TWO years after cyclone Gabrielle’s wrath struck the North Island, recovery remains patchy across the most affected regions with many farmers and growers still grappling with land and crop losses.
In Gisborne, kiwifruit grower Tim Tietjen said he was thankful to be having what he would call an ‘average’ season this year, after two very tough years he was still recovering from.
We lost 20% of our plants, they did not fire last spring and a further 30% are still struggling.
Tim Tietjen Kiwifruit grower
Tietjen grows a variety of fruit including 3ha of SunGold, 3.5ha of SunGold organic and 4ha of the new Ruby Red variety in Matawhero, all on either Bruno or Bounty rootstock.
“The plants with Bruno rootstock were really impacted last year and we ended up having half the orchard drooping and looking quite sad.
“We lost 20% of our plants,
Richard Rennie NEWS Weather Continued page 3
they did not fire last spring and a further 30% are still struggling, and we are looking at full replacement for this winter.
“It’s going to be a long road. The Bounty rootstock has proven it can handle the wet better and fortunately my most valuable crop, the organic SunGold, has Bounty rootstock.”
He said the last two years have been a big focus on minimising costs and doing as much as he can himself.
“Overall, I still feel quite positive about the future. There are no other crop alternatives that really stand out from kiwifruit as an alternative.”
Down the coast in Hawke’s Bay the apple industry initially anticipated a loss of 25% of land after Gabrielle’s impact.
But NZ Apples and Pear CEO
Karen Morrish said while there had been no net change in orchard land area in the past two years, this did not tell the whole story.
“The floods themselves saw 610ha lost, but we also had new plantings in just prior to Gabrielle that were only just maturing, so it was not a ‘like for like’ loss.”
She said there are still bare paddocks where orchards had been, but districts like Puketapu and Dartmoor have new orchards being planted.
“Some growers have gone right
Lamb on the menu at parliament
National MPs Catherine Wedd (Tukituki), James Meager (Rangitata), Hamish Campbell (Ilam) and Katie Nimon (Napier) tuck into lamb at a barbecue on the lawn of Parliament last week, hosted by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. The event was a lead-in to National Lamb Day, marked on February 15.
3
Aerial topdressing operators leave industry after lean years.
Kelly and Trevor Foote live on a farm in the Pelorus Sounds that can be reached only by boat, is powered by generator and has limited cell phone and internet access.
SHEEP & BEEF 17-20
PM says banks political posturing over industry
Competition is great, if it aligns with values, writes Phil Weir.
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LANE: OSPRI is preparing to take over tb testing following AsureQuality’s decision to exit from it last year, but Sam McIvor says OSPRI should have been doing the testing anyway.
News in brief
Waitoa expansion
Fonterra’s Waitoa UHT site is getting a $22 million expansion to support growth in the food service business.
The expansion will increase the site’s cream processing capability by up to 30,000 metric ton per year and create four new roles. This follows a $140 million investment in UHT cream capacity at the co-operative’s Edendale site announced last year.
Quick shear
Te Kuiti shearer Jack Fagan has won world shearing’s richest cash prize in a lightning trans-Tasman trip to win the Oberon Quick Shear in New South Wales.
In a field stacked with shearers from New Zealand, some based in Australia, Fagan won $A20,000 (more than $NZ22,000) with a final shear that took just 19.78 seconds at the Oberon Show, about 180km west of Sydney.
Irregularities
Mānuka honey listed company Comvita has declared accounting irregularities in the two most recent financial years amounting to total overstatement of post-tax earnings of $4 million.
Irregularities were first identified in December, amounting to $1m in each of FY23 and FY24, but after an independent accounting review the FY24 amount has increased to $3m.
Stepping down
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith will step down from her role after the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in July. Board chair Chloe Jones said in Coppersmith’s six-year tenure she led the implementation of a new digital platform for club management, expanded its sponsorship base, and achieved recordbreaking participation in competitions.
Turbulence in topdressing industry
Neal Wallace NEWS
Fertiliser
FIVE aerial topdressing operators have left the industry and one was recently placed in liquidation as a lean few years and soaring compliance and maintenance costs take a toll on the sector.
Bruce Peterson, the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, said while business is slowly picking up, the industry has endured a difficult three years with fertiliser applications halving during some of that period.
“There has not been the work out there,” he says.
Fertiliser companies report a small lift in sales in recent months, but Peterson expects that to translate to a slow and gradual recovery for his members.
Ballance customer manager Jason Minkhorst said sales are currently 3% higher than a year
ago with autumn orders looking strong.
“Early projections for next year indicate a 5% uplift, driven by strong dairy futures and increased phosphate applications after several years of sub-maintenance levels in most sectors.”
Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack agreed but said farmers have competing demands for any surplus cash.
There are signs that these returns might translate to greater fertiliser consumption, however debt reduction and farm system investment after two hard seasons suggest we may not see a rapid return to previous 2021-22 volumes.
Garry Diack Ravensdown
vines from his orchard still struggling with the impact of flooding.
Continued from p1
back in. Some have opted to plant pumpkins for a couple of years. Financing new orchards is a showstopper here. To do it properly involves a lot of debt and not everyone has the ability or appetite to take it on.”
Nevertheless, the apple sector has a good story to tell this season, expecting to break the $1 billion mark for orchard gate revenue and deliver total economic impact of $2.5 billion to the economy.
Crop estimates are that yield will be up 10% for exports, thanks in part to good winter and spring conditions.
For pastoral farmers in the Gisborne-Wairoa region plenty of repair work remains still to be completed.
Fed Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams said he continues to grapple with ongoing land slumps and reactivated slips, all requiring fence repairs again. He had noticed the contrast recently
“There are signs that these returns might translate to greater fertiliser consumption, however debt reduction and farm system investment after two hard seasons suggest we may not see a rapid return to previous 2021-22 volumes,” he said.
Diack said there has been slight increase in sales in the last month relative to last year, but he described it as tight.
Minkhorst said spring sales were relatively slow due to abundant grass growth in the North Island but poor spring weather conditions in the South Island which made application difficult.
Product prices have improved, but he says sheep and beef farms still face some tough conditions, resulting in basically flat performance compared to last year.
“However, we are also seeing some increased optimism from this sector with high beef prices and reports of a recent lift in lamb prices.”
Diack said farmers and growers are increasingly using precision placement and soil fertility data to keep their costs down, something Peterson has also noticed.
Technology to enhance precision placement is pending but in the meantime compliance and
maintenance costs for ag aviation companies has soared in the last few years which impacts what they charge.
A new engine for a fixed wing aircraft increased 28% since covid and recently rose another 8% to $735,000.
The price of some helicopter components have increased 180% while a Civil Aviation Authority safety levy is proposed to increase 10%.
The fee is based on tonnage applied but for a Cresco Aircraft
Peterson says it is currently between $55 and $65/hr, before a potential further 10% increase.
He described the cost as out of proportion compared to other operators, with skydiving or air transport aircraft facing $9/hr.
Peterson said his members are noticing a pickup in work in some areas but says it is steady rather than spectacular.
“From an industry point of view it is not going to springboard straight back.”
Lamb back on the menu at parliamentary party
Neal Wallace NEWS Sheep and beef
THE build up to National Lamb Day began with a barbeque on the lawn of Parliament, hosted by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
between Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions, where Hawke’s Bay’s land slips appear to have been slower to remediate.
Hawke’s Bay recently received $1 million in government funding to accelerate the Land for Life remediation program there to help farmers change land use patterns to better adjust to adverse climatic changes.
Wairoa mayor and farmer Craig Little said he felt government support for farmers had diminished, with many still facing challenges in farm access and land slumps.
For farmers facing continuing repair costs, the higher commodity prices have proven a Godsend this year.
He was also grateful Wairoa has had its $70 million for flood protection ringfenced, but a plan must be selected by March or the funding will be lost.
“We also have to resolve the issue about our river mouth and opening that up to prevent flooding.”
Politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, shared some barbecued lamb ahead of the official National Lamb Day, which was on February 15, the anniversary of NZ’s first export shipment of frozen meat in 1882.
The campaign is lead by Ag Proud and Beef + Lamb NZ with support from agribusiness and
meat companies and organising committee chairman Jon Pemberton described the response from the Parliament barbeque as excellent.
“It kicked it off. We’ve had massive exposure.”
Pemberton described the food as excellent. He ate 11 chops himself.
He hoped people had marked the day on Saturday with families, friends or communities coming together around a shared barbecued meal.
“It’s a way to connect us all.”
Pemberton also hopes National Lamb Day will drive a larger conversation in which rural communities unashamedly
celebrate their contribution and role.
“This is part of a broader conversation.”
It kicked it off. We’ve had massive exposure.
Jon Pemberton Ag Proud
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told those attending last week’s launch that National Lamb Day honours the legacy of early sector pioneers and acknowledges the role and resilience of farmers, processors, and exporters.
DELAYED: For Gisborne kiwifruit grower Tim Tietjen the effects of cyclone Gabrielle have been lingering, with
TOUGH TIMES: Bruce Peterson, the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, says while business is slowly picking up, the industry has endured a difficult three years.
Photo: File
HEAVY HITTERS: Celebrating the launch of National Lamb Day in Parliament last week are, from left, Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Alan Thomson, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Associate Minister of Agriculture Nicola Grigg, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson and Meat Industry Association chairman Nathan Guy. Photo: BLNZ
Farmers support grandfathering consents
Neal Wallace POLITICS Regulation
GRICULTURAL
Aleaders have welcomed the possibility the government could roll over or grandfather resource consents for food producers.
But regional councils are reserving judgement, saying they need to see the detail.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones raised the idea in last week’s Farmers Weekly, saying it would replicate what was done last year for marine farms, and in doing so provides certainty and will allow the focus on productivity. If the idea gets traction, he intends to roll over consents for vegetable growers and orchardists for five to 10 years or potentially grandfather them.
Jones said the idea is part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s economic growth push, to enable rather than stymie business activity.
SUPPORT: Vegetables NZ
chairman John Murphy says the organisation supports any government move to reduce red tape and increase certainty for growers. Photo: Supplied
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said the idea has merit but would need to balance environmental issues.
Vegetables NZ chairman John Murphy said the organisation supports any government move to reduce red tape and increase certainty for growers.
The body is also seeking support for vegetable growing to be deemed a permitted activity to ensure New Zealand has food security and people have access to fresh, healthy vegetables at reasonable prices.
“Increasing certainty is why Vegetables NZ is also pushing the government to ensure that vegetable growing is a permitted activity in new resource management legislation, through a National Environmental Standard for Commercial Vegetable Production.”
One grower told the Farmers Weekly renewing a water consent could cost $15,000 to $20,000.
Federated Farmers board member and Resource Management Act spokesman Mark Hooper, was also enthusiastic, saying it provided certainty and was an interim step while changes are
made to the RMA. It would free up cash to be invested in productivity and environmental management.
“We would see it as potentially encouraging investment in environment management because people have more certainty rather than spending money on a bureaucratic process.”
He said work was needed to implement it, but most resource consent renewals were effectively rubber stamping exercises as nothing fundamentally was changing on the ground.
Hooper said the recent introduction of regulations such as Te Mana o te Wai, to protect the health of freshwater and diffuse source discharges, have added extra obligations and cost.
In catchments which have over allocated water take or discharges, most irrigation companies have requirements to reduce the volume they take or the amount of nutrients they discharge.
“There is already a downward trajectory.”
Local Government NZ, the Auckland Council and the Waikato and Hawke’s Bay regional councils all declined to comment until they had more information from the minister’s office
We would see it as potentially encouraging investment in environment management because people have more certainty rather than spending money on a bureaucratic process.
Mark Hooper Fed Farmers
Environment Southland consents manager Lacey Bragg and Environment Canterbury’s manager of regulatory implementation, Paul Hulse, both say they were following the proposal with interest but were currently required to follow the existing law.
Bag limits may rise as duck numbers destroy forage crops
HIGHER than usual duck numbers and the need for farmers to protect forage crops has prompted Southland Fish & Game to up the bag limit for mallards this coming duck season.
South Island forage and cropping adviser for H&T farm consultants Ken Johnston said there were large numbers of ducks this year, due to perfect breeding conditions in spring.
Johnston said he saw much damage to brassicas and clover damage, due to the large volumes of ducks feeding in areas around central Southland.
Grove Bush dairy farmer Suzanne Hanning echoed
Johnston, saying this year there are especially large mobs of ducks around.
Hanning said they had a mob of around 500 ducks on their whole crop barley paddock.
Flags did not deter ducks and she resorted to buying bird cannons from a central Otago supplier. In a good growing season crops were only susceptible to ducks for a short time, but in slower growing
seasons plants remained in early growth stages for longer and were more apt to damage, Hanning said.
Southland Fish & Game field officer Cohen Stewart said Southland experienced a very wet spring last year, resulting in abundant surface water across the Southland landscape.
“Our mallard brood counts, carried out at the end of November, confirmed a productive breeding season. We observed far more broods than usual, and the brood sizes were larger than average.”
Stewart said the Southland Fish & Game council recently considered the waterfowl hunting regulations for the 2025 season.
The decision on mallard duck bag limit was informed by a range
of factors, including population monitoring data, hunter satisfaction surveys, and harvest data.
The council also considered the higher-than-usual number of permits issued to farmers to disturb game birds impacting crops and wished to provide opportunity for greater harvest this coming season.
“Our bag limit recommendations have to be approved by the Minister of Hunting and Fishing Pending, but pending that approval, the council proposed to increase the mallard bag to 25 per day for the duration of the season,” he said.
Last season the limit was 20 per day on opening weekend and 10 per day for the remainder of the season.
Gerhard Uys ON FARM Pests
GATHERING: A mix of moulting paradise shelduck and mallards on a Southland wetland.
Photo: Supplied
NZ not immune from Trump’s tariff tirade
FNigel Stirling NEWS Trade
ORMER Trade Minister
Tim Groser says it would be a mistake to assume the United States is too busy taking on larger countries like China and Canada to bother with tariffs against New Zealand primary exporters.
