Farmers Weekly NZ February 13 2017 by AgriHQ

4 Subtil opens farm to critics Vol 16 No 6, February 13, 2017

farmersweekly.co.nz

Threat to dairy Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com

EW Zealand’s trade relationship with Russia has hit a new low with threats now being made against the dairy industry. The Russian veterinary service Rosselkhoznadzor on February 3 said it intended to ban beef imports from NZ from February 6 and would make a decision on fish imports within a fortnight. The service said the actions were designed to “to ensure the country’s food safety” after traces of listeria and the banned feed additive ractopamine were found in NZ beef shipments. Speaking to Russian media following the announcement the head of the service, Sergey Dankvert, also put dairy in the firing line. “We are warning NZ suppliers: if the findings are repeated we shall also restrict supplies of butter with fat,” Dankvert is reported as saying. The actions against beef and fish were not entirely unexpected after Dankvert in October indicated bans were being considered following the discovery of traces of listeria and mercury in imports from NZ. At the time Dankvert did not mention dairy products. However, the Ministry for Primary Industries this week said it had been notified in December about the detection of “low level” traces of the veterinary medicine

tetracycline in anhydrous milk fat (AMF) imported from NZ. It was understood Russia had notified NZ of at least two more incidents concerning contaminated dairy products in the past two years. The string of notifications by the Russians dumbfounded officials here. In November MPI said the levels of mercury and listeria found in beef and fish through its own testing of the shipments were not enough to breach NZ’s own microbiological and contaminant standards. The latest discovery was just as confounding because tetracycline had not been registered as a veterinary medicine for farmed animals in NZ since 2011. Officials in Wellington as well as at the NZ embassy in Moscow had sought meetings with Russian counterparts for months without success. “We find some of the findings really unusual because the Russians say they are finding substances that are prohibited here. MPI have never found it so why are the Russians finding it?” a Government source said. The source said NZ was eager for veterinary experts from the two countries to meet to get to the bottom of the Russian test results. “We need the technical people to talk to understand whether this is really something or is it some sort of cross-contamination in a Russian lab or is it domestic politics or something else.” As one of the world’s largest

Swiss? Jeez she’s a Kiwi

IN THE BLOOD: Charis Morrell competes in the woolhandling heats at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Invercargill last Friday.

A NEW generation of wool harvesters has emerged from the champion shearing Morrell family. But 11-year-old Charis Morrell from Alexandra was competing for Switzerland rather than New Zealand at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Invercargill. Her father Dion has shorn for NZ and runs a shearing contracting business out of Alexandra but at last weekend’s world championships Charis was competing for Switzerland by virtue of the Swiss nationality of her mother Gabriela. Charis started woolhandling only two months ago and last Friday was competing in the heats at the world finals. Stadium Southland was sold out with extra seating erected to cater for the more than 4000 people wanting to watch Saturday night’s finals. More than 300 people from 32 countries entered in the various events.

Continued page 5

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NEWS

OPINION

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am February 10, 2017

26 Alternative View

60 Wetter than

Alan Emerson says it’s just not cricket.

5 GDT result keeps forecasts

steady

A small rise in prices for dairy commodities in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction kept milk price forecasts steady in the range $6 to $6.25/kg of milksolids.

7 Invest wisely, Rabobank warns New Zealand agriculture faces considerable change and uncertainty in 2017 because of global protectionism and increasing environmental regulation, Rabobank says.

normal (mm)

Editorial ��24 Cartoon ��24 Letters ��24, 25, 26 Pulpit ��23 Alternative View ��26 From the Ridge ��27 From the Lip ��27

WORLD

28 Smooth run for Aussie

Employment �� 49

Fonterra opens engine room door �� 8 SFF accounting rules changed ��12 Paper roads not part of farms ��16 New tool helps cut nutrient loss ��19 New manuka honey standard soon ��21

Job

Many thousands of store lambs continue to be trucked out of drought-hit Hawke’s Bay, many of them going to South Island regions with plenty of feed.

Market Snapshot �� 52 Market Wrap �� 53

Cottonseed Meal and Canola Meal

Week

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

120

116

Cottonseed Meal

112

Canol a Meal

108

Control

104

100

Ask your local feed merchant for MidPro® Cottonseed and Canola meal

of the

56 Many lambs going south

Increase Milk Yield and Solids with MidPro®

www.cargill.co.nz

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

Fencer general, Konewa Farm - A fencer general is required for our 600ha property, running 6500su in the Pohangina Valley, 25 minutes to Feilding and 35 minutes to Palmerston North. For the full job description visit the Farmers Weekly jobs site: farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz and click on Fencer General category. To find all other agjobs click on All Categories. #agjobs at your fingertips.

MARKETS

Invest wisely, Rabobank warns �� 7

09 520 0870

Drier than normal (mm)

Map reading tips

Livestock �� 50-51

GDT result keeps forecasts steady �� 5

He spent time in his youth skiing southern slopes as a self-confessed adrenaline junkie but John Fegan’s career was more about avoiding the cliffs and crevasses that accompany employing farm staff.

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REGULARS

Greenpeace snubs olive branches �� 4

staff

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Australian agriculture can expect an overall positive year with smooth sailing for most commodities, according to a new report from Rabobank.

Classifieds �� 50

22 Farm growth relies on good

farmers

A farmer can collect all the data in the world but it’s deciding what it means and how to implement it that can be the difference between progress and treading water.

NEWSMAKER

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19 New tool helps cut nutrient

Rural sector to answer critics �� 3

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Real Estate �� 29-48

loss

Fat yield

Protein yield

Milk Solids

Massey University research has shown MidPro® increases Milk Solids by close to 9% and Milk Yield by close to 6.5% over control.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Rural sector to answer critics Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com FARMING leaders are discussing a co-ordinated response to the increasingly frequent and strident attacks on the rural sector. Few details were being released but Federated Farmers president William Rolleston confirmed he met sector leaders before Christmas to discuss developing a more co-ordinated response. “We need to make sure we’re not all duplicating our efforts and that we’re doing things each player is good at doing,” he said. Attacks on the sector had been coming thick and fast, ranging from allegations of mistreatment of bobby calves, the use of water for irrigation, the degradation of waterways, claims, subsequently proven to be incorrect, that farmers had taken vast areas of Crown-owned land on the banks of rivers and opposition to rodeos. KPMG global agribusiness head Ian Proudfoot said in his home city of Auckland any talk about the primary sector was negative. “It is either an environmental issue, particularly water, or it’s an animal welfare issue or what they perceive to be greed.” When the milk price rose media coverage was about how much money individual farmers would earn but the urban perception was that income came from abusing the environment and overusing resources. When prices fell urban NZ heard stories of farmers facing financial ruin when their view was that they should be more resilient to price fluctuations. Proudfoot said a survey of his workplace two years ago revealed mainstream media coverage shaped people’s view of the primary sector. The sector had to win over Auckland because its size meant it shaped political policy and for many the Auckland A and P Show

Regardless who is right or wrong, the current polarisation is not doing any good at all. Keith Woodford Lincoln University

ANSWER BACK: Federated Farmers president William Rolleston has met rural sector leaders to discuss a united response to critics.

provided exposure to the rural lifestyle. But, Proudfoot said, the show didn’t talk about farming issues or activities or allow city people to have a conversation with farmers. “They can see and touch some animals but it is not a farm in the city.” Massey University agrifood and business director Claire Massey said the greater scrutiny reflected NZ’s increasingly diverse population but also that most New Zealanders no longer had links to agriculture. “We now have different voices and different views. That’s not wrong. It is just that they have different experiences.” Issues such as protecting the environment and animal welfare

were of greater importance to the public today than 20 years ago. “It is a lot of different factors at the same time and consequently people feel they legitimately are right and have the truth.” What was missing from the discussion were the consequences of those demands because farms were not being viewed as a system. “Economic, social and environment are all interrelated with each other but we still do not have this binary conversation as we should, that ‘if we do that what will happen?’” Massey said critics used emotive language to scaremonger and any response should stick to the facts rather than rise to that provocation.

She suggested research to determine what mattered to New Zealanders and to explain the consequences of their desired actions, information she hoped would encourage conversation. Lincoln University’s honorary professor of agri-food systems Keith Woodford said rural NZ needed to think about how it interacted with urban NZ. “Regardless who is right or wrong, the current polarisation is not doing any good at all.” Rolleston agreed but said progressing the argument beyond a superficial “yes it is, no it isn’t,” level was not easy to do, evident by a visiting wine industry leader who called for the South Island to be dairy cow free. “It is difficult to combat

because science and facts take a long time to get out.” Federated Farmers had taken on the role of being the “dripping tap of reason” by providing facts but Rolleston said it was not easy given some of the provocation. The mainstream media and environmentalists were quick to note deteriorating water quality but in December they largely ignored an ECan report that water quality had improved. Rolleston said he struggled to reconcile negative attacks on farming with the sector’s positive portrayal on the popular television programme, Country Calendar which could show images that farmers got castigated for, such as stock in waterways. “It’s how we bring those two worlds back together again.” Rolleston said rural NZ needed to understand where their critics were coming from so their views could be answered. Massey University fresh water scientist Mike Joy had the view there should be no ruminant animals in the food chain by 2050, which Rolleston said would have a significant economic impact. Anti-vivisection campaigners similarly did not agree with farming or keeping animals, including pets, an issue the wider public would have an opinion on.

Wairere turned our in MORE: EDITORIAL

KISS Success Winners of the Wairarapa Farm Business of the Year in 2016 were father and son team Jim and Brendan Varty. Jim has grown equity while shepherding and managing farms, first with stepping stone blocks, and for the past ten years as shareholder manager of the 620 hectare effective Wai-iti farm. Located 30 km east of Pahiatua in North Wairarapa.

Pivotal to that success has been the Wairere Romney flock, which has delivered 147 percent survival to sale over the past four years, with 31-32kg average lambs weaned off Wairarapa hills at 90 days. Hogget lambing has been increasing year by year, with 96 percent weaned to hoggets in lamb this season. And wool has averaged 6.3kg/sheep stock unit, useful extra income. “The Wairere flock is the reliable engine room of our ongoing success,” says Jim. “Keep It Simple Stupid, and grow the ewe hoggets well.”

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Derek Daniell (middle) with Jim and Brendan

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Greenpeace snubs olive branches Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

Subtil said ECan had been doing excellent work managing water issues and was supportive and keen to be involved in the meeting.

OLIVE branches are being extended to farming critics in a bid to end the blame game over the environmental impact of agriculture. In the television But Greenpeace has ignored advertisement that we the branches extended to it by DairyNZ and Irrigation NZ to challenged, as well deliver another swipe at dairying. as in comments to Omarama farmer Richard media, Greenpeace Subtil, who last month was the victim of vandals who slashed 44 is deliberately tyres on a pivot irrigator in what grandstanding, voicing was considered an anti-irrigation their opinion as if it is attack, invited farm critics to view his farm and discuss its impact on fact. the environment. Subtil said last month’s incident had become a catalyst for him to Dr Tim Mackle try to bridge the widening urban DairyNZ and rural gap. He extended an open invitation to critics to meet him and wife His aim was to reach agreement Annabelle on Omarama Station. on ways to address environmental “I want us to constructively get issues affecting both urban and together without any baggage, rural sectors while identifying to sit down and establish some those that were more challenging mutual empathy and establish but which could be worked on what is actually happening rather together. than preconceived ideas. Subtil also hoped to identify “If we carry on the way we are HW0964_200x265-1stB 2017-02-07T11:42:30+13:00 going, shouting at each other from those who were willing to work together to address issues. a distance, we are not going to get “We are in a little country of anything done.”

four million people where there is a massive amount of rural activity that makes the economy’s wheels turn. “We need to get it right so everybody can live in communities that are thriving in a sustainable way.” DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle called for Greenpeace to stop “scaremongering” and “misleading” the public and to actively work with dairy, the rural sector and urban communities to improve the state of our rivers. “Only by working together with other agricultural sectors and our urban cousins can we achieve the changes that we all desire.” But Greenpeace responded with a press release warning South Canterbury’s Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme would “drive more conversions to industrial dairying” and more pollution. It also circulated an opinion piece saying DairyNZ was in denial about the environmental impact of dairying and was unwilling to take meaningful action. Mackle was angry at the group’s tactics, especially an advertisement he said unfairly laid all the blame for water degradation with dairy farmers and for “ignoring” a December

HERE I AM: Omarama Station owner Richard Subtil has issued and open invitation to critics to visit his farm to discuss its environmental impact.

DairyNZ briefing about efforts by farmers and scientists to improve the environment. “In the television advertisement that we challenged, as well as in comments to media, Greenpeace is deliberately grandstanding, voicing their opinion as if it is fact,” he said. The Advertising Standards Authority did not uphold

DairyNZ’s complaint and Mackle said the organisation was not going to appeal against it. Greenpeace required conflict to support their fundraising, he said. Irrigation NZ levelled a similar claim last month when it met Greenpeace, saying the group used farming to create division and conflict to preserve its Auckland funding base.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

GDT result keeps forecasts steady Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com A SMALL rise in prices for dairy commodities in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction kept milk price forecasts steady in the range $6 to $6.25/kg of milksolids. After the GDT event Synlait lifted its forecast price by 25c to $6.25 while Fonterra remained on $6, a prediction it made in mid November. “International dairy commodity prices have improved further since our last announcement in November and although prices have eased slightly in early 2017, we believe $6.25 is now a realistic estimate for the current season,” Synlait chairman Graeme Milne said. Fonterra Australia increased

its average payout to A$5.20 (NZ$5.50/kg), which managing director Rene Dedoncker said resulted from improved global commodity markets and progress on key initiatives for the Australian business. Fonterra chairman John Wilson said that the price increase was aligned to global prices, not in response to its Australian competitors. In Australia, milk supply was highly competitive, given the fragmented processing base and no growth in volume, Wilson said. Overnight on February 7, the GDT price index rose 1.3%, assisted by whole milk powder average prices rising 1%, butter up nearly 5% and anhydrous milk fat (AMF) up 4%. After gaining 20% over two months from mid-October to

REALISTIC: Synlait’s increased milk price is realistic, chairman Graeme Milne says.

early December, the GDT price index then fell 2.5% during the subsequent two months, mid December to early February. Analysts called it market consolidation, underpinned by tight global supply and some encouraging signs of improving Chinese demand. “The lift in the GDT, which coincided with the Chinese New Year, provided a positive signal for demand ahead,” Westpac economist Sarah Drought said. AgriHQ dairy analyst Susan Kilsby spoke of concerns the NZ premiums for milk powders would not be sustained but the auction results allayed those concerns. NZ skim milk powder was achieving about US$500/ tonne premium over year-old European intervention stocks, she said.

ALF profit to recover in H2 Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com ALLIED Farmers’ latest halfyear earnings are down on the previous year but the company expects to make up the shortfall during second-half trading. The after-tax profit for the six months ended December 31 would be about $420,000, chairman Garry Bluett said. That was a provisional

Continued from page 1 food importers Russia has been a significant butter market in the past for NZ. That trade suffered when Rosselkhoznadzor followed other countries and blacklisted 61 of the 81 factories licensed to export to Russia in response to Fonterra’s botulism scare in 2013. While the restrictions were lifted by other countries after Fonterra gave its products the all-clear Russia continued to drag its feet. The trade was only partially restored in late 2015 after 29 factories got the green light to resume export of a limited range of dairy products. However, butter remained on the prohibited list for the

result, with the full accounts expected to be released in late February. The first-half figure a year earlier was $610,000. The lower earnings were caused by lower tallies in the bobby calf processing operations, less favourable United States dollar exchange rates and poorer skin prices. Sales were down 15%, with reduced margins as well. Partly offsetting that result was a 13% increase in overall

factories blacklisted by the Russians two years earlier. As a result, NZ’s dairy exports to Russia totalled just $44m in 2015, a far cry from the nearly $200m sold there in 2009. Repeated requests to Moscow for inspectors to re-audit dairy factories shut out of the Russian market went nowhere and the suspicion in diplomatic circles was that NZ is being punished for siding with the West against Russia over its involvement in Syria and Ukraine. Former Prime Minister John Key recalled then Trade Minister Tim Groser from Moscow on the eve of a free-trade deal with Russia in early 2014 on diplomatic grounds after Kremlin-backed troops invaded Crimea.

livestock commissions, helped by improved livestock prices. Dairy herd sales were the main contributor to second half earnings and many of them were contracted well in advance of settlement, Bluett said. Forward sales so far were significantly ahead of the same time last year and directors expected the first-half impact to be recovered. Most of the dairy herd settlements were scheduled for May.

Groser was understood to have further antagonised Moscow by instructing exporters to hold back from filling the gap created by Russia’s ban on food imports from some Western countries. Another source with Russian connections said while diplomatic retaliation appeared to be one factor in the threats against NZ dairy another was pressure on officials to be seen to be vigilant on food safety. By making an example of supposedly sub-standard imports the Russian officials were drawing attention away from a host of food safety and animal health problems plaguing local food production. They included African swine fever affecting pork production in southern Russia and bird flu in poultry.

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

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

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

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

What’s up with sheep parasites?

arasitism costs the New Zealand sheep industry $270 million annually, with farmers spending $50 million on drench to try gain control. to gain control. All grazing animals will be exposed to worms that, if left uncontrolled, result in reduced growth rates, illness and death. Young stock with little developed immunity are most susceptible to parasites. However, there will be times when even adult stock performance can be impacted by parasites.

of farms tested had resistance to one or more drench actives, currently available in double and triple combinations. There is no evidence to suggest this situation has improved to date. The arrival of two new drench actives (montepantel and derquantel) will offer some respite, but these products are already under pressure to remain effective. It is clear from these studies that if nothing changes in the way we use drenches, it will be a case of when, not if, drench resistance will develop on every farm.

For over 40 years drenching has been an incredibly effective control method used for parasite control. Today we have there are aa number number of different drench actives and formulation types that have given farmers the upper hand in the battle against parasites. The first recording of worms being drench resistant in 1979 signaled a change in the balance of power that continues to move away from the farmers. farmers. A 2006 study on over 80 New Zealand farms, found that 64% of farms had resistance to Albendazole, 25% to Ivermectin and 24% to Levamisole as a single active. More worryingly, this study also found that 64%

Farmers need to act to decrease the cost of resistance The good news is that now there are a few simple things farmers can do to better manage existing drenches to ensure they continue to be an effective option. A good place to start is to take a fresh look at how drenches are being used and whether or not those practises are accelerating or slowing the development of drench resistant worms. There are some practical recommendations that will prolong the effectiveness of the products table products.we Seehave. tableSee opposite. opposite.

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• Breeding animals with increased immunity/tolerance to worm infection • Providing refugia to ensure drench susceptible worms remain dominant in worm populations • Using regular faecal egg counts to monitor for changes in worm burdens and efficacy of treatments • Minimising the drenching of adult animals.

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Know the drench status of the yourfarm farm

• Know how effective each drench active is • Know what the level of resistance is for each worm on the farm.

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Quarantine drench all stock coming onto the farm

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Beef & Lamb R & D Brief 67: Sustainable Internal Parasite Control for Sheep Prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep farms in New Zealand. Waghorn, T.S.et al: N ZVJ 54: 271-277, 2006.

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Farm with greater certainty

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Invest wisely, Rabobank warns Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com NEW Zealand agriculture faces considerable change and uncertainty in 2017 because of global protectionism and increasing environmental regulation, Rabobank says. The global co-operative bank published its 2017 NZ agribusiness outlook, saying a “moment of truth” was coming. The outlook was written by the bank’s food and agribusiness research and advisory team in Australia and NZ. Back home the general election this year might result in changes in greenhouse gas liabilities, resource use taxes, the prospects for genetic engineering and the rules around foreign investment should the National Party lose its grip on power. That would be on top of the usual risks in weather, market prices and geopolitical events, Rabobank NZ country banking general manager Hayley Moynihan said. “As such, the case for cautious investment in NZ agriculture is stronger than ever in 2017.” An industry traditionally characterised by a liberal operating environment and a key beneficiary of several decades of global shift to free trade, agriculture faced a period of heightened regulatory uncertainty. “The industry will be keeping a close watch on global trade developments following Donald Trump’s election in the United States and the resulting breakdown of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement,” Moynihan said. “It brings with it increased risk of an escalation to rising protectionism already evident through the last few years in many parts of the world. “It increases the importance

PIVOTAL: How the primary sector copes with this year will shape its future for years to come, Rabobank New Zealand country banking general manager Hayley Moynihan says.

The importance to the agricultural sector of the coming year should not be underestimated. Hayley Moynihan Rabobank of this year’s trade negotiations with China – on an improved free-trade agreement (FTA) – and with the United Kingdom and the European Union on FTAs,” she said. In Waikato and Southland significant regional plan changes

had the potential to increase costs and restrict intensification or change land use. A change of government to a Labour, Greens and New Zealand First coalition would accelerate the changes in that area. “The importance to the agricultural sector of the coming year should not be underestimated. “How it navigates through this period will fundamentally shape its prospects in the years to come,” she said. Concerning commodities, Rabobank said dairy recovery would result in increased milk production but the national supply in the second half of 2017 would depend on strategic decisions made in the coming months.

Many farmers, having drawn on working capital in the past 18 months, would now have to choose between paying down debt and investing in growth. NZ dairying was entering a new era with constraints on growth from environmental restrictions and access to resources and the increasing social pressures on farming practices. Beef prices around the world would trend downwards because of record production and the efforts of Brazil to access more markets, such as Japan and Korea. Lower cattle slaughter numbers here and in Australia would help competition in key markets for both countries, like the US. Sheep meat prices would face the headwind of a strong NZ dollar and improvement in strong

wool prices was unlikely in the first half of 2017. The horticulture sector would reach $3 billion in exports after a record avocado crop and the prospect of record apple exports from a harvest of 21.5m cartons this summer. The sector was benefiting from free-trade agreements with Asian nations but also faced the strong NZD headwind. Grape production had more than doubled over the past decade and the prices for growers were improving to exceed $1500/tonne but Rabobank thought the preGFC prices of $2000 would not be bettered this year.

MORE: AUSSIE OUTLOOK

ABORTION STORMS. TWO DISEASES. TWO VACCINES.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Fonterra opens engine room door Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com FONTERRA has explained in detail to institutional investors how it adds value to dairy commodities, generates the bulk of its revenue and earnings and keeps government regulators happy by using a Milk Price Model for reference products. Senior executives passed the baton at an investors’ briefing in Auckland, expounding on aspects of operations, financial reporting and growth strategy in what they called the engine room of the giant co-operative. Chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini began by saying Fonterra was the world’s largest dairy processor and the world’s largest dairy product exporter. It had 17% market share of global exports, including 48% of whole milk powder and 39% of butter. Fonterra’s modern word for commodities, ingredients, accounted for two-thirds of normalised earnings, being $1.2 billion last financial year. About 95% of those ingredients earnings came from New Zealand operations with only minor contributions from Australia and Latin America. In the 2016 financial year ingredients made a 13.4% return on capital, compared with 9.3% the previous year. From milk collection and processing optimisation, contracts with customers for specifications and supply terms, followed by production to plan with minimum costs and maximum qualities and subsequent storage and shipments, Fonterra maximised its ingredient returns, Paravicini said. In FY2016 the ingredients division had exceeded the Milk Price Model benchmark by 30% in revenue of $11.8b, by 70% in gross margin of $1.7b and by 75% in normalised Ebit for NZ operations of $1.14b.

By disclosing those figures, Fonterra showed it was delivering added value to dairy commodities – hence the ingredients name – and that it exceeded the performance of a theoretical competitor, to justify its special position of industry dominance under NZ legislation. Factors that were part of the added-value premium included timing of sales, asset flexibility, customers’ willingness to pay more, the product mix, operating performance and the ability to arbitrage. Paravicini said reference commodity products (RCPs) made up 72% of the 2.7 million tonnes of

ingredients manufactured in NZ in FY2016. They were milk powders and some cream products versus nonRCPs like cheese, casein and milk protein concentrate. The non-RCP products could range between 25% and 45% of total ingredients production within the year and year-by-year. Last financial year non-RCPs achieved $2.30/kg gross margin compared with 59c for RCPs and together the average was $1.10/kg versus only 64c indicated by the Milk Price Model. The worldwide milk pool strategy was in place to enable growth of ingredients to satisfy

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growing consumer demand, secure continued access in Sri Lanka and China, de-risk supply for ingredients customers and provide opportunities for food service. Through asset flexibility, product optimisation and the use of futures markets, Fonterra could make higher sustainable earnings that would be more difficult for its competitors to match, Paravicini said. NZ Milk Products sales and transformation director Josh Sigmund said product optimisation was done over a continuously advancing 18-month time frame, from strategic, to

tactical, to operational at the shortest end. The factors were commodity prices and stream returns, the NZ milk production supply, the NZ processing asset footprint and customers’ needs. Essentially, it was allocating the total solids in milk (14%, including protein, fat, lactose and minerals) into the highest value product streams. Greater optionality was possible on the shoulders of the milk supply season. Global operations chief operating officer Robert Spurway

Continued page 10

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10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Jingoism a threat to world trading Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com

GROWTH: Fonterra is prepared to budget for sustainable milk supply growth of 2-3% a year, chief executive Theo Spierings says.

