblock in the way of progress.
They are a pragmatic way to ensure potential unintended impacts for New Zealand’s primary exports are considered and managed before problems arise.
For example, most New Zealand dairy products are exported to markets that currently require permissibility assessments and approvals before dairy products from gene-edited animals can be placed on the market. To the best of our knowledge, none of these markets have granted any approvals to use milk from GM animals yet.
DCANZ is requesting that New Zealand’s system include provisions to enable exporters to have visibility of the gene technology status of inputs into dairy supply chains. These changes to the Bill will ensure exporters have the evidence to underpin assurances that New Zealand products meet market requirements.
The barrier to dealing with this on a purely commercial basis is that without some form of regulated visibility, there would simply be no place to start. It would be looking for invisible needles in haystacks.
Provisions to retain visibility of gene technologies aren’t unusual. When the United Kingdom legislated to liberalise the use of modern gene editing techniques in 2023, it retained several important provisions to support traceability throughout supply chains. Considering trade risks isn’t something new in New Zealand regulation either.
Comparisons have been made to Australia. But without the commercialisation of animals using gene technologies, Australia has not yet had to manage these same challenges.
Our changes will ensure potential market risks arising from new technologies are considered up front and managed appropriately. This will allow the Gene Technology Bill to support greater innovation and protect New Zealand’s primary exports.
Liberalisation of gene technologies in New Zealand and meeting market requirements need not be mutually exclusive.
This week’s poll question (see page 15): Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
Do you support the government’s decision to free up more land with high-value soils for urban development?
The other 45.7% believed the market determined the price and that should remain.
However, many thought there were other factors to consider. “I don’t think we should subsidise our local markets, however, are local consumers getting a fair deal or are the middlemen taking the cut?” one voter said.
Last week’s question: Does it worry you that as farmgate returns rise, the cost of meat and milk makes it difficult for many New Zealanders to afford these foods?
Yes, we should subsidise the local market No, the global market decides the price
Send your
The Eating the Elephant guide to: simplifying stuff
Eating the elephant
ONE session really stuck with me at the Out the Gate conference hosted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand recently. The session involved three speakers under the theme of Turning Technology into Reality.
The first two speakers focused on farm technology. One featured a farmer implementing an intensive bull beef system – equipped with micro troughs, springs and electric fences – and the other saw a member of the Halter sales team dressed like a ninja in black take to the stage, showcasing smart new tech buoyed by a heap of venture capital hype.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for new technology. But like many
farmers, I tend to default to scepticism when confronted with whizz-bang innovations. I too use the standard refrain of “that won’t work for me, in my conditions” often, when I probably should be leaning into the new, hard-tograsp stuff instead.
I was heading into sceptical farmer mode during the session until the third speaker delivered the real insight.
Instead of focusing solely on gadgets or systems, the third presentation brilliantly united the two approaches by returning to the fundamental principles of profitable farming: eating grass when it grows by moving animals often, to produce protein efficiently and sustainably. Cutting through the hype to the basics was refreshing.
When assessing any opportunity or challenge – like the whizzbang tech and intensive bull systems – there is immense value in returning to first principles, the simple stuff, first. These are often derived from nature and are things we farmers understand well. Starting here gives us confidence to go further. It could be as simple as remembering that my core job as a beef farmer is to manage ryegrass with the right rotation length to stop it going to seed. Biologically, this is the plant’s only goal – like me and many other male animals, once the seed is set, we are of diminishing productive use. The ultimate litmus test for the whizz-bang tech is this: does it
help me to manage the lifecycle of ryegrass? If yes, then I am winning.
On the long drive home, I listened to Ray Dalio’s book Principles: Life and Work. It’s about using first principles as a framework for decision making –simplifying the noise around us down to the fundamental basics we know to be true.
We live in a very noisy food and fibre sector, and wider world. So, in the spirit of simplifying some controversial stuff down to their first principles, I want to share a few basic truths that help me be a better farmer, friend, husband and father.
We live in a very noisy food and fibre sector, and wider world.
First up: embrace reality and deal with it. Climate change is real, we influence it. Regulation will not go away (water and climate). Shifting consumer preferences for sustainable products will speed up over time. By acknowledging these as challenges, I can proactively turn these problems into opportunities by changing my systems to fit these new realities.
Second, be open minded. I’ve already talked about my propensity to default to the sceptical farmer. But that’s a pathway to bankruptcy. I need to buck myself up and genuinely listen to diverse perspectives (particularly those I dislike),
SHARED: Using first principles as a framework for decision making can simplify the noise around us down to the fundamental basics we know to be true, says Phil Weir.
acknowledge my many blind spots and be willing to change my opinions in accordance with new evidence.
Based on Out the Gate, I should be seriously considering putting a collar on all my bulls, or adopting regenerative practices around deferred grazing in dry summer to conserve moisture and provide gut-fill for my bulls – newly fitted out with jewellery around their necks.
Third, actually learn from my mistakes. Farming is part art and part science, reliant on Mother Nature or a range of gods. Adaptation through trial and error is how I hone my craft. Applying scientific discipline and artistic creativity will hopefully mitigate repeated mistakes. For me, an autumn without zinc for facial eczema is a never-again.
Fourth: meaningful relationships and honest communication are everything. The people involved in my work and personal life always
deserve more of my time. I need to talk to them regularly and honestly. I don’t want to be that prick who only rings when I need something.
Fifth: systematic problem solving. Systematic problem solving for a modern farmer is grounded in data. Data enables insights by taking raw information and turning it into actionable knowledge. Whether it be temperature inversions, soil moisture levels or climate forecasts, data will help me to adapt to our rapidly changing world.
All of this means I have to forever work on not defaulting to my safe space as a technological luddite, close-minded know-it-all or social introvert. I have to be willing to be a novice. To make all the dumb mistakes, wear the bruised ego, accept harsh truths and admit I was wrong – because that is what the process of learning feels like.
Bio controls a challenge and an opportunity
In my view
Mark Hurst
Hurst is an AgResearch senior scientist
THE ongoing phaseout of agrichemicals traditionally used to control pasture pests in New Zealand presents a major challenge for our agricultural sector.
However, it also offers an opportunity for a shift in how we manage these costly pests, in a way that benefits farmers, our soils and the broader environment.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has proposed a ban on chlorpyrifos, an insecticide from the organophosphate group that is used in New Zealand to control a broad range of insect pests on plants. The EPA considers that the risks of using chlorpyrifos now outweigh the benefits.
Submissions on the proposed ban were called for and are now being evaluated.
Chlorpyrifos is considered the most effective chemical available to tackle the native grass grub, which is the most pervasive and costly pest for pastoral agriculture in New Zealand.