The first few weeks of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been characterised by tariff threats against major global rivals.
While a promised immediate global tariff of up to 20% on all imports into the US is yet to materialise.
However, Groser, who was also NZ’s ambassador to Washington DC from 2016 to 2018 and recently returned from the US where he met key members of Trump’s team, says the threat has not passed for NZ exporters. He says agricultural protectionists in the US are feeling emboldened by Trump’s America First policies.
Soon after Trump’s election the American Sheep Industry Association told its members it would push for tariffs to hold back surging lamb imports from NZ and Australia. A petition for tariffs on NZ and Australian lamb imports from rival farmer lobby R-CALF gathering dust since 2023 on the desk of former President Joe Biden’s Trade Representative could also be revived.
“This is an opportunity for people to take action against efficient exporters right around the world and that includes NZ and Australia,” Groser said.
Don’t assume NZ’s small size meant it could slip under the radar and not be targeted, he said.
American farmers did not need an executive order signed by the
President to get the tariffs they wanted.
Trump’s mere presence in the White House was setting the tone for all levels of the US Government and agricultural protectionists could be confident of a more sympathetic hearing from officials than in the past.
This is an opportunity for people to take action against efficient exporters right around the world and that includes NZ and Australia.
Tim Groser Former Trade Minister
“Governments operate in two different ways in my experience,” Groser said.
“One is formal policy and one is smoke signals. Broad directional messaging that tells bureaucrats which way the wind is blowing.
“Imagine you are a technical official at the US Department of Commerce and you hear from the President nothing but we like free trade . . . you interpret an antidumping complaint differently to if you are hearing the President say it is all desperately unfair and the US has got the raw end.”
Groser said while many of Trump’s advisors were “closet free traders” it remained to be seen how far they could rein him in.
While tariffs featured in Trump’s first term key advisors prevented him from going further.
Most famously his chief economic advisor swiped an executive order ripping up the Korea-US free trade deal from the President’s desk before he could sign it.
“This is not the game we are playing with Donald Trump today,” Groser said.
“His people are better organised. They know what they are doing and have identified the deep state as the enemy.”
In the meantime, challenging Trump’s protectionists policies through the World Trade Organisation like NZ and Australia was able to do the last time the US hit the countries’ lamb imports with tariffs in the 1990s could no longer be counted on, Groser said.
Trump knee-capped the global trade court after he refused to appoint judges to its appellate body last time he was President.
The most likely factor in Trump’s protectionist policies unravelling was pressure from his fellow Republicans to reverse any tariffs
should they lead to a spike in the cost of living in the US, and tit-fortat tariffs against US companies, Groser said.
“He doesn’t care at the moment
because he thinks he is invincible but if the Republicans start to think they will lose the House in two years’ time that changes it a lot.”
Tool helps pick best forest option
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Forestry
FARMERS and landowners
keen to better understand the potential of planting different tree species now have an online tool to help take the guesswork out of the equation.
Developed by Scion and Carbon Critical, the tool offers a simple dashboard-style graphic of a plantation’s performance over varying timelines from various exotic species options.
The tool allows for the input of 11 exotic species, varying stocking rates, thinning or no thinning, and year the crop is thinned out.
A graphed scenario over varying time periods shows outcomes, including total accumulated carbon, annual carbon gains, and stem volumes.
Entering the planted tree type enables a quick comparison between species’ relative yields and carbon sequestration, something that would usually require the use of look up tables.
The growth models underpinning the dashboard were developed using extensive data from permanent sample plots distributed across NZ.
Michal Watt Scion
“The growth models underpinning the dashboard were developed using extensive data from permanent sample plots distributed across NZ,” said Michal Watt, Scion’s new value
and digital forest-wood sector lead.
While not a substitute for site- specific knowledge and local experience, he said the models are statistical in nature, representing typical outcomes for local regions.
The dashboard has over 20 years of radiata pine data loaded into it, with the other species added over the past five years as more data became available. At this stage the dashboard does not have the ability to measure additionality, that is the extra gains in carbon made from current stands of forest.
Watt said Scion was investigating the possibility of including native vegetation plantings.
MORE:
The tool is available at www.multispecies.nz
EMBOLDENED: Former Trade Minister Tim Groser says agricultural protectionists in the US are feeling emboldened by Trump’s America First policies.
Photo: File
PM, Jones take on bank emissions plans
Neal Wallace POLITICS Finance
THE Prime Minister and a senior cabinet minister have accused the country’s banks of political posturing when assessing loans to productive industries.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say the productive sector should have access to finance and lending based on risk and merit not on ideology.
“While individual banks will make their own decisions, we would be concerned if banks collectively decided to stop financing things that New Zealanders need. Kiwis want a fair deal from their banks – not political posturing,” said the PM’s office.
Jones believed banks could switch their lending criteria as they strive to meet their emission reduction targets.
“Farms are businesses that employ thousands of workers but the luxury they enjoy running those businesses is at the behest of and imposed by people who represent the triumphant activists who spend time fretting about the environment when assessing lending applications, rather than credit risk.”
Such policies could threaten economic activity.
“I really think there is an
incredible risk to value adding sectors from the arbitrary way financial services are elbowing governments out of the way and imposing their corporate ideology.”
Federated Farmers board member Richard McIntyre said bank lending to agriculture has fallen in real terms but has grown for housing and personal use, a claim supported by Reserve Bank of NZ (RBNZ) data.
Lending from December 2022 to December 2024 for housing and personal use grew from $359.6 billion to $384.1b while lending for agriculture over the same period grew from $61.980b to $62.6b.
Annual growth in lending over the three years from 2022 to 2024 averaged 3.45% for household and personal use and 0.85% for agriculture.
McIntyre said that with most banks being signatories to the
Net Zero Banking Alliance, they are incentivised to lend to lowemitting sectors.
According to its website the alliance is a bank-led, United Nations-convened initiative to align lending, investment and capital market activities with netzero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Do the maths. It will be 30 to 50 years before we get any means to live without hydro-carbons, certainly not 2030.
Simon Parham Waitomo Group
As banks set agricultural emission reduction targets, McIntyre feared lending will decline at a time when investment is needed in emission reduction technology.
Whenever he raises these concerns with banks, he says they respond with a “generic commitment to farming”.
McIntyre said emission targets should not be set by banks but driven by processors, who reflect what their customers want, and the government.
Shane Jones is fronting a NZ First Private Members Bill which, if passed, places a duty on financial institutions to provide financial services to customers except in situations based on law or for valid commercial grounds.
Waitomo Group chief executive Simon Parham said rural communities will be hit hardest from the BNZ’s move not to fund new fuel service stations beyond 2030.
Often these stores are a lifeline for rural communities, providing fuel, mechanical services and a general store.
Parham said funding issues usually arise when a station replaces its fuel tanks and infrastructure, which can cost more than $1.5 million.
Waitomo is solely a fuel retailer and Parham disputed suggestions society will be able to function without hydro-carbons by 2030, citing the age of the fleet and the impact of the economic downturn.
“Do the maths. It will be 30 to 50 years before we get any means to live without hydro-carbons, certainly not 2030.”
This week’s poll question:
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll Do you back NZ First’s Member’s Bill that would make it illegal for banks to refuse services based on environmental concerns?
Farming not part of extraction retraction
UNDER-FIRE banks say they are not withdrawing from lending to the primary sector to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Farming groups say banks are exiting from extractive industries like coal mining and the BNZ has said it will cease new lending to petrol stations.
Farming leaders fear credit could tighten as banks strive to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.
A BNZ spokesperson says in a statement that it is committed to supporting farmers and its emissions policy reflects global expectations.
“With 80% of New Zealand’s agricultural exports destined for markets that have mandatory or proposed climate disclosure schemes, we work closely with our farmers to help them navigate these requirements.”
The bank announced in 2019 it was exiting coal mining, saying it aligns with both government decarbonisation policies and changing market realities with major users such as Fonterra shifting to other fuel sources.
Last year the BNZ told the select committee enquiry into bank competition that it was pulling
back from new lending to some petrol stations.
The spokesperson says the petrol station lending decision relates to credit issues and not climate settings.
Rabobank has mapped carbon dioxide emissions for 85% of its NZ clients while adopting an emissions intensity measurement for greenhouse gases instead of absolute targets.
One of the purposes of mandatory reporting is to lead to more efficient allocation of capital, and help smooth the transition to a more sustainable, low emissions economy.
ANZ spokesperson
“We recognise that the world needs to produce more food to feed a growing population, so focusing on emissions intensity allows food producers to do that.”
For NZ dairy clients, the bank has set a preliminary Science Based Target Initiative aligned target of 12% intensity reduction by 2030, from a baseline year of 2020, which is not an additional target but aligned to those set by processors.
An ANZ spokesperson says it is committed to backing farmers and has lent close to $15 billion to the sector, almost a quarter of all lending.
ANZ says banks are legally required to publish climate-related disclosures.
“One of the purposes of mandatory reporting is to lead to more efficient allocation of capital, and help smooth the transition to a more sustainable, low emissions economy.”
ANZ has not set emissions reduction targets for the agri sector but says it will work with clients as on-farm practices and technologies evolve.
A Westpac NZ spokesperson says the bank has long-standing policies restricting credit to sectors such as tobacco, some weapons industries and payday lenders.
In 2019 it ceased lending to coal mining due to credit risk, financial losses, and environmental, social, and governance risks.
Westpac continues to lend to mining companies, service stations and agriculture and last year launched a Sustainable Farm loan which incentivises, but does not require, farmers to improve onfarm sustainability.
It now comprises over 40% of its agri farm lending.
The bank’s emission targets are
TIGHTEN: Farming leaders fear credit could tighter as banks strive to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.
set at portfolio level rather than for individual customers.
“From a 2021 baseline, our targets are a 10% reduction in emissions intensity in the dairy sector and a 9% reduction in emissions intensity in the sheep and beef sector.”
An ASB spokesperson says the bank is committed to the rural sector and regional communities.
“Our focus is on supporting farmers to grow, to take opportunities to future proof their businesses, and meet the needs of their customers so they can continue to compete and succeed.
ASB is not a member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance.
A Reserve Bank of NZ (RBNZ) spokesperson says it does not require reporting or disclosure of financed emissions, however, its Bank Disclosure Statements must include a description of any material risks, and banks may choose to cover climate related risks as part of this.
The RBNZ also does not impose limits on the amount of lending banks can conduct to any sector and the spokesperson noted there was no data that banks are lending less to mining and fuel stations.
Neal Wallace NEWS Finance
SWITCH: Shane Jones believes banks could switch their lending criteria as they strive to meet their emission reduction targets. Photo: File
Tb eradication down to the ‘tough stuff’ as 10 year review looms
BOVINE tb eradication in New Zealand is “down to the tough stuff” after decades of chipping away at the easier goals in the aim for New Zealand to be tb-free, OSPRI chief executive Sam McIvor says.
Molesworth – traditionally a tb hotspot – had been cleared and the West Coast was down to only a few operations.
Two difficult epicentres remained – Otago and East Taupō, he said.
Otago had a unique situation because possums had been found living and breeding in tussock, an environment which experts did not expect them to be living in. The challenge in that region was the vastness of the land that had to be covered.
In East Taupō, where OSPRI recently announced five herds had tested positive with a sixth awaiting results, the biggest challenge was access.
The area is remote with multiple ownership structures of land including hapu, trust and private ownership. Working with the local community to access that land took time, he said.
The 89,000ha area also has very dense, difficult to access bush, requiring aerial 1080 applications to eradicate possums.
Right now, our job is to make sure we find every herd that we can that has it and stop the spread between herds, but at the same time try to eradicate it out of the wildlife.
Sam McIvor OSPRI
In East Taupō, their surveillance programme identified those five herds with tb, their investigation revealed it was most likely from possums.
“Right now, our job is to make sure we find every herd that we
can that has it and stop the spread between herds, but at the same time try to eradicate it out of the wildlife.”
A sixth herd was still under investigation with testing results not completed.
McIvor said they did not think the area had tb in the wild until their ‘Proof of Freedom’ test process indicated it was present.
“What we believe has happened is that it’s integrated in from somewhere else.”
So far 17,000ha of possum control in the Taupō area has been completed, and a further 7664ha of work is currently underway.
Another 17,111ha of possum control will get underway early this year.
Movement control restrictions for cattle and deer have also been put in place to include the area east of Lake Taupō, starting in the beginning of February.
OSPRI is also preparing to take over tb testing following AsureQuality deciding to exit from it last year and is working through a transition period with
them as they begin testing in July this year.
Reflecting on that, McIvor said OSPRI should have been doing the testing anyway. It gave OSPRI end to end control of the process and got them a closer relationship to farmers.
OSPRI’s 10-year plan is also up for review in the middle of this year with three options they are looking at in the review that will guide how OSPRI operates in the next decade. If they focus on eradicating it from wildlife, then there was an acceptance that it will be found in herds, just because a greater emphasis is being placed on wildlife eradication.
A second option was focusing on the goal of having zero herds with tb. This means heavy surveillance and creating a protective bubble around those herds.
The third option was looking at whether OSPRI can work faster at eradication, he said.
“We probably could get on and eradicate the South Island quicker, but in the North Island we have a process that we have to work through around land access.
“If we go faster, what does going faster actually mean?”
This will be weighed up in the review of the plan, he said.
Consultation with farmers and other groups gets underway in June.
Gerald Piddock NEWS Animal health
OUR LANE: OSPRI is preparing to take over tb testing following AsureQuality’s decision to exit from it last year, but McIvor says OSPRI should have been doing the testing anyway.
A century of genetics heads to the hills
Scott MARKETS Sheep and beef
AMIDST declining sheep numbers and diminishing heritage breed studs, The Gums Dorset Down genetics spread far and wide in what breeder Mark Stevenson hails as a positive in the industry.
Stevenson offered the entire line of purebred Dorset Down and South Dorset Down ewes at the family’s stud dispersal sale at The Gums in North Canterbury.
