Farmers Weekly NZ April 9 2018 by AgriHQ

8 Pickers in short supply Vol 17 No 14, April 9, 2018

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Wool gets grunt Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

NE of the world’s largest producers of synthetic fabrics is coming to the aid of the ailing strongwool industry. DuPont, the 216-year-old global agricultural and industrial chemical business, and Wools of New Zealand are collaborating to develop a new, eco-friendly, woolblend home textile yarn. The new yarn is scheduled to be released later this year or early next, prompting a “cautiously optimistic” Wools of NZ chief executive Rosstan Mazey to predict the industry could be on the cusp of significant change. DuPont’s involvement provided product development and marketing horsepower Mazey said has been missing from the wool industry. Initial work is under way developing what he called a super fibre for high-end carpets, which means finding the optimum blend of wool and bio-synthetic fibres. Other super fibre products for apparel and upholstery could follow. DuPont also has links, distribution networks and access to retailers throughout the world on a scale not available to NZ wool exporters. “The exciting thing for us and for our growers is that this is very much a starting point and who knows where it will end.” Mazey said if successful, the

super fibre could use significant volumes of strong crossbred wool. “It could take on a significant portion of the strong wool clip. “It is too early to say how much but it is exciting that it could take meaningful volumes that would lift demand for the overall clip.” DuPont’s global segment leader John Sagrati said it will allow the creation of a sustainable, eco-friendly yarn with enduring performance. “Bringing together worldleading source traceability and patented technology from Wools of NZ with DuPont’s global leadership in bio-sustainable, high-performance materials inspired this collaboration of expertise and products scheduled for release in 2018.” A United States-based NZ$40 billion conglomerate, DuPont is a involved in agriculture, motor vehicles, building, electronics, energy, food and beverages, healthcare, marine, mining, packaging, printing, plastics, safety and chemicals. NZ crossbred wool has become reliant on China, which takes more than half the clip, but in recent years demand has fallen off and so have prices. In 2016 the Ministry for Primary Industries forecast export wool prices to hit $801 million in 2018 and $780m in 2019 and 2020. Such has been the fall in demand and prices, in 2017 those forecasts were slashed to $510m in 2018 and $540m in 2019. MPI also noted the gap between the prices of fine and stronger wools has widened to between four to five times, up to $19.

SMILES: Wools of New Zealand chairman Mark Shadbolt, left, and chief executive Rosstan Mazey with the new Glacial XT fibre.

Mazey acknowledged the confidence of strong wool growers has plummeted on the back of eight or nine year price lows. Work was under way in other areas to find new uses and new blends along with traceability technology so other wool could not be fraudulently mislabelled as coming from NZ. By using wool DuPont is seeking a product that is nonflammable, natural and through Wools of New Zealand’s Glacial XT process, has improved whiteness that takes colour, Mazey said. DuPont managers have met some Wools of NZ suppliers and Mazey said their message was they realised their products need to be

more sustainable, for which wool is an option. Natural floor coverings are a start. While the DuPont collaboration provided a badly needed boost for the sector, there remained a school of thought that while new uses and products are being developed, the future of the crossbred clip is breaking it down to its constituent parts. PGG Wrightson Wool manager Grant Edwards said strong crossbred wool has suffered from the twin onslaughts of being swamped by the marketing and promotional power from synthetic fibres and the need to find new uses. The evolution of digital and

social media allowed cheap, widespread promotion which was ideal for selling wool’s message of being natural, biodegradable and sustainable. Edwards sees parallels for crossbred wool with the growth of active sportswear made from fine wool, a new product that transforms a segment of the wool industry. New products such as insulation and tennis balls would help but he believes breaking fibre down to extracts such as protein will be part of that future.

MORE: WOOL OPTIONS P5 NEXT WEEK: WOOL’S FUTURE

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW THIS week kicks off with a colder change across the country with Southland, Otago and Canterbury feeling the bulk of the cold with daytime highs dropping to just eight to 13 degrees for many. The North Island will feel some of the cold over the next few days too but it isn’t a major event, rather it’s the first nationwide chill down after several weeks of above-average temperatures. For example, a week ago Hawke’s Bay climbed into the 30 degree mark, this week the cold change hits and the daytime highs tumble by as much as 16 or 17 degrees ... in other words, the high is just 14 degrees on Wednesday there. High pressure returns later this week for a time.

7 Hewett gives tick but wants more Silver Fern Farms has achieved a pass-mark profit turnaround but the business remains a work in progress, chairman Rob Hewett says. Carrot and stick plan for NAIT �� 4 Picker shortage might blight kiwifruit harvest �� 8 NZ lamb exports to Britain fall �� 13

Rain

Wind

Some wet weather this week but it’s a bit broken up by the mountain ranges. A few heavy downpours in both islands start of the week and again at the end. Not an overly wet seven days ahead despite the downpours.

Temperature

New Thinking ��19

Colder this week with below-average temperatures briefly in the mix. Single digit highs are possible for a time in the South Island’s interior today and Tuesday. Coldest air reaches the North Island on Tuesday and Wednesday. Warmer weather returns by the weekend.

World ��24

REGULARS Real Estate ��25-37

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

Newsmaker ��18 Opinion ��20

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

Southerly quarter winds dominate this week with high pressure somewhat returning later this week and weekend, making for different wind directions but nothing too strong or dominant. Should be a warmer northerly quarter airflow by the end of the weekend.

Highlights/ Extremes Mountain snow might affect some alpine passes but totals aren’t huge. Watch for possible frosts inland in the South Island this week and black ice. In the tropics another cyclone is coming into the New Zealand area but should miss us entirely.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

For further information on the NZX PGI visit www.agrihq.co.nz/pgi Pasture growth rates in both islands have been fantastic lately thanks to the warmer weather in most regions and also the wetter-than-usual weather. In fact it’s warmth plus moisture that has also seen a recent nationwide spike in facial eczema spore counts. But the cold change this week might slow both pasture and spore counts, especially if followed by any frosty weather. Any frosts look mainly confined to higher elevations in the South Island but might creep lower this week.

SOIL MOISTURE INDEX – 06/04/2018

Employment ��38 Classifieds ��38-39 Livestock ��39-43

48 MP demand continues Increased prices for butter and whole milk powder (WMP) were the bright spots in a slightly weaker Global Dairy Trade market in the first April auction, summarised by the fourth consecutive small index fall.

Source: WeatherWatch.co.nz

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For more weather information go to farmersweekly.co.nz/weather

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Big meat returns boost incomes Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz BEEF and lamb export returns are both expected to exceed $3 billion this year, for the first time, giving farm incomes a big boost. The impact on sheep and beef farm incomes is big, with average pre-tax profits forecast at $126,300 for the export year to September 30, a 39% increase on the 2016-17year, Beef + Lamb NZ said in its mid-season report. Lamb export returns on an average per-tonne basis are expected to be 14% higher than last year at $9800 a tonne, chief economist Andrew Burtt said. Lamb exports are expected to exceed $3b for the first time on steady export volumes. Beef exports first passed the $3b mark in 2014-15, and even though down marginally on a year ago are still expected to total $3.2b for the year. Mutton export figures are added to lamb numbers for total sheep returns, with revenue expected to be up 22% overall, year-on-year. The average farmgate price for lamb is forecast at $6.61/kg, or $122 a head. This is a 15% lift over last year, because of a higher proportion of lambs processed at

STAYING PUT: Meat prices will remain strong for the rest of the season, B+LNZ chief economist Andrew Burtt says.

good prices earlier in the season, Burtt said. The forecast at the start of the season was $5.55/kg. The fast start to the season had been a feature of the production year so far. “Sheep and beef prices have stayed strong despite increases in the number of sheep and cattle processed so far this season. This demonstrates that international meat markets have been strong.

“Improved pasture availability and tighter remaining livestock availability will support prices for the remainder of the season.” For the December quarter, the number of lambs (up 13% on a year earlier), sheep (up 15%), and cattle processed were all up, leaving fewer for the January to September period, compared to 2016-17. The higher sheep revenues are

the major driver of the improved forecast pre-tax farm profits, expected to provide 47% of All Classes Sheep and Beef farm revenues. Mutton returns are expected to be up 11% to $602 million. A 21% increase in average per tonne values, at $6500, should more than offset a forecast 7.3% fall in mutton export volumes. Farmgate mutton prices are estimated to be up be up by 37% to average $3.94/kg for the season. There’s little return from strong wool for the season, with an expected 20% fall in average auction prices. Fine wools are expected to be 25% higher than a year earlier, for an overall 1% fall in wool prices. New Zealand and Australia together account for about 90% of the international sheepmeat trade (excluding trade within the European Union), and it was the tight supply position in both countries driving the strong export receipts, Burtt said. For beef, a rise in average export value per tonne, up an expected 3.2% to $7100, will offset a forecast 4.6% decrease in export volumes, because of slightly lower average carcase

weights and slightly fewer cattle processed. Total export production is expected to be 590,000 tonnes. The average farmgate price for cattle is forecast at $5.29/kg, a nearly 7% lift year-on-year.

Sheep and beef prices have stayed strong despite increases in the number of sheep and cattle processed so far this season. Andrew Burt B+LNZ The improved export earnings so far have occurred through a mostly strong period for the NZ dollar. Burtt said the US dollar was expected to strengthen through this year, which should further support returns from the United States and China, the biggest markets for our beef. Increasing Chinese demand was helping absorb the global increase in beef production.

Milk products on display FONTERRA’S New Zealand Milk Products division showed its product and service solutions for customers in more than 130 countries at the Auckland head office to staff members and invited guests. More than 10 aspects of the giant dairy ingredients processing and marketing were set up as stalls with wholesale products and customers’ branded foods. All head office personnel were

invited to look and sample during three presentations in one day and NZMP extended invitations to industry partners and media. NZMP chief operating officer Kelvin Wickham said the “experience” day was to dispel the notion the huge division only filled bags with milk powder and threw them into shipping containers. In the 2017 financial year NZMP had sales volume of 21 billion litres of milk

equivalent, revenue of $15.2b and normalised earnings before interest and tax of $943 million. The stalls showed new products and services such as advanced ingredients, dairy proteins, medical-grade lactose, SureStart paediatric ingredients, consumer milk powders, Global Dairy Trade and dairy futures and virtual reality presentations of dairy farming and milk processing. – Hugh Stringleman

TRY THIS: New Zealand Milk Products technical engagement manager Donna McBride on the cheese stall.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Carrot and stick plan for NAIT Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com A REVIEW of the national animal identification and traceability system promises a carrot and stick response after revealing less than half of farmers, on average, have complied with the regulations since it was introduced in 2012. On one hand the review promises to streamline and simplify animal registration processes, including looking at new technology such as mobile applications and improved web application access. But on the other hand, NAIT and the Ministry for Primary

Industries proposed reviewing their monitoring and compliance roles and tightening rules. The review was conducted by a technical advisory group (TAG) chaired by Henry van der Heyden and included representatives from the beef, dairy and deer industries, processors and Government. Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said the review was started in 2016 but had taken on greater significance since the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak, with claims the response had been hindered by poor animal tracking records. “The TAG helping with the Mycoplasma bovis response,

TAGGED: The average price of a NAIT tag is $4.40.

and investigators tracing animal movements on the ground, have made it clear the lack of accurate records for animal movements in NAIT have complicated, and slowed, response efforts,” he said. O’Connor said the report raised several issues: a lack of up-to-date information on cattle location, the greater need for enforcement, inconsistencies across data sets because of multiple farm identification numbers, the need for more resources to operate NAIT, a lack of appreciation on the need for a tracing system and that NAIT was behind systems used internationally, especially Australia.

O’Connor said he would work with industry to make NAIT fit for purpose. Federated Farmers president Katie Milne said all 38 recommendations should be adopted. “We don’t believe the recommendations should be treated as some sort of smorgasbord to pick and choose from. “The comprehensive suite of recommendations has been closely debated and scrutinised by experts and industry body representatives and they deserve to be adopted as a whole.” Other significant recommendations in the 58-page report include requiring farmers to declare each year the number of animals carried other than cattle and deer, and NAIT centralising tag distribution to better control farm and animal identification, tag distribution and cost. “This distribution and assignment, coupled with the requirement to only sell tags to designated NAIT numbers and record production types, mitigates the risks of tag transfers, onselling, tags being stockpiled and not applied to animals, thereby reinforcing the data held on the national herd at any one time.” The average price for the 4.3 million tags sold in NZ each year was $4.40, with some farmers paying $2.30, but the subsidised price in Victoria, Australia, was just between NZ96c and $1.16 a tag. “Although direct price comparisons cannot be made, there is nevertheless evidence that some NZ farmers were paying excessive prices,” the report said. Last month the MPI revealed to the Farmers Weekly that just one infringement notice had been issued for non-compliance with NAIT and a second was before the courts. The report recommended MPI

and NAIT define their roles on compliance and enforcement, as farmer compliance had only exceeded 50% once between 2012 and 2017. Meat processor compliance was more than 80% and saleyards more than 70%. TAG also recommended farmers be prohibited from sending stock to premises without a current NAIT number, and similarly it would be an offence to apply ear tags issued for a particular NAIT location to animals on a different location. In another change, NAIT numbers would be assigned to a specific location instead of a person in charge of animals. Users have been able to take an issued NAIT number with them when moving farms but the report warned this compromised the quality of data. While all animals had to be registered within six months of birth, proposed changes would require bobby calves to be tagged on leaving their farm of birth under the age of six months unless it was direct to slaughter. The report stressed the need to simplify the process of missing ear tags and to adopt labour-saving technology, such as electronic animal status declaration forms which have been successfully trialled, and eventually radio frequency animal identification technology. Farmers would also be obligated to declare each year the estimated number of other livestock on their farms in addition to cattle and deer. “For future biosecurity and disease response activities, particularly in the event of crossspecies disease incursions, this information remains crucial to the effective determination and application of disease or food safety response activities.” The report revealed NAIT had 90,000 registered farmers and were tracking 11 million cattle and 420,000 deer.

Numbers say it all Compliance with the NAIT Act by recording livestock movements within 48 hours of occurrence. Year

Farmer

Meat processor

Saleyards

2012

33.18%

77.40%

44.76%

2013

48.32%

80.49%

67.78%

2014

46.60%

81.52%

73.61%

2015

50.87%

79.94%

76.68%

2016

48.62%

82.98%

75.77%

2017

48.04%

86.87%

74.60%

2018

57.14%

85.15%

80.36%

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Wool still seeking a purpose Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE grim reality facing crossbred wool is few people see value in the fibre. Producers see little merit investing in wool promotion or product development and consumers no longer value products made from crossbred wool as they once did, especially with carpets. The Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ) noted in its 2016-17 annual result that synthetic fibres have eliminated many of the performance advantages of crossbred wool, allowing carpet manufacturers to use substitute fibre when wool prices became uncompetitive. Some exporters have exclusive supply contracts for upholstery and carpets but new uses such as for filtration and slippers have been for small volumes. WRONZ has clearly signalled it sees the future for strong crossbred in deconstructing the fibre to its constituent elements. China took more than half NZ’s wool clip and Wool Services International chief executive John Dawson said there was talk in the market of new fabric being created that uses greater volumes of wool. Buit he conceded there is no quick fix. New uses for fine wool are much more prolific with the well-established active outdoor clothing market while media have reported the fine wool shoe manufacturer Allbirds, designed by former All White Tim Brown, has sold its one millionth pair of shoes after just two years in the market. But former NZ Wool Services chairman Derek Kirke believes the carpet market will be increasingly difficult for wool as new, competing fibres, such as corn, enter the market. “Sadly, unless we find another way to utilise wool, walking on

Sales prices steady Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz

WRONG WAY: Professor Jon Hickford believes finding new uses for wool is a mistake.

Perhaps the long story is about the benefits of wool. Derrick Milton WRONZ wool as really the major outlet for the coarse end of the crossbred clip is going to be difficult.” WRONZ, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and commercial industry invest about $3 million a year into researching new, highvalue and volume uses for wool. About $2.4m of that is invested into researching new uses and $600,000 into industry-good research. WRONZ has set itself a goal of finding new, high-value uses for coarse wool but it is also co-funding a project with the NZ Merino Company on how to communicate the environmental credentials of wool based on WRONZ lifecycle research.

WRONZ chairman Derrick Millton wrote in the annual report while it continued working with traditional manufacturing industries to develop and authenticate new technical textiles “the majority of the research investment seeks new ways to utilise wool as a source of highvalue keratin, for example, for use in cosmetics and high-value textile fibres.” Millton is confident WRONZ researchers will find a financially viable alternative use for strong crossbred wool because despite its environmental attributes, at a retail level it was overshadowed by man-made fibre. There is some optimism for wool as a counter to the pollution of the world’s oceans from microfibres from synthetic products. “Perhaps the long story is about the benefits of wool, which, since the ending of the levy, we have never been able to tell the public.” Fine wool prices at an all-time high tell Millton consumers are embracing wool’s attributes. But he said the auction selling system does little to add or create

value, other than set a price the rest of the market follows. Lincoln University animal breeding and genetics expert Professor Jon Hickford believes finding new uses for wool, such as reconstituting it into elements for use as new bulk product, is a mistake because it would lose any identity or opportunity to differentiate from fossil fuel-based competitors. “That is the wrong way to go entirely. “Rather we should get it right – the dairy equivalent of whole milk powder versus baby formula.” There are similarities with the wine industry where premium prices are being paid for similar varieties of wine such as sauvignon blanc, which sells from $8 to $40 a bottle, the price set by the quality of production and tailored to a market. “The quality proposition is there (for crossbred wool) if we want to look at the wine industry. “It is a blueprint, something that is good and where growers have strived for excellence. They can do it well.”

PRICES were largely steady overall at Thursday’s Christchurch wool sale, coping with a larger than expected volume of bales. An exception was in lambs’ wool, 29 to 32 microns, which had a significant correction to finish in line with the North Island market. Falls ranged from 5.55% to 7.5%. At the finer end, 28-micron lambs’ wool rose marginally. Crossbred second-shear wool was 1.5% to 2% dearer than at the previous sale on March 22 and mid-micron wools were 1% to 3% dearer on very limited volumes. Full wool, good-to-average colour, all prices in micron, per kg clean: 28, $8.92, up 12c; 29, $8, down 3c; 32, $3.72, down 56c; 33, $4.03, down 8c; 34, $3.58, down 36c; 35, $3.30, down 3c; 36, $3.28, steady; 37, $3.24, down 3c; 38, $3.24, down 1c; 39, $3.23, steady. Crossbred second shear: 33 micron, 3 to 4 inches, $3.58, down 64c; 2 to 3 inches, $3.22, up 1c; 35, 3 to 4 inches, $3.32, up 6c; 2 to 3 inches, $3.21, up 21c; 37, 3 to 4 inches, $3.18, up 1c; 2 to 3 inches, $3.08, up 10c; 39, 3 to 5 inches, $3.14, down 1c; 3 to 4 inches, $3.14, up 2c; 2 to 3 inches, $3.07, steady. Crossbred lambs’ wool: 28 micron, $6.06, up 1c; 29, $5.54, down 1c; 30, $4.98, down 18c; 31, $3.87, down 27c; 32, $3.68, down 27c.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Hewett gives tick but wants more Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz SILVER Fern Farms has achieved a pass-mark profit turnaround but the business remains a work in progress, chairman Rob Hewett says. “We’re not resting on our laurels, there’s still more to do,” he said after reporting an after-tax profit of $15.4 million for the Silver Fern Farms Ltd operating business in the year ended December 31, recovering from the tough trading conditions of a year earlier. Half of that bottom-line figure is for the benefit of shareholders in the Silver Fern Farms Co-operative and the other half benefits new 50%-shareholder Shanghai Maling. There will be a dividend payout for co-op shareholders and a throughput reward payment for qualifying shareholders. SFF Ltd’s net profit before abnormal items was $25.6m. The one-off charges totalled $10.2m, mostly the closure costs of the Fairton plant in Ashburton. “We expect better (this year) as we won’t have those abnormals.” SFF Ltd had Ebitda earnings

of $50.9m, compared to a loss of $7.5m in the previous full year to September 30, 2016. The change of balance date followed the Shanghai Mailing investment. Annual sales were $2.2 billion, the same as in 2016. The group reported two earnings figures, for SFF Ltd and for part-owner SFF Co-operative .

We expect better. Rob Hewett Silver Fern Farms The co-op reported a bottomline loss of $5.6m for the 15 months to December 31, after a pre-abnormals after-tax profit of $7.8m. There were one-off costs for the change in group ownership and structure as well as its share of the Fairton costs. The SFF Ltd result provided the more meaningful picture, he said. It was a pleasing improvement after the 2016 year, which was one of the toughest on record, when

NOT YET: Both SFF owners are keen to sell branded, retail meat in China but will get it working in Germany and the United States first, chairman Rob Hewett says.

both the beef and sheep meat markets turned downwards at different times. The latest profit was achieved on similar levels of throughput and reflected improved in-market conditions for sheep and venison, a reduction in overhead costs following plant closures and improved efficiencies. There were no inventory buildups in the lamb and mutton markets. Product was moving quickly and prices were high, with good margins. “Beef is okay but there are potential shakes there,” he said. The prime market was fine, with SFF having very good results, especially in the Reserve market in hotels and restaurants in China. “They can’t get enough of that,” Hewett said. There are concerns with the grinding market in the United States, partly because of perceptions over the Mycoplasma bovis disease, given the amount of dairy beef going into that part of the market. Other countries have the disease, which doesn’t affect meat safety, but it is the first time NZ has been affected and customers are aware of what is going on, he said. A major gain for SFF Ltd flowed from paying down borrowings after the $260m capital injection by Shanghai Maling. Of that amount, $203m was used for debt reduction and $57m was paid to the co-operative. For the year, borrowings costs were reduced to $3.3m from $14.8m previously. There were only season borrowings. SFF Ltd also spent $21m on capital expenditure, the highest level in four years, Hewett said. SFF Co-op had owned 100% of SFF Ltd for the first two months of the trading year. At balance date the co-op had no borrowings and total shareholder equity of $271m, including $16.6m in cash. The co-op’s 50% shareholding in SFF Ltd was valued at $268m. From its after-tax earnings, SFF Ltd will pay a $12m dividend to the two shareholders, $6m each. The co-op’s share is taxable but Hewett said the tax paid would come back to co-op shareholders as imputation credits on the dividends they will receive. The co-op will pay $3.2m of the dividend to all shareholders and $900,000 to shareholders meeting the livestock supply criteria. The main dividend, paid on April 27, will amount to a fully-imputed 2.8c a share and the patronage dividend to qualifying shareholders will be 2.9c a share. Hewett said the about 60% of livestock processed by SFF

Farms Ltd was supplied by co-op shareholders. A focus for the group is putting in place a shareholder supplierbenefits programme to create more loyalty and encourage nonshareholder suppliers to become shareholders. The co-op and Shanghai Maling are working their partnership relationships though the market benefits were yet to accrue, Hewett said. A major trading focus for SFF Ltd is the branded retail offering in Germany being repositioned to

improve performance and soon to be offered in the United States. Both owners are keen to get branded retail into China with Shanghai Maling keen for an early start but the group will get it performing in Germany and the US first, he said. Branded retail is also performing very well in the domestic market. The co-op is also focused on reducing its own overhead costs so much of the dividends from SFF Ltd can be passed on to co-op shareholders.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Picker shortage might blight kiwifruit harvest Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com WHILE it’s not a crisis yet, the kiwifruit sector is eyeing the labour issues facing the apple sector as a record harvest of its own looms. Hawke’s Bay apple and pear growers have been operating in a declared seasonal labour shortage since March 12 as that industry experiences a 10% surge in crop volumes over last year. Last week Zespri despatched the first shipment of the season’s kiwifruit to China as that industry starts to grapple with the implications of an anticipated 16% surge in crop volumes over last year. Nikki Johnson, chief executive of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI), said the expected harvest of 140m trays was up on last year and would be close to the bumper 2016 harvest season. But it was coming as the pool of foreign students in the region had dried up, and the usual supply of backpacker tourist workers appears less inclined to pick kiwifruit. “It would appear we have similar issues to what the apple sector in Hawke’s Bay is experiencing around backpackers. While we seem to have the same number coming into the region, they are not opting to go fruit picking for earning income.” She said there were some theories why, but one was that apple and kiwifruit picking were regarded as tougher jobs. This was confirmed by Richard Bibby, acting president for Master Contractors, the body representing horticultural and viticultural seasonal industries. “Social media and Facebook indicate vineyard work is easier work than apples and we think kiwifruit, and the word is to steer clear of the Bay of Plenty

or Hawke’s Bay for apples or kiwifruit.” He acknowledged grape picking would rank more favourably in terms of ease of work, but good apple and kiwifruit pickers could gross about $1000 a week if they worked hard. Proficient kiwifruit pickers can expect to earn $20 an hour or more. Johnson said in the next two weeks kiwifruit move into a critical phase with early Green harvest beginning.