It is also registered for use against another major pasture pest, the mānuka beetle. The only other insecticide registered for use against grass grub in established pasture is diazinon and its agricultural use will be phased out in New Zealand by 2028.
A study by AgResearch a few years ago estimated that the impact of the grass grub, through reduced pasture production affecting revenue, was up to $380 million annually for dairy farms, and up to $205m for sheep and beef farms, in “average years”. Federated Farmers has raised concerns about the potential loss of chlorpyrifos from the farmers’
arsenal, saying it puts farmers in a precarious position without readily available alternatives.
While we must acknowledge that agrichemicals are going to be needed for the foreseeable future, increasingly we are seeing opportunities to research and develop biopesticides that harness naturally occurring organisms such as bacteria to target the pests.
This means opportunities to at least reduce chemical use, if not replace it, in more integrated approaches to pest management. The use of live organisms or derivatives, such as metabolites, are generally more specific to the target pest and have significantly less environmental residues and impacts.
One such example is AGR96X, a strain of the highly virulent Serratia proteamaculans bacterium, which is highly effective in killing the larvae of the New Zealand grass grub and the New Zealand mānuka beetle.
Through more than 20 field trials located throughout New Zealand and assessing different crop types, AGR96X has been shown to be as effective as synthetic products. The field trials have been enabled through Grasslanz Technology Ltd and Midlands Holdings Ltd, which both see the value of biologicals
such as AGR96X for grass grub control.
Currently AGR96X (trade name yet to be confirmed) is being applied as an incorporated granule, which when ingested, kills the larvae within 5-12 days.
A comprehensive data package covering efficacy, production and usage is currently under review in the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines process. While biopesticides and newer, more selective, agrichemicals offer a lot of promise, they are not a silver bullet. Sometimes several products may be required to target multiple pests that are currently controlled by a single broadspectrum agrichemical.
For effective grass grub control, growers should check their pasture for grass grub during late February to early March and decide if control measures are needed. The damage threshold in established pasture is 150-200 grass grub per square metre. Established pastures should be treated from March to April to minimise the risk of damage.
As key export markets demand the removal of broadspectrum agrichemicals, such as chlorpyrifos, New Zealand’s pastoral farmers will need to adapt their pest management,
following a similar path to the horticultural sector. This need for change was recognised by a further AgResearch study, which identified barriers that hinder practice change, including the need for new control options like biopesticides. Pests like grass grub that are unique to New Zealand pose a challenge for product development because the market size is very small compared with cosmopolitan pests that damage similar crops all over the world.
Support is needed to achieve and maintain commercial production of new control options, as well as providing training and information to farmers so that they can make the best use of these new options.
If we can embrace the new opportunities offered by new selective biopesticides like AGR96X, then we all stand to benefit from reduced costs for our economy and less harm to our environment.
More information on grass grub control can be found online at: https://agpest.co.nz/, the free online tool for pasture pest and weed management.
Phil Weir Weir is an associate trustee of AGMARDT and a Beef + Lamb New Zealand farmer-elected director
a strain of
virulent Serratia proteamaculans bacterium, is highly effective in killing the larvae of the New Zealand grass grub and the New Zealand mānuka beetle. Photo: Supplied
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Sector Focus
Apple varieties sweet on hotter climate
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Horticulture
AS CLIMATE change dials up temperatures that make it tougher for growers to successfully raise crops, Plant and Food Research scientists have found themselves at the leading edge in helping Spanish orchardists adapt to the challenge.
The CRI’s Hot Climate Partnership was initiated over 20 years ago when climate change was only a distant, murmured concern among most growers. But the high temperatures already being experienced then by apple growers in the Catalonian region of Spain were a clear signal
SPICY: The Tutti was the first fruit variety released from the Hot Climate Partnership, the first project of its kind in the world aimed at improving fruit varieties in response to increased temperatures.
of bigger issues to come across the globe.
Emma Brown, Plant and Food Research’s general manager for plant varieties, said an approach by Spanish researchers and growers based on a personal relationship in New Zealand with (then) Hort Research sparked off the collaboration to find a more heat tolerant apple.
The partnership established a germplasm collection with multiple generations of apples and pears bred specifically to address the challenges of a warming climate. These also account for production, storage, and consumer characteristics, all needed to make a variety a commercial success.
Today the Hot Climate Programme has the Tutti and
Stellar varieties on the market, with burgeoning interest from apple growers around the world who are also now facing hot climate challenges.
The partnership represents a combination of science and commercial expertise, with T&G’s fruit genetics business VentureFruit, the Catalonian fruit producers association FruitFutur, and Spain’s Catalan Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) .
“They had identified that local growers had real problems growing quality apples with good colour and great texture, something Hort Research, as it was then, was known for,” Brown said.
The Tutti apple variety is now firmly established in Spain and globally with the early ripening Stellar just released late last year.
“The Tutti means we have existing growers now able to produce a high-quality apple and the areas where apples can grow can also be extended into places they would not have been before,” she said.
Rather than opt for the exclusive “club” variety commercial model where growers buy licence rights, as with Envy, the Stellar is an
COLLABORATIVE: Plant and Food Research GM for plant varieties Emma Brown says the ability of the CRI to commercialise and protect new crop varieties is a key strength it brings to overseas collaborative projects.
open-release apple. Growers are free to buy the plants from licensed nurseries and market the fruit under their own company brand.
The Tutti is closer to a traditional club model with VentureFruit licensing it beyond Spain, and it is now grown in the United Kingdom and Chile.
For Plant and Food Research the project is one of several around the world that include dragon fruit variety in Vietnam, avocados in Kenya and raspberries in Washington state.
“We value the fact there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to
dealing with partners. We move to meet them where they are based, and design programmes in such a way they meet their particular challenges.”
Brown said the commercially focused model has proven a sound one for Plant and Food Research, with variety income now about a third of the body’s total income coming from crops as varied as apples, kiwifruit, hops and berry fruit.
• The Hot Climate Partnership was one of the finalists in this year’s Science NZ Awards, in the Success in Innovation/ Commercialisation section.
HortNZ warns on loss of land to housing
Richard Rennie NEWS Land
THE horticultural sector is less than satisfied that high-value land in Pukekohe and Horowhenua will remain protected under the government’s proposed changes to land rules boosting housing development.
In the latest effort to promote more housing development, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop intends remove protection on Land Use Capability (LUC) 3 land, and open it up for housing. Until now the national policy statement on highly productive land (NPS-HPL) protected the three most high value LUC land types 1-3 from development.
Bishop said two-thirds of the LUC area protected fell under LUC 3, the lowest quality of the three. He said opening this area equated to roughly the equivalent of the Waikato region. This in turn equates to about 2.5 million hectares.