The range and demographics of buyers will keep the genetics spread around while also offering new genetic diversity for those buying.
For more than 120 years the Stevenson family has been providing the New Zealand sheep industry with a variety of genetics, in more recent years juggling the management of five different studs, with poll Merinos, halfbreds and quarterbreds as well as the two 40-year-old Dorset studs.
Increase profits from trees
But the times are a-changing in farming, particularly in sheep, and Stevenson said the hard call was made to cut back on the studs in a move to have a more specific focus geared to maximising future opportunities.
“Looking to the future we needed to simplify the complexities of the studs and provide more focus to take opportunities as they arise; five studs didn’t leave much wriggle room.
“With the current farming climate and markets where they are we felt the need for more flexibility to manage risk.
“It was a big call as the family has a long association with the breed but we need to plan where we have to get our business and make it work for the whole farming operation.”
However all is well that ends well and Stevenson is very pleased with how the Dorset studs’ dispersal went.
“It was very pleasing, we had good support and achieved 100% clearance with a mix of both stud and commercial sheep breeders buying up and stock going as far north as Palmerston North and to Milton and Lawrence in the south.
“The range and demographics of buyers will keep the genetics spread around while also offering new genetic diversity for those buying.”
Stevenson continues to see a future for the sheep industry as he concentrates on just the three sheep studs now and eyes up new opportunities for The Gums 900-hecatare farming operation.
The overall sale average was $320 across the 310 animals sold with the 2-tooth Dorset Down ewes’ average at $472, mixed age ewes $408 and ewe lambs $203.
The top Dorset Down price was $1050 for a ewe that headed to Lawrence.
In the unrecorded South Dorset Downs the 2-tooths averaged $302, mixed age ewes $292 and ewe lambs $200, with the top price of $320, for a group of 2-tooths that found a new home in Mosgiel.
Meanwhile NZ Sheepbreeders’ Association (NZSBA) general manager Greg Burgess said the falling sheep population is a concern.
“The sad thing is you almost have to be a passionate hobbyist these days, especially for the heritage breeds.”
Dorset Downs originate from the UK and are on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Priority List but there remains a strong population in NZ with 43 flocks and 4300 ewes.
But Burgess said many heritage breeds such as the larger flocks of Romney and Border Leicester need support.
Treefarmer is a free software programme designed to help landowners make informed decisions for planning or harvesting a woodlot.
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Treefarmer was developed with Forest Growers‘ Levy Funds. Access is from Forest Growers Research website at:
Currently there are just 32 Romney flocks carrying 4540 ewes registered with the NZSBA, compared to 723 flocks with 169,000 ewes in 1977.
While the community of sheepbreeders remains strong, many of the heritage breeds have the same story and are becoming difficult to sustain as part of a full farming operation.
“The sad thing is many are part-
time; the breeders tend to be the older generation, and they are a dying breed.
“It’s challenging and what is keeping the sheep alive is the introduction of new breeds so while we are losing some we are gaining too.”
Burgess said the current state of the NZ strong wool industry is clearly impacting the wool breeds.
Red meat export volume down, annual value up
RED meat exports in December were 17% higher in value than a year earlier at $1.04 million, but total exports for the year fell 3% to $9.86 billion.
Meat Industry Association data reveals December was one of only two months in the year when exports exceeded $1 billion.
“This reflects a continued recovery in global demand and the resilience of New Zealand’s red meat sector,” said association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.
While December’s recovery was encouraging, she said challenging market conditions earlier in the year contributed to an overall 3% decline in the value of exports in 2024 at $9.86b.
The United States was the largest market for the year, with exports increasing 12% to $2.77b compared to 2023.
China was our second-largest market,
despite the value of exports declining 31% to $2.49b.
Sales to the UK during the year grew 46% to $525m, to Japan by 23% at $475m and Canada, up 44% to $424m.
For sales in December, China was the largest market with exports steady at $313m, year on year.
Exports to the US for the month surged 38% to $310m, the UK increased 53% to $64m and Canada grew 116% to $46m.
The volume of sheepmeat exports in December fell 3% to 37,215 tonnes, but the value rose 22% to $378m compared to a year earlier.
Sheepmeat exports to China fell 7% by volume to 20,364t, but the value increased 21% to $135m.
Beef export volumes eased 1% to 50,098t but grew in value by 22% to $511m.
Karapeeva says North America was a standout market, with beef exports to the US up 13% by volume to 20,600t and 48% by value to $232m.
Exports to Canada showed strong growth, up 167% by volume to 3141t and 201% by value to $33m.
Comparing total exports for 2024 with a year earlier, Karapeeva says sheepmeat exports declined 3% in both volume and value, with 373,682t shipped worth $3.61b, driven mainly by the weak Chinese market.
In contrast, sales to the US were a record at 34,588t worth $625m, while exports to the UK rose 41% in volume and 44% in value to 42,183t and $417m, the highest volume since 2018 and highest value since 2020.
Beef exports for the year fell 5% in volume to 481,65t , but the value remained steady at $4.39b with strong demand in key markets offsetting lower exports to China.
Annette
NERVES: Mark Stevenson (left) admitted being a little nervous as Rural Livestock agent Robbie Reid got the sale underway. Photo: Supplied
Mark Stevenson The Gums
Neal Wallace MARKETS Exports
UP AND DOWN: While December’s recovery was encouraging, MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said challenging market conditions earlier in the year contributed
Matauri Angus to come down from the hard hills
Hugh Stringleman PEOPLE Sheep and beef
ALL OF Northland’s Matauri Angus registered cattle have been listed for sale by PGG Wrightson as the owners restructure the business’s shareholding.
There will be approximately 150 mixed-age cows, 70 R2 heifers, 70 weaner heifers and 90 weaner bulls available in the autumn. Typically registered stud Angus cattle trade about double the value of comparable commercial cattle.
Co-owner James Parsons said their 600ha Tangowahine hill country farm would move to commercial Angus beef cattle run with virtual fencing, and a ewe flock.
Matauri Angus has been five years at Tangowahine after purchase from the Maxwell family further north near Kaeo, where three generations operated the stud over 75 years.
The Parsons family along with equity manager Travis Pymm
traded under the name Hard Hill Country Genetics.
“When we purchased the Matauri herd in 2020, we committed to the equity partnership for five years.
“Shareholders’ personal situations and aspirations change over time and no equity partnership lasts for ever.
“The Matauri herd is a big part of the business and this autumn is the best time to offer it to the market,” Parsons said.
We have shown Matauri cattle are highly productive, very tough and shift very well with exceptional temperament.
James Parsons Matauri Angus
He is enthusiastic about virtual fencing on hill country enabling greater productivity without expensive fences, pioneering the first use of Halter Base technology
on hill country for cattle.
“This is a game changer for hill country farming in terms of pasture utilisation and steep slope retirement.
“Integrating this technology in a commercial farming context, rather than a focus dominated by genetics will be more straight forward.
“Stud breeding isn’t easy on one of the steepest farms in Northland, particularly when growing out sale bulls to a 700kg target at 19 months of age.
“We have shown Matauri cattle are highly productive, very tough and shift very well with exceptional temperament.
“Presenting bulls at sale day so they express their genetics is where there is more opportunity. Easier to achieve in a less challenging environment.”
Autumn is the right time to offer up the cattle, after weaning and pregnancy testing.
With the equity partnership concluding, James and his wife Janine will take ownership of all livestock into the future.
James is a 2008 Nuffield Scholar and a gold medallist at Lincoln in 1999 when achieving a Diploma in Farm Management with distinction. Now he serves on the Lincoln University board as a council
Trappers get funding boost in pest fight
Annette Scott NEWS Pests and diseases
A GROUP of Canterbury farmers trapping and shooting pests have had their pest control efforts supercharged with a welcome funding boost.
The Ashburton Forks Catchment Group (AFCG) has been making large strides in the Ashburton Forks, Staveley, and Alford Forest foothills region of Mid Canterbury achieving what the Canterbury Regional Council describes as “phenomenal results.”
Driven by committed local
farmers, the group has captured 1473 hares, 856 possums and 27 feral cats using just five AT220 All-in-One Possum and Rat Pest Trap kits, all within the past nine months.
The group’s success has now attracted an $8000 funding boost from the Ashburton Water Zone Committee, enabling the group to purchase an additional 15 AT220 traps, supercharging their pest control efforts and making an even bigger impact on the region.
Project spokesperson Will Wright is hopeful the additional traps will help to spark more enthusiasm among the group
and encourage members to stay committed to the goal of enhancing biodiversity.
“We had an overwhelmingly positive response to this funding because it provides a tangible boost to our efforts and allows us to invest in technology that makes our work more effective and scalable,” Wright said.
“We’re aware that pests can travel large distances daily, and it has been acknowledged that without a coordinated approach, it is likely new animals will quickly move in to replace old ones.”
The group acknowledged that one of the biggest hurdles of pest
control for its farmer members is time, which is where the AT220 comes in.
The traps are self-setting, last up to six months between services, with each trap recording trapped species and numbers.
“With the trapping and shooting the farmers are already doing, the AT220 is increasing the number of pests that are removed from the area.”
The AFCG group has also set up a monthly nitrate monitoring programme to better understand water quality across the catchment and set achievable targets to work towards.
DECISION: Hard Hill Country Genetics has come to a crossroads for coowner James Parsons, the well-known farming leader.
member representing alumni. He was a director then chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand for nine year. He is a director and agribusiness consultant with AgFirst Northland.
TIME: One of the biggest hurdles of pest control for farmers is time, which is where the AT220 trap comes in. Photo: Supplied
Mānuka companies’ prospects sour
Richard Rennie NEWS Honey
MAJOR shareholders in two mānuka-based botanical companies have pulled the pin on their investments in recent weeks, putting their companies into either liquidation or receivership.
In mid-December a liquidator was appointed for Tauranga-based TRG Natural Pharmaceuticals, previously HoneyLab, while receivers were appointed for Mānuka Bioscience in late January.
The companies have been active in the natural ingredients market utilising the likes of kānuka oil and honey as ingredients to treat skin conditions for antiaging ingredients in beauty care products.
Mānuka Bioscience’s second largest shareholder and chairman Wayne Wright is one of the country’s NBR rich-listers with estimates his family wealth sits at $400 million.
Newsroom reports he is also the company’s largest single debt holder, with his finance company WFT providing a $3 million three-year facility, over
which receivers were appointed in January.
Meantime, TRG Natural Pharmaceuticals’ liquidation was triggered by investor Shaun Holt, with the company owing $839,000 to secured creditors and a further $397,307 to unsecured creditors. This includes $368,000 to trade creditors.
The position of the companies has thrown uncertainty around the emerging biological pharmaceutical market in New Zealand. They accompany issues last year emerging from the
DISTANCE:
NZ’s distance is tyrannical, and demands regular market visits or a solid base inmarket to make an impression on distant customers say Professor Craig Bunt. Photo: File
partnered with local iwi in the East Cape district, with Tanitaki Ahu Whenua Trust and Nepia Hona Lands Trust listed as partners.
East Cape mānuka formed 40% of the company’s oil production.
Both companies received grants from the Callaghan Institute, with Mānuka Bioscience being granted $350,000 and TRG $201,000.
Craig Bunt, University of Otago professor in agricultural innovation has followed the evolution of medicinal marijuana and botanical focused companies.
He said the companies’ failures were indicative of NZ’s poor record when it came to transferring science and research into sustainable commercial outcomes.
multi-startup medicinal marijuana market that resulted in the failure of Cannasouth.
Mānuka Bioscience has been held up by the Treasury’s NZ Export Credit Office (NZEC) as a case study company that had the office’s support to expand its export operations through greater funding security, guaranteed by the office.
Farmers Weekly understands TRG has a joint venture with an East Coast iwi group providing the land resource for sourcing kanuka.
Mānuka Bioscience has also
Growth opportunity in Caribbean seaweed
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Fertiliser
VAST rafts of floating seaweed in the Caribbean are the basis of a project involving Plant and Food Research scientists, aiming to turn the weed into a valued crop treatment.
Seasonal blooms of the seaweed sargassum are increasingly becoming an issue in the Caribbean with the drifting weed choking beaches and dominating coastal ecosystems with its thick, rubbery like stems found drifting through the region’s waters. Great swathes of the weed choke harbour entrances and require removal from there and from beaches in areas often also dependent upon tourism dollars for income.
A five-year collaboration between NZ and Caribbean scientists to develop means to deal with the problem is coming
to get on a plane most weeks.”
He also lamented a reluctance in NZ for investors to be prepared to fork out for business class travel over the vast distances needed to be travelled.
You really have to have that camp overseas, or be prepared to get on a plane most weeks.
Professor Craig Bunt University of Otago
“Much of the funding in NZ is all linked in some way to government support, so when these companies fail it makes it look like government is no good at supporting winners.”
NZ’s tyrannical distance also played a role in an intensely competitive global startup environment.
“If these companies were in Singapore, Australia or United States for example they would be so much closer to their clients.
“You really have to have that camp overseas, or be prepared
NZ was also compelled to find unique “NZ” products like kānuka oil, rather than emulate the likes of lavender or rose oil production which can be done elsewhere in the world on far vaster scale.
“But it can take a generation, not a five-year investment time line, to convert consumers to these unique products.
“Iwi see that multigenerational timeline, but looking at ROI and funding cycles can be a quick way to a hiding.”
He pointed to Glaxo which had its first baby food products in the 1900s but took generations to expand to the point it moved offshore.
WEEDY: Sargassum seaweed is a major problem in the Caribbean, often clogging harbours and piling up on beaches.
to its end, with a bio-stimulant extract from the seaweed showing promise of enhancing health and yield of local farmers’ crops.
Plant and Food’s project manager Sophie Jones-Williams said the Caribbean project in conjunction with the Caribbean Chemicals has extended the organisation into a new geographical area.
It is one offering scientists the opportunity to expand their global experience, in an environment that is experiencing climate change impacts.