RESURGENT nationalism in Britain, Russia, Turkey, China and the United States has brought uncertainty to world dairy markets, Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says. Protectionism threatened world trade and volatile prices in world markets were here to stay, he told an investors’ presentation. Climate change threatened world food OPS0025

production, which accounted for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Food was 40% of global employment and accounted for 10% of all consumer spending. But food productivity growth was only 1% a year and if that could be raised to 2-3% it could alleviate world poverty. Fonterra was prepared to budget on 2-3% sustainable milk supply growth in New Zealand but offshore milk was needed to meet demand. Spierings presented the V3 strategic framework “to be the world’s most trusted source of dairy nutrition”.

Food service and consumer sales had grown by 15% and 5% respectively.

In FY 2016 ingredients sales volume had grown by 19% to be 58% of total sales, mostly at the expense of the GDT price-setting auction channel, which had fallen by 24% to be 20% of the total. Food service and consumer sales had grown by 15% and 5% respectively. The food service and consumer products volume had grown by a billion litres over the past two years and now accounted for 20% of the total sales of 23.7b litres combined. “If the scale of our capacity is matched by greater depth and flexibility in sales channels and financial markets, substantially higher and less volatile earnings are possible,” he said. Spierings said Fonterra remained on track to deliver its strategy of shifting more milk into valueadded products by 2025. It was aiming for $35b turnover, to be the number one ingredients dairy company in the world and to be number one or two in key strategic consumer markets. Continued from page 8 said 96 primary plants across 33 sites accounted for 50% of the costs of total global operations of $3.7b last financial year, equivalent to $2.47/kg of milksolids handled. Milk collection was an additional $400m, secondary processing $700m and shipping costs $500m. The main focus was on widening the gap to the Milk Price Model but strategic decisions had been made to take on more cost to produce more non-RCPs or add value to RCPs. Large capital expenditure to add overall capacity had now finished and this financial year significantly reduced spending was focused on investing for returns, environmental reasons and for just staying in business. NZMP chief operating officer Kelvin Wickham said his segmented customer base included powders for repackaging, beverages and cultured brands, foods that used dairy as a key ingredient, active nutritional products and paediatric products. His large team around the world had a proven record in navigating volatility, building markets and innovation and was earning premiums for product and service differentiation above the reference prices.

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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Westland Milk handles rail loss Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com THE South Island has lost another vital railway link but while frustrating it is not insurmountable, West Coasters say. The Waitangi weekend fire that ripped through 300 hectares of scrub and forest on conservation land in Canterbury extensively damaged rail infrastructure on the Midland line that runs from Christchurch to Greymouth, forcing closure of the rail link for at least six weeks. That left the mid and upper South lsland without any rail link east to west or north from Christchurch where rail infrastructure remained extensively damaged from the November earthquake. The fire happened at Broken River near Castle Hill on February 5 with a full assessment of the rail infrastructure revealing significant damage to the track, signal services and several bridges. A KiwiRail spokesman said crews from around the country would be brought in to do repairs as soon as possible but a lot of the work would be complicated by the difficulty of gaining access to the sites where the damage had occurred, adding time to the work. KiwiRail was still working through the quickest course of action to reinstate the line and meantime the rail link used by the TranzAlpine passenger train and freight trains would remain closed. The cause of the fire was still being investigated. The closure affected passenger and freight services carrying coal and dairy products from the West Coast. Westland Milk Products was a major customer affected but its supply chain general manager Raul Elias-Drago said the dairy co-operative was able to truck product from the West Coast to Christchurch. “Westland has long had a dual system of transport utilising both road and rail, with a built-in ability to switch between the two depending on volumes, time of

year, product mix and, of course, road and rail conditions,” Elias-Drago said. The choice of transport mode had been an important part of day to day operations and a cornerstone in developing a flexible supply chain. “It’s part of our West Coast DNA. This means we are well set up to cover contingencies such as the current disruption to the east-west rail line,” he said. Westland Milk could use its own fleet of trucks and had partnerships with other carriers to transport goods as and when required. These were strong partnerships that had been in place for some time and the system worked smoothly and cost effectively, Elias-Drago said.

It’s part of our West Coast DNA. This means we are well set up to cover contingencies such as the current disruption to the eastwest rail line. Raul Elias-Drago Westland Milk The number of extra truck journeys would depend on the co-operative’s needs and what goods were being sent for export, which could vary every day, he said. Westland had also received offers from several road transport carriers with capacity to help. “Nevertheless, our own systems are working very well at this stage and can be maintained indefinitely so there is no pressure as regards the length of time it might take for rail to be operating again,” Elias-Drago said. Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn

NO PROBLEM: Westland Milk has transport systems set up so it can get products to market despite the loss of the rail link.

said the Midland line was a major link that would have wide reaching impact on the West Coast. But the region had a good agricultural base that would sustain it through this temporary blip and into the future. “These things come along and you just have to deal with it. “The South Island has certainly had its fair share in recent times – if it comes out of left field over the past six years, we’ve had it,” Kokshoorn said. “And we have to keep building resilience, that’s exactly what the South Island is about, building resilience into our systems for the future.” Kokshoorn said dairy farming was a cornerstone industry for the West Coast. “From a dairying point of view we are strong. We have a good co-operative and it is confident it can adequately fill the rail gap with road transport for a good six weeks and more.” Coal was another major rail commodity but if there was a good time for no rail for coal it was now, Kokshoorn said. “With the global crash in coal prices from $300 a tonne to $100 and the Solid Energy mine closures dropping production from 2.5 million tonnes to one million tonnes a year, the demand is not there. From a tourism point of view it was disappointing because the region experienced a bumper tourist season with several thousand people booked on the TranzAlpine passenger service over the coming weeks.

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Drought the fifth in eight years Hutchings said he wouldn’t benefit from the declaration personally but would get through the fifth drought in the past eight years. “Our stored feed is just about out, no more bag silage is available in the north and we are hanging on for tropical rain events. “Summer crops went in late because of the challenging spring conditions and the maize has dried off well below its optimum yield.” Rural Support Trust chairman Lindsay Wells said last week’s rain was welcome but variable and not enough to cancel the drought. “Any pasture benefits from that rain will be two weeks away and follow-ups will be needed – in the meantime we will carry on with the programme of drought meetings for farmers.”

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DRY: No soil moisture on the Bay of Islands farm of Jane, left, and Roger Hutchings, with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy at the official drought declaration. Looking on in the background were Rural Support Trust chairman Lindsay Wells and Fonterra Farm Source regional head for Northland, Eric Morrison.

ELE-02025J-FW

THE developing Northland drought will cut milk production by 25,000kg of milksolids and cost at least $200,000 for Lodore Farm, owned by Roger and Jane Hutchings, at Okaihau. The herd of 640 Ayrshire cows went onto once-a-day milking on January 10 and was now getting up to twothirds of feed intake from supplementary sources, Hutchings said. Although 45mm of rain fell last week, it was the first significant rain since the end of October and regular follow-up falls would be needed. Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy visited Hutchings’ farm on February 3 when Guy declared a medium-scale adverse event in Northland because of drought.

News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

SFF accounting rules changed SILVER Fern Farms’ operating business is now being treated as an associate investment by the co-operative after the investment by Shanghai Maling. Maling’s 50% shareholding and ultimate casting vote at the board of table meant under international accounting rules the meat processing and exporting companies could no longer be treated as a full part of the co-op entity, the directors said in the annual report. The report covered the year ended September 30, before the deal was completed, and did not include any pro-forma financials post the December 6 effective date. The operating business, the new Silver Fern Farms Ltd (SFFL), had five directors each from Silver Fern Farms Co-operative Ltd and Shanghai Maling. As reported, there was a cochair regime in place but the

Maling appointee would have the casting vote if required on issues such as the business plan, annual budget and financial statements, dividend policy and status of the chief executive. Because of this, the co-operative no longer controlled the operating business, the report said. Maling paid $266.2 million for the 50% holding and of that, $57m was paid to Silver Fern Co-op, reflecting the reduction in group assets applying to the co-op. It has since spent about $5.5m redeeming supplier investment shares and paying a dividend to co-op shareholders this week would take up $34.5m. In the accounts, SFF took a $29.6m writedown in the value of year-end assets, mainly in the profit and loss column and also reversing some previous revaluations. The asset impairment was also required by accounting rules to reflect the value paid by Maling. All major conditions of the deal had been completed by

September 30 and by that time the directors viewed settlement as highly probable. In previous years writing down assets was problematic for SFF and directors were required in some years, notably in 2014 and 2015, to do a “going concern” evaluation of the business, which was adopted. In 2015, the auditors, EY, noted the “going concern” assumption was dependent on the deal with Maling being completed and there would be material uncertainty if it wasn’t. By the time of the latest report, the deal was in, the uncertainty had disappeared and the “going concern” process belonged to the past even though the group made a $7.5m operating loss and bottom line loss of $30.6m in the September 2016 year, in what it said was a difficult trading environment. The group had also incurred $13.48m in costs relating to the Maling deal, on top of $5.8m in costs the previous year.

CASH IN HAND: Silver Fern Farms Co-op chairman Rob Hewett says all debt has been repaid and there is $90 million left for investment.

Though there were no proforma financials for the new operating business in the annual report, Silver Fern Co-op chairman and SFFL co-chair Rob Hewett said that of the $210m received in the business, all borrowings were repaid, leaving $90m for investment. Directors said the co-operative now owned 50% of a wellcapitalised, operating business. The report said SFFL had negotiated new arrangements for working capital, overdraft and seasonal facilities for the period to September 30 this year.

The investment focus was on developing retail branded products in NZ and world markets. For the 2016 year, SFF’s revenues fell 12% to $2.14 billion because of lower market prices, especially for beef in the US and lamb in China and the Middle East, a much stronger NZ dollar against the euro, sterling and US dollar and lower industry volumes. The group had maintained market share but cattle and lamb volumes overall were down 5% on a year earlier and venison by 20%, the report said.

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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

NFU rails against kiwi lamb Colin Ley A LAMB product mislabelling spat between England’s National Farmers Union and the United Kingdom supermarket chain, Waitrose, could end up costing New Zealand exporters a bit of high profile business. The fallout began when the NFU rapped the supermarket over the knuckles for branding some of its lamb ready meals as British when the small print declared they were actually based on NZ lamb. As a result Waitrose, according to the NFU, said that in the short term it would ensure all products had the origin of the lamb clearly marked on the front of pack. “Waitrose has also committed to re-branding the range and is looking at a better solution to meet customer needs in the future,” the NFU, whose complaint against the supermarket focused on meals that were branded as Waitrose British despite their NZ base, said. When Farmers Weekly asked Waitrose if the term ‘better solution’ meant removing NZ lamb from these products and replacing it with British lamb, the response wasn’t entirely

JUST ADD WORDS: British supermarket Waitrose has been forced to relabel packs after coming under fire for putting New Zealand lamb in British meals.

encouraging for NZ producers. “We have challenged our supplier to explore the practicalities of using more British lamb in our ready meals,” a Waitrose spokesman said. “At the moment, because of our policy of buying and utilising the whole carcase, we do not have sufficient raw material available to make this change but,

nevertheless, we are exploring this option.” NFU president Meurig Raymond was keen to drive home the union’s domestic advantage, pointing out the inclusion of the word British in the brand name, despite the meat being sourced from NZ, was misleading for shoppers and frustrating for British farmers.

Blue Sky directors say ‘accept offer’ Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com BLUE Sky Meat’s directors have backed down from earlier advice telling shareholders to hold out for a higher price after the Chinese company seeking to take over the Southland company refused to budge. The Blue Sky Meats (BSM) board had asked NZ Binxi to increase its offer from $2.20 a share to $2.50 based on the potential of a new strategic plan the board said would improve the performance of the company and increase its value. But that was rejected by Binxi as illegal under NZ takeover law. Directors have now recommended shareholders accept the original offer of $2.20 a share. In a letter to shareholders chairman Scott O’Donnell said directors holding 32.66% of BSM shares would accept Binxi’s offer. Binxi already owned 13.53% of the company. The closing date for acceptance was February 18 and with the board’s endorsement and directors agreeing to sell, Farmers Weekly has been told Binxi could get close to the 90% required to make acceptance mandatory. O’Donnell said NZ Binxi’s was the best offer when BSM looked for a potential buyer last year and its $2.20 offer was at the top end of the valuation determined by an independent adviser. The board believed it unlikely a

new buyer would emerge offering a higher price and it also accepted that while there was potential for future value growth from its new strategy, there were also risks. “In addition, it is possible that shareholders may need to provide new capital to fund the capital expenditure contemplated by the strategy.” In its takeover document Binxi said it had no plans to change the business activities, material assets or capital structure of BSM other than investment required to enhance efficiency, environmental or health and safety compliance or to meet conditions set by the Overseas Investment Office. BSM began operating a sheep meat plant near Invercargill in 1987, adding a beef plant near Gore about two years ago, which has required investment to become fully operative. In 2014 NZ Binxi bought 24.9% of Oamaru Meats from Lean Meats, a plant that could now process beef, lamb and calves. The following year it bought the business outright. NZ Binxi was a subsidiary of Heilongjiang Binxi Cattle Industry Co, a large agricultural company near the northern Chinese city of Harbin. Its Chinese operation could process 200,000 cattle, two million pigs and produce 200,000 tonnes of further processed product each year, some of which was sold through its 100 retail outlets across Harbin.

“After extensive discussions between us, however, we’re now pleased to see some changes being made,” he said, adding that new on-pack stickers now clarified the sourcing of the ingredients, with agreement also reached on a long-term plan for a full rebrand of the British product range to avoid any future confusion on sourcing.

“During these discussions we also urged the retailers to make the most of the high-quality British food products our farmers produce. “This is the best way to celebrate British provenance with their customers and we’ll continue to push this message with Waitrose and others in the supply chain.”

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14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Feds closely watching internet bill’s progress

GET ON WITH IT: If Federated Farmers sees slow progress on the Telecommunications Amendment Bill it will be putting pressure on the Government, communication spokesman Anders Crofoot says.

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FEDERATED Farmers is closely watching the progress of a low profile bill through Parliament that promises to boost internet access via high speed fibre optic cable for thousands of rural households. The Telecommunications (Property access and other matters) Amendment Bill intends to enable internet providers to access power poles on private property to install latest generation telecommunications equipment, including fibre optic cable links. Before Christmas the bill passed through Parliament’s commerce committee after undergoing some amendments. It now sits 19th on order for a final reading before ultimately passing into law. Federated Farmers communications spokesman Anders Crofoot said the bill’s ranking was “reasonably far down the list” for something that fitted well with the Government’s roll-out of the second Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI 2). “We will be watching to see how fast things progress through that order. If it moves at a reasonable pace, fine, but the order can also be shuffled. If we see less important stuff get in the way we will be pushing to move it up.” RBI 2 includes $100 million allocated to extend rural broadband further, with a goal that 85% of New Zealanders will have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2024. The ability of internet service providers or power companies to string fibre along power poles on private property has been viewed as a key part of achieving that goal. Digital consultant Ernie Newman said he was surprised the Government had not given the bill a higher ranking for hearings. “I have a client who is as keen as mustard to be involved when it can happen. There is a huge PR opportunity for the Government. I am surprised they are not making more of it by giving it greater priority.” A spokesman for Communications Minister Simon Bridges referred Farmers Weekly to the Parliament website. The amended bill enables landowners who have power poles on their property to be entitled to a free fibre optic connection if cable is being put along those poles, providing their dwelling is within 200m of the power poles. Crofoot said he understood landowners with poles between 200m and 500m from their dwelling might be able to negotiate a discounted rate for a fibre optic connection. “We did a survey of our members and while it won’t cover everyone, that is a pretty reasonable compromise. Getting free connections no matter what the distance would make it unattractive for internet businesses.” He was confident smaller, community-owned lines companies, in particular, would be heading the charge to get fibre run over power poles. “They are the most likely to see the community benefit of this, ahead of the pure profit motive. “But I also suspect because of the way the bill has been drafted up it will be possible for lines companies to work with internet providers to offer the service.” Northland based Northpower has been a strong driver for the bill, maintaining it will help remove $100m in easement costs in its region alone to get better rural internet access.

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16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Paper roads not part of farmland Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

OBLIGING: With the paper road virtually impassable Alastair Studholme is happy to provide this alternative private track for public access to the river next to his farm. Photo: Annie Studholme

BEING forewarned is being forearmed when it comes to understanding the status of a paper road, Federated Farmers policy adviser Bob Douglas says. Douglas said he was fielding more and more inquiries from farmers who had suddenly discovered they “have a paper road on my property”. “The answer is no – the paper road is not part of the property, if a legal road is there it’s a legal road and it’s not your land,” he said. The development of the Walking Access Mapping System (WAMS) had heightened public awareness of the existence of paper roads, the more formal technology being unformed legal road (ULR).

WAMS, run by the NZ Walking Access Commission, was freely available to the public and had now been operational for five years. “An unexpected approach from a third party can cast doubt on whether a stretch of land that the family has ploughed for umpteen generations is, in fact, yours to plough,” Douglas said. “So is your land, your land? What are your rights and what can be done about it?” Douglas said of prime importance was being well aware of what a paper road was. “The only difference between an unformed legal road (ULR) and the village High Street was the prefix un. “The public has the same rights on paper roads as it has on any formed legal road. “So, as such, the paper road is not on your property. It may split your property but the land that it is on is likely to have been Crown land at some stage and is now under the control of the local district or city council.” Douglas encouraged farmers to check their property on the map at www.wams.org.nz, “right now”. “Forewarned is forearmed,” he said. The system was updated regularly from information held by Land Information NZ (LINZ), the authoritative source of survey and title information in NZ. “If you believe the WAMS maps contain errors the commission is quite happy to look into this for you,” Douglas said. Other useful information could be available from a check of the land title or with the council. If it was determined that a road did exist there was a legal way in which it could be closed. Advice on that was available to Federated Farmers members on the fact sheet Stopping an unformed legal road. But Douglas had a warning. “Only consider this step if you believe it is absolutely essential. “Adopting the let sleeping dogs lie philosophy is often the best policy,” he said. Success in stopping the road did not automatically transfer ownership of the paper road to the adjacent landowner. “Stopping a paper road only stops it being used as a legal road,” Douglas said. Ashburton Forks farmer Chris Allen had discovered a paper road on his property. “It went from a (formed) road to the middle of a paddock on the farm. It went nowhere and so there was no point in it.”

Allen successfully had the road closed but it was not a process he would recommend. “It took six years and it was a very robust and public process of notification with the local council. It’s not something I would rush to recommend,” Allen said. Mid Canterbury sheep and cropping farmer Alastair Studholme farms Coldstream Estate, the 800-hectare property taking in a 3.5 kilometre boundary with the Rangitata River.

The paper road is not part of the property, if a legal road is there it’s a legal road and it’s not your land. Bob Douglas Federated Farmers He had long been aware of a paper road that supposedly allowed access to Department of Conservation (DOC) recreation reserve and the Rangitata River. That road had a shingle pit right in the middle of it and to gain access required a steep climb up the pit bank. “I have never seen a person on it but if they want to walk it, that’s their right. “It pretty much stops in the middle of nowhere against some DOC land classified as recreational reserve and as I understand means no vehicles, guns or dogs,” Studholme said. However, happy to see people enjoying the river environment, Studholme voluntarily provided access to the river along a private farm track. “I have an alternative route that I keep open for public access. It’s treated like a public road and I don’t think people that use it realise it’s not a public road.” Used mainly by fishermen and dog walkers with the occasional shooter passing through, Studholme said the public was generally well behaved. “They are good at shutting gates and generally very well respecting of the opportunity and we are happy to provide public access for people to enjoy the recreation the river provides.” Studholme said he also had plenty of people front up to ask for permission to cross his property for access to the river. “I have never denied a reasonable request,” he said.

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18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Bag scanner to help meat grading Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

INNOVATOR: Scott Technology managing director Chris Hopkins plans to have beef carcase measurement technology in an Australian works this year.

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THE Australian roll-out of objective beef carcase measurement into meat plants could benefit a New Zealand developer and pioneer. Scott Technology, a Dunedin based engineering company specialising in designing and making automated production lines, has developed a DEXA system, which uses x-ray technology to measure meat, fat and bone in sheep carcases. It was being rolled out into plants in NZ and Australia and by the end of the year it would have been adapted and installed in an Australian works as the world’s first DEXA system for grading and measuring beef carcases. The lamb system was expensive at between $1.5 million and $3m but several NZ companies were adopting the technology. Scott managing director Chris Hopkins said DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) technology could soon be in use in up to 90 Australian beef processing plants as part of a move by farmers to be paid based on the true value and yield of their animals. It had been reported Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) had proposed borrowing $NZ160m to install DEXA systems in 90 beef plants in what was seen as the first step towards the scientific measurement of saleable meat yield but also to provide information back to farmers to assist with breeding programmes. Hopkins said Scott was one of several companies vying to supply the MLA with DEXA technology. Scott’s version of the technology emerged from a project to develop robots to work in meat cutting rooms. They needed a way to identify the correct and optimum place for the robots to cut the carcase and about 12 years ago they investigated ultra sound and CT scanners but found x-ray technology to be the best. Initially, the system revealed only weight apportion but following further work they refined DEXA to differentiate meat from fat and bone and made it applicable for use on lambs.

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Hopkins said it was the same technology used to scan luggage at airports. Its use in beef was less advanced than in lamb but the first full system would be installed in an Australian plant later this year as part of a long-term strategy to increase automation in beef processing plants. “It’s a long-term vision but we have got to start somewhere. Lamb has taken us 12 years.” But the rewards were real, with automated primal and middle cuts in lambs estimated to be worth an extra $6 a carcase from reduced waste and optimising the cuts. Hopkins said they discovered not all lambs had the same number of ribs so DEXA ensured they were able to optimise the cuts for French racks. Using rotary knives rather than a band saw reduced waste by 1mm a cut and by using robots to make a scallop cut in lamb loin fillets instead of a butcher making a straight cut, waste was reduced by 70 grams a fillet.

It’s a long-term vision but we have got to start somewhere. Lamb has taken us 12 years. Chris Hopkins Scott Technology Before Christmas Scott hosted a meeting with MLA and NZ meat companies to update them on the developments and to discuss new technology. Hopkins said it was also designed to get consensus about the technology route the industry wanted to take. Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie said even though the two countries competed for markets, it made sense for NZ to collaborate with Australia in developing new processing technology because it used limited resources and NZ’s strength was in sheep meat processing and Australia’s in beef. NZ was investing in research and development such as with the Ovine Automation programme, which involved nine companies. Ritchie said there were problems common to both NZ and Australia such as food safety, meat quality, labour shortages and health and safety. “If we can work through some of those, both sides can benefit.” Scott’s robotic automation developments included lamb x-ray, primal, mid and forequarter cuts. Hopkins said the next focus was on automated cutting of the hind quarter then its focus would shift to technology for packing such as automated guided vehicles. “The focus has been at the front end boning room to make sure the cut was being done accurately, that it is able to process it to optimum and maximise the value of the carcase.”

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

New tool helps cut nutrient loss Bryan Gibson bryan.gibson@nzx.com A FARMER can collect all the data in the world but it’s deciding what it means and how to implement it that can be the difference between progress and treading water. One Central Hawke’s Bay farmer has been letting a new decision-support tool crunch the numbers and now has a clear strategy to mitigate nutrient loss on his farm. MitAgator was the product of a Primary Growth Partnership involving the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. It was developed by AgResearch. It took raw nutrient data and turned it into onfarm outcomes. Ballance farm sustainability services specialist North Island team leader Christina Finlayson has been trialling the tool with Miles McBain, who farms the 300ha Kahotea in the Papanui subcatchment of the Tukituki River. The mixed cropping and stock fattening farm was in an area known for high levels of dissolved phosphorus concentrations and was a priority for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Finlayson, who was using the project to complete her master’s degree, said the process started with a nutrient budget produced in Overseer. “Then we work with the mapping team at Ballance and they develop the map and work in all the GIS layers.” The nutrient budget and the farm map package were then entered into MitAgator. “We push the button and it develops the different risk maps.” From there Finlayson went back to the farm and worked with the farmer to establish where his or her hotspots were, based on the different contaminants that were important in particular catchments. “We prioritise what contaminant we’re really going to focus on reducing,” she said. “Then we work through the different mitigations by running various scenarios that quantify the reductions to optimise the best place to put, say, a sediment trap.” The key was practicality. “Before recommending a mitigation we need to go onfarm to make sure it is practical. “We’re making sure that while you’re spending all this money on making an environmental improvement it will have the biggest bang for your buck.” McBain said it had been a simple process to go through. “I think it’s a really positive thing. Moving forward we’re going to implement some of the ideas that Christina has come up with to improve things on the land. “There’s all sorts of new ideas and things to do that are pretty exciting.” McBain knew his farm and his catchment and was committed to make gains in terms of nutrient management. “It’s really important. I just hope everybody else around us does the same thing so it all comes together. It’s a community thing.” MitAgator forecast he could make a 36% reduction in phosphorus runoff at the farm. The model also showed 75% of the sediment lost from the farm was from 5-10% of its area. MIles’ wife Megan is a landscape architect and was planning on planting trees and other plants

around the farm – now she can use the sediment risk map as a planting guide to minimise sediment losses. Finlayson said the regional council had been very supportive of the tool’s use. McBain was totally on board as well. “It’s a new system but it seems to have worked really well and done everything we hoped it would. And it’s only going to get easier.”