The minister said there needs to be a balance between how the most productive land is protected, and the need to provide housing.
But Horticulture NZ CEO Kate Scott said the announcement comes ahead of any certainty
that the government will ensure growers in Pukekohe and Horowhenua will be able to continue growing on their productive land.
“Vegetable growers in Waikato and Horizons regions are facing significant uncertainty due to unworkable freshwater rule sand pending Environment Court decisions. A clear pathway is needed to bridge the gap between these decisions and the implementation of the Resource Management Act replacement laws.”
She argues that if the government intends to make building houses easier, it also has to make changes ensuring continuing supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Bishop also announced that where LUC 1-3 land is grouped together in a natural configuration in key horticultural areas like Horowhenua or Pukekohe, special agriculture zones may be created.
Johanna King, a Resource Management Act lawyer and senior associate at Tavendale and Partners, said there is more detail still to come on the proposals. However, she said, the announced changes could bring some welcome options for farmers with LUC 3 land.
She pointed to properties in areas like Canterbury where farm subdivisions and succession plans have been stymied due to land rules limiting farmers’ ability, due to the land classification.
“What applies to a farmer in Methven can be quite different to a grower in an area like Pukekohe,” she said.
David Birkett agreed. He said the LUC approach risks being “broad and blunt” and there is a need for the rules to become more site specific.
“And this is something the new RMA is aiming to do, looking at things more spatially.”
He said special agricultural zones
make sense, particularly in areas like Pukekohe or Horowhenua.
“But these are not the only areas, there are also high-value soils in places like Hawke’s Bay and Tasman. It’s a good idea, but these zones would require some flexibility too.”
Under the government’s Greenfield Model, the National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Agency has developed a pipeline of potential important greenfield projects.
Development loans will be provided at lower interest rates during the project’s development phase and funding will ultimately be repaid by future homeowners through an annual levy.
This week’s poll question: Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll Do you support the government’s decision to free up more land with high-value soils for urban development?
Federated Farmers arable chair
LANDLOCKED: Horticulture NZ CEO Kate Scott warns that ahead of planned land changes, the government needs to provide greater certainty to growers affected by freshwater rules and Environment Court decisions.
Venerable sheep farm turns to cannabis
Olivia Caldwell PEOPLE Horticulture
DON Morrison has spent just eight years off the family farm. Four were spent studying finance at Lincoln University and another four practising in the sector in London.
But the call of home and sheep farming between the Hokonui Hills and Blue Mountains was too strong to resist for Don and wife Brigette, who come home in 1990 to continue the legacy his Scottish-Māori family started in 1875.
“Dad is still on the farm and my son Lochie with his wife Renee, so three generations farming together makes it pretty special,” said Don.
“I’ve got my mokopuna, my first grandson, living on the farm too.”
His father George is still driving
anything with four wheels at 87.
“Dad does loves working, tractors, diggers, trucks, he always has. He is invaluable to me.”
The Rosedale farm consists of 465 hectares. It was twice as large before he and his brother, former Beef + Lamb NZ chair Andrew, split the land between them, enabling succession for both.
“It’s really nice country, we are surrounded by a lot of dairy farmers but we love our sheep and so we are still doing that,” Don said.
They have got a decent name in
Building resilience doesn’t just happen, you have got to keep adapting and evolving.
Don Morrison Rosedale
the game too. Rosedale Growbulk has been selling rams across New Zealand farms for 100 years, after Don’s grandfather started Rosedale Romney in 1925.
“Sheep are at the heart of this operation,” he said, with 2000 stud ewes part of the bigger commercial operation
They also grow 25ha of barley, host Ahika journey farm tours, grow herbal arnica, farm beef cows and winter 1000 dairy cows.
But it is the farm’s latest project that makes it stand out in such a traditional farming area as eastern Southland.
Four years ago, it got into medicinal cannabis.
Don’s cousin and viticulturalist, Timbo Deaker, identified that Southland has great potential for growing commercial cannabis.
Morrison was licensed by the Ministry of Health to plant 3.5ha of a low-THC plant, which means it isn’t psychoactive and is not an illicit drug.
“Meeting those legal and licence requirements is the barrier for many. There is a large degree of compliance and regulation required, both in terms of people and land area and sightings.”
Four years in, Morrison is motivated by the opportunity and is now growing a CBG cultivar intended for cancer treatment.
“Building resilience doesn’t just happen, you have got to keep adapting and evolving everything in your operation with a vision.”
The farm has a nursery and genetics licence, allowing it to
More glyphosate resistance observed in wild carrot
that identified two species of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum and Lolium perenne) as being resistant to the herbicide.
AN AGRESEARCH study has confirmed that wild carrot is becoming resistant to glyphosate in Marlborough vineyards.
The study by Zachary Ngow, Trevor James, Christopher Buddenhagen and Deborah Hackell was published in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research.
“This is the first study to document glyphosate resistance in wild carrot globally,” it said. It builds on a previous survey
Wild carrot is the weedy version of the cultivated carrot and is most often observed along roadsides and disturbed areas.
While wild carrot is not a particularly bad weed, with glyphosate resistance it becomes difficult to control.
It has a white, wiry, tap root and is insect-pollinated (which can spread pollen for kilometres).
Seed spread can be prevented by good management but spread of
export and develop genetics for the domestic market.
Currently all medicinal cannabis prescribed in New Zealand is imported, meaning export is the only viable option.
Because there are still few farming medicinal cannabis to scale in New Zealand, Don has paved the way with a Te Rito Hapori research paper under a Land and Water Science Challenge research project
When considering new land uses, pine trees were never an option, Don said.
“We don’t want to take this beautiful land out of production for the next 100 years. We love
being able to farm the land and I think what we do is going to provide a lot more opportunities for the next generation than trees ever will.
“I would be a happier farmer if there was greater profitability in sheep, but I am optimistic. Sheep is the core of our operation, as it was 150 years ago.”
Age 61, he hopes the Rosedale farm can be in the family name for many years to come.
“My grandfather retired when he was 86 and Dad is still going at 87 and I am loving what I am doing, and my motivation is to have a great property that I can pass on to my boys.”
Seeka takes over avocado oil processor
resistance through pollen can be more difficult.
In a post on a social media platform, AgResearch said viticulturalists who notice new patches of wild carrot on their rows should be vigilant and use a different tactic (hand-pulling, other herbicides) to prevent the plant from establishing.
“Herbicide resistance is a repetitive phenomenon, which can be prevented and dealt with through good management.
“While we have surveyed some key crops, there are many that we haven’t been able to look at yet.”
Fruit orchards such as kiwifruit and stonefruit will likely have similar risks as vineyards.
Glyphosate has been banned (or is being phased out) in some countries due to concerns about safety and impacts on human health.