“It has also had them building their product development learnings working in a low-tech environment that has helped push them to think laterally about how best to deal with the challenges.”
She said the sargassum was not only plentiful but has also proven to be a high value natural resource rich in phyto-hormones that lend themselves to bio-stimulant properties.
Staff are at the point where biostimulant properties have been identified, and field trials will help identify crops to target, and what claims can be made.
The work at lab scale has the bio-stimulant tested on the likes of cucumber, sweet pepper and corn in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago.
“We are likely to be creating ‘minimum limits’ on what the minimal level of gains from using it are likely to be,” she said.
Production will involve using Caribbean Chemical’s plant in Jamaica to test the efficacy of larger scale production.
While not likely to completely replace fertiliser, Jones-Williams said the bio-stimulant could replace a portion of it, to deliver similar production with lower loss of damaging fertiliser nutrients to the environment.
“The Caribbean is really diverse for crops, and like a lot of small states they have a really high fertiliser bill, plus the logistics of getting to small island states.”
She said the project offered multiple benefits across the environment, economic and social spectrum.
Once produced at scale, Caribbean Chemicals has wellestablished distribution channels for selling it throughout the region.
Ultimately there could be an IP-based licensing relationship to come from the project, along with lessons that could be applied closer to home.
Westpac predicts repeat $10 milksolids payouts
RESILIENCE in world dairy prices and the lower value of the New Zealand dollar have strengthened the outlook for farm gate milk prices, this season and the next.
Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon says the bank has lifted its current prediction to $10.30/kg milksolids and opened its forecasting for next season at $10.
As world dairy prices ease from their current levels when the rebuilding of Chinese inventories runs its course, this will be partially offset by a sustained lower exchange rate.
Gordon said whole milk powder is particularly in demand and few countries other than NZ export it in significant amounts.
“Our view remains that dairy
prices will ease back as this restocking phase runs its course and Chinese demand returns to business-as-usual levels.
“However, there’s still some uncertainty around how far they might bid up prices in the meantime.”
Westpac has opened its forecasting for 2025-26 season at $10, with a caution that it does not expect Fonterra to begin at that level in May.
High milk prices are an incentive for the world’s major dairy producers to expand but the United States and Europe have disease constraints, avian bird flu and bluetongue respectively.
While a second season of $10 milk prices sounds great, Gordon pointed out that on-farm costs have permanently increased.
“Double digit milk prices are likely to be a frequent occurrence in the years ahead,” he said.
Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy
WANTED: Westpac’s Michael Gordon says whole milk powder is particularly in demand and few countries other than NZ export it in significant amounts.
Photo: File
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NEW ZEALAND CASHMERE QUARTERLY INDUSTRY UPDATE
South Island NZ Cashmere Focus Farm
Integration of Cashmere on Temora Downs, Mt Somers
NZ Cashmere and AgFirst have launched a focus farm at Johnny & Jane Harrison’s 610ha operation at Temora Downs near Mt Somers, Canterbury.
The farm is already diverse, with sheep, beef cattle, deer velvet, cereal crops - and now 150 Cashmere does.
Over the next two seasons Johnny, farm consultant Graham Butcher of Rural Solutions, and AgFirst will be looking at how Cashmere-producing goats add to the farm system, with a particular focus on sprayfree management of Californian thistle, and pasture improvement across the sheep, beef and deer system.
It is a project Johnny is excited about as it has potential to control weeds, while bringing in additional farm income.
“The Cali thistle concern revolves around not being able to use thistle spray as our beef finishing is for ANZCO’s high-value Aleph programme which is a restricted spray programme,” says Johnny. “We are looking for other ways to manage this and to lift our farm productivity.”
Weed control is a time intensive, costly process of topping via tractor and the goats are being assessed for their ability to manage the issue while also bringing in income from the ultra-high value cashmere fibre, pasture improvement and meat value. Potential lifts in clover and feed quality will also be measured.
The pilot is being conducted on a 26ha block where thistles are a particular problem. Similar areas of the block serve as control areas where goats will not graze to compare results over time.
“While we have started with a small flock of 150 does, we are looking to see a boost in farm surplus.”
Farm consultant Graham Butcher of Rural Solutions in Gore is involved in running the pilot and is also following the economics of the flock. “This is already a highly productive commercial farm which makes it a useful
case to show how cashmere production can further support diversification, and farm profitability.”
The pilot will be of particular interest to Beef + Lamb Class 2 and 6 farmers with a brush weed/thistle problem as well as Class 7 (smaller high performance) farms.
“The economics will be of use to farmers who can use it to help their thinking about integration of Cashmere into their own specific set of resources. This model will draw upon what we are doing on this pilot at Temora Downs and the volume of work done in the past.”
“There’s good existing data on complimentary effects of grazing goats – from higher pasture ME via seedhead control and higher clover percentages. We’re looking at how this plays out at Temora Downs.”
Off to a strong start
Mated does arrived in September prior to kidding. Pre-weaning, does and kids were in a deer block. Mature Californian thistle in the block was effectively grazed, opening up the sward to light.
Johnny and Graham, who is measuring thistle counts and pasture quality, are happy with the initial progress the goats are making on managing thistles.
“Johnny then moved the does into a paddock with Nodders post-wean. We were not sure if goats would tackle Nodders, however the Nodder seed head was cleaned up by does in about 4 days.”
“We are very happy with this. We have a range of young grass paddocks with moderate infestation of both Californian and Nodders.”
“Nodders are biennials with a tap root, spread by prolific seeding, and the seeds can lie dormant in the soil for up to 20 years, so it’s essential the seed head is eaten by the goats to prevent them seeding.”
“Cali’s are perennials with extensive underground rhizomes and you need a different strategy to control them - with Cali’s we are looking for the goats to keep
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Written by: OLIVIA SANDERS
New Zealand Cashmere Business Development Manager
New Zealand’s Cashmere Industry continues to build momentum into 2025 as sheep, beef and deer farmers across the country have watched the success of early adopters in adding goats to their systems and reaping the benefits of doing so.
It’s been a busy three years building the foundation of the industry, aided by Sustainable Food and Fibres Future funding which wraps up in March 2025. This funding has been critical to ensure farmers are supported in decision making with the best data and information available, access to market is secure with a world-leading assurance programme, farmers have had wrap around support with boots on the ground and a number of physical and online resources such as a Farmer Handbook, Animal Health Guide and a Breeding Guide soon to be released. We have been able to attend a number of Field Days and regional events, run a National Roadshow and Growers Conference. Also over this time, a thorough literature review was completed, gross margin calculators explored, and we look forward to releasing an online tool
The Details
Temora Downs, Mt Somers, Canterbury – John & Jane Harrison
Land:
610ha eff. including 260ha lease block. Class 4
Pilot running on 26ha on the lease block
Stock :
• John and Jane’s farming operation includes high performance sheep, including hogget lambing, breeding cows (finishing), a once bred heifer based on rearing 100kg calves ex the dairy industry, trading beef cattle, a velvet enterprise, cereal growing and winter crop sold to the dairy industry.
• 150 Cashmere-producing mixed-age does Pilot project objectives:
Spray-free, cost-effective weed control
Improved clover % for the benefit of all stock
Reduced seed head and topping
Improved farming surplus
going at them to exhaust the rhizomes.”
“So far we are happy with the way goats consume thistle. With the small number of goats available in this pilot, we are being careful we don’t spread them too thinly. Their management is evolving but we are
which utilises all this data to aid farmers and rural professionals understand what cashmere goats can add to their business.
Looking forward to 2025, we are looking forward to reporting the findings of our AgFirst project farms in mid-Canterbury and the Hawkes Bay, as well as running on-farm events where farmers and rural professionals can hear first hand what it takes to run cashmere goats and what they’re achieving on farm for better pasture, reduced costs in weed/pasture control and ultra-fine fibre production.
Throughout the months of February and March, Duncan and I will be attending regional Field Days showcasing the New Zealand Cashmere app. A desktop application in which farmers can input their farm information such as current stock numbers, farm area, weed species and their distribution to quantify how many goats they can run and the dollar value they could add to their system. All the while educating the user on fencing, what goats eat and how they improve pasture for other livestock. We encourage all farmers attending Field Days to seek out the NZ Cashmere stand to test the app and explore what cashmere goats can add to their business.
Demand for white cashmere animals is outstripping demand at this stage. 500
starting to get some idea of what they can do.”
Temora Downs will be hosting an Open Day on the 18th of March and the team are looking forward to passing on what they’ve learned so far.
white cashmere goats are available for sale across the country between now and May, farmers interested will want to be in touch with Duncan (North Island) or myself (South Island) as soon as possible. With mating typically between the months of March and May, those wanting does to breed this season need animals on farm typically a month before the buck goes out to get the best out of their breeding season.
With the limited supply of animals, there is opportunity for select farmers to utilise colored cashmere goats as foundation breeding stock to supply industry with animals as over 95% of progeny from these
does will be white. This system is lucrative for those with good electric fencing and handling facilities. Across the year, does could be used for weed control and pasture quality control with all youngstock sold at weaning for $55/head.
Across the country, cashmere goats are proving their worth in pasture quality control, keeping on top of seedhead, thistles and a variety of other weeds whilst allowing clover to continue to grow for other stock classes. Farmers have weaned last years’ crop of kids and are looking forward to making their breeding decisions over the next few months.
Mayfield Johnny Harrison is enjoying the impact cashmere goats are having on thistles on his farm while allowing clover to grow for his sheep, beef and deer.
Market development generates strong interest
Andy May, Managing Director of NZ Cashmere and CEO of Woolyarns Holdings, along with Jimad Khan, International Sales and Marketing Manager at Woolyarns, travelled to Europe at the end of last year to strengthen New Zealand Cashmere’s relationships in the global luxury fashion market.
New Zealand Cashmere through its partnership with Woolyarns is driving demand for the luxury fibre in the international market, with strong interest for New Zealand-produced product from prestigious luxury fashion brands. At the end of last year, the Woolyarns team met with the sustainability and
product teams from brands including Hermès, Givenchy, and the Kering Group.
Jimad Khan, International Sales and Marketing Manager at Woolyarns says the customers have long histories with the company through the Perino Yarns (MerinoPossum blends) and they are excited about the future growth of New Zealand fibre.
“Our presentation highlighted the unique benefits of our New Zealand-made cashmere products and emphasised the impressive fibre origin story and progress made re-launching the industry,” says Jimad.
“Another high-end brand, Johnstons of Elgin, users of over 400 tonnes of cashmere
North Island NZ Cashmere Focus Farm
John Steenkamer and his parents Gerry and Jenny farm at Maraetotara in Central Hawke’s Bay.
The home farm (Waikereru) is 510ha of mixed contour consisting of easy rolling hill country, suitable for finishing, through to steep hard hill country.
While summer safe by Hawke’s Bay standards, it can have a harsh winter environment due to its altitude (500600m+ above sea level) and exposure to Southerlies, Easterlies and associated rain (ranging anywhere between1500-2500mm annually).
The farm uses the area trialling the goats to take two groups of Friesian bulls from approximately 12 months to 18 months for Autumn and Spring finishing, these bulls are bought in at 100kg and some are finished out of this block and the remainder
The Details
in another section of the farm. They are run on a 30ha block of medium country. Paddocks are broken up into 3-4ha cells.
A flock of 145 Cashmere-producing does have been introduced into the bull-finishing programme. “Weed control and pasture quality are two factors that need to be managed for us here which is what triggered our interest in the cashmere goats,” John says.
Several paddocks in the bull block have areas which have not been cultivated alongside re-grassed pasture, and John has particular interest in seeing how the goats perform in these conditions and the effect they may have on pasture quality after seeing positive results in a smaller area.
“Normally you either end up overgrazing the developed pasture or the native pasture goes ungrazed and rank.”
Waikereru Farm, Maraetotara, Hawke’s Bay – John, Gerry and Jenny Steenkamer Land:
• Home farm 510ha. 860ha effective including lease block
Mixed contour from easy rolling to steep hill country
Soils: Ash on Limestone (current goat area), heavy clay on steep hills B+L Class 3,4 & 5
• Pilot running on ~45ha bull beef finishing block. Stock : ~7500SU
55:45 Sheep-Cattle ratio
Romney and Hereford breeding and finishing system
• Finishing approx. 140 Friesian bulls both Autumn and Spring born.
• 145 Cashmere-producing mixed-age does Pilot project objectives:
Complementary effects of running goats with finishing bulls
Spray-free, cost-effective weed control
Diversification of the farming enterprise
per annum have also expressed an interest in knowing more about the New Zealand industry. They are looking at a market visit to New Zealand later this year.”
Although trading is not as visible as many other commodities, reports indicate that since 2005 global market prices for 16 micron processed (scoured and de-haired) Cashmere have remained stable in the $100USD/kg-$150USD/kg range.
“With cashmere fibre sourced from farmers and growers in New Zealand, and Woolyarns offering a complete supply chain solution by providing scouring, dehairing, and spinning of fine yarns, we have a significant advantage in terms of
authenticity and traceability compared to other cashmere products currently in the $2BUS global market.”
“The strong interest in New Zealand Cashmere suggests our product and story resonate well with current market trends. However, we also recognised the importance of continuously improving our fibre quality, infrastructure, and production capabilities to prepare for a successful entry into the luxury fashion market and to remain competitive.”
“It was good to receive such strong interest and support from these brands, even though we are building product volume.”
“Goats are there to improve the pasture quality and keep the bulls moving quickly to achieve good growth rates. The aim is that they tidy up the pasture quality so we’re not pushing the bulls hard to clean up around them, with the aim to achieve better growth rates.”
The farm has high levels of red and white clover and pasture quality is high on John’s list of priorities.
There are areas on the farm where thistles are an issue, and some areas with blackberry
that John is looking to manage with the goats. “We’re trying to reduce spray inputs. Every spray you do is always hard on your clover, but especially if you’re trying to control Californian thistles. We’re hoping the goats will prevent a lot of the spot spraying.” John is working with AgFirst consultant Peter Manson. AgFirst are tracking pasture performance and will also have financial insights for farmers who are interested in seeing how the integration of goats into the system performs.