Social media and Facebook indicate vineyard work is easier work than apples and ... kiwifruit. Richard Bibby Master Contractors

“We had similar volumes of fruit in the 2016 harvest, but then it was split between Green and Gold. This time there is more Gold, and it is more critical when it is picked to optimise its quality.” This season’s crop looks like it will earn more than $2 billion, up from $1.65b last year and putting the sector well on track to hit the $6b by 2030 estimated in a Plant and Food Research-Zespri report released last year. That report also estimated a further 29,000 new jobs would be created by the sector’s growth. But the industry acknowledges the labour challenges for this season’s crop are only a sample of what is to come as the full impact of increased SunGold plantings kicks in. Zespri has increased the area for SunGold licences to 700ha a year over the next four years subject

to yearly review, with each year’s licence issue adding at least a further 10 million trays. Johnson said NZKGI was researching labour demands to better gauge short and long-term labour pressures, with a report due out in coming weeks. She said Bay of Plenty was also being hit by the loss of Indian students, after the closure of language schools in the region. They would have comprised almost 15% of the labour force two years ago. Katikati had been hit particularly hard by the shortage, which extended beyond orchards into packhouses seeking skilled machinery operators and seasonal packing workers. Bibby said the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme was invaluable for meeting the labour supply gap. He couldn’t see any increase on the cap of 11,100 set in December coming this season, but believed there was a case to lift it next season. “We are seeing strong growth across all sectors of horticulture including kiwifruit, apples and viticulture and we will not have the capacity to harvest. You see the scary figures on NZ’s ability to recruit workers here, with Work and Income people not showing any interest.” He said if the RSE cap was lifted to 15,000 it would give the industry some lee-way in managing big harvest surges. “Rather than a review every year, maybe make it reviewed every three, and make it easer to re-allocate workers at short notice when shortages come up.” He was encouraged by the reception industry had received from Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. Johnson said NZKGI was compiling a report on labour issues that would help present a case to the minister for greater numbers of RSE workers.

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Zespri confident of bumper crop WHILE a bumper kiwifruit harvest will provide headaches for those responsible for picking and processing fruit, Zespri is optimistic strong consumer demand will continue for the new season. The marketer has reported growth rates continuing strongly in key markets of China and Japan, and remains confident that the 16% expected increase in crop volume this year will be absorbed by the market without compromising grower returns. David Courtney, Zespri general manager for grower and external relations, said the decision four years ago to renew a focus on the Japanese market was paying dividends. “For many years Japanese consumers were eating less and less fresh fruit. We focused on investing heavily to build our penetration into that market in terms of consumer awareness of the Zespri brand, and also investing in health messaging to get people returning to buy again.”

The result has been a market that despite a population decline of 0.6% (800,000) a year, has grown by 30% in the past four years. Japan now accounts for about 20% of the company’s total sales. Last year Zespri sold a record 24m trays of kiwifruit in Japan, up from 21m the year before. Sales to Japan are budgeted to maintain their upward trajectory, increasing about 25% over the next five years. The aging population has preferred more processed, convenient products and kiwifruit’s success has been driven by offering sweeter, ready to eat fruit. Japanese tariffs cost growers $26m last year, but the new Trans-Pacific Partnership has players hopeful they will slide to zero. China’s growth also remains strong, and is now Zespri’s leading market with sales of $500m last year. Combined with Japan, the two markets make up $1 billion out of about $2.3b total sales for 2016-17.

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News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Meet Fonterra’s next chief exec Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com

HOW MANY? What skills will Theo Spierings’ replacement as Fonterra chief executive need?

VERY strong communication skills and transparency with shareholders are high among the qualities needed in Fonterra’s next chief executive, dairy farming leaders say. Federated Farmers national dairy section vice-chairman and Golden Bay president Wayne Langford said listening and talking to all stakeholders is a prerequisite for the new Fonterra leader. Fellow vice-chairwoman and Waikato dairy chairwoman Jacqui Hahn called for more transparency with shareholders, in the way directors and senior executives report to farmer meetings. National vice-president and former dairy section chairman Andrew Hoggard wanted more empathy with farmers but that should not be the sole or necessarily the number one attribute in the new chief executive. Langford thought the head of the list should be an industry background that includes milk processing and dairy sales and marketing. Although previous chief executive Andrew Ferrier came from the sugar industry, Fonterra was more heavily skewed to commodities when he started. “I presume that Fonterra’s value-add strategy will continue and the new chief executive will have the appropriate skills and experience to keep that evolving,” he said. Farm leaders welcomed the transition process begun last year and now going through the short list and reference checking stage, according to chairman John Wilson. “It is good to know that an orderly transition is under way,” Hahn said. Perhaps an extended transition period indicates a suitable internal appointee is being given exposure to all parts of Fonterra, Langford suggested. Ideally, Fonterra should have one or more internal candidates for the chief executive position, Leadership Institute director Vicki Watson said. “Over seven years or at least the past three or four someone should have been identified and put on a progressive pathway. “It is said success is succession and a managed transition can be a great outcome for the company.” Watson was commenting on media reports suggesting Fonterra does not have any suitable candidates from within to replace departing chief executive Theo Spierings. New Zealand’s largest export company with a history of graduate recruitment, international postings, in-house research and development and on-the-job training should be identifying potential leaders in its ranks. Criticism of Spierings based solely on the financial results is

superficial and fails to include many aspects of leadership, she said. For his replacement, the skills to successfully implement the company strategy should be at the top of the wish list. While farm leaders might want someone with better empathy with farmers, Watson reflected on the media comment that farmers will be willing to overlook any shortcomings if a new chief executive delivers “a truckload of cash”. “A chief executive who is successful should have a blend of skills in the senior executive team, including someone who has a high level of empathy with farmers, who can report back. “Yes, empathy with farmers is important but is the strategy requiring skills for improved financial results and embedding environmental changes, for example?” She would be very surprised if an incoming chief executive did not spend some time on a dairy farm to begin to understand the demands and expectations of NZ farmers if he or she came from overseas. NZ citizenship would be a bonus but not essential, Watson thought. Ferrier had settled here and continued to be active in governance and philanthropy, especially at Auckland University. In the same vein, Spierings said he would work for a better world rather than seek a bigger job in future. A co-operative background would not be necessary, in the same way that leaders of stateowned enterprises and not-forprofit companies do not need to differ from those in the normal company ownership structure. As regards remuneration and the controversy caused by Spierings’ large earnings, she said the multinational reach of Fonterra and its staffing level and asset base, dictated the payment of international-scale rewards. Given the importance of the job, a farmer commented $500 a farm annually is a good investment in the right person. Colleague Brigid Carroll, an associate professor in the management and international business department at Auckland University’s business school, added an observation on need for the new chief executive to be closer to farmers. The complexities of internal and external stakeholders placed increasing demands on consultation more broadly and more deeply, she said. “Engaging with the grassroots and the frontline helps chief executives frame organisational priorities, tell more powerful stories and sustain strategic initiatives,” she said. Fonterra chairman John Wilson said no-one at Fonterra would comment further on the search for the new chief executive until an appointment is made.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Farmers must work to prevent M bovis Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz FARMERS must do all the onfarm safeguards to guard against Mycoplasma bovis infiltration and make sure stock movement records are done quickly and accurately. That’s the message to dairy and beef farmers at road shows around the South Island as the sector waits for information on how the disease took hold in New Zealand and details of slaughter plans for infected animals. There’s a focus on prevention and the importance of complying with NAIT requirements. Indications are that in a typical week at this time of year (based on 2016 data) there will be about 8000 stock movements involving about 120,000 animals, Ospri programme extension officer Rebecca Nind said at the Cust seminar in North Canterbury. NAIT is the number one tool for tracing those movements and she reminded farmers all animals have to be tagged before six months of age or before they are moved off a farm, whichever happens first. Doing everything right on biosecurity measures for animal and pasture health will reduce the risk of M bovis though the risk won’t be completely removed, Dairy NZ veterinary policy adviser Nita Harding told seminars in the wider Canterbury region. “Treat you farms as an island and your boundary fences as your borders,” she said at Cust. That means managing animal movements very carefully. If something doesn’t need to go onto a farm, then keep it off, minimise animal-toanimal (nose-to-nose) contact, by buffer zones if necessary, and find out about the background and management of any stock being taken in before they arrive on a farm. That could include veterinary advice. The seminars included farmers going into smaller groups to work on case studies of onfarm management to reduce risks. Most farmers picked up most of the risks and there were good ideas for managing them, Harding said afterwards. There was good awareness of planning in advance and acceptance everyone has to work together to deal with it. Farmers are being advised to keep newly-arrived animals separate from other stock for seven days. Thorough cleaning of all farm footwear and equipment having contact with animals is important, followed by disinfection. Care should be taken with use of onfarm transport lanes. M bovis is mostly caused by close and prolonged animal-to-animal contact, Harding said, so reducing that means avoiding contact across boundary fences, while stock is being transported by truck and even grazing roadside edges. She had one positive piece of news for farmers, that the M bovis bacteria is easily killed once outside the animal. Heat and sunlight will quickly remove it from pasture once animals are taken off. After the planned cull of infected cows, farms will have a 60-day stand-down before stock will be allowed back on and experts believe that time is adequate, allowing for likely cooler, wetter conditions. However, she told farmers it will be difficult to eradicate the disease if the source is not known because it could come back. While there are no milk or meat health issues with M bovis, the Ministry for Primary Industries has decided to slaughter infected animals rather than let it stay and impact farming in the future. Although farmers are being warned about contact with neighbouring farms, they are also being told it appears the risk of transmission in this way is low. M bovis signs to look for in dairy and beef cows include untreatable mastitis and abortions, swollen joints and lameness in all ages of cattle. In

calves warning sings include severe pneumonia (starting as a hacking cough), ear infections and conjunctivitis. Animals should be checked for the signs particularly before being transported off-farm.

Additional to the seminars, a new guide to onfarm management advice is available on the DairyNZ website.

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DON’T TOUCH: Reducing animal-toanimal contact is the best defence against Mycoplasma bovis, DairyNZ vet policy adviser Nita Harding says.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

NZ lamb exports to Britain falling Colin Ley NEW Zealand lamb exports to Britain have been less of a factor in the British market in recent weeks, compared to 2017, according to Quality Meat Scotland. QMS chief economist Stuart Ashworth said NZ lambs reaching the United Kingdom in February 2018 failed to match the volumes moved in the same month last year. He also reported that the volume of NZ lamb shipped to the UK between October 2017 and February 2018 was little changed, with any increase in NZ output resulting in more NZ lamb heading for China and mainland European Union countries like Germany and France, rather than Britain. Speaking on Good Friday, Ashworth said UK lamb prices are 30% higher than last year despite some inevitable cooling of farmgate values once the Easter weekend demand was covered. “Auction market throughputs during March were above last year’s levels while the UK weekly slaughter of prime sheep ran well ahead of last year throughout January and February. “As a result, despite strong supplies of hoggs (hoggets), farmgate prices have strengthened suggesting a basic strength in demand.” The lamb price rise isn’t just affecting the UK, however. Ireland, France and Spain also report farmgate prices 15-20% higher than last year.

“The additional decline in French production for the first half of 2018, estimated to be 2% by French sources, suggests there will continue to be a demand in key European markets for sheep meat this year.” With high farmgate prices in Scotland and the UK clearly drawing hoggets onto the market, he concluded British supplies might become tighter through April and May with prices remaining firm as a result.

BETTER: Lamb prices in Britain and Europe are 30% high than last year, Quality Meat Scotland chief economist Stuart Ashworth says.

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New Zealand traders have not been as active as usual. Stuart Ashworth Quality Meat Scotland A lot can change once the Easter trade passes, with Kantar Worldpanel reporting a multi-year analysis of UK retail sales shows the volume of lamb sold in the four weeks that includes Easter can be double the levels sold both during the month before and the month after the holiday weekend. “All of that Easter growth in sales is put down to purchases of leg roasting joints,” Ashworth said. “This can leave processors with a major challenge to sell the remaining cuts from a lamb carcase when demand for leg roasts is so high. Nevertheless, to meet orders, demand for slaughter stock inevitably increases. “In this context, UK imports of NZ lamb usually peak at this time of year to meet this seasonal demand. “This year, though, NZ traders have not been as active as usual, partly because the dry weather in NZ led to an early slaughter of the lamb crop. “In fact, slaughter statistics from NZ suggest that between October and the end of January 10% more lambs were killed than last year although their January kill struggled to match year-earlier levels. “Not surprisingly, NZ saw some growth in exports over this period but the latest data suggests that the volumes exported to the UK in February failed to match last year.” France, meanwhile, has reported lower slaughter volumes throughout the autumn and into 2018, which led to increased imports initially from Ireland and NZ. As 2017 drew to a close, however, the UK also increased deliveries to France with some exta growth in exports to Germany and Belgium. “Europe also sees a lift in demand for lamb over the Easter period, which will have supported prices there,” Ashworth said.

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News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Luck of the draw for quake help Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com LOTTERIES and gaming machine grants are propping up funding for earthquake recovery in the upper South Island. Many farms in Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough were left with fractured and unusable pastures that couldn’t be accessed because roads were destroyed. Many businesses and communities that depended on State Highway 1 traffic lost income as traffic ground to a halt. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) says Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough districts were “fortunate to access assistance from the Lotteries funding of $5.41 million for earthquake relief and $7.5m for rebuilds of community facilities.” After the quake councils and community groups across the affected regions appointed recovery facilitators and ‘navigators’ to help people connect with health and social services. Hurunui District Council records show Lotteries granted $817,931 for earthquake recovery. The Department of Internal Affairs gave $780,000 and the Civil

Defence welfare fund just over $170,000. Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley said Lotto had been the major funder. “I don’t know how we would have managed without that.”

We ultimately funded four positions ourselves. It’s criminal; they could have been on the ground within three weeks. Winton Dalley Mayor, Hurunui District Council It was seven months after the quakes before the Ministry of Health funded the first navigator position in the district, he said. “We ultimately funded four positions ourselves. It’s criminal; they could have been on the ground within three weeks.” The three districts continue to rely on funding from either Lotteries or pokie machines. Hurunui District Council is advertising for a rebuild officer

to help earthquake-affected residents, including farmers, with any aspect of the re-build or repair process. Lotteries will fund that position too. The advertisement says while the council had funded this position itself since the November 2016 earthquake, the grant would ensure the help could continue to be available. “The council’s building control team had provided that help until now but the amount of work made it essential for council to appoint a specific resource to help the local community get through this very traumatic event.” The rebuild officer would help residents with insurance issues, pricing, securing tradespeople, project management, obtaining consents and “carving through the red tape”. The appointee would also work closely with the existing community navigators, council building consent and inspection teams, local contractors, ECan and others “to ensure that our residents’ houses and buildings are repaired or rebuilt as soon, and as stress-free, as possible”. A rebuild navigator position advertised by Kaikoura District Council in March said the successful applicant would

“identify what needs to be done; deploy council resources to meet those needs; identify and overcome obstacles”. Dalley said insurance companies had generally made good progress handling claims directly rather than through EQC under the previous system, but a number of people were still having difficulty. Claims ranged from homesteads with 10 damaged chimneys to farm sheds and properties in rural towns and villages. Most farmers had comprehensive general insurance for farm and dwelling but were still grappling with claims, damage assessments and consenting. The process could be highly technical and stressful, he said. Of the lottery grants for Hurunui, $724,104 went to facilitators including youth workers, district promoters, event co-ordinators, and administrators. One of the rebuild navigator positions has just over $100,000 of lottery funding, paid out of the Lottery Hurunui Kaikoura Marlborough Earthquake Relief Fund. Lotteries also granted nearly $98,000 for community events

including youth activities, speakers like Australian rural resilience expert Peter Kenyon and event tickets. Just under $300,000 also went toward repairing community facilities, like sports club pavilions and fields, community halls and war memorials. Some of the navigator funding was for Let’s Connect events for residents to discuss earthquake issues with insurers, the council, EQC and funding organisations. Community Law Canterbury, Wellbeing North Canterbury, the All Right Campaign team and other recovery specialists were also at these events. Adopting a community-led approach enabled the council to customise its recovery efforts according to the needs of Hurunui residents. Rata Foundation, a Canterbury charitable grants organisation, gave $80,000 for facilitators and youth programmes; the Department of Internal Affairs gave $10,000 for a facilitator and Te Puni Kokiri gave the same amount for whanau-led events. Most of the earthquake recovery funds for Hurunui have gone to roading, where NZ Transport Agency has spent about $25m.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Maize breeders lower footprint Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com MAIZE agronomists are starting to enjoy some success in grappling with the paradox of continuing to increase crop yields without also increasing environmental impact. Pioneer agronomy manager Dr Rowland Tsimba gave an insight at this year’s rural professionals conference to the gains breeders are making in improving the crop’s yield while facing the challenge of global warming, tight water supplies and a need to reduce nitrogen losses. “We have managed to continuously increase maize yield over the past 60 years but we also have the issue that only 50% of the nitrogen applied is actually taken up by a crop. How do we introduce crops capable of picking up more nitrogen from the soil, requiring less to be applied, or have less nitrogen in the soil, post-harvest?” Earlier boosts in maize yield were driven partly by good breeding but also by increased nitrogen application, particularly from 1965-1980 when the amount applied doubled. “But since 1980 that level has remained almost exactly the same but yields have continued to increase by about 125kg a hectare a year.”

It means we are not waiting seven years to identify hybrids that work.

to develop an improved waxy corn variety with a higher starch content for industrial uses. The US government has told the company it will not be regulated as a GM product, setting the stage for future crop developments. Tsimba said it remains to be seen what position NZ will take on CRISPR’s being defined as genetic modification but it is a space Pioneer will remain active in overseas.

GOING TWO WAYS: Scientists are grappling with improving maize yield while reducing its environmental footprint.

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Dr Rowland Tsimba Pioneer Breeding has resulted in hybrids that now use more of the available nitrogen and in a different pattern, with 28-40% more of the nitrate used at the critical silking (flowering) period. Breeders are now looking to genomic DNA analysis to better identify hybrids using Marker Assisted Selection (MAS). The process identifies traits in possible hybrid seeds without having to go through traditional breeding-crossing routines to identify hybrid candidates. “It means we are not waiting seven years to identify hybrids that work. “You go in knowing exactly what traits you are working with. You identify the plants you are going to grow to give you the traits you require.” That includes plants with genes that make them more efficient at nitrogen use. The science is also helping agronomists identify traits in plants that might help with specific agricultural challenges, such as drought tolerance. That trait has enabled them to develop a super maize and breeders can now tailor hybrids that have the ability to cope with moisture stress and perform in premium growing situations. “Generally, those that perform under stress will not perform as well in premium situations but we are working to a hybrid that is consistent under all conditions, along with having a reduced environmental footprint in terms of nitrogen efficiency.” He cited the 2012 United States drought where despite tough conditions there was no statistically significant decline in crop yields. The same breeding tools have meant water efficiency has increased dramatically in the modern hybrids, requiring only 60% of the water older hybrids needed in the 30s and 40s, with significantly greater yields. New Zealand legislators are considering revisiting the definition of genetic modification as new technology like CRISPR gene editing gains traction and overseas the maize industry has already used the technology to develop a new variety. DuPont Pioneer has used the technology

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News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Four contesting two SFF seats Annette Scott annettescott@xtra.co.nz

FOUR candidates are vying for two available positions at the upcoming Silver Fern Farms Co-operative’s board of director election. Sitting directors Fiona Hancox and Rob Hewett retire by rotation at the company’s 2017 annual meeting to be held in Dunedin on April 18. Both Hancox and Hewett are standing for re-election and they will be challenged for their positions by newcomers Chris Allen and Conor English. The election will be conducted by postal and online ballot with voting papers posted out to eligible shareholders on April 4. Voting will close at 3pm on Monday April 16 with the result announced before the annual meeting. Farmers Weekly went to the candidates to find out what drives their desire to win a seat at the SFF board table.

Fiona Hancox “Now, more than ever, farmers need to ensure governance of their cooperative company is guided by those who understand the needs and challenges of working farmer shareholders,” Hancox said. She believes her deep experience as a sheep and beef farmer combined with her effectiveness during her first term as an SFF director makes her a vital voice at the board table. She is seeking election on three key principles. Building on the success of recent years to strengthen the partnership with Shanghai Maling to advance one of the world’s best meat export companies is one. The second is to drive profitability to ensure ongoing and meaningful patronage rewards and dividends, ensuring priority shareholder access to processing space. The third is to support diversity at the board table, a proven factor in better decision-making and corporate performance. “The wellbeing and

success of our supplying shareholders is critical to the success of our company and improving outcomes for farmers remains a priority for me,” Hancox said. Hancox and her husband Nelson operate a 34,000 stock unit sheep and beef breeding and finishing operation in west Otago. She completed the 201516 Fonterra governance development programme and is a director on Cooperative Business NZ, a trustee on the Lincoln University Foundation and has served on the Beef + Lamb NZ Southern South Island Farmer Council.

Chris Allen Chris Allen, a committed, market-focused SFF supplier is seeking the support of fellow supplying shareholders to become a director of SFF Co-operative as it develops its place in the fastmoving world. “I will bring an inquiring style that will ensure SFF will be forward-looking, ensuring real benefits reach you – the passionate food producers,” Allen said. Allen and his wife Anne-Marie operate an irrigated sheep, beef and lamb finishing farm in Mid Canterbury where their farming is focused on smart, precision technologies for sustainable production. “My expertise has developed from understanding and representing farmer interests in

complex national environmental debates.” He has spent the past 10 years advocating for farmers including

serving four years on the Federated Farmers national board. He is a proud, committed SFF supplier of 24 years, passionate about SFF governance and cooperative principles. The Allens’ Annadale farming operation was the winner of the SFF Plate to Pasture Award 2016. A Fonterra governance development programme graduate, Allen was also involved in the SFF 2017 market tour of Britain, France and Germany. Allen says he appreciates the role of women in making purchasing decisions for their family’s food, believing that is an important factor in SFF’s future business. Living and farming in Mid Canterbury, Allen believes the SFF co-op needs balanced geographical representation.