BY THE NUMBERS: Miles McBain and Ballance farm sustainability services specialist North Island team leader Christina Finlayson survey their options using their MitAgator report.

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20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Eaters should be paying for clean farms Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

with the water quality issues on their own, it’ll just become a cost. “But if we can ask the consumers to pay a premium for IT IS a lot tougher and costlier doing the right thing, then we farming in environmentally can share that burden between sensitive areas and those costs should be reflected in what people everyone who’s involved in the food space.” pay for food, Lake Taupo farmer Taupo catchment farmers were Mike Barton says. required to provide the Waikato With declining lake water Regional Council with annual quality, a combination of land information on fertiliser use, purchases for retirement or a stock numbers, stock sales and change of use, a cap on livestock purchases to prove they had met numbers and nutrient application their stocking and nutrient cap was imposed in the Lake Taupo obligations. catchment. That information could come For farmers like Barton, not only out of annual accounts or receipts had protecting the environment but there was no requirement for caused a decline in income but farmers to supply the council with costs increased while prices their annual financial accounts. received by producers continued Barton had turned what to fall each year. could be a seen as a negative Barton said consumers, obligation in to a positive, by who were the final step in the using the council’s environmental agricultural food chain, could not verification for the nine-farm be divorced from that problem. Taupo Beef branded selling group, “If farmers are asked to deal which sold beef and lamb and soon venison to North Island restaurants. The meat packs carried a symbol noting it came from farming systems credited Friday 17/02/2017 – Saturday 18/02/2017 with protecting Ohura A & P Show Lake Taupo. Venue: Niho Niho Showgrounds, Ohura Food, fun and rural entertainment Regional Equestrian events held over both days councils were Phone: Kristine Carmichael 07 893 7844 introducing a variety of Wednesday 22/02/2017 AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business measures to Three full-day workshops and an evening graduation improve water ceremony run over four months – 22nd Feb, 22nd March, quality, such as 19th April and 17th May Venue: The Park Hotel, Ruapehu, National Park Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz Website: To register for the programme follow this link http://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/understanding-yourfarming-business/

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HELP: Taupo farmer Mike Barton in a lucerne plot used in a grazing trial says farmers can’t deal with water quality issues on their own.

nutrient leaching and emission caps, limiting stock numbers and requiring resource consent for some farming activities, which made any future conversion of land to dairy more difficult. Waikato Regional Council’s resource use director Chris McLay said the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora proposed plan change as drafted, required all farmed properties over 4.1ha to report annual stock numbers, fertiliser use and imported feed. Farms greater than 20ha were required to have farm plans to manage the loss of contaminants with those plans either part of an approved industry-led scheme or by granting of resource consent. Any consent required the development of farm environment plans and appropriate reporting. “We need to be able to measure what farmers are doing in order to track progress towards achieving the objectives of cleaning up the Waikato and Waipa Rivers,” McLay said.

Waikato University economics professor Frank Scrimgeour said the traditional tactic of growing production by increasing fertiliser and feed was no longer a straightforward solution because of environmental constraints. Instead farmers needed to be more efficient in their use of inputs. “They may use the same amount or less but the marginal benefits will increase because they would be less wasteful.” Scrimgeour said gains were possible from increasing the skills of staff, especially managers, an avenue that had not been fully used. “A better farm manager will make better decisions.” Massey University business, innovation and strategy director Hamish Gow said the industry needed to rethink its operating model if it wanted to continue expanding. That meant a shift from using averages to measure impacts to

focus instead on the impact of decisions at the margins. It was a similar quandary for dealing with Auckland’s growing population. “The real question needing to be addressed is to move away from averaging and look at the impact of one more animal or one more human being added, both of which are putting pressure on our structures.” Gow said just what model would allow farming to continue expanding was up for debate but that debate needed to be based on the marginal impacts. “We are using very average economics at the moment to understand how we look at these issues when we need to look at the marginal impacts.” Gow said the uncertainty about land use options would also be felt in land prices as some buyers chose not to invest because they did not know what future constraints they faced.

Top farmers already make more while polluting less Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

Friday 24/02/2017 Kaitaia A & P Show (Indoor Section only) Venue: Te Ahu Centre Hall Contact: Rose Walker 09 406 7084 or freshstart@xtra.co.nz Website: www.kaitaiashow.nz Friday 24/02/2017 – Sunday 26/02/2017 Pongakawa School 125 Year Jubilee Registration: www.jubilee.pongakawa.school.nz Email: jubilee125@pongakawa,school.nz Phone: Frances Patete on 533 3731 Wed to Fri. Facebook: PongakawaSchool125Jubilee Saturday 25/02/2017 Kaitaia A & P Show (Indoor and Outdoor sections) Venue: Kaitaia Show Grounds, South Rd, Kaitaia Contact: Lynne Macrae 09 406 7183 or kaitaia.entries@xtra.co.nz Website: www.kaitaiashow..nz

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A NEW way of measuring dairy farm performance could provide a template for farmers to grow production and profits while cutting their environmental impacts. There was no magical new technology. In fact, the model was already used by farmers who were profitable on a $4.30 payout, being able to operate on a breakeven figure of $3.30. The Ministry for Primary Industries’ Farm Systems Change study looked at the animal health, environmental and financial performance of a select group of high-performing farmers to determine what made them different. Sector policy director Jarred Mair said those

farmers were maximising the use of their capital and in doing so were more profitable, had high production and in some cases an environmental footprint 40% lower than contemporaries while meeting strict nitrogen caps. “They are efficient capital structures and processes.” Case studies found farms making a 40% return on investment in a low-payout environment and 100% when the payout was high. Mair said in one case they studied two farms next to each other that each had similar herd shelters. They found one farm was performing strongly but the other was struggling so were digging deeper to determine why. A common theme was the difference in how they used their capital investment but

Mair said there was also disconnect between the information provided by bankers, accountants and farm advisers and how to run a capital-efficient farm. Capital efficiency was about how it was attributed and how the business was structured but it also required slightly different metrics to measure. Initial conclusions were that productivity gains were still possible in existing farm systems and with existing capital through tweaking processes and systems. But it also found that if banks, accountants and farm advisers delivered a consistent message, farmers would be more efficient in their use of capital. The project followed an assessment of the goal of growing exports to 40% of GDP, which would require a

doubling of primary sector exports from $32 billion to $64b. Meeting those goals also required significant capital investment. Mair said the next step was talking to bankers, accountants and farm advisers including Dairy NZ about the information gathered from the case studies so lessons could be more widely adopted. With increasing regulation and public questioning of the impact of farming, spreading the message of how to operate with a low environmental footprint while growing or at least holding production was invaluable. “It will give farmers options to look at their operations differently and to learn from other farmers,” Mair said.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

New manuka honey standard soon Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com THE manuka honey market risks confusing consumers on its accepted standards as the industry awaits a government-backed test for the lucrative export product. Recent testing of manuka honey on shelves in the United Kingdom using standards set by the privately run Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) found low levels of the active ingredient leptospermum. Retailing at prices up to NZ$120 for a 250g jar, the disputed honey was being sold in the high-end grocery store Fortnum and Mason. The UMFHA claimed 80% of New Zealand’s honey producers subscribed to its testing standards. The discovery came at almost the same time as the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was due to release its own industry standard for manuka honey in late January. Three years in formulation, the authenticity test used pollen DNA and chemical tests to certify the honey. But the test had been delayed as MPI sought assurances commercial labs wanting to run the test were fully equipped and capable of doing so. Apiculture NZ board member John Hartnell said while the MPI test would become required for anyone exporting manuka honey, it did not mean the UMFHA standard would become redundant. “If the UMF group are smart they will incorporate the MPI test standard into their standard.” Hartnell said in light of the imminent release of the MPI standard, the use of the UMFHA test on the UK honey might have been hasty and risked some confusion in the market. The test was done by the UK’s Food and Environment Research Agency. The MPI standard was expected to now be out within 60 days. But UMFHA spokesman John Rawcliffe said the MPI standard had taken three years to develop and the UMFHA move to set a standard was in part to counter the risk overseas laboratories and standards associations would set the definition on what constituted manuka honey. “We have not tried to be anti what the government has wanted here but we needed a timely, cost-effective, accurate test the industry could use. My request to the government is that we can all sit down collaboratively and discuss the testing and standard regime before it goes on labels.” The high returns that pushed manuka honey to a quarter of a billion dollar export sector were drawing other countries to the term “manuka” when marketing their honey. They included Australia, Portugal and Brazil. “And we need to work collaboratively to protect NZ manuka. The UK consumer does not care where that manuka is from and if we do not protect it manuka will become commoditised.” He cited France’s efforts to protect the Champagne term. While the testing methods developed by MPI differed to the UMFHA’s, Rawcliffe was conciliatory, maintaining it was possible to arrive at the same outcome using different testing techniques. There had been concern raised by some in the industry that UMF’s use of leptospermum’s presence as a manuka indicator was not a definitive indicator a honey was manuka. But Rawcliffe maintained the tests were not only accurate, they offered “hive-side” proof about the type of honey in a hive before harvest and were cost effective for the industry to adopt. Hartnell said in the absence of the MPI standard test the industry had been working off guidelines that were “fuzzy” at best in trying to define manuka honey. “Until that test comes out what is happening

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in NZ at the moment is the big manuka honey companies are not buying. They do not want to pay for product the test may determine is not the highest quality manuka.” He suspected once the test standard was out, consumers would face a choice of mono-floral manuka or manuka blend honey, each with an index number alongside it to indicate its manuka potency. “If we do it well in the marketplace, people will be happy with that, the price will reflect the grade.” He said there would be much attention focused on where MPI placed the index figure for what defined pure manuka versus blended. He believed the MPI standard could strengthen UMFHA’s brand standard.

DOUBLE STANDARD: Apiculture NZ board member John Hartnell says the use of two test standards for manuka honey could confuse consumers.

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22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Newsmaker

Farm growth relies on good staff Rural employment specialist John Fegan has seen big changes in his time in the industry, yet issues he tried to address 20 years ago have still not been fundamentally fixed. While recruiting staff he also spent much time educating farmers and encouraging them to treat staff well. Richard Rennie spoke to him before his semiretirment.

E SPENT time in his youth skiing southern slopes as a selfconfessed adrenaline junkie but John Fegan’s career was more about avoiding the cliffs and crevasses that accompany employing farm staff. Fegan has now decided to call time on being New Zealand’s longest-serving farm employment specialist after two intense and formative decades where he was often a catalyst for some of the change the sector has witnessed. Fegan says the opportunity to sell Fegan and Co in Cambridge came through a conversation with Hamilton based human resources, employment relations and recruitment consultants Russell and Linda-Maree Drake, with whom he has had a long-term business relationship. Despite selling the business Fegan intends to continue to play a role in it over coming months and possibly longer. “Taking the business to the next level was something that was going to involve a lot of investment and time on my behalf. Russell and Linda-Maree already had those skills while I have more of the skills around employment agreements, the top of the cliff stuff, if you like.” It has been Fegan’s ability to help farmers recognise the importance of good conditions, contracts and processes that has made him and his business something of a go-to practice in recent years but that has not always been the case. “I think I spent the first decade and a lot of energy convincing farmer clients that if they employed the right person and managed them properly they would not have to stipulate demands like ‘supply your own

motorbike because mine always gets wrecked by staff’.” This came in the form of a consulting business that was an almost quirky anomaly on the farm services landscape, which, at that time was limited to the stock agent, the banker, the accountant and, usually reluctantly, the lawyer. “I was probably seen more early on as a cost mitigator rather than a value-adder.” That usually involved helping farmers avoid the increasingly sharp teeth of 1991’s Employment Contracts Act, a piece of legislation that along with his own work did help drag farm employment out of the dark ages. “A common practice back then on 300-400 cow farms was to employ a staff member over the busy time, then get back from holiday and sack them and milk the cows yourself. “Farmers who did that just failed to see the short-sightedness of what they were doing to keen young people who wanted to work on farms and would have been well worth keeping.” It was the same era where staff often shared the house or an unserviced sleep out with little separation for either boss or worker in their farm and personal lives. Fegan’s niche in farm recruitment was founded as much on his ability to stand on both sides of the contract fence as it was from an understanding of farming’s closeness, demands and constant one-on-one contact with staff. He grew up on a Waikato drystock farm and after graduating from Lincoln in the mid eighties spent time working in the mohair goat industry, setting up a branch of the MohairCashmere warehouse in Timaru.

LEAVING: John Fegan is stepping down from his lead role at rural employment specialist Fegan and Co. Photo: Sarah Brook

That was before the entire sector disappeared in a puff of speculative smoke. Following that a winter driving skiers over the Crown Range to Cardrona brought the buzz of an adventure guide’s lifestyle, white water rafting and guiding in Queenstown.

A common practice back then on 300-400 cow farms was to employ a staff member over the busy time, then get back from holiday and sack them and milk the cows yourself.

“It was a great job for a single guy in his late 20s and I could have stayed at it. The lure of being paid to ski for 120 days of the year was a strong one.” But after a stint working for a farm education training organisation and having the choice of moving with them to

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their head office in Wellington or staying put back in the Waikato, he opted to leave and set up his consultancy. That business has run alongside the dairy sector, in particular, as it experienced its assorted epochs of growth and with them a need for more trained staff on equitable employment agreements. “The growth in dairy down south in particular meant the good farmers grew, milking more cows on larger farms, but they also came to learn they were no longer managers who converted grass to milk. “They became managers who managed other people to get them to convert grass to milk. A whole new skill set was required.” With it has come the influx of overseas workers and Fegan maintains despite some dodgy immigration agents inevitably arising, on the whole the agrisector is playing a straighter game than others in its treatment of these workers. Penalties dished out to farmers for failing to keep hours records were lamentable but also partly a function of Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) seeking only a two-week

window to assess if staff have been overworked. “Taking it in spring time for that short period lacks a seasonal view of the whole farming year. If they checked now they would find those same staff are well under their maximum hours.” With two sons at Lincoln he shares concerns over that institution’s future and about how the farming sector in general is going to cope with the need for more technically proficient farm staff. “My biggest concern is we are not fundamentally fixing issues I was involved in discussion almost 20 years ago now. “The industry’s future growth will be restricted by being able to get good people and simply saying we can rely on technology will not suffice. You then need a different type of technically capable farm worker to manage that technology.” Meantime he feels confident the business and Fegan and Co’s clients will be in more than capable hands as employing and finding the right people becomes ever more challenging and managing staff relationships becomes more complicated.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Remarkable success story to continue Sam McIvor

HERE’S been a bit of talk lately about the decline of the sheep industry. In particular, that the sheep flock is half what it was in 1990. But there’s a story hidden in the numbers and it’s not a bad one. In fact, it’s a most remarkable story about the transformation of an industry from behind the farmgate and into the market. The rise and rise of New Zealand sheep numbers was caused by a number of things dating back to the early 1930s. Our dramatic expansion of farm exports started as post-war demand was strong from the home country, Britain, for meat and wool. Through the 1960s the markets began to change. Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973 and even though the market signals suggested otherwise, our government’s focus continued on growing agriculture and providing the incentives to do it. By the early 1980s NZ found itself with about 70 million sheep and an extremely depressed market internationally. In this case, given the motivators, 70 million wasn’t success. It was excess. Many will remember that in 1984 the newly-elected Labour government devalued the NZ dollar. The immediate impact was positive for exporters because it led to increased returns in NZ dollars. However, the next six years were traumatic for farmers. The government phased out most support for agriculture, including fertiliser subsidies, tax concessions, concessionary interest rates and help controlling rabbits and noxious weeds. Crown

The

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agencies started charging for services like meat and animal health inspections, quarantine and farm advisory services. For me, here’s where the remarkable story begins. Farmers became focused on what they were producing with dramatic improvements in productivity. This is best illustrated by increased lambing percentages where we’ve gone from 100% to a 125% average. Additionally we are achieving higher lamb weights sold per ewe wintered, increasing by 93% – remarkable. Sheep and beef farmers are using far less resources. In rough terms we’ve maintained the amount of meat produced and exported – more than 90% of the sheep meat produced is exported – from half the number of sheep. And it’s been achieved on 23% less land as conversions to dairy have occurred and hill country has been retired or planted in trees. Not only has the land-use footprint reduced but so have the greenhouse gas emissions. It’s been calculated that since

1990, driven by genetic and productivity gains, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 19% on sheep and beef farms. While Britain remains an important market for us, sheep meat is exported to 100 countries. This has not only been a great effort by our processors and exporters to find these new customers but also from our farmers to adapt their farming systems to meet the demands of consumers in many different countries. During those 20 years we have also seen a consistent trend of sheep meat prices rising in real terms. Today we have a sheep industry worth $4.6 billion annually. Despite all of these gains farmers are facing a tough financial situation this year. It’s been brought about by a climatically challenging two years accompanied by a facial eczema challenge not seen for 25 years. Add to this a significant drop in prices received from Britain particularly on the back of Brexit and in just the last six months a drop of 33% in strong wool prices. And their cost structure, particularly compliance-related, continues to grow. So, one can understand farmer confidence being down – and the obvious question is why should they be confident about the future? One of the reasons I’m optimistic is that consumers are becoming more concerned and interested with the food they eat, what that food ate, where it comes from, how it was treated and the ethics of the whole supply chain. As an industry, and compared to our competitors, we do this stuff really well. Here are my top 10 reasons to be confident: Farmers have built farming

DON’T GIVE UP: Past achievements and new technology give Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor confidence in the future of the sheep sector as the industry celebrates National Lamb Day on February 15.

systems that are well placed to respond to increasingly volatile global and climatic conditions. Farmers will continue to drive productivity. There are still tremendous opportunities to drive sheep productivity further. They include aspects like use of the best genetics and more widespread use of hogget mating. Our farmers are world leaders at applying knowledge and technology. Farmers are now more connected to the market with minimal distortion of signals and have built a strong ability to rapidly respond to them. The meat processing and exporting sector is in the most financially strong position for many years and it is placing more emphasis on processing efficiency, product development and marketing, then ever. Farmers and processor exporters are united in their efforts to develop a NZ sheep meat story with farmers at its heart. I believe it’s going to be a great story and one that will resonate with consumers, be authentic and backed up by facts. Farmers have and will continue to have a sustainable product because of their use of hill country, essentially waste land internationally, to produce high-quality food and do it with an acceptable environmental footprint.

The industry continues to find more attributes that take our product beyond a lean, healthy protein. The Omega lamb project is one such example. The NZ industry will continue to lead the world and develop partnerships with other lamb producing countries, which will see the global industry working together to identify new customers in new markets and meet their demands. As a trading nation we have built a government/industry partnership on trade that will not only get the best of existing markets but will continue to find new markets for our product. As I reflect on where we are, I can understand farmers’ confidence is dented right now. But as I look back and see what’s been achieved and look forward to the further opportunities that can and will be grasped, I’m absolutely confident in the future of our sheep meat industry. It requires a continued partnership between all in the value chain, a supportive government and an engaged NZ public.

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

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Participants say this tour is one of the best they have ever been on. Visit Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, sheep, beef and dairy farms – magnificent game reserves and Kruger National Park. Stay on a Game Farm where you learn how South African cattle farmers have diversified. Continue to Zambia to see the Victoria Falls. Cross the Zambezi River to Botswana to see all the elephants, hippos, crocodiles etc you would ever want to see.

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Opinion

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

EDITORIAL Let’s speak up and front up

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

More letters P25, 26

Urban waste a national problem ALAN Emerson’s article on Auckland’s crap polluting its harbours was well written. Has anyone else noticed the new Greenpeace ad on television protesting against the search for oil in New Zealand’s sea waters? I happen to notice the Greenpeace protest boats in the ad are powered by oildriven motors. Is this not a bit two-faced? My point is that I am pretty sure that not all of the protesters and Greenpeace supporters live in a commune where all their crap is recycled into a veggie garden. Surely you can’t have it both ways. As a landowner and farmer I feel it could be a good time for Greenpeace and a lot of the Green Party anti-farming

supporters to have a protest march over the Auckland harbour bridge on a day a tornado is due to hit. If that’s not possible, we farmers could rig up some explosive to see if you will choke on your own two-faced turds when you fall into your waters. There will be no shortage of rural button pushers. This untreated urban sewage is a countrywide problem. Palmerston North City Council was discharging raw sewage into the Manawatu river while the then Fish and Game leader Bryce Johnston could be seen on television blaming dirty dairying for the worst river water quality in NZ. Two-faced again. It came out that Horizons and all the powers of the day knew this breach had been taking place for the previous

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Terry Smith Taihape

Give up A great opinion piece by Graham Clarke (30.1.2017). However, the AgResearch GE ryegrass trial now in the United States is a recycled dream reported every year in a different country. The trials funded by Agresearch are a direct and serious misuse of New Zealand taxpayer funds. Research into farmers’

problems should be done in NZ, targeted at solutions for challenges they face today. Farmers are turning away from GE so why is NZ pursuing it? The GM ryegrass has been in “development” since 2000 and was supposed to be commercially available in 2004. That was further delayed for trials done in Florida and Victoria, Australia, in ongoing trials since 2009. What has happened to the Australian GE ryegrass results? Have taxpayers been funding those trials too? It looks as if they are trialling the failed grasses and hope to find one test that will give them the results they are looking for, then they will cherry-pick them to present to regulators.

Continued next page

Letterof theWeek

EDITOR Bryan Gibson bryan.gibson@nzx.com EDITORIAL Stephen Bell editorial@nzx.com Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com Andy Maciver andy.maciver@nzx.com Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Tony Leggett tony.leggett@nzx.com

five years. Was anyone prosecuted? Greenpeace and the Green Party selectively turn a blind eye. It makes your organisations stink. Should we rurals make an anti-Greenpeace turd ad? Whoops, I suppose I will be on Trump’s terrorist watch list.

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HE phrase “the first casualty of war is truth” might refer to armed conflict but it rings true for the deluge of attacks on agriculture. And, in an age when news is immediate, determined by the number of viewer clicks on news websites, absorbed in 15-second sound bites or unfiltered on social media, fiction and innuendo quickly become fact. Keith Woodford, Lincoln University’s honorary professor of agri-food systems, wrote in a recent blog about water that “science and rationality struggle in a superficial world”. The eyes of our urban cousins glaze over when trying to have a rational debate on complex issues such as water quality, when Greenpeace and Fish and Game have already grabbed the headlines with easy to remember accusations of dirty dairying and claims 62% of our waterways are not swimmable. In this superficial world, farming, more than ever, needs to do better to refute the constant and regular procession of claims and accusations, so news there have been discussions about creating a co-ordinated, industry-wide approach is welcomed. The sector has been too reactive and made to look defensive countering those accusations, regardless of their validity. But, in addition to mounting a united response, so, too, must the sector front-foot issues and renew efforts to reconnect with urban NZ. Farming’s image for many urban people is being constructed by unscientific and tainted accusations. With fewer people having links to farming and in the absence of counter information, those embellished claims gain currency. Mainstream media is not immune from that severed rural link and adds to the misconception farmers are raping the environment to make huge profits when product prices rise but pleading poverty when prices fall. We must do better at telling our stories, reminding our urban cousins of the link between the food they eat and local farms and of farmers’ love and respect for the environment and animals. We must also be receptive and honest with urban concerns but counter incorrect claims with facts and understanding.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Rapid reactions

FW Poll

Kiwi grass ready for US trial

Food is too cheap

Field trials of a New Zealand-developed and funded, genetically modified ryegrass were expected to begin in the United States in April or May but there is a chance the cultivar might never be grown here.

Sheep farmers are struggling in the climate of cheap food versus sustainable production, industry leader Mark Adams says.