John Steenkamer says adding cashmere goats into his Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef property was “relatively simple”.
From the Editor
Regulatory roadblocks need removing
Neal Wallace Senior reporter
IF THE past five years has confirmed anything about the New Zealand economy, it is its unchallenged reliance on exporting food and fibre.
That reality is obviously understood and appreciated by those in the primary sector, with food and fibre exports for the current financial year likely to exceed $57 billion.
As the economy initially dealt with covid-19 then subsequently slowed, that appreciation has spread.
All our food producing sectors are currently enjoying buoyant prices and demand at a time that could not be more opportune as NZ struggles to pay its way in the world.
Regulatory blocks prevent that performance improving further as councils use resource consents to tackle water quality and discharge challenges among others.
Every time a business renews a consent, conditions seem to get more demanding or more information is required even though no change is sought by the applicant.
Aware of that, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is proposing policy to roll over or grandfather resource consent
conditions for the food sector, as was done last year for marine farming.
As we reported in last week’s Farmers Weekly, his initial target is vegetable growers and orchardists but is keen to spread it to the livestock and arable sectors.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the idea has merit but would need to balance environmental obligations.
And that is the key. No one is advocating growers and farmers be given a free rein to do as they wish, but rather this policy would provide breathing space so growers can focus on producing food and earning export dollars.
Existing consent conditions will remain and regional councils charged with ensuring compliance.
There could be contention in areas where water or discharges have been over allocated, but irrigation companies are in some cases required to reduce the volume taken or the amount of nutrients discharged.
At stake is the ability to turbo charge significant businesses.
According to the Ministry for Primary Industry’s latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report, horticulture export revenue is projected to reach a record $8b by 30 June this year, a 12% increase on last year.
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
Kiwifruit exports will exceed $3b for the first time, apple and pear earn $1b and dairy, meat, forestry and arable more than $43b.
The coalition government has started the process of rewriting the widely condemned Resource Management Act, but meaningful change will take years.
A stop gap measure as proposed by Jones makes sense.
John Murphy, a grower and chairman of Vegetables NZ, is unsurprisingly supportive, saying his body has been pushing the government to ensure that vegetable growing is a permitted activity in new resource management legislation.
The group also wants a national approach to vegetable growing, to provide NZ with food security, aims and aspirations that could apply to any food growing sector.
Federated Farmers is also supportive.
It is heartening to see wider recognition of the economic contribution and importance of food and fibre exports and an appreciation of the growing significance of food security.
It would be even more heartening if resource consent regulations could be temporarily loosened so the NZ economy could benefit even more from the current buoyant prices.
Last week we asked readers their thoughts on NZ’s 2035 emissions reduction target of 51-55%.
Most thought the target was unrealistic.
Letters of the week Purata: why we’re backing Synlait
Frano Staub
General manager of Theland Purata Farm Group
THELAND Purata Farm Group has removed cease notices for six South Island dairy farms that supply Synlait, representing a total of 2.5 million kilograms of milk solids.
The decision for us to issue cease notices to Synlait had been our way of firing clear warning shots to the board and management.
We were not happy with their direction of travel and performance and were very willing to take our milk elsewhere if major change did not occur.
We wanted to see Synlait lift business performance, improve financial returns to farmers relative to the market and improve the balance sheet – or we were off.
I am pleased to say that message got through.
Less than a year later, Synlait is tracking in the right direction. Its balance sheet is improved, it is forecasting a return to profitability this half year and now has one of China’s largest dairy companies, Bright Dairy, as its major shareholder.
There has also been change at both board and senior management levels, which shows intent. All of that means Synlait’s future looks a lot brighter.
The incentives the company pays make a substantial difference to our revenue streams – as will the new secured milk premiums on offer for this and the following three seasons. Add to that Synlait’s new guarantee to match Fonterra’s advance rates and base milk price and farmers have a compelling proposition, especially given the company’s current turnaround.
We hope our farming colleagues take the time to think through their future carefully.
Synlait is important to dairy in Canterbury and the company’s milk supply needs a critical mass. The Dunsandel site is in an optimum location to serve the Canterbury region into the foreseeable future.
Synlait and Purata have long history of working together. The Purata farms were originally owned by the processor itself and have supplied the Dunsandel facility since its very first days of operation.
It is good to know that relationship will continue.
Send your letter to the Editor at Farmers Weekly P.0. Box 529, Feilding or email us at farmers.weekly@agrihq.co.nz
This week’s poll question (see page 6): Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
One voter commented that the target didin’t reflect what the industry requires to maintain a healthy functional industry that turns a profit for all those involved.
Do you back NZ First’s Member’s Bill that would make it illegal for banks to refuse services based on environmental concerns?
Another said it would destroy New Zealand agriculture, “yet other countries don’t give a give a stuff about emissions”.
Another voter said: “We should never have been committed to such high levels by the previous government and this government should have reduced our targets, not ratchet them even higher.
“We need to remove our targets and seriously consider exiting the Paris Accord. We produce the best quality, lowest emissions food on the planet. To compromise that would be a disaster.”
Last week’s question: What are your thoughts on NZ’s 2035 emissions reduction target of 51-55%?
A bike from the dump
Eating the elephant
OVER the summer, most of us escape the daily grind. For the Weir family, the first family holiday in a couple of years was a much-needed break after applying the “Survive to 2025” mantra with 2024 expenditure.
Our family is lucky to holiday in Wānaka, even though it’s quite a distance from Waikato. At the start of any holiday, I often feel the weight of the journey. It takes time to unwind, especially for us farmers who are often dealing with water systems that develop new quirks on Fridays before long weekends or the annual vacation.
Wānaka is pretty different from home. There are the obvious things like longer days, beautiful weather without suffocating
humidity, snow-capped mountains and a natural beauty rivalling anywhere on earth. Then there’s the people, and their stuff. I look at the cars, the boats, and the teeshirts sporting labels I’ve never heard of.
During morning walks, I saw properties with staggering price tags full of curves, cantilevers and designer schist. This was proper wealth and proper bling. I find myself asking, what do these roosters do to afford all this kit?
I get anxious and sometimes pissed off that we’re riding around in a 2002 Nissan Primera station wagon, with bikes lacking whizzbang suspension.
Heck, the kids’ bikes came from the dump (in Wānaka, it’s called Waste Busters). Returning from the walk, my wife quickly tells me to snap out of it, usually with “stop thinking about keeping up with the Joneses and get on with enjoying this place”.
Fine advice.
Keeping up with the Joneses refers to the practice of trying to match or surpass the lifestyle, possessions, and social status of one’s neighbours. This leads to materialism, where success is measured by the accumulation of goods. Advertisers and marketers love it. Social media intensifies it, which can lead to the fear of missing out (FOMO) and our culture of consumption and competition.
While some comparisons can be harmful, healthy competition can bring out the best in us – if we
know what we’re competing in and can keep score.
I love my farm discussion group. It is not a competition, but we do compare vital measurements and data with each other and industry benchmarks. The group’s success is based on the rule of five, where we perform similarly to the five people who we spend the most time with.
The group keeps you honest and working toward your goals, reminding us that like any new year’s goal – say hitting the gym to develop six-pack abs - running a profitable sheep and beef farm with off-farm holidays is achievable, but require sacrifices and hard work.
The environment is one of high trust, so opinions are welcomed and the need for delicate coaching is out the window, all comments are made with positive intent and received as such.
Our group discusses topics beyond financial analysis, such as off-farm investments and children’s schooling, leading to genuine friendships. Recognising that each farm is unique, we improve our performance by learning from each other and applying those principles to our own situations. Competition is beneficial – if it aligns with our values.
Getting what you want and need out of a holiday or farm business is about the goals you set for it. Despite the flash kit, our summer holiday was a success. The Waste Busters bike gave our youngest
important, and not the material possessions.
Competition is beneficial – if it aligns with our values.
independence and taught lessons about risk-taking; frisbee golf with Dad was the highlight for child number two; and the two handles of lemonade at the Luggate Hotel were the culinary highlight for our eldest – a reward for biking in the midday heat for over two hours. For me, the penny dropped during the annual viewing of the Kerrigan family heading to Bonnie Doon in “The Castle”, where the old adage “It’s not a house. It’s a home” reminded me that it’s the people and experiences that are
Whether it’s a holiday or a discussion group, success and enjoyment depend on the people involved, not on the label of your shirt or the badge on your car. What’s needed is honesty of purpose, positive intent, a commitment to growth and improvement, and a desire to keep up with those who share your values.
Forget the Wānaka mansions. This year we’ll be attempting to keep up with the Evans, Sherlocks and Reeses (the families that make up our farm discussion group).
Ag scientists deserve more than short-termism
Alternative view
Alan Emerson
Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com
EVERY year at about this time the prime minister, irrespective of which party is in power, will give a statement from the throne. They give their view of the year ahead, how they’ll manage the nation going forward.
This year the prime ministers’ address was all about growth and he wasn’t talking about the increase in my waistline over the festive season it was about making us all better off.
Simply growth was the mantra for 2025 and, as a result, we’d all be living the good life.
So far the growth areas the government is concentrating on are around tourism and digital nomads. My view of both initiatives was that they were more about sound bites than substance.
People have to eat and we’re world class at producing food. As with all things we can always do better and that is where I believe our efforts should be.
Let me say up front that the work of the agriculture ministers in streamlining the legislative process, working on free trade and pulling local and regional government into line has been superb.
My issue is with other ministers and ministries.
I wrote last week about the disbanding of our Crown Research Units, (CRI’s), which I support. The brainchild of the then minister Simon Upton they always appeared as top heavy in administration at the cost of innovative science.
If we want long-term growth in our food producing sector then investing in science is a complete no-brainer. My issue is that while applauding the demise of the CRI’s I’m appalled at the lack of funding.
It gets worse as AgResearch is currently disestablishing 58 roles. Talking to one of the now redundant scientists they are moving from NZ to Australia as ‘Australia pays better and they
don’t treat their scientists like trash’.
The seven areas AgResearch is proposing to move out of verges on the bizarre and includes parasitology and weed science. Someone should tell the parasites and weeds that we are giving up the fight and New Zealand is theirs for the taking.
Farmers Weekly reported in August last year that drench resistance was costing the average sheep farmer $70,000 annually in lost production. Think of what that’s costing the country.
Someone should tell the parasites and weeds that we are giving up the fight and New Zealand is theirs for the taking.
Elsewhere the parasite figure for sheep and cattle was an annual cost of $300 million. As we know there’s also a considerable cost to the country from weeds and their elimination.
Surprisingly in my view animal welfare and food safety are also facing the chop.
One of the scientists I spoke to on condition of anonymity told me that if a project doesn’t make lots of immediate cash it’s discarded.
It’s all very short term and not
encouraging growth, in fact exactly the opposite.
Another major limiting factor with farming is our ability to recruit good staff and there we have problems. I’m aware of and support the many ongoing initiatives to get youngsters on the land which I’m sure will work given time.
The issue is here and now and the Feds National Board Member responsible for immigration, labour and employment relations is Richard McIntyre.
He acknowledged that it was hard to encourage young people and the unemployed into the country and that the image of farming needed to be improved which was ongoing.
There were additional issues with the work of organisations such as Greenpeace and Peta giving agriculture a bad name by using information that had little basis in fact.
He pointed out that while the average wage in New Zealand was under $66,000 a herd manager could earn over $80,000 plus considerable benefits. That committed workers could move up the ladder quickly and their costs were low as they lived on the job.
A massive problem was recruiting immigrants if there were no local workers available and that could take six months.
That’s hard for the farmer as if a worker leaves today they need to be replaced tomorrow.
I’m sure a government committed to growth could fix the problem as dairy workers would provide more for the economy than digital nomads ever would.
So my recipe for growth would be to properly fund scientific research as a long-term commitment.
If you want to invest money today to get a return tomorrow you could try the share market and not science.
Investment in science provides a return for us all.
The second would be to support getting workers into the primary sector.
Boosting tourism as the government intends will provide many low paying jobs for foreign backpackers but boosting agriculture has the potential to provide long-term well-paid jobs for Kiwis.
Yes, we need to improve the image of farming as an industry and as a career option and we’re doing that.
Maybe someone needs to tell the prime minister and minister of finance that the real recipe for growth is simple, its called investing in agriculture.
More of your favourite opinion pieces now online farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion
HOME: Forget the Wānaka mansions, this year Phil Weir will be attempting to keep up with the Evans, Sherlocks and Reeses – the families in his farm discussion group.
Phil Weir Weir is an associate trustee of AGMARDT and a Beef + Lamb New Zealand farmer-elected director
One of the team says:
“I’ve been a long-time subscriber to the Waikato Times, now with very little local news and plastered with pages of Harvey Norman advertising.
My other local paper, the Te Awamutu Courier, has after 70 years found it too difficult to print due to financial pressure along with many others around the country.
I appeal to readers of the Farmers Weekly, which has excellent reporters like Barber, Piddock and Emerson just to name a few, to stump up and pay the voluntary subscription.
I found it extremely disappointing to find only 128 people at the time of the February 3 paper had put their hand in their pocket.
Murray Jess – Waikato Ex dairy, drystock farmer and livestock buyer 4 1 0 0 0 3
Come on people, we don’t want to lose this informative magazine as well.”
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Sector Focus Sheep & Beef
Living the most isolated rural life, for love
Olivia Caldwell PEOPLE Community
IT HAS taken nearly 50 years but introverted Pelorus
Sounds sheep farmer Kelly Foote has finally come out of her shell.
Foote moved to the sounds (Te Hoiere) when she was just 19 after falling in love with local farmer Trevor Foote back in the 1990s.
The couple met when her family booked out one of the isolated cribs on the farm.
“I was watching him shearing sheep and he looks up at me and goes ‘Do you want a lolly?’ and then he gave me a handful of sheep dags.