Conor English “We need to do better,” former Federated Farmers chief executive Conor English, whose farming career started in Southland in the 1980s, said. “I’ve plucked dead sheep, milked cows and grasped the crowbar on a freezing southern morning. “But I also have extensive experience off farm in boardrooms and international markets.” That experience includes being one of two independent advisers to the Reserve Bank on interest rates and financial stability, and chairman of NZX-listed supply chain disruptor QEX Logistics that has multi-country operations, reaching consumers in new ways. He has first-hand experience exporting to China and working with Chinese partners, having visited China more than 30 times.

“I’ve learnt much but still have a lot to learn.” He is a director of GMP Pharmaceuticals, a value-added manufacturer with products going to 30 countries, has first-hand experience exporting perishable, temperature-sensitive, branded products and is a director of E-Sports NZ which is at the forefront of millennial thinking – a sport pushing the boundaries with technology and new ways of thinking about consumers. With a proven track record in governance and chief executive roles English says he is very connected across political, agricultural and business communities and used to addressing tough issues and getting results. “It is vital that SFF navigates through our fast-changing

environment successfully for the advancement of shareholders, the company and the country,” English said.

Rob Hewett SFF chairman Rob Hewett is seeking re-election as an experienced governor. “As your company’s experienced governor I bring leadership, clear

communication and strategic thought to the table,” Hewett said. “I have extensive and deep industry knowledge. “My relationship with Shanghai Maling is strong and transparent.” Hewett said both the SFF Co-operative and Shanghai Maling must work well together to achieve the desired results. “This needs strong leadership from trusted partners, a relationship based on honesty, integrity and trust.” The company has a new chief executive and Hewett is confident he will perform very well in Dean Hamilton’s place. But he said the new man – Simon Limmer – will require time to acclimatise to the role and industry. “In the near term Simon will need the support and guidance of experienced governors.” Hewett said the co-op board needs to prepare for succession at governance level and shareholders should be reassured that a

succession plan that rejuvenates at the right time is in place. “The transition needs to be done carefully, along an agreed pathway but more work remains to be done in this area.” Hewett assured shareholders he is committed to doing his utmost to deliver three things for their business. “A solid foundation with our new partner, a new chief executive who is bedded in and well-equipped, and continued investment in a succession plan for governors of the future.”

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Newsmaker

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Consumers drive winner’s farming His work has earned him an award that will allow him to mix with Australasia’s agribusiness elite on an equal footing but Thomas Macdonald, now involved in the developing sheep milk sector, never forgets the consumers who make it all possible. He spoke to Richard Rennie. This work earnt him the New Zealand National Fieldays scholarship in 2015. His body of work put some solid numbers around just how much effort dairy farmers had put into environmental compliance in recent years, determining it amounted to $400 million in recent years. The research did much to determine what farm systems were going to be more efficient under regulation, and what ones would suffer. After a period of time spent as a business analyst with Landcorp brand Pamu, dairy business manager and now with Spring Sheep Milk Company, Macdonald brings a global, consumer-focused view to what will enshrine success for pastoral New Zealand in years to come. The sheep milking sector earnt some strong praise recently from visiting Wisconsin sheep guru David Thomas, who was impressed at the sector’s scale on farms and ability to innovate. “While I cannot speak for the whole industry I think here at Spring Sheep we are being cautious in our approach to how we develop our scale and capacity. “The conversations we are having are good ones, around consumers and what they are looking for in a milk product. We are very much regarding ourselves as food producers, rather than simply farmers and that keeps you focused on the consumer, the person who keeps you in business.” He says this is a contrast to New Zealand farming’s “No.8

wire” approach to growth and opportunity. “It’s often been a case of ‘build some farms, end up with too much product with no understanding of who is buying, then small farmers lose money’. “The sensible approach is to look at what problem can we solve for the consumer, and work from there.” In the case of Spring Sheep, the solution for consumers is to offer an easily digestible milk product that’s delicious, rich in nutrients and doesn’t contain the A1 protein found in regular cow’s milk. “So for anyone who may be sensitive to cow’s milk, this is an option.” Macdonald consistently emphasises a need to understand what is motivating consumers, and pushing them to make the decisions they do. While his company’s product works on meeting certain physical expectations on health and wellbeing, he is also conscious of the emotive features pushing people to make the purchase decisions they do. “Our milk is positioned as a ‘gentle’ milk, coming from gentle sheep in beautiful farm surroundings with a more gentle environmental impact.” Sitting around that is a desire to purchase milk that is grass-fed and palm kernel-, antibiotic- and GMO-free. He says understanding of consumer desires extends back into the culture of how Spring Sheep Milk Company operates. The business is aiming to remove the “industrial” angle from farming

WINNER: Thomas Macdonald has taken out the prestigious Platinum Primary Producer award for 2018. Photo: Sarah Brook.

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“You can drive around Waikato, or anywhere else for that matter, and see 20-year-old dairies needing an upgrade, where debt is too high and the owners are may be burnt out. “Sheep milking on such properties may be a means of attracting a new generation of farmers back, it could be a great way to use that existing infrastructure.” With a family farm north of Hamilton, and an academic and career background firmly rooted in traditional dairying, Macdonald is cautiously optimistic the sector can manage towards tuning in to what consumers want, rather than simply driving more dollars from more grass. “We are starting to see it with A2 milk, and Fonterra’s palm kernel index. “If you take your eye off the ball and stop thinking about the next 10 years, you will tip over. To think there will be someone who always wants NZ produce is a bit naïve, and now is the time to make those big changes around understanding what makes consumers want to buy your product.”

that has come to dominate larger dairy cow operations, with staff encouraged to think of themselves as food producers, working with animals they feel an authentic, strong affinity for. “We have attracted people from a range of areas, including cow dairy, and they all enjoy working with the sheep. We are building up a level of skill now, with some staff having been here for the full three years.” Interestingly, Macdonald’s Masters work on traditional dairy farm effluent costs has highlighted some future opportunities for the business he oversees now. The Masters research project revealed a tranche of “medium input” farms that fell into something of a black hole for effluent compliance. They sat at a point where the average cost to comply was double that of “low input” farms and where the marginal cost of compliance was greater than any additional milksolids it may have produced. It opens the door to other land use opportunities on properties that might not be absorbed into bigger farms, and particularly sheep milking.

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HIS year’s Zanda McDonald award winner is no stranger to collecting scholarships and awards for his efforts to look longer and harder at the challenges and opportunities in the pastoral sector. Thomas Macdonald, business manager for Spring Sheep Milk Company, has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Primary Producer (PPP) Zanda McDonald award valued at $50,000 in recognition of his work in the sector and his continuing contribution to the innovative sheep milk company. The award is a combination of cash, business management programmes and mentoring sessions with selected PPP members across Australasia. The award was created in memory of Zanda McDonald, a prominent identity in the Australian beef and livestock industry who was killed in 2013, aged 41, on his Queensland farm. He was the biggest private landholder in Australia with 3.36 million hectares in Queensland. Since graduating with a Masters in Agribusiness from Waikato University in 2014, Macdonald has demonstrated an ability to tap into the sector’s zeitgeist. His Masters work at Waikato examined the environmental compliance costs for Waikato dairy farm systems. It came at a time when anti-farming rhetoric was gaining in intensity, and more heat than light was being shed on what the dairy sector in particular was and was not doing to try to remedy nutrient losses into the environment.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Zebra spuds are still a problem Finding a cure for ruined potatoes continues to tax growers and scientists. Tim Fulton reports.

EBRA chip potato disease has been in New Zealand for 10 years and continues to be an unwelcome

overstayer. The potato industry produces 586,000 tonnes annually with a value of $570 million. About 80% is from domestic sales. Most of the exports are processed potatoes. The industry has estimated the arrival of the tomato-potato psyllid cost it about 5% of the total value in crop losses and control costs. Very little was known about the psyllid when it arrived and producers began crop spraying weekly in an effort to control the insect and, by association, the zebra chip disease. Under that regime, annual costs associated with the psyllid are estimated at $28m, including $11m in crop impact and $6 million in control costs. We can blame the psyllid insect found in NZ in 2006 then the discovery two years later of a bacterium, Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum. The state-owned Plant and Food Research has 21 scientists working on either TPP or the bacterium, from finding natural enemies for the psyllid to spray programmes and using genomics to compare the genetic profiles of NZ psyllid populations. At Lincoln’s Plant and Food Research scientists are working

out how the bacterium acts on the plant when transmitted by the psyllid, through its salivary glands and gut. TPP is a small insect, about the size of an adult winged aphid. Adults and nymphs feed on the phloem in a plant by puncturing the leaf, similar to the way a mosquito bites people, so feeding damage is basically invisible. Both adults and nymphs can carry the disease-causing bacterium. However, not every TPP carries and therefore transmits the bacterium. Only a small percentage of the population tests positive for it. There is no indication on the outside of the adult and nymph of whether it is infected. Crop protection specialist Dr Jessica Dohmen-Vereijssen says the interaction is crucial because without the psyllid, the bacterium “pretty much” comes to a dead end. She acknowledges that, to a lesser extent, infection can still be carried by tubers. Dohmen-Vereijssen said a published scientific paper with input from the Ministry for Primary Industries concluded both the insect and bacterium were probably deliberately introduced, probably from California – most likely by someone with a business interest in biocontrol. But growers are now most interested in the disease’s impact

on their crop, she said. To get the bottom of the complex relationship between psyllid and bacterium, researchers have looked at the psyllid’s communication (vibration) and its response to coloured light and plant odours. Other studies have included chemical and biological controls and lures and a parasitic wasp being tried on non-crop hosts in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. The Tamarixia triozae parasitoid was imported and released last year on non-crop hosts, like African boxthorn, in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. It became apparent the parasitoid was susceptible to insecticides sprayed in potato or tomato crops. Therefore it wasn’t released in those crops. The TPP and Liberibacter science is a small part of Plant and Food’s research budget but it’s issue Number One for most growers, Potatoes NZ chairman Stuart Wright said. Plant and Food and commercial agronomists are doing most of the lab and field testing to improve TPP management. They knew right from the start that while the disease couldn’t be eradicated, it can be managed. Viewed as a whole, the zebra chip potato studies could be seen as a series of successes and failures – and each project has done its bit for the body of knowledge. Some of the research

ISSUE: The tomato-potato psyllid is the number one issue for growers, Potatoes NZ chairman Stuart Wright says.

shows what approach to rule out – like the discovery that entomopathogens are not very useful out in the field and that degree days – biological development related to temperature – aren’t helpful in determining when to start spraying. Spray programmes continue to be used to reduce the number of psyllids, to reduce the frequency and severity of zebra chip disease. The work, which started in 2009, extends to resistance management and using different spray thresholds. There has also been work on insect mortality and transmission of bacteria for several chemical and biological insecticides as well as identification of psyllid natural enemies in potato crops. NZ’s emerging field of zebra chip tomato-potato psyllid and bacterium research doesn’t stop there. The logbook includes

symptom development and the finding a few years ago that NZ potato tubers respond differently to Liberibacter than the American ones. Science is also looking at the effect of soil-borne diseases and the bacterium in the seed pipeline and the effect on the next generation of seed. A spokeswoman for Plant and Food Research says the insect-pathogen relationship is one of a number of plant pests and diseases the institute is investigating. The work ranges from management of established pests, like TPP, to developing surveillance methods and strategies to pre-empt the arrival of those that aren’t yet in NZ, such as the brown marmorated stink bug. About 20% of the institute’s $145 million annual revenue is allocated to bioprotection research.

Aussies sharpen agri-tech funding THE Australian agri-tech sector has recognised some key weaknesses limiting its success and is working hard to fix them, providing some valuable lessons for New Zealand along the way. Some of those problems and solutions were shared with delegates at this year’s Mobile Tech conference by Sproutx Australia director Sam Trethewey. Like its equivalent in NZ the Victorian agri-tech accelerator programme aims to fast track innovative ideas and technology and source venture capital for commercialising them. Trethewey said the problem for Australian innovators is not a lack of ideas or money. “If our innovators were presenting leading presentations to venture capital suppliers they would have no shortage of opportunities.” Unfortunately, that is not the case and despite an acceptable level of research and development spending, developers are stumbling in

getting ideas to market. “We are looking at only two start-ups coming out of every $1 billion spent on research and development. “We are not seeing that research and development hit the farmgate and that has even raised the question by some, ‘is it even worth doing research and development?’” Major companies like Amazon and Google are putting research and development as a portion of total revenue well ahead of where governments have. It is at levels of 8-9% of revenue, compared to 1-2% of GDP for governments like Australia and NZ. But, increasingly, those companies also recognise the value of buying start-ups that already have an innovative product under way rather than developing the innovation themselves. “What we are seeing is this effect where companies are carving money out of their

research and development budget and investing that in the start-ups. For example, last year Intel spent US$600 million on start-up purchases. “The challenge for us is how do we get our start-ups into this space where corporate venture capital will come in?” To date none of the big venture capital sources have been opening their cheque books and the aim of Sproutx is to build a community around Australian agri-tech to bring players from farmers through to developers and venture capitalists together. “I know it sounds like nailing jelly to a wall but it is working.” That has included having events that cross-pollinate agriculture with other sectors including fin-tech. “People think agri-tech has to come from agriculture but it doesn’t. It has to come from these smart people outside the sector who want to do an agri-tech start-up.” Drawing on the country’s A$2.5

trillion superannuation fund, A$10m has been set aside for early-stage, agri-tech start-up venture capital. Trethewey welcomed a venture capital fund initiative Meat and Livestock Australia established. It is a $100m donor fund, the MLA Donor Company, established to accelerate innovation across the value chain, aiming to attract commercial investment from individual companies and others sharing a mutual interest in coinvesting in agri-tech innovation. Outcomes of investment projects already achieved include DEXA x-ray systems for carcase measurement in processing plants and bio-plastic opportunities from bloodmeal generated by abattoirs. “We went to industry and asked for 30 key problems for entrepreneurs to solve, with funding matched dollar for dollar from other investors.” The key problems included reducing livestock methane,

GET GOING: More start-up companies are needed in agritech, Sproutx director Sam Trethewey says. stopping flystrike in sheep and in-paddock diagnosis for intestinal worms.

Opinion

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

EDITORIAL A chance not to be wasted

HE DEMISE of the strong crossbred wool industry will be the subject of future academic studies about how this natural, sustainable, premium product meekly surrendered its market position to competitors made from dirty, unsustainable fossil fuels. This slow motion train wreck has been agonising to watch – and even worse for those directly involved. The irony should not be lost that one of the largest producers of synthetic fibre which led to wool’s demise is now partnering with Wools of New Zealand and could potentially transform the sector. The reasons strong crossbred wool is on its knees can be sheeted home to a lack of co-ordinated marketing and funding. The former Wool Board had its critics but wool’s demise accelerated after the board was wound up, ending levy-funded marketing and promotion. The sector has been looking for an ultimate solution but so far new products absorbing vast amounts of wool and providing reasonable returns have been elusive. As we report this week the entry of one of the largest corporations in the world, DuPont, will provide the marketing and development horsepower individual wool companies have not been able to fund. Wool companies have had the significant obstacle of re-educating consumers about the merits of wool, securing showroom space and batting aside the blatant lies and misrepresentation by radical vegan groups such as Peta and claims shearing involves the removal of skin. But increasingly exporters reveal a major obstacle for wool has been the incentives offered by synthetic manufacturers to sales staff for selling their products. Should this partnership work – and for the sake of the industry we should all hope it does – the impact could go beyond improving the price and demand to just Wools of New Zealand suppliers but to sheep farmers nationally. DuPont’s marketing reach and retail links will hopefully promote wool’s sustainable and natural features and its massive network of researchers could discover new uses. This investment is a badly needed lifeline and potentially a game changer for the sector, a rare opportunity that must not be squandered.

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

More letters P21

Make money or help the young I WRITE in support of Alan Emerson’s column on the Landcorp chief executive’s advice to New Zealand farmers. I don’t believe Landcorp has done anything that has not been done better by the private sector. It is pretty rich for the chief executive of a business that has never paid a dividend to tell us how we should farm. Landcorp has a long history under various names and governances. There came a time when a decision needed to be made whether the organisation should continue to operate or should close down and look back on a job well done. It was decided that it could be valuable as a resource for research work being done by universities and other research organisations. In response, a

very large government-owned corporate farming venture was set up. What has it achieved in comparison with farming in the private sector? Actually, very little. Farming families and innovative companies have made much more progress than Landcorp. Most, if not all, innovation has come from the private sector. Who developed the electric fence, new milk harvesting systems, animals that are resistant to facial eczema and internal parasites, animals that grow faster and are more prolific? Who introduced kiwifruit and deer farming? Landcorp has made some progress but not nearly as much as the private sector has. It has been a follower rather than a leader.

What really irks me in Steven Carden’s comments is the insinuation that farming in other countries has a lower impact on climate change than New Zealand has. In a world that requires increased production every year the answer is to grow the right crops in the right place in season. That is what we do. The argument of air and sea miles is rubbish. The impact of producing out of season in heated barns and hothouses is much greater. In many of the countries we compete with, much of farmers’ income comes from the so-called environmental payments. NZ farmers do it for nothing. Look at the number of farmers who participate in the Queen Elizabeth National Trust without any payment at all. If the Government persists with keeping Landcorp then it

should go back to its original purpose of settling young people on the land, if suitable land can be found any more. If Landcorp persists with corporate farming it should have to make a profit, not be a drain on the public purse. Brian Chamberlin Whangarei

Too much debt ALAN Emerson points out the losses Fonterra has sustained from its various investments amount to around $100,000 a farmer shareholder. On top of this Fonterra has long-term debt of about $700,000 a farmer-shareholder. What is the board of Fonterra trying to achieve? Are they trying to head Fonterra towards becoming insolvent and thus be forced to sell?

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Get back in touch with farmers Linda Presow Virbickas

S I sat and watched Lucas Paravicini, hand on heart, telling us how sorry he was for the $433 million lost in China and the $183m loss in the Danone debacle, which might not be over yet, I could not help but feel I have been here before and think “I am over this”. They went through their welloiled presentation, alluding to answers to questions they thought we might ask, giving just enough information that perhaps our questions were answered and we would look silly asking them. I am really over this. Very good questions were asked. What about the Chinese government propping up Beingmate for two years before our purchase? The accounting system used by Beingmate which was unacceptable and due diligence should have told us to stay away from? Very good questions which were swotted away with hand on heart and a head hung saying “Yes, in hindsight”. Well, once again we find

The

Pulpit

ourselves thinking “We don’t pay you for hindsight”. Three dairy farms on the Rangitaiki Plains, within a few kilometres of us, are leaving dairying for beef and many more farms are for sale but not moving. Not only do we have problems bleeding milk to other processors but the industry as a whole has the problem of milk leaving full

stop. When I asked one farmer why he was leaving he simply said “I am over this”. When in Rotorua, Brent Goldsack gave an impassioned speech in answer to our discontent about how we must stick together, support our co-op, be loyal and be proud, I looked around the room and thought “We are all over this”. We are definitely over the election process which this year allowed John Wilson to hand pick his directors. We are over feeling like second class citizens in this co-op that we built. We are over the lack of consultation with directors and over the half-truths and evasive answers we get. We are over being told the Shareholder Council is our voice. We are over the never-been-ona-farm-before people telling us we must mow our tanker tracks along with other constant demands but never an explanation as to why. In New Zealand dairying we have been very successful building our businesses and creating a great co-operative. I am not over

We don’t pay you for hindsight.

co-operatives and fully believe our strength is in our numbers but I am over Fonterra. I believe our leadership at the top is sadly lacking and it is time for a change. I am sorry John but now might be a good time. Fonterra has a strategy to touch the lives of two billion people. We seem to go from disaster to disaster chasing this strategy. Perhaps our new strategy could be let’s connect with farmers at home. Let’s make them feel good about getting up in the morning. Let’s make them proud. We want to feel part of this company we built, we want to feel proud, not just because we are told to be proud but because we feel we are a fully valued member of a great co-operative. We don’t like feeling we are over it. Linda Presow Virbickas Bay of Plenty

LETTERS A jewel for any foreign purchaser. Their investmentments in Sanlu, Danone, Argentina, Beingmate etc would seem to indicate they invest only where money will be lost. Robin Rutherford Hunterville

MPI responsible CAN someone from the Primary Industries Ministry please answer these couple of questions? Considering M bovis requires a host to survive outside the body for any length of time has there been any thought given to M bovis being brought into New Zealand through imported animal remedies and vaccines made from bovine blood serum, with some of them not necessarily

Your View Got a view on some aspect of farming you would like to get across? The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com Phone 06 323 1519

More letters P20 entering via proper channels? It seems if the favoured pathway of frozen semen is true then surely there would be a more widespread infection. The technology of artificial insemination was seen as the breakthrough to lessen the risk of diseases spreading. It has certain benefits over the bull lease system where bulls can be moved around different herds in their lifetime and no one knows the disease status of the previous herds the bulls have been used in. If the source of the infections cannot be identified and cut off what is the point of spending lots of money eradicating it if it could be easily imported again through someone with dodgy practices? It is up to MPI to have suitable biosecurity systems in place to make it a lot harder to bring

unwanted pests and diseases into NZ. One would suggest NZ herd owners have a significant amount of work to minimise the impact of M bovis with steps including not using antibiotics or infected milk to rear calves, not grazing in mixed mobs and management of bulls and cattle being grazed off farm. This infection has also shown the Nait system has not worked as intended and there is no enforcement to make it so. Notwithstanding the need for Nait to be made more userfriendly, what is going to be done to minimise any further impact? And when things go wrong everybody hides behind the right to privacy. Murray Stewart West Coast

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2096FW

ON THE OUTER: Bay of Plenty farmer Linda Presow Virbickas feels alienated by Fonterra.

farmersweekly.co.nz

MPI creates anger LET me ask two questions. Would it be reasonable to ask a developer to build a building or a supermarket and tell them that you build it and then we will decide if you can get a resource or building consent? Of course not and nobody would. Second question, does the Government and its officials want back country put into permanent forest under the Emissions Trading Scheme? Indeed, does it want to see the creation of carbon units to satisfy our obligations under the Paris accord? You’d think the answer would be yes but maybe not. The Ministry for Primary Industries for some unknowable

reason, on Wellington instruction, refuses to give advice to farmers as to the eligibility of their land for the ETS before the trees are planted. So who would plant up such a forest of special, permanent carbon-absorbing trees only to see it struck out by MPI. Not many people. I know of large areas where people want to plant for the ETS but MPI will not give a ruling as to eligibility so the Government’s laudable policies are being thwarted and blocked. It is as simple as that. The way they do the appraisal of back country land to see if it is eligible for the ETS is creating a lot of anger out there. Neil Walker Taranaki Regional councillor

Opinion

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

It’s time to clip Air NZ’s wings Alternative View

Alan Emerson

IT WAS great to see Regional Development Minister Shane Jones standing up for the provinces. That he incurred the wrath of the cloistered hierarchy of Air New Zealand was, in my view, a badge of honour. Air New Zealand has cut services from Whanganui to Auckland and from Blenheim to Christchurch direct. They’ve stopped flights between Masterton and Auckland and from Wellington to Taupo, Westport and also to Kaitaia. This is productive, provincial NZ that Air NZ is starving and Jones is right to question the airline and its motives. The NZ Airports Association wrote to Jones in December saying support was needed for the airports in Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whanganui, Whakatane, Whangarei, Taupo, Gisborne Masterton, Westport, Hokitika, Timaru and the Chathams. That is a large part of our provincial heartland. The cost of that support for all of those airports is estimated at $32 million over five years. On an

annualised basis it is probably less than Air NZ splashed out bringing ex-president Obama to our shores for nothing more than glitz, glamour and tacky patronage. The NZAA says air links are essential for regional economic growth, jobs, access to hospitals and social cohesion. Local airports also have an essential civil defence role. They must maintain their key infrastructure to remain safe and reliable. It is a no-brainer and congratulations to the NZAA for its research and Jones for taking the stand he did. That the Government received a snotty response from the Air NZ chairman tells me Jones is right on the money. What further galls me is that where there’s competition from Jetstar the Air NZ provincial flights are cheap. Where there is no competition they are ridiculously expensive. That tells me Air NZ is prepared to rape its monopoly provincial routes so it can subsidise those flights where it has competition. With regards Jones’ statement I was astounded to read an amazingly arrogant response from Air NZ telling me it would always act independently of the Crown. The Crown owns 51% of you; do as you’re told. If the Government completely changed the board of Air NZ I would have no objection. The issue I have is that the Air NZ position stifles provincial economic growth.