@RozMackenzie #GM grass could be the answer NZ needs #farmingtoolbox #agchatnz @FarmersWeeklyNZ

Peter McDonald Good points raised, cheap food is a cornerstone of a stable and content economy, cheap food also allows for increased household consumption on a variety of goods and services. We are no longer seen as citizens but as consumers.

LETTERS The projected benefits are only supposition as no animal has undergone trials. It is not feasible to extrapolate non-GE ryegrass benefits with unproven GE ones as research recently published has shown that it is the process of genetic engineering that causes significant protein and metabolite changes causing liver damage leading to organ and immune system damage and tumour development in the animals that eat it. A comparison study between the US and European Union, which does not grow GE crops, found that yield, performance and diversity in the US were significantly lower while pesticide use had risen compared with the EU. Since then NZ has highquality, non-GE high metabolic energy ryegrasses available that have proven safety and performance and if there has been any seed dispersal it has not destroyed farmers’ livelihoods. Do we really want a failed, unwanted grass to usurp the performance-proven grasses NZ has commercially developed? The GM ryegrass has really shown that the taxpayer gravy train will keep flogging a dead horse. Surely the scientists are tired of pushing the dead horse uphill? When will the rhetoric be exposed and funding be redirected for real farmers’ problems? Claire Bleakley Wairarapa

Should consumers be willing to pay a premium to help environmental endeavours or is that a farmer’s problem? Yes they should pay No it’s the farmer’s duty bit.ly/FWpolls Last week’s poll: Is winter milking a viable option for NZ farmers? Yes 100% No 0%

Farmers Weekly Farm Life Competition We will be running this competition every month, so send your Farm Life photo to our Facebook page or Twitter with the hashtag #farmersweeklycompor email them to us at nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com and you will go in the draw to win a cool spot prize.

ALL ABUZZ: Harley, 6, and Dallas, 2, Gibson checking the beehives with their father, Lee Gibson. Photo: Ashley Bowman

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BEST MATES: Ryder Knight up close with Herry the cow while waiting for the tanker.

Opinion

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

First cows, now sheep get blame Alternative View

Alan Emerson

I WENT to Napier last week to watch to cricket with the perfect son-in-law and grandson. I’ll come back to the cricketing farce later but my humour started its downward spiral with the front page of the local paper. “Sheep linked to gastro outbreak” it screamed at me. That can’t be right. The Greens, Fish and Game, Greenpeace and Mike Joy all told me it was dairying or intensive agriculture and not sheep. Maybe all four will apologise to the dairy farmers of New Zealand for the malicious and unfounded attacks on their integrity. In the article following the inflammatory headline you can read that the Hastings District Council water services manager said “the outbreak was probably caused by sheep faeces from two paddocks near the bores”. “Probably caused by” coming from a vested interest has about as much credibility to me as Donald Trump at a gay pride parade. There was flooding, ponds overflowing, a moribund council and corrupted bore but, hey, blame the sheep, they can’t answer back. Further the council knew in

2008 water from the pond went into the bore. Would I drink pond water – hell no? So the reality could have been that the rainwater ran off the hills and into the dam picking up some sheep manure on the way. That sheets the problem back to two-legged animals, not four. For the record, I also don’t believe a radio station made any effort to understand the full reasons behind the issue either. Simply and succinctly, I wouldn’t drink dam water and don’t blame sheep, they’re the lesser problem. Which brings me to the farce that was the intended one-day international between Australia and NZ. Jack, the perfect grandson, is eight and a cricket fanatic who can give you game, set and match on any of the Black Caps. To say he was excited about the prospect of seeing the Black Caps at an ODI for the first time would have been an understatement. McLean Park is a great cricketing venue and the local staff are efficient and friendly. Yes, it did rain until about 1.30pm but not much, about seven mm in all. The pitch was inspected at 3pm, with a start predicted for 4.30pm. A tractor towing a squeegee drove around collecting water and lifted off a heap. After about 3.45pm the players of both teams were on the field for their pre-match warm-ups, bowling at speed and fielding in the deep. At 4.15pm we were told the field was too dangerous there would be

WHO, US? Sheep have been blamed for water contamination in Hawke’s Bay.

There was flooding, ponds overflowing, a moribund council and corrupted bore but, hey, blame the sheep, they can’t answer back.

another inspection at 4.45pm and subsequently at 5.30pm. The squeegee wasn’t on the field. As any farmer knows, if a field is wet at 4pm and there isn’t any sun, wind or squeegee to dry it the field will still be as wet at 5pm and 6pm. Inspecting a field later in those conditions is farcical because the dew will set in. That told me NZ Cricket desperately needs someone with good farming common sense. You had the umpires wandering round pressing the grass with their hands while nodding sagely to each other.

Made me think of the three wise men, they only thing missing was the donkey. They did inspect the field at 5.30pm and no-one heard a dickey bird from the powers that be until 6.20pm – great communication and rampant arrogance as far as their attitude to the cricketing public was concerned. At 6.45pm the security on the pitch increased and we were told there would be no play today. What a pack of arrogant clowns. Are the Bay locals or visitors going to invade the pitch? In a word – no. My issues are these: The pitch was extensively watered the day before – why, when rain was predicted? Why wasn’t more effort made to dry the ground? Why are we getting so precious about cricket? The game could and should have been played. The ANZ statement – be part of the excitement – should be removed. In NZ Cricket’s case it is false advertising. We had both teams sitting round for most of the afternoon.

LETTERS

Why weren’t they out signing autographs? It would have been some consolation to my grandson and others like him. The ground announcer said that tickets would be refunded. What about flights to and from Timaru and motel expenses? In the middle of wine country and with a light crowd why did the wine run out just after 4pm? Is anyone at NZ Cricket accountable for anything? Finally, had any sheep polluted the pitch? I accept you don’t play cricket in the rain but it wasn’t raining. We had an arrogant lack of communication and in my opinion total incompetence. Sadly, I’m sure no-one at NZ Cricket would even consider shedding a tear for a totally devastated eight-year-old from Timaru.

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

More letters P24

Golden Shears celebrates old-fashioned values I THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading Mary Tipoki’s Pulpit in the January 9 edition of Farmers Weekly. It sets out the values that we were taught and rightly describes the period as a kind of paradise. Times have certainly changed but in some rural areas values haven’t. I have the honour of being president of the Golden Shears and the excitement, entertainment and hard work by many to make an iconic event a success has remained unchanged since we got under way 56 years ago. In fact, it was started way back then by the Masterton Young Farmers Club and some of the original participants are still involved. There are almost 250 volunteers involved in organising and running the Golden Shears.

No-one gets paid despite the workload, time is given freely and the event is both professional and successful. The entire community is also involved from Young Farmers and Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre to local transport operators. Also over the 57 years farming, farm equipment and motor vehicles have all changed considerably but shearing hasn’t. It is basically the same rural activity it was back then. We have the same values we had 57 years ago and, if anything, the excitement of the Golden Shears has increased. This year we have a reunion for the judges from 1961 to 1985, which will be a party with lots of laughs. What is also great about the Golden Shears is the support it has

generated from the local business sector and the Masterton District Council. Many local organisations help us out including the Masterton Brass Band who build the stage to the Masterton Squash Club who assist with the doors. Maori Wardens help with security. It is an event that involves and enjoys the support of the entire Wairarapa community. It is a team operation with every member having a part to play. With an eye to the future we also involve the local schools who can get in free and are given a full tour of the event and can meet the shearers, wool handlers and pressers. Hopefully, they will look to farming for a career. Golden Shears is not just for the top professionals – it is much

more than that. With shearing it starts at the novice grade and moves to junior, intermediate and senior followed by the open grade. Wool handling also starts at the novice level and moves through junior and senior to the open grade. Wool pressing has men’s, women’s and a pairs section so there is an activity for everyone. The Golden Shears family is an extremely broad one encompassing many countries with members from all of provincial New Zealand that rear sheep. It has also generated considerable international interest, which has got to be good for NZ’s image and the products we market. Just last year our live streaming attracted 17,000 viewers from 40

countries. This year we expect more. The live streaming of Golden Shears was developed locally by Noise Productions and is an achievement in itself. So, traditional values are still alive and well in some areas of provincial NZ. People are happy to volunteer their time to run a good community event. The business sector is happy and willing to get behind agriculture if the event is local and they think it is worthwhile. And while the excitement of Golden Shears is heightened every year the tradition that started Golden Shears all those years ago still remains. It is a situation I’m really proud of. Long may it continue. Philip Morrison Pahiatua

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Shearing is a remarkable sport LIKE all the young lads I went to boarding school with back in mid seventies, the thing I looked forward to most on my 15th birthday was getting my driver’s licence. Rugby, girls and the prospect of beer, though a special part of our shallow social fabric, played second fiddle to the freedom a driver’s licence afforded you. One of the most painful failures of my life, and I’ve had a few along the way, happened when I duly failed my driver’s licence test because I was unable to complete a reverse parallel park in the main street of Riversdale. I didn’t even know what one was. I’d never seen one done in Riversdale. To this day I don’t think anyone has ever done one in Riversdale. Suffice to say, my father was none too worried. He thought I was a menace on the road but tried to dull the pain by giving me a belated 15th birthday present he claimed would serve me well for the rest of my life. It was supposedly the gift that would keep on giving. So what was the aforementioned gift? Why, it was none other than a brand new Sunbeam shearing handpiece. And with my newly acquired pressie quite literally in hand, I was duly dispatched to the farm of well-known shearing identity Alistair Keown to learn the fine art for a fortnight. I can honestly say it was physically the toughest two weeks of my life. We would muster a

From the Lip

Jamie Mackay

mob of ewes and lambs in at night, wean the lambs, shear the ewes the next day then crutch the lambs in the last run of the day. Thus began a love/hate relationship with the noble pursuit of shearing. I hated the ewe shearing and loved the lamb crutching; the latter being a much more cost-effective and less backbreaking way of making money for someone with mediocre skills on the handpiece. I was reminded of my shearing connection last week when I was afforded the honour of being the emcee for the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships dinner. It was the glitzy affair that kicked off the Invercargill event, with 32 nations competing. It was a far cry from my lowly beginnings in the world of competitive shearing. I remembered back to my time as a helper for the New Zealand Lamb Shearing Championships in Riversdale, initially adding up the judges’ scores manually and then out the back in the catching pens when the former task was computerised.

NATION-BUILDING: The country was built off the sheep’s back and those of some very strong sheareers.

I was there in 1979 when skinny 17-year-old King Country kid David Fagan won his first shearing title, the intermediate NZ lamb shearing on a warm January night. Today that man is now a knight. I can also vividly recall being reprimanded and somewhat intimidated by Sir David’s older brother John Fagan for not presenting the lamb in the correct position so he could get the quickest possible catch from the pen. John was rural sporting royalty back in those days because not only did he win the Golden Shears, he also completed the unique double of winning the Golden Pliers national fencing competition at Fieldays. He was

an agrarian version of Jeff Wilson and would have been a superstar had the NZ Rural Games existed then. Fast forward to 1992 and my first foray into the journalistic world, post farming, was covering a world nine-hour lamb shearing record attempt by David Fagan at my neighbour, Alan Shallard’s farm. The day dawned cold and misty. The lambs were slow shearing. By lunchtime, after three of the five runs, Fagan looked a beaten man. He was well off the pace. But there was some divine intervention on two fronts. The Almighty saw fit to let the sun break through. Then Fagan senior (John) delivered a

thundering midday sermon, in the massage room, for the gathered congregation to inadvertently overhear. I seem to recall it was along the rather simplistic motivational lines of, “No f###ing Fagan has ever failed in a world shearing record attempt and you’re not about to start today”. So 810 lambs later a new world record was set (breaking his great mate Alan MacDonald’s 805 tally) following an afternoon of some of the most intriguing and exhilarating sporting theatre I’ve had the privilege to witness. In the intervening quarter century I’ve followed competitive shearing with more than a passing interest.The backbone of our national economy was built off the sheep’s back and off the back off some very strong shearers’ backs. Where once there were more than 70 million sheep to shear annually, there now remain fewer than 28 million. The sheep farming industry is at a crossroads. Disappointing lamb prices and the dismal return for strong crossbred wool further threaten those dwindling sheep numbers. Here’s hoping it doesn’t threaten the emergence of the next David Fagan, for shearing truly is a remarkable sport.

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

Acrophobic admires men who reach great heights From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I’VE been thinking about mountains and mountaineering recently – not because I’m a mountaineer myself, in fact just the opposite as I do not like heights one bit. A perfectly rational fear I reckon. It’s because I’ve just rewatched the excellent docudrama on Sir Edmund Hillary’s life that came out last year. It dealt with the motivations that drove him to want to climb very high mountains. I was fortunate to meet and talk to him on two occasions. The first at a large function where he was gracious with his time and even signed a $5 note for each of our three sons. The second time was at the launch of his memoir View from the Summit, where I took two small sons and as he chatted to

them I was able to take a couple of treasured photographs. Climbing is a challenge that has never appealed to me but we all have different aspirations, I suppose. My only feeble efforts have including carrying skis up to the summit of Ruapehu and then, just as we were about ski down a fearsome looking slope by my standards, being caught in an instant whiteout. Luckily, I was with Jeremy and Neil, two very good skiers and one of them at least being a levelheaded fellow was able to nurse me down and somehow get us back to the ski area safe and alive. My other crowning achievement was to get to the top of Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku – 2885m but possibly a little higher now after the earthquake – following an unsuccessful attempt the year before. Plenty do it every year and it was more like a tough tramp than mountaineering but scary for me all the same. However, I do have a particular interest in Ed and Everest as I was brought up with tales of Everest and the men who sought to climb it first. My grandfather Percy had climbed to within 280 metres of

the summit way back in 1933. The return trip to my dog kennels is as far. I never forgave him as a lad for not overcoming an acute shortage of oxygen, as they had no bottled oxygen because they were purists and saw it as cheating, and lack of decent gear. They were wearing layers of wool that worked well, their axes were heavy, being made of oak and iron, they carried old-fashioned ropes not light nylon and their Tommy Cookers from the First World War wouldn’t function at high altitude so they couldn’t melt snow to get water and were severely dehydrated. His mate Wager was very unwell, uncharted territory and a route on the Tibetan side leading to an unclimable limestone bluff also didn’t help. Yes, there are fossils up there on the summit and those ancient marine life-forms once dwelled deep in the ocean and must be quite surprised to find themselves now on top of the world. But he did find an ice axe just lying there on a granite slab and at that point he was as high as any man was known to have been. Despite his oxygen depletion and addled brain he had enough reasoning to pick it up and get it

REDEMPTION: Steve Wyn-Harris has forgiven his grandfather Percy for failing to reach the summit of Mt Everest.

back down and eventually donated it to the British Alpine Museum where it remains to this day. He believed it could have been either Mallory’s or Irvine’s axe from their ill-fated expedition in 1924 but the establishment was convinced it was Irvine’s. However, 66 years later Mallory’s body was found by using my grandfather’s description of where he found the axe directly below on the fall line so it is most likely George Mallory’s. So, old gramps didn’t quite make it, leaving his legacy to become a footnote in history and the chance for fame and riches passed by our family. I’ve also just reread the account of Rob Hall’s last expedition to Everest. It is written by a journalist who was one of the few in Rob’s

team who made the summit that day and survived. I shared a meal with Hall a few months before he died and found him a very pleasant and likeable man. He was professional and inspiring. He borrowed the copy of the movie my grandfather took on his expedition and his memoir. He had appeared so capable that I was shocked to hear the news of his death and finally forgave old Gramps for doing the sensible thing by turning back. I guess being unknown, poor and alive is a decent option.

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

World

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

Analysts fear milk bigger price rises

RESTRAINT: Farmers are being urged to ge tout of the mindset of increasing production when milk prices rise.

MILK prices over 30 pence per litre would be an “unmitigated disaster” for the industry, British industry analyst and dairy farmer columnist Ian Potter says. As if to reflect Potter’s production warning, Muller confirmed it would hold its standard litre price at 26.69ppl in March, citing significant increases in volumes and an easing in commodity returns. Potter urged farmers to get out of the mindset of increasing production when prices rose because that would cause a bigger crash when prices fell back again. It came as analysts warned farmers not to expect price rises after February, following signs spot markets had peaked.

LEADING THE WORLD FROM HOME

Dairy analyst Chris Walkland said he did not have any hope for increases in March. “I would hope that they stay the same. If they were to go down, I think it would be a disaster. It would destroy farmer morale. “I am optimistic prices will remain at the high 20s but not that they will hit 30. If they did hit 30, the market would overheat.”

The higher the price goes, the bigger the crash will be. Potter said he wanted prices to stabilise at 30ppl because higher prices would encourage farmers to push for more milk. “The higher the price goes, the bigger the crash will be,” he said. “Milk prices of 34-35ppl would be an unmitigated disaster.” Walkland said he had seen an increasing amount of anecdotal evidence farmers were pushing for more milk. “I can understand that. They have got a lot of black holes to fill. You have got to do what is right for your business,” he said. “But what is right for your individual business is not necessarily right for the whole industry.” UK Farmers Guardian

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AUSTRALIAN agriculture can expect an overall positive year with smooth sailing for most commodities, according to a new report from Rabobank. However, there were potential storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Rabobank’s Agribusiness Outlook report said in most regards Australia’s agricultural sector was poised for a good year, buoyed by a projected rise in global economic growth and farmgate prices for most livestock and crops expected. Report lead author Tim Hunt said other positive factors included high dam levels, neutral climate indicators and strong onfarm confidence. “Key dam levels are high following a wet 2016, ensuring good supply and lower pricing for irrigation water in most regions. “Meanwhile El Nino-Southern Oscillation climate indications are at this stage neutral. “Onfarm confidence levels are strong among producers and their investment intentions are increasing.” Hunt said the start of the Donald Trump presidency brought with it some potential near-term benefit but also considerable uncertainty and concern for the medium term. “Fiscal stimulus, tax cuts and reduced US regulation are likely to underpin solid near-term economic growth in the US — contributing to a strong consumer economy and demand for the agricultural products Australia exports to the US. “These same factors may also contribute to a stronger US dollar in 2017, which improves the competitiveness of our producers against the US in markets where we compete head-tohead.” The report warned the policies of the Trump administration might contribute to a rising trend in protectionism already evident in recent years in many parts of the world — from which Australia, as an export-oriented agricultural producer, had much to lose. “The potential for political tension between the US and China — two of Australia’s largest trading partners — is also high,” Hunt said. www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

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MODEL DAIRY FARM

128 Mangamutu Road, Galatea

On offer is approximately 98ha in three titles, located in Galatea approximately 75km to both Whakatane and Rotorua. Flat contour provides the opportunity for production and ease of management currently milking 250 cows through a tidy 20 ASHB shed, three year average from the estimated 76ha milking platform is 133,000kg/MS. 8ha is located 1.5km away and has been milked on, however this is well suited for young stock and winter grazing. The milking platform is fully irrigated via Bosch type laterals with water consented from farm bore ensuring quality feed is available all season. Excellent improvements include two herd homes affording the ability to comfortably house 150 cows each for shelter, calving and feeding to suit your management; double bay roofed concrete bunker, substantial five bay shed and additional haybarns add further to this quality property. Accommodation is well provided via two good homes, the main is a spacious four bedroom home beautifully set at the front of the property with the second a very tidy three bedroom plus office with good shedding. Our vendors are retiring so stock and machinery are also available. Contact me now for a full information pack.

Tenders Close 4pm, Tues 7 Mar 2017 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga

View Wed 11-12pm

www.bayleys.co.nz/2849525

Mark Spitz M 027 442 1295 B 07 579 0606 mark.spitz@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

www.bayleys.co.nz

ST IN G LI NE W HIGH PERFORMANCE FARMING UNIT

278 Hinerua Road, Ongaonga

Beechwood Hills

Deadline Sale 4pm,

Set amongst Beech trees lies 255 hectares of predominantly flat to very easy hill country, which enjoys a rainfall at over 1,500mls per annum with free draining soils. Infrastructure comprises of a four stand woolshed and covered yard complex, laneways, a mix of post and batten and electric fencing of a very high standard and a very reliable water system servicing approximately 55 paddocks. Lockwood home comprising of three bedrooms and a sleep out/office. Beechwood Hills has currently been farmed with another neighbouring property enjoying summer grass growth envious of most other areas. Keep your capital stock well fed and enjoy the efforts of our current owners hard work allowing the opportunity to secure a property with very little expenditure required.

Thurs 16 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

Come and inspect, you will be impressed!

View phone for viewing details www.bayleys.co.nz/2870094

Sam Twigg

Andy Hunter

M 027 655 4702 B 06 858 5500 sam.twigg@bayleys.co.nz

M 027 449 5827 B 06 858 5500 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz

COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

"TAUKOPU" LARGE HILL COUNTRY BREEDING UNIT (828 HECTARES)

Northern Rangitikei Centrally located on Zohs and Te Kapua Roads only nine kilometres off SH1 at Mangaweka. Taukopu offers quality hill country soils suitable for intensive pastoral farming with a mixture of contours ranging from approximately 30 hectares of easy rolling with the balance medium hills and steeper faces. The property is very well fenced to 33 main paddocks with reliable water from spring fed dams and creeks. It consistently winters 4,000 ewes and 1,400 hoggets, plus 155 cows, 50 heifers and up to 125 steers. Improvements include a four bedroom villa, 3-bay implement shed, 4-stand woolshed with large covered yards and four sets of satellite yards, plus tidy cattle yards and new load out yards adjacent to the road. An adjacent 383 hectare property is now available for sale.

Deadline Private Treaty Offers Close 4pm, Thurs 9 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior) View by appointment only www.bayleys.co.nz/3100051

Pete Stratton M 027 484 7078 B 06 388 0098 A/h 06 388 0568 peter.stratton@bayleys.co.nz COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

www.bayleys.co.nz

LI ST IN G NE W

Summer Road, Matakohe, Northland

DAIRY & BEEF - A GREAT COMBINATION

Hikurangi, Whangarei

HARBOURFRONT FARM & FISH!

An option of purchasing one or both of these two outstanding top

For Sale View by appointment

Wake up to the gentle sounds of the sea lapping against the sandy

quality and high producing adjoining dairy and beef farms. Centrally located in the sought after farming location of east Hikurangi.

shore, wood pigeons nestling overhead on a Puriri tree and cattle

www.bayleys.co.nz/1050020

grazing on distant pastures, on this 227ha (561 acre) harbour front

Byles Road Dairy Farm: Comprised of 260.947ha (more or less) this

Stewart Ruddell

grazing farm. Currently run as a beef grazing unit set in 3 titles,

attractive and well managed dairy unit has a two year average

M 027 273 6860 B 0800 80 20 40 stewart.ruddell@bayleys.co.nz

infrastructure includes a woolshed, a large set of cattle yards, a

production of 153,500kgMS from approx. 400 cows. Infrastructure

hayshed and a reliable ("drought proof") all year round water supply.

Tenders Close 4pm, Thurs 2 Mar 2017 41 Queen Street, Warkworth

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/1200354

John Barnett

sheds and more. The property is complemented by a stunning

M 021 790 393 A/h 09 422 3303 been well subdivided to a high standard and is linked by an extensive john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

342m² home. Doidge Road Beef Farm: 278.98ha (more or less)

track network system. Down by the water’s edge is the farm’s

comprising some alluvial flats including 30ha dairying land with the

cottage, a mere twenty paces from one of your three private sandy

balance higher grazing country. Featuring very good infrastructure

beaches. This is a quality farm, set on the edge of one of the world’s

including two homes. Highly productive, carries stock well and has

largest natural harbours, with snapper, sea and sand within seconds

good access. Each property has an excellent fertiliser history and

of the doorstep. Don’t delay, start your family legacy today!

ample water sources. Buy one or buy both.