“I think he was trying to tell me I should be shifting his dags.”
A romance for the ages, the pair started to write each other letters between her hometown Whanganui and the Sounds before Kelly made the permanent shift a few years later.
The 640 hectare station is boat access only, powered by a generator and has limited cell phone and internet access.
“It was a bit of a shock for me. I wouldn’t say I never looked back and thought ‘God what have
I done?’ There have been many times.”
When she first arrived her mother-in-law sat her down to write a grocery list as long as her arm, for the three-monthly trip to town.
Things have changed since then on the farm. Low wool prices mean they are down to just 500 sheep, which they predominantly use as lawn mowers for land that is too rugged to fatten sheep or cattle.
The couple have turned to mussel farming, dropping 10 lines off the island and contracting the work to companies such as Talleys nearby in Havelock.
“We have absolutely no roads out here, we are pretty much a branch in the Sounds, no electricity and no roads.”
The house is heated by gas, and the couple have a self-made hydro-power old washing machine that generates enough power to save using the expensive generator 24/7.
“We have learnt how to cut costs and be a bit frugal and live off the land. If we were doing what every normal everyday person does like running a vehicle we wouldn’t be able to be here really. You make a lot of sacrifices.”
The farm has been in the Foote
family since 1881. Kelly and her husband and two children have a milking cow and vegetable garden, and both parents are handy with a gun to hunt for meat.
“It is just not viable to farm in the Sounds. The last time we shipped out our wool I think we got $1000 for it so it wasn’t worth shipping out.
“Trevor shears all the sheep himself. We will keep dropping numbers and have them here as lawnmowers pretty much.”
But it’s the couple’s latest business venture that has impacted Foote in the most positive of ways. An introvert at heart, and one who has lived in isolation for over 25 years, she never dreamed of public speaking.
However, the couple together with the mail boat owner and cruise ships, conduct farm tours and woolshed speaking engagements, which she leads.
Often she will speak in front of 60 tourists interested in the historic woolshed on the unique lifestyle of the Pelorus Sounds.
“They built this new boat. I think he saw that we were struggling and he said you’re doing farm tours. I think he knew I needed a bit of socialising as I was very shy, I couldn’t talk to people.
“I am a real introvert and always have been. People don’t pick that up but they don’t see me stressed and blowing into a paper bag before every farm tour either.”
Having hundreds of visitors to the farm a month is a stark contrast from when she arrived in the 1990s and took up knitting, sewing and possum trapping.
“I was given a sheep dog and I just absolutely loved that. I used to live for the musters. My husband was up the top, I was in the middle and my mother-in-law took the bike along the bottom and my father-in-law at the bottom pushing sheep out of the rocks.”
Her grown-up children Gareth and Catlin also had to adapt to the outside world when they stopped
being home-schooled at Year 7.
“They got to Year 8 and I realised they had to learn to sit down and listen to a teacher and concentrate with a lot of noise around them.
“Our kids would be up trees pretending to be possums before socialising.”
While there have been times the
couple have thought of leaving and trying something new, the beauty of living on the picturesque farm is that the outside world does seem a lifetime away.
“The scenery is amazing. I never take it for granted. People must be so sick of my photos of the sea looking different.”
RUGGED: Low wool prices mean the Footes are down to just 500 sheep, which they predominantly use as lawn mowers for land that is too rugged to fatten sheep or cattle. Photos: Supplied
ISOLATED: Kelly Foote and her husband Trevor run a 640 hectare sheep station that can be accessed only by boat.
MUSSELS: The Footes have had to diversify their farming operation, and now farm mussels and run on-farm tours in partnership with the mail boat owner and cruise ships.
Play it cool
Abig new facility in Hamilton will put premium grass seed on farm faster this autumn, and in peak condition for sowing.
Think of it like the fridge you use for animal vaccines, only in this case it’s to protect something just as important – the live endophyte in ryegrass seed.
Vaccines lose viability if they’re not stored correctly, and endophyte is the same.
Heat and humidity can kill this tiny organism faster than most people realise, so seed containing endophyte should stay cool and dry for as long as possible before it goes in the ground.
That’s easier said than done at this time of year, especially when truckloads of South Island seed have to travel half the country to be in the right place at the right time for North Island autumn sowing.
The solution for one leading supplier?
Invest in five times more cool storage space in the heart of the Waikato and hold autumn seed orders there at perfect temperature and humidity until they’re required.
Sales manager Jake Gardner says Barenbrug’s new facility includes a 400 tonne cool store, is thought to be a first for the industry in the Upper North Island, de-risking autumn pasture renewal for all who rely on the North Island seed supply chain.
“This is a massive milestone for our farmers,
our resellers and us, in terms of both seed quality, and logistics.
“Farmers get the extra confidence of knowing all their Barenbrug seed – with endophyte and without – arrives at their gate straight from optimal storage in the best possible condition.
“And we can fill the cool store early, so we have a lot more stock on hand at the start of autumn.
“That means everyone, including us, can rest easier knowing repeat Cook Strait ferry cancellations and other freight disruptions
aren’t going to cause as much havoc as they have some years with such a time-sensitive market.”
In fact, Jake says, the new cool store was already full with autumn orders by late January, even though farmers won’t need that seed for sowing until March or April.
At most, it’s spent only a few days in transit between Barenbrug’s Canterbury cool store, and Te Rapa.
Seed stewardship and logistics are not the only big gains, however.
“We have significantly increased the permanent number of staff at Te Rapa, which
allows us to put on extra shifts as needed.
“We have also re-configured our two existing seed mixing plants for higher throughput.
“This means we can turn orders around faster, and get seed where it needs to be with minimal delay.”
Most proprietary pasture seed produced in New Zealand is grown and processed in the South Island, totalling over 10,000 tonnes per year.
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Screening for safety among virtual bulls
Samantha Tennent TECHNOLOGY Safety
BEFORE setting foot in a yard with bulls, new team members will be able to first test their skills in a virtual one, thanks to new technology.
The tech was developed by the Food and Fibre CoVE, with inspiration from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) to allow for “hands-on” experience in safe cattle handling without the risk. Food and Fibre general manager Paul Hollings said BLNZ “came to us with one of the most dangerous tasks on a farm, working with bulls in a yard”.
They wanted to be able to teach people how to do it safely.
“We’ve been working with a farmer near Napier and collaborating with Skills Consulting and Indelible Creative Studio to develop the pilot.”
It’s a tool that will be in the hands of farmers quickly.
Paul Hollings Food and Fibre CoVE
The pilot simulates working with cattle, moving them safely and in a controlled environment from the paddock to the yards and through the race.
It provides learners with a realistic experience that allows them to feel what it’s like to work closely with large, unpredictable animals.
“We’re really excited about this project. It’s a tool that will be in the hands of farmers quickly,” Hollings said.
It is due to be released at the Food and Fibre CoVE’s Research and Insights Forum in Wellington in March.
The Food and Fibre CoVE
resulted from the 2020 Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE), the biggest transformation of the vocational education system in 35 years.
Two pilot Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) were established in 2021: ConCOVE for the construction and infrastructure sector and the Food and Fibre CoVE.
Each CoVE addresses specific issues and opportunities and operates as part of the vocational education system, working with Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), vocational education providers and related sectors. The government allocated $25 million for the two CoVEs from 2020 to 2025.
Since its establishment, the Food Fibre CoVE has worked closely with Muka Tangata (the WDC for the food and fibre sector).
“We’ve done a lot of work with Muka Tangata, including developing skills frameworks to really understand the sector and uncover the pinch points,” Hollings said.
“In the area of attraction and retention, research has shown that while there are many positive initiatives to draw people to the sector, retention remains a significant challenge.”
Hollings said it is easy to blame employers, but there are gaps in knowledge and a lack of resources.
“For example, if someone’s name is consistently mispronounced within a team, it can have consequences. But if the team isn’t aware of the issue, they can’t address it.”
As a result, a toolkit designed to raise standards and support employers and the wider community is being developed in collaboration with PwC New Zealand. It can be found at employertoolkitnz.org.
Another area of focus is how the seasonal workforce could be retained year-round across the sector. Work has been done exploring how transferable skills could be used across different
industries within the sector.
Although the original government funding ends soon, Hollings and the team are exploring options.
“There has been a lot of good work done, and at the very least, we want it to go somewhere and
not be lost, as it’ll be useful for years to come.
“Our primary goal is to ensure the sector benefits from a continuous influx of work-ready new entrants, trained through a workplace-based training system tailored to the industry, or, where
appropriate, at tertiary institutes and private training organisations closely linked to the sector.
“And if we can find a way to remain, we can continue to work with the sector to enable New Zealand’s food and fibre sector to thrive.”
Andrew Morrison to head WRONZ
Annette Scott NEWS Food and fibre
FORMER Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Andrew Morrison has been appointed to head up the Wool Research Organisation of NZ.
Morrison, a Southland sheep and beef farmer, takes over the leadership from North Canterbury farmer Andy Fox, who has led the WRONZ board for the past six years.
Fox, who farms Foxdown, a 1600 hectare sheep and beef property at Scargill, did not seek re-election.
The WRONZ board acknowledged the significant contribution Fox made during his tenure, always with an eye on
securing a better outcome for NZ strong wool growers.
Fox guided the organisation as it took forward the game-changing New Uses for Strong Wool programme. Under his leadership, WRONZ committed to the build of a pilot plant facility on the Lincoln University campus and undertook a partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund to explore commercialisation of the New Uses programme.
Morrison currently sits on the boards of Ovis Management and AgResearch.
“I am pleased to be appointed WRONZ chair at this critical time for the NZ wool industry when farmers are looking for a lift in prices,” he said.
“WRONZ plays a critical role as the specialist funder of postharvest research, development and knowledge transfer for NZ wool.
“Its focus is on helping create and deliver innovative, valueadded products from our wool, supporting farmers to achieve maximum returns.
“As a farmer, I know wool prices are not where they need to be.”
WRONZ is dedicated to helping farmers unlock new opportunities and improving the long-term sustainability and profitability of the industry.
The Meat and Wool Trust, which is responsible for WRONZ’s grower director appointments, has appointed Roger Carruthers to the WRONZ board to replace Fox.
SAFE: Technology developed by the Food and Fibre CoVE, with inspiration from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ), allows for a “hands-on” experience in safe cattle handling without the risk.
Photo: File
Get some fresh thinking for your farm business - join us at
Wednesday 26 March
Rotorua Energy Events Centre
Join us for an inspiring event packed with fun and thoughtprovoking sessions, designed to equip sheep and beef farmers with tools for success in a fast-changing world
You’ll be treated to:
> World-class speakers including Simon Quilty on ripple effect global red meat market trends, Shamubeel Eaqub on shaping the future through economic realities, and David Letele on rebuilding resilience and creating new opportunities.
> Interactive workshops that’ll get you to think deeper about topics behind and beyond the farm gate such as farm productivity, leadership, people, and markets.
> Gala dinner where you’ll sample fantastic New Zealand produce and network with farmers from across New Zealand.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and gain food for thought about the business of farming, now and into the future.
B+LNZ’s Annual Meeting will also be part of the event.
Grab your tickets!
Learn more and secure your tickets at beeflambnz.com/ outthegate
Out the Gate is powered by the B+LNZ Farmer Council and Kāhui
FEDERATED FARMERS
Vol 3 No 6, February 17, 2025
Feds take concerns to Parliament
Farmers’ views on rural banking will be heard loud and clear in Parliament this week when Federated Farmers shows up for the banking inquiry.
“For years, farmers have felt like second-class customers in New Zealand’s banking system,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
“It’s time for that to change, and we’re heading to Wellington this Wednesday to demand a fair deal from the banks.”
Federated Farmers has put together a submission on the state of rural banking, which includes the views of 1100 farmers from across the country.
“When we get in front of the inquiry this week, we’ll be speaking up for those farmers and many more, taking their concerns directly to the people who can change the banking system for the better,” McIntyre says.
“Farming families up and down New Zealand are feeling under significant pressure from their banks and wondering why they’re being unfairly targeted.”
While urban borrowers enjoy competitive rates, rural businesses are hit with higher costs, tougher lending rules, and fewer options, McIntyre says.
“Banks talk about ‘risk’ but they seem to be taking fewer risks on the people who produce our food.
“When farmers are doing well the whole country does well, so lenders should be supporting our farmers
calling strongly for an inquiry.
The hard work still needs to be done – we need this inquiry to lead to actual long-lasting changes to the banking system.
Richard McIntyre Federated Farmers banking spokesperson
to innovate and grow – not holding them back.”
Federated Farmers has led the charge against unfair banking practices for the past 18 months,
“That fight that has paid off, with the Government announcing last June it would proceed with an inquiry,” McIntyre says.
“But the hard work still needs to be done – we need this inquiry to lead to actual long-lasting changes to the banking system.”
McIntyre says Federated Farmers’ submission this week isn’t just a list of complaints.
“It’s a roadmap for change. Farmers aren’t asking for special treatment –they’re asking for a fair go.”
He says one of the biggest issues Federated Farmers will raise is capital
requirements, the rules determining how much money banks must hold when they lend to different industries.
“New Zealand’s rules are some of the toughest in the world, which means banks charge farmers more to borrow.
“We estimate rural borrowers are paying up to 1.7% more in interest than they should be. Even a 1% drop in farm lending rates would put $625 million a year back into rural New Zealand.
“That’s money reinvested in jobs, local businesses and onfarm improvements, driving rural economies and flowing through to suppliers, services, and New Zealand GDP growth.”
Federated Farmers has raised this directly with Finance Minister Nicola Willis, who has written to Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr, asking him to review risk-weighted assets for agricultural lending.
“That’s a direct result of our advocacy,” McIntyre says.
“But a letter isn’t action yet. Hopefully, Adrian Orr will respond by actually doing something positive for rural New Zealand.”
Another concern Federated Farmers will raise this week is the risk of de-banking – banks refusing to lend to businesses that don’t fit their climate targets.