BAD: Air NZ is stifling provincial economic growth.

I read an Infometrics research paper about Air NZ’s opposition, Jetstar, and its contribution to the provincial economy. Infometrics believes Jetstar’s operations boosted the economies of the four provincial regions it served by $40 million and that’s massive. There are other benefits starting with the creation of 600 jobs as a result of the wealth generated by the Jetstar provincial service. In addition, Jetstar employs an extra 100 people to support its provincial services. The creation of 700 new jobs in the provinces is considerable and welcome, especially considering the dire warnings of the provinces becoming Zombie towns. Add to that the creation of cheap flights enabling passenger numbers to grow by 27%. Interestingly and a salutary lesson for Air NZ is that the Jetstar provincial service is profitable. It obviously does it better than Air NZ can. Iniquitously, we had Air NZ

chief executive Christopher Luxon bleating about the problems of inequality in NZ. His airline is certainly encouraging inequality in provincial NZ. He also suggested a more strategic approach to some major issues facing NZ. A strategic approach by Air NZ would be to provide a better air service to the provinces. Mind you, since the Jones’ comments we’ve had Luxon tell us he is incredibly proud of the services to the provinces. He then told us the reason he took issue with Jones was because “they were his opinions. They’re not actually consistent with the set of facts that we see.” For the record I’m on the Jones’ side of that discussion. Finally, we’re told by Luxon that NZ has one of the best regional networks in the world. I’d hate to see the worst. Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts said the increase in regional capacity and lower air fares over the last year by

Jetstar boosted domestic tourism to an estimated $20.2 billion annually. That’s a considerable amount. So Minister, I applaud your position and totally support it. The Government should require Air NZ to be a responsible citizen even if the board and management disagrees. As taxpayers we’ve previously bailed the airline out so why not demand that it supports provincial NZ more than its doing. Finally, I’ve had just one meeting with Jones and that was when we propped against each other on the rugby field. He was playing for the Parliamentary team and I was with the Mighty Wairarapa East Coast Wrinklies. You know what the prophet said – never mess with a tight forward. Air NZ take note.

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

Leaders need plan for synthetic future FAKE meats and other lab-grown alternatives are threatening our farms. Alternative proteins are the next threat. New Zealand farming under threat. These headlines and talk from industry leaders and

commentators have been grabbing our attention and gripping our emotions recently. The word threat now never seems too far away from the words farms, farming and farmer. Going one step further, the Government’s chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman said “The rise of synthetic foods produced

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without animals, especially staple proteins like meat, milk and dairy, is an existential threat to the agricultural sector and poses a very real risk to the future of NZ’s economy.” Part of that statement comforts me because if it’s a threat to the wider economy then surely it’s a combined challenge for all New Zealanders? Unfortunately, due to politics, media and strong urban views of primary industry practices

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DISASTER: Destruction wrought on Pompeii and Pearl Harbour are examples of what could happen to those threatened by synthetic proteins.

alongside a rapid decline of our social licence to farm, I am unsure if people outside of the primary industries see it as a combined challenge. The part about existential risk scares me because I’ve spent a bit of time understanding what that means and what factors cause it. In a nutshell, it is risk that could stop us from existing and usually means loss of human life, habitat and planet. I make the assumption that Sir Peter has used this word to evoke a sense that farming life as we know it will not exist, not life itself. I have been thinking about how farmers and their families respond to these threats. How do we support our sector to respond creatively, assess risk probability, formulate a plan and, finally, act? Is the existential risk really a future of synthetic disruption or is it our collective inability to make sense of our situation and its conflicting “truths”? Because within 24 hours, headlines have suggested both that our days producing red meat are numbered and that global meat consumption is on an upward trend, backed the latest figures from the United Nationas Food and Agricultural Organisation. If we can’t accurately navigate

Different Perspectives

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the maze of our situation, history tells me we won’t respond well to these warnings. We need to look beyond some of the responses coming from the champions of change, industry commentators, avid conference attendees and people who have experienced synthetic protein, had international educational opportunities or don’t actually farm. If your livelihood is not at stake or you are part of that small percentage who responds to threat by relishing it as an opportunity, you will think, respond and advocate differently to the large majority of farmers out there who don’t know what they are going to do. There are farmers who don’t know how to respond to threats or embrace challenges because they believe their debt will restrict or

Continued next page

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Bad actors must leave the stage From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

POLITICIANS behaving poorly – same old same old all over the world. Some of ours haven’t covered themselves in glory lately either. Claire Curran or Dead Cabinet Minister Walking is hanging on to her warrant by her fingernails. Ironically, she is also Minister for Open Government, which, in the context of the story, has a delicious irony that George Orwell could have written into his book, 1984. If this saga doesn’t eventually see her resign then a dollar to a doughnut that she will disappear at Ardern’s first Cabinet reshuffle. But Ardern would be well advised to cast her adrift now. This, of course, is all over her meeting with broadcaster Carol Hirschfeld who was a Continued from previous page severely limit their opportunities. They are navigating immediate environmental challenges, they think their land class won’t support change. Their sense of belonging and being valued for producing food has been severely eroded. The threat of synthetic disruption is in the future and right now the present is overwhelming enough. So instead of being primed for action by these warnings we are witnessing anxiety, loss of control, deflated self-esteem, denial and a sense of being overwhelmed by trying to make sense of it all. Historic global catastrophic events tell a chilling tale of how people respond to warnings, particularly when they can’t make sense of their present reality, have conflicting information or the threat of doom is too great to contemplate. The obvious warning signs in the eruption of Pompeii – rats leaving the city, persistent rumblings of the mountain and water wells and streams mysteriously drying up – were blamed on hot weather. People who predicted imminent threat were ignored or classified as mad. When the citizens could not imagine the total loss of their city and had no clear direction from a leader they lost their lives. The bombing of Pearl Harbour is another example. Despite clear intel and activity pointing to imminent attack, so sure were the decision-makers that it would not occur, they gave control of the radar system to an unskilled operator, destroying any chance of an accurate early warning that could

senior executive with Radio NZ. Hirschfeld has paid the price and resigned after repeatedly lying to her boss that the meeting was a chance encounter. Surprising, given she is an experienced journalist and has worked in the political beltway for years and knows the rules. Now the heat is on Curran. It was poor form to meet a senior executive instead of using the correct channel of board chairman Richard Griffin, which is a mild matter in itself.

I discovered I’d lunched with a fellow who had lunched with J R Tolkien.

However, she is not dealing with the aftermath of the meeting’s disclosure very well. If it turns out that she tried to instruct Griffin to not attend the select committee to rectify the earlier assertions the meeting was a chance but instead to send a letter, she’s in trouble. There’s a voicemail on Griffin’s

phone that will either back her version or not, so we await with interest. I had lunch with Griffin once – nice chap. I’d heard him on radio complaining about his dog that wouldn’t stop barking. I got his email and we met at the White Swan in Greytown for me to lend him my electric dog collar but, in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to borrow it to zap his beloved dog. So, we had lunch instead and I discovered I’d lunched with a fellow who had lunched with J R Tolkien, which was quite cool. A good thing to come out of this saga is that Radio NZ’s own coverage of the matter has been exhaustive and independent. Why Curran has decamped to the Gold Coast to see how television covers the Commonwealth Games baffles me. Wouldn’t sitting on the couch at home like the rest of us be a better way to judge and save taxpayers money on yet another junket? Another minister skating on thin ice is Eugenie Sage, Green Party Minister for Conservation and Associate Minister for the Environment.

have prevented loss of life. One of the causes believed to be a driver of the Syrian conflict was repeated drought that caused an influx of marginal farmers to the cities. Resources then became scarce and the resulting fighting created factions and a setting ripe for war. History shows us that warnings are not heeded. People become paralysed by a future they feel unprepared to face. Often the real risk is cognitive dissonance, the mental gymnastics required to make sense of conflicting information so they are able to deal effectively with the threat. Here’s where I have landed on how to act on the warnings we’re hearing. Food production and food security, regardless of whether food is produced as nature intended or synthetically, is not just a farmer’s responsibility, it’s a whole-of-nation responsibility. While synthetic food looks to be part of the future, our immediate need is to create a NZ-wide understanding of food, it’s role in sustaining life, health, wellbeing and prosperity and decide as a nation what we value. For our farmers to adapt and make the right choices in an uncertain future we need to understand that the need for change, the capacity for change and resources to change are not the same things. They require different solutions and approaches. So, with the warnings about “here is what’s coming at you” could we also have some “and here is how we will meet this challenge and not only adapt but thrive”? Because delivering threats without a plan for the future is not great leadership.

CONFUSED: Should someone with a poor memory, like Eugenie Sage, be a minister?

There was surprise at Jacqueline Rowarth’s appointment as chief scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency given her prior comments on water quality. She raised eyebrows when she delved into a debate about irrigation after the election, thus entering the political realm. Now she’s quit the EPA and there is a whiff that Sage might have indulged in political interference in the operations of an independent Crown entity. One day she is saying she met EPA head Allan Freeth and discussed Rowarth then the next she is saying she didn’t but confused it with a meeting with Ministry for the Environment staff. Should someone with such a

lousy memory be a minister? And should you think this is typical of the centre left don’t forget Key sacked Richard Worth, Maurice Williamson and Judith Collins. In the latter’s case not over the Oravida scandal, which was dodgier than the Adam Feeley business that did eventually get her. These people are highly paid, given high status but remember they are not our political masters but our employees and should act with probity and when they fail, leave the stage.

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

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24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

Britain set to let farms fail payments to environmental payments.” The farming consultation recently published by Defra said there was clear evidence that showed improving productivity will allow farms, on average, to remain profitable after direct payments are abolished. It suggested farmers can offset the loss of any CAP cash by using inputs more efficiently, investing more efficiently and diversifying. “It is not going to be easy for farmers to all of a sudden have to be profitable without having direct payments, which is why we will have this transition period,” Petetin said. “I would also say farmers are really protected by European Union tariffs. “Once the UK is removed from this bubble, life outside the EU is even worse for farmers because of price volatility. “The price of commodities changes on a daily basis, which is not reflected as much within the EU because of the protective bubble. “UK farmers are going to have to compete and it is going to be very harsh.” A Defra spokesman said “We have launched a consultation on agriculture which sets out an ambitious and positive future for farming. “Our proposals will see money redirected from AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business direct payments 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run based only on over four months Te Anau: 03/05/2018 the amount of Cheviot: 11/04/2018 and 09/05/2018 land farmed to Kaitaia: 11/04/2018 and 09/05/2018 a new system of Greymouth: 18/04/2018 and 16/05/2018 rewarding farms of Fox Glacier: 19/04/2018 and 17/05/2018

A QUARTER of Britain’s least efficient farms will be allowed to disappear, Cardiff University food and farming law expert Dr Ludivine Petetin says. The United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to let up to a quarter of the UK’s least efficient farms fail after Brexit, Petetin, who advises the Welsh Government says. Meanwhile, Defra Secretary Michael Gove is ready to take on the National Farmers Union’s vested interest, associate and Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith says. Asked if it would be possible to maintain farm profitability under a public money for public goods system of support Petetin said “A lot of farms are profitable only because of direct payments coming from the Common Agricultural Policy. “From reading the agriculture consultation, it seems to me, and this is going to sound harsh, Defra has made a choice the 25% of farms which are at the bottom and are not doing very well will perhaps disappear. “I think they are focusing on the 50% in the middle as to how they can turn away from direct

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all sizes for their work to enhance the environment. “We encourage all interested parties and farmers to have their say before the consultation closes on May 8.” Goldsmith, who has close links with Gove, launched the attack on the biggest farming union in the country. His remarks are likely to have set alarm bells ringing in NFU headquarters because of those close links “For decades the NFU has been the voice of farming in Government. “They have privileged access and they have stood up largely

for vested interests,” he said. “One of the advantages of Michael Gove is he does not like vested interests. “He wants to see a breakthrough so if ever there was a moment for this (antiindustrial farming) voice to be heard at the top table, now is the time.” Goldsmith’s comments came a matter of weeks after his brother, Ben Goldsmith, was chosen by Gove to be one of five new nonexecutive members of the Defra board. The role will involve providing strategic and corporate leadership to the department.

His appointment raised eyebrows because of his activity on Twitter, where he has liked tweets calling for an end to the badger cull, branding the dairy industry seriously out of touch and supporting the rewilding of wolves. A Defra spokesman said “We have a historic opportunity to deliver a coherent farming policy for the first time in 45 years. We welcome the views of all stakeholders.” NFU president Minette Batters said the NFU wanted to work constructively with Government and politicians of all parties at such a crucial time.

Minister riles MPs

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CO-OPERATIVE: National Farmers Union president Minette Batters says she wants to work constructively with the Government though Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove is ready to take on the union and its vested interests.

MPS on Britain’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee were left infuriated after Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes dismissed their concerns about the shortage of agricultural labour. Although Nokes said she is listening to representations from the sector, her answers to the committee disappointed chairman Neil Parish who accused her of fiddling while Rome burns. At one point, Nokes appeared to be choking back laughter as Parish took her to task for being evasive. “It is important to remember we are still members of the European Union and free movement still prevails,” Nokes said. “I also reflect upon some of the comments made in the debate (on seasonal workers) on March 1, where a number of members suggested this

summer while we still have free movement, the industry would cope. “I want to make sure we listen to the evidence from the NFU, we listen to the evidence which is coming forward from Defra, but it is important I reflect upon the fact it is not only the agricultural industry which is telling me it needs seasonal workers – there is tourism, there is hospitality, catering and I have to take all of those views into account.” Nokes also refused to give a date for an announcement on a new Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Scheme, something Defra Secretary Michael Gove promised would be coming shortly at the NFU’s conference last month. Asked whether there was mixed messaging on a future announcement, Farming Minister George Eustice, who was also giving evidence to

LABOUR PAINS: British MPs are at odds with their Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes over a shortage of agricultural workers.

the committee, said “I do not think there is actually. “The NFU conference was not that long ago, it was only in February. We have all been in politics long enough to know shortly is a flexible term.”

During the session, Nokes made clear she would be waiting for the full Migration Advisory Committee report, commissioned by the Government and due this September, before making any policy decisions.

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• Situated on Rangitikei Line west of Palmerston North is this outstanding 91ha parcel of land with the option to purchase the adjoining 40ha. • Exceptional soils that are currently used for dairy farming and growing maize crops, but would suit a number of uses. • Deep lead irrigation bore in place to supply top quality water for up to 70ha of land for crops. • Current dairy infrastructure in place including a modern 30 aside herringbone dairy and 400 cow feed pad. • Would have a host of uses from market gardening, dairy or beef production, along with growing silage and crops. • Good road access with central laneway system. • Call Les to inspect.

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• Situated at Makomako is this fantastic dairy runoff. • There are 115 acres of very good volcanic soil of which 75% is mowable, currently subdivided into 21 paddocks with high pressure water to the stock troughs. • Facilities include a two stand woolshed, good cattle yards and loading facilities. • This farm is well planted with shelter and is positioned midway between Palmerston North and Pahiatua. • Currently used as a dairy run off to winter cows, run replacements and grow silage and hay. • Great chance to own very productive land in the Tararua District. For sale by Tender closing Monday 30th April (if not sold prior). • Call Les to inspect.

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Deadline Sale Closing 4pm, Thursday 2 May 2018 (unless sold prior)

287 Hectares Large Scale Morven Dairy. 287 hectares freehold with 500,000kgMS predicted from 1100 cows on 320 hectare platform. 40 hectares of adjoining land is leased and used as platform. Very well sheltered and subdivided with two troughs in most paddocks. 70-bail rotary shed, Gascigne Stocker plant and in-shed feeding. 281 MGI shares included in sale price. Two brick houses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; main homestead has five bedrooms and second home has three bedrooms. Winter milk contract in place. Very seldom does such an opportunity present itself. | Property ID WA1595

Waimate | 116 Zig Zag Road

Deadline Sale Closing 4pm, Thursday 2 May 2018 (unless sold prior)

732 Hectares Super Support Or Sheep And Beef. Presently used as an extensive dairy support block. Includes a very attractive main homestead, plus two other houses. Well subdivided, with road access along two sides, plus extensive tracking. Buildings include an excellent woolshed and covered yards, 3-bay implement shed, four haybarns, workshop, second woolshed and cattle yards. 23,624 litres stock water per day from Waihaorunga District Scheme. | Property ID WA1596

Inspection By appointment

Contact Ian Moore 027 539 8152 Tim Meehan 027 222 9983

Inspection By appointment

Contact Ian Moore 027 539 8152 Tim Meehan 027 222 9983

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Southland Menzies Ferry 154.1 Hectares Deadline Sale First Class Organic Dairy Farm. Immaculate 54-bay rotary cowshed with automatic cup removers, automatic plant wash, flood wash yard, rectangular square yard, reliable productive unit in excellent heart. Two dollar premium paid over and above current payout. Two good homes and fantastic array of support shedding and calf rearing facilities. Consented and permitted to 2022 for 550 cows with 90 day storage tank in place. Well laned and set out offering a very good unit for someone wanting quality. | Property ID IN2104

Closing 4pm, 17 May 2018 (unless sold prior)

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Greytown, 197 Underhill Road Located just 7.7km / 10 minutes from the centre of popular Greytown, this well equipped 82.43 hectare (203.69 acre) property is a golden opportunity and is ready for you now. With a long history of sheep and beef, breeding and finishing unit, this is a very versatile block with a multitude of options. Being close to the Ranges and having fertile Tauherenikau loam soils allow this to be a great all year round block including wintering. Incredibly well sheltered and having a large race that runs the length of the property allows for practical stock management to approximately 30 divided paddocks. Further improvements include a very functional four stand woolshed, 500m2 (more or less) of covered yards, stock yards, hay shed and an implement shed.

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Tender: Tender closes 2pm 26 April 2018 at 91-99 Chapel Street, Masterton View: By Appointment www.harcourts.co.nz/MS180312

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Tender Closes 4pm, Thur 10 May 2018 NZR, 1st Floor, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 l 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

Wai-iti has been in the James family since the 1920’s. The property is of a desirable size for those looking for a first farm with the convenience of being 20min from a major provincial town. The farm is blessed with excellent limestone spring water that is reticulated to over half the property. The soils are well balanced with renown limestone soils being good clean country totalling around 100ha and the reminder split between mudstone and sandstone closer to the road. The Whangaehu community is a friendly mix of mainly sheep and beef farming families and some lifestyle properties all relishing the easy drive to Masterton for social, schooling and off farm employment opportunities. The vendors are passionate farm foresters, having planted many varieties to make Wai-iti aesthetically pleasing. Another family passion has been ducks- there are two purpose built ponds and maimai. Red & Fallow deer migrate between this and neighbouring farms. The house is a character three bedroom Villa with an inviting sunny deck leading to the mature gardens and trees. There is a four stand wool shed, sheep and cattle yards supported by a shearers /single quarters, workshop/stables, three bay lock up workshop and ample other shedding. With 420ha effective the farm should carry around 4,000su. A capital lime dressing has been applied this season with potential to lift production with further fertiliser. Sound like you? Give Blair a call!

459 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz

HADLEIGH STATION- RARE SCALE AND LOCATION - 14,000SU 1940 Te Ore Ore-Bideford Road, Masterton, Wairarapa Here is the chance to buy one of the Wairarapa´s farming jewels. A combination of three separate farming units Hadleigh Station offers rare scale, location, quality improvements, workable contour and potential all 15 minutes from Masterton. Hadleigh is a very well farmed property with a superior fertiliser history. The farm has an excellent balance of contour; around 50% of the farm is easy to medium hill (incl. 80ha of flats) with the balance medium hill (parts being steeper) totalling over 1600 effective hectares. The carrying capacity has been independantly assessed at 14,000su, with a semi finishing system run, season dependant. A start has been made cultivating the easy country but there is plenty of potential to intensify left. There are four houses- two very good quality-and three wool sheds with the main including a covered sheep yards complex with ample other buildings. Well subdivided into 190 paddocks and well tracked it´s just a five minute drive on a council maintained road to the back yards. Soil fertility is close to optimum levels and the water supply is a mixture of reticulation and dams. This property is well known for producing excellent stock from its high fertility base- the livestock and plant are also available for purchase. Purchase options may exist with separate units; Hadleigh, Mt Clyde and Riverbend. 14,000 stock units just 15 minutes from town - do not miss this rare opportunity- call Blair today for an inspection!

1,727 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz Ref: RX1418720 Tender Closes: 4.00pm Thurs 3rd May 2018 NZR Office, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

ONE OF THE KING COUNTRY´S BEST 724 State Highway 4, Kopaki, Te Kuiti Triple Farms offers a high preforming cattle fattening operation, finishing between 1400-1600 cattle annually plus sheep. Top infrastructure throughout coupled with balanced contour enables an astute purchaser to just walk in and start farming. Held in numerous titles giving different purchasing options. Call today as farms of this calibre are seldom available. Inspection by appointment or open days at 11am 10/4, 17/4, and 24/4 (meet at woolshed). Tender closing 4pm, 17th May 2018, 1 Goldfinch Street, Ohakune.

A PROVEN PRODUCER PLUS MORE 5620 Waiaruhe Road, Rangiwaea, Taihape A opportunity to acquire this attractive and productive 340 Ha farm wintering 3500 su - established in an area that is historically held tightly with the reputation of consistently producing top quality livestock and fodder crops. Contour consists of predominately undulating to easy hills with areas of flat suitable for hay or balage. Infrastructure includes a 4bedroom home, 4 stand woolshed/covered yards. Purchasing options are available: 340 Ha - Entire farm, 260 Ha - Home block includes all the buildings, 80 Ha - Speedy Block Bare land. Tenders closing 4pm, 3rd May 2018 (unless sold prior).

924 Hecatres Tender (unless sold prior) www.nzr.nz Ref:RX1428722 Jamie Proude 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz Jules Brand 06 385 4466 | 027 515 5581 juliane@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

340 hectares Tender (unless sold prior) www.nzr.nz Ref: RX1423753 Jamie Proude AREINZ 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz Juliane Brand 06 385 4466 | 027 515 5581 juliane@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

WELL LOCATED IRRIGATED SILTS 320 Riverside Rd, Martinborough, Wairarapa An aesthetically pleasing property with fertile alluvial soils currently used as a dairy support block and before that as an intensive cropping and livestock finishing block. Crops grown have been; peas, barley, sorghum, green feed oats, kale and brassica´s. An 8.5ha lease gives a total area of 84ha. Around 40ha of Greytown Silt Loam soil is protected from flooding and 60ha is irrigated via 40l/s bore. There is a hayshed, combination sheep & cattle yards with load out and a concrete silage bunker. This is a quality, well located and versatile property with great infrastructure that isn´t overcapitalized.