Take a virtual tour: www.umoview.co.nz/14010

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

The farm’s predominately flat to undulating to easy hill contour has

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

FI NA L

NO TIC E

includes a 20ASHB cowshed, feed and calving pads, implement

SWING AN AXE OR FROM A TREE! Looking for a solid passive investment and/or somewhere to hide from the hustle and bustle of the citylife? Perfectly positioned at the end of a no exit road is this 79 hectare forestry property with

GOOD SCALE - GREAT PROPERTY

Tenders Close 4pm,

This all flat 210 hectare dairy unit is located an hour southeast of

Wed 1 Mar 2017 41 Queen Street, Warkworth

multiple leisure activity and income stream opportunities. This

View by appointment

property is more than just a forest. It also offers up large blocks of

www.bayleys.co.nz/1200364

non-covenanted native bush with further development opportunities,

John Barnett

waterfalls, a designated building site plus all the peace and quiet

M 021 790 393 A/h 09 422 3303 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

that comes with such a private piece of paradise. Call in the

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

an extensive track system that weaves right through the forest,

436 Haumea Road, Galatea

Wenzlick Road, Puhoi

Rotorua in the heart of Galatea. Currently 400 cows are milked with a three year production average of 142,500 milk solids. A 7.6 hectare lease block is attached to the rear of the farm. The 40ASHB is centrally located and feeds 110 paddocks via a well-formed race system. Effluent is pumped from a sump through hydrants to a travelling irrigator covering 24 hectares. The 57 hectare block has a

Tenders Close 2pm, Thurs 23 Feb 2017 (unless sold prior) 1092 Fenton Street, Rotorua

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/812339

Scott Macdonald

main water source is from a deep bore at the dairy, pressure fed

M 027 753 3854 B 07 834 3847 scott.macdonald@bayleys.co.nz

chainsaws crews, ride your horse, mountain (or motor) bike through

through 40mm lines to troughs in all paddocks. Both water systems

Ben Hickson

the forest, build a hideaway, hunting lodge or simply watch your

have Syntec in-line dispensers. There is a good range of support

passive income grow! Well located, 5kms from the historic Puhoi

buildings including three dwellings plus a two bedroom sleepout. This ben.hickson@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, is a very well set up unit in a recognised dairying district. LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

village and within 35 minutes of Aucklands CBD.

K-line irrigation system with water sourced from a large spring. The

M 021 433 283 B 07 349 5366

Take a virtual tour: www.umoview.co.nz/14011

www.bayleys.co.nz

RE CE SAIVER LE SH IP

SPRINGFIELD DAIRY FARM

Putaruru

RIVERBEND DAIRY FARMS

59 Arapuni Road

Auction 11am,

This 142 hectare dairy unit, located near Whatawhata, is just a short

This 75ha dairy farm provides a great opportunity for the new owner

Thurs 16 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

with its consistent production history, well maintained infrastructure and superb contour. Located just west of Putaruru, the farm is on prime dairy land which

View Tues 14 & 21 Feb 11am

www.bayleys.co.nz/812449

is reflected by the above average production. With the introduction of Stuart Gudsell AREINZ M 021 951 737 in shed meal feeders, last season’s production increased to 112,000MS from 218 cows and the generous water consent accommodates up to 250 cows. The farm improvements include a 20 ASHB dairy shed, barn, implement and calf sheds. The four bedroom brick dwelling has a double, internal access garage with office.

drive from ’The Base’ and the Hamilton CBD. The contour is a mix of around 70 hectares of flats and the balance gentle rolling to some medium hill. The modern 36ASHB is centrally located with a concrete feed pad adjacent plus two large feed bunkers. A good race system fans in three directions to approximately 85 paddocks. The effluent system is a clay lined pond and is fed from both the dairy and feed

102 Casey Road, Whatawhata

Auction 11am, Thur 9 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

View Tue 14 & 21 Feb 12-1pm

www.bayleys.co.nz/812434

Mike Fraser-Jones M 027 475 9680

B 07 834 6740 stuart.gudsell@bayleys.co.nz

pad. There is a pump and stirrer in the pond with 90mm underground B 07 834 3841 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz piping to five hydrants and a travelling irrigator. Water is sourced

Sharon James AREINZ

from two bores approximately 36 metres deep with submersibles.

M 027 235 4771 B 07 834 6742 sharon.james@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

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

There is a good array of support buildings including two dwellings. This very well set up dairy unit is close to Hamilton yet enjoys the privacy of a no exit road and great balance of contour.

NE W

LI ST IN G

Open Days Tue 14 & 21 Feb 12-1pm

LAKESIDE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY 230ha property positioned with spectacular views over Lake Taupo. The effective grazing area comprises 190ha of flat to undulating and 30ha of moderate to steeper land. Carrying service bulls, ewe replacements and finished lambs, current consent also allows the block to be utilised for ’cut and carry’ operations with approx 80ha annually cropped. The property is located in the Lake Taupo Catchment area, which requires farming practices to comply within the nitrogen discharge allocation. It has an allowance of 2,837kg/ year which equates to approximately 13kg/ha/year over the effective

550 Puketapu Road, Taupo

GRAZING\DAIRY SUPPORT FARM

Taranaki

Tenders Close 2pm,

75 Upper Kahui Road, Rahotu

For Sale BEO $1,340,000

Wed 22 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

View Wed 22 Feb 12-1pm

property and enjoy your piece of rural New Zealand. D

www.bayleys.co.nz/812456

Mark Dawe

M 027 507 0861 B 07 834 3839 mark.dawe@bayleys.co.nz

only 20kms to Kinloch and 40kms west of Taupo. A dream location makes this attractive investment a very special and rare slice of kiwi paradise. Tainui no longer require the property and it will be sold.

www.bayleys.co.nz

M 021 275 7826 B 07 376 0099 stan.sickler@bayleys.co.nz

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

This 55.8ha grazing farm is currently running dairy heifers and a

View 11am-12pm,

flock of romney ewes. In a summer safe area, the appealing rolling land with a good

John Blundell

portion of flat and some hill has a two stand woolshed with

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

and a large carshed/workshop. D

by Tues 7 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

Wed 15, 22 Feb and 1 Mar www.bayleys.co.nz/522276

covered yards (great for calf rearing), two hay sheds, cattle yards

area. Improvements include a three bedroom home, three hay barns, Stan Sickler stockyards, central laneway and reticulated water supply. Situated

Move into the nice three bedroom summit stone home on this

This is a great block to live the life or ideal for a sharemilker to get into land ownership.

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

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL HERE

Eketahuna

383 HECTARES CLEAN HILL COUNTRY

Mangaweka

184 South Road No 2 is the ideal dairy farm. Currently milking 400

Tenders Close 4pm,

"Makohine" 1168 Manui Road

Deadline Private Treaty

Makohine is a very well developed farm featuring clean hill country

Offers Close 4pm, Thurs 30 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

plus cows producing 160,000kgMS. This 230 hectare (more or less)

Tues 28 Feb 2017 farm is in superb order with excellent amenities including two homes, (unless sold prior) 186 Chapel Street, Masterton dairy shed featuring 36 aside with an in-shed feeding system, herd by appointment

home, a number of implement sheds, calf rearing sheds, high quality lane system and an up to date effluent system consented until

View

www.bayleys.co.nz/3150406

soils with quality fencing, superb tracking and reliable water. Located on Manui Road in the Makohine Valley only 12 kilometres off SH1 at Mangaweka, the farm currently winters 1850 ewes and

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/3100055

Lindsay Watts

650 hoggets, plus 81 cows and 58 heifers.

Pete Stratton

M 027 246 2542 lindsay.watts@bayleys.co.nz

Improvements include a tidy three bedroom 1950s home on an

Masterton in the summer safe south Tararua district 10 minutes from Eketahuna.

Rob Deal

If you are looking for a low cost working operation with top

M 027 241 4775 rob.deal@bayleys.co.nz

M 027 484 7078 B 06 388 0098 A/h 06 388 0568 peter.stratton@bayleys.co.nz

2040. Flat and rolling contour, only 20 minutes north east of

infrastructure in what is considered to be one of the safer farming environments in the country, then look no further.

COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

elevated site, 4-stand woolshed with covered yards for 1000NP, multiple satellite sheep yards and two very high standard sets of cattle yards. The Turakina silt loam soils are regarded as fertile hill country soils

COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

on mudstone. Reliable stock water is provided by many well maintained spring fed dams.

NE W

LI ST IN G

An adjacent 828 hectare property is also for sale.

SELF CONTAINED HOROWHENUA DAIRY

385 Waikawa Beach Road, Manakau

LOWER VALLEY DAIRY UNIT

271-354 Kumuiti Road, Fordell

This slightly over 216ha Dairy Unit is located at the southern end of

For Sale Offers invited by

Nestled in this amazing valley is a very well set up and fully self

For Sale Offers invited by

the Horowhenua District in a very handy location. Currently 125ha is utilised as the milking platform with the replacement stock and beef

4pm, Thurs 30 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

weaners grazed on the balance. Production from the 300 cow herd

View by appointment

was 96,518kgMS on this fully self contained unit. The mixture of

www.bayleys.co.nz/3100053

flats and rolling hills are well subdivided and are showing good levels

Dean File M 021 544 364

contained dairy unit comprised of just over 183ha held in a number

4pm, Thurs 23 Mar 2017

of titles. The genuine low production cost property has been very well (unless sold prior) laid out with very good fences and tracks to subdivide the milking platform of 129 hectares. The additional land is well utilised for grazing the replacement stock, with all livestock wintered on farm

View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/3100052

Dean File

lease land. Supporting infrastructure is of a very good standard, with

M 021 544 364 A/h 06 210 2185 dean.file@bayleys.co.nz

Other farm improvements include the 280mÂ˛, six bedroom home,

Lea File

a feature being the 2015 built, 40 bale rotary cowshed. This

Andrew Bonnor

implement sheds and haybarn. The opportunity exists for a new

M 027 305 5190 A/h 06 362 7835 lea.file@bayleys.co.nz

impressive shed is well set up for one person with a high quality Tru

M 027 941 7630 A/h 06 323 0563 andrew.bonnor@bayleys.co.nz

of fertility on this well laid out property. Cows are run in a single herd A/h 06 362 7835 and milked through the 2011 built, 24 a-side herringbone cowshed. dean.file@bayleys.co.nz

owner to purchase this property as land and buildings only or with all livestock. Not many properties of this size come to the market in this

COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

each season, with the assistance of an adjoining just over 14ha of

Test Milk Hub automated system to assist in the milking and management of the 400 cow herd with a three year average

location and we urge those looking for a sizeable holding, in a great

production of 173,271kgMS.

location, to enquire today.

Offers Closing: 4pm, Thurs 23 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

COAST TO COAST LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

www.bayleys.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

AVOCADO ORCHARD - HOUHORA REGION The Houhora area is recognized as being the most consistent growing region in New Zealand for avocados. Lying north of the main growing district, this 17.77ha property is still within a proven growing area and handy to beaches on both coasts. It offers a great buying opportunity for someone with ambition, vision, dedication and passion. With good internal access ways, shelters and full irrigation from a stream, the opportunity is for a new owner to capitalize on the existing infrastructure and plantings and plan a total redevelopment. Currently there are approximately 1000 trees of mixed age and health.

LARGE SCALE BLOCK FOR LEASE

Harewood, Christchurch

130 McLeans Island Road

Tenders Close

5163 State Highway 1, Ngataki, Far North Auction (unless sold prior) 2pm, Wed 15 Mar 2017 Bayleys house, 30 Gaunt Street, Auckland Central View by appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/1000363 Alan Broadbent

M 027 441 8149 alan.broadbent@bayleys.co.nz

Vinni Bhula

M 022 632 0630

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

4pm,

The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust are offering the opportunity Wed 8 Mar 2017 to lease an area of approximately 780ha, situated on the outskirts of 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch Christchurch City. Although some parts of the property are involved in the Isaac Quarry operations, it has a 100 year history of sheep production. There is a small irrigation consent for approximately 80ha but it is predominantly a dryland, light-land farm, suited to a sheep breeding, fattening or trading operation. The lessee will be someone who can work with, and among, a series of other activities beyond quarrying, being conservation areas, walkways and a firewood operation, which do not impose unduly on the property’s

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/553911

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

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

management. A four-bedroom home, sheep and cattle yards, two haybarns and a three-stand raised-board woolshed are included in the proposed 5 + 5-year lease period. This is a property with scope.

www.bayleys.co.nz

OUTSTANDING BARELAND OPPORTUNITY Wards Road An outstanding 173ha (subject to survey) bareland block which holds shares in CPW Stage Two to irrigate approximately 160ha, presenting numerous options to a discerning buyer to capitalize on the future irrigation prospects for this reliable and productive unit. Around 100ha has been leased for dairy grazing, the balance used for breeding and finishing lambs. Stock water supplied by a water race, some areas are in new grass. Seize the opportunity - phone now to inspect.

Charing Cross, Darfield, Canterbury Deadline Sale 4pm, Wed 8 Mar 2017 (unless sold prior)

View by appointment

www.bayleys.co.nz/553914

Ben Turner

M 027 530 1400 B 03 375 4700

Mike Adamson M 027 221 1909

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

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

NEED A CHANGE OF

Direction? IN 2017 WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR COUNTRY TEAM, OFFERING TWO SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS LOCATED THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. What’s on offer? • A generous $50,000 retainer to support you in your first year • A four-day intensive training course with the Bayleys Property College team in Auckland • One on one mentoring by Bayleys National Country manager • Personal profiling support to help build your presence in the market • Leadership/personal development course Who are we looking for? If you are good with people, motivated to achieve great results and passionate about rural New Zealand, then we want you! How can you learn more? If you are considering a change of direction in 2017, and would like to find out more about this excellent career opportunity with the Bayleys Country team, please contact Carol Henry on 0800 BAYLEYS or carol.henry@bayleys.co.nz

NZ’S NO.1 RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

YOUR NEXT MOVE MADE POSSIBLE

TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND EXPLORE NEW HORIZONS WITH COUNTRY MAGAZINE. If it’s time to sell up and take the next step, you need to get the best return on investment for your rural property. As New Zealand’s leading rural real estate brand with a nationwide specialist sales team, Bayleys can give your property the attention it quite rightly deserves. Bayleys Country magazine is a verified way to bring sellers and purchasers of rural property together. Coupled with Bayleys’ local contacts, influential databases and proven ability to reach overseas buyers, Country magazine will allow you to make your next move with confidence.

RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

Bookings for the autumn edition are closing soon. To learn more about Country magazine, call your local Bayleys office on 0800 BAYLEYS or visit www.bayleys.co.nz/country. Licensed under the REA Act 2008

A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES

GAME ON

Venison prices are at their highest level in years. Is now the time to invest in a deer farm?

CLUB TOGETHER

How sports clubs are making rural New Zealand a better place in which to live and raise a family.

127 FEATURING

FARM, HORTICULTURE AND LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ISSUE 2 – 2016

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

FINAL NOTICE

10 Maunga Rd, Pukeatua, Waikato Tender

Call Neville Kemp for further information and plan to be at the Open Days!

View Wednesday Feb 15th 11am - 1pm 10 Maunga Road, Pukeatua, Waikato

This property complements the neighbouring lessee’s farm; however, it also offers great grazing/cropping options, plus lifestyle possibilities, all of this in a top location for future growth.

332.94HA (822AC)

332.94 hectares – The complete Kanuka Hills property, tightly held in family hands for decades, is offered for sale in its entirety. A1 location on the flank of Pongaroa township, well contoured, attractive and productive property. Attractive 4-bedroom house in private location. Range of farm buildings. Often admired, never available... Until now!

Craig Boyden 06 374 4105 027 443 2738 craigb@forfarms.co.nz

TRIPLE A – ACRES, ASTHETIC, APPEALING!!

• 2-stand raised board woolshed • Well located • Only 45 minutes to Palmerston North and 20 minutes to Woodville

Jerome Pitt 06 374 4107 027 242 2199 jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

$650,000 + GST (if any) LK0086080© LK0068450©

ID FF22331 Property ID FF1299

Realty Focus Ltd (Licensed REAA2008)

• Four bedroom home overlooking picturesque Otawhao Stream

We welcome your inspection by appointment

www.forfarms.co.nz

Janelle Taft 021 514 844 janelle.taft@raywhite.com

33.6 hectares (83 acres)

$2,850,000 + GST (if any)

www.forfarms.co.nz

Website & ID number: rwpapamoa.co.nz/PPS22622

Papamoa Sales Office 07 542 0501

Rosetown Realty Ltd (Licensed REAA2008)

KANUKA HILLS

View Wednesday, February 15 11:00-11:45am

This property has a three-bedroom home, single garage, two-bay shed and a decommissioned cowshed. The school bus route is at the front gate, Te Puke is a mere 25 kilometres away and with the new Eastern Link Highway, Tauranga is closer than ever before.

Website & ID number: rwteawamutu.co.nz/ID#TEA22498 Contact Neville Kemp 027 271 9801 Office 07 871 9801 neville.kemp@raywhite.com

Flat contour 37 hectare block of prime dairy, grazing or cropping land, won’t be on the market for long. Currently incorporated within the neighbouring dairy farm (also for sale) where excellent fences and races have been established to run as one large dairy unit.

TENDER CLOSES: 4:00pm, Friday 3 March 2017 (unless sold prior)

LK0085897

Recently milked on as an organic farm the soils and pasture reflect sustained, balanced and correct nutrient inputs over a lengthy period offering a good opportunity now to maximise your return on investment. The current owners have operated a very low cost, low input farming model with all young stock staying on the farm all year.

COASTAL PROPERTY UTILISED AS A DAIRY FARM

Tender

We welcome your inspection by appointment www.forfarms.co.nz www.forfarms.co.nz

LK0086107©

While the mountain helps provide good rainfall within this district our vendors have a reliable two-bore water system, well reticulated around the farm.

Tender closes on Wednesday February 22nd 2017. All Tenders need to be delivered to Ray White Te Awamutu office, 223 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu, no later than 4pm. Highest or any Tender not necessarily accepted. Price will be plus GST (if any). (May not be sold prior).

275 Pukehina Beach Road, Pukehina

ID FF2300 Property ID FF1299

LK0068450©

79ha dairy farm with 20ASHB located east of Te Awamutu in the beautiful Pukeatua district with Mt Maungatautari as a stunning backdrop to the Daniel Davies built modern 4-bedroom farm homestead.

LK0085339

DAIRY – JUST THE RIGHT SIZE!

2 GARDINER PLACE, PUKEHINA A very rare opportunity has arisen to buy a 128 hectare coastal dairy farm. The flat contour property is in three titles (75 hectares, 38.3 hectares and 14.7 hectares), and leases a further 37 hectares from the neighbour (also for sale) which makes up part of the dairy platform. This high production farm currently milks 530 cows with an average production of 300,000 kg/ms over the past three years. The 40-aside dairy shed with 20 automatic cup removers is centrally located and is well supported with infrastructure including, a feed pad, two standoff pads, silage bunkers, 4-bay implement shed, hay barns, calf rearing sheds, commodity bin and more. The bulk of the supplements used are grown on a leased property, with an opportunity to renew this lease. This property has three, three bedroom dwellings, is close to local schools and Te Puke is only 25 kilometres away. This is a quality farm, with snapper, sea and sand within seconds of the doorstep. So, don’t delay – coastal properties of this calibre are a rarity, start your family legacy today.

Sale by Tender CLOSES: 4:00pm, Friday 3 March 2017 (unless sold prior) Web ID: rwpapamoa.co.nz/PPS22606 View Wednesday, February 15 12.00-1.00pm

LK0085807©

High Producing Coastal Dairy Farm

Janelle Taft 021 514 844

Quintin Havenga 021 032 0635

Papamoa Sales Office 07 542 0501 Realty Focus Ltd (Licensed REAA2008)

For Sale TENDER

Otorohanga | 344 Mangawhero Road

Tender

82 Hectares

Closing 2pm, Wednesday 8 March 2017 (unless sold by private treaty)

Flat, Fertile And Ready To Go. 82 hectare dairy unit (subject to final survey) located in the well-respected dairy district of Otorohanga. The farm is only minutes from town, located on Mangawhero Road. The property with its flat contour and internal network of lanes is a breeze to operate. The farm is subdivided into approximately 41 paddocks and operates on a grass based feed system with around 6 hectares of summer forage crops planted which is part of the planned regrassing programme currently in place. Improvements are of good quality and include a modern three bedroom timber lined home that has a separate flat with bathroom and toilet, carport garaging and extra room attached. The dairy shed is a 25 aside herringbone with a modern Milfos plant and 350 cow circular yard. Support buildings include a 4-bay implement shed with 1-bay being a lock-up workshop, 4-pen calf shed, 5-bay gable hay shed and a new 3-bay half round shed. The water supply is provided by a town scheme through two Dosatrons and reticulated to troughs via a 40mm mainline. The farm has been operating as a 90 hectare unit with 8 hectares of lease – milking 275 cows and having a three year average production of 93,445kgMS with calves grazed on farm. Don’t miss this grand opportunity - a nice tidy operation that hasn’t been on the market for over 71 years. | Property ID MT1026

NEW LISTING

North Otago | Awamoko 352 Hectares Subject to survey Scale, Location And Set Up. Hillswick has it all – your opportunity to secure a 2012 conversion in a recognised dairying area. The whole conversion has been well planned and managed. Peak milking 980 cows on a 285 hectare platform. The title also carries 120-150 carry-overs during the milking season, rears 480 calves to 100kg and has wintered up to 120 carry-overs. The high-spec 60 bail rotary shed has ARCs/Protrack auto drafting and in-shed crushed grain, or molasses. Vendors are genuine about their desire to sell and move their energies into a new project. | Property ID WA1466

Licensed under REAA 2008

Open Day Tuesday 14 February Thursday 16 February 12.00 to 1.00pm

Contact Ian Morgan 027 492 5878 Glen Murray 027 488 6138

NEW LISTING

Price By negotiation

Inspection By appointment

Contact Tim Meehan 027 222 9983 Ian Moore 027 539 8152

North Otago | Oamaru

Deadline Sale

242 Hectares

Closing 4pm, Thursday 2 March 2017

Fernhill Farm. 100 hectares irrigated via K-line from the Lower Waitaki Irrigation Scheme with a further 78 hectares arable dryland plus 60 hectares steeper grazing. Established shelter belts and subdivided into 37 paddocks with a good standard of fencing. Three bedroom plus sunroom home, partially renovated with two living areas. Double garage and separate studio. Further complemented by a large workshop and calf rearing shed, woolshed and both sheep and cattle yards. Currently being run as dairy support and sheep and beef property. The property is in four separate titles – option to purchase together or separately. | Property ID TU10914

Inspection By appointment

Contact Merv Dalziel 027 439 5823 Barry Meikle 027 436 5131 Southernwide Real Estate

Production & location    •

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Quality dairy support

Location is the Bonus

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 • 

• 

•         

 







farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; February 13, 2017

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

100 ha Productivity

Infrastructure

- Certified organic farm - The 48 hectare parcel of land comprises approx. 30ha of quality flats, with the balance being a mix of rolling to steeper land running down to the Maraetotara Stream - Central lane-way access across the farm - Fully fenced into 12 paddocks with conventional and electric fencing - Most of the flats are irrigated under K-line irrigation - Infrastructure includes woolshed, covered yards, implement shed/hay barn and pump sheds - 1950s 3 bedroom family home plus sleep-out/office and double garage - Income derived from multiple sources including the sale of organic hay, lease of paddocks, grazing of organic dairy calves and heifers, and trading livestock

colliers.co.nz

WEB ID AR53816 LEESTON 141 Drain Road Spray irrigated dairy unit in a popular location. Walk in and farm - the vendors have ticked all the boxes with regards to Environmental & Fonterra rules.Strong soils, good wells with lower power costs and excellent pastures underpin production profitability. 2015/16 164,563 kgs ex 352 cows. Improvements include 3/4 bedroom home, 3/4 bedroom cottage and old fair 3 bedroom cottage, 23 aside HB shed with 380 cow yard, extensive hay & implement sheds, cattle yards & 30 day effluent storage tank.

$4,875,000 + GST (IF ANY) View By Appointment

Paul Cunneen

Mobile 0274 323 382 Office 03 307 9190

Gareth Cox

Mobile 021 250 9714 Office 03 929 0306

Michael Robb

Mobile 027 436 7106

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

RURAL rural@propertybrokers.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Hirawai - 603 ha

WEB ID PR52997

DANNEVIRKE 304 Otope Road Property Brokers are privileged to bring to the market Hirawai, an exceptionally well located sheep and beef breeding/finishing property 5 kms east of Dannevirke. Hirawai features an estimated 510 ha of tractor country including 70 ha of alluvial flats along the boundary of the Manawatu river a recreational playground. An aesthetically pleasing property with extensive wetlands, well tended wood lots and native plantings.

Infrastructure includes centrally located 5 stand woolshed, 3 x cattle yards, 2 smaller woolsheds and 2 x satelite sheepyards with accommodation provided by three homes with the main home a superior 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom recently refurbished family home. Superior soil types, fertility and infrastructure all within a stones throw of Dannevirke, Hirawai certainly warrants inspection.

TENDER

VIEW By Appointment TENDER closes Thursday 9th March, 2017 at 2.00pm, Lloyd Dodson and Pringle, 9 Ward Street, Dannevirke

Jared Brock

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

Pat Portas

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

Tironui

WEB ID TMR53958

HAKATARAMEA 242 Hayes Road • 626.6853 hectares • Tonne of potential • Irrigation • Good arable soils • All-weather central laneway Tironui is a farm with scale and a tonne of potential, currently run as a mixed farming operation with approximately 160 hectares arable for cereal harvest, 1300 mixed aged ewes & hoggets, plus 800 head of cattle.