BNZ has already told rural petrol stations they won’t be financed beyond 2030 due to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, and the bank’s carbon targets.
“Our concern isn’t just about
today’s loans,” McIntyre says.
“If the banks are quietly tightening lending criteria now, what will they be like in five years? Will farmers need to prove their emissions reductions just to refinance a mortgage? Will whole industries be blacklisted because they don’t meet an overseas target?”
McIntyre says he’s been pleased to see New Zealand MPs taking action on banking, even though the inquiry is still underway.
“Not only has Minister Willis written to Adrian Orr, but we’ve also seen Minister Shane Jones responding to the issue of debanking.
“We 100% support his private Members’ Bill to stop banks from debanking customers for ideological reasons.”
Another key concern is the need for greater competition in the banking sector.
“Farmers don’t have enough options,” McIntyre says.
“Federated Farmers’ survey found 40% of farmers would consider switching to Kiwibank if it offered farm loans.
“That’s a strong message: if the big banks won’t step up, maybe it’s time to back a bank that will.”
McIntyre is confident the banking inquiry will lead to good results for farmers.
“Federated Farmers fought hard for this inquiry, and it’s starting to show signs of paying off.
“There’s still work to be done but momentum is building.
“Farmers are finally being heard.”
FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS: Federated Farmers’ submission on rural banking includes feedback from more than 1000 farmers, who want a fairer deal, Richard McIntyre says.
Fish & Game tie themselves in knots
Fish & Game is on the hook for a long list of emails showing their dysfunction, and heads need to roll, Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick says.
Internal emails show the organisation’s chief executive Corina Jordan was not kept in the loop by the organisation’s Southland branch about a controversial Court of Appeal case they were pursuing.
Herrick says the email trail, obtained under the Official Information Act, reveals the dirty underhand tactics of Southland Fish & Game and their true disdain for farmers.
“The old saying goes that the fish rots from the head, and that couldn’t be truer in this case. All is not well within Fish & Game and the rot really has set in.
“Both the local branch and national body are clearly under huge pressure, but the only way they’ll
be able to turn down the heat is through a change in leadership.
“I think that calls for resignations at Southland Fish & Game.”
The internal emails relate to a Court of Appeal decision, in a case brought by Southland Fish & Game.
The old saying goes that the fish rots from the head, and that couldn’t be truer in this case.
Jason Herrick Federated Farmers Southland president
The impractical outcome of that case was that all of Southland’s more than 3000 farmers, irrespective of the level of intensity of their farming system, would need a resource consent.
Herrick says the emails show the
court’s ruling was an unwelcome surprise for the national council, which never sanctioned or fully understood the case.
Last year Federated Farmers, sick of persistent anti-farming rhetoric from Southland Fish & Game, called for a boycott of fishing licences in the province.
The campaign also involved farmers taking down fishing access signs on their properties and attaching orange ribbons to farm gates in protest.
When Federated Farmers claimed some of the ribbons were being pulled down, Southland Fish & Game categorically denied they were involved – but the emails tell a different story.
In one email, Southland Fish & Game manager Zane Moss signs off by gloating: “Have a great weekend all. I’m off to cut some orange ribbons down …”
“That sums up the entitled and
Feds challenge climate target in urgent meeting
Federated Farmers has raised major concerns about the Government’s new climate target in a high-priority meeting with Ministers last week.
Climate Minister Simon Watts recently announced a 2035 climate target of a 51-55% emissions reduction for New Zealand.
“We have some very serious concerns about this target, and it was absolutely critical for us to meet with the Minister urgently to discuss them,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
“We met with the Climate Minister, as well as Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and rural MP Mike Butterick, in Wellington on February 10.
“It’s fair to say we didn’t mince our words about what our members think of this climate target and what it will mean for farmers up and down the country.”
Langford says Federated Farmers used the meeting to query how
the Government plans on meeting the 2035 target without planting hundreds of thousands of hectares in pine trees.
“We asked why the Climate
Minister didn’t meet with Federated Farmers to understand our members views before setting this target.
“We also asked why the Government didn’t take a split-
gas approach to our international targets, which would better reflect the science of methane.
“Lastly, we asked if the Government is still committed to changing our domestic methane targets following last year’s scientific review.
“I think it’s safe to say the Ministers heard our concerns loud and clear, and they now understand how deeply frustrated farmers are feeling.”
Langford says the Ministers gave assurances that the Government stands by its policy of banning whole-farm conversions to pine trees.
“They also assured us the review of our domestic methane reduction targets will continue as planned.
“Importantly, Minister Watts has committed to having a quarterly meeting with Federated Farmers to understand the views of our members.”
Despite the meeting being
We have some very serious concerns about this target, and it was absolutely critical for us to meet with the Minister urgently to discuss them.
Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president
productive, Federated Farmers still have serious concerns about the climate target and how it might be achieved, Langford says.
“Farmers can rest assured we will keep engaging with the Government on behalf of our members.
“The Climate Minister will be meeting with the entire Federated Farmers Meat & Wool industry group later this week and I’m sure he’ll be hearing a lot more on this issue.”
anti-farming attitude of Southland Fish & Game in one simple sentence.
Something needs to change – and fast,” Herrick says.
FISHY BUSINESS: Jason Herrick says internal emails show the underhand tactics of Southland Fish & Game, including pulling down orange flags hung in protest by farmers.
ASSURANCES: One outcome of the meeting is that Climate Minister Simon Watts has committed to having a quarterly meeting with Federated Farmers to understand farmers’ views, Wayne Langford says.
Federated Farmers push for smarter farm plans
There were sighs of relief when the Government paused the roll-out of freshwater farm plans last September, with Ministers stating the current model was too costly and not fit-for-purpose.
While Federated Farmers applauded that move, that’s not to say we don’t believe in the freshwater farm plan concept.
In fact, in an era where freshwater quality is under increasing scrutiny, and the role of farmers as stewards of the land has never been more critical, they have real potential.
So, the debate around farm plans is not about whether we need them, but how they should be implemented to ensure strong environmental sustainability without excessive bureaucracy.
Our refined policy positions on freshwater farm plans strike a balance between accountability, flexibility, and effectiveness.
At the heart of our proposal is a simple yet powerful principle: Farm Plans should be the primary tool for managing on-farm activities that impact freshwater quality. This approach shifts the focus from blunt regulatory tools like resource consents to a more tailored, actionoriented framework that considers farm-specific realities and regional needs.
One size doesn’t fit all
Mandatory farm plans for all farms
over 20 hectares, as suggested in the model that was being rolled out in Waikato, Southland, the West Coast and Otago before the Government’s ‘pause’, cast an unnecessarily wide net.
We want to see that walked back, with more pragmatic thresholds.
Farms over 50 hectares, those with higher stock numbers, or those undertaking activities requiring compliance with National Standards should be the focus.
Smaller and low-impact properties shouldn’t face the same regulatory burden as large-scale intensive operations. Larger and more intensive farms would have more detailed plans, while smaller farms with minimal environmental risks would have simpler requirements.
Under the Federated Farmers proposal, farm plans will encompass three key action categories: National Standard actions, good farm practice actions, and Catchment Action Plan actions.
This tri-tiered approach ensures farms are held to consistent national benchmarks while still allowing room for locally adapted solutions.
Good farm standards – industrydeveloped and farmer-led –remains the backbone of effective environmental stewardship. Where gaps exist, Federated Farmers suggests that primary industries step in to create clear standards.
Replacing bureaucracy with accountability
One of the most contentious issues around FWPs is the question of certification and auditing.
SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Colin Hurst says the Federated Farmers tri-tiered approach to farm plans ensures farms are held to consistent national benchmarks while still allowing room for locally adapted solutions.
Our refined policy positions on freshwater farm plans strike a balance between accountability, flexibility, and effectiveness.
Colin Hurst Federated Farmers vice president
Federated Farmers advocates for a high-trust model where farmers are trusted to self-record and report their actions at appropriate intervals. It works for tax returns in New Zealand, so why not for farm plans? Farmers would still need to document their compliance within their farm plans, but the system would be clear, consistent, and fair.
Spot checks and audits by councils should be allowed, but at council’s expense. This prevents farmers from being unfairly burdened by costly oversight.
This approach acknowledges that farmers are already under
immense pressure. Adding layers of bureaucracy won’t deliver better water quality – targeted, wellimplemented actions will.
Local solutions for local problems
Water quality challenges vary greatly between regions, which is why Catchment Action Plans are a crucial piece of the puzzle.
These plans would allow farmers, businesses, community groups and other land users in a catchment or sub-catchment to address specific risks in their local environment rather than applying broad regional policies that may not be relevant to their situation.
And here’s an important bit for all of you who resent the paperwork, box-ticking and duplication involved in reporting to multiple processors and government/council agencies –we want to see equivalency.
If you have farm plans with Fonterra or NZ Farm Assurance or with other recognised industry groups, or you’re adhering to Crown Lease agreements, that deserves
recognition. If the Good Practice and National Standards criteria are covered, such existing plans should qualify under the new system.
Ultimately, the Federated Farmers’ policy positions on farm plans are built on trust, accountability, and pragmatism.
Farmers should have the option to develop their own plans or seek support from industry groups and independent advisors.
Flexibility and choice will drive better outcomes than rigid, one-sizefits-all mandates.
Farm Plans aren’t just about ticking regulatory boxes; they’re about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and environmental responsibility.
Federated Farmers’ approach acknowledges that real change happens on the ground, not in boardrooms or bureaucratic offices. For freshwater quality and the future of farming, it’s time to back Farm Plans that work – for farmers, for communities, and for our environment.
Colin Hurst Federated Farmers vice president and water quality spokesperson
Braydon Schroder: young farmers can add value in governance
Younger farmers shouldn’t discount themselves from governance and leadership roles in the industry just because of their age or experience, Braydon Schroder says.
“You keep learning no matter your age. Younger farmers need to help shape our industry’s future, heading in directions they believe in.”
Schroder, 28, is Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupo vice president and dairy chair, and says it hasn’t escaped his notice that many Feds leaders around him have a few more grey hairs.
“I may be a bit younger but they’ve made me feel welcome, and that my contributions are valued.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at what value I’ve been able to add in these roles.
“I’m really enjoying the work we do at provincial and national levels and it’s fuelled my ambitions to step up in governance roles to see how I can make an impact in the sector.”
Schroder, a senior consultant with
Perrin Ag in Rotorua, has operational oversight of dairy farms with absentee family, corporate and Maori trust owners, and advises on land use change, farm systems, financial and environmental modelling.
“The role also sees me helping farmers grow their businesses and fight fires by helping keep the banks and councils off their backs so they can continue doing what they love,” he says.
There’s elements of that with the Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupo executive too.
“We’ve got a good team. Together
Younger farmers need to help shape our industry’s future, heading in directions they believe in.
Braydon Schroder Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupo vice president and dairy chair
- Rober t Har ding Northland dairy farmer
we’ve got the different farm systems covered, and geographical spread.
“Some have council involvement, others do a great job of connecting town youth with ag; we have sharefarmer knowledge and I’ve got the rural professionals contacts.
“That wide coverage means, when things pop up, we can jump on it.”
The immediate issue preying on local farmers’ minds is weather, with very dry conditions in a big chunk of the province, Schroder says.
Most of Rotorua-Taupo also comes under Waikato’s Plan Change 1 (PC1), a new suite of land use regulations 12 years in the making.
Federated Farmers has been involved at every stage, appealing to the Environment Court many proposed policies and rules on the basis they didn’t make sense on-farm.
Final PC1 decisions are expected in the first quarter of this year.
Schroder says it’s felt a bit like waiting for an axe to fall on local farmers.
“There’s potentially a huge impact. We need to do our bit to protect the environment and freshwater but that needs to be balanced with keeping farming businesses viable.”
Like many in the sector, Schroder’s wish is for more certainty.
“It’s bad enough with fluctuations in commodity and milk prices, in the cost of land and farm inputs.
“Can we please just get a set of agreed environmental regulations in place so farmers can plan their futures, and not worry about what the next set of council or government politicians will chop and change?”
Schroder has wanted to be involved in farming “since day dot”.
He was helping feed the calves on his parents’ farm in Tararua before he was even at primary school.
By age nine or 10, he was showing calves at A&P shows – and winning.
“As a rather competitive person, I enjoyed that.”
He started building his own herd, buying from his parents’ and others’ studs, and now has select cows on a number of properties here and in Australia.
His genetics business Opal Genetics concentrates on both show genetics and efficiency traits. When he finds spare time, he shows his animals or prepares show cows for others here and overseas.
“I hope to own land one day as well, but I don’t really mind if that’s in two years or 10.
“There’s plenty to keep me busy and satisfied.
“Last month I managed to sell a four-month-old calf for $8000. It’s just a hobby for me but it’s a reasonably profitable one.”
After gaining a First Class Honours in Agricultural Science, Schroder
scored opportunities to study and work in various farm systems overseas.
That included a study scholarship to Guelph University in Canada, a Prime Minister’s scholarship to Brazil, and the Holstein Friesian Victorian exchange to Australia.
Schroder has held a multitude of regional and national positions in Young Farmers and was Waikato Young Farmers competition runnerup three years ago.
Representing Young Farmers on the Federated Farmers Waikato executive before was his stepping stone to Feds leadership.
“Young Farmers was a lot of fun, and I Iearned a lot, but I felt I wanted more and Federated Farmers was able to offer that.
“I’ve got a foot under the table in governance now. I’m looking for what else I can do to help the sector.”
INVOLVED: Braydon Schroder wanted to be involved in farming since ‘year dot’ and by the age of nine was showing calves at A&P shows. Photo: File
NERVOUS WAIT: Braydon Schroder says Rotorua-Taupo farmers are awaiting final decisions on PC1 with trepidation, and hope environmental considerations are balanced with keeping farms viable.
Dannevirke 253 Oringi Road
Wiha Farm - 94 ha
Discover the ultimate farming opportunity at Wiha Farm, a 94 ha property blending fertile soils with exceptional functionality.