75.26 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz Ref: RX1412132 Tender Closes: 4.00pm Mon 23 April 18 NZR, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 9, 2018

Quality & Location An extremely attractive dairy unit fresh to the market situated in a high profile location in the Pukeatua district, 33 kms east of Te Awamutu, with water sport opportunities on the doorstep 

2802 Arapuni Road, Pukeatua

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134.4 hectares

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appealing with extensive road frontage

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a pleasing balance of flat to easy rolling contour with smaller area steeper - considerable area of maize growing land

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Tirau ash and sandy loam soils

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property adjoins Lake Arapuni, water source for a v.g. irrigation system covering approx. 110 ha

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very good water reticulation system

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3 season average - approx 360 cows produced an average of 157,128kgs milk solids per season

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excellent 40 aside h.b. farm dairy; feed pad & stand off area close to effluent pond

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a good range of farm shedding including calf rearing facilities

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3 dwellings including 4 bedroom brick homestead on an elevated site with spectacular panoramic views over the rural landscape to Maungatautari Mountain

Brian Peacocke

021 373 113

Auction: 27 April 2018 - 1.00pm

Open day: Thurs, 12th April, 2018, 11.00am - 1.00pm

#R1261

P hPohnoen e0 70 78 3897 00 522101 2

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h aom f fiilcteo@ n@ p apsatsotroarlar leraelat lyt.yc .oc.on.zn z Licensed Real Estate Agent - REAA2008

TENDER | MATAU DRYSTOCK FARM

Tender Closes 1:00pm, Friday 17th April 2018 at McDonald Real Estate 288 Broadway, Stratford (unless sold prior) Open Day Please bring your motorbike and helmet. Meet at the house

568 Matau North Road, Matau, Stratford District This 1337.9707 Ha (3306.05 acres) Drystock Farm comprises of some 500 Ha (1235 acres) of strong grazing land which carries a mixture of 2300 ewes and 110 MA beef cattle. Added to this is around 100 Ha (247 acres) of established Manuka with the balance of the farm being native bush. The surrounding country is a mixture of owner-operator drystock operations and extensive Department of Conservation Land. This farm offers the astute buyer a number of income options, continue of with the drystock operation and branch out into Honey production or if you are already producing Honey continue on with it on this land and lease the grazable area back to the owner. To top it off there is a varied supply of hunting opportunities.

Wednesday 11 April 12:30pm

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

Ruchama

Brent Dodunski M 027 498 4346 Peter McDonald M 027 443 4506

LARGE NORTH TARANAKI DRYSTOCK FARM

1321 Waitaanga Road, Ahititi, New Plymouth District This 999.33ha farm is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a property with scope and contour to be envied. The farm is carrying approx 6500 su and is run with minimal labour input with contractors employed for the major work. The farm is serviced by natural water in all paddocks with the area a well-known summer-safe climate to offset farming in other dryer areas. The farm has had regular fertiliser applications and is in very good heart as can be seen whilst driving through the blocks. Two houses service the farm adequately with the second house used for the casual workers coming on farm. The woolshed is a five stand shed with 288 m2 covered yard with steel grating and copious other farm buildings.

For Sale By Negotiation Viewing By Appointment Only

Gavin Muir M 027 289 4954

WEB ID TMR61187 WAIMATE 129 Shearers Hill Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 3rd May, 2018 at 4.00pm, • 181.9770 hectares (unless sold prior) • 50% Irrigated MGI • Well balanced, good soils • All weather laneways Good bones and location count when Buying and Selling Farms. This property is now on the market after a 10 year lease coming to an end. With a comfortable 4 4 bedroom plus office home, good sheds, 25 ha under Michael Richardson pivot and 64 ha under K-line. Very good pasture Mobile 027 228 7027 Office 03 687 7145 renewal under the irrigation. 1

DEADLINE SALE

michael@pb.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

82 ha Irrigated dairy farm

Breeding/finishing 490 ha

DEADLINE SALE

WEB ID WR61034 CENTRAL HAWKES BAY 705 Burnside Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 3rd May, 2018 at 4.00pm Recently converted dairy farm provides an excellent opportunity for many. Looking for expansion or starting out, this property will suit all. Irrigated Takapau plains flats provide versatility for any farm enterprise. Currently running a successful 260 cow, 84,000 kgMS winter milk Bevan Pickett dairy operation. Includes: Mobile 027 220 2766 • Good irrigation consent Office 06 928 0520 • Excellent farm infrastructure (converted 2012/13) bevanp@pb.co.nz • 36 a-side herringbone cowshed with feedpad Pat Portas • Two homes

DEADLINE SALE

A well-located versatile property. Make the move now.

Mobile 027 447 0612 Office 06 928 0521 Home 06 855 8330 patp@pb.co.nz

Hunterville sheep and beef - 148 ha

Of the 400 ha effective area, over 180 ha is easy to rolling contour suitable for cultivation, including 27 ha of fertile river flats. Combined with an excellent water system, strategic shelter belts and a recently refurbished villa set in mature grounds, this property allows you to get on and farm. Inspections by appointment, call John, Jared or Phil today.

John Arends

Mobile 027 444 7380 Office 06 376 4364

Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823

Phil Wilson

Mobile 021 518 660 Office 06 376 5478

TENDER

WEB ID MTR60915 HUNTERVILLE 582 Ongo Road View By Appointment Located only 6km from town this well-appointed sheep AUCTION 11.00am, Fri 20th Apr, 2018, Hunterville Rugby Club Rooms, Paraekaretu Street, Hunterville and beef breeding farm offers 148 ha of rolling to medium contoured hills, with a small area of flat country by the road. The property offers improvements that would complement a property significantly larger and include a 4 stand woolshed, sheep yards, cattle-yards and a 3 bay implement shed with an enclosed workshop attached at one end. My clients have run a regular maintenance programme on the farm, it features good 5 access through well maintained tracks.

AUCTION

Richard White

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

$5,100,000 + GST (IF ANY)

3.91 ha Private lifestyle

AUCTION

Mobile 027 442 6171 Office 06 327 0070 richardw@pb.co.nz

WEB ID PR60986 PAHIATUA 498 Ridge Road North View By Appointment Exceptionally well located 6km west of Pahiatua, this iconic property is a 'turn-key' operation and is ready for the new owners to capitalise on its superior ability to both breed and finish livestock.

WEB ID FL61234 SHANNON 144 Old Foxton Road View By Appointment If you are looking for a lifestyle home with privacy and a TENDER closes Thursday 26th April, 2018 at 2.00pm rural outlook, this attractive property is for you. Situated down a quiet country road, so secluded . The executive upmarket home is very spacious being 352m2, three of the four bedrooms have walk in wardrobes plus great living space with open plan kitchen/dining and two living areas. Experience easy living with indoor/outdoor flow and two good sized deck areas plus an outdoor deck on the top level. The home is set on three levels, giving space and room for a family to spread out. Lianne Masters Downstairs there is a variety of shed space. Mobile 027 288 1801

TENDER

Office 06 323 1520 lianne@pb.co.nz

4 3 2+

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

AUCTION

First Time on the Market in 40 years 1378 Wairamarama Onewhero Road This tidy 215ha sheep and beef farm is ready for a new owner. It has been farmed with respect for the land which ensures that the pasture has been well cared for. The focal point of this property is the North facing homestead with commanding rural views, established gardens including large specimen trees, salt chlorinated pool and grass tennis court. The property is in two titles which gives options to purchase the house and 4ha (STS) separately.

pggwre.co.nz/PUK27945

Onewhero DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Monday 30 April VIEW 1.00-2.00pm Tuesday 10 April Sunday 15 April

Adrian van Mil B 09 237 2041 M 027 473 3632

avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

OPEN DAY

Scale, Location and Quality 1015 Waimai Valley Road • 412 hectares breeding / finishing unit • Very good infrastructure • Modernised villa, four stand woolshed • Excellent mix of contour, good fencing and water • Great primary schooling close by • Properties like this rarely come to the market • Phone the agents for farm details

A Hidden Gem

Waikato

302 Collie Road • 59 hectare dairy farm only 20km to Hamilton CBD • Mainly flat contour - terraced, with long river boundary • 21 aside herringbone dairy, three bedroom home, loads of shedding • A nicely private property that would suit dairy and non-dairy alike • First time on the market in many years • This is a must view with plenty of upside potential

pggwre.co.nz/HAM27966

AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 11am Wed 2 May PGGWRE, 87 Duke St, Cambridge VIEW 1-2pm, Mon 9 & 16 Apr

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

jsisley@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Te Akau DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Fri 20 Apr PGGWRE, 11 Vialou St, Hamilton VIEW 11am-1pm, Tue 10 & 17 Apr

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

pggwre.co.nz/HAM27875

Richard Thomson M 027 294 8625

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Location Dairy Location 422 SH 30, and 46 Magee Road

Awakeri

96 hectares of fertile, flat plains, a large, beautifully refurbished homestead that any farming family would love to live in. An eight year old, 40 bail rotary dairy system, good shedding and a second four bedroom home, all maintained to a very good standard. Milking 260 cows and supplying OCD, the farm's best production was 106,000kgMS. Nine titles and only minutes from Whakatane, this dairy farm with exceptional location and features comes to the market for the first time in over 90 years. Buyer options arise and all tenders are welcome.

TENDER

pggwre.co.nz/WHK27919

pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 19 April VIEW 1.00-2.00pm, Tuesday 10 April

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

AUCTION

Beef Bees and Trees Lakes Road Waverley via Moumahaki Road • 497.7050 ha [1229.829 ac] of hill country breeding farm wintering 1000 stock units • Three stand shearing shed with good holding paddocks and yards – cattle and sheep • Honey hives by lease with more desired • Hunting an alternative use option • Bach is used under a lifetime instrument – no dwelling. • 18km from SHW3 Waverley pggwre.co.nz/WAN27925

Waverley TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 26 April PGGWRE, Hawera

Mark Nicholas B 06 278 0420 M 027 474 0678

mark.nicholas@pggwrightson.co.nz

12ha of Quality Plus Location

Feilding

• Well appointed four bedroom home with ensuite, office, open plan kitchen/dining, two living areas and double garage • Two large sheds 7.8m x 12.8m, 8.1m x 21.3m cater for a large range of uses • Top farm improvements including fencing, small woolshed, cattleyards plus new bore for recticulated stock water • Well located 8.6km to Feilding and 13km to Palmerston North • Excellent soil types A quality property in a well sought after location pggwre.co.nz/FDG27955

AUCTION Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Tuesday 8 May PGGWRE, 18 Manchester Street, Feilding VIEW 12.00-1.30pm, Sunday 15 & 22 April

Wayne Brooks B 06 323 0709 M 027 431 6306

wayne.brooks@pggwrightson.co.nz

FINAL NOTICE

Finishing Property, Superior Location • 403.7447ha (998 acres) approximately • Mainly easy to medium rolling contour • Well subdivided and watered • Spacious four-bedroom home plus two-bedroom cottage • 25km west of Waipukurau

pggwre.co.nz/WPK27767

Ongaonga

“Springers”, St Arnaud Quality 500 Hectare Dry Stock Farm (see feature story for details on this property)

AUCTION Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 2.00pm, Thurs 3 May Ongaonga Public Hall, Bridge St VIEW 1.00-3.00pm, Tuesday 10 April

Max Lyver B 06 858 6780 M 027 597 5818

AUTUMN 2 018 | www.pggwre.co.nz

Just Released

This outstanding property is for sale at St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes. Check it out on page 39 of the Property Express. Pick up a copy at your local PGG Wrightson store today, or go online to view our selection of stunning rural properties for sale nationally: www.pggwre.co.nz/property-express

mlyver@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

pggwre.co.nz

Employment

Classifieds

Drystock 2IC

Farm Manager

Te Mata, Raglan

Large scale in Northland

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

470 hectares, sheep, steers, dairy grazing Keen, honest, reliable person with the appropriate experience, and physical fitness, for the majority of stock work, also assist with general farm duties.

Moerewa Station has undergone a significant development programme in the last four years and has been strategically turned into a specialist operation to complement their wider dairy operations. The station boasts an effective area of 1280ha split into approximate quarters by way of flats, rolling, steep and still developing rougher pasture.

The successful applicant must have: • Excellent stockmanship • Proven safe operation of ATV’s on hill country • Team of good working dogs • Ability to work independently and take on responsibility in the farm owners absence • Common sense, and a positive attitude towards health and safety

Sally and Murray Poole 07 825 6788 mapoole@xtra.co.nz or Waimaori Road, RD 2, Raglan 3296

HEAD SHEPHERD RIVERSLEA

Moerewa is situated just outside of the Bay of Islands in the winterless North surrounded by world-class recreation! Applications will be presented as they come in and appointment will be made when a suitable candidate presents themselves, ultimately for a mid-May start.

Are you looking for a new opportunity as a Head Shepherd? We’re seeking a passionate and motivated individual to join our team on Riverslea Station.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

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

Info about the vacancy and details of how to apply: www.landcorp.co.nz/careers Applications close Sunday 15th April 2018.

ATTENTION FARMERS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT $5.85 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 07 571 0336 brianmace@xtra.co.nz MANUKA SITES REQUIRED in the North Island. Top dollar paid to land owners. Proven performers with sound experience in the industry. Interested in building long term relationships. Contact 027 826 6278 or email: hardyhivezzz@gmail.com

Permanent Position:

Reporting to the Livestock Operations Manager, you will: • Provide management support and cover for the Operations Manager • Manage and coordinate a small team of Shepherd Generals which will operate as a centralised team across all farms with a focus on animal handling activities • Plan and coordinate workloads which see optimal use of people and equipment • Measure monthly pasture covers, monitor grazing management and maintain farm maintenance plans • Understand how livestock finishing systems operate and have insight into how to maximise these

SHEPHERD & GENERAL HAND

The Station has initiated a significant development that will grow the effective farming area and expand stock numbers well beyond the current level of 40,000 stock units. They are also exploring opportunities of working with other significant Maori owned entities to enhance the quality and value of the livestock produced. A Permanent Position for a Shepherd & General Hand is now available for an immediate start. The person most suitable for this role will have 3+ years experience in beef and lamb farming, possibly some dairying experience particularly as it relates to good rotational grazing and best use of pasture. They may also have had some experience in agriculture, pastoral farming, cropping, beekeeping, forestry, managing large scale machinery such as tractors and excavators, any of which would add to our interest.

You will be well rewarded, get to farm in a great environment and will be exposed to a wide range of innovative farming practices and passionate people.

PUPS. 5 MONTH Huntaway excellent noise. 4 MONTH Heading, excellent breed, 8th X. Phone 06 388 0212 or 027 243 8541.

DOGS WANTED HEADING, HUNTAWAY, handy, backing dogs or bitches, 2-6 years. Top money paid. Phone Ginger Timms 03 202 5590 or 027 289 7615. 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. NORTH ISLAND BUYING trip 21/4/18. No trial or breeding required! Running to fully broken. Pay $100 more than anyone! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

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

FORESTRY WANTED

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

GOATS WANTED. 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.

GRASS SEED

LEASE LAND REQUIRED GRAZING URGENTLY required for carry over empty cows, up to 600 cows but will graze in lots of 100 plus. Will also require grazing for approximately 300 R1 Heifers from August to May 2019. References available. Preferred location south of Auckland and north of Taupo. Contact: bellevueoffice@ abreeds.co.nz or Doug 027 497 6510.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE DEER FOR SALE. 200 MA Capital Stock hinds C10. 40 MA Capital Stock hinds with velvet genetics C10. 40 MA Velvet stags. WANTED to buy - Weaner deer. Phone Rangeview Farm Services Ltd. 027 246 4060 Dave. RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$500. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533. RAMS. SOUTHDOWNS AND Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. Suitable for Hogget mating. $250- $500. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533. FOR ONLY $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in The NZ Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie Brown on 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email classifieds@nzx.com

PERSONAL SINGLES BECOME COUPLES at Countrywide Network. We know so many genuine women and men all seeking their special partner. There is no need to be alone when someone wonderful is waiting for you! In town or on the land. Real People not computers. Totally confidential. Seniors welcome. Phone 0800 424 318 toll free. Countrywide Network – Matchmaking since 1989.

PROPERTY WANTED HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted. North Island. Phone 021 0274 5654.

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

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

FARM DOG TRAINING DAYS $100 pp

Health & Safety is a major focus of our farming operation and this person will be up to date with good practice and the requirements of a robust health & safety system.

On-farm accommodation is available and, being close to town, gives opportunities for those with family and singles alike with a wide range of schooling, sports, social and outdoor pursuits in close proximity along with employment opportunities for partners.

FORTY HUNTAWAYS, Heading, Handy dogs. $500-$2500. View online/ Onfarm. Delivering NZ wide. Guaranteed. Trial. Trade ins welcome. Buy back any dog I sell! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

TAMA GRASS SEEDS for sale. Excellent test. Buy direct from grower at $1.50 per kg plus GST. Phone 027 721 0838.

The role requires that the person appointed have their own dogs, be experienced in the use of a quad bike or side-by-side and be able to work unsupervised at times but also understand the empathy required to be part of a team and achieve strategic goals.

This is a hands-on role requiring experience, drive, an outgoing nature and a passion for farming and its people.

DOGS FOR SALE

GOATS WANTED

Parengarenga Station is a 5900-hectare station situated in the Far North specialising in the farming of high quality beef and lamb with a growing business in Manuka Honey and now with a view to expand into horticulture. The Incorporation also has significant forest woodlots currently being harvested and thinned.

Role requirements: • Hands-on pastoral farming experience with a focus on pasture management and high-performance livestock systems • Strong people leadership and sound time-management skills • A desire and ability to train and develop others • Affinity for technology and intermediate level computer skills • An appropriate tertiary qualification is desirable • Driver licence essential

A full Position Description is available upon request from: jobs@brownrigg.co.nz To discuss, phone HAYDEN ASHBY on 0272 931 682

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

Employment

This role offers a good mix of practical hands-on farming as well as higher level monitoring, planning and pasture and feed management.

AUCKLAND-BASED E A R T H M O V I N G contractor. Rural earthworks. Subdivisions and house cuts. Roading and civil. Retaining walls. 1.5 - 24 tonne Diggers. Bobcats. Trucks. Call Keegan on 022 614 5313 or email to keegan@ thediggercollective.co.nz

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

Located only 5 km from Manapouri and 20 km from Te Anau the role comes with a double glazed, 3 bedroom home on a private section.

Due to exciting developments within our Livestock enterprise we have a new role available which will provide management and coordination support for our multi-farm operation.

If you are a person whom also enjoys hunting, fishing and the great outdoors of Northland then this is an environment that you will adore.

Feilding 15th April Taupo 22nd April Morrinsville 24th April

Free booklet

With Anna Holland www.annaholland.co.nz annaholland@xtra.co.nz Phone 027 28 44 639

A Position Description is available upon request. LK0092131©

Learn more about our business at www.brownrigg.co.nz APPLY NOW with CV and Cover Letter: jobs@brownrigg.co.nz

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

Riverslea runs 12,500 su, which includes 4,800 ewes, 1500 replacement ewe lambs and 1000 finishing steers over 1184 effective ha flat to rolling country. As Head Shepherd you will work alongside the Farm Manager and predominately be doing stock work. Other tasks you’ll be involved in will include, animal health, yard work, pasture and grazing management and maintenance as required.

To learn more about this opportunity call Tim Salter– Farm Manager on 027 437 5563.

ASSISTANT MANAGER – LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS

ANIMAL HEALTH

We are offering a very competitive salary, relocation expenses, complimentary accommodation, a meat allowance and the opportunities for training and involvement in a substantial development plan.

SELLING SOMETHING?

If you are this special person we would welcome your application to: The General Manager Parengarenga Incorporation 6636 Far North Rd, RD 4, Kaitaia 0484 Email: gm@parengarenga.co.nz Please include at least two references. Applications close 5 pm, Friday 13th April 2018.

LK0092175©

For more information, or to fill out an application, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 0800 475 465 (Reference #7022).

LK0092234©

The operational team consists of a Stock Manager, Shepherd General and a Fencer General and the station has the appropriate amount of housing, shedding and equipment for a business of this scale.

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com LK0092247©

The business demands a Farm Manager who can apply their pasture management and live weight-gain skills across the station. The plan is to focus on kg liveweight output, utilising the dairy beef opportunity that flows from the wider farming group. While practicing at scale is attractive, delivering on detail will ensure a successful outcome as the model is to grow various stock classes to a marketable product in 12 months. It is management’s desire to work with the successful applicant to refine this model and create a system tailored for the operation; there are also cows, 1250 sheep and beef weaners taken on and finished from other farms in the group.

CONTRACTORS

ANIMAL HANDLING

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Advertise in Farmers Weekly Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@nzx.com

FOR SALE

Classifieds

Livestock Bill and Peter were having a catch up drink at the Denbigh Hotel after the Friday Feilding sale. Bill was reminiscing about his family and particularly the loss of his favourite uncle. “He worked at the Mangatainoka Brewery and drowned in a vat of beer.” “That’s tough.” said Peter. “Not too bad,” said Bill, “He climbed out six times to go to the loo!”

Waipa Combined Breeders HIGH INDEXING JERSEY FriesianJERSEY Female&Sale

* Model SD-1225 with up to 3 collars - 1.2km range & SD-825 - 800 metre range

GREAT VALUE * All with tone and vibration options

SD-1825 with collar * 24 levels of correction -31 year warranty$685.00 SD-800 with 1 collar $535.00

* All collars and remotes rechargable and waterproof Extra collars $245.00

Prices include GST

GREAT VALUE

SD-1825 WITH 1 COLLAR $695.00 SD-1225 WITH 1 COLLAR $595.00 SD-825 WITH 1 COLLAR $495.00 EXTRA COLLARS $325.00 PRICES INCLUDE GST

Make sure you receive a copy of the sale catalogue by viewing online at www.pggwrightson.co.nz or Outstanding genetics & potential to be one of www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com

the countries leading suppliers of Genetics to Contact the auctioneers, Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd or the dairy industry for years to come. Full details PGG Wrightson Te Awamutu branches. available. Andrew Reyland 0272 237 092 PGG Wrightson Enquiries to the sole marketing agents: or Selwyn Donald Ph 0274 378 375 Brian Robinson BRLL Brian Robinson 0272 41O O51 PH: 0272 07188 8583132 Neil 410051 McDonaldor 0272 904

Gary Falkner Jersey Marketing Service PH: 027 482 8771 or 07 846 4491 Talk to us for options to purchase in-milk for September/October Delivery Northland Herds & Heifers

sales@innotek.co.nz • Anti-bark training collars • Containment systems LK0089030©

0800 872 546

www.innotek.co.nz or Ph 0274 935 444

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

SOLD

In-Calf Heifers

Philip Webb: 027 801 8057 Central & Southern NI Dairy Coordinator

Livestock

For extensive listings for all types of dairy stock visit:

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

For further information please contact: Tim or Erin O’Brien Phone: 06 857 8305 Mobile (Tim): 0272 780 496 Email: tim@brownrigg.co.nz

GOING GOING GONE!

SPRINGDALE ANGUS Dispersal Sale

Thursday 12th April 2018 - 11am Undercover On Farm, Ngakonui

Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

Auahi Charolais

ON-FARM AUCTION Thursday 10th May 2018 – 11.30am A/c Dairy Glen Upper Glen Road, Manaia

Est. 1981

Pio Pio

Henderson Partners

New Sale Date – 1pm Thursday 24th May

155 Xbred IC Cows 2-8 years BW 101, PW 141 BW UP TO 162/PW UP TO 412. SCC 67 avg DTC 14/7/18 - 6 weeks AB Tailed with Hereford bull. Bull out 25/12/17

Offering: 28 R2 Bulls • 6 R3 Vic Heifers

207 Lots for Sale:

• 75 Mixed Age Cows • 41 2½ Yr Heifers • 34 18 Month Heifers • 53 Heifer Calves • 4 Herd Sires

Several standout Polled Bulls by AI Sire L.T. Venture

35 Xbred IC Heifers BW 132 PW 156 (avg LW 450kg) DTC 10/7/18 AB and Jersey bull. Bull out 25/12/17 Grazing available to 1st June with prior arrangement.