In New Zealand, glyphosate is still approved for use. As recently as last year, the Environmental Protection Authority considered whether there were grounds to reassess use of glyphosate and glyphosate-containing substances, and concluded it is safe to use if the existing rules around its use are followed.
SEEKA has taken over the premises and machinery of the Bay of Islands company Olivado, which is in liquidation, and will have to launch new branding for avocado and olive oils.
Olivado is a pressing and bottling plant more than two decades old near Kerikeri and the company owes more than $3 million.
Seeka chief executive Michael Franks said the purchase price for the plant is undisclosed but the acquisition does not include the Olivado brand.
Seven employees have continued to work since the liquidation was announced in
February and Franks said he is pleased they will keep their jobs.
The liquidation was ordered by the High Court in Whangārei on a petition by Far North Avocado Suppliers, itself in liquidation, and Seeka was included as a creditor.
Olivado was producing three types of avocado oil, and one each of macadamia oil and coconut oil, but its website says these are temporarily unavailable.
Oil pressing is done with fruit rejected for either domestic supply or export, returning only a few extra dollars to growers.
Another avocado oil company, Grove, operates in Bay of Plenty. It was also founded in the early 2000s.
CRUSHING IT:
Olivado was producing three types of avocado oil, and one each of macadamia oil and coconut oil.
RAMS: Rosedale Growbulk has been selling rams across New Zealand farms for 100 years. Now the family are growing medicinal cannabis. Pictured, from left, are Don, George and Lochie Morrison.
LOW: Don Morrison was licensed by the Ministry of Health to plant 3.5ha of a low-THC plant, which means it isn’t psychoactive and is not an illicit drug.
CHALLENGES: While wild carrot is not a particularly bad weed, with glyphosate resistance it becomes difficult to control.
Bank capital rules finally up for review
Federated Farmers has welcomed an announcement that the Reserve Bank will be reviewing its capital requirements, which have been costing farmers a fortune.
“The current rules are overly conservative and among the strictest in the world,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
“That’s why Federated Farmers have been so vocal on this issue and leading the charge in calling for the Reserve Bank to make significant changes.
“Overly strict banking rules have done nothing but unnecessarily drive up the cost of rural lending and restrict our access to capital. To put it bluntly, they’ve been bleeding us dry.
“We’re pleased the Reserve Bank has finally seen the light and taken the first steps towards easing some of the pressure farmers have been feeling by announcing this review.”
McIntyre says he hopes the Reserve Bank will move quickly in carrying out the review and will put in place a system that is less conservative and more supportive of economic growth.
The current rules – requiring banks to hold enough capital to withstand a one-in-200-year financial event – are costing farmers a fortune, he says.
“We’re talking about $600 million
of unnecessary extra interest payments each year in terms of the total cost to farmers.
“That’s $44,000 of extra interest payments for your average Federated Farmers member that comes straight off their bottom line.
“It’s an eye-watering sum of money being drained from our rural communities that could have otherwise been used to grow our agricultural sector.”
It’s an eye-watering sum of money being drained from our rural communities that could have otherwise been used to grow our agricultural sector.
Richard McIntyre
Federated Farmers banking spokesperson
McIntyre says the Reserve Bank must wake up to the damage its policies are doing to farmers, rural communities and the wider economy.
“Under these rules, we’ve seen the cost of borrowing soar, and it’s become harder for farmers to get loans when they need them.”
If there are savings to be made from reducing capital requirements, those savings must reach farmers directly, he says.
“Any savings that result from an easing of the capital rules cannot go into padding out bank profits – we’ll be keeping an eye on that closely.
“This review should also encourage a closer look at bank behaviour. We need transparency to ensure farmers are getting a fair deal.
“The Reserve Bank’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction, but we need this review to result in an easing of the rules – and fast.”
As part of Federated Farmers’ submission to the banking inquiry, it included views from more than 1000 farmers on the rural banking system.
The impact of the Reserve Bank’s capital rules was a common theme.
“Reduce the capital requirements banks are required to hold. Create more competition to allow other banks to have to compete for business,” was the feedback from one farmer.
“Get the RBNZ to reduce the capital requirements needed for the banks. Ultimately the banks just pass the costs onto us, and they take no greater risk,” said another.
In its March 31 announcement, the Reserve Bank said it had heard the claims that its bank capital regime is unreasonably conservative and is undermining competition and growth in the New Zealand economy.
“We think that some of those claims are incorrect, but most of the
ABOUT TIME: Federated Farmers has been calling loudly for a review of the capital requirements, and the Reserve Bank’s decision is long overdue, Richard McIntyre says.
claims can be tested empirically,” it said.
“The Reserve Bank Board has agreed to an evidence-based review of key aspects of our deposit takers capital settings, utilising international experts and assessing it against the regimes in other countries.”
That announcement came on the same day as the Reserve Bank appeared before the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) for the banking inquiry.
Minister of Finance Nicola Willis also welcomed the review, saying she shares concerns about the current capital regime.
“Higher capital requirements
increase the cost of borrowing. This can reduce economic activity and drive up the cost of living,” Willis said.
“I want to see settings that preserve financial stability while encouraging investment, job creation and income growth.
“Submitters have argued that other countries have less onerous bank capital requirements, and that New Zealand is becoming an outlier internationally.
“The Reserve Bank’s decision to conduct a prompt review is a good opportunity to objectively assess New Zealand’s settings and consider whether the Bank’s intention to keep increasing capital requirements still makes sense.”
Changes moving in right direction
Federated Farmers says health and safety changes announced by the Government last week mark the start of a long overdue reform and are a step in the right direction.
“Federated Farmers have been very clear that New Zealand’s current health and safety rules aren’t working,” says health and safety spokesperson David Birkett.
“They’re too strict, ambiguous and seem to have added more cost, complexity and compliance onto farmers, without any better outcomes.”
Birkett says the announcement from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden outlines the first moves toward a more practical system.
“We welcome this move to focus the legislation on critical risks, rather than managing every single risk possible.
“We know many farmers, and other business owners, want to do the right thing but just don’t know where to start when it comes to health and safety – it’s currently too unclear.
“This change will help make health and safety more accessible and pragmatic, reducing unnecessary costs and giving businesses more clarity about what they need to do to be compliant, while still leaving room to develop a health and safety mindset to tackle other harms.
We know many farmers, and other business owners, want to do the right thing but just don’t know where to start when it comes to health and safety – it’s currently too unclear.
David Birkett Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson
“The first set of changes show things are finally moving in the right direction and we look forward to seeing the detail of the changes announced.”
Birkett says farm safety is crucial, but the system needs to be
grounded in fairness, practicality, and common sense.