Located just outside of Dannevirke at Oringi, this farm offers a combination of flat land with upper and lower terraces, ideal for sheep, beef and cropping operations. Fertile Manawatu sandy loam and silt loams, paired with excellent contour, maximising farming efficiency. Water is supplied via a reliable bore system, ensuring consistent supply for intensive practices. Subdivided into over 24 paddocks with conventional post and batten fencing.
Wiha Farm is ideal for standalone operations or diversifying into multiple farming ventures This is your chance to secure a productive property in a desirable and tightly held location.
Makuri 143 Woodville Aohanga Road
Aorangi - 734 ha
We are proud to present Aorangi, a stunning 734 ha hill country property located in the highly sought-after Makuri District, just 30 km east of Pahiatua Known for its summer-safe conditions, this extensively developed and awardwinning farm has provided significant returns for our vendors. Over 25 km of capital fencing, over the last 10 years, coupled with consistent fertiliser applications have resulted in premium stock performance. The farming infrastructure is well suited to the farming operation and consists of a four-stand woolshed with covered yards (1400 npc), multiple satellite yards, cattle yards with loadout and handling facilities. The well-maintained four-bedroom home is set in wellkept grounds and features large outdoor decking. Currently operated as a breeding, finishing, and trading operation, Aorangi offers a genuine hill country farming property. Aorangi provides a true walk-in, ready-to-go opportunity for its next owners.
Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 6th Mar, 2025, Property Brokers, 4 Stanley Street Dannevirke View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/DR179233
Sam McNair M 027 264 0002 E sam.mcnair@pb.co.nz
Jared Brock M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz
Tender closes 2.00pm, Tue 25th Mar, 2025, Property Brokers, 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment
Web pb.co.nz/PR198578
Jared Brock M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz
Sam McNair M 027 264 0002 E sam.mcnair@pb.co.nz
Ashburton 361 Poplar Road
Poplar Dairy Trust - large scale with options
Kirihau Road
Te Aroha Gordon Rd, Manawaru
• 54 Papesch Road - with extensive frontage against Frontier Road, Te Awamutu district
• 172.2 hectares - 4 titles
• flat contour, enhanced with attractive deciduous trees, with water courses, fenced and planted with natives, leading to the Waipa River
• the property is very well subdivided & raced; soil type is predominantly Puniu silt loam
• v.g. water supply sourced from deepwell bore & metered town water supply
• 530 cows calved; 4 yr average of 229,918 kgs ms for 20/21, 21/22, 22/23 & 23/24 seasons
3
• 44 a/s farm dairy; large feed pad; excellent effluent system from dairy shed & feed pad to collection sump then to large lined effluent pond; effluent pumped to approx. 40 ha
• multiple implement, hay & calf -rearing shedding; large 500t concrete maize silage bunker; additional concrete bunker; PK / fertiliser bin with roller roof
• excellent housing with quality 4 brm homestead; 2 additional 4 brm homes; 1 x 3 brm dwelling plus single person's cottage
• an outstanding opportunity to acquire a special property in an excellent location with easy access to multiple options for schooling Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 TradeMe / Realestate.co.nz - search # R1440 Sale by Auction: Thurs, 27 Feb 1.00pm
An excellent dairy unit situated in a premium location, bounded to the south by the Puniu River, and to the west by the Waipa River, situated approx.
to 4 kms from Pirongia, and 8 kms west of Te Awamutu.
Farms We are based 10 minutes north of Ashburton and operate a large scale mixed arable farm covering 2500ha made up of cropping, lamb finished, a beef unit and wastewater farm.
Job Description
This role will provide an opportunity to work primarily with our Cropping and Cultivation teams meaning no two days will be the same and a variety of tasks will be offered including operating our modern fleet of tractors and equipment, along with assisting our stock team during the winter months
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have:
• Attention to detail and take pride in completing tasks to a high standard
• Tractor operation experience (in particular large horsepower tractors) including cultivation, drilling, spraying, fertiliser spreading and crop harvesting
• Combine experience would be advantageous Modern technology and GPS knowledge
• Basic computer skills and record keeping Class 5 licence (would be an advantage) or willing to obtain General farm maintenance skills
• A can-do attitude
• Initiative and the ability to operate independently
• The ability to multi-task and adapt to everchanging priorities
Additional Information
In Return we can offer:
• Great Team Culture A challenging but rewarding work environment Opportunity for individual growth
• Competitive starting remuneration rates depending on experience
• Plus on farm housing available if required
Ready to start?
Applicants must be legally entitled to work permanently in New Zealand. If this sounds like the opportunity you have been looking for, please email a copy of your cover letter and CV to info@fairfieldfarms.co.nz or alternatively contact: Geoff Roberts on 027 487 9867.
SALE TALK
A husband and wife who work for the circus go to an adoption agency looking to adopt a child, but the social workers there raise doubts about their suitability.
So the couple produce photos of their 50-foot motor home, which is clean and well maintained and equipped with a beautiful nursery.
The social workers are satisfied by this but then raise concerns about the kind of education a child would receive while in the couple’s care.
The husband puts their mind at ease, saying, “We’ve arranged for a full-time tutor who will teach the child all the usual subjects along with French, Mandarin, and computer skills.”
Next though, the social workers express concern about a child being raised in a circus environment. This time the wife explains, “Our nanny is a certified expert in pediatric care, welfare, and diet.”
The social workers are finally satisfied and ask the couple, “What age child are you hoping to adopt?”
The husband says, “It doesn’t really matter, as long as the kid fits in the cannon.”
it comes to transporting prized trophy
CARRFIELDS
June 2025 (or sooner by negotiation)
Comprising:
272 Autumn Calving Mixed Aged Friesian Cows Due 1/3
434 Spring Calving Mixed Age3 Friesian Cows Due 1/8
60 R2 Autumn Calving Friesian Heifers Due 1/3
95 R2
ADELONG FEMALE DISPERSAL
DELORAINE STATION
On behalf of Glen Islay Ltd On Farm Ewe Sale
Thursday 6th March, 1.00pm Lochindorb Runs Road, Owaka Valley
COMPRISING OF APPROX. 1000 2nd Shear Headwater Ewes
Don’t miss this opportunity to secure exceptional shedding sheep genetics!
Further enquiries to: Rihi Brown 027 404 7514
Further info and testimonials can be found on PGG Wrightson Livestock - Wairarapa and www mastertonsaleyards com MASTERTON SELF SHEDDING SHEEP SALE
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES
CONTACT:
Matt McBain 027 306 5807 will be available for online bidding
PENDELLA FARM LTD RANFURLY PRELIMINARY NOTICE
Tuesday 11 March | Online Only
Dispersal sale of MA Capital Stock. Pendella Farm Ltd, Ranfurly
Approx:
• 1200 Saxon Merino Ewes 1200 Saxon Merino MS Lambs
Pure traditional Saxon Merinos with 60 years of breeding for ultimate Saxon wool, the fibre is highly sought after by all luxury fabric manufacturers and high end knitwear brands alike
Retirement Beckons!
Genuine sale of Capital Stock Saxon Merino sheep after years of breeding Pendella has called time on the sheep operation
This is a once in a generation opportunity to purchase some of the top Saxon Merino sheep in the country
More information and photos available go to www bidr co nz
Full details to follow closer to sale date
Viewing by appointment
Enquiries:
Angela Scott ( Vendor) 027 478 3691 Ryan Dowling (PGW ) 027 434 7239
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES
CONTACT:
Matt McBain 027 306 5807
Key: Dair y Cattle Sheep O ther
Can current returns replace stock?
Exports markets continue to display robust demand with research showing global beef and lamb supplies are set to tighten through 2025.
LIVESTOCK prices have made a cracking start to 2025. Confidence is building that they are here to stay.
The prices paid for store stock this side of Christmas are a strong indicator of this. The question is will we pour all our efforts into capitalising on this renewed market strength or will some be incentivised to retain breeding stock to maximise longer-term gains. This would ensure the industry retains the scale needed to compete within global markets. It’s a big question and one not many have needed to ponder too hard about in recent times. We can’t forget that only twelve months ago beef and lamb prices weren’t even strong enough to offset soaring on-farm costs. Because of that, the initial thought for most is to capitalise on the strong returns we are currently seeing. Never have we seen beef slaughter prices start the year at this level, much less sustain those prices into February. Lamb prices have started a new year over $8/kg once before in the height of the covid-19 recovery. Back then global markets were flush with cash from government stimulus packages.
The drivers this time around are more aligned to supply and demand fundamentals rather than a false global economy. Export markets continue to display
robust demand with research showing global beef and lamb supplies are set to tighten through 2025. Average export values for NZ beef and lamb finished 2024 in a strong position, soaring well above five-year average levels. Indications point to a further lift in export returns through early 2025, with additional support from favourable currency rates.
Domestically, meat processors are struggling to secure the stock they need to make the most of these stronger returns. Weather is increasingly playing a bigger role in determining summer supplies.
The current pricing outlook should be a key driver to start replenishing some of the breeding stock lost but the industry has been racked by volatility in the last few years.
The variation in weather patterns over the last few years has gifted some regions with the ability to soak up any excess supplies from drier regions. And farmers are doing their bit to mitigate slaughter peaks through these months by investing in extensive cropping programmes. This year has been no different, but the shortage of stock is more acute as processors are also competing against an aggressive store market.
What it does also highlight is that we are finally seeing the repercussions of a declining pool
of breeding stock. While the demand for cattle has been visible for nearly 12 months now, it’s become even stronger for lamb. Possibly, that’s a reflection of price point and short-term gains relative to the cattle market.
The counter-seasonal jump in farmgate prices has almost immediately driven an expectation that prices will continue to climb to spring. It’s not often industry participants are as confident as we are seeing about how the market could play out over the next seven-to-eight months but that is the theme right now. The ideal scenario would be if these current market dynamics were sustained well into 2026.
The current pricing outlook should be a key driver to start replenishing some of the breeding stock lost but the industry has been racked by volatility in the last few years. That combined with tight cashflows has clearly dampened much of that enthusiasm. Breeding ewe numbers have declined by 5 million head in the last 10 years. Breeding cow numbers have fluctuated but lacked consistent growth.
The demand is certainly there for additional trading and finishing stock. The core concern when considering retaining breeding stock as opposed to shorter-term trading options, is if these strong prices will still be around once those stock numbers are naturally rebuilt. Breeding ewe prices have benefited from the strength of recent lamb prices whilst breeding
cows selling with calves at foot have performed exceptionally well in recent months. Potentially some are already locking in future gains, buoyed by the current
turnaround in market fortunes. Whether or not this leads to the retention of younger female stock through 2025 will ultimately test any rebuild theory.
MEMORY: We can’t forget that only twelve months ago beef and lamb prices weren’t even strong enough to offset soaring on-farm costs, says Mel Croad.
Cattle Sheep Deer
Weekly saleyard results
These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports
Store terminal-cross mixed-sex lambs, all
Store finewool mixed-sex lambs, all
Prime ewes, all
Prime lambs, most
|
|
Store
Store finewool wether lambs, all
Prime ewes, most
Prime lambs, all
Temuka | February 5 | 13,382 sheep
5-shear
4-5-shear Texel-Romney ewes, all
AD ewes, most
2-shear Romney ewes, most
2-shear Coopdale ewes, all
BIG AND SHORN: These male lambs ticked boxes for buyers at Stortford Lodge on
February
They had
weight, a tidy haircut and fetched $140.
There’s no doubt, we now have drought
THE dreaded “D” word is back. Drought conditions are now creeping out along the central western North Island and unless proper rain arrives soon we may find it spreads into more regions before we’re done with February.
As we go through the second half of February we kick off with drought around National Park, King Country and even northern and very eastern parts of Taranaki. All of the surrounding regions such as a large part of Waikato, the rest of Taranaki, Whanganui, west Auckland and coastal western Northland are in the “extremely dry” category, according to the NZ Drought Index (which WeatherWatch. co.nz helped MPI build many years ago).
A summer that started windy in these regions is ending calm, hot, and dry.
But there have recently been some very heavy downpours and thunderstorms – so there may be
some pockets of relief here and there.
At the time of writing this column there was a weak subtropical low forecast to brush northern NZ around Monday, February 17 on the back end of the departing high pressure zone we had around February 13. This means a more humid nor’easterly kicking in as that low falls apart here. The northeast flow isn’t the best direction for getting rain into those driest western regions mentioned.
A summer that started windy in these regions is ending calm, hot, and dry.
Another low in the Tasman Sea will also be moving into central NZ around Tuesday and Wednesday this week (this is a better direction). The rain forecast is quite messy due to both of these lows crumbling as they move in, but we do again expect some hit and miss rain relief in both “drought” and “extremely dry” regions.
As we slide out of summer and into autumn we usually notice
the high pressure zones shifting northwards.
In recent weeks some highs have been centred south of Tasmania and south of NZ. The more northern placement in coming weeks may also limit rain for northern NZ - while perhaps making rainfall more frequent on the West Coast, especially around Fiordland and south Westland.
So if you’re in an area in the North Island that misses out on rain between February 16 and 19 you are likely to become even drier.
In fact, most dry regions may end up drier by the end of the month as the strongest high pressure zones of summer so far are now moving in from Australia.
It’s also worth noting Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are crying out for rain too. In the expected rainfall map for the rest of February these states are dry or mainly dry, with the bulk of the rain falling over the Tasman Sea and NZ’s West Coast, but that tropical low on Monday may also help bring in rain to Bay of Plenty and East Cape.
The tropics looks extremely busy in the weeks ahead - but NZ’s high
pressure zones may keep them up there.
The weather map for March 1 (yes a long way out and might
still change) shows high pressure moving into the South Island and keeping most of NZ dry as we kick off March.
So your daug hter ’s
fa
llen in love.
AT LEAST YOUR AUTUMN PASTURE SEED IS UNDER CONTROL
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Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
EXPANDING: The New Zealand Drought Index shows drought expanding throughout the country. Image: NZ Government