For further enquiries contact Kent Myers 0274 555 828 kent.myers@nzfll.co.nz

• Steers and Heifers at competitive per kg weight gain rates • Wagyu Dairy Cross - Autumn born mixed sex, min 90kg from June 2018 - Rising 1yr May to May • Wagyu Beef Herd - Weaners April 2018 - Rising 1yr April to April • Simple no-fuss agreements

www.meadowslea.co.nz

130 Xbreds BW94 PW114 DTC 20/7 Well-bred herd, heaps of potential $1800

180 Frsn/FrsnX BW78 PW90 DTC 23/7 360-410 kgs $1200

WAGYU CROSS GRAZING CONTRACT

Catalogues online next week

112 Frsn/FrsnX BW78 PW92 DTC 1/7-1/8 Mainly Frsn, Vet dated to calve July $1700

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

ENQUIRIES AND INSPECTION WELCOME

Vendor:

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DEFERRED PAYMENT 20TH SEPTEMBER 2018

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

Vendor: D S Giddings 03 685 8027 Auctioneers: PGG Wrightson Participating companies: PWA, RLL, Carrﬁelds

410 Frsn/FrsnX BW58 PW78 RA98% DTC 15/7 Well-bred high producing system 2 herd $1875

FOR SALE

45+ YEARS BREEDING

On-Farm Fairlie – Wed 2 May at 12 Noon Offering: approx. 100 Stud Angus Fully Recorded Females including: - 40 R2yr, 20 R3yr, 20 R4yr - 20 Annual draft capital stock stud cows 60 R2yr Commercial Meadowslea-bred heifers Ex Grays Hills Stn, Breamar Stn, Guide Hill Stn, Manahune Stn : R2yr heifers mated to top low birthweight calving ease yearlings

Enquiries welcome: Roger Hutchings Malcolm Hutchings Ph. 09 401 9678 Ph. 09 401 9676 Email: lodorefarm@gmail.com Auctioneer: Brian Robinson Email: b.robinson@xtra.co.nz

GRAZERS WANTED

2nd Annual Angus Female In-Calf Production Sale

Waikato Herds

SELLING SOMETHING? Advertise in Farmers Weekly

260 Frsn/FrsnX BW61 PW69 RA90% DTC 20/7 OAD herd long steep walks, will shift well $1500 390 Frsn/FrsnX BW71 PW103 RA89% DTC 15/7 Very young herd, huge potential $1500 80 I/C Hfrs Frsn/FrsnX BW105 PW113 RA99% DTC 17/7 LIC Sire Proving $1550 145 Frsn/FrsnX BW78 PW93 DTC 15/7-25/8 Great condition, tight calving $1500 Paul Kane 027 286 9279 (North Waikato/ Northland) National Dairy & Live Export Coordinator

High indexed in-calf heifer sale. Heifers are paired and the purchaser has the pick. The owner retains the other heifer.

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•

For a free brochure call

Office 07 823 4559 BYLLIVESTOCK.CO.NZ byllivestock

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43 Friesian in calf heifers

C10 • Fully guaranteed Inspection anytime Ph John 07 873 8477 or 027 633 1776

Ian & Karenne Borck ~ 1094 Taringamotu Rd, RD 4 Taumarunui 3994 Ph/Fax: 07 895 3452 ~ Email: springdaleangus@outlook.co.nz www.springdaleangus.co.nz Auctioneer: Bruce Orr 027 492 2122 Neville Clark 027 598 6537 or 06 862 8620 Booking: PGG Wrightson Regional Livestock Manager: Kevin Mortensen 027 473 5858 Agent: Marty Cashin 027 497 6414 Or your local agent

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* Model SD-1825 with up to 6 collars 1.6km range (1 mile)

to be held at the Te Awamutu Saleyards, BWSale 143/50 PW 161/67 RA 100% Paterangi Road, Te Awamutu (in top 10 Will comprise:All Breeds for NZ )

Many8 cows to LIC for 2011 matings Friesiancontracted cows Due 1 to calve Friesian in milkfrom cow 16-7-12, 6.5 weeks AB Jersey and Kiwiheifers cross 2 Friesian yearling 1 Friesian to heiferbe calf 420 cows after non Estimated 55 Headculls, older cows & 5% rejection pregnant, TB C10, Leptolast vaccinated. This is 347kgs a nicely presented Production season ms/cow, offering ofms/ha, well bred, high 1000kgs onproduction rollingbacked to females. steeper Many highfarm, rankedno sires and some the best or genetics contoured meal, palmof kernel maize available are represented in this sale catalogue. All cattle fed. are fully recorded and LIC transferable. Young replacement stock also available

•

Monday 16 April 2018 at 1.30 pm

Aaron Clapperton 027 496 7410 Richard Seavill 021 169 8276 / 07 825 4984 Chris Smith 027 496 7413 / 07 870 4552 Chris Kyle 027 496 7412 Bryce Young 027 496 7411

30/09/2010

Free Dummy Collar, • LOOK! • if required, with all NO GST PRICE INCREASE! InnoteksportDOG NZ is maintaining allorders current low prices •

KEEP YOUR WORKING DOGS ON THE JOB

CROSS HERD Wednesday 18th April 2018 at 11.30am

350-400kg Friesian Bulls – RS Store Lambs – RS 100 360-400kg R2 Beef/Beef X Steers – RS Vetted In-calf Hereford Cows – CK

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1113205-Electronic Registers:Layout 6

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Prices include delivery to your door!

Annual High Genetic Sale On farm – 500 Lodore Road, Okaihau

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HOMES FARM SHEDS SUBDIVISIONS PUMPS

LODORE/KAURI AYRSHIRES

15 Vetted In-calf Beef Heifers – RS 100 160kg Friesian Bull Calves Available – RS

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We could save you hundreds of $$

For friendly & professional advice CALL 0800 843 0987 Fax: 07 843 0992 Email: power@thecableshop.co.nz THE CABLE SHOP WAIKATO www.thecableshop.co.nz

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

SALE TALK

POWER CABLE

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livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

STOCK FOR SALE 150 1YR AUT BULLS 350kgs

SHORT NOTICE DISPERSAL SALE MANGATARA

430-500kgs 18 MTH FRIESIAN BULLS

STOCK REQUIRED

ANGUS

STORE LAMBS 25-36kgs 250-380kgs 15 MTH HEIFERS 18 MTH FRIESIAN BULLS 400-430kgs MA HERE & ANG COWS

QUALITY

FARM

23 April 2018 – 11am 204 lots Viewing from 9am on the day and 1-3pm on 22/04/18

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

MACHINERY

Catalogues on AngusNZ Website

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

VENDORS: ERIK & LYN VAN DER VELDEN 06 374 1575 AGENT: NEVILLE CLARK 0275 986 537

A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

EVERY MONDAY 10:30AM PRIME & BONER CATTLE EVERY THURSDAY 10AM STORE CATTLE

SALE

FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK NOW SELLING AT TEMUKA SALEYARDS

EARN FARM SOURCE DOLLARS ON ALL SALES AND PURCHASES WITH FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK.

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 9, 2018

facilitated by

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1 MAY FROM 10.30AM AT

TINWALD SALEYARDS

ASHBURTON

CONTACT CLAAS HARVEST CENTRE CANTERBURY

0800 548 339 NZFARMSOURCE.CO.NZ/LIVESTOCK

CONTACT DRUMMOND & ETHERIDGE

03 307 9400

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

0800 432 633

BUYING OR SELLING LIVESTOCK? NORTH ISLAND - FOR SALE

SOUTH ISLAND - FOR SALE

•

Q 1109 – 232 Fsn herd, 380ms, BW 32, PW 52, R/a 63%, 1/8 calv, shift well capable big production, $1600. Monty 027 807 0522

•

Q 1108 – 310 XB herd, BW 79, PW 93, R/a 93%, 380ms, 25/7 calv, solid cows on hard farm, $1550. Monty 027 807 0522

•

61 Pedigree Fsn i/c hfrs. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

217 Pedigree Fsn MA Cows. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

Q 1103 - 100 from 270 cow herd, XB, BW 94, PW 114, R/a 94%, 369ms, 20/7 calv, computer split, low som cell, $1850. Kelly 027 600 2374

•

50 XB rising 2nd calvers 115 BW. Dave Bishop 027 614 8100

•

80 top quality cows 99 BW, 125 PW. Tim White 027 405 3088

•

42 R3 and R4 cows, Fsn/FsnX, all mainly i/c to AI. Tim White 027 405 3088

60 Fsn/XB budget Cows. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

Q 1100 – 50 cow Ayshire herd, 370ms, owned farmed 50yrs, pick 50 from 66, $1650. Kelly 027 600 2374

•

30 XB i/c hfrs, 113 BW, 126 PW. Tim White 027 405 3088

•

Q 1098 – 199 Fsn herd, BW 70, PW 71, R/a 91%, 350ms, 29/7 calv, owned 50yrs, no inputs, $1600. Colin 027 646 8908

•

110 Fsn bulls for Mar/Apr delivery approx. 200kgs capped at 250kgs $3.30. Tim White 027 405 3088

•

Q 1097 – 144 Fsn/Fsnx herd, BW 84, PW 103, R/a 100% - once a day herd, all hills and grass, $1590. Colin 027 646 8908

•

200 Holstein Fsn, would suit high input system. Tim White 027 405 3088

•

Q 1096 – 189 Fsn i/c hfrs, BW 80, PW 75, 24/7 calv – 100% Fsn, sell smaller nos, $1450. Colin 027 646 8908

•

100 Fsn i/c hfrs 92 BW. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

100 Semex Bred Fsn i/c hfrs, i/c to AI. Dave Bishop 027 614 810

•

Q 969 – 34 JsyX I/C hfrs, BW 122, PW 125, 25/7 calv very tidy, priced for sale, $1400. Warren 027 677 6361`

•

Q 952 – XB ylg hfrs, BW 92, PW 105, all DNA profiled, excellent value, $650. Hamish 027 432 0298

•

Q 958 – 103 Jsy i/c hfrs – BW 117, PW 99, capital line, 15/7 calv, well grown, $1500. Stewart 027 270 5288

SOUTH ISLAND - WANTED •

400 MA lease cows. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

40 Holstein Fsn i/c hfrs. Lyall Grant 027 229 2927

•

50 half/unrecorded i/c hfrs. Tim White 027 405 3088

•

50 A2 i/c hfrs, any breed. Tim White 027 405 3088

COMPLETE DISPERSAL AUCTION OF BELEDENE JERSEY HERD

EARLY CALVING FSN HERD, HFRS AND MACHINERY AUCTION OWNED AND BRED TO LIC 26 YEARS

DATE: Friday 20th April, 2018 ADDRESS: 54 Lower Duthrie Road, Kaponga, Taranaki TIME: 10:00am VENDORS: Revell Family Partnership

DATE: Wednesday 18th April, 2018 ADDRESS: 804 Kingseat Road, Karaka, Pukekohe TIME: 10:30am. (Machinery first) VENDORS: Kingseat Farms Ltd

COMPRISING OF: 290 OUTSTANDING JERSEY GENETICS • 153 in-calf high performing cows • 56 outstanding in-calf hfrs • 18 Jersey rising yearling bulls • 5 Jersey 2 year bull

• All cattle offered in great condition • Rare opportunity to purchase great NZ Jersey genetics PAYMENT TERMS: 20TH OCTOBER 2018 Catalogues available from auctioneers or online at nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock. FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENTS: Steve Quinnell 027 278 38 37 Trevor Hancock 027 283 8389

DETAILS: • All in-calf cows/hfrs, calving from 20th July and cows in-milk on sale day • TB C10, inoculated for blackleg,catarrash, lepto, bvd

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

COMPRISING OF: • 280 Fsn/fsnx and some Jsy cows, BW 38 PW 42 R/A 79% • 60 Fsn/Fsnx Rylg hfrs, BW 95, PW 100 DETAILS: • Predominately Friesian herd, strong cows • Calving from 1st July to LIC fsn 5weeks- t/o Hfd • TB C10, vacc lepto, BVD free on test • All cattle offered in great condition, and majority of cows in milk • 350 ms/cow annually, wet farm, cows will shift, feed system 1, Herd Tested.

MACHINERY 2009 Kubota with FEL &bucket &forks, 1999 Same90 with FEL &bucket & forks,2 x SAM centre feed wagons,6tn trailer, Read bale buggy, Wayco ½ tn hyd manure spreader, Maxim 2500 mower, Hyd post rammer, 600ltr sprayer with pump, 2 x PKE trailer feeders, 3ptl level bar, hay teddar, Farmguard 80hp grader blade, Doug chain harrows, Cambridge roller, 225l fert spreader, Gallagher 500 smart scale with platform, plus general farm sundries. PAYMENT TERMS: 31st May 2018; Grazing to end of May for farmers without access to farm. FARM SOURCE LIVESTOCK AGENTS: Steven Hiscock – 027 453 8769 Jack Kiernan – 027 823 2373

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – April 9, 2018

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

24TH ANNUAL AYRSHIRE FEMALE SALE

H.A TUCKER & CO HEREFORD HEIFER SALE Friday 13th of April On account of H.A Tucker & Co Ltd

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

40 MT Rising 2 year old Hereford Heifers All heifers have been B.V.D tested and vaccinated. Very tidy line of heifers for breeding options.

Are you looking in the right direction?

Worth inspection For further information please contact: Brent Bougen Bill Harrison NZFLL PGG Wrightson 0272 104 698 0274 735 860

To advertise

Tuesday 17th April, 1.30pm Start Sale to Be Held on the Property of the Vendors Gavin Travers and Family 607 Te Rore Road, Takahue, Kaitaia Ph 09 408 4063

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

LONG ESTABLISHED XBD HERD SALE

Offering Will Comprise: 25 Ayrshire Spring Calving Cows 25 Ayrshire Spring Calving Incalf Heifers 10 Friesian Spring Calving Incalf Heifers 60 Head

Red & Hybrid deer, bred on strong Taihape Hill Country Wed 11 April – Stags Thurs 12 April – Hinds Waiouru Deer Selling Complex – 12 Noon Start

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TAIHAPE WEANER DEER SALES

LK0092222©

A/c H C Underwood 64 Watson Rd - Te Poi S/N 77354 Wednesday 18th April 11am Herd BW 110 PW 142 RA 96% We are privileged to offer this outstanding dairy herd that has been faithfully farmed for 21 years and bred for type, protein, temperament and longevity using nominated LIC semen. Due to son returning home with his own herd and father retiring, purchasers have an opportunity to buy from this 185 cow herd which will come forward in great condition and in milk on sale day. Catalogues will be available. Calving from 1/7 - 4 Weeks AB - Tailed with Jsy Bulls. Bull Out 5/12, TB C10, EBL Free, BVD Tested, Bulk Milk Tested. Production 390 MS/Cow, 1150 MS/ha Please refer to MyLivestock listing #WAI56739 Contact NZFL agent Steve Emile 027 224 3880 Or Vendor Harley 027 331 300

For details contact: Andrew Peters - 06 388 0929 Robert Auld (PGG) 0275 901 335 Derek Mickleson (Carrfields) 0274 719 025

WAIPA COMBINED BREEDERS FRIESIAN FEMALE SALE

DAIRY FARMERS

Looking to buy a herd or replacements? Don’t leave it any longer – competition’s heating up!!

NORTH KING COUNTRY COMBINED BULL BREEDERS OPEN DAY

The following Studs will be open to the public from 10.00am till 2.00pm To inspect the Bulls that will be offered for sale this year.

Herds:

120 Capacious, predominantly straight Friesian cows DTC 22/7. $1790 WAI55484. Michael Conwell 027 226 1611 330 Well-bred Fr/Xbd quiet cows, off a wet spring farm, 3 cows/Ha. BW92/43; PW111/55; RA93%. DTC 15/7 $1775. BAY56857. Chris Martelletti 027 497 3802 230 XBD herd BW91; PW90; RA97%. DTC 27/7. Farm sold, sharemilker’s contract ceased. $1650. WAI55516. Steve Emile 027 224 3880 90 Stunning, early-calving Xbred cows, OAD since Dec 15. DTC 6/7. BW101; PW105; RA99%. $1850. WAI57008. Bryan Sweeney 027 869 2620 163 Jsy/Xbd OAD herd for 3 seasons. No cows treated for mastitis. DTC 1/8. $1500. TAR54911. Bryan Goodin 027 531 8511 122 Very nice, predominantly young Xbred cows in very good condition. BW82/42; PW120/56; RA96%. DTC 13/7. $1700. WAI56971. Glenn Tasker 027 477 7345 148 Fr/Xbred cows, come through the Taranaki drought, dried off 17th Feb. BW78; PW102; RA93%. DTC 30/7. $1650. TAR56247. Grant Hobbs 027 477 7406 230 Very young Xbred herd. Good udders, hard-working and heading toward 380ms. BW77; PW110; RA85%. DTC 10/7. $1700. WAI56258. Steve Morton 027 246 5165 334 Xbred cows milked on the Hauraki Plains through flooding then drought. Will shift really well. BW79/44; PW102/67; RA92%. DTC 6/7. $1695. WAI56111. Liam McBride 021 222 2662

Wednesday 18th April, 11.30am Start Sale held at Te Awamutu Saleyards, Paterangi Road, Te Awamutu Will Comprise: 43 Friesian Incalf Heifers 8 Friesian Cows 1 Friesian Inmilk Cow 2 Friesian Empty Inmilk Cows 2 Friesian Yearling Heifers 1 Friesian Heifer Calf 57 Head TB C10, Lepto vaccinated. This is a nicely presented offering of well bred, high production backed females. Many high ranked sires and some of the best genetics available are represented in this sale catalogue. All cattle are fully recorded and LIC transferable. Make sure you receive a copy of the sale catalogue by viewing online at www.agonline.co.nz or www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or contact the auctioneers:

Heifers:

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Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd Brian Robinson, 0272 410 051 Matthew Satherley, 0278 697 805 PGG Wrightson Andrew Reyland, 0272 237 092

View MyLivestock for more listings and agent contact details. Enquiries call John Watson Livestock Co-ordinator 027 494 1975

TB Status C10, Blackleg and Lepto Vaccinated This fully recorded, nicely presented offering includes animals with BWs up to 108, PW to 207 and LW to 260. These are renowned as no nonsense cattle that have gone to all regions of NZ from past sales and performed exceedingly well. Bulls from this herd have also been used extensively through AB. Be sure you receive the sale catalogue giving full details. Catalogues available online at www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com or www.agonline.co.nz Enquiries to the Auctioneers: PGG Wrightson Whangarei and Branches Dean May 09 408 7272 or 0275 901 001 Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd Brian Robinson, 0272 410 051

Monday 30th of April

NZ Farmers Livestock Ltd have listings of quality cows & heifers that will suit your needs right now. Finance available on application.

31 G3 registered Pedigree Jersey heifers out of herd that has achieved 470m/s in the past. Over 50 years breeding behind these animals. BW100; PW94. DTC 15/7. $1650.TAR56567. Kent Myers 027 455 5828 180 Well-grown, capital line FrX heifers. DNA and A2 profiled. BW110; PW127. DTC 20/7. POA. HAW53227. Todd Bray 027 235 5991 205 FrX G3 sire-proven heifers. BW98; PW96. DTC 29/7. $1800. TAR54524. Tim Hurley 027 445 1167 190 FrX Closed herd with 40 years breeding, capital line of Ambreed heifers with option for a breed split. Excellent condition and will calve down at 500kgLW. DTC 10/7. $1690. WAI52281. Sam Cowley 027 451 5317 41 Jersey capital replacement line heifers. BW120; PW92. DTC 28/7. $1350. MAN51284. Emmet McConnell 027 443 7671 105 Capital replacement autumn yearling Friesian heifers out of top producing autumn-calving herd. BW105; PW95; RA100%. $1125. WAI56160. Michael Conwell 027 226 1611 87 IC R2 Heifers, a complete replacement line from a closed herd – 30 years Ambreed. BW99; PW122. $1600. Liam McBride 021 222 2662

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING PHONE NIGEL 0800 85 25 80

• Hingaia Angus – Richard Jolly, 07 872 2840

147 Hingaia Rd, Wharepunga • Tarangower Angus –

Rob Purdie, 07 877 8935 912 Ngatrawa Rd, Mahoenui • Storth Oaks Angus –

Tim Brittain, 0275 935 387 524 Paewhenua Rd, Maihihi • Iona Angus – Bruce Bevege, 07 877 7541

100 Rauriki Rd, Aria • Kia Toa Charolais –

Paul Grainger, 07 878 6458 973 Troupers Rd, Te Kuiti • Rockend Herefords –

Peter & Josh McCormack, 07 877 7897 603 Paraheka Rd, Aria • Potawa Simmentals –

Andrew Neal, 07 877 8009 488 Mangaotaki Rd, Piopio • Raupuha Shorthorns –

Russell Proffit, 07 877 8977 1933 SH 3 Mahoenui • Ipuru South Devons –

Peter Foss, 07 877 7881 54 Kumara Rd, Aria • Kaha Speckle Parks –

Catherine Robertson, 07 877 8111 142a Paekaka Rd, Piopio For further information please contact: Brent Bougen Cam Heggie NZFLL PGG Wrightson 0272 104698 0275 018182

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 9, 2018

Key: Dairy

Nokomai Station Nokomai Valley Athol, Northern Southland Wednesday 18th April 1.00pm (Signposted Lumsden – Queenstown Highway) Offering comprising approx: 7000 Half Bred Wether Lambs 3200 Half Bred Ewe Lambs 1500 Texel/Half Bred MS Lambs Auctioneers note: Nokomai lambs have an excellent reputation for their wool and also their shifting ability to grow into very good carcass weight lambs. Ewe lambs present and opportunity for either breeding or fattening. Half Bred micron 21-23 micron.

FRIESIAN & FRIESIAN X INMILK SALE Friday 20th April, 11.30am Start Bellevue Rd, Matangi. D/N 72795 A/C Bellevue Farm Comprising 140 Frsn & Frsnx Cows, BW55, PW96, RA90%, LW100 Calving from 25th July for 4½ weeks, AI Frsn then tailed with Hereford Bulls, out 23rd December. Scanned to Date. Production this season to date 488MS/day in 245 days, top cow over 700MS with BWs to 150, PWs to 346 & still producing 1.37 at last herd test on 14th March. Great opportunity to purchase quality inmilk cows in very good order with only 6 cows over 6 years old.

Animal health.

Herringbone shed, EBL Free, BVD neg, TBC6, Lepto Vacc.

B12 and 5 in 1 at tailing and weaning.

Payment – Payment 14 days from sale date.

Triple drenched and capsules 1st February

Delivery – Immediate delivery unless prior arrangement with Agent before sale.