“We need to reduce workplace incidents, but that hasn’t happened under the current rules – and all we’ve seen is a rise in clipboards, road cones, and fluorescent vests.”
Federated Farmers is proud to have played a meaningful role in helping get this reform over the line, he says.
“It was great to host the Minister at our Advocacy Hub at National Fieldays last year, where she announced these reforms would be taking place.
“Since then, we’ve hosted a national webinar with the Minister for our members and hosted her in Gisborne to hear directly from farmers about what’s not working on the ground.
“We’ve been fully involved throughout this process – making sure the real-world farming perspective is heard loud and clear.”
Birkett says Federated Farmers will continue working constructively with the Government and WorkSafe to ensure these reforms land in a place that gets real results for farmers.
Farmers support review of highly productive land policy
HOOPS: David Birkett says he often hears from farmers who just want to subdivide for a house for a family member but find they’re tied up in red tape.
Federated Farmers is welcoming the Government’s announcement that it will consult on improvements to the highly productive lands policy, acknowledging the need for a more targeted and practical approach.
“The highly productive lands policy was well-intentioned but is causing difficulties for some farmers,” says Federated Farmers elite soils spokesperson David Birkett.
“While we supported the intent of protecting highly productive land, we were always concerned that using Land Use Capability (LUC) categories would be a crude approach.”
Birkett says farmers in remote areas such as the rural West Coast and Taranaki have expressed frustration at the policy’s restrictive nature.
“We often hear from such farmers who just want to subdivide for a house for a family member but find they’re tied up in red tape because the land is classified as highly productive.
“Often, this is in an extensive farming situation where a highly productive lands protection doesn’t add up.”
Federated Farmers supports the Government’s move to explore a more targeted approach, including mapping out special agriculture zones.
“Potentially, this targeted approach could replace the LUC approach altogether.
“We will engage with the consultation and look to putting forward further ideas for how to improve this policy.”
RESET: David Birkett hopes the Government’s reform of health and safety rules will result in a more accessible and pragmatic system.
High country farmers in high spirits
Despite around half-a-dozen Members of Parliament turning up for this year’s high country field day, Jim Ward reckons he couldn’t get a word in with them all day.
“We had such a fantastic turnout of farmers for the field day and many of them were really keen to share their views with the politicians, so I couldn’t get near them,” jokes the Molesworth Station manager.
“It was a really positive day and having the politicians there for oneon-one conversations with the high country farmers was just perfect.
“They were chinwagging away all day long, so I’m sure they came away with a really clear idea of what our farmers are doing well, the challenges we face, and what’s on our minds.”
The Federated Farmers 2025 High Country Field Day in North Canterbury on March 28 drew a crowd of around 230 people,
including politicians Chris Hipkins, Andrew Hoggard, Jo Luxton, Steve Abel, Grant McCallum and Stuart Smith.
Travelling in a convoy of more than nearly 70 vehicles, the group visited three unique properties: Glens of Tekoa Station, Grampians Angus Stud, and Lochiel Station.
Ward, Federated Farmers High Country vice chair, says the main purpose of the day was to celebrate farmers’ work caring for some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes.
“The day went so well, and I think everyone enjoyed it immensely.
“Visiting those three properties was a real highlight and it demonstrated the great stewardship being done.
“Even though they’re next door to each other, these three properties are taking quite different approaches to how they manage their businesses and land.
“The interesting thing that came out was the way they start with the land and finish with the land – they look after it so well and people got that on the day.”
Ward says one example was of how water quality had been protected on the Grampians Angus Stud.
“Jono Reed said that back in his parents’ day, when they started developing the property, they decided to leave all the cover around the creeks.
“So now, years later, their water quality is really good because the cover is allowing that to be maintained.”
Ward says talks from the day’s guest speakers – a number of agribusiness professionals – were excellent.
“We had Sian Reynolds and Hamish Roxburgh, who spoke on wilding pine trees – that was really interesting for a lot of people.
MUSTER: Available spaces were maxed out for the High Country Field Day, with Government and Opposition politicians joining farmers for what Jim Ward says was an “invigorating” day.
CONVOY: The group of around 230 people travelled in nearly 70 vehicles on a farm tour of three stunning high country properties.
“They highlighted what the future holds if nothing is done to help stop it. That was in front of the politicians, so it was good for them to hear about the issue.”
Similar discussions on tourism in the high country, genetics and breeding, and stewardship were invigorating, Ward says.
“We really wanted farmers to come away from this with some fresh ideas, and I think that’s definitely what happened.
“There was plenty of food for thought – for farmers and politicians alike.”
Ward says the field day showed the importance of getting high country farmers together.
“It’s something we don’t do enough of – sit and talk together and listen to our peers. We need to do it more often.”
It was a really positive day and having the politicians there for one-onone conversations with the high country farmers was just perfect.
Jim Ward
Molesworth Station manager and Federated Farmers High Country vice chair
Ward thanked sponsors Silver Ferns, who provided the BBQ, and Perpetual Guardian, Hynds, Canterbury Biltong, Gallagher, Farmlands, Stoney Creek, and FMG.
He says special thanks must also go to the farm tour hosts Beau and Georgy McRae (Glens of Tekoa), Graham and Ann, Jono and Sarah Reed (Grampians Angus), Hamish and MaryAnn McRae (Lochiel Station); and Rural TV executive director Tony Glynn, who was MC for the day.
“We’re really grateful to them for hosting us, and to Tony for providing commentary.
“We couldn’t have done this without them.”
Farmer voice critical in Waitaki plan ‘crunch time’
District plan red tape is an exercise in frustration but there’s no better time for Waitaki farmers to turn up the volume on calls for pragmatism, Otto Dogterom says.
“Now is crunch time,” the Federated Farmers North Otago president says.
“Waitaki District Council has put out their proposed district plan. Farmers and the rest of the community have until May 9 to say where it’s gone wrong.
“This time that feedback will go in front of hearings commissioners who are independent from the council.
“If we want a set of district plan rules that balance landowners’ rights, food production and jobs with environment protection, we need to speak up loudly and clearly.” Dogterom says the Waitaki
council is giving every impression of wanting to blanket as much of the rural area in natural feature and cultural overlays as possible.
“They’re rushing before the Government brings in new resource management legislation that has private property rights as a cornerstone.
“There’s something like 240,000 hectares under overlays and 324 SNAs (significant natural areas).
“They restrict, or require expensive resource consents, for all sorts of farming activities, like building a new shed, earthworks, vegetation clearance for tracks or even putting in a fence.”
The Government has told councils to stop identifying new SNAs while it rewrites the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity.
It has also been clear that the
broken RMA will be streamlined and replaced with laws making it easier for the primary production sector and other industries to get things done.