Successfully farmed for the past 17 years by the vendors, VIEW By Appointment and ever improving and adapting to the changing DEADLINE SALE closes Tuesday 7th March, 2017 at farming practices and the vendors have turned Tironui 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) into a varied and successful farming enterprise. The major potential in Tironui is the irrigation with a large storage dam enabling irrigation of up to 140 hectares, plus a second take of up to 30 litres per second with further options available to irrigate a much larger portion of the farm, which will ensure this farm can diversify even further.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

DEADLINE SALE

3 Michael Richardson

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

1 2

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Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

LEVELS FINISHING FARM

BEAUTY PERSONIFIED

NEW LISTING

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

268 RANDALL ROAD, KAKA POINT

422 LEVELS VALLEY ROAD, PLEASANT POINT

An outstanding property, that has been extensively developed, through subdivision, weed eradication and farm tracks. Beautifully located above the East Coast at Kaka Point, this property has exceptional native bush stands and views of the coast. The infra-structure is quality and has the potential of impressive building sites, to build the home of your dreams. LK0086040

Seldom do top finishing properties become available in such a location with this scope and size. This property has had high inputs and produces at very high levels. Presently run as a sheep and beef finishing property. It has also run dairy stock, crop and deer. The homestead is five bedrooms plus an office with a large living/dining/kitchen area and a separate lounge. The property is well laid out with an extensive lane system and extremely good infrastructure. Expressions of Interest by Tuesday 28 February 2017

21 Macandrew Road Dunedin 9012 p 03 466 3105

Web Ref SCAN00121

PAUL BROWN M: 0274 326 864

$2,900,000 + GST (IF ANY)

LK0085826

413.6394 HA

414 HA – SUBJECT TO SURVEY

21 Macandrew Road Dunedin 9012 p 03 466 3105

Web Ref SWDR1149

JOHN FAULKS M: 0274 525 800

ANDREW BOOTH M: 0275 759 256

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

ROTHERWOOD” BLUE RIBBON MANIOTOTO PROPERTY

‘LONE PINE’ SHEEP & BEEF - 3 OPTIONS

NEW LISTING TENDER

DEADLINE TREATY

986 GIMMERBURN-WAIPIATA ROAD, RANFURLY 753.5914 HA

1620.9644 HA

Southern Wide are privileged to offer ‘Rotherwood’ for sale, which has been in the Blakely family for 126 years. Situated in the Ranfurly/Gimmerburn area, Maniototo Region, currently breeding/finishing sheep and finishing quality large steers. Well-developed property with great infrastructure. Having excellent stock health and the properties are renowned for quality stock. Currently irrigation is a contour system, some border dyked, irrigating approximately 250ha. Water includes shares in the Maniototo West side, Waipiata and Hawkdam Idaburn Irrigation schemes. And a 200,000 l/hour winter consent to fill the approximate area of 7.5ha dam for storage. Overall a quality property with huge potential using the water under a spray irrigation system, combined with quality soils on a good scale. This opportunity is a rear commodity in the market and especially the Maniototo. THREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. CONTACT SOLE AGENTS TO INSPECT – TENDER 14th March at 12 Noon, Dunedin Office.

’Lone Pine’ is situated at Raes Junction, the gateway to West Otago, and is a sheep and beef unit that has been extensively developed over the last 40 years. The property has been well developed and has an excellent infrastructure including homestead plus second dwelling, 2 x covered yards, woolshed and assorted sheds. The tracking for access and stock movement is outstanding. The area has good stock health and is renowned for quality stock. The water supply is 6 schemes based on gravity plus natural. Overall, a quality store property, with the ability to finish some stock, good base improvements, and the potential for further development. The potential to breed large numbers of stock every year with rainfall reliability, is a very attractive proposition. 3 OPTIONS AVAILABLE: Option 1: 480 Hectares Subject to Survey. Option 2: 1140 Hectares Subject to Survey. Option 3: Total Block. Prior offers considered.

Web Ref SWDR1190

JOHN FAULKS M: 0274 525 800

RAY KEAN M: 0274 357 478

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

21 Macandrew Road Dunedin 9012 p 03 466 3105

Web Ref SWDR1178

JOHN FAULKS M: 0274 525 800

DOUG WARHUST M: 0274 660 247

LK0085335

LK0085961

2844 TAPANUI-RAES JUNCTION HIGHWAY, WEST OTAGO

21 Macandrew Road Dunedin 9012 p 03 466 3105

Autumn 2017 Property Pull-Out We’ve got you covered Following the successful Spring Property Pull-Out in 2016 comes the Autumn 2017 Property Pull-Out feature that runs in The Farmers Weekly issues through all of March. Book a campaign of three or more advertisements in March and get a complimentary editorial on your property in one of our pull-out specials. We’re very proud that The Farmers Weekly remains committed to the real estate industry and that we have been the most read rural publication for more than a decade. Talk to your agent now and make sure you are in the paper that more farmers read.

Give your advertising campaign the edge with an advert on farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Terms and conditions apply.

For more information on real estate advertising contact Shirley Howard on 06 323 0760 or email: shirley.howard@nzx.com

N O TI CE FIN AL

IRRIGATED DAIRY UNIT - VALUE FOR MONEY & SET UP FOR INVESTORS - TENDER 228 Battersea Road, Greytown, South Wairarapa This attractive dairy unit is located on Battersea Road five minutes drive south east of Greytown. There are approximately 214 ha (six titles) freehold in total, with around 196 ha being used as milking platform - almost all irrigated with K-line. The fertility is impressive with the most recent soil test indicating fertility levels for pH at 5.88 and Olsen P at 36.8 (averages). The whole farm (but 2 hectares) has been re grassed at least once in the last 11 years. The farm is very well planted with numerous attractive shelter belts. Milking around 450 cows at peak (100 milked through) averaging 500 kg MS/cow the farms production budget is around 225,000230,000kg MS. Bought in feed is targeted to be around 10% of the diet with an in shed feeder helping deliver 2 kg of barley grain per cow per day to Christmas. Historically the unit has produced in excess of 280,000kgMS from 570 cows under a higher input system. Improvements include three well maintained houses, a 38 aside herringbone cowshed, 120 tonne silo with disc mill & 8 tonne holding silo, irrigation with six consents, 300 cow feed pad and plentiful shedding. Investors should note that Wairarapa dairy farms offer exceptional value for money in comparison to other dairying areas of New Zealand - why pay Taranaki, Canterbury or Waikato prices? The current managing equity partner may be interested in staying on offering an opportunity for non-farming investors. Drone Video on website.

MELLINGTON DAIRY - 260 HA PLATFORM PLUS 108 HA SUPPORT ALONGSIDE Rangatira Road, Rangitikei Located just off State Highway 1, this property offers a great blend of scale, quality soil types, a high standard of dairy shed infrastructure, a great district community and primary school, while being an easy commute to Palmerston North City. Comprising a 260 hectare milking platform of Kiwitea silt loam, with 108 hectares of medium hills alongside, which provide potential to run a self-contained operation (50 ha of the hills are not farmed by the dairy unit). These highly regarded dairying soils have been regularly cropped for potatoes in the past. The 60 bail rotary dairy and feed pad were commissioned in 2009 and include an automated dairy management system including auto weighing, heat detection, mastitis monitoring, production management, auto drafting, in-shed feeding and ACRs. Milking year round, the farm has produced a past five year average of over 411,000kg MS under the current higher input farming system. The farm has three homes, primary school bus at the gate and is close to the active Hunterville community. A property offering quality natural resources and infrastructure, whether you choose to maintain a similar or different farming system.

214 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz/W014 Tender Closes 4pm Thur 23 Feb 2017 NZR, 1st Floor, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 | 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

368 hectares Deadline Private Treaty www.nzr.nz/F082 - includes video Deadline Private Treaty Offers Close 3pm, Thu 23 Mar 2017 (if not sold prior). Peter Barnett 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

A DAIRY WITH THE "X FACTOR" Manson Siding Road, Owhango

438 Hectares By Negotiation www.nzr.nz/nnzz094

If a better summer rainfall farming environment is needed this property needs to be seen. A low input 350 cow herd on the 180 hectares dedicated milking platform Jamie Proude 06 385 4789 | 027 448 5162 with the balance of land utilised as the support plus a sheep/beef and deer operation adds to this exciting mix. A versatile 438 hectares situated a short distance south of Owhango a district renown for the reliability of production through the defined seasons. Farm buildings include 2 dwellings being a main 4-bedroom home jamie@nzr.nz and another 3-bedroom cottage recently renovated, a 50 aside herringbone shed, woolshed and 2 deer yard complexes and a large implement shed with office and NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008 single man´s quarters. Opportunities are endless from the scale and contour this farm presents. Located centrally in the heart of the adventure capital of the North Island, close to two major ski fields, top trout fishing, cycle ways and great deer hunting within the farm boundary. This is a great opportunity for Waikato and Taranaki buyers to purchase at less than half their $/ hectares going rate and a settlement prior to the start of the new season.

N EW

LIS TI N G

patrick & scott ltd licensed under the REAA 2008 131 main street, pahiatua

TOP SOILS ON EDGE OF TOWN - 20HA 223 Kawakawa Road, Feilding Less than 3km from the clock tower, this property features some of the regions finest cropping soils. The mix of Manawatu, Rangitikei and Parewanui sandy loams are ideal for cattle farming, while neighbouring properties are currently growing onions. The well maintained, solid 1960’s home is set in a mature garden with a great shed, is on town water, with the property held in four titles. After close to 100 years of family ownership, its time for a change.

3 BED | 1 BATH | 1 CAR 20.30ha (50.1 acres) www.nzr.nz/F099 Tender Closes 3pm, Tue 14 Mar 2017, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

KANUKA HILLS - PONGAROA

Kanuka Hills is a 332 ha property faithfully farmed by the same family for 3 generations. This well developed property boasts a full range of facilities including a substantial 4 bedroom homestead. The contour, subdivision & fertilizer history must appeal with the Pongaroa water scheme being a huge plus for the property. As a breeding & finishing unit Kanuka Hills has an excellent reputation for stock performance. Located close to Pongaroa with its many amenities, & is also 45 minutes to Pahiatua or Dannevirke & approx 1 ½ hours to Palmerston North. The successful purchaser of this premium property will enjoy all the benefits that Kanuka Hills and the district have to offer. Price: $2,850,000 + GST if any View: By Appointment www.housepoint.co.nz web # PAR124 Contact: Craig Fitzgerald m: 027 451 6116 p: 06 376 6141

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Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

Licenced under REAA 2008

TENDER

Raft Creek Farm - Deer Breeding

Kokatahi

Large Scale Deer Farm

Mawheraiti

Comprising 481ha (more or less), this farm is located 15km from Hokitika and 4km from Kokatahi. Predominantly deer fenced, farmed as an elite deer breeding unit carrying over 700 hinds plus replacements, supplying sire stags, finishing surplus yearlings and lamb and cattle trading. Good internal subdivision, well farmed and maintained with considerable pasture development. Two dwellings, deer handling facility, two-stand woolshed and numerous sheds. Raft Creek Farm represents a uniquely well balanced opportunity to the discerning purchaser.

TENDER

• 1,453 hectares (more or less) 62km from Greymouth • Large deer breeding unit, beef breeding herd, lamb finishing and dairy grazing • Predominantly deer fenced with a good lane system • Two sets of deer shed and yards, woolshed, implement sheds, haysheds and cattle yards • Four-bedroom managers home, three-bedroom cottage and shearers quarters

TENDER

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: GRE25263

Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 1 March 411 Blenheim Road, Christchurch

Dave Nolan B 03 768 1222 M 021 170 8532 Peter Crean B 03 341 4315 M 027 434 4002

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: GRE25262

Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 1 March 411 Blenheim Road, Hornby, Christchurch 8041 PO Box 3100, Christchurch 8140

Dave Becker B 03 768 1222 M 027 222 5184 Peter Crean B 03 341 4315 M 027 434 4002

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company

Licenced under REAA 2008

TENDER

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

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Finishing & Dairy Support Farm

Reefton

• Burkes Creek Farm located 3km from Reefton • Approximately 377 hectares, subject to subdivision • Deer finishing, lamb and cattle trading and heifer grazing • Possible potential for dairy conversion • Offered as a whole or in parts thereof - Area 1 273ha including two dwellings and a large range of improvements; Area 3 - 15ha bare land with some improvements; Area 4 - 17ha bare land; Area 5 - 71ha including a good house and improvements (all hectares approximate only)

TENDER

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: GRE25264

Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 1 March 411 Blenheim Road, Hornby, Christchurch 8041 PO Box 3100, Christchurch 8140

Dave Becker B 03 768 1222 M 027 222 5184 Peter Crean B 03 341 4315 M 027 434 4002

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

NEW LISTING

Licenced under REAA 2008

TENDER

Mangawhai Dairy Farm

Mangawhai

More Than Just A Farm

Raglan

• 74.06ha of predominantly flat contour • Lovely three bedroom plus office GJ Gardner home with sleep-out • 24 a/s herringbone with auto cup removers • Large implement/calf shed, concrete feed pad, loafing pads • Two x concrete floor Maize/Silage bunkers • Ex-commercial deep water bore Positioned in a highly sought after location, makes this an excellent proposition for a first farm buyer or investor looking to set up a managed asset.

DEADLINE SALE

This very desirable 41ha farm is located close to Raglan in an area which catches the rain as it comes from the Tasman sea. The property would make a great dairy support block or calf rearing farm, and about 1/3rd could be cropped or mown for silage. There is a four bedroom home with a sleep out and three car garage. A one bedroom ’bach in the bush’ that has to be seen and a huge 280m2 workshop with gantry. The work shop was built for servicing large machinery. Farms of this size, location and quality do not come to the market often so make the most of this opportunity.

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 9 March

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: WEL25062

Scott Tapp B 09 423 9717 M 021 418 161

(Unless Sold Prior by Private Treaty), closing 3pm, Thursday, 23 Feb PGGWRE, Cnr Rostrevor & Vialou Sts, Hamilton Phone Richard for your appointment to view

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: HAM25061

Richard Thomson M 027 294 8625

pggwre.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

Licenced under REAA 2008

AUCTION

Self Contained Dairy Unit

Otorohanga

Greenfields

Piopio

• 170.9229ha (more or less) hill country dairy farm • Approximately 110ha dairy platform, 30 hectare dry stock, balance is bush • Contour 1/3 flat to rolling, 1/3 medium, 1/3 steeper • Milking 300 cows, 2015/2016 production 110,000kg MS, all replacements and extras wintered on • 27 ASHB with feeders and numerous farm buildings, three dwellings • Great opportunity to purchase a well located self contained dairy farm

AUCTION

• 95 hectares, more or less, freehold with 13 hectares of leasehold land • Situated right in the heart of the Piopio Village • Milking 280 cows, 76,000kg MS on 91 hectares of effective dairy platform • Balance is planted in natives, pines and Douglas Fir • 26 ASHB shed, assorted farm buildings • Very tidy 1991 built three bedroom dwelling • Excellent first farm opportunity

AUCTION

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEK25241

(Unless Sold Prior), 11.00am, Wednesday, 15 March, PGGWRE, 87 Duke Street, Cambridge OPEN DAYS 11.00am-12.00pm, Friday, 17, 24 February, 3 March, 655 PUKETAWAI ROAD

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEK25042

Peter Wylie B 07 878 0265 M 027 4735 855

FINAL NOTICE

Peter Wylie B 07 878 0265 M 027 4735 855

OPEN DAY

Potential And Presentation

Te Awamutu

• 119 hectares, more or less • Contour is predominantly flat to easy with approximately 15% steep • 32 ASHB shed centrally located on the farm with five bay calf shed and four bay tractor shed • Milking 308 cows, last season 120,000kg MS, variation 6 for up to 420 cows • Very tidy four bedroom homestead set in well maintained gardens • There is also a three bedroom managers house • Excellently presented tidy farm with the ability to run extra cows

AUCTION

www.pggwre.co.nz ID: TEK25111

(Unless Sold Prior), 11.00am, Friday, 10 March, Panorama Motor Inn, Awakino Road, Te Kuiti OPEN DAYS 11.00-12.00pm, Thursday, 16, 23 February, 2 March, 28A KEA STREET

(Unless Sold Prior), 11.00am, Wednesday, 8 March, PGGWRE, 87 Duke Street, Cambridge OPEN DAYS 11.00am-12.00pm, Tuesday, 14, 21 February, 317 AOTEAROA ROAD

Peter Wylie B 07 878 0265 M 027 4735 855

First Time On Market For A Century This well set up Dairy Farm has been farmed by four generations of the same family since 1914. • Featuring five titles with three dwellings • 60 bail rotary cowshed and good support buildings • Currently milking 550 cows • Little to no inputs achieving top production • Top effluent irrigation system • Backing on to the Waihou River, there is an additional 34ha (approx.) of stop bank and river flats available for lease from the Regional Council www.pggwre.co.nz ID: KAT25198

Paeroa AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 12.00pm, Monday, 27 February OPEN DAY 11.00 - 12.00pm, Thursday, 16 & 23 February

Alwin Thorne George B 07 549 2619 M 022 507 7117 Sue Williams B 07 549 2136 M 021 748 200

pggwre.co.nz

Are you looking for that next step in your career or looking for a fresh challenge? Are you continuous improvement focussed? • Management in Livestock, Animal Welfare and Health & Safety experience preferred

A fencer general is required for our 600ha property, running 6500su in the Pohangina Valley. Situated 25 minutes to Feilding and 35 minutes to Palmerston North.

Under the Human Rights Act, 1993, it is unlawful, apart from some exceptions, for employment advertisements to restrict applicants because of their sex, marital status, religious belief, colour, race, national origins, age, family status, or sexual orientation.

The applicant must have a good knowledge of fencing, building yards, farm maintenance skills and general stockwork. They must take pride in their work, be self motivated, and enjoy project work.

Advertisements that discriminate in any way will not be published.

Enquiries to: athel@bolfracks.com

BROADFIELDS LTD

FENCER GENERAL KONEWA FARM

A four-bedroom home is available with three-car garaging set in private grounds. School bus at the gate. A competitive package is available to the right person. All applications, including a brief CV, must contain three professional references. Postal address: Mark Clements, 2373 Pohangina Valley East Road, RD 14, Ashhurst or email mandaclem@xtra.co.nz

LK0086069©

POHANGINA VALLEY

View full job description online at farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz – under Manager category Application close date: Friday, February 24th 2017.

Exciting and unique opportunities

Enquiries to: 021 222 2298 Email CV to: mex@farmside.co.nz

DAIRY UNIT MANAGER Corporate Farming the Co-Operative Way • North Waikato • 2200 cows • Start 1 June 2017

The combination of both dairy farming and research provides an exciting and unique opportunity to be involved in this first of its kind research facility at scale in the southern hemisphere. The Southern Dairy Hub, located in Makarewa, has been established in response to Southland and Otago farmers wanting to address farming challenges in the region through local research and demonstration.

Orini Downs Station has a reputation for leading from the front, working through and with their people, and growing talent through internal and external training opportunities… This means that the current Production Manager will be stepping up into the role of Farm Business Manager next season, providing opportunity for a talented, passionate and progressive farmer to make his next step into leading the day-today operations of the 80-bail rotary dairy.

The farm is a newly converted 349ha selfcontained property designed for running up to 800 cows in four herds of 200. The property also allows for wintering and young stock management, allowing research to be implemented across the whole system.

We are now looking for: ● Business Manager ● Farm Manager ● 2IC ● 2 x Dairy Assistants

May suit a semi-retired person part time or a full time position by including further responsibilities and properties. Experience and working dog essential.

LK0086055©

EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISEMENTS

If you think you can add value to our team, apply now by sending your CV and cover letter to recruit@auckmeat.co.nz

Bay of Plenty 240ha hill farm. 30 minutes to Whakatane. Approximately 780 head and wintering 400 cows.

You’ll be part of developing production targets and operational plan that meets the delivery of Orini Downs objectives and then you’ll be responsible for the delivery of these, working co-operatively with your senior colleagues and your team. We believe that performance comes through people and you’ll be responsible for training and managing your team and have a say in our recruitment practices. LK0086072©

LK0086064©

Applications close 1st March 2017. Applications to: Shepherd Position office@mrb.co.nz 03 307 8099

DAIRY SUPPORT MANAGER

LIVESTOCK / STOCKYARDS OPERATION

For lambing and general farm duties in Highland Perthshire. Must have proven experience.

Visit www.southerndairyhub.co.nz for further information

Our brand is very important to us and delivering performance, reporting on your successes, explaining variations and plans to keep the team, and keeping performance humming are all part of the role. Interested? logon to www.no8hr.co.nz Reference no: 8HR807

www.no8hr.co.nz | ph: 07-870-4901

EMPLOYMENT REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY $2.00 + GST per word - Please print clearly Name: Phone: Address: Email:

THE ADDRESS FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

LK0086037©

SHEPHERD/GENERAL FARMWORKER REQUIRED

This would suit a couple under 30 years old to facilitate visa application.

jobs.farmersweekly.co.nz 0800 85 25 80

Service Manager

OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN SCOTLAND

Position commences October 2017 for a 12-month minimum period. House, vehicle and dog provided.

Employment

Heading: Advert to read:

Stay up-to-date with the real estate market with

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Return this form either by fax to 06 323 7101 attention Debbie Brown Post to NZX Agri Classifieds, PO Box 529, Feilding 4740 - by 12pm Wednesday or Freephone 0800 85 25 80

LK0086062©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

Classifieds FOR SALE

ANIMAL HANDLING

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

DOGS WANTED

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

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

HUNTAWAY DOG or bitch required. 12 months to 4 years with dog trial potential. Good money for right dog. Phone 03 464 3336. 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BUYING 300 DOGS annually! Quick ca$h $ale! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes. HEADING, HUNTAWAY, handy, backing dogs or bitches, 2-6 years. Top money paid. Phone Ginger Timms 03 202 5590 or 027 289 7615.

ATTENTION FARMERS

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

PERSONAL

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

JUST COUNTRY

DOGS FOR SALE

For Town & Country clients NZ wide.

FORTY HUNTAWAYS, Heading, Handies. $500$2500. Deliverable. 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

Ph 027 390 9189 or email justcountry123@ hotmail.com

LK0085890©

Dating Service

FOR ONLY $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book.

SOUTH ISLANDERS. I’m shipping dogs down there 18/2/17. 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

Livestock

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

SUPPLEMENTARY FEED Maxammon Maize and Maxammon Maize blends • Palm Kernel & blends

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

GOOD HAY, 1500 bales, per bale $7.00 and 400 bales of Haylage per bale, $70.00 to collect. AND 5 very good Hereford and 5 Angus Cows with calves for $2500 each. Phone 06 752 9142 or email: dressurkhr@web.de

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24hours. Prices based on works schedule. Experienced musterers available. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916. GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

CATTLE GRAZING available, Pahiatua area. Phone 027 376 7193.

GRAZING WANTED LAMB GRAZING WANTED. North Island $1.80 kg/live weight gain or fixed weekly rate. S.I. rates available. 06 877 0430 or 021 024 13066.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE RAMS. SOUTHDOWNS AND Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. $250- $500. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533. RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$500. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533.

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

STOP BIRDS NOW!

(forward contracts available).

P.O. Box 30, Palmerston North 4440, NZ

Custom made Dairy Mineral Pellets To join our Palm Kernel Pricing Text Service. Please text your name and area to 027 214 9761 Palm Kernel Pricing Text Service

ZON BIRDSCARER

Call Susanna at Intergrain NZ 0800 244 744

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz DE HORNER

Phone: +64 6 357 2454 EARMARKERS

LK0086097©

HOOF TRIMMER

T H IN K PRE BU IL T

NEW HOMES

Combi Clamp Sheep Handler

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

• Road legal • Swing-arm suspension • 400ml ground clearance • 2 minute setup • Lowers flat to ground • Stone guard converts to roof • Fits existing Combi Clamps

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

Cattle Handling Equipment

Standard Crush, Vet Crush, Weight Crate, Auto Head Yoke, Sliding Gates • Heavy Duty • Hot dipped galvanized • Efficient • One-man operation • Sure catch – never miss • Self-catching with auto reset • No weight limit • Easily adjustable width • Built to last • Full range of options available

STOCK SADDLES HANDMADE, top quality 021 305 385 highcountrysaddlery.co.nz

FOR SALE

Advertise in The NZ Farmers Weekly

LK0086042©

NEW Combi Trailer

STOCK FEED HAY – STRAW. Rounds and squares from $45. BALEAGE $75. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787. Dispatches from Lower N.I.

Do you have something to sell?