All lambs crutched. Further Enquiries: Barry McAlister (PGW) – 027 441 6432 James Hore (Nokomai Station) – 021 301 797

Enquiries to: Andrew Reyland 0272 237 092 Dean Evans 0272 431 092

Sheep

Other

COMPLETE DISPERSAL SALE

ELITE XBRED HERD

Friday 20th of April, 11.30am Start A/C Turamoe Farms Ltd. (Jones Family) 1279 Otewa Road, Otorohanga

Monday 23rd April, 11am Start

Comprising

NOKOMAI STATION

Cattle

105 XBred Inmilk, Incalf Cows, BW71, PW91 RA 84% 25 XBred Incalf Heifers, BW102, PW131 34 XBred R1 Heifers, BW123, PW138 Assorted Farm Equipment and Machinery Herd Details • Herd due 17th July, 10 weeks AB Jersey, Beef, Ambreed • Production 350M/S per cow • Heifers due 15th July, Jsy Bull, Bull out 12th Dec 2017 • TB C10, EBL Free, BVD bulk milk test neg., H/Bone shed Auctioneers Note: Cows with great type and conformation. Bred for strong good udders with great capacity to produce well. Heifers are very well grown. Payment – 14 days from sale, unless prior arrangement with Agent before sale. Delivery – Immediate delivery unless prior arrangement with Agent before Auction. Catalogues available on our website Agonline or Contact: Wium Mostert 027 473 5856

A/C Ngatoka Farms LTD C/- C and L Beal Owairaka Valley Road, D/N74669 Comprising: 185 Frsn /Frsnx and Frsn/ Jsyx Incalf Cows, BW101, PW130, RA99% 68 Frsn/ Frsnx and Frsn/ Jsyx Incalf Heifers, BW136, PW141 25 Young Empty Inmilk Cows, BW115, PW145 Herd calving 16th July 9 weeks AB to nominated A2 Bulls including 5 contract mated cows to CRV. Herd producing 380 M/S, all grass and grass silage. Cows & Heifers are G3 DNA, and includes 99 A2 A2 cows and 76 A1 A2 cows with BWs up to 193, PWs up to 372. Herd owned for 36 years – has not been for sale on the open market. Off a rolling farm and will come forward inmilk, in good condition and show excellent conformation. Heifers calving 16th July, 41 one cycle AB mainly Kingpin with one being contract mated tailed Jersey, Bulls out 4th January, included 41 A2 A2 and 26 A1 A2 heifers BWs up to 195, PWs up to 217 and are well grown. Catalogue Available on Agonline. Enquiries contact: Vendors: Chris & Lindy Beal – 07 872 2855 Agent: Chris Ryan – 0272 431 078

Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

BUSY BROOK HOLSTEINS GOLD LABEL SALE 3.30pm Friday, 13 April 2018 51 Taylors Road, Duntroon, North Otago Approx 50 Lots comprising: • NZ bred lots average BW is 190. There are over 20 contract mated lots, many with multiple contracts with different AI companies. Individual BW’s up to 226. Dams of sale lots production up to 875ms. • Imported animals out of some of North America’s best cow families including direct daughters of RF Goldwyn Hailey x Doorman and Eastside Lewisdale Missy x Windbrook. Many lots with high classification and show potential. All animals will be individually tested negative for M Bovis For more information and catalogues please contact: Nathan and Amanda Bayne – Busy Brook Holsteins nando2@xtra.co.nz – 027 486 1517 PGG Wrightson Andrew Reyland – 027 223 7092 Barry Fox – 0274 393 317 Guest auctioneer Brian Leslie – 00418 365 934

Helping grow the country

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

Key: Dairy

Cattle

Sheep

Other

HIGH QUALITY FRIESIAN DISPERSAL SALE

DAIRY HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

Thursday 26th April, 11am Start On Farm: Monckton Road, Te Awamutu

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

Comprising 250 Inmilk Spring Calving Cows 160 Inmilk & CTP Autumn Cows 50 Inmilk Nov/Dec Calved Cows

NORTH ISLAND HERDS FOR SALE 470 Frsn/ Frsnx/ Jsyx Cows BW 83

PW 112

$1,750+GST

200 XBred Cows BW 101

•

PW 103

330 Frsn/Frsnx Cows $1,725+GST

BW 79

•

143 Frsn/ Frsnx Cows

$1,695+GST

PW 102

BW 88

•

$1,775+GST

PW 106

•

RA89% Calving 20th July, Young Herd. Jason Roberts – 0272 743 1429

Calving 15th July. Young Herd, Bull out early. Shaan Featherstone – 0276 661 198

RA 92% Calving 10th July, Low Input System. Dave Stuart – 0272 241 049

RA100% Calving 14th July, 37yrs one owner. Vaughn Larsen – 0278 014 599

Agonline ref: 063959

Agonline ref: 064154

Agonline ref: 063393

Agonline ref: 063523

72 Kiwix Cows BW 101

PW 114

419 M/A Jsy/Jsy X Cows $1,650+GST

BW 101/49

•

PW 120/65

190 MA Frsn Cows $1,750+GST

BW 44

•

PW 53

190 MA Xbred Cows

$1,600+GST

BW 6

•

$1,300+GST

PW 22

•

RA100% Calving 15th July, All 2nd Calvers. Jason Roberts – 0272 431 429

RA97% Long Established, Young, High Indexes Closed Jsy & Jsy X Herd. Jamie Cunninghame – 0275 833 533

RA82% High Altitude Herd, has done 410 m/s in past on mainly grass system. Jeff See – 0275 680 813

RA82% Established Herd that has been bred for type. Herd will move well. Craig Murray – 0273 220 063

Agonline ref: 063551

Agonline ref: 062931

Agonline ref: 063095

Agonline ref: 064128

NORTH ISLAND IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE 67 XBred Incalf Heifers BW 123

PW 131

Pick 50 out of 53 Incalf Heifers

$1,580+GST

•

BW 126

PW 134

74 X/Bred InCalf Heifers

$1,400+GST

BW 127

•

Calving 18th July, Jsy Bull. Matt Hughes – 0274 052 824

RA94% Calving 10th July, Jsy Bull. Allan Jones – 0272 240 768

Agonline ref: 062869

Agonline ref: 063737

•

BW 82

$1,550+GST

PW 88

•

RA100% Capital Stock LIC Bred Line of X/Bred Heifers, Mated to AB Xbred Sires. Peter Forrest – 0275 986 153

RA100% A well grown Line, brought in from 2 Herds as Weaners as weaners. Andrew Leggett – 0220 383 216

Agonline ref: 064117

Agonline ref: 064058

SOUTH ISLAND HERDS & HEIFERS FOR SALE 94 Frsn to X/Bred InCalf Hfrs BW 91

PW 107

$1,650+GST

•

353 M/A X/Bred, Jsy Cows BW 96/56

PW 122/70

73 Friesian InCalf Heifers

$2,050+GST

BW 40

•

RA100% Good Capacity Friesian to X/ Bred Heifers, Very Even Line. Roddy Bridson – 0274 582 775

RA95% Top 5% BW & PW in Southland, No mating intervention, highly rated by LIC. Roddy Bridson – 0274 582 775

Agonline ref: 063983

Agonline ref: 063860

PW 49

Full details on sires used and production details etc next week. Enquiries to: Chris Ryan 0272 431 078 Andrew Reyland 0272 237 092

38 Friesian InCalf Heifers

$1,500+GST

PW 143

This is a great opportunity for purchasers looking for genuine cows that have been bred for udders, legs and longevity using mainly overseas nominated sires. Herd production has peaked at over 600MS/cow for the autumns and 530MS/cow for the spring cows which are run on a separate rolling to steeper farm next door. Cows are in very good condition displaying quality udders and dairy type.

$1,800+GST

•

RA73% Well Grown Friesian InCalf Heifers, AB selected, Breeding Traits are Fertility, Protein, Good Capacity and Structure John Rawcliffe – 0272 452 258

60 M/A Friesian, X/Bred Cows BW 73

$2,500+GST

PW 78

•

A2A2 Cows, InCalf to A2. Andy Cunningham – 0275 668 243 Agonline ref: 064080

Agonline ref: 063818

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

WAIROA WEANER FAIR Thursday 12th April, 11am, PGG Wrightson will offer approx 1530 weaners consisting of 1130 weaner steers 400 weaner heifers including a/c Whataroa Stn 130 ang & ang/here x steers 50 ang & ang/here x steers a/c Kauhouroa Stn 200 ang & ang/here x steers a/c Tauwharetoi Stn 250 ang & ang/here x steers a/c Anewa Stn 150 ang & ang/here x steers a/c Pakowhai Blk 50 Ang & Sth Dev x strs 50 Ang & Sth Dev x hfrs

Enquires Mason Birrell – 06 838 7091, 0274 967 253 Ian Rissetto – 06 838 8604, 0274 449 347 Hamish Forrester – 0276 012 351 Arn Smith – 06 8375008, 275986534

NORTH ISLAND KING COUNTRY

AUTUMN WEANER CALF SALES

WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY

TARANAKI

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

12 Apr

Taranaki 2nd Run Weaner Fair

10 Apr

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

19 Apr

11am

11 Apr

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

26 Apr

12pm

12 Apr

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

3 May

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

10 May

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

17 May

Autumn Feeder Calf, Kairuru Farm, Reporoa

12pm

24 May

Taupo Supplementary Weaner 12pm

9 Apr

EAST COAST Matawhero Weaner Steer and Bull Sale Matawhero Weaner Heifer and Older Cattle Sale Wairoa Weaner Sale

11am

HAWKES BAY PGG Wrightson are a nationwide team of local livestock specialists offering you a range of options when it comes to helping you purchase or sell stock. Our extensive network of representatives are able to buy and sell livestock throughout the country and at the best price. Our team are constantly in touch with quality breeders, rearers and finishers and can provide the right advice for your farming operation.

For more information contact your local PGG Wrightson Livestock Rep or visit www.agonline.co.nz

Weaner Steer and Bull Sale, 10.30am Stortford Lodge Weaner Heifer Fair, 10.30am Stortford Lodge Cow Fair, Stortford Lodge 10.30am

17 Apr 18 Apr 9 May

12pm

12 Apr

11.30am

12 Apr

11.30am

18 Apr

11.30am

19 Apr

11.30am

26 Apr

11.30am

2 May

11.30am 11.30am

3 May 17 May

12pm 10am

9 Apr 11 Apr

1.30pm

11 Apr

10am 10am 11am 10am 10am

12 Apr 13 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr 20 Apr

11am

26 Apr

10am 10am 10am

27 Apr 9 May 17 May

MANAWATU Feilding Weaner Sale Feilding Steer and Bull Weaner Sale Feilding Heifer Weaner Sale Feilding Sue Bros Weaner Sale Feilding Steer and Bull Weaner Sale Feilding Heifer Weaner Sale Feilding Weaner Sale

SOUTH ISLAND TASMAN

MID-SOUTH CANTERBURY

OTAGO

Blenheim 3rd & High Country Calf Sale

Temuka Western Section Calf Sale Temuka Fairlie Basin Section Calf Sale Temuka Geraldine Section Calf Sale

Haast Calf Waipiata Calf Omakau (Cromwell Section 1st Sale) Calf Oamaru Calf Palmerston 2nd Calf Upper Clutha On Farm Calf Omakau 2nd Calf Balclutha 2nd Calf Omakau (Cromwell Section 2nd Sale) Calf Balclutha 3rd Calf Balclutha Calf & Adult Waipiata High Country Calf

11am

2 May

10am 11am 10am 10.30am 10.30am

11 Apr 12 Apr 18 Apr 20 Apr 27 Apr

10am

3 May

CANTERBURY/WEST COAST Canterbury Park Calf Whataroa Calf Sale Canterbury Park Calf Sale Culverden 3rd Calf Sale Culverden 4th Calf Sale Canterbury Park High Country Calf Sale

10am

11 Apr

10am

18 Apr

10am

20 Apr

10.30am 10.30am 10.30am 10.30am

12 Apr 13 Apr 18 Apr 20 Apr

SOUTHLAND Lorneville Invercargill Castlerock Lumsden Gore Castlerock Lumsden

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed Last year

6.30

AS OF 21/03/2018

AS OF04/04/2018

Dec 17 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Feb 18 Apr 18 AgriHQ Seasonal

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

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

361

333

NI mutton (20kg)

4.90

4.85

3.50

376

302

SI lamb (17kg)

7.05

5.50

Feed Barley

380

377

310

SI mutton (20kg)

4.90

4.85

3.45

229

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 9.11

9.17

8.58

274

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

441

375

PKE

269

233

6.5 6.0 5.5

Last week

Prior week

Last year

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

Wheat - Nearest

228

232

221

Corn - Nearest

204

205

201

375

377

325

South Island 1 7kg lamb

7.5 7.0

ASW Wheat

364

365

306

Feed Wheat

319

320

294

Feed Barley

349

355

266

PKE (US$/t)

Mar 18 Jun 18 NZX WMP Futures

7.0

INTERNATIONAL

3500

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5

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

APW Wheat

2000 Jun 17 Sep 17 Dec 17 C2 Fonterra WMP

5.75

378

Australia (NZ$/t)

2500

7.10

361

4000

3000

Ex-Malaysia

119

NZ venison 60kg stag

6.5

6006.0 500

5.5

400

5.0

300

4.5

OctOct

DecDec

FebFeb

5‐yr ave NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3210

3170

3125

SMP

1895

1920

AMF

5900

Butter

5505

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Last week

Prior week

Last year

1860

Urea

523

507

Coarse xbred ind.

3.02

3.03

3.84

6175

6230

Super

307

317

Nth Isl 37m

3.15

3.10

4.15

5275

5225

DAP

739

Sth Isl 35m

5.05

4.60

3.95

775

3100 3000 Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

VOLATILITY continues to be the constant with markets again buffeted by the ongoing threat of trade wars. A cautious tone has gripped markets and resulted in wild swings in either direction across the globe. Trade wars have dominated headlines, stemming from comments from United States President Donald Trump. Targeted tariffs on imports from China to the US have been reciprocated with China proposing tariffs on goods from the US. Investors are playing this cautiously but are weighing up the impact these could have on businesses. There is also concern other nations might jump on the bandwagon and begin implementing protectionist policies. Last week marked the end of the first quarter of 2018 and it was a negative one for global markets. The return of volatility was a key theme for the quarter as global interest rates began to rise and inflation fears escalated. The S&P 500 in the US finished the quarter down 1.2%, a relatively small decline when we consider the movements during this time. The broad US index hit an all time high in January, however was down more than 10% at its lowest point during the quarter. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

21656

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

8364

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

8045

$/kg Apr 15

Apr 16

Apr 17

Feed barley

4 weeks ago

Sharemarket Briefing

16130

250 150 Apr 14

NZ venison 60kg stag

4.5

600

c/k kg (net)

350

NZ$/t

US$/t

3200

Coarse xbred wool indicator

5.5

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES 450

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

This yr

(NZ$/kg)

3300

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

Last yr

AugAug

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Latest price

JunJun

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Jun

AprApr

FERTILISER

Last price*

2900 May

Last year

7.20

Feed Wheat

Waikato (NZ$/t)

6.0

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg)

Milling Wheat

PKE

6.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg

6.55

7.0 $/kgMS

Prior week

Canterbury (NZ$/t)

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

US$/t

Last week

AGRIHQ 2017-18

FONTERRA 2017-18

5.5 Oct 17

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

$/kg

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2017-18

Sheep

c/kkg (net)

Dairy

PKE spot

3.5 400

300

2.5Oct Jul

Dec

Sep

5‐yr ave

Feb

Nov

Apr

Jan

Last yr

Jun

Mar

Aug

May

Jul

This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

12.92

14.62

7.66

Auckland International Airport Limited

6.36

6.73

6.11

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd Meridian Energy Limited Spark New Zealand Limited Ryman Healthcare Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Fletcher Building Limited Contact Energy Limited Air New Zealand Limited (NS)

13.25 2.86 3.31 10.47 3.31 5.76 5.28 3.30

14.39 3.00 3.68 11.30 3.45 7.96 5.64 3.40

12.41 2.75 3.28 10.27 3.14 5.74 5.15 2.86

Listed Agri Shares

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

12.920

14.620

7.660

Comvita Limited

7.100

9.210

6.880

Delegat Group Limited

8.280

8.500

7.510

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

5.710

6.660

5.700

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

3.000

2.250

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.200

2.430

1.840

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.610

0.640

0.560

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.450

8.500

7.350

Scales Corporation Limited

4.480

4.920

4.400

Seeka Limited

6.320

7.000

5.800

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

9.080

9.750

6.260

T&G Global Limited

3.180

3.300

3.150

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

0.850

1.240

0.810

S&P/FW Primary Sector

16130

16555

14417

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

21656

22252

18488

S&P/NZX 50 Index

8364

8608

8059

S&P/NZX 10 Index

8045

8368

7640

THE kiwi is on an easing This Prior Last NZD vs path but so slowly you week week year almost have to squint USD 0.7210 0.7225 0.7008 to see it, BNZ currency EUR 0.5856 0.5869 0.6557 strategist Jason Wong AUD 0.9406 0.9368 0.9151 says. GBP 0.5120 0.5120 0.5615 “It’s a story of up one Correct as of 9am last Friday day, down the next day and not responding to local data. The United States news is still in charge.” BNZ began the year expecting the dollar to weaken as global monetary policy tightened. One domestic event that might spark reaction is the quarterly CPI data on April 19, Wong said. BNZ believes inflation will significantly undershoot levels expected by the Reserve Bank. “That could take it below the annual target range and cause some uncertainty. We’ve got a new Reserve Bank governor and we don’t know what his thoughts are and he could come up with a dovish tone at the next MPS in May.” The statement is on May 10 and there could even be talk of lower interest rates in a bid to get inflation back up to target levels. Whatever the backdrop, Wong expects the kiwi to weaken more in the second half of the year, more so on the other big currencies than on the US dollar. His end-of-year call is €0.54, £0.48 and ¥71 as central banks in those zones tighten policy and, in the case of the United Kingdom, increase interest rates as Brexit risks reduce. BNZ still expects the kiwi at US0.70 at year-end. Alan Williams

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

NI SLAUGHTER COW

NI SLAUGHTER BULL

SI SLAUGHTER MUTTON

($/KG)

WEANER ANGUS STEERS, 220KG, AT FEILDING WEANER FAIR

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

5.20

4.05

4.90

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

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.35

5.40

5.65

NI Bull (300kg)

5.20

5.30

5.65

NI Cow (200kg)

4.05

4.10

4.50

SI Steer (300kg)

5.35

5.40

5.35

SI Bull (300kg)

5.20

5.10

SI Cow (200kg)

4.10

4.20

US imported 95CL bull

6.75

6.78

7.35

US domestic 90CL cow

6.70

6.69

6.82

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.0

$/kg

5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 South Island steer (300kg)

6.0

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)$/kg

5.5

600 5.0

500 400 4.5 300 4.0

Oct Oct

Dec Dec

Feb Feb

5‐yr ave

Apr Apr

Jun Jun

Last yr

Aug Aug This yr

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

NI Stag (60kg)

10.45

8.50

NI Hind (50kg)

10.35

8.40

SI Stag (60kg)

11.00

8.50

SI Hind (50kg)

10.90

8.40

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

$/kg

11 10

NZ venison 60kg stag

500 8

400 7 300 6 Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

Jun Jun

Aug Aug This yr

$113-$127

$810-$1000

Good male lambs at Matawhero

Angus weaner heifers, 200-250kg, at Canterbury Park Calf Sale

Two-way option in

ALF sales moved up a gear last week as the bigger South Island yards got into the action. Demand for steers was very solid, while the two-way option of breeding or finishing for the heifers meant a range of buyers competed and returns were very positive. NORTHLAND NORTHLAND The store sale at WELLSFORD last Tuesday was very small as it was held in conjunction with the prime sale, because of the Easter Monday holiday. Just 46 store cattle ventured forward, with most R2 HerefordFriesian heifers, 363-405kg, which sold on a softer market at $2.64-$2.65/ kg. All other lines were first-cross dairy which was reflected in their prices. Four Jersey bulls, 388kg, fetched $2.13/kg, while a line of weaner Hereford-Jersey steers, 153kg, returned a very respectable $4.22/kg, $645. A typically mixed yarding greeted sale goers to the KAIKOHE last Wednesday, as the pre-winter offload continues, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. About 550 head were offered and prices are trending down to winter levels as buyers become cautious. The best of the R2 steers managed $2.80$2.84/kg for Angus, Beef-cross and Simmental-cross, but crossbred lines were discounted to $2.50-$2.60/kg. Dairy-cross fell further to $2.10-$2.20/ kg. Good Friesian and beef-cross R2 bulls held value, earning $2.80-$2.85/ kg, though lesser lines dropped to $2.60/kg. Heifers regularly traded at $2.60-$2.65/kg. The weaner market proved to be hard going with good calves selling for very reasonable prices. Good steers, 260-280kg, made $830-$840, $3.00-$3.20/kg, while some lighter lines, 180-190kg, did manage to push to $3.60/kg, though on a per head basis they made $650-$680. The bulls mostly traded at $3.30-$3.40/kg with lighter Friesian managing $4.00/kg. The heifer market battled and prices dropped below $3.00/kg to $2.85-

You’re just a few steps away from applying for livestock finance. HBA 1042R

c/k kg (net)

600

4.37

high lights

Heartland Bank Limited’s lending criteria, fees and charges apply. For full terms and conditions, visit www.openforlivestock.co.nz

TOP SALE: PGG Wrightson livestock auctioneers Greg Cook and John Farrell look for bids at the Mt Arrowsmith calf sale on April 3. See next week’s FW for a full mid-season report on calf sales.

$2.95/kg, while 120kg calves made $420-$450. WAIKATO At FRANKTON last Wednesday quality varied and the market softened for some. R2 steers kicked off the sale with Hereford-cross, 368-477kg, making $2.37-$2.74/kg, while Friesian-cross, 387kg, managed $2.57/kg. Heifers, 311-361kg, traded at $2.85-$2.86/kg regardless of breed. Friesian bulls, 392-440kg, eased to $2.55-$2.65/kg. Autumn-born one-year beef-cross steers, 223-398kg, managed $2.86$2.91/kg, whilst Hereford-Friesian heifers, 211kg, softened albeit still with solid returns at $3.18/kg. A consignment of quality Angus steers and heifers went under the hammer in the weaner pens, both selling to keen interest. Steers, 233257kg, earned $845-$875, and their sisters, 222-242kg, fetched $700-$770. Friesian weaner bulls, 123-146kg, were steady on recent levels at $440$500. The prime market was softer for

the majority though heifers managed steady returns. Hereford-cross steers, 468-673kg, eased to $2.61$2.76/kg, as did Angus-Friesian, 498-614kg, to $2.57-$2.69/kg, while Hereford-Friesian heifers, 409-463kg, maintained levels of $2.69-$2.79/kg. A line of eight Hereford bulls, 602kg, were offered and made a solid $1710, $2.84/kg. Several lines of dairy bred R2 run-with-bull heifers, 348-425kg, traded at $2.12-$2.34/kg. COUNTIES COUNTIES Well-bred store cattle in good condition sold well at TUAKAU last Thursday, Kane Needham of PGG Wrightson reported. About 650 cattle were yarded, including 464kg Hereford-Friesian steers that sold at $2.89/kg. Another pen of HerefordFriesian, 432kg, earned $3.01/kg, with Angus steers, 403kg, making $3.06/ kg. Hereford-Friesian R1 steers, 218kg, traded at $860 and a 205kg pen $810. Another pen of Hereford-Friesian, 185kg, fetched $770. In the heifer

Continued page 46

Get livestock finance from $10,000. Apply online now in a few easy steps and you could be making your next livestock purchase with confidence. With Heartland Bank you can get up to 100% finance secured against the stock you buy. Then repay the loan when you sell. Find out more:

Call 0800 87 50 50.