“Waitaki District Council could have taken a cautious path and stayed with the overlays and vegetation protection in the existing district plan while it waited to see the form of the new legislation,” Dogterom says.
“But it doubled down. They seem to be putting all these restrictions in place in the hope that once they’re in, they’ll be harder to get rid of.”
The council’s “total overreach” on natural feature overlays in their proposed plan is particularly galling, Dogterom says.
“They know that under pending legislation, if a council introduces an overlay that restricts the property owner’s rights, it has to offer compensation for the loss of property value.
“They wouldn’t be so zealous about overlays if that was in place already.”
The cost to Waitaki ratepayers of
If we want a set of district plan rules that balance landowners’ rights, food production and jobs with environment protection, we need to speak up loudly and clearly.
Otto Dogterom Federated Farmers North Otago president
the district plan process is in the millions of dollars.
The Government has said RMA replacement laws will be introduced into the House before the end of this year, and in force by 2027.
New criteria for identifying and managing SNAs will also be in force by 2027.
“That could put the Waitaki council back to square one – everything would have to be revised and rewritten,” Dogterom says.
“Ratepayers – and it’s farmers who pick up the biggest share of
rates – will bear the costs of both the current proposed district plan and of implementing the new planning regime coming in by 2027.”
Local Federated Farmers member Kate Macgregor, whose background is in nutrient and environmental management, agrees.
She chairs the Waitaki Property Guardians, a community action group that’s grown to around 200 ratepayer members because of disquiet over the district plan.
With advice from Federated Farmers, the group is fighting for the protection of property rights and supports workable policies and solutions.
“We can strike a balance between individual’s rights, cultural heritage and environmental values,” Macgregor says.
The Guardians are bringing together groups of ratepayers facing the same sorts of restrictions, and splitting the cost of hiring experts such as a landscape architect.
Like Dogterom, Macgregor believes in protecting truly significant natural landscapes, sites important to Māori, and areas of biodiversity.
“Mapping of overlays and SNAs shouldn’t be just a desktop exercise. It has to be ground-truthed.
“There also needs to be a genuine reason for it. You shouldn’t be able to plonk an overlay on a property just because the area looks nice.”
Macgregor is critical of the council’s lack of economic analysis on how overlay restrictions will affect the community.
“That should be a concern for everyone, not just farmers. Talk to shop owners in town who will be impacted when there’s less money in the local economy – they should be worried too.”
Dogterom says farmers don’t need to write a lengthy submission that’s full of big words or council jargon.
“Just put it in your own words how it could affect you and your community. Any submission is better than none.
“If there’s an avalanche of opposition, it will drive home to the council they haven’t got the balance right.”
SLOW DOWN: Waitaki District Council wouldn’t be so zealous about placing overlays on private property if the Government’s pending new rules on compensation were already in place, Otto Dogterom says.
ON TIME: Otto Dogterom is now a regular at Waitaki council plan hearings, and on one occasion last year drove his tractor in as a protest.
Whakatane 11 Kutarere Wharf Road
Receivership Tender
An opportunity to purchase 79.67 ha of rolling land on the upper reaches of the Ohiwa harbour. The property is located only 18 km from the ever popular Ohope Beach and 27 km from the Whakatane town centre. The property has operated as a dairy unit for many years. An 18 ASHB cowshed supporting an in-shed feed system plus a five bay implement shed. All are in a functional but average condition. There is a solid three bedroom home with good garaging to complete the picture. The contour of the property is made up of approximately 12 ha of flats, approximately 7 ha of those are boarding the Ohiwa Harbour. The remainder of the land in rolling with a few steeper sidings. Please note that due to the sale process, there are limited farm records available to view Properties of this size and location are few and far between; act now to avoid disappointment.
Central Hawke's Bay 1041 Tikokino Road
246 ha with irrigation consents
In the heart of the Ruataniwha Plains, 10 km west of Waipawa, comprising approximately 140 ha of LUC 1 land, arguably some of the best cropping soils in Hawke’s Bay. The balance of the property comprises, stony gravels which provide an excellent balance. Generous irrigation consents from three bores, plus a consent to store water from a permanent artesian stream are in place. Improvements include three homesteads large 1,750 m2 pack house numerous implement sheds, hay barns and other storage sheds. A central all-weather track gives access to the pack house and working hub of the property. This property has been farmed by the same family for three generations Presently growing Beans, Peas and Sweetcorn. Exceptional yields of 25t/ha of Beans achieved 2025 Over the years, Squash, Onions, Apples, a wide range of small seeds, Maize and other cereals have been grown, with excellent yields achieved.
Each bedroom has its own bathroom, making it perfect for guests and an outdoor cabin/sleepout retreat for extra space. A separate garage/workshop compliments the extensive enclosed basement which houses cars, boat, tractor – all your toys. A lock up and leave home that has the convenience of a deep well bore – so no water supply worries. This home can be purchased as a package deal to include furnishings, boat, tractor etc, by negotiation. BUYERS PRICE GUIDE – low $1m range. Priced to sell with a long settlement available.
Premier semi retirement block in sunny Nelson – 5.21 hectares
$2,280,000 (incl GST)
• Grandstand views across the Waimea plans to the Bay from a totally private position.
• Spacious and well maintained homestead with extended family or AirBnB configuration.
• Stunning setting amongst established trees and easy care garden with inground pool and spa.
• Only 15 minutes from the Richmond service centre, less than 30 minutes to the airport.
• On rural reticulated water scheme.
• Rolling land contours, run on organic principles for last 15 years, fully deer fenced boundary.
Viewing By Appointment
OPPORTUNITY – $2.5m CHARACTER KAPITI HOUSE & LAND
is a private secluded house and land, zoned ʻRural Productionʼ in the ʻRural Plains Precinctʼ. Wellington is approx 45 minutes away by car and there is a frequent rail service to and from nearby Waikanae. This unique sanctuary at 3 Hadfield
Accelerating Success.
Pebbly Hill - Birchwood Farm - 793 ha
For Sale
2549 Wakarara Road, Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay
For Sale by Tender closing Wed 7 May 2025 at 2pm (unless sold prior)
Pebbly Hill - Birchwood Farm, spanning approximately 793ha (with an option to purchase neighbouring Waimaunga Farm for a total of 937ha), offers a prime opportunity to secure economic scale The farm is held in two titles: 528ha and 265ha, with a mix of cropping flats, rolling hill country and strong limestone hills A full complement of infrastructure includes two woolsheds with adjoining sheep yards, two cattle yards and satellite sheep yards The homestead features four bedrooms, two living areas, and expansive decks Water is supplied via gravity-fed spring systems Renowned for its reliable rainfall strong soils and favourable farming conditions, this property offers the new owners the chance to continue the legacy and profit from this opportunity
Hadley Brown 027 442 3539
colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67033605
Canal Front and All Day Sun 6 Hei Esplanade, Whitianga Waterways
Situated in Stage 1 of the waterways, for quick access to the canal entrance and this peaceful, quiet spot!