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

The most versatile Sheep Handler on the market • No power • No air • No breakdowns • Hands free operation • Good flow • Complete control • Portable • Weigh, dag, draft, feet, vaccinate – all in one pass!

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

LIVESTOCK WANTED

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z

Barley, Wheat, Maize & Soybean Meal

Intergrain NZ LTD

PUMPS

GRAZING AVAILABLE

CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING

Classifieds 0800 85 25 80

LK0085660©

Call Debbie

0800 85 25 80 classifieds@nzx.com

FOOTWEAR

MANUFACTURERS

0800 227 228

www.combiclamp.co.nz

Videos on website – On-farm demonstrations available Stuart Oliver - SI Agent 03 318 0771 / 027 435 3062

LK0086101©

LK0086044©

M • ore • L Leat pro • W eat her duc or her far ts a Ph 1 k & h mi va 0 ad one H u Fo ntin ng b ilab e re g oo le 09 all R to str & t s 43 oa y h tra or 8 8 d, ig mp de h i r & ng 90 RD lo b w 7 oo 5 leg ts •l ,W wo as rk tri hang te@ arei boot xtr s

Tuesday Tuesday 14th 14th February, February, 11.30am 11.30am Morrinsville Morrinsville Saleyards Saleyards A/C A/C Rotowaro Rotowaro Farms Farms P/ship, P/ship, Huntly Huntly 160 160Frsn/Frsn Frsn/FrsnxxCows, Cows,BW61, BW61,PW85, PW85,RA100% RA100% 110 110 Frsn/Frsn Frsn/Frsn xx C/O C/O Cows, Cows, BW90, BW90, PW138 PW138 Due Due to to the the sale sale of of the the property, property, this this top top autumn autumn herd herd isis offered offered for for auction. auction. •• Calving Calving 20 20 March, March, 44 weeks weeksAB AB Frsn Frsn tailed tailed Hfd Hfd (out (out 11/08/16). 11/08/16). Cows Cows vetted vetted to to date. date. •• Dry Dry 28/12/16, 28/12/16, Herd Herd Ceprevan Ceprevan dry dry cow cow treated. treated. •• Production Productionaveraging averaging500kg/cow 500kg/cowconsistently. consistently. •• Strong Strong Frsn Frsn type type herd, herd, big big capacity capacity cows cows calved calved and and milked milked last last season. season. •• Exceptional Exceptional line line of of carryovers carryovers calving calving for for 44 weeks weeks only only to to Hereford. Hereford. Great Great opportunity opportunity to to purchase purchase top top cows. cows. Catalogues Catalogues and and Herd Herd Test Test available available by by request. request. Contact Contact Tony Tony Blackwood Blackwood 0272 0272 431 431 858 858

ANNUAL ANNUAL 15 15 MONTH MONTH HEIFER HEIFER FAIR FAIR Friday Friday 24th 24th February, February, 12.30pm 12.30pm Tuakau Tuakau Saleyards Saleyards A/C A/C Waipuna Waipuna Valley Valley Farms Farms 1500 1500 15 15 month month Beef Beef Heifers Heifers Comprising: Comprising: 750 750 Angus Angus 320 320 Angus/Hereford Angus/Hereford 70 70 Hereford Hereford 260 260 Char Char x, x, Sim Sim x, x, Dev Dev xx 100 100 Stabiliser Stabiliser •• Quality Quality line line of of traditional traditional and and Exotic Exotic bred bred cattle cattle •• Farmed Farmed in in large large mobs mobs on on genuine genuine hill hill country country •• Cattle Cattle in in hand hand several several days days prior prior to to sale sale day, day, weighed weighed dead dead empty empty •• Top Top bred bred cattle cattle purchased purchased ex ex South South Island Island Weaner Weaner Fairs Fairs •• Good Good condition condition cattle cattle Contact: Contact: PGGW PGGW Tony Tony Blackwood Blackwood 0272 0272 431 431 858 858 Vendor Vendor David David Short Short 07 07 826 826 7763 7763

HERDS HERDS FOR FOR SALE SALE TARANAKI TARANAKI 70 70 Frsn/ Frsn/ Frsn Frsn xx Cows, Cows, BW60, BW60, PW82, PW82, Calving Calving 27th 27th July, July, Complete Complete Herd, Herd, Production Production 550M/S 550M/S per per Cow. Cow. $2100.00 $2100.00 280 280 Frsn/ Frsn/ Frsn Frsn xx Cows, Cows, BW35, BW35, PW57 PW57 Calving Calving 1st 1stAugust, August,Ambreed Ambreed Herd, Herd, Hill Hill Country. Country. $1975.00 $1975.00 270 270 XBred XBred Cows, Cows, BW65, BW65, PW76, PW76, Calving Calving 5th 5th July, July, Good Good type, type, Challenging Challenging Farm. Farm. $1850.00 $1850.00 70 70 Frsn Frsn Cows, Cows, BW64, BW64, PW73, PW73, Calving10th Calving10th July, July, Early Early Calving Calving Content, Content, 10 10 day day Calving Calving Spread. Spread. $2350.00 $2350.00 Contact Contact Kim Kim Harrison Harrison 0275 0275 010 010 013 013 WAIKATO WAIKATO 330 330 Frsn/ Frsn/ Frsn Frsn xx Cows, Cows, BW91, BW91, PW109, PW109, RA99%. RA99%. Calving Calving 20th 20th July, July, Young Young Herd, Herd, Will Will Computer Computer Split. Split. $2100.00 $2100.00 Richard Richard Todd Todd 0274 0274 942 942 544 544 210 210 Jersey Jersey Cows, Cows, BW91, BW91, PW91, PW91, RA99%, RA99%, Calving Calving 14th 14th July, July, Quality Quality Herd. Herd. $2100.00 $2100.00 Andrew Andrew Reyland Reyland 0272 0272 237 237 092 092 200 200 XBred XBred Cows, Cows, BW71, BW71, PW78, PW78, RA89%, RA89%, Calving Calving 20th 20th July, July, 2nd/3rd 2nd/3rd Calvers. Calvers. $1900.00 $1900.00 Todd Todd Van Van Berlo Berlo 0275 0275 297 297 748 748 173 173 XBred/ XBred/ Jsy/ Jsy/ Frsn Frsn Cows, Cows, BW74, BW74, PW103, PW103, RA87%, RA87%, Calving Calving 16th 16th July, July, Compact Compact Calving. Calving. $1960.00 $1960.00 Vaughn Vaughn Larsen Larsen 0278 0278 014 014 599 599 Over Over 80 80 Lines Lines of of Incalf Incalf Heifers Heifers Listed, Listed, Check Check out out our our Website Website ‘Agonline’ ‘Agonline’for for Further Further Details Details

HIGH HIGH BW BW MT MT COW COW SALE SALE Every Every Wednesday Wednesday at at Morrinsville Morrinsville Saleyards Saleyards For For Further Further Information Information Please Please Contact: Contact: Regan Regan Craig Craig 0275 0275 028 028 585 585 or or 07 07 889 889 7300 7300

eliable Strong, fRficient and E

Farma ra Law ma 23rd, 2 rence 4th Fe b. Cen Field Dtral District a y s , 16th,1 7th site O18, Sth Isla ,18th March n Days, s d Kirwee F ie it 30th, 3 e 282, 29th ld , 1st Ma rch

z it co.n Vis rite. lity a t u s q la w. ore cts ww r m odu fo pr

TOP TOPAUTUMN AUTUMN HERD HERD CLEARING CLEARING SALE SALE

a.co.nz

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Are you looking in the right direction? Call 0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

Wanted Ewes

• 65 Friesian x 4yr cows, 4 wks AB, DTC 20/7/17 $1600

One schedule price for all farmers To receive the Prime Range Meats weekly schedule prices via email, contact the Procurement Manager Ken Cavanagh on: 027 436 8560 or email ken.cavanagh@primerange.co.nz

• Autumn calving cows $1500 LK0086113©

• Autumn in-milk Friesian cows, May delivery, calved April 2017 Brad Devlin 027 498 1203

Refer to our website ebsite

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

120 2th Rams-including selection for hogget mating • Romney • Kelso Maternal • Romdale • Kelso X Romney • Kelso Terminal (Black Face) • Texel X Romney

FAIRBURN TEXEL STUD DISPERSAL AG & LM PATON Springston Sale being held at Canterbury Park Fri 3 Mar, commencing 1pm Viewing from 10am onwards

Private sales option for early mating delivery

Contact: David Giddings 03 685 8027 Auctioneers PGGW Keith Willson 0800 309 554 Callum Dunnett 027 590 8612 or your local agent www.meadowslea.co.nz

LK0085872©

LK0086108©

DAIRY STOCK AVAILABLE VAILABLE

33 34 20 20 24 40

Ewes 2015 Ewes 2014 Ewes 2013 Ewes 2007 to 2012 Ram Lambs Ewe Lambs

This is a very good line of Texel sheep up for sale that has never been drenched. Further information Callum Dunnett – PGW Alan or Lois Paton – Vendors

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

0275 908 612 03 329 5736

Autumn Calvers 230 I/C Xbred C/O cows BW85 PW132 DTC 14/3 to AB. $1900 ono Reuben Wright 027 284 6384 (Northland) 215 I/C Frsn/FrsnX C/O cows BW79 PW99 DTC 26/3 to hfd. $1850 Paul Chapman 021 242 7799 (Northland) 70 Frsn/FrsnX C/O cows BW83 PW105 DTC 25/3 VIC to Hfd. $1800 Max Hutchings 027 538 4961 (Wairarapa) 30 Frsn/FrsnX 2nd calvers BW63 PW77 DTC 25/3 KiwiX AB, then Hfd. $1800 Max Hutchings 027 538 4961 (Wairarapa)

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING PHONE 0800 85 25 80

FOR SALE

600 Ewe Lambs Capital Stock

St Ledger - Romney Coopworth X Suitable to mate as Hoggets Flock scans 170% Docks 100% from Hoggets Eczema Tolerant

WANTED

2 1/2 Year Beef Steers 520kg Plus

Enquiries to: Ross Waller 07 8967858 / 027 4845465

www.centrallivestock.co.nz

WHAT DO YOU SEE? The most powerful black faced rams available to give you black faced lambs.

21 I/C JrsyX C/O young cows BW107 PW138 DTC 1/3 to Hfd. $1750 Val Ditchfield 027 573 7480 (BOP) 5 Frsn C/O cows BW95 PW116 DTC 6/4 to Jrsy, well grown. $1800 Paul Kane 027 286 9279 (North Waikato) 50 Frsn I/C hfrs BW99 PW85 DTC 10/3 470kg LW. $1700 Darrin Holm 027 242 2905 (Manawatu) 50 Frsn/FrsnX I/C hfrs BW75 PW97 DTC 28/3 to Jrsy. $1800 Ron Weston 027 493 2752 (Northland) 31 FrsnX I/C black 1stX hfrs DTC 26/3 unrec apart from 6. $1500 Keith West 027 214 9180 (Waikato)

6 Frsn/FrsnX I/C mdn 3yr hfrs BW47 PW89 DTC 3/3. $1700.00 Keith West 027 214 9180 (North Waikato)

More stock available on our website or contact National Dairy Coordinator Paul Kane Ph 027 286 9279 – paul.kane@carrfields.co.nz

May 2016

Line of 308 lambs processed – 187 infected with sheep measles, 10 condemned!

Growth - Meat - Survival

FOL UF K

PERFOR

IT’S TIME TO MEAT A MODERN DAY SUFFOLK FOR A SUFFOLK BREEDER NEAR YOU VISIT nzsheep.co.nz/suffolk

Protect your new lamb crop. NOW is the time

to review your on-farm sheep measles programme.

For more information contact your veterinarian, phone Ovis Management on 0800 222 011 or go to www.sheepmeasles.co.nz

LK0084652©

21 Frsn I/C 2.5 Yr hfrs BW73 PW84 DTC 15/3 475kg LW. $1800 John Price 027 594 2544 (Waikato)

And the man says, “What crayfish?”

SEA

The MAF officer then says, “ Ok let’s see ya whistle and make those crayfish come back to you.”

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

On-farm Fairlie – Friday March 17 – 1pm

• Perendale X Texel X Romney

FOR SALE

CAPITAL STOCK ROMNEY OMNEY 2 & 4 TOOTH EWES WES

, “Hey just watch” he says and chucks the crayfish into the surf.

MAY Delivery elivery

The MAF officer doesn’t believe him and says it is illegal to catch undersize crayfish and starts writing out a ticket.

15 MTH BULLS 400kgs 270kgs FRIESIAN BULLS ULLS

He says, “Nope, these are my pet crayfish. I just bring them down to the beach each day for a swim. When I whistle they hop back in the bucket and I take them home.”

Autumn Ram Sale

LK0085508©

The inspector says to him “It looks like you’ve caught a couple of under size crayfish”.

MEADOWSLEA

SALE TALK A man’s walking up the beach with a couple of live Crayfish in a bucket when he is stopped by a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries inspector..

• 500 Big Framed Friesian, FriesianX cows DTC10/7/17 28 years AB BW 70 PW 95 RA 99% 500m/s per cow slashing i/c heifers available • Autumn calving heifers for lease

WANTED WANTED

LK0085889©

• 40 selected rams to sell • Only East Friesian stud in NZ to eye-muscle Simply the best genetics scan for meat production • Rams are brucellosis accredited • Limited number available • Rams semen available for AI (NZ and overseas)

Contact: M.R. Skelton Central Otago 03 448 8545

• 46 years AB bred and Family owned DTC 1/7/17 200 straight Friesian cows BW 65 PW 60 RA 100% 500 m/s per cow, i/c heifers available

Est 1999 • Flock #62

Livestock 0800 85 25 80

FOR SALE

SILVER SHEEP EAST FRIESIAN

• Traits for growth rates, survivability, milking and mothering ability from years of experience • All pedigrees can be traced back to original imported rams • Ewes have been selected over the past 15 years • Bred from the coldest place in NZ and now in the driest place in NZ!

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – February 13, 2017

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed Last year

6.00

6.38

AS OF 18/11/2016

AS OF 08/02/2017

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

327

350

NI mutton (20kg)

3.10

2.40

286

306

SI lamb (17kg)

5.25

5.20

4.85

Feed Barley

287

281

294

SI mutton (20kg)

3.10

2.15

228

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 7.57

7.48

7.35

245

244

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

370

352

PKE

248

246

225

6.5 6.0 5.5

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Wheat - Nearest

226

219

254

Corn - Nearest

202

198

214

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

3500

APW Wheat

303

300

363

3000

ASW Wheat

275

271

354

2500

Feed Wheat

256

253

320

Feed Barley

239

235

320

113

110

PKE (US$/t)

Jan 17 Apr 17 NZX WMP Futur es

North Island 17kg lamb 7.0

INTERNATIONAL

4000

1500 Apr 16 Jul 16 Oct 16 C2 Fonter r a WMP

5.00

293

Australia (NZ$/t)

2000

5.15

327

* 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.

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

Ex-Malaysia

South Island 1 7kg lamb

6.5 6.0

NZ venison 60kg stag

5.5 600

500 5.0 400

4.5

300

4.0Oct Oct

Dec

Feb

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

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3330

3210

3410

SMP

2710

2500

AMF

5570

Butter

4560

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Prior week

Last year

2675

Urea

482

525

6.65

8.95

5380

5210

Super

317

330

35 micron

3.50

3.85

5.81

4280

4240

DAP

850

39 micron

3.35

3.39

5.65

739

$/kg

c/k kg (net)

NZ$/t

US$/t

5.5

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Sharemarket Briefing THOUGH it was a shortened week in New Zealand there was plenty of information for investors to digest. The Australian and NZ reporting season is now under way and has already caused some big market movements. Central bank decisions from both NZ and Australia have also been talking points, as was the latest Global Dairy Trade auction result. Rising geopolitical tensions continue to be a theme and have caused further uncertainty for markets globally. United States President Donald Trump continues to be a wild card for investors and European politics came under the spotlight, with upcoming elections in France and Germany as well as a Brexit vote in Britain. The main local economic event was the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the official cash rate at the historic low of 1.75%. Governor Graeme Wheeler was positive about the shape of the NZ economy but said risks remain, which will require monetary policy to remain accommodative. The latest Global Dairy Trade auction surprised markets by rising 1.3% bucking the futures market which was pointing to a small decline. Some analysts believe there is potential for further upside to the farmgate payout. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

7122

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7161

Feb 14

Feb 15

Feb 16

Feed barley

4 weeks ago

NZ venison 60kg stag

600

250 150 Feb 13

35 micron wool price

6.5

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES

3200

11507

This yr

6.65

350

9680

Aug

Last week

3400

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

Last yr

Aug

29 micron

450

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

Jun

(NZ$/kg)

3600

Latest price

Jun

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Mar

Apr

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Feb

Apr

FERTILISER

Last price*

3000

Last year

5.15

Feed Wheat

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Dec 16 AgriHQ Seasonal

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg)

Milling Wheat

PKE

Sep 16 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg

$/kgMS

Prior week

Canterbury (NZ$/t)

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

US$/t

Last week

AGRIHQ 2016-17

FONTERRA 2016-17

8 7 6 5 4 3 Jun 16

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

$/kg

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2016-17

Sheep

c/kkg (net)

Dairy

Feb 17

PKE spot

YTD High

YTD Low

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.01

6.31

Fletcher Building Limited

10.00

10.86

9.94

Meridian Energy Limited Spark New Zealand Limited Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd Ryman Healthcare Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Contact Energy Limited Vector Limited Port of Tauranga Limited (NS)

2.70 3.61 8.98 8.84 3.07 4.79 3.29 4.36

2.77 3.70 9.18 8.88 3.10 5.02 3.30 4.36

2.57 3.41 8.50 8.17 2.94 4.65 3.15 3.86

Listed Agri Shares

400 3.5 300

2.5 Oct Oct

Dec

5‐yr ave

Feb

Apr

Last yr

Jun

Aug

This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

4.5

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

2.490

2.500

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.620

0.810

0.580

Comvita Limited

6.930

8.020

6.000

Delegat Group Limited

6.070

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.480

1.490

1.480

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.300

5.990

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.560

2.600

2.550

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.380

1.420

1.270

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.550

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.990

7.120

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.470

3.530

3.320

Seeka Limited

4.500

4.600

4.300

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.350

1.460

1.300

S&P/FW Primary Sector

9680

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

11507

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

7122

7134

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7161

7232

7047

THE kiwi dollar slipped This Prior Last NZD vs about 0.60 cents against week week year the United States dollar USD 0.7190 0.7292 0.6627 on Thursday after dovish EUR 0.6745 0.6768 0.5888 comment from the Reserve AUD 0.9422 0.9513 0.9433 Bank as it kept the core interest rate on hold. GBP 0.5750 0.5818 0.4625 By mid-morning Friday, it Correct as of 9am last Friday was down about 1c on the same time a week earlier at US$0.719. The RBNZ message was mixed, signalling that the next move in the OCR was likely to be upwards but a fair way off, Westpac Bank strategist Imre Speizer said. “There was a bit of a sell-off on the dovish tone. The market was expecting a more aggressive path on rate hikes and sold out of long kiwi positions.” He thinks the RBNZ impact “is done” and the dollar will now go where the US dollar takes it. The Trump administration is talking about major and stimulatory tax change and there were signs of an uptrend for the greenback. “We think the kiwi will go below US$0.70 over the next few months and be around 0.68 late in the year.” The NZ dollar slipped below £0.58 and Speizer expects a 0.56 to 0.60 trading range through this year with the possibility of going above £0.60 towards year-end as expected Brexit uncertainty finally impacts the United Kingdom economy. Political risk in Europe is the main reason for his call for a possible year-end mark of close to €0.70 for the kiwi, even though the eurozone economy is holding up well. Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

35 MICRON WOOL

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER BULL

($/KG)

MEDIUM TO GOOD STORE EWE LAMBS AT STORTFORD LODGE

($/KG)

($/HD)

5.20

3.50

4.90

60-70

high lights

$85-$116

$540-$590

Heavy prime ewes at Feilding

Hereford-Friesian weaner bulls, 94105kg, at Frankton

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

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.20

5.25

NI Bull (300kg)

5.00

5.25

NI Cow (200kg)

3.90

4.10

SI Steer (300kg)

5.25

5.10

SI Bull (300kg)

4.90

4.45

SI Cow (200kg)

3.95

3.60

US imported 95CL bull

6.82

6.52

6.77

US domestic 90CL cow

6.36

6.27

7.01

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.5

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0

BIRD’S EYE: Scenes from last month’s Double Hill Station on-farm sale.

4.5

Photos: supplied

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

4.0 South Island steer (300kg) 6.0 5.5

Rain too little, too late

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)

$/kg

600 5.0 500 4.5 400

4.0

300

3.5

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)

7.90

7.20

NI Hind (50kg)

7.80

7.10

SI Stag (60kg)

7.90

7.20

SI Hind (50kg)

7.80

7.10

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

9.5

600

$/kg

openforlivestock.co.nz is LIVE

Win a ride to the NZCalgary venison 60kg stagStampede

8.5

c/k kg (net)

were mainly Murray Grey-cross, and at supply, buyers from Taranaki helped HILE rain falling in push prices for a small offering of 520-530kg, sold for $2.58/kg. Heifers parched areas of 18-month steers up by 15c/kg. The Northland, Gisborne were a mix of beef-cross and Angusmarket for Hereford-Friesian in the cross, which returned $2.45-$2.48/kg. and Hawkes Bay 400-460kg weight bracket ranged from The R2 yarding consisted of beefhas been music to $2.57-$2.83/kg. cross steers at $2.60-$2.68/kg, while farmers ears, it has come too late for A small line-up of weaner steers sold Friesian bulls sold well at $2.56/kg. many, and store lambs in particular at similar levels to the previous week. Unrecorded dairy heifers met with are still beingApply shipped of Gisborne forout livestock finance online in minutes, and get a decision in seconds. The better lots, 128-136kg, made $550solid interest in the weaner pens, and and Hawkes Bay areas in droves. $610 and smaller steers, 105-120kg, Jersey traded at $460, while Friesian Lambs continue to head to greener • Loan repaid on the sale of the livestock $460-$530. pastures in Manawatu, Central Plateau lines sold freely at $500-$515, with • Secured against the stock purchased, not your farm or other assets Eighteen-month heifers also sold other lines making $400-$440. and South Island, though local buyers well, with 330-380kg range earning A small offering of cows saw the with irrigated crops have also been $2.70-$2.90/kg. Good weaner heifers, top lines make $1.70-$1.75/kg, and active. Text HEARTLAND to 226 for more information and enter the draw to win a trip for two 120-133kg, fetched $500-$525 and medium, $1.40-$1.50/kg. to the Calgary Stampede 2017 including flights, accommodation and VIP tickets. NORTHLAND lighter lots $440-$475. NORTHLAND Or apply for a livestock loan with us before 31 March 2017 and you’ll automatically go into the draw. COUNTIES Last Wednesday’s prime sale drew COUNTIES A hint of green after 30-70mls of a yarding of 300-350, and the market After another short working week, rain resulted in a small yarding of again benefitted from outside buying store cattle numbers were low at cattle at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, Heartland Bankon Limited’s criteria, feesTUAKAU and charges apply. full competition last For Thursday, but the market support, with the steer section lifting with around 220 cattle the lending books. terms and conditions, visit www.openforlivestock.co.nz by up to 15c/kg. improved on the previous sale, Keith The limited number of cattle kept Most of the heavier steers sold at West of Carrfields Livestock reported. the market steady, for what was a $2.72-$2.80/kg, with medium making Just over 200 were on offer, and mixed yarding, PGG Wrightson agent while dry conditions and a lack of Vaughan Vujcich reported. Continued page 54 grass meant local buyers were in short In the older cattle pens R3 steers

7.5

500

400 6.5

HBL0096

300 5.5Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

Jun Jun

Aug Aug This yr

openforlivestock.co.nz is LIVE Apply for livestock finance online in minutes, and get a decision in seconds. • Loan repaid on the sale of the livestock • Secured against the stock purchased, not your farm or other assets

Win a ride to the Calgary Stampede

Text HEARTLAND to 226 for more information and enter the draw to win a trip for two to the Calgary Stampede 2017 including flights, accommodation and VIP tickets. Or apply for a livestock loan with us before 31 March 2017 and you’ll automatically go into the draw.