Markets

46 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018

SPECIALISTS IN DAIRY LIVESTOCK MARKETING & SALES PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists at marketing and selling dairy herds, offering you: • Expert advice on herd sale preparation, method of sale and all aspects of buying and selling • Unmatched on-farm and saleyard auction expertise • A nationwide network with the ability to source buyers from across New Zealand • Industry leading forward and short term contracts for peace of mind. Benefit from the specialist team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers and achieving an optimal outcome for your business.

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section, a nice pen of Charolais, 415kg, sold to $2.68/kg, with Hereford-Friesian, 360kg, earning $2.70/kg. Black-bodied Hereford-Friesian R1 heifers, 233kg, made $690 and a lighter pen at 128kg, $505. About 500 cattle were presented at last Wednesday’s prime sale, including around 400 cows. The best of the prime steers traded at $2.78-$2.84/kg, with medium types making $2.74-$2.77/kg and lighter lines $2.68-$2.73/kg. Heavy prime heifers earned $2.65-$2.70/kg, and medium $2.58-$2.64/kg. Lighter heifers sold for $2.52-$2.57/kg. Empty Friesian cows in heavy condition sold at $1.74$1.83/kg, and medium types $1.62-$1.68/ kg. Lighter boners returned $1.45-$1.56/ kg. Heavy beef bulls fetched $2.82-$2.92/ kg, with medium beef bulls earning $2.65-$2.80/kg, and lighter Jersey bulls $2.20-$2.40/kg. BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY At RANGIURU on Tuesday boner cow prices eased 5-10c/kg across all categories. The heavier lines still attracted the higher prices and Friesian, 559-573kg, made $1.70-$1.71/kg, 502517kg Friesian & Friesian-cross slightly back at $1.61-$1.68/kg. The downwards trend continued as the weight and condition dropped off and lesser yielding lines, 426-491kg, fetched $1.48-$1.63/ kg. A line of 12 Jersey, 361kg, sold for just $1.22/kg. Hereford-Friesian stood out in the R2 steer pens but prices are trending to winter levels. Two good sized lines at 420-488kg made $2.80-$2.82/kg, a lesser line $2.64/kg. Quality was very mixed through a small R2 heifer section. The biggest line of Hereford-Friesian was the lightest at 271kg and returned just $2.21/kg, while a better line made $2.73/kg. One line of Friesian bulls, 474kg, also sold off the pace at $2.43/kg. One standout line of Hereford-Shorthorn steers, 262kg, made $880, with their sisters coming in 30kg lighter and $100 less. TARANAKI TARANAKI Quality was mixed at the store and boner cattle sale at TARANAKI last Wednesday. Just shy of 60 cows were penned with most Friesian. Prices eased in line with schedules, though useful competition from both Manawatu and local ensured the job wasn’t made too easy for buyers. Better-ielding lines with weight at 465-557kg returned $1.78$1.87/kg, and second cuts, 360-407kg, $1.52-$1.60/kg. A line of six in-calf made similar values to the empty lines. Scanned empty Friesian heifers also had a good showing but like the cows prices eased. Those 341-393kg sold for $2.10$2.23/kg. The store section was small and of mixed quality. One line of R2 HerefordFriesian steers, 412kg, managed $3/kg, while Angus-Friesian, 348-411kg, sold on a steady market at $2.79-$2.86/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers all traded at $2.53-$2.60/kg for 345-412kg, while Kiwicross, 350kg, found limited interest and made $1.80/kg. A larger yarding of just under 1250 weaners were penned last Thursday. Quality varied and some made the return journey home. Hereford-cross steers, 103-159kg, sold strongly to $405-$580, as did Angus-Friesian, 120-125kg, $450$485, while 155-158kg of the same eased to $530-$540. Hereford-Friesian lines were chased by buyers from Auckland in particular, which kept them consistent on recent levels with 103-119kg earning $510-$568, whilst 132-143kg made $590$595, and 161-175kg, $640-$710. Heifers traded on a softer market with most easing $20-$60. Angus-Friesian, 155-198kg, softened to $510-$620, as did 127-145kg, $400-$450, and 115-121kg, $355-$390. Hereford-Friesian, 140-148kg,

eased to $490-$555, with 126-139kg also softening to $425-$540 while 113-124kg lines bucked the trend at $435-$540. Hereford-Friesian bulls were back on the last sale, with all lines 156-201kg easing to $600-$700. Friesian lines were also softer for the majority with 203210kg at $640-$680, and 151-187kg back to $570-$645. Those weighing in at 130136kg broke the mould and maintained levels of $400-$590, however the pattern returned for 118-127kg lines which softened to $450-$495. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY Local buyers at MATAWHERO last Friday could be heard sighing in relief as finally a decent number of lambs were at their fingertips. Throughput came to just shy of 5000 store lambs, The lambs had some good weight with most medium-good to heavy types. Overall the market had a firm tone, despite some sections showing some softening. Males sold over a tight range of $113-$128 for the better end, while a smaller lighter end returned $93-$115. One line of 489 medium wethers were hotly contested and sold for $117. Better ewe lambs eased to $100-$118, while $87-$104 covered the balance. A small mixed sex offering made $98-$130. The top line of 5-year Romney breeding ewes made processor value at $145 with other lines trading at $80-$139. Prime ewes sold for $119.50-$147. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY In-calf cows came out in droves at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday and was the first real test of this market. Store lamb numbers fell again which simply put more pressure on buyers and prices firmed. Just shy of 2600 store lambs were offered, with the first race well-bred hill country cryptorchid. Good line sizes and the quality offered drew a number of buyers to the rails, and the first line made an impressive $130, while second cuts were steady at $120-$127.50, and third firmed to $111-$117.50. Good rams sold on a steady market at $112-$122, with most ewe lambs trading at $95-$117.50. A sea of cows was found in the cattle pens where in-calf numbers climbed to 1052 – the biggest yarding since at least 2010. Most were traditional or exotic. Two capital stock consignments were an extra addition to annual draft lines. Purebred South Devon cows were the completion of a herd dispersal with the top line of 50 staying local for the highest price of the day at $1810. Other lines made $1670$1780. The other capital stock line was Simmental-cross, in-calf to Simmental bull, and most lines made $1430$1660. Annual draft lines sold above expectations, either holding 2017 levels or selling at least $100-$150 above. The top line of Hereford to a Hereford bull fetched $1740, compared to last year’s price of $1600. Angus prices also showed improvement, with top lines up $100$210 to $1600-$1740, while second cuts made $1460-$1510, and third, $1290$1400. Beef-cross sold for $1210-$1395, and Hereford-Friesian, $1120-$1280. Friesian-cross returned $750-$1015. The heifer market was down on the previous year’s results, though returns were still very strong. All Angus had seen an Angus bull in early November and R3 tended to trade at $1500-$1620, with R2 Angus making $1370-$1630. One small line of South Devon to a South Devon bull managed $1910. MANAWATU MANAWATU There was very little to report on at the FEILDING saleyards last Tuesday. Just one line of cattle had more than 10 head - 14 Friesian cows, 494kg, which fetched $1.84/kg. This reflected a steady market with lesser lines making $1.61/

kg. Friesian heifers, 402-530kg, sold on a firm market at $2.25-$2.28/kg, while four prime Hereford, 470-517kg, were off the pace of recent sales at $2.50-$2.56/kg. The only other line of significance was six Hereford cows, 598kg, which returned $1.90/kg. Buyer numbers for sheep were low but prices eased only marginally. Very heavy male and mixed sex lambs traded at $150-$157.50, with heavy types consistent at $130-$147. Two medium lines sold to $120. The better end of the ewe market had a firm tone for the nearly 800 on offer and the top price was $158 for 160 head. Good ewes sold for $121$140, medium-good $108-$116. Medium types returned $91-$102, which was very steady on the last sale. The section that did continue to grow was feeder calves, with about 300 on offer. Charolais-cross bulls topped the sale at $460, with the heifers reaching $400. Returns for other bulls were solid. Friesians made $240-$330, HerefordFriesian, $260-$370. Heifer prices eased slightly as good Hereford-Friesian made $220-$275, medium $150-$190. The week’s weaner fairs were split across two days at FEILDING, with day one reserved for the steers and bulls, followed by the heifers the next day. Day one had few more empty seats than the first weaner fair for the year but the 1700 weaners sold well. Most of the exotic steers were 235-280kg Charolais-cross which went for $930-$1045. Of note were some 275-295kg Simmental-cross at $1030-$1120 and some 195-230kg Devons at $870-$990. Three lines of 355-365kg autumn-born Simmental-cross and Devon-cross steers were $1180-$1260. Straight Angus lines generally received a small premium on the whiteface. The 220-240kg Angus steers made $960-$1005 whereas the 185-220kg bracket were $860$920. Angus-Hereford pens were more varied. Larger numbered lines often made quite a bit more than the smaller pens. Angus & Angus-Hereford’s, 250-285kg usually made $1085-$1205, while the 190235kg lines were $860-$920. Autumn-born exotic bulls were once again in demand. The 355-390kg Simmental-cross and Charolaiscross were $1425-$1505. The only real consistency through others was the 190220kg traditional bulls at $680-$770. It was a quick-fire sale for the 600 heifers available the next day. Nearly all of the traditional lines were AngusHereford’s. These traditional lines were sold in roughly three cuts; 225-230kg were $785-$865, 195-215kg made $705-$760 and 155-175kg were $570-$680. Top dollar went to a line of 330kg Angus-Hereford’s at $1000, $3.01/kg. Exotic heifers were just as in-demand as the traditional heifers, especially Charolais-cross types. Per head budgets meant 260-315kg Charolais-cross and Devon were all in the $915-$965 range. Charolais-cross and Simmental-cross, 225-265kg, were $825-$890 with 175225kg of the same breeds at $650-$755. The Easter holidays meant quite a few cattle were condensed into the FEILDING store cattle sale. Just a few 505-555kg R3 steers were available, nearly all Angus or Angus-Hereford, and these made $2.95$3.05/kg. R2 steers softened by around 5-10c/ kg given all the attention of late has been on the calf sales. Traditional steers, 345-420kg, were mainly bought at $3.10$3.25/kg. The rest of the beef steers were mostly 435-465kg Simmental and Simmental-cross which made $1320$1370, $2.90-$3.15/kg. Some 370-470kg Hereford-Friesians were generally $2.75$2.85/kg. Traditional lines dominated the R2 heifer section with 370-425kg making $2.75-$2.85/kg. Some 355-405kg Charolais and Simmental-cross were a

Markets

little stronger at $2.85-$2.95/kg. Only a few Hereford-Friesians were available, making $2.60-$2.70/kg for 385-465kg. R2 Friesian bulls were out in force, but numbers out-weighed demand. The 455480kg range was consistently $2.65/kg, but 320-395kg were anywhere between $2.65-$2.80/kg. Dairy and dairy-cross bulls accounted for most of the weaner offering and also had good numbers behind them. Friesian bulls, 165-195kg, were $670-$760 while 120-170kg Angus-Friesian were all $445-$520. The 175-205kg Hereford-Friesians made $590$685. Some 145-165kg HerefordFriesian heifers made $470-$555. Nearly 30,000 store lambs flooded into the yards, and like the cattle, this was mainly due to the Easter holidays shifting the previous week’s sale. Luckily for vendors word got out about this big yarding and plenty of buyers arrived, large-scale and small, and prices took yet another lift. Male lambs were loosely sold in three cuts; the heavy lines at $130-$138.50, good pens $120$129.50 and anything closer to medium at $110-$119.50. Only one line of males made less than $107 at the time of writing. While these prices were exceptional, they were a reflection of the good quality of lines put forward. There was a clear drop-off on the ewe lambs, however. Two lines topped these types at $129$132.50, and the rest of the better ewe lambs were $116.50-$123. However, the core of the ewe lambs were $105-$115 with the lighter-end $88.50-$100. Mixed sex pens essentially mimicked the ewe lambs. Four pens of decent 4-year and older Romneys accounted for the bulk of the ewes and all made $125-$145. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY A typically small yarding greeted sale goers at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, as the run of good weather continues and little pressure to offload joined forces with farmers and small block holders easing into a short week. Store lambs numbered just 720 with mixed sex lines dominating.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018 Prices remained steady, although there were fluctuations between weight ranges. Good lambs firmed to $103-$112, as did light types at $85-$94. Those in the middle eased to $90-$101. The pattern was repeated in the prime lamb pens, where a smaller yarding of 440 sold on a steady market. Most went under the hammer for $120-$148, with a small top end to $150-$160. The ewe market had similar results, with lower numbers and steady prices. Heavy ewes returned $160-$191, good $136$156, light to medium $96-$132. The prime cattle market suffered the consequences of more manufacturing cows coming on stream, and prices eased in line with schedules. Angus steers lost at least 10c/kg off the top and 460-665kg traded at $2.80-$2.88/ kg. Hereford fell further and 530645kg returned $2.70-$2.79/kg. This was also the price range for most heifers, 465-530kg, although a few lines pushed to $2.81-$2.85/ kg. A small boner cow section also eased as expected, and 453-713kg returned $1.70-$1.86/kg. Results in the store pens were much more positive. A good quality line up of R2 cattle caught the interest of the bench. Weights for beef and beef-Friesian steers were consistently at 330-480kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford, 332338kg, managed $3.15-$3.23/kg, while the better portion of the heavier lines traded at $2.87-$3/ kg. A line of seven Charolais-cross, 485kg, returned $3.09/kg, but their female equivalents gave them a run for their money. Those from the same property weighed 447457kg and fetched $2.95-$2.99/kg, while a lighter consignment from another property made $2.89$2.94/kg for 363-398kg. The next highest prices were for HerefordFriesian, 378-405kg, $2.73-$2.78/ kg, and a line of four at 359kg, $2.79/kg. Hereford-Friesian bulls, 359401kg, fetched $2.46-$2.48/kg. COALGATE joined the calf selling trend with a small yarding last Thursday. Store lamb numbers also grew due to larger consignments on offer.

Nearly 3200 store lambs were penned with a number of properties selling bigger numbers. One in particular from Whitecliffs had approximately 1200 head penned. These mainly shorn Perendale lambs were sex drafted, with the cryptorchid lambs making $101-$119, and ewe lambs $101-$114. A large number of mixed sex were also offered and the market traded at very good levels, with the bulk earning $90$110, and one line of 265 reaching $120. Half bred lambs were also included in the lineup and sold to similar levels as the crossbred. Prime lamb numbers pushed over 2000 head. The bulk of the trading happened in a $110-$159 range though the medium and lighter types were felt to soften due to sheer numbers, while the heavier end held value. A very good line of 20 reached $180. The ewe market ticked off another week at consistent levels with a few more for buyers to get stuck into. One line of four sold under $100 and just a small number sold up to $124, with most earning $130-$176. The first calf sale got underway in very different selling conditions to a year ago when Cyclone Debbie made it very unpleasant. Throughput continued to decrease and just 463 calves were offered. The smaller number did work against sellers as buyers target the bigger sales that are also going on, and so some lines were good shopping. Good black cattle were chased however and made significant premiums over coloured and /or exotic lines, with prices in line with other yards for these types. Steer numbers were down by 120 head, and the one significant line of straight Angus were early born, 366kg, which sold for $1300, $3.55/kg. Angus & Angus-cross had more weight than last year with the top lines at 285-348kg and earning $1150-$1275 for similar $/kg. Comparable lines were in the 225-255kg range and prices firmed $30-$55 to $955-$1085, with these flying $4.00/kg to $4.17$4.23/kg. Buyers were selective on the coloured cattle, including Hereford, which sold on a softer

market as 295-330kg made $1000$1100 for just $3.33-$3.39/kg. Just one very light pen of Angus heifers exceeded $4.00/kg, though for the remainder prices were more consistent than last year. The top lines, 287-325kg, made $950$1060, with 232-242kg earning $880-$900. Angus-Hereford, 250-316kg, eased $30-$50 to $835-$1060, with similar weighted Hereford also trading at these levels. Angus also featured in the bull pens where two good lines sold for identical figures of $720, despite a slight weight advantage of 16kg for one line. A very small prime sale had 47 head, most of which were steers, 446-530kg, at $2.62-$2.75/kg. Two lines of heifers, 415-466kg, returned $2.42-$2.50/kg, while cows, 597-648kg, fetched $2.10$2.15/kg. There was still little for vendors to complain about at the first CANTERBURY PARK calf sale. The sale dominated by Angus and Angus-Hereford steer and heifer calves, with the total yarding coming to 860 head. Buyers’ preference was for straight-black calves. Straight Angus steers were sold in three cuts; 195-225kg were $880-$970, 245-265kg were $1020-$1080 and 265-340kg made $1125-$1210. Angus-Hereford, 190-250kg were $820-$980 while 260-330kg made $1100-$1130. Some Simmentalcross and Charolais-cross, 205220kg, were $900-$925. Top dollar went to some 330kg Hereford steers at $1270. Buyers didn’t shy away from the heifers either. The majority were able to hit around the $4.00/ kg level. Again Angus’s were the preference, with 180-215kg at $765-$860 and 215-250kg making $880-$1000. Any 185-215kg traditional-cross heifers went for $780-$865, rising to $920-$970 for the 225-270kg range. A few Hereford-Friesian calves were available but didn’t have much quality to them, which was reflected in the money paid for them. SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY A medium sized bench of buyers

didn’t hold back for the 1700 calves offered at the TEMUKA Eastern & Southern section calf sale. One of the talking points in the steers was the demand for a consignment of Speckle Park. Two good sized 260-300kg lines made $1235-$1360. Back in the more common breeds everything largely met expectations. Angus steers, 250-290kg, usually made $1135$1220, easing to $1005-$1070 for 230-240kg and $850-$915 for 190-215kg. The 260-300kg AngusHereford’s usually went for $1135$1240 while 225-255kg lines were $960-$1040. Charolais-cross steers were another talking point, seemingly the preferred of the exotic breeds. Of those 285-320kg were $1275-$1330 and 240-275kg went for $980-$1090. SimmentalHereford’s, 285-320kg, found new homes at $1160-$1270, with 250260kg making $1020-$1050. Nearly all heifer buyers were after these for finishing. Traditional heifers, 235-280kg, were all sold for $955-$1030, dropping to $770-$910 for 185225kg and $645-$720 for 160185kg. All breeds of exotic heifers went for roughly the same rate, meaning 265-335kg were $1075$1230 and 220-260 made $880$995. Some 320-355kg Simmental and Speckle Park heifers were took the podium in the heifers at $1260-$1275. A handful of 200-240kg traditional bulls made $690-$735. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND A positive air sat over the sheep pens at CHARLTON last Thursday, as all types showed improvement. A nice offering of lambs was appreciated by buyers, with good demand for medium and top lines in particular. Overall the market improved by $5 per head as first cuts made $110, second $87-$95 and third, $50-$60. Strong demand continued into the prime pens where heavy lambs made $160, medium $132$140 and lighter $110. The best of the ewes sold up to $180, with medium types earning $120-$130 and light, $100-$110. Very light lines made $75-$90 and rams traded at $100-$130.

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Markets

48 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 9, 2018 NI SLAUGHTER LAMB

SI SLAUGHTER COW

NI SLAUGTER STEER

($/KG)

WEANER EXOTIC-CROSS HEIFERS, 245KG, AT FEILDING WEANER FAIR

($/KG)

($/HD)

7.20

4.10

5.35

840

Stortford Lodge Cow Fair

WMP demand continues Hugh Stringleman

hugh.stringleman@nzx.com

NCREASED prices for butter and whole milk powder (WMP) were the bright spots in a slightly weaker Global Dairy Trade market in the first April auction, summarised by the fourth consecutive small index fall. The GDT index was down 0.6% and had now lost 3% in total since early February. But butter prices were up 4.1% and WMP prices up 1.6%, to sit at their highest level for nearly a year. WMP prices on GDT have risen 19% in four months and the strong demand is underpinning Fonterra’s $6.55/kg milksolids farmgate milk price forecast for the season. With only one month of autumn milking left before a well-earned break, New Zealand dairy farmers should be confident that Fonterra and its rivals will deliver on the forecasts. ASB rural economist Nathan Penny thought the WMP lift was a positive surprise against the backdrop of United States trade sanctions on China, and the Chinese responses, given China is our biggest WMP market. China had imposed tariffs of up to 25% on 128 US imports, including some agricultural items such as pork and fruit, as tit-for-tat moves following US tariffs

PRESSURE: Europe’s spring milk peak will put pressure on dairy prices, Rabobank market analyst Emma Higgins says.

focused more on high-tech goods. “At this stage these measures are relatively minor and so have little or no impact on dairy markets and thus dairy prices. “However, if tensions escalate further and lead to an all-out trade war, then all industries stand to lose, including dairy,” Penny said. Westpac senior economist Anne Boniface said dairy prices were likely to moderate further in the coming months as demand growth from China eased from the very strong pace in recent months and global supply continued to track higher.

Rabobank market analyst Emma Higgins said the European spring milk production peak was approaching and would put pressure on dairy prices in the second quarter of 2018. In the meantime, Fonterra had reported a 4% fall in NZ milk collection in February and a 30% rise in Australia. Fonterra had repeated its prediction that total milk collected for the 2018 season, which ends on May 31, would be down 3%. Rabobank predicted NZ milk production as a whole would be down only slightly on the previous season, which implied a loss of

$1600-$1760 $880-$1100 high Good Traditional weaner cows, lights in-calf Angus steers, 200-250kg, at to Angus bull, at

processing market share by Fonterra. AgriHQ dairy analyst Amy Castleton said her milk price model had risen 3c to $6.30 because of the better GDT prices for butter and WMP. The average price paid for WMP was US$3278/ tonne and the NZX Dairy Derivatives market expected WMP to stay between $3210 and $3220 until the end of Fonterra’s financial year in June. Butter futures prices were more bullish, at $5505 for the settled April contract, easing slightly to $5350 for July. The GDT average was $5494/tonne, with a peak of $5550 for June contract.

Temuka Calf Sale

The April sales madness begins APRIL, otherwise known as the mad month, has begun. It is mad because it generally has two or three short weeks that play havoc with sales when there are almost double the usual number on. With South Island yards getting stuck Suz Bremner into calf sales and weaner and cow fairs AgriHQ Analyst continuing in the North Island there are about 60-70 extra sales around the country and when you take a few days off you can see how things get a little crazy. Last week started on Tuesday with Feilding holding sales every day. Temuka would have had the same if they hadn’t opted out of holding a store cattle sale between the calf sales. Among all the calves last week was an in-calf cow fair at Stortford Lodge. It was the first real chance for everyone to see how that market would respond to the high weaner prices and it is safe to say it responded very well … if you were selling. But the buyers were putting up big bids so must see the value in the cows. It was a very interesting sale because the number of cows was well up on recent years – the highest since 2010 at least - with the closest being 913 head in 2015. The similarities with the 2015 fair finished there because most that year headed to a processor while this year most were bought for breeding with a huge bench of buyers representing most of the North Island. Cow numbers pushed past 1000 head – an increase that can be attributed to big capital stock entries, a wider catchment area that is reaching further up the East Coast and annual vendors putting in a few extra head. Some astute vendors also picked up empty cows last year and put a bull to them to target this sale. No one really wanted to put bets on what the market would do but agents and vendors said it exceeded expectations as prices either held or lifted on 2017. It appears there was a wider selection of buyers on the bench and areas like Waikato took a large number of the top Angus lines so perhaps we are seeing a bit of a swing back to traditional breeding up that way. Hereford cows to Hereford bulls are also growing in popularity as the high demand and high prices from the dairy industry for service bulls influences this market. suz.bremner@nzx.com

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