This fabulous low maintenance 358sqm holiday or retirement home, has an attached granny flat with natural estuary views. Harvest your happiness here. Driveway to boat ramp and double garaging, plus plenty of off-street parking for the boat. Fly in, fly out (Whitianga airport).
Get your ducks in a row, and sow your seeds for your future now
For Sale by Tender closing Wed 7 May 2025 at 2pm (unless sold prior)
Comprising approximately 144 hectares Waimaunga Farm is a picturesque grass factory that has so much to offer whether you are looking to start a farm portfolio, invest in dairy support land or add to existing investments Featuring flat to easy rolling contour with native trees and the Ruahine Ranges as a backdrop, the farm is well subdivided for sheep and beef finishing Infrastructure includes a three-stand woolshed, sheep and cattle yards and implement shed The four-bedroom home with office and two living areas set in established grounds offers comfortable living Recreational activities like duck shooting trout fishing and hiking in the Ruahine Ranges add appeal Waimaunga is available separately or with the neighbouring Pebbly Hill - Birchwood Farm owned by the same family
Hadley Brown 027 442 3539
GRASS SEED FOR SALE Perennial mix with an annual. $5.85+gst plus freight. Phone Stu 021 575 967.
HORTICULTURE
NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE
RED DEVON BULLS. Quality. Well grown. Waimouri Stud Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838.
PUMPS
HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz
RAMS FOR SALE
WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.
SHEEP SCANNING AVAILABLE
SERVICING SOUTH WAIKATO. King Country, Ruapehu, Taupo, Taihape areas. Experienced operator. EID and Foetal Ageing. Phone 027 479 4918.
WANTED TO BUY
view our current listings
SALE TALK
A New York attorney representing a wealthy art collector called his client and said to him, “Saul, I have some good news and I have some bad news.”
The art collector replied, “I’ve had an awful day; let’s hear the good news first.”
The attorney said, “Well, I met with your wife today, and she informed me that she invested $5,000 in two pictures that she thinks will bring a minimum of $1520 million. I think she could be right.”
Saul replied enthusiastically, “Well done! My wife is a brilliant businesswoman! You’ve just made my day. Now I know I can handle the bad news. What is it?”
The attorney replied, “The pictures are of you with your secretary.”
Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more! If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you. Conditions apply
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 027 688 2954 Richard.
GOATS WANTED FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 or 027 363 2932.
WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Ford, Ferguson, Hitachi, Komatsu, JD. Be it an excavator, loader or tractor, wherever it is in NZ. Don’t let it rust. We may trade in and return you a brand new bucket for your digger or cash for your pocket. Email admin@loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin 0274 426 936. Advertise with us
Call 0800 85 25 80 wordads@agrihq.co.nz
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.
STOCK REQUIRED Male Lamb s 30–38kg
Ram Ewes
Angus & Ang x Heifers 160 – 200 kg
R2YR Ang & Ang x Hfrs 300–380kg
R2YR Beef & Fries Bulls 400–460kg
40 R2YR Ang Here x Hfrs 400 kgs
VIC Angus co ws Du e Aug/Sept
info@dyerlivestock co nz www dyerlivestock co nz Ross Dyer 0274 333 381
Livestock Manager –Experienced Livestock Agent
Link Livestock (LL) is a small, successful Waikato based Livestock agency, we are looking for a Livestock Manager to join our small tight-knit team. Livestock sales experience is essential for this role, if you are looking for an opportunity to work in a company with plenty of scope or to take the next step in your career and grow your portfolio look no further.
You will be the first point of contact with our agents for advice, troubleshooting and conflict resolution, ensuring both our team and clients are appropriately supported, while building long-term relationships.
Working closely with the Business Manager regarding routine processes, transactions and agent recruitment, you’ll also be available to contribute when requested at a company director level. You will share your knowledge with the ability to understand seasonal trends and upcoming opportunities available in the market to enhance our market share in a competitive environment.
Skills and Experience
• Knowledge and experience in Livestock sales is essential.
• Auctioneering experience catering to the team as our Head Auctioneer.
• You will be required to be self-motivated.
• Ability to build lasting professional relationships.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• A full, current and clean New Zealand driver licence is essential.
The ideal candidate will be able to:
• Represent yourself and LL to an exceptional standard with honesty and integrity
• Marketing and sales of livestock services to existing and potential clients.
• Grow the client base in your area and establish strong business relationships.
• Create and supply timely and accurate recordings of all transactions
Salary plus bonus incentives with a flexible start date. All enquiries will be treated with the strictest confidence. If you are interested to discuss this opportunity further, please email through your resume and cover letter to: accounts@linklivestock.co.nz
Finner Farms offer for sale their entire 160 spring calving herd as well as the R2 replacement heifers These animals come forward for sale as Pauric who is the equity partner and manager of the herd, is moving back home to Ireland This herd has not been offered for sale in the paddock
The herd originated from Murray Hawkings Tanglewood herd at Matamata after the loss of a lease block over 5 years ago
These cows have the ability to shift well and perform over a wide range of systems
Eye-catching cows that exhibit great dairy characteristics, have high-quality udders and are deep capacious cows that have production and index to boot
All animals are G3 profiled Cows come forward in great condition, and are on target to produce 500MS/Cow, 1500MS/ha
Cows were scanned to date with 8% MT
Cows are calving from 15 July to 6 weeks AB, then tailed with Jersey Bulls for 6 weeks Bulls out 24 December
Heifers are calving from 15 July to Jersey Bulls Bulls out 22 December
Cows were producing 1 64MS on the 3 Feb 2025 on 16 hour milking
There will be a herd test in the week before sale BUY with confidence
Online bidding available via BIDR
Sale Catalogues and photos are available on Agonline and BIDR
Waitara Station
Thursday 10 April | 11am
Key: Dair y Cattle Sheep O ther
In-calf cows are bringing back the beef
This year seems set to further shake up a market that has already seen significant price rises.
Suz Bremner MARKETS Livestock
BEEF breeding cows have had a tough run of late, chased off their hill country pastures by pine trees and then most commonly given a one-way ticket to the processors.
But as confidence and returns in beef improve, there has been a resurgence in interest to have breeding herds, and that is great news for the industry.
It is still early days for the incalf heifer and cow market, but as some lines fly past $2000 per head, the market looks set to follow the record-breaking theme set in the weaner calf pens this season.