Heartland Bank Limited’s lending criteria, fees and charges apply. For full competition terms and conditions, visit www.openforlivestock.co.nz HBL0096

Markets

54 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017 $2.67-$2.71/kg, and light, $2.64$2.69/kg. Heifer prices were on par and heavy lots earned $2.53-$2.56/ kg, and medium $2.50-$2.53/kg. A small entry of dairy-type heifers made $1.85/kg. A handful of beef cows traded at $1.80-$2.00/kg and heavy Friesian, $1.76-$1.86/kg. Medium boners earned $1.60$1.71/kg, and light $1.38-$1.56/ kg. Paddock cows were in good demand, making $1.70-$1.85/kg. Heavy bulls sold at $2.50-$2.60/kg, and lighter lots $2.16-$2.35/kg. The usual Monday sheep sale was moved to Tuesday, drawing a small-medium yarding. Prime lamb prices were slightly firmer, with heavier types making $102$109, and medium $96-$101. Lighter primes traded at $87$94, and store lambs $52-$80. Heavy ewes fetched $70-$79, and medium $54-$66. BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY The yarding of 440 cattle at RANGIURU last Tuesday was well suited to the audience of small block holders, with the mainly small line sizes just what was needed for replacements. A moderate yarding of sheep went under the hammer first, and prime lambs sold on a solid market, with top lines reaching $114, medium $95, and light $80. Ewe numbers were low and prices mixed, with the heavy end making $85, but light to medium traded at $30-$52. A small yarding of store lambs returned $31-$70. In the rostrum, a small prime steer section made market value, with most 611-685kg, and returning $2.63-$2.73/kg, while top boners fetched $1.68-$1.80/kg, and medium, $1.55-$1.63/kg. The store pens consisted of small lines of all age groups, and R3 Angus and Hereford heifers, 470-493kg, managed $2.49-$2.60/ kg, and a small offering of R2 steers, $2.66-$2.78/kg. Crossbred surprisingly topped the R2 heifer pens, with 463kg selling for $1215, $2.62/kg, with other lines selling to their quality and condition. Weaner prices firmed for the limited number offered, though prices have come off the highs seen at the weaner fairs. Friesian bulls, 93-107kg, made $350-$410, with heavier types trading at $420-$470. A quality line up of well-marked Hereford-Friesian heifers, 105kg, were well contested and sold for $480, though most other lines of similar weight made $370-$420. WAIKATO A short week saw minimal numbers at FRANKTON last Wednesday, with 280 on the books. Just two lines had over 10 head, and heifers took centre stage. There was more action in the pens last Thursday for the dairy-beef weaner fair, but with Northern Waikato areas drying out, prices for beef-Friesian lines eased. A good sized offering of R3 heifers met solid demand with prices steady on last week. Hereford-Friesian, 447-533kg, sold for $2.54-$2.60/kg, and small lines of Angus and Hereford, 495-504kg, $2.62-$2.65/kg. Angus featured in the R2 pens and at 378-401kg, sold for $950$1015, with Hereford-Friesian making the same values. The only other store section of substance

ON HIGH: Scenes from last month’s Double Hill Station on-farm sale.

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

was R3 Hereford-Friesian steers, 403-542kg, at $2.57-$2.61/kg. Demand for boner cows was strong as space is readily available, and these sold on a firm market, with 468-556kg earning $1.57$1.65/kg. Buying power for 800 weaners last Thursday was mainly from King Country, and Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls managed to hold their own, however with limited competition, beef-Friesian cattle eased $15-$20 per head. Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls, 108-120kg, made $480-$490, and heavier lines up to $660. Hereford-Friesian, 94-105kg, returned $540-$590, and 122131kg, $610-$645. In the heifer pens, 119-133kg Hereford-Friesian sold for $485-$535, whereas a big offering of Angus-cross sold in two main weight bands, with 111-112kg making $350-$375, and 122-133kg, $440-$470. For full reports on these sales visit agrihq.co.nz/farmer TARANAKI TARANAKI It was another three sale week at STRATFORD last week, with sale action last Tuesday, followed by a cattle fair Wednesday and Dairy Beef weaner fair on Thursday. Numbers were moderate at the cattle and weaner fair, though prices were anything but, with grass driven demand leading the bids, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Stephen Sutton reported. Tuesday was the quietest day, with 100 cattle selling to strong demand. Prime steers mainly earned $2.80-$2.90/kg, with bulls selling up to $2.80/kg. Very few cows were offered, which is unusual for this time of year, but regular rain and grass growth is keeping the cull cows at home. A moderate yarding of 650 cattle sold last Wednesday, with numbers slightly lower than expected. R3 steers sold exceptionally well at $2.80-$2.90/kg. Vendor expectations of a solid $3/kg plus for R2 steers were not quite met, but prices were still impressive, and Hereford, 340-403kg, managed $2.92-$2.97/kg, with Herefordcross and Simmental making $2.84-$2.89/kg. Heifers sold well and Hereford, 317-421kg, returned $2.77-$2.80/kg. Weaner numbers are slowing down, which is bringing more determination to bids, and the Friesian bull market was stronger than the last fair. Top lines, 180kg, returned $650, though the bestselling types were lighter lines at $480-$550. Hereford-Friesian

prices went one better, and 112160kg returned $600-$690, with other lines at $590. Angus-Friesian, 120-130kg, fetched $550-$590. Weaner heifer prices did soften a fraction, though values still exceed past years. Hereford-Friesian, 130kg and purchased for breeding, averaged $520, with 100-120kg trading at $470-$510, while AngusFriesian returned $450-$490. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY It was a case of more of the same for a relatively small yarding of sheep at MATAWHERO last week. Medium sized male and ewe store lambs made $50-$53.50, but the majority of numbers were smaller types which sold at $41-46.50. A few mixed sex lines weren’t well sought after, only making $29.50-$37. Light mixed age ewes made $33-$44, while a line of Romney four-tooth’s made $69.25. Prime ewes were $74-$78, while prime rams either $50-$60 or $70$77. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY An on-farm ewe fair was held at RANGITAIKI Station on Thursday, February 2, where 10190 Romney ewes were offered. The ewes had everything going for them, with good breeding, high fertility, and facial eczema tolerance, and drew in a good crowd of interested buyers. The younger ewes were sought after by Wairoa buyers and the big lines sizes did not deter, with the top 2-tooths trading at $156, while the second cuts made $121-$126, and third, $107. The best of the 4-tooth ewes returned $176, with $131-$121 for second cuts, and a line of third cut at $100. A good spread of buyers from Manawatu, Central Hawkes Bay, Tararua and local competed on the older ewes, and 6-tooth, sold to $165, with other lines earning $100-$121, while 4-year ewes traded at $121$122, and 5-year, $103-$106. The only ewes to drop below $100 was 5 & 6-year, which sold for $77-$90, while wet-dry mixed age returned $108-$121. Overnight rain did nothing to stem the flow of store lambs to STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday, with it being too little too late. They continue to leave the area in droves, with the 8600 yarding mainly selling to outside buyers from Manawatu, Taupo and South Island. The top lambs sold on a steady market, with males making up the lion’s share. Medium to good males returned $60-$78, with

similar weighted ewe lambs in smaller numbers earning $57-$74. The market was harder going for light to medium types, and prices came off the previous weeks level. Very light ewe and male lambs traded at $35-$54, with medium types returning $56-$60. Two lines of 2-tooths fetched $80-$89. Numbers were low in the cattle pens at 207 head, though there were good sized lines of heifers offered due to the dry. The R2 heifers made up nearly 60% of the yarding, and featured 15-month Hereford, 247-361kg, at $705$1000, $2.77-$2.87/kg, and Angus, 299kg, $855, $2.86/kg. Older Angus, 379-431kg, returned $2.65$2.70/kg. A specially advertised consignment of traditional weaner heifers stayed local, with the Angus and Angus-Hereford line up making $612-$705 for 155-215kg. Steer numbers were limited to R3 Angus & Angus-Hereford, 478496kg, which sold to market value at $2.69-$2.73/kg. For full reports on these sales visit agrihq.co.nz/farmer MANAWATU MANAWATU Plenty of feed and buyers looking for mouths to eat it resulted in another strong market at RONGOTEA last Wednesday, with a big yarding of HerefordFriesian weaners popular, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Older cattle numbers were limited with most people finishing what they have. Angus-cross steers, 495-520kg, returned $2.50/ kg, and heifers, $460kg, $2.39/kg. A good sized offering of empty Friesian heifers, 384-450kg, sold well at $2.35-$2.51/kg, while Jersey bulls, 445-456kg, fetched $2.20$2.32/kg. Boner cows were mainly cross-bred, and at 417-460kg, made $1.49-$1.76/kg. The R2 pens included 15-month Hereford-Friesian bulls, 285325kg, at $780-$800 and crossbred, 320-376kg, $730-$900, while Angus-cross, 248kg, returned $730. Weaners were the main feature with good numbers of heifers and bulls coming forward. HerefordFriesian heifers, 89-151kg, returned $380-$530, and Anguscross, 97-121kg, $435-$530. Bull prices were solid and Friesian, 107-182kg, sold for $380-$570, and Hereford-Friesian, 92-160kg, $410$590. The section was topped by Simmental-cross, 205kg, at $690. Weaner pigs returned $50-$92, mixed age ewes $67-$89, and mixed sex lambs, $67-$93. DANNEVIRKE offered a top notch line up of mainly Angus

& Angus-Hereford steers last Thursday, for the first of the 2017 cattle fairs. Quality was outstanding, with annual draft lines in particular well sought after, PGG Wrightson agent Bjorn Andersen reported. The yarding of just over 1500 cattle comprised of 500 R3 steers, with the remainder R2 Angus & Angus-Hereford, plus a small offering of exotic-cross. All classes sold very well, with a keen buying bench very determined, and the R3 steers fetched $1350-$1610, with R2 lines mainly ranging from $1150-$1500. Increased demand for prime lambs resulted in good returns at FEILDING last Tuesday, despite a change of sale day and short week. Prime lambs sold on a lifting market for the 2100 offered, and were the feature of a quieter day at Feilding. Most of the offering were heavy types, and while the yarding ranged from $91-$128, the majority sold around the $120 mark. The ewe market was also very positive, with the 2700 head yarding well sought after by processors and traders. Heavy ewes were the main feature, and sold on an improved market at $85-$116, with medium types firm at $67-$85, and light, $40-$64. The curse of the short week was evident in the rostrum, where Jersey bulls and Friesian heifers and cows were the main feature of the 25 head yarding. Two lines of higher yielding Jersey bulls, 463483kg, made $2.25/kg, and light, $2.00-$2.04/kg. A small offering of Friesian heifers, 517-620kg, returned $2.41-$2.48/kg, and 6 Friesian cows, 522-625kg, $2.61$2.68/kg. The main focus of Friday’s sale was the supplementary ewe fair and, with meat traders underpinning the market, sale prices were generally satisfactory. Top lines sold well; 118 Romney two-tooths for $148 (although 25 sold for $150); 235 Romney fourtooths for $145; and 506 Romney five year olds for $116. There was a good turnout of buyers and some big mutton traders lurking and waiting for over 11,000 ewes. The lamb yarding was dominated by lambs from dry regions and, consequently weights may not have been as good as hoped. Top money was $93 for woolly cryptorchids from the local region which were not affected by drought with a few other lines of male lambs over $80. Sale prices eased slightly, probably due to the lamb condition but vendors would

Markets

have been mightily relieved. Sheep: ewes; 2th $80-$150; 4th $145; MA-6yo: $67-$116; lambs: heavy $80-$93, medium, $72$81.50, lighter, $59.50-$72.70. The cattle sale was again small with a largish entry of heifers and calves. Sale prices for good cattle held well with a looming shortage of prime cattle, it seems. Four heavy Hereford-Friesian steers sold for $2230 ($2.79) but they were works cattle. Younger steers were firm on the day for a small yarding. Bulls were steady, again on a small yarding and up to $1700 ($2.98) for big Angus. Perhaps the strongest section on the day was the rising two year heifer section with good Angus heifers approaching $3/kg again. Cattle: steers; R3, 428-797 kg, $1185-$2230, $2.77-$2.91; R2, 270464 kg, $830-$1385, $2.64-$3.16, firm; bulls; R3, 569 kg, $1700, $2.98; R2, 276-421 kg, $740-$1100, $2.57-$2.85, steady; R1, 110-164 kg, $405-$600, $3.63-$4.65; heifers; R3, 401 kg, $1060, $2.64; R2, 311477 kg, $875-$1245, $2.61-$2.97, lift; R1, 121-149 kg, 500-538 kg, $500-$540, $3.62-$4.30; and calves, 500-538 kg, $1220-$1245, $2.31$2.44; cows and calves, 518-700 kg, $1340-41440, $1.91-$2.78. For full reports on these sales visit agrihq.co.nz/farmer CANTERBURY CANTERBURY Store lambs featured on a Wednesday sale at CANTERBURY PARK last week, with the change of day affecting cattle numbers, though sheep throughput was similar. The store lamb market softened, as more lambs have been available through on-farm sales. The yarding of 3700 was top heavy with mixed sex, and the best of the bunch made $75-$81 to sell on a steady market, though light and medium lines eased to $49-$71. Light male lambs sold better but numbers were limited, and two lines traded at $65-$71, with medium to good earning $75-$80. The prime market held up well despite the short kill week, and prices reflected steady schedules. Prime lambs again traded at $80$119, while medium-good to heavy ewes made $80-$113, and lightmedium, $60-$79. Few cattle came forward for the mainly prime sale, with 120 primes, and 27 stores on the books. High yielding Charolais steers and heifers made top dollar at $2.90$2.96/kg, with Angus heifers also very popular at $2.83-$2.86/kg, as straight traditional cattle prove hard to find. Most other prime heifers returned $2.75-$2.79/kg. The steer section offered up two older bullocks, which tipped the scales at 1255-1270kg, but only sold for $1.50-$1.60/kg, with per head prices matching the better yielding types. Traditional and beef-cross steers returned $2.85-$2.90/kg, with a small number of forward stores trading at $2.94-$3.01/kg. Store numbers were low but featured R2 Hereford heifers, 335kg, at $2.94/kg, and their brothers, 416kg, which sold for $2.91/kg. Results were pleasing for most classes of stock sold at COALGATE last Thursday. Prime sheep prices held, which was also repeated for most of the prime cattle.

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017

lambs. This kept the bids flowing, and even lines of over 1000 head were selling as one. Condition was also a talking point, with an exceptional spring and summer showing these lambs at their very best. Prime lambs made a premium to prices at the regular sales, and top lines traded at $125-$135, with medium trading at $100-$125, and the third cuts, $90-$100. Of note in the store lamb market was a lift in demand for half-bred lines, over the more traditional cross-bred – a lift that is thought to be the result of the tough wool market, with buyers looking for lambs with more value on their backs. The best of the store lambs returned $80-$90, medium $65$79 and light $50-$60, with the market on the day up 10-15c/kgLW on sale yard prices. WHITE SEA: Scenes from last month’s Double Hill Station on-farm sale. More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

Store lamb numbers lifted to 1600, but prices did ease to $71-$75 for heavier types, with medium lines earning $60-$69, and light $30-$59. Regular buyers kept prices steady in the prime sheep pens, and 1600 lambs saw top lines make $110-$123, and medium, $90-$109. Ewe numbers were half of the previous week, and prices were on par. Heavy ewes made $90-$109, medium $71-$89, and a very small light end, $55-$65. A good showing of prime heifers made up the lion’s share of the cattle sale, with 93 on offer. Charolais heifers, 482-485kg, sold to $2.94-$2.99/kg, while other good prime heifers returned $2.80$2.90/kg. Dairy lines also featured, and at 374-375kg, made $2.16-$2.25/ kg. There was some softening in the steer market, with 567-660kg making $2.80-$2.88/kg, while lighter, higher yielding lines returned $2.90-$2.95/kg. Bulls, 390-464kg, sold over a tight range at $2.40-$2.46/kg, and beef cows, 515-666kg, sold well at $2.03-$2.12/ kg. Heifers also featured in the store pens, where over 100 were offered, while the other sections were at least half that. The heifers all had dairy blood in the veins, and R2 Friesian, 262-295kg, made $2.06-$2.10/kg, with beef-Friesian, 305-387kg, earning $2.85-$2.95/ kg. Jersey-cross 266kg, were harder work, selling for $1.73/kg. One line of weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 107kg, made $460, while bulls, 92-93kg, returned $430-$470. SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY Traditional store cattle prices defied logic at TEMUKA last

Thursday, where a small yarding of R2 steers and heifers sold well in excess of $3.10/kg. Store lamb numbers were also high again last Tuesday as vendors look to take advantage of the strong market prices. Store lamb numbers nearly reached 6000, with half the yarding mixed sex. Very light lambs sold in excess of $3.00/kg, at $60-$66, while light to medium types returned $62-$70. Few mixed sex sold over $80, with cents-perkilogram prices dropping as the weights increased. Ewe and male lambs came forward in decent sized lines of varying weights, with ewes trading at $61-$85, and male, $73-$81. The prime section was easily sold and lambs firmed to $91$118, while most of the 1580 ewes traded at $60-$78 and $80-$115. The change of sale day affected numbers in the rostrum, though there was still 134 ex-service bulls on the books. Angus-cross, 610-615kg, fetched $2.69-$2.75/ kg, while Hereford, 584-607kg, made $2.75/kg. Jersey, 464-640kg, sold well at $2.46-$2.64/kg, and Friesian, 552-760kg, $2.61$2.71/kg. The cow section was a black and white affair, with the exception of a few small lines of Jersey. Friesian sold in three main cuts, with a small top end trading at $1.76-$1.86/kg, while the majority were 485-547kg, and made $1.66-$1.74/kg, and 448468kg, $1.61-$1.70/kg. High yielding Charolais topped the heifer section, with 545-605kg making $2.83-$2.84/kg, though 15 Hereford, 370-615kg, managed $2.70-$2.75/kg, while steers were mainly Friesian, 515-645kg, $2.62$2.72/kg.

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With store cattle sales now a weekly occurrence, and a clash with an on-farm lamb sale, numbers were low by Temuka standards, with just shy of 400 offered. The traditional contingent of the yarding sold well above market value, and the heifers in particular impressed. Angus, 322-394kg, sold to $3.21-$3.32/kg, and Hereford, 381-406kg, $3.10$3.20/kg, putting just over $1200 on their heads. A small line of Angus-Hereford, 318kg, went even better, making $1095 at $3.44/kg. Traditional steer numbers were lower, and matched the heifer prices, with Angus, 386-402kg, making $3.23-$3.24/kg. The main feature in the steer pens though was a unique consignment of Belted Galloway-Friesian, 310374kg, which met keen interest from the bench and sold for $3.10$3.18/kg. Bids did not slow for the small weaner offering, and Herefordcross heifers, 95-97kg, fetched $480, while Angus-cross, 121137kg, returned $530-$550. Anguscross bulls made up a large chunk of their section, and at 126-138kg, made $500-$540. South Canterbury held its annual ROLLESBY on-farm lamb sale last Thursday, with the 8 vendor’s part of the 22-year history of this sale. Over the 8 properties around 22,500 lambs went under the hammer, and high demand from North Canterbury through to Southland ensured a full clearance on a very competitive market. Just over 60 buyers registered for the sales, and the key to the success was the line sizes sought, with a large percentage of the buyers looking for big lines of

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OTAGO OTAGO A large yarding of prime lambs featured at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday, though values held the previous week’s levels, PGG Wrightson agent Barry Osborne reported. A good sized offering of store lambs were also sold, and while demand appeared to relax somewhat, buyers were still able to be pushed to the previous week’s levels. Top woolly lambs traded at $78-$83, medium $69-$75, and light, $50. Terminal lambs returned $69-$83. Quality in the prime lamb pens was mainly very good, and the top lines fetched $105-$119, medium $92-$101, and light, $85-$90. Prime ewe prices have held up well for some time, but an easing in demand saw the market soften, with prices back $5 per head. Heavy ewes sold under $100 at $96, with medium earning $79, and light $40-$66. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND LORNEVILLE started off a short week with a two-tooth and ewe lamb fair, and good attendance resulted in a strong market. Border Leicester-cross ewes topped the sale at $190-$210, with medium types earning $170-$185, and third cuts, $160-$168. Not far off the pace were CoopworthTexel, with these realising $170$200, and Coopworth-Texel-cross, $150-$165. Romney ewes traded at $170-$185, with medium lines returning $150-$165. In the lamb pens Border-Leicester-cross ewes sold very well at $135-$152, with the second cuts trading at $120$130. Results from the sheep sale at CHARLTON last Thursday was a mirror image of the previous week, though numbers were up in both the prime and store pens, PGG Wrightson agent David Morrison reported. A good yarding of mainly smaller store lambs sold on a very steady market, with top lines making $75-$80, medium $65-$75, and light $50-$55. The prime market followed suit, and while numbers were up, the market held its own, with heavy prime lambs at $111, medium $90$95, and light, $85-$90. If anything was slightly strong, it was the ewe section, with the top ewes adding $5 to the previous week’s prices to make $120, with medium lines making $85-$100, and light $55$70. Rams sold for $60-$80.

Markets

56 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2017 CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

NI SLAUGHTER MUTTON

SI SLAUGTER LAMB

($/T)

($/KG)

PRIME TRADITIONAL HEIFERS, 505560KG, AT CANTERBURY PARK

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

3.10

2.87

5.25

2.83

Many lambs going south

ANY thousands of store lambs continue to be trucked out of drought-hit Hawke’s Bay, many of them going to South Island regions with plenty of feed. Some are going to Marlborough and others as far as Mid and South Canterbury while many more were going further afield in the North Island where there were good feed levels, Hazlett Rural spokesman Dave Hazlett said. Destinations included King Country, Rangitikei, Manawatu and other western areas. Trucking firms were getting the stock to southern destinations in excellent order after a transit stop for nourishment in Blenheim, Hazlett said. Cattle were being shifted south as well. Feilding-based Stock Lines had been carting stock south for the last six weeks and its recent store lamb tallies were about 2000 a day, manager Gerry McKay said. At Stortford Lodge in Hastings last week, lambs were being bought at $2.20/ kg, compared to $2.60/kg at Canterbury Park, AgriHQ analyst Rachel Agnew reported. With transport south costing in the range of 25c/ kg to 30c/kg, the trade was a good one for southerners. It was very rare for North Island lambs to be cheaper than those in the South Island but Hawke’s Bay farmers, unable to finish them to

QUIET: There has been no influx of lambs to Ashburton where farmers are still getting harvests in, PGG Wrightson livestock manager Greg Cook says.

processing weights, were having to destock in a big way, with pressure on stock water supplies compounding the lack of pasture growth. Mid Canterbury was flush with feed and understocked, foothills farmer and Rural Support Trust president Peter Reveley said. There were thousands of hectares of irrigated cropping and mixed livestock/cropping farms and a lot of feed was coming through as crops were taken off. Many of those farmers were no longer breeding lambs and could buy in big numbers

for fattening for trading or to finish. Last summer the region fed more than 100,000 ewes, about 30,000 hoggets and hundreds of beef cows affected by the drought in North Canterbury but the grazing wasn’t needed this summer. “If you want to feed stock, we can do it. Farmers down here wouldn’t blink at those numbers,” Reveley said. Some individual farmers would easily be able to take in 20,000 lambs for fattening. Northwest winds had fed plenty of rain into the major

rivers so there had been very few restrictions on water use and there had been useful rainfall on top of that. PGG Wrightson Ashburton livestock manager Greg Cook said there wasn’t an influx of stock yet from outside, with a lot of farmers still getting their harvests in and not yet thinking about store lambs. “It’s early enough, they are coming in dribs and drabs and whether that will change remains to be seen, depending on the dollars involved when farmers are ready.”

high lights

$70-$80

$1350-1610

Good store male lambs at Stortford Lodge

R3 Angus & AngusHereford steers at Dannevirke

Grass will set weaner prices I’M NOT sure where the year is going, with February already flying by and January just a distant memory. Looking at the calendar for the next few months, there are two things Suz Bremner that stand out – the huge AgriHQ Analyst amount of A&P shows going on across the country and the fast-approaching traditional weaner fair season. Now that the lamb markets are well established and everyone has a good idea of what they will be paying for lambs, thoughts will inevitably turn to the weaner market and how 2017’s season will play out. I’m sure I don’t need to remind any of you about the traditional weaner markets of 2015 and 2016 where prices lifted many an eyebrow and stretched budgets to the limits. But the prices were paid and the records set and now we look to this year to see if the results can be mirrored. Things are a bit different this year though and there are a few vital factors that will affect prices. Grass for one thing – some have it in abundance and some don’t. The dry areas will be unlikely to take on much in the way of young stock, which will take a chunk of buyers out of the Hawke’s Bay and Northland markets, but there is the hope that these buyers will be replaced with those with good feed levels on the western side of the island. That said though, there is still strong competition for store cattle and while I think prices will not exceed last year’s record levels, I don’t think they will be too far off. The South Island will be one to watch, going on the continued strength of the store markets and a general lack of the good old traditional cattle. The other main factor will be if the margins on the previous year’s weaners will be enough to enter a market at these levels again. suz.bremner@nzx.com

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