Data collected from the Feilding and Stortford Lodge saleyards from March to May, since 2009, shows a significant change in price levels for in-calf traditional cows.
From 2009 to 2024, per-head prices doubled from $668, $1.35/ kg to $1308, $2.36/kg, though the strongest year on record through that period was 2017 where they averaged $1400, $2.64/kg.
Prices did dip in 2020 due to covid interruptions, though they have steadily climbed since then. And, if early price indications are anything to go by, this year is set to well and truly shake up the incalf market.
At the Stortford Lodge In-Calf Heifer and Cow Fair held on Wednesday March 26, in-calf R3 traditional heifer supply was limited but, aside from one lighter pen, all lines sold for $2100$2435, with a line of Angus & Angus-Hereford reaching $4.53/ kg.
While it was impressive for heifers to crack the $2000 mark, it was even more impressive that some lines of mixed-age cows were also able to lay claim to that fame.
Quality, well-bred Angus and Angus-Hereford cows from Hawke’s Bay and the east coast, and in-calf to Angus bulls, averaged $1870, $3.28/kg with the top lines reaching $2000-$2180.
A line of Hereford to a Hereford bull also reached $2025. That meant that the 2024 average price for in-calf cows was surpassed by $580 per head; almost the price paid per head in 2008.
Processors will always be active
Weaner cattle markets at your fingertips
With beef weaner fairs and calf sales on our doorstep, a monthly subscription to AgriHQ’s LivestockEye gives you the data and insight you need to buy and sell with confidence.
Customise your selection and access everything in one convenient platform: myAgriHQ.
in this market and the reality is that some years they do take the lion’s share.
But that has not been the case so far this year, as they were comfortably priced out of the market.
This is a battle they won’t necessarily be too upset about losing, as it does help to futureproof supply of finished steers, bulls and heifers going forward. While the start of the in-calf market has been a talking point,
the continuation of record prices for weaner cattle on both islands has also been a highlight.
Also on Wednesday March 26, the Feilding weaner fair market got off to a flying start as 1700 cattle hit AgriHQ average price predictions of $1200 and $1235 respectively for traditional and exotic steers, and $920-$965 for heifers.
The 2024 average price for in-calf cows was surpassed by $580 per head.
Traditional and exotic bulls also sold exceptionally well at an average of $1215 and $1445 respectively and, along with traditional steers, they were able to exceed a $5/kg average.
However, at the most recent Feilding weaner fair last Wednesday, the steer market gained an extra $50 per head on average. And a record price of $1700 was paid for a line of 330kg Charolais-beef steers.
At Matawhero, a two-day weaner fair offered up nearly 3000 calves and featured big lines of top quality hill-country calves, oozing with the best Angus and Hereford genetics.
At this fair, traditional steers averaged 245kg and $1245, $5.13/ kg, though a good portion of the 160-200kg Angus lines surpassed $6/kg. The heifers followed on the next day and averaged 220kg and $895, $4.06/kg. There has also been plenty of calf-selling action in the South Island, and at Temuka last Wednesday a successful eastern and southern section sale was held. Price lifts on the previous year’s sale were significant, with traditional steers up $385 per head to an average of $1220, and heifers up $370 to $950.
HIGH PRICE TAG: This line of R3 Angus heifers may have been small in tally at 15 head, but they were big in size and price. In calf to an Angus bull, they topped the Stortford Lodge In-Calf Heifer and Cow Fair at a record $2435 per head.
Photo: bidr.co.nz
Cattle Sheep Deer
Weekly saleyard results
These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports
Boner Friesian heifers, 425kg
Store male lambs, most
Store ewe lambs, most
Store Halfbred lambs, most
Prime ewes, most
Prime lambs, most
Charlton | March 27 | 2747 sheep
Lorneville | April 1
exotic-beef steers, 298kg
Weaner Friesian bulls,
Weaner Fairs/Calf Sales
Highs and dries linger after welcome rain
Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
RAIN has fallen in many of our driest regions, but follow-up rain is important now to really get the most of it before things turn too cold.
It’s interesting to note that the high pressure bands that have given us so much dry weather actually helped late last week to produce some of our heavier rain, thanks to dragging down that subtropical airflow and then slowing down the movement of rain that moved over.
The storm in the Tasman Sea last week (that helped generate the rain) dropped south of New Zealand and into a very stormy ocean, signalling perhaps a start to more traditional autumn weather across the country.
This week kicks off with windy weather as the westerlies kick into gear over the Southern Ocean.
In fact one storm over the weekend near Antarctica was estimated to have air pressure down into the 930 hectoPascal
range (similar to the world’s most powerful tropical cyclones).
What lies ahead?
More changeable weather –but we haven’t yet shaken the stubborn highs that got us into this dry spot in the first place. By Wednesday high pressure returns to the nation bringing lighter winds and drier skies again.
This high looks likely to hold on over the country until about Saturday, when windy nor’westers kick in to the lower South Island – but the high then holds onto northern areas well into next week. It is being challenged by cold fronts, and some showers and temperature changes can be expected, but it also means another drier spell may be returning to some of our driest regions.
Silver linings
RETURN: The middle of this week shows we’re back to a similar set-up to how March has often been.
Image: WeatherWatch.co.nz
You can’t have a silver lining without a cloud – and we do see more rain clouds building.
In the big picture, as we go into autumn properly now, we do see those high pressure systems continuing on, but perhaps moving a little faster than they did in previous months.
There’s also tropical energy to our north next week. This may
fuel tropical lows, possibly even a tropical cyclone. But whether any of that tropical low pressure actually reaches NZ still remains unclear, due to that stubborn high pressure.
Big picture for April
When it comes to what is driving our weather, there are two main areas to monitor for New Zealand.
The one most of us know is ENSO (you may know it as La Niña or El Niño), which still remains in neutral (as it has been for a year now). So that means there is nothing big and new brewing in the tropics that is out of the ordinary.
The second area is the Southern Annual Mode (known as SAM), which, to put in simple speak, measures how “normal” the Southern Ocean weather is being. That too is in a normal phase. So when you boil it down there isn’t yet a major shift to our weather pattern.
The rain of the past week has been fantastic for many places –but we may still have some longer dry spells yet to come through.
Find your ideal rural or lifestyle property in the latest edition of Bayleys’ Country From high-performing farms and large-scale stations to boutique lifestyle blocks, this edition showcases a diverse range of rural properties on the market With a nationwide network and deep local expertise, Bayleys’ Country brings you the best opportunities across New Zealand’s rural landscape
Plus, explore key industry insights, including the resilience of our primary sector and the vital role of bees in agriculture
For your copy of Bayleys’ Country portfolio, call 0800 BAYLEYS or visit bayleys co nz/country
